The headquarters for the United Nations was certainly not what Kagome had been expecting. The original building had been destroyed during the attempt to bomb the Arch and had been rebuilt as more of a military compound than a center focused on world peace. Manhattan Island was nothing but a wasteland, a shell of its former glory. The skeletons of buildings and the remains of others stretched across the horizon, a true representation of the changes brought about by the Arch.

The United States had shut down the island shortly after the Arch appeared. It was a long and arduous process relocating the businesses and industries which called Manhattan home elsewhere. Though, even if they had not closed the island, people were reluctant to go anywhere near the once flourishing city. As the Arch is located on US soil, the Americans set up a military base on the island to monitor the Arch and a great wall was built around the island to prevent extremist groups and fanatics worshiping the Arch from entering the city. In addition to the military base, there was an international news station which kept constant surveillance of the Arch should someone return or something unexpected happen and the new United Nations building.

The UN had of course moved their headquarters elsewhere, but they built a building so that state leaders could meet there if needed and so that the listed would have a place to train and receive information before heading out. It wasn't a beautiful or stately looking building, but it got the job done.

Kagome couldn't help but frown at the blue sky above and how it contrasted so drastically with the landscape. The man at her right had a kind smile on his face as he guided her to where the Arch stood in Times Square. After disembarking from the plane, the last thing Kagome expected to happen was to be led to the Arch.

"I was told that there was additional training and information I would receive, not to mention there are several days until I am required to go through the Arch." She had questioned. He had simply said that it was all procedure and that they would be meeting up with a survivor who would explain to her on the way.

Kagome glanced at the man from the corner of her eye. He was tall and well built. There was confidence in his step which told her of his years of combat experience. The glint of sunlight off the hilt of his sword informed her that he was a frequent visitor of the Arch or he would not carry such an archaic weapon. Of course she had also trained with the sword, many of the training programs focused on weaponry that could be used in the other worlds.

"How long have you been stationed here?"

"Hmm? Well, I suppose it has been around five years now." He said as they walked over a fallen lamppost. "It hasn't been so bad, though working without technology around the Arch took a little time to get used to."

"You can use technology outside the fifty yard radius though."

"That limit isn't always accurate though, it can be rather fluid. Sometimes its twenty yards and other times its two hundred. It's only fifty yards when it's dormant."

"Why is that?"

The man shook his blond head back and forth, "Can't really say. The scientists think that it has something to do with where the person goes and the atmosphere of the new world. All I know is that the strangest survivors are also the ones who had the largest technology interference."

"We've been walking for a while."

"Noticed that did you," he frowned.

"We've walked way more than two hundred yards."

"Well, your interference has certainly been unique, in that it has a radius of over a mile and it keeps growing." He said with a forced laugh as he scratched the back of his head.

"That's rather ominous." Kagome exhaled blowing her bangs from out of her eyes. The two continued on until they saw a man with flaming red hair that seemed to defy gravity, spiking upward off his head and out of his face with the help of a long red cloth which had been tied around his forehead as a headband. He had a dark Persian complexion and was covered in golden jewelry. The golden cuffs, rings, armbands, earrings, necklaces, and a choker each had intricate carvings and drawings which appeared to be some sort of script. He wore a light red tunic and leggings that seemed to be worn down by the elements and frequent use. Attached to each side of his hip was a scimitar. They both had a leather grip and 24 inches of dangerously curved dangerously steel; a spindly hand resting upon the pommel of one. Yet his most striking feature was his eyes. They were a deep forest green with a vertical pupil giving them a cat like appearance; cunning and cautious.

She felt an electric pulse shoot through her palms and make its way down her spine and to her toes. A feeling of recognition seeped into her bones, as if she should know this man. She knew not why, for she had certainly never met him before, yet the familiar feeling remained. Seeing her tense, the red haired man narrowed his calculating eyes and his lips thinned. Though there was no foundation for her belief, Kagome knew that he had felt the same thrill.

"Good to see you again, Malak." The man beside Kagome called out good naturedly, interrupting her thoughts. Following his lead, Kagome smiled in greeting to the strange man who bowed his head in response.

"Lieutenant Polotski." His voice was a deep and held an accented timbre.

"This is Kagome Higurashi." He said gesturing to Kagome, "Kagome, this is Malak Amir. He will be your mentor for the next few days."

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

"What was that feeling?" Kagome asked and her blonde guide tilted his head in confusion.

