Author's Note:

Well, after a year of hiatus, I'm feeling like picking this story up again. Not really unusual, but it should be easy to accomplish. (my goal being only around 1,500 words per chapter – maybe less.)

I've changed the summary a little….it gets sent out with every alert, after all. It must look nice, and sound nice.

Taking account of the lack of popularity of…..all of my stories, I've decided that this story will be the one that is completed first. (If you've read my profile, you'll have noticed that I plan for this particular one to last for ten chapters. With the upload of this one, we're halfway there. But, then again, that goal might have to change – if my chapters stay as short as they are right now.)

And, don't you hate it when a story starts in one style – but ends in another? That's another reason why I want to finish this quickly. For you, my dear readers. (I have read them over – a little while ago, so you may not notice the difference. Please re-read the other chapters if you need to.)

Note that the formatting has changed a little. Also note that the story of the Shikon no Tama is a little different in this chapter. Don't worry, that'll all come clear later on.

Kikyo may be a little stupid in this chapter…but it IS my story.

Enjoy.

A Different Reason

Chapter Five: I've Seen the Future

She protected her heart because her heart was the key to survival. Not the survival of herself – the survival of her entire race.

No, she wasn't conceited. She wasn't being stupid. She wasn't lying, either.

It was the truth.

In her heart – in fact, in place of her heart – was a sacred jewel, named the Shikon no Tama. It was what protected humanity from the wrath of the youkai, and it would continue to protect them for far longer. Optimistically, it would.

Passed from miko to miko, it had been safe in their pure hearts. The greatest care was taken to ensure that it was – and so secrecy surrounded the priestesses and caretakers of the jewel. Nothing had ever beaten them before, and nothing had ever given them a fight (though not for lack of trying).

Thus, no one ever worried about it, because they trusted in the protectors, unknown though they were.

Maybe they should have started wondering, and started guarding her better.

The only reason why the mikos had never lost was because the youkai attacking them weren't powerful. They were the weaklings, those who lusted after power. The impatient ones, the ones who couldn't plot or plan for their lives (which is what it cost them, in the end).

The current protector was one of the most powerful mikos anyone had ever heard of, or come up against.

Her name – was Kikyo.

And she had been corrupted.

Kagome woke up the next day to find that Souta wasn't in his sleeping bag, and that his spot was cold. This meant that he had left earlier – much earlier.

She didn't remember him being a morning person, but maybe that had changed too, with the rest of him. She climbed out, to find him gathering up the remains of what she had left out the previous night.

Relieved to find that he hadn't strayed far, she settled herself at the well's opening. Yawning, Kagome inquired,

"What are you doing Souta? It's so dark out – I wish I had a watch that worked. Bet it's not past 7:30, though."

"Kagome, I really hate to say it, but I think you're kinda stupid. If there are some people around, they don't have to want us to stay. I mean, they could get violent or something." He said, tossing a few more sticks into the bag he was holding.

"Oh….right." She replied lamely. She had thought ahead, but not that far ahead. She was also a little hurt by his honesty.

"Sis, I'm almost done here. If you wanna, we can eat something now." He said with a grin that helped heal some of it.

Kagome nodded, and went back down the well. It wasn't until she was gathering some chips that she realized that Souta had, in a way, taken charge.

A hanyou had gotten to the beloved priestess. They had fallen in love, much to the disapproval of everyone. But then again, 'everyone' couldn't see how much purer the jewel was, infused with the power of love. 'Everyone' couldn't see how their prejudice kept something wonderful from happening.

There came a day when the half-breed was called away, to battle his full-blooded brother for ownership of the Western Lands. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, as Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, had not had to challenge him. He could have retained ownership of his inheritance without ever thinking of Inuyasha.

However, in a moment of pride, he decided to put down his half-breed brother once and for all. It was an invitation that might never come again.

Inuyasha couldn't afford to lose, and he couldn't afford to refuse.

In a touching scene, the miko and the hanyou parted, with a few tears from her, and a strong embrace from him.

"So, Souta…what do you think we should do?" Kagome asked gingerly, still coming to terms with the fact that Souta knew what he was doing – and she didn't.

"Well, yesterday I thought I saw some signs of civilization. You know, when we were both doing that exploring in that mean forest."

"So? You wanna just walk up and go, hey, can you tell us about what's going on?" She demanded, brushing crumbs off her skirt. This brought Souta's attention to it.

"…why are you wearing your school uniform?"

"Uh, well," she blushed a little, "I kinda grabbed formal clothing when we were…packing, and this is one of the only things I could stand getting dirty."

Souta gave her another strange look, before returning to his munching.

It had been two days, ample time for Inuyasha to send a message back in. Kikyo waited anxiously, always looking to the northwest every day.

