Chickahominy Creek

Of All Possible Worlds

Chapter 8: Preparations

Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Inuyasha.

One quick (but important) note: I reposted this chapter because there were a few errors in the first draft I wanted to clear up. However, when trying to get it back up, I was having trouble getting the whole thing to upload and had to paste whatever wouldn't take into the edit mode before adding it to the story (which is why the spacing is so odd after a certain point). Other than the spacing, if anyone spots any more errors due to the repost, let me know. For example, there is a conversation that suddenly drops off somewhere. Please tell me. I think I got it all, but I'm not sure. I'll try to repost this again later to see if I can get a better copy of this up, but so far, has not been cooperating with my efforts.

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Maybe if I ignore it, it'll go away, thought Soshiro as the knocking continued. His head rested on his folded arms, which barely fit amongst the mess on his desk and the keyboard. All in all, he had probably managed two hours of sleep the night before and the thought of rising just did not appeal to him. He had to give credit to whoever was doing the pounding though—he or she was very brave to attempt to wake him. And persistent.

Soshiro spent the previous night at his desk mulling, first over the events of the day in general—demons existing, supernatural slime, other worlds…demons. Once the reality of the situation had finally sunk in, he attempted a report for the higher-ups, but after discarding the draft on mutated fungus exposed to an accidental chemical spill at the water treatment center, he gave up and shut down his computer. If no one mentioned it—and who would? He sure as hell wasn't—then as far as the Tokyo Police Force was concerned it never happened. Hopefully. Maybe. It didn't matter. It wasn't like he could be fired. They had no one to replace him. Well, no one in their right mind anyway.

Needless to say, by the time he was finished, he didn't want to risk driving home and settled at his desk—two hours ago. Damn.

He winced as the pounding at his door became stronger and without preamble, he reached beside him for an empty coffee mug and promptly chucked it at the closed door. "Go away. Whatever it is can wait another hour or three." He watched the empty coffee mug with regret as it rolled along the floor from his position at his desk. "Unless you have coffee, then perhaps we can negotiate."

There was some shuffling outside and a muffled voice began speaking. "I'm sorry, sir. You have a phone call." He moved his arms away and let his forehead hit the desk. It was Reia, who wouldn't disturb him unless it was an emergency. So much for an additional hour of sleep.

"Who is it, Reia?"

"A young woman, sir. She called fifteen minutes ago saying that she spoke to you yesterday and you are expecting her call."

The young officer stumbled out of his chair and yanked open the blinds to let in more light before jerking open the door to reveal his partner. "I know who it is, and yeah, I was expecting her call." He held his hand out for the phone and Reia placed it into his outstretched palm.

He was about to return to the confines of the room when her hand reached out to restrain him. Dark eyes took in his face, which he knew was probably covered in marks from resting on his hands and greatly haggard. Unconsciously, his free hand reached for his jaw. He needed a shave too—badly.

"I'll get you some coffee," she said as she released him.

"Thank you, that would be appreciated," he said before the door closed.

When he was sure that he was alone again, he put the phone to his ear. He knew perfectly well who was on the other end and hoped that he didn't sound has exhausted as he felt when he said her name. "Nightingale."

"Good morning. You sound a little out of it." Soshiro winced. Obviously not.

"Late night, early morning. Are we good to go?"

"In a manner of speaking. The studio will be expecting us, so we'll have no trouble from that corner, but I couldn't get a hold of Yuimota himself. I got a busy signal every time I called."

Soshiro frowned. Yuimota—why did that name sound familiar? It was right there, at the very back of his mind. "Is that unusual?"

There was a bump from the other side of the line and then some music. Nightingale must have shifted. "No, not for him. He's rarely at home and he doesn't own a cell phone. He's always been difficult to reach. Come to think of it, it took me nearly a month to reach him the first time I needed to cross."

"A Tokyoite who doesn't own a cell phone? The strange just keeps piling up."

"Get serious."

Soshiro moved back to his desk and rebooted his computer. "I am serious. I honestly find it strange that the man doesn't own a cell phone. It's almost unheard of in this city."

"You don't need to know about his habits. Just trust me when I say that he'll get us where we need to be."

"Right, right." When the desktop flashed onto the screen, Soshiro collapsed into his chair and propped his feet on the desk. A single click had him linked to the Internet with the name Yuimota in a search box.

