My computer got a virus and now I had to reformat it so I'm sorry for the delay. It seems like everything's keeping me from updating. Well I will set up an index for the terms also.

Hello Me

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Yoko Kurama's POV

'It's been a full year since I found that strange girl, no woman in the woods. She is still a mystery to all in the Shinobi camp. She does not act like a woman raised in this era, she is very outspoken and does not follow any man's orders. She has taken her training to heart. I found out that she is a Miko and has control of her powers very well. She has also been able to channel her Miko energy into her neko-te weapons. She passed her missions and has been able to train and beat all the sensei without much trouble.'

"What are you thinking about Kurama?" Kagome asked as she sat next to him on the edge of a hot spring.

'How does she always find me?'

"I'm not thinking of anything in particular," I answered without even looking at her.

"Today is the day that I receive my Shinobi name," Kagome miserably said. I raised an eyebrow at her sad tone and wondered why she sounded so upset.

"Why don't you sound happy about this day?" I asked her not knowing why I should care. Over the year I have come to care for her, but I try to avoid my ever-growing feelings. She is now a Miko Kunoichi and I am the greatest thief ever, there is no chance for us.

"I'm not happy because once I receive my name there will be nothing left for me here. I will than have nothing to look forward to or have nothing but a years memories," Kagome said as she smiled sadly. I chose to remain silent encase she decided to speak again.

"That's why when I receive my name I am going to leave camp and search for my past." This time I turned to look at her and I felt my chest tighten in worry.

"Why not stay here?" I asked not letting any worry into my voice. Kagome let out a soft laugh and she began to play with my tail.

"I feel I have a connection with the Shikon no Tama and I plan to search for more and hopefully find information," Kagome explained to me.

"If that is what you want, then I'll come with you," I offered her. Before I knew it she had jumped on me and hugged me whispering a thank you.

"Do you really mean it?" She asked me with hope.

"Yes, I do mean it, and if you like petting my tail than you would like my fox form," I told her and watched her blush and look away. She was so modest in any situation.

"Yoko," she said to me. She only used my first name when she was either mad at me or pissed off with me.

"I wish that you would be more open with me. I would at least think we are close friends after a year. I've known about you being a thief and I wish you would of told me," Kagome calmly told me.

"I did not want you involved in that part of my life," I simply told her hoping she would understand.

"Did you not think I would have accepted you?" She asked me with anger in her eyes.

"It's not that," I replied.

"Then what the hell is it?" She yelled at me. We both stood up and she glared at me. So I did the only thing possible ... I kissed her. She gasped and I took full advantage of her mouth. She then pulled away from my lips and slapped my hard across my face using her Miko energy to send me into a tree.

"You egotistical bastard! You had no right to do that, especially just to shut me up!" She screamed at me and stomped away.

END POV

"Damn, she packs a punch," Yoko growled as he rubbed his charred cheek. Yoko licked his lips and followed the pissed off Miko into camp.

'That ass, why would he kiss me just to shut me up?' Kagome asked herself now that she wasn't as angry.

She walked into camp and saw that the sun was setting and the moon was rising. She ran into the hut that she and Sora shared. She quickly dressed in her dark blue Shinobi Shozoku before she grabbed her weapon that she bonded with. Kagome walked outside and sat in front of the fire that Master Zen stood before. Kagome bowed her head, but not before she glanced at the sensei around her. She Kurama sitting in a tree playing with a vine, and then she listened to what Master Zen said.

"Kagome your journey has been a long and troublesome. You have not only grown physically, but you have grown spiritually in your training. I have meditated on your name and I have decided that Kami has led me to Sha," Master Zen said as he now went to sit across from her.

"I accept this honor to be named Sha and I shall hold true to my name," Kagome said as she bowed.

"Sha means to heal your self or another," Master Zen said.

"Arigato," Kagome replied. Master Zen stood up to her and bowed as he stood up.

"Welcome, you have the soul of the Shinobi in you," the master said as he walked back into his cave like hut. The sensei all bowed to her before they turned around to leave. Kagome bowed to them and then walked after Master Zen.

"This is a gift for all your hard work," Kurama said as he handed her a wooden box.

Kagome looked at him and then delicately took the box from his hands. She studied the rose designs on the box along with the carvings of bamboo. She looked closer and could see a Shinobi crouching in the bamboo holding a set of Shuriken in between each finger. Kagome carefully opened the box and found six Shuriken. They were made of a metal and had three sharp edges and in the middle of each were rose designs. Kagome looked up and gave Kurama a smile that made her face glow in the fire.

