Chapter 27

The day before they had all attended a memorial for all the ninja who were killed during Orochimaru's invasion. It had been a solemn affair but there had been a slight air of hope about all of them. Many had benn lost, it was true. Stilll there was hope because the Hokage, the pillar of the village, was still alive. Kagome could see the curious looks of the villagers as the word spread that she had saved the Hokage. When she went with Naruto to Ichiraku's Ramen the proprietor had picked up her tab, many others did something similar. It was strange, in the course of a few days she had gone from being despised and distrusted to a hero in the village.

She still worried though. The Hokage had been banged up during the course of his fight and she had been in no position to help him. Now weeks later, no one had heard from him. It set her on edge to think the old man might still be in danger of dying from his wounds because she had been unable to heal him. A life for a life, the only way to repay him was to ensure that he lived. Her fist clenched. She could heal him now but he was holed up out of sight.

"Kagome," Sakura called out of breath breaking her train of though. "Can I take a break?"

"Yeah, take five." Kagome replied.

Now, she and her teammates stood around as Sakura had resumed her training. Kagome had been convinced by the petal haired girl to pick up where they'd left off and the boys had decided to tag along to watch. The fight with Gaara had awoken in Sakura a new need to train. On finding out about what the girls had been doing in his absence, Naruto had spent a half hour whinning about how unfair it was that Kagome was training Sakura. Finally Kagome had calmed him down enough that she was able to explain that she hadn't done it to spite him. She explained that her reasoning had been that Sakura had not been able to make it to the final round of the exam despite her efforts so Kagome didn't want her to be left out of the training that they were getting for the exam. it had silenced him. And that left them all standing around the training gorund in silence.

Kagome knew that each of them had taken the invasion attempt differently. For her it made her feel connected to the village for the first time. The village finally felt like home to her. It was the opposite for Sasuke though. Kagome could see him growing more distant from everyone else. At the same time he was trying to pull closer to her. It was putting a great deal of pressure on her. She did like him but for one, she was not ready for a relationship, two, he was on his way to Orochimaru, and three, she was finally building a good relationship with Sakura who had liked Sasuke for a long time. All she could think about though was the day she had visited him in the hospital.

(Flashback)

She had been released three days prior and for some reason she found herself at the door to Sasuke's room. She stood outside for a long time considering going in or knocking or just going home. Feelings like that hadn't been apart of her life since her life in the modern era. There was a chuckle from inside before he called her in. He was still in bed and the dark nature of him contrasted with everything around him. Then again she probably was the same way.

"Were you going to stand out there all day?" He asked with a smile. AS she stuttered looking for an answer he chuckled again. "Come over here, sit with me."

Despite her misgivings she sat on the bed next to him. Together that watched the villagee from his window. Outside the village was rebuilding itself. Villagers were out in force repairing the damage Orochimaru had caused. It gave Kagome hope to see things returning to a new version of normal for the village. At some point his hand came to rest over hers on the bed. Her cheeks warmed at the innocent contact. Where was he going with this?

"Sasuke..." she started.

"Was there something you wanted? Or did you just come to see me?" He teased.

"I came to chheck in on you. You seemed pretty beat up after you faced Gaara." She said bristling.

"Then why did you wait outside so long."

"I wasn't sure if you were awake and I didn't want to wake you up."

"Right." He leaned forward. "You're blushing, Kagome. Is it possible you like me too?"

Her heart thundered in his chest at his words. Too? He had feelings for her, she'd been right in the forrest about him liking her. All thoughts were gone when he moved even closer and pressed his lips to her's. She responded instantly. Their first kiss and it tore her heart apart. She pulled back first, breathing heavily. HEr heart was breaking even as he tried to mend her. He was going to Orochimaru, he desired power even more than he desired her. Just that thought alone killed her.

"Kagome..." He said worried.

"I-I can't" She aid looking away.

"Why not?" There was angeer and jealousy written in his voice.

