Shaman King

by The Amazing Sakumachan

For Higurashi Kagome, moving to Tokyo was supposed to be a fresh start. But little did she know that she was walking a similar path that was walked before. A fateful encounter. A promise that transcends time and space. A gift that keeps giving. What path lends a Happy Ending? [SPOILER-IFIC]

37. Descent Darkness

Authoress' Notes: Wow. I actually posted this in time for the holidays! Finally, an update after being stuck in the rut known as "life"! Hope you all enjoy this one! I spent about three days writing it!

---

Descent Darkness

(Overcome Yourself)

'This girl…' Yoh thought to himself as he poked his head into the classroom and watched Kagome make her introduction. 'She looks just like my Kagome, but…' his eyes narrowed as his sights honed in on her forced smile. 'But…'

"Good morning, everyone~" to the innocent, unsuspecting eyes of the middle-schoolers gawking at her, Kagome looked like any other pretty girl, the perfect amount of normal and friendly. "My name is Higurashi Kagome. I just moved here." The smile that she flashed was full of the radiance of fool's gold. "Let's all get along, okay~?" She then bowed and was rewarded with a light round of applause from many of her new classmates.

But it was not just his imagination. The honey-tea in her voice did reach her eyes.

The teacher then instructed Kagome to take the empty seat behind Manta. Once the girl nodded obediently, Yoh finally took it upon himself to completely step inside of the classroom. The weight of reality dawned upon him when no one in the room acknowledged or detected his presence. 'Oh man, looks like I really am a ghost,' he said to himself while lifting his hands and staring at them. With his eyes, he could see the healthy tan of his skin, but when held up to the light, he could see through them, like he was looking through a Yoh-colored lens.

The Asakura's eyes then wandered to his own desk. He spotted himself, sitting there with his head down and within the safety of his folded arms. A goofy smile spread across the specter's face as he admired his past self, 'That me sure looks like he's living the easy life.' But despite appearances, Yoh knew more than anyone that his actual life up until that point had been anything but easy.

He spent his early childhood ostracized by his fellow townspeople. He spent so many years with no friends to call his own. There was nothing but the spirits who he befriended and his family for so long. And in his early teen years, he moved away from the hometown where he and his family were scorned.

But his move was for the sake of journeying down a difficult path in life: becoming Shaman King.

Yoh couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt when he watched how he treated Manta when his friend approached him, asking for confirmation that he socialized with spirits. He played dumb back then. But that was because he was wary of Manta because he was a human trying to expose his secret, and in addition, he did not want to be bothered with the repercussions of how humans would react to his abilities—he had enough of that when he was small.

The incorporeal Yoh then found himself watching Kagome for her reaction to Manta being humiliated about his assertions. Indeed, the girl's eyes did land on Manta, a mildly curious expression was on her face. She then blinked as if she had a realization. With light slaps to her cheeks, a determined look appeared on her face. She mumbled something to herself before her eyes went back to the sleek surface of her desk.

A moment later, a trio of girls surrounded Kagome from all sides, obstructing Yoh's view of her. "Higu-chan!" A particularly sunny girl with waist-length chestnut-colored hair and matching eyes greeted her. Upon meeting Kagome's eyes, the girl beamed while making a gesture with her obento. "You should eat lunch with us!" She suggested.

A girl with honey eyes and jet-black hair leaned forward, closing the gap between herself and Kagome. "Yeah! I have so much that I want to ask you!" She announced. "Like, what's your daily beauty regimen? Your hair is so long and beautiful!"

Through the thin openings between the girls' bodies, Yoh could see Kagome's hand waving around animatedly. "Oh no! I don't do anything too special or anything!" The young beauty disclaimed. "But I can tell you what shampoo and conditioner I use~"

The sunny girl squealed in response and lunged forward, hugging Kagome from the side. "Higu-chan, that's not fair! You're so moe that it's unbelievable!"

The spectating spirit could imagine his best friend's confused blink as her voice asked incredulously, "Me? Moe?" She then chuckled in the nervous manner that she did when she was unsure of something. "In what way?"

"Ichiko-chan is right, Higu," Another girl chimed. "If a beautiful girl transfers into your class, they're bound to be mysterious and moe. That's a rule of thumb in manga!" She explained with her pointer finger aimed at the ceiling. She then looked at the slumbering Yoh and added, "Even that new guy over there is pretty good-looking, right?"

Yoh could not help but watch with interest as Kagome's eyes followed the invisible trail of the finger pointed towards him. The girl's face betrayed no interest, she did not bat an eyelash at him. She turned to face her classmates with a forced, apologetic smile as her shoulders subtly shrugged. "Eheh," she breathed nervously. "I don't know. I'm not interested in guys like him."

The invisible Yoh almost fell over at the response. He quickly righted himself, albeit with a twitching eye and crooked smile at the unaware priestess, 'Not even a little?! Isn't that a bit harsh, Kagome?'

Eventually, the schoolgirls returned to their desks once their break was over. The unseen Yoh looked at Kagome's face. To his surprise, she was wearing a genuine, soft smile. Her propped hand supported her cheek as she stared off into space with a dreamy expression. The shaman smiled unconsciously; it did his heart good to see this Kagome not forcing herself to look happy.

Time in the classroom was like molasses for Yoh, both his past self and his current self. Kagome never spoke to Manta or Yoh. And ultimately, she was quickly approached by her new associates. The group cordially but casually invited the priestess to hang out with them now that classes were over. "Uh, sure," the raven-haired girl agreed with a small smile. "Where do you have in mind?" She inquired.

"We usually hit up the mall!" One girl explained as they made their way towards the door. "We're gonna get a bite to eat then do a little shopping~"

"Oh," Kagome smiled sheepishly as she clutched her bag and followed behind the other girls. "I actually didn't bring any money with me," she admitted with a bit of embarrassment.

The invisible Yoh walked out into the hallway and stared at the backs of the schoolgirls. He closed his eyes, looking thoughtful as he crossed his arms over his chest. 'Hmmmm...' he groaned softly, 'I don't know if I should follow Kagome, Manta, or myself.' Brown eyes reopened as his past self exited the classroom at a leisurely pace, sauntering out into the hall with his hands resting in his pockets.

'Eh—' The Asakura then stiffened at the sight of Manta charging out of the room and into the hall. The blond boy glared at the past Yoh's back. He then began pressing his back, firm and flat, against the walls as he quickly and stealthily closed the distance between them. 'Manta, were you stalking me…?' The spectral Yoh sweatdropped. 'Well, if I know myself then I'm not gonna do anything important for a while,' the shaman pointed out to himself.

'Okay, I'll check on Kagome!' Yoh finally decided. He then tilted his head to the side, his arms still folded over his chest. 'But how do I catch up to her?' He wondered to himself. As if guided by instinct, his peripheral was drawn to the row of large windows that lined the hallway. And like a moth to a flame, his sight easily settled on the familiar figure of Kagome as she took up the rear of the group of schoolgirls. 'Found her!'

The shaman phased through the wall and soared through the air. Catching up to the band of girls was a cinch. Maneuvering his spiritual body without the laws of gravity and physics came pleasantly easily to him. Yoh did not know what he was expecting to find out by following this world's Kagome, nor did he know what would be gained from watching the echoes of a lost world. All he did was act on his instincts and feelings, and something compelled him to watch over this Kagome.

Also...Part of him hoped that this world would be the key is understanding the dreams and visions he had been having lately...

And so, Yoh watched Kagome walk behind the blissfully ignorant girls who befriended her. Whenever there were no eyes on her, her head would drop just a bit. Her dainty fingers would clutch her bag just a bit tighter. She seemed to easily fall into her own thoughts—a secret world that not even Yoh himself could explore. Only the sound of her nickname "Higu" would bring her back to reality. Her head would snap back up and her lips would stretch to the sides.

Kagome only seemed more engaged when they sat down at a café to snack and chat. The tiniest sparkle illuminated her dulled eyes when the waitress sat down a strawberry and creme crêpe in front of her. The dessert laid flat on a small bed of powdered sugar and artistic squiggles of chocolate drizzle adorned its top-side. Yoh made a mental note of the establishment's location—he'd have to bring his friends here once he returned to his timeline.

"So, did your family move to Tokyo because of your parents' jobs?!" One girl asked excitedly.

Another girl leaned closer to Kagome and quickly followed up with, "Or do you have some terrifying secret to hide so you came here to start a new life?!"

As expected of the priestess, she maintained her composure. With a small smile, she explained, "Actually, I moved here all on my own. And it wasn't a big move, my family shrine is on the edge of Tokyo so I'm not far from home."

The girls seemed disappointed but satisfied with the answer and continued with their small-talk as they ate.

Once they finished their snacks, it was back to walking and talking. The priestess again took up the rear and was quiet unless spoken to. 'Kagome...What happened to you…?' Yoh asked of the girl who he dutifully floated behind. He then blinked when the parade of girls passed Manta, who was ducking behind a light pole as he spied on the past Yoh.

"Oh, look~" One girl giggled. "It's Oyamada-kun. He's being weird again."

Another girl threw the blond boy a disgusted look as she muttered, "He's spying on Asakura-kun. What a creep. I bet he made up that ghost story as an excuse to stalk him."

"I wouldn't be surprised," a third girl stated nonchalantly as they continued on, walking right by the past Yoh. "Oyamada-kun is wealthy and gets good-grades, but he's got nothing else going for him. That's why he has no friends."

Kagome's march came to a halt mid-step.

Her eyes were wider and her mouth slightly ajar.

She half-turned to look at Manta, only to find that he was just as shocked as she was to find that Yoh had completely disappeared.

The meeting of their surprised eyes was fateful.

Time seemed to stop and everything else in the world faded away.

Despite being locked on each other, there was nothing but silence between them.

And more silence.

No words were needed as their eyes spoke to each other.

In that brief moment, they learned more about each other than Kagome had learned about her new associates all day.

Suddenly, a wide smile spread across Kagome's face. Her eyebrows slanted as one of her hands balled up. She gave Manta a spirited face and encouraging smile accompanied by a quiet nod.

Manta blinked.

His expression then became focused and determined as he returned the smile and nod.

