Summary: "Don't keep me waiting, time manipulator." Those words were full of spite, a threat left hovering in the air as she walked off. Takemichi knew the dangers the ex-yakuza possessed, especially when she recalled both present and past. Though, with her ties to Izana, he had no choice but to test his luck. By some miracle, she seemed more benevolent in the past despite her status.

Pairing: Izana/Kagome

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

Chapter Two

The life she lived wasn't one she ever expected, that much was for sure. She knew that there was no sense in cursing a God that ever had her best interest in mind, yet it was still so tempting. From fighting for her life when she should've been an ordinary girl going to school to becoming what she is now…

If there was a God, then surely they must have damned her existence right from the very start. Either way, all was well with her.

"You're different."

At the comment, Kagome let her gaze return to Izana's face. She emerged from the depths of her own thoughts upon hearing those words come from him. Silence answered him at first as amusement flowed through her out of impulse alone. A smile broke across her face as she lifted a hand, glancing at it as if analyzing her nails.

They were long and sharp- easily mistaken for a fresh manicure. They were a light blue at the tips that faded to a more natural color towards her nailbeds. Her smile was a bit sharper as she moved to tuck her hair over her shoulder, the crescent mark on her neck just barely visible under the raven tresses.

"Am I?" she mused softly, perfectly aware that he was fully correct. There was no sense behind the coy tone, but it came as a reflex. Izana approached her, having no qualms about invading any remaining shred of personal space she had. Her breath hitched in her throat at the close proximity, blue eyes zeroing on his face as he leaned close enough that their noses touched.

"It's lovely, whatever it is," he stated in a casual tone. Those words took her fully by surprise. "You were always so soft and gentle before. I always thought you could stand to be more… cruel." She was quiet, and Izana took it as a sign to continue. "Your kindness only ever got you so far, you know." He reached a hand up to trace a finger along her jaw. "You always had so much potential to be so much more than your kindness."

Those words…- She didn't know what to make of them as they registered fully in her mind. She knew she was different on the inside and out, but for him to pick up so easily on it had left her grasping at straws. The added weight of the physical contact on her cheek only added to the complexity of the situation.

"You were warm and inviting," he continued. His grip on her jaw tightened ever so slightly as he grinned. "Deep down, on some level you still are. I can see it in your eyes." He leaned closer, his breath fanning against her ear. "And yet, despite that, there's something more to you. Something lethal. It's truly beautiful, Kagome."

She brought a hand up and curled it around his wrist. Though far from painful, her grip was firm, unrelenting. Surprise showed on his face when she backed away, her grip only falling when it became a necessity for distance.

"If you seem to think so, then keep your distance," she stated in a low tone. The surprise on Izana's face faded as he laughed.

"It seems you've mistook my words for something bad," he remarked. "That's not the case," he said, being the one to close the distance she'd worked to impose, seeming truly unbothered by her words and actions both. When it looked like she would try and back away again, he reached for her wrist, reversing the roles on her as he yanked her forward the remaining paces. She managed to catch herself before she ended up stumbling into his chest, a glare highlighting her blue eyes. The trace of silver seemed much more prominent now than it had earlier.

"Hey..-!" Kagome tried to pull her wrist free, reaching for his hand with her other. She didn't make it very far before he caught her free hand with his other one, holding both of her wrists captive with a grin gleaming on his face. A pout appeared on her face, only making his grin widen.

"Look at that," he remarked. "There's the girl I remember." Her expression didn't dissuade him as he let his grip on her wrists loosen, eventually letting her go. "I intend to build a kingdom with me at the top," he stated. "It's only suitable for you to be there along my side," he added. "Don't you think?"

She was quiet for several seconds as she gauged his words and tone. "I'm not the type you should want around for something like that," she stated. Her response had no impact on him. "You don't know what I've been up to."

"Don't I, little miss Yakuza?" Izana remarked. "I think you're just the type I need around." He reached a hand back out, resting it gently against the side of her face. His thumb traced along her cheekbone as a dark gleam shone within his eyes. "Let's have some fun, yeah?"

Silence answered him at first, and he patiently awaited her response. Her expression shifted to surprise at his comment. Before she could ask how he knew, or even when he'd become aware, his hand slipped lower, finger tracing along the mark mostly hidden beneath her long hair.

It was more than a mark from Sesshomaru. It was also the mark of one of the Yakuza fractions- of Sesshomaru's fraction.

"I'm surprised, but, at the same time, I probably shouldn't be," he remarked. "You always managed to surprise me, anyway." Her silence was heavy as he let his hand fall from her neck. "What do you say?"

His nonchalant attitude about it all left her stunned. A faint pulse of happiness burned deep within her chest, but she stomped it down in order to maintain some fraction of control over her emotions. His hand strayed to take her own, his own far warmer and larger than her own pale one. Without meaning to, she let her fingers curl around his.

