Eventually after the questioning, regarding how they had caused such a mystic white light to transpire right outside the walls of ancient Clock Town and to their relation to Ikana, Link and Kagome found themselves dragged into the settlement by means of rope. They were led to an empty shed, guarded by another Garo member where the two were locked inside until the next day when their master would return from his adventures in the East.

Until then, they were not allowed any food or water, and were thus expected to abide by their rules of silence unless they expected a quick death.

It was obvious the Garo believed the two were from the enemy nation, and it seemed impossible to change their thoughts lest they die by their swords.

Link's plan to reason with them, explaining how Kagome and himself were merely travelers caught up in a misunderstanding had failed, unfortunately, and he had been stripped of his weapons. His weapons, including his shield were stored in one of the warehouses out of reach. Even Kagome's bow and arrows had been taken from her and she received an earful of reprimanding from the Garo and dirty looks from the citizens in the settlement as they were dragged through forcefully.

It seemed the people didn't take too kindly to outsiders, nor a liking for Kagome's kind. Why? In this day and age, it seemed women were looked down upon for taking any kind of liking to the weapons of man. Then of course there was the questions regarding the young girl's clothing and her mysterious accent. The moment they had been dragged into the small settlement, a few if not a good dozen men and women had thrown some sort of abusive words at the raven haired girl, and as the words stung her, it took much of Link's self-control not to lash out on the people.

Hit hard and shamefully embarrassed to have been ridiculed in front of so many, the young priestess sat to Link's left in near tears. From the moment they'd been thrown in the shed and locked up, she hadn't said a word.

"Kagome…are you alright?"

Though her head was lowered and her bangs covered her eyes, she nodded slowly, sniffling as she turned her head away from Link. Kagome wanted to ask what was wrong with these people, but she knew that she had no right to ask such. What bothered the priestess the most was that she, Link and Inuyasha had survived the blast and somehow ended up somewhere else, only to end up taken hostage and Inuyasha running off in his demon form. She didn't know if Sango, Miroku, Kirara or Shippo were safe or not.

Link couldn't bear to hear the girl beside him silently cry, and he looked away to the ground pondering. "We've gone back in time," He explained, thus causing the young girl to look at him curiously. "We were brought here for a second chance, Kagome."

"A second chance? By who?"

"The peddler we met in town a short time ago," He replied, referring to the masked collector, and by this, Kagome understood. "He used some sort of magic, I assume, and brought us here to reclaim the pendant from Ikana," He explained.

Kagome understood fully now. Since the pendant was destroyed in the present day, it only made sense that they would be capable of reclaiming it in the past where it was still intact. "He wanted us to help him if we wanted the pendant, didn't he?"

Link nodded. "Yes, to stop him from…foolishly stealing something that does not rightfully belong in this world," He explained. Just who was this man anyway? How did he have such powers, and how did he live so long ago and still remain living in the present?

"What…do you mean not from this world?" She asked wiping her tear streaked face on her uniform since her hands were tied behind her back.

It was at this moment that Link turned to her and told her the story of the cursed relic crafted a millennium ago. "It's called Majora's Mask," He began, furrowing his brow as he recalled the tale spoken to him by the very peddler who'd gone to great lengths to steal it long ago. "It's an accursed artifact from an old legend and it was said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hellish rituals. Whoever wears it, the wicked powers sealed inside would bestow its wishes onto the person…" He explained, pausing as he took a moment to recollect what he remembered from it.

So it was something like the Sacred Jewel? Just by looking into Link's eyes, Kagome could tell that there was more to this mask than just bestowing wishes to the user. "Where did it come from though?"

Now this Link did not know. All he knew was that the mask contained the spirit of a fierce demon. If the heart of the person wearing the mask becomes too tainted, then the mask makes a puppet out of the individual. "I take it, not from this world…but somehow it was brought into this land, and I have my suspicions it was the doing of the Happy Mask Salesman…"

So he was the one…that Peddler had brought such evil into Termina…

"What else?" She asked.

