The Dog's Outta the Bag.
By Shenlong Girl
Author's Note: Despite the fact that I'm drowning in homework, I've managed another chapter.but midterms NEXT WEEK (kowai!!), so don't hold your breath for another one in the next week or two. I talked about this chapter running long, but I wanted to get a chapter out before midterms. So, I found a nice transition point. Don't worry! Chapter four *starts* with action!
You know, no one seems to agree on what allows a person access through the well. FYI, in this fic, one must either be from the time to which they intend to travel or must have a Shikon shard. That doesn't really add up with the series, but I'm a bit confused. By the way, I've ascertained that I've seen exactly 25 eps. Anyway, my theory works for the situation where Inu-Yasha tried to trap Kagome in her own time by taking the Shikon and shoving her down the well, but it doesn't in the ep with Yura of the Hair. She could travel through the well.or did she still have a shard at the time? I don't remember. Also, if Kagome keeps all the shards with her, why can Inu-Yasha come through the well to pick her up? Maybe only humans need a shard to go through? I just don't know! Oh, well, ignore my theorizing if you like. Just remember sentence number three of this note.
On another subject, since I've gotten a few requests and find the idea intriguing, I shall place a scene into this chapter that explains why Inu- Yasha was hugging Kagome in the prologue. I had not previously intended to, but take this as a lesson. See the power you people have over me? I'm not the only author like this either! Review whatever you read, whether you liked it or not!
- Flashback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Small transition (in normal typing, where tabs can be used, a double-space) *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ - Normal transition *___* - Italics
Chapter Three: Another One?!
Inu-Yasha sat outside of Kagome's house. He knew her mother would have let him sit inside, but he also knew that Sota would bug him and that his and Kagome's mother would try and touch his ears and ask awkward questions.
His thoughts drifted to the incident that had occurred three days before. He still wanted to kick himself for not sensing that Cherry Blossom girl. (Note: Sakura means "cherry blossom(s?)") However, his senses had been filled with Kagome; her scent had simply engulfed him. An unfit excuse for a warrior, but still.
They had argued about her next trip to the Feudal Era because she had a "paper" due. She could write it down on paper, but she wanted her *real* day off of school to "type" and "edit" it. He did not understand much of the point behind her weird "homework" assignments. Didn't this school thing take place during the day? Well, he could wonder about that later. Meanwhile, he and Kagome had not finished that.discussion. They had been close to a calm conclusion before that Sakura had come along.
On that note, he smelled Kagome. She was several seconds away still, but he was always attuned to her scent. That other girl seemed to be following along as well.
"Feh," he spat. He thought that he would have a couple of minutes alone with Kagome.Wait! What was he thinking? They would probably just bicker again, ending with the wench "sitting" him. He just wished.
"Oh, hi, Inu-Yasha! Sorry, but you'll have to wait for about a half an hour," Kagome said cheerily as she reached him. Apparently, time in her world with her friend had improved her mood. He noticed that Sakura could not avoid staring at him as she passed. He could have cut a tree in shreds; people had given him that look his whole life, human and youkai. However, looking at Kagome's smiling face, he restrained himself for both of their sakes, mollifying himself by flashing a fang-exposing grin and watching the girl swiftly look away and hurry to catch up to Kagome. It was quite amusing. Still, he had to give the girl credit when she turned back after a second and gave him a dirty look.
"Whatever," he finally answered, trying to sound indifferent.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Kagome ran up to her room with Sakura, where the auburn-haired girl proceeded to call home. Kagome dragged her oversized backpack from her closet and checked on its contents. She usually left important and nonperishable items in there between trips to the Feudal Era.
'Well,' she thought, 'I'll just need a little more ramen and other food, stuff to refill the first aid kit.' She mentally ran down the list of needed things. Then, she looked for something appropriate to wear. It was getting too cold to be stuck in her school uniform again.
"Mom! Did you wash my blue sweater?"
While waiting for a response, she continued her packing, her thoughts drifting to her and Inu-Yasha's unfinished argument of a few days before.
