A/N: It's been a while since I've updated. *coughs years for this particular work coughs* I'm so sorry when I cannot get chapters out sooner.

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.

The instant lightheaded feeling was hard to push through. Every once in a while there were dizzy spells, but her grandfather attributed that to her thirst not being slaked the night before. And what a dry throat she had. No amount of water, juice, or soda had helped quench it entirely. She was still a vampire. There were sharp canines in her mouth that she could feel with the tip of her tongue. But Kagome had her senses once more, albeit momentarily.

A temporary cloth sutra was wrapped and tied around both of her wrists like bracelets to keep her in this state. However, there was no telling when she'd break through them. Luckily, the sutras on them were the exact same as the tattoo on Zero's neck and Yuuki would be able to subdue Kagome should anything happen.

The moment when this idea had been inspired and exactly when someone had managed to place them on her wrist was a mystery. It had to be during one of her random blackouts.

To think, an anchor was all that she needed to be able to function properly. To be human again or, if not that, at least have control of herself. Now the problem was finding one suitable enough to shock her into sanity and put a clamp on all those murderous emotions.

Kagome was a bit wane as her grandfather helped her into her bedroom at his little abode on the campus grounds. Yuuki came in quickly, a glass of orange juice at hand to re-hydrate her cousin should she need it. Kaien was close by fluttering around nervously like a mother hen. But Kagome knew that he was there more for Yuuki than Kagome. Sutras could give and break, freeing the beast. He wanted to make sure they were fine together in the same room.

A sip of orange juice almost had Kagome gagging at the sour taste. However, the dampened taste for human beverages did nothing to discourage the priestess. Kagome intended on going through drinks today like a hay fevered Kaien went through tissues. Anything that might help was worth trying. And the way the younger of the two women doted after the other was heartwarming. "I'll leave you two to search here," spoke the headmaster. "I must speak with the vampire council." And more importantly, Kaname. Kaien knew that the pureblood had plans and it was his intention to see whether or not his own would get in the way of Kaname's. Kagome was his granddaughter and she needed him and his protection. Even if it meant crossing a line he hadn't in years and taking up a mantle he'd left behind in the dust.

The headmaster disappeared out of the room driven by purpose, but not without a warning glance cast to Yuuki and the bracelet around her wrist. That look said it all: Don't hesitate to act. I trust you to keep yourself safe.

"I wish I knew what we were looking for," stated Kagome as Yuuki began opening her cousin's nightstand. That was the only place Kagome had placed items she'd valued. Everything else had been left at the shrine, too painful to bring with her and too painful to look at. Very likely it was buried there, but that was one place that Kagome didn't want to return to now that she'd settled in here and made a clean break.

"Anything important to you. There can't be that many things here," murmured Yuuki, holding up a simple yo-yo and not knowing it had been a favorite toy of Shippo's. Her dark brown eyes floated questioningly over to Kagome. "Can there?"

The priestess shook her head and took the offered yo-yo. There were a few little scratches over the shiny polished covering from Shippo's claws when he'd gripped onto it after Inuyasha had threatened to take it from him one time. "Only what I brought with me from the past. Most of that's at the shrine." Where Aidou and Zero were headed with Yagari. Now, that was a group laden with tension that Kagome didn't like to think about as she dropped the yo-yo in the cloth bag Yuuki had brought. Kagome glanced at some of her photographs and fingers skimmed over the smooth wooden frame holding a family portrait. The pads of her fingers traced that child's chubby cheeked laughing face and her late-husband's very rare smile. The ache existed, but it no longer tore at her to the point of tears at the very thought of them.

It seemed that she'd finally began moving on.

Those first few months after her return had been the worst period in her life. To call it a healing period was a lie.

"Do you miss them?" Kagome slid the portrait into the dark recesses of the bag.

