Note: I thinking of adding a dash of Sesshoumaru/Kagura. And I'm pretty sure this is un-beta'd so...


Chapter 3: Announced Arrival
Kuwabara peered into the well. He shivered as he felt a dark power calling for him to enter. "Why do we got to wear these weird clothes," he asked for the sake of stalling. He got the heebie-jeebies every time he even thought abut going down there. As he waited for the answer he tugged on the uncomfortable and unfamiliar shirt he wore.

Botan sighed. "I already told you. If you want to blend in you'll have to look the part. If you go there wearing jeans or your school uniform you might be attacked by villagers or at the worst Kagome will know you're from this time period. That must not happen. Understand?"

Both boys waved off her concerns, cockily.

Yukina smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry Botan, Kazuma and Yusuke are smart. They wouldn't blow such an important mission."

The ferry girl burst out laughing and Kurama chuckled softly. The blunette eventually regained her breath enough to say, "Oh, that's a good one Yukina. I didn't know you had such a good sense of humor. Smart. Won't blow an important mission. I'll have to tell that one to Lord Koenma when I get back."

Yukina looked at her in confusion.

Botan still giggling managed to say, "Yukina, it's not a question of if they'll screw up, but when."

The Koorime shook her head slowly, "I think it's more of a question of faith. Like I have faith Hiei will find my brother."

The demon in question stiffened and withdrew to a corner of the well house as if to avoid bringing anymore attention to himself.

Kuwabara took some steps back from the creepy well. He stiffened his spine and mentally gathered his courage. If his beautiful Yukina had faith in him he would too. "Well are we going?"

Botan cleared her throat. "Right. Yusuke, Kuwabara. You should go down first. We don't want Kagome and Inuyasha to get too far ahead. And remember stick with them. Wherever they go Kikyo is sure to follow. Got it?"

Kuwabara nodded and Yusuke just gave his classic thumbs up sign. They looked at each other and in silent agreement jumped down the well together.

Kuwabara squeezed his eyes shut tightly as a tingly sensation washed over him. Abruptly it was over and he slowly opened his eyes. He looked around with a slight frown on his face. They were still in the well.

"Urameshi, do you think it worked?"

Yusuke growled in irritation, "I don't think so. We're still in this dinky old well."

Kuwabara looked up hoping to see his beloved, instead he saw open sky. Not the roof of the well house. And definitely not Yukina's lovely face.

"Urameshi…"

"I see it. Come on Kuwabara I guess we did make it. Let's see what's up here in the Feudal Era. Now the only question is how to get out of here."

The looked around, finally spotting vines leading to the top of the well.

"Outta my way Kuwabara. It looks like we're climbin'," Yusuke said. He started swinging his arms around as if to loosen up his muscles. Unfortunately with all his flailing Yusuke hit Kuwabara.

"Why the hell d'you do that for, Urameshi!" Kuwabara shouted in anger.

"You were in my way. And still are. Now move!" Yusuke shoved Kuwabara. Who in turn shoved him. Soon they started to fight.

"Excuse me," a voice said from above.

The boys stopped fighting and looked up. Standing in the mouth of the well was a demon child. Fluffy orange hair surrounded a cherubic face. Teal eyes gazed at them with undisguised curiosity. "How did you guys get down there?" he asked.

Yusuke chuckled nervously, "Uh, we fell."

"Oh. There is a vine next to you. You can climb out with it."

"'Kay. Thanks, I guess."

0O0

Kurama looked into the well after the blue light died down. It was empty. Botan appeared next to him.

"Are they gone?" Kurama nodded. "Okay! I guess you three better get ready, huh!"

"Actually we want to tell you what our mission really is. Koenma said we could tell you once Yusuke and Kuwabara were gone. It's about the Shikon Jewel."

0O0

When the two humans came out of the well Shippo became aware of just how much taller than him they were. They towered over him. They seemed to be leering at him.

"What kind of demon are you?" the orange-haired one asked.

The black-haired one snorted in agitation, "Come on, Kuwabara. Isn't it obvious?" Shippo was hauled into the air by his tail. "He's a raccoon."

Shippo's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"You sure, Urameshi? He looks like a badger."

Shippo began squirming, trying to extricate himself from the human's unbelievably tight hold.

"Do you even know what a badger looks like?"

"Do you know what a raccoon looks like?"

Shippo shook his head at their stupidity.

"Yeah. They're black and white!"

"That's a skunk. And look at him. He isn't black or white!"

Urameshi blinked in surprise and released Shippo abruptly. He landed on his head with a solid thud. "Hey you're right. Kid, what kind of demon are you."

Shippo got to his feet, huffing in annoyance. He dusted himself off. "I am a fox demon. One of the greatest fox demon to ever live," he said while puffing his chest out in pride.

His ego deflated sufficiently when Urameshi brushed by him with a snort, "Yeah right, kid. I know a fox demon way better than you. And shouldn't you be taller."

"I'll have you know this is just an illusion. In reality I am much taller." Then his eyes narrowed in disbelief. "You know a fox demon. They don't usually hang around humans."

The tall one, Kuwabara crouched down until he was close to eye level with Shippo, "Then what are you doing here? We're human."

Shippo blushed, "Uh…I'm here to attack the village through the forest. But I thought I would warm up on you. RAR!!!" He bared his tiny fangs.

"Oh, really…" The fox kit didn't see the odd gleam in Urameshi's eyes, but he felt the fist that collided with his skull.

Tears immediately sprang to his eyes. "Owie! I'm going to tell Kagome!" he wailed before running off into the forest.

Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged looks. "Hey kid get back here. We were just joking!" They took off after the fleeing demon child.

0O0

Botan sat down at the edge of the well with a tired sigh, "So it is the Shikon Jewel." Kurama nodded and sat next to her. "And you think it's broken?"

