The world was in a state of chaos, but for someone from the outside looking in, they would never had guessed as such. In fact it was history in the making, a moment that transcended time into all directions. If they went on based on the blue skies with large, fluffy, white clouds, gently warm breeze, it truly was a picture perfect day. However it was as far from that, with everything on the line.
A small group that fought for something so large, vast and diverse, that they knew they had to win. It was all or nothing, with life on the line, even their own included. They were willing to lay their lives on the line.
Kagome panted as she clutched her injured shoulder, she was sure it was dislocated. A hindrance to an archer, but she wasn't about to give up. Not with the end so near! The others were as injured as she was, if not more so, but they were still fighting. Pulling an arrow despite the searing the pain that bloomed from her injured shoulder, Kagome knocked the arrow against her bow. Gritting her teeth, she pulled back and let the arrow fly.
Like a shooting star, it flew across the sky lighting the area with its brilliance and incinerating hordes of Naraku's army. It was quickly followed by another glorious arrow that managed to pass Naraku's defenses and stricking the devil himself.
Managing to escape the majority of purifying arrow, Naraku sneered in the direction of where the Miko stood. He would admit to himself, of all the players, he had underestimated the priestess the most. No more, it was time to take her out once and for all.
"Enough games priestess, it's time to end this." Naraku smirked as he watched her quiver as she watched with panicked eyes how the entire of his army crashed down on her friends.
Kagome watched as her friends began to buckle beneath the onslaught, while she stood there with a clear shoot to Naraku. But it meant he also had a clear shot to her as well. Licking her lips, her grip tightened on her bow as she quickly pulled another arrow and drew back on the bow string. Naraku was also preparing an attack of his own and the two met head on, blinding the entire field with their power clash. Both their attacks using the power of their halves of the Shikon in their hold.
Their powers clashed, light against dark, good against evil, positive against negative. Like the poles of magnets, both halves of the Shikon became whole once again. Their attack against each other with their power battled for dominance. It was a power struggle in all forms as old as time itself.
The power continued to increase, Kagome's own natural purifying abilities were boosted and turned the surrounding demons to ash. The others were blinded but the light, turning towards the source, they had to shield their eyes. All their senses were stunted, muffled, and abused. The sound of static filled their ears, the light blinding them through closed lids, skin heated to a point where they thought they were freezing, the air smelt burnt and overly purified and the taste of blood filled their mouths.
When the light slowly died, and their senses returned to normal, they looked around them but couldn't find any sign that a battle had just taken place. No ash of purified demons, no blood, in fact even their own wounds were healed. What was also missing from the was Kagome and Naraku.
Frantic eyes searched around for their missing friend, but all signs and traces of their friend were erased.
Sango was the first to break the silence, running forward to the spot her friend once stood. "Kagome! Kagome!"
She continued to call the mikos name until she collapsed and began to cry. She beat the lush grass beneath her fist, tears of frustration and hurt. Miroku was at her side instantly, trying to comfort her in any way possible.
"Sango, I'm sure she's fine. Perhaps with the Shikon and Naraku gone, she was sent back home." he wrapped an around her shoulders and pulled her towards him, rubbing soothing circles against her back.
Inuyasha had fallen to his knees, Tessaiga dropped from his loose hold. "Please... no..."
It didn't happen like the had hoped or thought of. They were supposed to have defeated Naraku, get rid of the Shikon and Kagome was to stay with them. His ear twitched when he remembered Miroku's words.
"Wait, guys, why don't we try the well!" Inuyasha's words took a while to filter through everyone's head.
Sango sniffled a few times as she blinked as she contemplated Inuyasha's words, hope filling her and the others. Turning to Miroku who offered her a small smile, he nodded his head. It was a delicate situation, with all of it weighing on whether or not Inuyasha's ability to continue to use the well was still in his favour.
Delicately rubbing her nose and wiping her tears, she accepted Miroku's help onto her feet and smiled at Kirara's tiny mew. "Yes, let us try. Are you coming, Shippo?"
