Shikon in the Serengeti

Disclaimer: Don't go thinking I own anything, especially not Inuyasha or The Lion King.

Ch. 4

Introductions

Kagome's POV

The summer sun was seriously baking the African plains. It's amazing to see how the animals were able to deal with the scorching rays. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for Kagome. Leaning against the huge stone, Kagome was becoming more drench in sweat by the minute. If only there's a way to escape the unforgivable heat. But that can never compare to her injuries, which she do so wish that she'd forgotten. The bleeding in her arm may have stopped, but that stop the agonizing pain she is feeling, especially her leg. Her leg's so swollen that it looked like someone pumped it full of air. Plus, the pain was becoming way too unbearable. But the one thing that can at least keep her mind of the heat and her injuries is the giant "kitty" sleeping on her lap. As she strokes his large mane, she remembers the time Inuyasha first fell asleep on her lap when she first saw him as a human. 'Inuyasha…' Her eyes were starting to feel heavy, but before she has the chance to fall asleep, a familiar "SQUAWK" snapped out back into reality. The lion reared his once-sleepy head into full alert. They looked out towards the plains and saw that blue bird. The bird landed right front of the two, and… bowed to the lion. 'Was that bird actually bowing to this lion? Talk about being the king of beasts.' The two animals had their "conversation," and soon after, a baboon carrying a staff came strolling in. 'Wait a minute! That baboon is actually using a staff?' Kagome was even more confused than ever. What kind of a place is this?


Simba's POV

"SIRE! SIRE!" Zazu squawked flying back to the sleeping pair. Simba raised his head from his rather comfortable "pillow" and turned his head to the bird. Zazu swiftly lands and respectfully bows in the presence of his king.

"Where's Rafiki?" Simba asked.

"He's on his way, Sire, and I've already explained the situation to him. He knows of a way to clear up a few… problems." Zazu took a quick glance at Kagome to imply what he meant.

Soon enough, an old, grey baboon came into view. Carrying his staff decorated with a couple of gourds, Rafiki stopped several inches from Simba and bowed. After regaining his posture, the old monkey gave the king a friendly hug.

"It's been a long time, Rafiki," Simba said pulling the old baboon into a greeting embrace. "I know this is a little sudden, but we are in need of your wisdom."

"Oh, ho, ho, ho," Rafiki started with a familiar laugh, "what is it that troubles you so my king? You just tell old Rafiki and he'll take care of it."

"Well," Simba turned his head to Kagome, sitting there with her eyes wide-open, "I suppose Zazu has explained some of this to you…"

"Indeed, he did."

"I was hoping you would know what that is over there behind me." Simba motioned his head towards the "creature" sitting against the rock. "Zazu proposes it to be a monkey. I have my doubts, so -"

The wise baboon put a hand to the Lion King's muzzle, letting out a humored laugh in the process. "A monkey? My boy, I've seen many a generation and species of monkey, and you believe that is a monkey?!" There doesn't seem to be anything in the world that can stop the crazy primate's cackling.

"I believe I just said I had my doubts," Simba corrected the crazy loon. "Most importantly, Rafiki there's no understanding between us and… uh… 'it'."

"Of course there isn't," the baboon stated proudly, "because 'it' is not anything like us."

Zazu was starting to grow rather impatient of Rafiki's playful antics. "Then what is it?"

Rafiki hopped over to the dumbfounded "creature" and began to look "it" over. "Oh, ho, ho, ho, I never thought I'd laid my eyes on one like this for as long as I live, which I believe is a loong time." He cracked out laughing again.

'He's really enjoying this…' Simba thought sarcastically. "Rafiki…!" Simba started, sounding agitated.

"This is a creature not common in these regions," Rafiki stated. "I have heard from neighboring kingdoms of beings that walk on their hind legs, and are usually hairless with the exception of the hair growing from their heads. Well, these beings are physically weaker than we are and will never last a day out in these lands. However, they have their own means of defenses. According to some animals, they carry spears and sharp rocks as weapons. Of course, this is quite a surprise because these beings never wander far from their groups."

"So what is that kind of animal?" Zazu asked almost impatiently.

"This, my friends, is a human," Rafiki said proudly, as if he had accomplished something extraordinary.

