Title: New Beginnings
Author: Watoshimi Kairou
Fandom: Inuyasha / Prince of Tennis
Characters: Sesshomaru / Higurashi Kagome, Tezuka Kunimitsu / Echizen Ryoma,
Rating: Mature
Status: Complete
Summary: After the well sealed itself, Kagome couldn't bare living in a shrine house that easily brings back unwanted memories. Moving in with her cousin, Kagome finds herself thrust into a world where nothing makes sense anymore.

If this chapter is confusing… good, it's supposed to be. I think. Nah, I just don't have the talent to explain everything beautifully. I noticed, my grammar really, really sucks. Damn.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis, Inuyasha or any of its characters.

New Beginnings
[3] Answers and Questions

"Kagome-chan?"

Kagome looked up from her textbook and smiled. "Sango. What's up?"

Sango stared blankly at her for a few seconds before giving her head a slight shake. "Are you busy?" she asked instead, chuckling softly.

If it had been Inuyasha, the answer would have been yes but she would always have time for Sango. Kagome shook her head and closed her book, stuffing it into her backpack before turning her complete attention towards Sango. She patted the log next to her.

Sango sat down and leaned against Kagome until they were pressed shoulder to shoulder. While the silence wasn't uncomfortable, there was definitely something on the older woman's mind. Thankfully, Kagome knew Sango would speak when she was ready to and kept silent, offering her friend a different kind of support.

"Do you ever think about it?" Sango finally asked, her voice so quiet that Kagome almost didn't hear her.

"Huh?"

"The end," the demon slayer clarified, tilting her head up towards the night sky.

Kagome felt her stomach twist at the reminder. Of course she had thought about it; she didn't think anyone didn't think about it. Kagome reached into her shirt and pulled out the Jewel. All the shards have been found and they were currently just waiting around for Naraku to pull himself out of whatever hole he decided to hide in.

The final confrontation.

What a sobering thought.

"Yes," Kagome murmured softly.

Sango swallowed audibly and then continued. "I've been thinking... and I—I decided that if I have to be the one to fight Kohaku in the end... then... then... I—I'm going to kill him."

Kagome swore the world around them slowed upon her hearing those words. "What?" she gasped. "Sango!"

"I—I can't—" Sango said, her voice breaking. "I can't let Kohaku live with that memory."

"Oh Sango," Kagome breathed as she pulled the older woman into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so very sorry." She wished there was something she could do; for someone who was meant to save the world, she couldn't do anything for one of her closest friends. Kagome wondered if she would always be this useless.

The two of them stayed like that for a while, long enough for the boys to finish their bath and return back to camp. However, one look at the girls had them backing up slowly and quietly. Even without a pointed glare from Kagome, they knew it wasn't a good time to interrupt.

"Kagome?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you plan on doing when this is all over?"

Kagome swallowed hard. "Probably... I'll probably go back home."

It was Sango's turn to freeze up now. She took in a shuddering breath, her mind taking the time to register the severity of Kagome's words. "What do you mean?" she asked even though she already knew the answer as she pulled away from Kagome's warm embrace.

Kagome only smiled at her. "Spending time here," she murmured. "Spending time with you guys, I realized how much of a temptation the Shikon really is." She shook her head violently and swallowed the lump that was trying to work its way up her throat. "There's no such thing as a completely pure wish, Sango; they all have some sort of selfishness in them."

"Then..."

"When the jewel is whole again... I... I'm going to demand for its disappearance."

"But then... Then..."

Kagome nodded. "The link between my time and yours will no longer exist." She took in a deep breath, trying to prevent herself from crying. "I was born in the future, Sango; I belong in the future. I have a feeling that once the Shikon disappears, it will force me back to my own time."

Kagome knew that the girl couldn't be Sango. Because the Sango she knew was human and lived almost five hundred years ago. The Sango she knew had eyes of a woman whose soul and mind were much too old for her body. The Sango she knew was beautiful and young and alive all those years ago and there was no way—no way—she could be here. Now.

