Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; nor do I own Tokyo Ghoul, that right belongs to Sui Ishida. I do own the crazy Idea that I am putting the character through.

Kagome took a deep breath; her nerves were still on edge from the confrontation yesterday. And now, she stood on the ground of the Shrine with everyone else coming up the stairs. Her ears were picking up the different sounds that their footsteps make. The way each person's aura fluctuated. It told her a story that was not exactly pretty or pleasant. But this was her life at the moment. These people she adopted as her own family. And today, she would cement that in their minds by giving them something that in the future would be precious.

Exhaling, she turned her tiny body around and looked at the six adults. Three of whom were there for the first time and looking around the place. Staying quiet, she let them explore with their eyes. As their aurae were telling her that they were going to be polite, or in Itori's case, in awe of being on holy grounds after seeing the other Ghouls being slammed back by the barrier. That had made Kagome smile when all three of their aura's had flared wildly in shock and confusion before Gramps had explained briefly.

When their eyes met hers, Kagome bowed respectfully at her waist as she spoke, "Welcome to the Higurashi Shrine, or what used to be known as the Sunset Shrine, Tokyo. My home. Please feel free to make yourselves at home. I will explain things to you shortly."

Once she finished speaking formally, Kagome stood and made her way to the little Shrine and kneels. Closing her eyes and clasping her hands before her body, she prayed for the lives of the three ghouls who were killed when they had crawled out of the sewer. It had been easier to get to the first ward going through the sewers, but that didn't mean that they were safer, either. And it was her duty as a priestess, and more, to pray for their soul's safety in the afterlife.

He had no words for what he was seeing, experiencing. The purity of the air was different than the rest of Tokyo, that was for sure. And that such a place existed was like a fairy tale. But here he was standing and living it. His dark eyes watched Kagome as she bowed, spoke formally that no child should have mastery of, before going to the small Shrine and kneeling. The soft mumbling she was doing was a prayer for the Ghoul's they'd had to kill after leaving the underground tunnels.

Shaking his head, he looked at Kuzen, Irimi, and Enji. Who he quickly noted was relaxed and idling around. They exuded patience that said they were familiar with this place and routine, which had him lifting a pierced eyebrow at them. Irimi just smiled and shook her head at him to indicate that he'd have to wait for an explanation. Making him want to pout; being bored was not something he did well.

Putting on a smile, Uta looked at Itori and Yomo and walked toward the area behind the small two-story yellow house. His eyes were taking in as much detail as he could. The way a gentle breeze blew, rustling the half-dead grass. The overly large tree that was roped off. The sign before it saying, Goshinboku - God Tree. A concept that he found absurd. Then again, Kagome was something else, so why not?

As he rounded the corner, he went still. There before his eyes were three dirt mounds, with wooden planks shoved into the ground. He felt Yomo and Itori come to a stop behind him, and he moved to the side. His mind was readily recalling the first time that he had seen Kagome. The message she had given Itori, though she knew who they were. Then that night a few weeks later. It had Uta frowning as he made his way to the graves. There he saw the names written on them in charcoal. Grandpa Souten Higurashi. Father Tomoko Higurashi. Mother Kun-loon Higurashi & unborn brother Souta Higurashi.

It had his stomach bottoming out. Guilt welling up as he squatted down next to them. The knowledge that he had taken these people from her a little over a year ago because he was fighting with Yomo for the hell of it. But the girl, sweet and scary thing she was, didn't hold it against them. And all because her father had taught her that it was wrong. To forgive. To be caring and loving, of both humans and Ghouls alike.

"It's a bit awkward, isn't it?"

Turning his head, Uta looked at Itori, to see the rare sad look on her face and in her eyes. He just nodded his head. Yomo was just a silent, stoic statue as he stared at the graves unmoving.

He watched, knowing it would take a bit, as Kagome did her routine. It had been months since any Ghouls had been killed coming to the Shrine. Kuzen smiled when he heard the softly spoken words. Kagome was indeed an enigma. One he wanted to protect. She represented what he ultimately wanted to do in the long run. Have both Ghouls and Humans live in harmony with each other. She was proof it could happen if it was applied, and the mass fear was erased.

Giving a small sigh, he turned to look at the others and already knowing where the other three were at. With a slight nod of his head, he sent Enji back to get them. It would not do well for them or Kagome if they wallowed in the guilt from the reality of their actions. When the man smiled and trotted off, he saw Irimi looking down at Kagome. A small smile on her lips.

