A/N: Okay so I'm going to try to keep this as IC as possible because it drives me nuts when I read Sesshomaru and he is all OOC and Kagome is just as bad. So I'm going to give my best trying to keep them IC while putting them in situations they would never normally find themselves in. It may be a rough start but I'll do my best.
I updated as much as I can sometimes I could update many times a week and sometimes its just once I'll try and keep you informed. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does. I'm just a humble admirer of the world and characters she has created!
Chapter One
"Bye mom, love you!" I shouted out the door as I headed for the well. I had a monumentally big test today but Inuyasha has grown tired of my studying and after just three of the five days I was supposed to have here I'm already on my way back.
With the jewel almost complete all we still need are Kougas shards and a couple strays we need to track down, everything is pretty much calmed in the feudal era since Naraku's demise.
"Be safe sweetie, take care!" I heard my mom shout out the kitchen window as I braced the side of the well swinging my legs over and jumping into the awaiting portal. You'd figure with the jewel almost completed and Naraku dead I had earned some time of for school but Inuyasha was more persistent then ever to get this over with, I only wished sometimes he would remember that after all this is over with all I will have is my life back home...
My life I've neglected all this time, I wonder if I could even get into a decent collage with my current scores...
I felt gravity return as the bottom of the well materialized around me, I made my way up the rope ladder hoisting myself and my overstuffed bag out of the well and started my mad dash for Keade's village. I had grown so accustom to the hills and uneven forest floor I could easily make it to Keade's hut in a matter of minutes if I tired.
Making it to the village and then to her hut I knocked softly before entering, I knew Keade was away training a group of young girls how to become priestess at a village a few days journey from here and wasn't due back for another week. "Hey guys I'm bac-!" I started as I made my way into the empty hut.
"Guys?..-Miroku?Sango?...Inu...Yasha?" I called out as I looked around the obviously deserted hut before finding a letter on the pile of neatly folded futon mats against the wall near the door.
I set my bag on the floor next to the mats as I flipped the letter open.
Sorry Kagome we had to bring Keade the last of her supplies she is having to stay another few weeks. We should be back in a few days.-Miroku
...Inuyasha isn't with us he left with Kikyo yesterday, we can talk about it when I get back. We don't know when he will be back... Soon I hope.-Love Sango.
At the bottom of the note was a small little fox print indicating Shippo to sent his love, and though it made me smile at the same time I felt myself welling with fury. I had missed my test for nothing! Again!... I groaned and tossed the letter across the room.
Always thinking of himself, always of his agenda and always disappearing into thin air at a moments notice whenever Kikyo appears and calls to him. I was starting to fully realize you could equally hate someone as much as you loved them... I didn't hate him... I was just getting so tired of it, his antics were finally wearing me thin.
As I bent down and slung my bag back over my shoulder a tall shadow loomed over the dirt floor of the hut alerting me that I was no longer alone. I spun around and to my utter surprise I was met with none other then Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru had his head bent as he stood in the entry way to the small hut trying not to hit his head against the low ceiling near the doorway as his amber eyes quickly scanned the room. 'What is he doing here?.. Oh this is such a great time for everyone to disappear on me!'
I stumbled back a few steps from the entrance to the hut as he looked around the empty hut completely ignoring my presence before he whipped his head around to shout outside the hut.
"Jaken!- You told me this was the healers hut, there is no such person in here. This hut is deserted!" He barked as he turned swiftly exiting Keades hut. I was a bundle of mixed emotions, on the one hand I was half way to crapping myself, on the other I was surprised and slightly annoyed he didn't even seem to of seen me. I mean common I was standing all of three feet from him!-But wait why was Sesshoumaru looking for Keade?
I thought hard about just staying in the hut a large part of me just felt lucky to have avoided a confrontation with Inuyashas older brother, but another part a more nagging part thought if something was wrong I should try to help if I could...
That was normally the part that got me into the most trouble...
"Jaken we're leaving." I heard Sesshomaru command his tone was more then authority though it was laced with an urgency to. I swallowed hard as I gripped the shoulder straps of my backpack, I decided on offering help rather then being a safe but cowardly person.
I hurried out from the hut to see Sesshomaru and his group of Jaken and his two headed dragon making a fast pace out of the village towards the woods that lead to the bone eaters well. I ran to catch up with them waving my hand threw the air and calling out to them. Passing by villagers that had stopped doing their work or even walking to just stand and gawk and whisper between one another. I remembered when they had done something similar to me after I saved that small child from the water back when I'd first arrived in the feudal era.
I could easily see how the appearance of this small group would cause a scene in a small human village like this, but as I ran to catch up with them it was as if they didn't even notice the stares or small groups it must happen a lot for them I thought quietly.
"Hey!-Hey wait a minute! Sesshomaru!" I called out as I dashed passed the mucky green colored toad and the dragon who seemed to be being used as more of a pack mule then a pet... At least I thought it was a pet...
