A/N: See? I told you it would be awhile before I got another chapter out.


Numinous Reality

Chapter One

"Transcending Time"

Written By: Boukyaku

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, or InuYasha.


Kagome just couldn't swallow the fact that she had seen Kohaku on her family's shrine. For the most part though, she was trying to find reasons to doubt that it had been Kohaku at all. She really wasn't getting anywhere with that though- other then closer to Kaede's hut as she walked very slowly down the dirt path that lead from Inuyasha's forest.

Kohaku. Kagome had to admit that she was a bit slow at times, but she wasn't blind. The young man had the same face as Kohaku, added that it was a bit more mature then the Kohaku she had come to know. He had also had an air of seriousness and anxiety around him. But she couldn't help but question some of her doubts as well.

Kohaku was eleven years of age when he died, according to Sango, and two years had passed since the Demon Slayer's had all been wiped out. So he would have only been thirteen then. The young man she saw on the shrine was clearly older then that, about her age if not a year or two older. But he wore a High School uniform, so he must have been at most, eighteen years of age. Either way, the numbers didn't add up.

Then there was the obvious. Kohaku was living off a shard of the Sacred Jewel, and without it, he would have seized to live. Kagome hadn't sensed a shard coming from the young man she would now dub the Kohaku Impersonator, or KI. Yeah, that was catchy... Ki. Lack of creativity in the naming department, but it would do for now.

Kagome came to the realization that she had yet to come to a theory, and she was closing in on Kaede's hut very quickly. She then decided that it would only lead to problems if she were to assume it was Kohaku, and telling everyone about it would only cause stress. Sango was pregnant, and Kagome wanted her friend to have a healthy pregnancy, not risk her friend's health on a mere chance that she had possibly seen her younger brother. Even then, what could they do about it?

"Kagome!"

She had stepped inside the hut at this point, and surprisingly, Sango and Kaede were the only ones there to greet her. Though who was she kidding? Had Inuyasha been in the village, he would have most likely met her the moment he sensed her coming. He wasn't one to sit and wait for her at the village unless he was busy sulking.

"Sango, it's good to see you again! You as well, Kaede. How are things here?"

Kaede had barely gotten a greeting out of her mouth before Sango had gotten up and almost jumped Kagome, despite her condition. Kagome was quick to balance herself before they both fell over though.

"Oh, Kagome! It's wonderful! You won't believe it!"

"Believe what?"

"It's Miroku! His Wind Tunnel has disappeared!"

That was the last thing Kagome was expecting to hear, in fact, she probably would have collapsed onto her knees had Sango not had a tight grip on her wrists at that moment. Sango was brimming was happiness, so much that it was almost blinding, and all Kagome could do was mumble out an inaudible.. "Huh..?"

"Yes! It was a couple of days ago that it happened. Miroku and Inuyasha have gone to see Sesshomaru and Kouga to see if they had heard anything about Naraku's demise. But it's the only explanation, so Naraku must be dead."

"Naraku's dead?" Kagome seemed to finally come to her senses, a look of disbelief coming over her features. Sango said it was the only explanation, but Naraku being dead seemed impossible unless they were the ones to kill him. Who was powerful enough to kill the evil half-breed Naraku? Something wasn't right! "I don't mean to be negative... but it's hard to swallow that Naraku would allow himself to be killed." Kagome's brow furrowed.

Sango's mood seemed to dampen as she took in Kagome's reaction. This was supposed to be a happy occasion, after all... Miroku was going to live now. Though her friend did have a good point, it seemed to good to be true. They had spent over a year and a half hunting the half-breed that had destroyed their lives, and within half a year of his disappearance- he just died?

"Miroku said the same thing." Sango murmured quietly, her eyes down casted to the floor as Kagome's were. "He's worried that this may be another trick, like with what happened with the Moon Princess, Kaguya."

"Aye. Ye all have good reason to be, as well." Kaede spoke up causing the two girls to turn their attention to their elder curiously. "I've been giving much thought to this." She paused and cleared her raspy throat, allowing the girls a chance to sit down within the hut.

