Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Bleach © Tite Kubo

A/N: Aloha readers! I'd like to say a few things about this fic. Firstly, it was originally supposed to be a one-shot but it simply got too long (oops?) and became a multi-chapter mini-story. Secondly, it has been edited and revised.

Warning(s): Blood, insecurity

Pairing(s): Kagome and Ichigo, Kagome and Inuyasha, Inuyasha and Kikyou, Kagome and Kaein.

Uncommon Occurrences - Part I

To say he was annoyed was a complete understatement.

He was furious!

Not only had his dad lobbed him off to Tokyo, but he had made sure that he wouldn't be able to do his duties, either! His substitute Shinigami powers had been sealed by Byakuya per Rukia's per Isshin's request. Isshin had said that he needed a break from all the hunting Hollows and sending souls to Soul Society; he said he needed to get away from spiritual energy for a while.

Ichigo's fingers clenched around his suitcase as he looked up the steps he was supposed to be walking up. He really wished he had his shunpo. Sighing, the seventeen-year-old began his trek up the steps towards the shrine. His father seemed to want to get rid of him, judging by the amount of enthusiasm Isshin had showed.

Fifteen minutes later, Ichigo found himself leaning over his knees, exhaling with heavy breaths. 'Man, I feel sorry for visitors, maybe the residents, too.'

With a final breath, he straightened his back, dragging his suitcase towards the front door. The orange-haired teen stopped when he saw an old man sweeping the courtyard wearing traditional hakama and a haori of a shrine keeper. The old man's greying hair was pulled into a top-knot.

'Strange.' He trudged over to the man, actually picking up the big, brown suitcase this time. The man stopped sweeping as he heard his footsteps, turning grey eyes to face him.

Jii-chan craned his neck to look up at the orange haired boy; his eyes widening as he stepped back slightly. "Stay away thug!" Ichigo's brows returned to his signature scowl, rolling his eyes.

Ichigo held out his free hand, "my name's Kurosaki Ichigo. Ms. Higurashi offered to let me stay here. She knows my father, Kurosaki Isshin?" Jii-chan batted the broom at his feet; he began walking towards the house, gesturing for Ichigo to follow.

"So you're Baka's son," Ichigo nodded. Jii-chan entered the house, ordering Ichigo to do the same.

They waited in the kitchen as Misaki was just finishing her chores in the living room. She scurried in soon after, her eyes widening as soon as she recognised the bright haired boy. "Ichi-kun!" Misaki smiled at him, she watched as he stood up, holding his hand out. She gasped, glaring up at him as he towered over her by at least a foot and a half. "My, you've grown!" He smirked, rolling his eyes as Misaki hugged him. "Welcome! It's been so long," he nodded, sitting down at the table once again.

Switching the kettle on, Misaki sat opposite Ichigo and next to Jii-chan. "Seven years is a long time," he winced at his own words.

"Yes, how old are you now?"

"17," was the non-committal answer.

"You're the same age as Kagome!" He looked at Misaki with a confused expression on his face, who was Kagome? "Oh, that's right! You haven't met Kagome yet. She's my eldest daughter," Souta came running in then, having a huge smile on his face.

"Mama, I'm going to play out in the courtyard with my new remote control car, thank you so much for it!" She smiled, winking at him.

"Souta, this is Ichigo, he's my old friend's son."

Souta smiled up at him, knocking fists with the tanned individual. "Not as cool as Inuyasha. He has claws, and ears and super-cool powers! He's so cool!" Misaki covered the young boy's mouth with a hand, smiling at Ichigo with a suspicious winner. He frowned.

"Go play in the yard, Souta." She kissed his forehead, ushering him out almost immediately. Misaki was hoping Ichigo hadn't looked into Souta's words, wishing he'd mistake it for a child's imagination. 'Children are so misunderstood; I guess that is a good thing. Sometimes.'

Kagome sighed as she jumped down the well, she had promised Inuyasha she would be back in two days, and she needed to catch up on some revision and to re-stock her yellow bag.

The raven-haired teen felt the magic of the well pull her through time. She climbed up the well and exited the well-house almost instantly. Spotting Souta playing in the front yard with his new car, she smiled at him, and then continued walking towards the aging house.

She rolled her eyes as her brother played with his remote-control car. Boys. 'Easily amused.'

As she walked towards her house, she felt something unfamiliar tickle her aura. It wasn't an unwelcome surprise to know that other forms of power existed; it was just that... Well... It was a surprise. As she went to open the door, she felt her breath whoosh out of her body. Screaming, Kagome felt the power hurdle at her, dragging her to her knees, causing pale hands to subconsciously clutch at her head; she wanted it to go away.

It was so painful.

She carried on screaming, a claustrophobic feeling covered her chest, and her head was aching with something fierce.

Vaguely, Kagome heard panicked and thumping footsteps before her mother's cooing reached her ears in a calm whisper. Feeling her sense of consciousness slipping away, Kagome allowed her eyes to close and embraced the warmth sleep enveloped her in.

She groaned as she rolled over, the pain was gone now as she felt her powers trying to protect her.

That meant that they were unsure about it. But what was 'it'? Her eyes opened and Kagome immediately recognised her living room ceiling. She turned her head to the side to see her mother smiling at her; Souta was behind her, a huge grin on her face.

Jii-chan looked worried, confused, too. "What happened?" She sat up slowly, only for her eyes to widen when she noticed the man she had thought to be dead.

Without thinking, she leapt at him, smiling as she wrapped her arms around him. "I thought you were dead," she whispered into his neck, sobbing in relief. She squeezed his neck, clutching to him tighter. "When you said your wife died, I thought you had gone forever, you promised me... I'm so glad you're alive, Kaien."

Misaki stayed quiet as she watched Ichigo's face morph into a sad mask, his scowl deepening. He pulled away, shaking his head, staring straight into her deep eyes.

He sighed, "look, I know Kaien had a big impact on everyone's life, but I'm not him." He released her shoulders, walking out of the living room with rushed steps and into the courtyard.

Her mother cleared her throat and Kagome turned to see a worried look planted on her face. "Who's Kaien?" Kagome froze, her heart was pounding. She had thought nothing of his different hair colour, or eye colour for that matter; she thought it had been Kaien; he had promised to return to her after Miyako's death, but he never did. So that meant... he was dead.

No.

She didn't want to believe it, not again. She began running up the stairs, "Kagome!"

"Leave me alone!" Tears poured out of her eyes as Kagome locked her door, she didn't want to believe it. 'I want him back by my side.'

Thoughts of Inuyasha and everyone flew out of her head as a memory of the first time meeting Kaien framed her mind; holding her hostage, not letting go until she was forced to remember.

