Where I Belong- Prologue

When I was fifteen years old, my life changed forever. It changed me, changed the way I lived, the way I looked at things. Nine years ago, I met a boy.

Oh yes, I know what your thinking. Teenage girl meets teenage boy, they have a fling but then realize how there are too many other boys and girls are out there to remain loyal to just one. But the thing is, he wasn't just any ordinary teenage boy. And. . . we didn't exactly meet in an ordinary situation.

Several years ago, I lived at a shrine with my mother, brother, and grandfather. Life was about as ordinary as you could possibly get. Everyday I went through the routine of school, homework, and chores. I had a loving family, with at least one wacky and troubled member. But that part wasn't assigned to my brother or me, that was Grandfathers role. He was known for his unbelievable stories, but that didn't stop him from telling them; believe me, I tried. They were amazing and fulfilling when I was younger and craved the fantasies to fill my imagination. Back then I wasn't as cynical, but soon I realized that stories with heroes and magic could never really happen. I'm not sure, maybe I just became bitter because I felt deprived of my fairy tale, but one day I grew up and stopped believing.

So I understand why someone would be skeptical to believe this. I would be too if it weren't actually happening to me. Back then, the only monsters I had to face were the ones that were under my frightened little brothers' bed. Like I said, we didn't meet at school, or crossing the street. We met about five hundred years before I was even born. And actually, when we first met, he tried to kill me. Not exactly normal circumstances.

Still with me so far?

You're probably reading this and thinking that I belong in a mental asylum. I understand. Hell, if I met someone who thought something as unbelievable as this, I would be thinking the same thing. I would even pay for the ride there, anything to get those crazies off the street. So before you judge me, just continue reading with an open mind. I wish I could prove my sanity to you, but I cant. No one will blame you for turning away; I just want to share my story, if you would listen.

I was going through the motions of living my life and trying my best in school so I could have a future. But one morning, something strange happened. Not the kind of strange like when you get deja vu, but the kind strange like aliens coming to earth, or wizards and witches casting spells; like the stuff that only happens on TV. Only, I wasn't watching TV, and this was real life. And now that I think of it, aliens coming to earth would probably have been more believable.

The weather was clear and the sky was bright, seeming to mock me because of my obvious lack of sleep. I was still trying to rub my eyes clear and not trip over my feet as I headed out the door.

Yep, everything normal so far.

I was about to leave for school when my brother came to me with the glassy- eyed look of distress.

"What's wrong Sota?"

"Kagome, Buyo's missing and I'm afraid he might be hiding somewhere in the well house."

I thought of my options and remembered that if I didn't help my little brother out, going to school would be the alternative. It was my future, but I had to relieve my little brother of his distress or I would go to school feeling guilty the rest of the day.

Putting on a brave face, I stepped into the well house and slowed my breathing so I could listen for any sign of the cat.

He paused behind me. "I don't know Kagome, Grandpa said it's bad luck to enter the well house." He whispered timidly, as if he might wake and stir some hidden creature that would cause us misfortune.

"Oh please Sota. Grandpa is saying things like that all the time, besides, Buyo might be hurt in there."

Not wanting to look weak, Sota shyly peered over my shoulder and kept up a slow pace behind me.

I listened carefully and there was definitely a weird scratching noise coming from the old dry well. I approached it and called out Buyo's name to see if I could coax him out. I wish I had some kind of treat to temp him with. That is, if my cat was the one making the noise, and I didn't want to think of what it could be if it wasn't.

"Kagome, be careful." My brother cautioned.

I spared him a glance and was startled out of my skin when something jumped out from nowhere. Oh lord, it had to be a monster of some sort! It had to be some dark hideous creature that came from the dark shadows and represented every bad nightmarish monster I've ever had to face. . . or it could simply be a small feline with pointy ears.

"BUYO!"

"Haha! Kagome, you're afraid of a cat!" Great, my little brother was getting a good laugh at my expense.

"Oh be quiet, you were about to jump out of your skin too." I shot back.

"Well. . . we're not suppose to be in here, so lets get out now."

Mission accomplished; cat safe, brother tear free.

I was about to restart my journey to school when the scratching noise came back. I looked at the cat in my brothers' arms; obviously he wasn't the one causing it.

I scratched my head, wondering if it was all just my imagination, but the frightened look on my brothers' face told me that he had heard it too. We were both afraid of what this could mean, but I shook it off and looked over the side of the well. I mean the worst I could expect would be some noisy cockroaches or some scared animal, right?

Ok, right about here is where I realized that this wouldn't be just another normal day in the life of Kagome Higurashi.

When I think back on what happened that day, I can't help but laugh. At the time, I was scared shitless, but now when I think about it, it seems like one of those cheesy moments from a horror movie. Creepy music playing in the background as girl/ unsuspecting victim leans over a dark bottomless well while the audience shouts obscenities at her for being so stupid. Yep, that'd be me.

