The heat was bearing down on her, even in the shade of the traditional Japanese style home. She peeled her thick locks from the back of her sweat layered neck with a frustrated sigh as chatting tourists milled among'st the yard, a few seeking their own reprieve from the merciless sun. Shifting from foot to foot she observed the well house before her, trying to figure out what really drew so many interested parties to it. She hazarded a guess and assumed it was simply the building. The dry well inside of it signified it was of no real use which led her to believe it was only interesting due to the architecture. The plane brown wood walls and dark tiled, sloping roof indicated to the time it originated from. Which lead to why she was here. A frown marred her already exasperated features. Of course she understood to accomplish her task of becoming an ancient Japanese art appraiser she had to "broaden her already wide horizon" on all facts of the past in relation to Japan.
But, and Kami forgive her for thinking it, did it really require her standing out in such ridiculous heat? Just to draw a brief sketch to study later? She lifted the hand grasping her charcoal and rubbed her knuckles across the sweat on her forehead, creating a black streak.
"Haru! Haruuu!" A tall figure waved eagerly from among the cluster of tourists, eliciting a few curious glances. "Haruu!" It called again as it began to push it's way through the crowd. Squinting Haru tried to discern as to whom it was, the blurry form growing closer before she realized she wasn't wearing her glasses. Freeing her hand from the sketch book in her lap Haru patted the top of her head and carefully fingered the frame of them to her nose, situating them comfortably before glancing once more at the figure approaching her.
"Isamu?" She questioned hesitantly, her eager companion giving her an enthusiastic nod. "You remembered me!" He crowed, stopping in front of her. "How could I forget?" she muttered under her breath in exasperation. The young man had determinedly pursued her from the moment he laid eyes on her in the University. To him Haru gave a smile and asked "What are you doing here?"
"I came to study the well house." Isamu's flickering eyes belied to the real reason he was here. He had followed her. "What about you?" Isamu chirped, leaning forward.
"The same.." Haru eyed said slowly, eyeing the man before her. She could see the nervousness in his twitching hands as he twisted them in the hem of his shirt. Wonderful.. Haru mused silently. How am I going to get rid of him? Her eyes darting slyly to the dispersing crowd and back. The boy was already chattering on, sweat from his palms seeping into his shirt as he tried to entice her into a conversation. Haru really did feel sorry for the poor boy, and a boy he was.. She was three years older, him being eighteen, and couldn't help but feel a small amount of superiority flicker through her at this thought.
"And, well, I was just wondering if we could study the well together.. I mean, we could share our opinions and thoughts on it.. It would.." Isamu was babbling on, eyes intent on Haru's face. Haru's gaze wandered over his in return before landing somewhere over his shoulder, on a girl eagerly sucking on a Popsicle.
"Isamu?" She interrupted, stopping him mid-sentence. "How about you get us some Popsicle? " She continued before waiting for a reply, "It'd be nice to cool off from the terrible heat before we study the well.." Haru amended as she laid eyes on his confused expression. "S-sure!" He chirped, face flushing at the emphasis she placed on the word we. Isamu was quick to turn and follow the crowd slowly trickling out the gate, as it was nearing noon and would be lunch time soon.
Haru sighed, ignoring the slight tug of guilt at her chest at getting rid of Isamu so quickly. The boy was annoying.. Sweet but.. Annoying.. Shaking her head she quickly dismissed this thought and stood to her feet, sketch book in hand. She began to approached the well house hesitant as she neared the door, throwing a furtive glance over her shoulder. It's not like Haru wasn't allowed inside the house, but without all the other tourists milling about she felt a bit.. Well, secretive. Licking her lips she juggled her sketch book under her arm and slid the door open. The smell of stale, musty air was over powering, belying the true age of the well house.
She glanced around the inside, her eyes taking in the wooden beams sloping upwards with the roof and the aged walls. But her attention was quickly garnered by the well placed directly in the center. Haru circled the well, eyes darting over the strong brick and wooden lip, lingering on the lip she leaned forward and placed the book upon it, humming under her breath in attempts to ease the apprehension welling in her chest. It felt almost like there was a weight settling in her stomach, pulling her forward as she leaned forward on her elbows, ignoring the bite of the splintered wood into her skin. Haru frowned as her eyes searched for something in the darkness of the well, unsure of exactly what she was looking for, Haru placed her hands flat on the edge of the lip, lifting her elbows up as she did so.
