[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 9 - Mistaken Identity
Three weeks later, Kagome and Nico were woken up by Souta, knocking at their
door.
"Hey guys, it's time for breakfast. Ya'll hungry?"
Kagome sat up and shook her cousin awake. Nico blinked a little and then sat up,
listening to Souta go on about how if they didn't hurry up then he would eat their food.
Kagome and Nico just smiled and got up out of bed. Kagome grabbed her jeans and bottle
cap belt. She then grabbed her Strawberry Shortcake baby-doll tee with the red trim and
un braided her hair. It had a little crimp but she brushed it right out. Nico was following
suit. She, too grabbed her jeans with the studded belt still in the belt loops.
Nico went over to the closet and pulled out her Rainbow Bright baby-doll
tee with blue-trim. She also un braided her hair but there were no crimps because of the
native blood in her. She brushed it out anyways and both girls walked out and downstairs.
Ms. Higurashi was at the stove making something that smelled really good.
"Ooooh, miso soup. Yum yum mom," said Kagome, giving her mother a quick
peck on the cheek.
Kagome sat down next to Nico and Souta and grandpa came in shortly after. Ms.
Higurashi served up breakfast.
"Aunt Higurashi, this is great."
"Thank you Nico."
"Mom, Nico and I are going to meet up with Eri and Yuri today at the mall. Is that
okay?"
"Yes, Kagome. What time are you leaving?"
"This morning."
"Kind of early isn't it?"
"No not really. We will be coming back home for lunch and then we're going to a
movie with the girls."
"That sounds great."
Everyone continued to eat as they talked. The family finished up their breakfast
and Nico and Kagome rant upstairs to put on some shoes. Souta had to help with the
dishes and today was his chore day anyway. The girls grabbed their black flip-flops and
ran out of the house. It was a beautiful spring day, with a lovely warm breeze. It was
perfect. The girls headed off to the train station.
They met up with Eri and Yuri at a favorite café of the girls. The girls were in
some kinda of heated discussion about something and didn't even notice Kagome and
Nico.

---

"Hey girls."
The girls continued arguing. It was about a boy. What a surprise, Kagome thought.
"Hey Earth to Eri and Yuri!"
"Oh hey Kagome. Nico. You guys ready?"
Kagome just gave an exasperated sigh and Nico laughed. They all headed for the
mall, ready to shop. When they got there, they ran into some more kids from school. The
boys quickly, who were now Nico's official fan club, followed Kagome, Nico, Eri, and
Yuri all over the mall, in and out of shops, cheering and whistling when the girls would
try on different outfits they liked. They all had a lot of fun. Nico had made fast friends
with Eri and Yuri.
About 12:30, Kagome said it was time to head home for lunch. The girls agreed to
go see the movie tonight, rather than this afternoon, and they would meet up outside the
theater at 7:00. Kagome and Nico headed home, starving. When they got there, they saw a
note from Ms. Higurashi. It said that she, grandpa and Souta went out to do some
shopping and would be back soon.
Kagome opened up the fridge to see if their was any food. She closed it
disappointed. The only thing she new how to cook, was ramen.
"How about some ramen, Nico?"
"That sounds great. I love ramen."
Kagome sighed with relief. At least she could feed them. She thought about how
much Kouga, InuYasha and Taki loved ramen. She felt the tears but fought them. She
cooked the ramen and got some for herself and Nico.
"This looks good."
"Thank you Nico."
Nico grabbed her chop-sticks and dug in. She started stuffing her face with the
ramen, just like Kouga and InuYasha used to. Kagome suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
She had to go somewhere. She couldn't let Nico see her cry. She didn't feel like having to
make excuses.
"I'm gonna go take a shower before we go out again, k?"
"Okay. Are you alright Kagome."
Kagome should have known better than to try and hide her emotions from her
cousin. They could always sense how the other felt. It was like they were psychically
connected sometimes.

