Start Time: 7:33PM, February 22, 2009

"Don't you think it's just to bad that they don't even know where to look for you?" the dark haired man smiled sinisterly. The person to which he spoke, a white haired hanyou, made no remark as he sat, chained to the wall of his cell. The chain, specially made, held back his demon power, making it impossible to escape. "It's a shame, really. It would be so much funner if they were close to finding us. Perhaps we should send them a sign? Nudge them in the right direction.... Yes. That sounds great to me. I'm glad you agree." The man turned and walked down the hallway, a smirk upon his face. "Kagura."

"Yes?" Kagura answered, stepping from behind the pillar which she was leaning against.

"Give them a nudge in the right direction, would you?"

Kagura's eyes flashed. "Alright. I'll see what I can do."

---

Moving forward was a slow paced process. No one knew exactly where it was they were even headed to. How could they possibly know where to go when they had no clue as to where Naraku was hidden, or where Inuyasha was. Who was the say that Inuyasha was even hidden at the same place as Naraku's hideaway? They were grasping at a needle in a haystack. A haystack the size of Japan with a needle the size of, well, a needle.

"Perhaps we should rest. Shippou looks tired," Miroku said as the groups walking slowed to a stop; indeed, Shippou did look tired, his eyes half open.

"That would be best," Kagome sighed in agreement. She was tired as well, but it was not a tiredness of the body. It was a tiredness of the mind. Her thinking had run away, gotten the better of her, and she was completely wore out in her mind. Her body was used to the movement, the running. She was positive that if she were still in school, she could beat the mile record and be the best in the archery club, but she wasn't at home, where life was simple. "Yes, let's set up camp." She spoke these words out loud and set to work, others helping with the usual routine, but Kagome's mind was not on the camp, but rather far away.

Simple life. School. The Shrine. Souta. Grandpa. Mama. She missed all those things so much. It was an ache she had learned to dull so long ago, because this quest was much more important than that of homework and shrine work. Admittedly, she would say that she missed that life though. Back when her biggest worry was (back when she was naive, of course) if the cutest boy in school would like her, or if she would pass her grade, or if her friend's would invite her to a party. Back when a pimple could ruin an entire day by appearing when you least wanted them.

Just how had she gone from being a naive school girl to a time traveling miko with the fate of the past and future in her hands? So much can change in so little time, and what amazed Kagome was that she was so willing to change with it. When she first came to this world she didn't question why or even what.

Kikyou watched Kagome work, and noticed her reincarnation was not here. Her body, though tired and wobbling a bit from exhaustion, worked but her mind was elsewhere. Thinking about who knows what. Kagome truly puzzled Kikyou. Perhaps Kikyou wold never understand Kagome, but she was willing to try. The girl was strong, even Kikyou could see that, but what she wondered about was just what era Kagome came from the made her like that? What world gave Kagome the stubbornness to never give up, even when the situation called for it. Why didn't she quit when all else seemed useless? When she broke the jewel, she went straight to work on trying to fix it. Even with an angry hanyou, perverted monk, whiny kitsune, and a demon slayer with an anger issue, and even having her... Kikyou's soul, stolen from her. She got part of that soul back because of her will to live and protect Inuyasha.

Kikyou knew that the hanyou had not been very nice to Kagome, not at the time Kikyou had been brought back, yet her reincarnation's heart went out the hanyou. She reached out to him, like Kikyou had, and tried to get him to open up to her, trust her. Kikyou was not sure whether or not Kagome had earned Inuyasha's trust, but she did know that the hanyou looked out for the reincarnation. Kikyou was still unsure as to why. Was it because Kagome reminded him of her? Or had he actually developed feelings for the girl from a different world?

"Kagome?" Kagome was jolted out of her thoughts by the voice of Kikyou.

"Yes, Kikyou?" Kagome asked, stopping the task she was doing, which was unrolling the sleeping bag for her and Shippou.

Kikyou was quiet for a bit, before saying, "I would like a word with you. Privately. It does not have to be now, but I wish to speak to you sometime."

Blinking in confusion for a few seconds, Kagome was stunned. Kikyou wanted a word with her? "Uh... Alright. I don't see why not." Kagome started to stand from unrolling the sleeping bag, but Kikyou halted her.

"Not now. We are busy. What can I do to help?"

Once again, Kagome was stunned. This women was someone who always knew what to do, at least from Kagome's point of view, yet here she was, asking what to do. "Well, I guess we've got everything. You could help us gather firewood, if you'd like."

"I will gather the wood. I will be back shortly," Kikyou said and turned swiftly, walking into the woods. Kagome pondered for a moment how Kikyou would do it alone, but her answer came soon, as when Kikyou entered the forest, a soft glow surrounded her. Her soul catchers would help her collect wood.

A small smile graced Kagome's lips. In all honesty, Kagome knew nothing of the dead priestess except that she, like herself, loved Inuyasha, be it still or at one point. She wasn't exactly sure of much else about her, besides what Kaede or Inuyasha has spoken of, which wasn't much to go on. "Perhaps Kikyou and I have more in common than we ever want to admit." She whispered it out loud to herself.

"What was that, Kagome?" Sango asked, looking over.