"Higu!" A feminine voice called from ahead. "What are you doing?! The mall awaits!"

"Didn't you hear what we said about Oyamada-kun?! He's totally weird and has no friends!"

Yoh watched as Kagome's determined look fell into a sullen one, with a small smile included. Manta seemed lost as she suddenly spun around on her heel. Her pleated, green skirt twirled behind her. The blond boy looked confused when the girl showed him her back.

Her chest filled up with air as she closed her eyes, taking a slow, deep breath.

"Actually," the raven-haired girl spoke up. Her eyes opened, large and full of life. "Those things that you said—they're all wrong. He didn't make up the ghost story. And…" Finally, the smile on her face reached her eyes as she looked at Manta. "He does have a friend."

What should have been a sweet moment was immediately interrupted by a scoff and an incredulous, "Are you kidding? We treated you to a crêpe and this is how you act?!"

"Nao-chan, don't be mad!" One girl's hands flailed around. "I'm sure Higu is just confused!"

A feeling of pride filled Yoh as Kagome shook her head and responded, "Nah. I've never been more sure of than anything in my entire life." She raised a hand and waved it apologetically, "I'll pay you back for the crêpe, promise!"

It was at this moment that she made her first friend.

Yoh continued watching over this Kagome, wanting to know more and more about her.

And to his relief, the more time that she spent with him and Manta, the more open and happy she became.

Finally, he arrived at the day they went to visit Higurashi shrine. To his surprise, this world's Kagome did not arrive before them. Instead, she made the trip with them, escorting them on bus and foot.

"Your family really doesn't mind that you're bringing friends home so quickly?" Manta questioned as they arrived at the foot of the grand staircase. "Also," he blushed slightly while clutching his backpack's straps. "We're boys, so…" he trailed off, unable to repeat his embarrassing thoughts aloud.

Kagome's blink was innocent. She then smiled reassuringly while waving her hand, "Don't worry about it. We won't get in trouble, I promise. I'm sure they'll be happy to meet you." The past Yoh's and Manta's visibly twitched when the girl shrugged and added, "And besides, I'm sure they won't mind that you're guys, I barely notice it myself." She snickered behind her hand at her friends' comically outraged faces and protested, "Heheh, calm down~ It was obviously a joke~!"

The invisible Yoh sweatdropped, feeling agitation at the statement as he silently remarked, 'Isn't that a bit harsh, Kagome?'

The trio then ascended the stairs. As expected, Manta tired out first, followed by Yoh. In contrast to Manta's plentiful pauses for pants and Yoh's exaggerated, shaky crawl up the stairs, Kagome nearly skipped during her ascent.

It took some playful teasing from Kagome to motivate the boys to reach the top in a timely manner.

Being fueled by the girl's childish motivation, the boys did not achieve the climb, but not without more complaints. But on the bright side, they made it without dying like Yoh's past-self claimed that they would.

And to the invisible Yoh's surprise, the Higurashi matriarch was nowhere in sight. The shaman quickly brushed it aside, he already noticed that the events of this timeline were not exactly the same as the one that he lived.

But, it was still surprising to not come across a single relative throughout the duration of the tour that Kagome gave them. Even after the girl led them inside, there were no Higurashi's in sight. It was only after the girl escorted them upstairs and assigned them bedrooms that his past self finally asked, "Ah, Kagome-chan, is your family away this weekend?"

Amidamaru appeared, his arms crossed over his chest as he expressed his own curiosity, "Yes, I do not sense any presences here so I was wondering the same thing."

It was then that Kagome released a nervous chuckle that matched her uneasy smile. "Eheh," She scratched her cheek. "I'm sorry. I didn't intend to lie to you guys. I just didn't know how to tell you…I'll introduce you to them right now."

The two boys and samurai gave each other confused looks as the priestess then retreated back down the stairs. They followed behind her until she arrived at a closed door. "Everyone, I'm home," She announced as her hand settled on the handle. She opened the door and stepped inside. "And I brought some friends."

Kagome walked inside and the boys followed behind her. Manta immediately bowed upon entering the room. "Good evening. Thank you for having us," he stated respectfully before standing up straight with a smile ready to greet the Higurashi family.

The past Yoh uttered a breathy "Kagome-chan" as he and Manta froze on the spot.

The faces that stared back at them wore smiles that were frozen in time.

A framed family photograph sat atop a small shrine surrounded by unlit candles and memorial tablets. In the picture were the smiling faces of a young couple, their young twin daughters, and an even younger son. To the left of the family photo was a picture of an elderly couple in priest and priestess attire.

"This is my family," Kagome told them in the most casual voice she could muster. Her tone was surprisingly not watery or sad, but a bit tense and apprehensive. It was as if she was afraid of how her friends would react. "Well, one of those girls is actually me when I was nine, but still—yeah."

"I'm sorry," Manta was the first to speak up. He seemed more bothered than the girl herself, "I...I didn't know, or else—"

The girl shook her head and smiled softly, "No need to apologize. I'm the one who never brought it up."

"Kagome-chan," Yoh suddenly said, catching blue-gray eyes with brown. "I'd like to burn some incense for them."

The priestess nodded slowly with a soft, appreciative smile, "Un. Thank you." Her face then became teasing as she stepped forward. The tip of her fingernail poked the shaman in the chest as she said, "But don't you dare think that you're gonna summon them back and enlist them into your army."

The shaman readily went along with the joke, snapping his fingers with a feigned frustrated face, "Oh, shoot. She's on to me!"

After paying their respects and speaking to the Higurashi family, the room was closed and Kagome offered her friends the chance to unwind while she started dinner. To her pleasant surprise, the two declined and opted to help her instead.

It was while Kagome was chopping vegetables that she opened up about the death of the Higurashi family. Moments prior, the kitchen was filled with nothing but the sound of broth simmering and knives hitting the chopping board. "I lost them when I was about ten years old. I don't remember exactly what happened honestly. The police say that they vanished without a trace and assume that I was abandoned…so I was sent to live with my aunt and her family for a while."

Her voice was soft but calm as she spoke and reflected. "But, I don't believe that… My family would never abandon me," she stated, her tone was both certain with faith in her family and melancholy with the reality of being alone. "All I remember about the night when they disappeared is being out in the woods with my sister Kikyo and our friend Onigumo-kun. She told me that she was going to cast a spell on me to make me braver...stronger...and the next thing that I knew, I woke up all alone."

Yoh watched his past self and Manta gather around Kagome, placing hands on her shoulders and leg with pats of comfort. Their faces went from sympathetic to brilliant as they reassured the girl that she would never be alone again, that they were her family now. It was truly a heartwarming scene to see the lonely Kagome smile and nod in agreement. "You're right. Thank you so much," she said, "I love you guys."

Imagine Yoh's surprise when he arrived at the day when the Tao's treated their ragtag group to the bathhouse. Again, his past-self made a break for the hall just before Ren could kiss Kagome. The disembodied Yoh phased through the closed closet door and watched as he and Kagome sat back to back.

Yoh placed a hand on top of Kagome's head and told her, "Don't be so willing to cut yourself short. Believe it or not but you're a lot of people's types," he told her with a grin. "A true catch!"

Kagome blushed at his statement, "You really think so?" She asked, her voice almost wavering.

"Mmhm!" Yoh nodded in response, "Remember, there's a lot of great things about you! That's why I can't let just anyone have you!"

The priestess stifled a laugh at the statement, "What's that supposed to mean? You're not my owner or my father, you know." The latter statement was made nonchalantly, unoffended by the implications of Yoh's declaration.

Undoubtedly, both teens were blushing fiercely, and they were grateful that no one could see or sense their embarrassment and discomfort. The past Yoh hummed thought as he raised a finger to lightly scratch his cheek. His voice was uncharacteristically sheepish as he admitted, "I know… I guess I'm just jealous."

Kagome perked up in the darkness. She resisted the urge to turn around, but she could not hide the surprise and antsy-nature behind her tone, "Jealous? Why would you be jealous?"

"Ah…" The boy shuffled uncomfortably. "Don't be mad...I know it's wrong already."

The spectral Yoh's eyes widened as he listened to the words that escaped the other's Yoh mouth.

"Kagome...I think…" At first he sounded nervous and unsure. He then shook his head and asserted to both himself and her, "No. I am. I'm in love with you, Kagome." Before he had the chance to say anything else, the girl suddenly twisted around.

"Yoh!" Her voice was suddenly watery as she lunged at Yoh. The girl was on the verge of tears as her weight sent the boy plummeting to his back with a thump. She landed unceremoniously on top of him. For a moment, she laid there with her face buried in his chest and he laid there, eyes wide and mouth agape in the darkness.

"Yoh...me too…" she finally stated, her voice not rising above a whisper. "I love you too."

It was a mutual confession; there were requited affections.

And the spectating Yoh knew that was why this Kagome weeping into his chest.

Meanwhile, Yoh was staring up at the void that was the closet ceiling in shock. "Kagome…" was all that his mind could think of at that moment. His arms finally rose from his sides. One mechanically found the girl's waist as the other's hand rested on the back of her head. Gentle fingers lightly stroked at her hair roots.

For a moment, he massaged her scalp soothingly. His lips pursed together into a scowl as he wore a thoughtful expression that Kagome was unaware of.

Only the invisible spectator could see the guilt that spread across his face as he suddenly released the girl from the embrace. The girl made a quizzical hum as she lifted herself off the boy's chest. Her hands were placed flat against either side of Yoh's head as she stayed hovering just above him. "Kagome, I'm sorry," the past Yoh stated, torn and dejected. "But I can't—."

He was suddenly silenced by Kagome's gentle fingers sealing his lips.

With her own pained smile, she leaned down and pressed her lips against his cheek for a moment. Instinctively, his hand rose to touch the warm spot after her lips departed. The priestess spoke, her voice wistful but firm with resolve, "Yoh...it's okay. I know."

There was no need for words that would only hurt them further.

They both knew how it was.

Before anything else could be said, the teens' attentions were drawn to the jostle of the door opening and the invasion of light. The misshapen, collection of shadows of their friends loomed over them. They were caught in that compromising position, and there was clearly hell to pay.

