Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

The plot/romance will finally begin, but don't expect any rushed romance.

Year 1990

November 1st

Winter came early this year, earlier than anyone expected, and with it, frozen white flakes soon covered the grounds surrounding Omori Junior High School. The snow fell since early morning, and while it came as a surprise to Souta and his mother, it was clear from the news the accumulation would continue until late evening and into the rest of the week.

Releasing a troubled sigh, Souta found himself distracted by the lecture in class, staring blankly out the second-floor window of his classroom. For nearly five months, his sister had yet to return from that world beyond the Goshinboku Tree, in fact, the strange magic which surrounded the tree had long since vanished.

Back in early June, Souta recalled how he and his grandfather had prayed to the spirits surrounding the Goshinboku Tree to return Kagome, and while Souta had his doubts it would work, the magic which once surrounded the tree returned, and they heard Kagome's voice. Whatever that magic was, Souta couldn't be certain, but when he saw that terrifying demon attacking his sister, he feared the worst.

By incredible luck, he and his family had pulled Kagome safely from that terrifying world, and although their time together had been short, they learned something interesting; that world beyond the Goshinboku was strange. It wasn't clear to Kagome if it was or wasn't the Warring States Era or a different dimension of the past, but one thing was certain; the world there was inhabited by demons.

Despite this worrisome information, it was completely impossible to connect a world filled with demons to their world, and that their tree could somehow create some type of portal, led Souta to believe it was another dimension in time; that was the only reasonable explanation that made sense to him. Demons only existed in folklore, and he was positive there was no documented history concerning demonic creatures, at least not any he'd come across.

I made a promise. I promised Kagome I'd bring her back if she didn't return, but I haven't come up with any solution.

If it was fate which led Kagome to transverse through another world, then why? Why did it happen? Why her? Why did it have to happen at their family's shrine? The thought irritated him, and he brushed a hand through his bangs. Surely there had to be a way to bring his sister back, but with the magic no longer surrounding the tree, he'd failed multiple times over the months.

The sound of something slapping against a desk immediately drew him from his reverie, and, startled, he swiftly turned his head to the front of the room. To his mortification, the students were all staring at him, some even turned halfway in their seats while others giggled with amusement. From behind him, he heard his two friends, Yoshito and Hitomu, snickering, and he felt his face heat from embarrassment.

"Higurashi, I called for you, not only once, but several times. Would you like to share with the class what's more important than my lesson?" Professor Azuma inquired; an inquisitive brow raised as he tapped his ruler against his desk impatiently.

His chair squeaked loudly as he quickly moved to stand before the entire class, both hands planted firmly upon his desk, and he was sure his expression spoke volumes of embarrassment. "No, sir!" He quickly apologized.

"He misses his sister!" Someone shouted.

Visibly flinching by the announcement, Souta's head turned quickly behind him, realizing Yoshito had shouted it, snickering together with Hitomu, and he shot them an accusatory glare.

"Yeah, Souta has a sister complex!" Hitomu teased, causing a chorus of laughter within the room soon after, the likes of which Mr. Azuma quieted with his ruler.

"I do not have a sister complex!" Souta retorted with mortification, his eyes turning swiftly to the teacher as he tried to explain the reason for his inability to pay attention during the lecture. "Mr. Azuma, I—"

"Regardless if it's a complex or not, be sure to keep your personal feelings at home before attending my class, Higurashi," He reprimanded before closing his text book and placing it upon his desk before approaching the chalkboard, tapping it with his ruler like always. "Everything that I've covered today will be on the exam Monday, and I expect every one of you to pass. Be sure to copy the notes and cover chapters eight through eleven in your books. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Azuma," The class replied.

"Then, I'll see you all on Monday. Be careful on your way home and good luck with your studies," He explained just as the bell rang, signaling the end of classes.

While Mr. Azuma gathered his papers and books from the desk, Souta dropped into his chair, defeated and utterly annoyed by his friends. "It's not a complex…" He mumbled, reaching for his backpack and shoving his notebook, binder and textbook inside. Before he could leave his desk irritably, Yoshito called out to him.

"Hold up, Souta. I forgot to write the notes. I'll only be a few minutes."

"Not surprised you weren't paying attention…" Souta replied, pausing shortly as he watched Yoshito copy the notes, his penmanship sloppy but legible.

"What's with the attitude? Don't tell me you're upset?" Hitomu inquired, chuckling at his friend's suspense despite Souta's annoyance. "It was just a joke, Souta. Take it easy. You know we were only messing around."

Souta only scoffed, the two smiling from ear to ear. "Well, it wasn't funny. That was embarrassing! The entire class laughed and now Mr. Azuma probably thinks I have a complex!"

"Well, it's not like it's a secret. You've been moping around for months ever since your sister went off to college," Hitomu replied while bending down to retrieve his backpack, practically sweeping his textbook, notebook and pens with one arm until they fell messily into his bag; after which, he promptly zipped it halfway, hefting it over his shoulder similar to Souta.

