Disclaimer! All characters from Inuyasha mentioned in this story belong fully to Rumiko Takahashi and are being used solely for the purpose of entertainment and I am not receiving any form of payment or currency for my writing besides the enjoyment from those reading.

Chapter Two

The fire in her soul died out with the realisation that she, Higurashi Kagome, was now lost somewhere in the middle of the Western lands. Kagome sighed to herself, should she have risked running to the camp? Kagome wasn't sure what the medallion was capable of and if Naraku had control over her friends because of the damn thing it wasn't something she wanted to chance. Kagome worried about Shippō and Kirara, hoping that they were okay, but she had faith in those two - they were definitely more capable of surviving than she was. Kagome brushed the dirt off her knees and straightened her skirt, balling her hands into fists she took a deep breath and huffed. No time to wallow! First, she would try to find her way to Kaede, if anyone had an idea it would be her!

Luckily over the months of being here, Kagome has gotten fairly decent with directions and can even read the stars enough to follow a path. The Miko stepped out onto a dirt path, that appeared well travelled, and began her treck. Kagome never thought she would actually miss Inuyasha's complaining before, she began muttering under her breath things that she imagined the hanyō would be saying before giggling to herself, but her enjoyment was cut short by what appeared to be the site of a rampage. Kagome blinked widely at the destruction of a clearing, large gashes in the land from powerful strikes, puddles of blood, guts and other parts Kagome didn't want to even imagine. The Miko shivered at the sight, it was worse than the wreck that happened after Inuyasha fought Naraku! Kagome looked around, there was no sign of anyone still in one piece let alone alive, and just as she was going to turn away something that she could only describe as a shimmer in the back of her mind pulled her back towards the scene. Something here was calling to her. Slowly she stepped around the debris, wary of making too much noise in case of attracting any unwanted attention. There was a pulse of energy that snapped her attention to the left and there Kagome saw a woman laying on the ground, the shimmer that had called to her before seemed to rhythmically beat slowly from the figure on the ground.

Kagome ran to the woman's side, hoping to find some sign of life, running her hands across the woman's face she was met with a slight temperature and weak grown. She was alive! Kagome took note of the large puncture in the woman's abdomen and the pool of blood that surrounded her. Kagome channelled her Reiryoku into her fingers to utilise Reiki, hoping to heal the extent of the poor woman's wounds. Once her Reiryoku entered the other's body the shimmer started to hum within Kagome, the same hum she hears when detecting a shard. Kagome looked the woman over carefully when her eyes fell onto strange bands around her wrists.

"Who - Who are you?" trying to push the words out with a weak croak, the woman struggled to open her eyes. Kagome turned her attention over and smiled.

"I am Higurashi Kagome, I found you in the middle of this field and you are injured, do you remember anything?" The woman shook her head and scrunched her brows together.

"I don't… remember" she whispered before blacking out once more, Kagome got back to work on healing the woman. It felt like hours and Kagome was drained of energy when she felt that the healed enough for the woman to be out of harm's way, but before she could relax she managed to move the woman away from the disaster and into the woods. Now they sat inside a makeshift shelter made from thick brush and close-knit tree trunks.

Able to rest for a moment, Kagome looked over the woman once more. Long dull dark grey hair was tangled and soaked with blood, her face seemed fair but it too was covered with dirt and blood, cut in a couple places. The woman's clothes were strange as well, they resembled that of temple garb - even a close comparison to Kikyō's Hakama but with a few differences, for one hers looked really expensive and the sleeves were much longer than the traditional Hakama. Perhaps she was royalty? Kagome focused once more on the bands that on closer inspection turned out to be shackles placed on both of her wrists.

Kagome sat back, her eyes focused on the shackles attached to the woman, they were a shiny dark grey in colour with black markings and works etched into the metal, in the centre of both of them was a jewel shard. Kagome shifted closer, to get a better look at what it said. On the woman's right wrist the words seemed to repeat themselves throughout the design as is wrapped around the shackle. Conceal, Contain, Subdue. Kagome frowned, turning her attention to the left, she noticed it was almost identical but the words repeated were Suppress, Withhold, Obscure. A frown graced Kagome's face, what could those mean? Hovering her hands over the jewel, the young priestess attempted to call the jewel to her, it pulsed with a dull hum, but the words and designs glowed a dark purple before a shock was sent through Kagome's hand and up to her elbow, causing her to snap her arms away and rub the offended limbs.

