Authoress' Notes: Soooo...I ended up updating instead of revising again. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself! Anyway, the first scene is in reference to Shaman King manga chapter 78!

Question: Asakura Hao

What He Is After.

They were trying to gain their bearings—that's how it started. Being surrounded by so many other powerful shamans, gathering at an airport with little other instruction: it was almost overwhelming.

Not long ago, Yoh, HoroHoro, Bankotsu, and Ryu crossed paths with Ren as he sampled various food stands. Ren expected to see them eventually, but he had not expected for the Asakura to be so cordial with him—not after what happened between them years ago. After Kagome's disappearance, they went their separate ways and never saw each other again.

It was a dark time that he did not know how to get through without the priestess at his side. Sometimes, the only thing that got him through the day was the image of Kagome smiling teasingly at him, making fun of him for not acting like himself. Even now, he paid a secret task force to search for information on Kagome's whereabouts.

There was no doubt that many parties blamed themselves for Kagome's disappearance, and Ren was no exception to that feeling of guilt. But because of it, he stopped showing his face around the others, and consequently, so did Jun and Sango.

Time without Kagome dragged along, but it still passed. The second phase of the Shaman Fights would soon begin and they knew little of what was to come.

After the red-cheeked Tao accepted Yoh's good-natured invitation to join them, the ragtag team settled for resting and dining at the airport McRonald's to pass the time.

"Of all places to gather us...why pick an airbase?" HoroHoro wondered after finishing his burger.

"Tch, it should be obvious," Ren stated with a confident smirk playing at his lips. "You really never change. Use your head for once."

"I'm pumped and ready for this!" Bankotsu smirked while punching a fist into his palm. "I'll go anywhere and everywhere to be Shaman King!"

"...huh. I get it," Yoh said after swallowing his last french fry.

"Oh, wow," Ryu blinked slowly as his brain processed what was going on. "So that's how it is."

Suddenly their innocuous chat was interrupted by an unfamiliar voice that spoke to them, its tone was calm, amused, and condescending, "You guys truly are children." All eyes turned away from their inner circle and towards the source of the voice. There he stood: Yoh's mysterious doppelganger, the figure who they had not seen in years. "It must be nice to have the luxury to ponder over such trivial matters."

Even more startling than Hao's sudden appearance was the girl who stood at his side: another face they had not seen in years. But surely enough, there she was: Higurashi Kagome. A few years older but with the same face. Her hair and legs grew a bit longer.

For a moment, the girl's estranged friends were caught in stunned silence.

Kagome did not look at them with the same startled expression—implying that she was expecting to see them right here and now. Her expression and complexion were as warm as they remembered. They were unaware that the small smile tugging at her lips was her inner relief. She reciprocated their feelings of relief to see them alive and healthy. How could they know how glad she was to see them again?

The last time that Ren, Yoh, and HoroHoro had seen her, she was a fireball of uncontrollable anger and spite. The last time that Bankotsu had seen her, she was a hollow shell of herself, out of touch with reality after her world came crashing down again. The last time that they had seen her, she was spirited away by Asakura Hao. It had been even longer since Ryu had seen the girl. After years of trying to track her down and fruitlessly trying to contact Sesshomaru, meeting her again in a place like this seemed too surreal.

And yet, she finally appeared before them again—in the company of the person who they presumed to be an enemy.

The shamans were quickly on their feet. They were on guard, unsure of what to make of the development and the situation that they found themselves in.

"Yo, Kagome-chan!" HoroHoro's impulsive mouth was the first to break the silence. He pointed at the girl, who sweatdropped at the outburst, "Why are you with that Yoh-wannabe?!"

Ryu threw a fist in the air in a display of passion, "Yeah! You must be confused! The real Yoh-dono is right here!"

The three remaining shamans didn't miss how Kagome lifted a concerned face to Hao as he smiled widely at the exclamations. Her fingers found the side of his cloak; their subtle tug at the fabric was a silent request that Hao obliged.

Meanwhile, Yoh's eyes were wide in shock as he took in the priestess' appearance. He was almost speechless. 'Kagome…' Seeing her alive and well was a blessing and a dream come true, but seeing her in an outfit that nearly mirrored Hao's was another flurry of emotions. His heart had been silent since Kagome had disappeared. It was so quiet that he almost forgot that it was there: nothing moved him the way that Kagome did. But now, in her presence, it was drumming painfully in his chest.

Bankotsu still could not believe his eyes. He saw the way Hao delighted in even the smallest touch from Kagome. He noticed how Kagome did not hesitate to close the small gap between them. Alarms rang in his head from the wordless exchange between the pair. Kagome leaning in close to lay her head on Hao's arms and her hand resting flat on his chest...and Hao's own hand taking finding a spot on her hip… It was unbelievably familiar; it was brazenly intimate. The two were not just a pair.

Ren's heart was a molten core on the verge of a meltdown. For so long, he had felt nothing but anger with himself and regret for walking away from Kagome back then… After the first year of her disappearance, he was left with nothing but a cold void that nothing could fill. No amount of self-loathing or sleepless nights brought him peace or clarity. But seeing her at Asakura Hao's side ignited an inferno that he thought was no longer possible. It was like lighting a cold, wet match. "Kagome…" His whisper of her name was heated. His fist shook at his side.

The priestess pulled away from the shaman at her side. She shuffled bashfully, her blue gladiator sandals crunching pebbles beneath the soles. "It's been a long time, huh?" She asked, her voice casual but somewhat embarrassed. She scratched a pink cheek then smiled sheepishly. "Sorry for making you wor—."

