~ Chapter One ~

Roughly Seven Years Later…

"Souta!" Kagome ran down stairs, looking for scheming little brother. Now, just where had the little mutt run off to? "Souta!" Yet again, the little brat had seen it fit to steal her facemask for tonight's special masquerade. He'd done it earlier today and it'd taken her all of 30 minutes to find him. She sighed as she came to the middle of the hall. She needed it. Everyone was expected to dress up for the after-match celebration party in the expo hall. She'd been up in her private room when the runt had run in and taken it off the table.

She was already pretty much in costume. It was black ninja-like outfit. The sleeves and pants just below her knees tightly wrapped in leather ties. Everywhere else accept her waist it was loose to allow easy maneuvering in battle. According to her grandfather it was an ancient demon slaying combat outfit passed down through her family. Kagome doubt the truth in that, demons didn't exist.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she pulled her tight hood down, allowing her hair to fall down her back and then kneeled, moving to tighten her soft boots.

She turned around as she felt someone tapping on her shoulder, her form tensing up as if readying for a fight. She paused as she noticed it was a kid of about ten; he smiled up at her and held up a notepad.

"Can I have your autograph Miss Higurashi?" He eagerly awaited her reply.

She smiled, taking the pad and pen offered to sign her name. "Sure, kid. Now, think you can help me?" She handed both items back to him.

His eyes widened, "How? I'm just a kid!"

She laughed, waving her hands as she stood up. "Its not a big job, I just need you to tell me if you've seen my brother? He was dressed in a pirate outfit and would have just passed by here."

The boy pondered a moment, scratching his head as if in deep thought. His face suddenly broke out in a smile as he jumped up, "Yeah!" He pointed as he turned around. "He went that way, behind the big clown blow up balloon!"

Kagome nodded her thanks then took off in that direction. She stopped just in front of it and quietly snuck around it to the back. She paused as she heard laughing.

"I want to see it, Souta!"

"No way!" The younger boy said, "Its my sisters! You dared me to get it. Not give it to you!"

Kagome frowned. Her brother should know better than to jump on a dare. She came around to look down at the two boys quickly, snatching the mask up. The other boy ran off, quite frightened. Kagome stopped her brother as he was about to follow. "Souta! What did mom tell you about taking my things and taking up dares?" She frowned down at him.

He sighed, looking down at his feet in shame. "I'm sorry, Kagome… I just didn't want him to think I was afraid!" He looked up at her, his hands balled into tiny fists. "They always pick on me! And I'm not strong enough to do anything!"

Kagome blanched, suddenly feeling a wave of de ja vu come over her. She paused and for an instant saw a little half-wolf boy in front of her with yellow eyes in Souta's place. And then he was gone, Souta back in his place. She blinked, shaking the feeling off. She kneeled down and sighed as she took Souta's hands.

"You can't always listen to other kids like that. You're stronger by ignoring the dare. And someday, Souta," she spoke with a comforting smile, "you will be strong enough to fight them, like me. Until then, I'll be here to help you." She tapped his nose and stood up. "C'mon, I have to go get ready for the party. Go find mom and have fun till I come down."

He nodded quickly and dashed off in crowd, leaving Kagome with a smile as she shook her head and headed back to her room, mask in hand.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo o

"You looked great, hunny. I'm glad you decided to dress up in the old ninja outfitting. Your grandfather was very proud of how you did in tonight's match." Her mother smiled as she glanced over at Kagome in the passenger seat.

Kagome smiled as well. She had made first place tonight in the finals. One more tournament and she'd be ready to join the more advanced groups with adults. True, she was young, and very small to some, but she knew she could do it. It had been hard for many years since she started martial arts. But, she was actually making a name for herself. People were recognizing her. She wasn't just the 'runt who happened to get lucky'. People were starting to see her skills. She smiled.

"Yeah, I wasn't sure in that last match against the older kid. He had a hard punch on him. I managed to floor him though. Just think, if I can do this in next year's finals, I can join the adults, mom!"

Ms. Higurashi nodded, a worried smile on her lips. Granted, she was proud of her daughter, but like every mother out in the stands with a child in the matches, she got worried, afraid for her little girl. What if she was accidentally knocked out? She tried again, as she had many times before, not to think about it.

Kagome opened the door just as they pulled up to the shrine. Grandfather and Souta were already home. Grandfather had been complaining of a illness, so her mom had taken him and Souta home earlier before going back to the party which lasted late into the evening.

"Souta? Are you still up?" Kagome called as she went inside. She looked around. Quite a few lights were on, but no Souta. She arched a brow as she saw the back door was slid open. She went towards it, going outside and gazed about the yard. She saw him near the well entrance. "Souta?" She spoke as she came towards him, "Why aren't you asleep? Its getting late." She placed her half gloved hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at her on his side, "Buyo… I was going to feed him… but he went inside the well house." He motioned up to the well house.

Kagome saw he had a bowl of cat food in one of his hands. She sighed, "I'll go with you. Come on."

He shook his head, "But…! Mom told us never to go in there ever since you got lost as a kid, Kagome! She forbade us!"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "That was a long time ago, Souta! I'm practically and adult now. We just haven't gone towards it because… well… we just haven't…" She would have said because it was creepy, but she didn't want to frighten her brother.

He sighed, nodding as he set down the food bowl and followed her into the well house.

"Buyo…? Here kitty, kitty, kitty…? Come on out. Souta's worried about you," she called as she moved down the old stairs. She heard a mew and looked over at the old stone well. She jumped as she saw the lid on it moved a bit. I was just the cat, she assured herself. Not some freaky monster. She shook her head. Get it together, Kagome.

"Buyo?" Souta voice echoed in the old well house.

Suddenly the cat leapt out from behind the well and into Souta's arms. He barely managed to catch the bundle of white and orange fur.