The kit in question jumped, after quickly drying his tears he booked it towards the couple only to launch himself at Miroku. Within minutes the group were hastily making their way towards the magical well that allowed Inuyasha and Kagome to travel through time. Sango and Miroku had decided to wait with Kaede with Shippo while Inuyasha went for the well.
Their hope of hearing that Kagome was indeed back home safe and sound.
Inuyasha ran to the well, heart pounding at such a tempo that he felt light headed. The moment he saw the well, he vaulted at it. The moment he fell past the well's opening, the magic from deep within came to life allowing him to travel through time. He barely landed on the dirt bottom of the dry well in the future, he went straight for the door and the house beyond it.
He skimmed across the pavement towards a familiar window. Jumping, he quickly threw the window open and entered the bedroom. Kagome's scent assaulted him, but there was no sign of the girl herself. Leaving the room, he stormed down the stairs to where he heard the sounds of Kagome's family.
The happy breakfast scene became silent when Inuyasha slid into the kitchen, panting frantically as he clutched at the door frame.
"Oh, Inuyasha!" Nodoka set her teacup down as she began to stand up. "Is everything alright? I knew I should have packed those extra items in the first aid kit for Kagome..."
Inuyasha felt his brows furrow, it didn't make any sense. If Kagome wasn't in the past... she should have been here. "You mean, Kagome isn't here?"
All members of the family stopped their actions all confused with Inuyasha's sudden question. Nodoka furrowed her own brow, and worry began to grow in the pit of her stomach. "...no. No she's not, she's in the past... with you. Isn't she?"
Inuyasha swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, licking his lips he let his head drop and shook his head. "Something... something happened."
The world around her didn't make any sense, it was a swirling mess of blacks and purples. There was nothing solid, as far as she could tell, but that didn't explain how she was standing. Or why she was wearing traditional miko garb.
Wrapping her arms tightly around herself, she felt herself shiver at the many troubling thoughts that ran rampant through her mind. She was alone, in a world that didn't make sense, she didn't know where she was, and she didn't know how to get back home or to the past.
"..."
Her brows furrowed when she heard the sounds of people talking, however it sounded far away and the echoes barely managed to reach her.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" her voice echoed around her until it disappeared completely. "Hello?"
Spinning around, she searched the... place she was in, there was no sign of the people talking, and the origin of the voices seemed to be coming from everywhere. They were also so quiet and distant to actually pinpoint them.
"...umon, Gentle Priestess!"
"What-!" Kagome lurched as she felt herself being forcefully ripped from the world she was in, it was a rather nauseating sensation.
A blinding white light caused her to throw her hands up to protect her eyes, and her head throbbed as her senses were suddenly overwhelmed.
"The Gentle Priestess is a rare card, but she is rather useless. However... she does make a good sacrifice."
Kagome blinked her eyes she finally adjusted to the light, but then she stiffened when the words registered through to her. Turning around, she didn't take notice of her surroundings. That is... until she noticed a rather... sick looking giant insect.
Letting out a scream, she jumped back from the creature. That was not the welcome back home she had been hoping for. As she kept an eye on the overgrown critter, whispers of a few people off to the side about the strange actions of a card. All in all... she was totally lost. When the bug turned to look at her, she panicked and reacted.
"Seems your Gentle Priestess doesn't like your comments or your monsters."
At the voice, Kagome blinked. Wait. She was this Gentle Priestess? What the heck was going on? She was still huddled in her spot, and though she was pushing herself away from where the bug once stood, she wasn't going anywhere. This was all too much, honestly.
"Gentle Priestess... knock that Yugi's Dark Magician down!"
Blinking at the snarling command, Kagome turned to the boy that stood atop a raised platform and took him in. He looked like a spoiled brat with some real ego issues. Standing up, she dusted her hakama's off and crossed her arms with a huff.
"I said take him down!" the boy screamed at her.
Like she was about to allow that brat to tell her what to do. Looking across from her, she furrowed her brows at what she saw. A tall man in purple stood across from her holding a green staff, his teal eyes flashed when they turned to her and she shivered. This was no where near home!
Leaning to the side, she spied another boy on a different raised platform. She was thrown out of the loop at his hair... and the odd duality she was picking up from him. Great... another weird situation she got herself in. And she didn't even know how.