Continuing through their project, Kagome got down on her knees to sort through the items Yuuki had pulled out of the nightstand. "Always, but that doesn't hinder me from moving on." Knowing what Yuuki really was, knowing what lay dormant in that little girl, and knowing that one's inner monsters could destroy you if you didn't face them… Kagome placed a hand over Yuuki's own. This secret had made her cousin live in a shadow of withdrawn bashfulness not realizing her full potential or the love that was very much returned for her. It was maddening for a self-made woman like Kagome to see the flame that Yuuki could be and know that someone was holding her back. He loved her, but Yuuki didn't think she was worth anything in his eyes and that's what really pissed of Kagome. Yes, Kagome agreed with Kaname that it was safer to keep Yuuki in the dark. But Yuuki deserved to have that choice in her own hands. "Never feel inferior to him," Kagome found herself saying. Bright blue eyes tried to urge Yuuki to listen to her on this of all topics. "You of all people shouldn't. Just be yourself."

"How can I when he's a-"

"A man, Yuuki. Kaname is a man," admonished Kagome. "He's just a little different." As are you, she wanted to say. It was torture keeping a secret that would anger her little cousin for knowing she kept back. Despite her strong allegiance to Kaname, Kagome felt herself rebelling. If she were in Yuuki's shoes, she would want to know the truth no matter how dark and bloody it was. At least, wouldn't she?

To have everything you once were wiped away.

While such an idea was a balm, it was terrible to not know who you were and to feel yourself at war with wondering. She'd felt it the once when she'd been under a spell thinking the others had never happened, thinking she'd never gone to the past, but her unconscious had seeped through revealing a Sango and Miroku in her future world, giving her signs and clues to wake up.

The pretty little flush on Yuuki's face at the thought of Kaname reminded Kagome that her cousin was so young. At least, in regards to what she'd experienced. Yuuki was about the same age Kagome was when she'd gone to the past.

Kagome forced herself to think of it in vampire terms.

Maybe Kaname wanted Yuuki to grow up unhindered from what was a terrible bloody past. Their own society was literally a bloodthirsty one seeking to drive their fangs into the few purebloods that remained. Kagome could admire that reason alone to protect the one you loved.

Shaking hands reached out and swept Yuuki into a hug. Holding Yuuki and loving her for what she was, what lay hidden, and what could be. How much harder would her cousin be if she were a vampire? If she'd gone through that terrible mourning with Kaname when his, or rather her, parents died… It would have changed her and made her more tactical. Not as bright and happy as she was now. But then again, Kaname might be happier. And her cousin might be the one being needed to change all vampires forever. To make a brighter future. Kagome could see someone touched by fate when she had eyes to see them with. Hadn't she been touched once before?

Fingers dug into Yuuki's clothes as she buried her face in her cousin's shoulders. Clinging to the decision that had honestly been made long before the internal struggle had began in Kagome's mind. If she did this then there would be no going back. Kaname might hate Kagome despite their centuries enduring friendship.

"Are you scared, Kagome?"

There were many things to be scared for. For Yuuki. For Kaname. For herself. For everyone that she loved. And most of all for the future. She'd felt this fear before, being stuck in the past and terrified her own future would change if she didn't succeed. She'd had to listen to her mother and stop it. Just stop worrying and take things one step at a time.

"Yes, but sometimes it's good to be scared." It reminded her that she was alive and there were people to live for. Pulling away rather bashfully and trying to hide her eyes from lying to Yuuki was a hard feat. Kagome tried to ardently appeared distracted with the keychain she'd been given on her fifteenth birthday of the Shikon no Tama. Next to her knee were a pack of crayons that had belonged to Shippo. Taisho's wooden rattle. Inuyasha's necklace. So many memories, so many wounds that she want to reopen. No, staying in the present was a better thing than letting the past try to overcome her. "Right now, I'm more worried about Zero and Aidou killing each other," she joked, earning a laugh from Yuuki.

And then the silence came and Kagome knew what she was doing went against everything Kaname possibly wanted. But mayhap it was time to give him what he needed rather than what he wanted.