"When will you be ready?" Soshiro asked as he scanned the links the search engine had gathered.

"As soon as you can get over here. I'm already packed and ready to go."

"Packed?'

"Yes, packed," came the swift reply. "Which reminds me, wear something comfortable when you come to get me. Something you won't mind wearing for a couple of days."

Comfortable? He spared a glance at his rumpled uniform. The coat was unbuttoned and the sleeves still pushed pack slightly. There was no way he was wearing what he had on. He would have to make a quick stop to his own apartment before driving to Haven. Thankfully, he was only a block away from the station.

"Got it. Anything else Nightingale?"

"Not really, just pack light. Only what you can carry."

"Right. I'll be by Haven within the hour."

"Thank you. Until then," said Nightingale before the line went dead. Soshiro pushed the off button and set the phone on top of a pile of paperwork that he had yet to complete.

He clicked on the first link and began to skim, eyes narrowed at what he was reading. He was about ready to kick himself for not recalling the name. Dart Yuimota, the radio DJ from KMPA. Sure, there had to be more than one Yuimota on the Internet, but Nightingale had said "station," so KMPA fit the bill. A guy who disk jockeyed for a living was a guardian for a gate to another world?

Just what the hell…more wierd. Soshiro closed the page and pushed shutdown. Nothing made sense, absolutely nothing. Nightingale was nice, but he had no information on her whatsoever, yet everyone was getting ready to follow her into who knows what. Kagome seemed like a very logical and intelligent person, yet she was claiming that everything that she had written in a work of fiction was absolutely, one-hundred percent true. And Sesshoumaru—he had no clue what to think of Sesshoumaru.

And the worst part was he was going along with everything. Normally he would have investigated further, tried to come up with something any rational human being would accept, but people were having the energy sucked out of them and giant blobs of goo were coming out of faucets and attacking civilians, which was anything but normal. If he didn't do something, there was no telling what would happen. As much as he didn't want to believe any of it, his mind kept flashing back to what had happened at the theater. Whenever he thought the whole thing was a hoax, the image of Shizuka Himiko flashed before his eyes. A once vibrant person reduced to a hollow mass of flesh.

Never again, not on his watch.

"Is everything all right sir?" Reia's face appeared from behind the door, fingers curling around the frame.

"Fine. There are a few things I need to check out and I probably won't be back for a few days. Can you handle the office for awhile?"

"Of course, sir. Have you found something on the recent cases?"

"Yes." If one counted demons and ancient curses as leads then yeah, he had made some progress.

His partner frowned. "And I am assuming that you are not going to tell me."

"For now, yes. I'm still trying to sort through a lot of it myself, but maybe when this whole thing is over. Keep an eye on things here while I'm gone, work on some of the case files and see if you can't come up with something to give to the department." Soshiro moved to return the near empty case file he had been working on to the filing cabinet.

This would end up a huge mess, there was no doubt about that. He had no idea what he was heading into. It was like jumping into a thick fog without knowing what was on the other side. Everything had blurred outlines and vague forms, and even familiar objects were foreign in a place where light only made clues more misshapen. Of course, the only chance of making it through was turn off the lights and keep moving forward, an unsettling thought in itself.

Soshiro brushed by Reia as he closed his office door behind him. He had perfect confidence that his partner could handle everything while he was gone. She would be tough competition for anything that tried to cross her, but still…

"Be careful, Reia. The thing that's killing these people isn't human. I'm not sure what would happen if you tried to take it down in a head to head battle, but if it comes down to that, don't fight it."

"Soshiro?" There was worry in her voice this time. She wanted to know what was happening, he could hear it creeping into her tone in just behind the uneasiness.

He followed a sudden impulse and turned back to the small woman who had been his partner since he entered the force and cupped her face with his hands. Green eyes registered everything from shock to confusion, and round lips settled into an 'o' of surprise as she drew in a quick breath. Soshiro delicately traced one cheekbone, enjoying the texture of her skin beneath his fingers. It was so smooth, absolutely flawless.

"Do not go near it Reia. If something happens, by all means answer the call the station gives you, but please don't try running after this thing alone. It is more dangerous than anything you could imagine." His heart was pounding heavily in his chest. He hadn't realized it the previous night, but leaving modern day Tokyo meant leaving his whole life behind—jobs, friends, everything. He wouldn't be around to protect the things he cared about. Last night, the decision had been part of his job, but now he couldn't keep all of his doubts at bay.