A hand slapping against a hard solid surface from behind drew Kagome's attention. "You really are a useless card, no matter how rare you are. I use my Fushi No Tori to attack your life points directly and regain every life point you lose!"
Raising a brow, Kagome came to a few realizations. One, she had not said a word yet in her defense which was odd enough for her case. Two, she apparently appeared during the middle of some sort of... whatever that involved opponents. And lastly, she was not a happy camper.
Sharp eyes followed the blazing bird as it flew across towards the boy with the strange hair. Well, she couldn't allow that! Calling forth her powers, she felt a bow form in her hands and an arrow flew and struck the bird down.
"You dumb Priestess! You aren't supposed to attack my cards, you are one of mine!"
Oh that was it! Tossing her bow down, she turn on the boy behind her, and realizing she was actually taller than him, leaned down to get eye to eye with him. "You know what, you're nothing but a spoiled brat! All you do is whine, complain and shout orders like your the king of the hill. Well here's some news for you, you ain't!"
"Can duel cards do that?" a girl whispered to her friends next to her, drawing Kagome's attention.
"That's it, I've had it with this Priestess card!" the boy drew Kagome's attention and she watched in confusion as he pulled a card that was hidden from her view and tossed it away.
The card was quickly carried away from the wind, tumbling and turning and Kagome watched in utter confusion. The others were also watching in shock as it flew and the boy across from her easily managed to snatch it out of the air. She raised a brow as he brought it down, he shot the boy behind her a smirk and placed the card down.
The odd sensation she felt as she was ripped from that swirling world ran through her again and Kagome suddenly felt herself now staring at the boy that had thrown the card. Stumbling when her center of gravity adjusted at the sudden switch, she groaned. "I think I'm going to be sick..."
A large hand suddenly gripped her her arm and helped keep her steady. Pressing a hand to her brow, she turned to the one helping her keep steady, she let out a squeak at the piercing teal gaze that was locked on her. Shaking her head, she faced forward.
"Impossible! The Gentle Priestess is mine!" the boy screamed, causing Kagome's brow to tick. She hated when people claimed her as if she were their property.
"I believe not. I play Gentle Priestess in defense mode and end my turn."
Kagome was beyond confused, but she thought it best to continue with whatever was happening, despite it not pleasing her at all, to figure out whatever was going on. She didn't pay attention to the words that were said, just instinctively followed whatever it was the Yugi boy said when it was concerning 'Gentle Priestess'.
She blocked attacks, revealed traps, and attacked various creatures. The battle ended quickly, with those on the sides cheering for Yugi. Blinking she turned to the one called Dark Magician, still on edge whenever he turned to her. Though the gaze didn't last long, thankfully for her, her world shifted and she was now standing on the sidelines.
"What on earth is going on~?" Kagome cried out as she tightly gripped her hair. First she was in the past battling against Naraku and then she was in a strange world only to be forcefully pulled into that strange battle.
She was mussing her hair trying to figure out the sequence of events. She started at point B went to D and then went through the square root of 23 only to end up at A! It just didn't make any sense! Still so deep in her thoughts try to figure out where how things had worked out the way they had, she let out a scream when a heavy hand fell on her shoulder.
Jumping away, she swung her hands out to keep the one that surprised her at bay. "Stay back! I know karate!"
With eyes clenched shut, she continued to swing her arms about wildly. When a person chuckled, she stopped her actions and opened her eyes. Lowering a leg she hadn't known she had raised to lash out with, her arms quickly followed. There before her, was the odd boy.
His black hair was styled up in spikes, but she noticed when the light hit it, it showed a deep red sheen. His bangs however were were blond. She had to wonder if it was his natural hair color...s. His eyes were also a strange coloring, they were oddly dark and bright at the same time. And far deeper than she thought possible.
"Um... hi?" Kagome gave a short quick wave, still at a loss who this person was.
"Hello." his gaze was not one she felt comfortable under.
Licking her lips, her eyes darted to the group of people that had cheered him on. Looking back towards the Yugi boy... "Right... I'm gonna go now. Bye!"
