Author's note: I don't own Inuyasha, just extra characters I made up. You'll know who they are. Mild cursing by Inuyasha.
* * *
It was a pleasant night. The crickets sang in the bushes, a gentle breeze passed through comfortably warm air, a hazy moon peered sleepily down at a quiet village, and the trees bounced gently, slick with a refreshing evening shower.
...MAN he was bored.
Inuyasha shifted grumpily on his tree branch, ignoring the feel of rough bark catching the folds of his now-wet clothes, and gazed moodily at the Bone-Eater's well. That blasted thing. He was beginning to think it caused more trouble than it was worth, even if it did bring—
"Inuyasha? You up there?"
Entirely by coincidence, of course, at the sound of Kagome's voice his hand lost its hold on the slippery branch. Inuyasha watched the world rush up to greet him—
"OOMPH!"
Kagome spun around to see Inuyasha lying spread-eagle with his face planted in the ground. That position was waaaay too familiar.
"But..." she started, "I didn't even say the 's' word..."
Inuyasha picked his head up and snarled, face red. "What are YOU doing here, wench??" Grumpily he sat up, picking leaves out of his hair.
Kagome sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "I just wanted to remind you that I have to go home tomorrow. There's a review course for exams coming up, and I just can't miss it."
Inuyasha stilled on the ground, one arm over his head to get a frustratingly hard-to-remove twig out of his hair. His expression darkened.
"Whaddaya mean, you're going home tomorrow?! You didn't tell me any of this!" He stood up decisively. "No way. You're not going anywhere."
She sighed. "Inuyasha, I didn't tell you because we always fight about it. If I don't make it to the review, I won't understand a thing on the test! I could fail a grade!" She frowned when he snorted.
"So what? It's not as if your 'school' won't be there when the jewel is finished. Beating Naraku to the last few shards is way more important!"
"Oh, come on! I can't just postpone school indefinitely!" She scowled as he rolled his eyes. "And besides, I haven't seen my friends in weeks! I need a break, for crying out loud!"
Inuyasha scowled and grabbed her arm. "A break?? You make it sound like I'm the root of all your problems!" His expression blackened as she raised an eyebrow at him. "So that's how it is, huh? I'm your problem now?"
"I didn't say that!" Why does he always overreact?
"Well, you're no ray of sunshine for me either, but at least I have my priorities straight. You can't just take off whenever you feel like it, Kagome! You have responsibilities here!"
She ground her teeth together, yanking her arm away. "So just because I have responsibilities over here, that means I can't take care of responsibilities elsewhere? In case you haven't noticed, Inuyasha," she grabbed one of his forelocks and dragged his face down to hers, "I have another life! I have a family and friends over there who need me, and I've been completely neglecting them, thanks to you! How would you feel if someone over THERE was forcing me to stay away from you? Huh? How would you feel??"
Momentarily taken aback, Inuyasha sputtered and pulled his hair out of her grasp. Shoving his hands in his sleeves, he started mumbling.
"What was that?" Kagome questioned angrily. He looked up at her and snarled.
"I said I wouldn't like it much, ok?!? Jeez, get off my back, woman!"
"Hmph." Kagome, slightly mollified, crossed her arms over her chest. Why does he always have to fight with me over this? Does he really think I enjoy schoolwork?
After a moment of staring each other down, she sighed. "Look, Inuyasha, I don't like leaving for exams any more than you like letting me, but for once, can we not argue about this? I'll only be gone for that one day, since the review is only a couple classes long. I'll be back tomorrow night, I promise."
Inuyasha grumbled, but he had to admit that she'd made some good points...and what was one day? A freaking eternity, he thought.
Grudgingly, he admitted defeat. "Oh all RIGHT, Kagome, you can go back. But just for one day! If you're late, I'm dragging you back here by force, you got me??"
A smile spread across her face like wildfire. Inuyasha was momentarily taken aback by the dazzle, especially in the wake of a fight. He was so distracted that he didn't realize at first that she'd moved closer to him and was reaching for the back of his head.
