Authoress' Notes: I managed to pump out another chapter within a week. I'm quite proud of myself here. This one isn't as long as the previous but I hope you all like it anyway~
The First Rebirth
The Cycle Begins
The older Kagome's voice was calming as she spoke directly into their minds.
[ "It is easy for mortals to lose their way when traversing time-space." ]
The rift created in space-time was surprisingly easy to pass through. It felt just like jumping through an open door. What Kagome did not expect was to pass from the amazing world of greenery and blue skies into a pitch-black expanse of celestial lights. This space was not the cold, vacuum that modern sciences told of, but it was just as quiet.
[ "Take care to not lose sight of each other." ]
The priestess' awe-induced blink was involuntary.
It lasted but a quarter of a second.
But that was more than enough time for Yoh to suddenly disappear from her sights. The grip that he had on her hand faded into nothingness.
Kagome gasped, unable to believe her eyes. She quickly halted as her head frantically turned left and right. A complete spin revealed that her companion did not end up behind her. The priestess opened her mouth, aiming to scream out his name. To her alarm, no sound came out no matter how hard she tried.
There was no time to panic, however. Without warning, Kagome found herself being drawn towards a distant light that shined brighter than the stars that surrounded her. There was no resisting or escaping the suction that forced her towards the light. Even now, she could not verbalize the horror that she felt.
All she could do was squint and brace herself as she crossed the brilliant threshold. It was then that she was greeted by a familiar scene and the sound of her other half's voice in her head once again.
[ "Higurashi Kagome, you have found this world's first rebirth." ]
Kagome opened her eyes and found herself plummeting from a wide, blue sky. She extended her hand to feel a plume of clouds as she went, only to fall through them without a hint of sensation. A moment later, she heard the boom of thunder and the crackle of lightning. But the downpour that pelted the land below did not affect her spiritual body.
The priestess continued her descent until rooftops of buildings came into sight. The rooftops were soon followed by a pattern of landmarks that were familiar to her. The girl was drawn towards a particularly large building. She easily phased through its roof and subsequent ceilings until she landed at a spot that she immediately recognized: the doorway of her classroom at Shinra Private Academy.
It was then that the silence of the desolate hallway was filled with the clatter of loafers on the lacquered floors and a pair of familiar voices. First, there was the sound of her own voice, "I guess you must be a new student like me and my sister. What's your name~?"
Kagome's head turned and was surprised to spot Yoh walking down the hallway, heading towards their classroom at a leisurely pace. The top buttons of his uniform shirt were undone as usual and he wore his typical sandals. His eyes were closed and his lips were pulled into an impassive scowl. The dryness of his clothes told that he escaped the storm that was raging outside.
Trailing close behind him was none other than Kagome herself. She looked annoyed when Yoh did not acknowledge her question. She then picked up her pace and performed a short sprint to catch up to Yoh so that she was walking at his side. This Kagome huffed and glared up at Yoh as she tilted her head to the side in an attempt to make eye contact with the boy. "You know, you don't have to be so rude. I'm just trying to be nice," she told him, her tone hot and agitated.
Still, Yoh was quiet as he approached the classroom door. Kagome stopped to place her hands on her hips, growling beneath her breath as she glared at the Asakura. She seemed offended that he wanted nothing to do with her. "Jeez," she mumbled as he proceeded to enter the classroom for his introduction. "What's with that guy?!" She hissed.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar, calmer voice drew both Kagome's attention away from Yoh. "Kagome, leave him be. That boy obviously wants to be left alone." To the spectating Kagome's surprise, a teenage version of her twin sister slowly made her way down the hallway towards them.
Kagome then shrugged with a pout still tugging at her lips, "You're right. There's no point in trying to be nice to such an unfriendly guy." The twins then proceeded to enter the classroom with the spectral Kagome following behind them.
Kagome felt nothing short of surrealism as she watched herself and her twin introduce themselves to the class. "Higurashi Kikyo," the elder twin greeted with a traditional bow. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Kagome then smiled a larger smile than her sister's polite one as she stated, "And I'm Higurashi Kagome. My sister and I just moved here. Let's all get along, okay~?" Her eyes then searched for the boy who rebuffed her attempts of being amicable. She wanted to catch his eye and then stick her nose up at him to let him know that she revoked her offer of friendship.
The spectral Kagome could not help but silently laugh when her past self spotted Yoh. He was already passed out at his desk. She bristled angrily in response, earning strange stares from other classmates. The twins then followed their teacher's instructions to take their seats directly behind Manta. As they passed his desk, the blond boy was pleasantly surprised when Kagome bowed her head and smiled in a silent greeting.
'I see. So Manta-kun got a scare from the Yoh in this world too,' Kagome surmised when she noticed that Manta proceeded to give Yoh a determined glare.
Class time played out as she expected that it would. Yoh slept with no repercussions. Kagome, Kikyo, and Manta all diligently listened to the lectures while taking notes.
It was during their lunch break that Manta approached Yoh and asked him to confirm that they met each other the night prior. Just as he did before, Yoh casually asked back, "Who are you?" And as a result, Manta was teased by his associates.
The past Kagome looked at Manta with sympathetic eyes. The soft expression turned into a determined one as she suddenly stood. But before she could even step away from her desk, Kikyo singlehanded stopped her with an iron grip on her wrist. Kagome turned and glared at her sister, who responded with a silent glare and negative shake of her head. The younger twin scowled and defiantly snatched her wrist away.
She nearly marched over to Manta and the cackling students. "He's telling the truth," Kagome told them straightly without a sign of hesitation. She was too busy glaring at the students who now looked at her shocked or oddly to notice Manta's surprised expression. "Spirits are real," she told her cohorts. "Even I believe in them."
Once the group recovered from their initial shock, they continued laughing amongst themselves. Kagome was dismissed with light jabs of, "Jeez, the pretty ones are always the crazy ones!" "I guess her sister is the sane twin."
"Ugh, there's no point in trying with people like this," the past Kagome scoffed before she dragged Manta back to their desks. It was at that point that she (and consequently, Kikyo) befriended Manta. The blond boy and the younger Higurashi shared the story of their first encounters with Yoh. The conversation ended with Kagome agreeing to help Manta gather evidence that Yoh associated with ghosts.
For her, a small part of it was petty revenge.
Kikyo expressed that she had no desire to waste time with such things.
Thus, when the afternoon bell dismissed them from classes, Kagome ended up bidding her sister goodbye until later that evening. Kikyo nodded and simply reminded her to be careful and to be home in time for dinner.
"I'm going to gather some supplies from my locker before we head out," Manta told Kagome as he quickly packed his bag up. "Can you keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't go too far?" He requested of the girl.
Kagome nodded in agreement.
The spectral Kagome followed behind her past self as she began tailing Yoh, walking a few paces behind him. The priestess who was but a spectator sweatdropped at her own antics, 'I just realized that we pretty much stalked him…'
When Yoh opened the exit door, a gust of wind pushed against him, flapping his loose shirt and spiky hair. In this world, it was a continuously stormy day. The Asakura took a few steps outside, seemingly unaware of the girl behind him. He then abruptly paused, and his stalker instinctively followed suit. He looked up at the sky, allowing the raindrops to fall on his face.
This world's Kagome watched him for a moment.
The umbrella in her hand was clear but was decorated with cherry-blossom patterns.
She gripped it silently.
The girl then pointed the tip of the umbrella towards the ground. She quickly pushed the mechanism that made the umbrella blossom from a stem into its full, arching shape. With a quick, fateful bound, Kagome was upon Yoh, holding her umbrella over his head.
The boy turned around with an inscrutable expression on his face.
The Kagome who was watching the scene could not discern how he was feeling at that moment, but he did not look pleased to see her past self.
"Take this," The girl told him. "You'll catch a cold if you get soaked," she briefly explained.
It was then that Yoh looked surprised. He seemed less guarded and more dumbfounded as he quietly lifted his hand to grab the umbrella. His hand landed over the girl's hand that was already clutching the portable shelter. His eyes widened at the mistake.
The past Kagome stiffened as her cheeks turned bright red.