"NO!" Inu-Yasha snarled as Kagome jumped into the well. He jumped after her, grabbing her around the waist so that they landed in the present time in a heap.
"Kagome, I'm not letting this go. You cannot stay away for so many days!" Inu-Yasha shouted, still gripping her. Kagome, however, stayed silent for what he must have realized was a little too long, and she had a peculiar look on her face.
"Oi, Kago.me."
Kagome was vaguely pleased that he had finally realized where his hand rested. Miroku would be jealous. And, since he did not move fast enough.
"OSUWARI! You pervert!" Unfortunately, she was still in his arms, so she was dragged down along with him. Inu-Yasha had the sense to move her as far away from the cursed necklace as he could, but she was still pinned under him.
Kagome did not remember the next few moments, but she woke to the hanyou's concerned face. She felt touched at his worry before remembering the argument. She pushed him away and sat up in the grass; he had apparently pulled her from the well, at least.
"You know, you go too far sometimes."
Standing up, Inu-Yasha started, "*I-?!* You 'sit' me over nothing sometimes, and you're tryin' to skip out on the shard hunt-"
"I have HOMEWORK!" Kagome interrupted, rising to meet him, " I'm a ninth- grader preparing for my high school entrance exams, and this paper is a big grade! [note: Japanese high school is a three-year long affair starting with the tenth grade] I really need to do well," Kagome yelled.
"Speak English!" Inu-Yasha shouted back.
"I thought this was *Japanese* anime?"
"Whatever. Look, I need a shard-detector more than ever with Naraku on the loose-"
"Don't you think I know that?! I'd almost stay with you full-time if I could, even with your bad attitude."
"Bad attitude? I'm a hanyou bent on becoming a full youkai; I don't need to be courteous," Inu-Yasha spat back.
"That's not the point! Just.just.sit!" As he flew to the ground, Kagome turned away from him to hide the glimmer of tears in her eyes. She hated this! The arguing, the worrying, being torn in two directions. She began to walk off, not knowing or caring when they would finish the disagreement. She heard him curse as he stood up, then found herself shocked immobile with Inu-Yasha's arms wrapped around her from behind. What was he.
"Kagome, I'm sorry. Why do you have to be such a stubborn wench?" he questioned tiredly.
She had hardly had the time to sit back and ponder the meaning of that moment since it happened. What would have happened if Sakura had not interrupted? Speaking of which, those thoughts were interrupted by a scream from out front.
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While the pair of girls was inside, Inu-Yasha heard the cracking of sticks. Hmm.a visitor, eh? Well, no need to get caught off his guard again. He leapt up a nearby tree and hid in the higher branches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, a shorthaired girl wearing Kagome's school's uniform came into view and began climbing the stairs to the house. Upon reaching the door, she knocked on it, and Mrs. Higurashi answered with a smile.
"Oh, hello dear. Kagome's not home I'm afraid."
"But I just saw her headed in this direction!" Makoto insisted.
"Well, she must have gone past."
"Mom! Did you wash my blue sweater?" Kagome yelled from her room. Mrs. Higurashi looked a bit nervous.
"Ah.stealthy girl, isn't she? Well, she must be changing or something. Would you like to come in and wait?"
"Oh, no thanks. I'm enjoying the weather, and your shrine's so pretty."
"Alright, dear." Kagome's mom returned inside. Makoto thought about sitting on the porch but instead opted for a nearby tree. She leaned against it, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she began to contemplate what to say to her friends. It hurt her to think that they would hide something so important-sounding from her. However, it seemed as if Sakura had only just learned of the situation herself.
Hearing a rustling noise, Makoto opened her eyes and searched the ground, settling on a scampering squirrel. It was running from her tree quite frantically. Makoto dismissed it as smelling nuts or something.
