As Kari slept the night of her return to Tokyo she began to have a strange dream. This same dream continued for weeks. Eventually she went to talk with Kagome about it. There was something about Kagome that made Kari happy. Even though they barely knew each other Kari seemed to trust the older girl, despite what she has been through.

"I put her address here some--- Ah-ha, found it." Kari said with a triumphant giggle. She began to head to Higurashi shrine, but along the way she began to feel like this was a bad idea. Kari stopped her skateboard once she was at the entrance and gulped.

"I can't do this... I... Okay, calm down. Just say that you wanted to say "Hi" to Kagome and don't mention your dream. You're just here to say "hi"... Just say "hi"... AAAHHH WHAT AM I DOING?!!!" Kari began to internally panic while a woman approached her.

"Hello." She greeted, a little confused. Kari jolted, tugging onto her hoodie to keep her face hidden.

"Uh, H-hi. I-I came to v-visit K-kag-gome Higurashi... I-is this the right p-place?" Kari stammered out of nervousness. The woman smiled happily.

"Oh, you must be one of her friends. Come on in, she's inside. Oh, I'm her mother by the way, nice to meet you." She said then began to walk off, leading the way.

"O-okay. I-I'm K-Kari H-Himura" Kari replied with a bow, quickly following. Kari was soon shown into a two story house and greeted by a boy, about thirteen, and an old man then finally Kagome.

"Kari, how are you." Kagome smiled and trotted up to the younger girl. Kari sighed in relief.

"She's here. Now I don't look like a total dofus..." She thought.

"Did you need something?" Kagome asked happily. Kari nodded.

"Uh, y-yeah... I-I've... Uh... D-do they... Er...." Kari began fumbling over her words then looked down with a blush, shuffling her feet. Kagome understood and nodded.

"Yes, my family knows about the well." The teen reassured.

"Everyone, lunch is ready. If that's alright I think our guest should join." Kagome's mom called from the kitchen. Kagome looked at Kari and her smile grew.

"You should join us. Come on Kari." She said and then dragged Kari inside the dining room. Kari yelped in shock then quickly found herself sitting next to Kagome eating with her family. "So, what'd you wanna talk about?" Kagome asked after swallowing a bite of food.

"Uh... S-so before I arrived in the feudal era a voice told me to go there. It directed me to the circle. When I arrived back I heard it that night... It's weird and it keeps bugging me." Kari hummed.

"You went to the feudal era too?!!" Kagome's little brother, Sota, asked in shock. Kari just nodded with a shy hum. Sota gasped in awe.

"Er, Sota, calm down. Anyway, continue Kari." Kagome sighed. Kari nodded then replied after a quick sip of soup.

"Er, uh... The voice kept telling me to "Go back" and "It is to be." Or something along those lines." The girl sighed. Kagome and the rest present stared in shock and deep thought. Kari gulped and began to shiver because of the constant staring. "P-please stop staring... I really HATE being stared at..." Kari thought and began to sink lower and lower to try and hide from the four pairs of eyes.

"... Maybe you should head back." Kagome said, finally breaking the awkward silence. Kari sat up then looked at the teen. "I mean, obviously something's up and you have to be there. So, go back. I'll meet you there." Kagome said with a reassuring smile.

"But sis you just got back." Sota whined.

"I've been back for a few days, Sota. It's time I head back anyway. Don't wanna upset mister grumpy pants on the other side."

"Who?" Kari asked.

"Oh, nothing. Trust me you'll learn along the way." The older girl said, waving her hand with a chuckle. Kari nodded in reply.

Eventually Kagome packed up and the two began to head towards the door when---

"Hold it right there!!" Kagome's mom called out.

"Uh, M-"

"Where are your shoes young lady?!" She asked, pointing to Kari's bandaged, shoeless feet. Kari gulped.

"Uh.... Er..." Kari stammered. "Th-they... They..." Kari began to shuffle her feet shyly. Kagome blinked a few times and Mrs. Higurashi sighed.

"I have some spares if you'd like."

"N-no, no I'm fine. Honest. Th-thank you though!" Kari said quickly, a bit panicked. Mrs. Higurashi sighed then saw the two girls walk off. Kagome told Kari to go home and pack up and that they would meet back in the village in the feudal era. Kari nodded and rushed home.

Once home Kari packed up some food, her pajamas, first aid supplies, a strap that attached to her skateboard, books, pencils, and more things that could be useful then went out. She stopped by the supermarket to get some more supplies just to be safe. Kari stuffed the supplies in her silver knapsack then rushed towards the Circle of mystery. Once she arrived she got off of her skateboard and put the strap on it and attached it to her back then stepped on the Circle of mystery.

