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 Two

When she made it to the cafeteria, Kagome was quickly found by Bella. When she came to meet her, the ravenette was quick to notice the person trotting along with her, and Kagome looked at her cousin expectantly.

"Oh," Bella said upon spotting Kagome eyeing the boy with her. "This is Mike," she said, waving a hand in his direction. He looked from Bella and to her with a friendly smile. "Mike, this is my cousin, Kagome."

"Hey, nice to meet you," Kagome said, giving him a small wave.

"H-Hey, it's good to meet you too," he responded, holding a hand out. After a brief pause on her end, she ended up accepting the gesture. "Kagome, right?" he asked, repeating the name Bella said. She could tell he was practicing the pronunciation of it.

She nodded. "Yup!" she exclaimed in response. As they started walking through to a table, Mike leading them, he kept glancing at her every few steps.

"So, if Bella here is from Arizona, where are you from?" he asked.

"Japan."

"Oh, cool, cool," he continued, "really far from home."

Kagome nodded. "Sure is," she remarked. "I don't mind, though."

They eventually made it to the table, and Kagome recognized a face already there. While there were people she didn't know, Eric from earlier was among them. He looked up upon spotting them, giving them a friendly smile.

"Oh, hey Mike," he said as they sat down. "I see you've met my home girls."

Kagome arched a brow at the comment as she got settled in her seat, while Mike looked at Eric.

"Y-Your home girls?" he asked, voice sounding quiet under the noise of the room.

Bella looked at her, but Kagome just shrugged. A second later, the chair Mike was about to sit in got pulled back. He ended up falling to the ground as another boy ran off laughing.

"Sorry, had to break your day somehow, man!" he shouted as he ran. As soon as he got back up, Mike chased after him throughout the room.

"Oh my god," a girl beside Bella scooted her chair over in the silence that followed. "It's almost like we're in kindergarten again," she laughed, "and you guys are shiny new toys."

Bella gave an awkward smile before motioning to the girl, glancing over at Kagome as she did. "This is Jessica, by the way," she said, introducing the other girl to her. Kagome glanced at her with a warmer smile.

"I'm Kagome," she said after learning her name. Jessica in turn gave her a similar smile.

"So, like, how do you two know each other?" she asked.

"We're cousins," Bella answered. Jessica looked between them, almost as if she were searching for similarities.

"Oh my god," she said after a few seconds, "I can't believe it. You two totally look, like, way different," she added with a laugh.

"My mom's Japanese," Kagome answered, and Jessica nodded.

"Oh, that's cool," she said. "So does that mean you're from Japan?" she asked after a beat, and Kagome nodded. "So cool," she said then with a tiny laugh.

"Smile!" Another girl quickly popped up, camera in hand. Not even a full second after she spoke, a camera flash went off. Bella looked at her, confusion evident.

"Okay…"

"Sorry," she said, "I needed a candid for the feature," she explained.

Bella looked at her before looking down. "U-Um…"

"Feature's dead, Angela!" Eric said as he stood up. "Don't bring it up again!"

Bella looked between the two, "I-It's okay," she began, "I just…-"

"Don't worry," Eric said as he reached to pat her shoulder a few times. "I got your back, baby," he added before walking off. As he left, Angela sat down at the table, setting her camera down with a sigh.

"Looks like we'll have to run another editorial on teen drinking," she mused out loud.

"You could always go for something like eating disorders," Bella suggested. "Or…-"

She didn't mean to, but she ended up tuning the conversation around her out. In the distance, drawing near, were the familiar inhuman auras she'd been feeling all day. At once, her mind drifted from those around her as she focused intently on them. It was more than just the boy from before this time.

Kagome shifted her attention so she could glance in the direction they were coming from. It wasn't long before she spotted them. A group of five made their way past the window, heading for the door. When Bella glanced at her, she quickly looked to where the other girl was, only looking back at her when Kagome abruptly turned away from them entirely.

She felt Bella's attention on her for a few long seconds before she suddenly looked away again. Kagome didn't need to look at her to know her eyes had strayed back to the unfamiliar faces.

