I have a Harry Potter and Inuyasha cross over I plan on writing… but I should really complete my current stories before I publish another one. Dear lords.

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

New Beginnings
(5) Blooming

"Sesshomaru," he had said. "Speak."

Sesshomaru's name, coming from the demon's own mouth did something to her insides, churning and twisting it. She took in deep steady breaths, trying to clear her swarming vision. The name repeated echoed in her mind until all Kagome could hear was Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru.

"Kagome-chan," Sango said softly, laying a comforting hand on Kagome's back.

"I'm okay," she mumbled.

Ryoma gave her a questioning glance but did not hesitate when answering. "My cousin wants to talk to you," he said before promptly shoving the phone into her shaking hands.

Kagome swallowed her, taking in more deep breaths before bringing the phone closer to her face. Her throat closed up as she remembered green acid, red eyes, and die, die, die. But wasn't he our ally at the end? a small part of Kagome's mind reminded herself.

"You are wasting my time," Sesshomaru said, interrupting her thoughts. "I do not have the patience to—"

Kagome panicked. "Sesshomaru!" she squeaked out and then immediately wished that she had more time to mentally prepare herself because Higurashi Kagome does not squeak in the presence of Sesshomaru. Ever. It was one of the reasons why she was so famous in the federal era. She was the human that could shout, scold and call the Western Lord names and still manage to live. She was the walking miracle.

The other end of the line remained silent for a moment. "Who is this?"

"It's… it's… um… Kagome, Ryoma's cousin," she responded hesitantly, noticing for the first time that her cousin's friends were surrounding her, pushing into her personal space and acting as if her talking to Sesshomaru was their business. She glowered for a moment before turning her attention back to her current conversation. "You… um, probably don't remember me but we used to be…"

Be friends, Sango mouthed helpfully.

"Allies," she automatically corrected and then got distracted by Kikumaru who was standing behind the old demon slayer making kissy faces at her. She stared and then realized what she had said. "I mean friends!—uh! Allies? No—I mean… we used to know each other!"

Sango snickered and rolled her eyes. She patted Kagome's back, encouraging her to continue.

"Where are you right now?"

"Um… the tennis courts at my school?" Then: "My new school," she corrected.

"Where are you staying?"

Kagome blinked, pulled the phone away from her, started at it and blinked again. "Uh, with my cousin… You know him: Ryoma. Apparently you sponsored—"

"I am leaving for a business trip later this afternoon and do not have time to meet with you," Sesshomaru interrupted. "I will return in a week. Do not leave. Stay in the city." A small click was Kagome's only warning before she found herself listening to the dial tone.

She gaped. "Stay in the city," she repeated. "Is he shitting me?"

Sango blinked. "Is that Inuyasha's influence I'm hearing?"

"So romantic, nya," Kikumaru said. "He sounds so excited to see you again."

Kagome gave a violent shudder at his words. "Excited," she muttered. "No. Just… no."

"It means he misses you and wants to meet you," Momoshiro pointed out.

"Actually," Sango said slowly, looking up at the taller man with a serious expression. "When Sesshomaru's excited, something usually dies."

Momoshiro blinked.

"Not actually die," Kagome hurriedly corrected. "Just…"

"People meet their early demise," Sango continued. "If you see that man smile, run like the wind in the opposite direction."

"Sango!" Kagome said through clenched teeth.

The other woman smiled cheerfully. "That was a joke."

Momoshiro laughed nervously. "Oh, you sounded almost serious."

"Not surprise if she was," Ryoma muttered.

"Anyway," Sango said, turning back towards Kagome. "In all seriousness, at least he remembers you."

Kagome shuddered again. "Which me?"

Sango shrugged. "I'm guessing school-girl you… since he didn't… you know."

Kagome leaned closer, taking no notice at a few Regulars followed her movement. "Die, die, die?" she offered, her voice soft.

"Yea, something along those lines." She brightened up. "But! He remembers the school-girl you, so you shouldn't have any worries since you guys were friends!"

"That's good and all," Kagome said. "But what happens when he—"

"My phone," Ryoma interrupted, jabbing a hand out in front of her.

Kagome smiled and handed her cousin's phone back to him. "Thank you."

"Cupid ochibi, nya," Kikumaru said, jumping between them. "Reuniting former lovers."

"Eiji," Oishi said softly. "You shouldn't tease—"

"I said we weren't lovers!" Kagome said, twitching at the accusation.

"Denial!" Kikumaru teased.

Kagome narrowed her eyes, half of her was happy that Ryoma's friends were comfortable enough to tease her and the other half was alarmed that they were teasing her about Sesshomaru being her lover of all things. What happens if he finds out? She paled at the thought.

