Broken

Chapter 7: Choices

~Sengoku Jidai~

Kagome opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times when all that met her vision was pure white. Was this the afterlife? Heaven? Hell? Was blankness all that there was after you died? What happened to golden roads and never-ending buffets of your favorite foo-

Kagome lurched forward and suddenly the overwhelming white left her vision only to be replaced with a fast-approaching, not-so-soft-looking ground. Kagome hadn't realized how high Inuyasha could jump until right at that moment as she was free-falling towards the unforgiving earth. It seemed like her slow descent to the ground took at least thirty minutes, though it was probably more like thirty seconds. But in that thirty seconds, the wind managed to knock her around so much that Kagome soon found herself falling towards the ground back-first. And what a sight it was that greeted her now upturned vision.

Besides Inuyasha torpedoing through the air towards her, attempting to catch her before she hit the ground, it was what was behind Inuyasha that caught her attention. To the young miko's immense, but no less relieved, surprise, the white that had filled her vision moments before had not been the afterlife (obvious to her now of course) but had actually been the long platinum hair of a very familiar dog demon. AKA: Sesshoumaru to the rescue.

The powerful Taiyoukai was currently creating some sort of shield from his own poison to counter the poison gas from the purple demon. His right arm, the only one he still had, stretched out before him confidently, forming the green bubble that surrounded him. The purple demon, now thoroughly distracted, couldn't care less about his previous adversaries as it attempted to get past the dog demon's shield. This was actually quite convenient for Kagome who was in a very vulnerable position speeding towards the ground.

Just as that thought crossed through her mind, she felt very familiar hands grab her firmly by the arms and this time her vision was filled with red. Inuyasha clasped Kagome to his chest as he spun in the air, tucking her face close to his chest and holding her up bridal style as he prepared to land.

Landing with all the grace Kagome would have certainly lacked, the hanyou continued to hold his burden close as he looked up to where the his older half-brother was battling the vicious demon. Recovering quickly from the fall, Kagome nudged Inuyasha to let her down. Hesitantly he did and the miko immediately looked to the area where her friends had fallen to their assumed deaths in the giant ball of poison.

Expecting the worst, tragic blue eyes took in the giant crater on the other side of the battle. Only to see a familiar figure in purple robes waving to her and giving the okay sign he'd learned from the futuristic teen. Kagome sobbed slightly in relief, and attracting the attention of the hanyou next to her, she gave the same sign back, watching with slightly wet eyes as Sango emerged from the crater, followed by a small Kirara.

A furious roar brought all of their attention to the battle where Sesshoumaru had abandoned his shield to send his own poisonous attack at the demon, slashing a huge wound into the demon's torso, causing its blood to rain over the clearing. Kagome's vision was again filled with red as Inuyasha pulled her towards him and threw the arm of his haori over her to protect from the possibly harmful blood. Luckily the demon's blood wasn't poisonous and Inuyasha backed away from her and pulled out his Tetsusaiga to join in on the fray, only by now it wasn't really needed.

The blow from Sesshoumaru's poison claws caused the giant form of the insect youkai to topple sideways towards the ground, its legs flailed about for purchase, but seeing as it was still missing several, it made it impossible to do so. Lucky for them, the jewel shard in this one's head didn't allow the youkai to re-grow limbs. Apparently the poisonous attack was a bit much for the demon's healing ability as well, as it took quite a while for the deep wound to heal, giving the perfect opportunity for Sesshoumaru to attack again.

Knowing it was useless unless the Shikon shard was removed, Kagome yelled up towards the dog demon as he gave the bug demon yet another deep wound on its shoulder to add to its ever-growing collection.

"Sesshoumaru! It has a sacred jewel shard! In its forehead!" A tick appeared in the small woman's forehead as the inu-youkai didn't even acknowledge her words. Regardless, he moved to aim for the thing's forehead as Inuyasha slashed at the bug's flailing appendages, attempting to get closer.

Green, glowing claws aimed for the demon's forehead and in a matter of a few minutes, nothing remained of the beast but a pile of purple ash that was dragged away by the wind.

On the ground, Inuyasha blinked and scowled as the giant leg before him suddenly disintegrated. Narrowed eyes watched as the Taiyoukai drifted down to the ground gracefully, tainted jewel resting between his claws. The covered feet of the Taiyoukai touched down gently, and immediately began walking towards the miko standing away from the dissipating pile of ash.