"Yuuki…" She gathered her courage. She was risking her friendship with Kaname, but was she not also risking her friendship with Yuuki if she did nothing? "I know someone who might… who can help you remember. Your past. Your parents. Everything."

Kaname sat patiently despite the lack of sleep. He'd been unable to get a wink. Such was hard to do knowing that a beast, and best friend, was being tamed. This was where it all hung waiting for this significant queenly piece to come into play. If the beast could not be tamed than it was likely to be a sacrifice. Kaname would endure even if it broke his heart to lose a trusted friend, especially when he had so few left. If however, Kagome succeeded in the impossible, then she would help him elevate what appeared to be a lowly pawn to queenship as well. Kagome could prime Yuuki into something stronger for their world. Why have one queen on the board when you could have many? It all rested on her shoulders.

And now, the rook came in. The tower that represented peace and yet was powerful enough to throw down any enemy: her grandfather.

"Kaname, what are your intentions?"

"The walls have ears," Kaname murmured, very much aware of the spying that had been going on. Ichijou was almost always near, but today he was silent and his presence had all but deserted Kaname. He knew the young man was contemplating all that had been revealed to him. Ichijou's allegiance may yet be won or lost. And the raven… that pesky thing had yet to leave his window, always circling back at some point or another, always reminding him of her presence. Oh, the papers were being pushed through. He would sign them and grant access to the night class, after he had all of his pawns in position.

"Even so, she is my granddaughter." Kaien was firm in his resolve. He was going to do it no matter what, if only to remain on the good side of the hunter's guild and to provide leverage should they even consider hurting Zero as well. But nevertheless, Kaien wanted to make it known to this vampire in case there were any repercussions he'd yet to think of. As one with many years of age under his belt, the headmaster and vampire hunter could recognize age behind a young face. Age counted for something, experience and thoughtfulness. "I am going to resume my former occupation within the hunter's guild." Now that was something Kaname hadn't expected. "In this way, I can protect both her and Zero… especially if things go in a direction the guild would not approve of... or rather, I would not approve of." The headmaster would be able to overhear what went on within the hunter's society with his own eyes and ears.

"You are a pacifist," argued the vampire.

"I am a father and a grandfather as well," blurted Kaien. "My daughter has spent her life crafting the artifacts to destroy your kind on the solemn truce that the guild would only hunt the wicked." She had a strong sense of right, his daughter, and he was all the more proud of her for it. So much like her late mother. "My granddaughter is beloved by the league." He'd taught her basic hand-to-hand when she was a child, never knowing the life she would lead and just how important his lessons would be for her in her future. Years she'd spent trailing after him in his shadow, making friends, being the teased and called little sister by every older vampire hunter. He was depending on her alliances to help should things come to pass and become unbearable. "She and Zero could perhaps be the key to forming a bond between the hunters and vampires. Two vampires hunting for them." He voiced it, the possibility that she might not return to humanity.

If the duo did not help with the bond, then they could help sow discord within the council. Their very presence would make half the council wary of destroying vampires for their love of Kagome and their reverence for the Kiryuu family. The other half would see them as a smear in their otherwise perfect human community. A community that might not be needed in the future if all vampires became as docile as Kaname appeared to be.

Kaname picked up the rook, balancing it on his fingers. He slid the piece forward, advancing him into a position not too far from the queen and not too far from the knight. A patient little pawn stood in the wings bordering the other side close to queen-hood. She was waiting with the bishop nearby; the jester as it was known by the French. The very jester that Kaname had created to owe him allegiance for drinking Yuuki's blood. "Proceed as you wish." Kaname needed new faces, not just within his world but the hunter's as well. Things seemed to be shaping up far too well for him.

Kaien nodded. "I intended to, regardless."

