Summary: Kagome left Japan to stay with her Uncle following the end of her time traveling. It was supposed to be a new beginning, so why, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, does she still get swept up in the supernatural at every turn? From demons to vampires and werewolves… she never really could catch a break. She could never escape it, but maybe she could learn to embrace it.

Pairing: Undecided.

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks/Past are written in bulk Italics.

Chapter One

She spent the next few hours simply unpacking her things and putting them away. It was quiet in the room as she paced back and forth from spot to spot, setting things away as they needed to be. When it came to her bow, she paused before she even began to reach for it.

Her mother had told Charlie about how she practiced archery as a hobby, so he was more than aware of the bow that was in her possession. She didn't exactly need to store it in a place where no one would see it, because it wasn't necessarily a secret. Sure, while it wasn't for what her mother said, it wasn't something that required her to be stealthy about, like other aspects of her life had turned.

She gently picked it up from the case, running a hand along the smooth wood. The next second, she made her way over to the dresser and set the bow atop it so it was always in an easy spot for her to grab, should the situation ever arise while she was here. She hoped that it wouldn't, but she had learned several times over that there was no such thing as being too careful when she was who she was. While she didn't need them as often, she also placed her quiver of arrows against the wall beside the dresser. Just in case she required them, as well.

There was a low rumble of thunder, and Kagome glanced over her shoulder. On quiet feet, she padded over to the window and opened it. A breeze of cold air brushed her hair back as she leaned her weight on her palms, resting against the windowsill as she glanced out at the dark, cloudy sky. In the distance, the treeline was still able to be made out, even with the lack of light.

The air was laden with the fresh scent of rain. It made her feel at ease.

Leaving the window open to allow the soothing breeze to carry through the room, Kagome backed away from the spot to return to her task at hand.

She tugged a few books from the last suitcase, setting them on the bedside table. The largest one was a photo album that sat at the bottom of the stack. In it were photos of not only her family and friends from school but also several photos of her friends from the past.

With the majority of her stuff put away, Kagome let her focus swap. She quietly picked the jewel up from the bedside table and fixed it back around her neck before she left the room. She closed the door so it was cracked only a little on her way out and made her way downstairs to where she could feel Charlie.

She found him in a chair in the living room, watching something on the tv. When she paused, he looked at her and leaned forward to place his drink on the table in front of him.

"Everything good up there?" he asked. Kagome nodded, coming to join him. She sat on the couch.

"It's perfect," she responded. "Most of my things are unpacked, at least," she added.

"Good," Charlie said. It was silent as he looked from her and back to the tv. He took a deep breath before looking back at her. "Y'know, your mom mentioned you were going through a lot," he began. Kagome looked back at him to meet his stare. "I just…- I just want to let you know you can come to me if you ever want to talk about it," he said. "Now, she didn't say much, but…-"

"Thank you," Kagome said, cutting him off before he could trail off awkwardly. She looked down at her lap, absentmindedly fiddling with a loose strand on her shirt. "I'll keep it in mind," she added.

Her words were only meant to soothe him. She had no intention of voicing her problems to him. She could never stand to leave that burden on him- if he even believed her stories. If he didn't, it could end as a trip to a psychiatrist.

There just didn't seem to be a good way to tell anyone about everything that had happened in the past two and a half years of her life.

"I think I'm going to take a quick shower and get some sleep," she said as she got back up. "It was a long day," she added, "I could really use some rest."

Charlie nodded. "All right, Kid," he responded. "Goodnight."

"Night, Uncle Charlie," she said as she made her way back upstairs.

She went into her room to retrieve a set of night clothes she'd left out. Before she left her room, she went over to her window and closed it, locking it back once it was shut. The air had cooled the room down more than enough in the time it'd been open.

She stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. After setting her stuff down out of the way, she went to turn the water on. As it warmed up, she stripped what she wore away and set it in the basket. She paused before the mirror, her gaze mapping out every scar that covered her petite frame. It was almost automatic- the way her eyes got glued to the large, starburst-shaped mark forever imprinted on her hip. It was unsightly, standing out harshly against her skin.

Her expression twisted, a frown pulling her lips down as she moved a hand to rest it over the mark.

She tried again, to no avail.

She could feel the warmth of her energy against her own skin. If she looked, then she'd be able to see the pink tinge forming along the underside of her hand. After a few seconds, she pulled her hand back, but nothing had changed. No matter how many times she tried, she'd never be able to take the scar from her body. It still didn't change the fact that she desperately wanted to.