Again, his friends laughed, Yoshito slapping his knee at the very thought. "Hey, if you fail the test, I'm sure Mr. Azuma would let you retake it."

"You should worry about your own results, since you two are already failing," He quickly retorted, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder.

"What?" Yoshito sputtered. "I'll have you know I passed with a D!"

"Yeah, barely," Souta replied with a shake of his head. "The only reason you passed was because you copied off Meriko when she wasn't looking."

At this, he only blinked. "Hey, how'd'you know?"

Deciding against answering his question, Souta turned his attention toward the windows, his gaze following the continuous snowflakes as they fell from the gray skies. "We should get going. The roads look pretty bad already, and I don't feel like waiting an extra thirty minutes if I miss the bus."

"Good point," Hitomu replied, but on account of noticing Yoshito still sitting, hurriedly writing his notes, he tapped his desk. "Come on, Yoshito. We don't have all day."

"Give me a minute. I'm almost finished."

"You're not even halfway through the notes!" Hitomu replied, snatching his notebook away before quickly skimming over the writing. "Damn…"

"What is it?" Yoshito asked.

Looking back, Hitomu only shook his head, clearly disappointed before tossing his notebook back, Yoshito quickly catching it. "Your handwriting sucks."

A textbook suddenly flew at Hitomu, who quickly evaded with ease, rounding a few desks as he avoided Yoshito's flying notebook. A few pages flew out from the slips of the wire bound book, a particular photo falling just at Souta's feet, and bending down, he retrieved it.

Curious of the photo, Souta examined the image of the Junior High Cheerleading Squad, a group of eight girls dressed in green and white thigh-length uniforms, with intricate green and white ribbons adorning their prettily styled hair; they were grouped together, their arms intertwined with their pom-poms scattered at their feet.

Souta recognized his girlfriend, Hitomi, in the middle of the group, her two friends on either side of her smiling from ear to ear, but on further scrutiny, he noticed a circle of black marker surrounding one particular girl, with two small hearts decorating the corner of the photo. There was no question in his mind this girl likely spurred Yoshito's interest.

"Chill, Yoshito! I was only joking! No need to throw a hissy fit."

"I'll show you a hissy fit, Hitomu," He countered back, reaching for his pencil case on the desk.

Before the situation could continue and delay their departure, Souta waved the photo in front of him, easily catching Hitomu's curious stare from across the room. "Yoshito. This fell out of your notebook."

"What did?" He asked, pausing mid-throw to look over his shoulder. At the sight of the photo held in Souta's grasp, he all but paled. "Hey! Give me that!"

Before Yoshito could cross the row of desks separating him from Souta, Hitomu made three effortless jumps over the obstacles, snatching the photo just out of Yoshito's reach, and considering he was much taller, held it just out of reach of his classmate.

"Give it back, Hitomu!"

A mischievous grin spread upon Hitomu's countenance the moment he understood the photo, smirking at Yoshito's failed attempts to retrieve it. "What's this? A circle and two small hearts? What are you, a girl?" He laughed.

"Give it back!"

Guffawing over the very image and thought, as well as Yoshito's embarrassment, Hitomu otherwise returned the image, watching as Yoshito slid the photo into the pocket of his black slacks. "I didn't know you liked Nakamura. Just how long have you been carrying that photo around?"

"None of your business!"

"He's probably had it since pictures were taken earlier this year," Souta remarked thoughtfully, helping Yoshito to pick up the fallen pages from his notebook. "Have you thought about asking her out?"

"Why would I do that?"

"You just going to continue carrying her photo until we graduate?" Hitomu asked. "Sounds like a waste of time, Yoshito. Admiring her image won't make her like you."

Yoshito's face heated at the remark, and after retrieving all the pages to his notebook, he tossed everything into his backpack and followed his two friends out of the room and down the noisy halls. "You make it sound easy, but it's not that simple, Hitomu. You know how Amane is. She's the type that doesn't consider other's feelings. Remember how she turned down Michigo and Takanai two weeks ago?"

"Good point…" Hitomu soon replied. "Well then, I guess either way, you're screwed. Best thing you can do at this point is toss the photo and move on."

"Of course, you would say that."

Perhaps Yoshito was overreacting to the possibility of a love confession, but then again, Souta recalled similar emotions of fear back in his Elementary years. Back when he first discovered his feelings for Hitomi, he'd also been plagued by fear, and had it not been for his sister's encouragement, he might have never worked up the courage to confess. By some stroke of luck, or maybe coincidence, she had felt the same. "I'm sure it won't be that bad. Why don't you get to know her first and go from there?"

"I'm not sure. Once someone hears a confession, everyone hears... Worst-case scenario, I'll be humiliated by my entire class."

