Chapter 1: New Neighbors

            Light and lazy footsteps echoed from down the empty neighborhood street broke through the silence of the evening.  The sun had already set a while ago and the only light to be seen was radiating through the living room windows of all the perfect white houses that were all ordered neatly up and down the road. 

Great, they’re going to give me such a headache for being late.  Rounding the corner was a dark haired boy, probably no older than fifteen.  And even though that was his thoughts while staring impassively ahead toward his destination, his pace remained slow and even.  He just shrugged the thought off as insignificant.  If they were going to give him an earful it wouldn’t matter if he actually ran to make it in time.

            Boredom was etched into the boy’s face and his emerald green eyes didn’t even notice the ‘SOLD’ sign sitting in the lawn of Number Seven Private Drive.  But the one thing that did catch his eye as he made his way up to his aunt and uncle’s driveway was a tiny tawny owl gliding easily through the dark sky in his direction.

            But the teenager wasn’t really concerned and did not pay it any mind.  He merely figured it to be a responding letter from one of his friends from school.  Sighing as he entered Number Four Private Drive, he failed to see the nighttime bird pass over his house and make its way to the newly bought home just down the street.

________------------------________

            Phew.  Fifteen year old Kagome Higurashi thought while collapsing onto her bed, Moving is hard work.  Irritation passed through her glimmering sapphire eyes as she spotted a crack in the glass of one of her photo frames still lying in one of her boxes.

           The feeling dissipated as a sense of accomplishment rose inside her while glancing around her new room.  Not so bad… she mentally told herself, I’ve even got my own bathroom. 

            She let out a breath getting up off of her bed and moved towards the broken picture frame.  Raven black hair spilled over her face as she gazed at all of her old friends.  God how she missed all of them…

            Slipping it out of the frame she held the picture lovingly within her hands.  She felt a familiar tug at her heart.  Tears stung the back of her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks.  Kagome sniffled to prevent herself from crying as she placed the photograph on her nightstand face down.

 ~~

          “Come on, guys.”  Kagome had a smile played across her face as she grouped her friends together.

             “I still do not see why you want us to take this ‘foe-toe-graph,’ Lady Kagome.”  Violet eyes looked to her questioningly.

             “Photograph, Miroku.” She corrected the monk while moving him into place.  “And I’ll show you in a minute.” 

            A young woman came up beside them, “InuYasha said it was somewhat like a painting, only made with some device called a ‘camera.’  Are you going to make a portrait of us all standing here?”

             “Not if everyone doesn’t stay still for one minute.” The young miko huffed.  She stalked off to a particular tree looking determined.

             “Inu-Ya-sha...” A red-headed fox demon whined up at the tree.  “We have to take a picture for Kagome-‘kaa-san.”

             “Hey, Shippou,” The raven haired girl greeted the kit, “is he still being difficult?” 

            “Keh.” Could be heard from the tree.

             Shippou gazed up at the human female he considered his mother, letting his large green eyes attribute to the pout on his lips.  “The dumb dog’s too stubborn.  I can’t get him to come down.”

             She nodded to him in understanding.  “Why don’t you go take your spot and I’ll get him down.” 

            The young fox grinned and nodded before turning abruptly and bounding towards her two other friends, running on all fours through the long green grass. 

            Kagome let out a sigh before turning back to the tree.  “Why don’t you just come down?  I don’t see why you’re so against it.”
             Receiving no response, she continued to call up to the branches.  “Can’t you do this little thing for me, please?”  Still all she got back was silence.  “Grr… look here, InuYasha.  I really want this picture.  I’ll bring back extra ramen just for you if you take the picture.” 

            Bingo.  The silver-haired dog demon finally jumped out of his silly hiding place.  “You swear?”  His golden eyes searched hers for any deceit or trickery.

             “I promise.” She chirped before grabbing onto his hand and lead him back to the group they’ve come to know as friends and companions on their journey. 

~~

            It had taken just about twelve mess-ups before getting everyone to take a decent photograph, and as irritating as it had been, the memory of it made a smile rise onto Kagome’s face.  As did all the other memories of her friends from the feudal era.  Settling back down into her bed, she couldn’t help but rethink the outcome of their groups’ effort.