Unsurprisingly, this world's Ren was just as angry as the one that Yoh knew.

The scene was more shocking when watching from the outside. He had no clue that he was capable of making such dark expressions at someone.

And then—it happened.

This world's Kagome shook everyone to their cores with her outburst towards Ren and Yoh. The spectating Yoh felt the simultaneous guilt that his past self felt after witnessing how Kagome struck Ren down with her words.

The sheer betrayal in Ren's eyes reflected the Tao's vulnerability to his feelings for Kagome.

There was a pain that only love could inflict on one's heart.

But the girl did not stop there.

She quickly turned her ire to Yoh.

"You're engaged, Yoh…" Kagome suddenly said in a low tone before she finally lifted her head to reveal angry, hurt eyes. "Mind your own business. Whoever I decide to kiss has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU—!"

Yoh's eyes widened.

As did Kagome's.

A sharp gasp escaped her lips before she threw her hands over her mouth.

'Kagome…' Yoh wanted nothing more than to reach out to this Kagome. He was the only Yoh that was facing her. He was the only Yoh here that could see the sheer mortification and regret that she felt in that moment.

But he was also the only Yoh who could do nothing but watch.

The Tao's left.

The look on Kagome's face silently screamed that she knew that she was wrong and wanted to make amends.

She lifted a weak, shaking hand.

That hand reached for Yoh's, only for the unknowing boy to take a step away.

That hand grasped nothing but air as he spoke, "You're right…" He told her in a soft voice. "I butted into your life. I'll be on my way now."

The Usui siblings too walked away.

Kagome was left there with Bankotsu and Mukotsu.

Her usually vibrant eyes were devoid of emotion as she stared blankly ahead.

"Don't worry. I can fix this," Bankotsu promised the girl who was no longer shedding tears.

Yoh could not help but feel useless as Kagome sat all alone in the inn lobby.

Even Mukotsu had scurried away to buy her a drink.

The Asakura did not know what it was, but something about Kagome sitting there with her head hung low made him feel uneasy. The uneasiness that weighed on his spiritual form intensified into complete dread as he heard unfamiliar footfalls approach the girl.

[Clack!][Clock!][Clack!][Clock!]

Had his body been physical, Yoh would have paled and gone cold. There before Kagome stood Hao. The girl seemed wary of him. But in her crestfallen state, she was unable to make any sort of intimidating face at the smiling shaman.

He extended a gloved hand towards her.

The girl raised her head and stared at the offer…

And just like that, she took hold of it.

Yoh gasped, his spiritual body tensing as a roaring inferno suddenly combusted in the empty lobby. On instinct, his arms raised to protect his face. 'Wait—I'm a spirit!' He quickly reminded himself upon feeling no rush of heat. His arms lowered, revealing that Hao and Kagome both disappeared within the fleeting fireball. The only trace of their presence was the scorch marks on the floor.

"KAGOME!" Yoh's past self and their friends resounded her name.

But they were too late.

The specter blinked. In the split second that it took to reopen his eyes, he unexpectedly found himself standing on the flat roof of a tower of iron and glass. It's height staggered far above the tops of other buildings, and this cluster of skyscrapers stretched for miles on end. Yoh took a few steps forward until he stood at the edge of the roof, where there was no gate or barrier to prevent fatal plummets if anyone so wished it. The vantage point made him feel like an eagle, able to spot familiar structures and shapes from the clouds.

His mind quickly registered that he was in downtown Tokyo, on top of one of its tallest buildings. 'In this form, I am pure willpower. I can find Kagome wherever she goes,' The teen surmised as his expression hardened with his resolve. 'So that means—.' He spun around and looked left and right, his eyes searching for a sign that his theory was correct.

Yoh did not have to wait long. A few moments later, the same burst of flames roared several meters away. And just as before, within seconds, the flames were snuffed by an invisible force. Left in place of the fire was none other than Asakura Hao with Kagome in his arms, pulled flush into his cloaked chest.

Hao's satisfied smirk did not fade, even after he released Kagome from his hold and the girl took a few steps away from him. She turned her back to him, facing Yoh but still unable to see or detect his presence, or lack thereof. "Where are we?" The priestess asked of the shaman. "Why did you bring me here?" Despite her inquiries, her voice held no discernable emotion. Her tone was blank and her eyes were empty.

It was like Kagome was only going through the motions of herself.

She knew what Kagome would ask, but her heart and mind were disconnected.

Yoh could see it.

This Kagome was shattered.

As if Hao read her just as easily as Yoh did, he sighed then smiled. "Does that really matter to you?" He asked back, his tone borderlined between a taunt and an amusement that Yoh found to be aggravatingly sadistic. His blocky-boots clacked and scraped as he closed the short distance between himself and the priestess.

Hao seemed to tower over Kagome as he stood behind her, eying her with a sharp predatory gaze. He placed a hand on her shoulder, but the girl did not flinch at the contact. "For you, my little canary…" His smirk widened subtly, as he asked in a blatantly mocking tone, "Anywhere... anyone would do, right?"

Yoh bristled before he barked out, "Don't talk about her like that!"

Kagome then took both Asakura's by surprise. It was just like her. As swift as a tornado barreling through a town, the girl's blank expression morphed twisted into a snarl. She whipped around and glared at the wide-eyed Hao. "Excuse me?!" She interjected with a sudden sauciness that urged her to violently poke Hao square in the chest. "Don't underestimate me! I can leave just as easily as I came here!"

As soon as those words left her mouth, Hao's brief surprised expression became an amused one once again. "My, my~" He hummed, "Is that so~?" He asked while looking the girl over. The shaman's gestures were grandiose and animated as he took a few steps away from Kagome then spread his arms out wide in a welcoming manner. "Then, by all means, show me~ Leave, as easily as you came~!"

Yoh's eyes widened as he watched the scene play out. Despite how readily he swept Kagome away when she was vulnerable, Hao seemed to relish in her outbursts. No matter what she said or did, Hao was fixated on Kagome and he would have her; that was a fact.

"Fine…" Kagome hissed icily as her hands balled up into fists at her side.

The Asakura's watched the girl's every movement with interest. She marched over to the opposite end of the roof until she stood at the edge. Kagome then turned around. Her back faced the awaiting world as her fiery face challenged Hao's. The shaman's amused smirk faded into a stoic face as his eyes became sharper. His arms lowered to his sides.

The only sound between them was the roar of a high wind that whipped their hair and clothing.

Yoh swallowed a lump in his throat.

The fire in Kagome's eyes did not fade, nor did she waver from Hao's icy gaze.

"Your rescue dog isn't here," Hao stated forwardly. "He won't make it in time to save you."

"I know," Kagome confirmed boldly. Without another word, she took a step backward.

'KAGOME!' Yoh shrieked as the gravity took hold and the girl instantly disappeared over the edge. He dashed towards the spot where Kagome stood just a moment earlier.

But before he could even reach the edge, Yoh gasped. From the exact spot where she just walked off, Kagome slowly reemerged. Her slow ascent first revealed her full head of dark hair, then her stormy eyes that were followed by her pursed lips. 'K-Kagome…? How…?' He wondered as more and more of the priestess was revealed.

Finally, Kagome's full form came into view, from her head to her bare feet that stood on top of a gargantuan, crimson hand that held her tiny form gingerly. A spirit then peered over the edge, revealing its inhuman face. It extended its hand and lowered it so that Kagome could easily step down from its palm. The priestess's hand was like a speck of dust as she patted the spirit's hand appreciatively.

Kagome's soft expression then hardened into a resolved one as she walked up to Hao. The shaman then chuckled when she stopped just short of him and placed her hands on her hips. "Well, that was quite the spectacle," He said gleefully. "But tell me, what do you think your little show just proved~?" He asked of the girl, his brow raising and eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Your spirit—He didn't save me on his own accord," Kagome explained. She lifted an arm and her pointer finger aimed towards the sky as she continued speaking, "My little show was a leap of faith."

The priestess's choice of words seemed to take Hao by surprise again, as he no longer seemed entertained by her antics. He listened in, intent on consuming every drop of her words.

"I'm not going to say that I think that you're a good person," Kagome admitted. "But something told me that you're not my enemy...that no matter what happens, you wouldn't let anything happen to me. And if that's the case...I can leave whenever I want to, can't I?" The priestess finally averted her gaze from Hao's as she shuffled her feet.

'Kagome…' Yoh was stunned. If he had not seen this with his own eyes, he would not have believed it. 'That stunt you pulled...it was a trust-fall…?'

Hao breathed an audible sigh while shrugging his shoulders. "It seems that you're more reckless than I originally thought," He smiled. "What would you have done if I decided you're more trouble than you're worth?" He asked curiously.

The priestess shrugged this time as she responded, "I'm sure it would work out somehow."

Yoh anime fell but quickly righted himself, 'That's not how you're supposed to use that quote!'

"You were right about one thing, though," Kagome suddenly said. "I did ask the wrong questions earlier. There is something that I want to know more than anything else right now."

"Very well," Hao replied readily, "Anything that you want to know—I'll tell you everything."

"Everything, huh?" The priestess repeated before slowly settling down on her bottom. She sat as modestly as she could in the bathhouse yukata that she still sported. "Well, let's start with the basics. You're a shaman, a powerful one at that." Hao sat down cross-legged next to her. He huffed with a smirk at the acknowledgment of his power. "Oh, quiet." Kagome deadpanned at his obvious pride. "Because of the timing of everything...I'm guessing you're aiming to become Shaman King."

Hao hummed affirmatively and he propped his head into his hand and boasted, "Correct. Kagome, you're looking at Future King Hao, the only shaman fit to rule them all."

"Not the most humble one, are you?" The priestess deadpanned. "I hate to admit it, but...you do have the strongest aura that I've ever felt. That's why I need to ask you…" her expression became calm. Her eyes stared ahead, off into the distance of Tokyo as she inquired, "What do you plan to do if you became Shaman King?"

"When I become Shaman King," Hao was sure to correct the girl, knowing it would get under her skin. "I'm going to cleanse this world, and transform it—" He then moved an arm, reaching for the girl beside him. With a gentleness that Yoh did not think possible, Hao took Kagome's cheek in one hand and steered her head to face him. "—the paradise that you deserve. You, and the rest of our people, will never have to suffer again."

