Hey, thanks so much for the reviews. Every opinion and review counts and I love the fact that there's someone who likes my story. ^_^
Same disclaimer: I own none of the characters and all rights to the shows belong to their respective owners. All I own is the plot to my writings and imagination.
It was a week before Kagome found a job. She was now working as a cashier at a local clothing store. She noticed something about herself. Every time she saw a couple come in to do some shopping, she felt a piece of her slowly wither away. Each and every time it happened, Kagome remembered a time with the one she'd decided to spend her life with. He'd been left in the past, along with the others.
Kagome rang up a customer's order. "Will that be all today?" Then she looked up. Her heart nearly dropped. It was a carbon-copy of Kikyo.
The girl's face lit up. "Kagome! Oh, it''s so good to see you! How's your health?" Kagome wanted to smack the girl. She was too cheery.
Kagome sweat-dropped. "F-fine. Umm, can I ask who you are?" SHe finished bagging the clothes and set them in front of the lady in front of her.
She replied, "It's Kanoko. Don't tell me you've forgotten your own cousin." Kanoko grabbed the bag and paid the total.
Kagome was taken aback. Cousin? No wonder. Kikyo's half of the soul must've automatically gone to the Higurashi family. Must be fate. "No. Of course not, Kanoko. I must be having an off day. I'm sorry."
Kanoko waved and turned to walk out. Before she left, though, she turned and exclaimed, "Oh, by the way, don't forget to RSVP to my wedding. Next month, I'll be Mrs. Nakago Miyahabi."
Kagome had no idea what just happened. She had a cousin. Her cousin was getting married. She was also as chipper as a freaking bird. Man, that was annoying.
After work, Kagome decided to walk to the park. She didn't know why but she felt drawn to it for some reason. It was almost as if something was going to happen.
On her way there, however, she heard screaming. "You idiot! How could you let him get away?!"
The other voice, a feminine one, yelled, "Well, how was I supposed to know he would pull out a fire whip?! Huh?!"
Kagome muttered to herself, "Kouga?" She continued walking in the direction of where the voices sounded. She was right. It was Kouga and Ayame. They were in modern clothing and everything.
Kouga was yelling like an idiot while Ayame instantly stopped when she saw Kagome. "Kagome? Oh, my god! Kagome!" She ran over and nearly knocked her over in a hug.
Kagome was a bit shocked, to say the least. She hadn't been expecting that reaction. Just as she caught her breath after Ayame let her go, she saw Kouga in a state of shock. "Um, hi." She gave a small wave.
Kouga was near tears. "Kagome, what are you doing here? You disappeared over 500 years ago..." He was talking more to himself than anyone else. Reality hadn't hit him yet.
Kagome gasped. "Y-you remember?!" She hugged him tight, and Ayame, too.
Kouga raised an eyebrow. "Of course I remember. Me and Ayame joined the human defense in Demon World not too long after you left. You're the reason we don't hunt humans anymore. What would possibly make you think we'd forget?"
Kagome backed up. "I've been hanging out with a girl who looks exactly like Sango. I think it's her reincarnation. When I was at work earlier, Kikyo's reincarnation showed up claiming to be my cousin. Why wouldn't I have a hard time believming it?"
Ayame said, "That's tough"
Kagome nodded her head. "No doubt. If anything, I'm more than happy to know I have someone familiar here who actually knows whats going on."
Kouga's phone rang. "Yeah. No. Dammit, Dogboy! Why do we have to do it?! FINE!" He turned and sighed. "Orders from Sesshomaru. We gotta go. Like, now. Sorry, Kagome. If we don't go, our asses are on the line. In the middle of a crisis, ya know."
Kagome shook her head. "No. I don't know. I don't know anything that's been going on. I don't even feel like I fit in here in my own time. What's the crisis?"
Ayame sincerely smiled. "We'll explain when we're done. Here." She gave her their numbers. "Call us sometime."
Kagome nodded as she watched them run off. They must've been concealing their demonic speed since they were in Human World. Smart. It still didn't make her feel better. Then she felt it. The first threatening demonic energy approaching since her arrival. Sudedenly, Kagome felt alive again.
She started running until she found the source of the energy. It was eminating from a nearby allyway. The thing looked human exept for the fact that it had a lizard-shaped face and a long tongue hanging out as it started to devour it's victim. Kagome instantly released a small amount of her miko energy to stop him. He looked over to her after releasing his victim. The man fell to the ground and was instantly knocked out. The lizard demon transformed into a large, scaly being that roared with rage.
