Help at a Time Like This

A Time of Frustration and Confusion.

A/n: So this might get a little confusing. If you get confused, please ask what you're confused about and I'll fix it. Since I Know what Xelora is all about it's hard for me to determine what parts would be the most confusing so that I can make them clear through the characters. So please, if you have any questions, ask away.=]
Oh and please review, good or bad it helps me better the story. :)

"Well Kid…are you going to make your move or what?" Taunted Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome warned nervously.

Sasuke smirked, standing up from his defensive crouch. "Kid huh? You know it's not very wise to underestimate your opponent."

"What's there to underestimate when you're dealing with a brat?"

Sasuke frowned as Inuyasha and he stared at each other. He then smiled. "I'm ganna knock you on your ass." Sasuke said leaning forward.

"Sasuke…"

"Hey! What do you kids think you're doing?" Yelled the Ramen man. "You six, if you're not going to eat the free ramen I gave you then get back to work!"

"Can it old man, I've had about enough of you ordering me around!" growled Inuyasha, "I'm about to show these kids just who they're dealing with!" Inuyasha pulled on his Tessaiga. Kagome placed a hand over his.

"Inuyasha, I don't think that's a very good idea." Kagome said more strongly.

Inuyasha shrugged her off. "Stay out of this Kagome."

"Stay out of- Look here! I'm not going to let you be the cause of getting us all killed you big idiot!"

"Idiot! You think I'M going to be the one who gets us killed? Your ass is the one that needs saving all the time or did you forget? I'm surprised you can forget so easily because it happens almost everyday!"

"OH right! My ass wouldn't need saving if you wouldn't dive ass first into everything!"

"Ass first Kagome? That doesn't even make sense!"
"It will when you finally realize your head is always up your ass!"

"Wow." Sakura watched on in disbelief.

"What a couple of idiots." Sasuke said disappointed at the turn of events.

"They kind of sound like me and Naruto." Sakura gasped with realization. "Where is that cowering jerk, I'm ganna kill him!"

Sluuurp…Sluuurp. Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp.

Kagome and Inuyasha stopped in the middle of their argument to turn to the sounds coming from the Ramen stand.
Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango jumped back in surprise, and Shippou nearly fell off the counter.

"Man this Ramen is sooo good!" Naruto whimpered in delight.

"Naruto…" Sakura growled as she held back her anger.

"Hey!" Inuyasha exclaimed eyes wide. "Just what in the hell do you think you're doing!"
Naruto turned to the growling half demon as he sucked noodles into his mouth. "What?" He asked as the noodles rolled around in his gaping trap.

"You weren't going to eat it were you? And the old man said you got it for free."

"Why you little,"

"Heeeeey!" Naruto groaned as Inuyasha's fist came drilling into Naruto's skull.
Naruto and Inuyasha suddenly were nose to nose, glaring and growling at each other, when Naruto simply turned away. Inuyasha backed up with confusion and watched as the annoying little brat picked up his bowl, lifted it up to his lips, and devoured the entire contents in seemingly one bite. Naruto then turned back to his newly formed archenemy and stuck his tongue out, showing three Narutomaki stuck to his tongue. "Neeeeeh"

"I'M GOING TO SPLIT YOU IN TWO!" Inuyasha growled brandishing his sword.

"Inuyasha! SIT BOY!"

"No," Inuyasha managed to gulp, before being slammed into the ground, taking Naruto with him.

"Again Inuyasha?" Miroku teased, "Isn't that the fourth time today?"

"Woaw!" Sakura gleamed. "How did you do that?"
'Hellz yes!' Her mind roared, 'that Naruto deserves what's coming to him! Now if that skank shows me how to do that to Naruto, he won't be able to bother me ever again! Hashaw!"

Sasuke kept his distance even though Sakura approached. "Who are these losers?" He said quietly to himself.

"Listen we're really sorry," apologized Kagome, "Obviously there's some misunderstanding."