Finally, a man swathed in bandages appeared. She didn't know if he would be a messenger, but was driven to help him anyway. She hadn't spent the first years of her life learning about herbs and medicines for nothing.

She learned that the man's name was Onigumo; and while he had passed Inuyasha on the road, he'd had no message for her. He had come because he'd learned of her skill with plants, and was wondering if she could help with the burns over much of his body.

Of course, she helped him.

After another day went by, Kikyo grew distraught. She missed Inuyasha.

That day, she happened to mention it in front of Onigumo. They had held many conversations, and enjoyed each other's presence.

"Well then, miss, why don't you look into the future?"

She stared, pausing in her work. It was such an improbable suggestion.

"How's that supposed to help me? Looking into the future is dangerous, and if I were to disappear – you would have no one to look after you."

"Don't worry about me, pretty one. You may find it reassuring to see you two together in the future – providing that you do end up together, of course."

Kikyo was offended by his implication, and left. The bandaged man smirked, and shifted in position. He didn't mind waiting.

She was back soon enough.

"How do I do this 'looking into the future'?" He told her, and she wrote it all down hastily. With a fast 'good-bye', she went back into her hut.

"Kikyo, what are you doing with that bowl? I need it if we want to have soup tonight." A younger girl came up to her a few minutes into her preparations.

"Kaede, I'm busy. Can't you make soup in another bowl – or just make something else?" Kikyo responded absently, pouring some water into the bowl.

Kaede started to reply, but then realized what the notes said. She rubbed her left eye, and checked again. Certain it said what she thought it did, she protested,

"Kikyo! But we're not supposed to do that kind of magic yet!"

"Correction – you're not supposed to this kind of magic yet. I am more powerful than you, and with the Shikon no Tama protecting me, I don't think there's too much danger. Please leave me alone, now." Kikyo said firmly. Kaede gave her a glare, but went outside. There was no arguing with her older sister when she got this way.

"C'mon, let's go Kagome. We're losing time and whatever else."

"Coming. Hey, walk faster, will you! And stop stopping!" She asked as she ran into him for the fifth time.

"Sorry, but there's all this junk in front of me." Kagome looked around her younger brother and saw the truth. The trees had raised their roots, as they had before. She looked behind them to find the path as smooth as she had ever found it.

"Maybe I should go first." She said, playing a hunch.

"But you don't know where to go!" Souta protested as she gently pushed him aside.

"That's why I'll be carrying you. Then you can tell me which way to go."

From then on, Souta rode piggy-back. Kagome still had trouble sometimes, but not nearly as much as they had with Souta in the front.

Kagome was getting tired, and Souta's neck had started hurting when they came out into a clearing with a few stumps in it and felled trees. She sat him down on the ground, and collapsed next to him, resting her cheek on one worn trunk.

"I think I need to – start – working – out if I'm gonna – keep carrying –you." She said while gasping for more air.

"Weakling." Souta joked, rolling his head around.

Their break was interrupted when both heard a foot fall, and the sound of a bow being drawn. Kagome sat up quickly, and Souta moved into a crouch.

In front of them was a priestess, a miko from how she was dressed. In her elegant hands, she carried a beautiful bow – which was pointed at Kagome. Even though she was dressed in white and red, and Kagome in green and white, Souta made a connection.

"Sis…she looks just like you." Souta gasped. Kagome nodded slowly, not wanting to make any sudden movements that could prompt her death.

"Who are you?" The priestess asked in a cold voice.

"Um…I'm Kagome, and this is my brother Souta. We-"

"That is enough. You will have to come with me…unfortunately." The miko lowered her bow, and turned around. She muttered something that sounded like, 'Damn, they really are the ones I'm looking for.'

"Um…before we do that, could we know your name?" Souta asked hesitantly, getting to his feet.

"My name is Kikyo, guardian of the Shikon no Tama." At the mention of the sacred jewel, the siblings exchanged wary glances.

"Why do you want us to go with you? How do we know you don't mean us harm?" Kagome demanded boldly, reaching for her own bow and arrows, which lay behind her. They hadn't broken when she set Souta down, which was a miracle – in her point of view.

Kikyo turned around again, looking tired.

"Put your weapons down. I mean you no harm." She sighed, and swept her hair back.

"I can't. I have seen the future, and I need you."

Author's Note:

All done! Finished it in 2 days – not working continuously, of course.

Went on a reviewing streak today…you're very welcome.

Don't forget about my penname change. You may ask any questions in reviews or emails, I don't really care which. School starts tomorrow, so I doubt I'll be updating more than twice a month.

Send me some review alerts! (By the way, with this last sentence, it's exactly 2003 words. Cool, no?)