'Psh. Show off,' thought the ruffled hanyou.

Inuyasha immediately leaped to the young miko's side and watched with as small scowl as the Taiyoukai came to a stop just a few feet from the pair. Kagome absently noted that Sango and Miroku were making their way towards them.

Narrow, golden eyes, highlighted by red markings, reminding the miko of eye shadow from her time, observed the small priestess. Slowly, his clawed right hand reached out towards her, ignoring the hanyou at her right side and the three figures that had appeared on the miko's left. Standing with his arm straight out and jewel shard clenched between his thumb and index claw, the powerful demon waited for the young woman's response.

Knowing from experience the small amount of patience the stoic demon before her possessed, the small miko immediately reached out and took the tiny shard and watched as it turned from tainted black to its pure pink hue. Looking back up into the indifferent eyes of the Taiyoukai, she gave a small smile.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sensei."

The stoic figure nodded his head slightly but continued to stand in place, staring down at the now sheepish woman before him.

Trying to relieve some of the tension, Inuyasha assumed an arrogant stance and growled out in a half-serious voice, "About damn time you showed up."

Harsh golden orbs jerked to the hanyou immediately and Inuyasha barely refrained from flinching at the look. A rare snarl overcame the usually unmovable Taiyoukai's lips.

"And what exactly was that display? Pathetic, Inuyasha. I'd hoped you'd at least be able to protect the miko while I was away. I see I expected too much." Sesshoumaru's eyes drilled into the hanyou's turned head. Kagome stared in sympathy at her friend as he guiltily avoided eye contact.

Scoffing in disgust, and watching in secret pleasure as Inuyasha instantly bristled, Sesshoumaru turned his gaze back to Kagome.

"Miko." Kagome's eyes snapped again towards the imposing figure before her. "Training tonight. Apparently you need a refresher from this Sesshoumaru."

Kagome winced as she watched Sesshoumaru turn away and make his way into the forest. No doubt it was gonna be a rough night.

~Present Day~

Ruby orbs watched closely from the roof of one of the numerous buildings that Tokyo sported as a young boy walked along the sidewalk, accompanied by some of the boys from the dojo. He listed idly as they chatted about mundane things and leapt from roof to roof keeping up with their progress. Finally, his target split off from the rest of the boys with a wave and shot across the street. After walking along for a ways he turned through a shrine entrance to begin walking up a huge flight of stairs.

Hiei jumped across the street into the trees that surrounded the stairs on both sides and continued to leap up the steep hill and came to a stop at the top, just a few feet from the edge of the perimeter. Hiei's demonic eyes took in the familiar scene from what seemed such a long time ago. The old shrine was just how he remembered it. The cobble-stone courtyard and the traditional prayer shrine and out-buildings, all the way down to the sacred sutras placed around the large tree to the left.

Hiei needlessly ducked further into his chosen hiding place as the boy, Souta, finally reached the top of the steps and began walking across the courtyard and into the more modern house at the back. The demon waited several minutes to make sure no one was coming back out before leaping out of the tree, aiming for the shadows behind one of the closer out-buildings.

Only his progress was stopped rather painfully by an invisible force that threw him back into the tree-line. Before his body connected painfully with the ground, the small hybrid flipped around and as soon as his feet touched the ground he was in a crouched, defensive position, his sword held out in front of him threateningly. Hiei growled as he glanced around wildly for his attacker, but spotted no one.

Scowling, he peered closer at the area where he'd been thwarted. But still he saw nothing there.

With a fair amount of disbelief, he moved forward towards the tree-line cautiously, ruby eyes darting around constantly for hidden threats. Seeing as nothing was about to approach him, he stopped only inches from where he'd been when he was thrown. Slowly, Hiei reached his hand up through the air. And as he suspected his hand was instantly seared by a painful, invisible force.

Quickly retracting his hand, Hiei looked down to the scorched skin on his fingertips. It was taking his demonic healing far too long to heal such a slight burn. So, this wasn't a demonic barrier obviously. That only left one option, one option that Hiei was extremely reluctant to believe.

This was a miko's barrier.

'Impossible. They're all gone by now.'