Spinning about she started walking, only to squeak when she ran into a wall. Stumbling back, she whimpered when she realized that the wall she had walked into was in fact that man dressed in a weird purple wizard suit. Offering a somewhat forced smile, she moved to step around him only to stop short when he blocked her path. Going the other way, she scowled when he blocked that path as well.
"Oh come on, just let me by!" letting out a huff with a stomp of her foot, she stared the man down. "Look, it was nice being here, had a blast and... what not, but now I just want to go home!"
"But you are home." the voice, though sounding much deeper that it possibly could, came from the oddly hair crazed boy behind her.
Turning towards him, her expression one of confusion. "No I'm not. I'm... I have no idea where I currently am, but this is not my home."
The boy raised a brow before pulling a card out and showing it to her. "This is your card."
Watching the boy, and shooting the oddly dressed man beside her a wary eye, Kagome leaned closer to look at the card. Her brows furrowed at the picture and what was written. It said 'Gentle Priestess' and had a picture that looked a lot like her. Beneath it there was a description stating that the priestess though gentle of heart, was more powerful than she looked.
"Um... no it's not. That looks like some sort of... gaming card. I'm not into games myself." standing up her full height, she plastered on a smile and offered a wave. "Like I said, while this was all interesting, I gotta go. Bye-bye!"
"I meant this is you. You are the spirit of this card. And how can you not know of Duel Monsters?" he tucked the card back in with the others, his tone sounding more than confused.
"Duel Monsters? I think my brother mentioned something or other like that a while back... or was that about pokemen pets?" Kagome raised a hand and tapped a finger against her bottom lip.
Yugi was confused. He was sure this young woman was in fact the spirit of the Gentle Priestess card, but she was talking about things most spirit cards shouldn't have and knowledge of.
"Look, if I'm some spirit card, then will your friends be able to see me?" her sudden question drew his attention.
"Well... no, they won't. Why do you ask?" his brows furrowed at her sudden sly smirk that had her blue eyes twinkling.
"Oh, no reason! Hi! My name's Kagome, Yugi-kun here was just explaining somethings about his duel to me!" the young woman, now identified as Kagome, called to his friends as they were making their way towards him with a friendly greeting.
Yugi was shocked to see his friends falter in their steps but returned the greeting just as warmly. "Oh, I'm Tea, and this is Joey and Tristan. It's a pleasure to me you. But I have to ask, are you cosplaying the Gentle Priestess?"
He continued to watch the shocking interaction between Kagome and his friends. "Actually no. I live on a shrine in Tokyo."
"I see, so you're here to watch the duels then?" Tea asked with a tilt of her head.
"Hehe... not really. Could you tell me the today's date?" Kagome scratched the back of her head as she nervously fidgeted while all eyes were on her.
"The date?" Tristan scratched the back of his own head as he leaned to get a closer look at Kagome.
"Yeah, I'm uh... a little lost, so to speak. But I need the date first before I know where I am." she was no longer fidgeting, her expression rather serious.
"O-oh, okay." Tea answered the question, Yugi easily able to pick up her confusion and concern.
"Hmm, two months... Not good. Right, and where are we?" it was Kagome's honest expectations of an answer notified them that she had no idea where they currently were.
"Eh? You don't know where we are?" Joey stuffed his hands into his pockets as he laughed at the absurdity of the girl's predicament.
Kagome narrowed her eyes on Joey. "If I knew that, I wouldn't be asking!" she let out a huff as she crossed her arms.
"Oh... well we're on an island where there's-!"
"What?" Kagome's sudden reaction startled everyone. "I'm not near Tokyo? Why does this always happen to me?"
They all watched as she slumped, and let out a frustrated cry. When she suddenly dropped into a crouch to bury her face into her knees, they all stilled. The boys began to panic when they heard her sniffling and saw her shoulders began to shake.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! There's no need to cry!" Joey panicked as he floundered about, unsure of what to do.
"Yeah, Joey here can do some amazing tricks, so cheer up!" Tristan crouched down next to the girl, trying to lighten the mood as he rubbed soothing circles on her back.