Just as Inuyasha was about to dust himself off, a voice echoed around them.
"Transcenders!"

Before they knew it, The Inuyasha six, were hit over the head simultaneously. Kilala whined at the surprise hit and looked for the source.

"Hmm?" Sasuke turned to see a woman in purple with wild curly hair appear out of thin air.

She wore a black vest that had a super long hood. Though her arms were bare, they were covered in strange looking tattoos of swirls and numbers. Her thighs were covered in spandex, and the rest in the same style of tattoo. Even beside the hood and her curls falling down her back, one could not miss the spear she carried along her spine.

"What do you think you are doing here, you could ruin everything! You can't even possibly understand what I'd have to go through just because you decided to take a little field trip into another world!"

Everyone seemed to fall into a silent confusion, as they analyzed what this woman could possibly be talking about.

"You, girl!" She jabbed a finger at Kagome, "Go back to where you came from!"

"M-me?" Kagome pointed a finger at herself in confusion. "Hey! It isn't my fault we got here! Inuyasha threw Shippou into the well! It's his fault we're here!"

"Well?" Xelora, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura said in Unison.
Xelora gasped at the sound of the other's voices. Her dark blue eyes locked with a lighter shade. "Naruto?" And she turned to look at the other two. "This is worse than I thought. I hadn't realized you had completely crossed over into the destined path."

"What the hell is going on here?" Inuyasha demanded.

"I'd like to know the same thing." Added Sasuke.

"How do you know Naruto?" Asked Sakura.

Xelora turned her back on Sakura and Sasuke, ignoring they're questions.

"What are you talking about…a well?"

"Yes, Shippou lost his balance and fell into a well, when we looked down, he'd disappeared, so we went after him, and well…" Sango paused, "Ended up here."

Xelora's stern gaze turned to Kagome. "You're trying to tell me you didn't bring them here?"

Kagome glared, "I told you! It isn't my fault! Why do you think I'M the one who brought us here."

"Because you're a Transcender of time."

"A what?" Demanded Team 7.

"If the skilled eye looks closely enough, they could see there is a flowing pink aura around you. Though most are purple and or blue…yours has thesame feel to it."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed on Kagome, and suddenly he was able to see the aura she had been talking about. 'She's right…how strange…'

"Oh…I use a well from home to go back and forth between my time and there's all the time. Maybe that's why."
Xelora's eyes narrowed. "So you can't move willingly through time and worlds?" She asked.

"I think she's made that pretty clear!" Growled Inuyasha in frustration, "The one thing you haven't been. Tell us what's going on here, what's the big deal?" Inuyasha demanded.

"Yeah! You haven't answered any of our questions, Who are these guys, and what's all this nonsense about time and worlds and stuff!" Added Naruto.

"You six…I will explain everything once we get back to your world. But we must get you back to this well as soon as possible. Please, take me there."

The group looked at each other with suspicion on their minds; there was no reason not to trust her…or to trust her for that matter. This was just getting more confusing. Kagome moved forward first. The sooner they got back to the well, the sooner this woman would tell them what was happening.

Naruto growled in frustration, "Hey! I'm talkin' to—
Xelora placed a gentle hand over Naruto's mouth, and looked over at Sasuke and Sakura who watched her with suspicious eyes.

"Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto…This is a situation that is beyond you and must be kept out of mind. You may come with, but coming will do no good, for I will just erase the occurrences later."

Sasuke's eyes widened then narrowed again. Xelora smiled at him. "I know what you're thinking, and I promise, I don't have to be anywhere close to you to erase the events that happened today, it's a matter of time, not of memory. Now, you may tag along if you wish. It doesn't matter either way. H-Hey! Where are you four going?" Demanded Xelora as she watched Shippou, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku turn toward the Ramen stand.

Miroku bowed. "Thank you so much for having us sir, it was fun."

"Yes, we have to leave now, but we won't soon forget you." Smiled Sango.

