Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha or any of the characters from the show.
Hi, everyone! Thank you for taking the time to read my fanfic. This is my first one so please be brutally honest with your reviews. I guarantee you a couple of laughs at the least. I hope you enjoy my story. Please review! (if you see any grammar or spelling errors, please say so in your reviews so that I can fix them. Please and thank you!)
Serena's Story: Kagome's Cousin
Chapter 1 - The Arrival
"I'm leaving!" Kagome called to her family as she opened the back door. Sota looked over at her from his seat at the kitchen table.
"You're not eating breakfast?" he asked, a piece of toast inches from his mouth.
"Nope. I'm late and Inu-Yasha is already going to be mad at me," Kagome explained. She suddenly decided to check her supplies and make sure she wasn't forgetting something before she left, so she put her bag on the floor and opened it. Meanwhile, Sota took a bite of his toast, chewed, and swallowed.
"You're not taking your big backpack?" he asked, preparing to take another bite while eyeing the small knapsack Kagome was rummaging through.
"Again, nope. I'll only be gone a few days. I have a test next Monday," she answered.
"Today's Wednesday," Sota said. He took another bite of his breakfast and chewed slowly.
"Yeah, I know. I should be back Saturday or Sunday," She said, finishing her inspection and zipping up her bag. "Please tell Mom and Gramps when I'll be back. They're sure to ask."
"Sure," Sota said, finishing off his current piece of toast. Kagome walked over to him and gave him a big hug.
"Ewww, girl germs!" Sota screeched, slipping from Kagome's grasp and running away. Kagome snickered and grabbed a slice of Sota's toast.
"Gets 'im every time," she said before taking a bite. Kagome picked up her bag and walked out the back door. She was halfway to the well house when she heard her mother's voice.
"Kagome! Please come to the front! There is someone I want you to meet!" Kagome sighed, dropping her bag just outside the well house doors. She walked to the front of the house and stopped in her tracks by the pathway. She stopped because of the presence of a strange girl, who was talking to Kagome's mother.
The girl was too far away for Kagome to see her face clearly, but even from a distance, Kagome thought that the girl had to be around her age. Kagome's mother turned and saw her daughter staring dumbfounded at her guest. She motioned Kagome to come closer and then turned back to her conversation. Kagome slowly started to approach the pair.
As she got closer, Kagome could see the girl's features more clearly. The teenager was tall and thin, wearing a pink tank top and light blue jean shorts that perfectly fit her body. The girl was also wearing sandals that laced up to her knees, similar in style to Ancient Greek sandals. The girl's skin was surprisingly pale, nearly colorless. Yet on her face, her skin was dotted with cinnamon-colored freckles. But what had really shocked Kagome was the girl's hair. It was golden blonde with reddish highlights, a color Kagome had seen only on models in magazines. Her hair was also so long that it went past her waist.
Kagome finally reached them. The extraordinary girl turned toward Kagome, as did Kagome's mother. The girl started speaking to Kagome in a language Kagome could only assume was English.
"Huh?" Kagome asked when the girl finished speaking. Her mother turned to the teenager and spoke in the weird dialect.
"Oh," the girl spoke in flawless Japanese. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you don't speak English." I knew it was English, Kagome thought. Then she turned her attention back to the girl.
"It's okay," Kagome replied, still confused about the girl's presence. Her mother decided it was time to explain.
"Kagome, this is your cousin, Serena. She's moving in with us," her mother explained. Kagome's eyes bugged out of her head.
"What!" she exclaimed.
"Serena will be staying in the guest room. I have to go to the school and enroll her, but I want you to help her get settled."
"But, Mom…I have that thing I have to go do," Kagome said carefully, eyeing Serena.
"I also want you to explain those things you do to Serena," her mother said carefully, imitating Kagome. "Since she is going to be part of the family, she has a right to know. Now…chop, chop, Kagome!" Her mother left. Serena stared at Kagome for a few moments. Kagome began to feel uncomfortable.
"So…where are your other bags?" Kagome asked, eyeing the small backpack that was perched on one of Serena's shoulders.
"This is it," Serena replied, nodding at her backpack. "I travel light." Kagome and Serena started walking toward the house.
"Oh," Kagome said. She reached the door first and held it open for Serena.
"Yeah, the trunks with my other stuff should arrive in a couple days," Serena continued as she walked through the door. Kagome was headed for the stairs and Serena followed.
"Trunks? As in plural?" she asked her newfound cousin as they walked up the stairs.
"Yep. 'Bout…six or seven."
"But I thought you said you travel light?" Kagome asked.
"I do. The trunks are coming later," Serena replied, sounding as if she wanted to add "duh" to her statement. Kagome sighed.
The girls finished climbing the stairs and Kagome led the way to the guest room.
"Here's your new bedroom," she said as she opened the door. Serena walked in and was immediately pleased with the room. The walls were painted pale yellow, the color of buttercups, and the curtains, bedspread, and pillows were a complementing flower motif. Serena absolutely loved yellow. Serena dropped her bag on the floor by the nightstand, then flopped down on the bed. She sat up and Kagome sat down across from her. They both sat cross-legged and tried to avoid looking at each other.
"So…" Serena started. "What is that thing you were supposed to go do?"
"Oh my god. I completely forgot!" Kagome exclaimed. She looked at the clock resting on the nightstand. "I am so late! Inu-Yasha is gonna kill me!"
"Inu-what?" Serena said, confused. Kagome looked at her. "Your mother told you to explain what you do, so don't even think about leaving until you explain Inu-…pasta to me."
"His name's Inu-Yasha," Kagome corrected.
