Kagome's brows furrowed as she moved around the sleeping people that littered the hallway. The strange pink residue that covered their forms and the floor around them made her senses tingle, telling her exactly what it was. Magic.

She scowled slightly. This was exactly why she left Tokyo, to get away from magic. But her worry for her friend Virginia pushed her to continue. From her own experiences with magic, if you weren't ready or prepared for it, it could be dangerous. She gingerly stepped around the sleeping people and quickly made her way towards her friend's apartment.

"Mr. Lewis?"

Eyeing the front door, it had been ripped off it's hinges, as well as taken a good abusing, she took in the apartment's surroundings with wide eyes. Her worry for her friend growing at the scene around her. She stumbled slightly over a pair of shoes that had been sitting in the middle of the way.

In the living room, what was left of it that is, was Mr. Lewis and a strange... male. Mr. Lewis himself was also sporting the strange pink residue, but seemed fine. A little confused, well rested, but fine.

"Mr. Lewis? Is everything alright? I came to check up on Virginia when I got a call after she had left work so suddenly..." Kagome shifted away from the strange male when he was suddenly, sniffing the air about her. Light growls and low purring rumbles were issued from deep within his chest.

"Ah, Kagome. I'm fine, thanks for asking. If Virginia isn't here, then she's at her grandmothers." He himself frowned when Kagome hunched in on herself as the man that had claimed to also be looking for Virginia buried his face in her hair.

"I see..." She trailed off as she tried to extract herself from the male's hold on her hair. "A new friend Mr. Lewis?" Turning slightly, she carefully pulled her hair from the male's hands. Said male let out a quiet whimper when the last bit of her hair slipped through his fingers.

Kagome shifted closer to Mr. Lewis when the male continued to whimper and began to seemingly paw at the space that was growing between him and herself. After a few moments, while the male was trying to apparently gain control of himself, Kagome returned her attention to her friend's father.

"Well, I'm going to have to head back home then. I'll call Virginia tonight, and if I have time, I'll try and swing by her way tomorrow." Taking in the living room once again, she nibbled her lower lip before digging through her messenger bag and began writing on a blank piece of scrap of paper. "Listen, I have a number of someone that could help you with this and for a really great deal. Make sure to tell them I gave you their number while you're at it."

"Thanks for that and for coming to check up on Virginia."

"Think nothing of it. If it weren't for the two of you, I'd most likely be lost right now. I'll be sure to call you tomorrow as well." Kagome smiled towards the man she had come to see as a sort of father figure since she met Virginia.

Turning, she reared back when the male was in the way, looming over her with a rather strange and excited look in his eyes. Nodding her head slightly and offering a strained 'fare well', Kagome side stepped the male and began to make her way towards her own apartment.

"Wait my succulent little lambchop!" The male called out to her, but stopped and growled at himself as he looked back towards a rather confused Mr. Lewis. He let out a whimper as he pulled himself back to his proper height and turned back towards Mr. Lewis, but not without throwing a few last words her way.

"I'll find you my delectable little duckling!"

"I'd rather you didn't." Kagome muttered under her breath. She's been told plenty of times before that she smelt good, but never before had she been, complimented as food? Threatened to become something to eat, but never compared or complimented as food.

As soon as she was out of the apartment, Kagome quickly made her way for the nearest exit and frantically looked for a payphone. There was something off about the stranger, something off and familiar, that made Kagome want to check up sooner on Virginia rather than later. She threw a victory dance in her head when she spotted a payphone, that was free and jogged over towards it, her hands already pulling out some loose change.

One thing about Virginia, was that she had made sure all forms of contact information were memorized, so Kagome was punching in the numbers she had learned by heart. It took a few rings, but finally Virginia's grandmother answered.

"Hi, my name is Kagome and I'm a friend of Virginia's. I was wondering if she's with you?"

"Yes she is."

"Oh, that's good to hear. May I speak with her?"

"One moment."

Kagome tapped a foot as she waited, leaning against a free spot of the payphone and watched the night life of the city around her. It was different than Tokyo. Both did have a tendency not to sleep, but New York was actually somewhat more quiet than her own home city.

