Kagome's POV:
I sighed as I walked on through the trees. My name is Kagome Higurashi and I was currently looking for a certain group of travellers. I was eighteen and eleven months old and I was quite strong emotionally and physically. I was in the feudal era at the moment. I looked around. I had been here for the past four years trying to find the jewel shards and kill a demon named Naraku. I was alone at the moment. I used to travel with a hanyou named Inuyasha, a Kitsune named Shippo, a youkai exterminator named Sango, a monk named Miroku, and a fire neko named Kirara.
But that had been two years ago when I was seventeen. I got a scowl on my face as I remembered them. We used to be a happy bunch of companions. But then Kikyo had joined our group. She was my undead incarnate who loved Inuyasha. He loved her too even though I had told him I loved him. He had thrown me, a living healthy girl, aside, for an un-dead clay pot. Well she had joined our group. Inuyasha had let her along with the others. Two years ago I had lost my miko powers for a short time. I hadn't known why, they had just vanished with my ability to sense the shard.
Magically Kikyo appeared the same day and offered her assistance. Inuyasha had agreed right away. The others had waited until I had to agree. I had been slowly them down and was useless so I had been a bit down and let Kikyo join. It had been a mistake. She had been mean to me every time the others looked away. I couldn't complain either because Kikyo acted like an angel in front of them and had started to grow on them. They still liked me of course, except Inuyasha who had grown distant. I soon lost my love for Inuyasha and I hated Kikyo.
Well one day when Miroku, Kirara, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Sango had been battling a demon I had been separated. Kikyo had found me. She had snickered and then pushed me off a cliff. I was lucky and landed in a river. I had been pulled down stream about twenty kilometres at least. I don't know how I had survived but I had. I had finally dragged myself from the water. I had broken arm, three broken ribs, a badly sprained ankle and a sprained wrist. I had also got numerous bruises and cuts. I had been luckily not to have been damaged more though.
And I had been lucky a second time and washed up near a village. The village miko found me trying to bandage myself with strips of my miko outfit, which I had been wearing at the time. I had stopped wearing my school uniform long ago. She had helped me and taken me back to the village. I had explained that I had fallen in the river when a demon attacked. She had accepted the story. I had also told her that my powers had vanished. She had examined me with her miko powers and told me another miko had put a barrier around my own powers blocking me from them.
I had known what miko had done that. Well she told me that only a miko stronger then my self could do that. Luckily this miko, Mikoto, had strong powers and broke the barrier. Then she had, after I had begged for a while, agreed to teach me to control my powers. I knew that Kikyo would come up with a story for my group about how I had fought bravely then she had tried to save me but a demon had killed me and thrown me off the cliff. I decided to make use of my time. Well she had healed my injuries and agreed to teach me. Once I had learned to control my powers to a certain extent I learned very quickly. With in four months I had mastered my miko powers and the bow.
I had thanked Mikoto and left. I was going to leave when Koga had appeared. He had told me that he was going to mate with Ayame and that he wanted me to be his sister. I had agreed immediately. We had sliced our arms and then let the blood from our wounds mix and drip into a bowl. We had each drank half the blood and then Koga had stood. He had told me I may get some abilities of a wolf demon but he wasn't sure. I had thanked him and he had ran off. I had planned to go find my group after that but it seemed fate had a different plan in store. I had traveled for days without any word of them. Then something surprising had happened.
.—
I walked through the forest quietly. My bow and quiver were swung over my shoulder. I was silent as I walked. I could sense demons in the area. I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to myself by making noise. I had already masked my miko powers and scent. I walked swiftly. Suddenly I sensed a human presence among some demons. I stopped dead in my tracks. The demons also were giving off blood lust auroras and they were close. I shot off at top speed. I ran as fast as I could. The first scream rang out two seconds later. I quickened my pace.
Suddenly I burst into a large clearing. A girl was running towards me. She looked no older then twelve. She had dark brown almost black hair and deep brown eyes. She wore an orange and white kimono and I noticed a small green demon on her back and a staff in her hand. I saw blood dripping from the demon. Then the enemy demon burst from the trees. It was a giant cougar demon. I wondered briefly why the human girl was trying to save the demon when if she dropped him she would have a better chance of escaping. The girl saw me and gaped. Her eyes held terror and she stopped. She looked from me to the advancing cougar demon, wondering which, was more of a threat. I pulled my bow free and knocked an arrow. The girl's eyes widened.
"Duck." I yelled.
She immediately hit the ground. I let my arrow fly. It illuminated with a pink glow. It hit the demon square in the chest. It roared before it was purified to dust. The girl lifted her head and opened her mouth. I just pulled another arrow free from my quiver and shot it into the trees. Another cougar demon fell from the branches and was purified. Then I walked to the girl. She looked up at me and slowly sat up.
"Thank you."
I looked at the demon on her back. It was familiar.
"Let me heal your friend."
She nodded and slowly let the unconscious demon slide from her back. I rested a hand on its chest were large claw marks were. I slowly let me miko powers heal it. It was hard not to purify the demon but I did heal the wounds. When I was finished I stood back up and looked at the girl.
"Where is your village?" I asked.
"I do not belong to a village."
I blinked.
"Are you an orphan?"
"Yes I was until I found them."
She pointed to the demon. I wondered if they had companions.
"Are there others?"
"Yes. Lord Sesshomaru and A-un are gone right now though."
I immediately stiffened. This girl was Rin and the imp was Jaken, I had forgotten. I was completely alert now. We stood a moment in silence, before an angry demon lord burst from the trees. His eyes were red and he was growling. He looked at me, the sitting girl, and the unconscious Jaken. His claws started to glow from his poison. Then the two headed dragon also burst from the trees. It was growling but not as loudly as Sesshomaru. I slowly backed away from him and the Rin. I slowly set my bow on the ground to show I wasn't going to attack. Sesshomaru calmed a little but I saw him move to strike. My miko powers were already to defend me if he did attack but it was still frightening to have a demon lord with red eyes and bloodlust radiating off him getting ready to attack.
Suddenly Rin jumped up and ran to him. As her arms wrapped around his waist and I panicked. I started forwards worried he would kill her. Then I saw his eyes return to normal and the poison disappear. I blinked. He had been stopped by a human child. He had also completely freaked out when he thought I had harmed her. Then he suddenly looked at me. He studied me a moment. He saw my two arrows in piles of ashes. He looked at the blood covered Jaken but didn't see any wounds. Then he looked to Rin.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
I blinked. I could swear his voice held compassion for a second. I must be going mad I told myself.
"We were picking flowers when a demon jumped at us. Jaken tried to fight it but got a big cut. I grabbed him and ran. Then I met this lady. She killed two demons with a pink glowy arrow and then healed Jaken." Rin said in almost one breath.
Sesshomaru looked up at me.
"You are my brother's wench."
I sniffed.
