Changes For The Better by Nefra

Running

Hello everyone, well this is a first for me. I actually started reading this story and became enthralled with it quite a while back. The authoress, CallousDiva definitely had something going here. She updated, informing us readers that she was going to stop writing this particular piece. The next day she updated again stating that she would hand it over to anyone who was interested in finishing if for her. Looking for a challenge, I wanted to accept this responsibility and kindly asked if I could have the honor of doing so. Luckily for me no one else had asked yet at that particular time so I was passed the gauntlet. I have said over and over that I will not steal anyone else's work and this is no exception. This plot was thought up by CallousDiva and she will get the credit for that. I will however, be taking some creative liberties to put in my own touch but the over all plot will not waver. I want to extend my abundant thanks to CallousDiva for giving me this opportunity and hope that she publishes more stories in the future. I hope that I don't let you down in any fashion. On that note please read and review this story, enjoy. Ja ne!

Disclaimer: What? Me? Own Inu Yasha? *breaks into hysterical laughter*

Chapter 1: Running

Kagome tossed fitfully in her sleep. He was after her again. What did he want from her? Every time she looked back, all she saw was a shadowy, indistinct figure. Sometimes, she caught glimpses of demonic red eyes but nothing else. Running, running...it was all she could do. If she kept running she would never have to answer her heart. Kagome didn't know when her heart had betrayed her. She supposed it was when they were fighting him one time, and after he had disappeared, she saw him approach a small human girl, and bring her away with him on his fearsome two headed dragon. She knew she loved him, but she wanted him to lover her too. And he would have to love her as a human first. And then she would reveal her secret to him...

****Flashback****

Kagome climbed out of the well with a smile on her face. She was happy to be home after two weeks of Inu Yasha treating her like shit and was looking forward to a bit of R and R. Right away she noticed how subdued her mother and jii-chan were and this caused her some concern.

"Momma, Jii-chan...what is it? Are you okay?" Kagome asked with a very worried expression.

Mrs. Higurashi shook her head, and half-heartedly tried to smile. "Of course, dear but Jii-chan and I have something to tell you."

Kagome remembered sitting there in a frozen state of shock as her mother and grandfather told her that her father was not really dead, but alive and well and the Lord of the Northern Lands. Slowly Kagome realized what this meant...she was a youkai...and not just any youkai. She was a miko youkai, a prophecy, the one to bridge the worlds. She listened as her mother told her that her father would be there soon to train his heir and daughter.

"I always knew I was different...but what kind of youkai am I?" she asked nervously. Secretly, she hoped she was an inu-youkai...she had always loved the way Sesshoumaru looked, with his boa-like tail wrapped around his shoulders, and his silky white hair. She thought about the many times she had touched Inu Yasha's hair and fantasized of his brother. She shook her head as an impressive looking man in a black business suit, with long black hair tied back into a low ponytail, walked into her kitchen. Kagome stood there unmoving, staring at the snowflake symbol on his forehead.

"Daddy..."she choked out, and flung herself at the man she had thought was dead for 18 years.

"Kagome..."he rumbled embracing her warmly. "How I have neglected you. I wanted so much to take you with me, but I was not allowed."

Kagome just stood there in his arms and sighed contentedly.

"I heard your mother telling you about me. Let us reveal your true form. Would you like that?" he asked.

Kagome looked up at him and nodded with a big smile on her face. With that, he gently, pushed her away, and placed his right index finger to the center of her forehead. Mrs. Higurashi looked on with love as her only daughter transformed into a beautiful kitsune youkai. Her hair grew even longer keeping its midnight black shade all the way to her knees. The expressive blue eyes darkened to a rich violet, and a blue snowflake appeared on her forehead, denoting her power and rank. She grew a few inches taller and her body filled out in all the right places.

"Let's change this as well." Her father said with a bit of humor.

Her clothes shifted into a beautiful ice blue kimono, embroidered with white snowflakes. A black obi and black under kimono appeared as well. Kagome twirled around, looking down at her new form then she ran to a mirror so she could get a better look at herself. She gently touched the dark blue markings that were appearing on her cheeks, wrists and ankles. A feeling of giddiness consumed her as she thought of the potential her true form possessed.

'I look beautiful...worthy of Sesshoumaru' she thought to herself, and shook her head, trying to lose that thought. 'One thing at a time girl or you'll lose your head...literally.'

