Tying his persian orange hair up with the usual blue ribbon, Shippo began his morning. The other wolf demon children were still sleeping on their beds of animal fur while he prepared for the day's journey. Before all the kids were forced to go to bed Shippo was showing off and telling stories of his travels. The boys in particular really enjoyed them. They also liked the retelling of the story of how the half demon came to take Kagome away after their leader declared his love for her. Shippo shared this tale with elaborate drawings on the wall, similar to the ones he did for Keade back at the village. His favorite part of the evening was showing off the fox demon tricks he liked to play on Inuyasha. Everyone loved him! It made him want to stay. To be sure he had all of his items of trickery he checked his hidden pockets and was surprised to find his spinning top was missing. The kitskune let out a small yelp as he began rummaging around the den's room searching for his favorite battle items. "Where did it go? Where did it go?" he asked himself quietly, "Where did it go?!"
"Are you looking for this?"
The soft girlish voice surprised him. As he turned he came eye to eye with Uri, a girl with bright red hair and a swishing wolf tail. She held out her hands, revealing the small top. Shippo carefully retrieved it and put it away in his pocket. "Thank you," he muttered.
As he spun on his heel to dart out of the room he was caught in the Uri's hold. "Please be safe and return soon," she pleaded. Her soft hand grasping his was enough to make the little boy's heart go wild.
He cleared his throat, "There's so guarantee for a warrior but if I can I'll come back." The fox demon's cool statement sent the girl into a fit of giggles. Pulling him into her she planted a swift peck on his cheek and dashed out of the den. Shippo blinked in surprise. Wow... He thought to himself holding his face where the girl's invisible lip print's remained. The kitskune walked out into the hallway wobbling at the knees and stumbled into the main cave. Kagome was pleased to see him. She sat by Sango and the elder female demon who had been making herbal remedies the day before when Fear struck their home.
"Shippo! Come on over here!" Kagome waved him over.
The child tripped over a rock on the way before coming to his senses and dashing over on all fours. The Priestess chuckled when she noticed the lop sided bow in his hair.She made a circular motion with her index finger indicating he needed to spin around. "Done," she said after retying his hair into a more presentable pony tale.
"Thanks Kagome," Shippo smiled at her with appreciation, "how did you sleep?"
Kagome smiled nervously, "Great, just great." If anyone were to find out what happened, that she and the Wolf Prince had laid together in his bed, surely assumptions would be made. She was beginning to question the feelings she felt when he called her his woman? The blush that warmed her cheeks when his hands grasped hers? Nothing made sense. A part of her was trying to stay true to letting go the half demon Inuyasha, which in turn was letting Kouga in. A few days ago she had attempted to "break up" with the dog demon and when he became defensive of her closeness with the wolf Youkai she lashed out at him. She was still feeling guilty and trying her best not to show it.
"I hope you are being honest, the task that lies ahead is going to be hard on you," the elder demon warned. They learned that her name was Shinzo. She was one of the oldest in the tribe.
Kagome slept more than okay in Kouga's arms. With him she felt safe and loved, all the things she searched for in Inuyasha and never found. Shaking the thought away she reassured her friends who stared at her with concern. "Don't worry, I'm feeling fine." Physically, the priestess felt well rested and ready to battle. However, mentally, she was feeling unprepared. Everyone was so confident that she would be able to mimic what other mikos in the past had done. Today they were to be facing a foe that the human eye was unable to detect. No one knew if it was a demon, a spirit, or some other creature. Her and Miroku were to use their spiritual abilities to bind the beast away again just as the monk's father had done years before. Naraku had released what the people of this time called "Fear". A being that had the ability to recreate your worse nightmare. How am I supposed to beat something I can't see?
"Good morning ladies, Shippo," Miroku greeted and winked at the demon slayer, "Sango."
Sango's cheeks blushed a furious read as she glared at the monk.
Shippo blinked staring at Sango wide eyed, "Did something happen between you two last night?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" she huffed.
The attention was taken off of her when Kouga entered from the entrance of the den with Ginta and Hakkaku. The wolf demons had went on an early morning scouting trip. Kouga explained to Kagome it was routine to make sure enemies didn't wonder into their territory uninvited. They made their rounds to not only ensure the packs protection but this morning they did it to let everyone know that despite the terror that flooded their home yesterday they could carry out with their duties and their leisurely activities as normal. Kagome sensed his alpha presence among his people. He was a strong, dependable, leader and she began to admire this quality about him.
"Yo," he smirked making eye contact with Kagome.
"Hey Kouga, how was the morning run?"