"According to legend, the troubles caused by Majora were so great…the ancient ones," He was referring to the people of this time period. "had feared a catastrophe would happen, and they sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse," He explained.

"Where did they seal it?" She asked.

"In Stone Tower…A temple that lies in Ikana," He explained. Link remembered his journey four years ago to the old wasteland, haunted by deep regret and sorrow. It was only from the King, whom he had battled in the old castle that he learned that 'someone' had opened the doors to the tower and unleashed an ominous plague upon Ikana if not all of Termina.

Kagome mused to herself. "Wait…if the tribe sealed the mask in shadow…into the Stone Tower, then that's good, right?" She asked. That would mean the mask would be safe and no longer any trouble on the people of this world.

Link shook his head. "Unfortunately sealing the mask away had not lasted too long, Kagome," He narrowed his eyes at the image of the peddler surfaced in his thoughts. "That's why we were sent here, to stop Him from stealing it again."

Now she understood. So that merchant with his bag of masks had somehow stolen the mask from some other world, then it was apparently worshipped in hexing rituals. Afterward, the people had feared the mask and hoped that by sealing it away would prevent any more chaos, but the Happy Mask Salesman stole it again, thus unleashing terrible destruction upon the land…

Kagome gasped. "Wait!" She suddenly voiced aloud, and when she realized she was a little too loud, she lowered her voice. "Then is that why Ikana is the way it is now…or…in the present day?" Was that why Ikana was so desolate, empty and plagued by strange zombie creatures?

Link nodded. "Yes, but that's only half of the truth," He explained. "There was a war that took place around the same time Majora's Mask had surfaced into this world."

A war? Link sure did know a lot about the past. "So there was a war in Ikana…and…"

"The Garo," Link replied, thus causing the priestess to silently stare in surprise. He suddenly leaned his shoulders against her own, moving his mouth against her ear to whisper to her. He was careful that the wrong ears just outside the shed did not eavesdrop. "Though I'm not sure where they came from, the Garo are currently spying on the Kingdom East of here as we speak…"

"Spying?" She whispered back, blushing as the boy beside her leaned against her. "Why?" Could it be possible that the Garo had sensed the strange happenings from Ikana? Was that why they were spying? Maybe they were the good guys trying to stop Ikana but it resulted in a war…What had the outcome been then?

Link pulled away before shrugging. "I'm not sure, but from what I can remember, both sides had been wiped out after the war," He explained immediately answering Kagome's thoughts. So in the end, there had not been a victor. "Sometimes you can hear the voices of the Garo and the people who had fell victim to the war in the land of Ikana…Their souls had not found peace."

The voices…Now it made sense! The strange whispers she had heard in Ikana upon their first arrival some time back must have been just that. They were the ghosts unable to pass on, and here she thought someone was trying to ask her for help. Then there was that dream she had in Great Bay, one that seemed very ominous. It was the first dream that Armaros had snuck into, showing her the strange river of blood that attempted to drown her. And though she tried to think back, she recalled seeing hooded and cloaked figures slaying innocent people; had they been the Garo she had dreamt of?

"Kagome?"

Snapping out of her reverie, she offered a small smile to Link beside her. "It's nothing." There was no real point in revealing the dream, was there? She guessed that dream hadn't been just a dream after all; it had actually happened, and possibly during the Great War.

Link sighed leaning back against the stacked crates behind him and Kagome. "I'm not sure what they were after in Ikana…but whatever it was, I'm positive it wasn't good…" Somehow he had a feeling they were after the dominating power that lied in Ikana, whether it be that of the King or the mask, or something completely different. Whatever it was, Link knew the Garo to be a blood thirsty tribe.

"So…I guess the Garo weren't the good guys, were they?"

Link fell silent after that. No, he didn't think they were good. If only he knew what they were after... "All I know is that this tribe is not one to reckon with…" First things first, they had to find a way to escape from the shed and then gather their weapons and immediately travel to Ikana without being seen by the Garo. Link wasn't sure how long it would take them to catch up with Inuyasha, or just what kind of trouble the half demon caused by running there, but he had a feeling it wasn't good.

