Inuyasha ©Rumiko Takahashi

Beta-Reader: MissKatt


When the Future is Here

9

To Edo


Sesshomaru took Kagome, under the watch of Rin and her mother, out of the bed and into his arms. He watched her peaceful expression for a moment before turning to Rin, "It's time," he stated simply.

Rin nodded her head slowly, "Yes…her wounds will be fine… and she remains sleeping. It's time to jump back down the Well."

Mrs. Higurashi sighed and turned to them worriedly, "Are you sure this is a good idea? What if something happens to her? She is asleep; she won't be able to defend herself."

The trio shared a minute of thoughtful silence and then Rin's arms slumped, "It must be done… we must trust fate."

"Fate," murmured Mrs. Higurashi sighed but said nothing more.

Sesshomaru walked out of the room, down the stairs and directed his steps towards the small, well-cared Shrine room.

Rin quickly opened the door for him and then moved back and waited beside Mrs. Higurashi, "Are you going to jump?" asked Rin with a small frown.

"I will," Sesshomaru said as he stood in front of the Bone Eater's Well.

"What if…" Mrs. Higurashi asked with a purse of her lips, "What if you pass?"

Sesshomaru didn't look back, only stared at Kagome's face, "Then it was destined," he said simply and jumped.

xxoOoxx

Inuyasha slept, pinned to the Sacred Tree when a familiar scent reached his nostrils. His ears twitched, but he couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

"Hey, you!" he called to the young man sleeping on a small camp site a few feet away. When the male didn't awake Inuyasha fumed, "HEY! Hojo!" He was considering using his Iron Reaver Soul Stealer on the unsuspecting male on the tree branch above him, but the guy finally snapped his eyes open.

"What?" asked the human as he stood too fast for his human reflexes and tangled on the sheets and fell again, "Is something coming?" he asked with wide, fearful eyes.

"Coward," muttered Inuyasha with an annoyed glare, "No," he said to calm Hojo down, "The girl is back… bring her here."

"The girl?" asked Hojo as he tilted his head, "Which girl?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "The miko you stupid!" he growled, "She's in the Bone Eater's Well again, but I don't hear her moving… she may be hurt, go get her and bring her here." Ordered the silver-haired hanyou with a serious expression.

Hojo watched the hanyou with a suspicious frown, but moved to the Bone Eater's Well to check anyways. When he made it there he did, in fact, find the girl at the bottom of the Well. The young musician went down and, with some effort, brought her out of the Well. He glanced between the Goshinboku and the village and wisely chose the latter.

He gave a few tentative steps and then hurried forward to the village and to Kaede. She would know what to do with the girl.

It was only seconds later when he heard Inuyasha howl angrily, "I am going to kill you Hojo! You hear me?!"

xxOoxx

Kaede was sleeping when Hojo came screaming into her hut. Startled, and almost pushed into a heart attack, the old miko ran to the entrance of her home and stared at the young man with sleepy eyes.

"Kagome-sama is here," he explained hurriedly and fidgeted where he stood, "I… I thought I should bring her to you… she has the Shikon Jewel."

Kaede gasped and motioned to her room. The young man dutifully moved inside and placed the sleeping girl over Kaede's futon.

"Where did you find her?" asked Kaede as she moved to heat some water.

"In the Bone Eater's Well," he said simply and moved to the main area of the house, "She's bandaged… someone took care of her wounds."

Kaede's eyebrows rose in surprise and she nodded while she brought out the tea bags, "That someone also sent her here… I wonder why. Perhaps there's danger to her in the other side too."

Hojo nodded numbly and watched as the old miko made the tea, "Inuyasha was the one to tell me of her return," he explained simply and then locked eyes with Kaede, "What are we going to do with him? He can't stay there… and it doesn't seem like he'll go back to sleep."

Kaede sighed and handed him his tea, "I don't know… I'll see what to do with him tomorrow."

Hojo nodded and together they drank their tea in silence. Hojo stayed there for some minutes and then thanked the old miko and once again returned to guard Inuyasha.

Kaede allowed him and after he left he moved to her room and watched the young girl. "I was so blind," the old lady said with a gentle smile, "Of course I remember ye child," she said and brushed the girl's bangs away, "You came here after Kikyo's death and sealed the hanyou who was responsible for her death. That Taiyoukai of yours almost killed us all… I wonder how he's doing… perhaps he searches for you… after all, you did promise to come back in fifty years." With a last gentle smile, Kaede tucked the miko in and reclined against the wall to get some more hours of sleep.

xxoOoxx

Sesshomaru glared at the empty shrine and at the now dead hounds. Golden eyes narrowed around and then settled on Jaken who was frantically unburying something. "This seems too easy," stated Sesshomaru as he moved near his loyal servant, "Are you sure Tetsusaiga is here?"

Jaken beamed at him, "So say the rumors," squawked the kappa as he went on with his task, "Finally we will get our hands on the Sword."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow and shrugged. He was very sure the sword wasn't here… his father knew better than that. He would never place such a dangerous sword in such an unprotected place. If he did… he was sure he was going to hunt down the Sword.

"There's something here!" cried Jaken and Sesshomaru's eyes widened… it couldn't be, could it? "There's a chest!"

Sesshomaru frowned.

Jaken hurried to take the chest out and then used his Staff of Two Heads to snap the rusty lock. He pushed the chest open and looked.

There was nothing inside… except a lonesome scroll.

Curiously Sesshomaru reached in and read its contents. After a full minute he turned to Jaken, "Jaken," he called and the kappa shivered for a moment, "Where's Inuyasha?"

Jaken's yellow eyes narrowed in confusion, "I believe he's still pinned to that Tree in the village of Edo," he stated cautiously.

Sesshomaru smirked and handed Jaken the scroll, who quickly placed it on his inner pocket, and turned away, "Let's visit my half-brother."


xXx

To be continued…

xXx


JeniNeji's Note:

Hn.