Joey paused at Tristan's words, his panicked expression replaced with anger as he turned to his oldest friend. "Oi! I ain't no trained dog or monkey, so take that back!"
"I'm trying to calm her down!" Tristan argued back.
Tea rolled her eyes and took the free spot next to Kagome as the two friends argued on not only the best way to calm a crying girl down, but also how Joey wasn't a trained pet. "Sheesh, boys will always be boys. Listen, are you okay?"
"Not really, it's been two months! My family must think I'm missing or dead by now!" Kagome continued to cry into her knees, her words drawing everyone's attention.
"Missing or dead? Were you... kidnapped, Kagome?" Tea gingerly wrapped an arm around Kagome's shoulders, silently offering her support.
Kagome sniffled as she raised her head. "Kind of... not really... I actually don't remember."
There was a heavy silence at her words. She was kidnapped? Two months of her memory were missing? What just happened to this girl.
"We'll help you get home, Kagome. It may take a short while, but we'll help you." Tea offered a soft smile, her willingness to help those in need kicking in.
Kagome sniffled as she turned watery eyes towards the other girl. "Really? You would help me?"
Smiling, Tea nodded her head. "Of course! But like I said, it might take a little longer than you may want. We need to do some very important things first."
Returning the smile, though it was a bit watery, Kagome shook her head. "It's alright, I'm happy to accept your help. Though I do wish I could call my family to let them know I'm alright."
Yugi watched as Tea helped Kagome back up onto her feet, the girls talking softly until Tea told Joey and Tristan to cut out their arguing. There was something odd about Kagome, he was sure she was the one that had been on the field during his most recent duel, but he didn't understand how.
He didn't realize how deep into his thoughts he had been until a shocked cry from Tea startled him. Jumping to attention he started running to where the others had disappeared from his sight after they entered the woods, he was stopped when a sudden weight was dropped atop of him.
"Owww~" Yugi blinked at the feminine voice that sounded from above him.
The person rolled over, and he was grateful it was also off of him, that allowed him to turn to view who it was that had fallen atop of him. He was shocked to see Kagome pushing herself into a sitting position as she rubbed the back of her head.
He pushed himself till he was on his haunches as he stared in disbelief. He had watched her walk away with Tea and the others, so how did she suddenly appear back here?
"Kagome? Kagome where are you?" Tristan's calls startled the two to turn towards the woods at the worried calls.
She turned to face him, his own expression most likely mirrored her own. Of utter confusion. A sudden glow from his pocket drew both their attention. Yugi reached in and pulled out the sudden glowing item. It was one of his cards, the Gentle Priestess.
"That card again?" Kagome dropped her head at the sight of the card. "Is that some sort of leash or something?"
Yugi watched with wide eyes as she poked the card only sparks to erupt. The card warmed up and Kagome herself began to glow. Looking up to Kagome, he was put off at at the upset pout she was wearing as she glared at the card in his hand. He was sure if it were possible, he would set the card up in flames with her mere gaze.
He quickly tucked the card back into his pocket, though Kagome's eyes followed his actions. His friends came upon them like that, shocked to see Kagome sitting there instead of back in the woods.
"Kagome? But how...?" Joey kept looking between the two that were sitting on the ground.
Tristan raised a brow at the look Kagome was wearing, which was none too pleased in all honesty. Yugi on the other hand looked sheepish and appeared to try and calm Kagome down. "Well, are you two coming or what?"
"Yeah, yeah." Kagome stood up dusting the red hakama's off. Looking down, her lips pursed as she took in the boys oddly changed appearance. It was subtle, but it was there. The blond steaks of hair that had been spike upwards with the rest of his own hair was now with the rest of his bangs. The sharp gleam in his eyes was gone, in it's place was something of youthful innocence. Not only that... but was he shorter now? How as such a thing even possible?
"Come on, need a hand up?" she offered him a hand, she was sure to ask her questions about all of this, but that could be dealt with later.
Really, just what was Duel Monster and how was she now tied to it? And more importantly, what happened during the two missing months, Naraku and the Shikon? There were far too many questions and not enough answers.
AN: This literally came to me after watching the first episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! for the first time in a long time. Read, enjoy, and review!