Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha, But I do own Neko, Yuri, and Itokuzu.

Kagome

Eyes slowly opened to the dim light that reached from the outside and made its way inside onto the girl's face. She slowly stood up and stretched out her arms, and rubbed her eyes. The young woman grabbed her cloths and put them on. She stepped outside into the fresh morning air, and took in a deep breath with a wide smile.

"Mistress!" Called a deep voice from a man running toward her. His short black hair blew back as he picked up speed, hurry to get to her. The mistress looked over to the man with a bright smile.

"Mistress Kagome!" He yelled once again, stumbling over a rock while running up to her with a big smile on his face. The young miko giggled at the sight of her clumsy friend.

"What is Neko?" Kagome asked, trying to suppress a giggle in her throat. His velvet eyes locked with hers and a worried look spread on his face.

"One of the village women has fallen ill milady! We need you come at once!" Neko explained very quickly. The bright smile that once lit Kagome's face was now replaced with concern and nodded to him in response. She turned her head to the left and whistled loudly. It hurt his ears considering the fact that he was a demon, but his hearing was not that great when it came to distances.

Neko took a few steps back and started to mentally count, three…two…one…Out of nowhere came a huge cream orange spotted cat with white fur.

"Let's go Neko." The miko ordered sternly to him as she got on the over sized cat. The young man nodded his head in response and jumped on, so that he was behind her.

"Make it fast Buyo!" She ordered the cat demon with great urgency in her voice. Right after that they where speeding off toward the village. Neko's grip tightened around the young priestess's waist. He enjoyed riding the large cat, just not when it was at the rate of speed it was going now.

"Which hut!" She called back to him urgently.

"The last one at the far end of the village near the forest." He yelled back to her as loud as he could. Although he knew that her hearing was a lot better than his. Buyo quickened his pace while dogging trees, and other objects.

The small hut quickly came into view and Kagome hopped off as soon as the cat demon had came to an urgent halt. Neko followed suit. The young miko burst into the small home and looked to see the pale faced women.

"Neko, go wait outside." She said softly to him. Neko did as he was told and left the hut. Buyo was lying down beside the small house waiting for Kagome. Neko joined the over sized cat.

About two hours had past until Kagome was finished treating the woman of her illness. She came out of the hut with a smile on her seventeen year old face.

"It looks like she is going to be fine. Neko, I need you to find her husband and tell him to stay and watch over her until she gets better. Then give this to him and tell him to put one in all her meals, and that she get a lot of rest, okay?" She asked me softly with a pleading look.

"I need to go check on a few other people today, so I won't have time to take care of her. Can you do me this one favour?" Kagome once again asked the cat demon with begging eyes. He only laughed softly and looked over to her.

"You don't need to ask, I'll be more then glad to. Just remember to check up with Itokuzu at noon precisely." He said and ran off to the river where the men were fishing.

The young mistress took off as well for the day. She had tried to look up on the others whom she had recently helped before noon, hoping she would not be late for check up appointment. The morning seemed to go by fairly quickly for her. Although something seemed to be bothering her as well. The young miko just shrugged it off and went back to work.

There was one client she had to look up on over the others. Kagome walked through the fairly large village that she helped to protect.

"Good morning Lady Kagome!" An elder man called out to her with a wide smile, she returned the hello like she did the rest of the villagers. She soon found herself daydreaming along the walk to the young child's home that she wished to visit.

Daydream sequence

Kagome stood by the river's edge, looking into nothing but its clear waters. She could hear nothing but its movements and only feel the wind fly by her face. That moment it seemed like she was hypnotized by the waters and it felt like it was telling her that it was the only thing that mattered.

She knelt down by it and took her hair out of the high ponytail it was always in. Her long raven hair rolled down her shoulders and stopped on her back. She kept looking into the water then turned her gaze up to the clouds that danced in the day's blue sky. The clouds did not seem to make any shapes but it was a great place to just relax and forget about her duties as a servant to the gods.

In fact, this is the place she always escaped to when ever she felt too stressed out with her duties. She loved doing them, but like every other person, it sometimes got a little ridicules and over board. She let out a sigh as a large smile spread across her lips.

Kagome then looked back down into the water and let out a small gasp at what she saw. She could not only see her own reflection, and the reflection of a young man behind her. She stood up quickly and turned around; a smile was on her face.

"I see you are back." She said seductively to him. His face was hidden in the shadows as usual, but she could still see his beautiful smile. Before she could say anything else, the young man wrapped his arms tightly around her; pulling her into a gentle, but loving hug. Kagome returned the hug with much force.

"I should be the one saying that woman." His husked voice soothed out to her while stroking her raven hair with his fingers. She leaned into him while his fingers ran through her hair. He placed his hand under her chin so that it was tilted up looking at him. He leaned in closer to her, ready to capture her lips in a loving kiss…

End of Daydream.

"Lady Kagome?" A small voice asked that belonged to a pair of large green eyes, starring up at her with curiosity.

Kagome looked down to her small friend after breaking off from her daydream. Her face turned a very deep shade of red when she realized what she was daydreaming of. She returned the smile to her little friend, having the normal colour slowly return to her face.