He shrugged, "The usual. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Good," Miroku sighed, "We'll have to get going very soon. No telling where that thing is, or what it has attached itself to."
Shinzo growled, "It can impact more than one person, this is it's strength, be weary travelers."
The monk nodded in agreement heading to the mouth of the cave. "Let us be on our way then."
Kagome spotted her back pack across the room and went to grab it when she was stopped by a hand grasping her arm gently. The owner of the rough, callus covered hand was none other than the Wolf Prince. "We will return for your things after our mission, this way we can travel light. You should only carry the things you absolutely need."
Carrying the heavy sack of materials she didn't need for their trip was a waste of time and strength. What did she need? Without a doubt she had to have her bow and arrows. It was the only thing she thought to be essential to defeat the creature. "Okay," she agreed with Kouga.
Finishing her trek over to grab her weapons, she also reached into the pocket of her bag to retrieve a necklace. It was simple chain with a small bottle as the center piece and inside were fragments of the sacred jewel shard. Along the way they lost quite a few to Naraku but luckily they were able to salvage these from defeated enemies. Hopefully today they'd be able to find more. That would be a bonus. How can you be thinking of jewel shards at time like this? She mentally smacked herself. I should be focusing on my energy to somehow seal this thing away. Kagome wasn't sure how she was going to do it. The only energy she had the ability to draw from was the positive reassurance her friends had to offer.
The journey down the mountain didn't seem nearly as long as the journey up it. Within hours they were surrounded by forest greenery. In front of the group was Sango and Miroku who were careful not to look at each other. Kirara was perched on the demon slayer's shoulder while Shippo hung on Kagome's shoulder, and Kouga stood right by the Priestess's side. His lackies, Ginta and Hakkaku followed behind the humans and their leader, talking among themselves. Kagome glanced at the strong, handsome demon at her side but was careful not to meet his gaze.
What they had wasn't love, it couldn't be. There was no way she'd fall in love with someone over the short amount of time had they spent together. A crush she decided to call it. It made more sense for her to call it crush since she barely knew Kouga and to fall for a guy she barely knew was very unlike her. She had that figured out but then aroused the question, should she tell him? Would the wolf demon even understand? Her infatuation with him wasn't the same thing she felt with Inuyasha... so she told herself.
Kouga was also thinking about the Priestess to his left. He was beginning to suspect something was brewing between them but he didn't know whether to act on it. If he were to act on it, would he lose Kagome forever? The human girl seemed to be taking things slowly. Obviously she was that type of woman because her and the hanyou never mated. Kouga gulped, "Um, uh, Kagome, I was wondering... if it was at all possible to talk about us?"
The girl's eyes grew to the size of dish saucers. "Not right now Kouga," she hushed him. The familiar sensation clouded her mind's eye as a jewel called for her.
"Oh," he frowned.
She furrowed her brows together, "No I mean not right now, I feel a scared jewel shard near by."
"Oh!" He took a stance, the two of them stopping and gazing around the forest that surrounded them.
Shippo clung even tighter to Kagome his tiny body shaking. "C-c-can you s-s-sense anything Miroku?" the tiny fox demon quivered with fear.
The monk stomped his staff into the ground and stood still. He focused on the chimes that traveled after his actions and grasped Sango's arm. "Something is here."
"And it's not a demon," Kouga added, "I'd be able to smell it."
Ginta and Hakkaku stood back to back trying to find the source of the invisible force but they were unable to pick up anything either. Their leader was right, whatever was around them they couldn't see, smell, or hear it. Kagome however, sensed a shard, and Miroku felt the ominous presence. It had to be the creature they were in search of. The Priestess plucked an arrow from her back satchel and held it outstretched against the wooden bow. She wasn't taking any chances. Whatever this thing was she was prepared for battle. A light fog fell in catching the party of humans and youkai off guard.
"What is this?" Sango blinked.
"Don't breathe it in!" Miroku directed shielding his face with his sleeve.
The demon slayer put on her mask and covered her cat demon's mouth. She held Kirara to her chest. The others attempted to mask themselves. Kagome fell to the ground only seconds later, coughing and wheezing. She was trying to be brave, but she was scared. Her friends were depending on her yet she couldn't pull herself together. The only thing she was able to think was that they should have found Kikyo to help while they had the chance. Even Inuyasha would have voted his dead girlfriend to take the spot light in this defeat.
"No!" Kouga gasped lunging down to the ground. He held her close as the fox demon child hopped off of her shielding his nose.
Miroku spotted the being but a few feet away. He wondered if the others were able to see the black mass heading towards them. "It's coming for us, the key is to not be afraid. You'll fall victim to it's tricks."