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After a moment Kari looked around and then looked at the sign. It was like it was brand new. The girl smiled and walked towards the village where she was supposed to meet Kagome. She kept looking at her feet.

"... No one's ever asked about shoes... No one's ever cared..." Kari put her hand on her scarf. "... Why does it hurt... My heart... It feels weird... It hurts... But at the same time it feels... Nice..?" Kari froze for a moment and looked down. "... No one's ever cared..." She thought and sniffled.

"Huh... " A voice called. It sounded a little rough, like gravel or sand paper or a growl of some kind. A sniffing sound soon echoed followed by rustling. Kari began to shiver. "I smell... Food..." Soon a dark blue one eyed Oni jumped in front of Kari. He had on blood red fur for pants and a single dirty yellow horn in the center of his head. Kari yelped in shock. The Oni licked his lips and began to drool. "Mmmm... Food..." He laughed devilishly and began to approach Kari.

"S-Stop it..." Kari said in a shaky voice, backing away. "Stop it... Go away..." Kari gulped, fear taking over. The girl turned to run but she tripped and fell. The Oni took this moment to jump onto her, pinning her down. Kari trembled and the Oni raised his hand, which had three fingers each with sharp claws, then went to claw the girl to death. "I SAID STOP IT!!" Kari screamed and a strange power enveloped her. The Oni grew confused and just froze for a moment. Kari took this chance and tried to push the Oni off of her. The strange power then sent him flying off of the girl and into a boulder. Kari staggered to her feet and began to run to the village, not stopping or slowing down. The Oni had given up on his meal and fled back to his home.

Eventually Kari arrived in the village and stopped to catch her breath. Soon the girl heard a familiar voice.

"Kari?! Is that you? What's wrong?" It was Sango. Kari straightened herself and look at Sango.

"I was being chased by a demon." Kari explained. "I tried to run away but I tripped and it pinned me to the ground. It was about to kill me when... Uh... I don't remember after that. I don't know how I got away but I did." Kari said with a low hum. Sango blinked in shock a few times then sighed.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay. Come on, Kagome said you'd be coming, but she got busy so she sent me to meet with you." She smiled happily then walked towards Kaede's house with Kari. "Uh, Kari. What is that weird thing on your back? You had it the first time you came here as well."

"This? It's a Skateboard." The girl replied and Sango stared. Kari shrank down.

"Stop staring... Please..." Kari thought with a gulp. The two soon arrived at the hut to see Shippo playing with some of the kids happily. Eventually he saw Kari and smiled, wagging his tail.

"Kari!!" He giggled and raced towards her. "I thought I'd never see you again!!" The kitsune sounded happy. Kari just chuckled nervously.

"H-hi Sh-shippo." She said. The three then entered the hut to see Miroku and Kaede talking with each other.

"Huh? Oh, Kari." Miroku called upon seeing the girl. He rushed up to her and grabbed both of her hands. "I do hope you had a safe journey here." He said seductively. Kari gulped. Sango grumbled and hit the lecherous monk on the head with her hiraikotsu. Kari shivered and backed away while Kirara rubbed against Kari to sooth her.

"Kari, how are you?" Kaede asked kindly.

Kari smiled shyly and replied. "I'm okay."

"That's good." Kaede smiled kindly. "Kagome is out shopping for some supplies right now. Inuyasha is looking around for demons." The old priestess informed. Kari nodded and sat down, petting Kirara. The demon cat's soft fur soother her.

"Ugh... Stupid Oni... Can't believe this... It wasn't even strong." Inuyasha groaned from outside. Kari looked at the door as the half demon walked in. "Huh, oh hey Kari." He said bluntly. Kari just nodded her greeting with a shy hum.

Eventually Kagome arrived and looked at Kari with a smile. With everyone present the group left with their newest member, Kari.

"So, you can do tricks on that thing?" Shippo asked Kari, looking at her skateboard. Kari nodded.

"It doesn't look like you can do much with it if you ask me." Inuyasha huffed, crossing his arms in disbelief. Kari shrugged.

"W-want me to show you guys some?" Kari asked. Shippo nodded quickly. Everyone else watched as Kari got ready. She looked at her surroundings while putting her skateboard on the ground. Kari then took off and jumped up and landed on a rock, balancing on it. She looked around then jumped up and did a 360 onto a branch. Everyone was now hooked. Kari began to grind down the bending branch and jumped and performed a kickflip before landing. Everyone clapped, except for Inuyasha, who just looked at Kari with a neutral expression.