Her breath caught in her throat and she shook her head violently.  She wouldn't do this anymore.  No more tears, no more pain.  Taking a deep breath she sat back down on her bed.

Thinking back on it three months later, Kagome sees it as an entire blur.  One large, bloody, life-changing smudge upon her memory.  The eleven weeks after Naraku’s end was spent with Sesshoumaru.  He justified his hospitality and training sessions by saying she needed to learn to fend for herself if she were to be Keeper of the jewel.

Kagome had been living in shock then.  Not wanting anything and barely filling her needs.  She willed her mind as she put all of her efforts into her training.  When she was dubbed self-sufficient, she returned home with the jewel and told her family everything.  Every little detail she could remember spilled from her mouth as if being forced to retell her tale.

After a while, Kagome’s mother announced that they were moving.  That was three days ago, and now she was here in England, in the house her father had grown up in.  Grandpa stayed behind to care for the shrine, Kagome left letters behind to her school friends, and she made it through a fourteen hour flight.  Things were looking up.

Riiight…  But she was glad that her mother had given her a chance to make a new start.  Maybe she could actually lead a normal life.

Contemplating her new beginning, Kagome drifted off to sleep, never noticing the envelope lying on her window’s sill.

--

Chapter 2: Sweet Dreams

            Thwack!  Harry slammed his bedroom door before landing on his bed.  He had escaped the imminent headache for arriving late.  Apparently Petunia was too busy spreading gossip about some neighbors three doors down that they didn't even notice him come in.

            A sigh escaped the boy as he picked his head up and looked toward his open window.  Strange... he could have sworn he had seen an owl earlier.  Too tired to care, he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

 ~~ 

            Harry was at Hogwarts.  He had his friends with him, and he felt more relaxed than he had in days.  There was a care-free moon all about them.  Then something happened.  The scene seemed to disappear; being replaced with another. Harry saw he was now standing in some clearing in a forest.  His gaze wandered around his surroundings.  Noticing all of the bodies, it looked as if he had been placed in the middle of the leftovers of some battle.  After observing the carnage, he spotted someone still standing.

               After trying to call out to the figure, Harry realized that he couldn't make a sound.  It was like his vocal cords were stuck.  He started moving towards the person.  From a closer view, he could tell it was a girl around his age.  It was weird. She had on a long white blouse and her long ebony hair nearly reached the green skirt she wore.  It almost looked like a school uniform.  She seemed very out of place.  But there she was, standing right in the middle of it all, almost like she couldn't move.

            Harry was now standing beside her.  He struggled to move closer, but it was like his body couldn't respond.  He couldn't see her face and she kept his back to him.  Then, almost as if sensing he was there, she began to turn... 

~~ 

            Harry's eyes sprang open.  He lied there in the dark, not realizing he was already awake.  Then he brought up a hand and rubbed his eyes, trying to recall the strange dream.  The last thing he remembered was a brief flash of tears and eyes that were colored an impossible shade of blue.

            Shaking his head as if to clear it of the weird thoughts, he snuggled back down into his pillow trying to return to the dream.  And to return to the raven-haired girl he had seen within it.

________________-----------------------------_________________

            Kagome cried out in her sleep, tossing and turning beneath the sheets.  Her black hair fanned out on her pillow and her chest rising quickly with every shallow breath she took.

 ~~

             She was forced to relive it all.  She was frozen in place, watching as one by one all of her friends fell.  And she could do nothing to help it.

              Kagome was all by herself now, staring down at the remains of their struggle...

             And then suddenly, she was not alone.  She felt someone coming up behind her.  Kagome slowly began to gain control of her own body, willing it to move.  She felt the person's gaze on her back and it made her shiver.

             When she got herself to turn, all she saw was a quick view of a boy's messy black hair and a pair of concerned and curious green eyes.  But before she could really see what was before her, he was gone.  Leaving her to herself once more.

             "Lonely, Miko?" A voice rang out in her mind, so cold and familiar... 

            Realization dawned on her and blue eyes widened.  "No..." She cried out in a small voice.  It can't be.  No!  He's dead.  I saw it, there's no way.  He is dead!

