'What is this feeling,' Kagome thought. Warmth. Protection. Peace. Strength. Determination. Kagome wondered how she could be feeling these things when only moments ago she was crying out in grief and agony over what had been done to Souta. When she realized her eyes were closed, she opened them and was surprised.

She was floating in a void but suddenly shimmers began appearing. Inside the shimmers, there were memories. Kagome's eyes watered as she watched all of them.

The first one was of Souta getting to come home. "Kagome-chan, this is your little brother, Souta. You are a big sister now, which means you get to watch over and protect him."

The second memory was of Souta trying to walk as Kagome watched him. He fell, scraping his knee making her rush over to help him. "It's okay Souta. Don't cry," Kagome called to him as she dusted him off. The little boy looked up and smiled causing Kagome to smile brightly at him

The third one was her handing Souta a soccer ball with a ribbon on it. They had stayed out all night playing. His laughs and smiles that day were one of her most precious memories.

More and more memories flew by. All of them were of times she and Souta spent together outside playing by the Goshinboku.

"Why?" she cried out to the darkness around her when the memories around her faded. "Why did this have to happen to Souta?" she cried out as she hunched into herself, her arms drawn into her chest clutching her shirt above her heart. She suddenly froze as she heard a voice.

"What will you do, Kagome Higurashi?" a voice called out seemingly from everywhere in the void.

"Who's there? What do you mean, what will I do?" Kagome asked the darkness around her.

"Precisely, what I meant, Kagome. What will you do? What can you do? Your brother's soul has been taken and you have called on me to help you?" the voice asked curiously.

"Goshinboku!" Kagome gasped out in shock.

Laughter floated around the area. "Yes. I am the Goshinboku. For centuries, I have guarded these lands and watched over all under my care. But what will you do if I don't give you any power?" Goshinboku asked.

Kagome's fists tightened until she was sure her nails were drawing blood as she stood straight as she could, even though she was in a void. Her eyes narrowed as she made her declaration, "It doesn't matter if you help or not. I will get my brother back no matter what obstacle stands in my way."

"Even if you had to do it alone?" the Goshinboku asked.

"Yes," she replied with full conviction.

"Very well then. I will help you. But remember this, Kagome Higurashi, receiving powers like these always come with a price. Are you prepared to pay that price?" Goshinboku asked. The tree was sentient to an extant so it knew that giving the priestess power would also come with a price but even it did not know what the price would be.

"Yes, I will pay any price?" she said without any hesitation.

When the voice did not say anything else she looked around and was shocked to see lights coming into the void from her left. It's almost like it was slicing through the air. Finally as it reached closer, she noticed the light was gold and it was a shockwave of power. Before she could even flinch, the golden wave of power slammed into her, absorbing into her body. 'What is this,' she thought.

Once the light was fully into her skin, she breathed a sigh of relief. 'I thought that would have hurt more,' she thought. She quickly regretted thinking it was over though as an immense pain pushed her to her knees.

"Kagome Higurashi, if you wish to wield this power, then you must endure the pain of receiving it," Goshinboku said.

A scream ripped from Kagome's throat as she felt the power inside of her suddenly surge and begin whipping around her. 'The pain,' she thought before screaming again. She was terrified to feel blood beginning to drip from her nose and from her mouth and when something slid from her eyes, she struggled to reach up and she discovered it was blood. Another scream ripped from her body as more power poured out of her.

'It's killing me,' she thought in a panic. 'What do I do?' she thought before another scream tore from her throat and the pain forced her to her hands and knees. Her eyes widened then at being able to see the amount of blood she was losing.

"Is this how you will win," the Goshinboku almost seemed to be mocking her.

"NO. I will save Souta," Kagome called out in determination. She forced her body up, even with all the power surrounding her, trying to overwhelm her. 'I won't let in. Not when I'm going to save Souta. I will save Souta,' she thought. She stood as tall and proud as she could and screamed out, "I will save Souta no matter what."

The power around began slowing down and drawing back into her body. This time she was in control of it. Her whole body glowed gold for a moment before finally she was standing there normally. She could feel the strength that was now hers to wield, but she knew she had to use it smartly and only at the right moment.

Not only did she gain strength, but she gained knowledge from the tree. A sadistic grin spread across her face as she processed what she was learning. 'Enma, you really don't stand a chance. I will not back down. I will not relent. Your will fall," she thought confidently. Enma would fall. He had not only harmed her, but many and now it was judgement time.

"Ready or not, Enma, here I come," she said before opening her eyes to the real world.