"It's quite possible that Naraku is still alive." She fixed her audience with a hard stare. "He's just not of this world anymore."

"Not of this world? How can he be alive if he's dead?"

"Child, ye are over-looking something important." Kaede turned her attention to Kagome. "It is not the Afterlife I speak of."

"So... a different dimension?" Sango questioned hesitantly.

"That's possible." Kaede nodded. "Kagome, remember shortly after you came to this world. Before Miroku, and Sango joined you in your journey- the Demon Witch, Urasue stole my sister's ashes from her grave?"

Kagome nodded, a visable shudder running through her at the memory. "Of course I do. That's how Kikyo came back to this world.." She stated, her confusion easily noticeable. She was trying to understand why Kaede was bringing this up.

"That's correct. Urasue had successfully resurrected Kikyo as well, but she was unable to move because she didn't possess a soul."

"Kagome's soul, right?" Sango asked, her brow furrowed. This was the first time she had heard the details of how Kikyo had come to be in this world again. Shippo had briefed her, but he wasn't very good with the details, and anything Kikyo related was taboo around Kagome and Inuyasha.

"Aye. Kagome is my sister's reincarnation. It was because Kagome was of this world that Urasue could not completely resurrect my sister. Two of the same soul cannot exist together." Kaede explained.

"I still don't understand, Kaede... what does this have to do with Naraku?"

"Kagome... when ye leave your world, so does ye soul, am I right?"

Kagome and Sango exchanged looks before returning their confused gazes to Kaede. "I suppose that's true..."

"And without a soul, a person seizes to exist all together."

"..." Realization dawned on their faces as Kaede's words finally sunk in.

"So what your saying, Kaede... is that it's possible Naraku alive, in a different world or Era? But because his soul is not of this world, he technically does not exist so he really would be considered dead to us?" Kagome was sure that sounded funny, but she wasn't sure how else to sum it up.

"Aye. If he really has found a way to travel time, as ye do, Kagome... it could be disastrous. Until he has been sent to the afterlife, ye truly are not free of Naraku."

Kagome's thoughts wheeled back to Ki, the young man she saw earlier that day. Was it coincidence? A feeling of dread suddenly came over her, and she suddenly found herself stumbling toward the hut entrance.

"Kagome?"

"Kagome, where are ye off too?"

Kagome stopped as another thought came to her then. "Sango! Kaede!" She turned back to them, her brows furrowed together tightly. "As soon as the boys come back, explain everything to them!"

"Of course we will, Kagome... but-"

"Sango... have Miroku-sama make a journal of some kind. Something that can be passed down from generation to generation, about our journey, and Naraku. If Naraku really did find a way to travel through time, then Miroku-sama's curse could effect all your-" Kagome bit her lip, unable to finish her statement. But it was enough for Sango and Kaede to understand what she was saying.

"You don't think-" Sango bit her lip, a fearful expression crossing her features.

"It's quite possible." Kaede stated. "Is there a reason why ye are heading back to your Era so quickly though? Has something happened?"

"Well... not exactly. But there's something I need to check." Kagome was glad she was getting better at lying, otherwise they might have demanded what had happened. "I'll be back in a couple of days. Try and keep Inuyasha from coming to get me, if you will..." Kagome had a feeling she wouldn't be at the Shrine very much, and it would only be more trouble if he came after her. The two occupants in the hut could only nod before Kagome found herself dashing for the well. She had a really bad feeling. What was worse... something bad usually did happen with those feelings.


"So Keiko, how's High School life for you?"

The brunette haired girl turned to the young woman seated next to her. Kazuma Kuwabara's older sister by three years, Shizuru Kuwabara. She was twenty years of age, a High School drop-out, and now made a living of being a hair-dresser. She was good at it too, being the one that had cut Keiko's hair when she had rescued Yusuke's body from his burning house. Her clothes and hair as been singed by the flames and Keiko had been forced to cut it shorter.