"Nevertheless," spoke Kaname, "let me know at first sign how it goes with Kagome." He prayed a miracle happened. Miracles seemed to happen quite a bit around that girl and Kaname wasn't one to forget the legend and myth that was fact. "I'm interested in her well-being." If she succeeded, there might be hope for the rest of them.

The tension emitting from the two in the back seat was enough for Toga Yagari to yearn for the smokes he'd dutifully left at Kaien's house when he'd gone to pick up the two young men. His lips even twitched a bit as if waiting for a slim one to slide in his mouth. If he so much as smoked at the shrine Rina would have his ass.

Zero and Aidou had been sitting as far away from each other in the back seat as possible. Aidou, with a hat and shades on, pretending to be indifferent to Zero's presence. Zero glaring out the window with his fist balled up at his side, hand flexing every once in a while as if to grab for his gun. Yagari pulled up to the shrine and parked in the back next to Rina's beat up station wagon that was always in need of repair.

The two young men made to bolt for the door, but Yagari flipped the switch up front and promptly locked all of the doors.

That was it!

"I don't know if you know this kid," he said with a look aimed at the aristocratic vampire, "but we're going to see Kagome's mother."

"I know very well-"

Fingers tapped against the steering wheel impatiently as Yagari cut in, "It would benefit the both of you to suck it up. If you want to find something to help Kagome, you're going to need to work together." That struck a chord. Both men vied for her affections and the only reason they'd agreed to ride together was to help her if not to show up the other. "And if you want her mother to let you touch any of her things, you're going to need to play nice. That goes for you too, Kiryuu." Rina would undoubtedly smell that foul mood as soon as they were in hindsight.

Just thinking of the matron of this shrine had Yagari uncomfortable. He'd known her most of his life. She'd meddled enough to have Yagari over all the time as a child. He'd constantly cat-called at her and taunted her when they were kids. Rina had chased after him when he was little… and turned around and left for school after a few years only for their next meeting to open up his teenage eyes… dear god, she'd grown. He could remember going to the shrine on one of his first actual missions, back when he had both eyes. He'd been ready to retrieve destructive items to kill vampires. Rina had come back for summer break to the shrine that had been in her family forever, her father's shrine that he'd gifted to her mother's family, the origin for the name Higurashi. Know that woman to take her mother's name. She'd come outside in a floral miniskirt and tank top, boobs bursting and hips flared out with a wedding band on her finger. Not at all knobbly-kneed and bothersome. And suddenly the pest was the hardest person to talk to when he'd once teased her relentlessly as a child.

Yagari stepped out, not even waiting for the two angst ridden men to follow, and took off towards the back door. He had barely reached for it when a light sweet voice called to him. "Toga, is that you?" After all these years and she still managed to make his palms go into a nervous sweat. She was older than him, but you wouldn't know it from her appearance. Kaien Cross's inability-to-age-DNA was a strong thing to be reckoned with. And she definitely oozed that peppy can-do attitude her father and daughter both had. The only woman, nay the only person, Toga let call him by his first name.

The vampire hunter turned around and gave her a weak nod, "Rina. It's good to see you again." It was always good to see her. Rina's hair had a lovely way of curling around her face, even when it was short now. This was why he tried not to come here. For one, Zero was smirking like he knew something when that boy didn't know a goddamned thing! Even Aidou thought he knew what was going on! But it was simply two old acquaintances seeing one another again. And he was just taking in her figure to make sure she was well and healthy.

Fuck, she'd said something and he hadn't heard. She'd put something glossy on her lips that was distracting his train of thought. "I'm sorry Rina… I…"

"Spaced out," supplied Zero, desperately trying to hold back a faint glimmer of a grin.

The elder man's elbow shot out, hitting Zero in the chest, as he hastily smiled back at Rina. "I'm sorry that we're visiting under…" Dammit, what was the word? Why couldn't he be better with his words and saying things? "-Such terrible circumstances." Thank god, Souta was standing behind his mother mouthing the words to help Toga. He owed that kid. Screw the two behind him that were laughing it up. Sota was his only ally. Did everyone know about his affection for Rina Higurashi?

