Hello, this is another story idea had floating around in my mind a while, so added it up, along with my other story Tales Beneath the Snow. I hope you enjoy R&R if you like. Though fair warning I don't always edit a ton, I am very busy typically, so don't criticize minor mistakes please. ENJOY –DP
Kagome sat at the edge of the well and looked down into the darker depths which light rarely touched the dirt bottom. It had been near a week since she came home, and yet Inuyasha had yet come for her, but most likely he was still annoyed at her for sneaking off after their usual fight about her returning home. She had her trusty yellow pack filled with goodies and supplies as usual, but she wasn't sure if it was wise to go back to feudal japan. With a sigh she casually tapped her fingers on the old wooden ridge that held the old well together. "Decisions , decisions…" She hummed lightly in thought before making her mind up to go. Standing she dusted her jeans off and lugged her pack over one shoulder. They had the jewel to finish and Naraku to finish off once they found him again, it was her now who held most of the cursed stone known as the Shikon no Tama. It had been four years since she had been rudely dragged into the bone eaters well.
Kagome inhaled sharply before stepping up onto the lip of the old time portal, with a final glance back at her birth home , she jumped in, though the usual pink and purple rays of light did not wrap about her, it was a pure blinded white light that engulfed her body. Kagome knew something was instantly wrong, the energies of the well had shifted. Stretching her aura out she attempted to read the antique power that let her flow through time. Though, to no avail , the well gave no indication of change , and the blinded rays had yet faded, Kagome just felt as she was floating and it was beginning to make her nervous. What if I am stuck in time suspension, how can I break that? But just as her thought ended she hit the dirt bottom with a 'ow' and a soft thud was heard. Her chocolate gaze rose up to the exit above and noted nothing but blue skies and a few tree branches in view. "Well that was weird…though I think I made it." She murmured to herself, not liking what had happened.
Standing she called out to the surface world above. "Inuyasha!" After a couple minutes with no response Kagome gave a heavy sigh. With a little effort she began to climb up the vines and toward the world above. Her heavy backpack weighing her down some but, she refused to stay in the well for the next hour, until someone decided to come and get her. In a few minutes she managed to tug herself up over the edge of the time portal, and with an intake a breath followed by a sigh. She sat there, relaxing for a moment. "Oh when I see Inuyasha I'm going to sit him for not showing up and helping me, you would think after a week he'd be cooled off enough to least haul me out of the well on my return." Shaking her head she decided to glance around, and it hit her like a ton of bricks. The whole area was off, the typical pasture which wasn't far away was gone, nothing but trees.
Kagome quickly stood and spun on heel, looking for her one familiar land mark she always knew. "Where's the tree….?" Her mind raced as she glanced around frantically, her steps hurried as she moved to the general area where the tree of her home shrine should be, clearing away brush and shoving on a few saplings she stumbled and only caught herself on a tree, though after she regained her posture she studied the tree that she had basically fallen on, and looked up. "..Thi…this is ….it can't be…" Her hand ran over the bark , she'd know it anywhere, though much younger version of the tree she played in as a child. Looking up she saw the mark gone where Inuyasha had been pinned. Kagome could near circle her arms around it, the much younger sacred tree. "How is this possible..."
The situation sending her near into a panic, she turned and ran toward the direction of the village. The village she knew had to be there. Kaede had told her, that the village had been established near 300 years, one of her grandfather's helped create it. Kagome was in a rush, though slowed down by bushes, saplings, branches tearing at her clothes, but she forced herself through , over and over again, determination lined in her features, and finally she stumbled out into a clearing and onto the hills which lead down to the village. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief when a few huts came into view, but it wasn't the same she noted, as she steadied herself. It was all wrong, there was only maybe ten huts, instead of like 50, half the fields weren't even created yet. Kagome froze as it all sunk in…her surroundings, the trees, no Inuyasha…"I'm further back in time." Her eyes widened at the realization.
