Past and Modern Adventure

Written By: Mandii (Boukyaku Kitsune)

I do not own InuYasha or YuYu Hakusho.

Chapter V

(EDITED)
"Second Encounter"

A sharp ringing echoed through a newly painted lavender room, soon cut off by the annoyed grumbling of a seventeen year old girl who slammed her hand down on the top of the modern contraption. Despite the usefulness of the alarm clock, Kagome couldn't help but hate it entirely, and it was a wonder why she hadn't thrown it at the wall yet in all her years. Typically she wouldn't have bothered to set her clock to wake her, but today she needed to get a head start before she was to meet her cousin and proceed to the Dark Tournament. Was it wrong for her to feel excitement for such an event? Possibly. But a part of her was hoping she would see some familiar faces there(where she would then proceed to yell at those familiar faces for not getting in contact with her; the jerks).

She ran a hand over her eyes, rubbing the sleep that still lingered in them before pushing herself up getting ready for her day. A shower wasn't needed; she had taken one the night before(rather, a relaxing bath that she wasn't sure she would get the chance to have again until she returned home. A pair of jeans and a pastel yellow shirt was her choice of wardrobe, then quickly threw together a bag for her trip. Why quickly? After spending so much time traveling in the Feudal Era, the girl no longer had to give much thought to what she needed to bring, and it took only half the amount of time it probably would have taken someone else. A few outfits, the medical kit, and other essentials(her hair brush, tooth brush, tooth paste, etc).

"Good enough for now, I just have to remember to grab my bow and katana before a leave." She set the bag by her bedroom door before exiting, and idly pulling her hair up into a high ponytail. "I might as well bring some daggers as well..." She murmured to herself before stepping into the kitchen. It was of no surprise that everyone else other then her brother was up already.

"Good Morning, Everyone."

"Good Morning, Dear... are you leaving so soon?" Kun-Loon looked over from the stove where the smell of omelets was coming from. Her mother had to be the best cook in the world, and for that reason, Kagome pranced over to her mother and kissed her on the cheek.

"Not yet, I figured I would get some of my chores done before I leave though. I'll stay for lunch." She peered over her mothers shoulder then, flashing her mother an innocent look. "Since I'll be gone for awhile--- can I have two of your yummy omelets this morning?"

Her mother gave a laugh, giving her daughter a single armed hug. "Of course you can. I'll even make oden for lunch before you leave."

"Oooh! Your the best, Mom!"

Breakfast took twice as long as it usually did, for Kagome wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible before she left for the Tournament. The rest of her morning was spent doing shrine duties, which all-in-all wasn't too bad, if not a little boring when you've already swept the property twice over.

"Kagome, your so lucky! You get to have all the fun." Souta scowled as he bounced his single favorite soccer ball between his feet, shuffling it around a few meters away from her form.

"Sometimes its fun, but most of the time its just a pain." She commented, whilst leaning on her broom.

"At least you get to hang out with Yusuke, I haven't even seen him for years."

"I'm sure he'll come visit after the Tournament is over."

"Can't I come with? It can't be that dangerous if its in this Era!"

"Absolutely not. And even if I could, Mom and Dad wouldn't allow it."

"You get to have all the fun..."

She laughed carefreely which only caused him to scowl even more. Lunch was called then and the two raced to the house, determind to get to the oden first. Kagome won, of course, and Souta was left to pout once more. Just as breakfast had, Lunch was much longer then usual too and none seemed to mind that the leftovers were already growing cold. It was around two o'clock when Kagome announced that she had better head out, even if she had plenty of time yet. She claimed that she needed to pick some things up at the store however that would taken a little longer.

With her bag flipped over her shoulder, she open the long thin bag that would hold her new bow(a gift she had received for her latest birthday) and slipped her katana and a few daggers in with it, before also shoulder that. She was thankful she wouldn't have to carry around the bow in public, the bag was big... but not as noticeable as the bow itself.

"How long will you be gone for now?" Kuro stood in front of his daughter on the front step as she slipped on her tennis shoes. Her grandfather and brother stood beside him silently.

"I'm not sure. They never told me. But if its being held in this Era... there's got to be a phone nearby. I'll call and check in every once in awhile, that okay?"

"Good. I don't want to have to coming saving you from a bunch of demons now."

"Dad..."

"Kagome!" Said person looked up as her mother pushed herself between the boys and held out a couple of bento boxes, wrapped together in a cloth. "Take the leftovers dear, and share them with Yusuke if you two get hungry later."

"Thanks Mom, I'm sure Yusuke will love it." She took it from her mother and then hugged each of her family members. "Well then... I'm off. Wish me luck!"

"Don't get yourself killed Kagome!"

"Check in once you get there!"

"Be careful, sweeheart!"

"Show those demons that us Higurashi's are no laughing matter!

"I still think this is a bad idea." Yusuke was twitching, and his foot tapped at the ground in mild annoyance as he, Genkai, and Yukina all waited for his cousin to arrive at the shrine so they could take off. It was almost six, an hour before they were supposed to meet the rest of the team at the dock so they actually had a ride to get to the forsaken island.

"She's stubborn. Even if you left without her, I'm sure she would find some way to show up." Genkai cut in, she and Yukina stood calmly unlike the Spirit Detective a few feet away.

"That definately sounds like Kagome. Now that I think about it... you and her are quite alike, Yusuke." Yukina smiled in amusement, sharing a look with Genkai.

"Wonder what the guy's will think about this." Yusuke mused himself, his brown eyes looking toward the entrance with a thoughtful expression. "I never got the chance to tell them."

"Don't you go to the same school as Kazuma?" Yukina questioned the boy in a confused manner.