"Kagome?"

"Ah, Virginia! Is everything alright?" Kagome righted herself and stared absently at the payphone.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?"

"Your work colleague called after you left suddenly and couldn't get a hold of you. You were in an accident?"

"I sort of ran over a dog. But the both of us are alright! Trashed my bike and lost my wallet though."

Kagome let out a sigh, her friend didn't like others to really worry over her. And despite the fact that she lived with her father, Virginia still liked and preferred her independence.

"Well, a bike can be repaired and we can look for your wallet tomorrow or I'll buy you a new one. Listen, I just came from your place."

"Is my dad alright?"

"Oh he's fine. Covered in some sort of pink powder, but fine. Is everything alright? The place was a mess."

"Actually, I think some people are after the dog that's with me. That's why I came here. Be careful, they could still be lurking around. I think they're from some sort of gang. A really weird, British gang. Threatened to turn me into shoes."

Kagome could only blink when the information was still having trouble sinking in. Though she finally furrowed her brows when the last bit finally managed to sink in.

"Turn you into shoes?" She had heard weirder. She had been threatened once to become the main ingredient for a hair growth elixir when she had first started the whole Shikon quest.

"Yeah... and from the way they acted, I'm pretty sure they meant it."

"I see. Before I get going, is there anything you need?"

"Is your offer to help me with my wallet still standing?"

"Of course. You want me to help you?"

"Yeah. Just meet me at the park, I'll even bring my new boyfriend."

Kagome pulled out a notebook and pen and began writing down where and when she was to meet up with Virginia tomorrow. They wished each other a good night before hanging up and Kagome stayed to reread the location and went over her mental map of Central Park as well as what she had planned out tomorrow.

Letting out a sigh, and trying to squash the feeling that magic was heavily involved, she stuffed her notebook back into her bag. Running a hand through her hair, she pouted lightly, already knowing that she wasn't going to like whatever outcome that was going to come from helping her friend. Her and her bleeding heart that always had to do what was right and help a friend in need.

Turning away from the payphone she bumped straight into the stranger that had been talking to Mr. Lewis. Bringing her hands up to sooth her sore nose, she scowled lightly as she looked up at the male.

"Listen, if this is going to turn into some sort of stalking thing..." She could only blink as his grin grew and began a triad on, something.

"Stalking! Reminds me of stalking cottony little lambs as they take their first brave steps in straying from the flock to take in the new world around them and closer to becoming my dinner. Oh! Or fluffly little rabbits as they nibble on wild berries, their little noses twitching and pausing when I step away from behind a thick forest shrub!"

Kagome blinked as he continued on with his form of stalking livestock or wildlife, not really sure what one was supposed to do in this sort of situation. But while he was somewhat lost, she herself was frantically looking for a quick escape while easily being able to keep good distance between him and herself so he wouldn't follow her home.

"Right. Well, lambchops and easter rabbits aside, I'm going to go now. Away from you... and here." She scuttled away once again from the strange male, though she didn't get very far when he quickly took a hold of her from behind.

"Oh, I can't let you leave my tasty little morsel!" Kagome froze when he buried his face in her hair once again. She was restraining herself, barely, from lashing out against the man. Said man began to whimper once again.

"I am in need of your assistance. You see, your friend Virginia came across my little dog earlier, and I would so like to have him back. I have a feeling she would be more inclined to listen to me if you were present."

Kagome's back went ramrod when he, not only began to nuzzle his nose deeper into her hair, but shifted his hold on her and began to mutter under his breath.

"All the right things in all the right places, firm and you smell like the finest of feasts. Sounds like true love to me!" He whimpered and tightened his hold on her minutely. "But I need to find the prince and bring him back home. Though I could bring you home and keep you!"

Gritting her teeth, Kagome raised her hands and took a firm hold of one of his arms and pulled forward and downward, flipping the man over her shoulder. Huffing and panting slightly, mostly due to her anger at the strangeness and this man's weird touchy-feeliness, she glared down at the slightly dumbstruck look on his face.