The rain was pelting around her without mercy. She didn't care, because all she could see and feel was the evil in front of her. A cracked mask adorned a quarter of his face; it was covering his right cheekbone. Ice-cutting blue eyes looked in to her own; the masochistic smile on his face made her shiver. His face was ethereally beautiful, his tanned flesh was welcoming and he was one of the most beautiful people she had ever seen. "Close your mouth, you're drooling."

His snide remark snapped her out of her musings; she then noticed the hole in his abdomen, she could see through it... Why?

"You aren't human," the thirteen year-old Kagome stepped back.

"Of course not, kiddo. And you're not a normal human." Kagome's brows furrowed at the spiky-haired man. "You can see me. And you have a delicious amount of spiritual energy." Immediately after that, the blue-haired man sprung for her, a malicious smile coating his face. Kagome evaded him, narrowly dodging his impending attack. He growled at her, aiming to spring at her again. He caught her by her shoulders, yanking her back into his waist. She felt so fragile in his arms. She grasped his bronzed forearms, her eyes billowing with tears. The fire emanating in those eyes made him want to play more, but then he felt a pain shoot through his veins.

He looked down to see the girl gone, his arms scorched black. His skin was impenetrable and to have a young girl managing to mark him was surprising. His angry snarl rippled through Kagome's bones as she continued to run from the man; he was frightening and she had a feeling he wanted to hurt her. Gasping, the black-haired girl watched as something flew past her head; it hurdled into a nearby tree, ripping straight through the thick bark.

"Little girl," his voice reverberated through her ears. She dragged herself behind a tree, her chest heaving from the run. The rain was ricocheting off metal benches and bins, making her weary of her surroundings. "So you evaded my Bala. Never mind." She screamed as he wrapped an arm around her neck, squeezing her wind pipe closed. Her eyes widened as she looked up into his cool face, "I'm hungry for your soul," his hand suddenly lit up, it was so close to her face...

"Bakudo!" The blue haired man froze, instantly dropping Kagome. He drooped against the tree, glaring at the black-clad Shinigami. "I knew it'd be you, #6 Espada." Kagome gasped as another man was suddenly in front of her, grabbing her by the shoulders and stepping back, only to land ten feet away from the blue-haired man. "That," he pointed to the blue-haired man, "is Grimmjow, he's a bad man." Said man started moving, baring his teeth at the Shinigami.

"Why are you such a nuisance, Kaien? I came here for a delicious meal," he gestured to Kagome, "and you just have to ruin it." He sighed. "Descorrer." Grimmjow disappeared.

Kagome turned to face the man that was now facing her; he was down on one knee. "What's your name?" His words were kind and soothing now, he felt like a calm and happy person.

"Higurashi Kagome."

"Well Higurashi, you are a very special little girl,"

"Stop treating me like a kid! I did something to Wacko back there and I don't know what it was. For starters, I could see him! I know that's not normal, he even said so!"

Kaien sighed, patting her black hair. "Kagome, you can see me, too. It shows that you have spiritual energy. That's a danger in itself because there are bad beings out there that will try to get you." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "my name is Shiba Kaien."

Kagome glared into his aqua green eyes; it surprised him. "So Kaien," he smirked when she didn't use formalities, "what are you? And what was he?" He sighed, swinging back and forth until he landed on his rump.

Kagome giggled, watching as he scowled. "Well Kagome, I'm a Shinigami and he was an Arrancar."

That was the start of a beautiful friendship and a budding teenage crush.

Kaien began making frequent visits to the living world as he had asked Yamamoto if he could train Kagome to pull in her powers and keep them there. After several weeks and the passing of Kagome's fourteenth birthday, she was able to easily do it. He smiled at her progress and spent as much time as they could together, as much time a human and a Shinigami could. Their bond was unbreakable and he always protected her from Hollows when she let her guard down.

They were best friends and she was so happy when she was around him. She didn't tell anyone about him because of him being a Shinigami. It was their little secret.

They had laughs together, smiles together and danger together, they were practically inseparable. Even Miyako – Kaien's wife – loved Kagome after their first coincidental meeting.

Everything was going great.

Until Miyako's death.

Kaien had returned to the living world to tell Kagome; she had cried for Miyako, but also for Kaien as he had held her. "Kaien," she whipped her tears as she pushed him away slightly, "what are you going to do?" Judging by Kaien's face, she already knew what he had planned.

"He's still close by; the Hollow. He's taunting me and I need to go so he doesn't come after anyone else; he might even come after you." She nodded, swiping at her face, trying to get rid of the redness, but she only made it worse.

"Promise me you'll come back; come back to tell me that you avenged her." Kaien nodded and this time, she wrapped her arms around him, if her mother walked in her room right now, she would think Kagome was hugging air, but instead, she was hugging the most precious person that existed.

"I'm sorry. Thanks for standing by me Kagome. I promise I'll come back." He knew he would die in this battle because of his loss, but he couldn't tell Kagome that. She was too precious. The raven-haired teen was a beautiful, pure soul that death would only corrupt. "Bakudo," He placed a thumb to her forehead; sealing away the memories of him being a Shinigami; of all the Hollows and their powers. He watched as she flopped down onto her bed, asleep. She never knew that he had just told her the biggest, heart-wrenching lie his lips could utter.

Kagome never saw him again.

She gasped as the whole truth came rushing back to her. She remembered him being a Shinigami and the Arrancar; Grimmjow. She remembered everything... The seventeen-year-old felt sick. She felt betrayed and cold inside and her tears wouldn't stop. That boy downstairs had looked so much like Kaien.

The spiritual energy that had belonged to him had returned. He was the one that had accidentally forced her to her knees and made her collapse. "Look, I know Kaien had a big impact on everyone's life, but I'm not him." Kagome gasped, immediately sprinting downstairs. She stormed up to the orange-haired boy, pushing him up the nearest wall whilst clutching his collar. She snarled at him, baring her teeth in a very dog-demon fashion; she didn't notice.

"How did you know him!?" He scowled down at her, bringing his hands up to wrap around her tiny wrists. She gasped as she felt something shoot through her veins, it felt familiar but not unwanted. It hurt to stare directly at him, so she just glared into the hollow of his throat. Hollow. She shook her head.

"I learned about him from Rukia," Kagome's eyes widened and she released him. A painful look crossed her features and she grasped at her heart as if it was physically in pain.

The black-haired beauty sent him the most wounded look. "Why are you so like him?" With that said, she fled the house, hoping to find an escape with her Feudal Era friends; she needed to talk to Inuyasha.

She wasn't supposed to be returning for another day, so what was she doing here? She looked defeated. He'd seen Kagome at her lowest, but it seems she had hit the place people often referred to 'rock-bottom'. Then she glanced up at him and his ears flickered in her direction. Kagome smelt of tears, loads of them. Sitting on the lip of the well, she bowed her head.

