Hello and Goodbye

~. Hello and Goodbye .~
by: Rion

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Rion:

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DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Inuyasha! Although if I did, I would lock Miroku in a closet. ¬.¬;; It is not fun being groped!

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Chapter One: Cause and Effect

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Kagome ran her claws through her silken hair. How could this have happened? Her eyes were still wide as she stared at her reflection on her bedroom's full length mirror. She had been standing there for nearly an hour, trying to comprehend what had happened.

'What will I tell Mama? And Souta and Grandpa?' She lowered her eyebrows at the thought, despair coursing through her. 'And what about Shippou? Will he love me just the same, my dear son?' Unencouraging thoughts ran about her mind as she slipped into a steamy shower. Washing away the dirt collected from being out so long. Relishing in the heat, she lost track of time.

At around seven'o'clock, she arruptly cut the shower off. 'I've made a decision. I will have to return to the Sengoku Jidai and find a cure. Or something,' she thought desperately. 'I, however, will have to hurry if I wish not to be seen by my family. I don't think I could bare the pain of rejection. Again.'

For a moment, she pondered her school clothes. Kagome knew very well that she couldn't afford to ruin them. So, for the first time she was going to wear different clothing. Wrapped in a towl, she stepped into her room.

After grasping clean clothes and the necklace that held the Shikon jewel, she cut a small whole in her panties and pants. Satisfied, she slips on her undergarments. Carefully choosing her shirt, she pulls over her head a deep red shirt that read, 'I have the potenial. . .,' on the front, and '. . . to be a drop dead gorgeous.' on the back and placed her chained jewel lightly around her neck. Kagome scoffed at her choice of shirt. 'There is certainly no potenial now. Not with these tattoos and fangs and claws and tail . . .' Her thoughts drifted off as she briefly felt a tinge of sadness. Sighing heavily, she tugs on baggy black pants that tied in the front. Feeling slight discomfort, she pulls her tail through the whole.

Kagome smiles slightly. "I could get used to this," she thought aloud. Shrugging her shoulders, she heads through her door. Pulling it open, she jumped back and let go of it when she felt the metal bending. Looking up, she giggled at the now slanted door. 'Memo to self: Watch strength. Not good to bust down doors. Or break them.'

Her silent footfalls made not a sound as she trekked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Not feeling the usual nausea of not eating, she picked up her now light-as-a-feather backpack and left the house.

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Kagome stopped at the well and breathed out heavily. Clutching the almost completed Shikon no Tama, she leaps into the well. Feeling the comforting, yet cold, fog of the portal, she relaxes slightly. Landing gracefully for the first time on her feet, she shakes her head to clear the fuzziness. The grand blue sky that held delicate clouds loomed overhead. She jumps from the well and felt the prickling of grass under her bare feet. Her eyes widened slightly.

'I forgot shoes! I guess it felt so natural -- for some odd reason, because I've never left the shrine without any -- that I totally and completely forgot,' she thought. Shrugging her shoulders, she smiles faintly.

"I guess there are much more new things I'm going to have to expect from life," she said aloud while silently pondering the reaction of Inuyasha and the others. 'Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Inuyasha, Kaede, I'm coming,' with that lingering thought, she walked into Inuyasha's Forest.

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Shippou had been sitting bored when he smelled a new scent. Or a familiar scent, only altered slightly. Or greatly. Furrowing his brows, he ditches thinking about the scent to go actually find out something about it. It was a faint mixture of ginger, vanilla, and cinnamon. Scuttling softly through the bushes, he heads in the direction. It was only then he realized it was near the well. Forgetting about the familiarness, he speeds up. 'I'm coming, Kagome! Whoever that demon is -- because I'm certain it's youkai -- I'll drive it off!'

The brave pup wandered into the clearing near the Bone Eaters well. He skidded to a halt as he got a good look at the demoness. Boy, was she beautiful! And from what he could tell, very powerful as well. Then it hit him, the scent he had smelt was like Kagome's. His eyes widened greatly.

"Kagome?" He called out softly.

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She had been lost in thought when a particular smell wafted into her sensitive nose. Taking a light sniff, she smelt woodland and fresh grass. So lost in thought was she, Kagome did not notice how close it had come until she heard the quiet, "Kagome?"

Whirling around without thinking about her new appearance, she smiled broadly. "Shippou! I was beginning to miss you so much!"

Shippou blinked when he saw her face. She was most definitely a youkai! He shook his head and for the moment warded off her weird look and smell and jumped into her outstretched arms.

"I missed you too, Mama! Did you bring any cho - co - late? And lollied pops? But what happened to you? You look and smell like a demon, Mama. Can you tell me, please?"

His excited voice made her laugh as she listened to his questions. "One at a time, son! One at a time!" She faltered when he finished talking. Grimacing, she began her story.

"I really don't, Shippou. All I remember is falling asleep at the light post, and waking up like this," changing the subject, she added, "And yes, I brought some candy for you. But only one at a time. I don't want you to end up like last time." She smiled as she remembered when he had first tasted candy. He was as hyper as a pomeranian on steroid overdose. She giggled lightly and looked back at him.

Shippou listened intently to her, but when she said 'yes' to having candy, her immediately went in search of a chocolate bar in her backpack. Falling in the enclosed space, he popped out moments later with a candy bar in his grasp.

"Thank you, Mama!" He said as he stuffed his face contentedly. With Shippou riding on her shoulder, Kagome once more began to walk. She could only hope the others would accept her as easily as he had. Her expression turned grim as she ght ght more on it. She knew that they would have mixed reactions, but she could only hope for the best.

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Inuyasha looked up sharply as two scents assulted his nose. One he knew, and the other was very familiar. Opening one of his golden eyes, he jumped from his perch in his tree. Running back to the village, he waited for the two. Shippou and the other would be coming here. He knew that because their scents were coming in this direction.

Sango and Miroku paid no attention to the hanyou. He was renowned throughout the village to come and go as he pleased. Looking up only once from their position in Kaede's hut, they shrugged and went back to the card game Kagome had taught them how to play.

Whenever the two eventually did arrive, it was very unexpected. Or atleast when Miroku and Inuyasha felt the power of the strange youkai only a short distance off, and ran to greet them, (plus Sango) did they see her. She was magnificent, and on her shoulder was Shippou.

"Shippou, who is that?" Miroku asked. While on all of their minds was, 'She looks like Kagome!'

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Kagome half smiled when Miroku asked who she was. She knew she had changed, but couldn't they at least tell it was her?!

Before Shippou could answer, she cut in, "You don't regconize your own friend? I'm hurt, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku." She looked at them as she stated their names.

Inuya's g's golden eyes went wide. The demoness was having effects on him that she shouldn't have. Even the sound of her silken voice had him craving more of her speech. He was almost shocked when she knew their names.

Barely he whispered, "Kagome?"

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Rion: Another cliffy! ^-^;; I so love to tease. Anyway, I seriously thought about making this a Sesshy/Kag fic. OR! I could do a Kag/OC. I don't know though . . . Would you mind telling me what you guys think? I would greatly appreciate it! (Even though I am leaning towards a Sesshy/Kag fic, I'm already working on one with him. But then again, why not?)