Ok people. I tried to get this to you as fast as possible, but a busy week and dance competition tomorrow, and choreographing a routine for lip sync has unfortunately kept me away long than I have liked. More people have decided to threaten me with kitchen appliances. *sigh* I woman's work is never done. Anyway, here it is FINALLY!!! Hope you like! Oh yes!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of it's characters except Tameiko, Tomeo and Naoki.

You want to know something that I've noticed? I've noticed that a lot of stories have snake demons in them. Hhhmmm..... Anyway!! On with the story!!

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Chapter 11

Kagome cooked breakfast and everyone seemed to be keeping their distance. No sooner had she served the food, Miroku's eyes popped open and he asked for some, as if nothing had happened. Kagome seemed to calm down, her anger dissipating, but Miroku kept his distance none the less.

After breakfast they cleaned up and went on their way. Inuyasha was at the head of the group, as usual. Everyone else trailed behind, Kagome with Shippo on her shoulder and Sango alongside her and Miroku walking a few feet behind...no doubt admiring the view. -_-* Inuyasha was unusually quiet, once again acting as if nothing happened. But, he was keeping an even closer eye on Kagome...and Miroku. He looked way too happy walking where he was. Kagome was staring at Inuyasha, thinking of the previous night. 'I wonder if he meant it, I wonder if he'll ever do it again. It was my first and I don't want it to be my last...' Suddenly, Inuyasha looked back and noticed Kagome staring at him, he stared back. His staring broke her out of her thoughts, and when she realized just what was happening she turned away, a blush apparent on her face, Inuyasha did the same. They walked a bit more and Kagome could no longer take his silence. She trotted up to Inuyasha, Shippo jumped on Sango as she went past.

"Hey Inuyasha!" she said cheerfully.

"Oh, hi Kagome." Silence fell between them. Inuyasha looked down at her and seen her staring at the ground playing nervously with the hem of her skirt.

"Did you want something?" he asked, but not unkindly.

"Oh, um...how much longer 'til we reach the village?" she stammered.

"Not long, we should be there any minute now."

"Oh, ok, that's good...cause we were getting kind of hungry...well I was anyway..." She didn't know what to say. She wanted to break the silence, but she only seemed to be making it worse, well, more uncomfortable. She was still struggling to think of something to say when she seen the first rooftops of the village. 'Phew, thank goodness!! We're finally here!'

They walked straight to Kaede's hut to see if she knew any information on Naoki Tatsuya. Kaede was just making some soup for lunch when they came in.

"Hello there. I was no expecting ye back for a few more days." she greeted them.

"We would have been back yesterday, but it was raining." Inuyasha replied, sitting in the corner.

"I see, did ye find any information on the well?" she asked.

"Well, unfortunately, Tomeo died a year ago, but we were lucky enough to meet his daughter." Kagome said, and went on to tell her of their stay at Tameiko's while they ate lunch.

"Naoki Tatsuya?" Kaede asked when Kagome had finished.

"Yes, that's what it said. Have you heard of him?" Kagome asked. Shippo had long since gone out to play and enjoy the sunshine he was deprived of the previous day, and Sango and Miroku stayed and listened politely. Inuyasha sat in his corner quietly.

"Yes, I know if whom you speak." Kaede replied. Inuyasha's ears twitched and he looked across the room at her.

"Then where is he?" he asked impatiently.

"He owns an inn on the other side of town."

"You mean, we traveled for three days when someone we were looking for was just across town?!?" Inuyasha asked, getting to his feet. "We could have gotten the information we needed and Kagome could be home by now if we hadn't wasted all that time!!" he yelled.

"How was I to know Naoki was one who worked on the well. I had never heard of anything connecting him to the well. But since Kagome has read it in Tomeo's journal, than it must be true." Kaede replied calmly looking up at Inuyasha who was now towering over her.

"Inuyasha, calm down. There was no way Kaede could have known about Naoki! I'm sure she would have told us if she did." Kagome chided.

"Fine, let's just go to the inn. We've wasted enough time." And with that, Inuyasha stalked out of the door. The others followed, thanking Kaede for lunch.

Inuyasha knew where the inn was, but he was never there before and never bothered to ask who the owner was. He never cared and never thought he would have to know. It was a short five minute walk to get there and when they went in a younger looking man greeted them courteously.

"Well hello there! What can I do for you?" he asked.

"We're looking for a Naoki Tatsuya. Is he here?" Kagome asked kindly.