But there was a greater purpose. Himiko, on the floor, broken and empty. Delicate limbs sprawled out and lifeless, face forever frozen in a look of absolute horror. The fingers curled around Reia's face shook a little. The facial features of the dead girl narrowed in his mind, became sharper and more pronounced. Skin darkened from ivory to sunny bronze tinted blue without the breath of life. Features in his head shifted to match the face in his hands.

Never had he thought of this woman as something he wanted to protect, but now that there was a possibility of losing her forever…his thumb traced the sharp line of one cheek.

No one else. No other victims. Not this woman.

The thoughts were not out of his head before his head lowered and his lips replaced his right hand. He didn't register the motion until her warmth flooded his lips. It was just the barest pressure, but he could feel her move to draw in a sharp breath. He had not planned the chaste kissed, but knew immediately that he would not take back the action given the chance.

When his lips left her cheek, he drew her forehead to his, and closed his eyes. There was a faint scent of lilacs—her shampoo?—and it only drew him in closer. Reia's mouth was moving, but no sound escaped. However, he felt her right hand grasp his wrist for support.

He pulled away to look directly in her eyes. "Don't go after it. Just stay here unless you're called. Please. You'll get hurt if you don't. Trust me when I say that what we're up against is very, very nasty. It will not spare you if you get in its way." He swallowed the lump in his throat. In fact, the thing would probably find her utterly delectable. It would enjoy draining every last vibrant sip of life. The thought alone made him queasy. His partner's face morphed from confusion to irritation, no doubt because he told her to stay behind and keep away. She tried to pull away from him and deliver sharp retribution for the implications of his comment, but before she could reach her goal, Soshiro kissed her forehead and abruptly released her, grabbing the cup of coffee in her left hand before moving down the hall at a fast clip before Reia had time to recollect herself and formulate a response.

There was no way in Hell she would stay away of course. She was too damn stubborn and with him gone, she would feel like she had to do double the work. But he couldn't help warning her. If something happened to her while he was gone, he wasn't sure he would be able to forgive himself.

He didn't look back as he moved swiftly from the building to his car. Second thoughts had no place in his mind right now. There were no other choices, but the final look on Reia's face haunted him as he opened the door to his car. The woman's fury was a stab in the gut. Part of him was screaming for leaving her without some kind of explanation, but another side warred that telling her what he was doing would only make her chase after him, which would put her in further over her head. If the world on the other side of the barrier was anything like what slithered out of Kagome's bathroom, then Reia wouldn't stand a chance—he wasn't even sure that he stood a chance of defeating something like that.

The car started with a little hesitation, but as soon as he was buckled in, he stepped firmly on the gas. He had already started, and there was no time to turn back. He would go to his apartment first, grab some clothes and ammunition for his gun, shave, and then pick up Nightingale on the way to Higurashi's. And perhaps more coffee, the cup in his hand was already half empty. Yes, lots of coffee. And some Tylenol.

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Kagome groaned when the weight of a furry paw on her shoulder dragged her from a peaceful slumber. "Kiri, not now." She took a swipe at the cat with an errant hand, but the black ball of fuzz was persistent. When his owner obviously wasn't roused by a gentle touch on the shoulder, he proceeded to pounce on her stomach, claws extended. Kagome let out a hiss as the cat landed, grappling with it until it released her grip on her shirt.

Kiri moved away as soon as she sat up, bounding to the floor and retreating to stare at her quizzically from a distance as if to ask "Are you up now?" Kagome groaned and rubbed her eyes, searching for her alarm clock through the bleariness. Her hands fumbled wildly over the nightstand until she managed to hit the black box. She jammed the snooze button and the face lit up—7:00. Shit. "Why, in the name of Heaven, am I up so early?" The cat got up and paced toward the door before looking back and giving her another "meow."