---

"I'm okay. I'll be out in a jiffy okay."
She put on a fake smile. Nico could tell, but Kagome walked out before she could
question it. She wondered what made Kagome so said all of the sudden. She had felt her
mood change when she had said that she loved ramen. I'll ask her again later. Nico got
up and cleaned her and Kagome's bowls up and put them in the sink. She then decided to
go for a walk around the shrine while Kagome was in the shower. She loved the
peacefulness of the shrine and would go for walks a lot while Kagome and Souta were at
school. Also, lately, Nico had been getting some strange vibes from the shrine. When she
first got here, she felt as is the shrine was calling to her, but she just tried to ignore it.
Then whenever she would walk by it, it felt like it was pulling her to it.
She put her flip-flops on and walked outside. She walked out to grandpa's shop
and all around the house. She finally came upon the god tree. She had been told it was
very old. She decided to try a trick her mother had once taught her when she was real
little that she had been wanting to try for a while now. She placed her hand upon the tree
and concentrated really hard. She cleared her mind and began trying to see if she could
figure out the age of the old tree. Her hand began to glow instantly and she thought that it
was working.
Instead, the spot where her hand was touching disappeared and revealed a secret
compartment. Nico gasped at what she had done. She reached in and found a key. Nico
grasped the key, taking it out and turning it in her hand as she examined it carefully. She
wondered what sort of lock it could go to. It looked old and rusted but Nico could tell at
one time it had been silver. She stuck it in her pocket and decided to ask Kagome about it
when she went back to the house. It was a strange thing to happen, but lately all sorts of
strange things happened to Nico. So she wrote it off as nothing.
She was getting ready to walk on when she felt the shrine calling her again. She
remembered Kagome saying the shrine was off limits and had even felt a strange barrier
around it. She had told Nico that because it was so old, grandpa kept it lock up so noone
could disturb it. Well today, Nico's curiosity got the best of her and she decided with no
one here to get on to her, she would investigate it further. As she approached the shrine,
she saw a bright blue light appear all around it that she had never seen before. That's
funny. I don't remember seeing that before. Nico approached it carefully and decided to
try and go inside. The barrier jolted her back away from the shrine. She was shocked by
the powerfullness of the magick but she was also stubborn and really tired of not knowing
where this feeling was coming from. She tried again. This time, with a little hassle from
the barrier, she pushed through. She came upon the doors of the shrine and saw them
locked. The lock was old and silver and rusted. She tried to break it with her hand, but it
proved stronger than it looked. Then Nico remembered the key in her pocket. It's just
crazy enough to work, she thought. She pulled the key from her pocket and stuck it in the
lock. The lock came loose and fell to the ground. Okay, that was easy.
Nico's curiosity was far to peaked to turn back now and she was also starting to
hear a voice. What in the seven hells is in this shrine that has to be so heavily guarded?

---

She reach out and opened both doors. She peered inside and saw something she never
expected. It was a well. Now why in the hell would somebody go to all this trouble to
guard some stupid well. It must be the Fountain of Youth. Shame on you Kagome for not
telling me. Nico stepped forward and looked closer at the well. She saw that it was sealed
tightly and had some charms on it. She recognized them as ancient Japanese warning and
containment charms. When she reached out to touch them, they shocked her at first. She
drew her hand away and looked at the mark on her finger. It was real alright. Up until
now, Nico thought that she had been dreaming. But now she realized she was wide awake
and this magick was real. Again she reached out and, even though they shocked her, Nico
kept reaching until she was touching them. The charms disintegrated immediately.
Suddenly, the well began to glow, first a bright blue, then purple, then red, then pink. The
boards covering the well broke in half and burst off.
Maybe I should have just stayed out. Na~ha always said my curiosity would get me
into trouble. Nico began to panic. What had she done. Just as suddenly as it began it
ended. The light dimmed, then burned out all together. Nico slowly and cautiously
stepped up to the well. She looked over and down in to it. It looks like an ordinary well
now. Then Nico saw something at the bottom. It was a face! Nico fell back in horror
when she realized the face was coming towards her. When she looked up, she saw a
young man there. He was tall with short black hair pulled back into a small ponytail. He
had blue stripes on his face and wore very old, traditional Japanese clothing. He also
carried a very big sword. Nico couldn't believe her eyes. She pinched her self to make
sure it was real. When she looked the man in the eye he spoke.
"You are mine now Kagome. I don't know how that barrier broke but I don't really
care. I have found what I have come for."
"What!?"
"Do not try to fight me miko. I am Bankotsu, leader of the Schinin Tai, and by
order of Naraku, I am to bring you to him. I have been waiting a long time for this."
The man smiled sinisterly at Nico. He came towards her and, in the blink of an
eye, picked her up and jumped back down the well with Nico over his shoulder. She
fought and struggled as much as she could, but it was of no use in this position and not
while the young man kept jerking her around. When he jumped back out, they were no
longer in the shrine, but instead outside. The shrine, nor the house was there or anywhere
it sight. It was just wide open field and trees. It was like they had just jumped into a
different world. Nico was in a confused and dazed state. Just what in the hell is going on
here? Who is this Bankotsu and why does he think I am Kagome? Is he going to kill me?
Nico decided to ask the man. She had always been very bold and blunt. Especially if it
had to do with her life.
"Excuse me, but are you going to kill me?"
"If you speak again, I will."

---

"What do you want with me?"
"Nothing. It is my Lord Naraku who wants you, Lady Kagome."
This guy still thought she was Kagome. But what in the hell does he want with
Kagome. Does she know about that well. I bet she does. How dare she keep such a secret
from me.
"I'm sorry sir, but I am not Kagome. I am her cousin, Nico"
The young man stopped. He dropped Nico on the ground. She landed on her butt
with a thump.
"What did you say?"
"I am not Kagome. I am her cousin Nico."
"That can't be. I felt Kagome's miko powers open that damn well. You are her."
"No I am not. My name is Nico and I am no miko."
"Then how did you open that well? How did you break those spells?"
"I don't know."
"No matter. If you are not Kagome, then I have no use for you."
With that, he pulled out his weapon and raised it above his head. He was going to
kill her!
"Farewell then, Nico or whoever you are."
Nico let out a terrifying scream, as Bankotsu brought down his sword.

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