Becoming Kagome

Chapter 1 - Happy 15th Birthday To Me… Again

A/N: Warning: May contain graphic violent scenes and crude language. It will contain a self-insert character. Don't like it? Then save yourself the agony and read something else.

I woke up to the sound of the alarm clock going off and I instantly knew that something was wrong. First of all, I don't use an alarm clock. My cell phone is what wakes me up whenever I need to go to work. Only- today was supposed to be my day off. The second hint was that I woke up in a room that was not my own. My room had one window (not two) with plain brown curtains (not pink), clothes from yesterday carelessly thrown over a chair, and more books than I should be allowed to own.

This room was neat and bright with warm sunlight. I haven't seen a room this cheery since I was five. I turned the alarm off and curled back into myself, more than ready to brush this off as a cute dream. Even though it was a dream, I still felt sleepy from staying up until two in the morning catching up with "Game of Thrones." I yawned as I allowed myself to relax and shut my eyes.

I dozed off.

"Hey sis! Wake up, you're going to be late!"

My eyes shot open and my heart leapt up into my throat. I sat up and stared out at the doorway where a young boy had burst in.

...What…?

He looked exasperated when I did nothing but stare blankly at him. "Really, just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you get to sleep in. It's not a Sunday, you know."

"Huh?" was my smart response.

"Breakfast is ready. Hurry up!" And then he closed the door and was gone.

I stared at the door for a good minute before my brain slowly started to wake up and crank its gears. Was it me or did that boy look a lot like Souta Higurashi, a certain character from a certain anime that I was unhealthily obsessed with back when I was a teenager? And did he just call me his sister?

Like a zombie, I slipped out of bed and walked over to the nearby vanity mirror. I should have expected to see a different reflection staring back at me, but it still caught me by surprise. Instead of my thin shoulder length brown hair that had midway outgrown its red dye- I had long thick black hair that reached past my shoulder blades. My face was that of a pretty teenager instead of a voluptuous twenty-something adult. I was staring back at Kagome Higurashi. The only thing that I could see that remotely belonged to me were my eyes, the familiar grayish green instead of Kagome's chocolate brown.

Funny enough, that was what confused me the most about this situation. I spread apart my eyelids to examine them more closely as if the first time wasn't enough. But the truth still stood. I was trapped in Kagome Higurashi's body. The only proof that I was still me were my eyes.

I didn't panic though I should have probably done so. I blamed it on the shock. Years ago, I would have been ecstatic to find myself in this situation. I would have run down to the well house and jumped right in. Now? I didn't feel anything. After all, was this really a good thing? What happened to me? Could I go back to my real body? Was Kagome possessing my body instead? Or worse? Did I die?

I had no idea.

I looked up at the wall calendar. I should at least get my bearings. I knew where I was, but I didn't know exactly when. If I recall correctly from the manga, this took place in the 90's. And true enough, the date was labeled March 2, 1997. Turns out that I already did a little bit of time-traveling already. I let out a tiny humorless chuckle. I should be five years old right about now.

I got dressed in Kagome's usual school uniform and almost left the room when I decided last minute to make the bed. This wasn't my room after all. It would be rude to leave it in a mess. After smoothing out the sheets and folding Kagome's pajamas, I brushed my...her hair and walked down to the living room. Souta was already there with his grandfather, eating his bowl of rice and eggs.

The old man glanced up from his newspaper at me and smiled, showing a giant gap between his teeth. "Look who decided to get up! Our birthday girl!"

"Good morning, dear." I saw Mrs. Higurashi walk out of the kitchen and set down a bowl for me at the table. She smiled warmly, "happy birthday."

"Good morning," I said with a weak smile and sat myself down. "Thank you."

The Higurashi's paused and looked at each other strangely before looking back at me. I guess they expected me to be more cheerful?

"Is everything alright, Kagome? You look rather down," Mrs. Higurashi asked.

"I just had a bad dream, that's all." I picked up my chopsticks and began to pick up a chunk of rice. This earned me more strange looks. "What?" I asked.

"No, it's just… the way you are holding your chopsticks…" Grandpa Higurashi trailed off.

