Guide: (1). " " means talking out loud ( even if other characters don't hear ). (2). ' Italic ' means thinking. (3). " Italic " means emphasis. (4). * before paragraph means narration. (5). ____ means flashback. (6). " Bold " means yelled really loud. (7). a line of ~*~*~ means that there is an alteration between areas, or the end of the chapter.

Inu Yasha:

A Past Of Presents

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~Ch 4~

Into the Lake of Glass

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* The group had setup camp and were all sitting around a small fire. Lucky for Inu Yasha tonight was not the dreaded new moon, but the existence of the lake had made everyone uneasy.

"Ok Myoga spill it," said Inu Yasha as he picked up the flea, and prepared to squish him.

"I've told you!" squealed the flea, "This is a sacred lake, and the sutras were probably put up by the villagers, and..."

"You're not telling us everything," Inu Yasha howled. "Start from the beginning!"

"Fine! Just don't squish me!" said the flea as he was placed back on the ground. "The legend starts long ago... it is said that a strange white horse appeared at the lake and enchanted the pond that is now before us. About that same time your lord father was patrolling the border of his lordships domain when he happened upon an endangered maiden whom I spoke of before. He fought to protect her from her pursuers, and succeeded but was badly injured, and poisoned in the process. She tended to his wounds, and stayed by his side until he was well. She is said to wield amazing healing, and purifying powers especially when it comes to poisons. The two," Myoga said, "became close over that time, and soon became very trusting friends. When he was well the maid informed him of her chosen destination, and reason for her travels."

"And what was that?" Shippou asked hastily. "Where was she going?"

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to interrupt?!" Inu Yasha yelled as he swiftly hit the kit over the back side of the head.

"Stop it you two!" Kagome yelled. "Now you're both interrupting! Can't you wait till after the story to... Oops!"

"Ahhem... As I was saying. The girl was traveling to this very lake in order to rejoin her mate. He had left to find a place where he could protect her from all those who wished her harm. Well, the lord decided to escort her the rest of the way to repay the maiden for her kindness. Soon they reached the lake, and she was reunited with her husband once more. Her partner was as odd in appearance as she. He had short light yellow hair, pale skin, and green eyes. He had made the lake into a portal so the two would not be found, and could live in peace. After that your lord father made many travels to the lake to see the maid, and to ask her for help, wisdom, or to converse. Thus helping to deepen the lakes importance. Soon villagers started to put live animals into watertight crates, and set them afloat. For you see once something sinks in the lake it is said that it does not float back up to the surface. Some go as far as to say that it travels to another land entirely, but I digress. After his lordships death the lake was slowly invaded by both people, and demons wishing to discover the reason for the lakes importance," He said with a grave look on his face.

"Though I am not certain, I did hear rumors that the maid left the lake, and went into hiding for sometime, but returned again to the lake later. That is all I know," the flea sighed. " I have heard nothing in many years. Except that she has not been seen in a long time."

"What do you think happened to her?" Kagome asked sadly.

"I wish I knew," Myoga sighed, "but unfortunately I haven't heard from her since the last time the lord visited this place."

"I thought you said you never saw her?" Inu Yasha pointed out. "What were you doing hiding in the bushes the entire time?"

"Well I wouldn't call it hiding per say. Rather than simply concealing ones self in the underbrush, and happening to over hear certain conversations," stated the flea.

"So you were hiding in the bushes, and eavesdropping," said the hanyou.

"How old is this woman?" Sango asked while stroking Kirara who was perched in her lap.

"It is strange, but from all accounts she has always been portrayed as a young woman that appears to be not much older than miss Kagome, but her wisdom and comprehension seem grater than that of even the eldest of demons. Though it is only her movement that gives any physical hint at her true age for it is said that if one looks closely she appears to have a grace closer to that of a deer, or other cloven hoofed creatures than that of any mortal," the flea replied.

"But she would be like.." Inu Yasha tried vainly to calculate as he counted on his fingers, "I don't know how old, but much older than me. So she can't be human."

"I must ask something of you Myoga," stated the monk as he finally broke his silence, "of this horse that you are referring to so often. What did it look like?"

"Humm... it is said to be a noble, and striking stallion with a slim, sleek body along with a pure white coat, mane, and tail," said the flea, "It is said to be impossible to track, though its scent is vary distinct, and leaves no hoof marks. Legend holds that he had a single ivory, spiral horn on his forehead. That is about all I know of him, but he did have some connection to the maiden's mate."

* Miroku sat with a serous look on his face as if deep in thought.

