A/N: Happy birthday to me! Okay, so technically, it's not my birthday until the 24th, but I couldn't wait that long to post this! So my present to you is this! An update! YAY!
I love this story so much… I hope you enjoy! Sorry it took so long. Darn you writer's block! I hope this makes up for it.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing! Except Kaito, he's mine! :D
"speaking" 'thinking' flashback/dream
The Nanny
Chapter 2
After finishing feeding the three boys, Kagome felt as if it was naptime. Kouga's rambunctious attitude really wore a girl out. But when she brought it up, Kouga shook his head vigorously.
"No, Komori-san, we aren't babies anymore! We don't need naps!" He crossed his little arms over his chest.
She sighed and kneeled in front of him. "Then how about we have some quiet time? We'll go out by the lake and I'll tell you a story."
Kouga brought a hand to his chin and thought for a minute. He then turned to his friends. "What do you think, guys?"
The two boys looked at each other. They were pretty tired too. Kagome's nap idea sounded good to them. They may have been the same age as Kouga but he always seemed to have too much energy for them to keep up with. A nice quiet story by the lake sounded like a godsend. They turned to Kagome. "Sounds good, Komori-san!" They chorused. Kouga shrugged and went along with it.
Kagome found a nice grassy spot in the shade of a large maple tree that grew near the lakeshore. It was really hot here in the Southern Lands. No wonder everyone had tans! Once she was in the cool shelter of the tree, she sat down and leaned against the trunk. "Sit down boys." She commanded.
Ginta and Hakkaku sat down nicely in front of her while Kouga sprawled out on his stomach.
"Alright boys, what kind of story would you like to hear?" She asked.
"Tell us a scary story!" Kouga exclaimed, throwing his fist into the air.
"No! Not a scary story! I hate scary!" Ginta said. He remembered the last time he heard a scary story. He couldn't sleep for a week!
"Okay, nothing scary. Got it." Kagome said and winked at Ginta.
With that, Ginta perked up. "Tell us a love story!" He cried.
"Ew, gross, Ginta! You're such a girl!" Kouga said, his nose scrunched up in disgust.
"Hey! I am not!" Ginta cast a glare at the wolf prince as Hakkaku snickered behind his hand.
"Okay boys, that's enough." Kagome scolded. "No sappy love stuff either, okay?" She looked at Kouga as she said this. She found it ironic that the love sick wolf she knew thought that love was gross when he was young. It took everything in her not to laugh.
"Thank you," Kouga said with a smug look on his face. Ginta slumped over into a pout.
Suddenly, Hakkaku's face lit up. He figured out the perfect kind of story for her to tell. It would please both of his friends as well as himself. "Tell us an adventure story!" He shouted triumphantly.
"Yeah!" The other two spoke in unison.
Kagome smiled. It was a relief that they finally agreed on something. "Okay, give me a second to think of something…" Her voice trailed off as she tapped her left index finger on her cheek in thought. "Okay, I got it!" She turned to the excited demons and began to tell her tale.
"Once upon a time…" She started.
She told them her own story. About teaming up with Inuyasha to hunt down Naraku and the Shikon Jewel. However, she changed out the names of the characters so they wouldn't be recognized. She got so wrapped up in telling it, that she didn't even notice that the sky was starting to darken until Kaito's deep voice interrupted her.
"You're quite the storyteller."
Kagome jumped. "Oh, Kaito-sama! You startled me!"
"I apologize, but it is getting late and the boys need to come inside."
Kagome glanced up at the darkening sky. Realizing the time, she scrambled to her feet. "I didn't even realize the time! I must've been really into the story."
"Komori-san," Kouga said.
"Hm?" Kagome looked down into his sparkling baby blues.
"Your stories are the best!" He said, clenching both fists in front of him in excitement.
"Oh yeah?" She responded. He nodded enthusiastically. "So who's your favorite character?"
"The leader of the wolf pack!" He answered without hesitation.
She had to suppress the laughter bubbling up from her chest. "Well, you would." She managed to answer. "Come on now boys, let's get inside."