"Worry?! Are you kidding me?!" Ren suddenly seethed, almost foaming at his mouth as he continued, paying no mind to how the girl flinched at his ferocity, "That's really what you have to say after all of this time?!" His piercing eyes burned with expectation, accusation, and betrayal. The Tao took half a step forward.

"Why'd you even come here?!" HoroHoro aimed at Hao, glaring with animosity. "What's the point of picking a fight with us?!" He accused as his eyes narrowed.

Not a moment later, both Ren and HoroHoro had the wind knocked out of them as giant fists smashed into their bodies. Yoh's eyes widened as he turned to see his friends crashing into the food stand's support beams. He was almost surprised to hear the concern in Kagome's voice as she called out, "Ren! HoroHoro-kun!"

Ryu's eyes bulged out of their sockets as he took in the red spirit that towered above them and the buildings. "WHAT IS THAT THING?!" He cried as he stared up at the monstrosity that pulled its fists back.

Hao was smiling calmly as he explained, "This is Spirit of Fire. Unlike me, he has quite the temper so I'd watch what I'd say and do around me, Future King Hao." He then placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, which were hidden within the depths of her long cloak. "The same goes for my future Queen. He's rather fond of her."

"Future…" Everyone's eyes widened at the term. "Queen?!" They then turned to look at Kagome. She returned their shock with a calm smile.

"Yes," She nodded in confirmation. Unable to meet Yoh's eyes, Kagome looked up at Hao and glared at him, almost pouting, "Hao, you need to control Spirit of Fire. These guys are still my friends so you both need to behave."

Hao seemed amused at the statement as he shrugged, "But he's a literal force of nature."

The girl shook her head and sighed, "You're hopeless." She then finally turned an unreadable smile to Yoh. The smile was surprisingly tender and sweet, it completely disarmed him as she began her approach, "Yoh, I'm sorry about this…"

The sound of his name in her voice brought Yoh back down to Earth. His face calmed, feeling sentimental, almost melting on the spot. "Kagome, you don't—" The priestess' fingers on his lips hushed him. Once again, he was frozen, lost in the surrealism of what was happening. Kagome was so close, and she smelled so nice. After being gone for so long, she was suddenly millimeters away.

The girl wordlessly shook her head before moving her fingers away from his mouth. The same warm digits suddenly favored cupping his cheek, setting the skin aflame with feelings that never faded. Her thumb glided across his skin, caressing him as she tried to memorize the feel of Yoh's warmth.

"Yoh…" Kagome whispered, her eyes shimmering with an untold secret and regret. "Forgive me…" Just as Yoh began to speak again, the girl suddenly leaned up and silenced him with her lips. She paid no mind to the choking sounds of the shocked HoroHoro and Ryu, or Hao's amused hum at her boldness. She could not see Bankotsu's longing stare or how Ren forced himself to look away.

You's arms were weak as they rose to grasp the girl, in hopes of capturing the girl and never letting her go again.

But for Kagome, this was nothing but her making a memory. She was being selfish. She did not want the chance to know if her feelings were still reciprocated. Without waiting for Yoh to make a move, Kagome pulled away and smiled up at him. She was silently grateful to see him just as flustered, breathless as she hoped he would be. "Kagome, I have to tell you—!" His hands were suddenly on her shoulders.

"Yoh…" Kagome's eyes began to glow a brilliant shade of gold. "You have to forget all about me," she told him, her tone suddenly stern and firm.

"What are you—?!" He could not believe his ears, and it showed on his face. Just like the others who she used her technique on, Yoh's eyes dulled as he went into a trance. "Forget that we've met. Forget everything that we've had. And when you're finished, I want you to make the others forget as well. You can do that for me."

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

'What the—?!' Yoh thought as he snapped back to reality. His forehead was dripping sweat onto the ground as he gasped for air. He suddenly found himself on all fours, staring at the Chingo-do's cement ground. 'Another vision?!' He asked himself. Between mysterious dreams and sudden daydreams, the line between the present and the future was becoming blurred. The shock of seeing Kagome with Hao...the feel of her lips against his… It all felt so real.

The concerned cries of his friends were muted as his head moved from side to side, his eyes darting here and there, in search for any sign of Kagome. His frantic searching was only halted by a firm touch on his shoulder. The Asakura raised his eyes, surprised to see his fiancee kneeling at his side. "Anna…" he whispered, even more surprised to see her face troubled and worried...for his sake.

"Yoh, pick yourself up," The blond girl told him while locking eyes, her gaze became resolute as she spoke to him. "It's disgraceful to see you like this." Her words were harsh but her tone did not reflect her bluntness. "Kagome—she'll return."

"Anna…" Yoh gave her a weak smile. "You're right…" Suddenly, he found the strength to push himself off the ground. The itako followed his motions and stood up straight. "Thanks for that," he nodded at her. She only responded with a huff and scowl as her eyes settled on something in the distance.

"Yoh-kun," Manta was still deeply concerned, despite the unconvincing smile on Yoh's face. The shaman's breathing was still noticeably uneven and heavy. "Will you be okay? Is there any way to go after them?" He looked between the faces of the shamans that gathered around them. Ryu looked uncertain as HoroHoro deflated with an expression of frustration.

"It ticks me off," HoroHoro admitted. "But I can't think of a way to track them down. That guy just seemed to disappear into thin air from where I was standing." He then regarded Bankotsu and Ren as they approached them, "How are you two holding up?"

"Tch, that was nothing," Ren grumbled in an attempt to save face.

"More importantly," Bankotsu was quick to change topics. "Hao sunk his claws into my Kagome." His sapphire eyes found Yoh's earthy ones. He could see how shaken Yoh was by the incident. The shaman completely spaced out for a few minutes, and Bankotsu had the feeling that it was because a memory came flooding back. He would be lying to himself if he said that he was not bothered by the development. But the sound of the other Kagome's voice resounded in his head.