I instantly could see what he meant. Looking at how they were using their chopsticks, I knew that my way of holding them was wrong. My chopsticks were crossed in my hand while they held theirs parallel- in a true Japanese fashion. I put my chopsticks down. "My hand hurts, I think I sprained it. Do you think I could use a fork instead?"

"Of course dear," Mrs. Higurashi instantly stood up and went to the kitchen to retrieve one for me. Souta and Grandpa Higurashi stared at me like I was an alien. I kept my eyes lowered, not wanting them to see that the color of my eyes was all wrong. My excuses seemed to be enough for them to not say anything further. Breakfast ended without any further hitches, though I still received concerned looks from Kagome's family.

I couldn't say anything to them. I didn't know how. How could I just up and say that I was not their Kagome? That I was someone else entirely who was currently possessing their kid like some evil spirit? Oh God, I could just imagine all the exorcisms that Grandpa Higurashi would use. He would throw salt in my face, stick a sutra onto my forehead and wave his stick thing around over a fire while chanting a mantra. It wouldn't work of course. I knew for a fact that the old priest had no talent for the supernatural whatsoever.

My best plan of action was to fake it until the end of the day. I'll pretend to go to school, avoid the well at all costs, and go to bed hoping that I'll wake up back in my original body. If there was one thing I did not want, it was to be dragged into the feudal era. I did not want demons after my life for having a shikon jewel embedded inside my body. I especially did not want to be stuck in a world with no plumbing, bug sprays or antiseptic.

Yes, staying in modern times was my plan. Well… 'modernish'. 2020 was pretty far off from 1997. Wifi and President Trump weren't exactly a thing yet. I snorted. I could only imagine the looks on everyone's faces if they found out what the future had in store...

I grabbed my school bag, not caring if it had the textbooks I needed or not. I'll probably end up hanging out at a park or something. Or maybe I'll hide out somewhere on the property? Yeah, that sounded like a good plan. The Higurashi Shrine property was supposed to be huge from what I remember in the show. Besides, it's not like I knew where Kagome's school actually was.

After saying goodbye to Kagome's family, I walked outside and took in the environment. The shrine grounds were amazing! I gaped like a fool as I turned my head back and forth. It was then and there when I came to grips that I was actually in Japan. My heart rushed with excitement. For so long I had wanted to visit Japan. So long have I wanted to experience its culture and here I was. How could I not enjoy myself? There was so much history. So many legends and mythos. Perhaps I could get Grandpa Higurashi to tell me a few stories later? I was about to take a look around when I spotted Souta next to the well house. He had a bowl of cat food in his hands.

Oh shit…

Not wanting to get involved with any half naked centipede ladies, I tried to sneak around the back corner of the house. But it was too late, Souta caught sight of me.

"Kagome, I need your help!" he yelled over to me.

I groaned. There went my chance of sneaking away-but maybe it wasn't too late to deviate from the plot. If I just left Souta alone, chances were that he would get involved with Mistress Centipede rather than me. I could not with a clear conscience allow for that to happen. Maybe I could just get him away from the wellhouse and then we could both be safe. I jogged over to Kagome's little brother and placed my hands on my hips, putting on an authoritative front. "Souta, you're not supposed to go near the well house," I scolded.

Souta pouted, "I know but the cat is down there and it's my turn to feed him."

"Just leave the bowl by the door. He'll come out when he's hungry."

Souta frowned at me, "he's too fat to climb up the stairs though. You know that."

'He's that fat?' I could have sworn that I had an anime style sweatdrop forming. "Then why did he go down there in the first place?" I asked, unable to hide the frustration in my voice.

"How should I know? He's a cat!"

'Kid's got a point…'

Souta looked down into the darkness and hesitantly called, "Buyo…" Then he scooted away from the door until he pressed against me. Okay, that was kind of adorable. "I don't know where else he could be."

"What, are you scared?" I asked.

"I'm not scared!" Souta rebuked but I could hear his voice tremble. "It's just so dark and creepy down there."

I peered inside again and I had to agree with the kid. There was an eeriness inside that made the air seem heavier...more oppressive. More...evil. The lone well stood there in the middle of the room. It was sealed up tight with a wooden lid.

A scratching sound came from inside and I felt goosebumps crawl up my skin. Oh no…

"Ah!" Souta jumped and hid behind me. "Something's down there!"