"I'm glad you've come regardless of the situation, it's been too long," she murmured. Heart in her eyes in a way that made him lose his breath. Get it together, Yagari! She's just a woman. Just a woman. Just a curvaceous woman whose been taunting me since we were kids.

Shit, she'd spoken again. He caught half of it this time though, he'd prepared himself. "-this young man behind you?"

"Oh, this is-"

"Hanabusa Aidou," introduced the elegant blonde, bowing dramatically over Rina's hand and all. "It's a pleasure to meet Kagome's mother. I had hoped it would have been on a date."

"Oh my? Are you and Kagome dating?" Rina didn't expect three different responses.

"Yes." "For now." "Until he fucks up."

She blinked back the shock, taking in the faces that had matched the responses. Cheerful Aidou, disinterested Yaguri, and pissed off Zero. Three golden guesses which one cursed. Rina shook her head, trying to hide back her own reaction. She'd always known. If Zero didn't look away from his own troubles he'd miss it. And she'd had such high hopes for the two of them. It appeared luck favored the bold.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you!" She threw her arms around Aidou in the cheeriest manner possible to dissuade any notions of the bittersweet mood that had passed over her.

Yagari wondered if Rina was always this overly friendly to strangers. If so, he needed to come around more often and make sure she didn't let in any crazies by accident when she was being too kindly. He could see it now, her letting in a vampire disguised as a homeless man for tea. "You do know why your father sent us?" He'd hoped that crazy old bat had expressed the scavenger hunt they were on and not just the circumstance that had brought them. Know that old coot to send him there with the impression that he was coming to comfort Rina rather than offer a solution. Kaien was as subtle as a bee sting when it came to steering Yagari towards Rina.

"Oh, yes. Come in, come in," she waved them through the door. "Zero knows where Kagome's room is. Souta you show Aidou where he can put his shoes before he goes upstairs." Before Yaguri could make it to the stairs, she'd grabbed his arm and tugged on it, bringing him back down so that they were alone. "Toga." Her voice was seconds away from breaking.

"Rina?"

"How is she?" All pretenses of happy house warmer were gone and what was left was a worried mother. His blasted tongue felt drier than if he'd left it out lying in the desert. And the way she was looking at him... he'd never been able to lie to her and he sure as hell wasn't about to start.

"The man who murdered her child is at the school. How do you think she's taking it?"

"Oh, I could kill him! I want to kill him! He killed Inuyasha and my grandson!" Rina had a glow of her own of priestess energy, it was fainter than her daughter's, but it was there nevertheless. Furious tears were falling down her cheeks. "Why didn't my father slay him right then and there?"

"I keep asking myself the same thing," grunted Yaguri with a shake of the head.

"Doesn't he care about her sanity? About what she's been through?"

"Rina," he murmured, opening his arms as he'd always had even when they were children. Giving her the comfort she sought and wishing as always that their embrace meant something else entirely. "Your father does care. It's just that this situation is complicated." When weren't things complicated? Everything often had a habit of going from well to shitty within seconds. There was no in between. "It would've started a war. You know slaying an aristocrat would start blood shed on both sides. And our side would fight for her." The tale of Kagome's tragedy was known far and wide throughout the hunter community. No one mentioned it in front of her because no one wanted to break what fragile life she still had.

Arms locked around Rina and she sighed, knowing he was right. Faced buried against his chest, Rina sniffed lightly at his neck. Mildly disappointed he thought she'd started crying, a small hopeful part of him had hoped she'd been soothed by his presence. But when Rina pulled away there was no mistaking that spark behind them. She'd been sniffing him! "You're still smoking, Toga!"

A/N: Yeah, Kagome is setting things in motion. I'm trying to keep it relatively different from the story while still sticking to main story points. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and I'm very sorry about the long wait! : D