With lightning reflexes, she jumped back. Her head veered to the side, hiding her hot embarrassment. Her arms rose and extended defensively as she squeaked, "A-Anyway, I really like that umbrella so make sure to return it someday!" Kagome gave Yoh no room for a response as she scurried back to the building, ducking beneath her schoolbag for cover.
The red-cheeked Kagome found Manta just inside the foyer, preparing to depart for their sleuthing adventure. When asked where Yoh was, the dreamy-eyed, flustered expression on her face snapped into one of realization. She gave Manta a twitching, nervous smile while scratching her cheek, "Eh heh, well…"
The observing Kagome was caught up in her curiosity about her second time meeting Yoh and all of their friends that she did not move on to the next world. With no sense of time, she felt no desire to hurry and chose to see the events of her past life develop and unfold.
This day played out similarly to the world she lived in. They caught up to Yoh and trailed behind him all day, but eventually ended up losing him. They still wound up at Crow Cemetery that night and Manta still wound up being beaten up by Ryu and his gang. Once the beating was over, Kagome knelt beside her new friend and softly asked if he wanted to see her sister about his injuries.
The question was answered with a frustrated, perplexed, "Why would I see a middle-schooler and not a licensed physician?!" Kagome did not answer, but still opted to escort Manta to a nearby hospital that he knew of. She ended up arriving home well past her unofficial curfew, a fact that did not please or amuse Kikyo.
Despite the light scolding that she gave her younger twin, Kikyo still drew up a warm bath after reheating Kagome's portion of the dinner. "Your hair is a mess and your clothes are damp," the elder twin pointed out. "What happened to your umbrella?"
Kikyo did not seem to buy Kagome's vague answer of, "Oh, I let a friend borrow it~" The blushing girl seemed less than innocent. But her older sister did not press the matter.
The next day was just as rainy.
Manta showed up to class covered in gauze and walking on crutches. He was ridiculed for going too far to prove a point. After a teary-eyed outburst, Yoh entered the classroom and casually confirmed, "No, it's true. There really are spirits."
He earned himself many shocked stares and one suspicious glare from Kikyo.
After class hours, Yoh approached a disgruntled Manta about the incident from the night before. The blond boy was glaring at his possessions as he placed his indoor shoes into his locker. Of course, the brunette was determined to right the wrongs that transpired the previous night, so he grabbed the other boy's hand and dragged him towards the door.
The sky was still cloudy as they left the building. The boys only took about ten respectively hurried and reluctant steps before Kagome called out after them, "Hey!"
The sound of the girl's voice halted Yoh.
In that moment, the clouds parted, allowing a golden ray to shine down on Yoh as he turned around. Kagome's eyes widened. It was a scene from a movie.
This time, the Asakura was smiling warmly at her. "Ah? You wanna come?" He inquired.
The girl's eyes lit up.
With an enthusiastic nod, she promptly turned and grabbed her twin's hand as she approached from behind. "Onee-chan, let's go!" She urged while dragging Kikyo along for the adventure.
From there, their days together played out similarly to the world that Kagome knew: the world where her sister disappeared. That was...until the day they encountered the angry spirit of the sign painter. Instead of Kagome pushing her friends out of the way of a sign that threatened to squish them, Kikyo did so with Kagome.
Except, Kikyo did not successfully clear herself of the plummeting sign's path.
That moment seemed to occur in slow motion as Kagome and her friends watched in horror—
—only for a streak of red to shoot across the street, halting only to stand above Kikyo. A clawed hand reached up and held the sign in place, well above the ground-stuck Kikyo's head. The young priestess appeared mildly surprised, as did her companions. She looked up at her savior, immediately recognizing that his aura was somewhat demonic in nature.
Long silver hair.
Triangle canine ears.
Slitted, golden eyes.
And a crimson haori and hakama.
There stood a young man who was not of this world. He looked down at Kikyo. His expression turned from noble and determined to mildly aggravated. "Are you just going to sit there looking dumb or are you going to move?!" He shouted. "I don't have a physical body, I can't hold this up for long!"
That explosive temperament accompanied by an obviously kind heart struck a chord with them.
Both twin's mouths open, instinctively whispering the name, "Inu….yasha."
The young man tossed the sign aside then turned to angrily point a shaky finger between the two girls, "Okay, how do you two know my name?! That's so damn creepy!"
The passersby who were quaking and babbling in fear went ignored by the spirits and the teens.
That was when Kagome went to her sister's side and helped her to her feet. "Hey, you!" The younger Higurashi scowled. "You don't have to be so ru—!"
At this point, the spectators ran away screaming from the terrifying scene that they were witnessing.
"It's fine, Kagome," Kikyo cut in, easily keeping her cool. "He's right. It is unusual."
Kikyo's calm demeanor proved to be what the two hot-heads needed. Kagome and Inuyasha looked at each other. The girl offered the spirit a smile as a treaty, only for him to scowl and huff in response. Kagome's eye twitched.
"Are you two alright?!" Manta asked worriedly as he and Yoh approached. When his eyes landed on Inuyasha, the spirit flashed a fanged smirk. The blond boy stiffened as the color drained from his face.
By contrast, Yoh's and Amidamaru's eyes lit up at the sight of Inuyasha. The samurai was quick to circle the demon, looking him up and down while stroking his chin. Likewise, his young lord stood in front of Inuyasha, his brown eyes drinking in his appearance from his bare feet to the tip of his dog ears. His mouth gaped into an excited grin, staring up at the demon like a child at a display of colorful candy. "Woooooah!" Yoh awed.
Inuyasha looked off-put by Yoh and Amidmaru's open admiration. He squinted his eyes at the twins and asked, "You two know these idiots?"
"They sure do!" Yoh confirmed while excitedly grabbing Inuyasha's hand and shaking it, the physical contact took the demon by surprise. "Nice to meet ya! I'm Asakura Yoh, a shaman in search of—!"
Inuyasha grimaced as he freed himself from Yoh's grasp and tossed the boy's hand away. He ignored Kagome's cry of 'Wow! You're such a jerk!'
"Listen, kid!" the golden-eyed spirit asserted as he crossed his arms, his long sleeves meeting at the hems. "I don't play nicely with others," he told him gruffly. "So don't even bother."
Yoh blinked innocently, then pointed at Kikyo and stated nonchalantly, "But you went out of your way to save her, so you can't be a bad guy."
"Tch," Inuyasha turned his back to them and said, "Don't get the wrong idea. It just happened to be a convenient time for me!"
"Tsundere?" Kagome proposed, looking at her friends.
"Tsundere," Manta and Yoh concurred.
The demon turned to glare at them, "What the hell does that mean?!"
Kikyo shook her head. "Nevermind that. We're going to be late for our exam, remember?"
The reminder threw Manta and Kagome into the state of panic that had them dashing towards school earlier. The two accosted Yoh by his arms and raced towards school.
Kikyo sighed softly as their backs began to grow smaller. She turned to Inuyasha once more, surprising the demon with her suddenly gentle gaze. "Inuyasha…" she whispered. With a half bow, she said, "Thank you."
Inuyasha recovered from his initial surprise. He then nodded silently before disappearing.
Later that day, Inuyasha once again came to Kikyo's rescue when the angry spirit attacked her on their way home from school. He blocked a jab from the spirit with his forearm. "It's Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped.
The demon glared at Kikyo from over his shoulder as he was caught in a power struggle with the poltergeist. He grunted as he struggled to yell at the girl, "Y-You really must be stupid to come back the same way!"
Kikyo hummed before calmly raising her arm, pointing an open palm at the spirit that Inuyasha was keeping at bay. "Actually, I have no fear of spirits," She told him as her hand began to glow a pale blue color. "Perhaps you cannot tell because you're only half-demon." Her statement caught Manta's and Inuyasha's attention. "But, I am no ordinary human. Evil spirit…" she narrowed her eyes at the spirit. "Cease!"
The outline of a glowing blue circle etched itself in the ground around the spirit. Inuyasha jumped back as it roared furiously. In its rage, the spirit lurched forward, only to slam into an invisible barrier.
"I leave the rest to you, Asakura Yoh," Kikyo stated as Yoh arrived at the scene with a bucket of paint in hand. Kagome watched as the event between Yoh and the painter spirit occurred the same way that it did in the world that she lived in.
