Miko Upgrade - Chapter 9

Kagome was released from the grey room to a smiling, cheerful Naruto and a sour looking bubblegum, whose name she'd found out was Sakura. She was taken back to what she could only assume was Sakura's home and given some clothing, it wasn't really to her taste nor did it fit properly but it was better than a hospital dress until she could lay hands on something else. The pair, at Kagome's request, was leading her back to the massacred village so that she might find a clue as to how to get home. Though bouncy and outwardly cheerful Naruto's eyes held a shadow, as though he had questions begging to be asked. Kagome was careful of speaking too much about herself, she knew better than anyone how people tend to treat strangers claiming to be time travellers, and Kagome still wasn't sure if it was only time she had moved through.

Bubblegum on the other hand was very obvious in her mistrust of Kagome, the periodic glares she sent the older teen's way were hard to misread. Kagome couldn't say she blamed the girl; she had attacked them and hadn't really offered any kind of explanation. The miko knew that if their positions were reversed then she too would be acting this way. With a silent sigh Kagome looked at the pair leading her away from the village.

"I know you don't trust me right now, I haven't given you much reason to either. There are a lot of things that I cannot tell you right now, not until I know what kind of damage may come from it but if it will make a difference you can each ask me a question. Any questions you want and I promise I will answer it honestly and to the best of my ability as long as the answer won't put anyone at risk… does that sound acceptable?" Kagome paused, her voice soft and her expression sincere. She owed these people a debt and if answers would ease their minds any she would do her best.

Naruto looked at her; the boy was beaming but at the same time that shadow behind his expression darkened. Kagome could guess what he really wanted to ask but something seemed to be holding him back. Bubblegum huffed and kept walking so Kagome hooked her arm through Naruto's and began to walk slowly with the orange jumpsuit wearing youth. Once they were out of earshot of Sakura Kagome whispered to Naruto conspiratorially, "So I can see you want to ask me something, maybe something you don't want anyone else to know?" By the guilty look on the boy's face Kagome knew she'd hit the nail on the head. Giving him a reassuring smile Kagome waited until the young man decided to ask his question.

"How did you know?" Naruto's eyes were dark and lonely as he looked up at Kagome, "About the demon… sealed inside me" his hand clenched at his stomach the boy looked tortured.

Nudging him slightly Kagome gave him one of her best motherly smiles, the type she'd give to Shippo whenever he had a nightmare about the thunder brothers and his father. "Naruto I want to tell you something, I have a son." Naruto's eyes widened in astonishment and Kagome chuckled.

"I adopted him; his parents were killed when he was very small. His name is Shippo and he is a demon." Naruto stopped in his tracks, mouth hanging loose and eyes wide with horror, but Kagome simply tugged at his arm and kept walking. "Where I live demons are everywhere, some are kind and wonderful, others are cruel and hateful, but that's the same for humans too. Sure humans and demons still don't get along the best but some of the greatest people I've met have been demons, or had demonic blood flowing through their veins. I don't see being a demon, or having a demon within you as something shameful. As for how I knew, I have a gift of my own… A special kind of power that can help me fight demons when I have to."

"So you can kill demons…?" Naruto's eyes opened with surprise but Kagome knew better than to think that's all that guided this question.

"When I have to but I also talk to them, accept them when they come to me and I help them if they need me. Sometimes humans and demons aren't all that different." Lifting her hand from Naruto's arm Kagome lifted her fingers and began to scratch the boy behind the ear. It was a move she used to calm down both Shippo and Inuyasha, it didn't surprise her when the boy let out a deep rumble from his chest. A twinge in Kagome's injured shoulder made her stop, hand pressed to the wound she remembered the events of the last 24 hours flooded back to her and Kagome couldn't stop the tears from wetting her cheeks once again. Wiping her eyes briskly Kagome walked on, a confused looking Naruto trailing behind her and a still stroppy bubblegum in front.

It wasn't long before they reached the same rise Kagome remembered, she didn't know exactly how long she'd been in this new land but the sun was setting and she was more than a little hungry. Kagome doubted this land even ran on the same time axis as the one she had left, it had been early afternoon when the snake demon attacked and she'd already been here for many hours. With a tired sigh Kagome found her way back to the ruins she'd first appeared in, hoping there may be some sign of how to get back home.

Kagome stood in the centre of the building looking around, it wasn't like the well where all she had to do was jump, Kagome had no idea how to activate this portal or even if she could reopen it. The young Miko tried jumping, gathering her spiritual energy, meditating, throwing things and chucking a small tantrum, in the end all she managed to do was make even more of a mess and exhaust herself. Her ninja guides had watched on in silent horror as she'd tried everything she could think of but it was now they decided to enquire about why she was doing it.

"Kagome, what are you trying to do exactly?" Naruto asked, sceptically.

"Like I tried to explain, I just kind of appeared here, I was hoping if I came back then I might be able to reverse the process. It was my only chance…" drawing her knees up to her chest Kagome buried her face into her lap, a futile effort to hide the tears that now fell. A strangled sob ripped at her throat as she realised once more that she was stuck here, and Inuyasha was lost to her back in Feudal era Japan. Kagome cried until she felt strong warm arms envelope her, looking up she say Sakura smiling at her with a sad knowing look. That one look broke the dam of Kagome's emotions and cradled in the other girls arms she cried until she had nothing left and she collapsed from sheer exhaustion.