"Easy for you to say," Shippo muttered into his hands that he held clasped over his mouth and nose.
"Kagome," Kouga shook her lightly, "Can you hear me?" He held his head to her chest. Her heart was still beating but she wouldn't open her eyes. "KAGOME!"
As much as she wanted to, her eyes wouldn't open. Kouga's voice sounded like it was coming from miles away. Snap out of it! She ordered herself, Your friends need you! She felt her consciousness slipping away into an unfamiliar state. I'm so scared... The last thing she heard was the Wolf Prince calling out her name.
Kagome's eyes fluttered open only to find herself back into her bright pink bedroom. She gazed around drowsily. What happened? She wondered. Where were her friends? Why was she back in her room? Throwing her bed comforter off of her she was wearing her favorite pajamas instead of her school uniform. Was the battle over? Did they win? She slipped on her house shoes and dashed down the stairs. "Mom! Grandpa! Sota!" She cried.
The three beings she called out for sat around the kitchen table and stared at her worriedly. "What's wrong Kagome?" her mother frowned.
"How did I get back here?!"
Her grandfather shrugged sipping his tea, "We have no idea. Your brother found you laying outside by the sacred tree last night."
"What?" she looked to Sota, "did you see anyone leave me there?" She wondered if maybe Kouga brought her back... or Inuyasha.
He shook his head nervously glancing at their mother, "I'm afraid not sis."
Without warning the teenager ran out of the room and headed for the front door. Her hands shook as she grasped its handle and pulled it open, not bothering to shut it behind her. She headed for the hut that housed the well. Her feet felt like bricks as she ran for the wooden shutters that held it closed. Pulling one aside she leaped in and climbed the latter. Before reaching the last step she jumped off but instead of feeling the usual sensation of traveling through time she landed with a thump on dirt ground. "What's happening?" Grasping the latter she attempted to jump off again. As she collided onto the earth once more tears began to well up in her eyes. She pounded her fists on the dusty bottom of the bone eaters well. "Open up damn you!" she cursed. A sob escaped her as she curled up on the well's floor. "Why... why?" she cried out.
"Kagome?" Her head perked up suddenly meeting the concerned face of her mother that hovered over the top of the well.
"M-m-mom?" she croaked. Her arms numbly lifted herself up using the well's rickety walls before dragging herself up the latter. Her mother helped her out the rest of the way once she reached the top. Grabbing one of her daughter's arm she draped it around herself carrying her out of the well's house. "It's closed," Kagome concluded with a whimper.
Her Mom sat her on the bench in front of the sacred tree and held her. It was hard to imagine what her daughter was going through but she deserved the truth. "I know this must be hard on you Kagome," she cooed, "in all honesty Sota didn't want to be the one to break the news to you."
Kagome wiped away the snot that was beginning to seep out of her nose and stared at her mother in confusion.
"Inuyasha returned with you."
Kagome's eyes grew wide, "What?"
"He said you passed out during battle but him and another woman saved you and your friends."
"Other woman?"
"He said it was a very good friend of his."
"Kikyo..." Kagome muttered. She was the only other person who had the ability to seal away the monster they had been fighting. The teenager shook her head, "But it still doesn't explain why the well is closed!"
Her mother rocked her back and forth. "Inuyasha's friend, the one you called Kikyo, sealed it to protect you. He said that she was going to carry out the journey in your place."
"No!" The girl muffled her scream by throwing her face into her mother's chest. Sadness overwhelmed her. Naraku was still alive. He was still threatening her friend's lives and now there was nothing she could do. There was no going back. "I didn't even get to say good bye..." she mumbled.
After about twenty minutes of consoling, and snot and tears, her mother helped her inside. It was still hard for her to believe that this was the end. She feared there would be a day when she couldn't return to her friends back in Feudal Era. Unfortunately she didn't know it'd happen this quickly and without warning. Kagome was left alone in her room staring at the school uniform folded up on her desk. Rubbing her puffy eyes she stood and wondered over to it. She shimmied out of her pajamas and changed into the sailor white top and green skirt. She sat on her bed and pulled on a pair of knee high socks before grabbing her yellow back pack. Unfastening it's bindings she pulled out the first aid kit and all the other medical supplies leaving only her school books. If this was it, if things are truly over, she had to move on.
Throwing the bag over her shoulder she was surprised to find how light it was. She wanted to cry again but stifled it back. It had been almost a week since she was last in school. Trudging back down stairs she met her mother and brother at the front door who stared at her dumb founded. "Are you sure you wanna go to school sis?"