"It's going well. I made Student Council President this year, so I've been keeping myself busy." Keiko stated, a small smile gracing her lips. It hadn't been too hard to gain the position of President... no one had run up against her, she was very well-liked in her school, by both her fellow students and teachers.

Shizuru shook her head slightly, her trademark cigarette held between her middle and index fingers. "I guess the sayings right. Opposites attract." Keiko followed Shizuru's eyes to her own boyfriend who was seated a little ways away... busy harassing Kuwabara.

Yusuke Urameshi, he who had taken after Shizuru by dropping out- but unlike Shizuru, he had never made it to High School. Keiko had already lectured him about at least trying to get back into school. But they both knew it was a hopeless cause, he was already making a living out of being Spirit Detective.

"That boy is sure lucky to have a girlfriend like you, Keiko." Shizuru seemed to have been thinking the same thing as her. Keiko could only smile at her older friend.

"Yusuke seems to live off of luck though. So it's not much of a surprise."

"You've got that right." Shizuru turned her attention to the red-head that had just parted from the group a few feet away from them. Yusuke and Kuwabara seemed to be getting into another brawl, probably for old-time's sake. "Hey Kurama, what about you? You're in your last year, right?"

The red-headed avatar turned his attention to Shizuru, moving to stand beside the two girls but not bothering to sit down. "That's correct." Unlike Keiko and Kuwabara, Kurama was a year older then them and was in his third year at Meio Academy. He didn't seemed to have changed much over the past three years, looking the same he had when they first met.

"Have you gotten yourself a girlfriend yet?" Keiko almost laughed. She liked that about Shizuru, she just wasn't afraid to ask anything.

Kurama didn't seem surprised by the question, and Keiko briefly wondered if he had been asked by the boys already. "I don't think dating would benefit my health." The two girls immediately translated that to "I'd have to have a death wish to date any of the girls at my school".

"So what do you plan to do after you graduate, Kurama-san?" Keiko cut in then, causing his emerald green eyes to turn to her.

"I haven't decided yet. I have a large variety of options at this point. Yomi has made it clear that he would like me to revert to my true form and join him and Shura, and even Enki has proposed some interesting offers." He paused to look over at Yusuke and Kuwabara, an amused smile gracing his lips. "But I'm not sure if Makai's the place for me at this point, even if its changed for the better." Which was also fine, because his step father had also offered him a position at his company.

"Ever since Enki's rule started, it's true that Makai has changed. Especially after the Kekkai Barrier has been brought down... it's quite possible demons and humans could one day live together like they did so long ago." Genkai's voice cut in as she and Yukina moved over to them.

"So its true...?" The others turned to Keiko at her question. "Demons really did live in this world at one point?"

"Can't imagine it was very peaceful.." Shizuru murmured. "Where'd you hear that from Keiko?"

"Well... that brings up another subject I've been meaning to ask too. See, in school, we're studying the Legend of the Shikon no Tama and I have a project to do on it..." Judging by Kurama's reaction, she assumed he had gone through the same lesson at his own school.

"The Shikon no what?" Yusuke's voice sounded from behind Keiko, causing her to jump in surprise. Eventually everyone had settled into a large group around them, having gotten bored with Yusuke and Kuwabara's brawl. Along with Yusuke and Kuwabara, Botan had also joined them. Hiei was no where in sight, so it was only assumed that their short friend had gotten annoyed and left already.

"The Shikon no Tama, Yusuke. It's a very famous story." Botan chirped as she seated herself between Keiko and Shizuru happily.

"So it's only a story?" Keiko seemed disappointed, and it seemed to show since Botan was quick to answer her.

"Oh no no no! The Legend of the Shikon no Tama really did happen. But unfortunately that's all I know. Spirit World wouldn't trust a simple Reaper like me with information regarding such a Legend."

"That seems suspicious." Kurama commented, causing Botan to shrug lightly.

