Chapter Two

Pushed Back In Time

Kagome leaned against a wall. It had been eighteen months since she had defeated Naraku. She still sniffled when she thought about InuYasha, but had grown. For pity's sake… she was in HIGH SCHOOL! She knew a little bit of English and a little bit more of Chinese, and was getting wonderful grades. Had dated and dumped a few guys, Hojo included, thank Kami, and life was going pretty good.

It was her half birthday, as Sota had been screaming for her all over the shrine. "NEE-SAN'S SEVENTEEN AND A-HALF!!!!!!!!!!!!" he was crying out at the top of his lungs, while Kagome just sort of stood there, her right eye twitching comically. 'Usually, it should be the… the what? The half birthday-girl or something screaming that…' she thought. Anyways… he was making WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY to big of a deal over it! It wasn't as if she was now eighteen or something…

Sighing, she shook her head, her fingers rubbing on her temples as she stepped out of the shower and quickly got dressed in some jeans and a sweatshirt. It had been a long day at school, and now, luckily, it was the weekend. "No more skirts," she practically sang. It felt good to wear pants… no getting embarrassed for in case an updraft suddenly came 'round, that was for sure!

Giggling, she began to go down stairs, but froze. The sound of pots clanking filled her heart with dread. Jii-chan was visiting an old friend; no doubt arguing over which useless sutra charms worked the best on demons. Her mother was at the market and Sota was sleeping over at a friends. And Buyo had been upstairs… so…

She clutched the shikon shard that hung around her throat; it's what she always did when she was frightened. It was like an anchor of support. Usually, right after finals or a test, she would've been tugging on it so hard there was usually a nice little red line on the back of her neck.

Swallowing, she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, her heart pounding in her throat. Movement caught her eye and she froze yet again, sweat beading on her forehead.

A large well muscled man stood there, his face hidden behind a black ski mask. Even in the extreme fear that took over Kagome, she managed to think sarcastically 'What is it with buglers and black and ski masks?' It appeared InuYasha had rubbed off on her more than she had thought…

The man must've felt some eyes on him for he turned around. Dangerous red orbs glinted dangerously under heavy lids. Kagome swallowed. Only demons… "Oh God…" she whispered. No doubt he had come looking for her jewel shard…

Turning, she did the only logical thing she could do; run.

Her feet pounded the cement, the little rocks tearing at Kagome's soft bear feet. An inhuman cry erupted behind her and the demon gave chase, the flapping of wings echoing eerily in Kagome's ears. "Somebody," she whispered, closing her eyes as she rushed towards the only place she felt the safest in her shrine house. "Somebody… help me."

Skidding to a stop in front of the old well house, she practically ripped open the doors, some of her fingernails breaking on the rough wood.

Another screech came from behind her and claws dug into her back, throwing her down the stairs. Her limp body hit the well and, as Kagome attempted to sit up, she felt the slight migraine she had gotten from Sota erupt into a full blown headache.

Crying out in pain as little bubbles of light exploded before her, she closed her eyes, but the bubbles still drifted under her closed lids.

"Ningen," hissed a sharp voice, much akin to the screeching of birds. "Hand over the jewel shard."

Shivering, Kagome stood on watery legs, their wobbling making it near impossible to stand correctly. 'Damn,' she cursed silently, finally opening her eyes and looking around the well house. A feather drifted down to her, its color a soft baby blue. Looking up, her pupils dilated as fear clutched her heart.

There, above her, clutching the ceiling of the well house was the man… or demon. Two gigantic blue wings had burst through the material of the back and sleeves of the shirt, and claws dug into the ancient wood. Kagome swallowed and felt the back of her calves lean into the wood of the well. "Oh Kami," she whispered.

It gave a low croaking caw of laughter, its claws letting go of the wood as it bore down upon her. Letting loose a blood curdling scream, Kagome was hurtled into the well, accidentally dragging the demon with her. They wrestled against each other for a moment, Kagome trying to get away from him, the demon trying to find the jewel shard on her.

Familiar blue lights twinkled around Kagome, and somewhere within her mind, she registered what was happening. But, as was to be expected, she was more worried about being ripped to shreds by the bird yokai that was currently clawing at her stomach and arm, his back talons ripping through her jeans to pierce her thigh, then traveling through time and space to a place where she truly felt more at home than in her normal era. They landed on the bottom of the well and Kagome gave out a shuddering scream as the pain hit her full force.

"Get… away… from… ME!" she cried, pushing the yokai away and almost shooting up the latter. Of course, she was hardly quick enough, and talons gripped her shoulders as the yokai shot out through the well, dragging her along with it.

It dropped her and she felt something snap in her leg. Tears of pain filled her eyes and she looked up, watching the demon circle above her. Shivers racked her bodice and she began to crawl away, hoping to get to where there was some sort of weapon, be it her customary bow and arrows, or a simple hunting knife; it was better than not being armed at all.

She didn't get far. The demon landed in front of her, dirt flying everywhere, like in her hair, eyes, and all over her body, and dust clouding her vision and lungs. Coughing feebly, she looked up, fear over coming anything and everything. "Going somewhere?" cackled the yokai, throwing back its head and laughing shrilly.

Kagome cringed as the harsh sound hit her ears. She stood, leaning heavily on her uninjured leg and aimed a punch at the demon. It didn't do a single damned thing.

Claws hooked themselves around Kagome's wrist before her fist even made contact with his face or chest; she hadn't been sure which one she was aiming at. He had side-stepped her attack all to easily, and his eyes sparkled maliciously.

It squeezed and Kagome felt her knees buckle. She collapsed into a pitiful pile, gazing up fearfully at the yokai. It sneered in her face, red eyes glinting dangerously as it crouched down by her. "Little ningens like you shouldn't hurt big bad yokai," it squawked, grinning behind the mask. She shivered.

The yokai lifted it's claws, looking for just the right place to strike, but a cry came from it's mouth as another's claws cut through it's shoulder. The yokai fell back, letting go of Kagome's arm.

Blood flowed freely from a wound on its shoulder and it glared at a figure above Kagome. She shivered. Who was this new stranger… and was he or she going to try and kill her too?

"Get away from here," hissed an all too familiar voice. Kagome didn't dare look up. She had a nagging feeling she knew who it was but… No… it wasn't. The voice was to low… a bit more throbbing in the throat and more like a melody… though it didn't sound all that bad.

"I said, get away from here," the voice growled again, cracking its owner's knuckles.

The bird yokai growled, but took a step back. Turning to Kagome, it fixed her with a death glare. "I WILL be back," it hissed, before flapping its wings, taking to the skies.

Kagome let loose a breath she hadn't known she had been keeping. Standing, she wobbled feebly and felt the person's eyes on her. Turning away, she coughed into her hand. Blood was spattered in a crisscross fashion on it. "Ari… Arigato," she managed to cough out.

"Ki-Kikyo, what are you doing here?" the voice asked. Oh no, not again!!!!

Whirling around, Kagome felt the anger rise up and she yelled so hard she had to close her eyes. "I'M NOT KIKYO!!!!!! WHY DOES EVERYBODY THINK I'M HER!? I'M NOT DEAD!!! I DON'T WANT TO DRAG PEOPLE'S SOULS DOWN INTO HELL WITH ME!!!!!! I-"

Whatever else she was died on her lips. There, standing before her, his amber eyes flashing in a confused way, dressed in his normal red haori, his hair a bit longer than she remembered, and his wonderfully cute dog an ear twitching in the wind was… Oh Kami…