"You are very sensitive." Was Malak's short reply.

"Excuse me?"

"I will explain it to you later. Come, it is better to do this part quickly. I do not particularly enjoy being around the Arch."

"Why is it that we are visiting the Arch so soon?" Kagome asked as she jogged slightly to keep up with Malak's long strides.

"We have found that although the pull to enter the arch is great for those who are listed, it is possible to touch the arch and have an idea of where it is you will go without having to enter the arch." He looked down at her as they made their way down the deserted street. "You should prepare yourself; the desire to enter is very strong. You might hear people whispering in your head, urging you."

"Did you?"

"Yes, I heard thousands of voices screaming in pain, praying for someone, anyone, to come to their aid." Kagome swallowed thickly. "You should also know that the pull has a direct coordination to the uh…" he looked at the lieutenant, "atmosphere… is stronger then there will be a greater pull. Apparently the place you are going is particularly strong, be on guard."

"Thanks for the warning."

"To be quite honest, I am surprised that nothing has happened yet, we are only a block away." Kagome simple shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'your guess is as good as mine.'

"What will I have to do to get it to show where I will go?"

"Just touch it." Seeing her step falter a bit, he added, "Don't worry, the lieutenant and I will be there to keep you from entering."

When the arch came into sight, Kagome felt the urge to run. The television truly did not do it justice. Its' black stone face stretched high above her, the markings changing color periodically. There in the center of the Arch was Kagome's name and face. There were twenty soldiers stationed around the Arch prepared for anything that may happen. It was with heavy steps that she continued forward towards the imposing structure.

Malak and the lieutenant kept glancing at her to see how she was doing. Surely she should have felt the pull by this point. Malak could feel the power dense in the air, it was suffocating. Yet, Kagome continued on as though she hadn't noticed. He felt his curiosity in the girl rise and stepped closer to her. The air seemed to thin out as if there was a barrier around her. This is certainly unprecedented.

Kagome was aware of the power though. She felt it, she feared it, but she stood her ground. Though from the looks that Malak, the lieutenant, and a few of the soldiers were giving her, she was clearly not affected as strongly as the others. She reached out her hand and only slightly brushed the rock with the tips of her fingers. She gasped as a jolt of power rushed through her and for a moment she felt eyes upon her, they were calculating, cold, amber eyes.

Stepping back from Arch she saw that the inside had changed to that of a lush countryside with towering mountains in the distance. There was an old well with creeping vines covering the sides. It all it seemed very peaceful and serene if not a little familiar. That is until you looked at the sky. There in the sky were Islands that seemed to be floating among the clouds, each with its own distinct geography; one appeared to be made entirely of ice and another had a lush jungle with a waterfall cascading over the side of the island.

"Hmm, well I guess it could have been worse." Kagome laughed hesitantly, "I mean at least there aren't any large bugs or anything." Almost as if her words had summoned it, a centipede as large as a house with the upper body of a woman crept past the well and vanished into the tree line. Slowly, all the heads which had been watching the creature turned toward Kagome who was smiling and laughing shakily with tears running down her cheeks. "Bugs. They have bugs. Well of course they have bugs, Kagome. Bugs are an important part of an environments biodiversity." She mumbled to herself before yelling, "But did they have to be that big! I mean come on! How big is everything else in that world?" Movement in the Arch brought their attention back to the image as a flock of … birds? … flew past. They were larger than the centipede and completely round. They had two short tallowed chicken feet and a massive wingspan. Most notable, however, was the upper bodies of blue people that were sticking out the top of the head. When all the beasts had flown from view, the people of earth once again looked at Kagome. "You know what? I'm just not going to say anything else, who knows what will appear next?" There was a great roar. "Malak, how do you turn this thing off?"

"That's what we've been trying to figure out the last fifteen years." He responded dryly as a blue dragon speed from the island of ice, blowing an arch of blue flames in the air as it did.

"Eheheh, right."

"Though the image will disperse back once you are far enough away." He said as he adjusted on of his golden gauntlets.

"What are we waiting for? Let's hop to it!" She cheered as she scurried away from the arch.

"She does realize that she will be living there in less than six days right?" the lieutenant asked Malak who simply snorted and followed after the fleeing girl.

When Kagome reached the area where she had first seen the arch, she turned and watched as the cloud began to overtake the Archway once again. She didn't know why she turned back, but she felt it again, those eyes. Staring into the portal she saw two amber glints before the image completely disappeared.