CHAPTER 12

Sango was happy.

Kagome was annoyed.

Sango was thrilled to have her brother back to her, memories and all.

Kagome was on edge with the constant bickering between Inuyasha and Kouga.

Sango cried, tears of joyous relief.

Kagome felt like crying out of frustration.

Sango was actually probably the only happy one in the whole camp. Kagome, was obviously trying to keep her cool. Sesshomaru and Touga kept to themselves for the most part, especially Sesshomaru, except of the occasional argument with the halfbreed. Inuyasha either argued with both Sesshomaru and Kouga, or wouldn't stop bothering his father with questions. But who could blame him, right? Kouga, when not pissing off Inu-baka, strategized with Kagome and hunted with his pack for food rations. There was tension throughout the whole group. It wasn't usually a good idea to travel with so many companions, but they were heading towards the same cause.

Even Kohaku and Rin were on edge, along with Shippo. Seems that the kids were growing up and the humans were becoming confused. Kohaku was now 15 years old, and Rin 13 (I know big age difference from 2 years ago, consider it one of those soap opera moves). Kagome could see the start of a crush forming in Rin's heart. Shippo didn't quite understand why Rin didn't want to play with him all the time, why she didn't like to play those 'baby' games as she told him.

Kagome felt her heart ache at the realization that the children were growing up, their innocence being tainted by Naraku's evil, it hurt to see and know that his presence will forever shape their lives. Especially she felt for Kohaku. After all, he was used as a puppet of Naraku. He met with evil head on, and is still battling to gain his self back.

Sango was doing a great job of helping with that.

"…back to your dead wench mutt!"

"Why you…"

"Ramen's ready!" Sango yelled.

Kagome really needed to tell her sister how much she loved her. She shared a glance with the female warrior, and both smiled. Oh what would she do without her Sango?

SLAP!

"This would be a great time to tell you Sango, that I've been working on a new necklace."

The people who understood what that meant, instantly paled and shuddered.

"Oh really? What kind? And who's it for?" asked a grinning Shippo, hoping she didn't mean for him.

"I'm still working the kinks out, but it'll be perfect for wandering hands…"

"Tell me more!" said Sango, a little too happily.

"With one word, it'll make that ill-intentioned hand find another bottom to feel up, more specifically, a male bottom."

Sango couldn't help herself and cracked up laughing, along with the kids. But the men were exceptionally pale now, and all gave the perverted monk their most devious glare.

"You will not touch this Sesshomaru."

Inuyasha nodded, "Agreed, same here. You will not touch this Inuyasha."

Miroku fainted. He simply fainted. Maybe it was Inuyasha talking about himself in third person?

(((00)))

"What the hell!? Where are these hollows coming from?!" Ichigo yelled.

"I haven't the slightest clue, but we'll find out I'm sure." said Hitsugaya.

"Shut up, the both of you!" screamed Renji.

"Hn. I see no openings where they could get through." muttered Byakuya.

"This is not good, there's no end!" shouted Rukia.

With each turn they were killing and wiping out the constant stream of hollows. In the back of Ichigo's mind he figured that Inuyasha's Wind Scar would do some good right about now, just to get rid of them all at once. Not like he wasn't up to the challenge or anything. Nothing to go all hollow over or anything.

It was as though as soon as he sat down in his class that afternoon, he could feel the swarm of hollows wreaking havoc on the souls. Excusing himself, he quickly made his way out of the campus and met up with Orihime and Chad, seemed as though Uryu was elsewhere.

He shed his body, and the three of them started to quickly taking out the hollows. They found themselves in dense forestry and linked up to Rukia and Renji.

They were at it for hours already and both the visiting Captains from the soul society decided to check things out. Only to have to enter the fight themselves.

Wait. This seemed…too familiar. Where have they ended up now?

"There! Do you see it!?" asked Captain Hitsugaya.

Byakuya quickly scanned the area, "Hai, they're streaming just west of here, that is the pinpoint."

"Should we go and cut off the source?" asked Orihime.

Ichigo nodded and they headed off, slicing through hollows as they went.