"We need to get out of here," The priestess muttered as she struggled to free herself from her ropes. Too bad she had left her backpack back in town, but as she thought about it, she figured the Garo would have taken it away from her anyway.

There was nothing in the shed, as they had been taken away during their arrival. No tools were in their respective places, and all that surrounded them in the cramped space were crates, and hay scattered on the wooden gray floor.

As Link searched around the small space, observing any means of an escape, he realized he couldn't find anything suitable enough to cut the ropes at his hands and feet. Hearing a yawn beside him, he turned his blue eyes to the priestess, noticing her drooping eyes. "Rest," He said, leaning his head against the crate behind him. "I'll try to figure out a way to free ourselves."

Nodding, the priestess complied, and while she slept, Link closed his eyes. Outside he heard the town abuzz, some obnoxious laughter followed by harsh murmurings of secrecy. As he pondered, his ears couldn't help but twitch at the sounds of a squeaking cart traveling past the shed, and Link mentally groaned. He couldn't concentrate…

As the hours went by and the town had quieted to a tolerable volume, Link mentally began formulating a plan. There had to be a way to escape from here. Looking around the room again, he saw that there were no windows big enough to escape out of, but there did appear to be small crevices to peek out of. Something in the corner of the room caught his eye, and he recognized it as part of the shed sticking in from the outside, its edges seemingly sharp enough to at least undo the bindings.

A small tap on his shoulder caused him to look beside him, and he blushed when he saw Kagome asleep, using his shoulder as a cushion. From her peaceful expression, he decided to allow her a little more time to sleep. The best time to escape would be after sunset. Link could afford to wait a little longer.

OOO

Nightfall had fallen upon them, and as the voices of the townspeople dispersed into the sanctuary of their homes, Link opened his eyes. It seemed the guard was still outside, watching over them, and Link turned his attention to the sleeping girl beside him.

In an attempt to arouse her, he moved his shoulder. "Kagome," He whispered.

Stirring, she blinked away the sleep from her eyes, removing her head from his shoulder as she lifted herself into a seated position. Kagome looked at him tiredly. How long had she been asleep? "Did you think of something?"

"Yeah," He replied before focusing his attention to the corner of the shed. "Do you see that lumber sticking out over there?" He asked, and when the priestess nodded, he immediately pushed himself forward, but he only ended up falling upon his stomach.

"You okay?" Kagome asked, and from his nod, she watched as he kicked at the floor with his bound feet, scooting himself closer to the other side.

After a moment of difficult preservation, Link managed to right himself in front of the splintered wood. He had his back to it, and with his bound hands, he rubbed the rope against the edges. The process seemed long and straining.

A good ten minutes passed them by, and Kagome couldn't help but lean herself against the crate as she watched the boy go at it. From the looks of it, he was having difficulty. "Are you close to cutting it?" She asked.

Sweat fell from his brow, and he barely gave her a quick glance. "Not yet…" He replied. As he pushed a little harder, he heard a small snapping noise behind him, and he immediately knew he had broken part of the wood away. Looking behind him to inspect the damage, he realized it wasn't as bad as it had sounded, and he resumed his task of freeing his bindings.

While Kagome hung back watching and waiting, she couldn't help but wonder if there was anything else around here that would help them get out of here quicker. Crates, hay, wooden stand, crates…Nope…there didn't seem to be anything in sight.

She mused to herself, wondering if there were any loose nails in the flooring; there had to at least be something sharp sticking out of the floor, maybe even the walls. Then again, as she thought about it, did ancient Terminans have such things as 'nails'? As she looked around again, nearly toppling over as she leaned sideways and forward, she sighed. Nothing…

Maybe it would be a good idea if she were to carry around a pocket knife, just in case something like this might happen in the future. That would have been very beneficial for them if she had prepared beforehand. But she was just an average girl in school, who traveled back in time fighting demons, and she didn't even carry around a small weapon for protection, not even a small canister of pepper spray.