"Well, if that's the case, how about getting information first?" Souta exclaimed thoughtfully, catching their attention curiously. "She's friends with Hitomi. So, I wouldn't mind asking her if Amane is interested in anyone…"

"Hey, that's not a bad idea…" Yoshito suddenly replied, moving to catch up to Souta's side. "But don't mention my name though."

"Sure."

"Oh, that reminds me! Your girlfriend's birthday is coming up soon," Hitomu suddenly replied. "Have you thought about what to get her, Souta?"

Pausing, Souta's eyes widened in realization. He'd forgotten. "No…"

"You forgot, didn't you?" Yoshito asked, noting his expression easily enough. "Well, there's still time. Got any ideas what you'll get her?"

Again, he didn't know. "Not yet. I'll think of something." While descending a set of stairs, Souta returned to his earlier reverie. Now that he thought about it, Kagome's birthday had recently passed. She would be nineteen this winter. Frowning at the thought, he wondered if she was safe.

No sooner after leaving the halls, the three arrived near the entrance of the building, their feet guiding them toward the snow-covered sidewalk just past the gates. There were a few instances where Yoshito had nearly lost his balance, Hitomu chuckling at every failed attempt to right himself, and before long, they spotted the bus stop just ahead, a group of students gathered together waiting for the bus's arrival.

"Souta, wait up!"

Hearing a familiar and feminine voice call out to him, he turned, as did his friends, and they paused on their trek when they noticed Hitomi and her two friends, Chiho and Yukari, jogging after them.

Without missing a beat, Hitomi immediately stepped away from her friends and clung to Souta's arm, her sparkling blue eyes staring back at him devotedly. Like usual, she was wearing a white ribbon in her short shoulder length hair, and a light touch of makeup applied to her face. She was so pretty.

"Oh, hey, Hitomi…" He blushed, her small hand slipping into his own.

"Do you have any plans right now?" She asked, fluttering her lashes. "If not, do you want to go to the café?"

"Sorry. I can't. I'm a little busy today…" He explained awkwardly. Of course, he didn't miss the disappointment cross her face, her lips pouting. This wasn't the first time that he'd turned down his girlfriend, but there was so much on his mind as of late.

"Oh…"

Noticing the irritable stares from Chiho and Yukari, he quickly offered a reason, so as not to further upset anyone. "I was… planning to go to the National Museum."

At the mentioning, Hitomi's eyes lit with excitement. "The one with the new library that just opened up? Downtown by the old church?" She asked, and when Souta nodded, her excitement grew. "That's perfect. I've been meaning to go there too. Can I go with you?"

Souta nodded, deeply relieved he didn't have to turn her down this time. "Sure."

"Then what are we waiting for?" She giggled, suddenly turning to her friends. "Do you want to come along as well?"

Chiho sweat dropped, nudging Yukari's side suddenly. "Sorry. I have to make up some extra work for class."

Yukari, taking the hint, also nodded. "I would, but mom wants me back early…"

"We'll g—" Yoshito tried to exclaim, but because Chiho had elbowed him in the stomach, he nearly doubled over, holding Hitomu's shoulder for support. "I mean… you go on ahead, Souta…"

"You sure?" Souta asked, clearly not oblivious to what was happening in front of him. It seemed Hitomi's friends were adamant about their spending time together and alone. "Then, I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow."

A two-story cubical structure, painted white and gray with large glass pane windows, greeted Souta and Hitomi as they crossed the street from the bus stop. The parking lot was large, every space filled with cars and vans, and as they crossed the smooth sidewalk toward the front entrance, they were greeted with a long line. Decorative banners were spread upon the top entrance, and a large glass sign detailed the museum's collection.

Reaching into his pocket to retrieve his wallet, Souta withdrew the fee. According to the sign, for children fourteen and younger, it was only five dollars, and since he and Hitomi were twelve, he withdrew the currency and waited along with the others.

"Oh, this is so exciting! It said in the paper that this museum is featuring a lot of newly discovered artifacts we've never seen before! Some of those dating really far back!"

"That's pretty cool. I wonder what sort of artifacts…"

Hitomi mused. "I'm not sure. Could be pottery, books, or maybe treasure. They said most of these things were found during Kanade's reign."

"Kanade?"

"We're next, Souta! Come on!"

The moment he stepped within the revolving doors, Hitomi clinging to his arm like usual, he was left in awe at the sight. The floor was a marble white with silver and golden specks, and each corner of the incredibly spacious room was divided into multiple sections, each featuring an era of their own, with respective signs detailing every object. As he took in his surroundings, his eyes darting from one place to another, he wasn't sure where to even begin.

"Look up there!" Hitomi called, pointing above them.

When he did, he saw the immensity of the high glass ceiling. Wooden stairs were wrapped around one central point a distance away, with glass and wood railings leading to the second floor. From there, Souta made out what appeared to be a gift shop and a seating area where families were dining and overlooking the entire museum.