Returning to her thoughts, Makoto began to consider the conversation she had just overheard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Curses! Inu-Yasha would have kicked himself if he did not think it would have made too much noise. He had already slipped and scared the blasted squirrel. All he could do was hope the shorthaired girl did not look up and see him in the branches. Why didn't she just go inside?! The way she would look up and barely close her eyes in time, then open them just in time to look down again made him nervous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Makoto looked up to the sky expecting to see fluffy clouds and leafy branches. Instead, her eyes met with a feral, yellow eye shine peeking through the branches. They were huge, too big to belong to a cat!
"Gaaah!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inu-Yasha leapt from the branches, landing hardly a foot from Makoto. Ouch! Sometimes, acute hearing did not serve its owner well! Desperate to stop the racket, he grabbed the girl's shoulders and shook her into silence.
"Quiet yourself! Damn it, woman, I'm not here to hurt you!"
Whimpering, Makoto attempted to escape, but Inu-Yasha swung her around and pressed her against the tree.
"No! Calm down; I'm waiting for someone. No reason to be afraid or scream!"
Makoto still looked petrified. Finally realizing that his position was not helping matters, Inu-Yasha prepared to let her go and step back. However.
"SIT!"
"Gak!"
"You jerk, what are you doing to her? She's terrified!" Kagome scolded.
Sakura ran to Makoto and said, "Did he hurt you?" Inu-Yasha jumped up, furious.
"Of course I didn't attack that wench! Why would I do that?! She saw me, and her screaming hurt my ears is all."
"Idiot; of course you weren't hurting her," Kagome countered.
"I told you-wait. What?"
"I know you better than that. I just wanted to know what foolish thing you were doing just now. You're so bad at dealing with normal people." Unprepared for her agreement, Inu-Yasha could only stand in silence.
"But you saw them! Look at Makoto!" Sakura persisted, glaring at Inu- Yasha.
Before the hanyou could even growl, Kagome leapt to his defense, saying, "His ears are really sensitive, and they were clearly both surprised. Makoto-chan's fine; she was just shocked."
"Yeah.I'm okay, but what the hell? Is this one of those 'dangerous- sounding people' I heard you talking about?"
After a period of shocked silence, much argument and explanation ensued.
Author's Note: Despite the fact that I'm drowning in homework, I've managed another chapter.but midterms NEXT WEEK (kowai!!), so don't hold your breath for another one in the next week or two. I talked about this chapter running long, but I wanted to get a chapter out before midterms. So, I found a nice transition point. Don't worry! Chapter four *starts* with action!
You know, no one seems to agree on what allows a person access through the well. FYI, in this fic, one must either be from the time to which they intend to travel or must have a Shikon shard. That doesn't really add up with the series, but I'm a bit confused. By the way, I've ascertained that I've seen exactly 25 eps. Anyway, my theory works for the situation where Inu-Yasha tried to trap Kagome in her own time by taking the Shikon and shoving her down the well, but it doesn't in the ep with Yura of the Hair. She could travel through the well.or did she still have a shard at the time? I don't remember. Also, if Kagome keeps all the shards with her, why can Inu-Yasha come through the well to pick her up? Maybe only humans need a shard to go through? I just don't know! Oh, well, ignore my theorizing if you like. Just remember sentence number three of this note.
On another subject, since I've gotten a few requests and find the idea intriguing, I shall place a scene into this chapter that explains why Inu- Yasha was hugging Kagome in the prologue. I had not previously intended to, but take this as a lesson. See the power you people have over me? I'm not the only author like this either! Review whatever you read, whether you liked it or not!
- Flashback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Small transition (in normal typing, where tabs can be used, a double-space) *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ - Normal transition *___* - Italics
Chapter Three: Another One?!
Inu-Yasha sat outside of Kagome's house. He knew her mother would have let him sit inside, but he also knew that Sota would bug him and that his and Kagome's mother would try and touch his ears and ask awkward questions.
His thoughts drifted to the incident that had occurred three days before. He still wanted to kick himself for not sensing that Cherry Blossom girl. (Note: Sakura means "cherry blossom(s?)") However, his senses had been filled with Kagome; her scent had simply engulfed him. An unfit excuse for a warrior, but still.
