Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Inuyasha or Kuroko no Basket, they belong to their respective authors/creators.

The Battlefield of Basketball: It's Just Began

Chapter Three: Memories within Dreams

Early June 1992

It was a uniformly boring evening outside of time as Yuuto idly swiped from scene to scene around Japan before letting his head fall back with a sigh, "Boring, boring, boring! I'm so bored! We still have at least sixteen years before we catch up to time and nothing interesting is happening!"

"Kukuku…you sound restless Yuuto. Not liking the lack of fighting and bloodshed of decades past?" Naraku drifted over towards him and glanced at the idyllic evening scene of a peaceful town towards the northern part of Japan that the view had stopped at.

"Yes! Something should be happening, even the youkai seem to have mellowed out! They're not causing a ruckus at all!"

"I, for one, am happy that we're in a more peaceful time." Kagome had snuck up behind them and relished the slight startle she was able to get out of them both. Smirking, she continued, "It's a relief for me at least, to not constantly be on the alert and just let history pass us by."

Glancing towards the view she muttered, "Though it's been weird seeing my parent's courtship and marriage outside of picture albums."

"Hmmm," Naraku wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers. "It has been amusing to follow your old friend's descendants. Who could have imagined you were related to the monk and slayer, as well as dear old Inuyasha and Kikyo through their lines marrying each other?"

"Eh, that should be expected. Kagome is exceptional and she should have a powerful, exceptional lineage." Yuuto ambled over and leaned against Kagome as well, wrapping an arm around her waist. For all that it had been over 490 years, both of them were still very tactile with her. They liked having her attention on them and that would likely never change.

"It has been inter…" All at once Kagome's eyes went out of focus and her soul body became intangible, slipping from their arms and drifting back to her physical body before vanishing.

Naraku and Yuuto shared an alarmed look as they rushed back to her body and tried shaking her awake.

"Nothing's working! Why isn't she waking up!?"

"Shouldn't you know?! You're why we're stuck here!"

Yuuto's hair started to blow in an unseen breeze as his pink eyes bled into a magenta color, "Want to say that again, Na…ra…ku? I fulfilled a bargain, nothing more or less!"

His power slowly faded as he stroked Kagome's hair, her head resting in his lap, "We've never had any issues! Why now? Kagome is going to be born next year!"

Naraku eyes lit up and his clenched hands loosened as he turned back towards the window to Japan and rapidly flipped to a scene with a familiar man and woman curled up together in bed. It was obvious what they had been doing earlier that evening, even as they started to drift off into sleep.

"Ah."

"What do you mean, ah? What 'ah' are you talking about?"

Naraku switched the scene to a panoramic view of the shrine as he smirked, "Well, it seems our dear Kagome has just been conceived within time. I'd wager that something or someone tossed her soul back into her body, so she won't be able to interfere with her own life."

He glided back over before sinking down and pulling Kagome's physical body into his lap, even though Yuuto hissed his displeasure at no longer being able to stoke her hair. "After all, it took all three of us to break through before when we tried to directly interact with anyone. When we tried anything on our own, we couldn't do much without Kagome's skill in slipping past barriers, unless we wanted to greatly deplete our powers. We won't be able to do anything within time now without her."

Yuuto shifted so that he could lay his head in her lap, a pose that they had done multiple times before. But, it wasn't the same without her awake. "Well, it wasn't me and, since I'm still connected to the well, I can say that it had nothing to do with this either."

They exchanged heavy looks, before saying together, "Kami."

Yuuto twined a piece of Kagome's hair around his fingers, "It's interesting that the Kami are only interfering now. I wonder if we'll have to deal with anything when we step back into time."

Naraku lip curled, "If we survive each other that long without her. To paraphrase our dear Kagome, 'It's going to be a long, long 16 years.'"

Kagome's soul settled into her body with no time for panic. Her mind drifting, shifting towards her long-gone friends, her ancestors, and the last memory she had of them on the day she left the past….

