As You Were

Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever own Inuyasha or it's characters.


Chapter Two

Kagome stared at Sesshoumaru for a minute before she huffed in agitation. "Ya know I've been through hell since I saw you earlier, I don't feel up to any games right now." she clipped out wearily. Of all the times for him to try and get a sense of humour…

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, scanning her fully before pausing on her injury. "You should return to your village and see to your wound. It seems to have impaired your memory." he concluded, disturbed at the level of familiarity she displayed.

"Oh gee, you know I would," she started as she removed herself from his grasp. "But as you can see it's not here!" she finished angrily, gesturing to the vast nothingness behind her, only to lose her footing again.

Gripping the woman once more, he tried to make sense of her babbling. "Woman, there is no village in this valley," he stated, attempting to clarify her delusions. "There never was."

The words hit her like a thousand bricks. "Never was?" she asked, staring at him like he'd grown another head. "What are you talking about? You've been to Edo on numerous occasions! You were just there hours ago! I mean, don't you care about what happened to Rin?"

Surely he would help her figure out this mess if she were involved?

He raised an elegantly arched eyebrow. "Who is Rin?"

Kagome stood dumbfounded, trying to make sense of what was happening. She buried her face in her hands, the pain in her head agonizing. Was she dreaming? Had she nodded off at the well? It seemed to be the only logical explanation for what she was hearing. "What is going on?" she mumbled, her worlds muffled.

Looking at Sesshoumaru, she intended to ask him to simply take her to Inuyasha when she noticed something strange. She stared at the young lord for a few moments, wondering what it was that seemed different about him, until finally it hit her. His kimono!

The red, honeycomb floral print that she had always seen, which usually graced his shoulder and sleeves, was different. Instead, there now lay large, red, cherry blossoms. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the colours on his heko-obi were different as well. Rather than yellow with navy blue waves decorating the edges, the sash was now vice versa. His armour looked the same as it always had, as well as his mokomoko pelt.

That must be why I didn't notice it right away, but why is it different now?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a deep baritone. "Since it seems your wound is in need of attention, I shall escort you to my father's palace. You may seek the skills of our healer and rest as long as needed."

Kagome felt her heart slam to a stop at his words. "W-What did you just say?" she asked quietly, the words sounding as if they had come from someone else.

"You may seek our healer." he stated once more, seemingly growing agitated. "Your safety is guaranteed if that is your concern."

"No, no, no, what did you say before that?" she insisted, hoping to whatever god was listening that she had heard wrong. Assuming he had sensed her panic rising, he repeated himself once again.

"I shall escort you to my father's palace."

Kagome raised her hands to cover her mouth in order to prevent her gasp, her eyes eerily owlish looking. His father's palace?!

"Oh my god…" she muttered, stunned by the newfound knowledge. Suddenly, everything that had seemed out of place, or changed entirely, now added up and made perfect sense. Why there was no village named Edo in the valley at her back, why the hill was covered with rain, why Sesshoumaru was dressed differently, everything! "Oh my god! Oh…my…god!" She simply stared at Sesshoumaru, unable to comprehend the situation she had landed herself in.

The well had sent her further back in time.

The revelation left her reeling. "I need to go back," she whispered to herself, before clearing her throat and continuing. "I'm sorry I have to go, I've made a huge mistake somehow and I need to fix it." she apologized, bowing to Sesshoumaru slightly. "Thank you for all your help." she thanked sincerely before moving past him and heading back towards the forest.

Sesshoumaru watched the woman curiously, unsure of what course of action he intended to follow. He knew the woman was clearly insane, that was certain, but as much as he wished to be free from her presence, honour demanded he return the woman back to her people safely. It was his duty as future ruler of his father's kingdom to aid his people, no matter how unbalanced they may be.

As he made his decision, her scent carried towards him on the wind and he felt his eyes widen for a moment.

"Woman," he called out abruptly, startling the skittish creature. "I shall escort you to where it is you are heading."

Kagome's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. "You can't!" she shouted, before calming herself and continuing. "I mean, that's not necessary. It's uh…far away." she answered lamely.

"I am quite capable of walking long distances." he replied, almost amused at her pathetic excuse. "Do you dislike demons to such an extent, woman?" he prodded, knowing it wasn't the case. His plan worked as he sensed the anger and embarrassment roll off her in waves.