"Yeah…" I agreed and took a step backwards. "How about we just leave?"

"But Buyo's down there!"

"So?" I wasn't about to risk my life for a cat!

Souta gripped my arm and shook it. "So you've got to get him out!"

"Why me?" I could almost cringe at the whininess of my tone.

"Because you are the eldest! Ah, there he is!" Souta pointed. Indeed, a fat calico cat lazily walked out from behind the well, rubbing against the wood and staring up at me with his large glowing eyes. Almost like he was beckoning me down. "Just grab him and let's get out of here."

My legs felt like wooden planks, stiff and imobile. I felt scared. I knew exactly what was waiting for me down there and I really didn't want to get involved. But at Souta's urging, I found myself taking a step forward. Okay, fine. I just had to get the cat, right? Easy enough! I'll just run down there, grab Buyo and hightail it out of there. As long as I didn't dawdle, I would be fine.

Taking in a deep breath and then letting it out, I rushed down the wooden steps. Once I was down there, I reached for the cat. But as if knowing what I was doing, Buyo merely flicked his tail and jolted out of my reach. I gaped. Too fat my ass! That feline was as agile as a rabbit. Desperate, I grabbed for him again and again he dodged my hands and meowed. Was he stalling me on purpose?! "Oh come on! Don't do this to me!" I begged.

The scratching inside the well grew louder and I felt my time was running out. I lunged and this time, I managed to grab Buyo. Heavens, he was heavy! Not wanting to waste anymore time, I turned to start making my way towards the stairs.

There was a loud sound of wood splintering and Souta's eyes widened, "sis! Behind you!"

I didn't dare look back and I was one step up the stairs when I was grabbed from behind by multiple hands. "No!" I screamed. I lost my grip on Buyo and the last thing I saw before I was pulled into the well was Souta's frightened face.

"Kagome!"

I thrashed and uselessly kicked my legs as I fell headfirst. My eyes were squeezed shut and I could feel myself being turned around. When I opened them, I wish I hadn't. I was now face to face with Mistress Centipede in all her topless glory. Her face was that of a Noh mask, expressionless and terrifying. Her bottom half was all bone and I could see her slowly regrowing her flesh.

"Alive…" she purred in happiness as she held me tighter. Her voice was distorted and unpleasant. "Oh to be alive once more. Already my strength returns."

I squeaked when she pulled me closer.

"You have it don't you?" A slippery and extremely long tongue stretched out from her mouth and licked at my face, snapping me out of my stupor. "Give it to me!"

"Here!" I bellowed angrily and I knew exactly what to do. Shoving one of her arms away, I slammed my hand into her face and felt a surge of power well up inside. "Eat it!" A strong beam of light exploded from the palm of my hand and hit her full blown in the face.

Mistress Centipede shrieked in pain and let go of me, though one of her arms ended up still attached to mine. I screamed and tore the amputated limb off, flinging it away in disgust. The demon writhed as half of her face was missing. I didn't remember the anime being this graphic. "Wretched girl! I must have the sacred jewel!" she snarled before she faded into the darkness below me.

In that moment I found myself floating down in a sea of blue stars alone and I looked down at my side. There was a faint glowing right where the jewel was. "Just your luck, huh Kagome?" I muttered.

I almost expected a reply back in my head, but there was nothing but my own thoughts and feelings of anxiety. My fall slowed and I could see the end. I hovered for a second before I landed on my two feet, like someone gently had set me down. For a moment, I just stood there inside the well not moving. I could hear the birds chirping above me and I knew that if I looked up, I would see the blue sky instead of a dark ceiling.

I looked up. Yeah… I had time traveled. A glowing white butterfly fluttered down towards me and circled me a few times. "Let me guess? You want me to climb out?" I asked it. The butterfly flapped its wings and ascended up into the sunlight. It wasn't like I had much of a choice in the matter. I gave a huff and walked up to a vine, gripping it firmly with my hands. I gave it a sharp tug but it held fast. Good. I began to climb up. I grunted and huffed as I battled against my own body weight. "No big deal," I said out loud to myself. "All I've got to do is get out and jump back in. Then I'll fill the well with holy water and vwala! No more demons! Sam and Dean would be proud."

