Disclaimer- Yada yada I do yada not yada own yada yada Inuyasha…Get anything out of that last jumbled up sentence?

Suzu- Ah, so this is chappy 16….sigh, Kagome's shrine has had a problem….

Inuyasha- Kagome's so mean! (pout)

Kagome- That's because that's not me in there! (blush) Well, not really….

Suzu- Settle down everyone, and we'll get on with it… I've been really stressed out lately, because I have a lot on my schedule, so please be kind…

-----------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16

Kagome's Perspective:

I'm walking. My feet are taking me to my final destination….nowhere. I feel peculiar. My mouth is dry and my whole head is empty. I ask myself why I did this, but I don't know. I really don't know if I'm reliving the past or not.

I'm just walking….walking…

Nine hours ago, I was being led into a white-washed, cement building. I couldn't go in there. I couldn't, and you can't blame me.

Flashback-

"Kagome, your parents are waiting for you in there. Let's go." The superintendent looked at Kagome, worried. Kids didn't get in this type of predicament in the middle of a school trip all the time, but she was more experienced than that. She watched Kagome nod, and then stop short.

Kagome gulped. "Are they…okay?"

The woman nodded, hesitating just a bit. "I guess so. Your mother and brother are fine, but your grandfather just has a slight case of depression over the shrine." The woman gave a weak attempt at a joke. "He loves that shrine, doesn't he? Well, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be able to practice his moaning and incantations soon enough."

Kagome nodded. 'Oh Kami, please…'

She couldn't go in there. She couldn't face her family.

End Flashback-

So I'd run away. I couldn't face them. I said I had to use the bathroom, but I was making my way towards the door. You can't blame me for that.

"Hey, miss. Do you know where the food court is?" A woman with brown curls eyes my face. She wears a grey suit and a leather handbag. "Do you know?"

Surprised, I turn my eyes around the place. Shops and stores displayed their bright signs and models. A mall, eh? Well, now I know where I am.

"Um…. I'm not sure, ma'am. Gomen nasai…" The women looks at me again and says, "Oh, okay." She turns away. I'm a fool! I should have been more respectful! Burning inside, I urge my feet in the direction of the nearest store, a jewelry shop.

Walking inside the glass doors, the cashiers and clerks eye me with surprise, but none make a move at me. Glass counters exhibit exquisite diamonds, gold chains, and several precious gems. A dark magenta carpet was fluffed to perfection and fit perfectly with the pinkish walls. Man, of all places I'd had to pick a billionaire's jewelry shop!

Everything had gone so well before…well, I can't really remember…. everything's a little bit fuzzy. This was just great. Pretending not to notice the atmosphere around me, I trod in my school shoes over to the wall and pretended to be admiring the counters nearby. At least the workers had turned away…

Having nothing to do, it's actually very easy to eavesdrop on others' conversations…well, not exactly eavesdrop, right? I had nothing to do but stare in front of me. That isn't exactly entertaining in the long run. My attention was soon captured by a conversation a few feet away.

A lady with gray hairs pulled into a stately and elegant bun was leaning over the counter, brandishing her purse at the clerk, a pretty woman who looked around 25. Evidently, the employee was vainly bargaining with the old woman about a piece of jewelry, which was hidden inside a deep purple case which the clerk clutched in her hand.

"How about ninety-five hundred yen then, girl?" The women huffed with impatience; face just a wee bit red.

"But, ma'am…" the young clerk squeaked, "I can only lower it to eleven thousand yen….no lower, ma'am. I'm positive that you'll find no lower price for such a fine gem."

The old woman brought her dainty hands up to her chin in thought. I saw ten perfectly manicured nails. "Ten thousand yen, final," the elder stated in a practical manner.

The young woman sighed. "Fine, ma'am….I guess that is acceptable…" She took out an exquisite looking shopping bag and put the velvet case inside.

The elder woman looked satisfied. Taking a flashing credit card from her purse, she handed it over to the younger, who looked pretty happy with the income as well.

The elder woman reached into her bag and took out her prize. Opening it, she delicately took out a pink, luminescent jewel the size of a large marble. It was chained to several bonelike, white spearhead-like "beads".

It only took a second for me to react. The woman said something else. I didn't hear a word, everything was going in slow motion. An unexplainable desire and urge pulled inside to move—to do something about that woman, who was taking the Sh—Shik—what was she taking??? Just her jewelry that she paid for! I shouldn't be going nuts. My head is churning, I can't stop.

The woman took a step towards the door. That was it. I had no control anymore. I couldn't let her take the Shik…

-End Kagome's Perspective-

…………………………

"No! Get away from the Shikon No Tama! You can't have it!"

Kagome ran up to the woman, brushing aside all the employees that tried to stop her. All that mattered was to protect the jewel. Or it would be surely used for evil. She couldn't let that happen. She was its protec…. This just didn't make any sense….

The elderly madam let out a dainty shriek as a 17 year old girl tackled her from the side. The crazy lunatic had gone mad!

"Oh! Get off me, child! What are you d--?! Someone, help! Send the police! There's a rampaging teenager and she's trying to get my jewel!"

"Send for the police!" a clerk called into a phone as her customer collapsed on the floor.

Kagome pried the bag out of the lady's hands. Quickly, she reached inside to locate the velvet box. The old woman now lay unconscious at her feet, but that wasn't important. She'd wake up in a few minutes, no doubt. Kagome opened the box to find the jewel, glistening in the velvet lining. Kagome grabbed it.

Suddenly, the sound of many footsteps rushed into the shop. Kagome finally took notice of the people around her. Police surrounded the area. Wait…were they demons or humans? Her image blurred. Many people swarmed in the background and watched her with curiosity.

"Hey, miss! What do you think you're doing? Don't you have school?" A blurry shape stood in front of her. Kagome stiffened. Instinctively, she backed away, only to bump into another shifting form.

"You can't take it. It's mine by right. I'm its protec….or something like that…" Kagome shook her head. What was the use of explaining when she didn't know what was happening herself?

"I used to be sure of a lot of things and not so sure of some too. But now, I'm really confused. But I do know one thing….this is not something you want and I'm not letting you have it! Trust me!"

A form drew nearer to her. "Miss," it said "Give us the gemstone." Kagome cringed. Someone grabbed her hands and took the jewel from behind. Kagome whirled around and tackled him/her/it and retrieved her prize. She heard guns clicking.

"Miss, you're under arrest! We can't have you do all this!"

Kagome saw that she was surrounded. She sank to her knees. She'd failed, just like she'd failed something else, unknown, but its presence still haunting.

She did the last thing she could.

She clutched the jewel close to her heart.

Her lip trembled and a single name left her mouth.

"Inuyasha!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suzu- Well, phew, another chapter ended. How was it? Anyway, I'd just like to tell people that: No, the jewel the old woman purchased was not the Shikon No Tama. It was just an ordinary gemstone that bore enough resemblance to the Shikon Jewel for Kagome's instincts to react dramatically. Next chapter will talk about Kagome and Inuyasha, I think and hope.

Suzu again- I've been busy lately, private violin lessons, studying, finishing a poster for a contest. Last Tuesday, I was informed that I had won the contest for the local area/town. Next step is district, wish me luck! It's an international contest. Anyway, please review people, and see you next time!