It was almost common knowledge amongst demons that since the splitting of the two worlds, a powerful miko was near impossible to find, if not completely impossible. They were no longer needed, so like with anything in nature, their powers simply "died off". Hiei himself had never actually seen one in person, though he had heard stories from other demons claiming to have come in contact with one of the powerful priestesses. Most didn't bother believing the tales though and the name Miko had eventually become nothing more than a tall tale.

So why was one here? Now? In the middle of Tokyo no less.

Shaking the thoughts away, Hiei looked back up towards the shrine grounds, keeping his sword in hand as a precaution. If there really was a powerful miko around, then she would have no qualms about killing a demon hanging about the perimeter of her wards.

Using his demonic sight and sense of smell, Hiei tried to pinpoint his reason for being there. Through the windows of the modern house Hiei spotted the familiar form of Kun-Loon bustling around in the kitchen, Souta standing next to her, no doubt telling her about his day. Not able to see anything else, he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply through his nose.

The familiar scent of the shrine and the Higurashi family wafted through his senses as he tried to pinpoint who was in the house. The distinct scent of Souta came to him first and he moved past that one to take in the familiar scent of Kun-Loon Higurashi. The scent of Kagome's grandfather also came to him from the hundreds of other scents pervading the grounds. Finally, Kagome's scent registered on his senses, the familiar scent of rain and lilies drifted to him sweetly and he inhaled deeply before realizing what he was doing.

Her scent was old though; by a day at the most, but still old. So, at least the brat wasn't lying about that part. Suddenly a strong breeze blew across the grounds, bringing with it another scent. Something musky and wild. A demon's scent.

'What the hell?'

As the scent registered, Hiei wondered how he could have missed it before. It was almost overpowering really; like the demon was trying to stake a claim on the entire shrine. But what in the world was a demon doing on shrine grounds? (And no, the irony of this thought did not escape him.)

A million possibilities ran through his head as he gazed blankly across the grounds. None of them, however, brought him any comfort.

'What have you gotten yourself into now Kagome?'

A foreign emotion welled up briefly in his chest as he remembered how they'd drifted apart. And how, really, he was the one responsible. Because of his quest for power, he'd lost her. How could he just show up out of the blue now after leaving and essentially forgetting about her for all those years? All he could hope for now was that she hadn't gotten herself into too much trouble. He'd have no qualms about tearing apart any demon that attempted to screw with his childhood friend.

Suddenly his mind wondered back to the reason he was here. If that really was Kagome that had wiped the floor with Yusuke's ass, then how the hell had she gotten that good? And regardless, she was human. No human could beat a half-demon like Yusuke in a fair fight. There was no way. So what was going on exactly?

Hiei's gaze drifted to his slightly scorched hand and then back to the invisible barrier before him, eyes slightly wide.

'No. Not possible.' The girl he remembered from back then had been completely ordinary. There was no way she could have been a miko. None of her family had even the slightest bit of spiritual ability. And Hiei had never once felt even an inkling from the young girl.

Bemused red eyes took in the familiar shrine once more before turning away. There was no use waiting around when his target was obviously not there. With that in mind, the dark hybrid turned and traveled back towards the city, determined to return every day until he got his answers.

~Sengoku Jidai~

Kagome collapsed onto her back, panting next to the fire pit in the small hut as the rest of the group watched on in sympathy. Sesshoumaru entered a moment later and sat down gracefully near the door. Silence reigned in the hut for a few moments as Kagome regained her composure and sat up, gratefully accepting a cup of tea from Miroku.

The small group sat in companionable silence for several minutes.

"So will you be going back to your time Kaa-san?" Shippo piped up suddenly from next to the recovering miko. All eyes moved to Kagome as she glanced at the young fox demon next to her and contemplated the question. The title warmed her heart more than any could know as she heard the young demon beside her refer to her as his mother, and with a gentle smile she took in the appearance of her "kit".

Over the past year the young fox demon had gone through a growth spurt. Sesshoumaru had explained that every demon goes through them at several points in their lives, normally when they gain more power and their bodies are forced to adjust quickly. And quick it was. One night her little Shippo had gone to sleep the tiny kit she could hold in her arms, and when he woke up he had the body of a preteen. The group was understandably surprised until Sesshoumaru gave them the explanation. Said Taiyoukai then took it upon himself to train the young kit in combat, making him a formidable opponent in a short amount of time.