"To warrant such powerful seals… Who are you?" Kagome muttered but the sound of rustling brought her gaze down to the woman, her arm was raised to her head, and her brows furrowed and she struggled to sit up. Kagome didn't miss a beat and placed her hand on the woman's back to assist her into sitting position. Helping her lean against the tree for support. When her hand was lowered from her face, the woman tilted her head to meet Kagome's eyes. Kagome was startled at first, the woman's eyes were almost teal in colour, not to be marred by the dirt and blood that covered her face, more vibrant than any she had ever seen only comparable to few hanyō.

"Kagome..." The woman spoke softly, and her eyes had a faraway look as if she were trying to remember, Kagome shifted and nodded her head happily.

"Yes, good you remember, I found you wounded in the middle of a battle zone, do you remember what happened at all, do you know what your name is?" The woman frowned and she tried to focus her mind.

"Setsukō, perhaps, I remember being called Setsukō" Kagome watched her facial expressions as she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Something called me here, I remember being in this place with a purpose, I was looking for something or someone," Kagome smiled and nodded for her to continue, the reassurance seemed to comfort the other, "there's a large piece missing after that I can't recall…" Suddenly her eyes widened and she jolted forward with a sudden realisation.

"I remember a sword, my sword, and there was a woman, she took it from me…" the shackle on her left started to glow and Setsukō fell to her knees, gripping her head cringing with an anguished cry. Kagome quickly placed her hands on Setsukō's temples and flared her own powers against those of the shackles, causing the dark purple to recede into the metal once more.

"Setsukō?" Worry filled her eyes, Setsukō was visibly shaking under Kagome's hand, and her breath was ragged and strained, she raised her eyes to meet Kagome's the fog lifted from her iris and cleared leaving her face puzzled at their position, "Are you okay?"

"Kagome, what happened?" Kagome blinked in confusion and moved the other to rest against the tree once more.

"You were starting to remember what happened, you began speaking about a sword and a woman who took it from you… do you not remember anything from just moments ago?"

"A sword, I am not sure, I do not remember a sword, I only remember waking and you." Kagome frowned at the shackles. Suppress, Withhold, Obscure. The words repeated through her mind and suddenly Kagome's head snapped up and she took a deep inhale.

"Of course! Those shackles on your wrist are blocking out your memories!" Setsukō's eyes travelled down to her wrists where the metal bands held firm, tears pricked her eyes and she looked to Kagome with an expression that made her seem so lost and confused that it broke Kagome's heart. It was clear the Setsukō had no recollection of the events that lead to this moment, "Well I was heading to see an old Miko friend, if anyone can help understand these shackles, it will be her." Setsukō smiled for the first time and for once since being forced to leave her friends Kagome felt not so alone.

Over the course of several days waiting for Setsukō to recover enough to travel the two spoke lightly, it was mainly just Kagome testing what Setsukō could recall and what she found amazed the Miko. Setsukō remembered the date, though she was off by only a few days which gave Kagome a clue as to how long she had been laying there. Setsukō could remember her favourite season which was Winter, her favourite colour which was green, and even her favourite flower, Uke Yuri.

Setsukō could recall all of these but she couldn't remember why they were her favourites, nor why she would get this far off look and smile lightly whenever the wind brought a scent to her nose. Setsukō knew of everything she learned, how to track, to hunt, how to navigate but it seemed as if everything personal about her past was gone, names and faces, where she was from. Kagome just grew even more curious about her, the way Setsukō spoke, her mannerisms, the way she moved all screamed of high breeding, and what she was wearing only solidified the possibility in her mind.

"Now that you have healed enough to travel we need to get to Kaede's village which is located near bone eater's well-" Setsukō perked up at the name and chirped happily, making a sharp turn to the right

"It's in that direction" Setsukō pointed to a narrow trail that cut to the right. Kagome's eyes widened.

"Are you sure?" Setsukō nodded, there was no doubt in her eyes and so Kagome nodded back with a smile, willing to trust her sense of direction since Setsukō seemed to have a much better grasp of the area than herself, "Well, then what are we waiting for?"

The two women started their journey, chatting and learning more about each other. For once Kagome felt like she was at ease, there was no nagging sense of foreboding like there was when travelling with Inuyasha. Only questions formed, of things she would take note to ask Kaede because for as many questions Kagome had for Setsukō, the other woman seemed just as curious about Kagome.

