Sitting at the tree it seemed like it had only been minuets, but when Kagome opened her eyes she saw it had been
far longer than that, if the location of the sun was anything to go by. Sighing and wrapping her arms around herself
to ward off the slight chill of the coming fall, she pulled her power back in just as quickly as she had let it lose. She
didn't find anything in her search witch meant one of two things, either demons had become even craftier in hiding
themselves or there simply wasn't any left to respond to her call. She knew though even if it was the second option
it wouldn't stop her from coming here again in a week or so and trying again. It was the last little bit of hope she
had, after all the hard work she put in to the past as well as this time to pull her life back together she felt that the
kamis owed her this little bit of hope. Standing and brushing the grass and dirt from her pants she once more
picked up her school bag and began to make her way home. She had a little bit of home work to do and needed
dinner; the rumble from her stomach reminded her after she thought of dinner. A dry chuckle made it past her lips, it
was so lonely in her apartment but wasn't that what she had wanted. She spent so many years close to people,
sharing her heart and love with them only for them to be ripped from her. Two years ago was when she swore to
herself she would allow it to happen again. She didn't go out of her way to make friends with people anymore, yes
she was still polite and kind to people she met but she didn't seek out the bond of friendship with them like she
would have in the past. No it was better this way even if it was lonely it was nowhere near as painful as having
friendship and love ripped away from her.
Sesshomaru found himself entering a park and while it was nice he noticed that he knew this park for only one
reason. A ward of sort resided in this place and confident in his younger years, as the city was being built
Sesshomaru had taken measures to see that certain trees were left untouched by the changing time. When the city
turned the surrounding area in to a park it put his mind at ease that he would not have to worry for his old friend
and confident any longer. The pull he felt from the miko powers suddenly stopped and he completely lost it, not
even a trace of it remained to follow. The person in control of the power certainly knew what they were doing, but
Sesshomaru needed confirmation as to the wielder of such power before he made a move. Taking a bit of a risk
Sesshomaru allowed his yokai to spread out in search much like the miko had done not too long ago. However his
search turned up nothing the only thing he could feel was his old friend, a small growl left his lips he had just
wasted at least two hours of his very busy day to investigate the miko who was looking for something obviously.
Taking a deep breath he figured he may was well visit the tree while he was here perhaps he may have some
insight as to who it was, being a demon as well the tree should have felt the miko, how the miko didn't feel him
though was beyond his thoughts at that moment. No longer in a hurry as the miko was no longer in range
Sesshomaru slowed his walking to take in the little bit of beauty that remained in the concrete and steel jungle
known as Tokyo. The humans had laid waste to most of the forests of the area a few tree still stood strong with
deep roots. Many had died off when the humans created the manmade lake in the middle of the park, why they
sought to put water where it did not naturally belong was still beyond him, but he had stopped trying to
understand humans many years ago.
Kagome once ready to leave laid her hand on the tree she was leaning against once more it tingled under her touch
but not the tingle of yokai she was looking for. A small smiled made it to her lips, she felt the tree somehow
understood her, pressing her forehead to it she whispered "Thanks." She then pulled back and made her way out
of the park she didn't want to walk the streets when they were dark. While her apartment was in one of the nicer
areas there were still a few gangs around the area that she didn't want to tangle with if she could help it. With her
back turned she didn't notice the old mulberry tree shake behind her and a wise aged face appear on it. The face
held a small smile a knowing smile that it had a secret that it wanted to share, but never did. It watched as the
young miko walked away and out of sight, much like it did every time she graced him with her presents. Not long
after her disappearance he felt the approach of his lord, the smile faded but the knowing look did not. Sesshomaru
must have felt the woman searching for youki and came to find out the identity of such a strong power. Threat or
not a miko in this day and age was dangerous to any yokai or so they thought.
Sesshomaru came in sight of the tree and walked around to where the face had appeared it was looking in the
opposite direction that he had approached. Sesshomaru did not miss the look on the old trees face either. "My lord
to what do I owe the visit" it said in a wise voice that vibrated the ground it rested on. Sesshomaru eyed the tree
for a short time longer before answering "There was a miko in your park, I wish to know who she is" he stated. The
old mulberry tree chuckled at the inu in front of him "I do not know who she is my lord simply that she comes here
to relax and search" it stated back. "Hn, and how does she not detect you?" he asked glancing at the tree from the
corner of his eye. The trees branches shook slightly in a shrug "While I am yokai I am also nature, my yokai
signature is greatly weakened when not in an active state" the mulberry replied. Sesshomaru huffed at the tree, he
was not being very insightful when that was the trees nature, or was supposed to be he thought snidely. "How
often does she come to this park" Sesshomaru asked instead of voicing his other thoughts of the trees avoidance
to his questions. The great mulberry hummed for a moment "She does not do so regularly if that is what you are
asking my lord." "You are avoiding my questions tree" Sesshomaru hissed out to him. Once more the tree chuckled
at him "No my lord I am giving you the answers you seek, I am answering you as completely as you are asking
questions." The small jibe was not lost on Sesshomaru, he was never much of a talker and the tree was taking
great fun in pointing it out. Not willing to waste any more of his day on such creatures he chose instead to simply
walk away he had other things he could be doing. If the miko was truly looking for someone or something than he
was sure she would do so again and now he would keep himself open enough to feel when she searched.
A few blocks away from the park Kagome was walking down the street minding her own business, it was darker
than she would have liked the street lights turning on only moments ago. She held her bag closer to her she still
had a good five blocks to go before she reached her home, and the quietness of the street was starting to grate on
her nerves slightly. Kagome had learned in her self-defense classes that her powers could work on humans with ill
intent towards her as well as they worked on demons. That thought brought a little bit of comfort to her, while she
couldn't purify humans the shock of her purity was normally enough to render them unconscious if they were to
attack her. She crossed the street, four more blocks she thought to herself quickening her pace slightly as she
heard noises behind her. Another block down she had just crossed the street, three more blocks she cheered
inside. However that cheerful thought was quickly ruined as she felt someone grab her arm from behind and swing
her around.
A guy about six feet tall had pulled her hard enough to knock her in to the wall of the building she was passing by
knocking the breath out of her. She glared up at her assailant and gripped her bag tightly in her hand. Another
thing she learned early in self-defense if the opponent was bigger than her an equalizer was a quick way to bring
them down to her size. "Well look at this a pretty little girl out on the road so late, why don't you let a big strong
man like me walk you the rest of the way home" he sneered close to her face. Kagome fought hard not to puke at
the man his breath was absolutely rank, she didn't bother to answer instead she twisted the strap of her bag
around her hand once and swung it at his ribs as hard as she could. It was effective but not nearly as much as shed
hoped, the man had doubled over and held his ribs and he tried to catch his breath. Kagome was sure she had
busted at least two ribs she had three history books in the bag after all. While the man was distracted and now
very much down to her size she made quick work and brought her knee up to his face and used her hands to force
his face down to meet it. The satisfying crack was heard and she knew she broke his nose; he stumbled for a
moment than fell down to the ground. Though she didn't use her miko powers in the attack she did surround her
body in it like a second skin, therefore his face connecting with her knee had sent a shock right to his brain.
She huffed brushed off her pants and made to turn back to the direction of her home when she came face to face
with about five other guys. Once more she tightened her hand on her bag strap, she didn't like to hurt people that
didn't mean she wasn't capable of doing so. "Let me guess you gents would like to walk me home too" she said in a
snide tone. She watched as ugly twisted smiles made it to their faces and sighed, she wanted to go home and eat
why did people have to be so stupid.