Afterwards, however, they were approached by Inuyasha as they turned to leave. "Kikyo!" He called after her. He blushed when the girl gave him her attention. "Uh…" He looked angrily uncomfortable as he spoke. "You're so full of yourself that you let your guard down!" He told her. "So…" he was almost pouting as he stated, "It looks like you'll need me around to make sure you don't slip up."
Kagome became catty-face as she asked of her friends, "Tsundere?"
Manta and Yoh nodded twice, "Mmhm, definitely tsundere."
Inuyasha's cheeks glowed bright red as he shouted at the trio, "I still don't know what that means!" He growled when Amidamaru playfully nudged him in the ribs with his elbow. The trio laughed heartily at the scene.
Meanwhile, Kikyo observed them quietly.
Several nights later, Kagome saw herself rise from her bed and sneak out of the home that she shared with her sister. She recognized that the restless girl was heading straight for Crow Cemetery. The past world Kagome ascended the slope that led up to the hill where she and her friends frequently watched the stars.
Once at the apex, the girl rested her back against a tree trunk and hugged her knees to her chest. She lifted her face to the sky, seemingly unbothered by the cloud cover that blocked her view of the celestial lights. A few minutes later, the snapping of a twig alarmed the lone girl. She whipped her head over her shoulder, only to be instantly relieved by the sight of Yoh.
The boy casually lifted a hand in greeting, "Yo~"
"Yo yourself," Kagome stifled a chuckle as he settled down next to her. "What are you doing up so early?" She inquired. "Or have you not been to sleep yet?"
Yoh shook his head, "I just woke up with the feeling that I'd find you here."
Kagome was taken aback by the answer. "You didn't seriously come all the way here for a reason like that, did you?" She asked, almost incredulously.
"I did," He replied easily. The brunette then broke out into a grin and small chuckle, "Good thing I did too. Turns out that you were here after all."
The girl smiled softly and nodded, "I guess you were right…" She then rested her chin on top of her knees and whispered, "Honestly...I'm glad you came."
"Same," Yoh agreed. He then asked, "So, what's on your mind?"
"Well…" Kagome began slowly. "I've just been wondering where I fall in our group." Yoh's inquisitive look made her immediately follow up with, "I mean, I wonder what my special talent is. You, Manta-kun, and Onee-chan are all so cool in your own ways. Manta-kun is so studious and knowledgeable. Onee-chan is talented at the priestly arts. And you're an amazing shaman who helps people in need."
Yoh blushed a bit while scratching the back of his head, "Wow. You're the first person who's ever said something like that about me. It's kind of embarrassing."
Kagome chuckled at his reaction, quietly deeming it cute. "Yeah, I can see that. A lot of people don't believe in stuff like this anymore. Onee-chan and I used to play alone because other kids were afraid of us."
"I see...I guess humans are just like that," Yoh mused for a moment. He then placed a hand on top of Kagome's head and rubbed it gently, "But you don't have to worry about things like that anymore. You're plenty special in your own right."
"Yoh…" Kagome's eyes began to twinkle at the sentiment.
"You're like the mascot of the group~" He grinned widely then laughed at the deadpanned glare and sarcastic 'Gee, thanks' that the girl gave him. Yoh then removed his hand, and continued, "But seriously, you have nothing to worry about. You're the heart of the group. Without you around, things might get boring. No one else is as animated and passionate as you are."
The boy was amused by the girl's blush. He could not help but add, "See that? You're also the cutest out of everyone."
"You realize that cute and cool aren't synonymous, right?" Kagome raised an eyebrow.
"I know," Yoh chuckled. "But you're still pretty cool too. That day that you hit the bullseye during your archery test—I was impressed. It was pretty amazing."
Once again, Kagome's eyes lit up as she whispered, "Oh, Yoh…"
He then gave her a thumbs up and killer smile as he added, "That's why I'm definitely making you my ally if you die!"
"If I die, I'm just going to haunt you," Kagome deadpanned. She then blushed and playfully punched his arm when he responded with a,
"If it's you haunting me then it might not be so bad~"
Not long afterwards, the Higurashi twins invited Yoh and Manta over to their family shrine. Once again, the boys were greeted by the overly protective Momiji and Botan. This time, they were forced to stand down by Kikyo's command. The group of teenagers still rummaged through the storage house, where Kagome read the story of Higurashi Rin and Ran, and Sesshomaru.
Kagome awoke early that morning to the sound of a little girl's cries for help. She followed the voice, only to find herself in the face of a priestess-eater. She was promptly rescued by Sesshomaru, who had mistaken her for Rin. He rejected the star-struck girl's offer to join forces with her.
Soon after they encountered Tao Ren for the first time. He was just as blood-thirsty as ever. After striking down a group of thugs in public, Kikyo judged him harshly for abusing his powers. Kagome was angered from his response that it's the natural order for the weak to be prey for the strong. He ignored the priestesses and challenged Yoh to a duel.
Yoh openly accepted the challenge. Just as before, he was not powerful enough to keep up with Ren's skill and was defeated. During which a teary-eyed Kagome was forcibly restrained from interfering by Kikyo. The younger Higurashi flailed, reaching for Yoh and crying out to him.
Before Ren could deal the finishing blow, the distraught Kagome erected her first successful barrier. Her energy encased the bleeding Yoh in a protective bubble and repelled the Tao's kwan-dao with a force that sent it flying across the sight.
That was when Ryu took the opportunity to scoop Yoh up onto his bike and drive away at top speed. The Asakura's friends were also given lifts from other members of the gang.
It was during Yoh's second fight with Ren that Sesshomaru finally left the forest that he had been inhabiting for centuries. When the Asakura was knocked to the ground by the Tao, Kagome cupped her hands and prayed that someone would come.
With the grace and speed only known to the demon lord himself, Sesshomaru arrived at the scene. Upon his appearance, Inuyasha immediately bristled and shouted at the other demon, "The hell?!" He pointed at him, "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Just like any other spirit," Sesshomaru replied while running his fingers through his hair. "I come when I am summoned. An insignificant creature like yourself must be unfamiliar with being desired."
"Why YOU—!" Inuyasha was ready to lunge, only for Kikyo's firm command to keep him at bay.
"Priestess," Sesshomaru looked to Kagome. "For what reason did you call for me?"
Kagome blushed at the question. When she prayed for help, she did not realize that envisioning the demon lord at her side would actually beckon him to come. And even more so, she did not expect him to answer her call. "I need your strength! I need to help Yoh-kun!" She answered before her eyes landed on the Asakura, gasping when she saw that he was picking himself off of the ground.
"D-Don't worry about me, Kagome-chan," Yoh said between pants. "Amidamaru and I can handle weak attacks like these. We'll show him that a shaman's true strength lies in trust!" Yoh then made good of his word.
The young shaman ended up back in the hospital after passing out. The next morning was when they met Kyoyama Anna. Kikyo was the only one not surprised when she revealed that she was Yoh's fiancee. "It's not surprising. The Asakura family is an esteemed shaman clan. It's common for marriages to be arranged at a young age," she explained.
However, Anna's sharp tongue met its match with Kikyo's.
"Perhaps the Asakura family rushed such affairs. Such a girl isn't suited for our Yoh," the elder Higurashi casually stated, earning a death glare from Anna.
The blonde folded her arms over her chest and hissed, "And just who do you think is a better match for Yoh than me? You?" Her latter question was especially venomous.
Kikyo calmly opened the can of barley tea that Kagome purchased from the cafeteria for her. She took her time in taking a long sip before lowering the can from her mouth. With an uncharacteristic smirk, the elder Higurashi leaned back in her chair and finally replied, "Of course not. My little sister here, however…" she looked at Kagome, who had been standing near the two, holding her hands up in an attempt to play mediator. "Yoh seems rather fond of her."
Kagome's hands rose to her cheeks as they burned intensely, "Onee-san!"
Manta felt nothing but sympathy for Yoh as Anna caught him in a dangerous headlock, ignoring the frantic pats of surrender on her arm. "Yoh, I let you go off to Tokyo by yourself and you've already fallen for the wiles of city girls?!" Anna was shrieking with an angry, red face.
Time flew by and Kagome continued to watch her past self live her life.