"Because you're already gone. You've already given your heart to Orochimaru's promise." She looked him in the eyes. "Loving you will kill me. You are already beyond my reach."

She stood and walked away. In her hear she knew i was true. Once again she was in love with a man who loved someting else. Not a long dead lover now but power. She wouldn't let her see her cry for what could have been. His goal was revenge annd he would have to pay the price for it. Her love would be part of that price.

"What if I stayed?" He asked as she reahed the door.

"Please don't give me that hope. Because you won't. You hate him more than you love me." She smiled saddly.

(End)

Since then he had hinted that he would stay for her, with her. She had done her best to ignore his advances and his promises. He was persistant and others were starting to notice. It came to mind that she might ask Kakashi for advice but he might tell her to do it in order to keep Sasuke in the village. Was it even worth considering? Inuyasha had been the same way. He had claimed to love her but the moment Kikyo came in to view he went for her. It was the same thing. Inuyasha had loved Kikyo more the same way Sasuke desired power and revenge more than her.

"Hey, isn't that Konahamaru, Naruto?" Sakura asked snapping Kagome out of it once again.

The kid in question was running toward them in tears. "Hey, kid, what's wrong? Naruto asked as he came closer.

Konohamaru sniffled a little. "It's Gramps, they won't let me see him. I haven't seen him since before..." and then he was crying again.

Kagome was shocked. It made sense to keep the villagers away from the Hokage, they could be agents of Orochimaru in disguise. His family though? It seemed a little over kill to keep them from the Hokage. Why would they do him harm? She wondered what the Anbu and his bodyguards were thinking. They must have had some reason. Looking at the crying boy in front of her she was having trouble justifying their actions. Tired of hearing him cry she stepped closer to him and kneeled down to be at eye level.

"Hey, Konohamaru, look at me." she said gently. "I was with your grandfather during the fight. I did what I could to keep him out of harms way and when they took him away he was not baddly injured just exhausted. I'm sure you will see him soon."

He hiccuped and nooded. Just as she stood she felt a presence appear behind her. She whipped around to face the new comer and came face to face with one of the Anbu from the roof staring at her. Behind him were two others she didn't recognize but then again all Anbu looked the same to outsiders, that was the point. They watched eachother for a moment.

"Kagome Higurashi." The Anbu asked.

"Yes?"

"Come with us. The Hokage wants to speak with you."

"Me?" She asked. Of all people why her?

"Yes, now you are to come with us immediately."

With a glance at Konohamaru she nodded. The three Anbu set a harsh pace and she matched pace with them. She had thought she would be taken to the Sarutobi clan's compound where the Hokage would have been moved after being released from the hospital but instead it was the hospital where she was led. She was taken through a back entrance and though empty corridors to a guarded door. The Anbu leader spoke to the guards who gave her a once over and opened the door. The room was bright, unlike Sasuke's and instead of a dark boy there was a smiling old man on the bed. He reminded her of a proud grandfather more than a powerful ninja but she knew he was both.

"Hello Kagome." He said warmly. "I wanted to thank you for your help, without it I would have died. I am in your debt."

"No, I owed you a debt. I owed you my life and now that debt has been repaid." Kagome said.

"Well, I still want to give you something, well two things really. Come, sit." He said motioning to her to sit in a chair next to the bed. "You earned the rank chunin during the exam, youo were one of two who will be promoted but fight Orochimaru you earned my respect. I want to bestowe upon you the rank of Jonin."

"What?"

"It is an ability of the Hokage to appoint Jonin. I don't expect you to take on students but I do have a task for you. I'm placing you on a special task force that will be given the duty of tracking down Orochimaru and stopping him. After what you said I believe you may be one of the best people to send on this mission."

"Of course."

"Good. You are to meet the Jonin commander in my office in..."

"Hey old man," Jiraiya, the man who had trained Naruto, said bursting in. "Opps, sorry."

"It's alright. Go on over there now, they should be waiting for you."