"We definitely need to check out the gift shop after we look around," She exclaimed.

While they sifted through the throng of families, Souta's eyes glimpsing ancient relics and paintings on display, various old books hidden behind glass boxes, he suddenly paused. Before him, he viewed a large painting, and the image left him surprised. There were depictions of monsters or maybe even demons laid out across the yellowed parchment, creatures descending from the sky in fiery chariots, and below, he assumed, were people, cowering in fear and dressed in olden clothing of the past.

It reminded him of that incident with the large centipede demon; it had tried to kill his sister and had it not been by some source of luck, they might not have pulled Kagome back into their world through the tree. He clenched his hands, trying to unveil the secret behind the painting, but when he felt a hand upon his shoulder, he relaxed.

"What is it, Souta?"

"It's nothing…"

Her cerulean eyes glimpsed the painting as well, blinking at it curiously before admiring the black strokes. "It's a hell painting," She exclaimed, bending down curiously to read the inscription on the display stand. "It was made in the early 1400s, but there's no signature revealing which artisan created it."

"I don't like it…"

"Yeah. It's a little creepy," She laughed. "It seems like this section is about the Warring States Period."

When he noticed her eyes turned to a large sign nearby, his eyes wandered upon its text. Experience the life of the Warring States Period! An age characterized by social upheaval, political intrigue and feudal wars! 1467-1600.

"It all started around 523 years ago," Hitomi exclaimed curiously. "If you think about it, five hundred years wasn't really that long ago. It's pretty amazing how things have changed."

He nodded. "Why did the people paint demons?"

"Oh, well, that's because there was this great fear surrounding the unknown. The people often believed in gods and demons and that certain instances might result from something other worldly. Their thoughts were way different from ours today, but you can't blame them for it. After all, they lived in a period of constant war and fear."

"Hitomi, do you believe demons existed?"

She mused. "I don't think they ever did, to be honest, but it's interesting. The only time we ever see or read about them is in books. This museum would probably be something your grandfather would be interested in. You said he collects a lot of ancient relics and books, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Look at this, Souta!" Hitomi suddenly pointed. "This is so fascinating! To think our ancestors once used these in their daily lives…"

Curious, his gaze swept across a strange off-white contraption protected by thick glass. From the looks of it, it seemed like nothing more than a giant stone with an iron pot above it, with two large holes at its very top and one large one at its base. Was it some type of hearth of that time period? "What is it?"

"It's a stove, silly!" She replied, laughing. "It says here it's a Kamado Stove. See? Here's the two burners at the top and at its base is where the kindling goes. Did you know they made these from sand and clay?"

So that's what it was? Here he thought the people of that time period only used camp fires for their cooking. What tools were made using these stones? Or was it possible they used their hands to mold it together? Of course, it wasn't surprising Hitomi was knowledgeable on the subject since history was her specialty.

Something caught his eye a short distance, and leaving Hitomi immersed in the ancient pottery of the past, he approached an assortment of colorful kimonos; every stitch upon the silken material, its detail woven with delicate patterns of flowers, leaves, and birds left him befuddled. There was even clothing for men adorned upon the racks, richer in the colors with their various and interestedly styled headwear, with large gems and accessories kept behind strong glass beneath them.

And yet, as beautiful as they appeared, Souta's eyes strayed to something less fancy. There were other kimonos, less appealing on the far side of the area he stood, and moving away to get a better look, he eventually paused, hands clenched once more. They were dark in their colors, earthly shades with various rips and patches in the not-so-soft material; it reminded him of the exact kimono his sister had been adorned in.

It was obvious she was suffering, living an impoverished life in that terrifying world, and yet, he still could not understand why she returned, even after everything she experienced there. Sometimes his sister had a habit of doing crazy things, but she always had her reasons for it; she was too caring for her own good.

Are you all right, Kagome? Are they still mistreating you? What happened to you?

As his eyes remained transfixed to this era, all the while ignoring other areas completely, he noticed several weapons on display such as swords, daggers, bows and arrows and samurai suits with their respective family crest. The Takeda Clan's crest was seen all throughout the entire section, and recalling the various games he often played with his classmates, the Takeda Clan was almost always mentioned as the most powerful during times of upheaval conflict.

"Look over here, Souta!"

Bemused, he approached Hitomi, who was a short distance away, standing before an open view room of sorts. The interior was entirely feudal, a domesticated lifestyle, small within but organized. Straw like mats filled a small portion of the unpolished wooden floor where the futons, small chests and even paper-thin shoji screen doors rested, but on the other half of the small structure, Souta noticed dirt flooring and the familiar kamado stove.

In the middle of this hut, a small campfire was nestled, a pot hefted above it by woven sticks, which were carefully placed. Various olden pots aligned makeshift shelves near the kamado stove, all the while, strange herbs, dried in their appearance, hung from the rafter, while woven baskets were nestled in the farthest corner of the dirt flooring. The only source of light lit within was made from a wooden paper lantern.

