A/N: I finally updated! :D I'm also going to be going on a 1-week trip to Banff so I won't updat until then. I'll be sure to bring my notebook though! Anyways, please enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4: Explanations

"T-this, I can explain!" Sakura yelled frantically.

"Sure." Kagome said, "But, shouldn't you get rid of that first?" She pointed to the dead youkai body.

"Oh right!" Sakura started for it, and then paused. "It's dead right?" At Yue's nod, she drew back. "Do I have to touch it?" It was then she noticed something on the ground. Sakura bent and put it in her pocket; sure that it was something important.

Kero sweat dropped and fell to the ground. "Sakura!" he complained. "You're the mistress of the Sakura cards and you're afraid to touch it?" The beast sighed and moved to draw it away.

"Wait. I could use Windy to move it right?" she asked.

"Well, you could but…" Kero started.

"Then it's settled!" Sakura took out a card, Windy, and commanded her to move the body behind the bushes. But the task was finished too soon and they found themselves in an awkward situation. Kagome stared at Sakura, and then Syaoran with his sword, and finally at Tomoyo with her video camera.

"That." She pointed at the Star wand, "What is it?"

"It's my Star wand." Sakura replied nervously. "I use this and my Sakura cards to do magic."

Kagome nodded once, a neutral expression on her face.

"Sakura-chan." It was Tomoyo. "My bodyguards just called. They said they were coming to pick me up."

"Hai. Yue-san, Kero-chan, you should transform back now."

Kagome watched in amazement as the 2 creatures were enveloped by their own wings. As they drew apart, she gasped in surprise and glance between their disguises.

"A stuffed animal? Tsukishiro-san?"

Yukito looked around in confusion in the clearing he was in. The last thing he could remember was doing his homework in his room; and now he was here. He must have…

"I turned into my other self again, didn't I?"

Sakura nodded.

"But…" Yukito paused and turned a questioning look in Kagome's direction. "What's Higurashi-san doing here?"

Sakura sighed. "It's a long story."

It was at that moment a limousine pulled up along the sidewalk. Kero quickly ducked behind Sakura's back. Several beautiful women wearing dark sunglasses and dressed in all black walked, no, strode out of the car and bowed to Tomoyo.

"Miss Daidouji." One of them said respectfully.

"Hai." She replied. "Then, I'll excuse myself now." Tomoyo got into the car.

"Ja ne, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura called as the car got smaller in the distance.

"Well, I'll be going too then." Yukito said. "Be careful on your way home." He called to them.

"Be careful." Syaoran murmured as he passed by her. "I can sense that she's powerful."

'Eh?' Sakura thought worriedly. 'But… Kagome-san seems so nice…'

After everyone was gone, it was only Sakura, Kero, and Kagome left in Penguin Park.

"W-would you like to come over to my house for tea?" Sakura asked shyly; nervous in the presence of such a beautiful girl. Kagome smiled gently down at her, and at that moment, her eyes seemed to hold ancient wisdom in them. But that moment passed in a second. "I can explain everything there."

"Sure!" Kagome responded cheerfully.

And as the 2 girls, plus Kero, walked to her house; Sakura realized something.

"Ne, Kagome-san?"

"What is it?"

Sakura played with the bottom of her shirt nervously. "Anou… you don't seem very surprised by all of this." Kero perked up at the question; waiting to hear the answer.

But Kagome just smiled at them. "I've seen weirder things." She responded vaguely.

Kero frowned at that; but they had already reached Sakura's house. "Is your father home?" Kagome asked.

"Ie. He's at an excavation site. He'll be back by tomorrow evening."

"Oh… so, it's just you and your brother here now?"

"And me!" Kero yelled.

"Hai, hai." Sakura said. "Kagome-san, please sit down. I'll be back with some tea."

Kagome seated herself on a couch in the living room. Soon, Sakura reappeared again with a tray full of tea and snacks. Kero immediately grabbed a cookie.