Kagome nodded and left through the open door. In less than five minutes she had gone from being a genin to a jonin. No doubt that made her one of the leas popular shinobi in the village. Still, she headed over to the office. Most people watched her with awe while other, civilians mainly, smiled and waved at her. She remained focused on her destination. When the building came in to view Kagome decided to take a short cut. The walk through the village was killing her, it was too weird being liked after years off hatred and indifference from the villagers. She jumped fro roof top to roof top, tree to tree until she reached the building. She used the body flicker technique to get to the door of the Hokage's office and knocked.

"Come in," said an old woman's voice.

Inside the office we there individuals. The older two Kagome knew to be elders of the village, the other she assued was her new Jonin Commander. They gave her a once over and then shared a strange look. The Jonin walked over to her. He did not look to pleased with the situation. Was he one of those who still thought her cursed? Or did he know that she had just moved fro genin to Jonin?

"Look, I don't like this. Why is he assigning e some kid?" The Jonin asked finally.

"Kagome, come forward, please." The male elder said. Kagomme nodded numbly. "This is yours now. The Hokage instructed that it be gotten for you."

The green flak jacket sat that now sat in her hands was a match to the one all higher level ninja wore. It matched her new rank, too, she supposed. Her promotion seemed all too real now as she turned it over. It was heavier than she'd imagined, she mused.

"Wait, Kagome? You're Kagome Higurashi? The girl who fought Orochimaru and saveed the Hokage?" The Jonin asked.

"Ahhh, yes, Kagome this is the Jonin commander of the squad to which you have been assigned, Fujio Usui. Fujio, this is Kagome Higurashi. She was appointed by the Hokage as a memeber of the task force and promoed to Jonin."

"So, that's the going reward for saving the Hokage. Free promotions?" Fujio asked. "He just gave you the rank and sent you off to fight Orochimaru? Some thanks."

"He didn't just send me off to fight Orochimaru, I've fought him before, twice. He attacked my squad in the Forrest of Death and then I faced him defending the Hokage. Not only that Orochiaru is the one who killed my family." Kagome said straightening for the fight.

"So this about revenge."

"I don't want revenge. I want to stop him from doing what he did to me to anyone else. That might look like revenge but it isn't. Revenge would be killing him slowly or torturing something he loved in front of him and making him watch as it died. I doubt though that he knows what love feels like, so that would be pointless. Stopping him is what matters."

"Meet at the main gate at sunnrise tomorrow with what you need. Supplies will be provided to the unit."

He left then without a word to the elders. Kagome sighed and turned to bow to the other two leaders of Konoha. They each nodded her dismissal so Kagome moved to leave through the door. "Wait," the male elder called. "Hiruzen is a very old friend. We are all in your debt for what you did."

She nodded and left. After all that had happened she wanted to be alone but there was something she needed to do. From memory she entered the hospital from the back and went the through the empty corridors to the room where the Hokage was hidden away. The guards recognized her immediately, letting her ahead with a nod. She knocked gently on the door until she heard the Hokage call her in. He looked surprised to see her but smiled at her none the less. After closing the door she took her place in the chair next to his bed. She felt more like a granddaughter than a subordinate at that moment. He smiled warmlly at her.

"When do you leave?" He asked.

"Tomorrow at dawn." She said simply.

"You'll doo amazingly. I beleive in you." He sighed."You aren't the only one in a difficult situation. I have decided to resign as the Hokage. I beleive it is time for a new generation to take over."

She looked down at her hands. "Lord Hokage, can I-Can I tell you something...personal?"

"Of course. What is it?" She could hear the worry in his voice.

"When I first cmae to this village I was broken. I beleived that I would never be able to feel anything for anyone again. Then when the Himuras took me in I was beginning to heal and then...I was that broken girl again. Ever since Kakashi became our teacher he's been fixing all of us. He has tried to convince me that I could have a family again, that there were already people out there who were already trying as I pushed them away."

"People like Asuma."

