Chapter 2: Arrival

Kagome pulled herself slowly from the well, groaning slightly when she reached the top. She had forgotten just how heavy her bag could be. The first thing on her mind was finding a place to spend the night so that she could find a place to deposit her things. Glancing at her watch Kagome assessed that she had about nine hours until the sun had set. Just as well. It would take about an hour to set up camp. That gave her the remaining eight hours to get as far away from certain human villages as possible. Kagome began walking. Although she had not seen either Inuyasha or Kikyo at Kaede's hut, Kaede was still Kikyo's sister. It was save to assume that Kikyo would return to visit her only living family. Though she loved the old women, she could not risk Kaede informing Inuyasha of her return. After all, this was just a quick visit. Perhaps she would run into Miroku and Sango. She smiled at the thought of the young couple. She hoped they would be married by now.

As she continued walking, periodically checking to be sure the barrier she had created to shield her presence remained intact, she began to wonder what she had missed in the last five years. Had Naraku been defeated yet? How were Shippo and Kirara? How old was Rin now? Was she still with Sesshoumaru? Was Kohaku still alive? Had Kikyo collected all the shards? Now that was one she could answer. She creased her strides and extended her spiritual powers, sweeping the surrounding landscape in search of shards. Sensing none, she expanded her energy to cover a greater area. There! She could faintly sense a shard. So Kikyo hadn't found them all. Wonderful something for me to do while I'm here...Kagome smiled at her ironic situation. After a just a few minutes in the feudal era she had demoted herself back to a shard detector. ...But this time it will be for myself, not some dumb dog demon who only sees people as possessions. Sighing, Kagome set her bag down and leaned against a tree. She didn't want to think about him anymore. He wasn't worth her time.

Kagome looked up at the sky. It was so beautiful here. Sitting under her tree, she realized how much she loved this era. A light breeze whistled through bows of the trees. Ah. . .How I've missed this. . .Kagome thought. . . Just as the raven youki dived from a neighboring tree.

Kagome's first instinct was to scream for Inuyasha. With a pang, she remembered that he was no longer here with her. She was on her own. Seizing her bow, Kagome leapt away from the assaulting youki. She rolled to a crouch, arrow already knocked to her bow. The great raven, perched once again in on a low branch, stared at her with crazed red eyes. Neither moved, both waiting for the unknown sign to spring. The wind whistled though the air, stirring up loose leaves from the forest ground. They swirled around the young girl's tense body as she eyed her dark adversary. The great bird youki spread its wings to their full span, raised its head and let out a shrill cry. Kagome's eyes widened as the call reverberated around the forest. There was an underlying current in the youki's shriek that whispered peace and friendship. The raven youki shut its mouth with crack. It tilted its head to the side and stared at Kagome with discerning eyes. Kagome remained painfully still, unsure what action to take next. Fascinated, she watched as the youki's crimson eyes slowly melted into a purple hue.

It opened its beak once more and declared in ringing tones "That is my tree."

"Sorry?" was Kagome's bewildered reply.

The bird guffawed at the dumbfounded girl's expression of sincere confusion.

"I said, that's my tree. The one you were sitting under. No one sits under my tree without me giving them a bit of a. . .welcome. . ." It took off and began to orbit Kagome's head. The poor girl swiveled her head in an attempt to keep the youki in sight.

"I like you. You're a funny one," the bird proclaimed. "My name Souri. My friends call me Sour and my enemies call me much worse. Yours?"

"Uh. . .Higurashi Kagome."

"Ah ha! Then you shall be Kagome the Tree Stealer." Souri landed on another low branch and made a gesture that Kagome could only assume was a bird's attempt at a bow.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Souri-san." Kagome slowly released the tension in her limbs and returned her arrow to its quiver.

"Well then, what are you doing here?" Souri's tone had changed from light and carefree to serious and wary. "You're in the wrong world Kagome the Tree Stealer."