"I have no time for you today." Sesshomaru said dismissively to me as I fell into step at his side. Surely he knew who I was...
"Look I'm not trying to bother you, but you said you were looking for the healer. Keade isn't here." I said as I tried to keep step with his fast walking which seemed more complicated then just running for me.
"Of this I am aware." He continued to dismiss me completely as he just sped his pace. I clenched my fists and thought hard about just going back to the hut. He really wasn't worth wasting time, energy, and good medicine on anyways... I slowed my pace at my resolve to let someone who obviously wants to be alone, left alone.
"You don't look sick anyways, your obviously not injured. I Shouldn't have even bothered." I muttered as I went to turn.
Jaken mouthed off as he passed obviously having heard my comment."Stupid mortal obviously Lord Sesshomaru is fine Hmph! To think our great Lord falling ill how absurd! When we really traveled all this way because he is worrying about his wards health."- His ward?-Wait "The girl?" I said remembering the small child I'd seen with him occasionally, almost instantly becoming aware of the fact I didn't see her with him now.
"Indeed, not that its of any concern to the wench of my brothers." Sesshomaru said back to me in his usual tone.
That rude mouth must really run in the family I thought grimly as I scuffed at the back of his head. "This wench happens to be a 'healer' and the closet one within a few day journey in any direction."
At this Sesshomaru turned and his amber eyes scanned over me as if summing me up in one brief glance of disbelief.
"I somehow doubt your healing abilities when you cannot even manage to properly dress yourself." He quipped at me as he was obviously referring to my uniform. I rolled my eyes but dismissed any remark I wanted to make I didn't want to push any lines when I didn't have anyone here to rescue me...
"Where is she?-How bad is it?- I need to see her." I said sternly looking up at him not quite locking eye contact but generally looking up at his face as my hands pressed against my hips.
Sesshomaru petted the neck of his dragon and it made a odd kind of mewing sound before it laid down its back now coming to my chest and I saw it was not carrying supplies but a makeshift bed and the small girl nestled underneath a pile of blankets.
Her face was covered in a layer of sweat, her hair was damp and clung to her face and her lips were dry and cracking even though I could tell from the canteen of water they had been trying hard to keep her hydrated.
My hand went to her forehead and I gasped jerking my hand back as if she had burned me. " Sesshomaru she is burning up!" I exclaimed as I was already trying to lift her off of the dragons back.
"Don't you think I'm aware of this?!" He snapped at me in such an angry tone I took a cautious step back. That's when Jaken started in on me about how could I even fathom that the great Lord Sesshomaru could over look his ward being so gravely ill, but I had already tuned him out.
'Okay she's really sick. High fever. Dehydrated... '"How long has she been like this?-Any vomiting, has she eaten?" After all my boasting I was worried she might be to sick for me to help here. I thought as I cut off Jaken's ranting at me.
"She's been ill for three days but its worse then ever today. She wont eat, but drinks water, a lot of water." Jaken answered from my side even tho my eyes still went to Sesshomaru for the answer, he seemed concerned enough to find her help but not enough to really go into details. He never had been much for talking I guess.
' This doesn't sound good and I don't know how to treat this here... I've got a few fever reducers here but what I need is at home...' I could see Sesshomaru's patients were wearing thin and he wanted to leave to find her better help before she got worse. I squirmed at my dilemma I knew that he wasn't going to let me just take her...
"Okay look, I can help her but it requires you to leave her with me and trust me. I have to take her somewhere you cant follow me."
"That is out of the question." Crap... I thought solemnly, it had been worth a try. I heard the girl groan as she stirred a bit coughing as she rolled onto her side facing us. "Lord Sesshomaru?" She said weakly as her eyes fluttered open briefly. Sesshomaru studied her face for a moment before whipping around.
"Jaken we're leaving. Now!" Sesshomaru growled as he grabbed the dragon by the reins and was off again.
'Should I just let them go?- I cant bring Sesshomaru threw the well... But I cant let her stay like that, medicine in this era isn't as good as the medicine I have back home. I could help her...' They were almost clear of the village and I knew after they got a safe distance from the huts he would take flight and that would be that.
I groaned and took off after them yet again. "Wait! I can help!" I shouted but they didn't stop. Once I had caught up with them, they were almost to the clearing to the bone eaters well. "Please just hold up a moment!"
"I have no time for your games. Jaken its time to take to the sky ready yourself onto Ah-Un." Sesshomaru said as they reached the clearing. The dragon stopped maybe all of four feet from the well.
She needed to be treated now not two or three days from now when they might come across a healer who could help...
I could grab her and run for the well. My barrier only needs to last a few seconds, I think I could make it. I look around quickly watching the wind pick up and blow Sesshomaru's silvery hair back his head following the breeze as he smelled what the breeze carried.