"Oh, right. Nightingale and Soshiro said they'd be here early this afternoon." The events of the previous day slowly meandered their way back to her. The creature in her bathroom—which made her doubt the sensibility of taking a shower that morning—the battle in her bedroom, the truth about the creature from the dig, Sesshoumaru caring for her ankle…the last thought made her shudder. She could still feel his tight grip on her leg, his tongue running carefully over marred flesh to leave healed skin behind with every stroke. The way he had cared for her, it had almost been gentle. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep to his touch, which meant that he had also carried her to bed. Kagome felt her face ignite. Yesterday, the two of them had somehow managed to come to some sort of truce, but still, the thought of him carrying her to bed and tucking her in—no, she would not let her thoughts travel in that direction.

Kiri was still waiting for her by the door, black tail swishing back and forth. Slit pupils stared at her, squinting slightly.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were laughing at me," Kagome grumbled at the cat, shoving the covers aside. She would make the bed later. Right now, her stomach was complaining that she had missed dinner, and thus breakfast was the first thing on the agenda for the day.

She found a hair band lying on her dresser and quickly threaded it through her unruly locks on her way out. Kiri was still standing next to the door, pacing back and forth with impatience. "I'm coming! Just let me pull my hair back." Kagome lightly brushed Kiri away with her foot, but the animal would have none of it, he simply came back and entwined himself between her legs.

With some impatience, Kagome swept the cat off the floor and shifted him to her left hand. "Alright, see, I'm moving."

Kagome opened the door and stopped, mouth gaping.

The blinds covering the window to the balcony had been closed the previous night, but there was still enough morning light coming through to illuminate the figure resting in her living room. Sesshoumaru, Demon Lord of the West, was sprawled out listlessly on her couch.

At first glance, the image might have been hysterical. The demon, clearly too tall for the furniture to accommodate, had his bare feet dangling off the end in a position that had to be uncomfortable. He was jammed tightly between the two armrests. One of his arms was crossed over his body, but the other hand nearly brushed the floor. The surface of the fabric beneath him was rumpled, as if he had shifted positions several times during the night in an effort to get comfortable. Kagome speculated that he never had. Although he had found one of the throw pillows to cushion his head, his hair trailed around his body and onto the floor in a steady stream of pale gloss that shone like melted water off ice in the light. The blanket that had been hanging on the back of the couch was now on the floor in a heap.

Yes, it could have been amusing, except the he had also discarded his kimono and slept only in his white hakama pants. She couldn't deny that it was a nice view. The form on the couch was thin, more slender than she would have thought underneath all the armor and flowing robes. He was built like a swimmer, all long powerful muscle—strength and whipcord. The deity that molded him had to be proud of such a creation. In such light, Sesshoumaru was a pale Narcissus wrapped in white, gorgeous but completely untouchable. A Pygmalion creation of marble made flesh at magic's touch.

Although Kagome tried to tell her self over and over that he wasn't that attractive, that he was a demon, and that there was nothing worth wanting underneath the pretty shell, she couldn't get her heartbeat to slow down to a reasonable pace. The severe mask he always wore was erased by sleep. With his features relaxed, he almost appeared kind. However, a few lines around the eyes and mouth told her that he was not untroubled, and his rest was not entirely peaceful. She had to fight to keep her hand from reaching for those features, to smooth away the stress that caused such unwanted imperfections.

Heat swamped Kagome's body and she felt a shiver run down to her core. Her stomach was in knots and every fiber of her mind told her to retreat back into her room until he woke up. Instead, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before opening them again. She still felt unsteady, but it had helped—a little.

Kiri wiggled out of her grip, using her stomach to push himself away. Kagome struggled to keep the cat in her arms, but she could not hold on and to her horror, the cat went over to where Sesshoumaru slept and began to nudge the hand touching the floor. Kagome nearly burst out laughing despite her discomfort when that same hand pushed the feline away, causing Kiri to pace indignantly before leaping up onto the coffee table to further study his task. "Kiri, no!" Kagome hissed from her place near the door. She knew exactly where this was going, but she dared not move any closer.

As far as she knew, Sesshoumaru was a morning type of person, but the previous day must have worn out even him. Kiri was having as much trouble waking up the demon as he had her.

After his first tactic failed, the cat went to plan B. He backed up to the end of the table to give himself a running start and with a burst of power, launched himself onto Sesshoumaru's bare chest.

It only took a fraction of a second for the impact to take effect. Before Kagome could draw in another breath, Sesshoumaru had latched a clawed hand around the scruff of his opponent's neck, glaring at it with enough force to shatter even the strongest of wills. Kiri just meowed.