Kagome looked just as taken aback as Yoh was.

Hao's voice, his face, his touch: they all swore their loyalty to her.

"Our...people…?" She whispered. "You mean shamans?" She asked without needing an answer. Suddenly a tinge of urgency and dread seeped into her voice as she questioned, "What does that mean? What does a paradise for shamans mean to you?"

"It's simple…" Hao's smile became darker as he stated, "I'm going to purge this world of the scourge called humanity."

Kagome looked as if her heart dropped into her stomach.

She was floored.

"...what?"

"Exactly as I said," he reaffirmed. "Humanity is a stain that needs to be wiped away. It's the Shaman King's job to act on behalf of Earth, to deliver this world from evil and guide it towards prosperity." His smile widened as he concluded, "Such a task is only possible if I eradicate the plague that's ailing the planet."

"And you think...that plague is…" Kagome's face scrunched up, but Yoh could not figure out if it was from disgust or incredulity. "Humans. Ordinary humans specifically."

"Precisely," Hao answered. "Those selfish creatures—" He almost snarled as his eyes pierced through Yoh's being like a winter storm, chilling him to the core. "You don't have to look far to see the destruction they've caused. The mass extinction of other species, global climate change…" He chuckled bitterly.

Kagome hummed thoughtfully as she suddenly hugged her knees to her chest. Her eyes were pensive as she listened to Hao's twisted spiel. Yoh expected the priestess to instantly interject against the idea, but instead, she allowed the shaman to speak.

All the while Yoh noted how Hao's tone did not reflect the blunt, cutting words that left his mouth. No. His voice was bitter. And there was no way that Kagome did not pick on that fact. "They're so blinded by their greed and egoism that they're a blight, even to their own kind. War. Hunger. Poverty...all results of the humans who forgot their place in the world, they've been overstepping their boundaries for too long."

"...Hao," the girl suddenly said. Kagome picked up her head and straightened her back. She slowly turned her head to face Hao once more. "Basically, you think that mass genocide is going to make the world a better place," she stated, her voice staying lowered and calm.

"You know what they say," The shaman said nonchalantly. "If you want to make an omelet, you have to crack a few eggs~"

"...yeah, right…" Kagome muttered in a hushed voice, just audible enough for Yoh to hear. She pushed herself up and straightened out her yukata. Hao's eyes followed her form as she sauntered across the rooftop. Yoh recognized the sudden movement as pacing, despite how calm she seemed on the outside. "Do you really think that I'd buy into that Shaman Kingdom pitch of yours?" She asked while cupping her hands behind her back, she looked at Hao askance. "You claim that a world without humans would be a paradise, but actually…"

Stormy pools met earthy brown.

"Isn't a world without humans just easier, for you?" Kagome asked. Hao's expression darkened as he glowered at the priestess. "Humans are inherently selfish, yes… But so am I, and so are you. This Shaman Kingdom that you want to create...isn't it just a world that you'd prefer to live in?" She questioned. "Eh?" She paused when the shaman suddenly broke out into a peal of hearty laughter. "I'm being serious here!" She shouted with her hands balled at her side.

Hao stifled his final laugh and subdued himself into a small fit of snickers. Kagome's eye twitched after one last chuckle escaped from his mouth. "Forgive me…" He stated, but not without beaming at the priestess, an action that almost made her shrink away. "But you truly are an oddity to me."

Kagome blinked, her face became questioning.

But she did not have to wait for an answer as he followed up, "Usually…" He closed his eyes as he recounted memories. "When I brief other shamans on my plans, they tend to fall in line...or take up arms."

For a moment, Hao was quiet as he replayed the moments of his past. There were so many people who bowed their heads to him. But there were even more people who were slaughtered on the spot for their opposition. And he certainly was never above hunting down and slaying those who opposed him.

"But you...my dear Kagome," He said before his eyes reopened and met the priestess's. "You don't share the same vision as I do, and yet...your first reaction is to question me, to imply hypocrisy," Hao stated with a smile resting on his calmed face.

Kagome crossed her arms and quickly retorted, "Don't get the wrong idea. I won't let you have your way. It's unexplainable but…" She gripped at the cloth covering her chest and said, "For some reason, I feel like I have to save you, from yourself."

Hao stared her down for a moment, his mind digesting her words.

Kagome stared back at him, her eyes firm and fixed, showing him that she spoke from her heart.

"My, my~" He finally sighed, his amused demeanor returning once again. The shaman followed Kagome's example and got to his feet. "We make quite the pair, don't we?" He asked rhetorically as he made his way over to her side. "Future King Hao, who will lead the world to a new era, and Future Queen Kagome, who plans to foil her King."

"That's right…" Kagome agreed as she pulled some hair behind her ear. "I refuse to live in that Shaman Kingdom of yours," She stated while meeting his eyes.

"You know, those have been the last words of many people who chose to defy me," Hao pointed out.

"I'll take my chances," The girl replied. "If you wanted to kill me, you already would have by now."

Hao stifled a chuckle as he stared off into the distance. "Tell me something, my little canary…" His voice reflected the dark entertainment of a Cheshire cat. "Even though you act like a brave little soldier, you're actually afraid, aren't you? You choose to stay by my side, because you're scared to go home and face your friends, aren't you?"

Another gust of wind blew by.

Kagome's voice was carried to Yoh's ears by the passing breeze.

"You really get on my nerves, you know that? ...but you're right. I am afraid, to go back."

[Plip!]

A saline droplet plopped onto the ground, landing near Kagome's bare feet. "I…" Her eyes twitched and lips trembled as she tried to keep up her calm exterior. "I-I…"

[Plip!][Plop!][Plip!]

Stains of moisture gathered around her feet.

"I can't bear to see that look on Yoh's face again…!" Kagome suddenly cried out to the open air. Her arms wrapped around herself as her shoulders shook violently. "He was my best friend, and after all that he's done for me, I hurt him...so...so badly…!

Tears pelted the ground like a steady rain on pavement.

Yoh's heart clenched in his chest.

"And Ren too…" The girl's hiccuped. "I was terrible to him…" Kagome's face fell into her hands.

It was in this moment that the flood of emotions held back by the dam in her mind finally broke through her walls.

All of the feelings that she held inside of her as her mind went blank rushed out like a raging river returning to the sea.

Her bawling then turned into a muffled scream. "I—hah...?" The priestess blinked while her hands were pulled away from her face. His tanned hand raised to replace her smaller ones. His thumb delicately wiped her tears away.

"Just as I said before, if you come with me, you'll never have to be alone again."

"I…" The girl swiped a tear away, as if she was suddenly embarrassed. She sniffed before looking up at the shaman before her, "I agreed on a whim…actually, it was because I thought that I lost everything, everyone. But honestly, I was being stupid. I know that if I go back, they'd accept me." Despite being in Hao's presence, it was like Kagome was talking more to herself.

Hao sighed deeply and feigned disappointment, unable to hide his smile, "Oh, darn. Looks like I've lost my Queen already. What do I have to do to keep her by my side?"

"Nothing," Kagome responded bluntly, taking Yoh by surprise once again. She walked over to the edge of the roof top and took in the sight of Tokyo from the roaring skies. "I'm not going back just yet… I think, I've found my purpose…" She turned and looked at Hao from over her shoulder. "There's someone who needs me more. And if I can save this person, then I can save everyone."

Hao chuckled behind his hand, "Rather bold of you to talk about me as if I'm not standing here."

"I just want to make my intentions clear," Kagome replied easily. "Besides, you like that sort of thing, don't you?" She asked in a deadpanned voice. When Hao beamed in response, she muttered, "Weirdo…"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Hao queried. When the priestess looked curious, he smirked and continued, "You want to figure out your mysterious feelings for me, don't you? Aren't you secretly in love with me, too? Admit it. You can't get me out of your mind."

Kagome's confused face instantly faded into warmer shades as she shouted indignantly, "Don't get ahead of yourself, Mister! The only person who I'm in love with is—!" Her voice caught in her throat as she was unable to finish her exclamation.

She was suddenly frozen in place at just the thought of the name.

"Hao?" The shaman asked teasingly, bringing the girl back to reality.

"Like I said, don't get ahead of yourself!" Kagome shouted back while crossing her arms. "Jeez, you really get on my nerves…!" She hissed loud enough for Hao to hear.

'Kagome…' Yoh wondered to himself, thinking of the Kagome that he knew, the one from his timeline. 'Do you feel the way that this Kagome does…? Does Kagome...have some sort of connection with Hao...?' He watched as this world's Kagome continued speaking with Hao, consistently going between serious discussions and banter that made her bristle every now and then.

Soon, the brilliance pinks and golds of twilight conceded to an encroaching night sky.

"Before we go, I want to see them once again," Kagome stated as stepped into Hao's awaiting arms. "It might be a long time until I get to after all."

"Very well." With a flap of his cloak, the pair disappeared into the burst of flames that Yoh was growing accustomed to.

Yoh grunted and concentrated, 'Kagome! Take me to Kagome!' He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, 'I have to watch over her! I have to know! Kagome!' Upon opening his eyes, he found that he was standing outside of his home in Tokyo—the one that he shared with so many friends.

Kagome and Hao were not far from the property, standing on the hand of the towering, crimson spirit, who changed his size to be akin to an ordinary home. The girl stared at the mini-mansion longingly as her hand continued gripping Hao's cloak.

"So, what are you waiting for? Chicken?" Hao asked. He looked away when Kagome shot a hot glare at him, but he did not hide his shameless smile.

"I...I want to see them again, but now that I'm here...I don't know if I can," She confessed.

Hao hummed as a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

He rubbed his chin.

"...Yoh is probably crying," he stated straightforwardly.

Kagome's eye twitched. She grabbed a handful of Hao's long side-bang and tugged on it, pulling him forward. "That's enough out of you! Are you trying to make me angry?!"

"I'd rather see you angry, yes," He replied without missing a beat.

The girl released the tuft of hair from her grip and sighed, "You're something else."

"And all yours," The shaman was sure to add, half expecting a flustered reaction.

