Events in the modern era were uneventful. Every week day morning Akiko would wake up and make her way to the local college with Tobi where she would immerse herself in her studies, attend every class, and then leave in the evening to head home, eat dinner with the family, and start the same process over again. And then on weekends when not finishing up essays and research, Tobi was training her in the back of the compound. Sota and their grandfather would come by on occasion to watch. Kagome was around more often too with school in session, which resulted in Inuyasha coming by on more than one occasion to try dragging her back to the Feudal Era to continue their search for the sacred shared of the jewel. And those encounters were always rather amusing for Akiko to witness hearing, "Sit!" shouted more than once throughout the home or property.

The semester was coming to an end, which meant that Tobi and herself would be returning through the well very soon. "Are you worried?" the half-breed asked one evening. They were lying on the bed in her room trying to sleep, but found the action impossible. There were too many things on her mind.

"Yes."

"You shouldn't be," he muttered lowly. "You've grown since the last time we were present. Any lords or ladies would be foolish to go against you."

"But something doesn't feel right."

"How?"

"It's just... a feeling. As if going back something is wrong." There was a beat of silence. "Sorry, it's probably just me feeling anxious."

"Never doubt yourself. If you think something is wrong than it will most likely come to pass. Aisu was the same way. She was sensitive to those things. Besides the two of you are linked in some ways being reincarnations. You're probably sensing her emotions."

"If something is bothering her or the pack it's most likely Naraku."

"She had other enemies as well, but yes, he is probably the main reason for her worry."

"He doesn't play fair, Tobi. How are we supposed to defeat an enemy that is always one step ahead of you or always has a trick up their sleeve to a point that victory is nearly impossible?"

"You can never assume anything. That is where his opponents fail. Always be on guard, always trust yourself, and by no means give in to him no matter how much he suppresses you. You're a strong individual, Akiko. Never forget that or the fact that you have people to fight for."

In the remaining weeks a final report was given out and instructed by the professor each student would gain a topic of interest in regards to the Feudal Era. The statement made Akiko sit up a little straighter in interest as each of them were handed a piece of paper with a list of questions that needed to be answered or researched, but any additional information was welcomed. "Akiko." Her head turned in the professor's direction as he stood beside her seat. A paper was set on the desk. "Your topic is the lords and ladies in the Western region of Japan." As the man left the young woman cocked a brow before muttering,

"Seriously?" A low rumble came from Tobi's throat in the form of a chuckle.

"Presentations will be in two and a half weeks," the professor announced.

Grandfather was all too enthusiastic to share the tales passed down to him from their ancestors, even having a few artifacts throughout the shine. The most noticeable one was a sword that was locked away in a box covered in old seals. "Can we touch it?" Sota questioned.

"Absolutely not!" the old man exclaimed. "That sword is ancient and if we break the seals they cannot be repaired."

"If something is sealed, Sota, it's for good reason," Akiko added. "What was the name of the sword, Grandfather?"

"So'unga," he answered. Tobi's ears flicked at the name.

They started at the beginning of the Feudal Era visiting the library and gathering information on the Internet, with Tobi or Sota reading articles for Akiko to write down information. In the final week of research the two of them reached the near present time of time period they were occupying at the moment.

"The West was most notably ruled by Lord Inu no Taisho. He ruled a great amount of other land in the South and East after establishing relations with other rulers and demons alike strengthening his rein alongside his father, until his death in battle against the Ice Queen of the North." He paused for a moment. "Should we search the attached link?"

"Later if we have time. The North was not in the questions to complete."

The animal nodded and continued, "He had two sons. One a full-blooded dog demon like himself, and the other a half-demon. His first mate, whose name remains unknown to this day, vanished from records, but was considered a dog demon herself. His second, Izayoi, died of an illness years after giving birth to his second child. Lord Inu no Taisho died in battle; on the day his second son was born. He died protecting his love and child from the humans that tried to kill them for the fact she had laid with a demon and produced an illegitimate child."

"That's probably why Sesshomaru hates Inuyasha," Akiko noted.

"The Lord had three swords: Tenseiga, the sword of heaven that could save a hundred lives in one stroke; Tessaiga, the sword that could kill a hundred demons in one stroke; So'unga, the sword of hell that had the power of the devil. So'unga was passed through the bone eaters well, while Tenseiga was passed to the eldest son, Sesshomaru, and Tessaiga was passed to the youngest, Inuyasha."

"Grandfather has one of the swords..." she whispered.

"I knew the name was familiar, but had no idea it would be in your family's possession." His voice grew serious. "It's not a sword to take lightly, and thankfully it is sealed. If you thought the two swords in existence now were powerful, this one is on another level." The animal then turned back to the article. "Sesshomaru inherited his father's land, and became ruler of the West. Inuyasha protected a human village with a priestess named Kikyo till he was sealed to a tree for fifty years. It was then rumored to believe he was released from the seal by an unknown girl who had priestess like powers."