But there was something—everything—about the girl that made Kagome see the demon slayer again. Her hair was tied up in Sango's trademark high ponytail. Her facial structure, the sharpness of her eyes, her figure, her everything reminded Kagome of Sango.

If she and Kikyo could have been mistaken as siblings then this girl and Sango could have been mistaken as identical twins.

But—

But—

"Yes!" the girl responded tearfully much to Kagome's further shock and confusion. "I know it's been a couple weeks since the last time we talked but I thought I told you I was attending Seigaku! You should have called or something! I mean—" she froze suddenly, her eyes flying open and she stared at Kagome as if seeing her in a new light. "I—I—" She pulled away, stumbling backwards. "Oh dear gods."

"S-San—" Kagome squeaked in surprise as the girl fell down, slumping onto the ground as if all her strength had left her body. She rushed over, ignoring the sharp pain in her ankle as she did so. "Are you okay?"

The girl remained silent for so long Kagome feared she may have fainted. But the girl was still staring blankly ahead, her eyes wide with shock. Finally, very, very slowly, she mumbled in a voice so quiet Kagome had to lean closer to hear, "Yes." She trembled. "Yes, I am Sango." Looking up into Kagome's deep blue eyes she repeated, "I am Sango."

Kagome paused, the sound of the blood rushing through her ears sounded unusually loud. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

The girl—Sango—shook her head and looked around with wide eyes, almost as if she was afraid of her surroundings. "Ooh," she groaned with a grimace, bringing nimble fingers up to her temple. "Everything is coming back now." She froze again, her eyes widening even further as she turned back to face Kagome and gasped. "Kagome! What did you do?"

Kagome gaped and then flushed. "Me? What do you mean? I didn't do anything! I belong here! You're the one out of place."

Sango shook her head. "I don't understand."

"I'm the one from the future, remember? This is my time!"

Sango's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "No," she said slowly. "I don't—I—I have a life here too."

Silence filled the air and Kagome took the moment to sit down carefully, making sure not to upset her wounded ankle. "So," she began slowly. "So you're telling me that you're alive here too?" She frowned. "Sort of... like a reincarnation?"

Sango looked down at her hands which were currently shaking with reasons unknown to her. "I'm not really sure," she replied. "I just... I have a life here. I was born and raised here."

"And the past?"

"I didn't remember that life until I saw you."

Silence.

"I'm confused," Kagome finally admitted.

"Start from the beginning?"

Kagome nodded.

"Like I said," Sango began. "I have a life here and—oh! I—I remember you!"

"What?"

"Ryoma! I just saw him and he told me that you were here." Sango shook her head, as if trying to clear it. "Ooh! This is so confusing."

"Tell me about it," Kagome mumbled, having no idea what Sango was talking about.

"Forget demon-slaying Sango!" she cried. "I know you in this... This school-girl Sango life!"

Kagome swallowed again. "I'm afraid I don't know you."

Sango frowned. "But we used to play together with—oh my god!"

"What?" Kagome panicked. "What?"

"Miroku, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru!" A pause. Sango's eyes shot up in surprise and she tilted her head in confusion. "Sesshomaru?" Her brows furrowed before she huffed and snapped her eyes open again. "Anyway, they're all here!"

"In the school?" Kagome squealed, gaping.

Sango shook her head. "No, just Miroku and when you left, we lost contact with Inuyasha."

"When I left?"

"Yes! You used to visit Ryoma, remember?"

Kagome nodded, agreeing. "But I never met you guys."

Sango fell silent. "So... I have memories of something that never actually happened?"

"Maybe it's me," Kagome said. "Maybe I don't have memories of something that actually happened."

They paused, looking at each other in confusion.

"This doesn't make any sense," Sango finally said.

"My life never made any sense," Kagome replied, fighting the urge to sigh and roll her eyes. She glared at the ground in front of her. "I honestly don't know why I thought it would start to now... stupid me. I should never have left the shrine."

"Maybe... we should go find the monk or something?"

Suddenly, the true extent and reality of the situation hit Kagome. She was in the future. She was in the future and talking to Sango. She was in the future and talking to Sango about looking for Miroku. Her friends, her life, her two worlds were colliding and while confusing—and perhaps even a bit terrifying (but the shock hadn't completely set in quite yet)—it sort of felt like a dream come true.