Ichigo had a strange sense of de ja vu, or was he really just in this area? He kept his gaze on the almost black and white stream of hollows erupting from the ground. What the hell?

"Dammit! That's the Higurashi shrine!" he yelled, going even faster. He was a blur as he came to what seemed to be the remains of the ancient well house. The same well house where he found out the truth of Kagome. As well as hie journeyed to the past with her himself. Turning, twisting, and slicing his Zanpacto through the hordes of hollows, determination set in his honey brown eyes. He would protect her family at all costs.

"Higurashi? The keepers of the sacred jewel?" muttered Toshiro, "Do you know the significance of this certain area the hollows are coming from?"

Ichigo sighed, now he had no choice, he had to tell them, "That's a well, and for Kagome, it's a portal to the past, into the feudal era. It's true, I went there myself and saw it with my own eyes."

"She's the…time traveling miko?" asked Rukia, "Like in the legend?"

"She's a lot more than that, let me tell you. I've never met anyone…well.." Ichigo blushed.

"Is she really hot or something?" asked Renji, wiggling those eyebrows.

Ichigo gave him the most threatening glare he could, and oddly enough so did Rukia.

"Must be!" he went on, not realizing the very real threat to his life.

"We don't have time for this nonsense!" said Toshiro, "Go!"

Ichigo actually did what was told and placed his entire concentration on wiping out as many of these hollows as he could. They were pouring out by the hundreds from the well, the same well he had just came back from, back from the feudal era. Hoping with everything he was, that her family was alright and not dead and that she was safe in the feudal era.

His gaze narrowed at that thought. Right, Kagome safe in the feudal era? Right when she is on the brink of war? That was not reality. He knew it was too fast to admit these feelings he had for her, but also knew that in the world he existed in, that he should cherish the emotions that came to him. He liked the girl a lot.

She called out to him in every demeanor a soul could call to someone. He recognized it in her gaze, the way only her eyes could sparkle like that as she gave him that smile. Or the amazing way her lips fit perfectly with his, and the way she melted into his arms. Yeah, it was fast. But he knew when to admit, if only to himself, that was in the fast track of falling head over heels for Kagome Higurashi.

And he's be damned if these hollows would destroy her family!

He never realized that he was completely isolated to himself near the well. And only noticed when it was too late, that Rukia and Orihime were screaming his name.

It had only dawned on him that he was in trouble, when he was no longer surrounded by hollows, but by the 4 walls of the old well.

(((00)))

"Hit the mark!"

"…Good shot Kagome!" shouted Sango from her position of a crouch, waiting on the return on her hiraikotsu.

Inuyasha ripped his claws through three lion demons, all baring their teeth and headed for Shippo and the others. Kouga was a whirlwind kicking his enemies to a high hell. Sesshomaru only had to use his whip once, to stop a panther demoness from attacking his ward.

"No Miroku! I need a survivor!" yelled out Kagome.

He quickly covered up his cursed hand, and gave her a quick nod. Kagome withdrew her new fang, allowing the combined powers to swirl in ropes around the blade and engulf the area.

"There's no one left Kagome!" Inuyasha said excitedly.

The victory was short lived however, as a tall lion demon in human form finally showed himself. Kagome slowly pointed her ivasusaiga toward him, allowing him to know her threat was very real.

She stared at the demon, he presented himself in a fierce show of power, like that of Sesshomaru or even Touga. He carried himself well, with pointed ears and fangs, a white mane of silky hair, golden on the tips. He was pale, but distinctly all lion. His eyes were the palest, iciest blue she had ever seen, almost pure white, except for the purple slits.

"I can't stand someone who sacrifices his people like that, it's sickening." she glared at the tall demon. He was obviously the one in command of the innocent lives lost today.

"Miko-sama, my apologies, I do not get many visitors to my lands."

"Lord Chikara, we had not realized we were already in the Southern Lands." came Sesshomaru's smooth voice.

Chikara dismissed the unspoken apology, he knew well enough that Sesshomaru-sama knew they'd already crossed the invisible boundary line. "It's of no offense Lord Sesshomaru." he eyed Touga, "Inu-no-Taisho? I had thought you long dead."

