Kagome's sigh, heavy with boredom, entered the crisp morning air like the soft crunch of the first leaves of fall that were under her feet. Her brown shoes made a soft tapping sound as she headed down the sidewalk, a chilly breeze causing her to wrap her jacket around her even further. The thought of fall coming so quickly had chilled her to the bone...it was only July, wasn't it? Yes, that's it. July. July 13th, if Kagome remembered correctly. Of course, that didn't help her remember where she was going to go after this. Would she take her education further and go to college, or would she prefer to stay at home and start a career as soon as she graduated? Yes, this was the year in her life that Higurashi Kagome was a senior in highschool, and the year that she finally had to decide on a path to take.

She remembered how InuYasha had always demanded that she drop everything to hunt Jewel Shards, and their arguments, as well as the day he left with Kikyou. A lonely pang of guilt flashed in her heart, but for what, Kagome did not know. All Kagome was certain of now was that she was very much alone. Her friends, Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri, had already graduated, going off to different colleges, and Hojou had a friend, a pretty young woman by the name of Emiko. Her grandfather, Kagome remembered somberly, had passed away last year because of injuries sustained in a car , and her mother had come down with pneumonia last winter, two months after her grandfather's funeral, and died in her sleep, her system just couldn't handle it. So Kagome was stuck, age eighteen, caring for her almost fifteen-year-old brother, going to highschool, and working a part-time job. Meanwhile, she was trying to find time for a 'social life' and 'dating'. Mentally, Kagome sighed. How anyone, like a single teenage mother, for instance, could live like this, well...it was certainly beyond Kagome's comprehension.

Kagome mumbled a barely heard apology as she bumped into someone, and continued on her way. She felt the person's aura follow her to the school, so she held the door open for them and looked at them. When she did, what she saw almost made her gasp in surprise. She smiled and bowed as the person entered, and went to her locker, pushing the memory far from her mind. It was not a pleasant one, to her mind, and she did not wish to dwell on it.

"Higurashi-san, why do you not greet me?" A voice, slick as the lake in deep frost, asked her. "I do not think that you are happy to see me, and that will not do, oh no..."

Kagome slammed her locker and glared at the man, whose oily hair she d as much as his stinking breath.

"It's because of you that they're , Naraku...or should I call you Onigumo now?" Kagome hissed at the obviously-rich man.

"Actually, Higurashi, it is Onigumo Naraku." Naraku smirked greasily.

"Oh, so you finally learned to use your brain and come up with a last name." Kagome shoved past him, but he grabbed her. "If you'll excuse me, Onigumo-san, I have some schooling to catch up on...schooling that I missed because of the damn Shikon no Tama and because of you."

She turned on her heel and stormed away, tears stinging her eyes. She went for the nearest sanctuary – the 's bathroom.

'Miroku...Sango...Shippou...Kaede...' She thought, leaning against the sink in the 's bathroom. 'InuYasha...'

She let her books drop from her arms as she collapsed against the sink, the tears now falling freely. The memory of watching their s was very clear, as if looking through a crystal mirror.

'Even Sesshoumaru fell, protecting Rin...' Kagome wiped her eyes, sniffling, as she remembered the former taiyoukai. 'He was honorable, if not as stubborn as his half-brother...'

Kagome felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck and her vision swirled to black.

When she awoke, she found herself in a luxurious room – a typical kind of room that she'd expect Naraku to put her in. However, this room seemed different, as if it was old, as if the entire residence was old...She head a loud noise, and was quickly thrown out of her reverie. Of course, there was Naraku, and he was going to make his little 'villainy' speech...and then they were all going out for tea and crumpets.

"Hello, Naraku..." Kagome said, her voice as barren of emotion as the tundra.

"Ah, the reincarnation of Kikyou..." Naraku smirked.

"Where am I?" Kagome demanded coolly, knowing that, if she lost her temper, it would only get her hurt...or worse.

"I was wondering when you were going to ask..." Naraku said. "You are in what used to be Lord Sesshoumaru's room in the Western Lands' keep."

Kagome looked around briefly before narrowing her eyes at Naraku. Something deep inside of her itched to force him out, and it did. A barrier sprang to life, throwing Naraku from the room and slamming the door shut. When Kagome realized that he wasn't – and couldn't – come back, she got up and began examining the room, which apparently was the same now as it had been all those years ago. Curiously, Kagome opened up a wooden wardrobe and looked inside. Inside of it were a few old kimonos, some with the usual insignia of Sesshoumaru, and others were either more casual, or they were for more formal occasions. Sitting at the bottom of the wardrobe was a box, nothing too special about it, just a box. It was red, and the upholstery was made of either velvet or satin, Kagome really couldn't see in the darkness, so she hefted it out of the wardrobe. Kagome set the strange box on the bed, and tried to open it.

'Duh, you idiot...you obviously need a key!' Kagome groaned mentally when she saw the keyhole. Now she'd have to wait for her curiosity to be satiated. Unless...Kagome pulled a bobby pin from her hair, the one that kept her bangs out of her face. She stuck it in the lock and jiggled it around.

'Remember what Souta taught you about picking the locks...' Kagome thought, and her hard work was paid off when she heard a small click. She opened the box, to see what treasure may lay inside. After all, it had been in the Daiyoukai's bedroom, so who knows what lies inside?