"Of course I don't!" she flustered, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation.

"Then I shall escort you." he stated firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Kagome scoffed angrily at being backed into a corner. "Fine!" she relented before turning and stomping away. If that's how it's gonna be, he can walk me there but then he's leaving before I jump into the well!

The thought made her worry suddenly. What if it doesn't work? What will I do if I can't pass through the well?

She shoved the thought aside, forcing herself to remain positive. She couldn't very well remain in the past with Sesshoumaru now could she? Not only would she be putting the future at risk, but she just couldn't imagine staying in a foreign time, knowing no one besides him. Undoubtedly she'd let something slip and the world she had come to love with all of her friends, would seize to exist.

I just need to get to the well and this will all be nothing but a bad dream.

They walked in silence side by side. After a while, Kagome studied Sesshoumaru through her peripheral vision, taking in his overwhelming appearance. He looks exactly the same, yet he must be at least two hundred years younger than the last time I saw him. She stiffened when he turned slightly to meet her gaze.

Turning her attention back to the forest, it wasn't long before Kagome recognized the break in the trees, signalling the well was near. "Well this is my stop," she announced, hoping he would simply leave her to it without a fuss. "Thank you for all your help, Sesshoumaru." she thanked once more, almost pointedly telling him to get lost.

The demon lord took in their surroundings. There were no huts, no people, and certainly no village. "Woman, we are in the middle of the forest." he pointed out, wondering just how seriously she was injured to overlook such a fact.

Kagome gulped. "It's not far from here, I can manage alone." she insisted. Not a complete lie.

His eyes bore into hers. For a moment she worried he would not leave, relief washed over her when she saw him nod. "Very well."

She bowed once more as he left, disappearing into the trees. Waiting until he was beyond her senses, she hurried to the well. Kagome fought the anxiety which crept up inside her as she broke into the clearing. Reaching the well, she once more peered down into the darkness. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself. You better work.

Gripping onto the lip of the well, she jumped inside.

She hit the bottom with a loud thud, pain shooting through her legs like fire. A groan slipped passed her lips as she fell onto her rump, a cloud of dust billowing around her. Kagome coughed as the dirt entered her airway.

When the dust settled, she looked around herself at the well walls, cursing them for denying her passage.

I can't pass through…

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kagome stood on shaky legs and proceeded to climb out of the well. When she reached the top, she jumped in again, roughly hitting the bottom.

A groan of frustration left her before she clambered out of the well, only to jump back in and hit the bottom once more.

"Why?!" she shouted, the uselessness finally sinking in. "Let me pass you stupid well!" Over and over she repeated the process, hoping that just one of the times that it would grant her passage to her friends and out of this hell.

She lost track of how many times she tried, her muscles becoming sore and stiff, strained from the exertion they repeatedly endured. Kagome grasped her knees as she attempted to catch her breath. After only a few moments, she turned to face the well, preparing to jump into its depths yet again.

"Enough."

She stilled, caught off guard by the sudden voice. Facing the direction the sound had come from, she scowled. "I thought you left."

Sesshoumaru eyed the woman, her appearance worn. He had stood in the forest watching her for some time, wondering what it was she was trying to do by jumping into the well. He could sense no magic within, nor anything special about it for that matter. Yet this woman had continually thrown herself into it, even cursing it, almost as if it were to carry out a purpose.

"What do you hope to accomplish with this well?" he asked, curious to what her answer would be. This woman was hiding something from him, and he would have an answer.

Kagome laughed miserably at the question. "What do you care?" she asked wearily, closing her eyes and feeling her body growing weaker and weaker. I used up too much energy. She felt his aura press against hers and opened her eyes, turning to face the demon who now stood directly behind her. Her vision darkened around the edges as she felt her body shutting down, begging for the rest it so desperately craved. She felt her legs give out from beneath her just before the darkness consumed her.

Sesshoumaru caught the collapsing woman before she hit the ground. He held her form in his arms, her head resting against his mokomoko. He studied her sleeping features before he headed into the trees, making his way west.

He was annoyed she had not answered him, though he had no intention of relinquishing her until she had supplied him with the information he sought. The woman was a mystery, a mystery he would solve. He would know why she seemed to think a village had resided in the valley, why she was jumping into a well in the middle of a forest, but most importantly…

Why she had carried his scent upon first meeting her.


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