"No am not. To them I am dead. And my name is Kagome. Ka…Go…Me." I said.
He blinked.
"What do you mean dead?"
"Kikyo pushed me off a cliff and most likely told them I had died in battle."
I could swear I saw a smirk on his face. I scowled at him. He raised an eyebrow. Then I got a great idea… or a not so great idea but hey! I was going to do it. I smiled politely at Sesshomaru. He immediately scowled and got suspicious.
"Lord Sesshomaru…" I started.
I said the lord part mockingly though which made his scowl deepen.
"Would you train me?" I asked.
He blinked and seemed slightly taken back.
"In what?" He asked after a moment.
"In fighting. I can already use the bow but I know nothing else."
He looked at me a moment.
"Please do Sesshomaru! Then Rin will also have someone to play with." Rin cheered.
Sesshomaru looked at her.
"For saving both Rin and Jaken I will teach you. But you must also act as her mother during the time and teach her the way of mortal women." He said.
I looked at him. That was the most I had heard him ever say at once.
"Deal." I said.
He smirked again and lifted Rin up. He set her on his dragon and motioned for me to get on too. I grabbed Jaken and jumped on with him. We then took off quickly into the sky.
. OF FLASHBACK.--.
For a year and a half I had stayed at Sesshomaru's castle. It had been a nice experience. I had learned hand to hand combat, how to use a sword, how to use a spear and staff, and how to use almost any other blade. I had also learned how to track almost anything, hunt better, make traps, and other such skills. I had visited the generals of Sesshomaru's army a lot too and learned how to plan a battle, about tactics, and about strategies. I also learned how to run an army , how to read a map perfectly, how to draw a map, how to ride on horses, and how to win in a fist fight or knife fight when there were no rules and it was one on one with a thug or low life.
Also during that time I had acted as a mom to Rin. I taught her all about the human ways since I was the only other human in Sesshomaru's castle. Jaken was always neutral with me, treating me with respect for saving him but still hating the human in me. A-un and I got along great and I also got along with everyone else in the castle, at least all those I met. His castle was freaking huge! I had stayed for more then a year and still hadn't seen every room! I had been busy though.
And guess what! Sesshomaru and I grew on one another and we actually got along! Amazing huh? I had thought Sesshomaru would be as cold as always and had agreed to teach me grudgingly but he wasn't really that cold just more blank. He could be cold though. But during my stay we became friends. I could read a blank face like an open book after that. I even healed his arm for him! Don't ask me how, all I did was think of an arm and use my miko powers. Well as he trained me we got close and he warmed up to me. I learned a lot about him and just after a year and a half had passed since I had been at the castle with him he asked me if I wanted him to adopt me as his sister. I had agreed with tears of course and had hugged him over and over, not in front of anyone though, he still had an image. I smiled at that memory.
..--.
I tried to sit patiently. I sat on a small cushion and looked around. I was in a large room. It was all wood and there was candles mounted on the wall. They were the only light in the room. This room was often used for rituals and healings and such. It hadn't been used in a while though. In front of me was a small bowl. Another cushion was across from me. It was for Sesshomaru. One thing I didn't like was a knife beside the bowl. It had power. Sesshomaru said it had been used in this same ritual in the past when his father had adopted a woman as his sister also and when his great grandparents had used it. I shivered.
I was wearing a pure white kimono and my hair was down. I was trying to wait patiently but patience was one thing I hadn't had in a long time. Suddenly the door slid open. Sesshomaru walked in. He was also in a pure white outfit. He didn't even have his fluffy tail. I looked up at him. He glanced down at me and sat without saying a word. Then he picked up the knife. He had explained the ceremony to me so I knew what I had to do and what I had to expect. I found out it was similar to what Koga and I had done but we had done the quick version where he had just adopted me and we weren't brother and sister in blood. This version would make me his sister in blood and I would also be related to those to Sesshomaru, like Inuyasha.
"Hold out your hands." He said.
I did so. He held them as he used the knife to make two large cuts in each of my palms. I had to hold my miko powers back so I didn't heal myself automatically. Then Sesshomaru gave me the knife. I tried to grasp it tightly but it was hard with the cuts. He held out his hands and I cut them. He didn't even move. Then I set the knife down. He clasped my hands in his so each of our palms was touching. We held them over the bowl as our blood mixed and dripped to the bowl. Then when the blood finally stopped Sesshomaru grabbed the knife again. He sliced up each of my arms. I winced then did the same for him. We did the same thing and held our arms together letting the blood fall to the bowl.
When the bleeding finally slowed again Sesshomaru picked up the knife a third time, but instead of cutting me he dipped it in the bowl of blood and stirred. Then he let the knife go and dipped to fingers in the blood. I mimicked him. He lifted his fingers to my face and rubbed a design on my cheeks and forehead. I did the same to him. Then we both drew designs of blood on our arms and the bottom of our legs and feet. Then we did the same thing to our stomachs, backs, and over our heart. That had meant taking off the top of our clothes. I had been embarrassed but lived through it. Then when that was finished he lifted the bowl to me. I grabbed it with trembling hands and lifted it to my lips. I clenched my eyes as I drank the mixed blood. When I had drank half I handed the bowl to Sesshomaru. He drank the last of the blood. Then he set the bowl down.
"We have mixed our blood." He said.
"We wish to be bonded together." I said.
"I am night."
"And I am day."
"We are different."
"But wish to be the same."
"We wish to share blood."
Suddenly a red light surrounded us. The blood designs sank into our skin and a wave of pain washed over me. I doubled over gasping. I saw Sesshomaru do the same. Suddenly my sight increased my hearing increased and my sense of smell, touch, and taste also increased. I felt lighter but stronger. I also felt more graceful. I saw Sesshomaru sit up as the light vanished and the blood and any trace of it also. I also sat up straighter. Sesshomaru looked at me and froze. I blinked.
"What?" I asked.
He just sat looking at me. I scowled.
"You're a half demon." He finally said.
"What?" I asked. "What do I look like?" I asked.
"Your hair is black and goes down to your waist, you have claws and small fangs, and your eyes are blue with gold flecks. Also you have black dog ears."
I squealed in excitement and rubbed my ears. Then I scowled.
"But why am I a half demon?"
"I can explain."
We both looked to the small flea jumping towards us.
"Did you watch the whole ceremony?" I asked Myoga.
"Yes. And I'm quite surprised that Sesshomaru adopted a human."
"Explain." Was all Sesshomaru said.
"Oh yes. Kagome is half a demon because when you mixed blood your demon blood took over her human blood. Normally she would have become full demon but she has part of Kikyo's soul in her."
We both blinked.
"Wait I thought that she had part of my soul. Didn't she get part of my soul when she was brought back to life?" I asked.