"Kagome," Akiko concluded. Tobi was silent. "What is it?"

"It talks about you."

The young woman was rather surprised as he continued on. There were tales on the return of the Ice Queen's reincarnation. There was no name, but that she had managed to put aside her ancestor's feud with Sesshomaru and they established a partnership that made them the strongest forces in the West. Lord and ladies respected them and voiced their loyalty. And that was when the battles against Naraku began to surface, though they were not as detailed as the actual events. "This is too weird."

"There's nothing else," Tobi stated. "It's almost as if the article cuts off because history has yet to complete itself."

"Because we haven't gone beyond Naraku trying to consume me." He nodded in agreement against her leg. "So we don't even know what to expect going forward."

"No."

Akiko sighed heavily. "And here I was thinking that we would be able to get a leg up against Naraku."

"Knowing the future is not always for the best," he pointed out. "It's never set and things are bound to change."

The day the reports were due Akiko listed to everything her classmates had to say. From the human lords and ladies to the inhuman ones, the geography of the lands, the dangers during the time period, resources, and battles it was helpful for her to understand just want she could be up against when returning. Since being dragged into their world there had never been time to do her own research to learn more. She understood the basics due to her major, but there were some things that someone would not know unless digging deep into archives. "The North was ruled by many lords and ladies," Daiki spoke up at the front. Tobi shifted at her side as Akiko's sole attention was on him. "Though I feel one ruler stood out from all the rest. She was called the Ice Queen, which was an uncommon title for that time period. It was believed that she was part demon due to her powers to control the element of ice and use her sword as an extension of her abilities, but it was never confirmed what she exactly was. The Ice Queen ruled for many years and had one of the largest and strongest armies in Japan. No mortal general could hope to stand against her, and only the foolish dared. Even those that were demons never succeeded. During her rule she was strict, but very well respected woman among her people and she cared for them unconditionally.

"In the middle of the Feudal Era she went to war with the Lord of the West, Inu no Taisho, said to be a dog demon, alongside the lords of the East. It was a dispute over gaining more land and the Ice Queen did not wish to establish an alliance with the lord, content with her empire. The Ice Queen's forces were overpowered in battle, her powers were stripped from her, and it was rumored that they trapped her soul inside the form of a wolf demon, along with some of her most trusted followers. Their new prolonged life would make them wander the land for centuries without rest and were forced to watch as their lands were divided between lords, ladies, and stewards. The castle in which she resided though disappeared in the mountains and to this day has never been found.

"However, about a hundred years later, records say the Ice Queen had returned. A reincarnation, to be exact, which is pretty incredible for a soul to be found in the same era. Especially since the soul of the previous Queen was still alive and roaming. Reincarnation is only said to happen when the soul has been extinguished and could take a few centuries to rebirth."

The presentation concluded as the lights turned on. "Is there anything else about the reincarnation?" a student questioned. "Did she retake the throne?"

"The articles all stopped there, even those in the archives, as if it was never completed. Maybe even lost. But her description was very clear." There were some rustling pictures before pulling something free.

"She had long black hair, a very elegant body as depicted in paintings that survived, she always carried a sword called the Ice Blade at her side, and wore an untraditional outfit for the time period with armor." Daiki then stopped and looked out over the desks before pausing on Akiko. He then looked back at the picture in hand. "In fact, she looks a lot like you Akiko." Turning the page around the class stared at the contents before looking to the young woman in the back of the classroom and instantly saw the resemblances. It was nearly an identical picture.

"Maybe she's an ancestor," a student wondered.

Akiko's shoulders shrugged. "It wouldn't surprise me," she said. "My family's shine is centuries old and we have family trees going back so many generations some of our records are feared to be so fragile just a simple touch will turn them to dust."

"Akiko, since you're topic was on the West, why don't you go up next," the professor instructed.

"Rulers in the West date back as far as the early 1600s, but there are only a handful that made their mark on Japan throughout the years..."

"Are you ready to go back?" Kagome asked. With classes done until the new term the both of them were packing their bags with necessary items for the journey ahead.

"Yes." There wasn't even any hesitation in the answer.

The teen sighed, sitting on her cousin's bed. "You're lucky that Sesshomaru doesn't come here and try to drag you back every chance he gets."

Akiko laughed. "I don't think he is that fond of me and is too proud to do so."

Kagome grinned. "Rin will be excited to see you. On the rare chance we came across them she was always asking me how you were doing and how much longer you'd be away."

"She's so sweet. I'm looking forward to seeing her again. Along with the rest of the pack." Tobi nodded his head in agreement.

"Will you stay in the village when we return?"

"No, I don't think I will. I need to find Aisu and see what our next course of action is." Because whatever was bothering her weeks ago was still bothering her now.