Her time with her twin and friends was nothing short of a dream come true, aside from Anna's training regimen. It was especially amusing to watch Anna restrain Inuyasha with her sacred beads, inciting the silent fury of Kikyo. It became as common as Anna restraining Amidamaru, except in Inuyasha's case, it was his abrasive nature and mouth that got him into trouble with the itako.
Nonetheless, Kikyo would engage Anna in a battle of the tongue over the matter.
It was common for Anna to say something like, "Well, someone has to train your dog for you."
And Kikyo would respond with a chuckle, "And while you're busy training dogs, my sister is training your fiance."
Literal sparks would fly between the two girls.
Tao Jun attacked them using Li Bailong and there was not much deviation from the spectral Kagome's timeline. Ryu soon became Yoh's unofficial apprentice and consequently, Anna's chore slave. HoroHoro also made his grand debut into their lives. Just like Ryu, he was instantly taken by the Higurashi twin's beauty, openly fawning over them.
This put him at the receiving end of Kikyo's cold shoulder while Kagome tried politely turning him down. The Ainu also had to deal with Inuyasha's protective behavior towards his partner, threatening to curse him and his descents if he kept hitting on Kikyo.
The threat earned Inuyasha more teasing from Kagome, Manta, and Yoh and his older brother's judgmental, "You covet that young girl that much, little brother?"
The red-faced half-demon could only scream for everyone to shut up.
When Lago appeared, Kagome consulted Sesshomaru in secret, asking him if he thought that she was strong enough to survive the Shaman Fights. Unsurprisingly, the demon lord bluntly stated that she would not survive her first fight at her current rate of progress. Despite this Kagome never moving into the Asakura residence, she still came over on a daily basis to train with Yoh.
But even in this world, the training that she received was not enough to inspire confidence in her partner.
Thus, this Kagome also set out to train on her own. Before her departure, once again, Yoh sought her out. The brunette gripped her cherry-blossom umbrella in one hand as he panted to catch his breath. "Yoh-kun," She blinked, surprised to see him after already bidding him goodbye earlier that day.
The boy stood up at his full height and held her umbrella out towards her. "You…" He blushed, looking uncomfortably unsure of himself. "Might need this."
Kagome chuckled at the gesture and teased, "Don't you think it's a bit late to be returning that?"
Yoh's laughter was a bit embarrassed as he replied, "Better late than never, right?
The priestess smiled softly. She then raised her hand, waving it slightly in a dismissive manner. "Don't worry about me, Yoh-kun. I actually want you to hang onto it for me, okay?"
The boy seemed surprised by her request, but nodded while lowering his arm. He then scratched a suddenly pink cheek as his eyes looked away. "You know...if you ever get lonely, you can just come home."
Kagome nodded while chirping an enthused, "Mmhm~ Don't worry, Yoh-kun. I'll text you to let you know that I'm okay~"
Spotting the demon lord who was waiting for Kagome up the street, Yoh nodded back. "Well, then…" He raised a hand and smiled. "See ya, Kagome-chan."
"See ya, Yoh-kun~" She responded. "Try not to fall behind, or else when I come back, it'll be me rescuing you~" The priestess then began sprinting down the street to catch up to Sesshomaru, unable to see how Yoh blanched at her statement.
"Ack! Somehow, I don't like the sound of that," The boy said to himself.
The ghostly Kagome lingered as she watched Yoh stare at the back of her past self. Suddenly, the smile on his face disappeared. His hand was trembling as it raised to his mouth. 'Yoh…' She whispered as the boy muffled his cries of her name. 'Yoh...I'm so sorry,' She told him. 'I had no idea that you were so sad.'
She wanted to reach out and console the boy.
But she knew that any attempt would be futile.
So, Kagome continued on and followed after her past self.
Kagome walked, and walked, and walked. Eventually, the urbanization gave way to the nature of a forest preserve. Night had fallen upon the land, drenching the forest in complete darkness. Unfortunately, Kagome had no success in starting a fire with her set-up of sticks and logs. She was on the verge of giving up out of frustration when a voice spoke out to her. It was one that only the spectating Kagome recognized: Asakura Hao.
"My, my~" He said while appearing out of seemingly nowhere at her campsite. A single fireball floated above his palm, it was just bright enough to illuminate a small area. "Need a light?" He offered, tilting his head to the side and smiling warmly.
Kagome's jaw dropped as she took in Hao's face. No doubt that she was thinking about his uncanny resemblance to Yoh.
His expecting stare made her blush and realize that she was too busy gawking to answer. The girl glared down at her lap as she nodded vigorously. She felt even more embarrassment when the stranger who was identical to Yoh chuckled at her.
Hao then fed Kagome's formation of sticks. Within seconds, a roaring campfire filled the entire clearing with warm, golden light. "There," He smiled. "That should do it." Without another word, he turned to leave, only to be stopped by Kagome's call.
"Hey, wait!" The girl shouted, unaware of the satisfied, secretive smile on Hao's face at her words. "You can uh…" She scooted her backpack further back to make space. "Join me, if you'd like~" she offered.
The smile that Hao gave her from over his shoulder was much warmer than expected, "Well, don't mind if I do~"
Kagome allowed the stranger to sit right next to her.
The Kagome who watched the scene huffed and placed her hands on her hips, 'If he acted like this from the start then maybe we'd actually get along!'
"Thanks for helping me," Kagome said politely. "My name is Higurashi Kagome."
"...Hao," The brunette answered simply. The girl seemed perplexed by how he only gave one name, but she did not press it. "Tell me something, Kagome." The priestess blushed at the informal use of her name. "What's such a beautiful girl like you doing all the way out here by herself?"
Despite her blush, Kagome gave Hao a suspicious look. "How about, what's a strange shaman like you doing all the way out here by himself?" She countered.
The brunette chortled at the girl's slight sauciness. "Fair enough," Hao conceded, his tone amused. "What if I told you that I saw you enter the forest earlier and just wanted to check on you? You're one of my kind, after all."
"One of your kind?" Kagome asked.
"A shaman," Hao readily answered. "We have to look out for each other, don't you agree?"
The priestess poked the fire with a stick, a small smile on her face as she replied, "Hmm… I suppose so. But I've learned that not all shamans are as kind as you are, Hao-kun."
"Just Hao is fine," the boy told her. Kagome found herself blushing at his next statement, "I like you, Kagome. I want us to be good friends, alright?"
"Erm…" The priestess squirmed a bit. "Sure…" she replied with a tone that was nothing close to certainty. She could not place her finger on what bothered her about this person, besides his striking resemblance to one of her best friends. "Hey, Hao…" she cracked a smile. "You look a lot like—"
Suddenly Kagome's companion rose to his feet. He looked down at her with a closed-eye smile, "My apologies. There's an urgent matter that I must attend to."
"So soon?" The priestess blinked.
"Don't fret," Hao said as he raised his hand in a "goodbye". "We'll definitely meet again."
Kagome raised her hand and waved in return. She gasped when the boy seemingly disappeared in the darkness. "O...kay…" She whispered to herself. "That was weird."
Sesshomaru then appeared behind her, staring out into the darkness for signs of Yoh's lookalike. "Priestess, I advise you to keep your wits about you. That child is no ordinary shaman."
The girl nodded and replied with a soft, "Yeah, I know."
Kagome watched herself sleep, only shivering when the fire died out just before sunrise. The watcher could not help but feel a bit of apprehension when she heard a rustle in a nearby bush as her past self slept. She wanted to yell at herself to wake up, but there was nothing that she could do. These events already played out before she was even born.
Not a moment later, Sango emerged from the bushes with a wicker basket hanging from her arm. "Ah—" the older teen was understandably surprised to find a lone girl sleeping in the middle of the woods. "Hey…" she called out softly, unsure if she wanted to wake the stranger.
The past Kagome did not rouse, so Sesshomaru appeared before Sango as she got closer. "A demon…!" At the sight of him, Kirara appeared from behind her shoulder. She jumped between the demon lord and her mistress, transforming from a kitten to a beast with a flicker of flames. Her blonde hairs were standing at their ends as she snarled and growled a warning at the silver-haired demon.
