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]

38. Ascent Salvation

Authoress' Notes: Oh Lawd, it's been a year since my resolution of finishing this story within a year. Oof. I dropped the ball on that one. But oh well, I'm back at it regardless. This chapter is a bit over 40 pages so strap in!

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Ascent Salvation

(Overcome Myself)

And just like that, Kagome was whisked away in a vessel of flames. Yoh's brows furrowed as he focused on finding Kagome. Sheer willpower rushed him forward. The forms and figures of the world around him blurred into streaks of color, like a hasty artist dragged their plethora of brushes across a blank canvas. Or like the background of space when a ship traveled at lightspeed in a classical movie. And just like a flash of light, Yoh found himself standing on top of the hill at Crow Cemetery, the very one where he used to meet Manta and Kagome every day after school.

Yoh scowled, it felt like ages since he had been back here. And yet, here he was, with Hao and Kagome of the past.

Kagome removed her hand from Hao's and gasped as she immediately recognized the location that they teleported to. "What are we doing here?!" She did not seem to appreciate their rendezvous point in the slightest. "Do you think you're funny or something?!" She demanded, unable to hide her outrage.

Hao readily answered in a light-hearted tone, "I know my way around humor—are you not amused?" He queried, undaunted by the girl's outburst.

"No, I'm not," Kagome deadpanned. She looked up at the sky but immediately flinched away from the sun's blinding form. Her voice was reflective and wistful, "This place...is ours."

"I thought you'd be more comfortable talking in a place that you're more familiar with," Hao explained before chuckling. "Was I wrong?"

The priestess sighed, her shoulders slumping, "It's fine. I guess the place shouldn't matter as long as it's private…" So she said, but her demeanor screamed that it did matter, to her. Regardless of how she felt, the girl sat down at her usual spot. She leaned back and used the small tree's trunk as support.

Hao hummed and followed her example.

But he took Yoh by surprise by not invading Kagome's personal space for once.

Instead, he opted to sit on the opposite side of the skinny tree.

With his arms folded comfortably behind his head, the shaman leaned back and smiled up at the sky.

"So…" He began. "What does my little canary wish to sing to me about?"

"I want…" Kagome hugged her knees to her chest. "I want to know who you are, really." The girl was unable to see how Hao's smile faded. "You told me that you want to get rid of humans and create a Shaman Kingdom on Earth. But that's all you've told me. I want to know more about you as a person, Asakura Hao."

"Asakura, huh...?" Hao smiled at that name. "You figured that out?"

"Eh—was that actually supposed to be a secret?" Kagome sweatdropped.

"Hmph," Hao huffed a semblance of a laugh. "I suppose something like that wouldn't get past you," he stated in a tone that Yoh could not read as serious or teasing. "Perhaps you have Asakura-mania?"

Kagome did not take the bait. "You're not going to distract me. Answer the question," she demanded coolly, but a small tinge of impatience. "Tell me who you are, Hao," she urged.

Hao did not seem bothered by the girl's brazen demands. "The reason why you're in such a rush to figure out who I am is because you feel guilty, is that correct?" The shaman did not have to see Kagome's face to know that he was spot on.

From the other side of the tree, Kagome stiffened...

"With Yoh, you have an obvious connection with him—an established bond, if you would. But with me...you're utterly clueless about why you feel the way that you do. It makes you uncomfortable, unsure of yourself," the small smile on Hao's face widened and widened as he spoke in a tone that was so certain, so sure of himself.

Both Yoh and Hao knew that the latter struck a nerve. Kagome grunted as she scowled. She flipped over so that she was on her hands and knees. She quickly maneuvered herself around the tiny circumference of the trunk. The girl leaned in close and glared up at the tanned, smirking face looking back at her. "If you've got me so figured out, level with me and tell me about who you are," She demanded again.

"Counteroffer," Hao responded without moving from his comfortable position. "You could be a good girl, sit on my lap," he patted his legs to emphasize his point, "and we could spend the rest of the day together—just the two us~."

"Counter counteroffer," Kagome huffed as she gave Hao a sharp look. "You could do the thing that I said!" She insisted. The shaman remained in his cozy-position. The priestess sweatdropped as he breathed a relaxed, content sigh before closing his eyes. "You're not taking me seriously, are you?"

"Whatever makes you think that?" Hao asked with an innocent smile that seemed to disarm Kagome. Her annoyed expression faltered into a calmer one. "I'm just soaking up the sunshine on such a beautiful day."

Yoh blanched as he saw how the other Asakura lazed about and wondered if that's how he himself looked to all of his friends. He dropped to his hands and knees. 'A-Anna, if I'm this troublesome, please forgive me…especially because watching Hao makes me want to nap too.'

"You are two peas in a pod…" Kagome grumbled after her head comically dropped in defeat.

Without moving an inch, Hao stated in a calm voice, "You are not the only one with questions, Kagome. Why not be patient and enjoy the day?"

"Or you could just ask me what you want to know?" the priestess suggested, exasperated.

"As you wish," Hao's eyes remained closed as his smile widened. "Tell me how is it that such a young priestess with relatively weak bloodlines was born with godly amounts of Furyoku," despite his slow speech pattern and calm tone, Kagome could tell he was challenging her—trying to prove a point.

As if he could sense Kagome's pout, Hao added, "and while you're at it, tell me how there are traces of other Furyoku origins within you."

"Other origins…?" The priestess looked lost, and Yoh did not blame her. It was his first time hearing such a term too. "What does that even mean?"

"Every shaman has a certain frequency of Furyoku that's unique to their soul specifically, they're as different as the patterns on snowflakes," the Asakura answered slowly. "Because of this, as long as you have the spiritual awareness and presence of mind, you can identify a shaman by their unique Furyoku frequency—like a fingerprint."

"And," Kagome's brows furrowed as she strained to comprehend the new concept. "You can sense other Furyoku frequencies inside of me…? How is that even possible?! And whose?!"

"It's faint in comparison to the other frequencies, but you definitely have a little bit of me inside of you," Hao smirked as he imagined how Kagome twitched at his wording. "But I'm sure that you don't have any answers for me, do you?"

Kagome then growled softly before picking her head up and raising her finger, "How about this? For every question that you answer satisfactorily, I'll do something for you!"

As expected, Hao cracked open one eye upon hearing this suggestion. He grinned from ear to ear, "Hmmm?" He eyed the girl in front of him with nothing short of pure mischief behind his smile.

Yoh picked himself off the ground. His arms formed an "X" across his chest as he shook his head negatively, 'No way! Kagome, you don't know what you're getting yourself into!' The younger Asakura did not know much about Hao, but he recognized that the glint in his eyes meant trouble. He could only imagine the types of lewd acts Hao would force her to do!

Finally, the lounging shaman sat upright, "Offering a man such a proposition is likely to backfire on you… Or could it be that..." Hao's voice lowered as he took Kagome's chin within his hand and leaned forward. "...you're hoping for such an outcome?" he queried with half-lidded eyes.

Yoh's jaw dropped and he screamed bloody murder at witnessing the scene.

Kagome's cheeks instantly lit up like a string of Christmas lights.

[SLAP!]

An instant later, Kagome was back on the other side of the tree with her arms crossed, cheeks flushed, and an annoyed look on her face. "I told you that if you'd try to kiss me, I'd hit you," She reminded him in a huffy grumble.

Yoh paled once again, seeing how Hao caressed his reddened cheek with a wide grin. He closed his eyes and replied, "The thought hadn't crossed my mind."

"Yeah, right…" The blushing girl huffed again. "You think I'd buy that line from you?"

"Ah, you wound me~" Yoh was unsure if Hao's acting was intentionally bad. "What can I do to earn my little canary's trust?" He asked, smirking as he knew the answer.

"You could start by answering my questions," Kagome readily answered. "That's one thing."

"If I must…" Hao sighed aloud as if the girl was asking him for the world. "You've got yourself a deal." He stifled a laugh at the surprised sound Kagome squeaked out from the other side of the trunk. "So, let's hear it."

Kagome was quick to get to business as she recounted, "Firstly, last night you said that you can't hear my inner voice, like your old master." Yoh's eyes widened as he realized that he just might learn Hao's secrets from the will of a Kagome of the past. "I want to know what that means."

Hao was quiet for a moment, as if contemplating if he truly wanted to answer. Both the priestess and the shaman stilled, not even shifting for comfort. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting with bated breath, Hao answered, "...reishi...the ability to read the inner heart… Thus far, you are the second person whose thoughts I cannot hear."

"And the first was your old master…" Kagome whispered. "So…" She could not help but turn around to look at Hao. But her view was obstructed by the natural barrier of bark between them. "Right now, with me…"

"It's quiet," He filled in as he looked up at the sky. It was then the wind blew by, gently caressing Kagome's cheek and whispering that nothing but the truth was spoken.

Kagome's eyes softened, "Hao…"

The brunette did not respond to his name.

The silence seemingly emboldened the girl. She slowly crawled over to Hao, on her hands and knees once again. "Hey, Hao…?"

Upon looking down at the girl's face, Hao's serene expression turned into his usual brilliant beam. "But only when you're not talking~" He added cheekily.

Kagome's eyes twitched, "Why do I even try with you?" Hao's grin widened at the question. "And no, it's not because I'm in love with you," she affirmed before he could get a word in.

"Ouch. Don't spare my feelings or anything~" Hao said with artificial pain. But he was quick to turn the tables on Kagome. "And now, it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain. You have to do whatever I want you to do," he reminded her.

"Yeah, yeah," The girl sighed with a face that said that she was already regretting her decision. She dutifully sat on her in-step in front of him. "Alright, what do you want me to do?" Kagome asked with a serious face.

Hao's head flew back. He slapped a hand over his eyes as he burst into a fit of laughter. Kagome's face flushed and her hands raised in front of her as she questioned in a flustered tone, "J-Just what's so funny, huh?!"

Yoh looked between the pair, scowling with a suspicious glare for Hao. If he hadn't known any better… He would have said that Hao genuinely laughed with no bravado or condescending tone. And Kagome… She recognized this fact and it set her cheeks on fire.

"You're so stiff," Hao answered as his laughter weakened into amused chuckles. Finally, his entertained demeanor returned to his face as he asked with a smirk, "Do I make you that nervous?"

"More like, I have to keep my guard up because I never know what you'll do next," Kagome explained as her cheeks finally began returning to their normal color. She then lifted a balled-up hand to her mouth and cleared her throat, "Ahem. As I was saying, what do you want me to do?"

Hao closed his eyes and praised her with a wide smile, "Love the enthusiasm for keeping your promise." He then used his finger to beckon Kagome closer with a "come hither" motion. The sight of Kagome swallowing a nervous lump in her throat delighted Hao and unnerved Yoh.

The brunette then met the girl half-way and leaned forward as Kagome was nearly crawling over his out-stretched legs. Her hands supported her upper-body and were flat against the ground, each one on either side of Hao. To her immediate relief, Hao's face dodged past her face and lips. His own head veered to the side so that his mouth was next to her ear.

He lingered there for a moment in silence, washing away her initial relief.

In a voice just above a whisper, Hao told Kagome, "...I want to dive into you."

In perfect unison, Kagome and Yoh went beet red. The girl instantly reeled back, and scooted backward using her bare feet to reverse-propel herself away. The priestess glared at the laughing shaman and barked, "Quit messing around and be serious! What do you want from me?!"

'He just might want to though…' Yoh twitched at that thought.

"Just as I said," Hao reaffirmed before lifting his arm. Kagome's eyes widened when he held up his hand and outstretched his fingers. "Don't worry though. This won't hurt a bit," he told her as his eyes suddenly became cold, calculated—an expression that shook Kagome to her core and reminded her that even though Hao wore Yoh's face: there was a darkness behind every smile.

The priestess's lips parted, but her voice was got in her throat. 'Kagome—!' Yoh immediately felt defensive from the frightened, helpless look in her wide eyes. For some strange reason, the younger Asakura felt like something like this happened before. 'I-I guess it did, right now...I mean, back then,' he thought with a horrified expression.

A blue light shot from Hao's palm and engulfed Kagome's motionless body. Her eyes waned like a storming ocean under the moonlight as she struggled to stay in control. But alas, the priestess's lips further parted in a silent scream as her head was thrown back.

Hao smirked; he seemed less than human as he did not flinch away from a blinding flash of light emitted from Kagome's stiff, floating body. 'I-It's her…!' Yoh gasped. As Kagome's eyes finally fell shut, the entity that was the spitting image of an older Kagome emerged from the depths of her being. Yoh's spectral hand reached out when Kagome's unconscious body began tumbling over.

But all he could do was watch as Hao effortlessly grabbed the girl by her forearms and pulled her forward so that she fell face-first into his chest. Two pairs of brown eyes took in the image of grace that was the entity's shining visage. "Asakura Hao, for what purpose did you summon me…?"

"Hmmm…" Hao hummed as if he had to think about his answer, but Yoh could tell from his wide smirk that he knew what he wanted all along. The shaman leaned back so that he was situated against the tree's trunk once again, but this time, with Kagome cradled in his arms. "Shouldn't an omniscient being like you know something so simple?"

"Omniscience…" The older Kagome replied calmly while gazing down at Hao with apathy. "Omnipotence...you mortals overestimate my capabilities and role in this story."

"Ah? You being a goddess, it was just a hunch," Hao admitted in a surprisingly humble manner. "Guess I was wrong," he chuckled. The shaman then looked down at the sleeping Kagome's face. "Since that's the case...tell me all of the information that you have readily available."

"Your request is too vague for my understanding," the older Kagome explained, her tone as unhurried as a patient stream making its way back to its mother ocean. "What is it that you're wishing for, Asakura Hao…?"