Kagome smirked as she felt herself finally feel something familiar. She felt life coarsing through her veins. She felt, oddly, at home. It wasn't for the reason others might think. She really hated violence. It just reminded her of him. He was the only one who could console her when she was hurting. He was the only one who knew her enough to calm her down, even when she was beyond the point of no return. He was also the one who had been able to captivate her in every way possible. Then he was torn away from her. If Kagome had the chance right now, she'd go back to the Feudal Era and never let him go. In doing so, the dimensions would be torn apart, ultimately destroying everything in existence. Compared to this pain, what were a few split hairs?
The monster went to strike her down. So Kagome used her kitsune side to jump high into the air and strike a childish amount of miko energy to her opponent. She just had to blow off some steam. Maybe slaughtering a demon would fill some of the void.
The monster spit an acid-like goo all over where Kagome had just been. If she hadn't landed when she had, she'd be goo herself. In a blind rage, Kagome blasted a lethal amount of energy towards the heart of the beast. He moved and only caught a sliver of it. He turned and went to step on the small girl before being thrust back into a brick wall, shattering all remains of any brick or concrete. A force of bright, blue light dissipated any remains of what used to be the demonic beast. Kagome looked over to see who'd saved her in her moment of misjudgement. "Y-Yusuke?!"
Yusuke helped her up to her feet. "Don't even tell me that was your energy we felt?!"
Kagome noticed her cousin's voice level hadn't dropped in all the years since she'd seen him. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You idiot! I had him! I was just blowing off steam! When the hell did I say it was okay to save me?!"
Yusuke took a step back in slight fear. He knew Kagome's temper. If it hadn't changed since they were kids, he was in trouble. Kuwabara came running into what was left of the alleyway. Catching his breath, he exclaimed, "Urameshi, we have a problem. I think we miss the-oh. Never mind." He'd seen the damage.
Yusuke didn't pay him any mind. Instead he fought with his cousin. "Ya know what?! From where I was standing, it looked like you were about to be crushed by a damn foot! So, you're welcome!"
Kagome got closer. "I never thanked you!"
Yusuke got in her face, just like she did to him. "I know!"
Kuwabara sweat-dropped. "Um, did I miss something here?"
They both turned and yelled, "No!", before continuing their fight.
After Kuwabara finally convinced Yusuke and Kagome to settle down before drawing a crowd, they all went to a local diner and caught up. Kagome and Yusuke pretty much forgot they even fought. Funny how things work out, isn't it?
They waited until Kurama met up with them before going back to Yusuke's place. Hey, why not? They were all in the same area, right?
Hiei sat in the tree outside the diner. He opened a telepathic connection with Kurama. 'Watch out when you get here, Fox. It seems as though we have a new addition to the group. Yusuke's cousin seems to have miko powers. I'm also detecting a hint of fox. Any explanations?'
Kurama, who was walking towards the diner's location, responded after thinking for a moment. 'No, I can't think of any reason to be alarmed. It could be another demon's energy getting crossed with your reading.'
Hiei grinded his teeth. 'No, I'm sure. She's not normal.'
Kurama chuckled. 'Okay, Hiei. I'll keep an eye out.'
As Kurama got nearer to his destination, he caught a familiar scent, which awakened Youko. Youko screamed in his head. 'Go! Now! It's her!'
Kurama rolled his eyes. 'You're such a pervert. You know that?'
Kurama felt Youko get strong enough to temporarily take over his body. "Dammit, I told you to go and you wouldn't go. I haven't caught that scent in over 500 years and I'm not gonna waste any time!"
Kurama sighed. 'You've officially lost it, Youko. That sneaky way of thinking must've finally gotten to you.'
Youko replied, 'Yeah and you were more than willing to use it to your advantage, Red'
He ran as fast as he could in Kurama's body. He'd only had enough energy to take over the mental control, not to fully transform. Plus, it would've been very bad if a bunch of humans witnessed it. He might have had to kill them.
Kurama simply stated, 'Yeah, and if you would've done that, you would've most likely gotten us both in trouble because of your temper.'
Youko sadly smiled. 'Yeah, and, as far as I'm concerned, Red, right now, I couldn't care less. She's here."
Kurama was at a loss. As long as he'd known Youko, he'd never caught even a hint of any particular woman being mentioned. Aside from the perverted stuff, Kurama had no clue.
As Youko, in Kurama's body, entered the diner, he finally saw her. 500 years of being alone and here she was. When their eyes met, Kagome stared in confusion when he walked over to the table. "Hi. Have we met?" She meant it sincerely, although she did have a sense of deja vu.
Youko fell to the ground, mortified. His first big chance at reconciliation: shattered beyond repair. Reason: apearances apparently meant a quicker reaction to noticing the love of your life walking through the door.