Kagome could hear Sesshoumaru's growl from where she stood near the doorway. His fist tightened around the fur, but the cat still let out no form of protest. "You will refrain from awakening this Sesshoumaru in such a manner. Shall it happen again, I assure you there will be consequences." He threw the cat to the ground and rose immediately. Kiri shot him one last look before trotting back into the bedroom.

Sesshoumaru sat up and turned his attention towards her. "Miko."

Kagome flinched. "Sesshoumaru-sama."

"I assume that you are feeling better." His face still looked completely impassive when he said it, but if she wasn't mistaken, there was a slight glint in his eyes that set off a golden color.

Kagome managed to nod, not trusting her voice to convey some semblance of an answer without wavering. Damn, but she wished he would put a shirt on. It was extremely distracting, though she desperately tried to focus her attention elsewhere.

"I see," he said, low baritone rising just above a whisper. He moved closer to her, near enough that if she were to stretch out her hand she would come into contact with pale skin. Although his skin suggested coolness, she could feel heat sliding off of him and reaching out to wrap around her body. Her fingers tingled. She could feel every movement of air as tiny stabs of electricity roved through her hands. Just a little closer, a hair. She knew that she wasn't steady and it took every ounce of will power not to reach behind her for the doorframe. Dimly, she wondered what would happen if she were to take a step forward and close the distance. All it would take was a couple more steps and she would be—what was she thinking? And yes, there was definitely a hint of amusement behind his eyes. Damn him—he was actually enjoying her discomfort! This was not happening. Calm down Kagome. He's just trying to get to you.

"Perhaps you should get ready, miko. It will be a long day."

Kagome closed her eyes and blocked out the site and then tried to sum up every ill thought she had ever had of the demon. It was harder than she thought it would be. "Perhaps you should move out of my way," she replied in the best imitation of his arrogance that she could muster. Then, for good measure, she met his gaze with a glare of her own. To her credit he actually looked slightly surprised. Score one for Kagome!

"If you want me ready, you need to back off and stop acting like you rule the world. You may be a demon, but this is my home and you are a guest in it—act like one." She stood up straighter, spurred by a new flow of adrenaline. Another idea suddenly occurred to her. "If you don't move, I may be forced to purify you." She grinned. "I don't intend on hurting you, but it's been awhile since I've used my abilities. Who knows? I might just go a little overboard and turn you into a pile of ash." Honestly, she wasn't sure she was capable of holding up such a promise, but right now, she would be willing to try if he would just move.

Sesshoumaru wasn't visibly angry, but the light shifted in his eyes and she was quickly beginning to remember how fast he could move. Suddenly, she hoped that she could accomplish her threat. The memory of being slammed up against the balcony window was still all too recent for her comfort. Kagome took a breath and calmed herself, side-stepping the demon instead of moving closer to him. The small kitchen had never seemed so comforting. "I was just going to start breakfast when you woke up." She effectively broke away and moved rapidly toward the kitchen without looking back. "Do you need anything?" Probably a ridiculous question, he had refused everything she offered yesterday. Courtesy made her ask, however.

"Miko, for the last time, this Sesshoumaru…" Kagome glanced at him, the hand holding a box a pancake mix frozen in the air. He was glaring at her, the glint of amusement traded for analytical probing. She wanted to tell him to stop, that his stare made her uncomfortable, but she allowed him to study her. Finally, "I will have whatever you're having."

Kagome nearly dropped the box. What did he say? Did he just agree to have breakfast with me? Human food?

Sesshoumaru gave her one final glare before grabbing his kimono from where it hung on a nearby chair. "I shall join you in a few minutes, miko. I am in need of a bath and I shall attempt to use this…shower." He grimaced, struggling with the foreign word. The word had been pronounced slowly, but it was still off. Without saying another word, he turned and flung open the door to her bedroom, slamming it behind him.

Yeah, he was definitely irritated. Inwardly, Kagome berated herself. The last thing she needed was a pissed of demon in her apartment. As she began making the batter for pancakes and prayed that her bathroom wouldn't come to further harm.