Kagome's eyes finally opened from the noise that did blend in with the forest ambience. "Sesshomaru?" She mumbled sleepily. "What're these auras?" She pushed herself into an upright sitting position as her vision began to clear.
Once her brain registered what was happening, the priestess jumped to her feet and held up her hands to defuse the situation. "Woah, woah, woah! There's no reason to be hostile to each other, right?!" She asked while looking from her partner to Sango.
Sango examined Kagome, noting that the girl had no weapons on her immediate person. She sighed and conceded. "Kirara!" The violet-eyed teen commanded, causing her partner to relax. In response, Kirara ceased her aggressive behavior, but she did not revert back to her original form. "My apologies. Kirara and I were just startled by your spirit's sudden appearance," she told Kagome.
The priestess smiled sheepishly. She then chuckled a bit as she replied, "No need to apologize. I'm sure he only appeared because I didn't wake up in time. He was just looking out for me—" the girl then smiled brightly at the demon and asked, "Right~?"
"Hn," Was Sesshomaru's only response as he looked in another direction.
Kagome almost fell over, "Oh, come on! Give me a break here!"
Sango broke out into a fit of giggles at the interaction, "I get the feeling that he's just the quiet type." She then bowed at the waist. "My name is Tao Sango. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kagome returned the bow before responding in kind, "I'm Higurashi Kagome, and this is my partner, Sesshomaru." She gestured at the stoic-faced demon lord who did not care to take part in the exchange. "So, you're a shaman too… I guess the Shaman Fights in Tokyo really do attract a lot of attention."
"You're right about that," Sango nodded to the younger girl. "But not all shamans are friendly so you ought to be more careful. I know some who wouldn't hesitate to kill you in your sleep."
The priestess laughed awkwardly at the older girl's sudden grave tone, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Sorry, if I made you nervous," The Tao said with an apologetic smile. "I'm talking about specific people who I know. They're not likely to wander all the way out here, but our apartment is not far from this place."
"Don't tell me," Kagome raised her pointer finger as she asked, "You're talking about Tao Ren?"
"Ah," Sango blinked in wonder. "I presume that you've met then. I'm amazed that another shaman can live to tell the tale of encountering him." The pieces naturally fell in place with the two girls. They became fond of each other rather quickly as Kagome sauntered next to Sango as she foraged for fresh, local ingredients.
The Tao smiled appreciatively as the priestess identified edible plants, berries, and fungi. Eventually the older girl pointed out a bright red organism that resembled branches of coral jutting from the soil and asked about what it was. Kagome's jaw dropped at the sight of it.
The priestess' smile faded as she explained, "This is a fungus called kaentake, also known as poison fire coral." Her tone became scarily serious as she continued, "Its fruiting body may be beautiful, but it's also highly toxic. Even consuming a gram is enough to be lethal."
"I see," Sango responded as she gazed down at the wondrous fungus. "I had no idea that such dangerous species existed here in Tokyo."
Kagome then chuckled, "It must be tempting to pick them since your name means coral, but remember to not be fooled by its exterior."
For a week, Sango met Kagome and Sesshomaru in that forest around dawn. The two shamans taught each other different things. While Kagome taught Sango about foraging and medicines, Sango taught Kagome about Furyoku channeling and control.
By nightfall, Kagome would set up camp, where Hao would keep her company for an hour or two. The priestess never told anyone, but she actually had a slight fear of being alone in the dark. And the dark and quiet of the forest under night's cover was even more frightening. So she more than welcomed the strange shaman who resembled Yoh.
Despite enjoying his company, Kagome was also secretly wary of how he always had a way of interrupting her when she was going to mention his resemblance to her friend.
"You know about my partner Sesshomaru here," Kagome said one night. "When can I meet your guardian spirit?" she asked with a slight head tilt.
Hao gave her a half-smile as he looked at the campfire, "In time. It seems that he's a little shy."
"Aww, he sounds really cute," The priestess cooed with an innocent smile.
It was the second week or so that Sango seemed especially adamant about gathering as many ingredients as she could. "Is today a special occasion or something?" Kagome asked as she handpicked the ripest yama ichigo in front of her.
"Something like that," Sango answered absently as she searched around the base of a nearby tree. She glanced at Kagome, who was busy on her hands and knees, plucking the most suitable berries. The Tao then swiftly grabbed a handful of the land's riches and shoved them into the bottom of her basket.
The priestess turned around to smile at Sango. The girl gingerly held a red, round berry between her fingers and announced, "Look here. These are yama ichigo, mountain strawberries. They're actually a type of sweet raspberry. I'm sure you can put them in some type of dessert option~"
Kagome then noticed the pinched smile on Sango's face as the older girl nodded quietly. Blue-gray eyes recognized that her friend was acting strangely, but her lips stayed fixed into her own smile. Her eyes then landed on the tree behind Sango, and something clicked in her mind.
Just as she usually did, a few hours later, Sango bade Kagome farewell to go about her day. Kagome waved to her friend and watched her back as she departed. Her smile faded once the Tao disappeared from her sight.
"It is none of your business. Do not get involved," Sesshomaru said from behind the priestess.
"Sango-chan is my friend," Kagome answered firmly. "I have to do what I can for her."
Imagine Sango's surprise that evening when someone buzzed their privately owned complex and it turned out to be Kagome displayed on the security monitor. "Ah?" Jun blinked as she walked by. "Is that Kagome-chan? I wonder what she's doing here."
The brunette Tao flinched subtly, unsure if she wanted to tell her cousin that Kagome was her friend. The last thing Sango wanted was for Kagome to become any more involved with the Tao's than she already was.
Sango then sweatdropped and hid her grimace as Jun clasped her hands together. A dreamy look was on the green-haired teen's face as she cooed, "Do you think she came all this way because she fell in love with my Renny?!"
'Doubtful,' Sango said inside of her head. She then looked at her Mistress and inquired politely, "Shall I send her away, Jun-sama?" She asked the question in hopes that her cousin would deem them unprepared for guests.
Sango's teeth ground against each other after Jun answered gleefully, "Nonsense~ I decided a while ago that Kagome-chan would be a suitable bride for Renny. We should take this opportunity to engage her in a cordial manner~"
"Of course," Sango said dutifully as she unlocked the security gate for the girl and said into the speaker, "Kagome-ch—… -san, you may enter. Please take the elevator to the sixth floor."
Sango and Jun awaited Kagome's arrival. The girl was surprised to be greeted by Sango's respectful bow and Jun's amicable, eager approach. The green-haired Tao placed a hand on the priestess' back and steered her to the dining room, "Come now~ We were just preparing for dinner. You must join us~"
"Uh...O...kay…" Kagome muttered, her voice clearly uncertain as she turned to give Sango a concerned look. Her expression was met with a sigh and a small, wistful smile.
Kagome found herself sitting next to Jun as they awaited Ren's arrival and for dinner to be served. The priestess was a bit unnerved by the barrage of questions that the Tao threw at her.
"That Furyoku that you used against my Bailong—that makes you a priestess, correct?" "You and Yoh-kun seem awfully close, but your relationship is entirely platonic, right?" "I've done my research on your family. You've been a family of priests and priestesses for many generations, haven't you?"
For the past Kagome, it felt like an eternity flew by before Ren arrived at the table. Upon seeing Kagome's face, he immediately shot his older sister an incredulous look. "Nee-san, what did I say about picking up vagrants?"
Kagome could not help but laugh when her past self instantly jumped out of her seat angrily, "Excuse me?! Just who are you calling a vagrant, you jerk?!"
Ren kept his cool, unfazed by the trivial insult and unimpressed by the girl's explosive temper. "Tch," he hissed through his teeth as he begrudgingly took a seat directly across from Kagome. "Considering this is our home and you're the only breathing disheveled disaster here…"
The priestess was taken aback by the comment. Her cheeks were red as she resisted the urge to fix up the loose strands in her messy ponytail and smooth the wrinkles in her t-shirt. She huffed while crossing her arms, "Well excuse me for not having perfect hair after training all day!"
"You're not excused. Something so unsightly has no place at a Tao dinner table," Ren shot back. He readily met Kagome's open glower with one of his own.
"Why, you—!" the priestess was stopped by Jun's gentle grasp on her forearm. She growled lowly, but still complied with the older girl's urge to retake her seat.