Anyway, I was leaning over when a bright light burst from the well and I tried back away in surprise, but a strange apparition emerged and caught hold of me.

From that point on, it seemed like the moments were ticking by in slow motion. In a distant part of my mind I could hear Sota screaming my name and I could feel myself falling into the depths of the well. I can't explain how, but I knew that whatever was pulling was evil. I just. . . felt it. I could feel the cold breath on my neck and its flaky skin rough against mine. I felt the sickness that its presence brought, and I could almost see the evil as a tangible thing. Its darkness reached out for me and my hand shrunk away from the foulness.

It started to surround me and I stretched my hand in front of me as if to brace myself. I could literally feel my body rejecting the evil like it would reject a cold or any other kind of disease. I felt a flare of energy burst from some unknown source within me, and then for a moment, I could breath again.

That is until I had the wind knocked out of me when I finally landed at the bottom of the well. I quickly scrambled to my knees (well, as much as my sore bottom would allow) and warily looked around for any sign of the. . . thing that dragged me to. . . wherever I was.

"Wha-What happened just now?!"

I put my hand against my chest and tried to get control of my breathing once again. And then I looked at the dirt ground and saw. . . arms.

Okay, don't look at the strange disfigured arms. Try to think cool, rational thoughts.

But that was pretty hard considering what happened-what I *thought* happened, wasn't in any way rational.

I rubbed my head, almost hoping that I'd find a lump or scratch there, then I could blame these strange events on a concussion or brain damage, or something. The evidence was staring me in the face, but I still couldn't accept what was happening.

I was relatively unharmed, so with that reassurance, the next thing I needed to do was get away from what was left of the creature. Well, since I could only see arms, it probably wasn't very smart of me to assume that it was dead, but one could only hope, right?

I was at the bottom of the well, I could gather that much, but when I looked up, instead of the dark roof of the well house, I saw sunlight.

"Sota?" I called. "Mom, Grandpa. . . Buyo?"

All right, no answer. Fine. I stood up and took a step towards the side of the well and found some sturdy vines to climb up.

As I started my trek up the vines, I went through the events in my mind.

"Okay. . .* pant*. . . I was leaning over the well, THIS well, when a giant bug-like creature. . . *pant*. . . grabbed me and. . . *pant*. . . said something about a jewel ( I wasn't too sure, I was distracted by other things). . . *pant*. . . and there was light and burning and then it was gone. . . *pant*.Now I'm stuck at the bottom of the well by myself, with no sign of Sota."

By this time, I was so out of breath I started to feel lightheaded. Man, I was so out of shape.

". . . *pant*. . . So now I'm stuck climbing a well. Jeez, this better not be some joke Sota is playing on me."

Almost to the top. . .

"Maybe I really did get some brain damage."

I grabbed the rim, poked my head over, and gasped.

". . . Or maybe I'm dreaming."

I was so surprised, I nearly fell back down again. I stretched my leg over the rim and stumbled out as gracefully as I could manage.

It was simply. . . beautiful.

The sky was bright and the sun was set high, wrapping its warmth and blessing its light with everything it touched. There were so many colors; I was just blinded by all the different shades of greens and yellows. I felt like I was intruding on a fairytale. The flower perfumes caressed my nose and I had an urge to just drop right where I was and fall asleep with this beautiful bliss surrounding me.

But then reality came back and I realized that I shouldn't be seeing wilderness, I should be seeing the well house and the shrine. I should be smelling pollution, not flowers. Something was seriously wrong.

I looked around for sings of anything familiar or some kind of life form that could tell me where I was. And then I'm relieved to see the familiar presence of the old sacred tree that resides at the shrine. The shrine is gone, but at least I know where it should be.

I approach the tree and there's. . . *a boy?!*

At least I thought he was a boy. Just add long white hair and triangular ears on top of his head.

I blinked, just to make sure what I was seeing was correct, and reached out to touch his ears. They were actually furry! I was actually seeing a strange boy stuck to a tree, with what looked like dog ears on top of his head.

I nearly jumped out of my skin for the second time that day when a flurry of arrows flew right by my head. I quickly turn around and see a group of men wearing the strangest clothing I had ever seen.

*'What the hell?!'* Were they aiming at me?!

"Step away from Inuyasha, demon!"

I glanced right, then left. Demon? Were they talking to me? I had no idea who this Inuyasha was; I guessed he was the weird looking boy behind me. I didn't have time to dwell on it though, because the next thing I know is I'm being tied up and carried off to who knows where.

Now I'm not going to get into all of the embarrassing events that took place after this, but these strange men ended up bringing me to their village. Now I know what your thinking, a village? Really Kagome, you must have hit your head pretty hard. But it's the truth. They sent their village miko to come and rid of my evil (they still thought I was demon, you see). Much to my relief the miko, known as Kaede, cleared up the whole mess of them thinking I was a demon. But then she surprises me and goes on saying how I look exactly like her dead sister, Kikyo.