"According to history, Souta, this is how the farmers lived. In these small huts. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the winter. There was no insulation or even furnaces to warm the house, nothing but a small fire."

"What's that?" He couldn't help but ask, his gaze turning toward a large basin in the farthest corner near a lone shoji screen. A pile of wood was stacked beside it, and beneath the basin, he saw what appeared to be stone or possibly even clay frames, a collection of ashes beneath that.

Hitomi fell silent when she noticed the object, and curious, bent forward to inspect the contraption further. "It looks like a makeshift bath tub. How strange…"

"What's wrong?"

She mused. "From what I remember in history class, farmers did not frequently bathe in those times, and if they did, they often used the rivers or lakes. Why would something like this be here?"

"Maybe they weren't as poor as you thought?" Souta inquired jokingly, but the matter certainly stumped Hitomi, her nose scrunching in obvious confusion. "Hey, do you want to check out the gift shop upstairs?"

At his question, she eagerly nodded. "Sure, but we haven't seen even half of what's on display though…"

"I know, but I still have to get back before it gets dark, otherwise mom will worry," He replied apologetically. "Besides, I was planning to purchase some books from the library before heading back."

"Books?" She asked, following Souta toward the stairs. "What books are you looking for?"

He paused. "Well… feudal times, I suppose…"

She blinked. "Weren't the displays already immersive enough?" She asked teasingly. "I know it can't be an upcoming project, so what's the deal? Are your grandpa's hobbies rubbing off on you now?"

He laughed, albeit somewhat awkwardly, and shrugged. "I guess. Actually, I've been meaning to look into our family's history. Gramps got to talking about our ancestors, so I was curious to see how far back they originated," He began. "He said it extended many hundreds of years. Gramps says he comes from a line of priests as far back as the warring times, around the 1490s I think…" Was that what gramps said?

"Then that would be the beginning of the Warring States Era, Souta! I wonder how far back our family's history goes… I might ask my mom when I get home later. Hey, what about your dad, Souta? Do you know how far back his family goes?"

Souta mused. "I never asked. I've been so caught up in gramps stories that I forgot to ask." He sweat dropped.

She only giggled in response. "You're so easily distracted!"

When they arrived before the gift shop, the entirety surrounded by glass walls; they were immediately enthralled by the sight of many colorful items within. Shelves were decorated from top to bottom with interesting displays of bobble heads with samurai and daimyo heads, cute stuffed animals, and again, the most popular samurai toys. A large assortment of colorful key chains, bracelets, and rings sat near the register closest to the door, with candies in various plastic boxes with small bags beside it, which Souta noticed many kids his age lining up to get their scoops.

As he rounded several adults and children, he and Hitomi stood before a large display of books, mostly comics which were quite interesting for the first few minutes, but as his eyes scanned the selection, his gaze noticing the signs labeled history/classics, he approached and reached for the first book that caught his eye.

"The Tale of Genji," Hitomi read. "I'm not sure that's something that will help you in your research, Souta."

"I've heard the name before, but I don't know what it's about…"

"It tells the story of a man born from the emperor as far back as the Heian Era, and it tells of what court life was like, that and the romantic tales of Genji's love life," She explained. Without even a moment's pause, she took the book from his possession and began flipping through the pages curiously. "I've only read it once, but not this one; this was written by a different author and the translation seems different but easier to read."

Souta nodded at this, his eyes glimpsing the various pictures within, pictures with very graphic drawings of one man and several women, and his cheeks burned and he made a noise of disgust, the likes of which caused Hitomi to giggle. "I don't think we're of age to read this, Hitomi…"

"It's not like I haven't read these things before, Souta…" She exclaimed, immersed in the words written on the pages. "Ah, here it is!" She pointed toward a long verse of poetry, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "This is so romantic, Souta."

Would there be one

With whom to exchange

Intimate whispers:

Then might I

Begin to awaken

From this dreary world's dream.

How can my heart,

Which wanders

In never-ending night, recognize dreams

And speak of them to you?

Hitomi pointed once more. "It means that his heart ached to see his most beloved, Souta."

He only nodded. He really wasn't much of a romantic like Hitomi, but the words sounded good to him. "I guess so…"

But she only struck him with a disappointed look and closed the book, returning it to its rightful place on the shelf. "Figures, guys just don't understand these things."

While transfixed in another book, with many pictures of peasantry life vs that of noble life, Souta couldn't help but sigh. "Things sure were different back then…"

"Huh?" Hitomi made a confused sound beside him, looking over his shoulder to view the page he was looking at. "Oh, life in the warring times? Yeah. But hey, we've got it a lot better now that we have electricity and better transportation. I couldn't imagine living such a life, especially if born a woman…"

Hearing this, he turned his head, his eyes watching the disappointment flash across Hitomi's face. "Why?" He asked, suddenly feeling anxious.