They all got up and began walking back to the den. Ginta fell into step beside Kagome while Hakkaku and Kouga walked with Kaito excitedly summarizing the stories they just heard.
"Komori-san?" The small wolf asked.
"What is it Ginta?"
He looked up at her in admiration but also with concern. "Did all those things really happen to you?"
Kagome quickly realized that she was telling the story in first person and that her name was the only name she'd forgotten to change. Oops. "It's just a story Ginta." She lied.
He seemed satisfied with that. "You're very good then. It all seemed too real to be made up."
"Thank you. That's what I was aiming for. So who was your favorite character?"
He thought for a minute. "I'm not sure yet. I like Inuyoshi's* sword but I'm not sure if he is my favorite. I really liked your character. You were very brave and strong." Kagome's cheeks dusted light pink when he complimented her. "So for now I think you're my favorite."
"Well that's very flattering, Ginta. Thank you." She smiled down at him as they entered the den.
"You're welcome." He answered just before he scampered away to the dining hall for the pack's dinner time.
Inuyasha stood in the clearing as the sun set behind the trees. "Keh, where is that wench? She said she only needed to go home for one day for that test thing." He stared down into the well. "I guess I have to go get her again. What a pain." He murmured as he leaped into the well.
Nothing happened. He landed on the bottom of the well with a thud. "What the-?" He jumped back out and tried again. Again nothing happened. So he panicked. He began to dig in the dirt on the floor of the well. "KAGOME!" He screamed.
"Kouga! You need to settle down! Go get in your bed!" Kagome yelled at the rambunctious young wolf.
"But I'm not even tired!"
"I don't care. It's bedtime so get in bed."
He listened to her but was grumbling the entire way. She walked over to his futon and tucked the soft fur blankets around him. She got up to leave.
"Komori-san?" Kouga asked in a small voice.
Turning back to him, she answered, "What is it, Kouga?"
"Mama always sang me to sleep," His cheeks flushed pink as he confessed this. "Would you sing to me, Komori-san?"
She knelt back down beside him and smiled. "You don't really want to hear me sing Kouga. I can't carry a tune to save my life."
"Please? I'm sure you have a lovely voice. You're too pretty not to sing pretty too." His face flushed deep red but he smiled at her widely.
"Alright, you asked for it." She said ruffling the hair on his little head. So she began to sing.
"A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain
Softly blows o'er lullaby bay.
It fills the sails of boats that are waiting--
Waiting to sail your worries away.
It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain
And your boat waits down by the key.
The winds of night so softly are sighing--
Soon they will fly your troubles to sea.
So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain.
Wave good-bye to cares of the day.
And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain
Sail far away from lullaby bay."
Kouga looked at her tiredly when she had finished. "See? That was pretty. Thank you." He yawned.
She smiled softly down at him. "You're welcome. Good night, Kouga." She pulled the furs up tight around him again and stood and walked out of his room.
As she walked towards her room next door, she saw someone waiting at the doorway. She quickly recognized the Southern Lord. "Good evening, Kaito-sama. What can I do for you?"
"Kouga is asleep, I presume?" He replied.
"He is in bed and he should be asleep in a few minutes. Why do you ask?"
"You seem to have the magic touch with my son. It has been nearly impossible to get him to sleep since his mother passed."
"Does he miss her terribly?" Sadness filled her eyes as she spoke.
"Yes. They were incredibly close. Her death took a large toll on him. But he seems to have taken to you quite nicely."
She smiled. "Yes, he has."
"How is your ankle?"
"Oh! You know what? I haven't even thought about it since this morning! It doesn't really hurt anymore. Just a dull ache."
"That's good. Then would you like to go check on the well?"
"Does this mean you believe me about the future now?"
"I thought about it and I came to the conclusion that you were telling the truth. I suppose I should have known you weren't from this time. No respectable human girl today would show skin above the knee. But you, almost your entire thigh is exposed."
Kagome scowled at him. "You don't like how I dress?"
"That's not it. You just definitely dress differently then any of the women of this time."
She continued to glower at him. The word "respectable" hung in her mind. "All the girls my age wear this back home."
