The Boy Who Awakened

And the Girl Who Was Spirited Away

This was not how Manta expected to spend an entire week of their trip to Izumo. The travel guides and encyclopedias that he packed remained packed in his suitcase. He had no use for them. Sure, he and Ryu could have gone ahead and seen the sights and experienced the town. But because of Kagome's and Yoh's uncanny collapses, they didn't have merriment in them. They just weren't the type of people.

In spite of Ryu's reassuring smiles and usual gusto, Manta knew that he was just as worried about their friends as everyone else. But with Tamao's face permanently wrought with concern and gloom and Anna's newly developed silence and introversion, Ryu was unable to express his own woes.

Manta could tell that the older teen put up a confident face for the sake of balancing the air around the Asakura manor. Even Amidamaru and Tokageroh were unable to hide their troubles. The spirits restricted their whispers to private councils with each other, but Manta happened upon snippets of their discussion on the way to the closest bathroom one night.

"Kagome-chan…" Manta whispered to her face. "Please wake up soon. We need you, both of you." The hands on his lap curled tight. 'Asakura-san said that there was no point taking you to a hospital because your collapse is spiritual, but… How? Where did you two go?' The sound of his own thoughts drowned out the heavy thuds that approached. He was only snapped from his stupor when the sliding door rushed open and he heard a familiar voice.

"Kagome!" Yoh called into the room. "Ah—Manta…" The blond expressed his own surprise with a cry of "Yoh-kun!". The brunette blinked then looked beyond his friend to the priestess lying unconscious on her futon. "She...hasn't made it back yet."

"Made it back yet…?" Manta echoed as he got to his feet and met Yoh halfway. "What do you mean?"

Yoh shook his head, "It's a long story but we went to see Kagome's other half."

Manta stiffened, his face showing shock and unease, "You mean the scary goddess Kagome?!"

"Mm," The Asakura confirmed with a nod. The calendar in his room told him that he was a week behind schedule so he knew he'd have to save further explanations for later. Yoh noted the rises and falls of Kagome's check before sighing. "Manta, is my grandpa around…?"

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

When Tamao first entered the living room a half-hour ago, the television was already set to a news station. The sole occupant of the room was Anna; thus, Tamao didn't have the nerve to ask if she could switch to a more entertaining channel. After Ryu insisted on taking over her chores and a lack of training orders from Yohmei, she didn't have much to do outside of tending to Kagome and Yoh. So she resigned herself to practicing using her kokkuri board.

"Reports that the mysterious phenomenon that's been sweeping nations across the globe has finally reached Japan. All eighty-thousand residents of Nikko city in the Tochigi prefecture have mysteriously vanis—"

"Ah?!" Tamao shocked gasp and thoughts overpowered the blaring of the TV. For a moment, she stared down at the divination that she received. "Yoh-sama…" the Asakura's name on her breath caught Anna's attention. "...has awakened…!" She looked towards the itako and caught her gaze, both in silent agreement.

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

Sango understood why he felt so antsy; she truly did. But there was something particularly irritating about the way Ren was tapping his foot beneath the dining room table. For the past week, his face was fixed into a sour expression. But just as Kagome once told her, Ren had undergone a metamorphosis. Despite his apparent inner turmoil, not once did he snap or allow himself to take his frustrations out on the people around him. He practiced an impressive measure of self-control, even with HoroHoro's constant jabs and borderline obnoxious volume.

Sango respected it so much that she opted out of telling him how much his anxious foot-tapping got under her skin. It was a combination of her respect and empathy that she refrained. It had been a week since Kagome last mailed anyone. The last message that she left in the group chat that she shared with the Tao's was a picture of how large her guest room at Asakura manor was. It was sent while they were having supper so no one responded right away.

"It's large. I'll give you that, but it doesn't have the flare and personality of your room here." Was Jun's response later.

When Sango saw it, she had to respond, "Jun, this isn't a competition."