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How dare she! That lowly, disgusting, worthless piece of flesh that wasn't even fit to walk this earth! Sesshoumaru let loose a low growl as he slammed the door behind him. The cat, which had been resting on the bed, jump onto the floor and dove underneath, thus effectively hiding himself from the demon lord's line of vision. Probably a wise decision in Sesshoumaru's estimation. He felt the need to rip something apart, and that cat was very conveniently placed on top of the bed.

But that human! She had insulted and threatened him! And I'm still not as angry as I should be.

He stopped at that thought, pausing in the bathroom. He should have taken more control and put her in her place, but he had done nothing more than acquiesce to her request for a meal and leave. It didn't make sense. He had said yes to the meal because he had decided to tolerate cooperation between the two of them. In order to get to Yulei, he needed the Jewel of Four Souls, and the only way to the jewel was the woman. So he would cooperate—for now. But that still didn't explain why he stood there and let her insult him. He had even bantered with her—and enjoyed it!

There was no clear explanation for that either. He had heard her before she even opened the door, had sensed the increased tempo of her heart as she shifted from sleep to full awareness. Before she entered the room, he had been about to get up, but upon opening the door, her scent spiked and twisted. It was the same scent that clung to her pillow, the smell that had followed him to sleep the night before only more mind blowing in its intensity. And then when he approached her, saw her quiver—it had been like awe mixed with more than a little fear. He couldn't help feeding off of it, but the result hadn't been what he had expected. Initially, he had probed her for the purpose of intimidation, but again, it had turned to enjoyment.

And again, he wasn't as angry as he should have been. Even the youkai in his essence had not responded to the barbs. Quite the contrary, it seemed perfectly settled, which irritated him further.

Sesshoumaru shoved the thoughts aside and folded his kimono before setting it on the sink. He had more important things to worry about than his reaction to the miko. Like how to work this thing she called a shower.

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"All aboard the Soshiro express. Please make sure all items are firmly secured as there will be no stops between here and KMPA studios." Kagome gazed at the man in amusement as he held open the door for her to climb in beside Nightingale, who already occupied the other side of the back seat. KMPA studios? She almost had to have Soshiro repeat the comment. Odd place to put a portal to another world.

"You look really different out of uniform," Kagome said to him as she climbed in. Instead of an officer's blue shirt and pants, Soshiro had donned a pair of loose fitting jeans, grey t-shirt and boots. Yes, quite a difference. There would have been no way to tell he was with the force except that there was a loaded gun strapped to his right thigh.

The man in question grinned. "Well, I was told to dress comfortably, and I don't get more comfortable than this." He turned to Sesshoumaru and pointed toward the passenger side. "You're sitting next to me. Jump in."

Sesshoumaru gazed warily at the metal contraption, but didn't hesitate in following the instructions. People were already beginning to stare in his direction as he had opted to retain his initial state of dress as opposed to switching to something more modern. Not that Kagome had anything that would have fit him anyway.

"You look well rested, Kagome," said Nightingale. She toggled her gaze between Kagome and the demon in the front seat. "I'm surprised that you two are still in one piece."

The other woman was far too cheerful. She had managed to tolerate Sesshoumaru's presence thus far, but it was a very tremulous tolerance. The image of him this morning still wouldn't leave her head and that annoyed her. It didn't help that his hair had clogged up the drain in the shower—and she thought her hair had been hard to get up. At least hers contrasted with the porcelain and was easy to find. She had to hunt the strands from his head. It had taken her twenty minutes to fish all of the strands out of the drain. He hadn't even bothered to help her! To give credit where it's due though, he did eat the pancakes. And took seconds.

"Is your shamisen with you? I don't see it here," said Kagome to change the subject.

"No, it's not. I love the instrument, but it's a little bulky to be carrying around for long periods of time. If we have to fight, it could break." Kagome must have had a quizzical look on her face because Nightingale laughed and waved her off. "The shamisen isn't the only instrument I can play. In fact, it isn't even my strongest instrument. I play best on this." The female demon reached for something that was beneath her jeans around her calf.

When she opened her hand, a flute about the size of Kagome's forearm was in her palm. It had a slightly odd sheen to it, almost like pearl but not as pale. It was closer to ivory in color. There were no valves and no pieces, it was a single reed with holes carefully carved into the structure. Nightingale offered it to her and Kagome took it carefully between her fingers, jumping when the cool rough surface hit her palms. "What…"

"It's bone." Kagome's head snapped up. Sesshoumaru was peering back at them from the front seat, staring at the instrument in Kagome's hands.

