Finals. Sorry :'(

All thanks to my lovely beta: House of Eternal Moon

Chapter Four: Meeting the Guardian

The Yomi Cave is a place where the prehistoric inhabitants of Japan made their funerals. Therefore, there are a lot of myths and legends around it. It took you seven days, at least, to go from entrance to exit. Once inside, your senses are lost, leaving you depending of your soul to guide your steps. If the heart is weak, your worst fears will come to surface and if you can't defeat yourself, you will become insane and die.

When Kagome entered the Cave, she had to fight her fear of abandonment, rejection. She had to believe in herself and fight her nemesis: Kikyou. She also fought Inuyasha's constant depreciation of her being. She needed to improved her will and not subjugate herself in to Inuyasha's opinion.

Her soul felt that feelings impersonating Sesshoumaru's person would be beneficial, 'cause she still wasn't strong enough to stand all for herself. That was her last barrier: won all alone in a battle. It came in that bone filled place, and she finished her tasks, Now, how to exit the cave?

Touga was standing in front of her. She seemed to be lost in thought. He had been locked here since his death, centuries ago. Nobody had tried to pick that cursed blade for so long. Last time it seemingly possessed someone's body and made quite a fuss. Why this girl is in such a damned place is still a mystery. She looked about 17. Wore a simple white shattered robe and something like a bottle hanging in her neck. She's panting heavily, probably from the earlier battle.

"Hey, miss, are you okay?" Touga asked.

Kagome finally realized his presence and didn't recognize him at first. She saw, though, the resemblance between him, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. Same white hair, golden eyes, the stripe on each cheek, and then it clicked.

"You are Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father!"

"You know them? I have not seen Inuyasha since his birth and Sesshoumaru..."

"I know the history." Kagome looks to the blade at her side. "This blade made quite a fuss some time ago so Myouga and Saiya told us."

"So that old flea is still alive. Sounds like him." He take a sit in front of her and said. "Tell me, how is that you know my human-hater son, Sesshoumaru?"

So, she started her tale once again despite hiding the time-travel thing. She didn't know if it's necessary or even if he would believe her. The dog demon was really interested to know how his sons were doing. He felt ashamed by Sesshoumaru's past behavior toward Inuyasha, sad by knowing of Izayoi's demise, but most of all, he felt pride for his sons' power and strength. But something wasn't right. Even if he does not have a real way to count time, there is no possibility to have passed only two hundred years since his death.

"Girl..."

"Kagome"

"What?"

"My name's Higurashi Kagome." How she hates it when someone does not use her name properly.

"Miss Kagome, I appreciate you telling me about my offspring actions but I have been in this place for too much time. When we are? What year?"

"Well... you see... It has been seven hundred years since your death."

"You are a human. How could you survive for so much time? Why not tell me how they are these days?"

So she told him about the well and how she does not know if they have survive the time passing, since she couldn't feel their auras around. After explaining, it's time to make her own questions.

"Where am I?"

"You are in the Netherworld, where souls come after death. Although, it's a secluded place to keep Sounga sealed."

Kagome couldn't believe this. So it means that she is dead? How did she die? She tried to remember her previous actions.

'So, I was attacked by Naraku and went to hospital near dead. Gramps told me about our shamanic family tradition and sent me to train with Asakura Family. Then, after a month, we went to Izumo so I could train in the Yomi Cave. That must be where I am! That fight with Kikyou and Inuyasha, it's all in my mind. That's why they said it is hard to keep sane here. I really believe that I was going to die by that giant dog. But there is one more question, why is Inuyasha's father in my mind?'

"Now I understand. I just need to went straight to the exit. I'm in middle of a training session..."

"Little Kagome, you do not understand. You ARE in Netherlands. I have been here for centuries."

"So I really am dead?"

"I don't believe so. I've met thousands of dead souls before, you are not like them."

"So how I ended up here? I was in Yomi Cave and..."

Touga knew that place. "Why you were in such a dreadful place?"

"Training. You see, after being such a burden to my friends, life gave me the chance to be of more help than healing. I'm a shaman in training. It's said that only the strong soul can resist a travel inside the Yomi Cave and I am sure I will surpass this contretemps. I just have to found out how I ended up here and how to leave."

Touga wished to help her. She was such a nice girl who is helping his youngest son probably in more ways than she will ever know. Hanyous aren't accept by society, be it human or youkai and she gave him the chance to have friends, acceptance and a real pack. And now she's training to help even more.

'Shaman. I've heard about these people. They can be really powerful with the right companion. And she look like does not have one.'

"I can help you."

"How?" Kagome says. Her heart filled with hope.

"First, we will make a deal. Do you accept?"

She have no other option. What can be worse than staying in the Netherworld without even being dead?

"Yeah, anything."

"I will become your spirit guardian. You already subjugated Sounga's power and I am familiar with it, so you may use me as a medium. You will have to find out how to make me materialize in my real form. This way, you can break the barrier around us and we will find how to leave this place."

Kagome could not believe. It's too much for her luck in one shot.

"Why would you do this?" She said in a suspicious tone.

"I like you, girl. And I have been here for too long and now I have a chance to see both of my sons and help them in a way that I have never imagined. It's a way to make things right."

She saw the truth behind those eyes. He always felt guilty for not been there for Inuyasha and leaving Sesshoumaru without explaining his reasons and feelings. It must be hard to stand with these thoughts for so long. Also, she knew that he's extremely powerful and as such it's a big deal to have him at her side. Also, the blade's aura is already under control. She will have only to find out how to go back to the Cave.

