Back Into The Well

By. Seelin

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and Co.

Inuyasha: How can anyone own me? I'm so unique.

(Silence)

Inuyasha: What?

Well, I guess you're right. I've never met, or even read about, anyone so obnoxious...

Shippo: Mean!

Sango: Rude.

Miroku: Sarcastic...

Inuyasha: What the hell?!

Shippo: He's selfish, too.

Inuyasha: I am not, runt!

Shippo: Are too!

Inuyasha: Come back here!

Shippo: Kagome! Inuyasha's picking on me again!

Kagome: Inuyasha! Sit boy!

Chapter One:

Back into the Well

"Dr. Kamata. Paging Dr. Kamata. Please come to the front desk," buzzed the intercom.

The hallways were full of patients being rushed to emergency rooms followed by worry-sick family members and friends. It was a busy day. An apartment building had caught fire and injured many people, but managed to only take the lives of a few. Burn victims were scattered throughout the large, white corridors. Some with minor burns, others with major third degree burns. One victim made it out of the fire with their life but the fire had scarred their face severely beyond recognition.

Dr. Kamata was currently attending to a three-year old girl who had third degree burns on her arm and legs. She had just finished wrapping the poor girl's wounds when the intercom paged for her.

Dr. Kamata looked at the girl and smiled. "What's your name?"

The young toddler had been crying silent tears and muttered from time to time about finding her mama. Her mother, unfortunately, hadn't made it out of the burning building. She looked up at Dr. Kamata and suddenly sucked in air as more tears flowed down her dirt stained face. "Rika," the girl stammered.

Dr. Kamata felt deep pity for the girl, "Well Rika, I have to leave for a moment. I'll be right back. So I want you to sit here and be a good girl."

Almost before Dr. Kamata finished speaking Rika let out a long, pitiful wail that could have caught the ears of every person in the hospital. Dr. Kamata sighed, not knowing what to do with the girl. Finally she looked back down at Rika, smiling.

"You wanna come with me Rika?"

The girl slowly nodded her head and reached her arms out to Dr. Kamata. She picked Rika up and carried her on her hip to the front desk.

The young nurse, who sat behind the large desk, looked up from a huge pile of paperwork. "Dr. Kamata, there's a phone call for you. It's your daughter."

Dr. Kamata groaned, not happy with the news the nurse had just given her. Still holding Rika with one arm she grabbed up the phone in which the nurse was holding up. She held the phone in the crook of her neck and used her other arm to support Rika. "Amaya, what is it now?! I'm really busy."

The voice on the other line was that of a young girl in her teenage years, "Mom, it's my birthday. You said you'd be here."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry but I'm really busy with quite a few burn victims right now. An apartment complex just burned down an hour ago. I have no idea when I'll get home. Where's your father?"

"He's in the living room with the guests. I'll go get him," Amaya said with a sigh.

Dr. Kamata looked at the girl she was holding on her hip. She had fallen asleep, her arms wrapped tightly around the Dr. Kamata's waist.

Another voice, this time a deep, masculine voice answered, "Hey honey, what's keeping you?"

"I'm sorry Hojo. We're really packed here. I think I'll be pulling an all-nighter."

Hojo sighed, "I figured you'd be. Well, at least wish your daughter a happy birthday. I love you. See you tomorrow Kagome."

Amaya answered the phone again, "Mom, this is the third time you've missed my birthday. You miss all of my track meets and me and dad hardly ever see you."

Kagome hosted the young girl up onto her hip better, slightly waking her. "I know Amaya. But you know how things here are. There's nothing I can do."

Amaya sighed again, "Yeah. Ok, I have to get back to my party. I guess I'll see you when you get here, huh?"

"Yes. And I'll have your gift."

"Ok. Love you, bye."

The line was dead before Kagome could wish her a happy birthday. She understood that her daughter was upset with her not being there but it angered her that Amaya couldn't respect her work as a doctor.

Rika remained asleep as Kagome headed back to the room and laid the sleeping girl on the bed. She spoke to one of the nurses to keep an eye on her as she made her way to help with more burn victims.

Kagome ended up working until the wee hours of the morning. She had overseen almost a dozen patients and sent most of them home to get some rest. Overall, she was exhausted. She rounded up her things and headed out of the building. Kagome decided to catch the train home since it would get her there the fastest.