Kagome turned her eyes back in the direction of her male friend, wondering if he had gotten any success over there. Judging by his irritated expression, it didn't seem likely.

With a small sigh, she pushed herself back against the crate she'd been previously leaning against, and abruptly, it moved and with it something nosily clattered to the floor behind it, and she fell over with a surprised thud. Thankfully she hadn't screamed, or else she knew she'd get herself and Link busted. Link hadn't been paying attention and she was thankful for that, but she still felt a little embarrassed for falling over.

Picking herself up was a challenge, because it involved her rolling onto her stomach and using her knees to push herself up right. After that, she turned curiously to the crate in which she had heard something fall when she hit it. Scooting closer, she peered behind it, and gasped. Somehow, a knife must have been lodged into the back of the crate and there it lay, innocently on the floor.

"Link!" She loudly whispered. "Link! Look what I—"

"Wait. Give me a second, Kagome…" Link immediately replied to her as he continued his task.

Turning her body away from the knife, Kagome lowered herself beside the sharp dagger at an angle where her hands reached for the handle. A noise escaped her as she tried to reach for it, and she ignored the pain in her back. With patience, she was finally able to slide the handle of the blade into her hand, and she sighed with relief. After which she rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up right. With the blade turned at an angle, she diligently began cutting the rope binding her wrists.

The process took only a matter of seconds, and as the cut rope fell to the floor, she then repeated the process on the rope tied around her ankles. After that, she crawled over to Link, whose attention was focused solely on the wood.

Kagome held the knife out to him, but he didn't seem to notice. "Link—"

"Kagome, I'm trying to go as fast as I can…" He replied irritably, and he mentally cursed when he heard yet another snap. Not again… "Just be patient with me…" This had to be a first for him. During his travels with the priestess, he never realized just how impatient she could be, especially when tied up. Perhaps this was a trait of hers that he was just now noticing.

A sudden shadow fell over him, and turning to acknowledge the girl hovering around him, he nearly fell back in surprise. Link's eyes grew wide when the girl he'd only been telling to 'wait,' was suddenly up in his face leaning toward him.

"You should really try to fix that bad habit and listen more," She replied with a roll of her eyes. "I swear you're starting to take after Inuyasha," She explained before holding up the blade to show him. "Look what I found."

Sweat dropping, he watched as she scooted behind him and cut at the ropes. "How did you—"

"It must have been stuck on the side of that crate," She replied. "Imagine our luck!"

As soon as the ropes were cut free from his wrists and ankles, Link rubbed at the soreness before regarding the young girl before him. When he saw that she was handing him the knife, he merely shook his head. "No, you keep it. You never know when it might come in handy."

She nodded before placing it inside her skirt pocket. Looking back at Link, she suddenly noticed his eyes glued to her neck, and timidly, she placed a hand there. "What is it?"

"Are you still carrying the necklace I gave you? Nayru's Love?" He was referring to the item he once carried on his travels back in Hyrule; it had been the one he'd given to her during their trip to Ikana before entering the old castle.

"Oh!" Was her sudden response before she hesitantly looked around the shed, hoping the Garo just outside hadn't heard her. Shifting through her pockets, she retrieved the small necklace with the transparent blue crystal diamond. "I still have it," She smiled. To be honest…she had almost forgotten about it.

That was good. "You remember how to use it, right?" At her nod, he leaned back against the wall. It seemed he didn't really have to worry all that much about her safety. "Now we need to come up with a plan…" An idea suddenly popped into his mind, and he crawled closer to the priestess who suddenly leaned in to hear him whisper to her. "Let's have you be sick and—"

Kagome suddenly interrupted. "You mean 'I play sick and then you come up behind routine' is not going to work," She replied, and it urged a frown from Link. "I'm sure these guys wouldn't fall for my fake sniffles nor would they care."

Link sweat dropped. "Then…what have you in mind?"

Immediately after his question, she perked up. "I have an idea!