I pulled myself out of the well with some difficulty and had to close my eyes momentarily as the bright warm sunlight hit them. Blinking a few times to adjust to the light, I finally got a good look at the forest that I was in. It was breathtaking. The trees rustled gently. The sunbeams glistened through the branches with specks of dust shining golden like magic. I almost fell back into the well as it at last hit me like a cargo truck. This was real. I was Kagome and this was feudal Japan. I was in Rumiko Takahashi's InuYasha.

I pulled my legs over the well's side and sat there on the rim. I took it in. I took it all in. All thoughts of jumping back into the well evaporated into nothing. I listened to the music of the birds. It felt like heaven here. Like my troubles didn't matter anymore. I could feel my inner child fighting to explore. To go find that dog eared boy and save the world. I had the chance to do it so why was I planning to run away?

'Because this isn't a game,' I reminded myself. 'You are on the demons' most-wanted list because you are carrying something that is akin to a genie in a lamp.' Even with these thoughts, I felt my wanderlust awaken after so many years. Perhaps a little look around couldn't hurt.

Against my better judgement, I walked away from the well and deeper into the woods. I didn't know where I was going or where I'd end up. Yet almost like magic, my feet knew exactly where to go. I followed the sunlight while enjoying the gentle breeze brush against my bare legs. I haven't worn a skirt in so long that I had forgotten how it felt.

Eventually I came across the grandest tree that I have ever seen. It was giant and very old. It was the infamous goshinboku or 'honorable sacred tree.' They were believed to have special divine powers which is why they grew so large and lived for centuries. Or was it the other way around? I was drawn to the tree and I couldn't help but move closer. Like I had expected, a white-haired boy in a red haori and hakama was there with an arrow embedded through his heart. Fifty-year-old vines had wrapped around his body in a snare.

I had forgotten to breathe as I stared up at InuYasha in awe. I felt my eyes well up with tears and I quickly blinked them away. I didn't want to get emotional over pure nostalgia. Despite that, my heart sang with joy. Here he was with his long hair swaying in the breeze. His eyes were closed and his face was smoothed in what looked like a peaceful sleep. I looked around to see if anyone else was around but we were alone. I knew that it wasn't going to last for long. Soon the villagers would find me and bind me captive. I should have used that as an excuse to turn around and run back to the well, but no. There was still one thing I had to do. Even if it got me killed...this one thing was a must.

I climbed up onto the giant roots until I was standing right before the sleeping half demon. Hesitantly, I reached for his ears. I gulped. This was it. The was the moment! Gingerly, I pressed one finger against his white ear. It was so soft and fuzzy! I squealed. Gaining more confidence, I began to gently massage them with both hands. They felt so delicate and velvety that I was reluctant to let go. But my arms soon got tired and I pulled away. "Well, I guess I can cross that off my bucket list. I should probably get to the well before-"

"Get away from there!"

Suddenly something rushed past me and I screamed, pressing myself against InuYasha. Half a dozen arrows struck the tree around us in a warning. I looked over my shoulder and saw the village men glaring up at me. I grimaced. Why did I have to give into temptation like a stupid fangirl? I lifted my hands in surrender, "don't shoot! I'm unarmed!"

They surrounded the tree, bows and arrows at the ready. One man motioned at me with his weapon, "get down now!"

"Okay, okay!" I replied hastily, "I'm coming down." As carefully as I could, I climbed back down. Once I was on ground level, the men roughly pulled me away from the tree and bound my hands behind my back. The rope was thick, rough and scratchy and I could already feel the impending rope burn on my wrists. "You don't have to tie me up. I promise I won't do anything."

"Shut up. Priestess Kaede will know what to do with you."

I sighed in reluctant acceptance. "Alright, fine." And then I said with the most obnoxious voice that I could muster, "take me to your leader!"

The villagers stared at me with fear and suspicion as I sat there in the middle of the crowd. They had tied my legs up too- making it incredibly uncomfortable. I shifted as much as I was able. My left leg was falling asleep. I could hear the villagers gossiping amongst themselves.

"A girl in strange clothes…"

"Is she a foreigner?"

"You reckon it's war?"

"Of course it is! And right in the middle of rice planting season too."

"She could be a kitsune in disguise."