"You bet we won't! That Ramen was so yummy!" Shouted Shippou.

Kagome waved, "We'd come back and visit if we could. Thank you so much."

The Ramen man frowned at the thought of losing his entertainment. Now what was he going to do to get customers? "So you guys are leavin'? This soon?"

"Yeah…we're not really sure what's going on right now, but, we know we have to get going."

"Right then…well…stay out of trouble."

The four of them laughed, thinking about all the things they've gone through together. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and stood by Xelora. "Lets get going." He grumbled. "I've had enough of this place already."

"I don't understand what's going on at all!" Shouted Naruto in vain as the three of them walked behind the strange six.

"Would you be quiet Naruto and just pay attention, if you stop shouting we might be able to figure out what's going on!" Whispered Sakura harshly.

"So what is your name if you don't mind me asking?" Asked Miroku.

The woman hadn't said a word to them since they left the stand. The way she carried herself let everyone know she meant business, and she definitely wasn't in the mood for conversation.

She turned to Miroku, analyzing him for a moment before looking away. "Xelora, My name is Xelora."

"Xelora huh? Well that's a pretty name!"

She turned to look at Kagome with neutral eyes, but said nothing.

"Sheesh, what's her problem, I'm just trying to lighten the mood." Whispered Kagome to herself.

"Maybe you failed to notice, but the mood isn't a light one."

A shiver went up Kagome's spine, "uh…Right," She laughed awkwardly.

"Well maybe if you explained, we could understand that a little better." Suggested Sango.

Xelora stopped and turned to the group, once again analyzing as if she was reading something off their foreheads.

"Fine. What is it that you want to know?"

The group erupted into a series of questions and Xelora was suddenly overwhelmed.

"Who are you?" "Where did you come from?" "Who are they?" "What is this place exactly?" "Why are you here?" "Okay guys hold it." "Who died and made you the boss of everything?" "Why do they dress so weird?" "What is a transcender of time?" "Why are they here?" "Why wouldn't you tell us what was going on?" "One at a time!" "What do you mean by erase what's happened?" "What exactly has happened?" "What's all this talk of destined paths and time?" "How did you even appear out of thin air like that that?" "Seriously, Stop talking!" "Why is it so important that we go back?" "How did you know we were here?" "How did you get here?" "How did you know our names?" "Why didn't you know their names?"

"QUIET!"

"Hn." Huffed Inuyasha, Kagome, Sasuke, and Naruto.

"Let's keep walking shall we?"

"But what about-!

"Just…be quiet for a moment, I need to figure out a way to explain this."
As Xelora walked on, following the directions the group gave her to the well, everyone started talking quietly amongst themselves, trying to figure out on their own what was happening. As they arrived to the place in question, She turned to them finally.

"Okay well…first things first. I am not from this time. You could say I'm from the 'true' present time, where new events and decisions are being made to keep the world's balance of light and darkness. Time is a very unstable thing, and sometimes, certain events end up changing. As a time guardian we make sure those events maintain the same results."

"Time guardian?" Asked Sakura and Sango, before they looked at each other and smiled.

"Yes, every world has them, multiples of them. We make sure that the events that take place, follow their destined path."

"I'm not sure I quite understand." Said Naruto, scratching at the back of his head.

"Me either." Miroku added brow furrowing.

"Okay, well, say in time, that my present time is point D. Events A, B, C, had to happen to make the world what it is at point D.

"You mean…you're like…destiny?" Sasuke asked, not really buying it.

"No, not exactly, because we only watch over the paths that effect the world directly." She turned to Kagome, "That could be why no one's ever come to Kagome before, because she doesn't interfere with any major destined events. That or…" Xelora paused in thought. 'That, or she could be following a destined path by being with the others. But…it doesn't make sense for them to cross over into this world. Never has there been a situation, that I'm aware of, where two worlds cross in paths.'