Even though he looked older (and realistically she knew he was much older than he looked – probably older than her) Kagome couldn't help but feel relieved that Shippo had been given the task of evacuating the villagers and protecting them instead of being in the middle of the battle earlier today.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, and studiously ignoring the disapproving frown on Sesshoumaru's face, she took a deep breath and answered her kit's question. The question she had been contemplating all day.

"I've decided to stay and hunt down the rest of the jewel shards. I really can't keep going back and forth like this. People at home are starting to wonder."

The group stared at the small priestess solemnly, knowing how much saying this would cost her, but also knowing that it had to be done. Inuyasha moved to her side and sat, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, while Shippo cuddled up against her other side. Her eyes caught those of the Taiyoukai's and he nodded silently.

Kagome lowered her gaze and stared into the fire for several minutes, her mind drifting between the future and the past – both having just as much of a place in her heart. Despite her wanting to be able to go back and forth as she pleased, she knew it wasn't realistic. Her school was already suspicious of her collection of absences (sometimes months at a time), it was only a matter of time before people started asking more questions and looking into her medical records and finding a complete absence of any kind of sickness. She was already twenty years old, but she was still a senior in high school. She'd already been held back two years and the only way she could pass this year would be if she gave up shard-hunting altogether.

Determination bloomed in her heart when she thought of her choice. Graduating high school or reassembling the Shikon no Tama.

Her future or the lives of countless innocents.

There really was only one answer.

She'd drop out of high school and attempt to get her GED later. She would stay in the past until this was finished. This was her destiny and no one could do it except for her. No one else would die because of her. She'd keep getting stronger until nothing could stand in her way.

"In the morning I'll go home and get my things. Then I'll come back and we can head out to find the rest of the shards." Everyone looked briefly to the small flask around the miko's neck, where inside lay a small collection of pink shards. They still had quite a long way to go.

~Present Day~

Kagome paused at the threshold of the well house and looked out on the grounds of her home. The wind gently rustled the leaves of the Goshinboku as it danced through the courtyard. It was Autumn, and the leaves of the great tree were turning to their vibrant red, preparing to make their descent to the ground. Sapphire eyes took in the shrine and the ancient building surrounding it before moving past them to the more modern house in the back.

Taking a shaky breath, the young miko gripped the strap of her backpack and slung it up on her shoulder before making her way towards her cozy house. The traditional kimono felt odd as she walked. One of the Sango's as she hadn't wanted to worry her family by coming home in full battle attire. Hesitating for a moment when she reached the entrance, she plastered on a big smile before opening the door and entering.

"I'm home!"

Silence greeted her as she walked into the dark house and her smile immediately fell. A conversation with her mother the day before drifted to her mind and she suddenly remembered her grandfather's doctor appointment. Relief as well as regret welled in her chest as she realized she wouldn't be saying goodbye in person. After a few minutes of standing in front of the open door, the young miko sighed before moving towards the kitchen, intent on grabbing some food and bottled water.

Eventually, she made it to her room, yellow bag weighed down with junk food, water bottles, first aid supplies and toiletries from the bathroom. Plopping the weighty bag on her bed she began rooting through her drawers, picking out a few of her more sturdy outfits to take along. Jeans, tops and a coat in case it got colder, as well as undergarments. She'd long ago learned her lesson not to wear skirts or school uniforms while attempting to battle demons. It often led to rather embarrassing situations.

Grabbing a few extra useful knickknacks, she finally finished and pulled the string of her bag tight, sealing the contents inside. For several long moments she stood there, rooted in silence one hand on the worn strap of her gigantic backpack. She'd gone through this routine so many times before in the past five years, but for some reason this time it felt different. Somehow, she knew that when she left this time, everything would change. Whether it was for the better or worse, she didn't quite know.

What if this would be the last time she ever saw her friends in the past? What if, after the jewel was complete she wouldn't be able to return? What if she never saw any of them again? Miroku, Sango, Kirara, Shippo, Sesshoumaru, Kouga, Kaede…Inuyasha. Their faces and the many faces of all the other friends she'd made in her travels flashed through her mind. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she thought of the possibility of never being able to see them again.

Then she thought of it being the other way around.

What if, after she went through this time, she couldn't make it back? More tears came as the excited smiling face of Souta, the gentle face of her mother and the eccentric antics of her grandpa came to mind. What if she never saw them again? What if she left now without being able to say goodbye in person and it would be her last chance to ever see them?