["When those times come, will you be able to stand on her side?"]

Bankotsu closed his eyes, taking a small breath to settle his own racing heart. He had more insight on the truth than anyone else here. Despite that, part of him still felt anxious and uncertain. The knowledge that was bestowed on him was useful, but only to a certain extent. He only knew of possible outcomes and events because of past ones. Hao's sudden appearance and Kagome's agreeing to go with him proved that new choices would and could be made, meaning that the future was still uncertain.

"Yoh," Ren narrowed his eyes at the Asakura, "How is that you know nothing about that Hao guy?" The Tao felt no remorse for how Yoh's face fell into a scowl at his accusation. He ignored how Manta stiffened before silently waving his arms in a plea to stop himself. "It can't be a coincidence that you two are identical and he has an obsession with Kagome."

The shamed expression on Yoh's face told Ren that he would not be getting any answers here. "I really don't know anything about Hao," Yoh admitted. "I planned on asking my grandparents when I go back to Izumo next week."

"Next week, huh?" Ren did not seem satisfied with the answer, and Bankotsu did not blame him. "And what if Kagome never comes back?" The question sent a pain shooting through Yoh's chest. The Tao did not know what made him so combative towards the Asakura but he could not stop himself from stepping closer and reaching for his shirt.

"That's enough," Anna spat as she slapped Ren's hand away. "There's nothing we can do about it now," her tone was as sharp as a dagger, taking Yoh by surprise once again. "Besides, Kagome went with him on her own volition." The itako was not blind to how her statement tore a few hearts apart.

Ren's teeth clenched.

It was the truth, but—.

Bankotsu was thankful for the sudden screams and squeaks from Pirika, Jun, and Sango. The crowd turned and looked across the way. Miroku was sitting on the ground, nursing swollen cheeks but smiling nonetheless while the three girls went from looking completely horrified and disgusted to furious.

"Jun-sama!" Bailong glared at the monk as he got into an offensive stance.

Pirika held herself, shivering, "I'll never get married now! Ban-san will never want me!" Bankotsu sweatdropped as HoroHoro threw him a glare.

Suddenly Sango was holding a glowing Hiraikotsu as she asked, "With Anna-san here, we don't really need him alive to answer our questions, do we?"

"You're right," Pirika nodded as her teary eyes glared down at the shameless pervert. "Maybe if he's dead, I can get my innocence back!"

Bankotsu raised his arms as he quickly made his way towards them. "Hold on, ladies!" His voice was urgent. Miroku looked relieved at the other teens' arrivals to the scene. His relief quickly became a feeling of dread as Bankotsu continued, "I want to be the one who kills him!"

Yoh sweatdropped as he raised his hands, "Let's not be hasty, you guys...Eh—" His smile became frozen on his face as Ren grabbed the monk by the front of his robes and shook him a bit. "Or not."

"We already know that you're Hao's lackey," The Tao stated with a tone that said that he was in no mood for nonsense or excuses. "Tell us what you know. What does he want with Kagome?!"

Miroku was sweating profusely as he smiled crookedly, "As I told Kagome-sama, I'm but a peon. Hao-sama doesn't tell me—" Ren's grunt and death glare made the monk swallow a lump in his throat. "I'm telling the truth. The only thing that I know for sure is that Hao-sama is set on winning Kagome-sama's favor. He's convinced that she's his ideal Shaman Queen."

"Bullshit," Bankotsu and Ren chorused, the Tao paused and glared at the taller teen as he spoke over him. "I'm the one who's going to make Kagome his Shaman Queen," Bankotsu insisted. Manta facepalmed at the declaration.

But it was then that Miroku suddenly smirked as his tone deepened, showing his serious side once again, "You are fools if any of you truly think that you can defeat Hao-sama. He is undoubtedly the most powerful shaman on Earth." The monk only seemed amused at the agitated glares that the other shamans gave him.

"What the hell?!" Ren hissed when his firm grip on Miroku's robes disappeared into a poof of smoke. A single leaf replaced the monk's body. It innocently twirled and fluttered down to the ground, landing in the center of the circle of feet.

"Looks like he got away…" Yoh stated as he stooped over to pick up the leaf. Unlike the autumn leaves of the area, this one was a lush, healthy shade of forest green. "Leaf, huh…?" He whispered to himself as he thought about his possible connection to Hao. He wondered as he looked up at the night sky.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Hao released a satisfied hum as he smiled at Kagome. He finally lowered his offering, seemingly conceding to her reluctance. He groaned lightly, his arms formed a V-shape towards the sky as he stretched his muscles.

The priestess finally became aware of how bare Hao's upper body was. His pectorals shamelessly screaming his level of fitness in her face. The girl blushed and looked elsewhere as the shaman flopped onto the grass, his legs crossing comfortably. "How about a break before I take you back?" He proposed, his voice more charming than she would dare admit.

"Fine…" Kagome muttered as she settled down next to Hao. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. 'Great…' She inwardly groaned. 'You made it this far and now you don't know what to say… Good job, Kagome.' The priestess stole a glance at the teen next to her. He seemed to be enjoying feeling the wind in his hair and staring up at the sky.

When he wasn't mocking anyone or acting so all-knowing, Hao looked even more like Yoh. His smile was so content and gentle. His eyes were open and less mischievous. In a moment like this, he seemed so harmless. Still, Kagome knew that it would be naive if she let her guard down and just accepted this peaceful face as the true Hao. 'Hao...who are you exactly…?' She wondered to herself.