"No." Myoga said. "I have been travelling and asking questions a lot lately and found out that you are not Kikyo's reincarnation. You are Midoriko's reincarnation. Kikyo is just very similar to you, like a doppelganger. When you thought your soul was being taken so Kikyo could live they were actually using you as a medium to summon Kikyo's soul since your souls were so similar. But you were interrupted and half of Kikyo's soul got stuck in you."
"So I have my soul and half of Kikyo's soul in me?" I asked.
"Yes. You would be a full demon but along with being a demon you kind of get a second soul. It's like your inner youkai. Its part of you that takes over when you transform. Like Sesshomaru's large inu form is his second soul. But since you have half a second soul already in you there is no room for the rest of the demon part of you."
"So I have to give Kikyo half her soul back before I become a full demon?" I asked.
Myoga nodded.
"I also have the suspicion that the part of Kikyo's soul you have in you is the pure part of her. Right now she only has the evil half of her soul."
I nodded at the logic. It would sure seem that way.
"Well I better go return her soul then." I grinned.
"Do you have any idea how you are going to do that?" Sesshomaru asked.
I shook my head with a grin.
"We'll climb that hill when we get there." I said
"What hill?" Myoga and Sesshomaru asked.
I sighed.
"It's a figure of speech."
They looked at me then shrugged.
"Well I think I'll leave as soon as possible." I said standing.
The two nodded.
"Oh and Kagome, I talked to Inuyasha and them. They miss you. Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo still think you are alive and believe Kikyo had something to do with your disappearance. Inuyasha even misses you."
I felt tears well in my eyes. They still loved me and missed me. I had thought they would forget about me. I had thought they would forget me. What he had said had lifted a large weight off my shoulders.
"Thank you Myoga." I said before leaving.
. OF FLASHBACK—
I sighed. I had been searching for a little over a month now. Well I guess I hadn't 'searched' a whole month. I had gone back and visited Mikoto and I had travelled a bit around the West visiting the scouts I knew well. But I had gone to search for the group after a while. Now I knew I was getting close because I had heard rumours of their group and I had found an old camp sight of theirs. I knew I was less then a day behind them.
I sighed again and picked up a run. I ran for a little under three hours when I smelled the group ahead of me. I had already masked my scent and powers with my miko powers which I had somehow kept. I guessed the reason for that was because the powers of the Shikon No Tama Miko were in my blood and soul and wouldn't disappear that easy. Surprisingly I didn't try to purify myself either. It seemed my demon blood and miko powers were neutral with each other. I didn't complain, though, it made things easier for me. I sniffed again. I was getting close.
I shot off into the trees beside me. I had been on the path beside the trees and beside the field but I didn't want to be seen. I ran up beside the group dodging between trees. I saw that Kirara was on Sango's shoulder, Shippo was on Miroku's shoulder and Sango and Miroku were talking softly while walking beside one another. They were even holding hands. I smiled. It seemed their relation ship had grown. Next I looked to Inuyasha and Kikyo. They were a little behind the others. They were silent too. Inuyasha looked at his friends with longing while Kikyo scowled at them.
I saw Miroku point to a small stream coming up. They all smiled but Kikyo. When they reached the stream they stopped. They all pulled some cold meat from a pack Sango had on. It was my yellow pack. I held back tears. At Sesshomaru's he had taught me to hold back emotions so I appeared blank. If I hadn't learned this I would have burst out in tears just at seeing these guys. They had kept it even though I was 'dead'. Sango handled it with great care too not even letting Shippo touch it.
They all sat together. Even Inuyasha sat by them. Kikyo stood and folded her arms as if waiting impatiently for them. I looked at the sun. It was just a little after noon. I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and tried to mediate a bit. The first thing I had to do was find Kikyo's soul in me. I had learned from a Mikoto that everyone could look into their body and soul and that it would look different to everyone. I hadn't done this before but now was the time to try. I followed all the steps Mikoto had told me and suddenly I was surrounded by black.
I looked around. I was almost floating. Suddenly, as if lights had been switched on, the whole place lit up. I looked around again. Now I was in a stone castle. Not like Sesshomaru's nice one but like an old one from the medieval ages or the one in a fairy tale that princesses got locked in. I looked around. There were halls and doors every where. I sighed. This might take a while. I walked to the first door. My foot steps echoed off the walls. I wanted to be silent but it was impossible. I tried to open the fist door but it was locked. I scowled and moved to the next one. It was locked too. I took a deep breath.
"Kikyo! Are you here?!" I yelled.
There was no answer. I started to walk down a hall while calling her name. After a few minutes I stopped getting slightly frustrated. I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. Suddenly I heard faint crying. I walked towards it slowly. It led up a tall winding stair. When I reached the top I saw a wooden door. The sobbing was coming from in there. I slowly turned the knob. The door swung open and I looked into a plain, round, stone room. I blinked as I saw Kikyo kneeling on the floor. Tears poured down her face. She was wiping them with the back of her hand but having no success in stopping the flow.
"Kikyo." I said.
She looked up at me still crying. When she saw me she cried out and lurched to her feet. She rushed to me and grasped me into a hug. I held her and rubbed soothing circles on her back.
"What is the matter?" I asked.
"I want to leave this stone room. I want to go back to my body."
"Why can't you? The door is open."
"She can not leave your body or this room unless you take her out." A voice said.
I whipped my head around to look at a black wolf. It stood tall on all fours and looked at me with a small smile. I could tell it was female. She had a blue crescent moon on its forehead. She also had blue eyes with gold flecks but the rest of her was black.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm your youkai or inner demon. But I and you will not get my full power till the woman leaves."
"So if Kikyo leaves you are the demon I will be."
"Yes. You will be a black wolf youkai. A relative of the inu youkai." She sniffed. "Your brother said they were black inu ears but they are actually wolf ears."
I smiled.
"Well I'll take Kikyo out then."
"Please do. I want some peace and I want to get my real power. She is also hysterical all the time. She has been trying to call to you but she knows you can't hear her. I have only been in here since the ceremony but I am already ready to kill her." She growled.
I hid a grin as she sniffed again. Kikyo had stopped crying.
"Thank you. I'm sorry." She kept whispering.
I clasped her hand in mine.
"Let's go Kikyo." I said.
She nodded and let me lead her from the room, like she was a lost child. As soon as we stepped from it the door slammed shut and everything turned back. Kikyo started to fade and I could feel her soul leave my body. I also heard the wolf chuckle and my power rise to that of a full demon.
Inuyasha's POV:
We were all sitting beside the stream. Except for Kikyo that was. She stood looking around. I did love her but she was different from when she was alive, she was less pure now. I looked at her and saw Kagome in her. It was ironic. When Kikyo was gone I had seen Kikyo in Kagome and yearned for her. Now that Kagome was gone I saw Kagome in Kikyo and wanted her back. I did not love Kagome the way I loved Kikyo though. I loved her more as a sister. I looked Kikyo over. I suspected she had to do with Kagome's 'carelessness'. Kikyo had told us Kagome had been fighting a demon and let her guard down. She had said another demon had attacked Kagome and she had tried to save her but Kagome had died before being pushed off a cliff.
