Saying goodbye to their family the cousins and Tobi left through the well allowing the swirl of colors to consumed them before landing on the other side. Akiko blinked, feeling something shift and rubbed at her eyes. Light was streaming in from the opening above, looking up and seeing the blue sky. "Can you see it?" Kagome wondered. She was worried that by returning to the Feudal Era the gift of sight wouldn't come back to Akiko and that was just cruel, giving her a taste of something she hadn't had in years only to take it away.

"It's a pretty sight," was her answer. The two smiled at each other. Tobi leapt out of the well with both reincarnations on his back pausing at the top and allowing Kagome to slide off.

"I feel like I won't see you for a while."

Akiko smiled, hugging her cousin tightly to her. "I feel the same. But knowing the brothers they are bound to run into each other and cause a fuss."

The teen laughed, "How right you are." They then stared at the other for a moment and the young woman wondered,

"What is it?"

"Nothing, just... I never thought I'd see you willingly return to the Western Lands. We're not on the best terms with him."

"I know, but I trust Aisu and her reasoning for forming an alliance between the North and West, even if we were at war once... besides, the both of them have been training me. Though I probably won't stay at the estate long."

Bidding each other farewell, Kagome watched the two leave till they were out of sight before turning to head towards the village.

Tobi transformed once concealed by the forest quickening their pace as Akiko's grip tightened on the fur and felt the sword materialize at her side. "We will keep a low profile," the animal stated. And she couldn't agree more performing a half shift to conceal her scent as bits of ice began to collect along the skin. If they could travel to Sesshomaru's land without incident, with their past luck in mind, that would be a miracle and the two were on edge the whole time. When they came to the edge of the open grassy field that surrounded the estate the two paused. Eyes scanning the area none of them sensed any demons waiting for them to emerge in order to attack. There were guards stationed around the grounds along with the pack and Rin, who was playing with the wolves and laughing with glee. It made Akiko smile at the sight before stroking Tobi's fur in encouragement and reassurance.

"I know we never started on great terms with him and we are supposed to be enemies, not allies... but I must admit I do enjoy returning here."

The animal huffed in mild annoyance under her. "That makes one of us," he muttered.

Akiko laughed lightly. "You honestly can't tell me don't miss being around Rin." She had seen the way her entire pack had come to adore the girl and when Tobi was not in her presence he was most certainly around Rin instead, who was more than happy about the company. "Come on. The sooner we return the sooner we'll understand what it is Aisu wants to do."

They began to move outside the forest at a normal pace towards the entrance. Their movements instantly caught the attention of the pack, whose heads snapped in their direction completely on guard only to relax and realize who it was. Their pause in activities did not escape Rin's notice, following their eyes before grinning widely. "Akiko!" she exclaimed and began running across the grass. How could the young woman not smile at the sight sliding off Tobi when close enough as the child launched herself through the air. Caught, Akiko stumbled slightly from the force and wrapped the little girl up in a tight hug. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Rin." Tobi even nuzzled the child's leg, earning a pat on the head from her. Walking towards the estate once more they were surrounded by the pack welcoming the reincarnation home. Aisu moved towards the front as Akiko bent down and hugged her with one free arm.

"I knew you would be returning soon," the former Queen stated.

"We would have come yesterday, but didn't want to travel at night."

"It is a good thing you didn't. It had grown more dangerous." And that did not sit well with the young woman. Letting down Rin she coaxed the child to continue playing with the pack, given giving her a ball as a gift. Her eyes brightened thanking the young woman repeatedly. They didn't stray far, but at least the three could speak in private without worrying her. "Things have not been going well in your absence."

There were wars breaking out in the countryside between humans and demons. Warlords were making their presence known thriving off the bloodshed, along with mercenaries. Naraku had also come into possession of more jewel shards in Kagome's absence and his own reincarnations were making their presence known.

"So what do we do?" Akiko wondered. They were sitting on the grass as the pack continued to distract the child with various activities with the new ball.

"It is imperative we head north," Aisu answered. "It is time we set out in search of the castle that has long ago been hidden away."

"Do you know where it is?" She only knew that it resided in the mountain range, but it was vast from her research in her era and there were no definite locations specified in old text and stories. Everything was rumored.

The wolf's head shook. "It has long since been hidden from our thoughts. To be sure my rule never came into being again that part of our memory was locked away by a priestess after our transformation. Even now we have been unable to access it in full detail, but the seal has managed to slip due to age. It's blurry, but there are some landmarks in those recovered memories that if we find them we can start hunting for the castle and get on track. Once you have officially regained the throne those that will swear allegiance to you will help your empire grow and you will reclaim it." She then paused for a moment. "Akiko, I need you to think long and hard about this. If you decide to go through with recovering the Northern Land it will fall under your rule, not mine."

"And I won't be able to return to my time when that happens." The wolf's head nodded. "Tobi has already made me aware, but even if he didn't... I figured that would be the case."

"You would need to leave your old life behind you. You family, friends, and your degree. Is this something you want? This is your last chance to reject it all, to return to a normal life."

Akiko laughed lightly. "It was never normal," she answered. "But if I refuse now there's a large chance that the Feudal Era will fall into darkness and chaos."

"This is not your world," the former Queen stated.

"No..." Her eyes drifted towards a laughing Rin as Jaken had managed to get roped into her antics when attempting to call her inside for lunch. "But I've made friends and allies since I arrived. It would be cruel of me to leave now after being here so long already and declaring my title to the Lords and Ladies of Japan. They would see me as a coward for running away." And with a determined look in her expression she locked eyes with Aisu once more. "This has become my world as much as it is yours."

She nodded, pleased with the response. "We leave at daybreak."

"How does Sesshomaru feel about all of this?"

"He will not be joining us. The lord will be traveling on his own path in search of Naraku, hoping to slow his movements and plans."