Chapter 2:

‘Where the hell am I?! Who’s this guy holding me?! What the hell happened?!!’ this was what was going through Kagome’s head as she looked around confused and almost panicked. Deep down, she desperately hoped that this wasn’t another escapade that was similar to when she was traveling through the well to the past.

But she was certain that this wasn’t the past. The air here was clean, just like it but it didn’t feel the same. Kagome blinked noticing she was still in the guys arms, a small blush forming on her cheeks. The next thing she knew a three people on horses were making their way towards them.

Kagome sighed, she was lost, and didn't even have the slightest clue were she was, and she was getting cornered by people already and she hadn't even arrived five minutes ago.

The three who came on horses soon mounted off and made their way to her and the guy who was still holding her. They started speaking in a language she never heard before.

Her body started to shake as fear started to kick in after feeling all their auras. They all had demonic blood.

The one who still held her in his arms had long light lavender hair and violet eyes while dressed in white and the one he was speaking to was brunette with brown eyes while wearing what looked like a military man’s uniform.

The one who held must’ve felt her shaking and started speaking to her but she couldn’t understand what he was saying as she held Kirara closer to her while the feline hissed at them in warning.

Kagome not knowing what to do push the guy, making him release her and got out of arms length away form him. All she could hear was them talking weird, Kagome looked at all of them, but her eyes landed on the guy with black hair and wearing a black....school uniform....

Kagome's eyes widened, “Yuri?” The words left her mouth, making all four of the men look at her.

Yuri looked at the person who Gunter had caught in his arms. He could clearly see that it was a girl with short hair, a dark blue cap, and tomboyish clothes from earth. And in her arms was a light gold and black furred cat with two tails that was hissing at them in a protective manner. When he saw her eyes, he couldn’t help but feel like he had seen the girl before…

Soon he remembered the only person he ever known to have deep blue eyes… “Kagome…?” At her smile, he knew that he was correct. This girl was his cousin, Kagome Higurashi. But she looked so different with her hair so short and dressed like a tomboy with a cap on her head.

Yuri looked at his cousin, shocked to see her, Gunter tuned to him, “Your Majesty, do you know her?”

Yuri nodded his eyes never leaving Kagome's, “ Yes.”

Kagome looked at Yuri, “Yuri, where am I?”

Yuri smiled and went and hugged Kagome, “It's nice to see you again,Gome.”

Kagome laughed, “You to Yu-chan...you too.”

Pulling away from the hug, Kagome smiled, “So where am I?”

“Your in Shin Makoku...um lets get you somewhere where we can explain better...” But before Yuri could finish, someone pulled him away and Kagome had a sword pointed at her.

It was a blond and he was glaring at her like she was trying to steal his mate....then it clicked...'he must be the fiancée.' Kagome thought a small smile on her face.

“Wolfram, put that away!” Yuri spoke, angry that the blond drew his sword at his cousin.

Wolfram though… he didn’t like how this girl had hugged Yuri so familiarly. To him, she was a threat and would probably try to take his fiancée away from him. He guessed that the girl understood his actions, giving him a small smile with a light of understanding in her eyes.

Conrad soon spoke, asking, “Yuri… how do you know her?” From what he could see, the girl hard dark hair like Yuri but her eyes were a deep blue. He wondered if the girl was family or was a close friend from earth.

“She’s my cousin from my mother’s side. I had almost forgotten that this summer back home she was coming over to visit… and maybe even attend school with me.” Yuri answered while still worried that his cousin might get hurt because of Wolfram’s attitude towards those he was familiar with, most especially towards girls.

The four males witnessed as Kagome gently raised a hand towards Wolfram’s sword before pushing the blade down before her softly. She seemed to have noticed that Wolfram went rigid suddenly before smiling once more. Using her free hand, after her cat positioned itself on her right shoulder, she turned her cap to the side before bowing, letting her forehead rest on the blade that was still in her hand, gaining surprised expressions and a gasp from Wolfram

Confused about what was going on and what his cousin was doing, Yuri asked the older males, “Guys… I don’t get it. What’s she doing? Is this Mazoku custom too?”

