Since the incident in art class, Kagome found otaku coming up to her to ask her about ghost stories. She often refuses their advance and one day, an angry girl pushed her, forgetting that Kagome was backing a staircase. Tipping backward, she fell down the stairs. The other girl paled at what she had done and the nearby students murmured about the fallen girl when Kagome stood up and walked away as though nothing had happened after the accident. And indeed, she didn't even have a nosebleed.

Since then, unreasonable rumours started to circulate the school about her not being human. Well, to those with better intellect. Kagome wasn't about to admit that the rumours were true about her being non-human, but most of the theories of what kind of monstrosity that she might be was off track. Even with her life as human seems to be going on well and as normal as someone with history such as hers could ever be, Kagome was restless.

The Shikon Jewel that she has spent on was purified to the state before Naraku killed and manoeuvred both Kikyo and Inuyasha, perhaps even more. Instead of the usual lilac/purple that she usually associated with the shards of the jewel, or even the bright baby pink that she first saw the jewel when it was taken out of her body, the colour was nearly pure white with pastels of pink and lilac. Naohi overruled Magatsuhi to the point of non-existent. Even so, Kagome could not erase the feeling that something was off.

Sighing over her white fingers, she looked outside at the snow covered treetops and then at the clusters of white roofs of the new city where she lived in. She missed Tokyo but most of all she missed Sengoku Jidai, with all its beauteous nature glory and its dark landscapes of war and famine. She missed her friends and the wilderness that can never be found anywhere in the 21st century. She looked around and stroked the smooth surface of the close to pure Shikon Jewel, remembering her friends and those that have passed before her.

A soft knock on her door alert her to her mother's presence and Kagome opened the door without touching it. Kun-Loo, used to the strangeness and ignoring the chill the pass down her spine every time Kagome performed something unnatural, smiled at her daughter, "Dinner's ready. Would you like to join us?"

Kagome smiled sadly at her mother, "Perhaps,"

Ever since her return, normal food consumption was never part of Kagome's diet. She has been taking her meat raw and warm. Only other food that she consumes normally would be warm soup so Kun-Loo has prepared a bowl of warm porridge for her daughter. Kagome partake her meat rarely but often enough that she doesn't feel like going out and rip warm hearts out.

One would think that Kun-Loo will find it hard to care for an inhuman child but she accepted Kagome and treated her same although something has to be done differently. Kun-Loo watched as Kagome sipped on her porridge, missing to hold her in her arm as she was prone to do back when Kagome was still human. Souta chattered with Kantaro about his days in school and Kun-Loo asked Kagome, "What about you? Anything interesting happens at school today?"

Kagome stopped sipping and wondered if there was anything interesting that happened in school. She shrugged, "Well, a girl pushed me down the stairs today,"

Souta's head snapped up to look at his sister, "Are you hurt?"

Kagome shook her head, "No,"

Kantaro nodded and then smiled, "Well, tomorrow's the weekend. How about you two help me at the nearby shrine?"

Souta frowned at his meal, "Won't it be too cold for your arthritis?"

Kantaro grinned, "Don't look down on me, boy! I'm still young at heart!" Souta sighed as his grandfather laughed haughtily, "If your heart is healthy, it's fine. But it's your joints that I'm worried about," Kun-Loo laughed softly at their antics before turning to Kagome, "How about it? I'm sure you can keep the weather calm enough for your grandfather,"

Kagome took one last sip before nodding, "I'll go,"

The next day, Kagome woke up early before dawn. After making sure that her kimono was secured well, she headed for the Shikon on her table. She had stayed up late last night wondering how to keep the jewel secured without being detected and to also constantly purify it. She has come to one conclusion and although it wasn't a sure thing, only a theory, it also made perfect sense to her.

Kantaro led the brother and sister to the district's shrine. It was a warm morning for Sapporo and Kantaro felt really good. There was a reason as to why he wanted Kagome to come along. At the back of the shrine was a pool of purifying waterfall. The waterfall fell from the top of the mountain and the pool was a natural hot spring. With the mixture cold mountain water and hot spring water, the surrounding area was constantly covered by mist and fogs. It was said that the pool can grant any right person their heartfelt desire.

Souta frowned as he stared at his own reflection, "And how did you know that this pool existed?"

Kantaro shrugged, "I was going to the grocery with your Mama and end up with a discussion about history with this local with white hair and a hat. He said that the pool behind the shrine has mystical property. I thought that since Kagome would know if it was the truth, I should bring her along,"

Souta tilted his head, still frowning, "I don't know, Jiichan. Looks pretty normal to me,"

Kagome neared the pool and looked at her reflection, the water shimmered. She blinked, surprised by the waters reaction. Staring on at the pool, she felt a strange pull. Without realising how, she fall face first into the water. Souta shouted in alarm and Kantaro tried to fish his granddaughter out of the pool. A familiar light can be seen and Kagome stared on, reaching out when she felt the liquid embrace of the spring water leave her and the space became lighter, like falling through air.

Blinking, she realised that the whites that surrounded her like wet mist dissipated and soon she saw tree tops. Letting her youki free, her hair bleached white and her skin paled. Gathering the cold morning mist, she created a cloud of youki under her feet to slow down her descent. Soon Kagome was floating over tree tops, barely brushing against the leaves. Closing her eyes, she concentrated to find something; an energy signature.

He was flying over a patch of forest when he felt the shift of energy in the sky. He sensed the familiar cool brush of youki and decided to head straight for it.

Opening her eyes, Kagome headed for the familiar hanyou youki brushing against her senses when another scalding youki buffed against her sense. Diving for the trees, she leapt from branches to branches, adamant on losing the owner of the youki. Alas, he was determined and he wasn't happy about her running from him.

Kagome streaked through the forest in a flash of silver and white just as another flash of crimson and white chased after. A familiar green whip lashed out and barely grazes her, slicing instead through a thick tree bark. She ignored the fallen tree and continued to evade her pursuer.

However, soon she ran out of tree and was forced to run in the open. Kagome knew that she can't run him off without something to slow him down, not that it mattered much in the beginning. She could sense him close and soon enough, she felt a clawed hand grabbed at her neck and suddenly, her back was pressed against hard armour and the side of her head grazed against the protective spike.

Knowing that struggling against her capturer was futile effort, she stilled as he held her fast against him as he headed for a much more private destination.

She should have known that running would only appeal to his basic nature; chase what runs. And now that he has captured her, he was fighting against that same nature to mark her as his and hide her away from the prying eyes of others. Soon enough, he gain control of his sanity and stopped against a large tree, pushing her rather roughly against the tree bark.

Shivering in the presence of a cardinal, Kagome looked up into the familiar sunset eyes that glared coldly back at her, his youki burning at hers.

Sesshoumaru growled coldly at her, "Next time, Yuki Onna, don't run when you sense me. It'll only works against you,"