Feudal Era- Japan

Year 1502

After she woke up from her day-long sleep, Kagome avoided any questions by saying she needed to pack and then she would spend time with all of them and tell them more. Once her packing was done, she grabbed the last of her notebooks and coloring pencils.

"Shippo! Rin! How about we go to the field and draw some pictures!"

Shippo came running with Rin not far behind, "Sounds good! Let's go, Rin!"

Grabbing her hand, he pulled Kagome towards the field outside the village with Rin running ahead. She smiled, though her heart was aching for what was to come. They were like her own children and she was going to be leaving them. It was like a sword-slice right across her heart to know that she was losing them… even if it was going to be better for them in the long run.

Sitting down under a tree at the edge of the fields she handed over the notebook and pencils, laughing as they each wanted to draw a different flower and were going around the field before settling. After letting them enjoy it for a while she called, "Shippo, could you come here please?"

"Coming Kaa-san!" He ran over and she pulled him into a hug. "You've heard about what happened from the others yesterday right?"

"Yeah, most of it. What happened with Naraku?"

"You don't need to worry about him anymore, alright? And the Shikon is now my responsibility again and I'll never let what happened five years ago ever happen again."

He nuzzled her neck, "I know that Kaa-san, you can handle yourself now! Just like me!"

She giggled, "Yes, just like you."

Stroking his hair, she choked back tears, "I'm going to miss you so very much, little one."

His arms tightened around her, "Me too, Kaa-san." Then he puffed up, "But I'm not that little anymore! I've grown taller!"

And it was true, with her sitting down his head was level with her own now. Drawing a deep breath, Kagome loosened her hold and looked straight into his eyes. "Would you like to hear the bargain I made for you?"

Wide-eyed, Shippo could only nod. She gave a half-smile, "When I go through the well a lot of things will be different, but one thing that I was able to do was make sure you get your Otou-san back."

"Really!?"

"Really! I wanted to make sure you would be taken care of when I left."

Shippo launched himself at Kagome, clinging to her neck, "Thank you! Thank you! I've missed him so much and when we get to your time you can meet him! I can tell him all about you and our adventures with everyone!"

Tears slipped down her cheeks, even as she smiled. "You're welcome, Shippo. I love you very much and I hope you always know you're loved."

"Love you too, Kaa-san!"

Pulling away, she kept smiling even as she wiped away her tears and pulled a camera out of her pocket. "I'm going to take a few pictures real quick, okay?"

Laughing he nodded before showing off some of his fox tricks, too happy and excited to stay still. Once Kagome finished, she said, "How about you run back over and color some more while I talk to Rin. Could you make me a few drawings that I could take with me back home?"

"Yeah! I can definitely do that! Just you wait! They'll be the best pictures ever!"

Turning around, he didn't see a sunset ribbon tying him with Kagome flash into view before a quick pink light sheared it away as close to his back as possible. He didn't see the flinch that she gave, as she took a shuddering breath trying to breathe through the pain.

"Kagome-san? Rin wants to know if you are well?

Opening her eyes, she smiled at the young teenage girl before her, "I'm okay, Rin-chan. Thanks."

Holding her arms out, she smiled, "Though could I have a hug? I think I'll feel even better after a Rin-chan hug!"

Giggling, Rin hugged her before sitting by her side, both of them just watching the world for a little.

"I made a bargain with the Shikon for Sesshomaru, but it involves you too and I wanted to let you know."

"Aa."

"I know it would hurt him to lose you, Rin-chan, so when I leave, you'll become an inuyoukai, just like Sesshomaru. You'll be his daughter by blood, and not just in name."

Rin's eyes welled with tears, "Rin will be able to stay with Sesshomaru-sama? Truly?"

Pulling Rin against her side, Kagome also teared up, "Hai, you will. You'll have a family again."

"T…thank you, Kagome-san." She whispered through her crying, "Rin-chan feels her heart bursting with joy!"