But instead, Kagome just shook her head, "You realize that I'm not old enough to legally consent to marriage, right?"

"Of course," Hao smirked and explained, "Only a fool would take your acceptance seriously."

Kagome's cheeks flushed as she glared, "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"You're still a child, you have no true concept of what marriage means, not yet anyway," The shaman explained with a smile that came off as condescending to Yoh. "Once I become King, I'll officially ask you for your hand."

"You act like you're an adult talking to a child," Kagome pointed out with an annoyed glare.

With a secretive, knowing smile, Hao placed his hand on top of Kagome's head and rubbed it. "Is that so~?"

The priestess gasped softly as her eyes glazed over, as if her mind went elsewhere. She gaped up at Hao with an entranced, surprised gaze.

Yoh's eyes widened as an image popped into his mind's eyes:

A much older version of himself was smiling tenderly while patting a shy, older Kagome's head.

"Don't do that!" Kagome's voice cleared the image from his mind as she swatted Hao's hand away. She placed her hands to her burning cheeks and looked irritated at her body's response to the touch.

"Why? You like that sort of thing, don't you?" He queried mockingly, not minding that the red-faced girl tugged on both of his side-bangs as she cried out protests.

"Are you always this talkative?! You sure ask a lot of questions for such a know-it-all!" the girl exclaimed.

Hao's answer only raised more questions as he stated, "It's because you're the only one who I cannot read. Just like my old master, I cannot hear your inner voice."

"Your older master?" Kagome repeated. "Care to expound on that?"

"Some other time," Hao smiled while patting Kagome's head once again, earning another glare.

It felt like the two were out there for hours before Hao finally stated, "Kagome, it's about time for us to depart, if you truly wish—."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kagome cut in with a mutter. There was no more stalling. "Let's go." It only took a few steps for Hao's spirit to reach the Asakura residence. It stopped just outside the structure. "Spirit of Fire, boost me up to that window," the priestess commanded in a casual tone.

The spirit stood there, as still and silent as a grave.

...a stray wind blew a piece of tumbleweed across the yard.

Kagome's face flushed as she turned an accusing glare at Hao, who suspiciously was already wearing a sweet smile and with a feigned innocent shrug. "Hao, he's not listening to me!"

"Well, he is my spirit," The shaman answered. "Besides, he likes being spoken to like the gentleman that he is," Hao explained while giving the spirit an affectionate pat. "And he's fond of cutesy girls."

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" the priestess deadpanned before sighing defeatedly. "Fine," she gave in. Kagome cupped her hands, practically glowing with her sparkly eyes and dazzling smile, "Spirit of Fire, would you boost me to that window, please? Teehee~"

Kagome's keen ears caught onto an almost inaudible snort.

Instantly, her beaming face and glowing aura were replaced with pure fury "I knew you were messing with me!" She shouted before gasping and slapping her hands over her mouth. "Crap!" Her muffled voice squeaked below her wide eyes. "That was way too loud!"

The shaman then explained, "Not to worry. I made sure that no one would awaken during your little visit." Kagome quickly threw a suspicious glare and he clarified, "No, I didn't harm them. When you've been around for as long as I have, you learn countless methods of subduing hostiles."

"Hostile? I don't want to hear that from you," Kagome and Yoh's spectral form said in perfect unison. The spirit then watched as the Spirit of Fire lifted his hand up to his bedroom window. Yoh quickly flew into the air as Kagome began sliding his window open. She easily climbed inside, leaving Hao behind.

Yoh hovered there for a moment before flying inside behind her.

The analog clock on the wall read 3:00 A.M.

But to both Yoh and Kagome's surprise, his past self was nowhere in sight. She walked over to his empty bed and placed her hand on its soft surface. "So cold…" She whispered to herself. "Yoh...where are you…?"

The spirit almost answered that he was right by her side, but she continued on. She opened his door and stepped out into the hallway. Once again, both were surprised.

This time, it was because of the sliver of golden light that peeked from beneath the bottom of Kagome's closed bedroom door. "It couldn't be…" The girl whispered to her. Her hand landed on her doorknob and she twisted it before pushing the door open.

The girl's eyes flickered with a whirlwind of emotion at the sight of the past Yoh passed out, face-first into her bed. The sight of his puffy eye-lids and stained cheeks made Kagome take a step back.

This was the type of sight that the girl was not prepared for—the type of sight that she could not bear.

She shook her head at herself. "No… It's okay. You just have to say goodbye, for now."

With renewed resolve, Kagome walked over to her bedside and stood above Yoh's form. He truly was in a deep sleep thanks to Hao's technique. "Yoh, I came to tell you that I'll be gone for a while… I know that I just got back, but...there's something that I have to—a mission, if you would," she explained as if her voice was reaching his ears.

She reached down and placed her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry, for being a coward. But I'm afraid...afraid that you won't understand if I told you what I'm doing. I'm afraid that you'll try to stop me…" Her eyes softened. "And...I know that we'll always be friends… But I'm also afraid...I'm still afraid of facing you, and the others after what I did. Some time apart will be good for us, right?" She asked with a salty chuckle.

"Anyway… I know that I hurt you… and I'm so sorry. I was wrong. And I…" She leaned down. The girl then paused as her long hair fell over her shoulder and into her face. With a scoff, she grumbled at the inconvenience of being blinded by her own ink black locks, "Maybe Ren was right about my hair, after all…" She then smiled and pulled her hair back and continued leaning over.

Kagome closed her eyes and pressed her lips against the spot that she kissed not long ago.

Yoh's skin was warm and sticky with traces of his tears.

A stray tear of her own dripped and landed on Yoh's face, but he did not stir.

The priestess's lips lingered for a moment longer than she intended.

But finally, she pulled away and opened her eyes.

The priestess gave Yoh's sleeping form one last smile before she headed for the door, where Hao was waiting in the hall. "Can a girl get some privacy?" She deadpanned.

"Can I get one of those?" Hao asked back, pointing at his jaw with a cheeky grin.

"Will you get out of here?!" Kagome barked out. "Besides, there are other people that I need to see." Despite Hao's sigh, he dutifully stood there as she proceeded to say her farewells to all of her friends.

Her first stop was Anna's room, then one of the guestrooms where she found Manta and HoroHoro. Then there was Ryu's room. Downstairs, she found Bankotsu, Mukotsu, Pirika, Jun, and Sango camping out in the living room. She spotted the flashlight that was loosely gripped by Bankotsu's hand and found herself smiling. "Everyone...thank you so much."

After a few quiet words to her friends, Kagome looked around.

Yoh watched curiously as Kagome got on her hands and knees and looked beneath the kotatsu. Her head shifted from the left, and then to the right. She powerwalked to the dining room, and looked surprised to find it empty. "Where…?" He heard her mutter frantically.

"Where?!" Her voice raised a bit as she almost ran into the kitchen.

'Kagome...what are you looking for…?' Yoh wondered to himself.

She ran out to the backyard, then to the outdoor bath…

By the time she made it back inside, the girl's face was heavy with a pensive expression. "Where...are you…?" She whispered with her head hanging low. Suddenly, she gasped as her head snapped up, revealing widened, enlightened eyes.

Kagome then took off, scrambling across the residence in a hurry.

Yoh blinked as he followed after her, she was heading towards the front door.

The priestess suddenly came to halt when she reached the foyer.

Her breath was audibly caught in her throat as her trembling hands rose to her mouth.

Sitting with his back against the shoe-rack was none other than Tao Ren. His head dipped low as he slumbered by the door.

"Ren…" Kagome could not fight her misty-eyes or her watery voice. "I found you…" She whispered as she walked over to the sleeping Tao. "Were you waiting for me…?" She asked shakily as her smile threatened to break. "Even after I made you so angry…?"

She bent over to get a better look at his face, and for a moment, that's all that she did. "I said that you're always starting fights with other people…" She admitted with a guilt-written half smile. "But that's not true, is it? You don't know how to express yourself, but…" As if acting on instinct, the priestess took a step closer. With a tired sigh, she placed her bottom on the floor next to Ren.

Their nearly identical heights had her head leaning against his, but she did seem to mind.

"You've actually done so much for me," Kagome stated as her eyes closed and a warm smile tugged at her lips. "You know, Ren...when you're sleeping, you look so peaceful, like an angel."

Her body drank in the familiar warmth. It was the same warmth that lulled her to sleep when she was anxious. Unknowingly, her speech pattern slowed more and more as her mind became hazy. "Hey, Ren…?" She spoke to him just as she spoke to Yoh. "I just thought of something crazy… I might be an idiot for thinking this, but...still…"

The girl's head began to bob up and down as she succumbed to that gentle warmth from before. "I'm going to...ask you...someday…" she whispered before her heavy eyelids finally closed.

Yoh felt guilty for how his heart ached at the scene. He forced himself to look away but was unable to unclench his fists. 'Kagome...the answer is yes…' the spirit replied. The younger Asakura stood there and watched in silence as the priestess slept at the slumbering shaman's side.

Even Kagome was too far gone to hear Hao's footfalls as he casually sauntered into the home where he was not welcome. He peered into the individual bedrooms upstairs as he slowly made his way downstairs with a care-free trot. It did not take long for the shaman to locate his would-be bride.

Yoh noticed the way Hao eyed Ren, almost distastefully, like he was a nuisance. However, the brunette was true to his word. Instead of eradicating the sleeping teenagers while they were vulnerable and none the wiser, he scooped Kagome into his arms and gripped her bridal-style. With no hurry, he carried the girl back through the residence and out of the bedroom window that he callously left open.

Yoh continued shadowing Kagome and Hao, determined to see the timeline play through for as long as he could. He easily soared behind the Spirit of Fire as it effortlessly flew through the night sky. They passed many assortments of colored, residential rooftops, schools, shrines, businesses, apartments, skyscrapers. Time was not a factor that Yoh could rely on as his internal clock was set to a tune that was not of this world.

As the Spirit of Fire finally landed in a forested area, all Yoh knew was that the sun had not risen yet. And...he watched as Hao stepped down from the spirit's hand and awakened Kagome with light pats to her cheeks. "Rise and shine, Ka-go-me~" he almost sang with his signature smirk.

