Wishing Well

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Dragon Ball Z. Even my pants are on loan. Don't sue me.

Disclaimer: This is my first fic. Expect it to suck. Don't hurt me.

Legend: "…" = speech

'…' = thought

~~~ = beginning/ending of flashback

Kaede made sure the half-breeds were well out of earshot before speaking again.

"It is strange to find a half-breed from the future. And the girl does not seem to be fully human. Miroku, I want you to keep an eye on him. Sango, try to learn more about Videl."

"Kaede-sama, do you think that they could be after the Shikon no Tama?"

"I do not think so Miroku, considering the power of the Dragonballs that Gohan talked about. However, we cannot afford to be lazy now that the jewel is whole once more."

Sango fended off the monk's hands one more time before grabbing her gear.

"Of course, Kaede-sama," she agreed, before glaring daggers at the seemingly innocent monk. "I think it is better that I spend the rest of the night with the girls. I feel much safer with them," she declared as she stalked off to the guest hut, muttering about hentai, ecchi houshi.

Miroku maintained his innocent façade until Sango had left. Then he quietly picked up his belongings and sauntered off in the direction of the God Tree, muttering curses against hanyous and women.

Krillin and Piccolo landed in the clearing where they last felt Gohan's ki. Goku and Vegeta were already there, examining an old well.

"This is where your brat's ki was last," Vegeta stated, peering down the well's depth.

"But how could a well cause Gohan to disappear? What sort of trap is it?" Krillin asked, not exactly thrilled to find anything capable of making Gohan disappear.

"There's an aura around this well," Piccolo said as he approached it. "It's like quicksand, sucking you in if you get too close."

Goku stood apart from the others, trying to understand the memories that flashed before him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flashback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kaede-sama! Kaede-sama! Look at what me and Tail can do!" A chibi Goku hung from the God Tree by his tail, then swung through a number of acrobatic feats using all five of his limbs before landing in from of Kaede.

"Hmph, that's very good, but don't you think you should find another tree to play in?" Kaede's eye drifted pointedly to the still figure of Inuyasha, sealed to the tree. Vines had already started to grow around him.

"Uh-uh, Kaede-sama, I like this Tree, with Inuyasha. I think he watches me play, and I see him smile sometimes!"

"Very well, Goku, but I have to go back to the village. Come back inside before nightfall."

"Ok, Kaede-sama!"

Goku turned back to the tree, where Inuyasha rested peacefully.

'You feel kinda like me! Except you have doggy ears while I have a tail. Oh well, I still like you!'

He gave Inuyasha a quick pat on the head before scampering up the God Tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flashback ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"BAKAYAROU!!!!!!!" Vegeta snarled, trying for the upteenth time to get Goku's attention.

"Who? What? Huh?" Goku snapped back to the present.

"We've been calling you for the past 10 minutes while you were off in La-La Land!" Vegeta was beginning to wonder if the Earth-Saiyan even cared about his son.

Goku looked back at the well, then laughed uproariously.

Piccolo put a restraining hand on Vegeta, and willed away his sudden headache to confront Goku. Before he could even say a word, said Saiyan held up a hand to stop him.

"I know where this well goes."

Three eyebrows arched up into the air.

"It's a door to the past. Back in time to the days of the Warring States."

The eyebrows went up a little higher.

"And how, pray tell, my dearest, oldest buddy, do you know this?" Krillen said smoothly. Only the large vein throbbing over his left eye marred his expression.

"'Cause I've gone there before."

The clearing was suddenly filled with the sound of three violent facevaults.

"Don't worry about Gohan, he's safe. He'll be back in about four days, after the full moon is gone."

The clearing was suddenly filled with the sound of three violent facevaults. Again.

Unfortunately, Chi Chi, Bulma, and 18 had arrived by then. Krillin smacked his forehead, muttering about wives unable to keep a secret.

"FOUR DAYS!!!! GOKU, YOU GET MY SON BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!" Chi Chi shrieked, her eyes bleeding slowly to red.

Goku shrugged.

"Sure, if you're eager to see youkai."

Chi Chi's eyes started to glow. In the meantime, Piccolo cautiously jumped into the well.

