The Next Morning

Kagome couldn't sleep that night. How Kurama had known about the Sacred Jewel was beyond her, but she knew better then the mention it to her friends.

She packed her backpack full of raman for Inuyasha, crayons for Shippo, hair accessories for Sango, and new sandals for Miroku. She walked slowly towards the well house, half expecting Kurama and the others there waiting for her. But they weren't there and Kagome was glad.

She jumped down the well and the familiar light swallowed her up.

Kurama's House

Kurama didn't sleep well that night. Actually, not at all. From his living room, he could Kagome's light on all night. She obviously couldn't sleep either.

" How did she come across that Jewel?" he wondered, " It has been destroyed for ages."

"Yes, that is odd, ne?"Yoko agreed in his mind.

" That Sacred Jewel…was gone for so long….how could she have it in her possession?" Kurama said. " It doesn't make sense."

"No…That Jewel is a powerful item. It was said to be protected by a Miko, but she died. Some say she had it burned with her body and that is how it was destroyed…but still…that does not explain how Kagome got a hold of it…unless she's a better thief then us!"Yoko laughed at his joke. Kurama didn't think it was a time for jokes.

The Feudal Era

Kagome pulled herself out of the well. It was pouring rain. " Oh no!" she cried, making a run for the village, " It's raining!" She ran as fast as she could, mud splattering the back of her legs and rain soaking her to her bones.

When she burst into the hut she and her friends shared in the isolated part of the village, Miroku burst out laughing at her. Sango slapped him. Kagome dropped her bag beside the door and followed Sango to the Girl's Room, and shut the door. Sango also locked it.

Kagome walked behind a screen while Sango passed her dry clothes. " Will you be alright?" Sango asked, " I mean, you did just get soaked right?"

" Yeah, I'll be fine," she replied, " I wasn't out there for very long."

Kagome reappeared from behind the screen. She wore Miko clothing like Kikyo's. Whenever she was in the Feudal Era now, she protected the villagers and the Sacred Jewel. When she was not there, her friends had to do all the work. However, the Jewel stayed with Kagome at all times. Kaede had insisted on it.

She sat down on a chair in front of a mirror. Sango picked up a brush. " What's wrong Kagome?" she asked, " I'm like your sister, I know when something's wrong. Can you tell me?"

She gently pulled the brush through Kagome's sopping wet and tangled hair. She thought for a moment.

" I won't force you to," Sango continued, " Only if you want to. What kind of a friend would I be if I forced you tell me?"

Kagome thought about that. Kurama's words floated back to her "No, I will not pressure you into telling. Tell me only if you want to…"That's what Sango said. They respected it when she had something she didn't want to talk about. And if she confided in Sango, she knew Sango would tell no one if she said so.

" Okay," Kagome said, " I'll tell you. Just don't tell anyone else…yet."

Sango nodded.

" Well, I had this friend when I was really little. We were the best of friends, never too far from each other's side. Every so often, he'd disappear for a little, but he always came back. Then, when we entered High School at the age of fourteen, he disappeared for good. So did three other of my friends. I was lonely. Then at my fifteenth birthday, I fell through the Well and…well you know that part."

" I'm eighteen now, and it's been four years since I last saw him and my other friends that vanished. I never thought I'd see them again. Now, four years later, they come back. I made up with my best friend. That night, a demon came out of the well. I started to attack him. Then, the four of them show up and help me to defeat it. After it died, one of them started to question me. I had to keep all of this a secret. I questioned them back and they didn't answer me. I showed them the Jewel. Two of them thought it was just another jewel, but my best friend and the other one seemed to be shocked."

Sango continued to brush, though her hair was free from tangles.

" The one took the other two outside and started shouting at them. My best friend said I had been right when I said that he and the other one were demons. And that the other had a Jagan eye. But he said that I have secrets of my own, which is true. He told me that he would not pressure me into telling him what they were, only if I wanted to. Just like what you said. He hopes that one day, maybe we can share our secrets with each other. Then, he left me alone and took the others away."

