Chapter Seven

By: Mirei

Yuri looked about her in hopes of avoiding the problem at hand. Ryo stood in the center of the ocean watching her. He was the guardian of limbo and reality. Her heart began to pound as his steel eyes pierced through her. She'd never felt so weak in her life. She remained on the shore of the ocean watching him for some time. Her mind began to reel on all the events in her life. Her first thought was of Kagome. It seemed strange at first that Kagome would be the first person to brace her thoughts. Her best friend was one of many people in her life that she counted on. Kagome was her twin soul and when she thought of her friend she thought of herself. They were so much alike and yet different. Yuri turned he body away from Ryo and moved her fingers into the sand. Once the sun fell from the horizon she could leave. Ryo couldn't stand her which was why she remained on shore. Once the sun set he'd leave and another guardian would come and allow her to pass. Mutske told her to just trust in his brother but how could she when Ryo wanted her dead. She shook her head and tucked her knees into her. She listened to the battle of the waves and the rocks.

I don't think that I can return to my old life. It would be impossible to do so. I would never try to take the child from Kagome. The little girl wasn't something I wanted or needed, though it pains me to admit. Everything has a reason for happening and I believe that I was meant to give birth to Uri but Kagome was meant to mother her. To bad that Kagome can't open her eyes and see that Sesshomaru would make a great father for Uri. I can't force it but I can influence the situation right? Maybe I should check in with what she's up to.

She waved her hand in front of her and summoned some of the water from the ocean. It created a mirror in front of her. Kagome was in her room currently at Sesshomaru's parent's house.

'InuYasha…' Kagome said in her mind. Yuri started to laugh. She knew what her friend was doing to InuYasha who had just come home. He had no idea that she could transmit messages to other people with her mind. Kagome was so entertaining. Yuri split the water up and watched as InuYasha looked around him. 'I know about the footed bunny pajamas in your closet…' Kagome said in an eerie voice. Kagome was laughing inside though and Yuri could tell.

"I don't know what you talking about." InuYasha squeaked. Yuri knew he was lying because she could see them hanging off the rack in his opened closet.

'You can't lie to me InuYasha I'm your conscience and I know that you like wearing them when no one's home.' She watched as InuYasha scampered around the room in a frenzied matter.

"My grandma bought them for me I swear." He cried out in defense. By this point both Kagome and Yuri were rolling on the floor laughing at this.

Yuri waved her hand and the images disappeared. It was finally time for her to leave. She looked at the calmed waters and found that Uhen was standing on the shore waiting for her. She allowed her feet to touch the surface of the water. It is said that walking on water is against all laws of physics then what she was doing disproved it. Her feet remained just above the water; only a little bit of the water bracing her feet. Uhen had been really kind to her when she arrived. Most of the sages were. She only knew Uhen on a personal level.

Once she reached him he held out his hand which she took. The water around them started to shake and pull apart. It opened a path deep within the depths of the ocean. Her feet touched smooth tiled floor. This was odd since it should have been mud or gravel. Uhen noticed her confusion.

"We created the ocean. To protect the purity of the water we placed the tiles down instead. Come now Yuri it is time for you to go through the tunnel." She looked at the cave like tunnel and then looked just above it. It seemed as though this ocean went on for forever. Above the tunnel water floated. She looked into the tunnel ahead and took a deep breathe.

The tunnel itself wasn't long but its darkness held an eerie aura to it. She knew that going through it wouldn't be dangerous but still it felt as if someone were watching her. Something caught her attention once she made it to the end of the tunnel. Behind her the water clashed against a barrier. Uhen waved to her and then disappeared. Outside the tunnel there was a tall tan wall that stretched out for miles.

What more do I have to do? Leap tall building in a single bound? Where am I anyway? She shook her head and looked both directions. Making such a decision required much thought.

"Now I'm supposed to decide which path to take. Why do they always do things half way?" She rolled her eyes and walked up to the wall. She could go left or right but that would mean that she'd be making up her mind. No she wouldn't do that, but maybe she could go right down the middle. "A stroke of genius." She told herself and looked up at the wall. It was about as high as her height. Touching the wall she found a few indented edges that could be used to climb the wall. Wait one minute I'm not human right now so I don't have to follow the laws of gravity. I'm such an idiot sometimes. She mused as she backed up from the wall and jump up. If someone were watching they would have mistaken her for an astronaut on the moon. Her movements slow as her body jolted from the ground to the top of the wall. Just as she expected, a wide plain lay before her eyes. But what she found strange about this play was the fact that there was only grass and doors. About twenty doors were scattered about the field. Each one held a different color and design. Now what am I supposed to do? What is this Alice in Wonderland? She rolled her eyes and took in the sight before her. Each door was paired with another. One that caught her attention was the black and red door. Its partner was a red and black door, only the differences in these two doors were the fact that they had a large line running down the front of them.