Kagome smiled, "I'm glad! I love you, Rin-chan, and I want you both to be happy. There's nothing to thank me for."

After drying their tears and laughing together at the mess they both looked like, Kagome grabbed a few pictures of Rin weaving together a flower train before they called Shippo and headed back towards the village.

They came back to Kaede's hut and she packed away the pictures, pencils, and flowers that Shippo and Rin had given to her. A cling of metal on metal sounded from outside and she looked towards the door with a smile as Miroku and Sango, with Kirara on her shoulder, came into view. Standing up, she gave the children one more hug and a soft good-bye each before stepping outside.

"Greetings," Miroku smiled, "Is it our turn now to have your glorious, beauteous company, Kagome-sama?"

"Yes," She smiled, as they headed towards a large glade in the forest that they had used for training in the previous years. "But I think I'll walk by Sango-chan to keep temptation away from you, you flatterer."

A hand went to his heart with a woebegone look on his face, "Kagome-sama! You would slander my good name! I say naught but the truth! Nor would I dare to lay a hand on a vision of loveliness such as yourself or Sango without leave! Unless a curse was the cause!"

Sango snorted, crossed her arms and glared, "Like the curse that's been on your hand for all your life?"

"Indeed! But never fear, Sango my dear! You are the only one in my heart!" He cheerily grinned at her.

Kagome laughed as she pulled out the camera and caught a few pictures of them as Sango tried to strangle him and Miroku caught her with a fast kiss, making her blush before his hand found her behind and her's found his face. She wanted this to be a memory she always remembered, enjoying her time with them, trying to etch this banter, this camaraderie, into her mind.

Once in the glade they turned serious, taking seats on a few logs around an old fire pit.

"Alright Kagome, what happened? Is Naraku gone?"

"Yes… no… not… exactly." She dropped her eyes and played with a piece of her hair as Sango's eyes went razor sharp and Miroku's grip on his Shakujō staff became white-knuckled.

"Kagome-sama, please… explain that."

"He's not dead, but he's not anything you'll need to worry about anymore."

He gave a strained laugh, "Forgive me if I disagree." Fingering the rosary binding the wind tunnel on his right hand.

She shook her head, tugging on her hair before she let go and clasped her hands together, "I made a bargain with the Shikon to keep myself and Naraku from taking over the endless fight that Midoriko and Magatsuhi have been doing for centuries. But to do that, we both had to stay alive."

She huffed, "Not my original plan at all, but I didn't have much choice. So, I made a few more bargains. When I leave later today, your wind tunnel will be gone, the curse released from your family line."

Miroku leaned back startled, "What did you offer in exchange for that? The curse was bound to Naraku's life. Only death should be able to stop it."

"Well, the Shikon disagreed," Kagome gave a soft smile, "Though I didn't want you to lose one of the weapons in your arsenal; so I made sure that you'll keep some of the skills the wind tunnel gave you with at least an affinity with wind. You may find a greater talent with sutras dealing with voids as well. I'm not sure about it, but some of it may carry over to your children as well."

As she had been speaking, Sango reached over to hold his hand while Miroku's jaw dropped. Not giving either of them time to say anything or to ask again what price she paid for it, Kagome focused on Sango, taking her other hand, "You're like a sister to me, Sango, and I wanted you to have your family back. So, the Shikon agreed to another bargain. Your village will be alive, and Kohaku will never remember the trauma of the last few years."

She tried to smile, "It will be like it never happened to any of them."

Sango started to sob. Miroku snapped out of his shock and wrapped her in a hug. It was as if a huge weight was being lifted from her shoulders with each gasping cry. Kagome felt tears coming again and she knew it won't be the last time today that it would happen.

After her crying calmed down, Sango launched herself at Kagome, catching her in a massive hug, "Thank you! Oh, thank you, Kagome! I don't know how I can ever repay you for this!"