He knew what Kagome intended to do. Kuzen was no fool. But she would give them a choice. The idea she had would take a long time to come to fruition. An idea he would do everything he could to make it come true. Though it would be high risk and one could never tell what the future would throw at them to deter that idea. Until then, Kuzen had silently sworn to himself to protect that special little girl and make her dream come true as it ran parallel to his own.

Yomo didn't know what to think, or even really how to feel. Seeing the proof before his eyes of his actions, all he could do was be grateful that Kagome had survived. Even at the cost of her own family. Though he was curious about why she had brought them here. What her big secret was. He knew from the first time he saw her and unwillingly interacted with her, that Kagome was no normal human girl.

At recalling what had happened, Yomo closed his eyes and refused to let the heat rise to his face. It was inappropriate. And way to intimate. Though he couldn't be mad, she was six years old and curious. No fear on her face as she saw his Kagune, just reached out to get shocked before looking surprised and then touched it.

"You guys."

At the sound of Enji's voice, Yomo spun around and looked at the red-haired man. He saw the look in his brown eyes and nodded his head. Not waiting for the other two, he marched stiffly and quickly towards the front of the Shrine. He didn't want to dwell on the past. It was not the place he was supposed to be. And his curiosity was starting to get to him anyway.

She stood up and dusted off her knees. With a definitive clap her hands, Kagome turned around just to see Yomo, Itori, and Uta appear from the back of her family's house. It had her brow knitting just a bit as she read their aura's, causing her to sigh. But she put on a gentle smile and shook her head at them. Then walked over to the giant Red Tori and placed her hand on it.

"I...am sure you have noticed... that I am not a normal little girl," she said, her voice rather bland.

There was a loud snort, a soft laugh, and a subsequent annoyed sigh. It had Kagome looking at the three newest people to come to the Shrine. Smiling widely up at them, letting them know she had intentionally stated the obvious. She was causing them to relax and smile back at her, which is what she wanted as she took a deep breath and shifted her hand over the strips of fuda paper plastered about head height for her.

"My family were practicing Shinto and Buddhist. And we had a secret... we had...no have a special ability. Uta... Yomo... you saw it not too long ago. And I am sure your instincts screamed for you to kill the threat," she said, pausing to look at them with a stern look on her face.

When their eyes widened before they both nodded, Kagome steeled herself a bit more, shifting her gazes to Itori, who had heard rumors through the odd little underground mill she had. Then she stepped back and pressed her back to the Tori; she let her Reiki enveloped her, creating a very visible lilac halo around her body.

"It is called Reiki, a manifestation of my spiritual powers. Only those with true holy power can manifest it. Yes, that means I can kill with a touch, Gramps can confirm that." she said, slamming her barriers back down on her Reiki.

She saw the way that Yomo and Uta tensed. She knew that Irimi and Enji were as well. Gramps was just relaxed, completely fine, and controlling his instinct to attack her. While she kept her gaze focused on a shocked and horrified Itori. The way the woman's aura was flaring wildly as her eyes shifted from their beautiful brown to the red iris with black sclera was telling.

"It is alright. This is why I was scared to tell you. I meant it when I said I didn't want to lose any more people who were important to me. And that includes you three. And the reason I brought you here today," she said. Her head was starting to lower, making Kagome hate being a child. "I wanted to show you, tell you... and make you an offer... Gramps, Miss Irimi, and Mister Enji already accepted it."

With that, she patted the fuda's that were attached to the red Tori pole — purposely drawing their attention to it. Each strip had a name on it, as well as with a very carefully crafted spell that would allow them and them alone to enter the Shrine without her. It took a lot out of her to make each one. Just like it would if she wanted to make a subjugation necklace. And with her current abilities, which outweighed her body's physical ability to make them, it would drain her. But this was something they had to decide.

"Kagome, what are those pieces of paper?"

Letting a smile appear, she looked at Itori. Glad that she was able to read people so well. She had banked on Itori's need for knowledge to smother her fear and instincts. She was giving a soft giggle, causing the woman to blink. While the other two looked very uncertain.