'Yuri you shouldn't worry too much each door leads you to Tokyo, but only one takes you to the festival. You have figured out that there are only two doors to choose from.' Said Uhen's voice in her mind. Suddenly all the doors expect for the black and red one disappear. 'Now you must choose only one to go through, one of these doors leads to an alley near the festival, while the other leads to Kagome's window in her dorm.' When he said this it finally clicked in her mind. She created these two doors, only she now realized this.

'You sages don't make any sense." She replied.

'Most other sages wouldn't have you running around like I do. I love playing games with people.' She could hear the humor in his voice.

'Laugh it up you jerk I'm going get you for this when I return.' She huffed and went through the black door.

The streets were filled with screaming children and old women fighting over souvenirs. Typical festival. She sighed and stretched out her paws. She took notice that her fur was the color of the door she went through. The lamp posts glistened in the night as thousands of people pushed past one another in a rush. Must be time for the auction. The auction was held in the main stage. It was for those women who couldn't get dates. Single men were paraded around on the stage and sold to the highest bidder. It supposedly was for charity but that was a load of crap and most people with any brains could see that.

Her task was simple. Track the ambassador's daughter down and return her home. The problem; she was a black cat. Kagome could always help though. All she needed to do was contact Kagome and then get her to help the girl. If Celeste isn't returned by the stroke of midnight her death would remain on Yuri's hands.

Yuri saw a movement coming from behind a trash can, upon further investigation she found the child she'd been waiting for. Celeste looked up at the cat from her position next to the trash can.

"Hi kitty." Celeste said with a smile. Yuri gave her a meow and rubbed her head against Celeste's ankle. The eight year old gave Yuri's fur a rub and then went back to watching the crowd from the alley. "I got lost, my mommy and daddy left me with my guard but I can't find him anywhere." She said to Yuri. Yuri knew this wasn't a mistake. Yura had told her that the guard was working for a man who wanted to hold the girl for ransom. But that wasn't the gist of it; the man he worked for held a deep seeded hatred for the ambassador. His plan was to kill the young girl and have her father watch it.

She nudged the little girl's leg and tried to get her attention.

"What is it; do you want me to follow you?" Yuri meowed again. Celeste stood up and Yuri began to run toward the crowd. She could sense Kagome near by; all she had to do was get the girl to Kagome and then return to the sages. Easier said than done. I think this is just another of Uhen's games. He should really consider growing up sometime. Celeste timidly followed the cat and saw her searching with her head. Kagome's scent lingered in the air just momentarily then it moved down the street toward the auction. She knew that the child would follow her; children were too trustworthy of the things around them.

Kagome held onto Uri's hand as they made their way toward the auction. She'd been really quiet that night and Sesshomaru had noticed. He'd never ask her what was bothering her but he knew she'd tell him later. As for the auction she told him that if he stayed out of view then he wouldn't have to do anything. There were a few men up on stage and about three women. It was traditional that women were the first for bidding. Kagome could remember when she and Yuri would go down just to laugh at the people on the stage. The whole thing was a joke anyway. What woman in her right mind would ever subject herself to be sold to someone for a date? Someone who was pretty desperate and lonely that's who (cough-Joanna-cough). But before she could think someone was pulling her onto the stage.

"And what do we have here, such a lovely girl and no suitor." He obviously hadn't seen Sesshomaru, who she used as her 'bodyguard'. There was no escaping the stage now was there? The host of the auction gave her a huge grin and placed her next to the other women. Kagome edged her way toward the exit but didn't make it in time. The host pulled her back to the front of the stage. "Alright boys this is" he paused for a moment and then looked at her as if asking what her name was.

"Kagome." She said with all her nervousness evident in her voice. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and prayed that someone would save her.

"Ah okay who out there wants to take this lovely young woman out on a date?" The response was about twenty different men yelling out their bids. Sesshomaru stayed silent and watched this horrific display for human rituals play before him. That was until a shout he recognized a call in the night.

"I'll pay two hundred dollars." Yelled Kouga. Kagome inwardly groaned. Why sages why do you hate me so much! She cried in her mind. But her thoughts were cut off when another yell from the crowd could be heard.

"Seven hundred." It was Sesshomaru's voice. She looked down at him as he pushed his way through the crowd. He looked rather unhappy about the whole situation.

Kouga growled at Sesshomaru and came to stand at the front of the stage. The other males in the audience had given up at two hundred.