"Doesn't mean I actually go to school." He shrugged. "Just a waste of time if you ask me."

"This is why your a complete dimwit." Genkai glared at her successor in annoyance.

"Why is Yusuke a complete dimwit?" Kagome chose to skip through the entrance gate to the shrine, her lips stretched into a excited grin. "I'm not late am I?"

"Not at all."

"It's about time. Though you could have stayed home for all I cared." Yusuke grumbled under his breath as he walked to meet his cousin half-way. Kagome chose to ignore him and hugged the two females quickly in greeting before they were to set off right away again.

"Will you two be watching?" She pulled back and shifted her things on her back.

"Koenma will be by later to pick us up, unlike you two, we don't have to fight on a boat before heading to the island."

"Yes... be careful, Kagome."

Kagome didn't question any further, figuring she would find out sooner or later anyway. "Alright then. I'll see you two later then. Cheer us on!" She turned on her heel and followed after Yusuke as he was already starting back down the stairs. He was already regretting his decision to let her come. What the hell was he thinking?

"Why is it... that Urameshi is always the last one here?" An annoyed orange-haired boy questioned his other two team mates who stood a few feet away from him. Even though he was human, he still stood taller then alot of others that had gathered there, demons included. But that was a vast majority of the crowd anyway. "He's Team Captain! ...needs to learn to learn some responsibility if you ask me..."

"Stop mumbling, its bad enough that we have to deal with another Tournament." Hiei snapped at the oaf they called Kuwabara.

"Shut it, Shrimp!"

"Calm yourself, Kuwabara. It's not quite time, Yusuke still has time to get here." Kurama fixed his two irrated team mates with a stare that left them to drop what usually would've been a fight at this point.

The three boys wore outfits similar to what they wore in the first Tournament. Hiei, clad in his all-black outfit that singled out the white scarf around his neck. Kuwabara, with his white outfit that he wore in the last fights of the last Tournament that seemed to give him more motivation to fight. And Kurama, wearing the same outfit he wore fighting Karasu, added that it was green instead of yellow this time.

"Why do we have to participate in this again, anyway? I thought this Tournament was only held once every fifty years. Last I checked--- its only been three." Kuwabara turned his eyes to the red-head of their group.

"It was by the Lord of Makai's request. We have as little choice as we did the last time we came." Kurama stated, though it was clear he was interested in the minor details involved but didn't have.

"Idiot!"

The three, plus a few other demons around them perked up at the sound of a female voice, their curiousity getting the better of them as they peered into the tree's surrounding them.

"How was I supposed to know they changed the location?!"

"Hey, isn't that Urameshi's voice?" Kuwabara questioned, though was left unanswered.

"Oh, I don't know... make sure you ask?" Came the response, dipped in fresh sarcasm.

The two figures finally stepped into the clearing, causing one of the three boys to stumble back awkwardly. The other two didn't seem to notice though, more interested in their team captain and the annoyed young woman beside him.

"Keiko isn't gonna be happy that your hanging out with another girl, Urameshi." Kuwabara stared at the two, soon to be bonked over the head by Yusuke who was overly annoyed. Kagome could only stare tiredly. Maybe sleeping in would have been a good idea after all...

"She's my cousin, idiot! Don't be getting any wrong idea's!"

"I take it she's our fifth member, Yusuke?" Kurama stepped up, stopping the Spirit Detective from taking out any other frustration on Kuwabara.

"Yeah, not that I'm happy about it, but she's our fifth." Yusuke crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one foot. "Meet my cousin, Kagome."

"Wha--wha--- Urameshi! We can't let a girl fight in the Tournament! It's against the CODE!" Kuwabara gripped the front of their captain's shirt and shook him.

"Hey!" Kagome stepped forward, thouroughly offended by what had been said. "That's sexist! I can fight just as well as Yusuke, I'm sure!" Kuwabara seemed taken aback by her declaration, though it was clear he wasn't about to shove the subject aside. Yusuke interuptted before he could start again though.

"So yeah. 'Gome, you've met Kuwabara. Behind you, the red-head is Kurama. He's the brains in our group." Yusuke introduce boredly.

"U-um, nice to meet you, Kurama."

"You as well, Kagome."

"Then Hiei is the short one in black, ain't too hard to miss since your your only a few inches taller then him." Kagome would've usually verbally attacked her cousin for that kind of comment, but instead she swivelled around to face the one introduced to her as... "Hiei?!"

"Hn."

Despite the cold-greeting in her direction, she dropped her stuff and assaulted him with a hug, one that he oddly enough didn't try to avoid---much to his team mates bewilderment.

"A familiar face already! Wow! My day can't get any better then this!" She pulled away from him quickly and looked him over. "You're all grown up now too! So handsome, you must have all the ladies after you, Hiei."

"An annoying spazz, your definitely the same." He straightened himself, only slightly annoyed by the public display of affection. "Five hundred years went by already? How irritating."

Kagome rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "For you anyway, it's only been about six months for me. Midoriko's been training my butt off since I got back. I wonder if this is what she meant I needed to be ready for."

"Ahem." Hiei quirked a brow and Kagome stiffened as she turned slowly to her cousin who was clearly in a bad mood, his look clearly demanding answers that would have to be given later.

"A-ano... oh!" She noticed the boat was finally being boarded and slipped past them, quick to pick up her things. "They're boarding! Better hurry!"

"Kagome! Get your ass back here! I want answers!" Yusuke raced after his fleeing cousins, not even thinking to question his short friend who rolled his eyes.

"So Hiei, apparently there's a part of your life you haven't shared with the rest of us." Kurama stated amused, and clearly interested in.

"It's not my story to tell."

End Chapter V