They had argued about her next trip to the Feudal Era because she had a "paper" due. She could write it down on paper, but she wanted her *real* day off of school to "type" and "edit" it. He did not understand much of the point behind her weird "homework" assignments. Didn't this school thing take place during the day? Well, he could wonder about that later. Meanwhile, he and Kagome had not finished that.discussion. They had been close to a calm conclusion before that Sakura had come along.
On that note, he smelled Kagome. She was several seconds away still, but he was always attuned to her scent. That other girl seemed to be following along as well.
"Feh," he spat. He thought that he would have a couple of minutes alone with Kagome.Wait! What was he thinking? They would probably just bicker again, ending with the wench "sitting" him. He just wished.
"Oh, hi, Inu-Yasha! Sorry, but you'll have to wait for about a half an hour," Kagome said cheerily as she reached him. Apparently, time in her world with her friend had improved her mood. He noticed that Sakura could not avoid staring at him as she passed. He could have cut a tree in shreds; people had given him that look his whole life, human and youkai. However, looking at Kagome's smiling face, he restrained himself for both of their sakes, mollifying himself by flashing a fang-exposing grin and watching the girl swiftly look away and hurry to catch up to Kagome. It was quite amusing. Still, he had to give the girl credit when she turned back after a second and gave him a dirty look.
"Whatever," he finally answered, trying to sound indifferent.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Kagome ran up to her room with Sakura, where the auburn-haired girl proceeded to call home. Kagome dragged her oversized backpack from her closet and checked on its contents. She usually left important and nonperishable items in there between trips to the Feudal Era.
'Well,' she thought, 'I'll just need a little more ramen and other food, stuff to refill the first aid kit.' She mentally ran down the list of needed things. Then, she looked for something appropriate to wear. It was getting too cold to be stuck in her school uniform again.
"Mom! Did you wash my blue sweater?"
While waiting for a response, she continued her packing, her thoughts drifting to her and Inu-Yasha's unfinished argument of a few days before.
"NO!" Inu-Yasha snarled as Kagome jumped into the well. He jumped after her, grabbing her around the waist so that they landed in the present time in a heap.
"Kagome, I'm not letting this go. You cannot stay away for so many days!" Inu-Yasha shouted, still gripping her. Kagome, however, stayed silent for what he must have realized was a little too long, and she had a peculiar look on her face.
"Oi, Kago.me."
Kagome was vaguely pleased that he had finally realized where his hand rested. Miroku would be jealous. And, since he did not move fast enough.
"OSUWARI! You pervert!" Unfortunately, she was still in his arms, so she was dragged down along with him. Inu-Yasha had the sense to move her as far away from the cursed necklace as he could, but she was still pinned under him.
Kagome did not remember the next few moments, but she woke to the hanyou's concerned face. She felt touched at his worry before remembering the argument. She pushed him away and sat up in the grass; he had apparently pulled her from the well, at least.
"You know, you go too far sometimes."
Standing up, Inu-Yasha started, "*I-?!* You 'sit' me over nothing sometimes, and you're tryin' to skip out on the shard hunt-"
"I have HOMEWORK!" Kagome interrupted, rising to meet him, " I'm a ninth- grader preparing for my high school entrance exams, and this paper is a big grade! [note: Japanese high school is a three-year long affair starting with the tenth grade] I really need to do well," Kagome yelled.
"Speak English!" Inu-Yasha shouted back.
"I thought this was *Japanese* anime?"
"Whatever. Look, I need a shard-detector more than ever with Naraku on the loose-"
"Don't you think I know that?! I'd almost stay with you full-time if I could, even with your bad attitude."
"Bad attitude? I'm a hanyou bent on becoming a full youkai; I don't need to be courteous," Inu-Yasha spat back.
"That's not the point! Just.just.sit!" As he flew to the ground, Kagome turned away from him to hide the glimmer of tears in her eyes. She hated this! The arguing, the worrying, being torn in two directions. She began to walk off, not knowing or caring when they would finish the disagreement. She heard him curse as he stood up, then found herself shocked immobile with Inu-Yasha's arms wrapped around her from behind. What was he.
