Nearly a month passed since Kagome had been able to go home, and she was more than apprehensive about actually going back to her own time. It seemed so much safer in the past, even with Naraku breathing down their necks. She just didn't want to deal with the fox and all of his wildness. He was more of a weight on her mind than Shippo ever had been.
"Inuyasha, is there such thing as Demon World?"
Inuyasha frowned at the question and let his mind mull it over, "I don't know, you'd have to ask a demon. If there is a Demon World it would explain the sudden drop in demons though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well when I was growing up, it always seemed like there were more demons than humans, now the humans basically are in their villages and left alone by the demons. It's almost like the demons stopped having a need to prey on the humans or something."
"I wonder what it's like there," she mused.
"In Demon World? Who knows," Sango tugged, "Why is it you suddenly thought of demons having their own world Kagome?"
"Well, do you promise not to get mad?" she asked softly.
"Of course we promise not to get mad at you Kagome, you're our friend," Miroku chided.
"I met a demon in my time."
The entire group stopped dead in their tracks and stared at her. Kagome shuffled her feet around a little, not wanting to actually say it again or admit what she said.
"How?" Inuyasha finally asked, "I went there and I didn't feel any demons at all."
"Well apparently they all went to Demon World. He said that Demon World is in this time too, but that it wasn't really that occupied yet or something. I didn't really understand it that well."
"Do you think any of the shards could be in Demon World?" Sango questioned.
"No, I doubt any of them would stay there if they went to Demon World."
"What did this demon want? Was he after the shards?"
Kagome sighed and shrugged, "He was after his friend's soul, not the shards."
"He must have been pretty old if he was still alive and had lived when Midoriko was around," Sango remarked.
"Yeah. He was really old," Kagome agreed. "He was friends with a human though, and he seemed okay once he was calmer."
"Are you sure he didn't make up the shit about wanting the shards for his friend?"
"To feel her Inuyasha, I'm sure."
"How about I go meet him to be sure," Inuyasha recommended watching her with a solid stare. "If you're in danger in your world too, then you need to be prepared. This guy's the first to approach you, so let me meet him and see what's up."
Kagome nodded "I said something because I need to head back to my time. Just promise me you won't fight him if he doesn't fight you."
Inuyasha nodded, "When do you need to be there?"
"Soon, can we borrow Kilala? We'll meet you back at town, but if I can get there a little early then I can study for my exams before I have to take them."
Sango nodded and held out her arm for Kilala to go to Kagome. Kagome smiled and gently took the cat petting her. "Kilala, I met Youko Kurama, he's in Demon World here," she told the cat as the little kitten transformed and she got on her back. Inuyasha and Kilala took off leaving Sango, Miroku and Shippo to travel back to the town on their own.
"So what's this guy like?" Inuyasha asked as they headed to the time portal. "Is he big?"
"Not particularly, no. He's really average in size and weight, but he's got bright red hair. It's really strange to see that bright hair in my time."
"No kidding, but your time doesn't have that many demons. He said they were all in Demon World. Maybe all the color was from that," Inuyasha suggested.
"Maybe," Kagome gathered up her bag as Kilala changed back into her small form. Inuyasha waited as she got her bag situated on her shoulders from his grasp and then hopped down the well without any pretense. Inuyasha followed suit.
When they got out of the well Inuyasha took a deep breath trying to get his ground back, but he just shook his head, "There's too much pollution here. I can't tell where things are as good as back home."
"It's okay Inuyasha, I can tell who's not normal to some extent when I'm here. Last time he stole the shards at night, so he might not show up for you to check out," Kagome prayed silently that she was right. As they left the grounds and headed back into the house, she realized that wasn't going to be the case.
"Mom?" She called cautiously as she headed into the house. Inuyasha stayed close to her looking around and trying to get the scents right.
Her cat meowed loudly as he darted towards the door from the living room. "Buyo! Grandpa!" Kagome cried out as she chased after the cat, "Grandpa Buyo's got out!" She called into the house before chasing after the cat. Inuyasha headed off the creature and scooped it up under his arm as Kagome made it outside towards the steps to the shrine. She sighed and took him from Inuyasha. "Thank you Inuyasha. Where's my family? Souta, Grandpa, Mom, none of them are answering me," she asked cautiously.
