Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, Inuyasha, or Naruto.

Pairing: Kagome/Itachi (What will it take to persuade more people to write this pairing? Or am I doomed to write this pairing – notwithstanding the one-shots – alone?) :)

England Train Crisis

12/9/06 – 12/17/06

"Sugoi," Kagome whispered softly as she gazed wide-eyed out the window. "It's hard to believe that a world like this exists outside of the Shinobi Islands! Frankly, I'm surprised that it managed to stay hidden for so long without raising any suspicions." Turning slightly so she was facing her silent companion, she quietly snorted, "Of course, nothing surprises you, ne?"

Her companion shot her a sidelong glance and softly cautioned, "That's enough, Kagome. It's unbecoming of you to speak so carelessly."

Frowning slightly, Kagome turned her back to her companion and returned her gaze out the window. Making sure her face was hidden from him, she silently mouthed, "Kagome, don't do this. Kagome, don't do that. Kagome, your conduct is improper. Kagome…"

"I hope that you're aware that I can read your lips from your reflection."

Kagome stopped. "Reflection?" she echoed, perplexed. Looking around, she scrunched her forehead in confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't see any mirrors…" she quickly trailed off when she caught her reflection in the window. "Oh." she murmured as her face flushed a dark red.

Needless to say, the rest of the train ride passed in silence. Kagome – too embarrassed to face her companion again – amused herself with counting the number of trees that they passed. She was on number 589 when the train suddenly lurched to a stop.

Startled, she whipped her head towards her companion with the intention to ask him a question…only to find that he was already gone. Gritting her teeth tightly together, she angrily turned her attention back out the window. Jerk! Would it kill him to tell her what's going on every once in a while?

Fuming quietly to herself, Kagome waited as patiently as she could for her companion to come back. However, when he didn't return after several minutes, she began to grow restless. What's taking him so long? Eyeing the door indecisively, she quietly wondered, "Should I go check on him or stay here? If I go, he'll think I care for him (and Kami forbid that). But if I stay here…"

CRASH

Pushing aside her uncertainty, she quickly veiled her face and rushed out of the compartment. She had taken less than five steps when she was suddenly stopped mid-step by a shrill scream. Shaking herself out of her stupor, Kagome quickly gathered her wits and hurried down the hall.

It wasn't long before her senses were suddenly assaulted by the metallic stench of blood. It hung heavily in the air, thick and foreboding. The repugnant stench upset her stomach – making her slightly queasy and light-headed – but she courageously pushed aside her discomfort and surged forward.

Taking in the carnage around her, Kagome instantly recognized it as her companion's handiwork. No one else can slit a person's throat with such precision and alacrity. Not to mention it's surprisingly clean for a massacre…

'P-Please, have mercy!'

They're up ahead.

"Why did you attack this train?"

'D-Don't kill me!'

"Useless."

Swish

Kagome arrived just in time to see a masked man keel over – dead at her companion's feet. Stepping over the body, she asked softly, "What happened? Could you understand what he was saying?"

Shooting her a cold glance from under the safety of his mask, her companion coolly answered, "They're speaking in a foreign tongue. I think you can see for yourself what happened."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Kagome turned her attention to the group of civilians huddled behind her companion. "What are we going to do about them?" she asked quietly, tilting her head towards the odd group of people. The civilians, probably sensing Kagome's gaze on them, quickly shrunk back in fear – some going as far as to scream bloody murder.

"Leave them."

Kagome looked abhorred. "We can't just leave them! What if those masked men attack again? We should at least get them off the train!"

"What happens to them is none of our business."

"Still, it would be inhumane to…"

"No one ever said being a shinobi was humane."

Kagome growled as she fisted her hand. "Well, I'm not…"

For the second time that day, she was interrupted. But this time, it was a young man who spoke: 'A-Are you D-Death Eaters?'

Kagome scrunched her forehead in confusion. What are they talking about? I can't understand a word their saying! However, despite that, she could easily sense that they were scared of them. Then again, who wouldn't be scared after seeing such a large massacre? Hoping to abate some of their fears, Kagome slowly lowered herself so she was eye level with them. Offering them a kind smile (which she belatedly realized they couldn't see), she gently placed her hand on the young man's arm in reassurance.

He immediately jumped under her touch, but slowly relaxed when he realized Kagome wasn't about to slit his throat like her companion had done with the Death Eaters. Shifting uncomfortably, he quietly asked, 'Who are you?' The girl didn't answer. At least, not in the language that he understood.

Patting his arm gently, Kagome softly stated, "Here, let me heal your arm. You have a pretty nasty wound there."

The man couldn't understand her words, but he could understand her gesture towards his arm. Confused, he stretched his wounded arm towards her – wincing slightly when the large gash reopened.

Then, the girl surprised him by doing the unexpected.