"There's nothing to repay, Sango." She glanced at Miroku, "From either of you. I wanted to do it and I'm so happy it worked out. I want both of you to have a long and happy life together! Even if I can't be here to see your family grow, I wanted to do everything I could to make sure you have the chance!"

Miroku joined the hug, "Thank you Kagome-sama. You have my deepest gratitude."

"You're welcome."

They broke apart, smiling and crying and laughing in joy. She took a few more pictures of them before they all hugged once more, saying their good-byes. As they left the glade ahead of her, they didn't notice the cords of sunset ribbon tying them to her light up before they were cut, just like the earlier one. She stumbled and leaned against a tree for a moment, trying to breathe through the agony when two bonds of deep friendship, akin to family, forged in blood and battle, were cut at the same time. Catching her breath, she slowly followed after them, missing the red eyes watching from a forest branch as it all happened as she tried to ignore the growing ache in her chest. She still needed to talk with Inuyasha and Kikyo and she was dreading what it would feel like when she was done with that conversation.

After lunch, Kagome meandered her way up a nearby hill that overlooked the village. Inuyasha could often be found up here resting in one of the trees and keeping a lookout over the whole area. Coming onto the crest of the hill, she smiled, "Are you going to come down so we can talk, Inuyasha?"

"Keh, fine." He jumped out of the tree, folding his arms into his sleeves and avoiding her eyes. Turning towards the forest behind them Kagome called out, "Would you come out into the open, Kikyo? I need to talk to both of you."

Inuyasha snapped his head around as Kikyo slowly came into view. He uncharacteristically said nothing as she came to stand by his side and they both looked over at her. Folding her hands behind her, Kagome smiled at them, "I was able to make a bargain for each of you since I couldn't let you make a wish on the jewel like I originally promised, Inuyasha."

"I am more concerned with what has become of Naraku, then what we will be receiving Kagome." Kikyo's monotone voice cut through the quiet air.

She shook her head, "You don't need to worry about him anymore."

"I am not worried, I want vengeance for what he did to me," She gave a side-glance at Inuyasha, "What he did to both of us."

Kagome grimaced, "I can't promise you vengeance, but he has been stopped and I can give you back what you've been missing."

"How would that work, Kagome? You're her reincarnation! You can't give up Kikyo's soul without losing yours and then we'd have to deal with the damn jewel all over again!"

She glared at him, "Would you let me finish! And for the last time, my soul is my own! I am always and only Kagome! I have never been her reincarnation!"

He jerked back and gaped at her, "What!? But that ogre Urasue took it from you! When she resurrected Kikyo!"

Kagome rubbed her face, "Would you just listen, Inuyasha? I'll s-i-t you into the ground again if you don't just let me talk!"

Looking up she focused on Inuyasha, ignoring Kikyo right now. "Her soul rested in and with my own soul, but it was never mine! The reason why Kikyo still doesn't have her full soul right now was one, it was with me long enough that I was able to pull most of it back with mine because, two, Urasue tried to take my soul thinking it was Kikyo's soul!"

Kikyo interjected, "Why was my soul resting with yours?"

Kagome sighed, "When my father died, I was nearly ten and my family moved back to the shrine of my father's family later that year. It was a hard time for me. I missed my father; as well as all my friends and family that we had moved away from. One day, I wanted to be alone, so I didn't worry Mama with my crying, and was wandering the shrine where I discovered some old weather-worn stones. I didn't realize at the time that they were ancient gravesites and sat down to grieve away from everyone. As I was crying, I noticed a soft white glow coming from near me. When I looked over a white circular light was resting in front of one of the stones."

She tugged on a piece of her hair as she looked away, continuing softly, "I reached out to touch it and I could tell it was sad, very sad and lonely, just like me. So, I offered, 'Do you want to come with me, so we won't be alone?'"

She flicked a quick glance at Kikyo, "It gave a little bob before rushing into my chest. I felt better after that. I always felt like I was never alone. It was comforting, though as the years went by, I started to forget that it ever happened and thought I just dreamed it up to help during that hard time."