"Hmph," Hao closed his eyes and chuckled. "What I want...is to know everything about Higurashi Kagome." When his eyes reopened, they were scarily stone as his voice became like ice. "Everything. Even things that transcend this very world that we live in."

"Understood," The entity answered. She raised her hand and hovered it just above Hao's face. Yoh was shocked to see the shaman just stare blankly into the older Kagome's open palm. He was oddly quiet and compliant.

Yoh was even more surprised when the entity looked over at him. "Alpha, this was but one the time that I showed Asakura Hao the truth: the same truth that you're searching for."

Yoh's mouth dropped in shock, 'Y-You mean you can see me?!'

"Of course I can," The young woman chuckled, seeming amused by his reaction. "I am a being that exists both inside and outside of space-time. My memory transcends all of these worlds." The being continued speaking with no attention paid to Yoh's bewilderment as she explained, "The sum of Higurashi Kagome's higher conscience and all of her power… The constraints that you mortals possess have no effect on me. I—. "

"But wait—!" Yoh suddenly interjected, but the being was unfazed by the interruption. "If you could just show us the very first world like this, why didn't you do the same with me and Kagome?" He questioned. "What's the purpose of this journey?" The shaman scowled at the being before him. No matter how much she looked like Kagome, she was not his Kagome. This being was mysterious in entirely different ways.

"...for you, Alpha...and Higurashi Kagome, the heart…" the Kagome before him began slowly. "The journey is just as important as the destination. If you could take a glimpse at all of the pasts that were, if you could see just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, then I thought you would understand your role."

"My…" Yoh was stunned at her choice of words. "Role…?" He echoed with wide eyes.

"Asakura Yoh…" the older Kagome whispered. "You are the Alpha, and the Omega. The beginning, and the end," she said as if it was as evident as the sky was blue. "Eight worlds ago...you became Asakura Yoh, Alpha. The world that you were born into is the seventh world created by Higurashi Kagome, I believe this is your best chance to fulfill your role as Asakura Yoh, the Omega. You must put an end to this cycle."

Suddenly, Yoh's body felt heavy. His shoulders slumped beneath the weight of the world. Up until now, his life's goal and greatest challenge was to become Shaman King to live an easy life. But now, there was this. He always thought of himself as just another shaman who aspired to become the shaman. But now he was being told that he was the one.

"But why…?" He questioned softly. The teen had to stop himself from clenching his teeth. "Why do I have to be the Omega…?" He asked while breaking away from the entity's shining blue eyes.

"...you will understand once you find the first world: the one that Higurashi Kagome did not create...the world where all life once originated before it was caught in the web of Higurashi Kagome's desire," The older Kagome answered. "I want you to watch...I want you to see this world where Kagome prayed and prayed for salvation and atonement, but bore that burden alone…"

'So, watching these other worlds are supposed to teach us a lesson…' Yoh thought to himself as his eyes were drawn to this world's Kagome. Her sleeping face was so serene; it looked as if she didn't have a care in the world, no woes or troubles to think of. 'And I specifically have to watch a world where Kagome struggles…'

...to say that this would be unpleasant for him was an understatement. The last thing that he wanted to see was—. A dreadful image came to his mind: it was an unconscious Kagome. Iron shackles were clamped around her wrists and ankles chained her to a wall. Yoh felt his heart sink as he suddenly said, 'I can't bear the thought of Kagome being trapped in such a miserable existence.'

...why did it feel like he had said that before…?

The older Kagome crackled a semblance of a grateful smile, "...and that's the first step." She then lowered her extended hand back to its rightful place at her side. "Remember that..." the entity stated before her form broke up into small orbs of light that were carried away by the wind.

That was when the light returned to Hao's eyes as he was released from the short trance that he was put into. The elder Asakura immediately looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms. For once, he was not wearing his deceptive smile nor his cocky smirk. His face was surprisingly ruminative as he stared down at Kagome. "So…" His voice was calm as he spoke to her deaf ears, "That's who you are."

The sound of Hao's voice was enough to cause Kagome to stir. With a sleepy moan, she opened her eyes. Of course, the girl was greeted by Hao's smile. "Did you have a nice nap?" He queried sweetly.

With Kagome's other half gone, the dynamic between the two was back to normal. The priestess jumped out of Hao's arms and crossed her arms protectively over her chest, an action that only amused the smiling shaman. "What did you do to me while I was out?!" She questioned, both shakily and accusatory.

Yoh felt pity for this Kagome when Hao asked back, "What do you think I did to you…?"

An inevitable blush crept onto Kagome's cheeks as she tried to save face, "W-well…! The last thing you said to me was…!" She glared down at her lap and bit her bottom lip. The thoughts that ran through her mind were unspeakable. In her anxious state, the girl's fingers wrapped around a sturdy stick next to her.

Kagome glared at the ground and refused to answer as she doodled into a patch of dirt.

After a moment of silence, Hao shook his head at the girl. He wordlessly hoisted himself off the grass and stood above the girl. A gloved-hand met the top of Kagome's head and rubbed it, affectionately? "Don't fret, my little canary…" He told her soothingly. "You'll remain intact until you're ready."

Kagome's face reddened into shades that Yoh didn't know was possible. She dropped her stress stick and looked up at Hao intending to tell him off. Only for her jaw to drop as she was captivated by his smile; it was another genuine one. It was a soothing smile that made him look awfully like Yoh.

"...is something on my face?" Hao asked with a tilt of his head.

The priestess immediately looked away while pouting. "Well, I guess that's enough for today…" she quickly changed the subject while rising to her feet. While brushing dirt off of her yukata, she noted the grass stains littering the fabric. "Oh well, let's go back," she stretched her limbs with a drawn-out groan that ended in a sigh.

"You sure about that?" Hao asked, but he still offered up his hand. "You could spend the day alone with me instead," he suggested with a light-hearted tone that Kagome nor Yoh took seriously.

"I'll pass," Kagome said with a sigh. "I just woke up and yet, I feel drained, somehow." After her brief explanation, the girl placed her hand inside of Hao's and stepped closer to him.

But just before they disappeared, Hao looked over his shoulder and peered at the dirt patch that Kagome doodled into. His eyes narrowed at what he saw, but he did not mention it to Kagome. Once they were gone, Yoh looked down at the dirt and read the characters to himself, "Dou..ji...Asaha…"

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

Kagome's strained smile told Yoh that she was still not used to being the center of attention at the camp. Bill and Brocken were amongst the first to approach when they returned to the camp. The brawny shaman beamed down at the priestess and told her proudly, "Kagome-sama, I've built your own personal lodging. I hope you like it!" He sparkled as his arms moved in a grand gesture, like a game-show host gesturing towards a grand-prize.

Kagome gasped as a hand raised to her mouth. She was genuinely impressed at the make-shift structure. While it was still made out of tarps and other patches of assorted fabrics like the other tents, her tiny abode seemed more structurally sound. Its edges were hammered into the ground with wooden stacks and its corners were supported by logs that acted as support beams. Furthermore, her shelter seemed more luxurious than the others due to the size difference alone; the body of the shelter was rectangular with a triangular roof, and it was easily five times the size of any other tent.

Brocken patted Bill's knee and confirmed, "I can assure you that Bill worked hard to make sure you're comfortable here~"

The priestess could tell from the outside that Bill did indeed try hard to make a cozy abode for her. She nodded and gave the towering man an appreciative smile, "I can see that. Thanks for your hard work~"

The man blushed at the girl's sweet smile. He scratched the back of his head and shuffled his feet, "I-It was my pleasure to be of service, Kagome-sama." 'The girl is pretty cute. I can see why Hao-sama likes her so much.'

Matilda then smiled cattishly as she teased, "Careful now~ You'd do best not to get too friendly with Hao-sama's girl, Bill." She locked her fingers behind her head and looked at her leader, "Right, Hao-sama?"

Hao smiled brightly and responded, "Actually, it does my heart good to see you all getting along so well." The remark took everyone by surprise and caused them to slump into relaxed poses and smile softly. But it did not last long as the lead shaman's smile was contradicted by a new frosty tone, "Just make sure that you don't get too close to her."

The Asakura's silent threat was directed at Bill and Miroku, who both paled on the spot. Only they and Hao knew how guilty they were of having inappropriate thoughts about the girl, inappropriate by Hao's standards at least. To divert the attention away from the two men who had guilt written all over their faces, Brocken spoke up, "Ah, yes. I believe the girls have a gift waiting for Kagome-sama inside her tent~"

Kagome almost flinched, knowing that "the girls" referred to the trio of shamans who did not seem too fond of her. She craned her neck to look at Kanna, Matilda, and Marion, offering a crooked smile and twitching eyebrow that Yoh read as, 'Let's at least pretend to get along'. "I-Is that so…?" She strained a cheerful voice.

As Kanna "tsk"ed and looked away, Marion nodded slowly. The blonde girl's expression remained neutral as she explained, "We picked out some clothing that we'd thought you'd like, Kagome-sama."

"Oh…" Kagome's crooked smile faded into a natural, resting line. "Well…" she seemed uncertain about what to think about the gesture. But the spectating Yoh already gathered that the girls performed the favor as an order from Hao and not an expression of goodwill between them. "Thank you…"

Miroku then stepped forward. He placed a hand to his chest with his fingers stretched apart. The monk bowed his head before informing the girl, "Kagome-sama, once you return from your tent, dinner will be ready to serve."

Hao was grinning as Kagome was reduced to a blushing, almost sputtering mess from all of the attention she was receiving from his followers. She tried retreating to her tent, figuring that no one would follow her inside. But every few steps that she took, someone emerged from the crowd and offered her something or asked if there was anything that they could do for her. Yoh was not as amused as Hao was, but he was at least grateful that she was not treated harshly.

"I-I'll be out soon…!" Kagome informed the crowd before allowing the flaps of the tent to flutter to a close. Quietly and with much on his mind, Yoh stood outside out of the tent, listening in on what Hao and his flock said when Kagome was not within earshot. But surprisingly, none of it was nefarious whispers about ambushing the girl nor holding her against her will. For the most part, many voices reported to Hao on what they accomplished while he was away and their leader offered them a few words of recognition.

With no true sense of time, Yoh was not sure how much time elapsed. But finally, Kagome emerged from her private tent and stepped out into the dimming sunlight. At just the sight of the priestess, the entire camp went silent, save for a few amazed gasps. Even Yoh was not immune to the spectacle that was Kagome in her new outfit.

The girl was almost glowing as she walked by the spirit, her long hair trailing behind her in slow-motion. No longer was Kagome sporting the pink bathhouse yukata. She was now dressed in a pastel pink mini-skirt that hugged her small hips and ended in ruffles. Her upper-half sported a pure white baby-doll top with a sweet-heart style bust-line that was covered by a denim jacket. Her legs were covered by opaque, black leggings and chestnut brown boots. Yoh could even tell that the girls went as far as bringing their new mistress hair care products, as Kagome's tresses were tamer and had a renewed sheen.

Kagome was biting her lower lip, trying to control and stop the smile that tried spreading across her face. Her cheeks were slightly pink. Hao and his followers formed a large, crooked circle around their recently lit bonfire. Once she was close enough to see in full detail, Hao smiled appreciatively at her appearance, "Mmmm," he raised a hand to his lips as he looked her over. "I see clothes like that suit you well."

Opacho suddenly jumped into Kagome's arms and snuggled into her chest, "Kagome-sama, you're so pretty~! Opacho wants to grow up to be just like you someday~!"

The priestess smiled and patted the girl's head, "Don't be silly, Opachan~ You're already a lovely little lady~!" Yoh watched as Kagome melted when the younger girl beamed up at her as she raised her small arm and pointed at Hao, who was sitting across the circle from where Kagome stood.

"Kagome-sama, let's go sit and eat with Hao-sama~!" Opacho eagerly suggested.

Blue-gray eyes were naturally drawn to that familiar face. Hao, who had already been admiring Kagome in her new attire, merely raised a hand and waved in a chummy-manner. The pale pinkness to Kagome's cheek was barely visible, but still existent, as she averted her eyes, almost pouting as she did so. "Alright," she conceded with a sigh and a smile. "But only for you~" she added.

Hao's smile was wide and pleased when the two girls took spots beside him, Opacho on his left and Kagome on his right. It was a type of satisfaction that came when everything began falling into place. "Here you go, Kagome-sama," Miroku said as he stood before the girl, bent slightly forward and beaming that customer-service smile. "Careful, it's hot," He warned her as he offered an ordinary take-out box made of white, sturdy paperboard.

Yoh blinked once.

That box—he did not recognize the restaurant logo on the side, but he did know that look on Kagome's face. The flicker of recognition in her eyes, the way her entire face uplifted, the blissful glowing like she just transcended this world… Dainty fingers hastily lifted the flaps, only flinching and shying away at the onslaught of steam that followed.

"Oden…!" Kagome was almost gawked down at the meal like a treasure-hunter at a chest of gold bars and twinkling jewels. Yoh mentally noted that when it came to Kagome, Hao truly knew what buttons to press—be it good or bad. That, or the way to a girl's heart was through her stomach. "It's really oden!" She nearly cried after Miroku then handed her a pair of chopsticks.

The priestess was so ecstatic that she turned to her left, easily balancing the piping hot food in her lap. She flashed Hao her pearly-whites in her state of bliss, "Hao, it's oden~!"

Hao's nod was deliberate and slow. His lips stretched out wide as he confirmed, "It sure is~"

Without any more delay, Kagome pulled her chopsticks apart and began digging into her meal, ignorant to how that was the signal for everyone else to begin partaking as well. For just a moment, the camp air was full of nothing but hushed voices and lip-smacking.

But only for a moment.