"Mmm…" The priestess groaned, but did not resist. She looked up at Hao with half-lidded eyes and whispered something akin to in her sleepy haze, "It...wasn't a dream…?" Slowly, her brain began taking in her surroundings. "Are we…? Wait—I recognize this place. It's...just outside downtown Tokyo."

"Of course you do. This is where you and your doggy camped out before you were taken in by the Tao's," Hao said with a knowing smile that made Kagome stiffen.

"How did you know about that?!" The girl squeaked before a blush crept onto her face. "That means...that time...when I almost drowned…" her fair skin glowed brighter and brighter with each phrase. "I-It was you…"

'Eh? What am I missing here…?' Yoh demanded, his voice panicked as he looked between Hao's shameless smile and Kagome, who looked like she was going to die of embarrassment.

"That's right. I saved your life~" Hao beamed. "By giving you mouth-to-mouth~."

Yoh felt his heart stopped. But luckily, he had no physical body.

Despite her red-face, Kagome still managed to glare at Hao's carefree face, "You really do get on my nerves."

"Now, now~ Is that any way to speak to the man who saved your life?" Hao chuckled.

Kagome did not seem amused, but she did not humor the tease this time. Instead, she huffed and looked away, "More importantly, would you put me down? I'm awake now…"

"Ah?" The brunette tilted his head to the side. "Are you embarrassed to be seen like this?"

Kagome said nothing, but her eyebrow did twitch.

Bingo.

Hao scowled for a moment, seemingly displeased that the girl did not react the way that he wanted. "As you wish," He conceded in a low voice.

Despite being demented enough to want to destroy all of humanity, Yoh was amazed to see him handle Kagome so gently. But perhaps, that was the way that anyone would treat the person that they—.

No.

Someone like Hao could not possibly truly love someone else, right…?

But then again, if that person was someone like Kagome, then, maybe…

Yoh shook those thoughts from his head as a fireball within Hao's hand illuminated the dark area. Yoh almost lost his breath at how the flickering golden light hit Kagome's face at all the right angles.

She truly was a lovely girl, and Yoh could tell that Hao thought so as well.

"Soooo," Kagome began breathily. "What comes next?"

"Our people have been awaiting my return," Hao informed her. "But first, I thought I should give you a tip…" the shaman smiled down at Kagome and stood so close that his chest was pressed against hers. He leaned down until his lips were right next to her ear. "These shamans will obey my every command, but you'll have to earn their respect on your own." Kagome nodded with a small grunt of understanding. "Good girl," He beamed while placing a hand on top of her head.

The brunette was back to chuckling when the priestess' hairs prickled like an angry cat. "I told you not to do that!" She complained while walking a few paces behind the boy in front of her.

"Hmmm?" Hao hummed, surely wearing a mischievous grin. "How else am I supposed to touch you then?" He questioned in a voice that was too overtly teasing for Kagome's liking.

"If you kiss me, I'll hit you," the priestess warned with a flat voice and suspicious glare.

"Haaaah?" Hao gave Kagome a smirk from over his shoulder. "I was actually picturing how you'd feel in my arms," he said, but Yoh was not so sure if he believed him. "But now I know that your mind is always in the gutter."

Kagome bristled as her cheeks flushed, "I don't want to hear that fr—!" She was suddenly hushed by Hao's finger on her lips.

"We're almost there, you ought to compose yourself," He advised in a cool tone.

With an annoyed growl, Kagome swallowed her aggravation. Hao watched with amusement as she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and held her head up high. She only shot him a warning glare after he looked impressed and whispered, "Good girl…"

Yoh followed behind the pair as they approached a parting in the trees that was alive with both the glow of a bonfire and the chatter of many voices. Upon reaching the clearing, they were greeted by the many faces of Hao's followers; the one that Yoh recognized was Miroku's. The young monk sat in front of a make-shift tent surrounded by four attractive young women.

"Look! Hao-sama has returned!" A masculine voice pointed out from within the crowd.

"Welcome back, Hao-sama," Miroku greeted the shaman with a respectful bow of his head.

"Ah. He has recruited another shaman to join the ranks," another voice surmised.

Just the announcement of Hao's presence was enough for the liveliness of the camp to be reduced to silence. He easily strutted across the grass as they parted to the side to make way for him and his guest: a silent display of their respect and admiration. The bonfire cast a marriage of shadows, but Hao's seemed to be the longest and the most esteemed as he walked by.

The commanding shaman stopped walking suddenly, causing Kagome to squeak when she bumped into his back. He chuckled at her antics before he turned and positioned himself at her side. With a crowd of various ages, sexes, and ethnicities staring at them with great interests.

Hao placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder and spoke a sequence of words that made her eyes widen, "This young lady is Higurashi Kagome. While she too is a shaman like the rest of us, she is special. She will not join our cause as another shaman... but rather..."

Kagome gasped softly.

"…my Shaman Queen."

Kagome's head immediately shot up to throw him an embarrassed look, but she blushed when she was met with a confident smile. "Together, she and I will forge the path to a Shaman Kingdom on Earth."

Beyond the crackling of the flames and the whoosh of the wind that only fanned them to burn hotter, Kagome could just make out the hushed voices of some of the shamans. Their whispers were just low enough to be inaudible, but she definitely heard voices. She could only guess what they were discussing amongst themselves.

"Hao-sama, Hao-sama!" A tiny, high-pitched voice cried out joyously as a small child squeezed her way through the crowd. Kagome's mouth fell open when said brunette squatted down and spread his arms out wide. The girl launched herself into Hao's chest and he immediately scooped her up.

As if it was an everyday occurrence, the girl maneuvered herself onto Hao's shoulders once he was standing at his full height. The brunette turned to the priestess and lifted a hand as he explained, "This is Opacho, the sweetest child you'll ever meet."

Opacho beamed as she lifted one hand and waved at Kagome, "It's so nice to finally meet you, Kagome-sama! I hope that you make Hao-sama very happy~!"

Before Kagome had the chance to say anything, Hao laughed at the child's forwardness, "Kagome, I'm afraid that you're going to have some competition for my affection. Opacho here is my favorite girl, after all."

Normally, the priestess would have met Hao's teasing with a snarky remark, but she found herself taken by the innocent smile on the girl's face. For a moment, she forgot about the whispers of Hao's other followers. Kagome stepped forward and extended her hand to Opacho, offering her a smile, "It's my pleasure, Opachan~"

The girl's eyes lit up at the nickname.

"And please, there's no need to address me so formally~ You can call me your big sister, if you'd like," Kagome explained cordially. Even though Hao was accustomed to being addressed in such a manner, it was something that would take some time for Kagome to get used to—and she wasn't sure if she wanted to get used to it.

Opacho shook her head negatively and beamed, "I don't mind! Kagome-sama is Hao-sama's future bride, after all! So that makes you my Kagome-sama~!"

"Alright," Hao cut in. "It's late. And a growing girl like you needs her rest." With gesturing towards a large tent towards the back of the camp, he stated, "Opacho and I are going to retire for the night. You're welcome to join us, Kagome."

Kagome did not hide her uncomfortable scowl and foot-shifting, "ah...I'll pass," she muttered.

"Hmph," Hao did not seem bothered nor surprised by her answer. "Very well. Make yourself comfortable wherever you see fit," he instructed before heading towards the prominent shelter constructed from tarps and other fabrics.

"Easy for you to say…" Kagome whispered at his back. She then looked around and noticed so many strangers' eyes, and they were all on her. She could only manage a strained, nervous smile at them. She lifted her hand, "It's nice to meet you all. But it's been a long day so I'm going to turn in for the night."

Yoh could sense that Kagome was overwhelmed and felt out of her element. She was a gregarious soul who enjoyed being in the presence of friends, but at the same time, nothing could prepare her for this type of limelight. The pink tinge to her cheeks that accompanied her smile gave that much away.

As Kagome passed him, Miroku quickly stood at attention. With his hands cupped behind his back, he closed his eyes and gave her a slight bow. "Goodnight, Kagome-sama. We have high expectations for you."

Kagome stopped to look up at the monk.

Miroku looked down at Kagome and looked genuinely surprised that she stopped to acknowledge him. For a moment, the priestess' eyes were stuck on his face, intent on taking in his appearance with her doe-like gaze. "...Kagome-sama…?" the young man queried. He then followed up with a playful smile, "As beautiful as you are, I'd prefer not to be on the receiving end of Hao-sama's wrath."

"I'm sorry…" Kagome finally spoke after she realized that she stayed stuck on the stranger's face for longer than normal. "It's just—have we...met somewhere before…?" She asked.

Miroku smiled and responded, "I'm afraid not. There's no way that I'd forget such a pretty face."

That was when a small voice spoke up, "Now, now, Miroku-kun, don't forget that this girl is Hao-sama's intended." Kagome followed the source of the voice. Her head tilted up to spot a petite figure that reminded her of Manta. They were dressed in cold-weather attire complete with a red cloak, a blue scarf, and yellow mittens. The figure was perched on top of the shoulder of a behemoth of a man in orange overalls and black boots.

Kagome's jaw almost dropped as she marveled at how this man was nothing but bulging muscles for miles. "Yeah, I'm not gonna clean the Miroku-stain off the floor," the large man added nonchalantly.

The small person's face was obscured by the opaque shadow cast by their thick hood. But they appeared to be peering down at Kagome. "Don't be startled, my child. He might look scary, but rest assured that Bill here is as strong as an ox and as loyal as a dog!" A mittened hand patted Bill's rock-hard bicep.

"Aw, shucks," Bill blushed with a wide-grin across his face. He scratched his cheek and replied in a sheepish tone, "Brocken, you're too kind."

Kagome stifled a chuckle before she gave them a polite bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you all." Once she rose again, she informed them as her hand hovered over her chest, "My name is Higurashi Kagome, I'm a priestess—"

Only Yoh noticed her crooked, embarrassed smile as she mumbled, "in training, but still."

The hooded figure gave her a friendly wave and replied, "The pleasure is all mine. My name is Brocken Meyer!"

"Bill Burton," the large man nodded his head. "If you need anything at all, you can rely on me."