"That was amazing!" Shippo called.

"Well done." Miroku smiled. Kirara mewed.

"That looked like fun." Sango chuckled. Kari blushed and put her skateboard back on her back. The group eventually stopped and set up camp for the night, Kagome telling Kari about what was going on while the others searched the area to make sure it was okay.

"So, there is this guy that wants to kill you all and take the jewel for himself?" Kari asked, looking at the few jewel shards Kagome had in a small glass bottle. Kagome nodded. "And this Kikyo person was once dead but is now alive, this same person who you're reincarnated from." Kagome nodded again. "That's... Something...." Kari said with a sigh.

"Yeah, it's tough here with that and all the demons and such." Kagome sighed. "But I'm sure you'll be fine and I hope you figure out why you're here." The teen smiled. Kari nodded. Soon everyone came back and the group had dinner then the girls took a bath in the nearby hot spring.

"Mmmm... Nothing like a bath in a hot spring." Sango hummed. "Kari, why not come and join us?"

"Yeah Kari, come on." Kagome smiled. Kari gulped and shivered, gripping the hood of her hoodie. " Still wanna keep your face hidden, huh?" Kagome sighed while Kari nodded. "Alright, how about you take a bath when everyone else is done?" Kari nodded in agreement.

After Kagome and Sango bathed, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippo took a bath then finally Kari took a bath on her own. Sango told Kirara to stay nearby to watch over the child in case anything happened to her. Kari sighed and took off her clothes, keeping on her scarf and bandages around her arms and feet. Kirara mewed.

"Huh?" Kari asked while taking down her hair. It was about shoulder length and kind of messy. Kirara looked at Kari's hair and swayed her tails. "My hair?" She asked. The cat nodded. "You like it?" Kirara nodded again. The girl blushed lightly and entered the hot spring. "Uh, th-thanks I guess." Kari replied. Kirara mewed. Soon there was a rustling in the bushes near by. Kirara growled, her fur standing on end. Kari swam to the opposite side of the hot spring to avoid the noise.

Moments later a small, midnight black, lizard-like creature approached them. The two relaxed since there was no threat. Soon Kari and Kirara headed back to came after Kari put on her pajamas and hoodie. Kari then curled up in her sleeping bag, which she set up in a tree not too high up, and fell asleep.

Kari tossed and turned in her sleep, groaning a little bit as she slept.

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Kari looked around in her dream. There was black fog all around her. The fog was so thick that Kari could not see her own hand in front of her face. Soon a golden light caught Kari's eye. The girl gulped then hesitantly took a step forward then another and another. Kari soon saw a door that was so tall she could not see the top. The door was dark blue with silver and gold stars. It had a golden knob and bright blue lining along with sly blue detail. Kari reached for the knob and tried to open the door. It was locked. The girl grumbled.

Kari..?

"Huh? Kagome?"

Kari, wake up.

"... But... Err... Okay..." Kari sighed and walked away from the door, looking back at it before waking up.

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When Kari woke up she sat up and stretched, keeping her hoodie on to keep her face hidden. She looked down to see Kagome calling up to her happily.

"Come on, time to eat." Kari nodded and went to eat then pack up and change into her clothes and finally went with everyone to wherever they were going.

"... What is up with that dream..?" Kari thought with a soft sigh. Inuyasha glanced down at the girl for a moment as well as everyone else. They could tell something was wrong.

"Uh, Kari." Miroku finally broke the silence. "Is something the matter?" He asked.

"I'm... I'm fine." Kari replied, not looking up. Eventually the group came across a clearing and had lunch there. A rustling nearby caught everyone off guard. It was the lizard-like creature that spooked Kari and Kirara the night before. Kari sighed and smiled. The creature approached Kari and made a cooing sound.

"Looks like someone likes you Kari." Sango chuckled as the creature rubbed up against her like a cat, then sat next to her. Kari shrugged.

"Guess so." She said with a sigh. After lunch the group walked off, the lizard-like creature now on Kari's right shoulder. Kari let it be since it was not hurting anyone.

"Maybe you should name him." Sango suggested, pointing at the creature. Kari shrugged.

"I don't wanna get my hopes up. If he really wants to stay then I'll give him a proper name." Kari replied. She did not know if the creature would stay or not. Kari was too used to people leaving her or hurting her or something along those lines. so she thought it was best to stay distant to an extent.