"Relatively positive," Yukina said, standing in front of them.

"But how? Kikyo had it burned. How could it have—" her eyes widened in realization. "Kagome, she groaned.

"Kikyo's reincarnation?" Kurama questioned.

"Yes, Kikyo had the Shikon jewel burned with her body and when her soul came back…"

"The jewel came back as well," Kurama finished for her.

"That means the mutt and the miko are our enemies," Hiei stated triumphantly from his darkened corner of the well house.

Yukina shook her head vehemently, "I really think they were protecting it from other demons."

"Inuyasha, is that you?!" an exuberant voiced shouted moments before the well house door burst open. A boy of seven or eight stood in the doorway. His hair was messy like he had just rolled out of bed. The image was strengthened by the green pajamas he wore.

He blinked in surprise. His expressive brown eyes narrowed warily and he took a cautious step backwards. "Who're you?"

There was a moment of indecisive silence before Kurama spoke, "I could ask you the same."

The boy glared at Kurama, "My name's Sota Higurashi and my family owns this shrine."

Kurama smiled and held his hands up showing they were empty. "Ah, you must be Kagome's brother. She speaks of you often," he lied easily.

Sota's expression immediately changed from distrust to happiness, "You know Kagome?"

Botan, Yukina, and Kurama nodded. Hiei was still hidden in the corner. "Funny she never speaks of you." His voice dropped to a stage whisper, "Are you from the Feudal Era?"

Botan was very happy she had forced everyone, except Hiei of course, to get clothing suitable for the Feudal Era. "Yes, we are. It's surprising Kagome had told her family about the Feudal Era," she exclaimed.

"Yeah, she tells us just about everything," he said airily. "She can't exactly disappear for weeks without us noticing." He walked farther into the room.

"True," Yukina agreed, amicably. "Sota. Do you know anything about the Shikon Jewel?"

"That's the thing Inuyasha is always dragging Kagome back for isn't it?" He was almost a couple of feet from Yukina. "How come you guys can travel back and forth through the well. I thought only Kagome and Inuyasha could do that."

Botan was going to respond, but faltered at the question. Luckily Kurama recovered admirably, "Your sister's actually the only special case. All demons can travel. Fortunately there's a powerful priestess who guards the well on the Feudal side." He stood and began ushering the boy towards the door, "I believe I hear your mother calling you. Mustn't worry her."

"Wow! You can hear her all the way over here. You must be a demon."

Botan chuckled, "He sure is! Now run along."

"Bye Sota," Yukina called, just before the door was shut in his face.

Kurama sighed, "Let's go before he comes back."

On the other side of the door, Sota realized he hadn't gotten the names of the strangers. He debated momentarily before turning around and reentering the well house.

The redhead and the shorter female demon were gone. The bubbly one was still there, but she had her back to him. There was a short demon with spiky black hair crouched in front of her on the edge of the well.

His red eyes seemed to glow as they bore into Sota's. The demon smirked before jumping backwards into the well. "Bye! Be careful! And don't kill any humans!" the blue-haired demoness called after him.

Sota's eyes widened just as she turned around. Her smile faded, "Uh-oh. Hi Sota. What are you doing back?" She took a step towards him. He took two steps back. She sighed, "Lord Koenma's not going to like this." Then she disappeared.

Sota dropped to his knees in shock. "Be careful, Kagome," he whispered to himself.

0O0

"There was a demon in your time, Kagome," Sango repeated, disbelief coloring her tone.

"Yeah. One didn't seem too bad. She didn't do anything. But she was with another demon. He was scary," Kagome said, shuddering slightly.

"Feh! I could have handled him."

Kagome scowled at him, "Whatever."

"What kind of demons were they, Lady Kagome?" Miroku asked.

"The demoness that actually came to the shrine was a fire demon. I think. She didn't look like a fire demon. For that matter she didn't act like how I would expect a fire demon to act."

"What the hell are you talking about Kagome?! You felt her energy."

Kagome's eyes narrowed and her hands went to her hips, "Yeah, but before, when she didn't have a sword at her throat she felt cool. Almost cold. Like an ice demon."

"We can't exactly trust your senses can we? You don't know what your doing!"

"Me! At least I don't swing a sword around and hope I get lucky."

"Shut up you stupid wench!"

"What did you call me?!"

"I called you a stupid we—"

"SIT!"

Miroku and Sango winced when he hit the ground, but they couldn't say they hadn't seen it coming.

"My name is—"

"Kagome!" Everyone looked up to see Shippo running towards them with his hands on his head. Behind him were two humans. One had unruly black hair and wore green yukata,. The other was tall and had curly orange hair. He wore a blue yukata.

Shippo jumped in Kagome's arms. "Kagome, they hit me," he said pointing to the boys that had finally caught up with the group.

Inuyasha smirked, "Finally."

Everyone stiffened when a tremendous amount of demon energy washed over them. Kagome instantly placed Shippo on the ground and jumped onto Inuyasha's back. Kilala turned into her giant cat form and Miroku and Sango got on. All five of them took off to see what the energy was.

Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged a look because they had easily recognized the energy: Kurama, Yukina, and Hiei.


Please review. I suppose I owe you another preview.

He stretched gracefully. "I don't think I will," he answered grinning mischievously. "I'll be more help if I'm in this form. And…it's been so lo-ong since I've been this free." He turned his back on them, "The streets of Tokyo are so restricting. You know," he faced them suddenly, gold eyes dancing, "I feel like a race."

Hiei stared at him. Had the kitsune been inhaling some of his plants? "What? What are you talking about, Fox? We're on a mission. And I for one want it over as soon as possible." There was something dark in this Era. He actually hoped the mission didn't bring them near it.