The half-demon jumped down and walked towards her with a cautious precision. "Kagome?" "

How can you stand it?" The question surprised him. He looked at her with a confused expression. Was she talking about the insults of being half-demon or...? "How can you stand by my side even though I look so much like her?" If he was confused before, now he was going crazy with obliviousness.

"What happened out there Kagome?"

"My past came back to haunt me." She lifted her chin, smiling an eerie smile at him; it made him want to wrap his arms around her and fight away everything that was hurting her. He just didn't know what 'that' was. So he settled for hugging her. Her eyes widened at Inuyasha's brazenness but accepted it nonetheless.

He embraced her in the safety of his arms, but it no longer felt as sweet as it used to be. Leaning her face against his chest, she wanted to bask in his woody smell. He gently stroked her hair, manoeuvring slowly so she was cradled in his lap beside the well.

Soon enough, she was fast asleep. He looked down at her, a gentle smile on his face that seemed almost as out of place as Sesshomaru's. "It's not my past anymore, Kagome. It's the future."

Ichigo went to follow her, only to be stopped by Misaki, "she needs to go somewhere." The statement was so vague. He looked out the door, just barely seeing her enter the well-house. Strange. He seated himself on the sofa, clutching at his head. He growled quietly. He'd take Hollows and Arrancars over this any day. Maybe he could ask Byakuya for a fight.

An hour later brought an unexpected guest barging in – albeit silently – to the house, he was clutching Kagome to his chest.

Said silent guest conveniently bumped into Ichigo and both men froze.

Meeting each others' gazes, Ichigo allowed his eyes to flick away as he watched the silver haired man's eyes visibly narrow into slits.

Inuyasha bared his fangs at the bright haired boy as he noted him to be a stranger, and judging by his scent, a spiritual being. "Who are you?" Threats were interlaced with the question as Inuyasha pulled Kagome closer.

Ichigo scowled at the man in front of him. Questions floated around in his head as he examined the slightly shorter man. Why did he have moving dog-ears and look like he had just got out of a time machine from the Feudal Era? Why was he carrying Kagome? The bright-haired teen didn't allow his mind to linger on the last question. "Who are you? I think it's a little late for cosplay week," he watched as black brows furrowed. His silver hair was so shiny and long.

It was during the second round of the stare-down that Misaki came in to the room, "Ah Inuyasha! Thank you for bringing Kagome back with-"

"So you're Inuyasha." Misaki stopped talking, a small gasp escaping her lips as she realized what she had just said.

"Oh my! Ichigo,"

Inuyasha snickered, and he absent-mindedly tightened his hold on Kagome's body still cradled in his arms. 'Has she always been this light?'

"What are you laughing at Dog?"

Inuyasha paused, a smirk flirting with his lips. "You know, me and Kagome were never really a fan of strawberries." Ichigo glared, stepping forward to give him a piece of his mind.

Kagome chose that time to wake up.

Having two very handsome boys with wacky hair-colours in your face as soon as you wake up is not something you'd get used to, especially being in one of the said Wacky Hair's arms. "Inuyasha!" She squealed and the half-demon's ears dropped to his head.

He tried to grasp at a frantic Kagome, ending in her nearly sitting him for grasping her butt.

She stared at him, shocked to her very core, Inuyasha in the exact same predicament. Ichigo just stood staring. "Inuyasha, please refrain yourself from touching my daughter's assets whilst in my company," Kagome groaned, not even caring any more. She hid her head in the crook of Inuyasha's neck, away from the embarrassment.

"Are you bi-polar?" Ichigo ducked as Kagome took a swing for him; a very accurate one for not even looking.

"Mom, who is he?" Kagome pointed at Ichigo, still not noticing the fact that she was hanging onto Inuyasha like a koala.

"Ahh, em... You remember Isshin?" Brief images of two Soul Reapers flashed through her mind, they were standing side by side with goofy smiles on their faces. It was in Urahara's shop, where Kaien had stayed whilst in his gigai.

"You mean the goofball that used to fancy the pants off of you?"

Misaki glared at her daughter, a blush tainting her cheeks. "Yes," she let the word out through gritted teeth.

"Then yes, I do remember my could've-been dad."

"Well, Ichigo is his son." Kagome jumped out of Inuyasha's arms, he seemed to have remained quiet throughout the entire encounter.

"Well thank the Kami." Ichigo scowled at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kagome smiled at him; it was so sickeningly sweet.

Kagome giggled a haunted sound, "you could've been my brother." She patted his shoulder, "Well, I'm Kagome. Nice to meet you, aniki." She had to get over the sudden pang in her chest. She didn't understand. Was it hurt or...relief?

Misaki's eyebrow twitched as she continued to watch Ichigo and Inuyasha pass snide remarks across the dinner table.

"Kagome, can you please pass the sauce?" She smiled at Ichigo; it was a tight-lipped one that sang humour. He gave her a brief smile back; Inuyasha caught it and moved noticeably closer to Kagome.

"Of course, aniki." She passed it him and her mother groaned. Jii-chan was watching the exchange carefully.

"You're never going to let me live this down, are you?" Misaki motioned to her daughter, an annoyed look on her motherly features.

"Of course not, I mean, Isshin wasn't better looking than dad, right? That's why you chose dad over Isshin. Yet he somehow made Ichigo..." The last sentence was whispered so quietly, Inuyasha barely caught it. He snorted, placing a hand on Kagome's shoulder. She turned to face him and blushed, he was sitting so close they were almost nose-to-nose. He leaned in close to whisper and she felt something tickling her leg. She looked over to Ichigo to see him eating his dinner...

It was too casual.

Souta arose from his seat, a smirk on his young face. "Sorry guys but there but I can't stay. There's too much testosterone in the air to be hanging around Kagome. Don't know why she always gets the men; she's not even that pretty." The last sentence was whispered to himself in a brotherly dig.

Inuyasha was the only one that heard it and felt his cheeks redden. "Souta, that isn't nice." Inuyasha reprimanded, it was a very out-of-character thing for him to say.

"You always call my sister ugly and useless and even Kikyo!" Souta said it playfully, but when he saw the shadow cross Kagome's face, he said his thanks and disappeared to his room. Kagome stood from her chair. Ichigo suddenly felt constricted. His chest hurt when he saw the brief pain on Kagome's face. Ichigo suddenly remembered seeing it earlier, too.

"C-can I be excused?" Her mother nodded and Kagome left.

Ichigo glared at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha glared back.

"Alright you two go and apologize, now." Without even asking why, Ichigo stood and began walking up to her room. Inuyasha literally flew past him, almost knocking him over in the process.

'I really wish I had my shunpo. I feel really bad, and I don't understand why. I want to take Kagome's hurt away. I want to know why she is hurting, too.'