"Listen, and listen well. Keep your hands to yourself." She growled out, though it didn't seem to get through his skull. In fact, it seemed to entice him further.

"Seems we got off on the wrong foot, how about we go on a date to make up for that and get to really know each other?" He grinned up at from the his spot on the ground.

"What!?" The man had to have some sort of loose screws. The only, very few, men she knew that were like that were Miroku and Kouga. Both seemed to have had thick skulls and seemed to enjoy pain to some degree.

"I was thinking something romantic You know, a candlelit dinner for two with dessert and either wine or champagne. Your choice. Nothing too fancy really."

Furrowing her brows as she took his grinning face, Kagome rolled her eyes and stood her full height. There seemed to be no getting through with this guy. Shaking her head she once again began making her way back towards her own apartment.

"Don't follow me!" She threw over her shoulder and she picked up her pace.

He stayed there, laid out on the ground, pushing himself up onto his elbows as he watched her practically run away. He had thought Virginia had looked succulent from the picture he had taken from her father's home, but, Kagome his mind supplied, was simply mouth watering.

But then he remembered the reason why he was in this strange land. With a whimper he stood up and recalled the directions he was given to Grandmother's house. A wolfish grin when he remembered what he overheard Kagome saying about the possibility of swinging by Grandmother's tomorrow. Oh how he seriously hoped she would. If not, he could track her scent down or follow Virginia back to where he first arrived in this strange place.

The next day, all thoughts on the strange male she had met the day before as she made her way to where she was to meet with Virginia. Though she had taken into account that things were bound to get out of hand, if her track record with magic was anything to go by. So she repacked her messenger bag with practical supplies. She wore a pair of jeans, she was not going to do anything in a skirt, a comfy t-shirt, a light sweater jacket and a pair comfortable and sturdy shoes.

"Virginia!" She waved her hand when she spotted her friend standing next to a golden retriever. "So, this is your the new boyfriend you were talking about?"

Kagome crouched down and ran her fingers through the dog's silken fur, smiling as it sat there very well behaved.

"He's a handsome one, isn't he. And very well behaved." Kagome looked up at Virginia as she continued to pet the dog.

"Scarily so." Virginia muttered quietly as she scanned over the park expanse that she could see. She had been slightly frazzled since that man had come at her with a knife and she found her grandmother tied up and sitting in a roasting dish. She was surprised that she had managed any sleep at all last night, it was not only eventful but also nerve wracking.

"So, where do you want to start first?" Kagome ran her fingers through it's fur one last time before standing her full height.

"Actually, forget the wallet. Do you think you can take him?"

"Uh... I don't have the room. Besides I don't think I'm allowed any pets." Kagome patted the dog's head as it let out a whine and stood it's full height before moving to stand next to Virginia.
"Then maybe you could help me find a collar? It's got to be around here, seeing as this is the spot I sort of ran him over with my bike last night."

"I can do that. Speaking of which, did you get yourself checked out by a doctor? A bump to the head can turn into something a lot more serious." Kagome asked as the two of them began moving towards the bushes, sweeping their gazes over the grass looking for any sign of where the dog might belong.

"No. I think it's just a bump on the head. Took some aspirin before I went to bed last night. It's still a little tender, but other than that, I feel fine." Virginia followed her friends lead and began a sweeping gaze of the ground around her.

"Actually, could you pinch me? I feel like this is all a really weird dream."

"Weird as in, how? Walking through Central Park without your pants on weird, took some trippy pills weird, or this can't really be happening sort of weird?"

"The last one. Trippy pills?"

"Well there's all sorts of ways to ingest hallucinogenic drugs, but saying so is a mouth full. So impossible sort of weird." Kagome shrugged her shoulders and reached over and pinched Virginia's upper arm.

"Ow! I wasn't serious!" She stopped to soothe where she received the pinch.

"Well, now you know this isn't a dream. Wanna share with me how exactly this is, weird?"