Just like that my mind was decided.
I threw out my barrier and reach up pulling the girl down from the dragon, shrugging off the blankets and turning to run for the well, my fear had my heart pounding in my ears and I only hoped I could make it to the well before Sesshomaru cut threw my barrier.
I didn't look back, only counted the seconds til I reached the mouth of the well. I couldn't hear anything and my vision tunneled around the well. I was going to make it! I felt my foot hit the lip of the bone eaters well and I turned as I jumped, cradling the small girl against my chest as I fell backwards into the well...
That's when I saw it over Sesshomaru's right shoulder I saw Inuyasha, I almost called out to him until I saw his hand, it was laced together with Kikyos.
They looked so happy in their odd sort of way...
Then it happened... My barrier failed me, Sesshomaru's claws sunk around my neck and we fell down into the well. At that moment the only thing I could hear over my heart drumming in my ears was the terrifying scream that sounded as it was ripped from my very throat.
This was it the well wouldn't let him threw and in moments we would hit the bottom of the bone eaters well, he would rip my throat out and take the girl away to die while he looked for help... Then I felt it, the loss in gravity, the change in air. I saw the purple of the portal envelope us, but it was more then that there was a crackling an electric smell as I saw the crackling start around Sesshomaru my eyes widened. The well is rejecting him!
It wasn't going to send him back but kill him.' I thought panicking, even if he was trying to kill me it was only because I took this girl that he obviously seems to care for. He wasn't the greatest guy for sure but he didn't deserve what was fixing to happen. I tried to warn him but my voice wouldn't work, as if the well had taken away my ability to speak just as it did the feeling of gravity when we fell into the purple portal.
The look on his face was a mixture of fury and absolute confusion. His fangs bared at me as I can only assume he felt the first of the wells assault on him. I did the only thing I could think of, reaching out and grabbing his kimono at its obi and pulled him to me. His hand falling from my neck to grab my shoulder harshly, I still clutched the small girl tightly as I slid the near completed jewel from my neck and pushed it over Sesshomarus head and wrapped my arm around his neck.
'Please don't kill him!' I pleaded quietly as his nails ripped threw my shirt into my shoulder, his eyes were bleeding red as I saw the pink jewel start to glow lightly. 'Please!' I pleaded as I winced from the pain in my shoulder.
A light of blinding white erupted from between us, my eyes squeezed shut tightly and seconds later I felt my back land heavily against the cold dirt bottom of the well only to have Sesshomaru collapse on top of me.
It was all I could do to shove him off of me and check on the girl bundled in my arms. Apparently she had woken as soon as I had grabbed her, she was repeatedly calling out for her lord in a small mouse like voice that cracked and broke as she spoke. "Shhh hush, its okay he is okay... Lets get you some medicine."...I hope he is okay... I snuck my hand out and located his pulse to make sure he was indeed not dead, sighing in some kind of relief as I stood up and dropped my backpack so I could more easily get up the ladder with the small girl.
"I'm Kagome...Whats your name?" I spoke calmly trying to get her to talk back.
"Let me go.." She choked out. "Please, where is my Lord?" She coughed and I was suddenly starting to feel like a kidnapper...
I made it out of the well and grunted as I set the girl down to drag the heavy lid over the well to seal it. "Is my Lord okay?" I heard her say again this time a bit louder.
I was completely thrown by the fact that this small innocent girl cared so deeply for this evil demon lord who was surely going to kill me when...If he came to... What did she see in him that I obviously couldn't.
I was only trying to help her but I can definitely see how this can all be taken badly, especially as I grab an arrow from the dusty well house and channeling my powers into with a silent prayer, pleading no begging the arrow to hold the well shut so he didn't break free and go on a rage filled killing spree. I slammed the arrow into the old wooden slab of wood covering the mouth of the well and let out a shaky breath. That's the best I can do...
I knelt down beside the girl and checked her head. She was still burning up. "...Hey there, I know your worried about Sesshomaru but I promise you he isn't far. He really needs you to get better so you two can go home you see. I can make you better but I really need you to let me help you sweetie... Please." I spoke softly down to her.
She didn't say anything but after a few moments she mutely nodded and I scooped her up and hurried her into my house, up the stairs and into my room laying her softly onto my bed. I spent the next few minutes scrambling around the house grabbing medicines, juice, a cool washcloth. I wondered where my mom had gone and prayed that grandpa was with her where ever it was. Last thing I needed was my family coming home when Sesshoumaru erupted from the well...
I managed to get her to take the medicine and drink the glass of juice, I changed her into a t-shirt of mine and laid her under the blankets as the medicine started making her drowsy.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." I turned around at her voice but she was already asleep...
I sighed as I leaned heavily against my door frame...
What was I going to do about Lord Sesshomaru indeed...