Sango remained silent for a time. " So, you're confused at what to do, right?" she asked at length.

Kagome nodded. " I have no idea what to do."

" Can you trust him?"

That was an odd question. " Yes," she answered slowly.

" Then, if you ever feel a need to tell him anything, you at least know that he would tell no one."

" Yeah…Oh it's all so confusing! I want to tell him, but he could never tell me his secret! I haven't seen him in four years! I didn't even know he was still alive! I missed him and now he's back, and can't tell me anything!"

" Shhh…Kagome. What you're feeling is quite normal," Sango assured her, " But you yourself, also said that you cannot tell him your secret. So, you're even, unless you choose to tell."

Sango had a point. Kagome knew that.

" Thanks Sango," Kagome said, standing up, " I'm staying for three days, so I'll think about it."

Sango smiled.

The group remained inside all day that day because of the rain. Sango and Kagome played with the hairpieces and Sango loved what Kagome did to her hair.

" It's so pretty!" she exclaimed.

" Kagome!" Shippo whined, " I don't have any paper left!"

" You shouldn't use it so quickly," she said with a smile. " I'll bring you more another time."

Shippo smiled.

" Kagome, where have you been?"

" I just got here an hour ago," she snapped at Inuyasha.

" I was going to get you!"

" Well, I'm quite capable of getting here on my own you know!"

He scowled at her.

With Kurama

' When she comes back,' he thought, ' Then, I'll have to ask her about it…tell her about my secret.'

"You have no other choice at the moment,"Yoko agreed.

Kurama shook his head. Where was she now though? She hadn't left the house, yet there was no movement from her house either. It was strange.

Feudal Era

The next day was sunny, but the roads were soft with the mud. Kagome went out anyway. She had to check on the well, make sure no demons were near. A small group of the village girls followed her. They were so young, so small, Kagome thought they were so cute.

" Please, slow down Lady Kagome," one girl said.

" Of course. And, please, don't call me 'Lady'. Just call me 'Kagome'."

The girl nodded as they reached the well. The only ones there were Sesshomaru, Rin, and Jakken.

Sesshomaru hardly acknowledged Kagome, but Rin ran right up to her.

" Kagome!" she shouted, " Hello Kagome-sama!"

" Hello Rin," she said, stroking her hair, " Are you well?"

" Oh yes! Master Sesshomaru takes good care of me!"

" That's good." She looked up at Sesshomaru. The other girls hid behind Kagome. " Are there any demons near here?" she asked, gesturing to the well.

" No," he answered emotionlessly, " Just me. I am passing through."

" Okay, thank you." She bowed and pried Rin off her. She left quickly because she knew that the little girls were scared of Sesshomaru. They had heard terrible stories about him and didn't know how Kagome could stand talking to him.

The next day came, and Kagome left at sundown. Sango wished her good luck. Inuyasha, who had somehow found out about her plan, shouted " Don't you dare take them here! Tell them if ya really have to, but do not take them here!"

She didn't answer as she let the well's light swallow her up.

Well House

Kagome pulled herself out of the Well. The sun had not yet fully set. She was glad. She hid the Jewel beneath her blouse and left the well house, locking the door behind her.

She went to her room, and opened the window to look out. She saw many things. She saw birds flying, she saw clouds floating, she saw Kurama in his own window, staring at her. She waved. He waved back. Abruptly, she left the window. She ran down the stairs, nearly falling down them. She threw open the door, letting it slam behind her. She dashed down the Shrine steps and across the street. Kurama was waiting for her in the open doorway.

" What is it?" he asked.

Kagome was breathing heavily. She didn't know if this was a good idea.

" Please, come in," he help her inside and told her to sit down in a chair at the kitchen table. He went to get her a glass of water. He returned with two, one for her, one for himself.

Kagome took a sip and regained her breath. " Thank you," she said, " I needed that."

He smiled. " What is it Kagome?" he asked, " You seem like you want to talk."

She hesitated a moment, then, together, they both said, " I have something to tell you."

Chapter three is up. rr like usual o'negai! Arigatou!