The others still believed that Kagome was alive. We all did. The only proof was that we had no corpse and that Naraku didn't have the jewel shards Kagome had had and if Kagome was dead he would have gotten them. And Kikyo didn't have all her soul, or so we believed. We wondered where she was if she wasn't dead though. I hadn't gone back to her time and told her family yet. I wanted to either find her alive to take back or find her dead to prove it. I really wanted the first to happen. I didn't have the heart to tell her family she had died because I hadn't watched her closely. And I didn't think many of us could go on without being scarred from her death. I sighed.
Suddenly a white glow erupted behind us. We all spun to see a soul fall into Kikyo. She screamed and then crumpled to the ground. I jumped up and ran to her. No matter how evil she was I couldn't help but love her. Suddenly Kikyo sat up before I even reached her. She looked at me and burst into tears. I stopped flabbergasted. I had never seen Kikyo cry. She hadn't even shed fake tears. The others were gaping. I crouched by Kikyo and she launched into my arms. She cried into my chest.
"I'm so sorry Inuyasha and Miroku and Sango and Shippo and Kirara. I gave Naraku the piece of jewel, and I tried to kill Kagome more then once and I tried to kill Inuyasha and I helped Naraku and I pushed Kagome over the cliff. I'm so sorry." She sobbed.
We all gaped at her confessions. Suddenly Miroku walked up and rested a hand on her head. He closed her eyes a moment. Then he stumbled back gaping. We all looked to him.
"She is completely pure again. All the evil in her is gone."
We all gaped.
"And she has her whole soul back."
At this Sango burst into tears.
"That means Kagome is dead." She sobbed.
Miroku looked to be holding back tears, Shippo was crying silently, and Kirara had wilted. I just sat there. There was silence except for the sobbing.
"No." Kikyo said.
Sango stopped sobbing and just looked up with tears.
"Kagome was the one who saved me. Our soul wasn't torn between our bodies we each had a different soul only part of mine got stuck in her." Kikyo said through her tears.
"That means Kagome is still alive?" I asked quietly.
Kikyo nodded vigorously.
"We have to find her!" Sango said jumping up and wiping her tears away. "Let's leave now!"
"No need." A voice said.
It was feminine and slightly familiar but different. It was like chimes though and sounded beautiful to my sensitive ears. We all looked up at the demoness, which walked into the clearing. She had black ears almost like mine and dark black hair to her waist. She also had claws, small fangs, and blue eyes with gold flecks. She had a blue crescent moon on her forehead. She also had two blue stripes on each cheek and I saw two blue stripes on each arm. She wore deep blue clothes like Sesshomaru's but without armour and with a black sash. She looked very familiar but it couldn't be the person we suspected because this was a full demon not a human.
"No hello?" The person asked wilting a bit.
"Kagome?" Shippo asked.
The person perked up and smiled.
"Hello Shippo." She sang.
Shippo was in the demoness's arms in an instant blubbering something incomprehensible. We all stood. I even lifted Kikyo up with me. She was still sobbing slightly into my chest.
"It can't be you. You're a demon." I whispered.
I really wanted it to be her though. With all my soul I wanted it to be her.
"Of course it's me. Want me to prove it?"
I nodded numbly.
"Oswari." She said.
I tossed Kikyo to Miroku, who caught her, just as I was slammed face first into the ground. I just laid there. I had missed the dirt. Not the dirt it self actually but the voice that made me fall to the dirt. I felt tears in my eyes. I just laid there. I felt a hand on my back.
"Inuyasha are you okay?" A voice asked softly.
I sat up and pulled Kagome into my arms. I let a few tears go as I sat hugging her. She hugged me back. Suddenly we were pried apart and Sango was giving Kagome a hug while Kirara nuzzled her. Shippo was still on her arm too. Kagome rubbed small circles in Sango's back and tried to get her to calm down. Sango just cried. Miroku soon set Kikyo down and crouched down by the others giving Kagome a small hug then trying to sooth Sango. I walked to Kikyo and tried to sooth her too. When the girls were under control we all sat looking at Kagome.
"So where have you been for almost two years?" I asked.
"Well evil Kikyo pushed me off the cliff and I floated down stream a long way. A miko saved me and then I stayed with her and learned how to control my powers."
We all nodded.
"Then I was out to find you. And I accidentally ran into Rin, Sesshomaru's ward. I saved her and Jaken from a demon. Then Sesshomaru showed up."
"If that bastard hurt you just tell me, and I'll go kill him." I growled.
"SSSSHHHH!" The others all said.
I growled and held Kikyo tighter.
"Well I made a deal with him. He took me to his palace and trained me for the last year and a half." Kagome said with a cheery smile.
We all gaped at her. There was silence a minute.
"Then what?" Shippo asked her.
"Well he adopted me as his sister and I turned into a demon."
There was silence again.
"WHAT!?" I yelled.
"I said he adopt…." She started again.
"I heard! How could you let him!? He's cold, cruel, and hates human!" I yelled.
"He isn't cruel and I'm not human anymore." Kagome said with a cheerful smile still on her face.
"But why would he adopt you!?" I asked.
"He adopted me because we are like family." She said.
This made me quiet. Sesshomaru had adopted her before me. I scowled.
"Okay. Let's go then we still have to get Naraku." I said.
I stood up and dusted off staying quiet. Everyone blinked at me with looks that said I-can't-believe-he-took-that-so-well.
"First we have to go to Sesshomaru's castle." Kagome said.
I froze. I slowly turned back to Kagome.
"What?" I asked quietly.
"I told Sesshomaru we would join forces with him. If you do not wish to I will go alone." Kagome said seriously.
I didn't want to lose her after just finding her so soon. I bit my lip.
"Sesshomaru will not kill you. He never really wanted to. He will even give you your rightful title as heir of the west if go home. He said he never hated you he just hated the fact you got the better sword." Kagome said.
I thought for a moment. I knew that was true. I let out a sigh.
"Can we hurry then?" I asked.
Kagome smiled brilliantly. Then she stood up. The others followed suit.
"First I have to go home. My family will wonder where I have gone." She said.
We nodded.
"You guys can go ahead. I'll meet you at the castle in a couple of days."
"I'll come with yo-" I started.
"Go. Kikyo needs you right now and Sesshomaru is expecting you."
I opened my mouth again but Kagome had already grabbed her yellow bag and was gone. We all looked at one another. We stood a moment. Then Sango jumped onto Kirara along with Shippo and Miroku. Kikyo climbed on my back at my suggestion and I ran along side the large neko as we made our way to the western castle. I was very tempted to follow Kagome but I knew I need to sort some stuff out with my brother and that Kagome would be mad if I followed her. The others sensed I need friends me with me more then Kagome at the moment too and followed along even though I knew they wanted to go with Kagome. We all let out one sigh and continued on.