"He's right. It's made out of bird bone. Naturally light and hollow—resonant. This particular one was a gift from my father." Nightingale frowned slightly. "Not what he had wanted to give me, but it was appropriate."

Sesshoumaru shrugged, but didn't comment. What had she meant by appropriate? She handed the flute back to its owner.

"My father would have preferred to put a sword in my hands, like he had with my other siblings, but I just wasn't naturally gifted toward that area," Nightingale said. "I wouldn't trade my flute and musical abilities for anything, though. It is my gift."

Kagome shifted. Nightingale shrugged the matter off like it was nothing. It was obvious that she held some resentment about being the odd one out in her family, but she was completely serious when she said she wouldn't trade for anything. Kagome couldn't help wondering what she would have been like back in the feudal era with such confidence. To have such a clear-cut view of who she was—to know that she was completely separate from Kikyo. It would have saved her many headaches. An admirable trait in anyone.

Pain laced through her shin suddenly. A black blur streaked past her face and through tears, she met slit green eyes. "Kiri?" Kagome reached out for the black cat on her lap. The animal purred and snuggled closer into her lap. "What are you doing here?"

"He must have jumped in when I opened the door," Soshiro said.

"Well, I can't exactly take a cat through this portal, can I?"

"It's up to you," said Nightingale. "We don't have time to turn back, and I think he would be okay on his own. Cats are survivors by nature. And didn't he hunt for himself last night?"

Kagome nodded.

"See, then it shouldn't be a problem. Just leave him by the station. I wouldn't be surprised if he found his way home while we're gone. I'll bet he'll be sitting in your apartment by the time you get back."

"Yeah, you're probably right." She resettled the cat in her lap, running her fingers through its thick fur, taking comfort from the simple motion. It would be hard enough to deal with the oncoming task without the care of a cat added to the problem.

The city of Tokyo whirled by outside the car window, like wet paint smudged across an impressionist's canvas. It was one blurry picture of distorted reality. She could stand back and look at it forever, but never quite understand, never know the intention behind the masterpiece. Tokyo was a work of art, but the smudges made her doubt reality. The past several years, from her return to college life and after, seemed like some kind of strange vision. She should have been more scared than this, should have been more upset that the world she had so carefully constructed for herself was falling apart around her. Yet, part of her was still in the Feudal Era. There were times when modern life was foreign. She was asleep and everything since the well's sealing was a dream.

The tone in the car was friendly. Nightingale and Soshiro continued to talk with Kagome interjecting ever so often. Sesshoumaru predictably remained silent. However, when Soshiro pulled up beside the KMPA building, all conversation came to a halt.

Kagome reached for the door handle and pushed it open, Kiri making a noise of protest as she stood up. She stared up at the top of the building and bit her lower lip. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up, and her miko power was giving off a warning in her head. There was something dark up there. The others must have sensed it too, because all eyes were trained on the top floor.

"It's the same energy," Soshiro remarked quietly.

"We're not going to gain anything by standing here," Kagome said, and began walking toward the front door. She felt Nightingale shift beside her before moving in front, taking the lead. Soshiro also moved in front of her, gun held out. Sesshoumaru remained at her back. The sound of a sword sliding out of its sheath was audible when they walked through the front doors. Kagome suddenly wished that she still had her bow and arrow. At least having a weapon in her hands would have brought some measure of comfort.

Nightingale led them to the stairs. No sooner had the door opened than a shape came barreling down the stairs. Nightingale tensed, the safety went off on Soshiro's gun.

"Wait!" Kagome yelled. The figure was familiar—willowy thin, slightly taller than Kagome. "Midori, what are you doing here?" She came around Soshiro and took the girl by the arm.

"Kagome?" Glassy eyes met hers, gasping. "Hojo, he's…I couldn't…he's."

"Slow down, calm. Tell us what happened."

Midori took a few deep breaths, but when she found her voice, it was still choked. "Hojo was in an interview. Then ice, so cold."

"Where is he Midori?"

"Upstairs, help him. Please."

The others didn't wait. Soshiro charged up the stairs with Nightingale at his heels. Kagome had no time to reassure the other girl as Sesshoumaru also forced her to move. It was getting colder as they rose. By the fifth floor Kagome could see her breath drawn out in thin wisps. The top door was frozen shut. Soshiro cursed.