             A dark chuckle was heard, "Not as dead as you'd like to think, my dear."

             Darkness surrounded her as she screamed out with all of her being. ~~ 

            Kagome's own screaming had awoken her from teh nightmare.  She took deep, uneasy breaths.  Pressing as hand to her chest she willed her heart to slow down as its beating pounded in her ears.

            "'nee-chan?" A tired voice called from her bedroom doorway.

            She sat up and saw her little brother standing at the foot of her bed.  Brown, sleepy eyes filled with worry.  "Mmn...  Sorry, Souta.  It's nothing, go back to bed."

            Souta sent her a look of disbelief and shuffled forward to stand next to her head.  "Really?" He leaned against her windowsill before letting out a yawn.

            Kagome nodded to the nine year old.  "Go catch up on some sleep and I'll do the same."  She spared him a toothless smile when suddenly she was struck with the memory of her dream.  Her mind caught up with her awakened body and she remembered just why she had been screaming.

            It can't be real...  It felt real...  I saw him die, there's no way he could be alive.  It's not true.  Kagome argued back and forth with herself. 

            At the beginning it was the same dream she has had since the battle.  The only difference was the appearance of her arch enemy.  She never dreamt of Naraku and it disturbed to her to think that he would become a part of her bedtime story.

            Caught up in her thoughts, Kagome didn't even see her brother leave the room.  Nor did she notice a strange letter held between his hands behind his back as Souta scurried back into his own room.

--

            A huge yawn escaped Harry as he made his way to the kitchen.  He hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, mainly because of the blue-eyed girl.  He didn’t dream of her again, but still she plagued his thoughts.  Walking past his aunt, who was scrubbing a pan, he made himself a bowl of cereal before pulling up a chair between his cousin and uncle.

            His uncle, Vernon, grunted as he sat down.  Harry glanced at him.  If he was acknowledging his nephew’s presence then he had to have something to say.  Vernon did not look up at Harry, but shifted the newspaper in his hands before speaking.  “My company was recently bought by a larger company in Japan, and our branch here in England, was given a new head of directors.”

            Green eyes just blinked in a bored expression.  “Okaay…”  What does this have to do with me?  Harry thought as he took a bite of his breakfast, crunching loudly.

            Vernon glared down at Harry before continuing.  “I’ve invited her and her family to diner tonight, and it is very important that I make a good impression.  If she finds my progress dissatisfactory, then she has grounds to fire me.”  He narrowed his piggy little eyes on the dark haired wizard.  “You, boy, are to stay in your room.  And will be silent as the grave.”

            Harry just rolled his eyes and turned back to his food.  He figured their guests were why his aunt, Petunia, was freaking out.  She had finished with her pan and moved on to the counters.  Uninterested, his eyes stole a cursory glance to his cousin, who was being strangely quiet.

            Getting a better look at Dudley, he saw that, in between bites of his grand slam breakfast a-la-Petunia, he was studying a piece of paper.  Harry leaned forward more to see what his cousin was trying so hard to memorize.

            ‘Konnichiwa.  Watashiwa Dudley desu.  Dozo Yoroshiku.’  had been scribbled onto his sheet loose leaf.  Harry snorted at how hard Dudley was staring at the paper.  I bet he can’t even read it.  If he says that to Ms. Head-of-Directors, she’ll take it as an insult to her lineage.  He grinned into his cereal as that thought crossed his mind.

            Dudley had glanced at his ‘abnormal’ cousin when he heard him choke down a laugh.  The shit-eating grin on Harry’s face was a dead give away and he instantly felt indignant.  Shifting his fat bottom on the chair, Dudley thrust out his leg and kicked his cousin in the shin.

            Harry resisted the urge strike back as he gently rubbed his bruised leg.  Instead, he got up and washed his bowl.  Sending the fat retarded pig (ahem… his dear loving cousin) a glare, Harry made his way back up the stairs and into his room, not caring to shut his door gently (as per usual).

________------------------________

            Kagome let out a huge yawn before she took a seat and joined her family at the kitchen table.  “Morning, ‘kaa-san.” She greeted her mother.