Ichigo had somehow managed to get Souta to drag Inuyasha off at the last minute so he could apologize by himself. He knocked on the door softly, and after hearing her 'come in', he entered.

He watched as she was hugging her pillow in the corner of her pink bed, she stared at him; her big eyes stood out massively with half of her face covered. "Kagome... I'm sorry about what happened at dinner," he sat on the bed. Kagome threw away the pillow, leaning forward to listen to him. "Also, I'm sorry for storming out on you earlier after you woke up..."

"You can't be sorry about that," he frowned, looking up at her, he saw a genuine, gentle smile on her face. "I mistook you for Ka-Kaien. I even hugged you so..."

The brown-eyed teen smiled at her, "I get it a lot. Rukia told me about what happened to him. Wait, how did you meet him? You're not dead..." He placed a hand over his mouth, almost releasing a secret he had swore not to tell.

"It's OK, I already know about Kaien and Rukia being a Shinigami. I was being attacked by an Arrancar," Ichigo smirked. "His name was Grimmjow, the 6th Espada. Kaien saved me." Ichigo was very surprised to learn that they were connected through Grimmjow. "How do you know Rukia? I know you have a massive huge reiryoku."

Ichigo laughed a loud chuckle, smiling broadly at Kagome. "Massive huge?"

"It knocked me out, dude." He rolled his eyes.

"Live with it,"

"What if I don't want to?" He raised an eyebrow in amusement, he knew she knew he was teasing her, and he liked the way she was smiling. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Knock you on your knees." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively and Ichigo had the right mind to blush. Kagome palmed her forehead. "I'm starting to sound like Miroku."

"Miroku?"

"He's a friend." He nodded. Taking in her words, Ichigo glared at her with a playful tint. "Secret for a secret?"

"No." The teenage girl winked at him.

"How are you going to 'knock me on my knees', Ka-Go-Me?" Instantaneously, he felt a massive flare of spiritual energy fill the room, it made him cry out; he forced his own reiatsu out, rivalling the amount.

He fell on the ground and his eyes flashed blue, his irises and pupils disappeared and he saw the ribbons. Ribbons of blue blew gently around him, there were many of them. Then he saw ribbons of a pink-purple kind, a new kind. He looked to see Kagome leaning over him, the ribbons coming from her. He blinked, the ribbons disappeared. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to release such pressure on you. My reiki is really unstable. I'm training to control it but I guess it is not quite working, huh?"

He smiled and closed his eyes, practically begging the headache to go away. "I'm sorry I indirectly knocked you unconscious. What are you?"

She held her breath at the question, quickly helping him up, she sat back on her bed, him following straight after. "Stop blocking me out, Kagome." She released her breath, her fingers fiddling with themselves.

She began, "I'm a..." she looked everywhere but him, "I'm a mi-"

"Hey Kagome," She turned to see Inuyasha, he was smirking at her in an adorable puppy-sort-of-way, "I wanted to apologize, for everything." He walked in her room and sat on her chair, he absent-mindedly brought his hand up to start playing with the beads around his neck, and accidentally-on-purpose drew Ichigo's attention to it. "

Nice necklace." Ichigo's remark was an attempt at sarcasm, but something wrong curdled in the pit of his stomach.

"Thanks, Kagome gave it me." The dark part in Ichigo's stomach snapped and he but back.

Ichigo glared into amber eyes. "Look, if you have a problem with me, then say it directly, stop hinting!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, his fingers following the movements. "Yeah, I have a problem; you. You're my problem. You're like a big, orange obstacle and it's hard getting around you,"

Kagome stood, growling at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, that wasn't very nice! Say sorry!"

Inuyasha sighed, genuinely looking sorry. "Sorry-"

"Save it for someone who's worth your time," Ichigo snapped, walking out of Kagome's room. "

OK!" Inuyasha smirked as he tilted his head back, looking up to her ceiling.

"Inuyasha," he looked at her, "why are you acting so jealous?"

"I don't know." 'I am as confused at my actions as you are. Huh? He hadn't meant to say that.

"Inuyasha, I can't like Ichigo like that," Inuyasha glared at her.

"He's too... Kaien. I loved Kaien more than a best friend. I was fourteen, but I knew best friends didn't feel like constant happiness." Inuyasha visibly slumped, bringing his hands up, he looked at his claws.

With a sigh, he stared into Kagome's eyes for the first time since Kaguya, "Kagome, I know you briefed me on Kaien, and I know you still have feelings for him, but you need to let go so you can move on. He's in the past and he's dead. I know that's laying it on pretty thick, but it's the truth. You can't keep wallowing in the past. You have me and Ichigo, and don't say you don't because even though you met him today, he has a serious thing for you. I don't know if you can see it but, there's this something that happens when you two are together and I have no idea what it is. It's annoying because I feel like we don't have that. You both have your secrets... You can choose, and I won't hold it against you."

That was the last thing he said before leaving out of the window.

'You should try taking your own advice, Inuyasha. And yes, you would hold it against me.'

Ichigo sighed, why was Kaien such a god? Why did he always sound so amazing? And Kagome had said that he was "too Kaien".

That hit something deep within him.

'I'll prove you wrong, Kagome. I'm not too Kaien, Kaien's too me.'

Inuyasha had returned to the Feudal Era after his little speech and Ichigo was intent on finding out what he was and why he seemed to pop up at the most sporadic of times.

He needed to have a serious talk with Isshin, too. So, with permission from Misaki, he grabbed the phone and trudged up to the spare room he was currently staying in. It was housed between Souta's and Jii-chan's. He locked the door, sprawling out on his bed.

With a sigh, he punched in his dad's number that was written on the little slip of paper he had received from Misaki. A sweet voice drifted down the phone and he smiled, "hey Yuzu, could you get dad for me?"

After a word of agreement, his dad was on the phone in 20 seconds flat. "So what do you think of Kagome? Beautiful, isn't she? I can picture the grandbabies already, orange-haired Ichigo's with blue eyes." Ichigo sighed and Isshin stopped in his rant.

"She knew Kaien," Isshin's breath hitched in his throat; he wasn't expecting that. "Apparently, he was really close to her and her to him, tell me, was this some sort of sick joke you thought that would be funny? Were you, Rukia and Byakuya planning it behind my back? Because seriously, knowing Rukia has trouble looking me in the face sometimes is enough!"

"Ichigo, I didn't know."

"Stop lying to me! He must've mentioned something about a human girl being able to see him!" Ichigo clenched his eyes shut, the anger and hurt inside was bubbling.

Isshin released a burdened breath, "he did mention he had saved a girl from #6 Espada a couple of years before he died. He told me about her spiritual energy and according to his description, it was incredibly strong, Ichigo."