The older Tao smiled apologetically, "Forgive Ren. It seems that he needs more lessons in his table manners." The younger Tao scoffed, but said nothing else out of respect for his older sister.
That was when Sango emerged from the kitchen, carrying trays of dishes in both hands. Kagome was quick to speak, "Sango-chan, let me help with—."
"There's no need for that, Kagome-chan," Jun quickly cut in while placing a hand on top of the priestess'. "This has been Sango's duty all of her life. She can handle it on her own, trust me."
Kagome looked more upset than convinced, "But—!"
"Jun-sama is right," Sango stated as she expertly placed the first set of trays down on the table, without even the slightest clatter. "This has been my purpose since I was born." Kagome noticed how the subservient Tao spoke the words, but the belief did not reach her eyes.
Those amethyst orbs were dulled with an anguish that Ren and Jun were blind to.
In under a minute, Sango set the entire table and laid a feast in front before them. Before her departure, the server sat two bowls of creamy stew in front of her cousins then smiled apologetically at Kagome. "My apologies, Kagome-san, I was not aware that we would have a guest so I did not make enough of the stew to accommodate you."
Kagome was going to assure Sango that it was not a problem but Jun spoke up first, "Don't worry about it, Sango. I'll give my portion to Kagome-chan and—"
The brunette's eyes widened at that statement and she hurriedly raised her hand, "That's not necessary, Jun-sama. I can quickly make another portion for Kagome-san. You should enjoy yours with Ren-sama."
Jun paused, trying to digest the rushed information. She then nodded affirmatively, "If you're sure, make haste~"
"Of course," Sango bowed before quickly turning and heading back into the kitchen.
"Hmph," Ren huffed, having no interest in the matter. He then dipped his soup spoon into the stew and lifted a glob out of the bowl.
Once Sango disappeared into the kitchen and out of her sight, Kagome returned to facing Ren. Her eyes widened in horror when she spotted a familiar red fleshy cube in Ren's stew. "No!"
The girl shot from her seat like a rocket. Before anyone could react, she slapped the spoon away from Ren's grasp.
Jun was in shock by the act but all she could manage was a concerned call of, "Kagome-chan?!"
Golden eyes widened.
Those same orbs then darkened with a searing rage.
Ren growled and rose from his seat. He was nearly nose to nose with Kagome, who did not flinch away from his piercing eyes. "What. is your. problem?!" He snarled beneath his breath. The only thing that kept him in control was the distressed look on Jun's face.
"You can't eat that," Kagome's response was firm and absolute.
The Tao scion did not bother asking why. He glanced at the creamy splatter on the floor and noted the unfamiliar crimson chunks within. He was no expert on vegetation, but he knew the general rule of thumb about bright colors in nature.
"Sango," Ren's whisper of his cousin's name was full of malice as she appeared in the doorway.
The other Tao's face finally betrayed her. Shock and terror riddled her features as the hands that gripped Kagome's dish trembled uncontrollably.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome called out to her friend. Her fist raised to her chest.
When Sango spotted Ren preparing to move, she swiftly pulled a hidden dagger from beneath her apron. Her grip on the handle was firm as she twirled the blade and raised it to her own neck.
Ren's speed could not be matched, however. He shot across the room like a bullet, easily wrenching the blade from Sango's hand and tossing it away. "Coward!" The golden-eyed shaman hissed as he grabbed a fistful of his cousin's collar. "You dare attempt suicide after trying to assassinate the Tao heir?!" He seethed, shaking Sango as she resigned to her defeat.
Before the heir could continue his tirade, Kagome pushed the two apart. "Leave her alone!"
Ren scoffed as he caught the kwan-dao that Bailong tossed to him. He pointed the blade down at Sango, who sat motionless on the floor. Her face hidden by her long, brown bangs. "Stay out of this. Such treason is punishable by death."
Golden eyes narrowed when Kagome dropped to the ground beside Sango. She slung a protective arm over her friend's shoulder and pulled her close. The priestess' back was now a shield from Ren's wrath. "She failed! Isn't that enough for you?!" she cried out.
Ren scowled when Kagome gave him a teary-eyed glare. She looked at him as if he was the monster or the party in the wrong. He sucked his teeth, and to everyone's surprise, he lowered his weapon. He answered the priestess' confused expression with a grumble of, "A life for a life."
Sango finally raised her head, glaring darkly at Ren. He ignored it and stated, "You can thank this girl for your life being spared today."
The Kagome who watched the scene felt her heartstrings being tugged by Sango's agonized outburst. Her words were almost lost in the animalistic bellows and wails that escaped her mouth. This Sango too was grieving over the loss of her younger brother, Kohaku. Today was the anniversary of his death.
This was the night that the Tao's took this world's Kagome into their care. Jun offered the priestess free room and board to express gratitude for saving her and Ren's lives. After Bailong brought the belongings that she left in the forest preserve, Kagome nearly flew onto her bed. She pulled out her phone and smiled widely at the screen, "I finally have reception!" She then proceeded to text her friends.
The first week of her stay was just as stressful as it was in her own world. Between training with Sango and Sesshomaru and frequent altercations with Ren, this world's Kagome had her hands full. It seemed that her favorite part of the day was plopping onto her bed to text her friends.
Kagome could not help but smile when she saw past self encounter Ren in the kitchen in the middle of the night. In this world, however, she found out that Ren committed the crime of never trying anpan. Thus, it became this world's Kagome mission to get him to try it.
When watching over herself, Kagome could see Ren's transformation more clearly. When she experienced it for herself, it was entirely different from watching it from the outside. She noticed when he first began his small, sweet gestures. It began with offering her towels and water after training. Then it became correcting her fighting posture and giving unsolicited tips.
Eventually, Ren began performing acts without her knowing:
Wrapping his shirt around her shoulders when he found her sleeping against the training walls.
Carefully carrying her back to her room at times.
Secretly reminding Sango to stock up on her favorite snacks and drinks.
Having Sango place a vase of a flower that Kagome admired on her nightstand.
Placing glasses of water and medication near her bedside when she told them that she had a headache.
Kagome watched her past self excitedly hug and thank Sango for each act of kindness. She looked across the room and spotted Ren spying on the exchange, his face calm but his eyes were soft with a tender emotion that she never noticed before.
'Does this mean…' the priestess wondered to herself as she recalled all of the times that something good or convenient happened to her while staying with the Tao's. 'That the Ren that I know… Did he do those things for me too?' The spectating Kagome placed a hand to her chest, where her heart would be if she were in her body. Despite being but a spirit that existed outside of this timeline, the priestess could have sworn that she suddenly felt warm there.
This world's Kagome also received the spontaneous pop-up visits from Hao more frequently. At night, he would suddenly appear at her balcony, casually balancing on or leaning against the thin railing. The priestess never knew when he would stop by for a chat, but she never seemed to mind opening the doors and letting him inside.
'If only the Hao that I know was this tolerable,' the ghostly Kagome thought to herself as she watched her past self casually chat with the shaman. She even blushed a bit while pulling her hair back after being complimented on how well her training was coming along.
There was even one night when the past Kagome took Hao by surprise by taking a gentle hold on the back of his cloak as he stepped onto the balcony to leave. The shaman seemed amused and pleased as he spun around to face the priestess. "Hao, if you're Yoh's twin, you can just tell me!"
The brunette was almost smirking as he lifted his pointer finger to his lips. "It'll be our secret."
A blush crept onto Kagome's face as her lips spread out. She mimicked his gesture and raised her finger to her lips secretively. "For now~" she agreed.
"Just for now?" He mused, his smirk widening. Hao stepped closer to Kagome, completely closing the short gap between their bodies. "I have ways to keep canaries from singing," his voice lowered into a mysterious whisper.
Unafraid or simply not catching onto the shift in the atmosphere, the past Kagome challenged, "Oh yeah? And how do you plan on doing that?" The girl had her own playful smile on her face as she looked up the boy in front of her.
The shaman released a short, diverted hum. Without any warning, he showed her his ways. Hao swooped down and pecked Kagome's unsuspecting lips.
The Kagome who spied on the scene bristled. Her hands balled up at her sides as she yelled at ears that were deaf to her, 'Hey! Just who gave you permission to kiss me?! Typical creepy Hao!'