"I already knew this wasn't a dream with the slight headache. But to begin with, he," she pointed towards the dog that stood closely next to her. "...appeared out of nowhere. Next thing I know is I'm being followed by some really strange, possibly dangerous, people. And I use that term lightly. Their appearances were... off. The apartment is trashed and people are covered in pink powder, those people called it 'Troll Dust' I think, and they all had a shoe fetish. Then I woke up this morning to find some man in my Grandmother's bed, only pretending to be my Grandmother, and he came at me with a knife. After getting rid of him, I found my Grandmother tied up in a roasting pot surrounded with onions and potatoes. So I think he meant to eat her."

While Kagome was listening to her friend, she had to pause her own search for any sign of a collar that belonged to the dog. Now, she could and would admit should anyone ask, that she had quite a few weird experiences since she first fell down the well. But waking up to find a stranger pretend to be her Grandfather, only to come at her with a knife was actually terrifying. Or to find her own Grandfather tied up and sitting in a dish meant to prepare him like some sort of meal was... disturbing in more ways than one. It was one of the things that she did appreciate about her own quest. Her family was safe while she was in the past, running to and from any form of danger.

"Tried to eat your Grandmother." that was the only fact that seemed to be sticking at the moment. It sort of reminded her of Little Red Riding Hood actually.

"Yeah."

"Pretends to be your Grandmother, but was actually preparing to eat her. I think he may have been read the bedtime story 'Little Red Riding Hood' too much as a child." Kagome saw how Virginia paused and tilted her head to the side at her little comment.

"Actually, I think he may have mentioned you."

"Me?!"

"Yeah... as soon as he said your name, he ditched the knife."

Instantly, Kagome thought of the weirdo that she had bumped into the night before, and seriously hoped it wasn't him. Because if it was, that mean he was one of the people that were after the dog, meaning that since she was near the dog, the man would show up sooner or later.

"I... really don't have anything to say to that." Kagome mumbled under her breath, really at a loss at what one would say after hearing that.

"Okay, I give up. You can go back wherever it is you belong, cause I don't know where that is. As for those people that want you, they can have you."

Kagome stopped her search and looked up at Virginia, raising a brow at how she was acting towards the dog. Like it could actually understand her. Now Kagome was really worried, perhaps that bump on the head affected her friend more than she thought?

"Virginia? Are you sure you're alright?"

"Of course I am. Why do you ask?"

"Because of how your talking to the dog." she watched how her friend let out a tired sigh, looking rather fed up to be honest.

"I actually don't think he's a dog. I mean, he understands me, and I believe he's trying to tell me something. But sadly, I don't understand dog."

Kagome took in the dog that was staring up at her friend, narrowing her eyes slightly as she -really- took it in this time round. In the background, she could hear sudden noises of other people in the park or sirens suddenly starting up, but it's entire attention was on Virginia. And when said woman buried her face in her hands, the dog raised a paw and lightly pat her hip. Well, as high as it could reach.

"Okay, you know what, that is rather... creepy." Kagome shifted in her spot just the slightest amount when the dog turned it's gaze her way. Those eyes were far too human to belong to a simple golden retriever, and when she leaned forward the slightest amount to get a closer look, she could feel something was off. He was no ordinary dog, yet before she could ponder on it any longer, a large ruckus made it's way towards them, drawing all their attention.

"Virginia, isn't that your dad?" she squinted her eyes slightly as the man ran towards them, though they widened suddenly when an army of armed police officers also broke out of the treeline following the man.

"My dad... What the? Dad? Dad!?"

Mr. Lewis rushed towards them, quickly and eagerly ducking behind the bushes they were in, looking back over his shoulder as he took a moment to catch his breath.

"Virginia! You wouldn't believe what's happened to me! Kagome?" Kagome offered a somewhat delayed wave, her brows still furrowed as she took the man in while Virginia muttered quietly under her breath.

"Oh, come on!" Mr. Lewis was once again running, deeper into the bushes, and they quickly followed after him. Not only to learn what was going on, but most likely to get out of the police officers sights.

The dog ran ahead of them, barking once or twice, drawing Mr. Lewis' attention as he continued deeper into the bushes.

"Isn't that the dog the guy wants? Why not just give it to him?!"