"Now you're starting to sound like the Sango I remember," Kagome said with a small grin.

Sango glared. "What are you talking about? I am Sango." Already the memories of her modern life seemed like a blur, making it feel like some sort of dream; she certainly felt like the demon-slaying Sango Kagome remembered. Even if she was lacking the hard muscles she remembered from her previous life.

Kagome gave her outfit a look over and raised her eyebrows. "A ōendan uniform. Really?"

Sango flushed. "It's just that—tryouts were today—and—" She groaned. "It's not like I'm on the squad yet! And now, thanks to you, I don't think I'll even be trying out any longer."

"Good," Kagome said, nodding. "It's not really you. Perhaps something more butt-kicking? Karate, maybe?"

"I think you're like a trigger or something," Sango said as the two of them made their way down the hall. "Because I definitely did not remember anything until I saw you."

"I'm surprise you guys aren't close," Kagome muttered. Hadn't Aunt Rinko told her how close they all were? Besides, she would have thought Miroku and Sango would stick together even if they didn't remember anything of their adventures together in the past. "Anyway, we only have ten minutes until class starts. Will we find him in time?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Won't need to. He's usually with the girls."

Kagome laughed. "Some things never change."

Sango frowned. "Right... but..."

"Did you two... get together after I left?" Kagome asked softly.

"We had children," Sango answered with a shudder.

Kagome blinked. "Children?"

"Twins."

"Oh my god," Kagome squealed, bumping Sango's hip with her own. "Twins? Sango!"

"He has a girlfriend," Sango said flatly, blushing over Kagome's comment.

"Oh," Kagome responded, deflated. "I'm sorry."

Sango shook her head but didn't say anything. She didn't know how she felt about the entire situation so instead of talking about it, she pulled Kagome along through the student-filled halls and greeted a few people along the way. "Here we are," she finally said as they walked into the large, open cafeteria and made their way towards a group of girls hanging out near a corner. "Oh... He's not here."

Kagome looked around, feeling her stomach with disappointment. "Seriously?"

"Hey," Sango greeted. "Have you guys seen Miro—um... Ishikawa-san?"

The group fell silent and looked around at each other for a few seconds, solidifying Kagome's belief that despite how "close" she apparently had been with the modern versions Sango and Miroku, her two friends did not share the same bond in this time. Finally, one girl stepped forward and folded her arms underneath her rather large breasts and pushed them upwards. "Why are you looking for him?"

"Girlfriend?" Kagome asked, whispering.

"Nah," Sango answered back. "Jealous bitch, she never liked me much after I beat her in a fighting tournament a couple years ago. His girlfriend's the cute one with the short hair. To the right." She cleared her throat and raised her voice to answer, "One of our old friends came back and I just thought they could get reacquainted."

The girl rolled her eyes. "I didn't think you actually had any friends, Sango-chan."

Sango blinked. "Since I remember," she muttered to Kagome. "Do you think I could sock her one?"

"Um, no. Absolutely not," Kagome answered. "Although I must say, I really am liking this modern you."

"Besides," the girl continued, making Kagome wince. She wasn't sure how prominent of a presence demon-slayer Sango had in this modern version of herself but she really didn't want to take any chances. The demon slayer used to wield a large, bone boomerang, for crying out loud. "It's not like Miroku likes you or—"

"Excuse me," a new voice cut in, effectively interrupting the conversation.

Everyone turned towards the owner of said voice and Kagome blinked in surprise. "Eh? Oh! Tezuka-san!" He only stared in response, expression so blank, Kagome really wasn't sure what was going on through his head. "Er... captain?" she tried again then immediately winced. "Shit, this isn't coming out right."

"You know him?" Sango asked with a raised eyebrow.

As if knowing exactly what Sango was thinking, Kagome flushed. "It isn't like that!" she protested. "He's Ryoma's cap—" she brightened up suddenly when her eyes landed on her cousin who was standing only few feet behind Tezuka. "Ryoma!" she greeted, waving at him in a dramatic manner that had him glaring.