"Kurama, I'm at a lose for words. If I told you they were beautiful, it would do them no justice; and if I thanked you, it wouldn't even express what I feel," Kagome explained in awe as she gazed into his golden eyes.

"Then don't say anything," Kurama whispered as he bent down to kiss her. Right before he touched her lips she fell to the ground holding her head.

"I traveled all the way to the mountain behind you to bring you this for when you returned home," Inuyasha explained as he pulled the flower from the inside of his Kimono.

"Inuyasha, I don't know what to say," Kagome whispered to him as he handed her a pure white flower that was pink on the inside. Inuyasha walked closer to her and he bent down so he could whisper in her ear.

"Then don't say anything," Inuyasha whispered as he softly kissed her. Kagome happily responded holding the flower close to her heart.

"Kagome!" Kurama yelled as he picked her up and ran to Master Zen. When he laid her down on a futon in Master Zen's room.

"What happened?" Master Zen asked with a worried look on his face.

"She collapsed on the ground holding her head," Kurama explained.

"Inuyasha," Kagome sighed as she moved to the other side of the futon. Yoko growled when he heard that name whispered on her lips.

"Yoko, I want you to go and bring some water for Kagome," Master Zen stated more than asked. Kurama walked out the room and went to fetch some water. Kagome suddenly sat up and looked frantically around the room.

"Master Zen, I have something to tell you," Kagome stated.

"Good," he stated as he .sat across from her.

"I think I received a memory," Kagome said. Yoko came back from getting the water and stood outside the entrance to listen.

"What triggered this memory?"

"I think it was triggered when Kurama tried to ... kiss me," Kagome said whispering the last part.

"What did you remember?" Zen asked.

"I remember a man in a red kimono, he had long, wild silver hair and honey golden eyes. He gave me a flower and then he kissed me, and I responded," Kagome explained with a slight blush.

"Do you remember anything else about him?" Zen asked.

"He had dog ears that were the same color as his hair and he also had fangs along with claws," Kagome explained.

"Do remember if he was a bridegroom?" Zen asked.

"No, I don't think he was that, but his name. No matter what I do, but for the past year all I could remember was Inuyasha," Kagome explained. Yoko growled deep in his chest when he heard that another kissed Kagome. He stared at the gift he made for Kagome and glared at it.

'She is fair game,' Yoko thought to himself.

'She bears no mark, ring, or scent that she belonged to another. Maybe she was being courted and didn't have a chance to finish courting. She is with me now, and another, particularly this 'Inuyasha' won't touch her again. I have heard of this Inuyasha and how he and a group of others traveled together and defeated that demon Naraku. I also found out that he traveled with a young Miko and Kitsune at first, I wonder if she is the Miko. That would explain why she smelled like Inu hanyou and Kitsune.'

"Master Zen, I wish that you would grant me the ability to leave the camp so I can travel and find more about my past," Kagome respectfully stated.

"I am sure Yoko Kurama will no longer be with us if you leave. You have trained well and you have the heart of a wandering Shinobi. It is best if you search for your past," Zen said. Kagome beamed with joy and hugged Master Zen before she stood up and bowed. Kurama walked into the room and set the bucket of water down and handed Kagome her gift. Kagome smiled at him and he gave a saddened smile back.

"I know you heard what we talked about, that's why I won't tell you anymore," Kagome explained as she smiled and kissed the tip of his nose.

"Can I come?" Sora asked as she walked into the cave. All of them looked towards her in shock that she was listening.

"Sure," Kagome happily said then looked towards Master Zen.

"You may go," Master Zen said.

"Since when did you decide to become leader?" Yoko asked in an annoyed voice.

"Since I'm the one that decided to leave," Kagome growled at him.

"Whatever," Kurama said abusing Kagome's favorite word.

"Where do you plan to start your journey?" Master Zen asked.

"I think it is best to start where the last journey ended," Kagome said.

"If it helps, I believe the protector of the Shikon no Tama was located in the western lands in Edo," Master Zen said.

"We'll leave tonight since I want to head out to where Kurama found me," Kagome explained.

"Good luck and may you find your past," Zen said his farewell and they parted their ways once Sora was packed. Kurama knew the way to Edo since he traveled and he led the way.

With Inu and the Gang

Shippo sat on top of Kaede's roof watching Miroku dig his own grave. Miroku was behind a cooking Sango and he was staring at the cooking rump that ... and it wasn't the food he was staring at. He eagerly flexed his hand and went for what he wanted. Sango growled and froze as she felt the hand move up and down. Sango whipped around and sent Miroku to the ground with one quick slap. Shippo rolled his emerald eyes before he jumped down and walked into the hut.

