The Amulet by Lady_Dark_Kitten

BEGINNINGS

Author's Notes:

Takeshi and Akiko are of my own creation and are under the Creative Commons Attributive Commercial License, basically you can using them for non profit or commercial purpose as long as you attribute their creation to the original owner... that would be me. Like to know more about Creative Commons here is the website http://creativecommons.org/

Story Notes

In this Sesshoumaru never lost his left arm, that's stupid I know but it's called Fan fiction for a reason =P. The more important note is this takes place shortly after The Castle Beyond The Looking Glass. Oh before I forget please, please if you see an error, TELL ME! This story was in grammar hell for 3 years before I got around to digging it up and fixing it so please, tell me if there is an improperly used word or spelling error... Okay now enjoy the story ^_^

Kagome sat on a hill attempting to get some homework done; a task that she found was nearly impossible in the beautiful and deadly surroundings of feudal Japan. She had other distractions too, besides the scenery. First and foremost were finding the jewel shards, the next where the antics of her companions. The relationship between Miroku and Sango was developing, but they don't see it yet. Also there was defending poor Shippou from Inuyasha's constant tyranny, then there was Inuyasha himself, they where always fighting. Anything from why she was at home studying to food, mainly Inuyasha wanting to know why there's no ramen.

He rated up there with the shards but for a different and realistically less pressing reason. She couldn't help feeling something for him, but what she felt was a constant conflict-with-in-herself. It was something she continued to agonize over. Was it really love or where they just friends? He was an idiot; most of the time. He had no thought for the feelings of others, which made him quite mean and nasty to deal with most of the time. There were fleeting moments when he was kind and gentle with her, almost loving. There was something driving the conflict of her feelings. It was something deeper, an idea that only the secret parts of her heart and mind entertained, thoughts of a deepening love for him despite the obvious differences. Alas even deeper was something else that tainted Kagome's idea with doubt.

That something was nagging her lately; she could not shake the feeling that she was still missing something. Even during the few tender moments with Inuyasha there was something that she couldn't put her finger on. It came out in her dreams, it left her shaky and tingly all over and she didn't want to admit why. She could remember little of the dreams the most prominent image that seemed to be the only one she could recall was a lingering figure in the dark. The only thing that she could see were the sweet luminescent amber eyes and the silky silver hair hanging over her, and she woke with lingering spirals of pleasant fire traced over most of her body. She spoke with Sango about the dreams; they both assumed that she dreamed of Inuyasha but Kagome's sub-conscious knew better and was constantly screaming at her from its silent place only to be squashed like a bug by what she wanted to believe.

"Kagome!!" Shippou yelled as he came at her and hit her at full speed. "Help me dog breath is going to hit me on the head again!," the poor kit cried as he scrambled over her lap to get away from Inuyasha.

Kagome shook her head looking at her crumpled book and her equally crumpled work. Sighing inwardly she pushed her thoughts away till later when, as always the process would resume only to reveal no answers and she would run her mind in circles trying to find the answer. As she looked up Inuyasha was running up to her, eyes set on Shippou as he prepared to zip around Kagome.

"Inuyasha would you just leave him alone I have work to do and your not helping. How many times do we have to go over this?" She watched him as his ear twitched and he continued to chase the kit in circles around trees, bushes and her, trying to grab him by the tail. " Inuyasha...SIT." There was a satisfying crash as he hit the ground mid stride the growls and cursing following. Shippou scrambled in her lap for safety.

"Damn it wench. What did you do that for?" She watched him momentarily knowing that Shippou was in her lap making faces at Inuyasha.

"You know why I did it. Now what are you chasing him for this time?" she asked him suspiciously. His ears flattened and he looked at the ground then looked back at her an angry mask of irritation that he used all to often.

"Feh...I don't have to tell. It's non of your business." He quickly turned around and stomped off in his normal fashion to sulk somewhere.

Kagome shook her head again, she was starting to get used to him 'running away' like that. Shippou quickly hugged her and tried to escape before it was his turn. Kagome grabbed the collar of his shirt and sat him back in her lap, she didn't see Inuyasha look back mournfully wishing she was in his lap, he was quietly embarrassed by his thoughts. Inuyasha quickly turned when he realized Miroku and Sango were watching him, it only compounded his embarrassment. They watched him knowingly but he only stalked off fuming and muttering.

After Kagome made her speech about pestering Inuyasha, which she had committed to memory she let Shippou go play with Kiara who was now awaiting the kit's company quietly. Kagome turned back to her crumpled and ripped work, she slouched momentarily then pushed the work aside wondering how she could have ever complained about her life before all this. Kagome pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around them. It was all so much more complicated now. School was more stressful than finding the shards at times. She knew that Sango was approaching her but didn't care as she watched the flowers rustle in the breeze. Kagome was so tired of school, collecting the shards was easier than school, she wasn't even sure why she felt that way. The only reason that she could think of is because it was something that she enjoyed in some twisted way. Sango sat next to the thoughtful Kagome and put an arm around the other girl's shoulder.

"You had that dream again?" Sango seemed to be wondering more than asking. One corner of Kagome's mouth turned up in a small quiet smile. Her head still cast down to her feet.

"How did you know?" she asked quietly looking up at her best friend.

"Because you get quieter, dazed almost, and you don't fight with Inuyasha as much." Kagome's eyes were blank as she took in what Sango said then she grinned

"Then when you think you have the answer it slips through your fingers,” Kagome muttered quietly. “Like sand, the harder you grip the more you lose it or you get interrupted just like now.”Kagome continued as she looked at her hands clasped together around her legs.

“But you look more concerned this time." Sango looked at her for the first time since she sat down. Kagome's smile grew a little bit.

"Your so right it's spooky... yes I had the dream again just as before." Kagome hid the fact that the man touched her face this time and he had small maroon stripes on his wrists. This time her sub-conscious screams succeeded in getting through to her, Kagome wasn't sure she liked what it had to say.

"Are you okay?" Sango watched Kagome, her eyes warm with concern and worry, but what worried her was that Kagome made a point to say that it was the same. That meant something was different... something was wrong.

"Mmmm...” Kagome shook her head. “I'm okay. We've talked this to death looking for the answer; I just need to think now. All I can do is let the answer come to me." As Kagome said that she looked up at the clouds and watched as they slid by lazily as she continued to think about the hand.

"Okay you know where I am if you need me." Sango got up and started to walk to Kaede's hut.

"I think I'm going to go for a walk." Kagome said as Sango turned to look at her "would you mind taking my stuff." She held out the stuffed pack keeping her bow and quiver of arrows.

"No... you have to keep it." Kagome smiled again and giggled this time. Sango knew how to lighten her mood. "I don't mind, enjoy your walk and don't get lost. Inuyasha took off in the direction of the well so I don't think he can smell this far unless there's a good strong wind. You'll have some alone time." She watched her friend depart and she frowned and shook her head. She could feel the ill winds start to blow; there was trouble just around the corner.