"I never said they didn't. Kagome, why are you so angry?"
"You don't think I'm 'respectable!'" She sneered the last word.
"Not at all! I think you are highly respectable! You were able to tame my son, for Kami's sake!"
She crossed her arms and pouted a little, still angry.
"So do you want to check on the well or not?"
"I don't want to go anywhere with you right now. I'm not liking you very much."
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise. "But I didn't do anything!"
"I don't care. I'm still angry. Good night, Kaito-sama." She sneered the honorific like she didn't think he deserved the title. Then she walked into her bedroom with Kaito scowling after her.
Inuyasha rushed into Kaede's hut. Startled, Sango looked up at him. He was covered in dirt and his eyes were wild with unconcealed panic. Her own eyes flew open wide. "Inuyasha! What's wrong? What happened to you?"
Inuyasha turned to look at her. "I can't get to Kagome! The well is shut!" He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "What am I supposed to do?!" Frantically, his eyes searched the room. "Where's Kaede?"
"One of the villagers went into labor. She went to go help with the birth. Why? What is she going to do to help?"
"I want her to fix it!"
"Fix the well? Inuyasha, you're talking crazy. Kagome is safe at her home. Relax."
"Not always! What if she needs me? What if she tried to come back for help, but the well won't let her? Sango, I need to see her, even if it's just to know she's alright!"
Sango stared into his horror filled eyes. Nodding, she ran out into the growing darkness calling, "Miroku, come quick!" Inuyasha was hot on her heels. 'What on earth are we supposed to do? We don't even know how the well works!' she thought as the Houshi ran up to her.
"What is the problem, Sango?" He sensed nothing in the area that could cause such panic. Shippo sat on his shoulder his little eyes wide and worrying.
"The well is shut, and Inuyasha fears the worst."
"Kagome is in trouble?!" Shippo exclaimed as his eyes flooded with tears.
They reached the well only a moment later.
"Okay, so what do we do?" Inuyasha said looking down into the dark well.
Miroku looked down as well. "I'm sensing the same amount of energy from it as usual. I don't understand why it isn't allowing you to pass. Would you show us Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha quickly nodded and jumped into the well only to land at the bottom with nothing happening again. "Damn it!"
"Interesting." Miroku brought a hand to his chin.
"What is it, Houshi-sama?" Sango asked as the hanyou jumped back out.
"If I had to describe the energy of the well in colors, its normal energy is blue. But when Inuyasha just jumped in a moment ago, the color changed to red as if it was rejecting him."
"But why would it reject me? It never has before!"
"Now that I do not know."
"You're not helping, Miroku!" Inuyasha shook a fist in his face.
"My goodness, Inuyasha! Temper, temper." Miroku seemed alarmingly calm.
"You have a plan then, Houshi-sama?" Sango guessed from his remarkably peaceful expression.
He smiled at her deduction. "Why yes I do, my dear Sango."
Shippo looked up at him earnestly. "What is it?"
"I'm going to place a special sutra on the well. It should hold the energy in its current form so that Inuyasha can pass through."
Inuyasha grabbed him. "Well? What are you waiting for? Do it now!"
Miroku pulled out the sutra. "Fine Inuyasha. Calm down and let me go." When he did, Miroku walked over to the well and smoothed out the small paper onto the aged wood. Lifting a hand up near his face, he muttered an incantation then pressed the same hand down onto the well. "Alright, Inuyasha." His voice was strained as he tried to contain the strange energy of the well. "Try jumping in now."
Sango becomes worried for him and places a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright, Miroku?"
He smiled weakly at her. "Everything is fine, Sango. Go Inuyasha."
With that, the hanyou leapt once more into the well. The well attempted to reject him again but the sutra resisted the change from blue to red and it changed to purple. The energy grew angry and surged out of the well to engulf the clearing- pulling Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kirara through the well.
A/N: So, what do you think? Huh? Huh? I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Please review and give me some feedback.
*FYI- Inuyoshi was the name Kagome replaced Inuyasha's with. I hope you could have figured that one out yourselves, but just so that there is absolutely no confusion there I let you know.
Ja-ne!
kaerfemina
