"dialogues"

"thoughts"

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"Do you really have to leave?" asked in a whisper the childish voice.

Beautiful sapphire eyes got watery because of the notorious pain expressed in these words. The owner hid them behind long lashes and inspired some ocean breeze hoping to obtain forces. Kagome turned around and looked regretfully at the kid in front of her. Softly, she knelt down to the child's height. "Yes, Shippo." she gulped as she tried to ease the lump in her throat, which worsened as tears began to fall down the little fox's chubby cheeks. "You know I'd stay if I could... but I can't... Hey, look at me.", she lifted the face of Shippo, who had his head lowered. "You understand that, don't you?" he nodded weakly. "Besides, I promise I will send you letters and gifts wherever I am."

The infant's expression became a little more cheerful. "Re-really?" he smiled between hiccups.

The miko smiled at him as well. "Of course." she responded, wiping away his tears with her thumbs, and pulled back some of the fluffy orange hair on his forehead to give him a kiss, which calmed him down quite a bit.

The raven-haired girl stood up leisurely and looked carefully at the rest of the group.

"What I just said to Shippo is also addressed to you. I will remember every day the years we lived together." her face became serious "And I swear I'm going to fix this."

Sango was crying her eyes out on Miroku's shoulder, who had one arm wrapped around her as he stroked her in an attempt to comfort her. He felt the same sadness, though.

Not far away, a similar scene was taking place between a, as always, expressionless Sesshomaru and little Rin. The child had wrapped her arms tightly around one leg of the Lord, who placed a large clawed-hand on her head in a show of affection. The demon and the priestess shared a nod, for though they didn't have much of a relationship there was great mutual respect.

And lastly, the closest to her both personally and physically (at that instant) after the kitsune... was Inuyasha.

Kagome felt a tightness in her chest as she connected her gaze with those golden eyes, eyes that conveyed every feeling he couldn't put into words.

The loud ringing of a bell not far away brought her out of the deep trance between them. She watched as the lips she had recently kissed and would never feel again, wordlessly uttered "Itoshi teru, Kagome. Kōun." She looked away from the hanyou instantly, for if she looked at him a second longer she would not be able to get on the boat that would take her away from him and her friends.

Smiling the best smile she ever gave, the blue-eyed girl said goodbye to everyone and boarded the ship. Once on deck, she set her eyes on the crimson-clad silver-haired man.

"Watashi mo... Inuyasha..."

Pov. Kagome

I can't believe this is happening to me... After all we've been through, after all the effort...

Flashback

I clung to Inuyasha tightly, afraid of losing myself in the dark void the pearl had taken me to. His presence gave me the courage to say what would end this ordeal once and for all.

"Shikon no Tama... Disappear forever!"

The pearl shattered into a thousand pieces, just like that moment that seemed so far away and brought us here. I watched in fascination as, unlike that time, they faded away. The darkness around us transformed into a bright, warm gold. I looked at Inuyasha with tears of happiness. "Finally, it's over."

The smile he gave me is one I will treasure forever. "Yes... it is."

But... in that instant I felt a familiar evil energy. The same that the pearl emitted when it was contaminated. Suddenly we were consumed by nothingness again and a horde of demons materialised in front of us.

"Damn it, you again!" Inuyasha shouted furiously and pulled me behind him protectively.

"Do you know them?" I asked worriedly.

"I was fighting with them before I found you." he replied without taking his eyes off the creatures.

"Well done, Miko." they spoke in unison, creating a macabre chorus that chilled my blood. The congratulations sounded anything but sincere. I didn't have a good feeling about it. Despite my fear, I confronted them "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

At this they laughed mischievously, "We just came to give you a present before we leave..." Inuyasha gave a fierce growl, which seemed to make them laugh even more. "A gift... to remember your victory." with a most sinister cackle, the demons began to merge.

Wasting no time, I readied my bow and arrows. Together with Inuyasha, we took up a defensive position.

However, before either of us could react, they rushed in our direction in a huge sphere of youki, and entered my body. Instantly, a searing pain shot through me from deep within, and I let out a scream that forced Inuyasha to cover his ears.

"Kami, not again. Onegai." I thought in horror. The same thing was happening as when Kikyo was brought back to life...

They were taking away a part of my soul.

I stretched out a hand with difficulty, trying to reach for it. But it vanished. I felt myself losing consciousness. The last thing I could hear was Inuyasha's voice calling out to me.

『 °*• •*°』

I opened my eyes slowly, the sunlight bothering me. I leaned on my hands so I could sit up-what...?" I looked at these in confusion as I was touching grass. I raised my head and was surprised to find myself in a large clearing. I tried to sit up but I wasn't strong enough.

"Calm down." said a calm female voice behind me.

Apparently I did have the strength because I jumped at the fright it gave me. I turned around and in front of me stood a beautiful priestess in samurai armour. She was...

"Mi-Midoriko?" I stammered in disbelief.

