Chapter 20- The White Dog

"Kagome!" cried Sango as she leapt off of Kirara and ran forward to give Kagome a hug. "I am so sorry about what happened," she said. "I swear… I had no idea that those fiends were behind us I…"

"It's alright," said Kagome as she hugged her back. "I'm just glad to see that you and Kirara made it out in one piece."

"I should be the one saying that," said Sango as she let go. "You were the one who fell from that height! What happened? How did you survive the fall? How did you get here? Are you alright? And do you hate me for what happened?"

"After I fell, a bunch of branches and trees broke my fall. I walked all the way here, I've definitely been better, and no of course I don't hate you. I mean how could you have known what would've happened?"

"Still…" said Sango, sounding a little shamefully. "I still feel responsible for letting you fall like that. I mean… it took a while but I was able to deal with those fiends so I should've been able to prevent them from attacking. And now I…"

"Sango," said Kagome firmly. "It's alright. I swear… I'm just fine now. Let's just get going before anymore fiends or monsters come. I'm starting to get worried about Shippo and Miroku again. And if I'm worried about them, imagine how worried they are about us."

That snapped Sango back to reality… or… can Kagome really say 'reality' in the dream world? No matter. She tugged Kagome back over to their flying kitty and just jumped onto Kirara's back. Kagome couldn't do anything but hold on as they leapt up into the air.

"So," asked Sango once they were airborne. "Did anything interesting happen while you were alone?"

"Well," said Kagome shrugging as if it was no big deal. "I met Humpty Dumpty."

Sango began to laugh. "Hachi right? Did he ask you any of his annoying riddles?"

"Yeah," said Kagome rolling her eyes. "And I was close to strangling him." Sango nodded sympathically and Kagome saw that her friend's eyes were beginning to droop.

"You alright?" asked Kagome in concern. "You look so tired."

"I'm fine," said Sango though she didn't sound fine at all. Kagome decided to let the subject drop and just held on tighter to Kirara's back. She knew that Sango was tired, and Kagome didn't want to make matters worse. She she just shut up.

They flew on through the rest of the night up until the 3 suns had poked their heads up and cast an unearthly glow upon the land.

She heard Sango let out a loud yawn and Kagome knew that she wasn't fine. "Sango?" asked Kagome again worridly. "Maybe we should take a rest? You sound like you're about to fall asleep."

"I'm fine," repeated Sango but Kagome didn't by the lie for 1 minute.

"Well," said Kagome as she thought quickly. "I'm really tired, so how about we just land and take a quick break? I mean, I don't know about you, but I don't want to fall asleep up here and fall off again."

Sango looked delighted at the excuse to land and quickly obliged.

They landed on the edge of the green pasture but a large mound of boulders as they leapt off Kirara's back. Kagome turned to ask Sango that maybe she should get some sleep too; only to see that she was already leaning up against one of the boulders that she had actually fallen asleep.

Kirara then shrunk down to her kitten size before she curled up in Sango's lap before joining her master in sleep. Kagome smiled and gave a small awwww at the two sleeping friends.

She watched them both for a moment before she looked around. She was tired, yes, and she wanted to go sleep also, but at the moment she was more thristy than anything. She decided to take a quick walk to see if she could find some water and maybe some food.

*A few minutes later*

Kagome soon found a dirt path that looked like could lead creek. As she walked down the dirt road a sudden wind began to pick up until it became so strong that it whipped around her like a mini tornado

'What's going on?' she thought. But as quickly as the wind picked up it was gone.

She looked up and standing on the path in front of her was a very familiar woman.

"Kikyo?" said Kagome in surprise. "Is that you?"

"Hello Kagome," she greeted her with that same calm, and mysterious voice that she used when they met in that field. "I've been expecting you."

Kagome stared blankly at her. What was she talking about? Kikyo smiled at the expression on her face. "I can tell you're confused. I guess I should explain things to you. My name is Kikyo and I'm a fairy godmother."

Fairy godmother? Ok, now Kagome heard it all.

"And I was the one who brought you to Ariellica in the first place."