"How are you feeling today Yuri?" The young priestess asked, kneeling down beside her and reaching into her sleeve pocket.

Yuri was about five to six years old. She had unusual dark purple hair that hung down to her shoulders. The little girl had hazel eyes that also seemed to have a mix of other colours in them. It depended on what her mood was. She expressed her emotions greatly and always seemed full of joy. So her eyes were mainly hazel with a stir in of pink.

"I have been very good today Kagome-chan!" She squealed in delight looking to the young woman who had been taking care of her with loving eyes. Yuri glanced over to what Kagome was reaching for in her pocket. When the young miko finally got what she was looking for out of her sleeve, the little girl's eyes widen with pure joy.

"I found this flower near the river. It seems quit unique and it is very pretty ne?" She asked looking up to the very excited girl in front of her. "Pretty like the little girl I brought it here for." She continued.

"Is it really for me?" Yuri questioned, hope shining in her eyes. Kagome nodded in response and placed the red flower in the girl's tiny hands. Yuri let out the happiest, loudest, squeal that Kagome had ever heard any little girl give out.

Yuri started to dance around Kagome, while putting the flower in her hair. Kagome watched the little girl with great amusement. The little purple haired girl hugged her tightly with great happiness. The young miko picked up Yuri and carried her back to the hut that she lived in with her foster mother.

Kagome placed Yuri back down and kissed her forehead. Then told her to be a good girl for her mom and instructed her on how to keep the flower she had given her alive. The little girl paid close attention to every word that the young miko had said to her.

"Kagome-chan…do you have to go. I want you to stay and play with me." Yuri pleaded her, her eyes having some blue in them.

"I can't stay and play now Yuri, but I'll play with you as soon as I can. Alright?" Kagome patted the young girl's head lightly. Yuri nodded and went back inside the hut to help her mother cook dinner.

The young miko looked to the little child with soft eyes. It seems that the only time I can show emotion is in this village, and around the children. She said to herself in her thoughts then started to walk off toward the high cliff, over the large green hill, on the other side of the village. Buyo came running over to her at the moment he saw her. She just kept walking until the large cat demon ran right beside her; she grabbed his fur, and flipped so that she ended up on his back.

She and Buyo raced through the village. The cat demon ran pretty fast, but not fast enough so that he was only a blur to the people whom lived in the strangely large village. The villagers just watched as their priestess rode her cat demon friend's back, and race to the large grassy hill.

"Thanks for the ride Buyo! After that accident last week I don't think I would be able to run fast enough without hurting myself!" Kagome yelled to him loudly. With the wind whipping past his ears, it would be hard for him to hear her if she just talked in a normal toned voice. Buyo just mewed happily as a reply to her.

They were almost over the grassy hill when Neko came running up beside them with his usual grin. Kagome nodded his head to him, like as if she was answering an un-spoken question he would soon probably ask. His grin turned into a smile and he looked ahead to see where he was going.

WHAM!

Unfortunately, he did not look ahead in time to avoid the large, grey boulder that he just rammed into. Kagome just blinked until she realized what had just happened. Buyo stopped immediately when he saw Neko slam into the rock.

"Oh my gosh! Neko are you alright?" Kagome asked urgently after she got off from Buyo's back quickly. She headed over to Neko just as quickly. He was lying on his back, his face looking up with swirly eyes.

"Baaaa?" Was the black haired cat demon's reply to Kagome. Since he had still not come to his senses. Kagome took a near by stick and started to poke him with it. After a moment of stick poking Neko, she threw the twig aside.

"NEKO!" She yelled in his ear with worry greatly rising in the pit of her stomach. She leaned in closer to her companion to get a better look at his red face. She was about an inch away from his face when all of a sudden she felt something warm press against her cheek.

Kagome blushed furiously at the impact, but right after her anger rose. The young miko's cheeks turned bright red as well. Before she could even yell at Neko, he had already started to run for his, soon to be shortened life. Buyo didn't even need to be told anything; he just stood up, flung the fuming miko onto his back, and started to run off to the high cliff.

"I'll deal with you after my appointment Neko!" She shouted at him right after she was placed on Buyo's back.

Oh boy…the sun is right at the highest point. I'm gonna be late! Kagome tightened her legs on Buyo's sides to indicate that she wished for him to go faster. The brown eyed cat demon sped up toward the cliffs and they were at the spot in no time flat. Kagome slid off from Buyo's back and landed quietly on the grass. She turned her gaze from the cat demon toward the peak of the cliff.

There stood woman who looked to be in her late twenties. Her waist length, dark brown hair blew in the mountain's wind. The woman's hazel blue eyes stared straight into the deep brown eyes of the young miko. There was nothing but an emotionless mask on her delicate face, but all was said in her eyes.

"Hello Itokuzu-sama. I am sorry that I am a little late." Kagome politely stated, while bowing in apology to the elder woman. Itokuzu looked Kagome right in the eyes after she got back up. There seemed to be great tension in the air, until the woman laughed heartily.

"Still as well manner, and late as ever I see. It is so good to see you Kagome-chan." The smiling woman said and pulled Kagome into a friendly hug. The young miko returned the hug with great enthusiasm, and happiness. After a moment the two friends pulled away from the friendly hug they shared.