"Why didn't ya say that when all this first happened, wench?!" Inuyasha yelled, fists clenched by his sides now.

"Because! I didn't even really remember what happened ,or even understand it, until I started meditating two years ago and studying the scrolls at my family's shrine! That's when I started to work out what had happened with Urasue's ritual! And, by that point, I didn't want to bring it up and create another mess when we just started working out the truce with Kikyo that our whole group could agree with!"

"Why then didn't you return it to me after you understood it wasn't yours?" Kikyo frowned with a furrowed brow.

Kagome glared at Kikyo, "Because the rest of your soul didn't want me to! It was very content to rest with my soul like it had been for the previous eight years, even with a piece of it missing. You, at least the rest of your soul, recognized that even if you had your whole soul that body of yours would still be made of clay and would still have to consume other souls to remain in existence! Existence, without a living flesh and blood body, wasn't something you would have wanted when you were still alive and most of you knows it!"

She turned away from them, looking out over the village, "So I made a bargain with the Shikon. You'll be given back the life you could have had with a real, living body."

They were both quiet after that and Kagome added, "But there is a catch… because of your relationship with Inuyasha and how you died, you'll become an inu hanyou like him. Though your spiritual powers will still be there, just diminished to make way for the youkai abilities."

"Why would ya bargain for that, Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice was gruff.

"So, both your lifespans would match, and you could be together for a long time. I want you to be happy, Inuyasha." She turned back to them, "And you love her. You won't be happy without her, not for a very long time."

She looked over at Kikyo, seeing a hint of surprise in her eyes, "And you love him. Even if you tried to drag him with you to hell at the beginning, you've always loved him. I know that very well." Kagome smiled, "And you've been a good companion for over a decade of my life, even when I didn't know you were there. I want you to have the joy and life you lost dying so young."

Kikyo gave a little nod as she looked at Inuyasha, "I would be willing to become an inu hanyou if it meant I could live, and we could be together."

Inuyasha flushed and scuffed his foot as he reached for her hand, "I've wanted you as my mate for years, Kikyo. That will never change."

Kagome smiled as Kikyo's face softened in a way it rarely did since she'd been resurrected and she snapped a quick picture of them before she turned to Inuyasha, "I couldn't bargain for you to become either fully human or fully youkai like you originally wanted Inuyasha; but I can give you some spiritual powers of your own, to hold back your youkai blood so you never have to worry about going into bloodlust ever again. You'll also get back the fifty years you lost sealed to the Goshinboku."

Inuyasha gave a fanged grin, "You've already given me what I've always wanted, Kagome. True friends and a chance with Kikyo. I would have been fine with just that."

"Maybe. But I wanted to give you something to make your life better. You're my best friend, Inu, I want you to have the best life."

"When will the bargains take place?" Kikyo asked softly.

Kagome smiled, "Right now."

A pink glow flared up around her as a glowing white soul slipped out of her chest and darted over to Kikyo. She watched as the pink light washed over both of them and they changed. Kikyo's face gained a flushed look as life bled back into her. Her eyes changed to a honey brown shot through with gold and her hair darkened to a rich onyx black with two ears now twitching on top of her head. Inuyasha's changes was less dramatic. You could only tell that he had gained some age as his face slimmed down a little and the Beads of Subjugation slipped from his neck flying into Kagome's hands before she put them into her pocket.

As the pink light started to fade, Inuyasha laughed and grabbed Kikyo spinning her around. She laughed with him, her face lighting up in a wonderful smile before he kissed her. Kagome smiled as she watched them, taking another picture, even as two more ribbons, one vibrant sunset and one a soft blue, were cut as the pink light disappeared. She couldn't prevent a pained grimace from coming to her face, though she was able to keep any of her pain from coming through her scent, which Inuyasha would have caught, even with his focus elsewhere. Thankfully, by the time they turned back to her, both smiling like crazy, she was able to smile with them as well. Ignoring the heavy ache in her chest, she stepped up and hugged them both.