"They could just be out," Inuyasha offered wrapping an arm over her shoulder as he headed back towards the house. He began to search out their locations for himself and shook his head, "They left, but it seems like they did that out of their own free will."
Kagome sighed and kicked the door shut setting down the fat calico as she headed for the kitchen. "I wonder where they went," she looked around for some clue, but found nothing to her advantage. Shaking her head she gave Inuyasha a careful smile, "How about I get you set up watching TV and I'll do my studying while we wait for them to come home, alright?"
Inuyasha huffed, "I can't investigate the demons in your time if we just stay here Kagome, we need to go find them to see what type of a threat they pose."
Kagome frowned at that and shook her head, "I don't want you fighting here Inuyasha, there are so many things that could go wrong if you fought here!" she fought.
"Just get that demon you said you knew here. Didn't he leave some way for you to contact him? Where's he live? We can just go to his town and ask him what's up with this world," Inuyasha solved.
"He's in this town Inuyasha," Kagome replied shaking her head, "It's too big to find him, but I can call Kuwabara, he was his friend."
"Good! Go call him, if they're traveling together than they'll both come."
"Right," Kagome frowned but shook her head.
Heading up the stairs with the big yellow bag over her shoulder to empty out the laundry and so forth in her room, she ended up shuffling things around searching for the napkin she'd left on her desk. Eventually, she found it tucked inside an address book to be filled out later and flipped it open. Grabbing the phone she dialed the number and flopped down beginning to empty out her bag with the phone tucked between her shoulder and cheek. It seemed to ring for eternity.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Kuwabara's residence?"
"This is the Kuwabara's residence, yes, who're you looking for?"
"What? Uh Kuwabara?"
"Well that's our last name girlie, are you looking for a carrot top?"
"Yes! Yes, Oh I'm sorry. He just introduced himself as Kuwabara."
"Yeah," The line went quiet for a while as she heard yelling off in the distance.
After lots of raddling and crashing with scolding, the phone gained a voice again, "Hello? Who's this?"
"Kagome Higurashi, I met you with Kurama?"
"Oh! The priestess, hey, nice to hear from you. Man, it's been what? Three weeks?"
"A month, look, I have someone with me who would like to meet Kurama, can you get a hold of him for me? I'd like it if you came too."
"Uhh, shit, well I know how you can get a hold of Kurama, but I don't think he's home right now. Just go ask the tree for him. That should work. Where do you live? He might beat me there,"
"I live on the Higurashi Shrine on 48th street 48280, up the stairs."
"Oh! I'm kind of close to that, I'll be over in a little, just hang tight by the tree."
"Alright, I'll see you soon," She offered.
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
Kagome sighed as she dropped the last bit of clothing in a pile for the wash. She'd have to deal with that later, but for now, she wanted her books. Grabbing her hardest subject, science, she headed down the stairs to find Inuyasha watching Buyo. She shook her head with a chuckle and slipped outside.
Looking at the tree with a curious stare she only could shake her head at the irony of the tree being demonic. So much had revolved around it, and it wasn't natural like they had thought. "I need to see Kurama. Can you get him for me?" She asked the tree stepping up close to it and putting her hands on the bark.
A sense of calm washed over her and she smiled at the feeling.
"Kagome? Why are you out here?" Inuyasha questioned as he came out the door, shutting it before Buyo could escape. He came over to her and pulled her away from the tree into the open reception area of her family's shrine before letting her go. "Did you get a hold of that guy?"
"Yeah, they're on their way." She replied simply.
"What's this?" he asked as he picked up her science book from the bench near the tree, "Isn't this one of your study books?"
"Yeah, I need to study. Go get your hat, it's on my desk," she suggested, gesturing towards her cracked window.
Inuyasha growled some and hopped up into her window grabbing the hat before returning, only to find Kagome sitting on the bench reading the book. Putting the hat on Inuyasha continued to pay close attention to their surroundings, eventually going over to the entrance to wait, "Kagome, there's someone coming," he called after nearly half an hour had passed. He was so intent staring down the stares at the new source of interest that he didn't notice the new form leaning against the house. "I don't think it's him, it feels human." Inuyasha remarked looking over towards Kagome who sat on the bench.