"Kaede, have you seen Inuyasha?" Shippo asked.

"No, I have not seen Inuyasha," Kaede answered as she continued making her stew. Shippo sighed as he walked back outside and sniffed the air.

Shippo ran into the forest when he picked up Inuyasha's scent. He finally ran into the hanyou and stopped when he saw Inuyasha sitting in a tree.

"Inuyasha," Shippo said as he climbed up the tree.

"Yeah, what do ya' want?" Inuyasha asked as he stared with the same blank glaze in his eyes of a defeated warrior.

"Are you coming for dinner?" Shippo asked.

"Maybe," Inuyasha quietly said as he stared out into the horizon. Shippo finally got fed up and punched him on the side of his head.

"What the hell was that for?" Inuyasha demanded with a growl.

"Damn it Inuyasha, you think you're the only one that misses her? Hell, we all miss her and the sooner we collect the shards the sooner we can wish her back," Shippo said as he jumped out of the tree.

"We've only found twenty five shards in the past year. Even if we do collect them all we still need someone to fuse them together," Inuyasha said.

"What happened to the Inuyasha that would never take no for an answer?" Shippo asked as he walked away. Inuyasha just watched the kitsune walk away to leave him thinking.

Shippo walked into camp and sat next to Miroku who was waiting for the stew. Sango looked over at Shippo who only shrugged his shoulders and then closed his eyes. Shippo heard a few leaves cracking and watched as Inuyasha appeared in camp. Miroku smiled knowingly because he knew that Shippo always was able to knock sense into Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, it's good to know you're still alive," Sango said with a smile.

"Keh, do you think some weak demon can kill me?" Inuyasha asked as he sat down.

"No, we thought you might of stared yourself to death," Miroku answered as he took a bite of his stew.

"It's time we get off our lazy asses and search for some shards," Inuyasha announced as he took a bite of rice. Miroku choked on his stew when he heard what Inuyasha said.

"When do we leave?" Sango asked with determination in her eyes.

"Tonight," Inuyasha said looking off into the distance.

"Inuyasha, will you be taking the shards with you?" Kaede asked as she walked outside.

"Of Course I will," Inuyasha answered.

"Know this Inuyasha, I sense something powerfully traveling this way," Kaede said.

"It's nothing we can't handle," Inuyasha said.

"Kaede, I can sense it also," Miroku said.

"Does it seem evil?" Sango asked.

"I can not tell ye that. I know that it is powerfully," Kaede said.

"That helps much you old hag," Inuyasha growled.

Smack

"Inuyasha, show Kaede respect," Shippo growled.

"Get back here you runt!" Inuyasha yelled as he chased after Shippo.

"Inuyasha where will we travel to first?" Sango asked trying to stop the fight that was bound to take place.

"We'll start heading to where the battle of Naraku to place," Inuyasha said.

'That's where Kagome died. We never found her shards or her body,' Shippo thought as he stared into his stew.

"Then it's settled. We leave tonight," Miroku said as he took another bite.

Kagome, Sora, and Kurama

Kagome looked around the area that Yoko Kurama found her at. Kagome looked around the area carefully searching for any clues that might lead her to the past.

"Kagome, it's been a year. I think any clues would be erased by now," Sora said as she looked at the broken bamboo pieces.

"I think I came from that direction," Kagome said pointing to the opposite direction of where she laid. Kurama cut away some bushes and they walked out into a field that had anything but life in it. Kagome touched the ground and could practically feel the blood of the slaughtered demons that called out for the blood of her. Kurama touched the plants and rubbed the dirt between his hands trying to feel what happened at that place.

"Do you feel it?" Kagome asked Kurama.

"I can feel the vengeance that the blood calls for. There was a battle here and they evil that lost wants the blood of the pure Miko ... Kagome," Kurama answered as he glanced up at her.

"I think we should camp here tonight," Kagome said as she set her pack down.

"Is it safe?" Sora asked.

"It should be," Kagome assured.

"Where are you sleeping?" Kurama asked Kagome.

"In my futon without you," Kagome said before she lay down.

Terms

Kunoichi: Female Ninja

Shinobi: A male ninja

Shinobi Shozoku: A traditional ninja outfit that covers all but the hands and eyes. Usually dark blue, camouflage, and white in the winter

Sha: is a symbol to heal oneself or another

Shuriken: think ninja stars

Neko-te: iron fingernails that are used by female ninjas. They are used like cat claws and can be dipped in poison