Bill quickly rose to his feet. He held up his box as if it was a sight to behold. The box of oden was like a religious idol as he posed dramatically. "This oden thing…!" He marveled aloud. "It's my first time eating it, but it is truly the nectar of the gods themselves!"

Yoh sweatdropped when Kagome suddenly appeared at Bill's side. The invisible shaman looked between the empty spot next to Hao, then across the way where Kagome now stood, then back at the empty, and back at Kagome. He was befuddled at how she could possibly move so fast.

After a content sigh, the girl rubbed her cheek against her box and spouted a dreamy tangent, "I've never been to this restaurant, but I can tell by the texture and depth of flavor that whoever made this oden put their heart into it…"

Bill's admiration for the oden was loud and animated compared to Kagome who was blushing and gushing like a smitten schoolgirl. His eyes sparkled as he looked down at his partner in oden-love and asked with vigor, "Is all Japanese food this delectable?! I've never tasted anything like this in America!"

Kagome's enthusiastic nods were almost puppy-like as she told him, "Oden is my favorite, but there are so many delicious dishes to try here!" She then looked at Miroku and beamed, "Thanks, Miroku-sama. That oden was worth every yen!"

The monk looked surprised at the girl's statement. With a bewildered expression, Miroku queried, "Whatever do you mean, Kagome-sama…?" His confusion only led to Kagome mirroring the emotion, her smile turned into a puzzled look. The young man then looked from the priestess to his ever-smiling master.

Then it was like a light-bulb lit up above his head. "Oh, I see," Miroku said as his fist lightly bonked his opposite palm. "Kagome-sama, you're mistaken. It's our shared philosophy that money is the root of human corruption so we refuse to use it." He looked over to his leader from over his shoulder for confirmation, "Right...Hao-sama…?"

Kagome's mouth was ajar as her face broadcasted the sinking feeling that she felt. She stared down at her empty box with mortification. "So...this oden…" Her eyes moved to the tips of her brand new boots. "And these clothes too…" Suddenly, the priestess was glaring at the care-free Hao. "You stole these?!"

Hao was shrugging, nonchalant and laidback as if he could not understand the girl's indignance. "What can I say?" He wondered. He was unapologetic and shameless as he explained, "I teach them to be self-sufficient, even if it means stealing what you need." His tone became more amused as he asked, "That yukata that you were wearing… It didn't truly belong to you, did it?"

Kagome's mouth shot open for a rebuttal. But just as quickly, her lips came together into a tight line. The line trembled as her eyes glazed over for a moment. Surely, just thinking about the yukata sent her back to the previous day, when she cut her friends down with her words.

The priestess did not stay lost in her memories though. She took a deep breath, deciding that she did not want to lose her cool and argue in front of the crowd. "Okay then…" Her hair whipped as she sharply turned and marched towards her tent. The action was enough to erase the smile from Hao's face and get him on his feet.

Kagome ignored the footfalls that closed on her. Just as she reached for the flaps of her tent, a firm grasp easily twisted her around, forcing her to face a displeased-looking Hao. Yoh felt agitation; he could see her accosted arm shake as she struggled to break free from the iron-clade grip on her forearm.

The pair were locked in a silent, glaring match. Sweltering, stormy seas challenged frozen, tundra soil. Even to Yoh, the tension between them was almost palpable; he never knew that Kagome could be angry beyond words.

Finally, Hao's scowl turned upside-down as he inquired in a low voice, "And just what do you think you're doing, little my canary?" He released the grip on the girl and she finally released her bottled breath.

Kagome eyed Hao with a small scowl, seemingly reluctant to answer. "...you reminded me of my wrong-doings…" Her face fell from frustration to melancholic reflection. "I can make up so many excuses, but at the end of the day, the truth is that I just gave up hope and ran away…" With a smile that was both bitter and hopeful, she looked into Hao's eyes and said, "But I don't want to run away anymore. I want to make things right. They're my friends; I have to face them."

Yoh watched curt surprise flash on Hao's face. He then closed his eyes and sighed with a smile, "If you must…" Without taking his eyes off of Kagome, he said, "Spirit of Fire can even escort you there."

Kagome nodded, "Yes, thank you." She then peered into her tent. "Hao…" The girl turned her head and gave the shaman an annoyed glare, "Where's that bathhouse yukata?"

Hao's face was too sweet-looking as he confessed, "I didn't think you'd need it anymore."

The girl's brow twitched as she grumbled, "So how am I supposed to return these clothes if I have nothing else to wear…?!" Hao shrugged as the tip of his tongue dipped from between his lips. "You really get on my nerves!"

'Ehhh—I don't understand their relationship,' Yoh sweatdropped when Kagome give Hao an earful while gripping one of his long bangs. The spirit tapped his chin as his eyes looked towards the sky, 'This world of despair...I guess it becomes worse from here on…?'

Kagome quickly emerged from her tent with an oversized shopping bag full of clothes in her grasps. She was unable to meet Hao's eyes as she told him, almost skittishly, "Well...I'll be going now. Thanks for the hospitality, but I don't think I'll fit in here…" The priestess and Yoh looked past Hao, where the Spirit of Fire stood eye-to-eye with the trees.

With those words, she walked past the shaman, her head tilted to the side so their eyes would not meet. However, Kagome could not stop herself from hearing Hao's eerily optimistic whisper, "See you soon~."

Startled, Kagome came to an abrupt halt behind Hao. As they stood with their backs facing each other, both shamans were quiet. The girl's face contorted with uneasiness. For a moment, Yoh thought that she would turn around and confront Hao about the meaning of his words. But instead, she kept walking until she stood before the behemoth of a spirit. "Spirit of Fire…" she said while looking up at its inhuman face. "Will you take me home?"

Without delay the spirit's elongated arm rose ever so slightly, extending its hand out in front of the girl's feet. Kagome easily stepped on the hand and seemed surprisingly calm as it raised into the air. And with that, the spirit began a slow, steady ascent. The priestess looked over the edge of the gargantuan hand and peered down at the many faces that stared up at her.

Hao, of course, was smiling as one hand waved at Kagome while the other stroked a teary-eyed Opacho's head; the small girl's lower lip was trembling as she mimicked Hao's wave. Miroku and Brocken gave curt but polite nods of their heads. Bill sent her off with wide-motioned, double-armed waves of his arms crossing above his head in "x"-shapes. Matilda similarly was waving wildly with both arms, but her face wore a wide, exuberant grin. Marion watched with a stoic expression as Kanna gave her an icy look as she smoked a cigarette.

Kagome offered the collective group a small smile and wave. The spirit's ascent only halted when they were high enough for the figures of the shamans below to resemble ants. It then began soaring through the sky. Its fingers were curled into arcs that acted as security-bars. But to Yoh, who floated beside them, the Spirit of Fire's hands resembled a crimson cage where the priestess sat in her lonesome.

Minutes flew by. The rush of wind was the only sound that reached Yoh's ears until Kagome suddenly spoke, "Hey, Spirit of Fire, I should probably thank you for taking me home, even if you're only doing it on Hao's orders." Yoh blinked, almost expecting the spirit to answer. "Yeah," Kagome's head fell as she laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, I figured as much. But still, thanks for taking care of me."

'Eh—Can Kagome hear its inner voice or something…?' Yoh wondered as he listened in on the spectacle. With each sentence, her voice became less nervous and more casual. But Yoh decided that was for the better; she probably felt tense just sitting there in silence.

"You know, you're actually a kind spirit, aren't you? I hope Hao hasn't made you do anything too bad," she smiled while patting the spirit's thumb.

There was a long period of silence as the spirit seemingly responded to the girl's statement.

"Ehhhhhh?!" Kagome's cheeks suddenly were pink and she looked thoroughly embarrassed. "I can't tell you something like that! You'll probably end up telling Hao and he's the last person who needs to know!" And so, the remainder of the trip through the Tokyo skies went just like that, with Yoh listening to one-side of a conversation between a priestess and the Spirit of Fire.

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

The sun had just dipped below the horizon when they arrived in front of the Asakura residence. The Spirit of Fire landed quietly just outside of the home. For a moment, the spirit just stood there, even after Kagome rose to her feet and took a moment to stretch her limbs. From her spot in its hand, she smiled up at the spirit and stated, "Yeah, it's no problem~" She clutched the thin handles of her shopping bag before looking down at the clothes, "I can return these by myself tomorrow when I have clothes of my own to wear."

Still, the spirit just stood there with Kagome trapped in the palm of its hand. The priestess gave the spirit a confused look of anticipation, but Yoh was unsure of it understood the expecting expression being directed at it. He was even more unsure if the spirit was communicating with Kagome during the lapse of silence. That was, until Kagome finally spoke up and instructed with an antsy tone, "Uh, you can put me down now…"

Instead of obliging her request, the Spirit of Fire raised its hand higher until Kagome was positioned with a clear view of Yoh's bedroom window. "Uh…" She sweatdropped, "Humans usually use doors but this works, I guess…" The sound of Kagome's soft gasp caught the spectral Yoh's attention so he floated up to share her point of view.

The past Yoh just entered the room. His face was long and crestfallen and his steps were slow and heavy. "Yoh…!" Kagome's voice was excitable and breathless as one of her stopped gripping her bag. She placed the free hand flat against the glass as the past Yoh approached the window. "Yoh!" The girl's voice was rejuvenated this time.

Despite her call, the past Yoh's head never rose from the floor. Instead, he stopped at the window and sighed. His hand moved and landed on the spot just on the other side from Kagome's. Yoh's spirit could not hear his past-self's whisper but he could easily read his lips…

"Ka-go-me"

The spectral Yoh felt nothing short of lost as he looked between the past Kagome and his own past self. There they were, separated by nothing a layer of glass with their hands almost touching. But their eyes never greeted each other. The past Yoh's face stayed pointed at the floor as Kagome's eyes were widened and her lips opened and closed, gaping like a fish out of water.

"I see…" Her dejected whisper only reached the ghost Yoh's ears. "So...they don't need me here, do they…?" She pondered aloud, but Yoh was unsure if the question was aimed at the Spirit of Fire, or purely rhetorical. Slowly, the red hand that held the priestess lowered to the ground. Kagome climbed off and the giant disappeared into thin air. On cue, Anna emerged from the front door.

With crossed arms, Anna glared so spitefully at Kagome that if looks could kill the priestess would have been shot dead on the spot. With a slight upwards tilt of her nose, the itako looked at the priestess as if she were wretched scum. "What are you doing here?" The hiss of Anna's voice was as sharp as needles.

"I know that I was wrong," Kagome readily admitted, but not without audible remorse. "But that's exactly why I should be the one who makes amends with everyone," she asserted while taking a tentative step forward.

"Amends…?" Anna's eyes narrowed even further. "So arrogant," she was disgusted at the prospect. "You think you can pull a stunt like that, leave, and then come back thinking an apology will make everything better?"

"Actually, I don't," Yoh could tell that Kagome was trying to stay calm in the face of Anna's hostility. The priestess had proven to be a spit-fire, but she also had the presence of mind to remove the lid from the bubbling pot. "But whatever it takes, I want to make it right and—."

"You don't seem to get it, so I'll put it simply," Anna's tone lowered even more. "You do nothing but cause Yoh pain," her eyes fell on the bag of clothes that Kagome handled. "So you should just stay wherever you came from." An accusing gaze met Kagome's silent anger. "I see that you don't have a shortage of men to pamper you."

Meanwhile, the disembodied Yoh felt nothing but distress as looked between the two girls, his hands raised in a defensive pose. 'This is getting out of control…!' He bit his lower lip as he watched the altercation. Kagome grunted and tried to step past Anna, only for the itako to block her path with her body.

Anna's hands settled on her hips, "You're not welcome here, Higurashi. No one needs you."

Her last words struck a chord within Kagome. The priestess' eyes became misty as her free hand clenched, then unclenched, and clenched again. The lone fist shook as Kagome glared at Anna through blurry vision. "Fine…" She whispered, dejected and defeated.

Anna's face betrayed no emotion as the priestess turned around, showing her back. She was unmoved as Kagome's chest heaved. She then tossed Anna a smile, bitter, watery, and challenging. "But rest assured, that we'll meet again. And I'll be Shaman Queen!" She declared before dashing off the property.

"Tsk," the itako was unconvinced, but still agitated by the open challenge.

'A-Anna…!' Yoh scowled, but stopped himself from trying to interact with the itako. Instead, he zipped after the fleeing Kagome. It did not take long for him to catch up with her. The Asakura only got a bad feeling when her sprint came to a screeching halt in front of the Spirit of Fire, who manifested before her.

"It's you…!" Kagome gaped at the massive spirit for a moment. But soon, her mouth closed into a bitter-sweet smile. "...did you wait for me…?" She asked in a small voice. The spirit replied with an offering of its lowered hand, which the priestess willingly climbed aboard. "Thanks again," she patted the red thumb. "There's actually a couple of places that I want to visit if you don't mind…"

Regardless of if the spirit minded or not, it took to the skies and escorted Kagome to her desired destinations. The first stop was the abandoned Higurashi shrine. It was there that Yoh watched Kagome slide open her front door and called out, "I'm home…!" She was greeted by a creeping cold and her own voice echoing back.

The girl even removed her new boots at the door before stepping further inside. She sat the bag of pilfered clothing near the door. She wound up in front of a familiar door that connected to the dark, empty living room: the shrine. Kagome stepped into the room, muscle memory guided her through the darkness. She easily navigated herself from the doorway to a fine, wooden armoire where she pulled out a single candle and a small matchbox.

A quick swipe of a match head across the abrasive side set the tip aflame. Kagome's motions were slow and calculated as she guided the tiny flame to the candlewick. As soon as the fire took to the candle, the priestess waved the match and snuffed out its light. She then walked towards the center wall where the shrine to the deceased Higurashi's stood.