Kagome was ignorant as well while she studied.
"Such gall for a little priestess, calling out for me using my tool," Kurama growled. "Do you even know how much power I give this tree? Do you know what I can do with it?" he growled as he slipped towards the tree, "And yet you are calmed by it, like a demons presence soothes you suddenly," he growled.
Inuyasha came close to Kagome and slipped between the two of them, watching the demon carefully, "I can't feel you," Inuyasha offered with a frown.
Kurama blinked and stopped in his glare looking more towards the dog, "Take off the hat," he snapped.
"God, put it on, take it off, put it on," Inuyasha growled pulling it off and dropping it to the side. He cracked his fingers and glared at the fox, "What the hell are you doing here? What are you?"
"I'm strong. I'm out of your league, pup. What is your heritage?"
Inuyasha scoffed and slipped farther into his defensive stance.
"We can't fight here, it's too public." Kurama told the demon, holding up a hand, "You're from the past right? Back when human world was with demons? Well imagine you're in the capital right now. That's how you're supposed to be acting."
"The damn capital tries to kill me, I am acting like I'm in the capital," Inuyasha growled in response.
"Right, half demons." Kurama shook his head and sighed, "Do you want my ball? Will that make you feel better little pup?"
"You're a fox?" Inuyasha's face skewered up.
Kurama just shrugged with a tip of his head, "Close." Kurama rolled his wrist a few times and then brought his fingers together in a point. A volleyball sized blue ball appeared on his fingers. He bounced it a few times before catching it, "You know what this means, you're from that time. Promise to give it back when we're done with our conversation, and you can have it for a little while."
"Kurama! Kurama!" Kuwabara huffed, "Kurama what the hell are you doing? Whoa! Kagome get away from him!" Kuwabara clattered up the stairs.
"Stop!" Kurama snapped glaring at the boy. "He's no threat to her."
Kagome looked between the three boys now and just sighed shaking her head. "Inuyasha, if it's a peace offering, just accept it," She schooled him, "It's not like he can do much anyway, I can burn him with my energy and that's discrete enough to work, plus this guy here can help keep him under hand."
"Fine, I don't need your ball but I need to know what the hell is going on!" Inuyasha demanded as he slipped between Kuwabara, Kurama, and Kagome.
"Why? Are you scared? Do you fear for her life?" Kurama questioned as he moved closer, examining the dog. "She's in Human World, why would you fear for her in Human World in this time? Demons can't fight here."
"Kurama, what's with the ball?"
Kurama just shook his head and nodded towards Inuyasha, "What's with this, is a better question. This dog passed through the time portal without any shards. He hasn't touched them in a long time. I'm not sure if he's ever touched these shards at all."
Kagome's hand went to her neck only for the girl to yelp in fear and glare at Kurama, "Oh you little pest you give them back!"
Inuyasha growled and turned on Kurama again.
Kurama held up his hands in a mischievous smile, ball vanishing. "Do I really have them? Huh?" He spun for the girl. "Sure, I took them, but where are they?" he asked with a bright grin on his face. "You should have taken the ball, pup."
"Kurama!" Kuwabara scolded heading towards the fox.
Kurama turned and frowned, "Look, I'll give them back when we leave, I just want them for a time," he pleaded again.
Inuyasha pulled out his sword and leveled a glare on the fox, "I'll just chop you to bits until I get them back!" Inuyasha charged.
After nearly ten evasions of both Kuwabara and Inuyasha, Kurama came to rest up in Kagome's window. "Stop it! Both of you! I'm not giving them back. I made that mistake once. I'm not handing them over until I'm ready, but I won't leave the shrine."
"Fine! Fine! Keep them until you leave the shrine!" Kagome called. She grabbed Inuyasha's arm, quickly seeing how this was playing out, "But get off my window! You were in my room enough you pesky fox!"