As if he had read her mind, Hao's gaze suddenly shifted to the side, catching Kagome's eyes and catching her in the act. His smile spread like warm butter across bread, setting her cheeks on fire. "You don't have to be embarrassed around me, my cute little Kagome~" He chuckled when the priestess huffed and turned her head away completely.

"I'm not your anything," She countered as she tried to calm herself, annoyed how flustered she felt. "So d on't get the wrong idea, okay?"

"Hmm?" He smiled while tilting his head slightly, "And what idea would that be?"

The priestess was quick to answer, her nose in the air, "That I feel anything but loathing for you!"

"My, my~ Kagome, you're so cruel to me," The shaman feigned hurt. "What have I done to elicit such hostility?" The brunette did not flinch or shy away when the girl angrily turned and leaned towards him, her hands slapping across the ground.

"The very first time we met you tried to force a kiss on me!" Kagome exclaimed, both incredulous and indignant that he would dare feign innocence.

"Ah," The brunette scratched his cheek, his smile never fading as he questioned, "Are you sure that you didn't mistake me for Yoh?" The twitch of Kagome's eye was swiftly followed by a bonk to Hao's head.

A few moments later, the priestess promptly created several meters of distance between them. Her arms were crossed as she huffed through flaring nostrils like an angry bull.

"Come now," Hao was smiling widely as he moved to stand at her side, only sighing when she huffed again and turned to face another direction. The shaman moved again, determined to see her face, "After all I've done for you, you can't excuse one little blunder?"

Kagome's cutting glare from over her shoulder spoke volumes. "Start with an apology and maybe we'll talk," her tone left no room for arguing, not that she expected Hao to do so.

For someone so mysterious and powerful, Hao was quick to satisfy Kagome. "Alright then," He was cheesing widely. "Kagome, I'm sorry," the priestess nodded slightly hearing those words, only to twitch at the addition, "that I can't resist you."

"Why can't you just apologize like a normal person?" Kagome sweatdropped before settling down on the grass again. She did not want to show it, but she was both drained and at peace at this venue. She was not surprised when Hao sat next to her, leaving no visible space between them.

"Because, I don't want to lie to you," Hao told her easily. Kagome found herself blushing at his next statement, "The more time that elapses, the more I see you, and the more that I know that you're destined to be mine."

There was Bankotsu's level of boldness: loud, passionate, and demanding attention.

And then there was Hao: steady, confident, and smooth.

"And what makes you so sure?" The priestess huffed. She almost grumbled. "We barely know each other."

"It would seem that way…" Suddenly Hao's hands were moving as he spoke. Kagome's head snapped to meet his face with the intention to glare at him. But once again, she was disarmed by his face, but whether it was because he looked like Yoh, or because he was Hao was unclear. The girl was breathless as the boy's fingers made quick work. "But I get the feeling that we've met before."

Hao was scarily gentle as he brushed some of Kagome's hair back and planted his red freesia between the locks. The priestess was both surprised and grateful that his touches ended there, his hand fell back to his side. The only person that should be touching her so tenderly was...someone who she could not have.

For a moment, Hao observed Kagome's face. She was still so young and unsure. She looked at him like he was but a stranger. "Looks like you still haven't woken up," He noted, unsurprised at how annoyed she looked.

"Stop being so cryptic and tell me what you're saying!" She frowned. "If you really think we're 'destined'" she made air quotes with her fingers, "To be together, you should give me a better answer."

Hao's smile became teasing, "My, my~ Are you sure that it won't overload your brain~?"

"I'll hit you," Kagome deadpanned as she held up a shoe threateningly.

"No need for violence, My Lady~" Hao shook his head. "I'll answer any question that you ask of me." Kagome could have sworn that his smile became a smirk. "As long as you do the same for me~" He chirped, his pointer finger in the air.

The priestess gave him a suspicious look, arms crossing over her chest protectively once again, "I'm not telling you anything about my measurements."

"Why ask about them when I'll just find out in a few years?" Hao asked, enjoying how the girl stiffened and shrunk away from him. He waved a hand dismissively, "How can you get your answers from way over there?"

"I can hear you just fine from over here!" Kagome called back, still holding herself.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

The Asakura residence was almost in a state of pandemonium. Between Ryu's frantic panicking and the reactions to Bankotsu's interrogation of Shippo, there was more noise than usual. Despite the near chaos, Jun noticed how Ren was more withdrawn than usual.

Instead of partaking in the questioning of the young fox, he sat at the kotatsu. His interlocked hands supported his low hung head. His long bangs shielding his eyes from the world. He was as quiet and still as a grave. All he could do was think of was Kagome. And he couldn't shake the feeling that something like this happened before, but it made no sense.

Ren could still picture the first time that Kagome called him by his name. He found her collapsed in the middle of their training room. At the time, he rolled his eyes and groaned at the girl's carelessness. At the time, he didn't know what made him scoop her up and carry her to her room that night. But along the way, his hurried steps shook and roused Kagome from her sleep. She peered up at him through sleep-hazed eyes and asked, "Ren...?"

Kagome made his name sound like sugar.

He grumbled and berated her for being too dumb to know when she's at her limits. Despite those words, he was far gone, a goner for her.

'Kagome...' He wanted to see her face again, right now and in this moment. He wanted to tell her that she was an idiot for running off with sketchy characters. But more than that, he wanted to know that she was safe. But what could he do? What could he do when he was too powerless to help her?

"Bocchama…" Bason whispered as he hovered behind his master. He did not know what he could possibly say or do to help his young lord. He then looked to Amidamaru, who was silently watching over his own partner.