When she arrived at her house it was five o'clock in the morning. Luckily for her, it was a Sunday morning so she would be able to get some well-deserved sleep. She crept up the stairs and peeped into Amaya's room. She had the sheets strewn around her and twisted around her limbs. Kagome silently walked into the room and untangled the sheets, tucking her sleeping daughter in. She stared at her for a moment longer before moving noiselessly to her own bedroom in which she shared with Hojo.

The door was closed so she tried to open it without waking her husband. It creaked but Hojo was a very sound sleeper. She removed her clothing and slipped into a pair of sleeping shorts and a tank top. She climbed into bed slowly, turned her back to Hojo, and fell into a deep slumber.

Amaya awoke the next morning and found her covers up to her chin. She knew her mom must have tucked her in when she got home last night because whenever she woke up her covers had made it to the floor. She sat up groggily trying to put a recap on what had happened the day before. 'Oh yea, birthday. Maybe Mom got me a car or something big,' she thought to herself. Then she chuckled, 'Yeah, right.' Either way her mom owed her a birthday present, big or not. She lumbered over to her mirror and gazed at her reflection. Her hair was everywhere. She shrugged, figuring a nice shower would calm it down a bit. Her violet eyes flashed a deeper hue as light from her window hit the mirror reflecting into them. She winced at the sudden flash of light and rubbed her eyes. She trudged slowly into the bathroom to take her morning shower.

She walked out of the bathroom, drying her long raven locks with a towel, as the smell of breakfast cooking hit her senses. She inhaled the delicious sent and rushed to her room to throw on a decent pair of clothes. The only thing she had clean was a pink tank top and a light blue skirt. She shrugged, knowing that a shirt wasn't her usual garb but it was all that was there. She set upon the task of brushing her wild hair down so that it was as soft as silk. It was a strenuous task considering the fact that her hair went below her waist. She wanted to get it cut shorter but just didn't have the guts to go through with it. Although she did really consider it when it came time to put it up for track. Satisfied with her appearance she made her way downstairs, following the beautiful smell of breakfast.

Amaya wasn't surprised when she found her dad cooking. Her mom wasn't the best cook in the world, although she could whip up a pretty good cup of ramen.

Hojo looked up from the stove he was attending to, "Hey, hungry?"

She nodded and pulled out a chair and sat at the table. She stretched her neck out to see what he was cooking. Hojo caught the glimpse to see the food. He smiled, "I figured I'd try something new. If you were wondering what it is, it's an American dish including: eggs, waffles, bacon, and buttered toast. I found the recipe in this American cookbook. Hope you like it. Enjoy."

He placed plates on the table with all of the American food assorted on different dishes. There were already plates and silverware on the table so Amaya helped herself. She hadn't had any of it in a long while and was ready for a transition from rice and miso soup that her dad usually prepared for breakfast. Her mom walked down the stairs, clad in a bathrobe. She sniffed the air, "Bacon and eggs huh?"

Kagome sat down and put the different breakfast foods on her plate. Hojo turned of the stove and sat down at the table with the girls and served himself as well. They all ate in silence until Hojo started up a polite conversation with Kagome.

"So, you say an apartment building burned down last night?" he asked simply.

Kagome, not wanting to be reminded of the gruesome experience, nodded.

"Did everyone make it out ok?" he continued.

"There were a few unfortunates. But for the most part, they made it out ok."

"To bad you had to miss out on Amaya's sweet sixteen."

Kagome grimaced at her realization. She had told Amaya that she had a present for her, when in all actuality, she forgot. She mentally slapped herself for forgetting something so important. Amaya looked at her mom hopefully, also remembering what her mom had promised her. 'She probably expects something big too," she thought. 'I know! I'll take her on a shopping spree. But first I'll spring my good news on her.' Kagome was happy with herself for thinking of something at the spur of a moment. She was getting ready to tell Amaya her news before Hojo interrupted her.

"I have to leave to America for business tomorrow. I tried to get out of it but there's no one else to represent the company," he said sadly.

Kagome frowned at Hojo's unexpected news. "Oh," she said, glancing down at her plate.

"I was just getting ready to tell you guys that I took leave from the office for a week to go on vacation. I thought that maybe we could go to the beach or something."

Hojo sighed at the statement. Amaya had her jaw dropped open. She was used to her dad being away on business and her mom always busy with needy patients but...the beach! She groaned as her hopes were quickly raised and dropped at the same time.

Kagome was used to Hojo being away as well, not being as attached to him as she thought she should be. She rested her head on her hand as she processed all of the information. She looked back up at her family.

"Well, I guess that I could just take Amaya to the beach and have some quality mother daughter time. We can always do our family thing some other time, right?" Kagome suggested.