Midoriko let out a giggle. "That's right." she nodded with a friendly smile.

"But-but..." I took a deep breath to try not to babble, "Where am I? Inuyasha?". I froze in terror at the thought of something. "Is this the hea...?

"No, no. Not at all." she interrupted me in amusement.

"Whew." I sighed in relief, but the calm didn't last long as her expression changed to one of pity.

"Is it because of me?"

"Kagome..." she began.

"Oh oh, definitely because of me."

"Kagome... I have something to tell you..."

"All right, just say it" I urged her to continue "I just want to rest.". I could barely stand up. All I could think about was seeing Inuyasha and the rest of the group, telling them it was all over, celebrating with them and Kaede, bathing-

"Kagome, they put a curse on you."

Those words shocked me. I fell to the ground unable to assimilate what he said.

At my state, the legendary miko approached me and knelt down to my level. She placed a hand on my head and began to stroke my hair gently as she explained. "The youkais of the pearl... they... extracted a part of your soul and placed it in someone random..." I looked at her without understanding, without wanting to understand. "Without distinguishing the gender, place and... time..."

I put my head on my knees, feeling like I was going to faint again. "And can I get it back?" I asked, knowing that surely even if it were possible it wouldn't be easy.

"Yes..." she said hesitantly.

"But..?" I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for her answer.

"But to achieve it... whoever possesses it must fall in love with you"

I opened my eyes like saucers and lifted my head with a whip "WHAT?!" I stood up abruptly and started to walk in circles. "No no no no..."

Of all the possible things, I didn't expect that.

I tugged at my scalp in frustration "So to get my soul back, I have to..." I started to enumerate with my fingers ": Find someone who might not be born yet or who might be from the B.C. period, who might be on the other side of the world, who might be a woman and therefore have to act against my sexual orientation..." With each point I felt my sanity fade away. "Oh!" I smiled falsely "Or I might die first! Hahaha!"

My 'laughter' faded as I looked at Midoriko's face.

"There's more, isn't there?" She nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, it's not your faul." I told her at the apologetic look she gave me.

"Just two things."

"Pff!" I snorted "Finally some good news." I continued walking in circles so as not to succumb to a nervous breakdown.

"The first is that until you get your soul back, you're not going to grow old..."

"Well, instead of me dying first, maybe I'll see the world end first! Great!" I threw up my arms in irritation.

Midoriko sighed at my behaviour. "The second is that if you don't find this person before they die, your soul will be transferred to someone else. Following the same guidelines..."

I covered my face with my hands "I'm definitely going to see the end of the world." I denied, resigned to my misfortune-plagued fate. I looked at her, "I think they won the enemy of the century award, heh." I let out a dry laugh.

The legendary miko stood up from her position and walked towards me. She took my face in her hands and I relaxed into her touch, seeking some of the peace I was lacking at the moment. "Kagome..." she smiled lovingly at me. Kami, she reminded me so much of mom "I'm just going to tell you that believe it or not, this will bring you a lot more than you think." I opened my mouth to speak but she shut me up by putting a finger over it "Good things."

"Clever woman... or maybe she reads minds." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

"Well..." she looked up at the sky, "It's time for me to go. " she looked back at me and kissed me on the forehead "A small blessing" she winked.

I began to feel dizzy. Just before I fell unconscious I managed to hear: "Good luck, Kagome, the Angel of Music will guide you."

"What the...?"

And my world went black... again.

『 °*• •*°』

I stirred uneasily at the murmur of people talking.

"Kago...!"

"Mum?" I mumbled sleepily. The shouting got closer and closer.

"KAGOME!"

I sat up suddenly at the scream. I shook my head to clear my sleep a little and my sight was crowded by the distressed faces of my friends.

"Kagome!" they exclaimed happily.

Immediately, my neck was assaulted by two little arms and a furry tail tickled my nose.

Sango sat next to me and also gave me a hug which I reciprocated intensely. After a few minutes, we separated. "Kagome-chan, what happened?"

"Actually, what DIDN'T happen?"

End of flashback

Even though I have literally all the time in the world, I pray that my search doesn't take too long. Although, with my bad luck that someone might be Hitler. At least Midoriko said I was going to get something positive, I hope it's true.

"Okay Kagome, here we go again..."

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End of prologue

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Translations

Youkai: demon

Miko: priestess

Kitsune: fox demon/youkai

Itoshi teru, Kagome. Kōun: I love you, Kagome. Good luck.

Hanyou: half demon

Watashi mo... Inuyasha...: I too... Inuyasha...

Shikon no Tama: Jewel of the four souls

Youki: youkai/demon energy

Kami: God

Onegai: please

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Well, that was the prologue! I hope you liked it and I'll upload the first chapter very soon. Before I finish I should mention that my first language isn't English, in fact, I'm studying it. So if you find spelling or grammar mistakes, please tell me. Goodbye!