"I agree. There's no competing with Tao hospitality," Jun accentuated her rebuttal with a gif of herself in chibi avatar form, chuckling behind her fan.

Sango responded with a gif of her chibi avatar sweat dropping, "You're impossible, Jun…"

Sango suspected that Kagome would have gotten a hearty laugh from their banter. She was especially fond of using the customized gifs of her avatar, so much that she coerced the Tao's in making their own. But alas, the priestess didn't respond to those messages; she didn't even open them. Initially, Sango chalked the inattentiveness to her phone to being busy with her trip to Izumo, a venture that had Kagome's eyes sparkling days prior. Hell, she was even slow to respond when she was packing the day prior to her departure.

Sango would be lying if she didn't say that she didn't religiously check her phone several times those first few days. But unlike Ren, whose scowl seemed to deepen every time he looked at his phone, she figured that Kagome was just busy and went about her day. However, it was on the fourth day that her younger cousin's anxiousness crept under her skin. It was a curse beneath his breath as he concluded his morning training that planted the seed of apprehension in her.

It had been over a week now.

So Sango commended Ren for his patience.

If he had been the same person as before, she was sure he would have stormed to Izumo by now.

That—or he would have been blown up at the blunette at his side days ago.

And it wasn't that HoroHoro had malintent or ill will towards Ren. No. Sango could tell that he had a positive nature. But he was a dangerous combination of bluntness and ineptness at reading the room. As the Tao's, Bailong, and the Usui siblings gathered and dined around the table, HoroHoro hummed thoughtfully. His eyes were closed as he mulled through his thoughts. "So Kagome-chan still hasn't responded to your texts," He muttered, unaware of how Ren twitched into a stiff pose next to him.

Pirika, who sat directly across from her brother, threw him an undetected admonishing look. "She's pretty clumsy so maybe she lost her phone again," HoroHoro deduced before opening his eyes. Pirika and the Tao girls breathed inaudible, relieved sighs at his theory. But their ease was short-lived. "Or maybe she got with Yoh and forgo—OUCH!" He lurched in pain before bringing his leg up for inspection after receiving a swift kick to the shin from his sister.

"Onii-chan, you're such an idiot…" Pirika murmured with a huffy pout.

Despite his pensive air, Ren was still very much aware of his surroundings. He caught onto every sympathetic look that Pirika and his sister gave him. He knew how agitated Sango was with his uncontrollable, incessant tapping. And he definitely understood that HoroHoro was trying to comfort him. "That's not it," He finally mumbled as he refilled his bowl. "No matter what, even if she and Yoh did become a couple, Kagome wouldn't forget about us."

"Ren is right," Sango concurred. She placed her chopsticks down and looked to her younger cousin. "What do you want to do? Should we pay a visit to the Asakura's in Izumo?"

The Tao scion was silent for a moment as all eyes went to him.

He would have to become used to these pressing, curious expressions: eyes looking to him for approval and guidance.

He was sure that everyone knew that he had been tempted to seek out the priestess since her third day of silence. But he had to be rational, cool. The last thing he wanted to do was make a fool of himself by crashing her vacation. But that was how he stopped himself days ago…

Now, he was finding it increasingly difficult not to imagine the worst-case scenario.

"We'll give her until tomorrow morning," Ren decided aloud. "If we hear nothing from Kagome, we head to Izumi right away."

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

The silence between them was as thin as morning mist. Kagome knew that she could break it at any time. But she opted not to. It was the least that she could do for her: Kagome the Power. After existing and guarding her memories and powers for many millennia, she deserved to take her time. So Kagome the Heart indulged her other side's invitation to join her for tea.

The two sides sat parallel to each other in the brilliant world that belonged to them alone. Above them was the bluest, clearest sky and below them, the greenest grass cushioned the ground. The furniture constructed of twisting and curling vines made Kagome feel like she was in a fairytale land. She sat her emptied, porcelain cup atop the heart-shaped coaster. Kagome the Power mirrored her movement.