"Nah, them shape-shifting foxes are a lot trickier than that."

"I can assure you that I'm human," I called out as-a-matter-of-factly.

"That's exactly what a demon would say…"

I rolled my eyes and drowned them out. I didn't blame them for being suspicious though. This time period was literally the dark age of Japan's history. It was rightfully named 'The Warring States' after all. Compared to the villagers, I was quite the anachronism. They were poor human folk who if attacked by demons, would be killed off before anyone could say, 'holy shit.'

"Make way for High Priestess Kaede!"

"Finally…" I sighed under my breath as the crowd parted for an old woman with an eyepatch. Using her bow as a walking stick she approached me. She handed the bow to a villager and reached into her salt bag. "No, I'm not a demon," I said quickly. I did NOT want to be seasoned like a plucked turkey. "Salt won't work on me." It wasn't until after I said that was when I realized just how much of a desperate excuse that sounded to be. Kaede was no fool to take me at my word. She threw the salt at me and I closed my eyes.

"Demon begone!"

She kept throwing the salt at me until she realized that it wasn't working. I sat there, covered in the white powder. I gave a loud and unlady-like sneeze, scattering the salt. The villagers jumped like they were expecting me to sneeze out some monster. "Are you satisfied?" I asked her dryly while giving a sharp sniff.

"So ye spoke true. Ye are not a demon," Kaede acknowledged though the suspicious glare she gave me did not disappear. "But if that is the case, then why were ye found in the Forest of InuYasha?"

"Oh you know," I shrugged my shoulders. "I've decided to take a walk. It's such a beautiful day outside- no point in lazing around at home all day."

The old woman did not find my sarcasm amusing.

"She could be a spy from another village," one of the men whispered to Kaede.

"In that case she would be a fool," Kaede replied. "Who would invade such a poor village as ours?" She looked back at me again and her good eye widened in shock. My mouth tightened in turn. I knew exactly what she was thinking. She came closer, "let me have a good look at ye." She grabbed my chin and turned it side to side. I kept my face as expressionless as possible. Luckily, she didn't call me a half-wit and Kaede pulled away. "It's there…" she said in wonder. "Though I know not why."

'No, but I do…'

After deeming me harmless, I was untied and was beckoned to follow the old priestess.

The sun had gone down soon after and I was offered some stew from Kaede. I stopped massaging my rope burned wrists.

"Yes, thank you," I took the wooden bowl gratefully. I took the chopsticks into my hand and plucked out an onion, blew on it and put it in my mouth. "Mmm… delicious!"

Kaede eyed my strange hold on the chopsticks but didn't say anything about it. "Bear us no ill will, child. For though I now see that ye mean us no harm. In these troubled times of war- no stranger may be welcomed among us without deep distrust."

"No, I'm not mad," I smiled at her reassuringly. "It can't be easy for you living in these difficult times."

Kaede frowned in confusion, "ye speak as if ye have not experienced such a life."

I shrugged, "that's because I haven't." There was no point in lying to her. If there was one person I wanted to confide in… it was Kaede. She was old and wise. I was sure that she would try to help me if I asked. "I'm not from around here, you see. Not this country, not this time… not this world."

Kaede paused in her raking of the coals. She looked me in the eye. "Are ye saying that ye are not from this world entirely, but from a different realm?"

I nodded and sipped the broth. "It's a long story…" And so I told her everything. From the moment that I woke up in a body that was not my own to the point where I was now. Kaede stared at me with bewilderment. "So you see, I really need to return back to my world. To my own body. This body belongs to Kagome, not me. I can't take her life away from her."

Kaede hummed in thought. "I have not heard of such a thing happening in all my years. "Human souls cannot possess a living body that is not their own. It simply isn't done. But ye are quite human as I have deduced. So it leaves only one possibility."

"And what is that?" I pressed eagerly.

"Your soul is one and the same."

I blinked and frowned. "Sorry? I don't think I understand."

Kaede explained, "it is not unheard of for a soul to traverse through space and time. A soul can be reborn in this world or the next. Yours simply merged with Kagome's and took control of her consciousness."

I cautiously put down the stew and breathed out my nose, "okay… so what you are saying is that I am Kagome's incarnation?" There was no way I could believe that! I gave a little laugh, "yeah...sure. And the next thing you'll say is that I'm Kikyo's as well."