"I don't care if his name Ben Affleck! Who is he and why were you so secretive about what you're late for?" Serena asked. Kagome sighed. This is gonna be one long story, she thought.
"You wouldn't believe me," Kagome said.
"Try me," Serena said, looking completely serious.
"Well…" Kagome said. "All right, but please don't interrupt or think that I'm nuts." Kagome then proceeded to tell Serena about her first trip down the well and her adventures to the past.
He watched anxiously as the sun started to set, realizing she was late.
"Damn her!" Inu-Yasha yelled. "Kagome was supposed to be back by now!"
"Careful, Inu-Yasha. You might lose your temper," Miroku said calmly, not looking away from the window. Sango and Shippo giggled loudly and Kaede just smiled. Inu-Yasha shot them all a Look.
"This is ridiculous! What could possibly be taking so long? I'm going to go there and drag her back here if I have to!" Inu-Yasha stormed out of Kaede's hut and headed toward the Bone-Eater's well. Damn wench. Making me go get her. Who does she think she is? Inu-Yasha thought as he walked quickly.
Miroku watched out Kaede's window as Inu-Yasha ran into the forest. He then turned toward the others in the hut.
"Inu-Yasha's actions are certain to cause a fight. Who do you think is going to win?" Miroku asked the others. Shippo, Sango, and Kaede all thought for a moment.
"Kagome," they said in unison. Miroku nodded in agreement.
"As do I. However…I believe that Kagome will have to use 'sit' five times," Miroku said. "In fact, I'd bet money that she'll use it."
"How much this time, monk?" Sango asked.
"Hmmm…five gold coins," he replied. Shippo ran out of the hut when some of the children asked him to play with them.
"For five sits or less?" Sango asked. Miroku nodded. "Well, I'll bet five coins that Kagome will use 'sit' six or more times."
"You're on," Miroku said. They shook hands to finish the deal. Sango began to gather her clothing so she could wash it in the river.
"Lady Kaede, would you like to join us?" Miroku asked the old woman.
"No, thank you, Miroku. It would be inappropriate for a priestess to gamble," Kaede replied, eyeing Sango. The demon exterminator left with her bundles and headed for the river. When she was sure that Sango was out of earshot, Kaede turned back to Miroku.
"I'll wager five coins on Inu-Yasha," she said. Miroku grinned, then nodded.
Kagome still sat across from Serena, but she was no longer looking at her cousin. She stared down at her hands, which were folded and resting in her lap. Although she was not looking up, Kagome knew that Serena was staring at her, shocked. Kagome had just finished her story about the well and was waiting to hear Serena's reaction.
"So…you're on crack, right?" Serena asked.
"I'm not crazy and I'm not on drugs. My story is really true!" Kagome exclaimed.
"You're telling me that you can travel to the past through a magic well, where your best friends are a half-breed dog demon, a young fox demon, a demon exterminator, and a lecherous Buddhist monk, who are all searching for a magic jewel and want to kill a demon named Naraku and I'm supposed to believe that you're not institution-worthy?" Serena ranted.
"Well…yes," Kagome said.
"Okay, just wanted to make sure I had the story straight," Serena said. Kagome sighed. I think she believes me. At least, I hope she believes me. She thought.
"Do you have any proof?" Serena asked.
"Huh?"
"Do you have any proof that you travel to the past and that this Shiken jewel-thingamabob really exists?" Serena elaborated.
"It's Shikon, and yes, I can prove it! Follow me!" Kagome said. She ran out of the room and Serena followed her. They sprinted down the stairs and into the kitchen where Sota was still having breakfast. They stopped long enough to introduce Serena to Sota and for Kagome to tell him that she was actually leaving this time. Then the girls ran out the back door and to the well house. Kagome knelt by her bag, which was still there from earlier, and rifled through her things until she found what she was looking for.
"Here," she said as she hand Serena a small bottle. Within the bottle, there were several sparkling jewel shards.
"Wow," Serena said. "Now if only you could prove that you can travel through time, I'd actually believe your story."
At just that moment, the door to the well house opened. The girls looked at the doorframe and Serena's jaw dropped. Inu-Yasha leapt out and stood in front of Kagome.
"And just what the hell have you been doing? You were supposed to be back hours ago!" he yelled.
"I was helping my cousin settle in," Kagome replied, motioning toward the gawking Serena. Inu-Yasha turned to face her.
"And who the hell are you?" he asked, although it was more of a sneer than a question.
"The Jolly Green Giant," Serena said sarcastically. Kagome moved between the two.
"Inu-Yasha, this is my cousin Serena. Serena, this is Inu-Yasha."
"Yeah, kinda figured," Serena said. "It's nice to meet you, I guess."
"Feh," Inu-Yasha said, barely acknowledging Serena. He turned back toward Kagome.
"We're leaving," he said. Inu-Yasha grabbed Kagome's wrist and started to pull her towards the well.
"Wait just a minute!" Kagome yelled, twisting out of the demon's grasp.
"Come on, Kagome. You're the one who took forever to get ready. We need to go. There are shards to be found and demons to be fought."
"Wow. That sounds fun," Serena said sarcastically. They both looked at her.
"Okay, we'll go. But I was coming, you know. I just got sidetracked," Kagome said as she prepared to jump down the well. She jumped and Inu-Yasha followed.
"Hey, don't I get to come?" Serena called after them. She looked down the well and saw that they had vanished. She heard someone calling her name. She looked out the well house door and saw Sota running towards her. Serena leapt into the well without a moment's hesitation.
Sota reached the mini-shrine that housed the well. He went inside the shrine and looked around. Seeing no one, he then peeked down into the well. There was no one there. He shrugged and started back towards the house.