"One thousand." Kouga yelled. Kagome felt like crawling under a rock and dying. She couldn't see that rock anywhere.

'Why are you doing this Sesshomaru?'

'Would you like to date him?'

'No but I don't want you wasting your money on something stupid like this.'

'I'd do as I wish Kagome.' She rolled her eyes and inched away from the host.

"Two thousand." Bellowed Sesshomaru. Kouga gapped at him in disbelief.

"Two thousand three hundred." Said Kouga a little shaken by the high amount.

"Would you go away Kouga; can't you see that she doesn't want to be with you?" Sesshomaru smirked when he saw the uplifted anger on Kouga's face. "Five Thousand." Sesshomaru called. Kouga slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"Wow, you heard it this man right here bids five thousand on this lovely young woman." He pulled Kagome back to the front. "Going once going twice…sold to the young man in the front!" He shouted and let go of Kagome who climbed off the stage and into Sesshomaru's arms. He glared up at the guy on the stage and pulled out his check book. He scribbled down the appropriate information and then handed the host the money. He grabbed Kagome's arm and pulled her away from the auction. Uri stood never to Sesshomaru the whole time that this was happening and had no clue about the events that had taken place.

"Thanks Sesshomaru that was really nice of you to do that." She smiled up at him. He rolled his eyes and waved off her admiration off.

"It's over with Kagome now let's go find Rin and Souta and get out of here." He pulled Uri along with him and left Kagome standing there stunned. She would have started to follow if it hadn't been for something soft rubbing against her ankle. She looked down and found a cat and an eight year old girl. Wait a minute that's ambassador Rohan's daughter.

"Why hello what are you doing all by yourself." Kagome asked getting down to the child's level.

"I can't find my mommy or daddy. Can you help me?" He big blue eyes looked up into Kagome's brown caramel ones.

"Sure, come on." She takes the little girls hand and catches up with Sesshomaru who's trying desperately to pull Uri away from the cotton candy.

Great now I can return to the sages. Thank you Kagome for always being in the wrong place at the right time. Oh man will I have fun picking on her about that moment. Yuri thought as she made her way back to the alley that she entered only thirty minutes before. What she found was Uhen standing in the shadows. He waved his hand and she slowly started to change back into her human form.

"Ah so Yura let you out of the house huh?" She asked with a smirk.

"For your information Yuri I have the freedom to do what I want."

"So what are you doing here?"

"Your mission is over and it's time for you to start your life over."

"Uhen why was finding that little girl so important?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes." She joined him against the wall.

"That child is supposed to be our child's reincarnate. That was the only relevant reason to protect her. We do not choose who our reincarnates are except for Kagome and Sesshomaru. They risked their very lives and deserved to be given a second chance to love again."

"So then I can't ever see her again can I?" She asked finally.

"You can but you must remember that if you say a word to anyone about this then you'll be hauled back to limbo and sent for judgment." His voice was hard; a tone he'd never used with her before.

"Will do captain."

"Now let's go and get you into your new body." He held his hand out to her and she grasped it.

Itsoma Komanoi made his way down the halls of his home toward the library. When he rounded the corner he was caught by surprise. He found Sesshomaru holding onto Kagome by the waist while she gripped onto the door frame of the library.

"No I don't want to go!" She yelled. "You can't do this Sesshomaru I'm in love with this library!" She pulled harder away from him while Sesshomaru's grip tightened.

"We have to leave for school now. Stop acting like a baby and let go."

"I don't want to go to school I want to live in the library." Itsoma walked over to the pair and allowed his amused grin to brace his features.

"What's going on here?" He asked his son.

"Itsoma he's trying to make me leave your library." She whined.

"Oh Kagome you are always welcomed back here. You are truly an amusing girl." He laughed a little. "But I believe it is time for you kids to be on your way." She didn't let go of the door but Sesshomaru managed to pull her away while his father was speaking to her. He dragged her down the hall and to the car.

"Bye Itsoma, I'll see you later." She waved. "Bye library I'll always love you!" she said as her side of car closed. She pressed her face against the glass and watched the large house disappear in the distance.

A/N: This chapter was the bane of my existence. I struggled with it all week and I realize that it's been a while since I've updated the story and I'm really sorry I didn't mean for it to take so long. I don't know when I'll update next my online time has become increasing difficult to attain so as soon as I'm allowed to use it again I'll update more. I'm going to be working on the story more but I won't update until I finish a few chapters first. I would also like to thank Joanna for her help, if there were an award for the coolest person it would so go to her. I hope that when I'm her age I'll rock as hard as she does. I can just hear her now 'You're making me blush.' But it's so true! Oh and to all you rad reviewers who give such encouragement and praise.