Under the faint glow of her candle, Yoh could not make out Kagome's facial expression. He only caught glimpses of a weak smile as she worked on using her sole flame to burn incense. Once she was satisfied, Kagome rested her glowing stick of wax on a candelabrum then sat on her in-step in front of the shrine. She looked down at her lap as she spoke to the silent photographs.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it…? ...I'm sorry." She looked at the framed picture of her parents, "I...I won't be back for a very long time, even longer than before. But don't worry, I'll be careful…" The fist in her lap tightened as she continued speaking, "I can't explain why I'm doing what I'm doing, not easily… But I think I'm doing the right thing. At least, I hope so…" Kagome then looked at her grandparent's visage and added, "So that's why…"

The girl's monologue came to a halt as her lips suddenly pursed for a moment. Yoh was tempted to reach out to Kagome, place a hand on her shoulder, and ask her if she was alright. But Kagome's voice picked up again, washing over Yoh like a sudden downpour, "A-actually, that's a lie…" She admitted while wiping her eyes. "Honestly, I don't know what's right or wrong anymore… I just...I just don't want to be alone. I finally caught a glimpse of what feeling loved and wanted was like...and I don't want to lose that feeling..."

Kagome leaned forward until her forehead was touching the floor. Her long hair pooled around her as she whispered to her family, "I'll do my best to do the right thing. So please, if turned out that I'm wrong, please forgive my transgression." She righted herself back into her sitting position before nodding at the unmoving faces that smiled at her. "Well then, I'm off~" The priestess got to her feet and left the room.

For once, Kagome's emotions were not broadcasted on her face. She simply put on the stolen boots, grabbed the bag of clothing, and left. During the remainder of the errands, Kagome rarely spoke to her soaring chauffeur. Her next stop was her small home before moving into the Asakura house. She wasted no time and quickly changed into a simple outfit: a graphic sweatshirt, form-fitting denim jeans, and the only pair of shoes that she could find: a pair of pink combat boots. "Ugh…" She grumbled to herself. "I left most of my stuff at—"

She was unable to speak the name, only flinch at the thought.

Her final destination was downtown Tokyo. It was here that the Spirit of Fire slowly flew around as Kagome peered over the edge of its hand. Her eyes were laser-focused as her head scanned each side of each street. Under the chilly, dark sky, the area was illuminated by city lights: countless tiny bulbs of whites, and sparse colorful ones alike.

Finally, Kagome pointed to a quaint but modern shop nestled between two other structures of similar design and size. "There…!" She instructed the spirit. A few minutes later, the priestess was bowing and apologizing to the on-duty staff about the clothes. Yoh felt the second-hand embarrassment of noticing how the staff appeared puzzled, probably not noticing anything missing, but accepting the clothes regardless.

Soon, Kagome and the Spirit of Fire took to the night sky again. For a while, the priestess was silent as she sat in the center of the palm, hugging her knees to her chest. Out of the blue, the girl's grip on her knees loosened and her shoulders straightened subtly. Her face, which had been pensive, adopted the ghost of a smile. "It's fine. I've already made up my mind," she informed the spirit. "It won't be easy, but I'll walk the path that I've decided, even if I have to do it all alone."

With a bitter laugh, she promised herself, "And I won't cry anymore." Even though Kagome's words were between herself and the Spirit of Fire, Yoh knew that they were more for herself. And he felt like he was witnessing the beginning of a transformation—but was it for the better, or worse…? For the first time, Yoh discovered that hearts could be puzzles and minds could be garbled.

Once the unlikely pair returned to Hao's camp in the dead of night, Kagome stepped off the spirit's hand and was immediately approached by Hao himself. "Welcome back, my little canary~," a cordial smile accompanied the greeting.

And as Kagome thanked the shaman with a tight smile that did not reach her eyes.

Yoh wanted to be the one who comforted her. He wanted to tell her that no matter what happened between them, she always had a home to return to. But instead, he could only watch as Kagome took a hesitant, tentative step towards Hao.

She told herself that she would not cry anymore, and she did not.

Instead, the priestess gave the shaman in front of her a look so vulnerable that it tore Yoh up inside.

Without his smile wavering, Hao wordlessly offered his open arms. Just as silently, Kagome stepped into them and laid her head against his chest after she was completely enveloped.

For what seemed like an eternity, Yoh could not see where Hao ended and Kagome began…

Kagome declined the offer of dinner, as it came in take-out trays and therefore likely stolen from an unsuspecting business. Instead, she retired to her tent early. Her knees bent and legs curled up as she slept on one side. "...Sesshomaru...are you there…?" She whispered to the emptiness and silence. Yoh did not know how long she lied there, just staring at nothing. But eventually, the girl's eyelids began drooping.

Yoh sat there, next to the sleeping girl. His fingers could not wipe away the moisture that gathered beneath her eyelids. 'Looks like you already broke your vow…' He thought wistfully as he watched the girl's expression reflect her heart. 'Hey, Kagome—the power Kagome lady, you can hear me, right?'

The serene voice that was becoming increasingly familiar and soothing quickly responded. It was like she was everywhere and nowhere at the same time: like a true divine deity.

"Yes, Alpha. I am here."

'Earlier, the past me and the past Kagome...we—they, uh, something strange happened between them. Back at the window!' Yoh stumbled on how to explain what he saw. 'They were right in front of each other but they acted like they didn't see each other!'

"The reunion between that Higurashi Kagome and that Alpha was sabotaged by Asakura Hao. It was in this world that Higurashi Kagome, along with all other hearts and souls, were the most vulnerable. Her loneliness led to a doubt that Asakura Hao took advantage of. What you witnessed was what truly happened in that moment. Alpha, would you like to see that moment from different eyes?"

'Un,' Yoh's nod was deep and affirmative as his chest began to swell with a new feeling: determination, a desire to learn from the past. 'Show me.'

"As you wish, Alpha…"

With a blink of his eyes, Yoh was in the familiar second-floor hallway of his home in Tokyo. 'I'm back at home…?' His marvel turned into shock as his legs began moving on their own. 'I can't control my body?!' Despite his inner panic and all of his willpower, his attempts to take control were futile. His legs moved towards his bedroom on their own accord.

Yoh could not even lift his head as he walked, even as he entered his room. He trudged across the floor until he arrived at the window. He placed his hand on the glass and breathed a heavy sigh, "Kagome…" His mouth whispered. 'Wait—! Right now, Kagome should be right at this spot! Where is she?!' He could not even spot Kagome from his peripheral vision.

From the eyes he was seeing through, there was nothing beyond the window but a view of the trees and sky. There was no Kagome in sight. Finally, Yoh was able to blink. But this time, he found that he was sitting on top of the Spirit of Fire's hand.

The hand that rose and laid against the window was familiar, but not his own. The skin was fairer and the fingers were more slender. He peered into the room and watched as the door opened. But to his shock, in rushed himself and Anna. The couple was lip-locked in a feverish kiss and they did not part, even as they stumbled towards the center of the room. Anna's back was to the window, giving an easy view of how the arm around her tiny waist pulled her closer.

The Yoh whose mouth never left Anna's suddenly opened his eyes and made direct contact with the person behind the window—both the spiritual Yoh and the past Kagome at the same time. The Yoh who the past-Kagome saw was quick to break his gaze and refocus on the blond girl in front of him. "I see…" Yoh's mouth whispered. "So...they don't need me here, do they…?" His voice was not his own, but Kagome's.

And with that, Yoh was suddenly himself again: a spirit sitting next to a sleeping Kagome. 'Those visions that I saw...they were illusions that our past selves saw…?' He was still in a state of shock. 'And Hao was the one who set them up…' He noted with a deep scowl. So, back then...the Yoh of the past did not see Kagome, even though she was right there. And the past Kagome saw Yoh and Anna locked in a moment of passion.

The two hearts that wanted to see each other were so close, yet fatherer apart than they'd ever been.

"Correct. Asakura Hao has a menagerie of shamans. Within his ranks, there is one who possesses the ability to cast illusions and hallucinations. A simple but effective deceit for ones with uncertainty in their hearts. In this case: it was the Higurashi Kagome of this world. Even Higurashi Kagome fell victim to the cruel twists of fate in this wretched world. She lost everything dearest to her so quickly. In this world, her entire family was caught in the crossfire as I tried to protect her from her older sister. And soon afterward, she lost her friends after using her powers in front of humans. By the time that she met you, the seeds of doubt had already been sowed."

Yoh bit down on his lip as he listened to the entity's words. "She was happy, but in the back of her mind, her voice wondered if that happiness would last. She wondered if she would lose her new friends too. This Higurashi Kagome, confused and afraid, was unsure of what feelings to believe in. All of these events, all of these actions, and overlapping thoughts...they all led to where you are now: the rebellion of Higurashi Kagome."

'Kagome's rebellion…' Yoh repeated to himself as he noted that sunlight was beginning to pierce through the thin fabric of the tent. 'It makes sense… But who is it that Kagome is rebelling against?' He wondered. Before he had the chance to continue contemplating, Miroku's voice called from the other side of the flaps.

"Good morning, Kagome-sama," The monk greeted both warmly and respectfully. The silence from the other side told Yoh that the young man waited and listened in on Kagome's sleepy moans and slow shifting on her pile of blankets. "I know that it's early but Hao-sama requests an audience with you."

"Jeez…" Kagome grumbled as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I got to sleep in last time…" She muttered with a tinge of irritability. Regardless of the grumpiness, the girl quickly combed her hair with her fingers and tamed as many flyaways as she could. She then crawled over to the entrance and stuck her head out. She was immediately greeted by Hao's red, blocky boots and the sound of his chuckle.

"My, my, Kagome~" Hao's voice was cheerful as he squatted down to her level. His cheek was supported by one, curled hand as he teased, "Bedhead is a really good look for you~ I'll keep note of that for the future." The deadpanned look and small throaty growl that Kagome gave him only elicited a chuckle from him. "Sleep well?"

"Like an owl," was her dry reply. "So, what do you want to talk about so early…?"

"So coooooold," Hao faux-whined. "Can't I just want to spend time with you…?"

Kagome's reply was nonchalant, "You're the type who only seek people out when you have an agenda."

"That's a fair assessment," He admitted shamelessly. "But you're different, dear Kagome," Hao lifted a hand slowly. "With you, I have the desire to see your face." His hand cradled the priestess's cheek as he leaned closer, his eyes half-hooded. "You don't believe me?"

Kagome's cheeks burned intensely. Her bottom lip was tucked into her mouth during Hao's serenading speech. She turned her face away, slipping her cheek from his grasp after his question. "I don't know what I believe in anymore…" She said. "More importantly, what do you want this time?" Hao grinned from ear to ear before standing at his full height and taking a step back, granting Kagome the space to emerge fully.

Hao was more than pleased when she allowed him to help her to her feet without raising a fuss. "You seemed unhappy with our code of operations so I was looking forward to hearing your list of demands," he explained light-heartedly.

"List of—" Kagome was flabbergasted as Hao led her down a cleared path through the trees. "And what's that supposed to mean?" She raised an eyebrow and poked out her bottom lip.

Hao smirked at the reaction but avoided answering, "Do you not have one?"

"Hmph," The priestess huffed, closed her eyes, and stuck her nose in the air. A moment later, she peeked an eye open and was met with Hao's expecting smile. Her other eye opened but her scowl did not fade as she was sure to clarify. "...they're not demands. They're things I can't compromise on."

Hao's smile turned into a victorious, knowing smirk, "It's all the same to me, my Dear."

"Whatever," Kagome huffed again. "Number one, I know we could go on all day about our opinions on money, so I'll skip over that part for now," she disclaimed before declaring firmly, "But personally, I refuse to steal to get by. It just doesn't feel right to me. Thievery and violence can't substitute money…" she was scowling, "In this case, it's selfish and the means don't justify the ends."

Hao seemed amused by her words, "My, my~ You're more a philosopher than I thought…" He paused for a moment before querying, "It bothers you that much?"

"It does," She readily answered, "I'm sure there's another way to live."

Yoh, who was standing on Kagome's other side as the silent third, peered at Hao. He could not help but notice the thoughtful twinkle in Hao's eyes. It was curious how someone with constant condescending tendencies was genuinely mulling over the girl's words. "My, my~" He chuckled. "Your ideals could make you into quite the upstart."

"Well—!" Kagome's rebuttal was silenced by Hao's finger plopping against her lips as they came to a sudden stop.

"If you're against our methods, what would you have us do instead?" He inquired while retracting his finger and smiling down at the girl.

Kagome raised her pointer as she spoke in a slow, steady manner. It was the thoughtful tone of someone who was speaking on the fly, "Well, for starters...We can pool our skills together to take care of ourselves without taking from others."

Yoh listened in on Kagome's list of demands—errrr

complaints—no,

recommendations—ehhh, more like,

"things that she couldn't compromise on".

For the most part, he was both amazed that the leader of the shamans took the time to hear them out, and proud that Kagome still had the nerve to set ground rules. He even chuckled when the girl was sure to add in, "Oh! And baths! I want at least one bath every day!"

"And if we wind up in a place where that isn't possible?" Hao questioned, entertained and curious.

Kagome closed her eyes as she smiled widely with a dismissive shrug, "You'll have to find a way to make it happen." Hao chuckled. And the two shamans continued their morning stroll on the forest path. She seemed to have an answer for all of Hao's questions and she justified her every demand.

Over time, the sun continued to rise higher and higher. Yoh easily recognized that halfway through their walk, they made a turn that would eventually lead them back to the shaman camp. For the most part, Hao had not been overtly flirtatious with Kagome during their talk. He opted for posing questions to the priestess, seemingly basking in her voice and vocalized rumination. His actions only confirmed Yoh's theory: that Hao knowingly or unknowingly longed for something or someone, who was not him, someone who did not completely fall in line.

