A/N: OMG, over one hundred reviews you guys are amazing. To clear up all pairing questions: I am focusing on platonic relationships because of Kagome's condition. Sugar0o, I don't like that pairing FOR THIS STORY, I have read some amazing KagoxKaka stories but to me their relationship is more sibling/platonic because he does care and he is protective, just not like that. Another shout out to ANIMEMANGALUV3R, she keeps me thinking and helps me evolve my ideas.

Chapter 13

(Kagome)

Eventually Kagome headed home to get cleaned up. As she showered she traced each scar she could reach. She hadn't even thought about her scars since she'd graduated the Academy. There were several kanji written amongst the scars but they were random. The word spider was on her left shoulder blade, blood on her right, and two others on her back that she could not make out. She knew he was insane but she had never thought of him as the type to carve meaningless symbols into her back. Then again she hadn't known him at all.

She thought about the Shikon. It was another mystery between them. During his torture he had replaced it in her side despite his desire for it. Considering her escape she knew it was a risk and he had to have known that too. So why did he do it? She let her hand linger on the scar for a moment longer. It was her duty to keep it safe or destroy it but no one had ever explained how to destroy it. Would it vanish after someone used it to make a wish? Or was a pure, selfless wish the only way to get rid of the cursed thing? She had no clue. She turned the water off.

After her shower she dressed quickly and went out to find her team. She wouldn't warn them but she wanted to see what they thought about the exams. It took her a while but eventually she found her blonde teammate with a group of kids. She rolled her eyes. Why did he always have to get into trouble?

(Naruto)

Why didn't Konohamaru look where he was going? This guy was bad, not Zabuza bad, but he still managed to give him chills. He shouldn't have let them convince them to run around and play with them. H should be training and getting ready for the Chunin exams. Man they were in trouble. There had to be a way to stop this guy because if he didn't Konohamaru was dead. He looked from side to side looking for help or a plan. The girl was not gonna help. No she was rooting for the guy. Just as he was ready to give up a rock flew down from a tree and hit the guy in the wrist.

(Kagome)

She saw it from a distance. At first the guy in black was holding one of the kids up by his collar but something forced him to drop the kid. She moved faster and she could tell that it had been caused by Sasuke. As she got closer she identified the kid as the Hokage's grandson. She cursed and moved even faster until she saw him, the red haired boy. He hung upside down in the tree next to Sasuke. Danger emanated from him. In her periphery she noticed the boy in black move to take something off his back. She could tell it was a ninja tool of some kind and he was already pouring chakra into it.

Oh, no you don't. She pulled out a scroll and rolled it out just beneath the tool. The seal was just strong enough to make the tool too heavy to lift which Kagome suspected was necessary.

"Kankuro, you're not gonna use the crow on a kid." The girl said accusatorily.

Kagome chose then to let herself be known. "I wouldn't if I were you." All eyes flashed to her.

"Kagome, you're late." Sasuke called with a smirk.

She nodded, her eyes fixed on Kankuro. His over confidence was gone in an instant. He hadn't noticed her scroll but he could tell that he was surrounded and out matched by their team. His eyes began to search the area by moving quickly around his line of sight. Could he be looking for the red head? She reevaluated the situation. Maybe he wasn't afraid of them. The other boy was definitely dangerous. She would dare to say that he was openly murderous. Still, fear was a weakness to be exploited. She smirked.

"Hey, boss, isn't that girl the cursed genin?" the Hokage's grandson whispered.

Her smirk faded and she had to work to stay focused. Right now Kankuro was the true danger. The boy on the other hand was safe with Naruto. She felt the red head's eyes on her after the kid's outburst. He had heard and was curious. She was really starting to hate him already. Kankuro finally looked at her and winced. It was nice to know she could frighten him. She hadn't even done anything yet. Kankuro tried to lift the tool and discovered the seal beneath it. She couldn't help but laugh at the confused look on his face.