"Well,… we found the cat…" Kagome muttered and moved to turn and leave.

"Kagome!" Souta called out, his face etched in horror.

She blinked, confused and freaked out as she felt arms grab her from behind and pull her into a fog of smoke. "Souta…!" She screamed. She struggled, turning in the arms of her attacker and instantly moved to fight back. She stopped and gasped as she stared at what appeared to be a woman with the form of half an insect. She looked like a centipede demon her grandfather had spoke of. But… why would it bother her now? Its not as if she hadn't been near the well house times before…

It hissed at her and she freaked again, placing her hand upon it to push away and suddenly a bright light enveloped the demon, making it disappear. She found herself on the floor of the well and looked up. Gasping as she saw the night sky…

"How the hell…" She whispered the curse to herself. Where was she? How was she going to get out of the well? She looked around, noticing the vines that clung to the sides. She hoped they were steady. She took hold of them, pulling herself up slowly. She blinked as she reached the top, looking around at the desolate clearing. Where was she? She pulled her legs over the side, hopping out and onto the ground. Maybe she had fallen on her head earlier? Maybe this was all dream? Was she knocked out in a match? No… this was all too real.

She looked at herself. And she was still in her costume… She sighed. And moved to go into the forest behind her. She stopped as she saw a giant tree. The Sacred tree! Just beyond those trees! Maybe she wasn't far from home… She suddenly took off in a full run. She leapt over a dead tree, easily falling into front flip and landing silently in a crouch and took off again.

She stopped, having come to the giant tree and gasped at the image before her. She slowly stepped forward. Again, she felt a sudden wash of de ja vu. Beautiful instantly came to mind. Tragic was another word that floated through her thoughts. He looked that way, an arrow sticking from his shoulder and holding him in place. His lovely long, white strands falling down around his silent form. His eyes were angelically closed, giving him a look of peace. His outfitting was a red billowing suit of some sort. Traditionally it was seen for fighting. Kagome had seen it before… on someone… but where?

Was he dead? She began to slow climb up the vines curling about him and looked him over carefully.

He looked so familiar, but how? She reached up, her fingers closing over the tiny wolf ears. They were soft as she rubbed them, she decided. She removed her hands, her fingers trailing down his face and over his nose. He jerked suddenly, and she moved back instantly, tensing up as she waited for him to move again.

His eyes flew open and he gazed down at her.

Her own eyes widened as a slew of images flew through her mind. A little boy… he was crying and taking her in a hug…. Bullies who had made him cry…. Kagome helping and making him feel better… She blinked as she shook off the images.

He continued to stare at her, sniffing the air and then growling. "Kikyo… you bitch! Coming to taunt me?"

Kagome jumped, flipping back and landing in a crouch at the ground below. She stood, "Who the hell are you talking about?" She dared to call up to him.

"It has to be you. You woke me from my sleep, stupid bitch. Don't play dumb. I can smell you. Even in those clothes."

She looked down at her outfitting and then back up at him. She reached up, pulling down the mask and the hood. Her hair came free, the short mess of it falling just past her shoulders. "I don't know who you're talking about. My name is Kagome. Say it with me. KA-GO-ME." She repeated it slowly. "And smell me? What are you, a dog?" Her nose scrunched up.

He growled, "No! I'm half demon, you wench. You know that!"

"Quit calling me names! I have one! Kagome!" She was shouting by now, her fists on her hips. She barely had time to notice something creeping up from behind. She turned quickly, dashing out of the way just as a large half fox-looking beast on two legs came barreling in.

"Damnit! What is it with these things coming after me!" She leapt out of the way again, watching as it barreled into a tree, knocking it over with sheer strength. She'd have to fight it. But… how? She wasn't use to taking on such large… demons, as she now assumed they were. She'd have to though. She stood and crouched a bit, waiting for the next attack. As he moved to grab her she leapt up onto the beast's arm and up into his face, punching, and then moving into a turn, kicking at its face. The monster roared at the sudden pain and flashing of light from her hands and foot. Kagome had barely a second to land, almost thinking perhaps she couldn't. But, somehow she did. Breathing softly.

"Let me out and I'll help you!" He called from the tree.

Kagome turned to look at the wolf boy, distracted momentarily. The tail of the beast came around, moving to hit her. "Shit!" She cursed, rolling away from it. She called out to him, "Why should I? You're obviously stuck to that tree for a reason." She leapt at the demon again, rolling under his legs and stood behind him. She kicked at his half bent knee, causing him to fall on his face.

"Because! I can help you kill him, wen… Kagome!" The curse had died on his lips. He wanted her to free him, not get angrier.

She sighed, thinking it over. "You have to promise not to attack me." She dodged the creature as he stood up and swiped at her. She flipped back near Inu Yasha.

"Fine," he agreed, snorting, "I won't hurt you. Now pull out this arrow."

She nodded, grasping it and pulling it out just in time to dodge the demon as he came at them both. She leapt on its shoulder, jumping behind him.

Inu Yasha instantly came at it, swiping his claws into the demon's hard skin, ripping it somewhat. He growled at it, leaping to the side and grabbing his arm, swinging him into a tree, smirking as he turned to Kagome. "Told you I could do it."

She gasped, reaching for something, anything. She looking around her, seeing… a bow? It was in the mess of vines that had curled around the boy, she reached for it in a flash. Turning she placed the arrow on it and aimed, firing just as the beast came to attack him from behind. "Inu Yasha, watch out!"

It hit the beast in the chest just as Inu Yasha turned to see the light consume it. He turned back to Kagome, wise eyed as he stared at her. Had she just spoke his name and saved his life?

She smiled, lowering the bow, "Guess I had your back…" Sudden familiarity washed over her again in that statement.

"Who are you?" He asked.