Subconsciously her hand wandered up to her chest and gripped the pendant hanging beneath her kimono.

For a moment, doubt welled up in her mind, before she squashed it. Wiping her tears quickly she steeled her resolve, flung her backpack over her shoulder and turned to the door, only to freeze at the sight of the person standing in the doorway.

"Kagome?"

~Somewhere in the Makai - Same Time~

Hiei would deny it fiercely if anyone even tried to suggest he was fidgeting. Because Hiei never fidgeted.

Though, as he stared intently at the complete moron rambling on and on before him, he did contemplate asking him to hurry it up a bit and get to the point so he could leave. Ignoring the slightly amused and knowing gaze of the fox, the vertically challenged hybrid's mind drifted to the shrine he'd visited yesterday. The same shrine he'd been about to revisit today before this bumbling wolf had called in that he absolutely needed the Rekai Tentai's assistance in getting rid of some trespassing demons on his lands.

Hiei was sure that if the guy wasn't such a big deal in the Makai, Koenma would have turned down the request/demand, since just before the call came in, that strange disturbance had popped up once again in the Ningenkai. But, really, the Northern Lord of the Makai couldn't just be brushed off like that. And so here they are, standing in front of this damn wolf, listening as he thanked them and started suggesting possible patrols around his lands and maybe even around the lands in the West and South as well, since they seemed to be having the same trouble.

Hiei's eye twitched. These damn lords were sure getting needy in the last few years. Ever since that thief five years ago, their requests kept pouring in. Sometimes it was a couple days in a row, sometimes they waited a month or more, but they didn't seem to want to stop and handle it themselves. Isn't that what they had their own guards for anyway?

Sometimes Hiei felt more like a babysitter than a Spirit Detective.

"…so, thanks again fella's. I'll get in contact with Koenma about the patrolling thing."

Seeing it as the dismissal it was, the four hastily made their retreat from that extremely longwinded conversation. Meeting Botan outside, they let her transport them back to the Rekai to give their very brief report on the pathetic demons they'd caught, before heading back to the Ningenkai.

~Higurashi Shrine – a few minutes before~

"Kagome?"

Kagome looked in surprise at the sleepy figure of her younger brother standing in her doorway. He was rubbing at his eyes in that way that always made her want to coo and say "Aww!"

Suddenly he stopped and his eyes widened as he took in her stuffed bag slung over her shoulder and the kimono she had on with her taijiya outfit peeking out from under the collar. Sadness overcame his face as he diverted his eyes.

"I thought you were only going for a few days Sis…" The low mumble broke the young miko's heart as she looked at her brother's downturned head.

"Oh Souta." Kagome dropped her bag gently before going up to the young teen and wrapping him in a tight hug, feeling him immediately bring his arms around her waist and holding on tight, not wanting to let go.

"I know what I said, but you know I realized something." Leaning back a bit she looked down meeting her brother's gaze. "There are a lot of people suffering right now, and it's all because of the Shikon. The longer it takes for me to complete it, the more people get hurt. And I can't let all of those people keep getting hurt can I?"

"I guess not…" Souta hugged his sister once more before stepping back. "How long will you be gone this time?"

Kagome hesitated briefly. "I don't know." Seeing the disappointment on her younger brother's face broke her heart. "I need to finish this, finish the Shikon. You understand, right?" Slightly pleading, sapphire eyes stared imploringly into the sad brown of the young teen before her.

"…Yeah. I understand." Giving a small smile, Souta walked up to his older sister and as he gave her one more hug he thought again on all of the burdens she carried on her small shoulders. Why was life so unfair? Didn't she deserve happiness too? Keeping the thoughts to himself so as not to trouble the older girl, the young teen gave her an extra squeeze. "I love you, Sis."

"I love you too Souta."

And a few minutes later as he watched her walk across the shrine grounds to the well house, Souta hoped with all his heart it wouldn't be the last time he saw her. His sister. His hero.

AN: Hey guys! Man, it's been a while! You have no idea how happy it makes me to think so many of you are still reading this story. I've been trying to get this chapter out for a while, but I kept getting stuck. I would completely forget what I'd written in the previous chapters, and so would have to go back and read them so I didn't leave any gaps. Writer's block, for those of you who don't know, is a royal pain… But, I got through it! Hope you enjoyed the new installment! See you next time!

Once again, Thanks for all the awesome reviews! You guys keep me going. 3