She tenderly placed her glowing hand on his wound…and the gash was instantly healed! It didn't even leave a scar! Almost immediately, the people huddled around him began to whisper, praising and thanking God for sending his two angels to protect them.

'Who are you?' several of them asked in awe and wonder. 'Are you here to defeat You-Know-Who?'

The two didn't answer. They simply shared a knowing glance. Then, by mutual agreement, the two quickly stood and disappeared in a puff of smoke. A woman shrieked, thinking the Death Eaters were back again. However, nothing happened. The two were just simply gone…as if they had never been there in the first place.

Not a second later, the Aurors arrived.

Lifting the veil from her face, Kagome watched disinterestedly as a strange group of men holding pointy sticks slowly escorted the civilians safely out of the train. After healing the man's arm, she had immediately sensed the new (albeit odd) group's arrival. At first, she had thought the masked men were back again, but on second check, she realized that these people were different – they had a kinder aura.

She wasn't sure though, so she checked with her companion, who confirmed her suspicions with a small nod of his head. Then, by mutual agreement, the two had decided to quickly leave the scene before the new group arrived.

However, she could have sworn she saw someone take their picture before they could successfully escape. I just hope that it doesn't end up jeopardizing our mission in some way. Her companion must have seen the camera's flash too, because a moment later, he voiced her fears.

"This incident is probably going to be posted all over the news tomorrow. We're going to have to change out of our uniforms into civilian clothes if we want to continue our mission." he stated coldly, silently accusing her for the mishap. If she had just listened to him and left when he told her too, then they wouldn't be in the predicament they were in now. "The mission will continue, but remember to keep your profile low this time. We cannot afford another slip up like this one."

Grimacing slightly, Kagome softly whispered, "H-Hai."

"We're going to go our separate ways from here." he suddenly stated, startling Kagome out of her guilty musings.

"W-What?!?" shouted Kagome, eyes widening in disbelief. "You're just going to…to leave me?" The real word she wanted to use was 'abandon,' but then that meant she would have to admit that she actually relied on him (which was a big no-no). "It's not like I messed up on purpose!"

Her companion shot her a bemused glance from behind his mask. "I can hardly abandon you even if I tried." he stated dryly as he gracefully reached behind his head to untie the strings that bound his mask to his face. "I only suggested what was necessary for the completion of this mission. According to our spies' reports, this place is supposedly divided between the muggle society and the wizard community by a barrier – much like the one that separates the Shinobi Islands from the rest of the world.

"To gain a better understanding of both societies quickly and efficiently, I propose we split up and meet back here in precisely three months." he finished, finally slipping the mask off his face to reveal a pale, but handsome (borderline ethereal) face. His face was perfectly sculpted, much like the rest of his body, which was lean, but strongly built. He looked exactly like the ideal angel…albeit a dangerous one with the devil's eyes.

Kagome huffed quietly to herself as she quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts, which were beginning to travel down a direction that she would rather not tread on. Gathering her bearings, she asked softly, "So, am I going to check out the muggle society or the wizard community?"

"I'll handle the wizards."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes for the second time that hour, Kagome kindly accepted his short answer for what it meant. It meant that he had mostly likely used up all his conversation skills for the rest of the week, and was probably unlikely to answer another question unless it was dire.

"Then, I guess I have the muggles." Kagome shrugged carelessly. She didn't really care either way. The words 'muggle' and 'wizard' meant nothing to her. In her mind, if a person wasn't a shinobi, then he/she was automatically a civilian – regardless of his/her station in life.

Turning slightly, Kagome was about to head off when her companion suddenly spoke again. "Make sure you learn their language as soon as possible. I'm sure you're aware that they do not speak Japanese."

"Hai," Kagome answered, surprised he had spoken at all. Although it's probably easier said than done…How in the world does he expect me to go off, and then suddenly come back three months later with full mastery over the language? Do I look like a genius with photographic memory to you?

Somehow sensing her irritation, he stated in a clipped tone, "A true shinobi never questions or complains about his mission. They do exactly what they are told when they are ordered. Am I clear?"

This time, Kagome didn't bother to resist the urge to roll her eyes. Grumbling slightly under her breath, she reluctantly muttered, "Hai!"

Satisfied with her answer, he left.

Standing there for a moment after he was gone, Kagome was suddenly struck with the consequence of his action: She was free! For the next three months, she would be able to explore this new world alone! There wouldn't be an egotistical icicle constantly breathing down her neck, pointing out all her follies and mistakes! She could do whatever she wanted, when she wanted it.

An uncharacteristic smirk snaked its way onto her lips.

Three months away from him – Konoha Extraordinaire, Uchiha Head, ANBU Captain – was going to be heaven! Just the possibilities made her head swim with ecstasy! For the first time in two years, she was going to be free!

For three whole months, there would be no Uchiha Itachi.

TBC

Author's Note: I hope no one's confused, but if you are, don't hesitate to drop me a line. :)