Kagome's POV:
I ran softly across the grounds through the trees. I really didn't want to leave my friends but I knew I had to go home. I sighed and picked up my pace. One nice thing about being a demon was that I moved so much faster. I guessed I was at least as fast as Sesshomaru now. As I ran everything blurred past me. I smiled and thrust up, jumping high. I felt like I was flying as I cleared the trees. I looked around before gravity took effect. I hit the ground softly and kept running. I smiled brightly. This was wonderful.
After a few minutes I knew I was getting close to the well. As it came into view I didn't even slow down. I vaulted over the rim and feel as a blue light surrounded me. A second later I touched the ground softly. I looked up. I saw the roof of the well house. I jumped up out of the well and looked around. I walked to the door and opened it slightly. My senses were bombarded. I shut the door and threw a barrier to keep smell and sound dimmed. I gasped for air. 'Is that what Inuyasha smells and hears every time he gets here?' I asked myself.
'Of course not. He is merely a half demon. Full blooded wolf youkai have even better senses then an inu youkai. So you smell and hear the stuff here better.' A familiar voice said.
I whipped around.
"Who's there?" I asked.
I heard a sigh.
'It's me. Your inner youkai.' The voice said.
'OH! You're the wolf I saw.'
'Yes.'
'So you can talk to me?'
'Duh.'
'What was that about youkai again?' I asked.
'A black wolf youkai is very similar to an inu youkai. They are in fact more similar to inu youkai then to other wolf youkai. A black wolf youkai has better sense though. You can taste, smell, hear, and see better. But other then that you are almost exactly the same as an inu youkai.'
'So I can use a whip thingy, fly, transform, and have red eyes?' I asked.
'Yes you have a whip, yes you can fly, yes you can transform, and yes your eyes will bleed red when you are angry and I start to take control.'
'Cool.'
'Mh.'
She fell silent after that. I shrugged and looked back out the door. This time I had my barrier on. I could still smell and hear well though. I didn't smell anyone in the shrine grounds so I skipped to the door or the house. I opened the door and walked in. I immediately smelled tea. I walked silently to the kitchen and peered in. My mother was humming while making tea. I stepped in a waited for her to see me. She turned and stopped humming. She froze and gaped.
"Hi mom." I said softly.
She stood gaping a minute longer. Then she rushed up to me and wrapped me in a hug crying softly.
"We thought something bad had happened to you." She sobbed.
I tried to sooth her.
"I got injured and stayed in a village while learning about my miko powers. Then I came to look for the others and visit but I ran into Inuyasha's brother Sesshomaru and he took me to his castle to train me. I wanted to come back but he was very strict about the training and I didn't have time. I'm sorry."
"I'm just glad you're okay." She sniffed.
She finally let go.
"You look like a demon."
"I'll explain when the others get here."
"Okay. Your grandfather just went to a shrine convention and took Souta. They should be back in two to three hours."
I nodded.
"I need to do some shopping so I'll do that now."
Mom nodded and gave me another hug. Then I sprinted up to my room. I dropped my yellow bag on my bed and stripped. I threw my feudal clothes onto my chair and instead pulled on a blue skirt that fell to my knees and a black t-shirt. I grabbed my purse and threw my wallet in. Then I hoped down the stairs again. I cast another barrier/spell around myself. Now no one would notice my ears, marking, or my claws and fangs. And a second barrier to hide my miko powers, my demon aurora, and scent from others. Then I shot out the door. I hoped down all the shrine stairs humming as I went. I quickly walked down the side walk as I made a mental list of what I needed. I had told Rin all about my world and had promised to let her try some ramen and candy. I also needed to get ramen for Inuyasha and candy for Shippo. And I wanted to get some toys for the children. And on top of that I wanted some fabric and other small items.
So I made up my mind and headed to a toy store first. I found one quite easily and ducked in. I looked through the store before I grabbed some crayons and pads of paper. Then I grabbed Rin a large butterfly kite and I grabbed Shippo a smaller kite of a fish. I also grabbed them each a top and yo-yo. Then I paid and skipped out heading for the next store; a fabric store. As I entered I saw a lot of women walking around. I looked around quickly before I grabbed the bolts of fabric I wanted. I got some cut out and paid putting it in the bags of toys. Then I skipped out and headed for my last stop; the grocery store.
I walked in and grabbed a cart. The place was crowded. Then I remembered it was a Saturday a busy day. I sighed slightly. I squeezed past some people and headed down some isles. I threw a lot of ramen then moved to the chip isle. I grabbed some chips for Inuyasha before heading to the tea and coffee isle. We didn't like coffee but everyone in the group liked tea except Shippo. I threw in some flavours of tea for each member and then headed for the candy. I grabbed some for both Shippo and Rin getting them a large selection. Then I made my way to the check out. As I got there, I unloaded my cart. The women at the till rang it all through while talking to some friend about her boyfriend problems. I rolled my eyes and paid quickly.
When I walked out I was weighed down by bags. At least I looked weighed down. This much was easy to carry after training in heavy armour and weights while carrying a sword. I walked down the streets at a leisurely pace heading home. That was until I heard the voices I dreaded.
"KAGOME!" They squealed.
I winced and slowly turned. Three girls in their nineteen's and one boy waved while trotting towards me. As they reached me they peered at my eyes.
"Hey Kagome aren't your eyes brown?" Eri asked.
"Yeah I just got blue contacts."
"I didn't know you had vision problems." Yuri said.
"Just got them, recently."
"Oh well that aside where have you been!?" Ayumi asked.
"Your family said you moved in with some relatives in another country." Hojo said smiling.
I gave a smile back.
"Yeah. My health was getting really bad and my aunt had a house in the country. My family thought I should get away from the city."
"So did you go to school and graduate there?" Ayumi asked.
"Yeah."
I hadn't finished high school but it didn't matter that much because Sesshomaru had got me a teacher while in the feudal era. He had taught me lessons almost every day. I was thankful for that.
"So what kind of job do you have, or are you going to college?" Eri asked.
"College." I said.
"Do you have a boyfriend at your aunts?" Yuri asked slyly.
"No." I said with out thinking.
The three girls shared looks and then glanced at Hojo who seemed as naïve as usual.
"Here Kagome those look heavy we'll take them home for you."
The three grabbed my bags and then ran off towards my shrine, leaving me with Hojo. He scratched the back of his head and looked at the ground a lop-sided grin on his face.
"Well it's nice to see you again Kagome. I want you to know that after you left I dated another girl for a while but we broke up after a month."
I almost sighed out loud. Couldn't he have just stayed with the girl? I smiled at him
"Well I was wondering if you would like to go to a movie and dinner. We could even go now if you aren't busy." He said. "And maybe we could go to my place afterwards."