The ghost of a smile was on the Power's face as their eyes met, "I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Kagome nodded, her eyes softening as she smiled, "I know. I'm sorry for making you wait."

"There is no need," Kagome the Power responded simply. "This was my sole purpose—to protect you by being the detached, unfeeling portion. The power, and nothing else."

Kagome the Heart shook her head negatively, "But it doesn't work that way, does it?"

Both Kagome's spoke simultaneously, "My heart is power, and my power is my heart."

"That's why," the Heart insisted, leaning forward slightly, "Even you...became tired."

"Mm…" The Power confirmed softly. "Just as I told you and Alpha, in the seventh world, I showed you your past lives because I had hope…" Her eyes hazed over as she finished, "And I'm showing you this time because I have none."

The Heart nodded solemnly, "I understand. This time…" her eyes dropped to the thin pool of tea remaining at the bottom of her cup. "...is the last chance." After experiencing the effects of using a portion of her power, there was no way that she wasn't afraid of what was about to happen. But now, there was no room for any more fear. She had to step up and take grasp of her responsibility.

When the backdrop of the beautiful world was smeared with inky blackness, Kagome knew that it was time. The Power was ready, so she had to be. The priestess closed the short distance between herself and her other half. The Power silently raised her hand from her side and held up her open palm. The Heart followed suit and placed her smaller palm against her other half's.

Their eyes closed as their fingers interlaced.

"Kagome the Heart, after integration, I'll cease to exist," The Power informed her. "Once I'm gone, you'll have no safety net to fall into."

The priestess whispered, "I know…"

"Remember, no matter what happens…" The Heart could feel the Power's fingers tighten, almost comfortingly. "You have to hold it together."

It wasn't a ginger, gentle integration.

Kagome's soul pulsed as it was set aflame.

Like she was jolted by a legion of ungodly lightning bolts.

Her eyes widened and her mouth snapped open.

It wasn't just the handful of worlds that she and Yoh were allowed to see.

As she and the power became one, countless images flashed in her mind.

And just before she felt that presence dissolve completely, the Heart's eyes teared up as she felt her other side's true feelings.

She could hear them.

The Power's final thoughts.

'My only regret…' The Power's voice whispered from within. '...is that he never knew.'

And that he was none other than Shichinin Bankotsu.

Their collective memories raced by like a movie on fast forward, a hurried slideshow.

But the cuts of Bankotsu were allowed to play slower, delicately and preciously.

The Power savored those moments.

The Heart could see it: their final meeting.

Bankotsu was trailing behind the Power as she strolled along a narrowing strip of land. She stopped just short of the edge of the towering steepness of the cliff. Her bangs swayed in the passing breeze as her eyes took in the view of a sparkling lake amidst a sea of trees below. "Shichinin Bankotsu…" She spoke in her usual cadence. "This is the second time that I told you this, but...I wished to see you, one last time."

"Yeah," He snickered while taking a spot at her side. "But look what happened the last time you thought it'd be our last meeting."

Bankotsu winced when Kagome turned her head and inquired with genuine curiosity, "Is there humor in the collapse of a soul and the destruction of the Earth?"

"Ah—" He scratched his cheek, "Not really. I just don't like when things are too serious."

"I see," The Power said without blinking like the Heart would. "It is a pacifying behavior."

Bankotsu's smirk was defeated but amused, "I guess it is. You read me pretty well."

"That's because…" Kagome's eyes returned to the gradient colors of the horizon. "I've known you for a long time." Her voice weakened. "Through every smile,"

Every world that was born resounded with laughter.

", after every argument,"

Every world that was born was a melting pot of thoughts, a constant clash between lifeforms.

"through all the tears…"

And every world that was born saw love and pain.

"Even though no one could see me, I've been here, all along," Kagome told him as she mulled over her entire existence.

"You mean," Bankotsu's hand easily cupped around hers. "You've been here, all alone."