“Yes, your Majesty… this is also a custom among Mazoku. To bow your forehead against one’s blade is a way of saying that you mean no threat. Or in this case, she understood that you and Wolfram are engaged and she’s silently telling Wolfram that she has no intention of getting in the way of your engagement.”

Yuri looked over at Conrad, “ Do you still have the language devices Anissina gave to you guys?”

Conrad nodded and grabbed it out of one of the bags on the horses and handed it to him, “ Here, it should have an adjustment for our language too.”

Yuri nodded and took it from him, he looked around and found the switch to adjust it, the he gave it to her, “Put it in your ear, it will help you understand everyone.”

Kagome nodded and put it in her ear, it took a seconds before it kicked in, she blinked and nodded telling him it was in.

“Can you understand me?” Yuri asked, hoping it worked.

“Yes it worked Yu-chan” Kagome said, feeling a bit weird knowing the weird language, “Well this is different...”

Yuri smiled at her before asking, “Kagome, how did you know…” he pointed to Wolfram’s sword before he gained a look of understanding from his cousin before she answered with a sheepish smile, “That’s a bit of a long story. One I’m sure you’d like to hear when we can be able to talk in depth.”

“Okay… another question. How did you get here to Shin Makoku?” From what Yuri could see, she wasn’t wet at all and there wasn’t any source of water anywhere. Her clothes and a little of her hair just seemed lightly ruffled.

Kagome looked up in thought before relaying what had happened, “Well… I went to your house, Aunty help me settle in before I lit Kirara out… after unpacking, I went to bug your brother… after asking him an embarrassing question, he chased me before I tripped down the stairs…” noticing her cousin’s worried face, she reassured him, “Don’t worry, Uncle Shoma caught me. And before Shori could really do anything to me, I told everyone that I would be taking a look around the area and left the house- with your brother still fuming and embarrassed mind you.”

At this, she smirked slyly before finishing, “And last, after coming to a bridge that was over ongoing traffic, a group of guys tried to hit on me, thinking I was easy to get while trapping me against the railing. After I had punched him and Kirara scratched him in the face, I fell over the railing. The next thing I knew as I was falling, this wind just swirled around me. Last thing I knew, I landed in this guy’s arms not having a clue as to what he was saying or what was going on.”

“It's kinda like how I get transported here, but instead of wind, I have water.” Yuri mumbled, but it was load enough for them all to hear.

“Your Majesty, why don't we get back to the castle, then you can talk and figure out everything.” Conrad suggested.

Yuri nodded, leading Kagome to the horses. Kagome smiled and petted Ao on the snout, Yuri looked at his cousin, “You can ride with me if you want...”

Kagome looked out of the corner of her eye and could see the Wolfram didn't want that, “How about you ride with Wolfram, it would be more appropriate.”

Kagome smiled when she saw the curious expression on his face. Yuri nodded and went to ride with Wolfram as Kagome got on his horse.

“Yuri, you don't know much about Mazuku customs do you?” She asked, when she noticed that he was confused on why she didn't want to ride with him.

“No I'm not, why do you ask?” Now Yuri was really confused, he didn't understand where she was going with it.

“Because I noticed, even though I couldn’t understand the speech, that you seemed confused when I had bowed my forehead to Wolfram’s sword. You also seemed curious when I suggested you ride with Wolfram instead of me with you.” Seeing that her cousin wanted her to be more specific, Kagome went into explaining, “When two Mazoku are engage, neither partner is to come into familiar contact with any other; even if it’s someone who’s related, like a stepsibling or cousin, not matter how closely or distant they’re related. If either party becomes familiar with someone they know, your partner starts to feel territorial and possessive, just like how Wolfram acted what you were hugging me.”

Yuri soon started to understand what she was saying and now knew why Wolfram acted the way he did when in the presence of anyone and acting familiar with them. “But wait, you bowed your forehead to his blade, so everything is okay, right?”