"Who are they?" Bella asked abruptly. Jessica and Angela fell silent at hearing the question, lifting their gazes to what held the other girl's attention.

"Those are the Cullens," Angela said. Jessica chimed in not even a second later, hushing her voice to a whisper.

"They're… um, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids," she said. "They've been here for a couple of years," she continued. "They moved from Alaska or something like that."

"They like to keep to themselves mostly," Angela added. Jessica gave her an incredulous look.

"Yeah, that's because they're all together," she responded before looking at Bella and Kagome, despite the latter girl's lack of interest in the topic. "Like together together," she whispered as the first pair walked by. "Okay, so, the blonde girl- her name is Rosalie," Jessica explained. "She's like, with Emmett," she said. "They're a thing…- I'm not even sure it's legal."

"Jess, it's not like they're actually related," Angela said, and Jessica looked away from them and at her with a shake of her head.

"Yeah, but they all live together," she responded. "It's, like, so weird." As another pair walked by them, she redirected her attention back to them. "'Kay, so," she continued, "the little dark-haired girl is Alice. She's like super weird," Jessica stated. "She's, um, with the blonde guy who looks like he's in constant pain- Jasper," she continued. "Dr. Cullen's like this matchmaker-foster dad."

Angela giggled with a smile. "I wish he'd adopt me."

"What about him?" Bella asked as the final one walked by. Kagome already knew it was the boy from before without having to even look up. She did, anyway, leveling a glare at him when he glanced her way. It was instantaneous, the way she turned away from him.

Jessica and Angela looked at the figure in question.

"That's Edward," Jessica stated. "He's like totally gorgeous, obviously," she remarked, "but nobody here is good enough for him, apparently," she continued with a dry laugh. "Not like I care, though, you know," she added as a remark a few seconds later. Her lie was easy to see through, and Kagome refrained from shaking her head. Kagome was quick to notice how Bella kept her gaze fixed on him. As Jessica looked up, she noticed the same. "Seriously," she stated. "Don't go getting your hopes up."

"I wasn't planning on it," Bella responded, shaking her head as she looked away from the group seating at their own table in the distance. Kagome spared her a glimpse from the corner of her eye before getting distracted by a stare on her. She knew who it was before she ever searched it out.

Kagome met Edward's stare briefly, but her gaze only carried a warning in response. When the others that sat by him mirrored his stare, she didn't bother to offer them a shred of attention as she turned away entirely.

They were far from human, and they were everything she was trying to avoid. She had no reason nor desire to interact with them at all. With any luck, they realized she was a priestess and understood just as well.

She let her attention drift to Bella.

She could feel the intrigue she felt towards the Cullens. It was potent, especially as she kept glancing over her shoulder at the group behind her.

She could only hope that she genuinely meant those words. She really didn't want her getting mixed up with the supernatural. She knew how dangerous it often was, and she'd rather her keep far away from it.

Kagome lifted a hand and rested it against the jewel hidden beneath her shirt.

She hated the feel of it there, but it kept her grounded. If she hadn't gotten stuck with it, would she even be as cautious as she was now?

She knew the answer to that. It left a bad taste in her mouth when she realized how different she might be if she was free from the burden thrust upon her shoulders.

000

"You have biology next too, right?" Bella asked as they left the cafeteria. Kagome nodded.

"Biology, huh?" Mike interjected, wedging himself between the two girls. "Me too," he soon said before glancing between them. "How 'bout I show you the way?" he offered.

"Sure," Kagome answered after a few seconds. "Thanks."

Mike shook his head, grin on his face. "No need to thank me," he said. "Just trying to be a good friend, is all."

He led them down the halls, talking as they made their way. The closer they got to the room, Kagome began to realize that yet again that same aura was to be found in the room. Kagome paused at the doorway when she spotted the familiar figure seated. Bella didn't notice her hesitation as she walked ahead of her.

"Mr. Molina," Mike said as he walked in. The man in question looked at him, soon noticing the two girls with him.