Unable to ignore the contact, she turned and faced him. "Your assessment isn't wrong, but do not labor under a misunderstanding," the Power told him coolly. "I've been alone, but I'm not the Heart. I'm not capable of feeling lonely."

Bankotsu blinked, a fleeting flash of surprise on his face. But it was brief, as he quickly recovered and gave her a crooked smirk, reflecting a benevolent emotion couldn't name at that moment. But as she rewatched the scene as she was being consumed by the Heart, the Power realized that it was sympathy.

"You're the one laboring under a misunderstanding," He countered, brows furrowed. "You may not be Kagome the Heart, but you're still part of her." Bankotsu then broke out into a wide, toothy grin. "If you didn't have feelings, you wouldn't want to see me, would you?"

"Bankotsu," the casual utterance of his name broke his cheeky smile. "This is it. The last world," Kagome reiterated. "Your chance to live. Take this opportunity to chase true happiness."

For a moment, he allowed her words to sink in.

"...do you…" His grip on her hands tightened. "...think I truly don't stand a chance?"

"I could tell you how many iterations of Higurashi Kagome the Heart became smitten with you compared to how many didnt," the Power answered. "...but is that statistic truly something you want to know?"

Bankotsu then chuckled while raising a hand to scratch behind his head, "Guess not. It's my last chance at life. I'd hate to spoil the ending."

"Yes...no human should bear such a burden on their mind," The Power whispered as she slid her hand out of Bankotsu's. "That's why…" She placed two fingers on his forehead. "Just the feelings are enough. Your memories should rest now."

And with that, Kagome the Heart watched as Bankotsu's eyes dulled before he collapsed.

'Shichinin Bankotsu, I realize now, that every time the world was reborn, I looked forward to seeing you again.' The memory faded with the Power's closing thoughts, 'I'm grateful.'

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

Neither the impenetrable void nor the ghostly wails of wind instilled feelings of trepidation from Asakura Yoh. His face was as stony as the gaping cavern as he stared into the mouth that beckoned him inside. Destiny awaited, and he kept it waiting long enough. The heir and head Asakura stood side by side before Yomi Cave nestled in a lonely crevice at the end of the Shimane Peninsula.

Finding his way through this labyrinth was the trial that his grandfather gave him: one that would raise his Furyoku greatly when he succeeded. Yes. When. With his final shot at advancing from the Shaman Fight preliminaries arriving soon, Yoh didn't have the luxury of hypotheticals. And even if he did, he was never one for dreading over the future and uncertainties.

"Seven days, huh…?" Yoh asked himself beneath his breath. He looked to his grandfather. "And Kagome?"

Yohmei's face was calm but firm as he informed, "You have my word that she is under my protection."

The heir nodded with a relaxed smile, "Mm. Thank you, Grandpa."

He was only able to manage this smile because of the lengthy discussion that they shared as they ventured to the cave. With his match against Ren arriving soon and his grandfather's initial disapproval, Yoh had no intentions of mentioning his feelings for Kagome up so soon. However, it was as the pair were climbing an incline that Yohmei broke the silence between them.

"Higurashi Kagome...she's a target of much suspicion," The Asakura head told his successor. Yoh's face hardened but betrayed no surprise. "There's at least one informant with eyes on her, spreading both classified information and rumors."

"What type of rumors?" Yoh queried. "What could anyone possibly suspect Kagome of?"

Yohmei paused for a moment, briefly wondering if Yoh was ready to learn the truth about Asakura Hao. But just a glimpse of his grandson's face gave him the answer that he needed. Higurashi Kagome was someone so special that his goofy, slacker of an heir made such intense, fierce faces for. Yoh was still Yoh, as cool as the sea. But Kagome's welfare stirred up a rare turbulence behind his eyes that Yohmei had never seen before.

That was enough for him.