"Well how is the land in your protection doing Kagome-chan?" Itokuzu asked warmly to the young woman that stood in front of her. She has not changed; even after all she has been through. The elder woman looked over Kagome and saw that she had been taking good care of herself.

"There have been a few attacks, but Neko, Buyo, and I have been able to get rid of those before anything really awful might have happened. The crops are coming in very nicely, so well have a lot of food during the winter months. And the villages are in quit good health." She calmly replied, like a solider giving the daily reports to the general. Although she had a bright smile spread on her lips that she could not hide when Itokuzu complemented on her good work. But the serious business face soon took refuge on the elder woman's face.

"Now Kagome, there is still the business of the recent attacks from the other parts of the western lands…and finding you a suitable mate." She calmly stated while Kagome's face turn to a worried one. She had mumbled the last part so Kagome could not hear her.

"They have not attacked in the last month. But I am more worried about the Shikon no Tama. And the strange demon that has the appearance of a human that some of the villagers have been talking about. It seems that he had caused great pain to many people and other tribes." She sadly reported to Itokuzu, with her gaze down at her sandals.

"I am very aware of that myself Kagome-chan. I have already proceeded with great caution when ever there comes to a point of there being an attack on our home land. So you do not need to worry over such things. This land is well guarded and there are a lot of powerful creatures that are willing to guard it as well." She said matter-of-factly to the younger woman who had her business face on as well. Although Kagome was looking straight at her, and her eyes were full of worry, sadness, and…anger.

"Kagome-san, you must remember that you cannot let your anger get the better of you…ever!" Itokuzu urgently spoke to kagome in a very serious voice. Kagome looked to Itokuzu with questionable eyes, asking why she all of a sudden turned so serious. Although she already knew the answer to that question was.

"Don't worry I already know that… and know what happens when you do." Kagome replied to her in a low voice at the last part. Her eyes sadden at the one part of the one memory of that one faithful day. The only memory she really had left. Itokuzu pulled her into a motherly embrace.

"Time passes, people change…" She started to say and waited for Kagome to finish.

"..But the heart stays the same." Kagome finished, tugging the motherly figure closer to her.

"Kagome-chan, I am sorry for what has happened to you, but we need to get back down to business." Itokuzu pulled Kagome back enough so she could see her face. Kagome nodded her head in response to what she had said, but did not move.

"Kagome, there have been rumors…no reports from the western lands that there many people, and demons who have pieces of the Shikon No Tama in their possession." She started to say, and got a small gasp from Kagome and a terrorized look in her eyes. "This is highly dangerous, I know but…I know that you have sensed this already and I was hoping you would take the mission of going to the western lands to gather the jewel shards. Plus I have found that your young kit is nowhere in the village, and some of my troops say they saw a red kituse being rescued from a bear demon by a traveling group of humans and two demons."

"Nani!" Kagome cried out and looked to Itokuzu with wide, terror filled eyes. Shippo…he said he was only going to visit a friend. Then again he never said where and I thought he took a pray bead with him so I could stay in contact with his aura.

"Kagome, you must go to the western lands immediately to find the shards of the shikon no tama, and your young kituse." Itokuzu told Kagome seriously and gently pushed her away from herself, so she was standing in front of her. She looked Kagome straight in the eye.

"But what about the village? It is my duty to protect this part of the eastern lands..." Kagome replied with urgency in her voice grasping onto Itokuzu's shoulders.

"Kagome stop! You will do as you are instructed to do. I will have Neko look after this land in your place. You are to leave by sunset today." Itokuzu strictly ordered Kagome. She did not push off Kagome hands from her shoulders though. Her face although went from strict to soft. She pulled Kagome into a motherly hug once again, but this time tears streamed from her eyes.

"Please Kagome. We need you to do this." She softly whimpered to Kagome. Kagome nodded her head in acceptance and returned Itokuzu's hug. She understood what she was saying and knew that she did not want Kagome to go, but also knew she had to. "Kagome just stay safe, you're like a daughter to me."

"I'll try to do my best…Okaa-san." She whispered back to Itokuzu.

A few minutes to sunset

"Please look after the villagers as well Neko-kun. And please take care of yourself as well." Kagome said to the Cat demon. He nodded in response with a small smile, although his eyes had a sad look. Kagome noticed this and gave him a friendly hug and a reassuring smile.

"Alright, well you better get going Kagome-sa…Kagome-chan." Neko smiled brightly at her and then handed Kagome a small bag. It was full of holy rice that would probably come in handy while she was in the western lands.

"Thank you Neko-kun. Please tell Yuri I'll be back soon. Bye!" She called back to Neko as Buyo picked her up on his back and started to head off toward their destination.

Hello! I have finally finished this Chapter. It is longer then my others, but I like it. Also if you guys could tell your friends about this fan fic and ask them to review. I eould very much apprecitate it. Oh ya! I wanna say thank you to proud yusuke fan for reviewing all of my chapters so far. So remember to review people. I'll try to update when I have the time. lol. Bye!

Lady of Emerald Flames