"Ouch!" She hissed, settling back briefly as she lifted her hand up, inspecting for a splinter in her finger tip. Out of the corner of her eye there was a flash of light from the depths of the well, Haru's head swiveled frowning. Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Again she leaned over the lip, perhaps a bit farther this time than was necessary. I could have sworn.. There it was again! A blue flash, alighting upon a slightly pinkish color.. "What in the world..?" Haru adjusted her hand and landed on her sketch book, causing it to slip forward and tumble into the well as she landed on her stomach. "Oof!" She gasped, straining to grasp her book, fingers grabbing the edges of it only for it to slip and continue its fall.
Haru realized she was following it, her arms windmilling, trying to stop her descent. But it was too late and she pitched forward into the darkness of the well, feet kicking into the air, she gave a scream as emptiness engluphed her. Instinctively she brought her hands up to cover her face, eyes squeezing tightly. Surely she would break something! Haru thought as she continued to fall. A few moments passed before she realized it was taking far too long.. and she cracked her eyes open, eliciting a gasp from deep in her throat. Surrounded by what looked like a flashing blue light, tinged with pink, almost as if she was amist a storm. Amazed, Haru glanced her in awe. What was happening? She thought incredulously. Feeling the pull around her begin to slow Haru glanced down, noticing that her feet were coming to a rest on solid ground. Glancing back up she blinked, unsure if she could truly trust her eyes. Maybe I'm dreaming? I must have hit my head..
Above her was the inside of the well leading to the opening, which revealed a clear blue and cloudless sky. "Hello?" Haru called hesitantly "Is anyone there?" The calls of birds and rush of wind was what answered her. She contemplated only a moment before deciding she needed to escape the well. It wasn't easy finding foot and hand holds as she began to climb out of the well, crying out when she scraped her palm or knee, nearly causing her to fall. Wondering if she would break her bones the second time around, Haru found the thought of another descent unappealing. Relief caused her legs to tremble and palms to sweat as she finally hauled herself up and over the lip of the well. "Ugh. Solid ground." She muttered in relief and fell to her knee's, palms in the dirt.
The reprieve only lasted a moment though as she stood to her feet once more, legs wobbly, and began glancing around her. Protected on all sides by forest, the well house was no where in sight as well as any signs of civilization. Then her eyes settled upon the God Tree, which she was certain was the only thing that looked in any way similar to where she had just been before. Though, it was a bit smaller.. "Just where in the hell am I?" Haru groused but was quickly silenced by the sound of voices in the distance.
"Inu-Yasha, where are you going?!" The voice of a young woman cried out in indignation.
"Where does it look like?! To the well, dammit!" A rough male voice, presumably Inu-Yasha, snapped in return.
"But why?" The young woman huffed in return.
"Because, I already told ya, I herd something!" At this point, a group of figures was appearing in the distance, causing Haru to squint.
As they neared she could make out the figure out two young woman, one clad in jeans and a t-shirt, the other a strange-looking outfit. And.. was that a monk? She frowned, rubbing her eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on her. A boy traveled with a a small cat at his ankles, leading Haru's eyes to the figure in red with a shock of long, silver hair falling to his waist. "What in the..." Haru murmured to herself as she stepped towards them. The young woman and man were bickering fiercely with the little boy turning to give his response in defense of the young woman. The monk and other, strangely dressed woman, were giving each other exasperated but knowing looks. The cat was the one to notice her first as it stopped, its hackles raising as it hissed fiercely The strangely dressed woman shouted "Look!" drawing the group's attention to her pointer finger, thus leading their gazes to Haru on the hill size.
The red clad figure lunged forward, quickly brandishing a large sword at Haru and shouting angrily "Who the hell are you!?" Haru simply stared, lips parting in surprise as she noticed that he had dog ears! "Oh... Oh dear.. I'm afraid I'm not in Kansas anymore.." she whispered to herself as the edges of her vision began to blacken and her head grew light. "I'm..." The world tilted beneath her feet, disappearing from under her as the darkness closed in around her.
Fainting...
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)
End of chapter one! Yeah! It was a slow start but I think it turned out fairly well towards the end, if I do say so myself. I know you all must have some questions but you have to wait! They'll be answered eventually..!
Enjoy!