"Well, in all honesty, it was better to have been born a man than a woman. Women didn't exactly have a lot of rights back then, not to mention they had no say to arranged marriages either; and that goes for rich or poor. They couldn't even take up many jobs either, besides tending to their families and their husband's family, caring for children daily. Even in times of war, they were constantly victims, used and abused by soldiers, lords or even their neighbors. And contraception wasn't even invented yet, so it meant they were the first to be blamed in many situations."

Souta's thoughts returned to the life Kagome had endured back in that world, a world possibly that of the Warring States Era. The bruises upon her skin had been so dark and vivid that he wondered if something had happened to her, if someone had hurt her, but she'd spoken nothing to him. He only hoped she wasn't facing any dangers, and he prayed with all his heart that she was safe, wherever she was.

"Oh, look, Souta!"

Pulled from his brief reverie, his russet eyes fell upon a large book with an image of a beautiful woman dressed in various layers of colorful kimonos, a golden crown upon her head, and many soldiers surrounding what looked to be an old temple filled with treasures pouring from the entryway. It looked nothing similar to that of the Warring States Era, but it piqued his interest.

"What is it?"

"Why it's Queen Kanade of course! Are you sure you studied your history?" She asked incredulously.

He only shrugged. "It wasn't my favorite subject," He admitted. This book didn't seem like folklore, and he wondered who this Queen Kanade was and why she sparked such importance. "So… who is she?"

Hitomi only sighed, shaking her head before holding the book close to her chest. "Well, for starters, she is the first queen recorded in Japanese History. She reined well over ten thousand years ago as a matter of fact."

Souta's mouth fell open at this. Over ten thousand years ago? "Whoa…"

Hitomi only rolled her eyes. "She was born during the Yayoi Era. She was the first ever shamaness queen to rein over Japan. It was said she had over one hundred female attendants, priestesses as they were called, and she was known as the representation of the Sun itself. She was loved and reined peacefully over her land, but her reign didn't last long before catastrophe struck."

He nodded at this, imagining the woman as superior in her standing and compassionate in her nature, dying prematurely in her youth. So, she was the first queen of japan? Souta was fairly certain he'd never heard the name before, even in his classes, which he sometimes paid attention to. "So, what happened? Why did she die?" Was it murder? Sickness? Did someone poison her? Miscarriage? Suicide?

Hitomi frowned. "This book tells the story of not only Kanade's rein but also her forbidden love, and that love brought tragedy upon her. Well, for starters, Kanade was the youngest out of hundreds of girls in training selected to rule over the land of Horai; Horai is an island a little further from Japan, Souta," She clarified. "It was during her early twenties that an oracle presented the future of her rein, and with it, certain doom would follow. Kanade, fearing the oracle's words, cast all men from the island, and while it seemed peace remained everlasting, a great storm overtook them, one which shook the seas and land."

"An earthquake?"

Hitomi nodded. "Yes. What happened after spelled the disaster of Horai Island."

"What happened?"

Hitomi continued. "A man had washed up on shore, injured from battle; it was assumed his ship had gotten caught up during the great tremor, and pitying him, Kanade brought him back to her temple so his wounds would heal. She had only the best of her shamans return to this man's life, despite the whispers forbidding men on the island. They saw him as a threat to their civilization. Once his injuries healed, and with Kanade's promise to send him away immediately after, their Kingdom was unexpectedly attacked by outside forces."

"What?"

"But the man she'd saved had driven them away with dominant power, a power that even they couldn't fathom. They realized he must have been a god and not a human after all."

What? Wait a minute, what? A god? But just earlier, Hitomi said it was only a belief the people believed because they couldn't understand certain calamities. "Are you serious?"

Hitomi nodded, smiling at his eagerness. "Yes. When the outsiders receded and were slain by his great powers, the people rejoiced. A god had saved them, and they celebrated his victory, and the promise Kanade made to her people withered. She fell in love with him. For up to a year, he remained on the island with Kanade, protecting the people. The injuries he had sustained eventually healed, and one day, he left the island to venture toward the mainland where he hoped to take up dominion."

"Wait, but what about Kanade? Weren't they in love?"

Hitomi shook her head. "Supposedly, it was one-sided. He eventually grew bored with the temple life and sought world conquest, and fearing she would never see him again, she did something foolish, so foolish, it brought an end to her rein. What Kanade didn't know was that this god wasn't a god at all. He was a demon, an extremely powerful one."

"A demon?!" His voice rose in surprise, and he flushed under the curious gazes of the families before turning to look at them. "How did she find out?"

"Well, fearing she would never see him again, she erected a barrier around the entire island to keep him there, forever. When he found out, he grew angered, because she had taken away his freedom. So, he took the most precious thing he could from her, her priestesses in training, those who would eventually take her place as queen one day. One by one, he devoured them until nothing more was left."