Unlike her future self, this Kagome's face turned bright red as her fingertips rose to caress her lips. She took a step back and gawked up at the shaman who looked rather pleased with himself. "H-Hao…!" She squeaked without a hint of spite. "You…!" She lost her ability to articulate in her state of shock.
"See?" He smirked. "My little canary forgot how to sing~" With that, Hao stepped out onto the balcony and climbed onto the edge. He raised his hand in a parting gesture, "Until next time~"
Kagome blanched when her past self did not express anger or outrage at what just transpired. Instead, the girl groaned, her lips almost pouty as she muttered to herself, "That guy… I can't believe he stole my first kiss like that…'
The current Kagome glared at herself, shouting out, 'I can't believe that you're not even upset!' She followed herself to her bed, watching herself flop down and sigh softly. 'Don't tell me you actually like that guy!'
"It was my first kiss...so of course my heart won't stop pounding…" The past Kagome whispered to herself, unaware that her thoughts were being heard. "I should be happy. A cute boy just kissed me, after all."
The present Kagome bristled, 'There's no way that you think Hao is cute!' She then paused, her fingers gripped at the roots of her hair, 'No, wait—! Of course you do! He looks exactly like Yoh!' Her screams were unheard as she scratched her hair in frustration.
"But…" Kagome reached for the cellphone that laid on her nightstand. She turned on the screen and opened her chat with Yoh. "Even so...Yoh-kun…"
The sound of her best friend's name coming out in her own voice brought the spectral Kagome down from her spiraling moment.
"You're the one who I'm thinking about right now," The girl whispered as her fingers lightly tapped out a message. The current Kagome curiously hovered over herself for a glance at her phone. The text read:
[ "Guess what? I just had my first kiss. What do you" ]
Kagome was not surprised when her past self's thumb found the backspace button. She applied the needed pressure until the message box was wiped clean.
Kagome was not surprised when her past self lowered the phone from her face. Nor she was surprised when her drops of water plopped and splattered across the screen. "Yoh-kun…" her voice was trembling. "Y-Yoh-kun…" She whispered. "I think that I…" Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks as she confessed to the boy who could not hear her. "I think I'm in love with you."
Sooner than later, the Shaman Fights in Tokyo began.
HoroHoro still fell head over heels for Sango after losing to her. Kagome still fought Mukotsu and won. Kagome still reunited with Bankotsu before his match with Ren. It was during this time that the present Kagome discovered that she was not bullied out of school like in her own world.
The past Kagome still exorcised a demonic spirit and drove it out of Yuka. However, it was Kikyo who took immediate action and requested that they get transferred from that school and moved out to Tokyo.
Furthermore, Bankotsu still confessed his feelings for her on the spot.
"You know, Sui was pretty sad to find out that your sister left. I was pretty bummed too. You transferred out before I could make you love me back."
That line made Ren step between the old friends as he did before. The boys bickered and fought. And just as it seemed that all hope was lost for Ren, he suddenly received a boost of power. It was only now that Kagome realized that the sudden shift in odds was from her own doing.
Or rather, she had granted Ren's silent wish for enough power to defeat Bankotsu.
Kagome was more than embarrassed at how awkward her past self was when Yoh met up with her. The Tao's still treated their large, ragtag group to a meal and a rest at an inn with a huge bathhouse. This world's Yoh still snatched her away from being kissed by Ren, just as he did in her world.
But in this world, her past self did not allow herself to be led so far away from their group. She forced them to a halt, but did not wrench her wrist from Yoh's grip. "Yoh-kun, hold on!" She protested. "What's up with you?"
Yoh released Kagome's wrist and hummed, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Hmmm…" he looked up to the ceiling. Then he broke out into a sheepish grin, "I don't really know. I guess I felt like I had to rescue you."
The past Kagome stifled a laugh. She then gave him a sad smile and stated calmly, "I appreciate the sentiment, Yoh-kun. But I didn't need to be rescued." Her posture became more demure as she pressed her fingertips together and confessed, "It wasn't going to be my first kiss or anything."
Yoh's mouth fell open in shock. "Uh—!" His voice was caught in his throat. Without any thought he asked, "When did that happen?!"
The priestess blushed, her eyes straying from his face as she responded, "While I was away training…"
She then looked confused when the boy in front of her, visibly deflated as his face fell. His chuckle was not full of his usual heartiness. "I see," He muttered. "So that's why you were okay with the dare…"
"Eh?" Kagome blinked as she processed his words. "Oh no! It's not—!"
"There they are!" Pirika's voice exclaimed from down the hall. Kagome turned and saw the blunette standing in front of the rest of their group, pointing dramatically at them.
It was painful for Kagome to watch the confrontation that ensued between Ren and Yoh. But it was short-lived. The Tao nearly stomped down the hall to grab a fistful of Yoh's sleeping kimono. The Asakura scowled at the shorter boy and engaged him in a silent glaring match.
The past Kagome growled and placed her hands on her hips, "Yoh-kun! Ren! You two need to calm down! It's all just a misunderstanding!"
Yoh silently removed Ren's hand and did not spare the other shaman another glance as he headed back to their room.
Later that day, Kagome moved out of the Tao's apartment and was escorted back to the small home that she shared with her sister. Unsurprisingly, her sister had dinner prepared by the time she arrived.
But what did take both Kagome's by surprise was finding Onigumo waiting at the dinner table. Apparently, he kept in touch with Renkotsu and heard about the twins through the grapevine. Dinner with Onigumo was awkward and tense as the boy openly showered Kikyo with compliments and touches that she did not respond to.
When his hand landed on Kikyo's knee, Kagome was ready to jump out of her seat. However, Inuyasha's loud mouth beat her to the punch, "Listen, kid! It's obvious that she ain't interested in ya, so man up and back off!"
Needless to say, he did not take it well. Disbelief quickly turned into rage as Onigumo flipped the table over, shattering dishes and splattering food and drink all over the floor. Kagome had no idea how Kikyo kept her cool demeanor as she ordered him to leave her sight and never return. He left with words of warning, "You'll rue the day that you rejected me, Kikyo. I swear it."
The next day, the demonic spirit Naraku sowed seeds of evil throughout Tokyo. Humans with weak hearts were afflicted with mass possession. The city became a scene of terror as humans with pitch-black sclera and crimson pupils began mercilessly slaughtering their fellow citizens.
Mothers attacked their own children.
Students mobbed teachers.
No one was spared from the violence.
The shamans sprung into action, doing their best to incapacitate the possessed humans and rescue the unaffected ones.
When Yoh and Amidamaru became overwhelmed by a mob of college students, they thought that they were done for as the bodies surrounded him from all sides. But within a split second, the crowd collectively fell to the ground, all unconscious. The Asakura's eyes widened, "R-Ren…!"
"Hmph," Ren scowled. "Don't thank me. I only helped you for Kagome's sake." He then extended his hand to the brunette. "Come on."
The Tao blushed when Yoh still grinned at him as he took his hand.
Meanwhile, the Higurashi twins went head to head with Naraku. They were shocked to find that the demon absorbed their sacred arrows. Even more shocking was when its tendrils shot out and violently pushed Kikyo's back against a tree. She struggled quite a bit, but she still managed to lift her hands to the tendrils and attempted to directly purify him.
However, even a direct purification proved to be futile. Kikyo grunted, a strained look on her face as she was completely immobilized. "K-Kagome...be careful…!" She warned her younger sister. "This is no ordinary demon! H-He's absorbing my power…"
"Onee-chan!" Kagome called out as she ran towards her sister, leaving her back open to the demon. The spirit took the opportunity to shoot out more tendrils towards the unsuspecting girl. Her inhale was sharp after her senses screamed at her. The priestess turned to see the tentacles rushing towards her. "No!" She flinched away.
...only for Naraku to roar in pain.
Kagome lowered her arms and gasped.
The tendrils were writhing and wilting as flames consumed them and burnt them to cinders. She looked next to her and breathed the name of her savior, "Hao, you came…!"
"Of course," His smile was as easygoing as usual. "I wouldn't allow my Shaman Queen to be touched by such vermin." Hao looked down at Kagome as the bundle of tentacles that restrained Kikyo combusted. "Now then, I want you to show me your true power—the one that sleeps inside of you."