"It was, it put me on my knees,. No wonder Grimmjow cam after her; she has something inside her, something that's bubbling, it will be dangerous if it's released." He thumped his fist into a pillow, his anger making his hand clench the phone.

"I agree, son. I know you're angry about Kaien, and Kagome, for that matter. If you want to come home, you can."

"I'm not a coward; I'll make her see the differences between us. I don't know but I feel something weird when I talk to her."

"Just don't do anything reckless." With that, Isshin hung up.

Ichigo nodded, but then the seventeen-year-old remembered his dad couldn't see him so he mumbled a quiet "okay" into the phone before ending the call and flinging the cordless thing onto his bedside table.

Putting his arm across his eyes, he rolled to the side so his back was to the door.

"Ichigo."

He gasped, pulling the arm away from his face. Turning, he faced Kagome; her eyes were wide and watery. He ran his hand through his hair, a small smile filtering onto his face, "hey, can we talk, Kagome?"

She fiddled with her own fingers, staring down at them as if they were alien to her. The black-haired girl nodded before moving to sit on the small ottoman at the end of the double bed.

He sighed and scooted so he could lean against the headboard of the mildly creaky bed.

Kagome stopped fiddling with her fingers, "you probably already know this, but your resemblance to Kaien is uncanny." the comment hurt but he knew it was important for her to get it off her chest. "Kaien and I... We were best friends, we met when I was thirteen and he saved me from Grimmjow. Anyway, Kaien and I... We were practically inseparable. And when I met Miyako, I was so happy he had found someone to cherish, yet I was jealous, too. That's when I knew that I couldn't just like him as a best friend. When Miyako died, I was distraught and cried for myself, but I also cried for Kaien too, he was holding me throughout the whole thing. That's when I new he was going after the Hollow. He wouldn't let himself grieve until Metastacia's mask was on the end of his sword."

Ichigo allowed that information to sink in and he felt his heart constrict. 'Why am I feeling like this? Am...am I jealous? No, of course not. I've only known her a couple of days. I guess it's irritation.' Quickly stopping his trail of thought, Ichigo tuned back in; brown eyes stared as Kagome shuffled on the ottoman, she kept brushing her hair behind her ear. 'She's nervous.'

"I told him to promise me. 'Promise me you'll come back; come back to tell me that you avenged her.' Kaien thought he had killed Metastacia. But instead, the hollow came out and possessed Kaein. He lied to my face." 'He said he'd come back.' Kagome inhaeld slowly, feeling tears build up in the corner of her eyes, "he lied because he never returned! What made his betrayal worse was that he took my memories of Hollows, Shinigami and my powers with him. I remember him and me being best friends, but as far as I did know, we had just met accidentally and he was a living, breathing person. But he left the memory that he was dead. How cruel of him.

"Rukia came by the day after his death. She told me she had tried preparing for what she was going to say, but I already knew he was gone. Then she told me she had been the one to take his life. I cried for days on end."

"Rukia never mentioned you,"

"Of course she wouldn't. She hated herself for what had happened. I never hated her for it. But her story about him being forced to kill or be killed put her in a tight spot and he begged her to take his life. Of course, only recently I realized exactly what happened. Considering Ukitake came by last night and informed me."

Ichigo was completely stunned. Soul Society – the Gotei 13 knew about her! "U-Ukitake? 13th Division captain?"

"Uh huh. He told me the whole story. He had went after Kaien himself, along with Rukia. He had attacked him first because of the Hollow, but his illness caught up with him. Kaien attacked Rukia then, and he fell directly on her sword. She had to tell me what he said..."

Tears welled in her eyes and she smothered her face in her arms.

Slowly, Ichigo approached the crying girl and laid his large, tanned hand on her head. "Tell me, please."

She nodded. "He had said that I had become his most cherished person; perhaps even more than Miyako. At first, I didn't believe it for a second, because I knew personally how much he loved and treasured his wife. But, with seconds away from dying, he asked Rukia to give me his kimono."

Ichigo stopped and pulled his hand away, utter surprise crossing his face. "Of course, I didn't know what it was for, so I was grateful to have such a garment. Then my memories came back and I realized how close to the kimono he really was."

"You are able to look at me however, I bring up all the memories, right?"

She smiled a gently but wounded smile at him, "there are differences between you two, you know. Like your permanent scowl." She leaned forward slightly and Ichigo felt his breath freeze.

Kagome brushed her fingers over his eyebrows, smoothing the skin, but as soon as she removed her fingers, it was back. "Hey," he looked away. "I wanted to be different to him, you know."

The soft smile she graced him with made his heart ache once again; the seventeen-year-old girl looked as if her world was all tumbling down again around her, but at the same time, she looked as if she would rise through it. He felt an inexplicable draw to her.

Silence ensued as their conversation sunk in; Ichigo let out a heavy sigh and looked up, watching as Kagome was trying to waft away her tears by fanning her eyes. "You know, you're pretty awesome. The power you showed me yesterday was astonishing."

Feeling a happy smile brighten her face, Kagome giggled before glaring at him in a playful way, "you almost crippled me. Do hollows come by the mass when you fight?"

Cringing, s certain memory popped up. "Even before I knew I had this power, just before I met Rukia, I had a swallow eat half of my house looking for me. I put my sisters and father in danger, too. Then, I stabbed myself with Rukia's sword."

Reaching over, Kagome placed a small hand over Ichigo's which had unconsciously twisted the black silk bed cover in his hand, "you saved them, and that is what matters."

The next day, after a full night's rest, Kagome felt positively happy as she went about the kitchen, putting the dishes she had washed away. It was Saturday and she was starting to gather her supplies into her yellow bag when Inuyasha came bursting through the door like his tail was on fire. 'No pun intended, you old dog, heh.'

"Kagome, Naraku has Sango!"

Her mood did a whole 180 as panic set in for her surrogate sister and she immediately swiped up her half-packed bag and was out the door, chasing after a frantic Inuyasha. Heading in the direction of the well house, she stopped.

She heard Ichigo scurry out the door after her. Inuyasha was still in his 'cosplay' outfit; his bare feet seemed to scrape across the floor. Kagome twirled to face Ichigo as he gripped her wrist before she entered the well-house. "Kagome, where are you going?"

"I have no time to explain, I'll tell you when I get back, okay? I haven't got the time." Watching as Inuyasha jumped into the well first, she followed after him.

Before she could get into the well, arms wrapped around her waist as they were dragged through time, and they definitely weren't Inuyasha's.

A gasp broke out her throat as the overwhelming energy - this time familiar - forced her to her knees again. "Get out of here or you'll be purified! Please, find Sango!" He looked at her with an understanding look before he jumped out. The half-demon jumped out just in time to see her tackle the orange haired boy to the ground; his eyes were glowing white.