"They are fuda sutra slips. A spell, charm... if you will. Infused with my Reiki, each fuda has Gramps true name, Irimis' and Enji's full name written on it as well as the explicit permission that they can come to this place without me in attendance," she explained, allowing the smile to vanish from her face. "This place is naturally protected. No other Ghouls, but those I have allowed can enter here. The same goes for the CCG Doves. They cannot enter here without my permission."

She waited, watching as her words sank into their heads. The realization as it dawned, the protection and opportunity that was being presented. She knew them to be trustworthy people. But would they be willing to do what it took to get what she was offering? Making sure to control her breathing, remain passive, hand still over the Fuda papers, and not moving, since she was well aware that their instincts that she was a predator. One that came in a very unassuming packaging.

"What... would have to be done... for that to work?" Uta asked.

Slowly she blinked her eyes at him. This was the make or break part.

"Mix your blood with the ink that is infused with my blood and Reiki," she stated bluntly.

As she watched them, she saw in her peripheral vision Gramps, Irimi, and Enji moved towards her. Their presence was comforting and supportive. Letting the other three know that they had willingly done so.

"How do you... procure our blood, Kagome-chan?" Itori asked, her voice showing her hesitancy.

This had Kagome sucking her bottom lip into her mouth; how she got their blood had caused a bit of an issue with both Irimi and Enji. Of course, they didn't get this little introductory speech either.

"You willingly give it... by slicing your flesh on... a sword that is a family heirloom," she said, flinching as she felt their aurae spike once more, just a bit more violently than before.

"A... sword? Do you have to stab us with a sword? Your family owns a quinque?" Uta said, disbelief coloring his voice.

At this, Kagome let her own disgust at that single word color her face as she hissed. Her reaction had Gramps clamping down on her shoulders in an attempt to calm herself.

"No. I do not own one of those foul things. This is a sword that is human-made. And no, I won't have to fu- I will not have to stab you. You run your hand along the blade while my Reiki is infused in it. And no, you won't scar," she growled.

Itori was amazed at the venom that the little girl she had come to adore was spilling with her words. The level of hate that was put into even trying to talk about a quinque. It proved how much she valued the life of a Ghoul. So, with a smile curling her painted lips, she shoved between the two guys she called her trusted friends.

"I will do this, Kagome. I want what you offer me," she stated calmly.

When Kagome's mouth dropped open, she let a low chuckle escaped her lips. The girl was too priceless and wore her emotions on her sleeve. It made her love the little girl that much more. That and she wanted to mine that girl for all the information she was willing to share about this place, her abilities, and anything else she could because Itori was far from stupid. There was a reason that the girl wanted to do this, other than to protect her 'important' people.

"Really, Itori-san?"

Giving a small nod of her head, Itori turned and narrowed her eyes at the guys and watching as they took a few more seconds before giving in under her hard gaze. This was going to be amusing since she knew they were already guilt-ridden after seeing the graves in the back of the house.

"So, let's do this!" Itori said in a sing-song voice, noting the way everyone looked suddenly exasperated.

Irimi was glad when the others finally capitulated. Though she was no fool, it was because of Itori, whom she knew had a whole other agenda for agreeing. Even if she did adore Kagome. So, with great care, she placed the bowl in front of Kagome. Of course, Itori was first up. This had to be done three different times for this to work like it was supposed to. And she was eager to see how they'd react to having a bond to the place itself. Or rather the land.

Her eyes honing in as Kagome unsheathed the sword. An odd piece of work. It didn't have an edge, so to speak, but one her unusual lilac-colored power was shoved into the blade, it took on a very sharp quality that would cut their flesh with little pressure. Unlike other human-made objects. She noted how Itori watched the blade glow to life before tentatively reaching out and clamped her hand around it and slide it the short distance to the tip — leaving a crimson smear in its wake as she hissed.

Then Kagome set the blade down, and the lilac color inverted to a deep blue as she grabbed Itori and healed her hand. She was making the woman go wide-eyed as she looked at her hand in shock. This had Irimi fighting back a smug smile. It had surprised her that that Kagome had inverted her energy so it would heal, not kill, a Ghoul. Though it came at a high price for the girl. And with her powers growing at a rapid rate, Irimi just hoped that this would help Kagome keep from getting all feverish again. That had scared her senseless almost.

"That... Kagome...?" Itori said only to trail off as she watched Kagome mix in the ink that held her blood.