Kaede was taken aback, "how do ye know about my sister?"

Oof, I wasn't supposed to say that…

I wasn't given time to think of an answer when we heard the sound of crashing, splintering and screaming. The bell began to toll and my blood ran cold. Ah crap! Why did it have to happen so soon?! Kaede and I raced out of the shack.

"What's going on?" Kaede exclaimed.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry!" I blurt out. "It's my fault!"

"What are ye talking about, child?"

I felt guilt grip me like a vice. "She followed me here. I should have never wandered around the forest!"

"It's a monster!" A villager screamed and the ground shook. Dust was thrown into the air as Mistress Centipede rampaged. In her mouth was a horse, still living and struggling. I felt sick. This was so much more horrible in real life… The villagers tried to fire flaming arrows at the demon but she merely swiped them away with her long tail.

Mistress Centipede cackled evilly as the tossed the horse away. It landed with a crash in front of me and I balked back. Its stomach was torn open with intestines pouring out. "Ugh!" I covered my mouth and resisted the urge to puke. The demon's eyes met mine and she screeched angrily, "give me the sacred jewel!" She charged.

Kaede and I threw ourselves aside, barely dodging the giant centipede. I ducked again when she returned.

"It said sacred jewel…" Kaede gasped and she turned to me with fear. "Bear ye it still?!"

"It's inside me, yeah," I replied quickly and struggled to my feet. At this rate, though I won't carry it for long.

"I must have the sacred jewel! I must!" Mistress Centipede began to swirl like a drill, breaking through homes and colliding with the poor villagers until they were tossed aside like ragdolls. Everyone was going to die!

"Spears, arrows… nothing works!" A villager yelled angrily.

"We must draw it to the dry well," Kaede said firmly.

That was my cue… I groaned in frustration and fear. I was going to regret this. I was going to regret this so freaking much. "Oh, is that all?" I asked in a fake cheerful tone. "Alrighty then. Leave it to me!" I gave Kaede a thumbs up and began to run towards the forest. "It's where the weird glowy light is, right?"

Kaede reached out after me, "wait!" she cried but I was not stopping for anything. I could hear Mistress Centipede racing after me. I leaped into the shallow ravine and waded across until I made it to the shore. The forest was right in my sights ahead of me. I breathed heavily as I kept pushing myself to go faster. Run faster! My heart raced and I felt overwhelmed by fear. I wasn't Kagome… I wasn't! One wrong move and I would kill us both! My lungs began to burn but I refused to slow down. "I don't know if you can hear me…" I panted, "or if this is just a pointless attempt at my part… but please! InuYasha! WAKE UP!"

"The jewel! Give it to me!" The demon bellowed as it drove me up a giant hill.

I gasped and whimpered. Running up the hill was slowing me down considerably and I felt like my legs would give out any minute. The grass was wet and slippery. One wrong step and it would be over. "F-forget it! It's not… yours!" I had just made it to the top when Mistress Centipede collided into me. I somersaulted through the air and I gave a shrill scream. I hit the ground and slid across it with my front. I coughed, spitting dirt out of my mouth. Ow, ow, ow! My boobs were not airbags!

"Hello Kikyo. Playing with bugs now are we?"

I froze at the familiar taunting voice that I knew far too well. I shakily looked up and saw that I was lying at the base of the sacred tree. InuYasha was awake. His golden eyes glowed, baring down at me with an intensity that almost frightened me.

A/N: HAHAHA! ANOTHER FANFICTION! When shall I ever stop?! NEVER! Anyway, for those who do not know… this story is more or less a love letter/tribute to my younger self that was hopelessly in love with InuYasha. But instead of writing about myself from back then...I am writing about me as I am now. A full grown adult who has a little bit more brain cells in her cranium. Not by much though. I'm still very much an idiot. Haha! In any case, my relationship with InuYasha, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango is not going to be the same as Kagome's. How this will play out… is a mystery even to me. I can easily see myself introducing Miroku to the 'that's what she said' jokes and plotting mischief with Shippo, fangirling over Sango and… bickering with InuYasha. I guess that last one isn't too different.

Anyways, leave a comment and let me know what you think!