"Congratulations you two!"

"Thanks, Kagome." Inuyasha whispered into her ear.

Kikyo hummed, "Yes, thank you, Kagome. It is a joy to be fully alive again."

"No need to thank me! You both deserve a long lifetime together!"

She stepped back and smiled through her tears, "Could I get a few pictures of you both before I leave? I want to be able to always remember you both as you are now! Happy and in love."

They both blushed before agreeing. She took several pictures before hugging them once more and saying good-bye. As she turned to head back to the village to pick up her stuff and say good-bye to Kaede, Inuyasha called after her.

"We'll look you up in five hundred years Kagome! Don't think we'll forget about you!"

Tears started streaming down her face and her throat ached with the cries she couldn't let out. She kept moving, and after a painful swallow she waved a hand back at them while still moving forward. "I'll never forget you two! I love you!"

She slowly walked back to the village, not trying to stop her tears. She felt Sesshomaru nearby and knew there would be one more conversation before she left. But she needed some time to compose herself before she faced him and what may be, for her, the most bitter parting of all the ones that day.

It was agony to relive her parting with the Inu Lord, and it was with relief that childhood memories started to come back to her. Giving her a chance to set aside the hurt of losing her soulmate, for that pain had never faded, even all these years later, though she had learned to block most of it out. In the back of her mind she also recognized the necessity of having these memories come through her mind again. It had been over 500 years since she last thought much about what she had left behind in her time. Even then, she had an additional five years with her family that they didn't have. It was going to be a mess once she was back in time. Though it was a joy to see her parents again, as well as her happy childhood memories playing with her cousin and their friend…

Laughter filled the air, along with the squeaking of running shoes, and the sudden whoosh of the net.

"That's a point to me, Hiro-kun, Tet-kun!"

"Hahaha! Fine, Gome-chan! You cheated, but I'll count it! The ball can't go in the hoop like that, it's a foul!"

"I didn't cheat! You didn't tell us that we couldn't throw the ball up through the hoop until after I did it!"

"I said we'd count it!" Hiro-kun laughed. "Wait, where's Tet-kun?"

Swish!

"I did it! Gome-chan, Hiro-kun, I scored a point!"

"Congrats, Tet-kun! Good job!"

"My turn now!" Hiro-kun grabbed the ball and dribbled down the street court, both of them running after him and trying to take the ball. He took a shot, it looked like it would go in! 'No, it hit the rim!' He went to grab the ball but Tet-kun and her had gotten under the hoop without him noticing and Tet-kun grabbed it before trying to take a shot himself. It hit the backboard and missed too! With all three of them going for the ball, they tripped over each other and landed in a laughing heap on the court floor.

"This is so much fun! Thanks for teaching us how to play, Hiro-kun!"

"Yes! Thank you, Hiro-kun!"

He ruffled both of their hair, "You're welcome! It's been fun teaching you guys about basketball! I'm glad you guys love it just as much as I do. It's great to play together!"

"Kagome! Time for dinner! Tetsuya-kun, Shigehiro-kun your mothers want you to head home now too!"

"Okay, Kaa-san! I'm coming!" Kagome stood up and then gave her hands to both the boys sitting on the ground pulling them up. "Can we play again tomorrow?"

"Sure!" Hiro-kun grinned, "As long as it doesn't rain, we can come every day to play!"

Tet-kun beamed, "I'll see you both tomorrow then! I can't wait to play again!"

"Me too!" Kagome smiled and waved as she ran towards where her Kaa-san was waiting by the far side of the court. "Bye, Tet-kun! Bye, Hiro-kun! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Gome-chan!" Both of them called after her.