"A human?" Simba and Zazu said in unison.

"The only reason you and the human never understood each other is the language barrier between humans and animals," Rafiki pointed out. "But since I'm feeling very helpful today, I can arrange a way for you all to clear up this situation on your own."

Simba cocked an ear and eyebrow, "How?"


Kagome's POV

The animals are at it again with their conversation. She'll admit this, she actually feel kind of left out, plus it's her they're talking about. 'This day just can't get any better. Now I've got a bunch of animals gossiping about me for all I know.' Suddenly, the old baboon hopped over to her and started "talking" about something, obviously about her. After a few minutes of "talk," the baboon then lifted up his staff into the air and was… chanting?

Suddenly, the sunlight was dimmed and the wind started to pick up. The wind currents began to encircle the four of them. The currents picked up more speed and was becoming more of a whirlwind.

"Wh-what in the world?!" Kagome was really confused and, above all, frightened as the wind blew harder and faster. Just then, streaks of lightening blasted from the dark clouds hover overhead. As suddenly as it came, it stopped. The winds stopped swirling, the clouds disappeared, and sunlight lit the up the land once again.


Normal POV (finally)

"What just happened?" Kagome looked around as everything seemed to revert back to how it was.

"Oh, ho, ho, ho, it actually worked!" Rafiki laughed. Kagome's eyes widen when she actually heard the monkey speak.

"What just happened?" Simba asked looking around him.

"HEY! That was my question!" Kagome rebuked. 'EH?! Did that lion just talk as well?'

Zazu flew into the air, "Rafiki, what exactly did you just pull?"

"I merely gave this human the ability to understand our language, as well as our own comprehension of her language," Rafiki said.

"So, does that mean I can understand and speak 'animal'?" Kagome asked, utterly confused.

"I wouldn't say speak, but now all animals can understand what you're saying as you understand us," Rafiki corrected.

"I really must be dreaming," Kagome stated. "I dare somebody to wake me up…" THWACK! "OWW!" Kagome held her head and saw what hit her, more like who hit her. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"

"Rafiki, that was rather unnecessary!" Simba harshly rebuked the old monkey. "The human's injured as it is!"

"Oh, that's nothing old Rafiki can't fix. Besides…" Rafiki paused for a moment.

"Besides?" the other three were growing very impatient at this point.

"She knows that she's not dreaming," the old baboon let out a crazed cackle.

Everyone except Rafiki falls over anime-style with a THUD.

'I should've known there'd be a price to calling on this old baboon.' Simba thought with a scowl.

"Now if you'll excuse me." And with that, the witchdoctor-monkey leapt away into the trees. The remaining three were left in a brief pause.

"If I can try to pick up where we left off," Simba started, "just who are you?" Kagome snapped back to reality.

"I-I'm Kagome," she replied, a little lost of words of what had just happened.

"Ka-go-me…" the lion and the bird repeated syllable after syllable, trying to make the name flow easily. 'Unusual name' Simba thought, but he kind of likes the sound of it. He opened his mouth to introduce himself, but a streak of lightening in the distance caught his eyes. It would appear the wet seasons have come a little earlier than usual. "We must get to shelter soon," the Lion King suggested. "Once it starts raining, it won't stop for a while. And rains around these regions are relentless. Zazu!"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Head back to Pride Rock and inform the pride of our guest."

"Of course, Sire," Zazu said with a bow and flew off to carry out his orders. Kagome watched as the hornbill soared through the sky towards a mountain-like structure from afar.

"Come," Simba crouched beside the still bewildered girl, offering his back to her. "Since you're injuries are rather serious, I'll carry you." His eyes shone with a kindred spirit. Moved my this lion's noble compassion, she was inclined nod in acknowledgement and accepted his offer. He allowed her to grab a hold of his mane as she tries her hardest to lift her herself from the ground. Simba turned his head and hoisted her body onto his back. "Hang on, it's not going to be a very smooth ride." Obeying his command, Kagome leaned against his bushy mane and wrapped her arms around his neck. Once she was ready, the huge lion bounded off to his home. As he sprinted through the plains, more bolts of lightning lit up the dimming sky. Luckily for him, Kagome was lighter than she seemed, making it easier for him to increase speed and make it back to Pride Rock before it really starts to pour.