She nodded. "ANd the more he has pushed it the better I've felt about it. I was afraid that I wouldn't be strong enough to protect those I cared about but now I know I don't have to. If I stop and think about it, I didn't save you because I owed you a debt or because you were the Hokage." She looked up. "I saved you because I think of you as family more than anything else. I felt I needed to prove that I was worthy of all you had done, all you'd given me. You and your son have treated me far better than anyone else and have always been looking out for me."

He smiled. "You have always been apart of our family, Kagome. There has never been anything you had to do to earn that."

"Thank you...Grandfather." she said slowly and watched as he smiled. He looked so happy at the word.

"Well, are you going to put it on." He nodded at the flak jacket on her lap.

She smiled and slipped off the black jacket she always wore. For some reason she didn't feel self concious about the scars any more. They

"You should go tell your old teammates. They deserve to know."

"You're right. Good night." She said with a small smile.

"Good night."

"By the way, you should talk to Konohamaru, he's worried about you." She added.

"I will."

The sun was going down on the village. Most villagers had put up their tools for the night and most of the bars and resteraunts in the village were no occupied by those looking to realax after a long days work. No doubt her teammates had also given up working for the day and were now enjoying a dinner at Ichiraku's. When she reached the little shop four of the stools were filled, it seemed that after she had left their sensei had shown up. She wondered if he knew what had happened.

"Hi guys," she said slipping on to a stool.

"Kagome!" Naruto yelled.

Her teammates focused on the flak jacket and after a moment Sasuke's eyes wandered to her bare upper arms. For the first time since she'd taken her other jacket off she felt self-conscious about her scars. She wrapped an arm around herself attempting to hide. Sasuke may have had a hard life but only she bore the scars of it. She was starting to wish she hadn't changed jackets before coming here. She felt naked with her scars visible to Sasuke's eyes. Then their eyes met. He looked possessive like the small bit of skin she was showing belonged to him.

"So, the Hokage promoted you." Kakashi said.

"Yeah." So he knew.

"When does the task force leave?"

"Tomorrow, at dawn." He knew everything.

"Task force, what are you guys talking about?" Sasuke asked.

"Kagome passed the chunnin exam and the Hokage was so impressed by her that he promoted her to Jonin. He assigned her to a special task force." Kakashi explained.

"So you're leaving? When are you coming back?" Sakura asked.

"I don't know. I assume soon though. There's now way to carry the amount of supplies it would take to spend an extended time away and still carry out the mission." Kagome said.

"And what is the mission?" Sasuke asked.

"Classified." Kakashi answered. "It's a very important mission, Sasuke. She can't talk about it."

"Well, Miss Kagome, what can I get you tonight?" Teuchi asked with a large smile.

"Miso ramen." Kagome said politely.

"Wait you're a Jonin now?!" Naruto interupted.

It broke the tension for a moment and they all laughed. They spent the rest of the night joking with Naruto about Kagome out ranking him. After a while Sakura left hquoating a curfew her parents were inforcing after the invasion. Kakashi left not long after pulling a depressed Naruto away. It left her alone with Sasuke. Two empty seats and the things she'd said in the hospital sat between them. Her ramen allowed her an excuse not to speak to him. Slowly he moved closer. First one seat and then, when she didn't protest, he moved over one more. He was close enough that she could feel his body heat on her arms.

"You aren't going to tell me what this is about, are you?" Sasuke asked.

"I can't." she said.

"Please, look at me, Kagome." He pleaded.

She took a deep breath and did as he asked. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you, I want you to acknowledge that you have feelings for me. I want you to believe in me." He pleaded.

"I do have feelings for you, Sasuke, but believing in you? Sasuke, I know where you are going. It's written in your eyes. Power, hatred, and then him. I can't watch you do this. I'm sorry."

