Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.


On Kagome Higurashi's fifteenth birthday, she was supposed to have fallen down the well at her family's shrine. Fate had decreed it as such. Unfortunately, a twist of the fabric of time had retracted this from her future. A silent evil overtook her life, shadowing her every move, in an attempt to capture ultimate power.

Chapter Four

Kagome and Friends: What Should have Happened

Fourteen-year-old Kagome Higurashi giggled happily. Not only was tomorrow her birthday, but Eri had planned a slumber party for their small group of friends and her mother had said she would be allowed to go! Humming to herself as she packed things up in her yellow backpack, she envisioned how her life would be different upon turning fifteen.

One thing would remain. Kagome blushed as she thought of her boyfriend, Takumi, who had asked her out a year ago today. He had meant to wait until her birthday, but he often told her he simply couldn't. The thought of going one more day without her by his side was too much for him to bear. Such sweetness easily melted Kagome's heart, and even now she felt herself weak at the knees thanks to the special boy.

Shaking her head clear of her thoughts, Kagome finished packing her bag and headed downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen, baking something that smelled delicious.

"Bye Mama!" Kagome called.

"Be careful, dear," came her mother's warm voice. "I'll see you tomorrow! I made a special treat for your birthday!" Kagome grinned in anticipation, slipped on her shoes, and headed outside. Walking through the shrine, she admired the blue sky as a warm breeze tousled her hair. As she passed the well house, she suddenly stopped, feeling a strong urge to go inside. Along her side, she felt something shifted painfully. Biting her lip nervously, Kagome looked at the well house as she clutched her side. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary...

She slowly walked towards it, but hesitated entering, her hand on the door. The wind picked up, a cold chill that made her shudder. Kagome backed away from the door uneasily, then turn and ran. She didn't like how she felt around the well house, and was eager to get away. She knew she really should tell her mother, but she was afraid she wouldn't be allowed to go to the party then. Anyway, the further away she got, the friendlier everything seemed again. Taking a deep breath, Kagome smiled with the excitement of the party in her honor.


"Hurry Kagome, open it!" squealed Yuka. Kagome hurried to open the brightly colored gift and laughed when she saw it. A tiny figurine of a fat cat sat in her palm, almost the replica of Buyo.

"It's so cute!" Eri exclaimed. Ayumi nodded in agreement, but then she pushed her own small gift towards her friend.

"Here Kagome," she smiled. Kagome accepted the gift with excitement, and pulled the wrapping paper off with professional ease. Her brow furrowed at the gift. It was a necklace, she knew that, but unlike any one she had ever seen before. "I found it in an antique store," Ayumi explained. "I know you like unique things, so I just had to get it for you!"

"Thank you!" Kagome replied warmly. She held the fragile looking necklace up, and the girls admired it. Small brown beads made up the bulk of it, but in between every ten or so a long grey bead created a patten.

"They look kind of like fangs," Eri said, pointing to the grey beads. Yuka agreed, and said so.

"But it gives is an interesting look," Kagome protested. "Maybe they're shark teeth or something. I'll have to look it up when I get home. Thanks Ayumi!" Ayumi smiled, happy with her gift choice.

"Now me," Eri said, pushing a large gift towards Kagome. She laughed, hardly able to anticipate her friend's reaction. Kagome pulled the paper off carefully, thinking the large pieces could be reused. "Hurry!" Eri pressured. Kagome giggled and pulled the final piece away. Her jaw dropped.

"Wow Eri," Yuka commented. "Think you got enough?"

"Really Eri, she's one person," Ayumi said, in awe. Meanwhile, Kagome simply stared at the huge mountain of instant Ramen before her.

"Well really," Eri defended herself, "Kagome is so busy, I thought she could use it. After all, with classes and all, it will be difficult for her to make it to dinner every night." The explanation was cut short as Kagome fell over, laughing her head off.

"Eri, you are probably the most awesome person ever," she managed to get out. The laughter was infectious, and the four friends were soon rolling on the floor laughing. This eventually turned into a pillow fight and only after solid half hour of beating did Kagome emerge victorious. The four collapsed, still giggling.

"Oh man, I so tired," Yuka complained.

"Me too," Eri agreed. The feeling was mutual across the group, and they got up to prepare for bed. Even though it was a slumber party, there was still school tomorrow, and the girls had only been allowed to have the party on the condition they had a good nights sleep. All too soon they were snuggled into sleeping bags, lights out, still whispering.

"Oh Kagome," Yuka whispered. "What do you think Takumi will get you for your birthday?"

"I don't know," Kagome admitted. "He's already told me it's a really good gift, but he's also a guy. It could be something like...a huge pile of food. Oh wait, Eri got that covered." Kagome squeaked as she was hit by a well-aimed pillow.

"You know you love the Ramen best of all," Eri laughed. The girls all giggled, but drowsiness had finally overtaken them. Three of the four slept peacefully that night.

But Kagome had a horrific dream where she was dressed in strange clothes, and a dog viciously attacked her and killed her, and then she was transported through some object where an evil looking man laughed at her as he stood over Takumi's dead body.