"Which is what most of us here would be considered as."

Chi Chi's face turned red. Ox horns started to grow from her head. Bulma suddenly had a throbbing headache, which pulsed along with the veins popping out on her forehead. 18 merely huffed.

"And me and the boys here can't go, unless you want us to be swarmed by teenage girls. Remember, this was a period of time when girls got married as young as 14 years old. Monks and princes were especially popular."

Evil gleams had filled Vegeta and Krillin's eyes, as both of them inched closer to the well.

The skirmish was brief. As the dust cleared, Vegeta, Krillin, and Goku sat on the ground with large lumps on their heads. Chi Chi was climbing on to Goku's back while threatening him with her frying pan; Bulma was already on Vegeta's back and trying to stuff a large wrench in a capsule. 18 found it better to throw Krillin over her shoulder.

"We can't go anyway. The well is sealed. I tried just now." Piccolo uttered, while meditating next to a nearby tree.

Krillin jumped down from 18's shoulder, and asked the most important question.

"So, whose gonna go tell Hercule his daughter just ran off with the real winner of the Cell games, for four days no less?"

Images of Hercule's chagrin as they blackmailed him with this information flashed through everyone's head. Squabbling soon broke out, with Chi Chi screeching the hardest for a chance to go ruin Hercule's life.

"In a situation like this, I think we should employ democratic methods of choosing," Krillin said, as he calmly silenced everyone.

Two hours later:

"ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!"

"Shit!"

"Krillin, watch your mouth."

"But 18, why'd she hafta win?"

"'Cause I'm his mother!"

"By the way, where are the brats?"

"They're called children and they're with my mother!"

"Hn."

"Do you think we should mention the lack of bathrooms and the conditions Videl will be living in? Huh, Vegeta?"

"Kakkarotto that would be evil!" 'I wish I'd thought of it myself!'

"No, evil is when I tell him what most Saiyan males do during a full moon, especially when they're with a girl they want."

"…"

"…"

"Kakkarotto, I hail you as a true Saiyan."

"Oh finally, I'm gonna have grandchildren!"

"Aw, thanks. Come on guys, let's drop Chi Chi off!"

Gohan and Inuyasha padded through the forest, moving in almost absolute silence.

Gohan felt his Saiyan blood rise to the fore, his instincts enjoying the wind in his face and the feel of his muscles moving to his will. It helped to be playing with his new pack mate, even though he missed the other members of his pack …

'Pack mate! Next thing you know, I'll be calling Videl my bitch, and openly ravishing her … Mmmm.'

Inuyasha was enjoying the race. It wasn't an everyday occurrence to meet a born hanyou. And this one smelt powerful. Gohan was easing that lonely feeling he got every time he thought of Kagome. Not by much, but it was a start.

By this time, the half-breeds had made it to the God Tree, and had chosen their branches to sleep on. Oddly enough, the branches they chose put them back-to-back, separated only by the solid trunk of the God Tree.

Gohan's sleepy mind turned to the events in the hut. His secret was out, and Videl now knew the truth. He had just told her that her father was a weak fake, that the mighty Son Goku was an alien, that Bulma Briefs was married to an alien prince named Vegeta…he had turned her world completely upside-down.

'I can't imagine how confused she is right now. My family and friends must disgust her. She'll probably hate me for trying to say that her father is a fraud, even if it is true. I've blown any chance I ever had with her.'

Gohan sighed wearily as his thoughts continued to depress him.

"Hey, Inuyasha?"

The inu hanyou was wrapped up in his own thoughts, and wasn't eager to talk.

"Hn."

"How did you get Kagome, Miroku, and Sango to stay with you during all your adventures?"

"NANI?!"

"Well, I mean, I would've thought any other human would be disgusted by a hanyou. I mean I can't imagine many humans liking us."

"Hn, it's true that plenty of humans hate us, but Kagome, Miroku, and Sango are special. They're better than most humans."

"I wish I knew if Videl was better than most humans," Gohan whispered to himself, forgetting the sensitivity of Inuyasha's ears.

"Feh. You really want her, don't you?"

"NANI?! How could you…what gave you that idea?"