It was just as he said; the ride was as easy as to deal with as riding Kirara. Each time his paws made contact with the ground, an aftershock would deal a throbbing bolt of pain to her slashed arm and injured leg. Kagome buried her face into the flowing mane, hoping it would give her some comfort to forget about the pain in her wounds. Simba, himself, knew that this was rather unforgiving for her current condition. He suddenly felt her face on the back of his head, and her arms were slowly and tightly wrapping around his neck. It can't really choke him, though. He began to slow his pace a little when he felt a hand caress the side of his sideburns.

"It's okay," a serene voice said, "you don't have to slow down for my sake." Simba's eyes widen a bit in surprise that she doesn't mind the rough ride. Trying his best to smooth the ride for some time, Simba continued their trip back to Pride Rock.


A giant rock formation stands majestically in plain view. At the mouth of the large cave atop the sloping rock, an old lioness pace about near the entrance. Inside the den, a large group of lionesses lay, some asleep and some awake. From the dark corners of the cave came a lion with a fully developed, dark brown mane. His left eye is marked with a large scar running from the middle of his temple to the middle of his cheek. Kovu has grown at least 2 or 3 years older since he took his place ruling alongside Simba. He noticed Nala pacing herself, waiting for her mate to come home. He approached her and looked out towards the plains, helping the old lioness look for their king.

"Don't worry," Kovu assured his mother-in-law (don't forget that his mate is Kiara), "Simba will be back without fail." Nala gave him a smile in response. Just then, Zazu came flying in and landed in front of the two lions.

"Zazu, where's Simba?" Nala asked.

"Don't worry, my queen," the hornbill said with a bow. "His Majesty is on his way back, but…"

"But?" Nala and Kovu inquired.

"What about Father?" Kovu turned to see Kiara come up beside him.

"We'll be expecting some company," Zazu finished. And as if on cue, Kovu spotted Simba, but who was that on his back? Instinctively, Kovu ran down to Simba.

"Simba, glad you made it back in time before it rained," the younger lion said. His eyes roamed to the "thing" clinging to the old lion's mane. It's something he's never seen before: this "thing" is covered in something soft-looking and green, white, and red. "It" doesn't seem to have fur, but there's a raven-colored "mane" flowing from "its" head. "Who's that? Actually, what is that… thing?" he asked.

"Excuse me!" Kagome snapped. She's been called many different names before – human, wench, girl… you name it – but never has anyone called her a "thing." "I'll have you know that this 'thing' has a name!" Kovu never had anyone else, besides Kiara, snap at him that harshly.

"You'll have to forgive him, Kagome," Simba said. He was as surprised as Kovu, never knowing she had quite a temper. "Aside from Zazu, Rafiki, and myself, no other animal in the Pride Lands know what you are. To them, you're just some strange animal."

Kagome never realized this, but she remembers now – what it feels like to be out of place, especially during her first days in the Feudal Era. Didn't think that the animal world viewed humans like this.

"I'll explain everything later," Simba said, "but we'd better get back inside before it starts raining." The two lions carried Kagome up some stone steps and quickly into the cave. Simba was greeted with relieved murmurs from his pride, but Kagome got most of the attention. With Kagome still on his back, Simba carried her to the farther ends of the cave. As he did, the lionesses cleared the path but wore a look of suspicion and cluelessness. The old lion set the girl down as softly as possible, avoiding any contact to her injuries. Nala stood by his side, staring at her mate with questions in her eyes and at Kagome with confusion. Kiara and her cub Kopa stood by Kovu as they wait for a reaction from their king.

"Everyone," Simba started, turning to his awaiting pride, "I know this is a sudden surprise, but all will be explained. Firstly, I'd like to introduce you to our new guest, Kagome." Murmurs and whispers echoed within the cave. " Kagome swallowed hard at the lions' reactions at this announcement. Simba turned to the nerve-wrecked human, "Kagome, this is my pride."

'What's going to happen to me now?'

Whaddya think so far? Oh, yeah, to the person who asked for pairings, there may not be one. Sorry, I just want to keep it as an action-drama. But if you would like for the story to have pairings, I think I can arrange it. Ch. 5 is being worked on at this very moment, so be expecting it. And thank you all for the reviews!