Summary: Kagome, Guardian of the Human Realm, was chosen to take part in the Exchange Program. Despite all she's endured, a bigger challenge is presented in the brothers she's stuck living with for the next year of her life. Her connection to them runs far deeper than anyone ever anticipated, and the lonely Miko can't help but feel at home among the seven brothers.

Pairing: Undecided.

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks are written in bulk Italics.

Prologue

Blue eyes scanned over the buildings on the street as she made her way down the familiar path. It'd been years since she last navigated her way down these streets, but with the aid of her senses, she had no worry about getting lost. In the distance, a large building was her destination.

The figures she passed on the street always turned to observe her. Whether it was interest or caution, Kagome couldn't will herself to pause and try to figure it out. When she made it to the black gates, a demon she'd become quite familiar with seemed to be there waiting to intercept her.

"It's a few minutes after when you said you'd be here, Lady Kagome," the green-eyed demon remarked. She paused in front of him as she nodded. "For a moment, I was starting to wonder if someone had bothered you."

She shook her head. "No, sorry, Barbatos," she responded. "Right before I left, something popped up back home and I had to see to it before I could leave so it couldn't get out of hand."

She'd tried to make up time by taking shortcuts, but it seemed she had been a little behind no matter what. Before she could say anything else, the demon smiled and shook his head.

"If that's the case, then there's not much that can be done about it, now can there?" he mused. "I'm merely relieved to see you've encountered no issues within the Devildom."

Kagome smiled and clasped her hands together, nodding in agreement. "I've seemed to encounter more problems in my own realm than I ever have here," she responded. Frankly, when she made that realization out loud, she wasn't quite sure how to feel, truthfully. She sighed and shook her head.

Oh well, what could you do?

"I can't even recall the last time I've been here," she mused out loud, tone switching to thoughtful as she tapped at her chin. It'd certainly been years ago, that much was true. "I have to say, this is really out of the blue," she eventually said with a faint laugh lining her words.

Barbatos nodded in agreement with her assessment. "It certainly has been quite some time since you've graced us with your presence, my Lady."

Kagome let her thoughts shift to the invitation she'd received. She reached into the pocket of her jeans to fish out the envelope she carried, a letter requesting her presence still tucked away inside. She looked at Barbatos curiously. "Normally he's clear about why he requests my presence," she stated. This time it was the opposite. It was a request for her to come. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing that eluded to what might come from their meeting. "Nothing's wrong, is there?" she asked as an afterthought, concern seeping into her voice.

The question made Barbatos smile. She certainly was a curious creature. He shook his head, and she sighed in relief. "I wouldn't call it that, no," he said. Kagome looked at him curiously, clearly hoping for an explanation of sorts before she was escorted to her meeting with the Prince of the Devildom. "There is something Lord Diavolo is quite interested in discussing with you."

His response made her perk up in interest.

"If you're ready, I'll escort you in."

Kagome nodded and moved to walk alongside him, accepting the offer readily.

000

The doors opened served as an announcement of her presence. She was waved in, and she stepped into the spacious room without hesitation. At the sight of her, the figure seated at the desk perked up and rose to his feet. He moved around the desk to come join her where she was with long strides.

"Lady Kagome!" Diavolo called to her cheerfully as he closed the space between them. "I'm so glad you agreed to come. I know it must've seemed so sudden," he said, referring to the abrupt invite.

Kagome smiled and shook her head in response. "A little, but it was welcome," she assured him. "At the very least, it's nice to see you again."

Truth be told, friend or not, she didn't often come to the Devildom unless he was the one to call for her. Given her status in the human realm, perhaps her just showing up at random wouldn't be the best, no matter her connection to the Devildom Prince.

He paused in front of her. Kagome, standing a a height of five feet, was dwarfed by his own frame. She reached his chest in height, a slender build shrouded by his shadow. Despite that, she was comfortable before him. He held a hand out, and she placed her much smaller one in his own. He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of her palm. She beamed up at him as he let her hand go, and she followed him when he waved her to follow him.