Teuchi took her bowl and waved off her attempt to pay. She left Sasuke sitting at Ichiraku's alone. It was so hard not to look back at him. If she had though, she would be thinking about him on the mission which would not help her position. THat night she decided she would focus on the mission and deal with Sasuke when she got back. In her own home she packed her pack with scrolls sealed with most of her gear and weaponry. Despite the fact that Fujio had said that the unit's supplies would be provided she packed a few emergency items. Mainly she packed food, she also packed an emergency first aid kit in case anything happened. The next morning she left with her unit to make a name for her self and to hopefully put an end to Orochimaru once and for all.

(Two weeks later)

The task force returned a few weeks later. Kagome had been right about them not being gone long. What was sad was they had fond othing more than a few remnants of the invasion force who were unwilling to give up their secrets. That being said, Kagome had mangaed to prove that despite her quick promotion to Jonin she was ready for it. Even Fujio was pleased with her work and would ask her for advice on occasion. She was feeling much more confident about herself even with her scars showing. It was a big change for her. There was a bigger change waiting for them when they returned.

Hiruzen had mentioned that he was resigning but she hadn't expected him to find a replacement so quickly. She learned from Sakura that the woman was one of his old students, like Jiraiya and that Naruto had helped convince her to return to the village. Sakura was also exicted to add that the woman was a talented medical ninja that had agreed to look in to Lee's case. The petal haired girl seemed disappointed that he couldn't help Lee she was pleased to see hope return to the boy's life. The story of how Naruto convinced her to join up was also interesting. It sounded like Naruto, too.

"So where is Sasuke?" Kagome asked Kakashi as they shared a bench in the park.

"He's in the hospital." When Kagome gave him a look, he replied. "He faced his brother, Itachi. It didn't end well."

"There were hints that some of Orochimaru's henchmen may be trying to get into the village. Not an invasion force but a small squad, possibly here for Sasuke." She said solemnly. "Kakashi I need to tell you something."

"You and Sasuke have feelings for each other? Old news, figured it out while the two of you were pretending nothing was happening."

"And you're not going to make me use it to convince him to stay?"

"I'm surprised you aren't trying." He said with a sigh. "I know as well as you do what he wants. If he wants to go to Orochimaru, aside from locking him away, there isn't much we can do to stop Sasuke from going. Not that I'm going to give up but I won't force you to hurt yourself to save him."

She stood up. "I'm going to go see him. I'll probably be leaving soon or will be assigned to other duties, I might not have the chance later."

In minutes she was at his door. This time she didn't hesitate. The room was dark when she entered, fitting seeing it's occupant's dark mood. His eyes were harder, remembering her words from before she left. She sat where she had las time and grabbed his collar. The kiss was searing. His hands ended up on her bare upper arms, his thumbs rubbing her scarred flesh. She had nearly become distracted but the feeling of his hands on her scars reminded her of her purpose. She pulled back slightly, still holding his colloar.

"If you go to Orochimaru, I'll kill you myself." She whispered harshly.

She released him and walked away. Two days later he was gone. She did her best not to cry in front of anyone and to cry as litle as possible. She cried once, punched a wall and then moved on. Shikamaru, now a chunin led a group to retreive him. Not long after it failed Naruto left to train with Jiraiya. Kagome helped to convince Tsunade to take Sakura on as a pupil. On her own Kagome began to work on rediscovering her miko powers. She took on more missions to hunt down Orochimmaru but they were all failures. Where ever he was he had gone deep underground to train his new pupil.

Their world was changing and they had to face it. Without Naruto and Sasuke things were going to be extremely different in the village.

A/N: Another monster chapter. I thought about splitting it in half but wanted to fulfill my promise that this would be the last chapter. So yes I kept the Hokage and yes Sasuke still left. I kept the Hokage alive because I liked him and I wanted Kagome to develop a family-esque feeling with the Sarutobi family. There will be more of that in the next story. Be looking out for that some time next week called Her Past. I want to thank all of you for making this story so popular. Five more reviews and I'll be at 200. My other stories combined don't have that many reviews. So thank you all, tune in for updates on where this is going. If anything changes I will post it on my bio.