"Kagome, I'm sorry but we must depart, for your training." Her father said gently. "There are many things that you need to learn before we return to the past."

Kagome smiled. "Hai, Father." Turning toward her mother and grandfather, she bowed. "Arigato, Okaa-san, Jii-san, you've given me the best gift I could ever hope for."

"Don't you dare forget to visit us once in while." Mrs. Higurashi ordered.

Kagome nodded. "I won't."

With that, Kagome took her fathers hand; ready for her new life.

****End Flashback****

Kagome smiled softly as she remembered her training, a whirlwind month of spells and fighting. Mastery of the bow and arrow and sword had been definite priority. The teachers assigned to her had been youkai themselves and it was not an easy time but Kagome enjoyed herself immensely. A kitsune had been assigned to her as well to hone her new abilities and she was very happy about this. Upon her return, she decided start teaching Shippou what she had learned after she revealed her surprise to him and her friends. No doubt, her kitsune pup would be happy. The miko training had been much easier than she thought it would be. Most of the stuff she already knew but didn't know how to apply it. The study of the different herbs was the biggest thing, getting it right and identifying the differences between the ones that looked identical. Next came etiquette, which Kagome had taken to very quickly. Her father taught her how to rule well and taught her a lot about youkai history. Prior to this she had no idea they had such a complex hierarchy. Each territory had its own set of rules but there was an unspoken set that everyone abided by upon their arrival to another's domain.

During this time, her father explained why he had come to the future all those years ago, to find a woman that was pure in miko powers and spirit to foster the power of the Shikon no Tama for her daughter. He told Kagome how he had fallen in love with this woman, and made her his mate. A blush covered his cheeks when he admitted he had always watched from afar over his daughter, when he was in the Sengoku Jidai and in the modern day. He told her how she was expected to bridge the two worlds, to bring magic and the youkai back to life in modern Japan using the Shikon. At the time Kagome had gaped open mouthed at him thinking that it was too big of a job but her father had calmed her fears by explaining that she would have help in this monstrous task.

Kagome shook herself out of her reverie. She had to bathe in the hot springs before Miroku got it into his perverted houshi brain to come check her. Quickly shedding her clothes, she slipped into the water and sighed happily. After a moment's hesitation, she also shut down the spells hiding her true form. She reveled in her youkai senses combined with her miko power, laughing softly when she recalled how surprised Kaede had been when she returned a month after leaving, and a fully trained miko. It was a surprise to Inu Yasha too, when he was osuwari-ed 10 feet lower into the ground as a result of all her power.

Kagome reached towards the bank of the springs, grabbed her sakura-scented shampoo and lathered her hair. She wondered how Sesshoumaru was. They had not been in battle with the cold Inu-youkai in over a half of a year. Kagome was turning 20 in a few days, just the age when she should begin to have suitors for her hand. But all she wanted was the cold taiyoukai. She wondered when he would notice her and part of her wished he already had.

Her mind wandered once more to the last time she'd seen him. He'd been arrogant as ever but there was something about him that made her want to sing to the stars. Inu Yasha had acted like his usual brash self and started swinging Tetsusaiga like a club. The Western Lord easily dodged Inu Yasha's attacks and smirked when the hanyou actually slipped and fell on the dew damp grass. Kagome had stopped herself from drooling over his expression. She had her own ideas about that smile, more importantly the mouth it had appeared on. He'd fought tall and proud, a white angel against the blackened sky. A storm was on the way and his long silky hair blew in the strong breeze. His clothing clung to his body in all the right places making Kagome wonder what he looked like without his silks. She blushed when she recalled the look he had given her. Just her luck she was standing upwind and seeing him had made her very aroused. He'd just narrowed his eyes at her and turned away.

"That was so embarrassing." She muttered.

The bushes rustled and Kagome immediately erected her concealing spell then threw a stone into the thicket. A soft cry followed by a thump alerted Kagome that it was only Miroku. How the hell he'd gotten away from Inu Yasha and Sango was something she would have to find out later.

***

Well, there it is the first chapter of this repost. I thank you again CallousDiva for giving me this opportunity. Please faithful readers, read and review to let me know what you think. Don't worry, the chapters will get longer as the story progresses. Well, until next time...Ja ne!