She bowed her head, setting her hand back over the mark as her vision started to blur. Her grip tightened, blunt nails digging into the skin around the scar. Any cuts that were made were healed in an instant, never a splotch of blood to be seen.

It was bad enough that she was stuck with the jewel, but it just felt ten times worse forever having the reminder etched into her skin. There was no escaping that, and the knowledge of that burned.

A sigh fell from her as she let her grip loosen, letting her hand fall back to her side as she picked her head up. Steam from the shower had fogged up the mirror, and her reflection was no longer visible.

She didn't mind.

She'd rather not face her expression right now because she didn't want to spot her own glaring weaknesses.

The following day Kagome rejected the idea of going with Charlie to pick Bella up from the airport. The weather was a bit clearer than the day before, so she didn't want to pass up the chance to do a little exploring.

"You're going for a run?" Charlie asked as he paused by the door. "It might be a little dangerous. There are gyms if you want to get some exercise," he continued. She didn't miss the worry, but she shook her head with a small smile.

"Gyms are fun and all, but they're just not for me," she responded. "I got used to running and hiking back home," she continued. "Being out in nature is also way more relaxing than being in a gym," she added, voice softening some.

"Well… All right," Charlie responded with a sigh. She could tell he was still worried, but her words had placated him, if only a little. "Make sure you stick to the trails," he said. "If you go off the path, leave a marker to help find your way back," he added. "And if you lose cell service, don't-"

"I get it," Kagome cut him off with a smile. "I'll stick to the trails, I promise," she said. "I'll also be back before it gets too late."

Charlie nodded, seeming to be more at ease with her answer. "Good," he said. "Just be careful," he added. Kagome nodded.

"I will," she said as he walked out the door. Kagome finished getting ready for her trek. She made sure she had all the things she needed, stuffing a jacket into her bag, just in case the rain returned while she was gone.

It was about ten minutes after Charlie left that she did.

000

She felt at ease as she made her way through the forest. It was quiet with only the distant sound of nature echoing through the space. She'd diverged from the trails long ago, finding herself in the middle of a dense patch of trees. They stretched high into the sky, but the sunlight never got blocked out.

She made her way to the base of one particularly large tree, and she sank down on a large rock beneath it. Her hands moved to rest on her knees, and she let out a soft sigh.

In the distance, something felt off but none of it was strong enough for her to fully feel. It was weak, nearly gone entirely, but there was still just barely enough for her to pick up on. It was nothing like she'd ever felt before, and she could safely say that it wasn't left by a demon. Something like that would be far too easy for her to place.

She'd been following it in an attempt to get a better read on it, to no avail. As it was, she hadn't even realized it was there until she started to get further into the trees, so she wasn't surprised when she struggled to get a clear trail of it.

There was a rustle that came from the bushes far off to her right. The sound pulled her from her thoughts automatically, and she turned to search for the source. A few seconds ticked by before the noise came again. Not long after, the cause made itself known. Kagome remained still as a few wolves covered in dark gray fur trekked out from the bushes.

She was quickly noticed by them, and they slowly trekked over toward her. A smile appeared on her face as they came up on all sides, and she wordlessly held a hand out. One sniffed at her outstretched palm before nudging at her hand with its head. Its fur, though a bit on the coarse side, was warm to the touch.

It wasn't long before they all gathered around her where she sat. Some leaned up against her legs while others had moved to lay down beside her.

She wasn't surprised by their appearance nor was she startled by the way they joined her. She knew if someone stumbled upon her like this, their reaction might not be the best, but she didn't let the thought burn so harshly in her mind as others tended to.

"I'll sit and stay for a little while," she mused out loud. The largest one- the one that had approached her first- glanced up at her with dark brown eyes. Since the weather was so nice, she didn't see the harm.

Sitting there, she was reminded of Koga, and she let out a soft sigh.

"... I wonder how everyone is…"

Though those words were spoken out loud, she didn't anticipate an answer.

She couldn't help but miss them, after all.

When it came time to leave, Kagome was accompanied all the way back to the treeline by the pack of wolves. As she reached the spot she'd gone in through, she paused and glanced back at them. They remained at a distance so as to not be spotted by anyone else, but she looked at them with a smile either way.

She was grateful that they'd seen her back safe and sound, after all.