Shippo's tail stiffened when Bankotsu loomed above him, wearing a grin so forced that he looked like the devil himself. "Don't worry, squirt," the tall teen assured him through clenched teeth. "I'm not gonna hurt ya. I just wanna ask you some questions."

"Wah!" Shippo cried out as he tried to scramble away, only to be caught immediately. He felt no pain as Bankotsu grabbed a handful of his tail and raised the child to his eye level. "K...Kagome will punish you if you try anything funny!" The fox warned the shaman.

Bankotsu looked unimpressed and unamused at the threat. "You're the last one who should be using my Kagome as a shield when she isn't around," he told Shippo bluntly. "Now then—Hm?" he blinked over his shoulder.

Yoh was standing behind him, his hand firmly on his shoulder. "Bankotsu…" He began slowly, "Shippo is right. Kagome would be upset if you did anything to him." His brown eyes then met Shippo's wide green ones. "Besides, anyone who Kagome cares about...I care about too."

The Asakura blinked when the fox child broke free from Bankotsu and launched himself into his chest with a cry, "Yoh! Bankotsu is a big meanie!" The brunette's surprised face then dissolved into a gentle one as he rubbed the child's head.

Bankotsu gave Yoh an incredulous look, "Don't tell me that you fell for that cutesy act of his."

HoroHoro chuckled as he shrugged, "Well, you can't blame the guy. It's hard to not want to protect adorable creatures." He then raised Kororo to his cheek and nuzzled her affectionately. "Like this cutie right here~" The tiny spirit beamed and nuzzled him back.

Shippo then turned around in Yoh's arms and stuck his tongue out at Bakotsu and blurted out, "This is why Kagome loves Yoh the most!"

The Shichinin's eyebrow twitched as he raised his hands to accost the demon, " Why. ."

He only stopped himself when Pirika wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"B-Ban-san, please! Yoh-san is right here! Kagome-neechan would be upset with you if you don't treat Shippo-chan nicely!" She explained to the teen.

Bankotsu peered at Pirika from over his shoulder and gave her a charming smirk, "Alright. Anything for you, Piririn~"

Pirika's grip on the shaman fell loose as her hands raised to her cheeks, holding them as she gaped up at her crush. Squeaks replaced her words as she tried to return his words with ones of her own.

Bankotsu chuckled and patted the girl's head as she struggled to turn her squeals into intelligible squeaks. The raven-haired teen ignored the heated gaze that HoroHoro shot into his back.

"I understand that we want to approach the topic gently," Sango stated as she stepped away from Jun's side to join the conversation. "But we also need answers about Hao and his objectives—for Kagome-chan's sake."

Familiar violet eyes met large, green ones.

"Shippo-chan," Sango said so gingerly and tentatively that she unknowingly hurt the child. "We need you to tell us everything that you know about Hao," her tone was deliberately slow and careful, as if she was afraid of upsetting him. "Where is he hiding? Where would he take Kagome-chan?"

'Sango…' Shippo thought silently, his lips parted slightly as he stared up at her. Kirara looked so content resting on her shoulder. The nekomata's red, slitted eyes stared at him without a hint of recognition. 'Kirara…' The demon cat tilted her head to the side when his eyes began to tear up.

"I…" Shippo tried to speak, but his voice was quick to waver. "I-I uh…" Tears began sliding down his cheeks, causing Sango's seriousness to falter into a twitching, nervous smile. The Tao had no clue what she had done to upset him so much, but now she felt awkward.

"Hey now, little guy," Yoh offered Shippo a calming smile. "Don't worry. You don't have to be afraid. Sango is a kind person." HoroHoro and Ryu were quick to glare daggers at Yoh when Sango blushed a bit and smiled.

"Here, Yoh-kun~" Jun offered, holding her arms out. "Give Shippo-chan to me. None of you kids know how to handle small children~"

Jakotsu was quick to butt in, using his hips to bump the dàoshì out of the way. "Don't listen to that silly woman, Yoh-chan~ Her disgusting flesh rolls and tacky make-up will only scare the poor thing~!"

Yoh and Manta sweatdropped as Jun coughed and flicked open a decorative fan. She was giggly sadistically as she proceeded to whack Jakotsu across the face with it. "He really had that one coming…" Manta muttered with a deadpan expression.

"Ah, it's Sesshomaru-sama!" Amidamaru announced as the demon lord suddenly manifested in the room. The samurai, whose admiration for the demon was no secret, approached with his mouth running quickly, "Sesshomaru-sama, have you really been fighting that spirit for this long?! How did it go?! Have you located Kagome-sama?!"

Despite Amidamaru's apparent concern, Sesshomaru was not moved by the barrage of questions. He merely looked over to Yoh, causing the shaman's eyes to widen as Sesshomaru rarely acknowledged his presence. "Boy...you are the only one who can protect the priestess from that shaman."

Yoh nodded, a determined look on his face as he replied, "Right. Leave it to me."

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

After some coaxing and more spats that almost resembled banter, Kagome was sitting at Hao's side once again. "So, this destiny that you mentioned earlier…" the priestess began speaking after she finally settled down. She was unable to look at Hao's face, let alone his eyes as she spoke. "What makes you so sure about it?"

Hao propped his cheek onto his elbow as he replied, "As a priestess, you should know that there are mysteries in this world that defy the laws and concepts of humankind." Once again, all of Hao's haughtiness and air of superiority was gone. The person who he was now was almost enough to put Kagome at ease. It was almost like they could get along. "Kagome, the most powerful priestess on Earth, and Hao, the most powerful shaman. It's no coincidence."