Kurama's eyes thinned for a moment as he seemed to consider that before slipping down to the ground and heading to the bench, "General Science? Shouldn't you be in something higher," he inquired.
"Hey! I'm the one with questions."
Kurama shook his head and waved Inuyasha off before sending a pleading look to Kuwabara. "I've already explained what I can."
"Fine, I'll answer your questions, but what's your name? I'm Kazuma Kuwabara." He held out his hand to the demon.
Inuyasha frowned but eventually shook hands, "Inuyasha."
Kurama gave Kagome an expectant stare.
"Yeah, I'm supposed to be in something higher but I suck at General Science so I have to take it until I can pass."
"You're out in General Science all the time, what could possibly be the problem?"
"Names, and understanding some of the subjects," Kagome admitted shaking her head. "I don't see why you want to know this though, Kurama. I mean, what interest do you have in my education?"
"Me? None, I have a job," Kurama shrugged, "So why is it that you called? Surely you didn't call me to take the shards."
"You're right, I didn't call you to take the shards. I called you because Inuyasha wanted to meet you. He's unsure about my safety in my own time now and he wanted to see what the threat was like."
Kurama glanced towards the dog demon and shook his head, "He doesn't seem like he understands the world."
"I suppose he doesn't, but he tries. He's really sweet actually."
"I'm sure. Kagome, there's another reason, isn't there?"
Kagome just nodded but shifted around somewhat nervous about actually speaking up. "Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in trying to go back in the past to help us collect the shards, you see, we've got this enemy named Naraku who we've been fighting for a while now, and he's just too strong for us to take out," Kagome complained, "We've been having a really rough time with him ever since the entire thing started, and maybe some more muscle is exactly what we need."
"Muscle? Is that all I am to you?" the red head admonished.
Kagome chuckled. "Look, will you think about it? I've been thinking about it for the past month and you seem like you would fit in. I mean, Kilala's with us, and we have some of the shards so you would be able to be near her, plus it would be nice to have someone who understood my time."
Kurama frowned as he considered it, "The main problem would be if I could actually go. I exist in the past. I don't know all the rules of time travel, but I do believe not overlapping is a law."
"I have two souls in the past too. Kikyo is who I used to be."
"Could we see if it's possible before I agree to anything? I do have a life here."
"Yeah, we can do that. The well is right over there," Kagome gestured towards the well house. "I need a shard to go through the well though, and it would be smart to go through with someone for your first time to see if it works. Inuyasha can go, then you, then me."
"That makes sense." Kurama rose and held out his hand to her. Kagome accepted it and he pulled her to her feet before letting it go. He produced a little leather pouch and dropped the shards she had out of it. Uncorking the jar he took one shard and held it out to her before putting one back in the pouch and heading for Kuwabara and Inuyasha.
"Kurama! He doesn't need one," Kagome exclaimed as she hurried after him. She held onto the shard that she got back as Kurama stopped and looked back at her. He frowned and backed away from her with his lip twitching almost in a growl. "Calm down. I'm not going to take them. Inuyasha, let's see if Kurama can cross times."
"What? Why! That filthy fox belongs here!"
"Inuyasha! We could use his help! He can sense the jewel shards too, so go! We need all the help we can get!" Kagome exclaimed furiously. She pointed towards the well and cautiously, Inuyasha headed back to the well.
"What're we doing this for?" Kuwabara questioned as he eyed the little pouch with the shards that Kurama had.
"She wants to see if I can help them in the past."
"And if you can't?"
"Then I can't. If I can, then I have to decide whether I actually want to or not."
"Kurama, you got to help them if you can get there. They need it! I mean, we needed all the help we could get when we were fighting, and it would have been great to have some extra hands, but we didn't get that. If you can give that to them, then why would you possibly say no?"
"My mother. I don't want her finding anything out."
"Kurama, you're twenty one, you live on your own, and you work for your step dad. I'm sure your mom would understand if you decided to search out one of those foreign colleges that always are recruiting you and explore that venue for a year."
"You're twenty one?" Kagome had stopped in her tracks.
Inuyasha and Kurama both frowned and stopped, "Yes, and?" They looked at her somewhat confused, "Come on Kagome, let's go test this well."