She was all alone, in a strange time, no friends or family, this was starting feudal japan all over again. What happened to the well? Why am I here instead of there…this can't be happening. Kagome slowly trekked down the slope towards the village, what was she supposed to do? Her eyes fell on a couple of villagers who seemed to be washing out some kind of material in a wooden bucket. Kagome froze in her tracks as she glanced down at herself. I have to change clothes, I'll never fit in here, especially not looking like this. Thinking a moment she blinked as a thought hit her, Kaede had stuffed a priestess garment in her bag like a month ago. Thanking the stars that she rarely cleaned her bag out she set the heavy pack down and began digging through, it finally five minutes later and fifty items later she pulled it out, it was the same garb style that Kikiyo would wear. Kikiyo…she probably wasn't even born yet….none of them probably born yet with the sacred tree being that small…was anyone alive that she knew?
With a heavy heart she trudged over to some taller bushes and changed rapidly , stuffing her other outfit in her bag. Her pack would be strange enough to explain, not to mention everything near else about her except her clothes now. Stepping back out on to the poorly packed path she slung the bag back on her shoulder and stood straight, acting the status of being a priestess although technically she was, just untrained. Her outer appearance seemed much more convincing than how she felt inwardly, scared, alone, uncertain, heartache. As she came in range of the two women who were working the material in the buckets of water they finally noticed her and bowed their head in respect. Well it least it seems the clothes are least somewhat in fashion here. Kagome gave curt nod in return and kept walking further toward the center of the small village. A couple children were rough housing around, fighting over a wooden toy it seemed; her gaze lingered very little on them as she kept walking, until a voice stopped her. "Priestess, could you please spare a moment?" Kagome took a deep breath and put on a fake smile if she was going to get a few answers she had to play her part well. "Yes?" She turned and faced the owner of the male voice who had called out to her, he was likely in his thirties, tall and lean with dark brown hair and green eyes. "I didn't mean to halt you in your travels but, I was wondering if you could spare a couple days to rest here, we have to priestess here to help us, for we are near newly established, merely a few months in the making. I am the village leader for the time being and we do need some healing hands around here to help out if you can, priestess."
Kagome figured she had nothing to lose, considering she was plain stuck here for the time being, maybe she should try the well again tomorrow, when she got the chance to do so. Being grateful for having studied under Kaede the last couple of years in herbs, she gave a curt nod. "I go where I am needed, I can spare a couple days to help those in need." She watched a bright smile come to cross the male's broad face. "Thank you priestess…?" Kagome returned the smile lightly and finished his sentence for him. "Kagome." He gave a light nod and spoke. "I am Kangan, we have a spare hut for you to stay in while you are here, a couple of the villagers took ill about a week ago, and there is a couple expecting their first child, if you could check up on them, would be greatly appreciated priestess." Kagome fell into step beside the male as he walked and spoke to her. "I shall check on the sick before dark falls, and the female tomorrow." He smiled and gave another curt nod, as he stopped before a small hut and pushed the door aside for her, stepping in it was fairly empty with a pile of blankets, cot, and couple of crates of supplies it seemed.
It was built but month ago, we have three more in progress at the end of the village, hoping to eventually fill them with new families and such, looking to make a home." Nodding at his words Kagome set her pack down. "Well, I shall tend to the patience in a couple minutes if you don't mind. " He smiled before speaking again. "Of course, I will send fresh water to you and wood for the night. When you go to check on the sick, the huts are numbered they are in 2 and 5, both men, fell ill about two days apart. They both timber cutters." Kagome nodded understanding. "I shall tend to them soon, thank you for your hospitality Kangan." He gave a smile before leaving her to her own devices. With a heavy sigh, Kagome leaned against the wall, near wanting to slide down it and cry, but she had tasks at hand. With effort she forced herself to move about the room and light the two candles she found on an empty shelf. This was going to be a long night…