"Hey, Mike," he said before swapping his attention to the other two. "Isabella, and Kagome," he said. As he did, he waved her into the room and she subjected herself to enter the room. "Great, welcome, welcome," he said. As he did, he handed each of them a book. "All right, Isabella, you'll have your seat right over there," he said, pointing to the empty spot beside Edward. He looked at her next, "Kagome, why don't you take the empty seat next to Mike?"

"Woo, let's go girl," Mike said as Kagome was told her seating assignment. Kagome glanced at him briefly before sparing a glimpse back at Bella. She watched her go to her seat, but she didn't miss the way Edward recoiled back some, hand over his nose and mouth.

Kagome followed behind Mike a second later, sending Edward a silent glare as she made her way past him. She got situated at the table with Mike as Molina walked through the room, setting sets of tiny glass containers on the tables.

"All right, class, today we're gonna be observing the behavior of planaria- a.k.a flatworms!"

Throughout the class, Kagome kept her attention balanced between the task at hand and Bella as she sat beside Edward. She could feel the discomfort and uncertainty Bella felt as she attempted to focus on her work, but Kagome also didn't miss the way he kept his attention intently focused on her.

She had to bite down on the urge to crumple a sheet of paper up to lob at his head.

Mike tried to talk to her as they sat there, but she only offered simple responses as she halfway paid attention to what he said.

Seconds before the bell rang, Edward pushed himself from his seat, things gathered in one arm, and he stormed from the room. After he'd gone, Bella flipped her book shut, staying in her seat for a couple of seconds longer. Kagome closed her book as well, standing up and going to join Bella.

"Everything okay?" Kagome asked as she stopped beside her. Bella's expression contorted as she looked up at her.

"Do I smell bad?" she asked abruptly, and Kagome humored her question. She leaned in and sniffed the air around her. Once she pulled away, she shook her head.

"No," Kagome said. "You smell like strawberries."

Bella looked down as she got up, a huff coming from her. She tried not to let his actions get to her, but they dug into her, even if it was only a little bit. Kagome shook her head and glanced at the door he'd gone out of.

"Ignore him, Bella," Kagome suggested. "I think it'd be better if you just… I dunno," she paused and looked back at her. "It might just be better if you pretend like he doesn't exist."

"You sound like you don't like him," Bella replied dryly as they walked to the door. Kagome shrugged, and Bella glanced at her.

"It's not that," Kagome sighed. "There's just something about him that rubs me the wrong way," Kagome clarified after a pause on her end. She knew she couldn't explain why exactly, and she was relieved when Bella was content with that answer. "Plus, all the staring?" she scoffed. "That's highkey too creepy for me to excuse."

Bella laughed at the comment as they walked into the office to hand their passes confirming they attended all their classes to the woman at the desk. However, when they walked into the room, Edward was already there.

"Isn't there anything open?" he asked the woman at the desk. "Physics? Biochem?"

"No, every class is full," she responded. When she noticed the pair at the door, she offered a small smile. "Just one moment," she said. She then turned back to Edward. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay in biology."

"All right." The answer was one he hadn't wanted. That much was obvious to both of them as he backed away. Upon spotting them, he stormed from the room. "Guess I just have to… endure it," he grumbled out loud as he pushed through the door.

Kagome instantly regretted passing up on the chance of jolting him like she did earlier as he walked by, and she rolled her eyes. "Let's go," she commented to Bella. Soon they had handed their slips in and were on their way out of the building.

They met Charlie at a local diner for dinner. It was quiet as they all sat at the tiny table designed for three. Neither Bella nor Charlie were especially talkative. Still, Bella tried.

"So, you eat here every night?" she asked, and Charlie nodded.

"Well, it's easier," he responded. "Also, no dishes to clean after."

"I could always cook," Kagome offered. "I don't mind," she added. "I cooked all the time back home."

"We could take turns," Bella suggested, looking at her with a smile. "Mom never could cook that good," she reminded Charlie with a laugh. "So I usually cook."

"I remember," Charlie responded, a chuckle shadowing his words. "If you two want to cook, that's fine by me," he declared. After a pause, he looked up at both of them. "So how was the first day at school?" he asked. "Make any friends yet?"

"A few," Kagome responded, and Bella nodded. "They seem okay, so far," she added with a hum.