She turned to Team 7 "These people are from another world entirely. It sounds hard to beleive, I know, but as one of the time guardians of this world, I assure you, this is very real. And I mean…just look at them.
Anyway, What I'm trying to say is, I'm like you're guardian angel. You three particularly go through many upon many obstacles to get to the point you are at in my time. These people could hinder those events significantly, especially so early on."

"So…we must be super important than for you to be following us." Sakura pondered out loud. If what she was saying was true then…what kind of person would she turn out to be in the future? What could happen to all of them?

"Of course we are! With me becoming the 5th hokage in the future! It's no wonder that she's making sure I stay so awesome! And you guys happen to be in my team, so…Yeah! NOW Everything is making sense."

"What does that even matter," Sasuke finally spoke up, ignoring Naruto. "I make my own destiny."

Xelora stared at Sasuke for a long moment before laughing. "Fool!" she barked, "You already made your own destiny! I'm just trying to make sure you don't try to make another one." Her eyes turned up in thought, "It matters because if a major diversion from the path is allowed for too long. An alternate reality can be created, hence…making another destiny if you will."

"An…alternate reality?" They all said together.

"Give me a break." Grumbled Inuyasha.

"So Sasuke, let's say it's destined for you to defeat your brother."

Everyone turned to Sasuke with curiosity. His eyes narrowed She was about to push one of his major buttons.

"And say these guys are the heroic type. Them just helping a little bit could cause you to miss your chance years from now. And you wouldn't even know it. And darkness has to balance out sometime, what if the payment for having so much good at one time is that you're brother becomes far stronger than you'll ever be and kills you first."

There was a long pause.

Xelora could practically hear the gears of their minds turning.

Sasuke looked at the ground. "So all I'm really hearing is…"

Team 7 were suddenly found pushing the others towards the well.
"You guys need to go,"

"Seriously," Naruto said, "I don't want you guys here if you're just here to ruin my life."

"Well it's not like you really gave us a warm welcome or anything!" Kagome said waving off Naruto.

"Who cares," Huffed Inuyasha, "who would want to stay in this dump anyway. We have better things to be doing."

"I'm still a little lost as to what's going on." Came Shippou.

"Who cares!" Growled Sakura trying to push Inuyasha who was just glaring down at her. "The point is you're not welcome here."

"We get it okay! We're going!" Whined Kagome.

"If you don't go willingly I'll throw you in by force." Sasuke warned.

"Wait." Xelora's eyes narrowed on the well. She moved forward to peer inside. "Are you sure this is the right well?"

They all turned to her.

"Well I mean…" Xelora shrugged. "Well go ahead. I guess."

Mirkoku eyed Xelora for a moment. "Why did you ask?"

"Well…This well has no energy…I would think I'd feel something coming from it if it transports you from world to world."

"Well, Might as well go and see!" Naruto said picking up the struggling Shippou.

"Hey wait a second!" Shouted Kagome, before Naruto dropped him in.

Shippou wailed all the way down, and then there was nothing.

"Well I guess your safe to go then!" Grinned Naruto.

They all slowly leaned over the edge to get a look.

"Ow."

"Shippou!"

"You idiot!" Sakura growled punching Naruto in the head. "You could've killed that weird little fox boy!"

"Well he was the only one I could pick up besides the cat! And I didn't want it to scratch me!"

Inuyasha turned to Xelora with wild eyes. "We can't get back?"

Xelora looked a little startled before her brow furrowed.

"I don't see the big deal." Sasuke sighed. "Couldn't you just take them back? You are some hot shot Transcender aren't you?"

They all turned to her with agreement.

"I'm a transcender of time, not of worlds. I cannot take them back myself."

I hope that made sense! There are still going to be some parts that don't make sense...but that may because you'll find out later. But still, If you are confused, please tell me what you're confused about and I'll try to iron it out.
Review please? =)
P.S. Did you notice all the times I said 'well' and made time puns? I swear most of those weren't done on purpose…most of em…