Kagome shook her head while making animated arm gestures as she spoke, "I'd hardly call myself the most powerful anything. And even if I was, that means nothing. Just because two people are strong—," she finally turned to look at Hao. He seemed to enjoy listening to her talk. The priestess blushed.

Hao noted her abrupt pause. "Point taken," he closed his eyes. "But I've noticed a peculiar pattern when it comes to you and me." The corners of his lips stretched as he peeked an eye open at Kagome, eying the girl from his peripheral. "That power of yours—it's quite reactive to my presence, don't you think?"

The shaman could almost see the gears turning in the priestess' head. Her eyes looked towards the sky while settling on no point in particular. She thought about Hao's words, her mind trying to find the pattern that Hao spoke up.

Their first encounter was months ago, when Hao secretly saved her from drowning, that was before she was taken in by the Tao's. Kagome could not rule out the possibility that Hao's presence affected her somehow, but she was not aware of any change in her. She had trained so much with the Tao's that she attributed her growth to their and Sesshomaru's influence.

Their second encounter and first official meeting was when Hao tried to make her kiss him. Just thinking about it made Kagome want to tear him a new one. Back then, she knew that she had an episode and her power spiked… But that was because she was angry...right?

Nothing eventful happened when they fought Naraku… Hao gave her a foul tonic that cured her mysterious paralysis. And...that was all, right?

Kagome could not make sense of this pattern that Hao thought he saw. "Yeah, you're imagining it," She stated. The priestess was unconvinced and her face and tone reflected that. She was skeptical and challenging him, but unaware that the shaman enjoyed it. "If that's all that there is to your destiny theory, then it doesn't hold up very well outside of your head."

She sweatdropped and silently wondered if the person next to her was a complete weirdo when he chortled at her. Hao did not seem the slightest bit offended by her disbelief. "I guess you'll need more time before you see things my way," He surmised. "How about something more simple? We're attracted to each other."

Hao laughed as Kagome's face went beet red. She jumped to her feet, hands balled into fists at her sides, "Don't say stupid things like that! There's no way that I'd ever—!"

"You can't help but be attracted to me, can you?" The shaman asked rhetorically. Mischief was in his voice as he nearly sung the fact, "You're in love with Yoh, after all~"

The priestess' eyes were wide as her mouth simulated a fish out of water: the entrance to her mouth expanding then collapsing. A moment later, she recovered from her stupor. "Yoh has nothing to do with it! I…I do love him," she admitted in a softer tone as her cheeks remained red. "But I loathe you with all of my being!"

"You don't." was Hao's simple reply.

"I do," Kagome huffed as her hands fell onto her hips.

"But you don't," He insisted, seemingly on the verge of another small fit of chuckles.

"Yeah, I do," the priestess retorted as her eyes sharpended down at the shaman.

"Kagome, if you truly hated me, I wouldn't be sitting here right now," Hao informed her. Kagome's soft gasp was inaudible, but the surprise on her face was more than visible. "Believe it or not but the power that was dormant inside of you is the equivalent of a god. Kagome, you are," their eyes met, "a deity who walks the Earth in the flesh, a truly exquisite creature." Hao's voice lowered, as the other part of his nature slipped through, "You belong at my side, as the rightful ruler of this world."

"Ruler of the world…?" Kagome repeated as her mind began racing, rehearing, and reexamining the meaning behind Hao's words over and over again. At this point, she was aware that she had a hidden power that she could not tap into yet. Her friends told her about how she transformed and vanquished the demonic spirit Naraku. But no one had ever put her on the pedestal that Hao did. It was a pedestal that she did not feel like she deserved. "You're out of your mind," The girl concluded as she looked down at the shaman, whose expression became more intense.

"Oh no," Hao corrected easily. "I'm just all-knowing. I know and see all." The way that the girl shook her head at him, looked down at him as if he was mad...he would eventually change that. Soon, everything would fall in line and Kagome would see what he saw. She would know what he knew, if not more. "And I know that your place is with me, forever."

"You…" She took a step back. "You're insane. You act like you're some sort of god. I'm lea—!" Suddenly, Kagome was fed up with the conversation. It escalated so quickly into mad babbling and she wanted nothing to do with it. She turned to leave but ended up walking nose first into Hao's hard chest. His hands found her waist, preventing her from stumbling.

"I'll take you back if that is your wish," Hao told her, the dark smirk from before did not fade, nor did the power behind his voice. "Just remember this one thing…" He leaned in close, his head hovering her shoulder and his lips next to her ear as he whispered something that made her eyes widen and heart stop.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

It was still early morning when she returned, the sun had yet to rise in Japan.

Kagome stood before the front door of the Asakura residence. Her head was held low. She was home, safe and sound. But she would be returning without the answers that she and her friends wanted. 'How did it come to this…?' She wondered as she ran her hands through her bangs. What was it about Hao that made her come so undone?

She could still feel the tingle of his breath against her ear. She could still hear his voice in her head.

[ "Just remember this one thing… When you want me, you can have me." ]

How did her life end up this way anyway? How arrogant was it for her to wish that she did not have all the attention that she received? Bankotsu, a good friend, was still waiting for her answer. Kagome was not blind anymore. She realized how popular someone as handsome and confident as he was with the girls. Then there was Hao, the spitting image of her heart's desire. He (unfairly) said and did things that she selfishly wanted Yoh to say and do. She couldn't make sense of his wild claims.

Kagome felt like she was both the luckiest and unluckiest girl around. She was blessed with chances at romance, something that many girls her age wanted. But, it was complicated. Not only did she have to reject people who bore their hearts to her. But she also could not have the person who she wanted to bear her heart to.

Logic agreed with Bankotsu. It would make sense to date someone else and try to fall in love with them instead.

