Fly By Night
Vladygasckgyn

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, so don't bother asking.

Chapter 3

-:Flashback:-

Kagome limped into a clearing, blood running freely down her leg. Obviously, her first encounter by herself with a demon didn't go as well as it could have. She had successfully managed to defeat it by shooting her sacred arrows, but her power had been severely depleted by Kikyo's earlier attack.

It had been only a matter of days since she took leave of the group, and the changes wrought upon her soul were gradually making themselves known, usually at the most inopportune moments. This last battle was no exception.

Kagome had been walking for most of the day, the uneventful hours lulling her into a temporary sense of security. She finally managed to find a nice, clear stream and rushed carelessly into, disturbing a rogue neko youkai. Luckily for her, she had the presence of mind to bring with her the infamous bow and arrows, so she wasn't completely helpless.

Okay...I've done this plenty of times before. Just aim for the shard... It's in the chest!

She drew back the string and let the arrow fly, straight and true. The demon anticipated her attack and shifted to the right just in time, so only its shoulder was hurt. Kagome waited for it to die, but to no avail.

Wha-?! Even if I didn't hit the shard, the demon should still have been purified...right?

The youkai snarled viciously and lunged at her, the wound not affecting it at all. Kagome ducked behind a tree, narrowly missing a killing sweep of its claws. However, she didn't get away totally unscathed. Its claws had ripped a rather nasty gash in her thigh, restricting her movements.

Shit...I can't even RUN anymore... And what happened to my power? That arrow should have instantly purified the demon... What's happening to me???

Not knowing what else to do, she stood her ground, once again raising her bow.

"Die!"

Fifteen minutes and eleven semi-sacred arrows later, the demon lay motionless on the ground. Such was her first solitary victory.

-:End Flashback:-

Knock knock

"Kagome? Kagome, honey, you have to get up or you'll be late for your first day at your new school." There was muffled groan and a thump, evidence her awakening.

"Coming mom."

She had been dreaming of her training again. It was strange how, even now, her weakness haunted her.

I will never be that weak again.

Kagome had come home through the well the day before, tired and weary. Her mother had taken one look at her bloody, ragged clothes and immediately enveloped her daughter in a hug, crying. They had talked for hours about the Feudal era, and Kagome had shared with her mother the situation with Kikyo. Mrs. Higurashi concluded that a second chance would be best for her, to start over. So they transferred her to a different school in hopes that Kagome would make some friends and soothe the remainder of her soul.

Kagome completely missed her mother's logic, but decided that, if it made her happy, then Kagome would play along. After all, she still owed her mother at least that much after she'd put up with her travels through the well. She reluctantly got out of bed and stumbled towards her closet, taking out her new uniform. It was another sailor outfit, only this one gray, a shade matching her eyes perfectly. The skirt was slightly longer, but not enough to make much of a difference.

She walked out the door, grabbing a bagel on her way out. Her mother wanted to make sure she wasn't late, so she woke Kagome up an hour early. She strode down the road at a leisurely pace, in no hurry to get to school.

Shikon High.

Kagome glared up at the entrance to the school, already despising it. She was right on time, the bell ringing just as she arrived. Her mother had already given her the schedule, so she didn't have to bother with the idiots in the office.

She made her way into the school, heading straight for her first class.

-:-'-:-:-'-:-:-'-:-:-'-:-:-'-:-:-'-:-

Kagome's POV

I knocked and waited impatiently to be let in. The door opened to reveal a stereotypical middle-aged teacher, one who introduced himself as Mr. Takashi. I could feel the eyes of the other students in the classroom on me, studying me. However, one gaze was more penetrating than the others. I searched through the sea of faces for the source, my eyes alighting on a strange aura.

A youkai...here...

I vaguely registered the fact that the teacher was speaking to me, saying something about how pleased he was to be teaching me and that he was sure I would enjoy it here.

Liar.

I heard him tell me to find a seat. Naturally, I chose a seat in the far left back corner, as far from the rest of the class as possible. It also put me beside the windows, so I had a view outside.

The teacher resumed his post at the front of the classroom and I quickly grew bored with his prattle. My eyes drifted outside, coming to rest on a black figure perched on the upper limbs of a tree. I narrowed my gaze critically, trying to identify it.

The figure seemed to realize it was the object of my scrutiny and took off out of the tree in a black blur.

Another youkai?

I was abruptly drawn from my thoughts by the shrill ringing of a bell. Time to go. I had nearly made it to the door when a hand stopped my progress. I tensed immediately, glaring at the offending appendage, and looked up into vivid, emerald green eyes.

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A/N: Okay, I'm hoping that maybe the flashback thing cleared some stuff up. If it did, great. If not, then there will be more. Gee...can anyone guess who the "black blur" is? Lol. Anyway, read and review. It would be greatly appreciated.