Shippō and Kirara had been searching for days for Kagome, after she sent him hurdling through the barrier opening he ran as fast as he could back to camp. Inuyasha was the first to spot him, and he questioned the kit as to why he smelt of Kikyō when Shippō tried to tell Inuyasha what happened the hanyō refused to believe it and hit the poor kit upside the head. Then there was a burst of energy and Shippō could feel Kagome's Reiryoku clash with Kikyō's. Shippō knew that Inuyasha felt it too because the hanyō sped off in the direction Shippō had just come from followed closely by Sango. The kit ran over to Kirara's side and quickly gave the Nekomata the rundown of what had just occurred. Kirara had begun to notice a change in her dear friend and so when Shippō connected the dots they ran in search of the Miko, but they were met with Miroku blocking their path. Shippō didn't want to fight Miroku but he needed to get to Kagome, the young kit dug into his pocket to pull out one of his tricks, preparing for the moment he'd have to use it. Kirara transformed bracing herself against the tension between the three, Shippō knew that she too was hesitant of having a confrontation with the monk. Something changed though that caught Shippō off guard, Miroku rose a finger to his lips and gave the kit a small wink - his eyes glimmered with the old Miroku and happiness swelled within the two Yōkai. The monk lifted Kagome's backpack along with her bow and arrows, passing them to Shippō he placed the young kit onto Kirara's back, and they were ushered away with Miroku's parting words. "Keep her safe you two."

Unfortunately with all of the Reiryoku and the air was thick with Naraku and it was hard for their senses to lock onto Kagome's trail and Shippō grew increasingly worried about his sister. The sun rose and Shippō had dozed off for a moment when Kirara chirped and brought Shippō's attention back to their search. The Nekomata still carrying him on her back as they flew through the sky.

"What is it Kirara?" Shippō yawned and rubbed his eyes as he leaned over to look at the land below them when a cloud of dust caught his attention, "Kōga!"

Kirara descended quickly, flying alongside the wolf prince, Shippō tried to get his attention but thanks to the jewels Kōga had the wolf kept much farther than Shippō could reach. Kirara growled irritably, allowing the last bit of her energy to push them forward in front of Kōga's path and let out a loud roar. Kōga stopped abruptly and looked at the annoyed Nekomata in question.

"What's up kit?" Kōga turned his attention to Shippō and he looked around, normally the kit would be attached to Kagome's side but the only sign of the Miko was from her strange sack, the worried look on Shippō's face made him narrow his eyes, "What's going on, where's Kagome?"

"We don't know! Kikyō joined our group and used this strange medallion to brainwash Miroku and Sango! Then Kagome and I found out that Kikyō is under Naraku's control and the two had this huge face off and now Kagome is somewhere in the Western lands by herself!" Shippō spits out all in one breath, he sucked in a large gulp of air and pleaded with his eyes. Kōga stared at the kit for a second with narrowed eyes. All he truly understood from what the kit spit out was 'Kagome, trouble, in the west by herself.' and that was more than enough information for him.

"Where did you last see her?" Shippō smiled brightly and told Kōga where he and Kagome were last, the wolf nodded his head and looked at the two with pity, The Nekomata had taken her small form again and was cradled in Shippō's arms both looked exhausted. Kōga turned his attention to his two panting companions who had just managed to catch up to their chief.

"Wait, what about Kagome and danger?" Ginta asked between breaths, Hakkaku by his side echoed his question. They both managed to catch the last little portion of what the kit said.

"Is sis in some sort of trouble?" Kōga nodded his head.

"I'm going to go find her, take these two to that old Miko in Inuyasha's forest," Shippō and Kirara both sighed in relief as they were scooped up into the wolf yōkai's arms. Kōga grabbed Kagome's strange sack and placed it on his back as he's seen her do, "I'll find Kagome and meet you both there, Ginta, Hakkaku, if Naraku really is involved it's up to you two to protect them."

"Yes, boss!"

"You can count on us, boss!"

The two saluted their chief as they watched him turn and run in the opposite direction. Ginta and Hakkaku looked down at their temporary wards to find them both fast asleep. Ginta chuckled, sometimes he forgot that the kit was still a child, but he smiled at the fact that they were both trusted enough for the Neko and kit to fall asleep. The two wolves nodded and started their trip. Both of them praying for Kagome's safety, only the Kami knew what would happen if Kōga found her injured, or worse.

I hope you enjoy this next chapter! As usual please leave a review!

- Iskra