"It's a deal."

Oversoul is the power that a shaman have to materialize his ghost companion in living world. You incorporate the spirit in an object and give it a body. Unlike the normal Hyoi Gattai, when you incorporate the other spirit inside your body and you can let them control your movements, incorporating in a medium takes a lot of energy, since you have to have control over your power through the object and also combine it with your guardian.

Kagome have seen Yoh do it a lot of times. Amidamaru is combined with his sword, creating a big sword shaped oversoul. Also, Ponchi and Konchi can change their appearance at their mistress desire. She remember Anna saying that only natural spirits, the ones who have lost their ego with time or been as a ghost for more then five hundred years, can became an oversoul. Touga have been dead for over seven centuries, so it's only up to her to find out how to materialize his powers. She picked Sounga and pondered. It must not be that hard to incorporate him in this. Probably, with some stamina, she can also hold his true form for a little time. But, how to break the barrier around them?

"You must be thinking how to get out of here. I can use my abilities to break down the barrier once I gain a body."

"Great! First I'll put you in hitodama mode." Hitodama meaning spirit ball.

Inutaisho transformed in to a small ball, keeping only his bangs, stripes and fur to remember his original form. Then, concentrating her energy in the blade she makes the incorporation.

"Hyoui Gattai Inutaisho in Sounga!"

The sword took a form with a slight remembrance of Tessaiga. Its hilt covered in a white fur. Unlike Tassaiga, it had double-edges and was longer. Its color was also a silvery white, shining with raw power.

"I did it! Oh my god, I'm so proud of myself!" Kagome is jumping in excitement. "Now, how I can change your form?"

"Let's try the same way you did with Dragon Twister. Since you never have seen my true form, imagine me changing in to Sesshoumaru's true form. It's the closest I can think"

Though Kagome didn't have good memories about that encounter, she remembers how beautiful and dangerous Sesshoumaru can be.

'He is beautiful in any form.' She though kindly. 'What am I thinking? It's not time to slobber over his beauty. Again! Focus Kagome, focus!'

She did as Touga said, concentrating her oversoul power in her right hand and feel Touga changing his form. When she couldn't hold any longer, she turn to see how he was, just to meet a white puppy.

"Well, it has not gone very well."

"It's your lack of concentration. You need to focus, Kagome. How are you going to use this power in battle if here, in a silent place, you can't focus enough to create at least a medium size oversoul?"

Kagome did not answer that. She knew he was right. Having the spirit isn't enough to be a real shaman. First you must believe in yourself, something she is still struggling to accomplish, and think that you can succeed. After so much depreciation from Inuyasha and Kikyou, it is hard to believe that she can be strong. One's will is the source of all things. If you fail, it means that your will isn't enough. That's the secret behind anything, even her miko powers. It always failed because she does not believe her own capability.

Changing back Touga in hitodama, she starts again the ritual.

"I'll try again."

"Don't."

"What you mean?"

"Just do it or don't."

"What you mean?"

"Trying means that you believe that you may not succeed. If you do think like that you will never accomplish a thing. Where do you think all of Sesshoumaru's smugness comes from? He truly believes that he can do anything. And he does. Now it's up to you. Are you doing it or not?"

Filling her resolution, she screams:

"I WILL DO IT!"

"Hyoui Gattai Inutaisho in Sounga!"

A flash enlightens the whole area and then a giant white dog demon shows, Kagome riding on it. They jump high as possible, hitting the barrier's roof. It struggles, but no damage has been made. They jump again, this time boosted. And again. And again. And again. At the sixth try, there is a crack. They hit the same spot a few more times and then, a explosion.

Everything went black.

When Kagome woke up again, she's back in the pitch black darkness of Yomi Cave with Touga in his hitodama form at her side. She walk for a couple of hours and then there is light. The exit.

Outside, the Asakura family is waiting for her. They told her that she had been inside the cave for ten days. She told them about what happened and that she ended up in netherworld. She did not know how to explain that, though.

"Must be this shikon shard at your neck." say Anna. Seeing their question mark face, she explains. "You once said that Shikon no Tama can grant any wish, as long it's pure. It could means that even a single shard raised your will to the point that your wish can be true. You started training to help your friends. You needed a Mochirei (Guardian Spirit), you now have a strong one, along a weapon. This is your true heart's desire and now you have the power to realize it. And it's all yours."

Kagome was flattered. Having nothing else to say, she smiles, flushing.

"Of course she would still be lying flat with those bones." Touga says with a cocky smile.

Kagome just nodded. That's right, now he's her Mochirei and will be a great help agains Naraku.

"Now, let's go back to Funbari."

"But I'm hungry! I've been inside there for ten days!" Kagome pouted.

"You eat on the train." Anna says already walking.

"We have something for you at the house. You can't travel in these clothes, anyway." Yoh said. And Kagome lowered her eyes, just to see a tattered and torn robe that used to be white.

"Here, onee-san." Hana hand her a simple yukata. Quickly, Kagome wears it.

"Ohh, what a shame. I was having a lot of fun seeing your body." 'Oh that perv...'

"I surely need a mortuary tablet to lock you inside it soon!"

Traveling back to Tokyo gave Kagome the chance to know more about Touga and his life. Unluckily for her, it also meant hearing some of his sexual encounters and blushing. Who would have guessed that the great dog demon was a ladies man? Besides that, he's a very nice man, very honored and loyal.

Back at Funbari Onsen, Kagome trained for the next twenty days to increase her connection with Touga.

Now, it's time to head back to Higurashi Shrine.