"Heheheh, I saw how you reacted when she climbed on your back. You were two steps from jumping her."

"Oh like you're one to talk dog-breath! I saw how wild you got when Kagome was settling in on your back!"

"Dog-breath?! Oi, monkey-face, lemme tell you something…"

"Let's see a monkey do this!"

By this time, both half-breeds were on the ground, snapping and snarling at each other. Gohan launched his attack first, and Inuyasha prepared to dodge him.

Which would explain why neither of them was prepared for the solid thwack of a staff over their heads.

"Kuso, bouzu, next time you swing that staff…"

"I'll hit you harder Inuyasha. Now, I've been chased out of the hut by Kaede, I'm tired, and I have a hangover. Shut up and let me sleep."

"Oi, just because Sango won't let you feel her up, lech, doesn't mean…"

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

"Kuso…"

Gohan, who was once again wearing a large sweatdrop, sheepishly hopped back up to his perch. Inuyasha grumbled loudly as he leaped back up to his branch. Miroku made himself comfortable at the base of the tree, and settled in for the night.

Inuyasha stared into the open night sky, suddenly remembering Gohan's tale about his tail.

"You would willingly cut off your tail to avoid losing control of your youkai…your Saiyan blood?"

Gohan responded in a monotone.

"Aa."

Inuyasha tried to think of the concept. It would be like cutting off his ears.

"Doesn't it hurt? Don't you feel…incomplete?"

Gohan's voice remained monotonous, but Inuyasha heard a small thread of his anger and frustration slip through.

"Kami, yes! It hurts like a bitch and I won't be able to walk properly for a while, but it's what has to be done."

Inuyasha settled back on his perch, his ears flattened against his head as he tried to remember his own transformations into a youkai.

"I know how you feel."

Videl snuggled into the futon as best as she could. She was elated, feeling a sense of freedom that she had rarely felt before. No Hercule Satan the Great to deal with. She was just a strong-minded girl with other strong-willed girls. She and Kagome had bonded almost immediately, and Sango was an ideal version of the future Videl.

"Hey girls, mind if I join you? I'd rather not deal with Miroku's wandering hand tonight." Speak of devils, or girls, and they appear. Sango stood in the hut's doorway, awkwardly holding the door open while struggling to keep her gear in her hands. Kirara and Shippou managed to sneak inside before her, and both were soon asleep on a heap of blankets in the corner of the hut.

"Of course you can Sango-chan!" Kagome jumped up to help the girl inside, and all of them fell to the task of making a space for her to sleep.

Soon, everyone was settled in. After they found a yukata for Videl to sleep in, the girls slipped under their covers and talked quietly.

Sango decided to bring up the topic of Gohan first.

"Not to be rude Videl, but you seemed to be surprised by your boyfriend's past."

Videl choked and sputtered.

"He's not my boyfriend, we just train together!"

Kagome saw Videl's blush, and couldn't help teasing her a bit more.

"Are you sure? He seemed very concerned about you in the clearing..."

"Oh like you can talk, Kagome! What about you and that dog-boy?"

"Mou! He hates me!"

"That's why he jumped three feet when you got on his back, of course."

Sango laughed as the two girls argued.

"Kagome, you know very well you and Inuyasha are a perfect couple, even if you two insist on denying it. And Videl, I'm sorry about my assumption, but you and Gohan just look perfect together."

"Mou!!! He's just a silly, thickheaded man. Just like all men."

Kagome decided to get back to the original topic. She didn't want to think about Inuyasha right now.

"But it's true, you looked like you were hearing the story for the first time."

Videl sighed loudly and nodded.

"It's true, I never heard about Gohan's past before. But, in a strange way, his stories confirmed things that I'd guessed at before."

Sango noted a slight sense of despair in the young fighter's voice.

"Guessed at? What do you mean?"

Videl thought carefully as she tried to remember all the strange things she'd noticed about Gohan and his family.

"Well, he always wore baggy clothes, like he was hiding something. Then, I figured out he was Saiyaman, and I was blackmailing him for lessons in flying and stuff. But when I first trained with him, his little brother came with us and… he was incredible! He learnt how to fly in about ten seconds! Then his father and mother…well, his father is the winner of the 23rd Tournament, but I swear I saw him lift the house up so Chi Chi could sweep the cellars! With one hand!