But after talking to Hao, Kagome knew something for sure.

The irrefutable fact was that her heart was filled to the brim with Yoh.

Nothing compared to the fulfillment that she felt with him. Nothing compared to the flutters and warmth that thoughts of Yoh filled her with.

Kagome was not sure when Yoh cast the spell that he had over her. But she could not picture anyone in his place.

Being around Yoh could be a rush and a sense of peace alike.

Sitting close beneath a starry-sky felt like fulfilling a forgotten promise: a breath of the freshest air.

Having meals together felt like it was meant to be: something that she wanted do for the rest of her days.

Being with Yoh made her so happy…

Thinking about being with Yoh made her so happy…

What she wanted to protect the most in the world was that sweet smile and gentle eyes.

She wanted him to live the easy life that he wanted...and she wanted to live it with him.

But…

Kagome felt her eyes moistening. Her vision began to blur. Her head never lifted from its low hung position. Her shoulders began to shake softly. Her frame was wracked with soft sobs.

The piercing in her heart—It was because she knew that the happiness that she felt was wrong.

She knew that she was not allowed to love him. Love was wanting to ensure his happiness and success. Love was wanting to be at his side. Love was smiling when he was laughing and nurturing him when he was hurt. Love was the feeling of wishing that she was the person who Yoh was promised to.

'How could something so beautiful...make me feel so ugly…?' She wondered as her vision began to blur with a rush of tears. 'How could something so wonderful...bring so much pain? ...Yoh…'

Kagome wanted to call his name. She wanted to call him and tell him of the pain and burden on her chest. She wanted him to look down at her and comfort her. She wanted to be held and told that it was alright. She wanted to be told that they would be alright.

But she had to settle for just thinking of his name.

This was something that Yoh could not comfort her on. 'Yoh…' Was what her heart was screaming. 'I only want to be with Yoh… Yoh, I want you to be the one to find me.' Her heart wept those words. They resounded within her very being. 'Yoh...I'm ready now. Please find me.'

As if her silent prayers were being answered, the front door rushed open and a wave of light washed over her. The girl gasped softly as her head lifted. Her watery eyes widened at the sight of Yoh standing before her. His figure was slightly darkened into a silhouette with the light at his back. He was panting softly, as if he sprinted to this spot to greet her. 'Yoh…?' Kagome blinked, her vision slightly clearing as her tears were forced to the corners of her eyes.

For a moment, Yoh did not seem like himself. He looked at her like she was a ghost, like he was shocked to find her standing there. Kagome could not remember ever seeing that face flicker through so many emotions at once. First, there was distress, but it was followed by disbelief and shock, and finally—relief.

Kagome did not have time to process what was going on in his head. She was suddenly pulled into Yoh's arms. He held her so tightly, as if he had not seen her in years. Or as if she would disappear if she were not secured against him. "Yoh…?" She whispered against his shoulder. A moment later, she felt more tears coming forward.

In Yoh's arms, she was so happy. How could such a wonderful feeling be so wrong?

Time was irrelevant when it came to being so close to Yoh. When he released her a moment later, Kagome found that the embrace was too short—all embraces would be too short. Yoh righted himself. He gave her a wide but sheepish grin while scratching the back of his head. A peachy pink stained his tan cheeks, "A-Ah, well…"

Kagome blinked.

Was Yoh always this nervous and fidgety?

"Welcome home," He settled on those words, but Kagome could tell that something else was on his mind. Yoh then spotted the moisture near the girl's eyes. His demeanor then hardened into an expression that was rare on his face: he was upset. "Kagome," his hands raised and brushed against the drying tears. "Are you alright…?"

He wasn't aware that Kagome hearing that question asked in his voice was all that it took.

The tension that ran amuck in the Kagome's chest lifted. She suddenly felt as light as air.

She could not stop her lips from spreading into a wide smile. She nodded and rushed forward to catch Yoh in her own tight hug, unaware of how he blushed fiercely. "Of course I am!" She told him with a renewed energy.

She had arrived at the door feeling low and defeated.

But Yoh came to her rescue once again.

He opened the door at her lowest moment and shined the light upon her.

He asked her if she was alright… 'Yoh...you are my 'alright',' Kagome kept that thought to herself as she released him and gave him a brilliant smile. It was the least that she could do. She couldn't allow Yoh to suffer or worry for her sake—not when he made her feel so assured.

Yoh led her inside, telling her about how everyone was worried about her. Kagome apologized for making them worry, all while her eyes never left his face. 'That's right… Yoh has done so much for me. And here I am...selfish, wanting more and more from him…' She thought to herself. 'I have to do the right thing. To him...and to Anna-chan… I have to come clean. If I don't...then I can't let go.'

With that thought, Kagome and Yoh arrived in the living room, which was filled with living and spirit friends alike. Amidamaru was the first to notice their presence, he looked away from his conversation with the other spirits. A grateful smile graced his face as he greeted her, "Kagome-sama, welcome back!"

Many heads turned, a few excitable people jumped to their feet. The priestess blinked as she was rushed by Manta, the Usui siblings, Bankotsu, Sango, Jun, Ryu, and Shippo. They simultaneously cried out their renditions of her name. "Kagome-neechan, we were so worried about you!" Pirika was the first to tell her as the girl threw her arms around the priestess' neck.

"Yeah, you're not allowed to run off with that creep anymore," Bankotsu told her in a stern voice, his eyes unusually sharper than normal. He placed a hand on top of Kagome's head and playful rocked it from side to side.