Sango, on the other hand laughed at the mental image. "Can you imagine?" she asked.

Kagome stared at her in horror; she was joining them?

The older girl pulled Kagome's hands into her own. "Human," she said in a mocking low voice, trying to imitate Sesshomaru. "While this Sesshomaru may have previously stated that you are unworthy of this one's attention, this Sesshomaru must admit that your attitude and beauty have exceeded this one's—"

"Sango!" Kagome warned.

"It's okay," Sango said, laughing. "They won't get it," she managed to whisper between laughs.

Kagome wrinkled her nose, and gave a quick look-around; glad to see that no one was looking at her strangely, or stranger than usual. They all thought that Sango was just teasing Kagome like Kikumaru had moments ago.

She wrinkled her nose. "What happens when he remembers? Like you did?"

That stopped Sango's laughter. "Well," she answered helpfully. "Then you better hope you really are unworthy of his attention."

"Don't worry," Ryoma said as he began to walk away from the group, heading home, his senpai-tachi hot on his heels. He turned his head slightly to look at Kagome and gave her a small smirk. "You two were friends."

Kagome's mouth dropped open.

Tezuka glanced backwards, taking in the girl's expression and shook his head. Another victim of Echizen's teasing, apparently. Although, truthfully Tezuka was surprised that Echizen would tease her. Weren't they seven the last time that they had seen each other? Was Echizen still so comfortable around her?

Apparently, he wasn't the only one thinking about Echizen's unusual behavior. He could see Inui scribbling madly in his usual notebook.

Kagome blinked. Once. Twice. "How close were we?" she wailed. "Why is Ryoma teasing me about it? What is he implying?"

Sango rolled her eyes. "Really, Kagome, let's think about this logically for a moment. You were seven. How close could you guys really have been?"

"I don't know!"

"Well," Kagome said, falling onto the bed with a soft thud. "Miroku wasn't in school again today. Sesshomaru's a no-go for a week. What do you think we should do?"

Sango sat down carefully. "Well… we do have Kohaku. But…"

Kagome sighed, rolling onto her back and propping herself into a semi-sitting position, using her elbows as support. "Let's wait to see if Miroku shows up tomorrow." She looked at Sango. "Even if this is your second chance at life, I don't think you want your brother remembering that." The only reason Kagome had agreed to come to Sango's house was because Kohaku was away at a school trip. Otherwise, she would have never taken the chance that seeing her would bring back memories she rather the younger boy never remember again.

"Yes," said Sango.

"We're also missing a couple people," Kagome continued. "Inuyasha, Shippo, Kirara… do you have a cat, Sango?"

Sango swallowed hard and looked around. Although she remembered her past life now, and it still felt like a dream to her, it didn't stop her from feeling the intensity of her old bond with the fire cat demon. "Two, actually," she answered. "But neither them are Kirara."

Kagome sat up and gave her friend a soft smile. "Well, a two-tail cat that can transform is kind of a give-away." She sighed, getting back onto the subject. "You don't think everyone is here in this time, do you?"

Sango shook her head. "I only remember Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Miroku." She tilted her head and turned towards Kagome, bringing her legs up onto the bed and folding them in front of her. "Of course that doesn't mean there's no one else."

They fell silent, giving them a moment to think. It was strange, Kagome thought, to know that the people she thought she would never see again, the people that she had life behind in the past were now living in her time. She smiled softly and wondered if this was a gift. If seeing her friends again was her reward for sacrificing her normal life in order to save the world.

Saving the world…

Then a thought hit her and Kagome felt all the blood drain from her face.

"S-Sango…" she began shakily.

Sango looked at her. "Yea?"

Clutching her hands into tight fists, Kagome asked Sango in a quiet voice, "What happens… what happens if Naraku is alive too?"

Sango felt her breath hitch at the question. What happens if history repeated itself again? What happens if Kohaku is forced to go through that again? "No…"

As if defeating that half-demon wasn't hard enough the first time. "Why do you think you guys have a life here?" she asked her friend quietly, regretting her wish to see her friends again. "Why do you think I don't have any recollection of us ever being friends in this life and you do? Why do you only remember your past life after seeing me?"

"So," Momoshiro said as casually as he could, setting down the groceries that Tezuka had forced him to help Echizen-san take in. "Where's Higurashi-san?"

"At her friend's house," Echizen-san answered with a soft smile. "She called just a few hours ago asking Nanjirou if he could help with something, so she should be coming home soon, I think."

"Why?" Ryoma asked suspiciously, glaring at a attempting to look casual Momoshiro, a grinning Fuji, and a stern-looking Tezuka.

Momoshiro shrugged. "Just curious. I'm just worried that she's still hurt after yesterday."