The three of them were soon crouched around the dog, Kagome keeping an open eye and ear out for the police while Virginia explained her own personal theories about the dog.

"I don't think he is a dog. I don't, uh, he's trying to say something, talk to me or something, but I can't understand what he's saying." A bark echoed slightly in the small clearing they were in.

"Alright, alright, alright. You just watch this. I wish..."

Kagome whipped her head towards Mr. Lewis so fast, that the world spun and tilted as she slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Kagome!?" Virginia cried out at the sudden if not somewhat rushed movement towards her father.

"Before you go making a wish, most likely to understand the dog, think first. How about wishing it so that -we- can understand the dog? Just a thought." She kept her eyes locked on with his own

Mr. Lewis' eyes widened as he came to understand what it was she was saying. Nodding his head, Kagome's hand retreated and all watched as he quickly went over the wish he was about to make and obviously revise it.

"I wish, that we could understand, everything this dog is saying." Mr. Lewis had turned and kept his gaze on the dog, while Virginia seemed to have forgotten Kagome's sudden move towards the man and Kagome herself watched with narrowed eyes as a green mist trailed from Mr. Lewis' mouth towards the dog, Virginia and herself.

A slight and quiet coughing sounded from the dog's direction, but it wasn't until a fourth voice echoed slightly around them, that Virginia seemed to actually notice.

"You're in terrible danger. All of you."

"Oh, my, god." Virginia was staring at the dog with wide, disbelieving eyes. Mr. Lewis on the other hand seemed shocked to see that it worked, most likely the way he wanted it too.

"If you value your lives, you'll have to do exactly as I say."

"Dad... what did you..." Virginia was leaning closer to her father as she watched the dog, the dog she knew wasn't a dog.

"Shhut, wait." Mr. Lewis was moving anxiously about as best he could, paying the dog his complete attention.

"We have to find the way back."

Kagome was liking the regal sounding voice less and less. Not that she had anything against the dog... person, being, just that she knew since last night, that magic was going to be involved. Something she had tried so hard to get away from, and now here she was, listening to a talking dog.

"He's talking! He's talking, can't you hear?"

"Yes... I'm just not believing it right now." Virginia craned her neck and looked back towards the way they came, patting her father's shoulder when the sounds of the police closing in on the were becoming far too easily heard. "Wait, come here."

All three stood up and looked out on the walkway they were hiding next too, watching as the police ran by, quickly checking in the bushes and shrubbery for their where abouts. It was then that Virginia asked the question that had been plaguing their minds.

"Why are all these cops after you? And why are you wearing handcuffs?"

Mr. Lewis turned sheepish instantly as he fumbled along to answer her directly.

"They think I did a bank job."

"They think you did what?" Kagome hissed her whispered question towards the man. Not that she believed he would do such a thing, because honestly, it was Mr. Lewis.

"I'll explain later."

"Would you three stop rabbiting and help me find the mirror." Before any of them could retort or comment at the sudden command from the dog, said dog was already on the move, leaving the three of them to simply follow after. Though Mr. Lewis didn't seem to mind either way that he was practically following orders from a dog. It was either that, or the police.

"Now, it's a mirror. But it may not look like a mirror on the other side. You have to look very, very carefully."

"We're looking for a magic mirror." Mr. Lewis tossed back at them as he did a quick spin about while still following the dog.

"Of course we are." It sounded rather sarcastic, as if Virginia was still not believing the entire situation. Kagome herself, was keeping quiet. Her experience with magic mirrors were less than stellar at best. First one nearly stole her soul and the second one led her to a demon that ate the moon princess and wanted to eat her as well because of her immunity against time.

"Just look for a piece of forest that doesn't fit. Ah, I'm sure this is where I... Look! There it is!"

And indeed, there was a piece of the forest that didn't fit. It was door shaped, floated a foot or so off the ground, rippled slightly, and glowed a rather bluish color.

Mr. Lewis muttered quietly at how weird it was, as Virginia simply stared at it and Kagome pursed her lips. A somewhat feminine cry or 'there they are' drew their attention back towards the open field. From Kagome's point of view, it looked like three punks, quickly followed by the police. But most importantly, they were heading their way.