Eventually, a silence fell between the pair. Kagome's mind seemed to drift off to someplace far away, someplace far beyond the reaches of the forest edge. No longer was her mind engaged in plans for change. Her eyes were no longer spirited and burning with the passion for upholding her moral standards. Her small lips were as silent as a grave and as straight as a pencil.

Yoh could guess where her mind wandered off to when the edges of her mouth curved downward. And her eyes downcasted into a dull haze of a rainy morning.

That was, until Kagome was startled out of her thoughts courtesy of Hao's teasing voice, "By the way…" Yoh could tell that the shaman was only distracting her from thoughts of the friends she left behind. "You seem to really enjoy holding my hand~" He pointed out while lifting his arm and presenting Kagome with their fingers that had been interlocked since the moment she left her tent.

Kagome looked at their adjoined hands and rushed through a squall of emotions: confusion, surprise, recognition, then an embarrassment that lit up her eyes and cheeks alike. Hao looked pleased with himself, despite how she wrenched her hand away. She glared at an innocent rock as she muttered, trying to mask how flustered she was, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just forgot to let go."

"Hmmm?" Hao hummed, openly enjoying himself. "And I wonder why that could be…?"

"Remember, pal," The priestess crossed her arms defiantly. "You still haven't won me over yet."

"Yet~/Yet," both Hao and Yoh echoed, the former firmly and like a reminder and the latter with a blanch.

Upon the pair's return, Hao immediately tossed Kagome into the proverbial fire. A small hand gesture gathered his herd's collective attention and cued them to abandon their previous actions and conversations. Like moths to a flame, the congregation gathered around Hao and Kagome, each of the faces peering at them with their own flavor of interest. "Kagome and I had a little chat earlier," the leader announced calmly. "And I've decided that I want you all to obey her as you would me," He stated to the chagrin of a few followers.

With a gesture towards the priestess at his side, the shaman leader added, "So listen well."

For a split second, Kagome looked flustered and annoyed at the animated introduction. But quickly, her face fixed with both focus and determination, despite the pink tinge to her cheeks. No doubt the attention of the crowd was still new to the girl, especially when the vast majority of them were larger and many years her senior. "Alright, everyone," the priestess spoke up, beginning her decree with light hand gestures, one hand on her chest and the other open-palmed towards the crowd. "With Hao's blessing, there are a few standards that I want us to uphold. I believe that we can live…"

Yoh listened to Kagome's speech with slightly parted lips. Just a couple of nights ago, the girl had all but shattered. But this girl, who preached her ideals to a small fleet of onlookers, seemed to be everything but broken. Sometimes, skittish like a foal, and sometimes as fierce as a wild stallion, Kagome's voice kept the crowd engaged. If she was disconcerted by some of the stoic stares or the exasperated ones, her face did not betray those feelings.

During the short-lived decree, Yoh's attention was briefly drawn to the trio of young women. While Marion remained silent, a moist puff of air rushed through Kanna's clenched teeth. "Tch. First, we were ordered to cater to this brat, and now she's calling the shots? Unbelievable," the eldest mumbled.

"I don't like it any more than you do but whatever Hao-sama says goes, you know that," Matilda remarked in a nonchalant manner that did not match the mildly vexed glare that she gave Kagome.

"I know that…!" Kanna hissed a louder whisper. "I just don't see what's so speci—"

Suddenly, the unmistakable baritone of an older man cut in, his voice was as calm as a stream but as sharp as a blade. He was firm in his hushed admonishment, "I know that you girls must feel slighted, but a shaman of Hao-sama's distinction often choose their ideal wives based on a strict set of standards. Do not feel inferior because you did not meet them." The man's visage was the epitome of masculinity, he was as tall as he was muscular. His head of black hair was complemented by a thick beard. His overall mainly somewhat reminded Yoh of Ryu.

Moreover, Yoh gaped and marveled up at the man. Like many others of Hao's followers, he had a striking appearance and foreign features.

"Really, Luchi?!" the redhead girl huffed and pouted while glaring up at the man. "Is that supposed to make us feel better?!" she whined incredulously with faux anger.

"Maybe you know what Hao-sama sees in her, Luchist," Kanna remarked, a bit sarcastic but also curious and accusatory. She placed her hand on her hip as she watched Kagome's face. "She's pretty, sure, but Hao-sama isn't the type to choose on that alone."

Marion nodded in agreement and finally spoke in a hushed voice, "Hao-sama is one of a kind. He's strong, kind, and wise." She looked at Luchist, her stoney face held a glimmer of curiosity. "So his Queen should be the same, right?"

"Absolutely," Luchist confirmed. "You girls may not be able to sense it, but this girl, Higurashi Kagome, is indeed one of a kind. Her sheer potential is unreal. I believe Hao-sama chose her for this reason."

"I see…" Kanna scowled while reaching into her pocket and snatching out a loose cigarette. "So…" her words were wet and slurred as she held her tobacco tube between her lips. "You think this Kagome chick can become that powerful?"

"I know so," Luchist confirmed again. "Her raw potential is unimaginable. Under Hao-sama's wing, this girl will easily become the true Holy Maiden." His eyes never left Kagome's face as he speculated, but his explanation only furthered his three comrades' ire and skepticism.

The girls' collective gazes fell on Kagome. Bill raised his hand and asked her a question that she was obviously not prepared for. "Kagome-sama, does this mean that we have to return everything we've stolen before?" He asked with the genuine curiosity of a young student.

The priestess's initial reaction was a rapid series of blinks. She then chuckled nervously, scratching a pink cheek as she answered in an almost tentative tone, "Well… Some of this stuff is already well-loved, so…uh," they took note of how her feet shuffled, it was not the body language of someone as charismatic and collected as their Hao-sama. "If it's been a long time, then just keep it and vow to never steal again."

Yes. Yoh could sense that the trio of young women was less than impressed at Kagome's ideals. The priestess then clapped her hands together as her speech drew to a close, "Alright, that's all for now. So remember, going forward, we'll rely on our practical skills or just trade for what we need."

After the small meeting adjourned, Hao announced that he would be leaving to run an errand alone. But not without placing his hand on Kagome's shoulder and adding, "From now on, Kagome is in charge in my absence so behave yourselves." With a flap of his cloak, Hao disappeared in a small combustion, leaving Kagome alone with the group of shamans.

All things considered, Yoh was grateful that this world's Kagome was not immediately bothered, badgered, or battered in Hao's absence. Instead, Bill, Brocken, and Miroku, the shamans who seemed the fondest of the priestess, clustered around her. Brocken regarded her in a cordial tone that made her release the tension from her shoulders that carried over from her speech. "Kagome-sama," the small man chirped, "What would you like for supper tonight?"

Before the priestess could answer, Miroku rubbed his chin while closing his eyes, "More importantly, how do we go about procuring enough food to sustain us all under Kagome-sama's reign?"

Kagome sweatdropped, "Err… Isn't calling it a reign going a little too far?"

Bill crossed his bulging arms and grinned from ear to ear, "Of course not! You're a natural Queen, Kagome-sama!" Said girl's cheeks flushed at the declaration. Her hands rose as she smiled meekly, opening her mouth to deny the praise but Bill's thunderous voice instantly drowned her out, "You delivered your first decree like you've been practicing! Hold your head up and take pride in that!"

Brocken then chimed in with some friendly advice, "Bill has a good heart but he is as stubborn as an ox. Once he's made up his mind on something, you can't tell him otherwise. You should just take the compliment."

"Oh," Kagome sweatdropped again. "Thanks, I guess," her uneasy smile then began more relaxed as she informed the group, "And about dinner, I know there's a river somewhere around here. I'm sure we could catch some fish there." She then looked at the darkening colors of twilight then added, "Or maybe that's not a good idea… It's getting dark earlier now…"

Bill grinned and thumped his fist against his chest, "Don't worry, Kagome-sama! It's an excellent idea, just leave it to me!" With that, he released a heart, boisterous laugh that made everyone nearby sweatdrop or throw him deadpan looks.

But Bill made good on his guarantee of reliability to Kagome. After the small group split off in search of the river (that Yoh suspected was the Sumida river or a smaller one that adjoined to it), they found it after the sunset. Miroku showed off his survival skills by striking up a small firepit that illuminated a restricted area near the shore. Kagome nervously peered down at the dark depths before looking over her shoulder and asking, "So, who volunteers to—? Hm!?"

Bill was already stripping down to his underwear, setting Kagome's cheeks on fire. Miroku's hand rose to cover her eyes as the muscular man zipped by them in a blur of colors. The distinct splash of the cool water resonated in Kagome's ears and she almost flinched. She tore the monk's hand away from her face and gaped down at the rushing waters. Large, slow ripples alluded to the water's recent disturbance.

"He—he really jumped in…" Kagome's eye twitched as her mind tried to fathom why any sane person would jump into the freezing waters at night.

"That's Bill for you, he truly is an athlete at art," Brocken praised behind his hood.

Miroku then closed his eyes and lifted one hand into a prayer position near his face. "I'll say a prayer for Bill, in case he catches pneumonia."

Kagome bristled and exclaimed, "Don't be so quick to send him off!" The girl's eyes then scanned the surface of the water worriedly as a minute went by without any sight or sound from Bill. "Maybe...we should check on him," she proposed, her voice full of concern. She looked up at Miroku expectantly.

The monk raised his hands upon recognizing that she appointed the task to him. "Now, Kagome-sama, I am but a humble monk. I don't have the muscle or brute strength to drag a man of Bill's stature from the deep," he disclaimed.

"Miroku-sama, does that humble act work for you often?" Kagome sweatdropped.

The guilty monk dropped his meek, nervous facade and admitted bluntly, "Why, yes. It's especially popular with the ladies. But how is it that you could see right through me?"

The priestess gave him a sharp, incredulous look, "Something just tells me that you're not to be trusted."

"Ouch, Kagome-sama," Miroku feigned a pained expression. "Don't let Hao-sama hear you say that. He just might dispose of me."

Kagome looked surprised at the statement, "He wouldn't do something like, would he…?"

Before the monk could answer, a violent splash drew their attention. Kagome gaped as Bill shot up from the river like a human torpedo. With great showmanship, he somersaulted into the air before landing before the priestess, balancing his weight on one knee. His large hands gripped several flailing suzuki, Japanese sea bass, by their tailfins.

The priestess' eyes followed the man's stature as he stood to his full height. The top of her head only came to his abdomen. He gave her a toothy grin while raising his arms to present his impressive haul. "Will these suffice, Kagome-sama?"

"Hm…" Kagome raised the tip of her thumb to her lips as she performed mental calculations and estimations. After a few moments of silence, she smiled and nodded, "This should work for tonight~ Thank you, Bill-san~.

As Bill cheesed and scratched the back of his head, Miroku whispered down to Brocken, "You don't suppose Bill is getting in Kagome-sama's good graces to get closer to Hao-sama, do you?"

"I doubt that," Brocken responded as he watched Bill smile, despite the lecture he was receiving from Kagome for acting so recklessly. "I believe that girl ignites a protectiveness that Bill hasn't felt in a long time."

A considerable time elapsed by the time the quartet returned to the camp. Kagome looked left and right then left again. She blinked a few times as she asked, "Hao isn't back yet…?" Not even the Spirit of Fire was anywhere in sight, something that did not bode well with Yoh.

Miroku was quick to smirk at the inquiry. He leaned his head down and whispered to the priestess, "Ah. Could it be that you miss him, Kagome-sama?"

The question made Kagome blush, but she stuck her nose up, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just thought it was weird for him to be gone for so long."

The monk hummed as a thoughtful look appeared on his face. "It looks like Hao-sama is partial to a bit of a tsundere."

Kagome sighed becoming deadpanned for a moment as her shoulders slumped, "Miroku-sama, it's not that I'm tsundere or anything…" She then regained her posture and admitted, "It's just that, part of the time reason that I'm here is to find out how I feel about Hao, about the strange connection that we have." She looked down at her hand, the very hand that held Hao's for so long earlier. "He makes me feel...on edge, but safe, at the same time. I can't make sense of it."

The contradictory confession made the three men around her exchange bewildered looks. Even with their years of experience, none of them could make sense of what the girl was describing: being unnerved yet safe around someone. But they did not dwell on it for more than a moment.

Kagome was suddenly talking through her feelings, temporarily forgetting about her surroundings even as her new comrades stared and listened to her attempt at sorting through her heart. "It's strange—how I don't know him very well, but I feel like...maybe I do." In her state of reflection, the girl did not notice how Bill, Miroku, and Brocken cleared the way for their leader to approach and take a spot by her side. "My mind says that he's only an acquaintance, but somehow, my heart tells me that Hao is more like a—."

It was only when she spotted the familiar color palette of his cloak and hair in her peripheral that Kagome snapped from her thoughts and whipped her head to the side. There, stood Hao, cradling Opacho with one arm. His closed-eyed grin was wide, "Oh no. Don't let me stop you. Carry on~"

"Like a person who won't get dinner if he keeps pushing his luck," Kagome finished with a shrug. Preparing the fresh fish was surprisingly handled by Matilda; the red-haired teen knew her way around knives and basic anatomy. Yoh noticed the longing stares Kagome sent their way as Malita and Kanna aided their friend with preparation under her supervision. Even as the priestess used a towel to helped Broken pat-down the soaking, shivering Bill, she seemed a bit lonely.

Yoh didn't blame her. The three teenage girls, the very ones she could most easily relate to, seem as thick as thieves, but did not welcome her into their circle.