"Kagome, I'm sorry. Why do you have to be such a stubborn wench?" he questioned tiredly.
She had hardly had the time to sit back and ponder the meaning of that moment since it happened. What would have happened if Sakura had not interrupted? Speaking of which, those thoughts were interrupted by a scream from out front.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
While the pair of girls was inside, Inu-Yasha heard the cracking of sticks. Hmm.a visitor, eh? Well, no need to get caught off his guard again. He leapt up a nearby tree and hid in the higher branches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, a shorthaired girl wearing Kagome's school's uniform came into view and began climbing the stairs to the house. Upon reaching the door, she knocked on it, and Mrs. Higurashi answered with a smile.
"Oh, hello dear. Kagome's not home I'm afraid."
"But I just saw her headed in this direction!" Makoto insisted.
"Well, she must have gone past."
"Mom! Did you wash my blue sweater?" Kagome yelled from her room. Mrs. Higurashi looked a bit nervous.
"Ah.stealthy girl, isn't she? Well, she must be changing or something. Would you like to come in and wait?"
"Oh, no thanks. I'm enjoying the weather, and your shrine's so pretty."
"Alright, dear." Kagome's mom returned inside. Makoto thought about sitting on the porch but instead opted for a nearby tree. She leaned against it, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she began to contemplate what to say to her friends. It hurt her to think that they would hide something so important-sounding from her. However, it seemed as if Sakura had only just learned of the situation herself.
Hearing a rustling noise, Makoto opened her eyes and searched the ground, settling on a scampering squirrel. It was running from her tree quite frantically. Makoto dismissed it as smelling nuts or something.
Returning to her thoughts, Makoto began to consider the conversation she had just overheard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Curses! Inu-Yasha would have kicked himself if he did not think it would have made too much noise. He had already slipped and scared the blasted squirrel. All he could do was hope the shorthaired girl did not look up and see him in the branches. Why didn't she just go inside?! The way she would look up and barely close her eyes in time, then open them just in time to look down again made him nervous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Makoto looked up to the sky expecting to see fluffy clouds and leafy branches. Instead, her eyes met with a feral, yellow eye shine peeking through the branches. They were huge, too big to belong to a cat!
"Gaaah!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inu-Yasha leapt from the branches, landing hardly a foot from Makoto. Ouch! Sometimes, acute hearing did not serve its owner well! Desperate to stop the racket, he grabbed the girl's shoulders and shook her into silence.
"Quiet yourself! Damn it, woman, I'm not here to hurt you!"
Whimpering, Makoto attempted to escape, but Inu-Yasha swung her around and pressed her against the tree.
"No! Calm down; I'm waiting for someone. No reason to be afraid or scream!"
Makoto still looked petrified. Finally realizing that his position was not helping matters, Inu-Yasha prepared to let her go and step back. However.
"SIT!"
"Gak!"
"You jerk, what are you doing to her? She's terrified!" Kagome scolded.
Sakura ran to Makoto and said, "Did he hurt you?" Inu-Yasha jumped up, furious.
"Of course I didn't attack that wench! Why would I do that?! She saw me, and her screaming hurt my ears is all."
"Idiot; of course you weren't hurting her," Kagome countered.
"I told you-wait. What?"
"I know you better than that. I just wanted to know what foolish thing you were doing just now. You're so bad at dealing with normal people." Unprepared for her agreement, Inu-Yasha could only stand in silence.
"But you saw them! Look at Makoto!" Sakura persisted, glaring at Inu- Yasha.
Before the hanyou could even growl, Kagome leapt to his defense, saying, "His ears are really sensitive, and they were clearly both surprised. Makoto-chan's fine; she was just shocked."
"Yeah.I'm okay, but what the hell? Is this one of those 'dangerous- sounding people' I heard you talking about?"
After a period of shocked silence, much argument and explanation ensued.