“I won’t lose this.” Grabbing the nearby bow and quiver full of arrows, she vaulted out the window after the bird, only to be stopped by that infuriating dog demon again.

“I can’t believe you LOST IT!” he snapped, baring his teeth in aggravation.

Kagome glared daggers at the dog-eared demon. “It’s not my fault that the demon attacked. YOU were the one who came crashing through the wall and scared the daylights out of me. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have lost it.”

“You’re the stupid wench whose at fault here, not me!”

“Well how about this? How about we go after the demon and try to stop it, as opposed to sitting here yelling at each other and trying to place blame!” Her voice rose at a steady crescendo as she spoke, ending in a full-blown shout.

Without responding, Inuyasha hoisted the young woman onto his back and gave chase after the fleeing adversary, following the bird demon with his amber eyes on his prey. Kagome was given no choice but to hold tightly to the material of his clothing, praying fervently that she wouldn’t fall off as he continued his pursuit of the thieving winged demon.

“What’re you waiting for?! Shoot it, you stupid girl!”

Kagome blinked, realizing that she had been so busy keeping herself on Inuyasha’s back she’d forgotten about the purloined jewel and the fact that she was still clutching tightly to her bow and quiver. “Shut up.” Kagome tightened the grip her legs had on Inuyasha’s side for a bit of added support and stability. Cautiously, she loosened her grip on his clothing loosen and leaned back. When she was steady she drew an arrow from the quiver on her back and notched it. She drew the arrow back with practiced ease, resting her hand against her cheekbone as her sharp eyes took careful aim. In that instant an image flashed through her mind, a memory played behind her eyes… It was strange, so many people gathered and all of them silent. It was a safe bet that half of them were holding their breath. Kagome wasn’t sure whether the silence was reassuring or unnerving. Taking a deep breath, Kagome stepped up onto the wooden platform and took her position. Gracefully, she chose her arrow and notched it, drawing it back on the bowstring and turning her head to focus on the target fixed in the distance. Another deep breath and she released the arrow from her gloved hand, listing to the nearly inaudible fwip sound that the arrow made as it flew across the land, embedding itself an inch from the center of the target.

“Will you SHOOT already?” snapped Inuyasha.

The grating voice snapped her back to the present, and energized with the confidence of her memory, she took aim and fired. The arrow sped through the afternoon air and found its home in the bird-demon’s skull, abruptly ending its flight from them. Pride flooded Kagome and she grinned as she watched the demon fall. Direct hit!

Inuyasha made quick work of reaching the spot where the injured demon had fallen. The thing was still moving, obviously attempting to push the arrow out of its skull. “We have to get the jewel out,” announced Kagome, effectively stating the obvious.

“No kidding,” grumbled Inuyasha. Using his razor sharp claws, he sliced the thing into pieces, splattering blood, tissue, and bone everywhere. Among the remains there appeared the sparkle of the Shikon Jewel. It caught Inuyasha’s eye and he reached for it.

“Inuyasha, sit!”

The dog-demon slammed, face first, into the ground. Kagome stepped neatly over him and snatched the jewel from the chunks of dead bird. “Oh no you don’t. This is mine.” She made a face at the fact that blood and tissue clung to the jewel’s shining surface. Pocketing the jewel, she wiped the blood off on her skirt and made a face. “Now… I’m going home. This doesn’t belong here and neither do I.” Without another word, she began the walk back to the well, grumbling about the blood. She would never get the stains out of her uniform. Once, along her walk, Inuyasha attempted to get the jewel from her, but a single ‘Sit’ took care of that and left him eating dirt. When she reached the well she didn’t even give a second glance back before hopping in and traveling back to her own time.

Back in a more familiar setting, Kagome went straight into the house. A hot shower washed away the blood and demon spell, after a good amount of shampooing and liberal portions of scented conditioner. After the shower, a fresh set of clothing, and with a new resolve, she placed the jewel in her top drawer and went to find her grandfather.

The elderly man was sweeping at the stray leaves that had fallen to the stone stairs at the entrance of the temple. Kagome started towards him, a sweet smile on her face. When he noticed her approach he paused in his chore and offered her a smile of his own. “Something I can do for you, Kagome?”

“Grandfather, I was wondering if you knew of any ceremonies to seal a gateway between worlds?”

His brow furrowed. “What are you talking about, Kagome?”

For a brief moment, Kagome was tempted to tell her grandfather, everything right then and there. Somehow, though, there was just something about telling him that she had traveled through time to meet a demon and come back with a rather powerful trinket sounded a bit off to her. Besides, such a story could give the man a heart attack, and that was the last thing that she wanted. Instead she thought for a moment, then simply shrugged. “I just have this strange feeling about the old well. Whenever I pass it I just get chills, and I thought it would be better safe than sorry, right?”

As she expected, her grandfather took the vague bait and his vivid imagination took control. He nodded emphatically. “You’re probably right! They’re could be demons and spirits and the like trying to taint the goodness of our shrine. That’s probably what you’re feeling. I can do something right away and we can take care of the whole thing. As soon as possible. In fact, I’ll do it right now!” He rushed away, moving to retrieve the utensils he would need to banish the spirits and seal the well.

Kagome laughed at his reaction, picking up the broom that he had dropped in his excitement. “Grandfather, wait!” She ran after him.

He paused, turning back to his granddaughter. “Yes?”

“May I help?” asked Kagome, interest in her voice. At his confused expression, she continued, “I think it may be time I started learning a bit more about being a caretaker for the shrine. Maybe even a priestess.”

Her grandfather couldn’t have looked happier. “Of course, of course! Let me just get the ceremonial tools. And robes… you’ll need robes. Your mother should have some. Go! Go and change and meet me at the well!”

As her grandfather hurried off, Kagome couldn’t keep the smile from her lips. She had managed to make her grandfather’s day. Satisfied with herself, she started back towards the house, hoping that those robes had a pocket or something like one. She planned on having that jewel with her when she and her grandfather sealed the well. If its power could take her through the well and into another era, then its power could seal that portal as well.

-End-