Kagome was straddling the orange-haired teen and he felt a bolt of petty jealousy shoot through his veins however, after seeing Kagome's panic, he leapt out of range with the bag.

She cupped Ichigo's face, wincing as his reiatsu seemed to strengthen, she looked into his eyes and they flashed black once then returned back to white. Her head began to ache with all the power he was letting loose and she was sure that every demon was scared out of their wits. "Ichigo," she whimpered as she collapsed on his chest, breathing harshly. She looked up to him as he began writhing, as if he was suffering an internal battle.

Weakly, she pinned his muscled forearms to the ground, her face inches away from his. "Ichigo!" Her energy flared drastically, attempting to help reign in his own, and a column of light shot from the well; it wasn't from the time-travel.

One of Kagome's eyes slid shut as the force of her energy battled with Ichigo's power, she slid her hand over his heart and everything disappeared. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see black hair and aqua-green eyes staring at her.

She gasped, rearing back as if she had been burned. "K-Kaien..."

"Kagome, I'm so sorry." After that, his head hit the dirt-covered ground with a thud.

"He's suddenly disappeared off the radar..." Rukia looked at Ukitake with frantic, purple eyes.

"Don't worry Rukia, he's in good hands." With that, he dismissed his lieutenant. He looked out the window with a small smile on his face. He felt the breeze around him blow at his hair, gently whipping it around him. He heard the whispered 'thank you' from it.

"Kaien, she needed to know that you were sorry for your betrayal."

Feeling consciousness slowly return to him, Ichigo grunted as brain-splitting headache greeted him. Attempting to sit up, he noticed Kagome lying on his chest, her face covered in dirt. Slipping from underneath her, Ichigo crouched down next to the girl.

Ichigo gently picked up Kagome, and flash-stepped out of the well. The substitute Shinigami was momentarily surprised as as he realised his powers had been returned to him.

He had to admit, it felt good having his Shinigami powers unsealed, but what confused him was why he was in his uniform, too.

What had happened? He looked at his surroundings, feeling and seeing nature.

Unexpectedly, he felt a corrupted force running towards them and he set Kagome down, leaning her against the well.

Drawing Zangetsu, he felt the zanpaktou practically throbbing in his hand and itching for a fight.

Ichigo was startled to realize it was only Inuyasha, and Zangetsu was disappointed.

Inuyasha threw him a dirty look as he approached Kagome, but Ichigo stepped in his way. "Stand in my way and I'll cut you down."

Ichigo stood his ground. "She's my friend, I would never hurt her. What are you?" His scowl was deeper than ever as his glare cut through Inuyasha like razor-blades.

Inuyasha moved at a frightening speed and soon enough was behind Ichigo and gently picking Kagome up. "She stinks of you," his nose turned up in disgust.

Ichigo grunted and confusing thoughts jumbled around in his head.

"I'm a half-demon," Inuyasha smirked as Ichigo's confused look deepened and without another word, he darted off ahead, only to instantly stop as Ichigo appeared in front of him.

"Problem?"

Inuyasha growled at him, bolting off in the direction of Edo.

He kept his journey smooth and light as Kagome continued to doze in his arms. He looked behind him to see Ichigo appear in one place and a split second later, another a couple feet ahead. "How're you doing that?"

Inuyasha was too caught up in his curiosity that he failed to notice the thick root of a tree wrapped around his ankle and his arms jerked, Kagome flew through the air and he shrieked.

It was a cross between a manly scream and high-pitched dog wail.

"Kagome!" His panicked shout spurred Ichigo into action and he flash-stepped into Kagome's line of flight, literally plucking her out of the air and landing gracefully on the ground.

The combined feeling of Inuyasha's screech and the jolt of his pace awoke Kagome with a start and she wriggled unintentionally, feeling her stomach drop out as the feeling of weightlessness caused a roll of nausea to pass through her.

She immediately froze. Her chest was panting and her stare landed on Ichigo's throat.

On wobbly legs and with and unstable attempt at balance, she dropped down from Ichigo's arms and pushed away from him. Carefully, she sat down on the dusty ground as she tried to stop her head from rolling. "It wasn't your fault and I don't blame you." She knew by the look in his eyes that he wasn't reassured.

She brought his clawed hand to her heart and whispered the same words, staring straight into his golden eyes.

Dread circled in Ichigo's stomach as he felt something arise within him, jealousy, irritation and his inner hollow.

'Hey King. Miss me? Stupid Shinigami; they're always trying to get rid of me.'The unwavering voice of the hollow made him stop in his unconscious walk that he was currently in the process of.

'Not now, Horse.'

Hichigo flashed a sadistic grin through Ichigo's mind's eye, revelling in the thought of taking Inuyasha's head as a trophy.

'He's a friend of a friend, Horse.' Hichigo's face turned into a malicious pout.

"Ichigo?" Ichigo blinked, coming away from his inner thoughts, watching as Kagome walked up to him and rubbed his cheeks with her fingertips. "Your aura... It's changed somehow..."

He rolled his eyes, pulling her fingertips from his face. "Nothing to worry about. What about this Sango?"

Kagome gasped before she begsn sprinting in the direction of Kaede's hut, picking up her bag as she went.

Ichigo and Inuyasha followed closely, eventually arriving at the old woman's shack.

What they found made Kagome's heart stop.

'She's niiice. I wouldn't mind handling her, King.'

Ichigo cringed at the image Hichigo showed him, the Hollow had his hands all over her body, kissing her lips with such a fervent passion... 'Not. Now.' Ichigo gripped at his hair, scrunching his eyes shut. 'I do not think of her that way!' Hichigo just laughed like a lunatic before drawing back into his internal prison.

Drawing back to the present situation, he took the time to look around the village.

Huts had been destroyed; broken splinters scattered, belongings were drenched in blood, the rice patches were dead and the water was purple and thick

Kaede's shack still remained standing and Kagome began walking towards it. Ichigo held out his arm, effectively stopping her. "Ichigo?" Inuyasha stormed past and ripped the curtain of its pole.

He suddenly found himself on the floor, writhing in pain. A tentacle – Naraku's tentacle – was punched through his stomach in a matter of seconds. "Inuyasha!"

The half-demon looked up at Kagome and began crawling towards her, his words coming out in gargled gasps and breathless bunches.

The girl in the green skirt ran over to him, clutching at his haori and pulling him away from the hut – which instantaneously exploded.

Kagome screamed as large thorns of wood were forced towards her and Inuyasha. Without any reluctance, she threw her body over Inuyasha's closing her eyes and waiting for the impact of her certain death, or immense and intense pain.

Yet, it never came.

A split second before the attempted impalement, she felt her self being lifted and whizzed away; her and Inuyasha. Ichigo came into view and he had his arm wrapped around her waist, Inuyasha hanging on to his back. Blood was gushing out of the half-demon's stomach and the pouring blood refused to clot.