Kagome blushed, a bit embarrassed that she had been talking loud enough to be heard. "Nothing. I was just thinking out loud."

"Oh. Alright, then."

They all went back to work, a task with came so naturally to them. Kagome felt at peace for a little bit, like things were back to they way they used to be before this whole mess even happened. The only difference was that Inuyasha was absent, but while Kikyou was gone, Kagome could pretend that Inuyasha had just gone off to see her. If she pretended that, it seemed to take the weight off of him being absent, if even a little. Having Kikyou in Inuyasha's place made it feel as if Inuyasha were here. Though Kikyou alone could not carry as much wood as he could alone, with her soul catchers, she could carry just as much, if not more.

Kagome's thoughts bounced around as their work neared its end. There wasn't much left to do anyway, expect cook and start a fire, but they needed Kikyou here, as she was bringing fire wood, so Kagome ended up sitting on her sleeping bag pondering things. Wondering what things would be like right now if she had not died. If they had defeated Naraku. Would Kikyou still be here? Would Inuyasha even be on this world, or would he have gone to Hell with Kikyou? A frown appeared on Kagome's face. The more she thought about it, the more she began to wonder. Kikyou was sent to Hell, so that meant that Kagome was from Hell, which drew whole new questions.

If there was a Hell, was there a Heaven? And if you went to Heaven, were you reincarnated, or did you get to live in an eternal paradise forever? Were those who were sent to Hell the ones to be reincarnated, or was there just no Heaven at all? That thought deepened Kagome's frown. Out of all the things she had learned, she had yet to learn of Heaven and Hell and just what they truly were. Perhaps Earth was Heaven, and living was paradise, and dying sent you straight to Hell, good or bad. But then the definition of Hell would need to be redefined, would it not?

"Kagome-chan, what are you thinking about that has you frowning your beautiful face?" Miroku asked, breaking her train of thought. Kagome looked over to him and was greeted by a warm brotherly smile.

"Hell," Kagome answered truthfully, which earned her 'looks' from those around her. Kagome explained what she meant. "Well, just what is Heaven and Hell? We know there's got to be a Hell. It's... just fact," Kagome couldn't bring herself to say that Kikyou was from Hell out loud. It just seemed to rude and personal to say. "Yet, we do not have proof of Heaven, so just what is it? I've got some idea's, but that's all they will ever be. Ideas. Theories."

"That's some pretty deep thinking, Kagome," Sango said with a slight frown, though it was a frown of thought, not sadness.

"I do believe I've earned a right to at least think about Heaven and Hell. I mean, I was dead. Don't give me that look, I'm simply stating facts. Anyway, I was dead, yet I'm sure I was neither at Heaven nor Hell. Limbo I guess. Which makes me wonder. Did someone decide it wasn't my time, and that I wasn't to go to Heaven or Hell? Or would neither accept me?" Kagome picked softly at the end of her sleeping bag and looked down as she spoke. She wasn't going to keep any secrets from them, but speaking of such things was so different from what she normally spoke of.

"Honestly, Kagome, I don't think we will ever know until we die, and stay dead," Miroku said with a sigh, looking up at the setting sun. A silence fell over the group after that comment. It wasn't the comment itself that made the silence, but rather the new weight that was put in the air. The new topic brought an air of worry and sorrow.

The glowing soul catcher dropped some fire wood on the ground near them, causing Sango, Miroku, Kagome, Shippou, and Kilala to jump into the air. Kikyou had returned with enough fire wood to keep them warm through the night.

Kikyou looked over at the group, examining them. She knew something had happened, but she wasn't going to question what it was. It was not her business, for if it was, they would have waited until she had returned to speak of it, or would have brought up the subject again upon her return. Neither happened, so she would not ask. At least, not the group. Perhaps she would question Kagome when they were alone.

"Thank you, Kikyou-sama," Miroku was the first to break the silence.

"Yes, thank you Kikyou," Sango said after him. "It was kind of you to get the fire wood."

"It was all I could do. I am not used to your ways of setting up camp. It was best for me to get out of your way and allow you to work," Kikyou replied, "but just the same, you're welcome."

Kagome smiled at Kikyou, her way of thanking. Kikyou nodded in return and caught Kagome's eye. Kagome understood what the unasked question was. "Now is fine."

"Very well. Follow me," Kikyou turned swiftly and started to walk back the way they had come from.

Sango, Miroku, and Shippou all gave Kagome looks that asked her to explain, but all Kagome did was shake her head and follow after Kikyou, a silent promise to explain later, depending upon what she and Kikyou talked about.

The back tracked walk was quiet and short, simply going out of ear distance. Kagome could tell that Kikyou didn't want anyone to hear, and honestly, Kagome didn't either. If it was important enough that they had to leave to discuss it, than Kagome would keep it a secret that was to be between her and Kikyou. That thought made Kagome feel funny. Her and Kikyou keeping a secret together. It was like they were school girls whispering to each other their secrets. It was just an odd feeling completely, being with Kikyou alone on her own free will.