He said the last part seductively. He was drop dead gorgeous now. I guessed many girls had fallen for his charms. I could sense with my powers that he was no longer innocent or pure. I opened my mouth trying to think of an excuse.
"I'm sorry Hojo I'm going out with some one else."
"I thought you didn't have a boy friend at you aunts." He scowled.
"No but I have one here." I said.
Then I turned and walked off. I heard Hojo run up beside me. He wore a small scowl.
"Just give me a chance. We don't even have to go out. Just come to my house and have some tea so we can…talk."
I knew he wouldn't just 'talk' with me. I guessed that his bed was already for us.
"I told you I'm seeing someone."
"But Kagome I'm probably much better then them. Besides you never broke up with me, that makes you still my girlfriend." He said.
I almost turned and punched him hard but I had better control of my emotions. It seemed Hojo had changed a lot since last time I saw him. I saw him reach for my arm. By the looks of this he would use force on me in a minute and I didn't want to fight him. I saw a boy with bright red hair in a pony tail and a boy with orange Elvis style hair talking in font of a house. I jogged up to the red haired guy. I wrapped my arm around his and smiled up at him.
"Hello dear, sorry I'm late, shopping took longer then usual."
Kurama's POV:
Kuwabara and I were talking when I felt an arm loop around mine. I looked down and my breath caught. A woman with ebony tresses down to her waist and blue eyes with gold flecks looked up at me with a smile. She had perfect porcelain skin and luscious looking lips and curves in all the right places. She was a beauty among beauties. Youko, in my head, had practically fainted and he was totally getting aroused. Kuwabara stopped talking and looked down at her. He was almost drooling.
"Hello dear, sorry I'm late, shopping took longer then usual."
I opened my mouth to tell her she had the wrong person when I saw the man a few feet away scowling. He smelled of anger and I realized the woman was trying to get away from him.
"That's okay." I smiled at her.
She gave me a smile that radiated thanks. The man glared at me.
"So you are Kagome's new boy friend?" He spat.
-I guess her name is Kagome- Youko purred.
He was getting more aroused by the second because Kagome was leaning against me like a clingy girlfriend.
"Yes." I answered the boy
The boy glared then stalked off. Kagome sighed once he was out of sight. Then she stepped back away from me. I was grateful because it was hard keeping Youko under control. She smiled at me and bowed her head.
"Thank you…"
"Kurama." I said.
"Thank you Kurama. He was getting a bit forceful and I didn't want to fight him."
"You're welcome."
"Is there anything I can do to thank you?" she asked.
-I can think of a few things- Youko purred sending me some mental images of her under me.
I chocked on air and covered it with a cough.
"No." I said quickly.
"So she's not your girl friend?" Kuwabara asked.
"Who are you?" Kagome asked politely.
"Kuwabara the great." He said striking a pose.
Kagome smiled in amusement.
"Well Kuwabara I am not his girlfriend."
"Oh so he is gay."
I whipped my head up and scowled at him.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" I asked.
"Well you have girls flocking over you yet you never do anything and you haven't been with a girl in years." Kuwabara said.
"Just because I have more control over my emotions and hormones then you, for example, does not mean I'm gay." I said.
Kagome giggled. We both turned back to her.
"Don't worry Kuwabara I highly doubt Kurama is gay. Now I must be going. Maybe we will see each other again sometime."
We both nodded and Kagome bowed again before trotting off down the street. I watched her leave then got back to the conversation I was having with Kuwabara.
Kagome's POV:
I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a stroke of luck to find the guy with intelligence enough to see my problem. I smiled. He seemed nice too. The one called Kuwabara seemed as smart as a brick though. I snorted in amusement and trotted off towards my shrine. As I reached it I ran up the long stairs. When I reached the top I ran to the house as I took my barriers off, except the one to block most scents and some of my hearing. I found my bags in the hall. My mother popped her head from the kitchen and smiled at me.
"Your friends dropped off your bags. They said you were talking to Hojo. Do you have a date planned?" She asked.
"No, and if Hojo ever comes here, push him down the shrine stairs."
My mother blinked and walked up to me. She rested her hands on my shoulders.
"What did he do? He didn't hurt you did he?" She asked quietly looking her over.
"He almost forced me." I said.
She pinched her lips together.
"Don't worry I could beat him up with both hands tied behind my back. Even if you tied me all up I could beat him."
She sighed. Then she turned and walked back to the kitchen. I gathered up my bags and headed up the stairs. When I reached my room I dumped the bags on my bed. I looked at my yellow back pack. I didn't like yellow that much anymore. I walked to Souta's room and pulled a giant black back pack from under his bed. I smiled and walked back to my room. I started to stuff the bag full. When I was finally done it was completely full. Then I smelled the scent of others. I heard the door open. I smiled. It had to be gramps and Souta. I skipped down the stairs and turned into the halls to have powder thrown in my face and something hit on my head. I coiffed as the dust settled on me. I started to brush it off at the same time.
"Be gone demon!" Grandpa yelled while throwing three sutras at me.
I pulled them off and shredded them with my claws. Grandpa gasped and swung his wooden sword. I grabbed it and scowled at him.
"Would you stop doing that grandpa?"
He gaped at me.
"Kagome?" He finally asked.
I nodded. He started to cry.
"I thought you were dead."
He wiped his tears away.
"And why are you a demon!?"
I sighed. Suddenly Souta popped from the kitchen. He took one look at me and launched himself at me. I hugged him tight.
"Sis! We were so worried a demon had eaten you. Wow! You have ears like Inuyasha!"
He started to rub my ears and I growled softly in pleasure.
"Dinner!" My mother called.
The three of us headed to the kitchen. As soon as we were sitting and eating I explained my whole tale. The whole time they listened patiently while captivated. When I had finished they asked there questions. Finally they ran out of questions. I thanked mom for dinner and helped clean up. Then I ran to the bathroom. I had a long warm shower scrubbing a lot. When that was done I headed to my room where I promptly fell onto my bed already drifting off.
.—
I looked around and smiled. I was in a large grassy field and it was a little after sunset. The stars shone and the full moon looked beautiful. As I took a step fire flies lit up and floated every where. I smiled even more.
"It is very nice." Some one said.
I looked at my inner youkai. The large black wolf sat beside me.
"What is? My dream?"
"This is your dream world."
"My what?"
She sighed.
"Only those with great power can control their dreams. You are one of the people. You shape the dream to what feels right, to what your soul likes."
"Oh. I always wondered why my dreams were so perfect."
The wolf rolled her eyes.
"You can do anything you want in here. You even have enough power to summon others into here as long as they are asleep, because of your miko powers and strong youki. You could probably even summon dead spirits. And you can control time. If you want, an hour in the real world to last a month here it can or if you want each hour to last a minute it could. Those are probably your limits though."