That night, Yoh watched Kagome lie awake in her tent. Once again, her eyes were wide open for seemingly hours on end. With cloudy eyes, she traced heart-shapes into her soft floor. "It's only been a few days… I can still...go back...can't I…?" She wondered to herself. "I could, but...then, I'd have to face Yoh after I saw that… They're engaged after all, so it's natural. But—" She paused as her body stiffened and closed in on itself.

"We made eye contact and now…" She squeezed her eyes shut up as her voice shuttered, "I-I feel like a fool… I know that I told you that it was okay… I said it was okay not to choose me over Anna, because that's the right thing to do, and that's what I truly believe… It's the right thing to do, b-but… That doesn't mean that it's easy for me..."

As Yoh sat beside the past Kagome, a thought struck him, an uncomfortable one. 'Once we get back...the present Kagome, my Kagome...' He realized. 'She'll feel the exact same way, no matter what I say or do. This Kagome is not my Kagome, but she's still Kagome nonetheless.' His eyes went to her lips. Kagome curved them upward, deliberately, and it showed. 'So that means...it's inevitable.'

In his mind, Yoh envisioned himself in a dark hallway. Parallel to each other, three unnaturally tall doors stood before him. They were silent and unassuming, but the only way out of the darkness surrounding him.

He reached for the handle of the middle door, the one right in front of him. Although soundless, the door was calling to him somehow, louder than the other two. Its frame seemed to expand and its length grew taller. The door closed in on him, as if in anticipation. Not wanting to keep whatever lied beyond the corridor waiting, Yoh twisted the handle and pushed the door open. Immediately, a flood of light rushed into the dark hallway. "A..." The shaman's eyes widened as he beheld the sight in front of him. Just beyond the door, there was an endless sea of blue hydrangeas. They swayed and waned beneath a rolling breeze like waves of the ocean.

"A...nna..." The shaman was breathless. Further in the field sat Anna, dressed in a pure white version of her favorite black dress. She looked up from a bouquet in her hands. Her eyes easily found him and offered a ghost of a smile: an accessory that his Anna rarely wore. She nodded, almost approvingly to him.

"Yoh... this is the only true answer, you know that," Her words were as blunt as usual, but her voice was soft, more vulnerable than she usually let on.

"Anna, I—" Yoh stepped forward. With his hand still gripping the handle, the door opened wider to its full capacity. The newly expanded field of view made the shaman's heart drop. Just behind the swinging range of the door, Kagome stood there waiting. She cupped her hands together, eyed closed. Her embarrassed smile was accompanied by streaks of liquid pain racing down her cheeks.

"Yoh..." Her voice was watery as she repeated the words of their encounter in the closet. "It's okay...I know."

"We all know, Yoh," Anna agreed as she got to her feet. "There's no need to feel guilty."

Before either girl could speak again, Yoh lunged backward, swinging the door back and slamming it shut behind him.

After what he just witnessed, Yoh was almost hesitant to open the other two doors. But he was not one to allow apprehension rule him, so with forced determination spurred by curiosity, he quickly opened the door to left. This room was not an expanse of flowers like the first. By contrast, it was almost as dark as the hallway he stood in. He could only make out that the relative size of the room was small; about twice the size of a broom closet. A soft yellow spotlight illuminated the walls of the room: they were aged, rocky-colored cobblestone covered in reaching vines.

Yoh rubbed his eyes and squinted. It was strange. He had never seen this place before, and yet, it still felt familiar.

"Yoh..." Kagome's voice called softly. Not a moment later, her silhouette emerged from the darkness and stepped into the spotlight. She was sporting traditional Shinto priestess garments from the white haori down to her sandals. "Yoh..." She repeated his name as the arms that she hid behind her back mischievously moved to her front. Her long sleeves shifted as she held her arms out and presented her cupped hands to him. Delicately pink cherry blossom petals sat in an artistic pile in her hands. "I'm in love with you," She told him with a small smile.

A gust of wind suddenly bounded into the room. The blushing petals were blasted and scattered about before being carried away. The wind left and took the petals with it. Its force blew the door completely open, and similarly to before, Anna was waiting just behind it. This Anna could not bear to look at him. She averted her eyes as her shoulders stiffened and shrunk, trying to make herself disappear. "Don't look at me," the girl hissed bitterly.

"Yoh..." Kagome drew his attention again. "I'm in love with you...and you're in love with me. But these feelings are just like spring..."

His jaw clenched as he promptly closed that door. Even now, he was not prepared to agree with such a notion.

If he acknowledged Kagome's words, it would be the same as agreeing with his grandfather.

There was only one door left: the one on the right. There could only be one answer behind the last door: the answer that he brought from his heart in Tokyo to his grandfather in Izumo. Yoh's face hardened at the thought of his grandfather's words when he confessed how he felt about Kagome. 'My solution...was it truly that bad...?' He wondered as he grabbed the final doorknob and readily pushed through the entrance. There was no need for hesitation: fore this was the solution that he concluded on himself.

Beyond this door was...nothingness, emptiness.

There were no flowers, no maidens pining for his love.

After all of that thinking of what was best for him, Anna, and Kagome...Yoh told himself that it would be in their collective best interests for him to call off his engagement with Anna. He did not intend to disrespect Kagome, one of his best friends, by pursuing her as a rebound. Nor did he intend on further hurting Anna by taking another girl as her replacement. He thought it would be easier to take time to sort through his thoughts and feelings, free of the constraints of engagement. It's not that he would not feel any guilt or shame this way, but he just hoped that he would be to understand himself better.

Was he wrong...?

Was any answer truly correct?

How could there be a correct answer when all of them would hurt the people who he loved most, the people who he wanted to protect...?

'That's right...' The shaman confirmed as the images cleared away from his mind. No solution was perfect. No answer was easy. 'No matter what I do, even if I choose to take time to think things over, there's no avoiding hurting someone who I love.' And that further reminded him of something that he had almost forgotten. 'She doesn't make my heart go wild like Kagome, but...I still love Anna.'

"Yoh..." Kagome's lips curved downward and threatened to quake.

"Yes…?" The spirit beside her answered. He placed a hand on top of her hands. He knew that she was not speaking to him directly, but that did not stop him from feeling like he was responsible for her pain, just as he felt responsible for Anna's and his own.

"My chest...hurts so much…" She whispered in the darkness. "Thinking about you—It's hard to breathe. Yoh, I want to see you… But seeing you with Anna is more than I can bear…" Suddenly, Kagome gasped sharply and sprung up into a sitting position. She looked at the thin walls of her abode, as if she could see through them and called out softly, "Sesshomaru...are you there…?!" Her voice was hopeful, desperate.

The priestess sat up and waited… and waited…

But silence was the only answer that she received.

"Sesshomaru…" Kagome whispered. "Honestly… I know you're there. You've been with me all this time, haven't you?" She queried to the air. The only sound that resonated back was the crackling of the bonfire across the way. "I'm not sure if you're angry with me...but… For continuing to watch over me, thank you." She huffed a sigh through partially parted lips before smiling softly. "Well then, goodnight…" The girl slid back down to her side, circling up in fetal position, but this time, a small smile graced her lips…knowing that Sesshomaru was watching over her, but not knowing that Yoh was there too.

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

It was nearing noon when Yoh was, once again, sitting with his back against a riverside boulder. Kagome and Opacho had been hand-in-hand as they cheerfully marched towards their destination. The small girl's pursed lips were humming an ever-changing tune as her head bounced from side to side. Her adorable voice pulled Kagome in and the priestess hummed back at a lower volume. Upon arriving, Opacho, once again, stripped off her clothes and ran into the water as carefree as a child could be.

Kagome joined her after scrubbing, rinsing, and setting their clothes to dry in the sun. Yoh could only wait, with reddened cheeks, and an uncomfortable scowl. He was trying to drown out Kagome's sunny voice as she and Opacho frolicked in the waters, as nude as the day they were born. "Opacchan, no splashing! The water's so cold!" The priestess lightly chastised between giggles.

"Kagome-sama, you're only saying that because you can't keep up!" Opacho shot back in a playful, challenging voice before firing a rapid succession of light splashes that made Kagome squeal and cry out.

"Haha, Opacc—! Huh…?" Kagome suddenly sounded confused. "Did you...hear a voice just now…?" The priestess inquired, slow and unsure.

Yoh could imagine Opacho tilting her to the side like a kitten, "A voice…? I don't think so…"

"Ssh!" Kagome shushed and whispered. "Close your eyes and listen. I think...it's a child…"

"Hmmm…" Opacho closed her eyes and obeyed the priestess. The two girls stood in the water, silent and still as statues as they honed in on the voice. After a moment, the younger girl suddenly chirped, "Opacho heard it too, Kagome-sama! A child, just like me!"

"Yeah, and they're crying for help…!" Kagome's voice became urgent as she sloshed to the shore. "Let's go, Opacchan!" Her hurried voice called to her companion. The girls rushed over to their damp clothes but still threw them on. Yoh knew it was safe to look when the girls rushed by him in states of modesty. Kagome was carrying Opacho on her back as she dashed towards the camp.

Hao, sensing the familiar auras, immediately turned to greet them as they approached. Before he could get a word in, Kagome wrapped her arms around one of his and urged, "Hao, I need a ride!"

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

The Spirit of Fire landed somewhere in downtown Tokyo. Kagome immediately hopped off of its hand as soon as it was safe to do so. "You hear it too, right?!" The priestess tugged at the shaman's arm as she rushed towards a dark alleyway between two medium-sized businesses. "A child is calling for help!" In her state of near panic, she dragged a calm, amused Hao along. He merely allowed the girl to pull him along while he illuminated the way with a small fireball floating above his free hand.

It was midway through the alley that Kagome's powerwalk came to an abrupt stop. And it was then that Yoh heard a familiar, childish voice shriek from above, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Kagome looked up and gasped at the sight of a tiny form crashing towards the ground. It landed without a sound.

"A-A fox demon…?!" Kagome gaped. "It was this boy's voice that I heard calling out…?"

Shippo, who landed on his face, picked himself off the ground and looked up at Kagome. The child's fearful face had glistening eyes and watery lips. "W-who are you…?!" He shouted as the fur on his tail stiffened. "Are you with that creepy demon?!"

Kagome took a tentative step forward as she reassured the child, "My name is Kagome, and this is Hao. We heard you crying, so we came here to help you."

Shippo took a timid step back and examined the pair with suspicious eyes, "You're...a priestess. And he's...something else entirely. Why would you want to help a demon like me?"

Said priestess bent down on one knee to get closer to his level and held out her arm, "Because, if we don't help you, who will…?" She offered a soothing smile while tilting her head a bit, "So what do you say? Want to come with us…?"

The fox demon grunted. He looked behind him skittishly, then quickly back at Kagome's hand. "Erm…" he moaned nervously. "I-I guess, I—" his tiny foot lifted from the ground but his step turned into a swift swoosh as a dark tentacle darted from the left wall. The wiggly appendage wrapped around his ankle like a vice, writhed like a worm, then lifted the child up like a prize.

Kagome's mouth fell open and Hao remained stoic as they watched the mysterious entity slowly emerge from the wall. An entire set of dark, wiggling tentacles appeared, followed by a figure disguised behind a pristine, white baboon suit. The priestess' eyes widened when the spirit's mere presence cast a shadow even darker than night over the alley. Its voice chuckled nefariously, "How fortuitous for me. I came here searching for copper, but found gold."

The entity ignored Shippo's flailing and cries to release him and continued speaking, "I wasn't expecting to find you so soon, Priestess. But I'm so glad that I did."

Kagome's face hardened as her posture became defensive, "Who are you? And what do you want with us?!" She demanded as she began taking a step forward. But just like with Shippo, a tentacle shot forward. Yoh likened its speed to a bullet as his eyes could only perceive it when a barrier of fire erected in front of Kagome and burned the tendril to ashes.

From the tentacles to the shadow of darkness cast upon the surrounding area, Yoh knew that it was Naraku again. The demonic spirit's eerie chuckle almost made the disembodied shaman shiver as the otherwise silent spirit stared on from behind the pelt. Hao, however, was unfazed by the sinister demon. "How rude of you. My Lady here asked you a question," The shaman's usual easy-going smile became a chilling sneer. "Looks like I'll have to teach you some manners."

The arm that was once hosting the torch fireball rushed forward and from his palm, the small flame burst into a blazing pillar that roared down the alleyway. The entity froze for a split second, releasing its grip on the fox child who it dangled over its head. Just in the knick of time, Shippo disappeared into a pop of smoke.

Meanwhile, the baboon pelt instantly caught fire and was incinerated until nothing remained—nothing except for the maniacal cackling that suddenly resonated and bounced off the alley walls.

Yoh looked up, left, and right. His eyes and ears attempted to collaborate on pinpointing the crafty spirit's new location. The Kagome of the past beat him to punch as she glared down the alleyway, towards the back end that led out to an adjacent street. "Hold it right there!" She swiftly summoned her Crescent bow and shot a burst of spiritual energy towards Naraku.

She grunted when the entity effortlessly phased from its current position to another even further down the way. "I said hold it!" Kagome shot another blast towards the spirit, only for it to disappear and reappear in another position once again. The priestess growled, "He's too fast!" When the girl lifted her bow again, Hao's hand placed itself on top of hers and lowered it down. She instantly looked to him, "What's wron—?"

The shaman's face was back to its cheery exterior as he announced, "Don't fret, my little canary." His eyes then went back to the spirit who was fading away into the shadows. "You may not be fast enough to land a shot, but he still cowers before you." The priestess did not notice how his smile widened on one side into a smirk, "He's fleeing as we speak."

Kagome sighed, looking worried, but complying by allowing her bow to dematerialize. "That spirit...he knew me, somehow." The priestess blinked when Shippo appeared perched on her shoulder, "Oh, hey. It's you."

