Given A Choice by Mayuri-san

The beginning.

Thank you for taking the time to read Given A Choice, the first fan fiction I've written. Constructive criticism is welcomed and I hope you enjoy!

Update January 31; I've redone the beginning in hopes of making the writing style fit the other chapters I've written. The hard part about writing this story is that the idea for this story began with what will be the middle of this story. Trying to flesh out the early chapters up to that point can be a little frustrating. Until I reach the meat of this story I'm going to try my best to avoid as much of the corn factor as I can. As I've said, this is my first attempt at any fanfiction and I appreciate those who read and enjoy it.

Time. No other factor in her life could have more of an affect on her than time. For her alone time dipped, twisted, and righted it self. Never did she find herself wishing she had more of it or lamenting that she had too much of it. Time never stood still in her life; it beckoned her backwards and forwards, demanding her adaptability and acceptance. It required her to be a powerful miko who exudes confidence in an era where she did not belong and it commanded her to maintain the standards society set in what was the present time for her. Though she led a double life because of this, for the most part time seemed to work with her, allowing her successful travels between the two, rarely working against her. For the choices she was forced to make it made her struggles a little lighter that time was so accommodating.

Later in her life Kagome Higurashi would find herself questioning how this moment in time had came to be, why it allowed her destiny to change so drastically and demolish the comfort that she felt in predictability she had come to know.

That being as it may, a low pack and two weeks straight spent in the past had depleted her trusty yellow backpack of items she relied on. Though it hadn't been intended, Kagome's stay had been prolonged by a rumor that proved fruitless. Tales of a human who had recently been blessed with powers to control material objects had made its way to Kaede in the village. When shards of the shikon no tama were infused with being, whether human or demon, the outcome varied so it made identifying a false story difficult. Upon returning with Inuyasha and their comrades from their most recent journey they immediately had set out again to track down the human the rumor spoke of. As it turned out, it was a hoax created by the village's elder to draw people in with hopes of being able to sell wares created by its populace. Sluggish and cranky, each member of their entourage hardly spoke on the journey back home, irritated by the discovery. When their own village had appeared within the distance Kagome had mumbled a good bye and made her way to the well that would take her back to present day Tokyo. The exchange one life style for another would happen, one tugging her back when she remained in the other too long, causing a repeating cycle.

Her mind was already ahead of her body, thinking of what needed to be done in the present. Friends would need to be called to help with the math problems she couldn't solve on her own. Chores that had been neglected would likely be waiting; time travel didn't exempt her from them in her household. Supplied would need to be replenished and family would need to be visited with. Wind rushed past her, blowing hair into her face, obscuring her vision, going unnoticed expect for the unconscious movement of her fingers to tuck it back behind her ears. The sky was blue, the grass was green, and the only sounds filling the air were of workers tending to field of rice off in the distance.

This was the routine she had come to know in this era. She thought she was safe. She thought she knew what to expect.

In the time it took for her to swing her leg over the side of the well to prepare for her dissent she was attacked. There was no time for reaction, hardly any time to think. Colors blurred with the speed of the scenery rushing past her as she was gripped from behind by harsh claw tipped hands and thrown into a tree. Her ears registered none of the sounds she knew she should be experiencing. Sudden shock jump started the adrenaline in her body and as her body greeted the tree Kagome was aware that she had become numb. Even though she felt no pain she knew that it would come later, and when it did it would be the most excruciating pain she would have ever felt in her young life.

This was her last thought as she lost consciousness.

As often happens when one loses consciousness the amount of time that had passed was unknown. As she began her slow path to awakening Kagome attempted to open her eyes as wide as she could, despite how painful it was. Had she not been experiencing the affects of her latest encounter she would believed she was paralyzed. Her body felt like lead and refused to respond to her attempts to move. Regret raced through her thoughts, along side what felt llike thousand other emotions. She should have stayed with the group. Her experiences on her travels had proven to her many a time that you can never be too cautious. A stupid human girl, that's what she was. Being reckless while with Inuyasha was one thing, but having such disregard while being alone was another. Did she honestly think she would always be able to feel a demon approaching before it attacked? She didn't know all the types of demons that existed and what their powers were. And now this serious underestimation might have cost her life.

Kagome felt sure that, despite feeling like many hours had passed, in reality it was only a mere few minutes since she had been attacked. It had all happened so quickly, leaving little chance to absorb what had happened, but she was starting to become aware that maybe what ever had attacked her wasn't gone. A demon was standing beside her; that much she knew. Its prescience did not feel the same as the one that had attacked her, but fear was still prevalent in her mind. She was stable enough to recognize that she could still be in danger. Kagome attempted to turn her head and try to see who it was with her limited vision. Pain raced through her neck, shooting into her brain and causing her head to throb. Giving up the attempt, she remained as she was. Who was there, standing as still as stone and as quiet? It was not her aggressor, but she didn't recognize it as feeling similar to any of the demons she was on friendly terms with. The knowledge served to make her more nervous. It was getting harder to breathe with each intake. Her panicked mind screamed with a thousand various thoughts. She knew she was dying and it scared her. Earlier in the day her only thoughts were of how far behind she was in school and who she could ask to help tutor her in math. She had been tallying up the items she would need to bring back with her when she returned to the feudal era and whether the bike would be practical to return with again. Now that seemed so far behind her. It had been so long since anyone had been attacked near the village or in the forest that no one had thought to accompany her to the well. No one had heard the attack and no one knew she was missing. And now, as she lay near death with a demon she could not see standing beside her, she was unsure how much was left of her to find.

Someone small and light came running towards her. "Sesshoumaru sama," a childish voice called, "Rin wanted to ask...." The voice and foot steps stopped simultaneously.

Sesshoumaru? What was he doing there? Did he have anything to do with the attack on her? She seriously doubted it, for some reason. Any attacks made on her and her traveling companions were typically limited exclusively to Inuyasha and usually had a clear purpose. If he were serious in his intentions he would not use another demon to fight his battles. Especially if it came to what he saw as a weak useless human.

"Do not step closer, Rin," a commanding, cold voice answered, confirming that it was Sesshoumaru the girl was talking to.

Obediently, the child came no closer, but made no move to further herself away from Kagome. "That's the lady who was so nice to Rin. Is she okay? Is she hurt how Rin was?"

The sound of sword being unsheathed rang through the forest. "Return to Ah Un now, Rin."

"But," the child said, moving away, "Rin wants to make her better. She was nice to Rin."

Sesshoumaru's cold voice cut through Kagome's mind, becoming her focal point. "Nice does not get you far in this world, Rin."

Sesshoumaru's parting words rang in her ears as the sword sliced through the air and she lost consciousness.