The very thought left him surprised and disgusted, and he wondered just what this person looked like. How could he devour hundreds of priestesses? What sort of demon was he? Was he hiding under the disguise of a human? "That's going overboard. I get she was selfish but going that far to get pay back…"

She nodded. "I agree…"

"How did he devour them? Did he consume them entirely or?"

"The text didn't say. Only that Kanade eventually noticed the numbers of her girls dwindling as the days progressed. She eventually confronted him one fatal night, dressed in her robes. A battle took place between them, and in the end, Kanade lost her life."

It wasn't exactly something he'd reach for off the shelf, but despite the tragedy of the story, it did sound interesting, and he was eager to know what happened next. "So, what happened to the demon?"

She shrugged, placing the book back on the shelf. "It's uncertain. There's been some information in books that says he eventually left the island or that he died with her. But the most bizarre thing happened after she passed away…"

"What is that?"

"Horai Island disappeared. Researchers today still can't unravel the mystery."

"Do you think the demon hid the island?" As he asked this question with as much seriousness, the very thought leaving him on the edge of his heels to learn more, he didn't expect his girlfriend to bend over laughing. "What's so funny?"

"Oh, Souta, it's only a myth. Demons didn't actually exist back then," She teased, slapping his shoulder. "You really are fond of these stories. Maybe you're growing a grandpa complex instead," she laughed.

Souta released a heavy breath. "Hitomi, not you too!" Of course, he should have expected that. Hitomi always enjoyed teasing him, and the story had been so interesting as well. "So… did Kanade never exist at all?"

She shook her head. "Of course, she did. There's much surrounding her and the entire island that has left many researchers confused. The island did in fact disappear from history, in fact, there is no proof it even existed, at least not that we've found. Many enthusiasts are still trying to unravel the mystery of Kanade's grave, but neither her, her temple nor the island have been found. It's unlikely she's made up since there are several books which document Kanade's rein, as well as peace treaties with other kingdoms. Who knows, maybe the island sunk those ten thousand years ago."

"Geez…"

"I won't lie, but this is actually one of my favorite stories about Kanade. I couldn't help but share some stories with you, since you seemed so interested, Souta," She giggled.

Shaking his head, but still finding the story intriguing, Souta glanced at this watch, and realizing they'd spent around an hour at The National Museum, he realized he needed to head back, but he still had one more place he wanted to look, and that was on the other part of the building. "Hitomi, do you mind if we check out the library? I wanted to check out some books there before heading back home. If that's alright with you?"

"Sure," She replied understandingly.

The National Museum was far larger than Souta expected, and while he and Hitomi passed through many open exhibits on the way, even passing a short puppet show, which was currently entertaining young children, they eventually arrived before a large set of glass doors leading into the second part of the building.

The library was enormous, two stories at least, with a similar staircase to the museum. Mountainous book shelves filled every crevice of the room, a maze at the bottom with an intricate gray and blue carpet spread upon the entire floor. There was even a seating area off to the side, with comfortable leather chairs and couches for light reading, as well as an area for children to play and read.

With the help of an older librarian, she led them toward the staircase, and from there, proceeded toward the second floor before guiding them toward a few back-to-back columns of shelves labeled History and Folklore. Souta and Hitomi took it from there with their search to find something which would provide him with the information he needed.

"I assume you are looking for books about the daily life in the Warring State's Era?" Hitomi asked.

Souta nodded. "Yeah. Anything would suffice, but you know more about these things than I do."

She grinned. "Leave it to me!" She exclaimed somewhat quietly; her hands clenched in front of her prettily. "I'll search on the other side, that way we miss nothing."

True to Hitomi's words, they found a small collection of books, one of which was worthy of Souta's research. As they stood together, holding the pile in each of their hands, they read over the various titles. Enough, Hitomi had been kind enough to pull out a few folktale books as well, focusing on the ghosts and demons of Japanese mythology, something Souta appreciated.

"Let's see, I think this book, Japanese Inn, would really help you, Souta. It tells about the everyday life in Japan from the feudal period until the 1970s. You're likely to get a lot of information from this I think…" She began.

The second book in Hitomi's possession was titled The Heike Story by Eiji Yoshikawa; it was a modern translation of the classic Japanese tale of love and war, which she highly recommended, no surprise, but it would also provide him with how the people lived and what thoughts they had.

As for the rest of the last four books, they were focused more on the folklore, something he really felt inclined to reach for at that moment, but he held back. One was called The Book of Yokai: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore, Something Wicked From Japan: Ghosts, Demons and Yokai in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces, and Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic.

Satisfied with the find, he took the books from Hitomi's hand and made his way toward the front desk, but on account of hearing Hitomi call out to him, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. She was standing in front of a display stand where an enormous book rested. "What is it?"