"Where to start…" Sakura murmured to herself. "Ah! Well, it first started when I was in grade 4. One day after school, I heard a strange noise coming from the basement…"

"And that's how we are now." Sakura finished.

"So that's how it was…" Kagome murmured. "Sakura-chan, you're really brave."

The girl blushed and shook her head hurriedly. "I-I'm not really…"

At that moment, Touya popped his head into the living room. "The bath is ready, kaijuu." He stopped and stared at Kagome.

Sakura jerked upright angrily. "I'm not a monster!" she yelled.

Touya ignored her and moved to sit in the couch across from Kagome. "What's Higurashi doing here?" he asked.

"Ah… about that," Sakura ducked her head nervously and fidgeted. "Well, Kagome-san saw me using magic."

Touya blinked. "Isn't there a card for something like this? Erase?"

Sakura stared at him in surprise.

"H-HOE! I forgot!"

Kagome stared at her worriedly. "You aren't going to erase my memories are you?"

"Well…" Sakura pondered her options. "You have to keep it a secret!"

"It's a promise!" Kagome exclaimed; relieved.

"Now that we're all caught up," Kero interrupted their happy tirade. "There are more important things to discuss."

Sakura tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Eh? Something important? Like what?"

Kero fell down inn exasperation. "Sakura! Did you forget already? A monster attacked you today!"

Touya shot up in alarm and gave her a quick check-over. "A monster? Are you hurt?"

Sakura shook her head. "Iie. I'm fine. But what was it?"

Kagome pretended to frown in thought. "Could it have been sent by magic?" she asked; feigning ignorance, all the while knowing exactly what it was. Smiling inwardly, Kagome watched as they pondered over the new problem. She could always send them a subtle hint and hope no one suspected her.

"Ne, Kinomoto-san." Kagome called.

He looked up at her. "What?"

"For question 7 on our Socials worksheet, what did you get?"

"Question…seven?" Touya stared at her; startled by the unexpected question. "I got that demons were the dominant creatures in Feudal Japan."

Kero looked up. "Youkai…? That's it!"

"Was the monster a youkai?" Sakura asked.

"They lived hundreds of years ago; before I was created, so I can't be sure. But that's the best bet we have."

Sakura considered the idea. "Didn't priestesses and monks used to fight them? Could we ask one?"

"We could but… most of them are fakes. We could go to Tsukimine Shrine though and ask that lady's father."

Touya frowned. "You mean Kaho?"

"That's right!" Kero cheered.

"Then, I can go there after school to check." Sakura offered. "That reminds me... I found this on the ground in the park. What do you think it is?"

Sakura reached into her pocket and took out a wooden doll. Or more specifically, Naraku's wooden doll. 'He knows that I'm here.' Kagome thought grimly. 'He's probably going to target Sakura too. I'll keep my miko status a secret for now. The less they know the better.'

"Sakura." Kero said shakily. "I can feel an evil presence coming from that doll. Maybe you should throw it away."

Sakura blinked down at the seemingly innocent doll, and stood to take it away. Kagome got up too. "I really should be going now. My mother is probably worried."

Touya also stood. "I'll walk you to the door." He offered.

Kagome said nothing and made her way to the front door; with Touya following her. Once they were out of ear-shot, he spoke.

"I don't hate you." He said bluntly.

Kagome stared at him, startled, before giving him a relieved grin that made Touya's heart beat faster. Suddenly, her eyes brightened. "I know! Let's start over again!"

Touya blinked. "Huh?"

Kagome stuck he hand out to him. "My name is Higurashi Kagome. I hope we can be friends!"

Touya smiled slightly at her childishness. "My name is Kinomoto Touya. It's a pleasure to meet you." He reached over to shake her hand.

Kagome, who finished lacing up her shoes, took a flying leap off the front steps. She turned around to face him. "Is it okay if I call you Touya?"

At his nod, she turned onto the road and waved. "Ja, mata ashita Touya-kun!"

Touya shook his head at her and turned to go inside. In the kitchen, Kero frowned in the direction of the front door as Sakura washed the dishes.

"Be careful Sakura, that girl is really something."

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