Summary: Hunter didn't know why, but Belos needed the jewel she had. Kagome was stronger than expected, and he knows he should know better, but he couldn't help it. Their first meeting had been prickly, but ever since then, wild raven hair and fierce, yet caring blue eyes were imprinted in his mind. As infuriating as she was, there was something endearing about her.

Pairing: Kagome/Hunter

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks/Past are written in bulk Italics.

Prologue

Pristine pink shimmers called to her, and she turned to search for the source. It didn't take long before her eyes landed on the shape of a figure she'd long since become acquainted with. Her expression twisted into one of unease, unsure of what to expect. She'd asked for the jewel to fade away, so why…? Why was it still there?

Why was she standing there, holding it out for her to take as if it were some sort of prophetic gift? She didn't want it. She never wanted to see it or even hear its name for the rest of time itself, so why…?

Why did it refuse to just go away?

"... You know why you cannot be without the jewel, Kagome," Midoriko's voice was strong, yet soft all the same. It burned in her ears, and she barely managed to conceal the glare that twisted onto her face. It faded seconds after it appeared, transforming into a look akin to submission. "I'm sorry this burden goes to you, but you cannot be without it."

Did it have to be her?

Kagome glanced down at her hands, hating the way they seemed to tremble at the idea alone.

Of course, it had to be her. There was no one else capable of being the jewel's guardian.

"You are far more than the guardian of the jewel," Midoriko said softly. "You are the only one capable of using it to its full potential. You're the only one strong enough to wield it without corruption. Keep it close, keep it safe."

Though she didn't say it, she knew there was another reason why it fell on her shoulders. Kagome closed her eyes and lifted a hand, resting it over her chest. Something there felt hollow- half empty.

She only had half of her soul since Kikyo had died once more. With her, she ended up taking the portion of their shared soul. She doubted that she intended to take it with her, so she didn't let her anger drift to the deceased priestess.

Without the jewel, she knew that her days would turn limited far too fast for her own liking. The jewel acted as the balance to her soul. Without it, she wouldn't be strong enough to last. When Kikyo had been walking among the living, that meant her soul was at least in the same realm as her, but once she'd died again, that part of her soul was taken along with her to the afterlife. It wouldn't come back, no matter how much she'd tried to call it back.

This fate meant that she'd never know that freedom she once had- the kind that she unknowingly had before she was ever aware of the jewel's existence. It wasn't so long ago, but the memory of those days felt so distant.

She'd never asked for any of this.

Still, she held a hand out and took the offered jewel, bearing the weight of it in her palm. For something so tiny, it felt so heavy. Blue eyes gazed down it, watching as the jewel took on a much softer pink shade. Ignoring the sting in her eyes, she wordlessly placed the string around her neck for safekeeping. She ignored her own reluctance in order to embrace the burden that the jewel was- what every part of this was.

Kagome took a breath to steel herself, and the next second, she opened cold, blue eyes. When she did, that world faded away. Like all those memories, that place became nothing more than a distant echo of the past cursed to slowly fade.

000

Once again, she'd been called back to that old hunk of junk residing in the trees. It no longer bore its magical essence that'd once served to fuel the portal into the past, but she could still recall, quite bitterly, how it'd once felt.

Unlike anything, but so alike to herself.

The weight on her shoulders seemed to double at the memory, and she hurried to push it away- all of it. From behind her, she could feel an aura she'd gotten quite familiar with, and a small smile tugged at her lips. With a sigh, she turned and sat down on the lip of the well as if it was just some ordinary chair and nothing more. It wasn't much later before the silver-haired figure stepped into the small clearing to join her.

Though his expression didn't betray him, she could feel the mild pulse of confusion and curiosity that surged through his aura. She glanced away with a mild shrug.

She didn't want to have to explain herself. Not because she didn't really want to, but because, well… she couldn't. Not even she understood why she kept getting called back to the old well. Like everything else, it, too, should just be a thing of her past that she'd eventually sweep away. Yet…

Kagome's expression softened as she glanced down at the grass under her feet. Long hair fell over her shoulders and her bangs fell to shroud her face. She knew all of that was just her telling herself lies to help her ignore the ache burning in her chest.

For the most part, she blended in just fine in this realm, but she couldn't lie and say she didn't miss her own realm- the human realm.

Coming here again and again, as much as it hurt, was a habit. She couldn't shake the hope that maybe, just maybe one day the well would work again, and she'd be carried back home to the world she remembered. Deep down, she knew it wouldn't work out that way.

It wasn't that this realm was awful or anything. She'd adapted just fine and, on some level, it was home, as well.

After the quest for the jewel came to a conclusion, things didn't go as planned. She was here, stuck with the jewel, but at least she wasn't stuck with it all on her own. Sesshoumaru- ever a figure she couldn't quite figure out, had claimed her as some sort of family.

They'd been allies towards the end of those days, and now he acted as a mentor- a teacher of all things. She liked to think he had developed some sort of soft spot for her, but she knew she was better off keeping that thought to herself. He wouldn't fatally injure her, but he'd turn caustic at a moment's notice. She already had a number of scars from his teachings when the battles turned a bit too intense on both sides. Then again, he had scars and burns from her.

He closed the space between them and peered down at the well. Kagome avoided his gaze for as long as she could. Though he didn't say anything, she eventually felt pressured to say something- anything. The silence was biting, scathing.

"... I know there's nothing left, but somehow I feel closer to them when I'm here," she said softly. A look akin to fondness spread across her face, and she sighed the following second. "It's nice, in a way."

Sesshoumaru kept silent as she spoke, but she could feel the way his gaze swept over her figure. When she fell silent he turned back to the well. She half expected him to brush it off, but she knew she shouldn't. He was aloof and distant, but he wasn't entirely heartless.

"If it serves as a comfort for you, then don't fight against coming here," he stated. As he said those words, a small smile appeared on her face, and she nodded. "Though," he continued, "refrain from making the trek when you lack the energy to protect yourself adequately," he stated. "The jewel makes you a target for all types."

She nodded and stood up, fighting the urge to lift a hand to feel for the jewel she knew was hanging from around her neck. "I know, sorry," she said sullenly.

Their last sparring session had left her more drained than usual. She was still on the mend and recovering her energy, so she knew straying out of his territory was a danger. That'd been why he followed her this time.

With her standing beside him, Sesshoumaru turned. "It'll rain soon. Come," he said. "It'll do no good for you to get caught in the rain here."

She shivered at the thought and hurried along behind him, knowing it was better not to get caught in the boiling rain. "Coming!" she said as she dashed along behind him, the pair making their way back to their shared home.

Auroua-chan: Tbh I think Kagome and Hunter would be cute together, not to mention that poor boy needs all the care he can get. Hoo boy… Luz isn't the only human around- not that people would guess that about Kagome.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before I posted, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~