She quenched her sobs against the orange-haired man's chest, trying to hide from the evil that appeared through the remains of the hut. But Kagome knew she couldn't be a coward at this point. "Ichigo," she whispered his name, "take Inuyasha back through the well and to my mom. There was something on that tentacle that's stopping his healing." The whimpering protests of Inuyasha echoed in deaf ears, just as Ichigo's did. "Please!" She clutched at him, wrapping her arms around his waist tighter. "Please, don't let him die... Who knows what was on that?"

'Come on King, we can't go against the girl's wishes if we want to make her happy.'

'Are you crazy!? She'll get butchered by that sick bastard!'

'We have to take that chance. She's begging us... And we'll be back in less than 20 minutes. I have faith – and I don't put faith in anybody – that she'll survive. She is familiar with this enemy; Kagome knows what he is capable of.'

'Okay.' "Okay."

She smiled up at him gently, clutching at his Shinigami robes. "I'm sorry," why did that sound like she was saying goodbye? "Go."

If only the hollow inside Ichigo had been right.

Kagome had no idea what Naraku was capable of.

Ichigo flash-stepped to the well, remembering the way easily, all the time, he had a bleeding half-demon drooped over his back who was begging him to stay with Kagome. The half-demon was hysterical but was clutching at Ichigo.

"Your games are over, Naraku. Step down." The evil half-demon rolled his eyes at her, taunting her with his tentacles, allowing them to hover close to her.

The glossy-haired half-demon pulled the large jewel out of his robe; only a quarter of it remained to be acquired and Kagome had what he wanted.

"'Step down'? Really Kagome, I'm surprised you'd say such honourable words. Do you expect me to be intimidated by you when you have no bow, no arrows?"

Kagome frowned. "Where are my friends?" "Oh, they're alive and well, for now. Your final ultimatum comes later, Ka-Go-Me." With that, he whipped a tentacle at her ribcage, slicing at the clothing there.

It revealed the scar that had started it all; the Jewel's scar.

"You will die by my hands, Naraku. Mark my words." Naraku smirked; it was a malicious smile which briefly reminded her of Grimmjow despite the massive contrast in appearances.

"You're starting to sound like the half-breed,"

Kagome let a little smile grace her lips. "People in glass houses, Naraku. People in glass houses."

He had no idea what she was talking about, but he didn't have time to figure it out either.

The Miko suddenly pulled her arms into a stance as if she had a bow.

He watched as one materialised out of her power; it was a pale pink and looked so majestically beautiful. Even he appreciated beauty. A smirk lit up his face like a child at Christmas.

"Misaki!" He slammed through the shoji door, quickly storming into the kitchen, and with one arm, swiped off the little utensils on it. He deposited Inuyasha on the table carefully, his wound pumped blood like there was no tomorrow and the half-demon groaned, all the while chanting Kagome's name.

The summoned woman came rushing in, a gasp stuck in her throat. With an observing glance, she allowed herself to get more hands-on. Carefully dipping her fingers into the blood surrounding the wound, she lifted it up and sniffed, "It's a poison," 'not the smell of normal blood.'

"I know that," he snapped at her.

Misaki carefully examined the wound, shifting nervously from foot-to-foot. "I think it's adrenaline-based. Adrenaline pumps blood around the body quicker, faster to help the poison spread. It's what is slowing down his healing abilities."

Nodding, Ichigo frowned, "what can we do about it?"

"Sleep, rest and lots of water, I don't know if it is lethal, but I'm pretty sure it is not. He has broken out into a fever so his body is able to fight it."

"Alright. Kagome's village... and the spiritual power..." Misaki scurried over to the sink and pulled out a first-aid kit, expertly bandaging up Inuyasha's stomach.

"Where is Kagome?"

Ichigo's eyes widened and he was gone in a blur.

Panting breaths escaped her as she continued to dodge his attacks. She had managed to purify his left hip, but it was regenerating – fast. Grunting as he clipped her in her right kidney, she was forced to the ground in pain.

Naraku stood above her with a deadly smirk implanted on his handsome face.

If he'd been good, Kagome would've considered falling for him instead of Inuyasha. The evil half-demon was enchanting in that mysterious-sort-of-way and she should really not be thinking about these sorts of things whilst her life was on the line.

They were not the circumstances.

He raised a tentacle and it slithered towards her.

The exhausted girl keened over as he slid it against the open wound on her collarbone, smearing her blood until it coated a good portion of it. 'I guess Inuyasha was right, I am a weak, useless, little girl.'

Kagome watched as he dragged it back slowly; the purple appendage began morphing into a different object.

In its place, a crimson katana stared at her.

It pulsed with evil and leaked blood on to Naraku's hand, encasing the pale appendage in a barricade of her blood. "I won't kill you, yet. But I'll have fun watching you being tortured by your own blood." He raised the katana, aiming to slice her across the chest.

Ironically, a sword pummelled through his back and into his chest. He hissed as he glared at the black and white blade.

It was a huge size and ended in a point, it looked like a butcher's knife. Naraku reeled when it pulled back out with ease and a slight groan of pain slipped passed his lips rebelliously.

His skin was immediately trying to patch itself up. Turning to face his new opponent, the spider was surprised to see the orange-haired man from earlier. The unusual man's spiritual energy was frightening but he didn't appear to be a monk or a priest.

'King! Slice that bastard! Look at Kagome!'

Ichigo did as he was told and glanced behind the red-eyed mutant to look at Kagome.

She had a deep wound on her collarbone; none of her veins were cut but her bone was showing and it almost made him sick.

Naraku must have deliberately inflicted that wound with precision. Dried blood had clotted it though and he wondered how she had managed to stop it. Her arms were covered in thin slices and on her face, a deep slash ran diagonally across her eyelid from her eyebrow to her cheekbone. Her legs were no better, either. However, despite her injuries, the black-haired beauty attempted to stand.

'Stay down, stubborn girl!' Ichigo's thoughts didn't reach her.

"Your opponent is me, bastard."

Naraku watched from his peripheral vision as Kagome stood on wobbly legs, her eyes held a determined look in her eyes. "Ichigo has nothing to do with this!" At that, she lunged at Naraku, unintentionally plundering herself onto his sword.

She gasped and felt her consciousness wave. Kagome hissed but pushed forward until his hands were right by her stomach and the handle could go no further.

Clasping his neck in her hands, she felt her power bubble, and so, the Miko allowed it to snap. She released everything. Everything she had. Everything she was. Everything she was made of.

Naraku shrieked and attempted to pull away as his body began to purify. They were both encased in pink light and Ichigo was thrown back. He tried to force himself out of his shock.