"Wow." I said.
The wolf nodded.
"So what can I call you?" I asked.
"I am technically you so I don't have a name or I'm you, Kagome."
"Well what can I call so you know I'm talking to or about you?"
"Call me… Kean. You always liked that name."
"Okay….So what are you doing here?"
"Well we are pretty much the same person so I can come into your dreams."
"Oh."
"And some one will be visiting us."
I looked at her.
"Who?"
"Me."
We both turned to look at a woman who looked similar to me.
"Midoriko." I breathed.
She smiled.
"Yes Kagome, it is me."
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I'm here to train you. I know you already trained with one miko but she wasn't as strong as you and didn't know all you were capable of. Now the first thing to do is tell you how your miko powers remained with you as you became a demon."
She cleared her throat and I listened closely.
"Since you are a reincarnation of me, the strongest miko to ever live, before you, you were made the Shikon No Miko. The powers you got are in your soul and blood. They will never vanish. Never. Nothing can take them from you. Now since they had to stay with you but you had demon blood the two mixed. You, as a demon, are now immune to purification, and as a miko are immune to being controlled or over taken by a demon aurora alone. Got it?"
I nodded. I think I had it.
"Now, I'm here to train you because you did master most of your miko powers but there are many things you can do with it that you haven't learned yet."
I nodded.
"While you are awake you train and such. Now in your dreams you will also train."
I sighed. More training.
"Will this do anything to my body? Like exhaust it?" I asked.
Midoriko shook her head.
"You will learn and your body will get stronger but you will not tire yourself. Your body is still resting but you still have time to train."
I nodded and sighed.
"I will teach you how to do more with your powers, we will practice your other skills, and Kean will teach you about your demon self. Sesshomaru has already had some one teach you etiquette, math, history, what you call science, and such and you will continue those lessons with your tutor. Okay?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Now I need you to change time in here."
"By how much?"
"So that an hour out there, lasts a week in here. It will give us more time. We won't do that every night though."
She grinned and I got a dread feeling I was going to go through hell in my training. She started teaching me immediately after I got time set to the way we needed.
. THE REAL WORLD—
I lifted an arm shielding my face from the lights first rays. I sighed. It had been a hard 'night'. To others it would have been a regular night of a few hours but I had lengthened time in my dream world and it had been seven hours equalling seven weeks. Midoriko had taught me a whole whack of tricks and spells to use with miko powers and Kean had taught me everything about black wolf Youkai along with teaching me how to use their abilities. I sat up and yawned before I slipped from bed.
I needed to get back to the past. I quickly dressed in my feudal clothes and pulled my bag onto my back. As I entered the kitchen I saw breakfast ready and Souta already eating. My mom was setting more food on the table and Grandpa had just walked in from the opposite door. They saw my outfit and were silent. We ate in almost absolute silence. When we had finished I stood. Mom hugged me tight then Souta and gramps did the same.
"Be careful." My mother whispered.
"I will be." I said as I headed out the door.
I walked to the well house and jumped into the well. The familiar blue light surrounded me and I set down in the past. When I jumped from the well I saw the rolling green grass and large trees.
'I sense something to the east.' Kean said in my mind.
I lifted my barriers and sniffed. I frowned as I smelled blood. I decided to check it out. I took off running at top speed through the trees always getting closer to the blood. I ran for only a few minutes before I found a clearing. I hid in a tree and scanned everything. There were bandits all sitting around on logs and laughing at the show in the middle. They all sat in front of about five huts. The leader, who happened to be a demon, was beating a kid that looked no older then thirteen. The boy had black hair with a white starburst. He looked very malnourished and he had clothes that were little more then rags. I flinched as I saw all the wounds on him. I could already sense that he was a forbidden child of fire and ice. He was crying as the demon beat him. The tears turned to jewels before they hit the ground though. I knew they only had him under their power because he was still a child and so badly hurt. I felt anger rise.
How could they do that to a child!? I bit back my growls. I saw the demon stop kicking the child. He let the boy try to crawl back a bit as he gathered the jewels. He threw them in a sack about as big as a large handbag, and it looked already more then half full. I felt my eyes start to bleed red. I felt Kean try to get out but I held her back. With Midoriko I had learned how to make a solid bow out of my powers. I did this now. All my miko powers gathered in my hand as a pick bow that glowed slightly. I had a barrier around it so the demon and bandits below wouldn't notice, though. I saw the child trying to stop the tears that just profited the demon. The demon looked over at him.
"Kito. I'm going to tally the jewels. Gather the ones the kid cries and go ahead and play with him.
"I thought he was your toy boss." A large, scarred man boomed.
"I'm bored of him."
The man named Kito grinned and walked to the child. He gathered the jewels and stuffed them in a pouch as he grabbed the boy dragging him towards a hut. I gaped at what I realized they meant. I dropped from the trees silently. Kito saw me though. He scowled.
"Boss." He called.
The boss looked back and saw me. He grinned.
"Well looky here, a pretty little kitty has come to play. Perfect timing too, I just got bored of my last toy."
I just raised my bow. He scowled then grinned when he saw no arrow.
"You don't have any arrows little kitty."
I pulled the bow string back and released it. A pink arrow materialized and shot for the demon. He screamed once as it struck him and purified him. The bandits gaped. Then they growled and rose, grabbing weapons. Before they could blink I fired three more bolts. I fired shot after shot each one hitting its mark. Soon no one but the boy and I were left alive. The boy was still trying to scoot back. I took a step forwards but he whimpered and moved back more. He seemed to be on the verge of unconsciousness so I decided to wait till he passed out before I approached him.
I walked to the bosses ashes and grabbed the sack. I also walked to Kito and grabbed the jewels from his pockets. Then I walked into each hut gathering the jewels in them and finding a reasonably clean and small pair of clothes. I grabbed a few other things of use too. When I entered the boss's hut I gasped and grabbed a small black cat that sat on the floor. It had a tight leather collar on that was so tight it was slowly strangling the cat. It looked almost dead. Its coat was coated in blood too I could tell that it was a demon even though it was the size of a regular house cat. I healed it with my miko powers. It fell from unconscious to in a deep coma. I carried it out side and moved to my bag. I set my cloth at the top of my bag and gently laid the cat on it before shutting the bag gently. Then I slowly put my bag on and grabbed the jewels.
I walked to the boy who was now unconscious and scooped him up. I walked off quickly from the camp. I didn't want to run and make the boy's injuries worst. I healed him with my miko powers as I walked. He felt much to light for comfort too. When all his injuries were healed I took off at a faster pace. I needed a place to stop for the day. Even though it was still a little after breakfast I needed to take care of the boy. I travelled for over an hour before I found a good place. It was a small clearing surrounded by trees. It was right beside a crystal clear stream and a small waterfall. And was shaded too.