"Mada mada dane," Ryoma muttered, spinning around to walk away. For a moment, he almost thought Kagome was being bullied or something but seeing that she was perfectly fine (and reunited with a friend she had apparently completely forgotten about), Ryoma was ready to leave.

"Hey!" Kagome said suddenly, chasing after her slightly younger cousin, almost pushing Tezuka out of the way in her haste to catch up with him. "Ryoma! Wait!"

Ryoma paused, catching Kagome off guard and she crashed into him, sending them both to the ground. The girls gasped in surprise and Tezuka twitched at the impact. He only hoped that his freshmen ace remained uninjured in the fall.

"Shit," Kagome groaned after a few seconds of tense silence. Her ankle throbbed in agreement. "That really hurts."

"Get off of me," Ryoma said, voice muffled by her chest. "Please."

"Eep!" Kagome squeaked and jumped off, only to wince as she landed harshly on her ankle once again causing the oh-so familiar sharp pain despite the good bandaging job Sango had done. She blushed, wrapping her arms around her. "Sorry! I'm clumsy!"

Ryoma almost rolled his eyes in response but refrained. What an understatement, he thought. His father had tried teaching Kagome tennis before. But only once. Somehow, Kagome had tripped but somehow managed to hit the ball behind her and through the kitchen window. It had completely scared Karupin who had been napping on the kitchen counter at the time and sent the cat in a mewling frenzy, messing up whatever dinner Rinko had been preparing at the time. And if that wasn't bad enough, Kagome had accidentally flung the racket towards Nanjirou as she went down and gave him a black eye.

Instead of reminding her of all of that, Ryoma pulled himself up and dusted the dirt off. He looked down at Kagome, waiting for her to speak.

"You said that I had friends, right?" Kagome asked.

Ryoma frowned but nodded.

"I don't remember."

Ryoma gave her a flat look, eyes glancing in Sango's direction.

Kagome waved it off. "We just got reunited." She inhaled deeply. "Inuyasha... do you know what happened to him?"

"Inu—" Ryoma frowned again. "You lost contact with them?"

"That's right," Kagome agreed. "But... Do you know where I can contact him now?"

Ryoma shrugged. "No."

She stared at him. Annoying, lazy, little— "Ryoma!" she cried instead. "Please! This is important!"

"Like the pink light?"

"Pink light?" Sango repeated. She gasped. "Kagome!"

"Not my fault," she immediately shot back, feeling defensive. "I almost got hit by the... the... Jack... Jack's hit."

"Jack Knife," Ryoma corrected.

"Right, Jack Knife."

"A knife?" Sango said slowly, her eyes wide.

"Apparently, it's a name for a tennis move," Kagome answered. "Like Wind Scar and Fox Fire."

Sango nodded. "Right... but a tennis move?"

"Hey," Kagome said. "I'm not exactly a tennis player. This is outside my profession." Sango gave her a look and Kagome had to bite back a grin. She turned back around to face Ryoma again. "Inuyasha! Contact info. Please?"

Ryoma wrinkled his nose in distaste. "I said I don't know! He was your friend, not mine."

"Ryoma," Kagome warned. "I know you know something. Don't treat me like an idiot."

He blinked slowly, as if he was still sleepy. "I know how to get in contact with his brother," he finally admitted.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked with a gasp of horror.

Ryoma's lips quirked up. "You two were close."

Kagome frowned and then turned towards Sango. "How close?"

Sango almost giggled but managed to swallow it down. She shrugged. "I don't actually know. Inuyasha, Miroku, you, and me were friends but... Sesshomaru only talked to you and Inuyasha. He didn't like the rest of us very much."

"That—That's not even parallel to the past," Kagome stuttered. She turned her attention back towards Ryoma. "Why do you have his contact information anyway?"

"He funded me for an American competition a couple years ago and has been my sponsor ever since," Ryoma said, shrugging.

"I—you—what?"

Ryoma rolled his eyes and gave her an "are you stupid?" stare—usually reserved for his teammates). "He's a businessman."

Idiot.