            “Good morning, dear.  How are you?  Souta tells me you had another nightmare last night.”  Her mother began talking to her, but Kagome’s thoughts were elsewhere and she didn’t respond.

            Tohru Higurashi frowned at her pokerfaced daughter.  She has been worried for Kagome.  To go through such a tragedy, and at such a young age…  She couldn’t even being to imagine the amount of stress and heartache her baby girl had been put through.

            Souta glanced between his mother and sister.  Silence had befallen their breakfast and it was driving him crazy.  “Okaa-san, what was it your were saying, about the dinner tonight?”

            “Mmm?  Oh, yes.”  Ms. Higurashi looked up from her meal to address her children.  “Remember Azumi, my old friend who I had lent money to a while back?  She had used that money to start her own business, which is growing beautifully.  Anyways, she has offered me a job.  It’s a pretty high up position, one where I could work from home.”  Tohru chuckled to herself, “Although I use the term ‘work’ loosely, I just get to boss others around.”

            Kagome’s brows furrowed as she spoke, “That’s great, ‘kaa-san, but what does that have to do with tonight’s dinner plans?”

Souta nodded in agreement, also wondering where his mother was going with this.

“Humm?” Their mother stopped mid-bite, “Oh, yeah.  We’re to have dinner with a manager from one of the companies Azumi had bought here.  He lives close by too, from what I remember…”

Kagome nodded numbly, allowing herself to be consumed by her thoughts once more.  Only to be ripped out of her reverie again.  She glanced up to see her mother looking at her expectantly, only then did she realize she had been asked a question.  “Umm… sorry, what were you saying?”

Her brother made a snorting type of noise and rolled his dark eyes at her, earning him a quick clip on the ear.  “Oww… geeze Kags.  Not my fault you’ve been acting like a space cadet.”

Kagome proceeded to playfully stick her tongue out at her sibling and it went on like that before their mother interrupted their lighthearted retaliations.

“As I said,” she grabbed her kids’ attentions, “the manager guy has a son your age, Kagome.  I’m sure that you’ll get along nicely.  It wouldn’t reflect well on me if my daughter wasn’t completely polite with Mr. What’s-his-face’s son.”

Kagome smirked into her breakfast resisting the urge to snort at her mother’s words.  “I’m always polite.  Besides, how would it reflect on you if you can’t remember Mr. What’s-his-face’s name before dinner, ‘kaa-san?”

Her mother grinned behind her hand before putting on a half-hearted frown.  “As I recall, the last time you didn’t get along well with somebody else you hit him over the head with a broomstick.”  Tohru was trying to choke down her giggles at the memory, “In any case, I’ll figure out the man’s name sooner or later.”  She couldn’t hold back a wide smile as she saw her daughter beaming at her mother’s behavior.

She tried her hardest to seem annoyed as Kagome rolled her blue eyes, but the large grin on her face gave away her amusement.  “That was, what, ten years ago?  I was only five or six.  Besides, he deserved it.”  She didn’t care to lower her voice at the last sentence, causing both her family members to burst into a new fit of laughter.

Ms. Higurashi was glad her daughter was feeling better.  Ever since she had returned from the feudal era, she wouldn’t really open up to anyone.  Sure, she had explained what happened, but she kept her feelings locked up in a place no one was able to reach.  It made her mother smile at how care-free Kagome was acting this morning.  She could only hope that it would last long enough for her daughter to heal.

________------------------________

            Harry was hanging out in his bedroom writing letters to his friends when he started noticing the owls.  Being a young wizard, seeing owls delivering mail was not an unusual thing.  But these owls weren’t giving him mail, and as far as he knew, he was the only non-muggle around for miles.

            He glanced out the window.  About three houses down there were nearly twenty birds on its’ roof.  What the heck?  Watching the various owls down the street, he didn’t notice his own fly up to the window.

            Hedwig, his snowy white owl, screeched at Harry when he didn’t realize the letter delivered to him.  Jumping in surprise, green eyes tore away from number seven private drive.  He reached over and grabbed the letter, stroking Hedwig as his hand passed by.

            Carefully he tore open the envelope, inside was his letter and another envelope.  Harry eyed the second envelope curiously before placing it down and reading his own note.