Ryoma narrowed his eyes for a brief moment.

"I'll prepare some tea," Rinko said warmly. "Please have a seat and make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, Echizen-san," Tezuka said, bowing low.

"Not at all," the mother said warmly, retreating back towards the kitchen. She came back out a few moments later, setting the tea on the coffee table in front of them. "Careful," she said softly. "It's hot." She gave them another bright smile and disappeared again.

Tezuka stared at the tray in front and was slightly surprised that there was a can of Ponta on there. For Echizen, he thought. Of course. Does the boy drink nothing but Ponta?

The four Seigaku Regulars sat around almost awkwardly in Echizen's living room; they were perhaps the oddest combination one could pick out from the group of Regulars and force together. It wasn't as if they all planned on coming to Echizen's household from the start. Momoshiro had asked Echizen if he could go over to his house for a moment and Echizen had agreed. Fuji, overhearing the conversation someone managed to invite himself and Tezuka (who had a science project with the third-year tennis genius) over. Before Ryoma knew what was happening, they were already making their way towards his house.

"Why are you here, Momo-senpai?" Echizen asked.

Momoshiro gave another too casual shrug, "Well, I just wanted to personally see if Higurashi-san was all right. You know, since I hit her with the ball and everything."

"You saw her at school today."

Dear lord, he is ruthless, Tezuka thought, feeling more amused than he should.

Momoshiro looked embarrassed. "I know," he muttered awkwardly. "But she left right after with her friend!"

Echizen gave him a faint look of disgust. He knew, just knew that his life was going to change with Kagome moving in. "You're disgusting," he repeated, earning a soft chuckle from Fuji.

"Let's not forget that Higurashi-san has a boyfriend," Fuji said.

"Sesshomaru's not her boyfriend," Ryoma said. Ryoma almost shuddered at the thought. He rather Momo-senpai date his cousin than have that… that… guy even go near her.

"Saa…" Fuji's eyes opened. "Echizen, how old is Wakagami-san?"

Ryoma looked at him. He shrugged. "I don't care."

Tezuka, taking in Fuji's opened eyes knew there was something more to the question than it seemed. Fuji might like making people uncomfortable but he was also overly protective of those he considered his friends. "What do you mean?" he asked, making both Momoshiro and Echizen look up.

"Well," Fuji said. "The last time Higurashi-san was here, she was seven, correct?"

"Yes," Ryoma answered, still not seeing where this was going.

"It's also the last time she had any contact with her friends. That girl we saw earlier was one and they're the same age."

Ryoma narrowed his eyes.

"But Wakagami-san is a powerful CEO. He must be in his thirties. Late twenties at the most."

Ryoma shook his head. "Sesshomaru's not that much older than us."

Fuji frowned. "That doesn't make any sense though."

"It's not impossible to become successful at a young age," Tezuka said.

Fuji smiled again, his eyes open and bright. "Hmm… that must be it." Then his eyes slid closed and he leaned back in his chair. "I wonder…"

"Hey brat!" Nanjirou shouted as he thundered down the stairs and jumped into the living room.

Momoshiro jumped, throwing tea into his own face. He sputtered and wiped it off with his shirt. "Sheesh," he muttered, glaring at the ex-tennis pro.

Fuji chuckled.

"What?" Ryoma glared at his father, and then stared at the black case that the older man was holding. He almost had to do a double-take to confirm that his father wasn't holding some porn magazine.

He blinked once.

And again.

Wow.

"Kagome-chan's out back. She's going to shoot. Wanna come watch?"

Ryoma blinked. "Shoo—?"

"Oh! Hey! Your tennis buddies are here!" He grinned. "Come on, let's go watch my beautiful niece shoot the target I made."

"Shoot what?" Momoshiro asked, his voice almost in a panic as Nanjirou yanked the four of them onto their feet and pushed them out the door.

"The target, idiot," Nanjirou said with a roll of his eyes.

Momoshiro gaped, not believing that one of his biggest tennis idols was calling him an idiot. Then again… like father, like son?

"I think, Echizen-san," Fuji said softly. "Momoshiro meant to ask what she was shooting with."

Nanjirou shrugged as they made their way towards the backyard. "I dunno." He wiggled the black case he was holding in front of him. "Whatever's in here, I guess. I can't get it open. A gun, probably."

Tezuka turned to stare at the size of the case and blinked. He should have a chat with Higurashi-san about the legality of Japanese civilians owning guns. He actually had a couple law books on the matter and would be more than happy to give them to her.

"Kagome-chan!" Nanjirou cried out happily once they reached the area. He waved the black case above his head. "I brought fans!"