Is she going to...? His heart started pounding in his chest as she leaned forward, gently touched the back of his head...
And yanked. HARD.
"Ow!!" He yelped, clutching the back of his head in pain. "What the hell was that for??"
She laughed and held up a twig the size of Miroku's staff. "I thought you might be a little more comfortable without this sticking out the back of your head." She turned and started walking away, then shouted over her shoulder, "By the way, thanks for being understanding, Inuyasha...for once."
Angry and embarrassed, Inuyasha stomped over to the base of the tree and gave it a solid punch.
CRRRRRRRACK!
Looking up, Inuyasha saw something fall...
And was slammed in the face with a broken branch.
Grabbing his nose, Inuyasha let out a muffled roar of frustration.
"Gweat! Dow eben duh TWEE has id oud for me!" Disgruntled, he stormed into Kaede's hut with the others and flopped on the floor. Maybe in here he could finally get some shut-eye.
* * *
Kagome was surrounded by black fog. It licked and lapped hungrily at her from all sides, chilling her to the bone. Rubbing her arms furiously, she stumbled through the mist. A strange howl sounded behind her, followed by snaps and snarls. Terrified, Kagome ran forward, towards a shape that seemed so familiar. Was it Inuyasha? As she got closer, something told her that it wasn't him. But who then? Beyond the form, she could see the real Inuyasha walking slowly away, his arm around someone. Who was it? Who was he holding? A sense of his danger came to her, and she cried out. She tried to call out to him, tears streaming down her face, but the form in front of her grabbed her and started shaking her, while Inuyasha went further and further away...
"Kagome, wake up!"
Her eyes snapped open and she sat up sharply, rapping heads with someone. Disoriented, she swiped at her wet eyes and peered around in the darkness...
And spotted Inuyasha, who was rubbing his head.
With a smothered cry, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms tight about his waist and burying her face in his chest. Startled, he froze for a moment before gently wrapping his arms around her. Her scent wafted up to him, slightly befuddling him.
"Uh...Kagome, are you...all right?"
She didn't reply, only hugged him tighter. He patted her back awkwardly.
"I just had...a horrible dream," she finally stated, sniffling. She sat back to look at him. "It felt kind of like...a warning."
He frowned. "A warning? Of what?"
"I...I don't know."
"Feh. Typical." A blush still on his cheeks, he pushed her away. "Just go back to sleep." He turned away and proceeded to fall asleep...or to at least pretend.
Frowning, Kagome lay back down on the futon and stared into the darkness. Despite Inuyasha's reaction, the dream HAD felt like a warning of sorts, but what was it? Who was the stranger?
Unable to sort it out, Kagome fell asleep as the first tendrils of light slipped into the hut.
* * *
The next morning, Kagome said her goodbyes to Sango, Miroku, and Kaede, peeled Shippo off her shirt, and prepared to jump into the well. She took a final look at Inuyasha, who stood moodily behind her, hands buried in his sleeves and teeth gnashing. Kagome couldn't quite shake the ominous feeling that the dream had given her, but she forced a smile onto her face.
"I'll see you tonight, Inuyasha." He simply feh'd and looked away. Sighing, she gripped her bag and jumped into the well.
Later, she jogged up the steps to the school, for once certain that she had the right pen (the ballpoint, not the quill) and her books. She was still trying to fight off the remnants of her dream, but she was determined to have a good day today.
"Um, excuse me, Miss? I was wondering if you could help me. I'm a bit lost."
Smiling, Kagome turned around--
And dropped all her books.
"I-Inuyasha??"
The boy stared back at her with a bemused expression. No, it wasn't Inuyasha. This boy's hair was black, and it was daylight. But the voice and everything else...was exactly the same.
He smiled. "You must have me confused with someone else. My name is Ishiyana."
Dear gods, even the SMILE was the same. How could this be?? How could someone look just like Inuyasha...unless...Ishiyana was...
His reincarnation?!?