--

            Kagome was in a good mood today.  Probably the best she has felt since coming back.  After breakfast, she decided to practice with her bow.  Just because she wasn’t in the feudal era anymore didn’t mean she should just let her hard-earned skill go to waste.  Who knows, perhaps she would find a use for her archery.

            She placed down her bow and moved towards the tree she was practicing on to retrieve her arrows.  In the middle of pulling out her fifth, and last, arrow she felt something.  She paused as a well-known feeling welled up in the back of her mind, a familiar tickle.

            No, that can’t be right… there aren’t any demons here.  Kagome looked to the skies.  After a minute or so she spotted the aura that she was sensing.  A smile made its’ way to her lips.

            A large, black fire-cat demon with blue markings was flying toward her.  Kagome ran to it as it landed in the yard.  After reverting to its’ smaller form, the demonic feline jumped into her arms, purring contentedly.

            “What are you doing here, huh, Kaoru?” Kagome snuggled him close.  “I thought you were going to stay and help Jii-chan?”

            Kaoru looked up at his master with doleful grey eyes before mewing innocently.

            She looked down at Kirara’s cub remembering when they had first met.

            Kagome just rolled her eyes at the half demon’s childish ranting.  Although, she was getting a little worried for her companion.  What could’ve happened to keep Sango away this long?

So small…  Kagome started petting it.  Yawning, it lifted its’ head and showed off his white fangs and tiny pink tongue.  The miko giggled as his blue-tipped ears twitched.  He looks like…

She knew why Sango had done this for her, so she needn’t ask.  “Thank you so much.”  Kagome go up, holding Kaoru in one arm, and reached over to hug the slayer.  “I love him, you really didn’t have to do that, but thank you so much.”

            The memory faded in Kagome’s mind just as soon as it had submerged.  Sighing to herself, she absentmindedly stroked Kaoru.  The blue eyed teenager shook her head as if to rid herself of the sadness that had started to pour over her happy day.

            Fussing over the kitten, who had spent four days and three nights (straight) wandering, Kagome left the yard, forgetting the last arrow, still embedded in the tree.

--

            Harry sat on his bed reading over the letter sent to him by his school’s headmaster one more time.  Working through his thoughts, he absent-mindedly tapped on the second envelope placed beside him on his bed.

            (He really hadn’t noticed until overhearing Petunia’s frantic ramblings a couple of hours before.  Harry’s mind always was kind of fogged while he was stuck on summer break.)

            Harry’s brow furrowed as he contemplated the letter.  The request was simple enough.  Maybe a little too simple?  Letting out a sigh, Harry ran a hand through his dark tresses, a nervous habit he has had since he was younger. He tossed his letter aside and picked up the second envelope.

            On the one hand, he’d be doing Dumbledore a favor and he might even find someone he could talk to (that didn’t hate his guts) while condemned to the Dursley’s.  Then again, if his uncle found out that his manager’s daughter was a part of his kind and that Harry was the one who’d given her the letter, then he would be in a load of trouble for ‘spreading his abnormality.’

            Flopping down on his back, Harry put his hands underneath his head as a lazy grin formed on his face.  When it came down to it, Harry would do just about anything for Dumbledore.  And picturing the flabbergasted expression of Vernon Dursley after hearing of the new residential witch was just a sweet bonus to the young wizard.

            He rolled onto his stomach and observed his letter a third time.  “’Be cautious, for Miss Higurashi is a special case…’”  What does he mean by ‘special case?’  Sitting up, the boy ran a hand through his unruly hair.  Harry shrugged it off.  Whatever, she could just be like I was, not knowing about magic and all that.

            Snatching up the letter, Harry left his room and sprinted down the stairs.  In the living room were his aunt (viciously vacuuming) and uncle (his piggy eyes glued to the television set while struggling to keep his pudgy feet up as Petunia vacuumed under him).  Harry flew past them and darted out of the house.  Ignoring the angered shouts calling to him, he began walking down towards the Higurashi home.

            Strolling leisurely down the street, he spotted something.  Harry looked up when something caught his eye, but the sun blinded his view and he flinched away.  He glanced back, but not seeing anything, Harry just continued on trekking up his new neighbor’s driveway.

