The Gates of Heaven & Hell by yukihime

To Wish Upon a Star

Guide:

" " the spoken words.

Any thoughts are in italics.

* for definitions or notes at the end of the chapter.

The light was too bright and she was forced to cover her face. Kagome's eyes fluttered open, peeking through her fingers and looking up through the trees, to the bright blue sky as she lay on soft grass.

I don't think I have ever seen a sky so blue, she thought before remembering that she was at her bedroom window only a moment ago. She couldn't understand what had happened or how she even got here. Warily, she jumped up, soaking in the surroundings.

A thick forest. She couldn't hear any cars or people. The city couldn't be far. Where was she?

"This has to be a dream."

A rabbit bounded into her path and she yelped. Startled, the animal ran into the nearest bush.

"Or a really bad prank."

Noises behind her caught her attention. They were faint but she was sure she had heard something.

She held her breath until she heard them again. Cautiously, she followed, carefully trying to avoid twigs and such.

Damn, what a time to not have shoes

As the sounds became louder, Kagome began to wonder what was going on. It sounded like clashing.

A battle?

She silently crept up to see two men fighting with swords in a small clearing. They were yelling at one another as their forms quickly moved around the area. Their silver hair glinted in the sunlight that managed to peak its way through the treetops. She couldn't hear the words but it definitely didn't seem to be a good situation. And one she did not want to involve herself in.

The smaller man wore a red kimono-like outfit and carried a large sword. She noticed his dog ears. The other one looked human but didn't move like one. He had amazing speed and she felt a strange aura around him. She took a step forward to get a better look at the taller man and, in her move, she snapped a twig in two.

Although, Sesshoumaru had sensed someone else in the area, he had simply ignored their presence. It was not threatening and he was currently preoccupied. However, the sound caught his delicate ears, and it was one he was sure Inuyasha had heard too. He could not help but to glance in the direction of the distraction.

What he saw momentarily froze him in his tracks.

Inuyasha struck Sesshoumaru in the stomach, slicing through his armor and drawing blood. He had heard the sound and once he cleared some distance between himself and his half-brother, he turned to see the source. He thought Kikyou had decided to stay in the village to keep the others safe, but once his eyes landed on her clothing, he knew this was not Kikyou.

The knee length green skirt that revealed shapely calves were not Kikyou's.

The sleeveless white top that left little to imagine was not Kikyou's either.

She burst out from behind the tree and gasped with her hand over her mouth. Seeing the blood spurred Kagome into fleeing the direction she came. Frightened and scared, she ran frantically and blind into the forest.

What's going on? This isn't Tokyo.

Sesshoumaru growled as Inuyasha turned his attention back to the youkai.

"Distracted, Sesshoumaru? What's wrong, you know that girl?"

"Something more pressing has come up. Until next time, Inuyasha." The demon lord sheathed Tenseiga and then darted off after the girl.

"I thought you hated humans. What the hell are you doing running from me? Get back here," Inuyasha yelled as he followed confused and pissed off.

Kagome ignored the twigs, thorns and rocks that her bare feet managed to find in her hasty escape to safety. She didn't dare look back in fear that there would be one of those beasts after her. She panted hard as she burst through bushes only to find a steep hill on the other side.

A scream pierced the tranquil air as she swiftly slid down.

The bloodied youkai appeared in her path and Kagome tumbled into his arms. The jewel from around her neck caught his eyes before Inuyasha's shout propelled him to look up at the top of the hill.

"Kikyou?" he questioned.

The similarities were striking and the Shikon around her neck almost had him, but her clothes were strange and unfamiliar.

Kikyou would never wear something like that.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded.

Kagome struggled to loosen herself from Sesshoumaru's hands.

"Please," she stuttered, "let me go "

His grip tightened as he whispered in her ear.

"I will not hurt you, maiden," he spoke as a warm breath and sweet smell filled her senses.

Kagome felt her limbs numb as the world slowly faded, and she then was under his control.

"You are sick " Inuyasha yelled. "Sesshoumaru put her down."

He drew his sword. Inuyasha wasn't stupid; he noticed that the girl had a Shikon no Tama and he wasn't about to let Sesshoumaru get his hands on it.

How can there be two jewels? This girl couldn't have taken it from Kikyou.

"Sesshoumaru, you can't take that girl " Inuyasha's eyes focused on her.

"Inuyasha, you have no say in this woman's life," he spoke as both were absorbed by a bright light that dissipated leaving Inuyasha alone.