"Higurashi Kagome is suspected to be the chosen bride of a heinous criminal…" Yohmei responded. "Asakura Hao, the stain on the Asakura clan's history."

It was then that Yohmei revealed the secret of Asakura Hao and his connection to Yoh. But unbeknownst to Yohmei, his grandson was fully aware of Hao, their connection, his past crimes, and his future intentions. In fact, Yoh was sure that he was one of the select few people alive who knew of the true secrets of the world they lived in.

When he initially awakened from his comatose state, everything was a blur. It felt like he had been sleeping for thousands of years. There was a rush of intense nausea accompanied by frightening confusion. His mind struggled to remember where or when he was.

But then things came flooding back.

From his arrival to Izumo, to confronting his grandfather, to chasing Kagome, to the truth from Kagome's other half. All of those memories came back and hit him like a ton of bricks. He almost thought that it was nothing but a dream until he rushed to see Kagome and found her still away from her body.

Yoh's memories were garbled and his mind was like a shaken jar of hornets.

From the blanks in his memory to the snippets that he could clearly recall, all signs pointed to Kagome's other half sealing away his knowledge of the majority of the other worlds. Before his spirit was tossed back into his body, he recollected the bits and pieces of the Power's final words to him.

[ "Alpha… Your feelings alone are enough." ]

And she was right. Yoh didn't need the weight of hundreds of worlds on his mind. He had no use for memories of dead worlds. Because such knowledge would be much too heavy. Such information of what could be would cloud his mind and unnerve him.

Those were feelings that Yoh wasn't comfortable with.

Memories of the original world were enough. The image of Kagome pouring out her heart and soul to him was enough. He didn't need to know how many worlds had come to pass. The feelings that he built between the first time he met Kagome and now were all that he needed.

Yoh's fingers curled at his side as he stared towards the obscured depths of Yomi cave.

'That's right,' He confirmed as he took a step forward, his foot disappearing into the darkness. 'My feelings alone are enough. Because in the end...my power is my feelings.'

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

"Yohmei-sama and Yoh-sama are out," Tamao told herself as she began her divination with her kokkuri board. "So I have to be diligent and protect Kagome-san while they're away." That was how she rationalized her anxious motions. Her coin dragged along the characters as her guardian ghosts spelled out a message. "Be…" She whispered. "Alert."

Her eyes widened.

"Something is…"

But the coin continued its movements.

"...amiss."

Tamao's gasp was sharp as she sensed a sudden burst of spiritual energy. It was abrupt and powerful and made her heart skip a beat, like cannon fire in the dead of night. She stumbled to her feet and bolted out of her room.

[ Sssssssss]

Its form was muscular and spiraling as it coiled and crept along an expanse of bark. It was its mistress' eyes and ears. Its hiss was inaudible to the occupants of the commodious manor. Even the young girl with bubblegum-pink hair didn't detect its presence as she bounded along the engawa and passed the tree where its scaly body settled.

Its spying eyes glowed crimson, mirroring its young priestess' eyes.

Both Mistress and Shikigami watched as the panicked Tamao skidded to a stop in front of Kagome's door. Her posture was tense with fear. Beams of bright silver light poured the cracks above and beneath the frame. Her hand raised with apprehension, "K-Kagome-san…?" Her hand shook as it took position. Some weight lifted from her chest when the light receded until it was no more.

'I-I have to be brave…!' She told herself. 'For Yoh-sama's sake!'

Tamao slid the door open and gasped.

Kagome's futon and belongings were haphazardly laying out of their usual positions.

But even more uncanny was the sea of ebony locks that carpeted the room.

For a moment, Tamao was stunned but the next, her eyes landed on the crown of the priestess' head. Her sights lowered and took in how Kagome's bangs now draped down to her nose. And indeed, the dark tresses that threatened to spill out into the hallway and curled along the edges of the walls originated from the inert priestess.

In her state of disbelief, Tamao didn't hear the approach of the other teens behind her. "Wah!" Manta suddenly cried out, his eyes bulging. "I-Is all of that really hair?!"