"I'm certainly curious as to the meaning behind this meeting, however," she remarked as she settled into a chair opposite his own. He looked at her face, watching the intrigue spark in brilliant blue eyes.

"Right, of course," Diavolo responded. "But before we get into that, I would like to get your opinion on something," he said. Sharper curiosity flashed in her eyes as she tilted her head to the side.

"What is it?" she asked.

"What do you think of creating a stronger link between the three realms?" he asked.

At first, the abrupt question took her aback. Her surprise bled through in her expression before she was able to reel it back under control. She was quiet for a few long seconds as she pondered the weight of those words. "... Why are you asking me this?" she asked, offering him a question in response to his own initially. "Before I give you my answer, I would like to know your reasons."

He smiled and nodded, seeming to expect her response. "Despite being a Priestess and a guardian to humans, you've created many unique bonds with several demons- myself included. Someone such as yourself is a wonderful example of how such a thing is possible."

She nodded at his explanation, able to understand why he'd posed the question to her when he saw her like that. She let her thoughts drift back to his prior question. "To strengthen the bond between the three realms…" Kagome mulled it over. "I can't say it's a bad idea," she said after a moment. He nodded, his aura revealing how pleased he was to hear her response. "If such a thing were to happen, one must go about it with caution." She paused and glanced at his face. "In comparison, those who live in the Human Realm are far more fragile than those of those in the Devildom or Celestial Realm."

"So…"

"With due diligence and care, such a thing might one day be within reach," she continued. "I won't say it's impossible." When she thought about it, it did sound a little nice. Her cautions held her back, however. "If I may ask," she began, pausing until he nodded for her to say what was on her mind. "What brought this idea about?"

"I would like to have the three realms be able to coexist," he said. "I believe I've got everything I needed sorted out to move forward with my plan, but the last thing I truly needed was to receive your thoughts on it. I felt like it was better done in person, so I waited until you were readily available for a visit."

Kagome nodded, crossing her legs and setting her hands in her lap. "I see," she responded. "What methods have you created to try and accomplish this?" she asked.

"Ah, yes!" Diavolo perked up at her question. Or maybe it was due to her not rejecting it altogether, she couldn't be sure. The eagerness in his aura was hard to read at first. "I plan to have an exchange program take place, and have two humans and two angels come join the Devildom for a year, while having two demons each do the same in each realm," he explained.

Kagome nodded. "To strengthen our understanding of each other," she stated, and he nodded.

"It would be a start to it, at least," he responded. "The Celestial Realm has agreed to it. As the Guardian of the Human Realm, before I progress with this, I would like your blessing."

Kagome met his amber gaze, observing him with a keen eye. She lifted a hand to grip the pink jewel tied around her neck, sighing as she thought the idea over, weighing the options and potential hazards that might come with it. He waited for her answer. His curiosity about her eventual answer was apparent in his aura, but he didn't move to rush her response. A few minutes easily passed before she let her eyes open. She met his stare as she let her hand drop back to join her other in her lap.

"I will accept on one condition," she eventually said. Diavolo nodded, ready to hear it. "Select the humans you bring with caution," she said. "There are plenty of humans who are unable to withstand exposure to this realm."

"You have nothing to worry about, I assure you," he responded, a broad grin on his face. "They've already been chosen, as it is!"

Kagome looked at him curiously. "Oh? They have? Who are they?" she asked, eager to know more. He looked at her, and realization struck. Her eyes went wide.

"You, yourself, are one of them," he stated proudly.

"I can't believe you did this," she responded, her tone flat. He gave a hearty laugh at her response. "Who's the other human, then?" she asked.

"Solomon," he responded. The name was familiar, and she nodded. She was more than familiar with the sorcerer, and she hid the annoyance that flashed through her eyes. It was only a year- she could do it.

It was too late to change her mind, anyway.

Her acceptance before was also counted as her accepting her role in the program.

Auroua-chan: I'm gonna leave this off here.

Pairing suggestions are more than welcome!

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting, but if not sorry.

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Bye for now~