"It's a specially designed seal meant to make your chakra heavier. The more chakra you put in to it the heavier it will be." Kagome explained.

"Kankuro, you disgrace our village." The red head stated in a monotone.

"Gaara," Kankuro stammered. "They started it. They started everything…..actually."

"Shut up. Or I'll kill you."

Kagome's smile faded as Gaara appeared in front of her. She stepped back and pushed Konohamaru into Naruto. If anything happened she wanted the kid out of the way and as safe as possible. His pale eyes met hers for a moment and a chill ran down her spine. Whatever this guy was he made Kankuro look like a house cat. There was a presence in him that brought up memories from the feudal era. He had no demon blood that she could tell but the signs could be different in this world. His presence wasn't anywhere near strong enough to be a half demon either.

"I am sorry for any trouble he caused." He whispered.

Gaara continued to look at the strange girl. She had come from the right angle and had been aware of him since his arrival. Of those present she was the strangest. The blond boy was like him but she was something else entirely. Shukaku responded differently to her as well. It didn't want her dead. In fact his desire to kill was gone and he felt tired. The girl was strange and he had no desire to stay with her any more than he had to. The other boy, probably her team mate, was definitely someone to be wary of. Between the two he might have a challenge.

He turned his eyes to his teammates. "Alright let's go. We didn't come here to play games."

"Right." The two stuttered.

"Hold on. Hey!" Sakura called.

"What?" the strange girl asked.

"I can tell by your headbands that you're from the Village hidden in the Sand. Of course the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire are allies but no shinobi can enter another's village without permission. So state your purpose and it better be good."

The three turned and prepared to respond but Kagome rolled her eyes and spoke up. "They're here for the Chunin exams of course. Why else would three Sand Genin run around the leaf in the open. If they wanted to attack they wouldn't have been so obvious back there."

"How do you know about the exams you didn't even show up this morning?" Sakura accused.

"Kakashi filled me in."

The three turned to go again. "Hey, you," Sasuke jumped down from his branch and stood with Kagome. "Identify yourself."

"Hmm, you mean me?" the girl said flirtatiously.

"No, him the guy with the gourd on his back."

The boy looked over his shoulder. "My name is Gaara of the Desert. I am curious about you as well and the girl. Who are you?" Gaara stated in his strange monotone, his eyes flashed towards Kagome.

"Me?" Sakura stuttered her bravado faded.

"No, the one who sealed the Crow."

"Kagome Higurashi." She stated staring Gaara down. His curiosity would do him no good.

Sasuke looked between them sensing Kagome's distrust of him but before he could act on it Gaara had turned to him. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha."

The air was tense as the two leaf genin stared Gaara down. "Hi there, bet your dying to know my name, right?" Naruto burst in.

"No, I couldn't care less."

With that they were gone. Kagome turned to leave as well. She had not thought that the exam would bring ninja from different lands but considering the format she should have known. It was possible he would come. The very thought made her want to run for the hills but he would still do damage just to blame her. If he did show up she would have to decide whether or not to stand and fight with the village. She didn't think she would run. It was never in her nature. Before she could leave Sasuke grabbed her. She looked him in the eye.

"Have you decided if you're going to take the exams?" He asked.

"Of course, I am." She said. "What about you?"

"Absolutely." He smirked. He wanted the chance to face her one day. She and Naruto where stronger than they had let on during their time at the Academy but they had really proven themselves. He couldn't wait to see what she would do during the exams.

"Good." She headed out. "I'll see you there."

(UNKNOWN)

A young man with long black hair approached the screen. "You summoned me, my Lord."

"Yes," a soft male voice responded. "I wanted to know how our fine genin are doing. Will they be ready?"

"Of course, my Lord, all three have been prepared as you commanded. They know their duties and are ready to be deployed at any moment."

"Good. Everything has been prepared for your departure. You will leave immediately."

"of course, my Lord. As you command."