Kaede took me to her home and gave me some food (so hungry!). After exchanging some words with her, I discover that I am in medieval Japan, which is about five hundred years in the past! Then, she tells me the story of the legendary Inuyasha and Kikyo.

She explained to me that Inuyasha is a half demon who was sealed to the sacred tree by her sister, Kikyo, for stealing the Shikon no Tama (a very powerful jewel).

Of course I'm sitting there with a dumbstruck look on my face, thinking *half demon*? With everything that had happened, this was just another thing that my aching brain had to process. And if you think about it, with all the events that had taken place so far, a world with demons wasn't too hard to accept.

It was getting dark and things seem to be settling down. I was beginning to accept everything that was happening, but after all the hype was over, I started thinking about my family and if I would ever get to see them again. They were probably worried about what happened to me. Awww man! And today was oden night!

It was a peaceful night, but then with my luck, that peace didn't last for long. It was interrupted by a demon. The very same demon that brought me here in the first place. It was a cross between a giant centipede and a woman, and was destroying everything in sight, demanding the Shikon Jewel.

Could things get any worse?

Yes, yes they could.

For some reason, the demon singles me out, and I flee from the village, hoping it would come after me and stop destroying things. It chases me and I run as fast as I can, again wishing I was in better shape. How could I outrun a demon? I didn't stand a chance.

Meanwhile, Kaede (bless her heart), gathers a group of villagers to hunt the monster on horseback and rescue me.

I was praying and wishing with all I had in me that I would get out of this situation unscathed. I called for help and ran in the direction I was pretty sure the well was. Maybe I could jump back in and this nightmare would be over.

I see the sacred tree ahead but after running so hard, I couldn't stop myself from running into a body. A very warm, very *awake* body.

Wait a minute, awake?

"Well Kikyo, come back to finish the job?"

Kikyo?

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not this Kikyo person." I said.

He looked at me credulously.

"What are you talking about? Of course you-" He gave a sniff and his face turned into one of shock. "You really aren't, are you? Wait a minute, of course you aren't! She smelt much better and was much more graceful that you appear."

I blinked, as if not believing that he could say such things to my face.

"EXCUSE ME?!"

Before I could lash out my anger at him, the centipede demon suddenly shows up and demands the Shikon no Tama. It reached for me and I grabbed on to the closest thing available, that being Inuyasha. He wasn't too happy about that.

"What the hell? Let go of me girl!"

Ah, yes. This would be when the cavalry decides to show up. They try to restrain the demon that was still yanking me, and I didn't dare look up to see how Inuyasha looked, though I imagine he was seething with barely restrained anger.

Several things happened in rapid succession.

The villagers were still trying to get control of the situation and the demon decided a new tactic. I remember feeling a sharp pain in my hip and a familiar energy burst inside me. I had my eyes closed tight but when I opened them, there were more of the demons arms on the ground. And then I remember looking at a glowing pink ball with my blood on it. Did that thing come from my hip?

I heard a gasp from the body on the tree and when I turned around to look back at the jewel, the centipede demon was in the process of swallowing it. I saw an unholy light and the monster was cackling as its body regenerated. Oh no, that can't be good.

Finally, the dog boy decides to speak and he pleads or, actually demands that I release him from the arrow that has him pinned against the tree.

Now, I'm normally a very trusting person, but the look in his eyes. . . I hesitated a lot before I could come to a decision, and despite Kaedes warning, I reached for the arrow and watched it disappear beneath my fingers.

Inuyasha, now free from his seal, attacked and completely obliterates the demon. I was so happy, all but cheering him on and completely forgetting about the jewel. Kaede, however, did not, and reminds me of its presence. She told me to find the jewel before the centipede had time to refuse its body together. I saw it within the messy corpse and I'm too shocked to even question why I can see it.

I had a very rude awakening when Inuyasha threatens me to give him the Shikon no Tama, or face his claws.

Was he serious? I cast a nervous glance at his hand with very sharp nails. . . err, claws. Even after looking at those things, I tried to put on a brave face and refused him, after seeing what it could do to the centipede. No one should have that kind of power.

I'm guessing he didn't like the look on my face, because before I know it, he's lunging at me with the intent to kill. Things really aren't looking up for me.

Thank God Kaede decides to step in. Somehow, she managed to put a rosary around Inuyasha's neck. She told me to say a word to subdue him. It's kind of hard for me to think of something while and angry half demon is chasing me, but I manage. One look at the ears, and I know exactly what to say.

"SIT!"

You wont believe my pleasure in seeing him slam to the hard, unforgiving ground.

Ah, justice.

* * *

A/N All right, there's the prologue. Nothing there that everyone doesn't already know. And if you're wondering, I am not going to retell the whole series. I just need this chapter and the next one to sort of give my story. . . a boost. It will not take place during the series, it will take place after Naraku is dead. I'm just not there yet. So please bear with the retelling for just a little longer and we will get to the juice of the story hopefully by the third chapter. Oh, and if you can't tell, it's Kag/Inu.