As she walked out from the trees, she started on the short trek back to Charlie's house. She was spotted not long after she came into view, and she saw Charlie hold a hand up to call her over. With him were three other people, the other girl obviously Bella.

"How was the run?" Charlie asked once she got close enough.

Kagome shrugged and brushed a loose strand of hair back. "It was good," she responded. She didn't mention how she'd gone off trail. She also didn't mention the wolves, but she figured that the last one was just better for the sake of everyone. Charlie nodded and waved a hand to the others there.

"You remember Billy Black?" he asked, and Kagome nodded after a brief pause.

She didn't remember him with full clarity, but she remembered him enough that his face was familiar. "A little," she responded. She looked at the man in the wheelchair with a small smile, holding a hand out. He took it and gave her a matching smile. "Good to see you again," she said.

"You too," he responded. As he did, he let his grip on her hand loosen, and Kagome turned her attention to the other two individuals closer to her in age. Bella, she recognized instantly. Despite the years, the girls practically looked the same as she did back then, just a bit older.

The other person was a boy with long dark hair. On some level, she found herself recognizing him, but it wasn't as instantaneous as it was with Bella.

"Hey, Kagome," Bella said once she came to join them. "It's really good to see you again." It was hard to miss the awkwardness she spoke with, but she couldn't fault her. It'd been years since they had even spoken to each other due to distance. Kagome offered her a warm smile, and Bella returned it automatically. The raven-haired girl's warmth was contagious.

"I'm glad we'll be here together," she responded. "It'll be great to catch up!"

Bella nodded, "totally." A second later, she glanced over at the boy with her. "Do you remember Jacob?" she asked. On cue, Kagome turned to look at him.

"Yeah," she responded. She held a hand up in a small wave. "It's nice to see you again, too," she said. He didn't need to be swayed by her smile, already offering her a bright one that almost rivaled her own.

"It's been a while," Jacob responded, and Kagome nodded as she shared his sentiments.

"I'm really glad you're here," Bella said as they walked out of the house the following morning. When Kagome glanced at her, Bella shrugged and laughed awkwardly. "At least I'll know one person at school."

Kagome nodded, mirroring her as she sighed in relief. "It's nice," she admitted as they got into Bella's truck. It was silent for a moment before Bella turned to glance at her.

"What made you come here, though?" Bella asked. Kagome looked back at her automatically before she downcast her gaze to her lap.

"Just… there's been a lot going on back home lately," she said. "My mom thought it'd be a good idea for me to get away for a while."

"Oh…" Bella paused, trailing off as she did. "It sounds like it sucks," she said, not really knowing what else to say. Kagome was silent for a moment, but before she could start to worry, the ravenette laughed. It was a pretty sound that encompassed warmth.

"I wish I could disagree," she admitted as she glanced out the window, "but I really can't," she said. "It sucks a lot." Bella glanced at her from the corner of her eye, a small smile on her face.

"There's no shame in running from your problems, you know," she said after a few seconds, and Kagome felt a weight settle in her chest.

"... Maybe you're right," she responded. She gripped the hem of her jacket a bit tighter to avoid reaching for the jewel hidden beneath her shirt.

She certainly hoped she was right, at least.

There was an off aura present around the school. She felt it the moment they arrived. As they got out of the truck and made their way into the building, the aura only grew stronger. It was akin to the one she'd picked up on during her trip in the forest yesterday.

As she was mulling over it, a figure came up behind them. While Bella was taken by surprise, Kagome merely glanced up to look at a boy with dark hair.

"You're Isabella Swan," he said before looking at her, "and Kagome Higurashi. You two are the new girls." Kagome and Bella shared a quick look as he went on, walking in between them. "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Eric, the eyes and ears of this place," he continued. "Anything you need? Tour guide? Lunch date? Warm shoulder to cry on?" he offered, patting his shoulder as he said the last one, a joking smile on his face.

"I'm… um, I'm more of suffer in silence type," Bella responded, laughing awkwardly.

"You're sweet to offer, but I think I'll be okay," Kagome said, and he looked between them with a nod.

"That's the perfect headline for your feature," he said, grinning. Bella's eyes darted to him at the comment. "I'm on the paper, and the two of you are front-page news, baby."

"No, I'm not," Bella responded, shaking her head. A second later, she met his gaze. "Please," she continued, "you don't…- just…"

"Woah," Eric said, raising his hands in surrender, "chillax, don't worry. No feature, then," he said. Bella heaved a sigh of relief.