"WHAT?" cried out Kagome. "You mean 10 years ago…"

"That was me," answered Kikyo before Kagome had a chance to finish asking her question. "I brought you here to the land of Ariellica for a reason. It's time for you to begin your own fairytale."

"My own WHAT?" All right, now she was lost. What was Kikyo talking about?

"Your own fairytale." Kikyo repeated softly. "Everyone and everything from the fairytales that you have heard in your world lives here in this world. Their stories are told constantly… over and over again… you, of course, are one of the rare ones. We don't get too many people destined for their own fairytales from your world. Which is why I have come to explain things to you."

Kagome blinked. She really didn't know what to make of it. 'I think I've read one too many fairytales.' She thought to herself as she tried to think of a way she could answer Kikyo.

"You don't believe me at all, do you?" Kikyo asked, as if reading her mind.

Kagome shook her head. "I want to, it's just that…"

"You just don't know what to believe. I understand. Maybe the jewel I gave you will help you in believing."

Kagome started. She reached into the pocket and pulled out the jewel that she had completely forgotten about. Kagome held out the jewel to Kikyo but she just shook her head and pushed the jewel back into Kagome's hands. "This jewel was meant to be with you."

Kagome blinked in surprise. "Um, thanks," she said uncertainly as she took back the jewel and looked at it. She placed it back inside her pocket and looked at Kikyo. "I have a question, just what am I supposed to be doing in this 'fairytale'?"

Kikyo gave her a mysterious smile. "That is for me to know and you to find out. Now if you excuse me I am needed else where." As she spoke the wind started to pick up once more. "Good luck on your adventure Kagome."

The wind grew stronger and stronger… and just like that she was gone. "Kikyo?" Kagome asked timidly as she looked around for her. But she was gone.

Sighing, Kagome felt like she was about to lost her mind. "Even if I am supposed to have my own 'fairytale', how do I know what I'm supposed to do or even where to go?" she said to herself bitterly.

A slight breeze picked up. "Let your heart guide you," Kikyo's voice whispered in the wind.

Kagome sighed as she looked down at the dirt path before finally settling her gaze to a small stream. Something within her was telling her that's where she should be going. 'Well, as they say the first step is the hardest. Or at least I think that's what they say,' she thought to herself.

She continued down the path that she had started on to reach the stream. As she walked along the path, the trees along the path turned into bushes. Kagome stopped walking when she thought he heard a rustling in the bushes. She froze as she stared at the bush. Was this it? Was this her fairytale? Had she been brought to this world only to be killed?

Kagome stared at the bush. She couldn't move, her feet felt like they were made of stone. The rustling continued for a few more moments; she was expecting some ugly and awful monster to jump out and eat her… what she wasn't expecting was large, white dog to come bounding out of the bush. When Kagome saw that it wasn't a monster she let out a sigh of relief and she fell to her knees.

Kagome glanced back at the dog, only to see the dog was staring at her with beautiful golden eyes. "Hey, doggy," she began in a soft voice. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

She held out her hand to the dog who looked at her with a strange look in its eyes before it went bounding over to her. He came over so fast that he ended up bowling her over like she was a bowling pin.

The dog was right on top of her, it's paws on her chest, and was licking her face enthustasically.

"OK!" called Kagome said laughing as she forced the giant mutt of her. "I get it! I'm glad to meet you too!"

She sat up and began to rub the dog's thick fur, as he lept up and began jumping around her. He, Kagome guessed that it was a he, seemed to be out of his mind in happiness. As Kagome stood up, he stood up on his back legs and put his giant paws on her shoulders.

"Get down," laughed Kagom as she forced him to get off her. But as he did, Kagome noticed that in contrast to all the white fur, was a red collar. "Come here," she said as she reached for his neck. "Let me see who you belong to."

As the dog finally calmed down, Kagome was able to get a good look at his collar—only to see that it wasn't a collar—but a ribbon.

A bright red ribbon.

A very familiar bright red ribbon.

(I've just gotten a huge burst of inspiration to this story!)