Future Repercussions
Chapter 2
Kagome landed on the bottom of the well as softly as ever. She sighed; somehow she had expected Inuyasha to be right there at the bottom of the well waiting for her. She reached for the ladder and blinked when her hand only grasped thin air. She looked at the spot where the ladder should have been to find the well wall covered in a layer of thick vines. Looking up she saw a distinct lack of roof.
Kagome's blood froze in her veins. Had she not passed through? Was she stuck in the feudal era? Would she ever see her family again? Thousands of questions chased each other through her head. She blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill when something caught her eye. She blinked again. Something… no someone was coming straight at her out of the sky. Before she could decipher any more, the figure landed right behind her, grabbed her by the waist, and leapt out of the well and into the air.
Kagome stared in shock at the quickly retreating ground. What time was she in? She couldn't see either the shrine or Tokyo, not even an over grown version of them. All around was forest, but not like the forest of the feudal era. First, it looked dark…almost dead. She also noted that she couldn't see Kaede's village or the God tree. The only sign of life was from the horde of demons congesting the well clearing.
Looking up at the person who had pulled her from the well nearly made her breath catch in her throat. It was Kouga, but not as she knew him. This Kouga looked to be in his mid twenties. His normal ponytail had been let down so that the ebony locks flew freely up ward as they descended, his electric blue eyes seem unusually focused, and his fur attire had been discarded in favor of a pair of tattered trousers and a leather vest. The most disturbing difference, however, were the numerous scares decoration the exposed flesh of his chest, face and arms.
"Kouga?" Kagome asked, unsure of her own voice. He made no motion that he heard her only shifted to holding her bridle style as he hit the ground running. Even without the shards in his legs, his speed was incredible. Chancing a glance back, Kagome saw the demons were giving chase. Kouga picked up speed and Kagome had to screw her eyes shut to ward off motion sickness. For the next twenty minutes Kouga rushed them through forests, rivers, clearings and the like, all the while leaving their pursuers farther and farther behind.
With a mighty leap Kouga carried her up the side of a sheer cliff face, landing on a ledge about halfway up. He took a quick look around before pushing the vines, that covered most of the cliff face, aside and entering a small cave. He set her on her feet just inside the entrance.
"Ko…" Kagome stared to ask but was cut off by a clawed finger pressed to lips. Kouga looked around, tilting his head to listen. After a moment he looked her straight in the eyes and shook his head. He removed his finger and moved a nearby boulder over the cave mouth. Without a word he scooped her up in his arms again and set off deeper into the cave. Kouga's demon sight or smell must have been guiding him, because all Kagome could see was endless blackness.
Slowly, however, the darkness gave way to a flickering golden glow. Kouga made a sharp turn and they entered a large hallow. In the middle of the room was a small fire, with what looked to be a rabbit cooking over it. To her left was a spring fed pool of clear water large enough to bath in. On the far side of the room was a make shift bed of straw covered in a thin sheet. A small hole in the ceiling let out the smoke from the fire. The only other item in the room was a large pile of firewood. Kouga set her on her feet and moved another boulder over the entrance.
"Are you hungry Kagome?" he asked moving to check the meat.
"A little, but I really want to know what is going on. Where is Inuyasha and Shippou, and what happened to you?" Kagome knew her voice was higher then was necessary and was probably hurting his ears, but she was feeling just a little hysterical at the moment. Kouga sighed as if he knew this was coming.
"Come, sit, eat. I have much to tell you."