"No, he stepped out for a bit but he will be back shortly. Is there anything I can do for you until he comes back?"

"No, really need to talk to Naoki." Inuyasha replied and turned to walk out.

"Well, my father should be back shortly." he said, returning to his paper work. Inuyasha turned back around.

"Did you say father?" he asked, taking a few steps closer.

"Yes, I am Taro Tatsuya and Naoki Tatsuya is my father." the young man replied, confused. Just then an elderly man walked into the inn.

"Ah, there's my father now." Taro exclaimed, walking over to help him. "Father, these people are here to see." he told him.

"Oh my, hello there. What can I do for you?" Naoki asked, smiling at them. His face was wrinkled, his mustache and beard were gray, covering most of his face. His hair was long and gray as well. He had a walking stick and was quite short. His eyes were kind and a kind smile greeted them.

"Hello Mr. Tatsuya, my name is Kagome, this is Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku and Shippo." Kagome said, pointing to each of them as she said their name. "We wanted to ask you about the Bone Eater well, we heard you helped build it, is that true?"

"Ah yes, it is true I did help dig the Bone Eater well. And I am one of the only who dared stay in the village after it's completion." he replied, his expression hardening a bit. "Perhaps we should sit down and talk. Let's go in the back so we won't be interrupted. Taro, watch over the front for me if you will."

"Of course father!" Taro replied. Taro was young, he looked to be a bit older than Kagome. His eyes were a brilliant green and his hair was an auburn color. When the light hit it just right it looked red. He was average height and resembled his father. Naoki lead them all into the back while Taro stayed in the front. Taro smiled at Kagome as she walked past and Inuyasha, who was walking behind Kagome, saw this and growled quietly at him. The smile quickly left his face, Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha's growl. In the back room they all sat down and got settled. Inuyasha sat against the wall, not far from Kagome and kept an eye on Taro through the door. He was busy looking over some papers and didn't notice Inuyasha, if he did, he didn't pay any attention.

"So, what is it you wanted to know about the Bone Eater well?" Naoki asked.

"Well, you see, the well was destroyed by a youkai and we were wondering how to fix it." Kagome replied sheepishly. She didn't know if he knew it was a passage between her era and this, she doubted it, so she thought it wise to leave that part out.

"I see. Are you aware of the magical energy surrounding the well?" he asked, looking Kagome in the eye.

"Well....sort of." she stuttered.

"I'm not sure what it is, nobody does. The well emits a strange magical energy that even the most skilled priests could not figure out. Some believed it was a passage between time, others thought it was a passage to hell. The well never once drew water, hence the name, the dry well. Do you have any idea what type of magic it possesses? The question has been plaguing my mind since it's completion."

"Well, it's a little unbelievable, but that is how I got here." Kagome replied.

"I do not see what you mean."

"You see, I'm not from this time, I'm from a future Japan, a place called Tokyo. My family took care of the well and I fell in one day and came out here. Now that the well is destroyed, I have no way of getting back to my own time. So we were hoping you knew how it could be repaired."

"I see. I do not know where the well gets its power from, I think it may have something to do with the tree we used to build it from. We were warned the tree was sacred, yet, we still used that tree for our lumber. We somehow felt compelled to it. As if we were meant to use it."

"What tree was it?" Inuyasha asked. He had a feeling, but it needed to be confirmed.

"I believe it was called the Goshinboku."

"I thought so." Inuyasha exclaimed.

"So, can it be fixed?" Miroku asked.

"Does the tree still stand?" Naoki asked.

"Yes." Miroku replied.

"Then yes, I believe it can be fixed."

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*evil maniacal laughter* That's the end!!! *chuckle* I hope you enjoyed it! hehe *looks up and sees people coming after her with frying pans, butcher knives and...sporks?!?!* Now now, if kill me, then you'll never find out what happens next! *a voice in the back says, 'but we still rough you up a bit, make you work faster.' they advance more* But, but, but....I don't work well under pressure!! *they keep coming closer* AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *runs a way* Don't forget to revieeeeeeeewwwwww.........*voice trails off as she runs*

*readers receive a letter in the mail:

I have never seen the Inuyasha movie, but I was told the well was made from the Goshinboku, which made the well a passage through time. I kind of took the liberty to use this to my advantage. I don't know if it goes with the movie at all. It isn't really meant to. Ok, that's all.

Your beloved, and death-threatened authoress,

Kerenza*