"Perhaps I am dead." he said mysteriously. "Perhaps I am here to haunt you Chikara, for attempting to kill my pups."

"Maybe I'll just send you back to where you belong."

Talk about immediate tension. Kagome's grip on her sword tightened, ready to spring into action as the two old demon lords stared each other down.

"Empty threats. Lord Chikara, we are tracking a vile spider named Naraku." offered Sesshomaru, this was after all, one of the four Lords of the Lands.

"Is this how you treat your people?" Kagome was angry, regardless if he was a demon lord or not. "You send them to slaughter visitors on your land?"

"Apologies Miko-sama, we have been expecting an attack from the creature you're looking for."

"So he's here then, Chikara-sama?" asked Miroku.

"Hai." he looked behind him, "Miwaku, come introduce yourself to the Lord of the West, and his father."

A full rare white demon lioness came out from the above trees and bowed graciously to…Kagome?

"Miko-sama, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. I have waited many moons for this day." she said from her bowed waist.

Kagome's face darkened in a deep blush, "Uh…nice to meet you as well?"

Chikara stared at his daughter, "Miwaku…my daughter she can at times read the future."

Miwaku stood and stared straight at Sesshomaru, with no absolute expression on her face. He stared back the lioness demon, wondering what the look was for. He knew she would be the one to look away first, and he was never wrong. She did.

"A fortunate gift I'm sure." murmured Touga.

"My castle is just to the west, please, let us take refuge there for the evening. I will have a nice meal prepared for us all."

"Of cour…" said Touga.

But was cut off from Kagome, "After we bury his dead and I bless their graves."

"I would be most honored Miko-sama, and so would my men."

(((00)))

"Shit. We're not in Tokyo anymore, are we?" asked Renji

"Dumbass." Ichigo growled at him as he helped Orihime from the well. "We are still in Tokyo, just about 500 years in the past."

Byakuya looked around, still guarded in his stance, "Seems as though the hollows have disappeared."

"So it would." muttered Toshiro, "Will you now speak to us Ichigo? Is your miko here then?"

"She stays in a village not to far from here, I think I can remember the way." he said, looking around.

"Well then, we better hurry and find her. There has to be a reason why we were sent here. I just hope that we can all get back." observed Toshiro.

"Maybe we should try to jump back down the well." offered Orihime.

"Don't look at me! I'm not about to break my legs!" yelled out Renji.

"You should work on your landing." said Chad, only to have the red head glare at him.

"He's right, you should be able to make that jump and not injure yourself," agreed Rukia, "And don't give me that look!"

Renji just crossed his arms and walked ahead.

"HEY MORON!" Ichigo yelled, "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!"

Muttering colorful phrases to himself, he turned around and followed the rest of the group.

(((00))) Chapter End (((00)))

A/N: Thanks everyone! The support is fabulous! Yes, I never thought I would do it either, but I added two OC's. (Sighs) We'll see how far it goes.

Ayjah: Perhaps it won't stay sad too long after all, we'll see (evil grin!)

SurarOo: *pounces you back* Only time shall tell!

Ichigo Mirai: Thanks for your continued support!

thefarmguy: you guessed my weakness, I suck at action! I'll try harder though, there will be a little more fighting in the next coming chapters. I like uniqueness!

Shiroi noYume: I'm glad you were rooting for Kohaku, I just love all the secondary characters!

Kuronueslover: Ichi & Kag should be meeting up sometime soon, hopefully on decent terms!

Tri-Emperor of The Twilight: That sounds so badass! I love it! Now if only I can write decent fight scenes! I need practice!

zoey tamagachi: great teamwork! (this is for Shippou too!)

Music ADD: Don't tell anyone, but I thought it was adorable too. Crap, I just posted it for everyone to see. Oh well…thx!

wolfsaver-ladey: Thanks for the double cookies! They were yums!

A/N: I hope no one minds that I started responding to reviews this way, if so, let me know and I'll respond via PM from now on. It's my way of showing everyone how much I appreciate the feedback!