            Harry stood on Number Seven’s front porch and rang the doorbell.  After a moment, he could hear someone yelling from inside the house.

            “Okaa-san!  Kagome found Kaoru outside!”

            Harry stood mouthing the foreign word ‘okaa-san’ just as that someone answered the door.  A young boy, probably no older than ten or eleven, opened the front door.  He came up to about Harry’s chest and had black hair and dark eyes.

            “Hello.”  The boy looked up at Harry before narrowing his eyes on the letter in his hands.

            “Um… hey.  I live three houses down from you and…”  The boy’s gaze stayed on his form unwaveringly, causing Harry to shift nervously under his scrutiny.

            Nodding, the boy opened the door wide and walked back inside.  Not really sure if he should follow, Harry stepped into the doorway.  Only when the boy beckoned him in did Harry move.

            Closing the door behind them, the boy led him into the kitchen.  “Wait here a minute.”

            Harry raised an eyebrow at the boy but nodded all the same.  As the kid left, Harry took a seat at the kitchen table.  Glancing around the room, he anxiously fingered the letter that was now stuffed in his pocket.  He sat, wondering where the young foreigner had gone and where this Kagome person was.

            He was about to get up and leave, thinking he could try later, when he heard someone walked in through the sliding glass door that let to the backyard.

            “Hey, Souta, do we have any raw…”  Standing there was the strange girl from Harry’s dream.  Walking into the kitchen through the living room, she immediately noticed him.  Pausing for a millisecond before flashing a welcoming smile, she introduced herself.  “Oh, hello.  I’m Kagome.”  Receiving no response, she politely asked, “And you are…?”

            He sat there a moment just looking at her.  Different clothes, but it’s definitely her…  “Ah!”  Harry realized he was gapping at the girl.  “I’m Harry, um, Harry Potter.  I live, uh… in Number Four Private Drive.  Just a few doors down…?”

            Kagome nodded to him, still smiling.  “Did Souta let you in?”

            Harry was silent for a second as he continued observing her.  “Oh, err, I guess…”

            Cocking her head to the side in confusion before flashing him another (albeit a bit more reluctant) smile in his direction, Kagome took a seat across from him.  “So, you live around here, huh?  What’s the local high school like?”

            The mention of school suddenly reminded Harry of his purpose there.  Shifting in his chair, Harry placed the letter on the table.  “I wouldn’t know about the local school, but you see, I have this le-“

            “Hey.”  The boy from earlier, presumably Souta, came in with a shoebox tucked underneath his arm.  “Kagome, ‘kaa-san wants you upstairs.”

            Kagome frowned slightly and stood up.  “For what?”

            Souta shrugged and with that the girl scampered off sending Harry a quick farewell.  Stiff in his chair, the wizard was silently fuming.  He was going to have to come back again just to give her the letter.  Unless he figured out some way to pull her aside during dinner without alerting the Dursleys…

            “Oi.”  Souta came up, latched onto the older boy by his sleeve and proceeded to pull Harry out the kitchen and to the front door.

            “I-Hey…”  Harry tried to protest without having to yank the boy back.

            “Here.”  Souta opened up the door while pushing him out of the house.  Shoving the shoebox into Harry’s arms, he glared at the older boy.  “Kagome’s been through enough and I just got her back.  Leave my sister alone.”

            Harry just blinked incredulously as Souta Higurashi furiously scowled at him.  Then the boy suddenly turned and ran back into his house.

            Completely confused, Harry stood on the lawn of Number Seven Private Drive.  What the heck is that kid’s problem?  Looking down at the box in his hands, he lifted its lid.

            Letters.  It was filled to the brim with acceptance letters from Hogwarts addressed to Kagome.  Harry silently cursed as he walked back toward his aunt and uncle’s.  He was just going to have to find a way to get Kagome by herself without the overprotective little brother there to push him away.

            Deciding to worry about that later, Harry’s thoughts turned to the Kagome he had seen in his dream.  He stood outside his own front door, mulling over the dream and why she had been there in the first place.  Shaking his head, he walked inside and quickly strode up the stairs and entered his bedroom.

            All of a sudden this little favor Dumbledore had asked of him became a bit more complicated.

--