Time seemed to have escaped her grasp in that well.

When she expected a hard fall at the bottom of the well, instead she was engulfed in a blue light that took her further away from the horror she had just witnessed. She was hysterical. There was no time to take in surroundings though. All she knew was that she was no longer on the Higurashi compound, and she needed to get back.

She lost count of how many times she had climbed up to the lip of the well and jumped back down. But nothing happened. There was no blue light. There were only dried skeletons, splatters of her own blood mixed with tears and saliva. Not even the own broken bones stopped her. She was Miko, she could heal and heal she did just so she can jump again.

When that proved futile, she pushed the skeletons to the side of the walls and began to dig in a frenzy. She dug and dug till her nails chipped and fingers bled. The hiss of pain fell to deaf ears, she could bare register her choked sob through all the digging.

Breath hitched, her arms slowed until she was swept away with absolute despair and helplessness.

"Please…please let me through." She begged to anyone that would hear. "Don't do this to me, please, I have to go back, send me back."

It was only when she paused wipe her tears that her predicament dawned on her. Her aura pushed up to the opening of the well and spread throughout the surrounding area. She felt a familiarity pierce through before fear took its place.

This was not the home she had grown fond of. She was sent back to a distance past she wanted so badly to forget, back to where it all began.

In her final moments she wished for death, but found a family instead, a life worth living. And just like that it was ripped from her dainty fingers.

"No…this can't be happening. Why am I here? Who was that back there?"

Dread filled her body as she repeatedly slammed her fists in the ground. Her family died and she didn't know why. She was sent back, and she didn't know why. Unanswered questions ran amok her mind, and there was no one there to give her the answers she sought.

"Please…I don't understand." She whispered with a shuddered breath.

Fatigue got the better of her. She dropped forward awkwardly, the space in the well didn't allow for much leisure. Curled up in the hole she dug, she bit down on her fists to quiet her sobs. Choking on the tears that continued to spill, she finally gave into exhaustion. Her eyes rolled back and was met with darkness.

The next time she awoke, she was startled by the sound of her name.

"Kagome…Kagome, where are you?"

"Why are we looking for her?"

"Shh, mind your tongue. If Kaede says we look for her, then we look for her."

She flinched at that name.

Have I really been sent back in time? She thought, anxiety pooling at the pit of her stomach. However, unwillingly she questioned, was this after or before she was hounded for death?

"Urgh, she's always causing some sort of trouble. Kikyo would never do this. It's all for attention you know."

"I don't care. The sooner we find her, the sooner we can get back to our chores."

"Fine…KAGOME!"

Sliding back further against the inner walls of the well, she hid in the shadows and waited until their voices retreated towards the village. She needed a plan, but first she needed to understand her situation. If she couldn't get back to the future now, she held onto the hope she could travel yet. And if she played her cards right, she might be able to go back before those demons attacked.

By the time the sun had waned, Kagome decided it was time to make a move. Climbing up to the lip of the well, she paused by the lip of the well. Memories of her past life was a battle she continuously fought in the future. Though the details were less clear as the years went by, she still felt the pain and rejection that was laid in its wake.

Pondering if she should attempt another jump or a dig, she quickly succumbed to er reality that now was not the time. She couldn't stay and waste any more time. Eyes squeezed shut to erase the glimpse of her family dying in cold blood, she shook her head and strengthened her resolve.

Cursing under her breath, she pulled myself out of the well. Sweat dripped down the side of her face, her limbs giving away and allowing her to fall forward. With a strained grown, she straightened herself to sit against the well. Another round of sobs threatened to escape when the Goshinboku she was once grateful for came into view.

"Scared tree," I mocked. "You did this to me, didn't you?"

It was younger but still stood firm and sturdy as it did in the future. When she first jumped into the well at her own discretion, she was expecting death. Instead, she was shown a future. The past didn't want me, so why would the future. Her only refuge was the tree that survived through the ages. She remembered lying at its roots begging for mercy and as if her prayers were answered, she met them.

They were everything she didn't have and everything she longed for.

It was their smiles that won her over.

"But you took them away from me, I couldn't save them."

Goshinboku's leaves rustled gently in the evening breeze. It seemed like it was trying to comfort her, but that was the last thing she wanted from it.

Please don't cry again, she pleaded with herself. By then her eyes had already been spent, and yet the sting of tears did nothing to sate the anxiety rising in her chest.

"Kagome," She remembered her mother's words, "When you're feeling overwhelmed, use your five senses. Now repeat after me…"

"Five things that you can see."

Trees. Clouds. Flowers. Birds. Smoke.

"Four things that you can touch."

Grass. The well. Dirt. Stones.

"Three things you can hear."

The wind. Distant laughter. My breath.

"Two things you can smell."

Sweat. Blood.

"One thing you can taste."

Tears.

Taking a deep breath, Kagome slowly exhaled the fading anxiety. She looked down at herself and grimaced at the sight. Smeared with dirt, dried blood and sweat, she was in no condition to show up in the village. Especially not in leggings and a tank top.

If she was going to do this right, sparking any unnecessary conspiracies of her attire was not the best place to start.

While her memories of the era did not serve her well, she was grateful that she had honed her powers to keep her busy in the future.

With great effort, she hoisted herself up and went onto search for clean wates. Sparing one last glance at Goshinboku, Kagome decided she was ready to greet the tree yet.

By the time night had fallen, Kagome found a secluded cave. Peering inside, she wondered if her luck was turning around or if this was an omen. Inside there was a lit fire at the brink of burning out, some burnt skewered fish, and a pristine white kimono with red and wite cherry blossoms folded neatly nearby with a yellow sash. Inspecting further, she found a hot spring at the far back of the cave.

Spreading her aura out, there were traces of demons in there, but it was too weak. Confident that whoever was in here was not returning, she quickly erected a barrier. Not being one to miss an opportunity, she gratefully accepted her findings.

Stripping of her outer clothes, she carefully fed it to the fire to erase any trace of the future. Next, she regretfully added her bra into the fire. Looking down at her underwear, she decided this one garment would survive the feudal era's scrutiny. By the time she had finished cleaning, she dressed herself and settled next to the fire.

Whilst she was grateful for the fire and clean clothes, the silence was all too much. Though the crackling fire offered some solace, she couldn't help but think back to her family.

There was still so much she didn't know. The demon that attacked them. How he knew who she was? What was their purpose? All she had to go by was the red hues that glared down at her in disgust. Shuddering from the events, she conceded that first, she had to figure out how far back she was sent. If the Kami's had sent her back far enough, then she was determined to change her impending doom.

With that has her last thought of self-resilience, she gave into a pitiful cry and let it cradle her to sleep.

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