I stopped and gently laid the boy on the moss. I listened to his regular breathing and check him one last time. Then I opened my back pack. I took the cat out and gently and laid it a distance from the boy. When that was done I set the pair of clothes from the bandits and the bag of jewels next to the boy. I also walked to the stream and dipped a cloth in it. I walked back to the boy and washed the dried blood from his arms, legs, and face. Then I washed as much blood from the cat as possible. I stood and watched them. I sighed after a minute and went to hunt for some meat.
I came back fifteen minutes later with four already skinned and gutted rabbits. I started a fire and stuck them over it. When the rabbit was cooked I set them off to the side and ate a little. When that was done I noticed the cat waking up. It slowly raised its head and looked at me. It blinked then jumped up and back. It stood fur all on end. I held out a piece of rabbit it to it. It looked at the food and sniffed. The fur slowly flattened and it stepped forwards warily. I smiled and it slowly crept forwards more. When it reached the rabbit in my hand it grabbed it and scurried back wolfing down the food.
"Don't eat it to fast or you will get sick." I told it.
It slowed a bit but kept eating. When it was done I held out more. It finished this off but refused more. Then it sat watching me. It was a purple black cat with unreal icy blue eyes. It looked normal, except for the color of its eyes, but it was a demon.
"What kind of demon are you?" I asked.
'I think it is a rare ice cat.' Kean said.
'What are they?' I asked.
'They are demon cats that can look like a normal house cat but they can transform into a large cat, like that fire neko of the slayers. Depending on the type the large cat they turn into would be certain types. Like this one would most likely turn into a panther. And this cat would be able to use ice attacks.'
'Can they fly?'
'Yes.'
'So why are they rare?'
'They just started to die out. They are even rarer then the two tailed neko.'
I looked at the cat again.
"Are you an ice cat?" I asked.
It tilted its head then nodded.
"So you understand me?"
It nodded again. I watched it as it watched me.
"Are you feeling better?"
It nodded.
"Did they catch you when you were weak, then keep you weak? The bandits I mean."
The cat nodded yet again.
"Well my name is Kagome. I'm a black wolf youkai."
The cat studied me. Then it walked over to me and rubbed against me purring. I petted it softly.
'It likes us.' Kean chuckled.
"Do you want to travel with me?" I asked.
It nodded and jumped to my shoulder. It curled around my neck and purred. Suddenly I saw the boy out of the corner of my eye. He slowly propped him self on one elbow rubbing his eyes. He looked down at the clothes and jewels. I started to pet the cat. Suddenly he sniffed and looked at the rabbit hungrily. Then he saw me. He cringed and tried to back away.
"I will not hurt you." I said.
He looked at me. He gulped and glanced at me again.
"Why don't you wash off, pull the clothes on, and then come eat."
He watched me a moment. Then he slowly stood grabbing the clothes. He ran past me and then jumped in the water setting his new clothes down. As he was in the water he took his old cloth off setting them down. I respectfully turned my back. After a few minutes I heard him get out. I heard the rustle of clothes then the patter of feet. I turned around and handed him the food. He immediately sat and started to eat ignoring his fear of me. When he had finished the last three rabbits off he washed then sat on one side of the fire. I walked and grabbed his old clothes. I threw them in the fire and watched them burn.
"Um…Lady…" he started.
"My name is Kagome." I said softly.
He looked at the ground.
"Lady Kagome, why did you save me?" He asked.
"I saved you because you needed help and because they treated you so cruelly."
"They treated me like that because I am a forbidden child."
"No one should be treated like that even if you are a forbidden child. And it is not your fault that you are who you are born to be."
He looked up at me and I gave him a soft smile.
"Would you like something else to eat?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Well do you have anywhere to go?"
He shook his head again.
"Then why don't you travel with me."
He blinked.
"Okay."
I smiled. Then suddenly he bowed, his head touching the ground.
"Thank you for saving me."
"You're welcome. May I ask your name?"
"Hiei." He said.
I smiled.
"Well we should leave if you are well enough. No point sitting here."
He nodded. I walked to my bag and picked it up swinging it onto my shoulder. I saw him stand. I looked him over again. The clothes were a bit big on him and not that good of quality. He stepped up behind me.
"Don't forget your sack." I said.
"My sack?" He asked.
I pointed to the one full of jewels. He walked over to it and picked it up. He looked in and blinked. Then he glanced at me.
"You didn't take any." He said is surprise.
"Of course not. They are yours, not mine."
"But you are allowed to take them since you defeated the previous owner."
"You are the owner and I have not defeated you, so stop complaining and come on."
He opened his mouth then closed it again and followed me as I headed through the trees. When I had grabbed Hiei I had planned on heading to Sesshomaru's castle but now I had remembered somewhere else I wanted to go. As we walked the cat stayed curled around my neck. Hiei followed close behind me.
'Hey Kean.' I called.
'What?' she asked.
'Do you think the cat already has a name?'
'Probably not. Their masters always choose their names.'
'So I get to name it?'
'Yes.'
'What should I name it?'
'I don't know.'
I started to list names off in my head. Hiei, I noticed, watched me closely as if trying to figure me out. We walked for most of the day. I wanted to run but I didn't think Hiei was up to it yet. He was still weak. By sunset we finally reached the village I wanted. I walked to the last hut and called out.
"Kaede?"
I had noticed as soon as we had entered the village Hiei had tried to look invisible and stayed right beside me.
"Is that yea Kagome?" Someone asked.
Hiei and I walked into the hut to find Kagome making a stew. She looked up at me and sniffed holding back tears. She stood and hobbled over to me giving me a hug.
"We were worried you be dead."
"I'm fine."
"Have yea seen the others?"
"Yes. Let us sit and I will explain."
She nodded. I sat cross-legged across from her, and Hiei sat next to me. I let my cat sleep and pulled out some clothe and sewing stuff. I started to explain my story as Hiei sat still, the cat slept, and Kaede cooked. I also sewed while I talked. After about an hour Kaede's stew was done and I had finished my story. I had also almost finished half of the thing I was making. Kaede handed us each some stew and we all ate. When I was finished I refilled my bowl and set it down. I woke the cat and he started to eat from the bowl. Hiei still sat starring across the fire but I saw his eyes droop.
I looked at him. I knew he was still drained even after my healing and the rest. I watched him and as he fell asleep I caught him. I gently lowered him to the ground and rested his head on my lap. He cuddled up and clutched my pants in his fist. Kaede smiled and also pulled out a blanket, lying down. My cat sauntered over to her and lay down beside her on the blanket. I just sat in the fading fire light and kept sewing. As a demon I didn't need as much sleep so I would be fine if I missed a night to finish something. In the end it didn't take a night I was finished what I had been sewing by mid-night and had put it away before leaning against the wall and falling asleep to go meet Midoriko and Kean in my dream world.