I Will Come Home To You

A/N: Yup. Kagome's going to be a thief. Thanks for everyone who reviewed. n_n I'm making more detailed outlines..I think this story is definately going to be good.

Just a note: I have plans for Sango, Miroku, Naraku (and some detachments of his), Sesshoumaru, and Kouga. I don't think Shippou, Kaede, Kikyou, or anyone else will make it, but time will tell.

Dreams seem to be a recurring theme with me, ne?

Italics = Dream or Thoughts
Bold = Future Kagome Talking/Thinking (In Dream)
Underlined = The Kagome Everyone Knows and Loves Talking (In Dream)

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Hanyou - Half Demon
Houshi - Buddhist Monk
Kitsune - Fox
Shingetsu - New Moon
Youkai - Demon
Youkai Taiji-ya - Youkai Exterminator

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Chapter Two~Let Me Show You The Way

It was early. Far earlier than Kagome would normally wake up. The sun wasn't even up yet. But Inuyasha was firm when he said they needed to be up early to avoid curious onlookers.

"Stay alert," Inuyasha commanded in a whisper as they darted stealthily through the empty streets. "And get used to waking up early. It won't be so bad when you're used to it."

"So that explains how you're perfectly awake," Kagome mumbled sleepily, stifling a yawn. "Honestly, I don't think I can do this..."

Inuyasha stopped, turned, and glared at her. "If you're having doubts, turn back now. Once you're in, there's no going back. Of course, you'll eventually die from malnutrition if you don't find a better way to get food. And I'm not going to stick around if you're not interested in learning the art."

"Art of what? Theft?" Kagome said incredulously. "I'm not going to back out. Life may royally suck, but I don't want to die so young. I'm only 18. I have a whole life ahead of me. Even if it's not that great.."

"Oh can it and let's go," Inuyasha whirled around and they continued to the old fashioned open market.

Even in this technologically advanced world, the old traditions are attempted to be kept. Thus, open markets were still in existence. Which was all the easier for thieves like Inuyasha. So when they arrived to the dark market with it's sleepy-eyed shopkeepers setting up their respective stalls, it was a simple task for Inuyasha to pick out a stall worth stealing from.

"You want someone with quality food," Inuyasha explained as they watched their target carefully. "Wait till he goes to get something else to unload before making off with anything. That's the key. Now in choosing, you want someone that looks more frail, like they can't take you if you're caught. Which, from what I've seen, you probably don't have much to worry about."

Kagome flushed from the compliment, pink tinting her cheeks.

"And when they go inside..." His smoky amethyst eyes were alert at all times to the movements of the shopkeeper's movements: where he was, what he was carrying. Inuyasha sped silently forward when the man went inside for a moment and snagged two loaves of bread before darting around the bend.

Kagome chased after him on silent feet, amazed at his unseeming deftness.

"Now it's your turn," Inuyasha said, biting into a piece of bread. "I'll watch from here and rescue you if you get into trouble."

Kagome nodded, a little nervous at what she was about to do. She watched the shopkeeper carefully. A tubby man, far from well groomed. His job must not have paid that well. But the food is good, and that's all that matters, Kagome reminded herself.

When he went inside again, Kagome shot forward, grabbed an armful of apples, and disappeared around the bend. But not unnoticed.

"Hey! Wench!" the shopkeeper screamed. "Get back here bitch!"

"And that's our cue to scram!" said Inuyasha as they sprinted away, taking a route full of twists and turns back to the alley as to lose the shopkeeper.

"Not bad," Inuyasha complimented as they arrived to Kagome's beloved alley.

"Thanks," Kagome panted, spilling the apples on the ground in her exhaustion. Sure, she ran, but not usually that much or with that sense of guilt hanging over her head. Or this early in the morning. A sliver of orange was just beginning to peak over the horizon.

"You need to work on your speed," he said after giving her a moment to breathe. "That's why you got caught. And be more quiet. You notice how I didn't make a sound? Practice. Years and years are practice. Get used to it, toots. That's how life is here."

Kagome nodded, taking a bite into the juicy apple. "I think I like this," she said after swallowing the first piece. "I hate rotten food."

"And you'll never have to eat it again." For once, Inuyasha's familiar smirk was gone, replaced with a genuine smile, or as much of one as he could muster. "This'll be enough food for the day, I should think," he said, plucking up an apple and bringing it to his unusually pointed teeth.

Kagome nodded again. Maybe stealing isn't that bad, she said to herself. I mean, I need food to survive, don't I? And if I can't get it any other way...Inuyasha's right. I don't want to die from rotten food. What a horrible way to die. I'm so young. I want to live my life, even if it isn't the greatest anyone could ask for.

With those thoughts lingering in her mind, Kagome curled up under her newspapers to catch up on the sleep she had missed. And she dreamt.

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A black-haired girl...she looks an awful lot like me. Who is she? Who's that silver-haired man pinned up against that tree?

The black-haired girl pulled the arrow from the dog-eared, silver-haired man's chest. A blinding light engulfed Kagome and she was swept through memories not her own. Yura of Hair, Sesshoumaru and Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha the Hanyou, a kitsuneyoukai, Kikyou's ressurection, perverted houshi, a near-fatal fight and a heart-wrenching farewell, a triumphant return, a youkai taiji-ya, fights with a baboon man, a wolf youkai, a voice almost familiar yelling her name..

Stop! It's too much! Stop! Who are you?! What are you doing to me? Where is this? What's going on? Why are you in my mind?!

Don't fight it! Don't fight me! I want to be with him...

Kagome awoke with a start. What the hell was that? Kagome wondered, bringing a hand to wipe away the cold sweat on her forehead. She looked over at Inuyasha, still sleeping soundly. She looked to the sky. The moon was no where to be found.

"Shingetsu," she murmured. "I thought it was on the full moon when weird things were supposed to happen." Sighing, Kagome turned over and went back to sleep. This time, it was dreamless and blank.

~~~

When it was morning Inuyasha time, once again they trudged carefully through the market. A different one. Inuyasha had warned her about going to the same one every time.

"They'll figure out something's up," he had said. "And then they catch you and haul you off to jail. I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't want to end up there. I've seen guys taken there, kicking and screaming for their mommies. Not a pretty picture."

Kagome got away with a loaf of bread and a slab of dried meat without being caught. Inuyasha deemed it worthy enough for him not to need to steal anything else. "Fine breakfast, nice catch."

And so the two retreated back to their alley way once again, eating a meager meal, saving enough to last until dinner. Satisfied with herself and her new ability, she questioned Inuyasha.

"How much longer are you going to stay?"

"I don't know," he said mysteriously. "Until I deem you good enough to be able to live on your own, without my help. How does that sound?"

"What? Haven't I learned enough?" There was a concerned tone on the edge of her voice. "What else is there to learn, Inuyasha?"

"A lot," he answered shortly, looking away from her. "You were lucky today, and you have amazing talent, but it won't be enough to make it for long. They'll get to know you. Why do you think I'm on the move?"

"I..I don't know.." Kagome admitted, suddenly wondering just how much she had to learn.

"I know why you're on the move," a scathing voice said behind them. Inuyasha and Kagome whirled around. One face was fixed with anger, the other confusion. "Couldn't pay up, so the mutt ran away with his tail between his legs. Isn't that right, boys?"

It was a dark haired man. Behind him stood an impressive sized gang.

"Dammit," Inuyasha growled. "Naraku you bastard, what are you doing here?"

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WEEHEHEHE! I swear I must be the queen of cliffhangers. :o I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible. As for now I'm sleepy and wanna go to bed. ;_;