Hojo looked up, a little disappointed with not being able to spend time with his wife. He looked at Amaya then back at Kagome. "Ok, it is a good idea for you two to get in some bonding time. We'll just have to schedule a family vacation some other time. I'll be sure to pick up some gifts for you two."

Kagome and Amaya both smiled. They all finished their breakfasts and headed to finish their morning routines. Hojo had a meeting to attend that would last the rest of the day so he left soon after lunch was over. Kagome showered and got dressed. She figured that this was as good a time as any to tell her daughter about her birthday present.

Kagome found Amaya in her room, reading about Japan's history. She tapped on the door, attracting Amaya's attention.

"What're you reading?" Kagome asked, feigning ignorance.

Amaya looked up from her book, "A history book from school."

Kagome arched and eyebrow, "Why history? You're out of school for the summer."

"I don't know. It just intrigues me I guess," Amaya answered.

Amaya turned the page in the book. Kagome walked up and took the book from her hands, slamming it shut in the process.

"How bout today, while your dad's away, we go on a shopping spree?" Kagome asked excitedly.

Amaya, first shocked from her book being snatched away from her, gave a huge smile. "Sure."

Kagome set the book down on the bed and grabbed her daughter's hand, dragging her out of the room. "Don't worry about money, I'll take care of it. I just want you to have this day with me."

The two rushed down the stairs, grabbing purses and other such things on their way to the door. They had made it out of the door when Kagome's beeper began to vibrate at her hip where it was strapped onto her belt. Kagome stopped and pulled it off her belt and looked at the number. She sighed a deep and heavy sigh.

Amaya knew this sigh all to well and slumped back up the walkway and into the house. Kagome followed her disappointed daughter. She picked up the phone and dialed in the number that was displayed on her beeper.

The nurse answered the phone, "Community Hospital, this is Mai speaking, how may I help you?"

"It's Dr. Kamata, Mai. Why am I being called when I'm on vacation?" Kagome asked angrily.

"Two of the doctors have taken ill with the stomach flu and we have no one else to fill in for them. I'm sorry about your vacation Dr. Kamata," The nurse replied.

"Fine, I'll be in soon then." Kagome hung up the phone and looked for her daughter. She must have taken off up the stairs to her room. Kagome had not time to console her so she grabbed her jacket. She walked up to the stairway, "I'll be home tonight. I'm sorry about this. I'll make it up to you, I promise." She was answered by silence. Kagome left the house, leaving her distraught daughter to herself.

Amaya waited until her mom had disappeared around a corner before making her way to the family shrine. Her grandmother had died a couple of years back due to some type of cancer and her grandfather had passed a while before that, leaving the shrine in the care of her mom. The shrine had always been Amaya's world away from the world. It was there she could find peace and solitude when she was upset or just needed time to think.

She walked past the big tree, gliding her hand along the bark as she passed by. She went into the shrine and sat down on the well's edge. Her mother lectured her about going into the shrine and forbade her from ever removing the seals that were arranged all over the well's covered surface.

Amaya was annoyed with all of her mom's broken promises and finally decided to go against her. Besides, no harm could come from taking off a few sheets of old paper. She took the seals off of the well one by one, finding it quite enjoyable to do something out of the ordinary. Finally when she took the last seal off, she crumbled it up and tossed it away. When she tried to move the well's covering away she was disappointed to find that it had been boarded shut. She sighed and scooted into the middle of the covered well, lying face up to think about how everything in her life was so dull and plain.

She didn't expect the old wood to suddenly give way under her weight and fall into the newly opened well. She didn't expect to fall into a world that was not her own. She didn't expect to find someone at the other side, waiting for her.

---Oh yay! Well, let me know what you think of my new story! Puh puh puh please!

Inuyasha: Why the hell would anybody reply to this piece of shit?

Well at least I thought it was good...

Inuyasha: And what the hell's up with Kagome staying in the future?!

Why do you all of a sudden care?

Inuyasha: I don't I just don't appreciate you taking my shard detector away from me.

I wouldn't say...

Kagome: Inuyasha! Is that all I am? Sit! Sit! Sit!

He just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut does he?

Kagome: (Staring in Inuyasha size hole) Obviously not.

Next Chapter: Amaya finds herself in another world. Maybe not another world, but another time. Aiko, a miko, finds her and takes her to a nearby village. How will Amaya react to her new surroundings full of demons and other monstrous things waiting to jump out at her?

Kagome comes home to find her daughter missing and the well reopened. What will she do when she finds that her past has finally come back to haunt her?