"It's Shippo," the boy corrected. "Kagome, right? Thank you for saving me from that demon."

"Well, that's what I promised," Kagome smiled. "So, what can you tell me about him…?"

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

Imagine the camp's collective surprise when Hao brought home another stray within less than a week, and a demonic spirit no less. Opacho was the first to greet the pair upon their return, and of course, the most ecstatic to see Shippo; she wholeheartedly welcomed the prospect of a child near her age. And Shippo, having had the time to calm down between his encounter with Naraku and arriving at his new home, was also eager to meet the girl. Upon seeing her smile, Shippo leaped off of Kagome's shoulder to meet her.

Kagome smiled at the small children warmly. Then she looked over to Hao as he squatted down next to the pair, placing one hand on each of their heads. "There's still some time before supper. How about you two go play while I talk with my Lady here?" He asked.

Opacho nodded obediently but still asked, high on her rush of excitement, "Hao-sama, on your next free day, will you play with us too~?"

"Mmhm!" Hao chuckled and stroked the girl's hair tenderly. "For sure. Now it's dark, so…" The sound of the shaman's voice faded to the background as Yoh turned his gaze to Kagome. Her smile was small, but genuinely touched. It was almost an uncomfortable sight for Yoh: Kagome happily watching Hao interact with the children. It resembled a scene of a wife watching her husband and children.

Aside from introducing Shippo to the rest of Hao's followers, the rest of the night went as normally as it could with this group. Despite being a spirit, the child quaked when he gazed up at the many, tall and brawny men that compromised of the crowd. He launched himself in Kagome's arms and trembled. The girl stroked his head and chuckled nervously when the spirit half-turned away from her chest to point at the men and shakily declare that he was a powerful demon and he wasn't scared of them.

The declaration was met with a collection of laughs, smiles, and knowing smirks. Despite the upcoming threat of Naraku's impending assault, Hao was in a playful mood. He summoned the Spirit of Fire before the fox child, who instantly paled as he gazed up at the behemoth. "Then," Hao smiled innocently, "you wouldn't mind showing my Spirit of Fire a trick or two, would you?" He asked. The shaman's smile widened when Shippo's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he passed out on the spot.

Kagome was quickly at the demon's side, "Shippo-chan, Shippo-chan! Are you okay?!" The snickers and chuckles from Hao and a few shamans amused by his actions were silenced into averted eyes and casual whistling by the priestess' glare.

That night Shippo rested in the same tent as Kagome. As a spirit, it was not that he slept in the physical sense, but even spirits had to rest as it consumed energy to manifest into forms that could be perceived, even by shamans. "Kagome…" the boy whispered her name as they lay on their sides, comfortably facing each other like they had known each other for years.

"...yeah…?" Said girl whispered back. "What's up, Shippo-chan?"

"...thanks so much...for helping me…" Shippo smiled, his features becoming softer as his eyes reflected a nostalgic emotion. "...it's weird. I know that I should be afraid of you. But, I feel like, being with you is as natural as the sky is blue."

Kagome nodded as her hand found the child's cheek, "I thought it was just me… I actually feel like I know you too, like I'm reuniting with an old friend." The child looked surprised for a moment, but soon, his smile widened. "Maybe, we were friends in our past lives. Wouldn't that be something?" She suggested playfully.

The fox child was more than pleased with the idea so he nodded and gave her fanged grin. He then open-mouth yawned before telling her, "I'm tired now, I'm going to rest now! Goodnight, Kagome!" He smiled once more before disappearing into the darkness.

"Goodnight, Shippo-chan…" The priestess whispered. She then sat upright and asked, "Sesshomaru, are you there…? Are you still angry…?" She waited for a moment, her face was calm but somewhat expecting. "...will...you only speak to me if I go back…?"

It was another night where the demon lord did not answer to his partner's calls. After a few minutes of speaking to dead air, Kagome deflated before plopping down onto her stomach. She closed her eyes and mumbled into the floor, "So stupid…" She lied there motionlessly… "Yeah... The one who truly stupid is…"

Her eyes closed...

"...me."

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

Yoh could only guess that the sun was high in the sky at this time. A system of dark clouds clustered together to bathe Tokyo in a gloomy gray hue. He could not discern if it was the lack of sunshine or a sixth sense nagging at Kagome that made her movements sluggish and demeanor openly dismal. When she was approached by Bill about what they should do about breakfast, she had to force a smile as she responded and sent him to work.

Even Hao silently eyed the priestess as she ate without the youthful vigor that she had when consuming delicious meals. When the shaman smiled and turned to face the girl next to him, Yoh thought he would use teasing or a snide remark to distract her from her thoughts as he usually did. But instead, Hao informed her in a creepily casual tone, "You know, lots of humans are dying right now. I can hear their fear... their very last thoughts." Kagome's gloomy face whitened like a sheet as her eyes widened. "They're being slaughtered like cattle as we speak."

Yoh was not fond particularly fond of humans, but he could not fathom how Hao could say such things, hear such things while maintaining that entertained smile of his. Kagome either did not notice or had no time to dwell on it as she shot to her feet. "Take me to him!" She demanded urgently. Her conclusion was founded: it was the work of Naraku.

The aerial view of downtown Tokyo was no easier to take in than the ground-view that Yoh had before. Buildings were crumbling and set ablaze. Streets were cracked, sunken in, or blocked by downed telephone poles and trees. Mutilated corpses littered the streets like common garbage. Many poor souls were even reduced to nothing but stains on the asphalt. "There's no way a mere spirit could wreak such havoc by itself, right…?!" The priestess questioned in disbelief as she took in the scene of horror.

"It's rare, but not unheard of," Hao answered. "Normally, spirits are unable to make contact with the physical world, which is why shamans are necessary to tie them to this world." He was not emotionally moved like his companion when he glanced down at the destructive state of the once vivacious city. "But there are exceptions to every rule, there are a few spirits whose feelings are powerful to affect this world." He then beamed while raising a finger, "But! Good news for you, this demon is definitely not one of them~"

Kagome did not seem uplifted by that prospect. "That means...this demon has found pawns to do its dirty work for it…" She surmised. "But who could possibly be this strong enough to—" The girl's breath caught in her breath as she spotted a scene that was familiar to Yoh down below.

She was peering over the Spirit of Fire's hand when she saw the fateful moment.

Bankotsu shielded Pirika with his body just before Naraku's tentacle could pierce through her chest. Blood spewed through the wound as the tentacle retracted. And his lifeless body fell to the ground with a thud that Yoh could not hear. Across the way, Ren also lied motionless on his back, beaten bloody.

Without a vocal command, the Spirit of Fire landed on the ground next to Pirika, startling the girl. But no amount of surprise or fear could move her from Bankotsu's side. She knelt down next to him, shaking his chest and screaming his name. The blunette only sucked up her tears when Kagome stepped down and stood next to her. "K-Kagome-nee-chan…?" Pirika's voice was weak and did not reflect the depths of her shock to see the priestess. "Where d..did—?!"

The weeping girl's voice hitched when Kagome placed a hand on her head, all without even looking down at her or the fallen Bankotsu at her feet. The priestess' eyes were set on the snickering entity before her.

"You came earlier than I anticipated, Priestess," Naraku's voice hissed. "No matter, thanks to your precious Shichinin's, I've consumed enough human souls to easily outmatch you."

"Kagome-nee-chan, you have to get out of here!" Pirika warned. "This demon is…" Her eyes watered up again as she looked down at Bankotsu's face, its vibrant tan was fading away. "Too strong…" She was hopeless, but unable to leave Bankotsu's side. Between her long bangs and misty eyes, Pirika could not see how Kagome's eyes lit up.

"It's alright, Pirika-chan… Just go to sleep now…" Kagome commanded calmly. Without even a chance to question or protest the priestess, Pirika stiffened before her eyes dulled. Not a moment later, the girl lurched forward and passed out into Bankotsu's cold chest. "It doesn't matter what happens to me…" the priestess whispered as the roaring vortex of her power whipped her hair about violently.

"All I know is that...no one else—" Those black tresses grew longer as the denim of her jeans stretched as it was filled with more mature curves. "NO ONE ELSE MUST DIE…!" Pure energy pulsed from her body. It swept across the area, bathing everything in a white light that pushed the past Yoh and others away just as they were arriving at the scene. The spirit Yoh's eyes widened as the shamans were swept away by the energy, like debris caught in a storm.

It was in this world that the one who brought Kagome back from the other dimension was Hao. The exchange behind him and Kagome's other half was not as nearly as cordial as it was when Yoh entered her domain. The entity seemed somewhat agitated by his blatant defiance of her warnings.

Moreover, this world's Kagome exhibited the same side effects as his own: the loss of feeling in her legs. By the time that pair re-entered this world, Ren, Pirika, and Bankotsu were long gone.

The only one waiting there for them was the spirit who the priestess longed to see.

"Sesshomaru!" The priestess was shocked to find her partner fully manifested. "What are you doing here?!"

"Priestess…" His eyes were as cool as ever as he responded, "I had my doubts." And there before her, Tenseiga, appeared. "However, you've proven that you're still worthy."

With Hao as her support, Kagome decisively swung Tenseiga, pulsing a blinding light throughout Tokyo and resurrecting the many humans who lost their lives that day...

But that was all that the girl could manage before losing consciousness again. But it was for the better, Yoh could only imagine her protesting the way that Hao held her tenderly as they returned to their camp. The sun and moon switched places in the sky a few times before she finally woke up. Kagome's first action was to hide her uneasiness as Shippo asked her if she was alright. She pulled a reassuring smile for the sake of Shippo and Opacho, who stormed into her tent as soon as they heard her groans of returning to the waking world.

There were a lot of whispers speculating about what was to become of Kagome now. The three young who were not so fond of her seemed unsympathetic. Matilda actually was grinning from the back of the crowd as Kanna failed at keeping a straight face. "There's no way Hao-sama would want to play with a broken doll, right?" Matilda snickered.

"Potential aside," Kanna commented cooly. "She's useless if she can't even stand on her own."

Marion nodded and stated, "Hao-sama would be better off choosing someone else as his wife."

However, the brief minutes of pondering about what would become of Kagome soon came to an end. Hao answered all of their questions when he stood up from her tent, with the blushing priestess in his arms. "Listen up, everyone," His voice was enough to hush the whispers. "I have an important errand to run, and it might take a few days." He briefly glanced down at Kagome's humiliated face and declared, "Remember that Kagome is still in charge in my absence. Make sure that she's comfortable."

Kagome was dangerously cute when she looked up at Hao with that embarrassed, vulnerable look on her face. "W-Where…" She averted her eyes. "Where are you taking me…?" She asked as the shaman carried her away from her tent. From the look on her face, there was no way that her heart was not pounding. Like loyal puppies, Opacho and Shippo were close behind at the back of Hao's knees.

"Nowhere far~" The shaman smiled as he stopped in front of his own tent. "Here we are."

The priestess looked confused as Hao ducked upon entering his personal quarters. He carefully set the girl down amongst a mound of surprisingly plump blankets and pillows. "Eh—I have my own place to sleep. Why did you bring me here?" She questioned as Hao stood back up and looked down at her with a satisfied smile, as if he was proud of his handiwork.

"I'm going to be gone for a while," He answered simply. "I don't want you to be lonely so I thought you'd like to be surrounded by my scent~" The statement made Kagome go beet red.

"A-as if…!" The priestess protested at the shaman's back. He merely chuckled as she called to him, "I'm serious! Don't leave me in here!" Hao did not comply with this request, he merely tossed a wave over his shoulder and went about his business.

It was only when Hao disappeared that Sesshomaru manifested once again, this time at his partner's side. Kagome smiled at the children at her sides. Similarly to how Hao did the day before, she placed her hands on their headss and stated, "I need to speak to Sesshomaru here privately. How about you two go play?"

Opacho nodded to her, just as she would to Hao, "Call me if you get lonely, Kagome-sama!" She then tugged on Shippo's hand, "Let's go, Shi-chan!"

"W-Wait! UWAH!" The small demon was no match for Opacho's excitement as he was dragged out of the tent and into the brisk air. "This is no time for play! I wanna be with Kagggoooooommeeee!" The priestess giggled upon hearing his whining and open dissent.

The girl then looked up at spirit with a faux glare and pout, "I was calling for you, you know."

"That I know, Priestess," Sesshomaru admitted with no remorse or shame. "However, I had more pressing matters to attend to." Kagome twitched at the statement.

"What's more important than talking to your partner?!" Kagome questioned incredulously.

"That boy—Hao," the demon lord said curtly. "I've been eying him. If I were to fully manifest in his presence, he surely would not show his true colors."

"You've been…" Kagome was surprised as she tried processing the information. "Watching Hao all this time?" She then tilted her head to the side, "Then... your doubts about me…?" she pressed.

"The company you keep matters not to me, if that is what you are thinking," Sesshomaru clarified, as blunt and cool as ever. "I questioned if you had the resolve to deal with the consequences of your own actions." The priestess nodded silently in understanding. "That very first day—you broke. And as one not of this world, it is not my place to fix you. I will only accept a partner who can pick up their own pieces."

"I understand…" Kagome's voice was now a whisper. She smiled gratefully, "You know, despite your doubts, you still stayed by my side and looked out for me. It means that part of you still believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself…"

Sesshomaru's face remained stoic overall, but Yoh did recognize a brief reflection of tenderness in his eyes. "So thank you…" The priestess said before asking, "So, what did you learn about Hao while you were playing watchdog?" The irritated glare from the demon lord made the priestess giggle, "Sorry, sorry!"

Nevertheless, he answered, "Hao—He disappears often when you are asleep. You know of his plans for humanity, but you do not fully grasp the depths of his depravity."