Irimi made a shooing motion with one hand that had the other woman narrowing her eyes but stepping back. Now was not the time for questions. This had to be done before the sunset. Getting back to Anteiku was a priority as Ghouls in the first ward were more active and would know that they were there, which means a higher chance of an attack on their group. And she didn't want a tired Kagome having to kill more Ghoul's and knowing what it would do to her mentally and emotionally.

In less than two minutes, Kagome had written Itori's full name on the fuda strip, infused it with her power. Then tossed it at the Tori, where it flew and sealed to the red-painted wood. Drawing gasps of awe from the three of them. She looked fondly down at Kagome, gauging what that took out of her. Before glancing at the two men, to be shocked at Yomo stepped forward and gave a soft grunt.

"Okay... one second, I need to clean this up. Mixing them is a bad idea," came Kagome soft reply.

The curious look that briefly crossed his face had Irimi interested, as the man hardly showed any emotion at all. Though, she knew if she watched his eyes, that she could get a vague idea. He did care for the girl; there was no mistaking that, even if he was gruff and blundering when showing any emotions at all. That it kind of made him cute.

"Okay... Renji!" Kagome chirped as she set the now cleaned and dried bowl back down.

Again Irimi watched as Kagome went through the process, her eyes darting up briefly to look at Yomo's face, which stayed relatively blank, but in the depths of his dark gray eyes. Then it was done, his hand healed as Kagome went about mixing and writing once more. Though seeing Yomo's blank mask crack as he stared at the girl, mouth slightly open as he moved his hand back and forth. Curling it into a fist and relaxing it. He was amazed at how it was healed.

"Give me a few minutes... Please... Uta... and we will... finish," Kagome spoke up.

Irimi narrowed her eyes and watched as Kuzen knelt by her, leaned in, and whispered in her ear. Her gaze shifted to Koma, who just nodded in understanding. He could see it, feel it as well. This was exhausting her. But there would be no deterring her. That or they'd get one of Teacher Kagome Lectures, which the last one had made a point about Ghouls and Humans being precisely the same, just given different living needs.

"What is wrong with her?" Itori asked.

Giving a heavy sigh, Irimi replied, "It exhausts her. Physically, mentally, and to some extent, emotionally. Think about this carefully."

That was all she said when Uta knelt and looked at Kagome's face. She knew the girl was going pale, that her lips were probably turning a pale shade of blue.

"Then, I can wait. I do not want you to hu-" Uta started to say and was stopped when Kagome growled low in her chest.

Unable to help herself, Irimi laughed out loud, while catching the deep rumbling chuckles of Kuzen and Koma. There was no way he was going to get out of this. So, in short order, Kagome was ready again, and Uta had a sour look on his face. Irimi knew he was an artist and valued his hands as they were the tool of his trade. But it didn't matter. Kagome would get her way.

The moment it was done, and he was healed, Irimi watched as he sat on his ass and hard. Even if it was just a short distance. His eyes widen as he looked at the undamaged limb, while Kagome finished up. The moment she made the paper fly to the Torii Gate, Irimi watched as Kagome's lilac nimbus surrounded the three. As it threaded through their aurae that appeared, fusing with them.

"Welcome to the family! And you are now...one... with this...land and it... will...prote-" Kagome said, her voice cheery before it trailed off as she passed out cold.

Shaking her head, Irimi knelt and gathered up all the stuff. Taking great care with the sword as she sheathed it and tied the white silk rope in a peace knot over the hilt and sheath. It was a beautiful piece. And Kagome had stated that she would need to learn to use it soon. Along with the odd black walnut longbow that was in the same little storage box that the sword was kept in.

"What does she mean that this place and land will protect us?" Uta asked.

Pausing Irimi looked at the three of them. "She has blessed you. Saw you as family enough to mix your blood with hers. We may not be from the same family biologically, but now there is a blood bond between you and her," she explained. "Meaning that via that bond, you are recognized as someone who she values as much as her own life. You can come and go from here freely. But you can bring no one here without her."

The air around them seemed to become heavy as she turned and walked into the small storage house where the equipment was kept. And meticulously put everything back where it went — knowing that Kagome could easily have a spazzed out OCD moment. Then he returned to the group to see Koma holding the girl in his arms like the most precious thing in the world. Which, in a way, she was to them. She gave them hope and a home.

TBC!