Miroku then reached for Kagome's hand. He brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles, "Takinawa Miroku, a humble monk, and servant of Hao-sama. At your service~"

"Alright, boys," a deep, feminine voice cut in. A young woman with long, teal-colored hair and cerulean eyes emerged from the crowd. She took a shallow drag of a cigarette that she delicately held between her fingers then blew the smoke in Miroku's face, an action that occurred so often that he did not even flinch in response. "I'm sure we're all dying to meet Little Miss Perfect, but it's time for lights-out."

Kagome's would-be grateful smile was more sheepish as the much taller stared her down. The older girl's gaze was focused and intense, as if she was trying to figure out Kagome's story without ever speaking to her. Deciding that it was best not act intimidated, Kagome returned the older girl's calculated stare with one of her own.

But, there was not much that she could tell about the young woman though. All that Kagome knew was that:

One: This young woman was in great shape. She proudly showed her toned body with a black tube-top that supported her ample chest and tight, denim shorts that emphasized her slim waist.

Two: From the annoyed look on her face, Kagome knew that this woman already did not like her, for whatever reason.

It was then that Kagome's eyes found the chocolate-brown, knee-high boots that she wore. They were adorned with miniature Lego-shaped decorations, reminiscent of the design of unique-style boots that Hao sported. "Ah…" the girl could not help but gawk and note just loud enough for the people around her to hear, "it says Hao…"

Indeed, the young woman's boots had Hao's name inscribed vertically along their length.

"Tch," The older girl hissed. "Of course they do. I devote my life and everything to Hao-sama."

Kagome's hands rose defensively to show that she meant no offense, "Okay, okay. I get it."

"Do you?" Those cerulean eyes narrowed, both scrutinizing and judging the girl. "I see right through you. You don't have a loyal bone in your body for Hao-sama, not like we do." Her eyes briefly looked off to the side at a pair of teenage girls that were closer to Kagome's age.

Yoh gulped when he noticed how Kagome's own eyes hardened and her hands clenched. Those very hands raised as the priestess rebutted, "You're right. I don't have the same loyalty for Hao that you do!"

Gasps resounded and mouths simultaneously fell open at the exclamation.

The teal-haired girl expression darkened with a bubbling rage, "Hao…? Just Hao…?"

Kagome ignored the outrage that she struck with her familiar address of the lead-shaman. Yoh was not sure if he was more shocked or proud of how she looked out to the faces in the crowd and announced, "My loyalty...is something that Hao will have to earn."

The older girl clenched her teeth and stepped forward, "Impudent—!" She was halted by a small, pale hand on her forearm. She turned around and saw the face of a petite girl with long, blond hair and a gothic lolita dress. "Marion…"

The twin-tailed beauty shook her head and stated calmly, "Kanna...it's not worth it."

A third girl with spiky, pumpkin-colored hair nodded. As she locked her fingers behind her head in a laid-back manner, she stated in a casual, "Mari is right. The last thing you want to do is upset Hao-sama by bothering his little pet." The girl threw Kagome a teasing, catty-smirk.

Kagome lifted her hand to her forehead, unable to hide her exasperation for this group-dynamic.

The older girl that Kagome now knew as Kanna gave her one last dirty look and said in a low-voice, "Watch yourself, girl. That pretty face of yours will only take you so far. There's plenty of girls here who'll jump to be in your place." Kagome did not respond, but only returned the glare with a scowl.

'Uwah!' Yoh gripped the sides of his head and screamed in frustration, 'Mou! What did Kagome get herself into here?! Why don't you just go home?!'

After Kanna's departure, Brocken released a deep, exasperated sigh from behind their hood. Their shoulders slouched a bit, as if releasing tension after the encounter. "Sorry about that, Kagome-sama. I knew that those three wouldn't like this development, but I never imagined that they'd confront you on the first night."

"They're young women all pining for the same man," Miroku stated, nodding his head above his crossed arms. "It's only natural for them to feel jealous, especially when such an upstart appears out of the blue."

Bill hummed then looked down at Kagome, "Rest assured that as long as Hao fancies you, you'll be safe from any harm."

Kagome sweatdropped with her unnerved smile, "Erm… Thanks, I guess." She then pointed towards an empty patch of grass on the northeast edge of the clearing. "I'm just, gonna head to bed now."

Miroku nodded and responded respectfully, "Of course. Have a good night, Kagome-sama."

With that said, the girl slowly made her way to the furthest edge of the camp with Yoh trailing after her. The distance between her spot and the fire made it one of the coldest and darkest spots around. Still, the girl lied down on her side with her back facing the camp and her face looking out into the abyss of the forest.

Kagome closed her eyes...and waited.

Yoh could tell from the light fluttering of her eyelids that she was forcing herself to keep them closed. For a while, she just lied still on the ground, trying to let sleep overtake her. But it was a fruitless effort.

The girl's face scrunched up and frowned many times.

Every now and then, she'd let out a whimper. But every time, she'd quickly raise a hand and covered her mouth to muffle those watery breaths.

'Oh, Kagome…' Yoh's eyes softened. He was sitting by her side, hoping that somehow, she would sense him and know that she was not alone. But alas, she continued to despair. The girl preemptively placed her hand over her mouth, not knowing that the spirit of her best friend placed his hand over hers. 'Kagome…'

"...Yoh…" She suddenly whispered. The spirit's eyes widened, startled. She swallowed and held back a whine building in her throat. She squeezed her eyelids tighter but tears still slipped through. "I'm so sorry…"

'It's alright, Kagome. It'll all work out, somehow,' Yoh told her soothingly. He knew that he had no role to play in this world besides spectator. But that did not stop him from wanting to comfort the girl that he cared so much for… So he stayed with her and watched over her as she slept, like he was the guardian spirit for once.

To Yoh's relief, Bill was correct in his statement. Nothing nefarious nor mischievous happened to Kagome overnight. And after hours of tossing and turning, she did fall asleep.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Contrary to what Yoh imagined, Hao's ranks did not rise with the dawn.

There was no one delegated to blow on a horn to awaken everyone and put them to work.

No…

Even after the shadow of night receded and was replaced with silvery beams of light, the camp continued to slumber.

It was only until around what Yoh guessed to be 11 A.M. that Hao emerged from his tent. He stretched his limbs with a satisfied groan.

Just the sound of Hao's voice seemed enough to rouse his followers from their own sleep, as many of them began to rise and greet him with their usual exuberant respect. Variants of "Good morning, Hao-sama!" resounded throughout the camp. The brunette shaman beamed and raised his hand in greeting as he walked by. He seemed to be a natural-born leader, and he flourished in the attention.

Without any assistance, Hao made a beeline to the spot where Kagome was still sleeping. He peered down at the girl, raising a hand to his smiling face. He chuckled softly, "Sleeping in this late? You're going to fit in perfectly here."

Yoh scratched his cheek and stated, 'Actually, that might be because of me…' He then blanched when he saw how Hao's eyes scanned Kagome's form over. 'D-Don't look at her like that…!' He protested. His own eyes then landed on the girl. Even Yoh himself could not help but notice how her yukata was misplaced in her wild sleep, revealing her toned legs and collarbone. The spirit gulped and forced himself to look away.

Hao then turned heel and walked back towards his ranks. Yoh gave Kagome's sleeping face a concerned look but ended up shaking his head. Against his desire to stay by her side, the spirit found himself curiously floating towards Hao and his congregation of shamans. "It seems like some of you have things on your mind," the commanding shaman stated calmly. "There's no hiding it from me so you might as well come out and say it," he said while making welcoming gestures with his arms and hands.

Kanna was the first to step up, Marion and Matilda stood dutifully at her sides. The young woman did not hide the troubled look on her face and the irritation in her voice. She placed her hand to her chest and bowed her head respectfully as she spoke, "Forgive my impertinence, Hao-sama. But that girl—."

Hao's smirk was wide as he corrected, "Kagome-sama."

Kanna's face changed into one of both shock and pain. But she soon continued, lowering her head even further, "Kagome-sama...last night, she admitted that she is not loyal to you!" The memory of the newcomer's blasphemy made Kanna raise her head and show her angry expression. "She's—!"

"Quite exquisite, isn't she?" Hao asked as his smirk widened. It was as if he could read Kanna's mind and was blatantly challenging her to further question him, or rather, his taste in partners. The brunette then looked at the faces in the crowd and stated in a care-free tone, "Anything worth having requires hard work and dedication. This truth doesn't exclude people."

Miroku was the next follower to put themselves to the front of the crowd. With a bow of his head, "Hao-sama, while I have no doubt that you chose the best candidate to be your Queen," deep violet eyes met earthy ones as he stated, "I am concerned that her lack of conformity will weaken our overall morale." The monk looked at the many silent faces in the crowd and advocated, "I'm sure most of us are used to everyone here being one-hundred and ten percent compliant."

For a moment, Hao stared at Miroku blankly, his usual smirk wiped clean from his face. The quiet stare was accompanied by lowered eyelids and straight lips. The monk swallowed his Adam's apple. Never before had been a source of Hao's ire, and he certainly did not want to break that record today.

Finally, the moments of heavy silence was broken by Hao suddenly beaming brilliantly. "You're right. We're all used to absolute obedience, aren't we?" The shaman then looked over at Kagome and informed, "That's but one reason why I fancy that girl."

Yoh's eyes widened as a thought struck him. The sound of his own inner-voice drowned out the voices of Hao and his followers alike. All that the boy could hear were his thoughts as he watched them, 'I understand now—the reason why Hao is so set on Kagome. He's just like everyone else. He wants something, someone, who isn't him. He wants someone unlike him at his side. He's drawn to her, like a magnet.

Hao gestured for the three girls that confronted Kagome last night to come closer. The girls listened intently to his words but nodded in perfect unison before marching away from the camp.

Next Miroku was beckoned over. Yoh could not hear what Hao was saying but the brief glance that the monk gave Kagome's sleeping form told him enough. The instructions must have been brief as Miroku's face quickly straightened with understanding as he nodded just as the girls did. After Hao gave the rest of his followers a few words, the lead-shaman himself disappeared in his usual fashion.