She nodded, "It's not the end of the world after all. Back to my normal everyday life."
"You don't have to go, grandpa already told them you were sick with the flu," her mother explained.
This made Kagome break out into a smile, "For once he used something generic, he must have ran out of creative diseases."
Sota laughed, "You could say that."
See I can do this, I can just leave the past in the past. Slipping on her shoes, she followed Sota out of the house. The sun was shining, only a few clouds littered the sky. The warm spring breeze lifted her raven hair causing it to bustle around her. This was a new start, she decided. No more demons, no jewel shards, no love triangles or pesky bandits. She need only to focus on studying and spending her time doing "normal" teenager things with her "normal" modern day friends.
As she came upon the school she waved bye to her brother who continued down the street to the elementary school. Some welcomed her with surprised faces, others with warm welcoming smiles. Her friends Ayumi, Yuka and Eri were of course there within seconds soon as word got back that she returned. "What are you doing here?" One asked. "I thought you were still sick!" The other exclaimed.
She sighed, "I'm actually feeling a lot better so I decided to come in."
"Good to have you back, Hojo is going to be so happy to see you!" Eri grinned.
Yuma snickered, "Soon as he heard you caught the flu he began a collection for a new get well basket from the entire class."
"Good grief," Kagome rolled her eyes, "well if you see him tell him I said thanks but I'm fine." Sort of... She thought to herself. Getting through school wasn't as hard as she thought it was going to be except once she thought she saw Miroku and Sango when in passing a student groped a girls behind in the hall. Also when heading to her locker she passed a guy with a baseball cap that she almost mistaken for Inuyasha and chocked back her tears. Everything was reminding her of them. Soon as the bell rang signaling for the class to be over she left without saying good bye to her friends. She had to go somewhere new. Some place, not familiar. Huffing and puffing down the road she stopped once she reached a new street. She passed a variety of store fronts but stopped when she happened upon a book shop. Kagome had never seen it before and read the sign above the entrance that said "Howling Wolves". "Something different," she sighed, "something new." As she pulled open the shops door a bell chimed. That noise sounded familiar but she couldn't quite place it. The shelves were grand, holding thousands of books. What to look for?
"Can I help you with anything?"
She looked to the owner of the voice and found herself at a loss for words. Behind the cash register stood a man dressed in a long blue shirt and mustard yellow khaki's, his long back hair pulled back into a low pony tail. "Kouga?" she breathed out his name stumbling forward to the counter.
"Uh," he raised a brow, "Actually the name is Kenji."
Kagome blushed, "Oh, sorry, you just look like someone I know."
"Must be someone pretty important if he makes you turn redder than a tomato," the man winked.
She tried to blink away the tears but as hard as she tried to restrain herself she couldn't. Kagome's eyes were watering heavier than a babbling brook. The man named Kenji rushed over and grasped her shoulders forcing her to look up at him. "Hey I'm sorry, don't cry!" One of his rough hands reached up and wiped away the tears. Even his hands felt like the wolf demons! Without warning the tall, built man pulled her into an embrace and began to stroke her hair. "Please come back Kagome."
"What?" she whispered into his chest.
"Come back to us, we need you."
Even though she knew it was a figment of her imagination, that this man was named Kenji not Kouga, she desperately clung to his every word. "You guys have Kikyo now, and Inuyasha doesn't want me there. He's the one who brought me back here in the first place," she blubbered.
"What?" Kenji pulled back to gaze into the young girl's eyes. Her dark brown orbs stared deeply into his sky blue ones trying to understand.
"The well is closed, I can't go back."
The clerk shook his head a chuckle escaping him.
"It's not funny!" She yelled. What was she saying? Of course it was! This guy had no idea what she was talking about and probably thought she was crazy, imagining him saying stupid things.
"Kagome..." he whispered.
"How did you know my name?"
"Your friends need you, I need you! Please, come back to me."
"Kouga?" Her face lit up with a smile.
He nodded his hand resting on the small of her back, closing what little distance there was between the two. Bending his down she found herself responding to his movements craning her head up to look at his lips that slowly began to close in on her own. Before she could even mutter another word he locked his mouth with hers kissing her passionately. He pulled away and stoked her cheek with the back of his hand. "Kagome..."
"Kouga," she whispered back.
"Kagome..."
She sighed laying her head on his chest, "Kouga..."
"KAGOME!"
Her eyes shot open focusing in on the world. Kouga was lunged in front of her kicking away a giant black tentacle. It wasn't real! She never left the feudal era!
"KAGOME! WAKE UP! WE NEED YOU!" the Youkai called.