"Okay," she finally responded, much to Izana's satisfaction. His grip on her hand tightened in response, his grin spreading a bit wider. "Let's have fun."

When she was fifteen, fate seemed to take her very life into its hands and thrust her five hundred years into the past in a truly jarring way. She had no voice in the matter, the choice was never her own to make. It was cruel, surely, that, even after all she'd been forced to endure, there was never a silver lining waiting for her.

All that awaited her was the suffocating embrace of shadows and the maliciousness that lurked within them. Still, she did her best to find peace. Or, at least what little bit of it she could shamelessly cling to. As the days passed, she was dreading how more and more of it kept getting ripped away from her.

Maybe, just maybe, peace was never meant for her.

She had died in the fire that ravaged her family's shrine, yet, unlike the rest of her family, she still walked among the living. Unscathed, unscarred, her skin free from lingering burns.

She cut her eyes to the silver-haired demon seated beside her in the backseat of the car. His features were very clearly inhuman, but all his cronies didn't seem to notice. Either that or they just didn't care. Frankly, she couldn't be bothered to care, either, then. Sesshomaru didn't give her any attention as she sat there, watching him. She knew he was well aware of the way she looked at him. He just wasn't fazed enough to inquire about it.

Kagome tightened her grip on her skirt, sharp nails nearly ripping through the fabric altogether.

He was the whole reason she hadn't perished in the same fashion as her family. She should be grateful, she knew, but she couldn't help but feel spiteful over it all. She'd never bothered to express any sort of gratitude for his interference, not that he ever necessarily asked for it. He would never tell her why he did it when she asked.

The car came to a halt on the street corner, and Kagome was swift in gathering her things. Sesshomaru mirrored her actions, ready far before she ever could be. Still, he waited for her, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by her.

The city streets were busy, just like they always were, a hundred voices coming from all directions.

It was all overwhelming now. The auras, the scents, the sounds…-

Too much.

Takemichi could remember the first time he'd ever crossed paths with Kagome. A part of him didn't even want to try and find her in the past, considering that's when she was a part of the Yakuza.

"Who are you?"

The voice was abrupt, coming from behind him and making him jump several feet into the air. He met a pair of silver-blue eyes, and he was stunned. He hadn't even heard her approaching!

His friends, only a few paces away from him in the park that night, were equally as confused by her sudden approach. In looking her over, Takemichi noted the crescent mark just barely visible underneath her hair on the side of her neck. It looked odd. Almost like a tattoo, but not fully.

After a few minutes of silence, he didn't miss the way her eyes narrowed due to his lack of response. Feeling as if he were on thin ice, Takemichi found his voice as quickly as he could. Admittedly, it hadn't been very fast.

"O-Oh! Um… Hanagaki Takemichi," he said. "W-Who.. Um… Who are you?"

She tilted her head to the side, almost as if she were pondering something. He felt her gaze lingering on him, heavy as she looked him up and down. It felt like she was searching for something. After a minute, she took a step back, her eyes focused on his face.

There was ire present, and he inwardly flinched.

This… he had no memory of this happening the first time. What had changed to bring this interaction around?

A look of distaste flashed through her eyes as she abruptly turned on her heel. Nose up in the air, her hair fell away from her shoulder, and the mark on her neck became fully visible as he turned to leave. "Tch!"

Immediately, Takemichi was confused. He stood there stunned for a second or two before he called out to her. "Uh.. Is everything okay?" he asked. "What's your mmph..-!" Instantly, a hand covered his mouth in a deathly tight grip. He glanced at the one behind it, but he lost all fight when he noted the way Yamagishi had gone pale.

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" he hissed at him. He held him in place like that until the raven-haired girl had walked off. Even going overboard until she was no longer visible. Only then did he let go.

"What was that about?" Takemichi asked, glancing at him. Yamagishi gave him an incredulous look.

"Didn't you see her tattoo!?" he exclaimed.

"Yeah," Takemichi responded with a dumbfounded expression. "What about it?"

"Man, you're really dumb," Yamagishi rubbed the back of his neck. "That mark is specific to a branch of the Yakuza."

"H-Huh?" Takemichi felt a wave of dread wash through him. "Y-You're kidding," he responded. "Please tell me you're kidding."

Yamagishi shook his head. "Nope… What the hell did you do to get her attention?"

"I don't know!"

He now knew what he'd done, though.

"Don't keep me waiting, Time Manipulator."

The only question he had now was how she ever pieced it together in the first place.

Auroua-chan: It's probably obvious at this point, but Kagome's not as human as she once was, and the cause behind it is none other than Sesshomaru. She's not exactly content with it, but it's all been said and done. There's nothing that can really change it, is there?

In this chapter we also saw the first interaction Kagome ever had with Takemichi. Something about him caught her attention, and it comes as no surprise that it was his ability to time travel. It seemed to have struck a nerve within her.

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

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~