"If you value your lives, follow me." And with that, the dog took off towards the magic mirror portal.

"Ah, wait, ah..."

Virginia kept glancing between the portal and the crowd that was quickly approaching, Mr. Lewis was staring at where the dog disappeared and Kagome shifted her feet slightly.

"Ya know what, I'll stay here. I'd rather deal with the police." Kagome spoke up, despite having packed her bag with whatever she knew they might need should anything, magical, happen, she was not at all looking forward to another adventure.

"Wha... you heard him! Come on." Mr. Lewis ignored Kagome's comment and began pushing and bumping her towards the portal as Virginia grabbed ahold of her and dragged her the rest of the way.

"No!" But it was already too late, Kagome was pretty much halfway through before she could even begin to put up a struggle.

Instantly, Central Park was gone and in it's place, was what appeared to be a basement that needed some serious house work. Kagome continued to struggle towards the portal, but Virginia was surprisingly strong and kept a firm grip on her.

"Where the hell are we?"

"I don't know. But I'm pretty sure it's not Central Park."

"Follow me."

"No! No more following the dog! Dogs are bad luck, the whole lot of them!" Kagome cried as her friend dragged her further and further away from the portal and deeper and deeper into wherever they now were.

"Hurry up!"

"I am going to shave that dog if he says one more thing!" Kagome's cry echoed and bounced of the stone walls around them as she was forced to follow after said dog. Shrugging her friend's hold off of her, she grudgingly followed after them, muttering how demanding all dogs in her life seemed to be, her need for subjection beads and a few choice words in Japanese.

After a short distance, their paced calmed down, but their cautiousness hadn't eased up. Mr. Lewis and Virginia were taking in their surroundings with wide eyed wonder, Kagome merely crossed her arms over her chest and glared and the smooth stone floor. With all the bars on every window and doorway, she easily recognized what the place was. A prison. She had seen a few in the past, been a guest of one or two on one of the endless kidnappings she suffered, so there was nothing new for her to see.

"What happened here?" Mr. Lewis' whispered question, brought her out of her, slightly angry thoughts, and made her wonder the same thing.

"Oh, the same thing that happened to you old chap. Troll dust."

"Sounds like a candy." Virginia muttered under her breath, and Kagome had to hold back her giggles when she managed to catch wind of it.

"Well, it looks like it's starting to wear off." Mr. Lewis leaned forward, if not somewhat strained, due to his hands still being bound.

"Mr. Lewis, come over here." Kagome pulled a bobby pin from her hair, ripped off the gummy ends, opened it up and motioned for him to show her his cuffed hands. Instantly, she set to work on undoing the cuffs, quickly bending and end to fit into the keyhole and gave it a quick twist freeing one hand and then proceeded to do the same for the other.

"How... where did you learn to do that?" Virginia frowned slightly as she watched on at what her friend just did while her father rubbed at his wrists.

"Get kidnapped enough times, you learn to pick any lock that's keeping you in place."

"This has to do with the part of your past you don't like to mention, doesn't it?" Virginia spoke up, knowing as much as she could about a certain gap in her friend's past.

"Yes, very much so. Also the reason I really don't want to be here. This isn't the first time I encountered magic. And let's just say the last time was less than 'And she lived happily ever after'." Kagome answered tightly, as she placed the cuffs in her bag along with the used bobby pin. One was never sure when a pair of cuffs could come in handy.

Taking the room they were in once again, her focus was on the map pinned up against the wall. Seemed she was once again neck deep in magic, against her will. This time though, she wasn't a protector of a powerful object, didn't have to compete against a living clay doll for her very soul and life. But like last time, she was in the presence of a demanding dog, already on the run from some danger and her family was safely away from it all.

At least she didn't fall into this one.

Bunny's AN: Kage is such a bad influence on me. But in the most awesomest of ways! :3

Kage's AN: This is a dream fic come true, and it's thanks to Bunny! I hope that everyone will enjoy it just as much as I will.