"Move!" Sesshoumaru moved passed them and shoved his body against the door. Demon strength sent the door flying. They filed in.

The sight inside was not what Kagome expected. Amidst a floor of frozen ice stood two men. The first stared directly ahead, his right arm transformed into a sword of ice. His hair was white, every strand covered in frost. Parted lips were a light shade of blue—he was gone. Another victim.

The other man was what shocked her. Almost as tall as Sesshoumaru, he stood with a wooden bo staff in the middle of the floor, pale grey eyes fixed on his opponent. Wild blonde hair hung down his back and flowed over his shoulders. His face was pale. He was shivering. His feet were encased in ice.

"Stay back." His voice was heavily accented, but very recognizable. Kagome had heard it almost everyday.

"Dart!" Nightingale moved her flute to her lips.

"Don't! I tried a sound attack on it already. He just reflects them back. It doesn't have any effect. Just get out!"

The other figure in the room didn't wait for a response. He turned and opened his mouth. Kagome screamed as bone shattering cold ripped through her. It should have brought her to her knees, but she couldn't move that far. Ice crept up her legs.

Her companions fared no better. Soshiro was cursing and bullets ricocheted off the other figure, but his left leg was firmly frozen to the floor. Every bullet hit a solid wall of ice that was brought up by their opponent. A natural shield. Nightingale had been caught against the wall, molding to it beside Hojo, whom Kagome caught site of for the first time. Only Sesshoumaru remained free, breaking through the ice as it rose from the ground. He managed to avoid becoming trapped but could not get past the barriers of ice that guarded their enemy. It absorbed every blow.

Sesshoumaru increased his speed, slashing at the barrier with a flurry of strokes, but nothing made it passed. He changed tactics and tried a slash of poison, but whatever it melted was only replaced by another layer.

Finally, he settled beside Dart, raising his sword into a defensive position beside the other man.

"Are you finished?" The figure had a voice a scold as his weapon, though somewhat sluggish. Sesshoumaru growled and Kagome could see a hint of red bleeding through his eyes.

Sesshoumaru didn't get a chance to move. He was interrupted.

"No." It came from the center of the room. Kagome scanned the room, but could not find the source of the reply. Finally, she looked down and gasped.

Moving toward the iceman with slow even steps was a black shape—Kiri. But not. As Kagome watched, her house cat shifted, limbs extending, bones twisting. His back arched, legs extended. Paws became hands and black fur morphed to a long fluttering coat and dark pants. At completion, a boy with sort black hair, fair skin, and slit green eyes stood in the cat's place. He moved his hand to brush through his hair, grazing the single earring in his right ear as he did so.

The monster grinned. "A boy? You are supposed to defeat me."

"In a moment, yes."

"You don't even have a weapon."

A smile graced the boy's face. He looked like—a cat with a mouse in its paws. A predator, fangs included. He reached inside his coat. To Kagome's astonishment, he pulled out a small piece of paper. "Quite on the contrary, I carry an arsenal."

"You're going to defeat me with a piece of paper?"

"Something like that." And then his hands moved.

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AN: I told you the cat was important. He is also the last major character by the way (well, not major. More like a minor character with one major role). You'll be seeing him quite a bit. I think I'll also enjoy molding a character who uses paper as a weapon.

Again, I would like to thank Hellspixie18 for reading through this for me. It makes my life so much easier.

I hope everyone enjoys the update and do not forget to review. I love reviews, even if they're only one sentence long.

Character Profile 2: Sesshoumaru

Name: Sesshoumaru

Place of Birth: Western Lands, Feudal Era Japan

Age: Lost count a long time ago

Race: Demon Lord

Occupation: Former (Current?) Lord of the Western Lands

Weapon of Choice: Swords

Current Status: Sesshoumaru, a demon lord in his own time, has been transported to modern day Tokyo. Since finding out that his kingdom still exists and that an ancient foe, Yulei, is out to destroy his country, he has grudgingly agreed to aid the miko Kagome and her allies. He has first hand knowledge of Yulei's power and is determined to find the Jewel of Four Souls to defeat her once and for all. If he has to put up with Kagome along the way, so be it.