"Kagome," Kikyou started, but fell silent, looking off to the distant. She seemed to be calculating what she would say. Kagome remained silent while Kikyou gathered her thoughts. She restarted. "Kagome, I'm not quite sure I completely understand you. We share the same soul, yet we could not be any more different. Tell me, what is your thought on that?"

Kagome thought a bit before replying. She picked her words carefully. "I believe that... we are not so different, you and I. It is simply the times in which we are born that brings out this difference in us. I was born to a time where you never give up. I was raised to believe that you fight for what you believe in, even to the death. But your time... You give up when all seems useless, instead of trying to press forward. You learn to do it over time." Kagome paused, thinking for more words to describe what she had to say. "I was raised in a time where I learned not to just give up when all looked lost. History has taught me that, but you are the history that had yet to learn that. You don't know the trials you'll go through, learning to not quit when all seems lost, but I know those trials. I've studied them, done reports on them, and so much more. Half the time, I've never actually listened to them when they were taught, but now that I am living part of it... I see the importance of it."

Silence followed after Kagome's words as Kikyou thought about what she said. Slowly, after some time to digest the words, Kikyou said, "I understand. We are not different, but we are. Raised by different morals, beliefs. Those are out differences. So tell me, what are our likenesses?"

"Kindness. The will to do what is right when all around us is doing wrong. Compassion. The will to live," Kagome answered the question quickly, saying the first thing that came to her mind. She didn't need to think these things over, because as she said them, she knew they applied to both her and Kikyou. "We both made mistakes, and now we are going down the path to fix them. And I think..." she looked over to Kikyou, for what she was going to say could insult her, "I think that we are both unsure if the path we chose is the one that will right things."

"I believe I'm starting to understand you, Kagome," Kikyou said, then looked up towards the sky. "Perhaps, under different circumstances, we could have been friends."

Kagome was quiet for a bit, until her gaze, too, extended up towards the fading light in the sky. A few stars started to shine through. "Perhaps we still can be."

"You are very much the optimistic, Kagome," Kikyou replied, "but maybe you are right. We will have to see how things progress here, won't we? We cannot say that we will be friends, as many issues lay ahead, and we do not know what side of us will be the one to shine forth."

Kagome put a small smile on, and stole a gaze at Kikyou, only to see that Kikyou had on the tiniest of smiles as well. "True, Kikyou. True. So, was there anything else that you wished to discuss?"

"Not at this moment," Kikyou replied, then looked over to Kagome. "What about you?"

Kagome hesitated, but finally spoke. "Heaven and Hell. Do either truly exist?"

Kikyou was quiet this time, having to think her words through before replying. "Yes. And No. Hell is certainly a place, I know. But Heaven... As a young child I was taught that there was a Heaven to complement Hell, but I never really believed it. I just wanted to be normal my whole life." Kikyou stopped, realizing that she was spilling her soul, no pun intended, to a girl that she was unsure of whether to think of as friend or foe.

Kagome sensed Kikyou's thoughts and spoke. "All my life I wanted to be someone extraordinary. I was normal, by my time's standards. And now that I am something wonderful, amazing even, once again, by my world's standards... I don't think I would change it. I know no one will remember me for it. I'll never get recognition, my name might be lost in time, and even if I am remembered, I won't be remembered as me, but as some legendary priestess. I, myself, will never achieve fame. But... I think I'm okay with that. Honestly, how would I explain that I'm a time traveling miko with the powers to purify demons and sacred jewels with just my touch? They'd lock me up in an asylum! Or, worse, if they had proof I could do extraordinary things, they might lock me up in order to run tests on me to find out just what makes me unique." Kagome took a breath. She wasn't sure why she was telling Kikyou all of this, she hadn't even told Sango, but still, she continued, and Kikyou listened. "Everything has to be explained by science. Nothing can ever just... be."

"I do not understand your time, but I can understand your pain," Kikyou's reply was simple, but it made Kagome feel better.

"I've always had this thought, though. Is what we do here going to affect my time? I mean, if my time hasn't changed from since I fell into the well, then that must mean that we are going to win, right? Because if not, the future would change," Kagome said.

"I do not know, Kagome. And perhaps I will never. The future is not set in stone, but neither is the past. Not to you. You have the power to live in both. I think the sole question is, will you use that power to change the future for the better?" Kikyou asked, looking to Kagome, her eye questioning.

The silence that followed was a tense one. It was a question that held much power. The answer to it could easily decide whether or not Kagome should even be here, trying to right all that had gone wrong. In that silence, Kagome thought hard about what was right and what was wrong. It was only after she thought that opened her mouth and gave Kikyou her answer.

"I don't know."

End Time: 3:36PM, March 13, 2009

Well, there you have it. An update. Hopefully more will follow. As you can see, I'm going on that Kikyou and Kagome could get along so long as they understand each other. More Kagome and Kikyou friendship will be coming up. I think I shall also drabble in the affairs of Sango and Miroku. Not sure, though. And I want to thank all that have stuck with me over my giant hiatus. I have no excuses for taking so long other than I had no feelings of writing. It just wasn't on my 'to do' list. It's not now, really, but I have a resolution to finish all fanfiction stories, so I'm typing like a mad woman to get them done. But don't expect that many chapters to follow. I might not write.