The priestess whipped around and breathed a sigh of relief when her sister slid to her knees. Kikyo appeared tired, but otherwise, relatively unharmed. Kagome nodded to herself. She then turned around to face Naraku, her eyes glaring and determined to bring this bloody chapter to an end. "I can do this," She told herself as she summoned her crescent bow.
And she did.
A single silvery arrow raced across the street and consumed the demonic spirit.
Yoh, Ren, and their other friends arrived at the scene just as the demon shrieked and spasmed in pain until it faded away within the brilliant light.
The past Kagome did not notice the sly smirk that appeared on Hao's face when her friends came their way. "I must say, I'm quite impressed, my cute canary." Without warning, the shaman gently took hold of her chin and tilted her head up. As the girl opened her mouth to question his actions, his lips claimed hers for his own.
His eyes danced with mirth as Kagome squeaked against his mouth. She then pushed him away, cheeks completely red as she shriekd, "What do you think you're doing?!" Her eyes met Yoh's shocked ones. But she quickly went back to glaring up at the smirking Hao.
"Ah? Are you angry?" He feigned surprised. "You didn't complain the first time that we kissed."
Kagome's flustered expression turned to a mixture of embarrassment and outage. "Y-You…!" She fruitlessly pushed against Hao's firm chest. "Go away, you idiot!" Hao merely laughed aloud but complied, disappearing within a flap of his cloak.
Kagome felt secondhand humiliation and shame when her friends surrounded her past self. The girl was assaulted by a cacophony of angry and concerned voices. But the girl brushed them aside and insisted that they figured out what to do about Tokyo and its citizens.
Kikyo, who finally recovered from her minor injuries, nodded in agreement, "Yes. Many lives were lost and the city has been devastated.
"I know this must sound crazy, but…" Kagome looked at each of her friends' faces as she spoke. "I think we can fix this...if we all pray," she told them.
"Pray?" Pirika blinked. "What should I pray for?" she asked curiously.
"Trying praying for Tokyo and its people…" the priestess responded before cupping her hands and falling to her knees. She lowered her head and closed her eyes.
The teens silently looked at each other.
Yoh was the first to follow Kagome's example. He was soon followed by Ren, then Bankotsu, and the others.
The present Kagome watched as each shaman was surrounded by their own special colored aura. Their energies flared. Then small orbs of light tapered off from their auras. Without anyone's eyes opening, the orbs moved on their own. They floated into Kagome, encasing the girl in a silvery light.
An explosion of light emitted from the priestess.
And the next moment, the crumbled buildings, bent traffic lights, and dented vehicles were miraculously repaired. Kagome opened her eyes and found a sheathed katana hovering before her.
"Take hold, Priestess," Sesshomaru commanded. "It has chosen you."
Kagome uncupped her hands and held them out in front of her, allowing the sword to place itself into her waiting grasps. "It chose me?" She questioned before her eyes rose to meet her partner's. "But what is it?"
"The Legendary Sword of Compassion: Tenseiga," He answered calmly.
Suddenly, the Kagome of the present could hear her other half's smooth voice in her head.
[ "Higurashi Kagome, you are lingering in this world for too long. You must make haste." ]
Kagome gasped, having just remembered that she was in search of the original world. She had become so engrossed with this world that was so similar to but different from her own that she had forgotten her purpose.
[ "If you wish, you may witness the event that led to my birth. It was in this world that Higurashi Kagome was forced to separate her mind from her power." ]
Without answering, Kagome found herself dragged forward through time and space. She was moved while her feet remained planted firmly to the ground. The events that played rushed by in a disorienting blur of colors. "Huh?!" her eyes widened at the scene that she arrived at when time resumed.
Her friends lied on the ground, each one grunting in pain and struggling to move a muscle.
Hao was smirking maniacally at her past self, his hand held out in offering to her. "So what will it be, my cute canary?" He asked darkly. "Will you stay by side as my Shaman Queen?"
Her past self was approaching Hao slowly, cautiously. Her face both afraid and saddened. "Hao, you know that I can't let you get away with this," she told him softly.
Hao's smirk faded as he lowered his hand. Despite this, he allowed the girl to come within arm's length. "What then?" He asked of her. The corner of his eyes creasing as he fought to keep a straight face. "You too are praying for my death?"
Kagome shook her head. She too fought to keep her firm expression. Her lips were trembling as tears gathered in her eyes. "I'd never wish for something like that," She admitted. "I can't even bring myself to fight you."
The two were caught in a staring match.
Hao struggled to maintain a glare at Kagome.
And Kagome struggled to keep her tears in.
Both were futile efforts.
Hao's glare fell and relaxed into a sullen expression.
And in response, tears spilled from Kagome's eyes.
"Hao!" The priestess caught him by surprise by lurching forward. They were chest to chest as she wrapped her arms tightly around his bare back. "Hao…!" She cried out. "I'm going to save you! I'll do whatever it takes!" She told him.
The shaman's sigh was inaudible as his arms rose and encased the priestess' body. "Show me something special, my little canary," he whispered into her ear.
Kagome nodded as her eyes closed.
The present Kagome could not believe her eyes.
Her past self was absorbing the Great Spirit from Hao's very body.
Or at least, a portion of it.
Within seconds, the past Kagome fell to her knees, panting heavily. "I see. That is quite special," Hao said from above her. "And just what will you do with that power?"
The priestess gave a pained smile as she gripped at her chest. "I'm going…" she replied between pants. "I'm going to start over. I'm going to start over, so we can be friends…and then..."
Hao's eyes widened.
Not a moment later, the entire world was bathed in a silvery light and went blank.
The current Kagome blinked and discovered that she was floating out in the empty time-space once again. 'Just now...the past me...reset the world...using the Great Spirit's power…?' She thought to herself. Her head was reeling. 'Could it be that...I had the power to reset the world because I managed to absorb part of the Great Spirit…?'
The more answers that she arrived at, the more questions that arose.
Why didn't Inuyasha show up in the current timeline?
How did she gain the ability to absorb other spirits?
How did the original Higurashi Kagome remake the world for the very first time...?
'I guess...we'll have to find the original world to find the answers,' She thought to herself. She looked around. There was nothing but a dark canvas full of stellar lights around her. 'But first...where's Yoh?'
Unbeknownst to Kagome, Yoh had landed in the hallway of Shinra Academy at the exact moment that she had. They were only separated by timelines. He heard the clacks of familiar loafers approach from down the hallway.
Then, the voice of Kagome's other half spoke to him.
[ "Alpha, welcome. You have arrived in the fourth world created by Higurashi Kagome. It is a world of despair." ]
'Kagome?!' Yoh tried to call out the girl who was dragging her feet down the hall. Her head was hung low, her eyes dark as she clutched her schoolbag in front of her. He was surprised to find that this Kagome did not acknowledge him as she slowly walked by.
This Kagome's steps were staggered, unmotivated, and without the usual pep or agency as his Kagome. Her chest was silently heaving as she stood outside of the classroom door. "You can do this, Kagome," She whispered to herself, but her voice did not reflect the cheer of the words.
It pained Yoh to see Kagome pull a brilliant smile from nowhere.
It was a smile that was not true to her heart.
She then slid the door open and stepped into the classroom.
Authoress' Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter~ Please feel free to let me know your thoughts. At first, half of this chapter was going to be the first world and half was going to be the dark world. But I ended up writing more about the first world than intended. So it looks like the dark world will be its own chapter as well.
And for cultural perspective, the number four is considered unlucky in traditional Japanese culture. This is because the word for "four" can be pronounced the same way as the word for "death". It's treated with similar superstition as Western cultures treat the number "thirteen".
In your reviews let me know:
What you liked best about this chapter and if it met your expectations. And if not, feel free to tell me why~
Additionally, let me know if any of your theories have been correct so far! If not, what new theories do you have?
And as a final note, I just want to thank everyone for their continued support! 2020 has been a trying year for us all but let's continue to work hard and move forward! This fanfic is now over 400,000 words and 62,000 views! It makes me wonder how long it'll be by its completion~ I guess we'll find out eventually. Thanks and see you next time!