Kagome was the last to awaken, seemingly about an hour later. She groaned and clutched her forehead as she sat up. She looked around and sighed, "Nope. Definitely not a dream." Before she had the chance to completely gather her bearings, Miroku was upon her, offering a brilliant, customer-service smile that Yoh did not trust.

"Kagome-sama, good day to you~!" He greeted with a bow of his head. "I hope you slept well~!"

The girl straightened her yukata and forced a smile to her face, "Well, not the worst sleep I've ever had."

But it was an obvious lie.

"What would you like to eat today? It'll be my pleasure to—"

"Where's Hao?" Kagome asked.

Miroku's eyebrow twitched but his smile stayed plastered to his face, "Hao-sama is away on business." He began rubbing his hands together, "But he instructed me to see to your every desire so if there's anything that I could get for you…" He trailed off, hoping that the priestess would catch on and give him a task.

The last thing that the monk wanted was for Hao to return and he had not fulfilled his duty of taking care of the priestess. But he could already tell that getting Kagome to cooperate with Hao's orders of operations was going to be an arduous task. The young priestess seemed to be the type to move to her own beat.

"Hao," She repeated firmly, there was almost a sense of impatience and urgency in her voice. "I want to speak with him," the girl's firm, resolute face left no room for argument.

"Eheh," A bead of sweat ran down Miroku's face as he held his hands up, "Now, Kagome-sama, there are tasks that even I am not capable of. How about a nice brunch to start your day?" He breathed a sigh of relief when the girl puff-and-huff deflated.

"Actually…" She began in a low voice. The monk paled at how the girl averted her eyes and took on a melancholic aura, "I'm not hungry. Thanks for offering though."

"What's this?" Came Brocken's chippery voice as the small person strutted over. "Did Miroku-kun already fail at keeping our Kagome-sama happy?" He queried with the pep of a morning bird.

"Eh?" Kagome sweatdropped, "You mean, that's actually the task you were given?"

"It was," Brocken confirmed. "It seems that Hao-sama truly adores you, lucky girl~!"

"Yes, so…" Miroku's smile twitched along with his eyebrow. "If there's anything that I can for you, just say the word. I want you to be in a good mood when Hao-sama returns."

"Hmm…" Kagome looked up to the sky, her pointer resting against her cheek as she took a moment to think. "Well, there is one thing that would make me happy," she informed him.

Miroku sighed in relief while chanting a quick thanks to the Buddha. He then put his dazzling smile back on his face and inquired, "And what would that be?"

In the most casual tone, Kagome answered simply, "A bath."

Brocken silently snickered behind their hood as Miroku nearly lost his footing. Yoh sweatdropped, 'Requesting a bath in the middle of a forest...that's Kagome for ya.'

Miroku quickly regained his composure and stated in the most patient voice that he could muster, "But Kagome-sama, surely you know that there are no baths around here…"

Kagome paled and shrunk away from them, "...then how do you stay clean?!"

"Well…" Miroku scratched the back of his head, but did not expound on his statement.

"Unbelievable…" The girl eyed them with a flat look. Before she had the chance to question their hygiene any further, the sound of Opacho's voice drew her attention.

"Kagome-sama, Kagome-sama!" The small girl called out eagerly as she pushed past Miroku's leg. Seeing Opacho's tiny arms spread out as she leaped up, Kagome instinctively caught the small child within her own arms.

"Opachan," the priestess smiled softly. "What's up, little one?"

The child beamed as she exclaimed, "You can take a bath with Opacho, Kagome-sama!" She proudly held up a bar of pastel pink soap that was slightly misshapen from mild use. "We can even use this soap that Opacho made! Do you like strawberries, Kagome-sama?! It's made with real strawberries!"

Miroku once again thanked the Buddha for his luck as he saw Kagome's entire face lit as soon as Opacho entered the scene. The priestess gave the girl in her arms a positive nod and returned her smile ten-fold, "Yes, I love strawberries~ I'm impressed that you learned to make handmade soap like that! It smells wonderful~!"

Opacho was glowing from the praise. She pumped her fists in the air and cheered, "Yay! Let's go right now, Kagome-sama! Opacho will tell you where to go!"

Kagome nodded twice as she began glowing as well, "Mmhm~ Let's go! I'll even wash your back for you, Opachan!" With nothing but a bath on her mind, the priestess began following Opacho's instructions as she pointed at a path southwest of their campsite.

"You're lucky that Kagome-sama seems to have a one-track mind," Brocken pointed out to Miroku, who breathed a deep sigh of relief once Kagome and Opacho were out of ear-shot.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"This is it, Kagome-sama!" Opacho pointed out towards a patch of land where the flat grass land sloped down into a small hill. The depression in land soon revealed a deep-blue body of water that glistened under the silvery sun. "Isn't it pretty, Kagome-sama?" The girl asked.

Kagome could not stop smiling at the younger girl's sweet demeanor. "Not as pretty as you, Opachan~" The priestess cooed while rubbing her cheek against Opacho's, a gesture that tickled the girl into a fit of light giggles.

The sight of Kagome having someone to truly laugh with did Yoh's heart good. Despite the brave front that she put up, he knew that she was a sensitive soul who preferred peace. "Alright," the priestess placed Opacho down on her feet. "Let's get nice and clean, shall we~?" She winked down at the small girl before reaching behind her to undo her obi, with no knowledge that she had an audience.

The sight of that first strip of fabric being removed snapped Yoh out of the wide-eyed trance he was in. 'N-not good...!' He looked left and right in a panic. After spotting a boulder to his immediate left, the shaman dove behind it. He pressed his back against the rock and swallowed. His flustered face was painted deep red as his overly-curious ears picked up on the sound of delicate fabric rubbing against each other.

From the other side of the boulder, Kagome looked down at Opacho as the girl slipped out of her last article of clothing. "Hey, Opachan, you don't happen to have a spare change of clothes, do you?" She asked curiously.

The girl shook her head and replied, "Not here! Opacho's other clothes are back at camp!"

"Huh… I guess we should have prepared more than we did," Kagome scratched her cheek and laughed embarrassedly. "I honestly don't even have more clothes, not back at camp anyway." She muttered to herself, "We can't exactly wear the same clothes after bathing…"

"It's fine~!" Opacho chirped as she split her bar in half and then into fourths. "We can wash our clothes with this too!" She stated while slapping two fourths of the sweet-scented substance into Kagome's open palm. "I'll race you, Kagome-sama!" She called before bounding towards the shore.

"Wait for me!" Kagome called before quickly gathering up her yukata and all of its accessories. By the time that Kagome reached the shore, Opacho was already swimming around. The priestess looked down and noted how the girl dropped her clothing by the shoreline. She chuckled and scooped them up.

The young teen then got to work. She waded into the shallow depths before beginning to scrub Opacho's clothing until she built a lather that satisfied her.

A peaceful silence fell on the area. Kagome easily lost herself in her thoughts as she worked on cleaning the clothing. Yoh could not help but wonder what she was thinking about. He was so curious that he almost forgot why he was posted behind a boulder in the first place, and—. Whoops.

Just as Yoh settled back down, a shrill shriek from Kagome had him jumping to his feet. 'Kagome—!' He closed his eyes and groaned, 'This is just a memory, just a memory…'

"Opachan, you're cruel! This water is freezing!" Kagome's exclamation put Yoh back at ease.

"But Kagome-sama, you're too busy working to have fun with Opacho!" the girl claimed.

"Oh yeah?" Kagome's voice lowered with a playful challenge. "Well, that's what you call fun, let's see how you like this~!"

Cue endless giggling and splashing sounds.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

By the time that Kagome and Opacho returned to the camp, the girls were walking hand-in-hand, and Yoh was able to scrap the nagging mental image of Kagome undressing out of his head. Their presences were immediately sensed and a few voices announced, "Hao-sama, it's Kagome-sama and Opacho! They've returned!"

"Oh," Kagome blinked. "Guess he's back," she whispered to herself. "Eh?" Suddenly Opacho released her once iron-clad grip on Kagome's hand and ran towards the center of the camp, pushing through the large mass of bodies as she cried out, "Hao-sama, Hao-sama!" The priestess muttered in a deadpanned, "And just like that, I was abandoned by my only friend here."

Kagome could easily guess where Hao was, seeing as his followers had a tendency to flock around him like sheep to a shepherd. There was something that she wanted to talk to Hao about. But first, she was faced with the daunting task of fighting her way through his herd. "Excuse me—" before she had the chance to finish her statement, a path cleared between the crowd as shamans stepped aside for her.

The result was Kagome suddenly having a clear view of Hao, who was sitting atop a small rock formation in the middle of the clearing. He was stroking Opacho's hair as his head turned to her. "Ah, Kagome, come join us~" He lifted his free hand to her in a beckoning gesture.

Kagome scowled and tried fighting back the blush of having the limelight on her once again. Without raising a fuss, the girl walked over to the shaman, but not without an almost pouty, displeased look on her face. Once he was within ear-shot, she spoke in a low voice, "Listen, Hao. We need to talk." She side-eyed the mixture of curious and dirty looks she was given. "Can we...go somewhere private?"

Hao sighed deeply then shrugged, "Haaaa… I'm in trouble already, huh?"

Kagome's no-nonsense glare only made him chuckle. The teen looked down at Opacho and smiled, "Opacho, Kagome wants some alone time with me." The priestess stiffened and her eye twitched at his choice of words. "You're in charge while I'm gone. Make sure that everything is set by the time we return," he instructed the child.

Opacho nodded with a closed-eye smile, "Yes, Hao-sama! You can rely on Opacho!" She thumped her fist against her chest before climbing down from her spot between his legs.

Hao then hopped off the rock. With a low hum, he grinned from ear-to-ear while offering his gloved hand to Kagome. "My Lady…" He said in a low voice.

Kagome lifted her hand and placed it inside of Hao's. There was but one utterance on her lips, "...Hao."

---

Authoress' Notes: Welp, that's all for this update. I only intended for this timeline to be one chapter, but after hitting 38 pages, I realized that there was no way that all of the events would fit into one reasonably sized chapter! So here it is, part one of that one screwed up timeline. About one-third of this is a recap but writing it this way got my creative juices flowing and helped me build-up to the more important content! Anyway, Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope you're all doing well! Until next time!