"Other then the stories they have in your school books, I don't know anything more then that." Botan didn't seem too interested in finding out either. But that was just her personality.

"My school hasn't studied anything like that.." Kuwabara scratched his head.

"Is someone going to fill me in on what the hell your talking about?" Yusuke was getting annoyed, and Keiko did the honors of filling him, and the others that were unfamiliar with the tale, in on the details.

"The Legend of the Shikon no Tama. It's also called the Jewel of the Four Souls. It goes back about eight hundred years when a Priestess called Midoriko went into battle with hundred's of demons. She was able to seize the souls of demons and purify them, this power coming from having a positive balance of the four souls within her heart, corresponding to four virtues. Aramitama (Courage), Nigimitama (Friendship), Sakimitama (Love), and Kushimitama (Wisdom)." Keiko knew she had Yusuke's attention the moment the word "demons" left her mouth. "She raged battle against these demons for seven days and nights until Midoriko realized that she would be unable to fight them off, and as she was drawn into a creature's massive jaws, she seized its spirit and bound it within her own with the last of her power, killing both of them and creating the Shikon Jewel, which burst from her chest."

"A jewel burst from her chest?Sounds like Yakumo and his stupid power sphere all over again." Yusuke asked dryly. "So whats so special about this jewel?"

"The Shikon no Tama." Genkai stated. "It ultimately has the power to grant any wish."

"What?" Yusuke and Kuwabara stared at Genkai as if she had grown a second head. "How can something like that exist?"

"Did you not pay attention to a single thing Keiko was saying?" Genkai glared at her dimwitted student with annoyance. It was a wonder she hadn't keeled over from exasperation at this point.

"So what happened then?" Yukina spoke up from beside Kuwabara, she was truly interested in the Legend and judging by the fact that Yusuke and Kuwabara had shut up again to hear the answer, they were too.

"It was controlled by various demons and humans over the next couple of centuries." Kurama continued. "Until it ended up in the hands of a Demon Exterminator's village where they protected it up until it had become too tainted to keep. It was then put in the care of a Priestess so it could be purified. This led to her demise though. A human thief she had been caring for lusted for her and the Shikon no Tama, he was badly burnt and unable to move so he allowed hundreds of demons devour him, for the chance to obtain the jewel. The Priestess, whom at that time, had fallen in love with a half-demon intended to use the jewel to turn him into a full human with high hopes that the jewel would disappear and they could live happily. The day they were to make the wish, the thief tricked the two into hating each other. He mortally wounded the Priestess, and she used the last of her strength to seal the half-demon to a tree, putting him into a deep sleep while she died the same day, the Shikon no Tama was burned with her remains." Kurama concluded, causing some of them to blink in confusion.

"That's it?" Yusuke questioned, exchanging a look with an equally confused Kuwabara.

"No." Genkai spoke again. "Fifty years later, the jewel appeared again and was shattered... scattering across Japan in hundreds of pieces, each with the power to enhance the power of any that came to hold a piece."

"How the hell did that happen?"

Keiko was surprised Yusuke was showing such an interest in the tale. But considering it was a true tale that envolved demons, she was too surprised either. "That's unknown." She spoke to her boyfriend who turned his attention to her. "There's no other information on that part of the Legend."

"That sounds like a load of bullshit."

"I agree with Urameshi."

"Spirit World is likely to be the only place you would be able to find any other information on such a Legend. Especially if it concerns the whereabouts of the Jewel that could potentially destroy the world." Kurama cut in, though he was clearly disappointed that he hadn't learned of anything new then what he had learned in school about the Legend.

"There is one other place you could try." Genkai interrupted, her attention turning to Keiko. "If you really want to get a good grade on that project of yours. I would try visiting Sunset Shrine."

"What's at Sunset Shrine?" Kurama asked the question on everyone's minds.

"A tree that transcends time called Goshinboku."

"A tree?"

Genkai gave a small smirk. "The tree that once held a sealed half-demon."


End Chapter