"What does it look like?" Anna snipped while pushing through the crowd and into the room. One look at Kagome and the itako stated, "I figured that burst of spiritual energy meant that she returned. But it looks like she needs some help." Her eyes flashed to the demon lord, who manifested near Kagome's body. "I assume that you'll be the one escorting her back."

Sesshomaru didn't indulge the itako with a verbal response.

He merely turned his back and faded away.

"The nerve," Anna placed a hand on her hip. "Someone definitely thinks highly of himself."

"Look who's talking…" Manta mumbled, stiffening and holding his hands up when the blonde girl glared down at him.

Ryu finally stepped into the room, recoiling when he realized that his foot landed on some of Kagome's hair. "This is unreal," He remarked before looking around at the other faces. "What should we do? Kagome-sama would freak out if she woke up like this."

"Tsk, you'll do nothing," Anna told him as she herded Ryu and Manta out of the room. "Tamao," she looked at the timid girl, causing her to squirm and squeak out a "Y-Yes, Anna-sama?". "Hair scissors. Do we have some?"

"Y-Yes!" Tamao confirmed. "H-how many would you like?"

"Two," Anna replied. "You're going to help."

The teens dispersed and got to work, unaware of the dark priestess who smirked at her findings. "So Yohmei is out at the moment, this'll be easier than expected."

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

The sun had set hours ago, but Yohmei pressed on. With Yoh undergoing the week trial in Yomi Cave and his resolve to protect Higurashi Kagome, he was determined to return home before the night ended. As he retraced his steps in the opposite direction, his thoughts were swimming with the onslaught of recent developments.

The circumstances were fresh in his mind.

The glossy layer over Kagome's shattered eyes when she overheard his disapproval.

The silent fury in Yoh's eyes before he chased after her.

The hardened, wary eyes of the other shaman family heads.

The mysterious flicker of recognition in Yoh's eyes as he listened to the story of Hao.

So many thoughts plagued Yohmei's mind.

'Something's coming!' His senses screamed at him as he suddenly halted mid-step on the desolate forest path. A few moments later, a familiar figure flew within the dome of illumination provided by his torch. A paper dove wrapped in a purple aura flapped its wings and hovered mid-air. "You're Yamato-san's shikigami," he spoke to the paper bird.

The purple aura then faded and the bird fell to his feet motionless.

Yohmei stooped over and picked up the messenger. He unfolded the flaps and opened the letter. His eyes skimmed the handwritten characters then hardened. "Another conference about Kagome, huh…?" He muttered then sighed. The letter informed him that his presence was urgently needed. 'Those youngsters should provide ample protection while I'm away.'

And it was during the dead of night when they came.

A hazy purple aura blanketed the Asakura manor airs like a sheet of fog.

It was a harmless, deep-sleep technique.

They came and went like the wind, taking Higurashi Kagome with them.

Authoress' Notes: This is the shortest chapter I've posted in a long time, or maybe ever in this fic! But oh well! It's a transition chapter!

Also, cami, thank you for your encouragement! No worries! I'm only torn over the winning ship because after I rewrote this fic, re-read it a billion times (yes, I re-read it and still haven't fixed all of these typos, lol), thought about the ending (again, the ending will be the ending regardless of the ship), I realized that with so much content left, Idk how each relationship dynamic will change (or stagnate). So, yeah. You guys are free to express your opinions on the ships! I'm only torn because I went for the harem route and wrote myself into a "Huh… There's perks to each. Which is best?! Ahhhhh!" situation.

Jane, I know! These heavy chapters are rough to write so I can't imagine reading them! I'm sure most of us miss the light-hearted moments but no worrries! Without spoilers, we'll be seeing some light-hearted scenes and RenxKag in the very near future! Granted, there will still be some angst x_x But I try to make the progression of the atmosphere as realistic as I can so bear with me!