Hello everyone, I'm glad to see people are enjoying this fanfiction so far! I was skeptical about posting because I always worry on what people will think, and i'm glad it's been positive so far! Please, continue to support me in the futuree!I have nothing else to say, so without further adieu, please enjoy the 1st official chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Visitor

Kagome knew today was going to be different. Today, the group was going to strike.

After her return about 2 months ago, they began traveling again. The only difference was that Kagome returned home more frequently than before. The others were upset when she first mentioned going home; however, she casually explained to them that they can continue to travel without her, and that she would reconvene with them when she returned. They didn't like the idea, but there was little they could do about it.

However, this time, instead of her meeting them upon travel, they had decided to stay close and wait on her to return.

She climbed out of the well just as they entered the clearing. Shippo approached her first and hugged her, as he had been doing since she returned back to the Feudal Era.

"We've been waiting on you," Inuyasha said, surprisingly. The two hadn't shared words much since her threat. "Are you ready to go?" She gave a nod.

"We need to stop by the village first," Miroku commented. "Kaede wishes to speak with you." Kagome eyed him. When Kagome came back, she had learned that Shippo had explained to Kaede what happened. After that, Kaede kept her distance from the others, and only came to Kagome directly if she wanted to relay message. Under the circumstances, she couldn't see Kaede telling Miroku that she wanted to speak to her unless it was an emergency. She grabbed her black back, and started walking. Whatever they were planning, she would be prepared for it though.

Nothing prepared her for the sight of Kilala jumping in front of her, transforming in midair. Everyone froze at the instant. Kilala had seemed to

separate from the group over time and had only spent time with Shippo.

"What's the matter, Kilala?" she asked, moving to grab the dagger under her sleeve. She loved the fire neko just as much as she loved Shippo, but she would be prepared if she betrayed her as well. However, instead of attacking, Kilala turned around and nodded to her back.

"You...want me to ride you...?" Kagome asked startled, and Kilala gave a nod. Kagome smiled and approached her as she relaxed her stance. While she climbed on Kilala along with Shippo, Sango walked towards them as well. A vicious growl came from Kilala, halting Sango's movements.

"Kilala, what's wrong?" Sango asked. Kilala growled at her again, and it everyone was shocked at the realization of what took place.

Kilala had rejected Sango for Kagome.

Sango turned to Kagome with eyes blazing with fury. "What did you do to my Kilala?!" she spat out.

Kagome cast her a glance. "I've been gone for almost a week and have just now seen you all since. What would I have done to her? Curse her? I'm a miko, not a witch." Kagome's sweet tone never changed, but her eyes slowly turned cold, making Sango shiver from an unknown chill.

Shippo, not liking the tone the tajiya took with his mother, turned and glared at her as a cruel smirk appeared on his face. "Who knows, Sango? Maybe you did finally did something that Kilala didn't approve of."

Sango shot him a glare before smiling sweetly at her. "It's fine," she said waving her hand in the air in dismissal. "She probably feels a need to be close to you to protect you. I can handle myself with the others should a youkai appear." Kagome ignored the underlying insult Sango threw out of her being the weakest in the group.

"Let's go, then," She stated. They all then made their way back towards the village.

As they made their way to Kaede's hut, Kagome felt the familiar tug inside her being.

Kikyo stood up and met her gaze as she walked in the door.

"Can we speak alone?" Kagome nodded and stepped to the side to let Kikyo pass first. The others seemed surprisingly unbothered by the dead miko's presence, which Kagome found suspicious.

As they walked through the trees, Kikyo whispered to her in a low voice, "Do you know what they are hoping for?"

Kagome glanced at her before facing forward once more. "They are hoping that you kill me and reclaim your soul."

Kikyo couldn't help the surprised chuckle that escaped her lips. "So you are aware of it then? Of their true intentions?"

They cut through the trees, aiming for a spot on the edge of Inuyasha's forest. "They wish for my death," she stated. The sting in her chest was a dull ache compared to the immense agony that knowledge caused her months ago. "I can only assume that it is to bring you back to the living." They reached the clearing, and Kagome stopped and turned to face her.

"You are correct," Kikyo said as she she broke through the trees. "Because you are unable to control your reiki and lack combat training, they see you as the weakest one. They hope to replace you with someone stronger."

She stood face to face with Kagome. "Someone stronger," she repeated as she dropped her bow from her shoulders, "like me."

"I left home to train," Kagomer told her as she placed her hands in her sleeves, grabbing the hilt of the hidden daggers in them. "What I lack in reiki, I gained in strength. I stand here proud to say that I will not be so easy to strike down as I was the last time we met."

And that's Chapter 1! I hope you all enjoyed it! Be prepared to be shocked in the future as I plan for this story to be filled with plot twists! Please, comment any thoughts and questions you may have! I shall see you next week!

~JewelPrincessArmelia~

P.S. I'll even give you a taste of Chapter 2!

Excerpt:

Inuyasha and the others looked up when they saw movement in the trees and watched as Kikyo walked out of the forest, her skin now a healthy pink instead of the pale white that had appeared with her resurrection. They also felt her reiki had increased since she had gone into the forest earlier. There was no mistaking it; Kikyo had returned to the living.

"Ah, Lady Kikyo," Miroku said with a smile. "I take your conversation with Kagome went well then?"

"My soul has been returned to me," she said simply.

Sango stood up with a smile on her face. "That's good. It was your soul from the beginning. Now that you're alive once more, you can join us in defeating Naraku."

"Wrong," Kikyo retorted. "I refuse to join your group."

End of Excerpt