"Dammit What are you up to Sesshoumaru?"

The hanyou took off in the direction of the village that Kikyou resided in. He needed to find out what was going on.

Kagome awoke to find herself in yet another strange place. The room was elegantly decorated but had a very masculine touch. There were various weapons laying and hanging around; tapestries hung over windows, blocking the light; furs covered the floor and half the furniture.

She climbed out of the large bed, clad in her underwear, and ran to the door across the room. Opening the wooden slab, she found the silver haired demon awaiting her. Shrieking in fear, the woman slammed the door in his face and turned to hide as the door swung open.

The demon stepped inside as the entrance slowly closed behind him.

"Please do not be afraid. I will not hurt you. My name is Sesshoumaru. I am lord of these lands and this castle. No one will bring you harm while you are under my care." He spoke to her softly as he inched his way closer.

"What are you? Where exactly am I?" she uttered. She looked his form over. There appeared to be no visible damage.

"I thought you were hurt. That other man with the ears, didn't he hurt you?" She gingerly approached him. He seemed harmless enough.

Her hand stretched out to touch the fabric at his stomach.

"I saw blood here."

The tips of her right hand brushed the material and made contact with his body.

"I am a dog demon and you are in my castle in the western lands," he repeated himself. "I am fine now."

"I guess I meant what year is it? Am I still in Japan?" She mentally kicked herself.

"1552 and yes, I believe humans call this island Japan."* His eyes scanned her figure. "I have clothing for you."

He held an armful of fabric out to her. She glanced down and blushed fervently. Mumbling a thank you, Kagome grabbed the garments and covered herself.

"You should not be up yet. We need to attend to your wounds first."

"What?" she lightly replied as she looked at her body for the first time. Lacerations littered her lower limbs. She was confused.

"What happened?"

"I imagine it was the fall."

He stared at her.

"What is your name human?"

She didn't know if she could trust him or if this was just a bad dream, one in which she would simply wake up any moment now.

Can I... really trust him? I don't have any other choice. There is nowhere else to turn to. I still want to live. Even if it is in captivity.

Suddenly, Kagome was swept off her feet. Her bewildered eyes focused on the handsome face so close to hers. She had to physically restrain herself from reaching out to touch him.

"Please do not be afraid of me. If I intended to do harm to you, I believe it would have already happened. Tell me your name so that I may address you more respectably. I dare say that 'Human' is not appealing to me."

"My name is Kagome." Her voice was soft and sounded like flutes to Sesshoumaru's ears.

His eyes stared down at her. The demon seemed to drown in those endless pools. He pulled himself back before he could be completely drawn in.

"We need to attended to your wounds first, Kagome. Then I shall feed you."

She was prepared to stand but the youkai prince tightened his grasp, refusing to let go. When he spoke, Kagome almost missed it.

"I do not think it is wise to let you walk. We are heading to a healing spring within my castle walls."

A small blush colored her cheeks. She was not used to such treatment from a male.

The red cloth of the fire-rat could be seen darting through the forest at a rapid pace. The hanyou wearing the fabric appeared above a small village, seeming to fall from the sky.

The golden eyes of the half-dog demon surveyed the area for the residing miko, Kikyou. Her red and white attire could be spotted across the river, returning from an herb hunt. Inuyasha could also see his fellow companions around their hut's campfire.

He landed with ease behind everyone. The monk was the only one to greet him.

"Good morning, Inuyasha. Where have you run off too? Kikyou is not happy," he sighed receiving an elbow in the side.

Sango glared at him.

"I ran into Sesshoumaru and..." his mind reverted to the events from earlier, "a strange girl. I need to speak with Kikyou at once."

"Inuyasha, what is the matter?" a female voice floated across to the group.

He turned to see Kikyou. Wasting no time, he picked her up and they headed for the shrine holding the jewel.

"I must see the jewel. I must know it is safe."

She laughed, "Inuyasha, you know that I would not let anything happen to the Shikon no Tama."

Her hand brushed to his forehead.

"You don't seem to have a fever. Are you sure you are alright?"

"Earlier, I was battling with Sesshoumaru and a strange young girl appeared out of no where. I could swear I saw the Shikon no Tama around her neck. I must see it."

* I have had mentioned that the date/year I'm using is wrong. I looked up the Feudal Era on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Japan). It began in 1185 and ended in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration, so I should be safe.