Kagome's hands, which were at her sides as she used them to prop herself upright, curled at the revelation. "...what…" She whispered. "What type of things has he done…?"

"You must witness his acts for yourself to truly understand," Sesshomaru answered. "I'm sure that you'll find out eventually." Golden eyes met blue just before he disappeared, "When that time comes, do not lose yourself again, Priestess."

Kagome nodded with a low grunt of assent. "I won't…" She vowed. "I'll face the consequences of my actions head-on, and I'll do it without losing my way." With that promise, she sighed and plopped down onto her back.

Yoh hummed, 'This world's Sesshomaru already knows what type of person Hao is…so I might be able to find out things about him if I watch him too…' He stood just outside of Hao's tent. 'Kagome will probably be fine here. They're a bit odd, but she still has friends that'll take care of her.' He thought while looking at Bill, Brocken, and Miroku playing cards nearby. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing his thought on the mental image of Hao's face, which became easier to not imagine as his own as time went on, 'Take me to him...to wherever Hao is right now…'

The familiar whirl of time and space rushed him forward. Like the acceleration of a hypercoaster, Yoh felt a sort of queasiness as his desire was fulfilled by his will. A few seconds later, he felt the Earth come to a standstill, the feeling of peace that signified his arrival. He opened his eyes and gasped.

Out of all of the places in the world, Yoh did not expect to find himself to be standing within a massive dome. He was no expert, but he was sure that he was no longer in Japan. From the immaculate concrete walls, to the ivory columns sculpted with exquisite finer details, to the aesthetics of the arches that punctuated certain areas, he was sure that he was at the center of a Roman coliseum. Being at the bottom of the arena made him feel so small: the rows of seats that circled the doom seemed to endlessly tower higher and higher. And when he looked straight up, the dome's gaping ceiling presented him with a sky full of stars. Yoh was in awe; the vast amount of glittering lights shone far brighter than the ones in Tokyo. 'Kagome and Manta would love this...!' He could not help but think.

Suddenly, a familiar trail of brunette hair following a cloak caught his peripheral. Hao just entered an obscured doorway at one of the far ends of the coliseum floor. Yoh quickly rushed after him, easily keeping his doppelganger in his sights with his ghostly floating. It was only when he was within arms' length of the doorway did Yoh notice that the entrance had once been sealed with a large, curved door made thick, black iron bars.

The door still stood strong, but there was a large hole straight through its center. Along the perimeter of the hole were incomplete iron bars. At their broken edges were pieces of metal that were warped like melted candle wax; their orange glow clued Yoh in on how Hao gained access. The shaman gulped, feeling uneasiness as a dark hallway greeted him. The pit in his stomach was only exacerbated by a sudden shrill scream.

The spirit swallowed the feeling and rushed into the darkness, following the sounds of more screams and cries as panic set in the inhabitants of the coliseum.

"Everyone, run!" "But master, our precious work!" "Forget them, your life is more important!" "He's coming!" "Mercy! Mercccccccccccccyyy!" "W-What do you want?!"

After making a series of twists and turns that he was sure to forget later, Yoh finally saw a faint glimpse of light ahead. He raced towards it, noting how the screams only became louder as he approached. Finally, Yoh turned into a doorway, another one that was blown through with flames. Inside was a spacious area with a ceiling so low that it was disproportionate to how far the walls were set apart.

Aged papers were strewn across the cement floor, some were trampled and others were singed at the edges. Countless bookshelves were tipped over to their sides at diagonal angles, all piled on top of each other like rows and rows of fallen dominos. Ragged tomes were haphazardly littering the area. Hungry flames crackled for more fuel as they crept towards the helpless collection of ancient books.

Men and women alike cowered beneath tables. Others quaked as they hid behind tables turned on their sides; some had enough courage to peer over the side to watch the scene unfolding. The elder of the librarians was caught flat on her butt. The woman was well into her years with loose skin but her eyes burned hotter than the flames that threatened to consume her haven. She glared defiantly up at Hao, who stood above her, smiling widely. She barked up at him, "Who do you think you are, barging into this ancient library and—?!"

"No need to be hostile," Hao told her sweetly. He squatted down next to her, a fireball in one hand. "I'm just here for some information. You're the ones who gave me such a rude welcome."

The older woman's eyes briefly flashed to a crisping corpse further down the room. She sneered at the shaman as her voice lowered, "You murdered one of my pupils because he refused to let you inside, and you have the nerve to call us hostile…?!"

"Ah," Hao's smile disappeared as he looked at the corpse, as if he just had a revelation or just remembered that he did it. "Yes, well—take that as a warning, yeah?" His smile returned as he tilted his head to the side. "You'll cooperate and tell me what I want to know…" his voice became an arctic blast. "Or I'll kill every single one of your pupils in front of you."

"You're a monster!" The woman roared despite her trembling shoulders. "I'll never help the lik—!" Her eyes widened at the horrid shrill of a man screaming. She turned her head to find that a librarian hidden behind a table had combusted into flames. His cohorts who hid with him split her eardrums with their cacophony of shrieks. The terrified libraries jumped away for fear of their own lives. "No! Get back down!" The elder librarian plead with them.

Hao sighed, hunching his shoulders if he was exasperated, "You still don't seem to understand the predicament you're in." He was no longer smiling, but looked calm as he proposed, "How about this? I'm going to count to sixty, and for every minute that you refuse to cooperate, I'll set another precious pupil on fire~?"

The woman's fierce expression became panicked and pleasing as she interjected, "P-Please! You don't understand! We all took solemn vows to never divulge any information from the sacred texts to any soul outside of our society!" She leaned closer to Hao's unmoved, blank stare with pleading eyes. "We swore a death oath!"

For a moment, the woman and Hao merely stared into each other's eyes. Her face was contorted with desperation, imploring for empathy. His face was stoic, blank, and almost bored as he seemingly mulled over her words. Suddenly, he was smiling once again, his eyes closed. "I understand…" before she could breathe a sigh of relief, Hao concluded in a cheerful tone, "You value your oath over the lives of your pupils~ So be it~"

Yoh flinched as a new voice broke out into agonizing screams. He forced himself out of the room as Hao proceeded to make good on his proposal. For what could have been a half-hour, the hallway outside the room was filled with cries, screams, begs, and the occasional amused chuckle. Hao sighed when he finally emerged from the room. He brushed some ash off of his cloak and muttered, "Looks like they took their death oath seriously…"

For the remainder of Hao's quest, Yoh was by his side. He originally shadowed his doppelganger intending to discover his true nature. The Hao that traveled the globe, raiding the world's oldest libraries, monasteries, shrines, and tombs, was indeed a much darker version of the one who openly pursued Kagome romantically. Sure, he carried the same superior aura and condescending smirk around with him...

But this side of Hao showed no empathy or compassion for the people he murdered. Whenever he was not given what he wanted immediately, his solution was a display of violence as a warning. And when anyone who remained defiant met an end that Yoh did not wish upon anyone. This Hao was nothing like the one who was openly fond of Opacho. How could they possibly be the same person?

Then again, this was the same person who manipulated Yoh and Kagome's past selves to ensure that they did not meet and reconcile… Between deceit and murder, there was no telling how far Hao would go to keep Kagome at his side.

When the shaman finally returned to his camp, almost a week had gone by, and Japan's morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. The bonfire had recently died, but the pending sunrise provided sufficient light to Hao. He easily walked around the snoring bodies of a few shamans who fell asleep in the open. With a smile, he dipped his head into his tent and found Kagome cozily slumbering beneath a blanket that he pilfered earlier that year. Opacho was snuggled into her right side.

Likewise, Shippo was at Kagome's left side, he looked bored as he lightly poked the priestess's cheek. He then looked up and nearly jumped out of his spiritual skin at the sudden intrusion. "Wah! H-Hao, you're back…!" He shrieked in surprise.

Hearing the child's voice, Kagome moaned and pushed her upper half up with her forearms. She rubbed her eyes then looked at Hao. Her dazed expression and sleepy voice melted Yoh on the spot. "O-Oh, Hao… You're back…" She yawned. "Good morning…" she greeted sweetly.

Hao seemed immune to Kagome's charm as his tanned cheeks remained their natural shade. But he did smile down at her as he spoke, "And good morning to you too, Kagome. I'm almost finished with my errand."

Kagome pouted and tried glaring at the shaman, grumpy and seemingly exhausted from whatever transpired the night before, "If you're not finished, why are you waking me up so early...?"

"My, my~ you're so testy in the morning~" Hao mused. "What happened to the Kagome who was used to waking up early just to train for the Shaman Fights?" He wondered while touching his cheek with a sigh. "Perhaps you're a spoiled princess already?"

"Oh, quiet," the girl yawned again. "I haven't been sleeping well is all…" She admitted softly.

The shaman stepped further into the makeshift structure and knelt down beside the half-awake priestess. "My apologies then," He said. His hand then nestled on her cheek as he whispered, "What if I said that I came back because I missed you? Would you forgive me for disturbing you?"

That statement alone was sufficient to cut through the fog in Kagome's sleepy mind. Her eyes widened as her cheeks flushed beneath the warmth of Hao's hand. She could only hold Hao's gaze for a moment before her eyes fell to her lap. "It's fine…!" Her words were rushed and breathy. "I'm awake now so it's no big deal…!"

Shippo's mortified voice suddenly spoke up, "You two aren't going to kiss, are you?!" Kagome's face became red as Hao chuckled at the child. "I'm standing right here, ya know!"

Hao's lips opened to answer but Kagome quickly covered them with one hand. Her embarrassed chuckle did not convince Shippo in the slightest, "O-of course not! Hao just has a fetish for cheeks!"

Shippo frowned, more perplexed than satiated, "...what's a...fetish…?"

Kagome blushed harder as her head dropped. She muttered, "Oh, great… I just made it more complicated." She then lifted her head again and smiled while waving her hand dismissively, "D-Don't worry about it, Shippo-chan! Just know that we wouldn't do that!"

When it came to Kagome and Opacho, Hao had the patience of the saint. The shaman lowered the priestess's hand from his mouth, but he did not release his hold on it. Instead, his fingers worked on fiddling with hers, lightly massaging, flexing, and caressing her slim digits. Instead of recoiling from the ministrations, Kagome fell quiet and became fixated on his serene face as he spoke, "Also, my dear Kagome… As lovely as your cheeks are, I prefer your hands to them…"

After each of her fingers were stretched out, the tips of Hao's fingers glided across hers with a butterfly-like touch. "Your hands are so perfect…" He interlaced their fingers and raised their married hands for the girl to behold. "Even your fingers are lovely, so delicate, but so strong." Hao was beaming, "Your hand... it's comfortable inside of mine, isn't it?"

The color in Kagome's cheeks cooled from burning red to pastel pink. But she was still breathless and stunned, unable to find her words in the face of sugary ones. The only thing that made the scene bearable was Shippo interrupting the moment by releasing a loud, retching sound while holding his stomach. Snapped from her stupor again, Kagome retracted her hand and held it inside of the other, protectively.

Hao was still smiling, but with an angry anime vein at his forehead.

Obviously, there would be no romancing the priestess in front of the fox demon.

"Well then, how about we get going?" Hao proposed while scooping the priestess into his arms.

"Wait—" Kagome seemed confused. "I'm going with you on this errand…? But why?"

Hao was shameless as he replied, "I told you that I missed you. Do you doubt that?"

Kagome's mouth opened, like she wanted there was something that she wanted to say. There was a doubt that she wanted to vocalize...but she dared not speak, not yet.

And so they went to what Hao thought would be his final destination: a long, lost monastery that few living souls knew the whereabouts of. Kagome was still not unaware of the atrocities that Hao performed to gain knowledge of the sacred grounds' location. And it seemed like he meant to keep it that way. Instead of the burning rampage that he clandestinely went on while he was alone, Hao was more composed and more...accomodating. He allowed Kagome to convince the head monk to tell them about the even more hushed existence of this monastery's brother. It was older, with fewer monks, no guards, thousands of kilometers from where they were.

And so they went, again. But after Kagome began exhibiting nastier, more painful side effects to her transformation: Hao changed how he approached his mission. By day, he searched for the answers alone and by night, he would hold the priestess after she fell asleep. He made her nights easier, more comfortable by feeding her waves of Furyoku, temporarily canceling out the effects of her condition. It went on this way for a week until Hao's more terrifying pillage gave him the answer that he finally sought after.

This time, Hao brought Kagome along for the ride, as he was finally sure that he found the answer. As he ascended the staircase with the priestess in his arms, he openly agreed to his demand, "Hao...Don't kill anyone." Despite Hao's usual compliance to Kagome's desires, Yoh was almost sure that he would slay the defiant monk when he refused to hand over the item that they sought.

But, the monk was fortunate that Kagome was there to bear witness.

Yoh hummed as he watched the scene unfold. That glow of Kagome's eyes: he had witnessed it before in one of his visions. It was the same power that she used on his past self, seemingly years down the line. Hao had more pep in his step as he walked away from the monastery with a beautiful girl and ancient scroll in his arms.

Hao could not stop his smile, earning nothing but huffs from Kagome. "Don't be that way," He told her as his grip on her body tightened, pulling her even closer. "That ability of yours," he smirked. "It's something that we can master."

---

Authoress' Notes: Soooooo, I had to just cut this off here because I realized that this chapter would be way too long if I included all of the events of this timeline that I want to. Again, this timeline is taking longer than anticipated. I think that I'll be finished with this timeline by the next chapter. But regardless, I hope you all enjoyed this installment~

Omg, I hope that the 2021 remake does not finish before I finish this fanfic! I'll be so embarrassed!

P.S: Fun with Grammarly and WordCheck: All of them insist on changing "Yoh" to "You" and "Opacho" to "Apache". I'm just like... "stop it!"