"Sorry, everyone… I just wanted to get some answers from him," She explained, expecting Bankotsu's serious expression to change. But it did not. Instead, he looked over his shoulder. His eyes landed on Ren, who was held up at the kotatsu. His propped elbow cradled his cheek as he forced himself to glare at the wall.

Kagome wanted to smile for Ren. But it was then that she realized that he was the one who comforted her after her first disastrous encounter with Hao. Ren was the person who stayed with her, carried her to safety, and looked after her back then… And she was just returning from willingly rendezvousing with the person who put her in that low state. Sure, she worried all of her friends, but Ren was different.

The priestess's hand rose to her chest as she began walking over to the Tao. "Hey, Ren…" She was unsure of what she should say. But she felt compelled to say something. The feeling was compounded when his gold eyes stayed fixed on the wall, even when she knelt down next to him. "Ren…" She whispered.

"Renny…" Jun was terribly worried as she watched her brother struggle with the feelings he'd been hiding from the girl next to him. Ren's favor for Kagome was obvious as the sky was blue. She could only hope that in this critical moment—one where he was unintentionally hurt by her actions—that he would overcome the sting in his heart. The older Tao could not help but be worried by the way her brother purposely forced himself not to look at Kagome. Instead, he opted for glaring at the wall.

The mere seconds that it took for Kagome to reach Ren's side felt like hours. The seconds that it took for Ren to respond was an eternity. Jun pursed her lips as she watched the two. 'Renny…'

Ren was stuck. Ever since Kagome had left with Hao, he had been wallowing in misery. All he could do was dread what would become of her. But now that she had returned safely, he could not help but feel a sting. He knew that he had no right to feel the way that he did, but that did not stop his initial urge to—. He had to control himself. Focus. Just keep looking at the wall. Talk to her, but look at the wall. That was his plan.

But Kagome was Kagome and had a knack for ruining his plans.

She proved time and again that she was unafraid of invading his personal space. Kagome leaned in closer, dipping her head in an attempt to catch his eyes. "Ren!" The exclamation from the person right in his face made the Tao jump.

Against his wishes, his eyes easily found Kagome's face. He was expecting her to be angry with him, upset that he blatantly avoided eye contact with her. Instead, the girl looked guilty and ashamed. "Look," Her volume lowered drastically once her goal was accomplished. She sat back onto her instep, her palms were flat against the floor. "I'm sorry for making you worry," She said, and she meant it.

Ren huffed as his heart betrayed his head. He wanted to chastise the girl for being so foolish. But that face was the face of the person who brought him inner peace. He scowled, almost pouting, as warm colors built in his cheeks. His reply came out as a flustered moment, "W-Whatever, as long as you're okay."

Kagome nodded enthusiastically, "I am~" She smiled while raising a finger, "Besides, I'm sure that if I was in any true danger, you would know and come flying to my rescue."

Ren's entire face went red as he quickly sputtered out and glared, "D-Don't hold me to a ridiculous standard!"

Meanwhile in the background, Sango sweatdropped as Jun's eyes began to fill with tears. "Eh, Jun…" She gave a half-smile while patting her cousin's shoulder. "It's sweet but you don't have to cry about it."

The rest of the teens began retaking their seats, filling up the kotatsu and pressing themselves into corners. "Priestess," Sesshomaru suddenly appeared, standing on the other side of the table. "What did you learn about that shaman?"

Many eyes turned to the girl in question. She shook her head with a soft but negative 'mm mm'. "Not much actually—oh, thank you," Kagome smiled at Manta as he placed a cup of steaming tea down in front of her. "You see, we went to Africa, and—" She interrupted by a collective shocked response.

"Ehhhhhhh?! Africa?!"

HoroHoro was the first to recover as he blurted out, "That's some honeymoon. Ow! San-tan, how could you?!" Tears streamed down his cheeks after the Tao bonked him on the head, all without ever taking her eyes off of Kagome.

"Cut to the chase," Anna suddenly stated. She was held up in a corner, her back against the wall as she folded her arms. "What did you actually find out about that Hao character?" She wanted answers about the identity of the person who was identical to Yoh, but she knew that she would not be getting those answers from Kagome.

Kagome's fingers curled into fists in her lap. She was unable to meet anyone's eyes as she spoke, "All that I really know is that he thinks that I'm destined to become his Shaman Queen." With her eyes on her fists, she did not see how Yoh, Bankotsu, and Ren gave each other looks.

Yoh appeared troubled while Ren looked agitated. Bankotsu did not seem overly alarmed, but still silently serious.

The priestess then looked to her spirit and asked, "Are you alright by the way? That spirit of Hao's seems unnaturally strong."

"As you can see, I am here," Sesshomaru replied. "That spirit is a formidable foe, but it had no intentions to kill."

Kagome nodded to the demon as she concluded, "Hmm, I see. So you chose to fight to gauge its power then." There were still many unanswered questions about Hao. There were still so many things that she needed to ask, but did not.

But the girl decided not to fret anymore, because she knew that she would be seeing him again...probably sooner than later.

Authoress' Notes: I feel like I should change the title of this fanfic since it's kind of bland. I thought about it a few years ago but never knew what would encompass the grand theme of this story. Ugh. I'm putting a poll in my profile on a title for this story, please vote if you have the time! I'm also open to suggestions in your reviews or PMs!

Also, holy crap. I just looked at my story timeline in my Google documents… We're only a few chapters away from the big reveal of what the heck is happening with the timelines. I'm so excited that we've made it this far! Now that I have to urge to write out the plot twist-kind of thing I've been building to, I'm going to put older chapter revisions on hiatus until I've finished. On that note, feel free to wait until the big reveal to be over before you vote for the new chapter! Ciao for now~

Edit: I don't know what's up with the formatting.