“Not really, Yuri. I showed Wolfram that I have no intention of getting in the way of your engagement and I’m no threat to him when it concerns you. But it’s still appropriate for all of us that I don’t act too familiar towards you or you toward me because Wolfram doesn’t know me too well. For all he knows, I’m just a girl who could be lying about me being related to you. Wolfram is just being careful while I’m being considerate of the relationship the two of you are building. So, until the two of you are married or until Wolfram truly understands that I have no intention of taking you away from him, we’ll have to keep the family hugs and such to a minimum until then.”

Gunter and Conrad carried impressed expression on Kagome’s knowledge and understand of their customs while helping Yuri understand.

“Ne, Kagome you know a lot about this don't you....” Yuri asked, a little cunfused on why she knew this information.

“Yes I was expected to....” Kagome said, her voice took a sad tone to it, but it didn't show on her face.

“How is it that you were expected to?” Conrad asked. He had heard the sad tone in her voice and was curious as to why this bothered her, despite that she didn’t show it.

Glancing at the brunette, Kagome answered, “since my fifteenth birthday, I’ve become acquainted with those weren’t human, or were just half. As I started to get to know them better, I picked up a few things in their mannerisms and customs. It came in handy after becoming a sort of adviser to a friend of mine when it came to human affairs and whenever I came across demonic couples…”

Kagome then sighed as she spoke as an afterthought, “Although, I don’t really see why they’re usually so worried about me when it comes to their mates… I’m usually clumsy at times and I’m not that much to look at… I’m also so short that it makes me look like a kid…”

Kagome shook her head getting rid of the thoughts, “Its not that important...” She turned her attention to the city that was coming into view, and the castle that was at the very top, 'That must be where they all live...' Kagome thought looking at the castle still.

“Welcome to Shin Makoku, ‘Gome. And up ahead is Blood Pledge Castle.” Yuri said with a smile as Kagome looked to the castle in awe.

“Wow, it almost reminds me of the castles in Europe that’s I’ve seen in my dad’s old photos. A bit similar to the ones in Germany, I think…”

As they rode through the streets on the way to the castle, people start to gather along the streets. Kagome could feel their stairs and it was starting to make her uncomfortable, Kirrara rubbed against her cheek, feeling her nervousness, and meowed softly.

Smiling, Kagome petted Kirara, she better get used to getting stared at, she could tell she stood out, and being with Yuri, well she could tell that it was going to make it worse.

Conrad and Gunter noticed that Yuri’s cousin looked uncomfortable by being the center of attention until her feline companion did what she could to help calm her. As they continued on their way, the four males notice someone walking toward Kagome with a small number of flowers in hand.

They all stopped only to see him give Kagome the flowers with her accepting them, not knowing what to say before he took her hand and laid a kiss on it, making her blush and Kirara’s tails sticking straight up out of surprise.

When the man lifted his lips from Kagome’s hand, he spoke, “Dark haired maiden in boys’ clothing, welcome to our kingdom.”

Kagome forced a smile on her face, knowing what a kiss on the hand meant from a stranger meant, 'kiss on the hand, either entails loyalty of the one they serve, or a jester telling one they wish to get to know the other....' She took her hand back, avoid eye contact and gave a small nod to the head, ' if you avoid eye contact and bow one's head afterwards, it tells them that you are not searching for companionship at the moment.'

Kagome nodded and excepted the flowers as a greeting, “Thank you.”

As they continued their way, Gunter spoke once they were out of the man’s hearing range, “Ah, very well done, Miss Kagome. Turning him down so gracefully…”

The miko just gave a nervous chuckle, “I’m really not looking for any kind of companionship he’s looking for…”

‘At least, not yet… not until I get over him…’

Once they had made it to the castle, they dismounted off their horses. As Kagome handed Ao’s reigns to a stable boy, she heard someone run to her before bringing her into a hug from behind as they welcomed with joy, “Welcome back, Your Majesty! I’ve missed you so much!”