Kagome winced. "Careful, uncle." The took the case away from Nanjirou and turned towards Ryoma and his fellow Regulars. "Uh… are you all here to watch?"

Fuji smiled. "Of course. You don't mind, do you?"

Kagome smiled. "It's fine." She set the case onto the ground and unlocked it. "But I'm a bit rusty; it's been a while since I've actually held a bow in my hands."

"Bow and arrows?" Momoshiro asked, more than a little relieved.

"Of course." Kagome pulled out the smooth wooden bow from the case and ran her fingers up and down its familiar texture. She gave a soft smile and pulled the quiver of arrows out too before throwing it over her back again.

"What made you pick it up again?" Momoshiro asked.

Kagome's grip on her bow tightened as she looked at the target that Nanjirou had set up for her. "In case I need to save the world again," she answered with a grin. She pulled an arrow from the quiver and notched it.

Tezuka narrowed his eyes, there was something about the tone of her voice that made Tezuka pause. It reminded him too much of Fuji when the genius was hiding something. But instead of hiding a verbal threat behind a cheerful voice, Higurashi-san seemed to be hiding something that echoed of experiences beyond the norm.

"Isn't it a beauty?" Nanjirou asked, motioned towards the target.

"It is," Kagome agreed. "Thank you."

Nanjirou chuckled. "Not a problem; anything for my dear Kagome-chan."

"Che," Ryoma scoffed softly.

"What was that, brat?" Nanjirou asked. "You're lucky I didn't make the bull's eye your face."

Ryoma glared.

Kagome took a deep breath and the bystanders took that as their sign to stand back and give her space. She closed her eyes, taking deep, calming breaths. She brought her bow up, hearing only her own breathing and the thumping of her heart.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, "Watch out!"

He might have heard Kagome's words, he might have not. It was impossible to tell as dozens and dozens of demons swarmed around her, blocking her view. She had seen neither Miroku nor Sango in a while and could only assume the worst. Kagome didn't think she could bare it if she lost a friend.

Four left, Kagome thought, as she notched another arrow.

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to ignore everything around her for a moment before letting her senses expand. She could feel it. The aura. His aura.

"Naraku," Kagome yelled out, eyes snapping open as she brought her armed bow out in front of her. She couldn't see him. But it didn't matter. She knew where he was. "You're finished!"

Snapping her eyes open, Kagome concentrated on the target. Her hands neither hesitated nor shook as she pulled back the string of the bow, forgotten muscles flexing at the movement. Kagome held her breath, concentrating and waiting until she saw only the red bull's eye and released.

The arrow sliced through the air, the familiar sound welcoming to the young girl as it hit its intended mark.

"Woo!" Nanjirou cheered. "That's my girl."

But Kagome wasn't listening; she was lost in the past, lost in battles that have been long since fought but never to be forgotten. She pulled another arrow out of her quiver, notched, pulled and released. Momoshiro and Nanjirou's mouth dropped open, Fuji's eyes opened and widened in shock and Tezuka narrowed his own eyes. Much like the first, Kagome's second arrow sailed through the air, hitting the target with deadly precision, slicing the first arrow cleanly in half as it struck the exact same spot.

No longer was Higurashi Kagome, modern school girl standing there. She had been replaced by a warrior priestess and again and again Kagome pulled out another arrow. She notched, pulled and released. In rapid succession, the arrows sailed through the air, striking the same exact spot the first arrow had hit and slicing through the arrow before it.

Tezuka turned to look at Echizen, mentally comparing cousin to cousin, prodigy to prodigy and blinked in surprised that the younger man's attention was not focused on the target like everyone else was. Instead, Echizen's narrowed eyes were firmly fixed at his cousin's face. There were emotions in Echizen's eyes that Tezuka had never seen before.

He looked upwards, following Echizen's gaze and was almost taken back by what he saw.

Higurashi-san, who he had always taken as a cheerful, strong-willed girl had an expression that made her seem almost murderous. While her expression could have easily have been mistaken to be an expression of one deep in concentration, Tezuka felt himself being pulled into her eyes. He had to do a double-take at the emotions boiling behind her blue orbs. They lacked the liquid warmth he had associated her eyes with, instead they were a cool, hard steel, gleaming dangerously; even Fuji hadn't looked that frightening when someone had physically threatened his brother a year ago.

He almost shivered.

"Naraku," Higurashi-san said, her voice loud and clear. It sounded of steel.

She released her final arrow and Tezuka's eyes picked up the blur of the arrow's movement. Upon hitting the target, he could almost swear he saw a flash of light as the target gave out, bursting into pieces.

Tezuka stared.

And stared.

And everyone else stared too.

No matter how many arrows one shot at it, wood did not do that. Ever.

Oh, look! Another cliff-hanger.