Kagome just sat stunned thinking, 'Wait! No that's impossible... those types of Unicorns are from Europe! This is Japan their not apart of our culture so how...'

"Gurrr..." Inu Yasha started to growl, "He's coming."

"Who?" asked Kagome as she snapped back from her own thoughts.

"Who do you think you stupid girl?!" he yelled, "Sesshomaru."

"But how could you..." Kagome started to ask.

"I can smell him ok!" he said irritated, "What's so surprising. You've gotten me to track about everything else! We need some way to mask our scent... but how?"

"The lake," said Shippou in a knowledgeable tone as he sat with his arms and legs crossed. "Isn't it obvious? If we wade in and submerge just as he comes overhead then he won't be able to find our scent. To him it would seem that we simply disappeared."

"How do you know that?" asked the bewildered hanyou.

"We kitsunes have been eluding mongrels like that for centuries," he said mater-of -factly. "He's dog demon so he should fall for it."

"Oh... Wait... Hey!" said Inu Yasha as he slowly realized the insult. "Are you saying that dogs are stupid?!"

* Suddenly there came a growl, and disturbance from the bushes that separated the lake from the forest.

"Gurr... Everyone dive!!" yelled Shippou as he quickly took charge of the situation.

* Miroku and Sango, who was still holding Kirara, jumped in to the lake as the command was issued. Kagome reached down, and picked up the kit as Inu Yasha ran to her side.

"Kagome!!" he yelled as he put his arm around her waist. With that he quickly jumped, and the trio plunged into the cool night water.

* After they had disappeared a still groggy, fawn sight hound made her way from the undergrowth to the waters side confused by the commotion that had awakened her. She had been guarding the lake non-stop for 3 weeks, and pure exhaustion was the only thing that had caused her to step down from her post. Suddenly the sound of footsteps, and an all to familiar odor caused a chill to run down her spine. With a growl she quickly went back to her former hiding place as a dark form prepared to make its way into the lake.

~*~*~*~*~(rejoin Inu Yasha and co.)~*~*~*~*~

"What?" Kagome said weakly as she slowly regained consciousness. "Where am I?"

* The area that surrounded her was completely different. She was facing an open meadow that lay just beyond the lake, to her left was forest, and to her right lay a thin line of trees that rimed yet another meadow. Not to mention that it was day, and, she realized as she nearly fell but was steadied by someone's reassuring hold, was sitting in a vary large tree. The grasp tightened as she felt who ever was holding her, and, she realized whoever's lap she was sitting on, move.

"Nice to see you're awake," came a calm familiar voice form behind her.

"Inu... Inu Yasha?" she asked still half asleep as she looked up in to a concerned pair of amber eyes. "Wha... Where are we? Where's the forest, and Sesshomaru, and," she realized, "where are the others? I... I remember diving into the lake, and... and," she strained her brain to remember, "I was waiting to reach the bottom, but I... I couldn't hole my breath any longer, and... and everything went dark..." she started to feel like she would cry.

" Shuush... take it easy don't cry... everyone's safe... you're safe," he whispered as he held her closer. She snuggled into him as she tried to calm herself. He had wrapped her in the top shirt of his kimono, and was wearing only his white under shirt. "It's ok. I won't let anything hurt you I swear... You're safe. That's all that counts."

* The others tried not to take notice of the couple's conversation above them out of pure politeness, but the question still remained. Where were they?

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A/N: Yellow!! See I can make Inu Yasha nice. You put him in a situation with a hurt Kagome, and poof!! He goes from his sarcastic, unconcerned usual self into... very nice guy mode. Whee!!! The power of love! Okay for anyone who is lost... e-mails and reviews work very well to help those who use them(hint, hint). Sorry to all about the mix-up last time with chapter 1 and 2(to all those who don't know don't ask. I just did a very stupid thing and lets leave it at that) I appreciate the heads up from both D-Chan and cinnamin girl! I felt very stupid after that little incident hopefully it won't happen again, but it probably will(knowing myself the way I do). At least it's proof that people read this so there is one good side to it... If I screw up again please tell me that way I won't look as stupid... maybe...

Well school is out for the summer on 5/23 so that means I should update constantly after that. Any suggestions, feedback, ect. would be greatly appreciated. This is my first fan fic you know.

Thanks once again to Ashie-chan, and Ashly-chan my wonderful if not sometimes violent and abusive beta readers. Hope to put chapter 6 up by 5/28(hope being the big word here). Once again thanks for reading it's appreciated, but please review as well!! Biy!!