The scene that had just played out before him almost reminded him of the time when he first became a substitute Shinigami; except his was painless. And he wouldn't die from it. Then he snapped out of his shock. "KAGOME!"

She felt blissfully satisfied. Nothing could ruin her contentment.

But then a presence appeared.

Kagome gasped as he stood there.

Clad in only the white clothes Shinigami were meant to wear under their kimono, Kaein lazily smiled at her. His zanpaktou was tied at his waist with a crimson red sash and his smile got bigger.

"Kaien," he walked over to her and helped her off the meadow ground. He pulled her into an embrace and clasped her tightly to his body.

"Kagome, I've missed you." Tears spontaneously began running down her face. "But you're wrong in what you are doing."

She frowned, leaning away from him to see his delicate scowl. "What am I doing?"

"You protected Ichigo because of how he resembles me. You want him to be me and you want to save me. You don't see him for who he is."

She buried her face in his chest, a quiet sob emitted from her throat without her permission. "I couldn't stop myself. I needed to save you, Kaien... I... I love you..."

He nodded, pulling her head into his chest; resting it right over his heartbeat; it was pounding. "And I'm sorry I couldn't return your love back then. But you were just a child."

"You told Rukia to give me your kimono. Why would you do that? Was that some sort of a masochistic joke?" A little chuckle reverberated through his chest and Kagome blushed.

"Of course not and you didn't read the letter in it, either?" She shook her head, not even realizing there was a letter in there. "I miss you Kagome." He pulled back and tilted her chin up. He stared into her eyes. "You're so beautiful," after saying that, his lips descended on hers. She gasped and he took that chance to slip his tongue into her mouth. Passion radiated through them both like burning fire and eventually, she began to return the kiss with equal fervour.

He pulled away for a breath, cupping her face and kissing her forehead. "You were the Forbidden Fruit. But I never had the chance to be led into temptation." Her sapphire eyes widened, astonished that he felt the same way...

"Why did you betray me?" Kaien ran his hand through his hair and she thought: 'what an Ichigo thing to do.'

Her beloved Shinigami looked deep into her eyes, "I knew I wouldn't come back from that fight because that Hollow was nearly at an Arrancar level. I had to say goodbye..."

"But you didn't have to say it like that. You could've told me the truth. You could have asked me to help you!"

"Kagome!" His shout was unexpected and he pulled away from her. "I couldn't have asked that of you... Ukitake – a captain of the Gotei 13 – had trouble taking that Hollow on,"

"That was because of his illness!"

"Would you have rather been in Rukia's position?" Kagome froze, she stopped breathing. "Would you have wanted to kill me instead?"

"I could've saved you by purifying the Hollow!" Kaien paused; a confused look crossed his face.

"You were 14..."

"I did it to Grimmjow."

He palmed his forehead. "I still wouldn't have let you come. I love you Kagome," her heart escalated at his words. He had said it so bluntly... As if they were lovers and he wasn't married.

"If you loved me, why did you not tell Miyako?"

"I...I did tell her. She had run after you to protect you from the Hollow that was coming after you."

The secenteen-year-old miko reared back, "she was killed because of me... Both of you." Kagome felt an overwhelming sadness cover her and she moved away from Kaien. "I should've never met you."

Kaien wrapped his arms around Kagome. "I know. That way, you wouldn't have trouble with Inuyasha and Ichigo. Do you regret meeting me?"

"Yes." The one-word answer was so blunt but ironically sharp that it pierced his chest. He nodded. "That way, I wouldn't have ruined your happiness. Miyako wouldn't be dead, you wouldn't be dead, Rukia wouldn't have to carry such a heavy burden on her shoulders, Ichigo wouldn't have to be in constant pain of being shadowed by you and Inuyasha wouldn't have a potential lover being a hypocrite." Kaien pulled her in again and kissed her chastely.

It was sweet and full of nostalgic wanting.

"You're so selfless." He skittered kisses along her forehead and cheeks. He trailed his tongue down her jaw and neck and she clutched at his shoulders, her knees growing too weak. Kaien tightened his grip around her. "You need to let go of me and move on. That's why I erased your memories of all the Shinigami and Hollows. That way, you wouldn't be obligated to have kept it a secret and would've fallen in love with someone who wasn't as weak as me. I love you so much and will be waiting on the other side for you. And," he looked at her with a smirk, "If Ichigo happens to follow you, or Inuyasha, I will fight for you. Now go, Ichigo's calling." He kissed her a final time and let her go.

Her body began fading.

Kaien sighed.

"Kagome! Kagome, get up! Open your eyes!" He shook her shoulders, receiving no response. "Kagome please get up! Please!"

He dropped his head into her shoulder, cradling her frail and broken body in his arms. He rubbed his eyes into her bloody neck, trying to stop the tears gathering. A sob escaped his throat and he almost choked on it. 'Why did this have to happen? Why can I never protect the ones that I love?' Ichigo froze as he heard his own thought. 'Love? No! I can't... I thought I liked Rukia?!' His inner thoughts were broken once he fel Kagome shift.

Then, he felt her small hands weaved through his hair and she was clutching at his scalp.

Kagome pushed him up into a sitting position and held him as he continued crying, this time in relief. She could feel her power healing her nasty wounds already. "Thank the kamis." Kagome smiled and wrapped his head tighter in her arms.

"I'm so sorry Ichigo." The wind whistled in her ears and she heard the gentle calls of Kaien whispering I love you to her. "Ichigo, I saw Kaien and he made me open my eyes, and my heart."

He pulled back to look her in the face and she giggled at the redness of his tanned expression. His cheeks were ruddy and slightly puffy and his eyes were tinting the same colour. "You're so cute." He grunted, hiding back in her hair. "Hey, how's Inuyasha?"

"He's alive, sadly. It was some adrenaline-based thing. But he has broke out in fever so he's healing. The Bastard infused some nervous adrenaline into his system. Nothing serious. Well, maybe in this era. Where are we?"

"500 years in the past." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Hey Kagome," he looked over her shoulder, "something's glowing." Kagome turned to face the glowing object, realizing it was the Jewel. Carefully, she walked over to it, with Ichigo's help.

Then her eyes widened as horror settled in the blue orbs. The whole Jewel; it was turning black and Naraku's face briefly flashed in it until a black mist wrapped around them both. Kagome released a hiss as she was forced against Ichigo's muscled body – despite the padding of his Shinigami uniform – as her injuries slid against the rough fabric. Tentacles, she realized. They were wrapped around both of their waists, keeping them together and everything went black from there.

Well, here's part one. My favourite thing about this pairing is the fact that they both look like someone who was loved by someone close to them. And they died. How uncanny.

FINISHED EDITING.

Kagome - Kikyo - Inuyasha

Ichigo - Kaien - Rukia

Which is why they make such a good couple. XD Please review you beautiful people!

BlackTorment