That was such a happy time in her life, learning about basketball and playing with Tet-kun and Hiro-kun. 'If only it could have lasted longer.' She had only had about a year with all of them together before her father died in a sudden car accident. They moved to the family shrine and she was able to keep in touch with them all the way through middle school by writing letters and then calling and texting when she got a phone. But once her traveling to the past started, she wasn't able to keep up with them at all and when high school started it got even worse. She'd lost track of where they were going to school and what teams they were playing basketball on.

As her memories reached that fateful 15th birthday when she was thrown into the past, Kagome thought, 'For all the hardships that came with going to the past… for all the heartache that I feel even now… for all the friendships lost… I won't change it for anything. I'm happy for the part I could play in history, the lives I was able to save. It was worth it to be able to meet my friends, to love Sess…throb…him, to be able to help Yuuto and Naraku. Though I wish they had a chance to live in bodies of their own and not just in my soul.'

"Truly? You would wish such for them? Even after you have given so much already to help them, Kagome-chan?"

At the soft feminine voice her soul jolted out of her body once more, but now everything was frozen. She caught a glimpse of Naraku and Yuuto over by the window into Japan with it trained on the wellhouse as a brilliant light was frozen mid-flare inside it. But what really had her attention was the ethereal woman that floated near her resting body. She shone like the sun, her brilliance such that it was hard to even look at her. Kagome was dropping to her knees in a dogeza before her mind caught up to her body. "Amaterasu-sama! What can this unworthy one do for you?"

Soft laughter filled the air, "Oh, bright one, this one needs nothing from you. Raise your head." Slowly she sat up and lifted her head, looking at Amaterasu-sama, who was smiling fondly at her.

"Rather this one would have you receive a gift from myself. It would please this one to have you ascend to a position with the Kami. You would be given the charge of children and youkai. To be their patron and continue to watch over them forever as you have done these past 500 years."

Shocked speechless Kagome could only stare at her, before her eyes immediately went towards Naraku and Yuuto. "But what about…"

"They will be sent on to the plane they were meant to be in had you not made the bargains with them all those years ago."

"Couldn't they stay with me like they have been?"

Amaterasu-sama shook her head. "You have done your duty to them; you need not worry after them anymore."

Wringing her hands, Kagome slowly shook her head, "Great Amaterasu-sama, this one thanks you for your most generous gift. But with the greatest respect, this one would ask that this gift not be given to me."

"Can you tell this one for what reason you would refuse?"

"I… I have grown to love and care for Yuuto, and even for Naraku. They are like family to me. I would not want to have them gone from my life after all they have done for me and with me." She bowed once more into a dogeza. "If this one may be so bold as to request, instead of myself being made a kami, could these two companions of mine be given their own bodies to live in time with me and interact with the world around them?"

Gentle laughter rippled through the air as a soft hand rested on her bowed head, "Such a generous heart, bright one. To be willing to give up such an offer for two, that even many of the Kami would rather wipe from the face of history."

Fingers shifted to lift her eyes towards the goddess's gaze. It felt like Amaterasu-sama was searching her soul and the seconds felt like a lifetime, "If you truly would wish to give such a chance to them, this one will agree. You have bought them the opportunity, but they must both pass a test of this one's own choosing before they will be granted it. You will also not mention anything of this meeting to them. This one will allow them a span of five years to complete their tests. They will have until your physical body is the exact age you were when the last battle for the Shikon no Tama took place. At any time during those years, if they should pass the test this one will grant them your wish."

Kagome smiled, her eyes gleaming with happy tears, "Osoreirimasu, Amaterasu-sama. This one's deepest gratitude towards your most gracious generosity and benevolence towards this one and my companions."

A burning kiss was placed on her brow. "You've done very well over the centuries, young one. My blessing to you and yours. May the coming years be light upon your gentle heart."

A searing flash of light forced Kagome to close her eyes and when she opened them brown walls, a dirt floor, and a yowling cat in her arms greeted her. Hunching over Buyo, she burst into sobs, clutching him tightly. She was home.

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