"Dad, do you know the Cullen family?" Bella asked once Kagome fell silent. From the corner of her eye, Kagome eyed the other girl as she absentmindedly picked at the food in front of her. At the question, Charlie looked at them sharply.

"People talking about them again?" he asked.

"No," Bella began, only to end up nodding, "well there was a little gossip," she admitted.

Charlie sighed and shook his head. "Just 'cause they're newcomers," he said. "We're lucky to have a surgeon like Dr. Cullen at our hospital," he continued. "Lucky his wife wanted to live in a small town, and we're lucky that his kids aren't like a lot of hell-raisers 'round here."

Bella was silent as he stopped talking, and Kagome looked up at him.

"I don't like the narrow-mindedness some people go through life having," he said after a brief pause. "Just… don't listen to gossip."

The moment she arrived back home, Kagome removed the jewel from her neck. She placed it on the bedside table as she moved to lie down- pressing her face firmly into the pillow. It was quiet as she lay like that. A few seconds ticked by before she rolled over, leveling blue eyes on the ceiling.

The entire day she hadn't been able to get away from the strange auras the Cullen's possessed. It left her on edge.

She really didn't like her luck. Or her track record of getting caught up in supernatural situations. Her hopes of achieving some semblance of normalcy were more than just a little dashed. Even if it seemed like they intended to keep a distance, it didn't matter.

Charlie regarded them well, so she didn't want to harbor disdain without reason. As it was, she didn't have any reason to- save for the moment earlier in the day when Edward tried to peer into her mind. How he was able to, or even why he tried were both lost on her. She wanted to demand an answer, but that would require her to broach the subject with him. She wasn't sure about that.

She let out a sigh and pushed herself into a sitting position, tucking her legs underneath her as her gaze strayed back to the jewel. Even in the dim lighting of her room, it shone magnificently. After a beat, she opened the drawer and grabbed the jewel before dropping it in. Right after, she promptly slammed the drawer shut again.

"... you're so annoying," she grumbled to herself as she stood back up. She walked to the door and twisted the lock before returning to the center of her floor. She sank down into a seated position and a deep breath.

Meditation would help ease her worries and help her calm down.

…

She hoped.

The following morning, she woke up earlier than usual. Her sleep had been far from peaceful as she sat up, her chest rising and falling in rapid breaths. It was still dark, and her clock read 3:02 in vibrant red hue.

She turned away from the clock, letting her head fall to rest in her hands as she squeezed her eyes shut. Clear trails ran down her cheeks when her actions did nothing to help. The room was silent, save for her panting breaths. A second passed, and then another. The next she was up on her feet, no longer able to remain still.

Glimpses of her nightmares flashed through her mind, and she pushed them away as she moved.

No matter how hard she tried, they were only ever silenced for a short amount of time. No matter what she did, they always found a way back when she was in a dreaming state.

She ignored the mirror in her room, not daring to look at it and face her own reflection as she quietly padded over to the window in her room. She peered out it for a second or two before she reached and opened it, allowing a gust of frigid air in to cool out the suddenly stuffy area.

She couldn't feel anything off in the distance, and she felt herself slowly calming back down. After a few seconds, she slid down into a seated position, pressing her back against the wall beneath the window. She sat there for a while, merely listening to the sounds of nature outside her room.

She'd hidden her nightmares from her mother well, and she knew she needed to do the same here. She had no way to explain them, there was no one she could share them with, even if she wanted to.

Red eyes.

Naraku's familiar red eyes haunted her dreams, twisting and turning them into something more each time. It didn't matter if he was gone, because his memory was still very much alive in the recesses of her mind, it seemed.

It was always far too real.

Auroua-chan: So, Kagome has nightmares that are connected to Naraku. Even if he's gone, she can't fully escape him. It probably doesn't help that she bottles it all up, but she doesn't have anyone to share it with.

As for the pairing, there's still some time until it needs to be decided, and I do have ideas that revoke the whole Jacob imprinting on Renesemee (bc just… yuck.) So, even if Kagome's paired with someone else, that's not gonna be a thing in this story.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you 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~