"Your grandfather came from a line of priests and priestesses, right?" Came her inquiry, and he nodded.

"Yeah. Why?"

Her gaze shifted back to Souta once more, and she pointed at the book curiously. "Wouldn't it be funny if your family line is documented in this book?" She asked, holding up the book for him to see; it was titled History of Legendary Priests and Priestesses of The Sengoku Era.

Souta wasn't sure. "I highly doubt that…"

"You never know. We still have a few more minutes before we check out," She exclaimed before opening the book to look at the table of contents. "Let's see. There are a lot of names on here. Front and back…"

"If our family's name is written in it, then I'm pretty sure grandpa would pull his hair out trying to get that book," He joked.

A gasp escaped his girlfriend. "I found it!"

He almost did a double take. "What?"

Hitomi beckoned him closer with a hand. "Your family's name, silly! Look!"

Believing she must have been joking with him again, he only shook his head, but as her eyes remained transfixed on the page, he became curious. Approaching her side, he leaned closer to glance at the page which had caught her focus, and he fell in awe at the sight. In front of him, in big bold letters, was his family's name. Higurashi. "No way…"

"Chapter fifteen, page 208," She read, suddenly flipping the pages to the exact page. "Here it is!"

Almost immediately, Souta was greeted with the image of a beautiful woman drawn in ink and watercolors. The girl was dressed in old time clothing, similar to the garb of a priestess, only the colors were in blue and white. Strangely enough, the girl looked like the spitting image of his sister, and he couldn't contain his shock.

"Weird. Blue eyes must run in your family, Souta. She looks almost like your sister. Maybe she's like your great, great, great grandmother?"

"As far as I know, we got our eyes from my dad's side of the family…" After all, his father came from the states overseas, but that was a completely different story.

Hitomi mused, nodding at this. "Maybe it comes from both generations. It says here,"

"The young maiden came from a distant land, dressed in foreign clothing. Because of her strange appearance, the village became wary of her and treated her unkindly, but the young maiden showed great compassion in the face of adversity, even to those who treated her ruefully."

The girl in the image looked incredibly similar to his sister, and he wondered if it was mere coincidence. The same jet-black hair and blue eyes, and her fair skin was of great contrast to the depiction of the villagers in the background. "Is this… real?" It wasn't possible this was another folktale left abandoned in the history section, right?

Hitomi shrugged. "I'm not sure. It said the history of priests and priestesses, so maybe," She explained, flipping the page which revealed a lot more text. "Sounds like she might be the very first line from your family, Souta; it reveals nothing about her own family though."

Curious than ever of the girl, Souta took the book from her possession and began scanning the text. If this really was connected to his sister, then maybe it would provide a clue why she ended up there and what happened to her. Maybe he was foolish to believe this was anything more than a simple story, but the name couldn't have been a coincidence. The Higurashi name wasn't that common, even in these times, so it had to be worth something even back then, right?

"With the village on the verge of collapse, she was taken in by the older priestess, who saw her as her own child. Shortly after her arrival, she soon left on a journey across Japan to seek help from the starving villagers. Along her journey, she fell in love with a reformed bandit, and made many friends who helped rebuild the entire village."

The image of a large tree towered over the entire rebuilt village with many cheerful looking villagers surrounding it, and amid all of this, stood the young girl, her hand touching the bark of the tree sadly. Releasing a breath, and with trembling fingers, Souta realized it was true. This really wasn't a coincidence; that was his sister, and that was the Goshinboku Tree, the very tree which remained upon his family's grounds. Kagome… you're alive…

That did not answer his question why she was there or why there was strange magic surrounding the tree. It couldn't be that she was sent there for this one purpose, to save just one village. Nothing added up. Curiosity got the best of him, and he turned another page, and to his surprise, it was the last page which spoke of the Higurashi Priestess.

"But as the months dragged on and the seasons changed, so too, did the darkness sweep across the lands. A dreadful beast, vengeful in its wrath, unleashed its fury upon the young girl, because she was more than what she appeared. Although she fought valiantly against the demon, she protected the village until her dying breath, until nothing more remained but the blissful memories of her existence."

A noise escaped Hitomi suddenly, one of disappointment. "I guess it must be a folk story, after all. I guess we both got our hopes up. Souta? Your hands are trembling… Are you all right?"

It was more than that. Not only was his family's name mentioned, as well as the image of the Goshinboku, but it was the very description of what was written in the text; it was all the proof Souta needed which led him to believe this was more than just a myth. This wasn't some other dimension Kagome had been transported to; it was the Warring States Era! And also, demons existed, but the most frightening of all was the last line of text.

Kagome… were you killed by that demon?

Author Notice:

The story about Horai Island and Kanade were taken from the fourth Inuyasha Movie. This is important because I will mention this again later in the story. Especially the reason why it vanished long ago. But the thing about Hitomi's version of the story is, it's completely different from what actually happened!