"Okay," she said, "thanks."

Eric shrugged his shoulders. "Cool?"

Bella nodded.

"Thanks for the warm welcome, but we should get to finding our first class," Kagome commented, and Eric looked at her.

"Oh, totally," he said, perking up. "Remember, if you need anything, I'm your guy."

Kagome arched a brow and offered him a polite smile. "I'll be sure to remember that," she said as she moved away from him. Bella trailed after her once she saw her getting further away.

"News travels fast here, huh?" Bella remarked. Kagome glanced at her. "Guess it doesn't help it's the middle of the semester," she added. Kagome shrugged.

"Honestly, handling a new school is a breeze," Kagome responded, turning back ahead of her. Bella sighed and rubbed the back of her head. "There are worse things to do..." she continued, voice going quiet.

"I wish I saw it the same way you did," she admitted. Kagome shook her head and gave her an encouraging smile.

"You'll do just fine," she sang as she stepped away. Bella watched as she walked off, a wry smile on her face as she turned to go in the opposite direction.

"So you say," she responded dryly as she walked to her first class.

For the most part, she was able to ignore the strange, nonhuman aura she felt around the school campus. After all, it didn't feel inherently malicious. It was a little strained, but that was it. When she walked into her second class of the day, however, she ended up face-to-face with one of the people that the aura seemed to source from. She paused at the door upon walking in, automatically scanning the room for the source.

Her gaze landed on a boy who looked to be her age. His skin was pale, and he had a strong jawline. If she'd been entirely unaware, her first thought of him would be that he was handsome. It was strange, but the way he looked could almost rival the beauty demons possessed. Entirely inhuman.

He looked at her not even a second later, but she glanced away. The teacher quickly pointed her to her seat with a warm welcome, and she didn't hesitate to go take it.

At first, things were calm. Kagome sat, absentmindedly taking notes of the lesson as the teacher talked animatedly at the front of the room. Halfway through the block, however, Kagome felt her concentration snap.

Kagome froze at feeling an odd pressure against the barrier she had within her mind. Along with it was the weight of an unfamiliar stare. Without meaning to, she sat up a bit straighter as she turned to glance in the direction the weight of the stare came from. She gripped her pen a bit tighter, to the point it could've accidentally snapped.

Her eyes quickly mapped out the source, blue clashing against dark black. She didn't think it was an unfair gamble to believe it was the boy with the nonhuman aura behind both the staring and prying into her mind. She didn't bother to hide the icy sheen that invaded her usually friendly eyes as she fearlessly stared him down, not an ounce of hesitation to be found within her.

It didn't take him long to take the hint, either. When he looked away, Kagome sent him one last, icy glare before she turned back to the front of the room. She shifted her focus back to the notes she was writing down in her notebook, but she never fully discarded her acknowledgment of the boy who'd tried to invade her mind- even if she refused to look back at him.

When the bell rang she didn't hesitate to gather her things up and put them in her bag. She moved as he walked by her, letting a harmless burst of her energy swell up around her to prevent him from stepping over an invisible line.

She paid him no mind as he paused and looked at her, merely pretending he wasn't there and walking from the room with her nose up. She didn't say a single word, but she could tell she didn't have to by the way his aura felt the following second.

She didn't care what he was, but no one was welcome to pry through her thoughts without her permission first.

Auroua-chan: Kagome's first impression of Edward wasn't so great, but not because he's obviously not human. She could tell he tried to read her mind, and she's not a fan. He can't read her mind due to a barrier she keeps up, and she could tell when someone tries to get through it.

Kagome also met some of the wolves that live in the first (like normal wolves, not werewolves. They come later.) and she was reminded of Koga and his pack! Kagome misses her friends, but her demon friends are still around (somewhere) and could always show up sooner or later.

As for the pairing, Sam/Kagome would be interesting because she'd 100% end up being pack mom then, but Seth or Jacob for her would be cute. Honestly, I'm not sure which of the wolves I want with her. All of them have their own appeal. If Bella's the vampire girl, then Kagome's definitely gonna be the wolf girl.

She'll warm up to Edward eventually, but she'll be standoffish with him at first. The other Cullen's… she might be more receptive to Carlisle the most at first when they cross paths because of how he is.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

Please remember to review&favorite&follow, thank you!

Bye for now~