But most importantly, I remember my father's face when he saw the Gold Warrior catch those bank robbers on TV. He looked like he'd seen a ghost…he kept mumbling on about they're back, they'll tell the truth. I've never seen my father that flustered. And that was the first time I wondered about my dad's story about winning that Tournament.

Then after Gohan showed me that I was strong enough to fly and other stuff, well, I begin to doubt my father even more. The day I began to totally disbelieve him was the day I beat him in sparring, without even breaking a sweat."

Videl sighed wearily. She had guessed at the truth for so long, but finding out the Gohan was the real world savior still took some getting used to. And it never helped to know that your father was lying to the world.

Kagome's heart went out to the girl, even as she wrapped her arms around her shoulder. She tried to think of something cheerful to break the somber mood in the hut.

"Ano, Sango-chan, isn't the Midsummer Festival in the next three days?"

"Iie! I haven't finished our kimonos yet! Miroku said that fabric went well with my eyes and I never…"

Kagome's eyebrows shot up.

"Mou, since when did you ask Miroku for fashion advice?"

Sango's face flamed bright red as she tried to recover from her slip-up.

"That's not the point. Kagome, don't you have anything from your time that can help?"

Kagome was already rummaging through her gigantic pack, trying to find the last item she'd packed.

"Aha! Sango let me introduce you to…the portable sewing machine! This will do the sewing fast, so our hands won't get tired and we can finish the kimonos in time. We just have to cut the cloth pieces out, then join them."

"Sugoi! Now, all we have to do is find some fabric to make a kimono for Videl."

"Eh? Me?! I've never worn a kimono! I've never even worn a dress! I look horrible out of pants."

"No problem! By the time we are finished, Gohan will wish he was your boyfriend!" Kagome's eyes gleamed dangerously as she thought up matchmaking schemes. "Now, we have 3 days and 2 nights. Let's get some sleep!"

Videl was very afraid of the gleam in Kagome's eyes.

Miroku heard the young half-Saiyan's confession, and sighed. Couldn't those two just go to sleep?

"Gohan, I do not think that you need to remove your tail to control your youk…Saiyan blood"

"So what would you suggest, bouzu? We blindfold him for the rest of the time?"

"Inuyasha, be serious before I use my staff. Again. Remember when your concern for Kagome's welfare allowed you to keep enough presence of mind to fetch Tetsusaiga, even though you had already transformed?"

"Aa. So you are suggesting that if he can keep thinking about someone he lo…protects, he'll be able to control the urge to transform?"

Miroku nodded sagely, covering his smirk at Inuyasha's near slip of the tongue.

"And it would appear that the girl Videl is the person he protects now that he is here."

Gohan almost fell off of his perch at the mention of Videl. He had been trying to forget the fact that he had bared so many of his secrets to total strangers.

"Nani?! Videl? She's just using me to get stronger; she'd kill me if I protected her. She doesn't care about me"

Miroku sighed wearily.

"Are all hanyou this stupid when it comes to women?"

"Nani?!" was the disgruntled response from the two half-breeds.

Miroku glared sharply at Inuyasha, then Gohan.

"Gohan, I think Videl cares for you…at least a little." Gohan remained quiet, but doubt flashed across his expressive face.

"And you, Inuyasha, are the blindest man alive if you can't see how Kagome feels about you. Do you realize how much you have hurt her, especially now that you are going to join Kikyou?"

"Feh." 'Is this lecher right? I wish I could believe…'

The three men settled into an uncomfortable silence for almost an hour. Finally, Miroku thought of a neutral topic.

"At any rate Inuyasha, we should accompany Gohan to the Midsummer Festival, since he will be here for it."

"Bouzu, you know I don't go to festivals."

"For once Inuyasha, humor me and try to relax. We've killed Naraku and the Shikon no Tama is complete. We don't have anything to do."

Gohan's interest was peaked by this statement.

"Who's Naraku? And what's a Shikon no Tama?"

Miroku looked askance at Inuyasha, who just turned away and ground out a "Feh!"

"Well, it all began…"