Disclaimer: Somehow I always seem to be forgetting these. Oh well, I'm sure you all know that I don't own Inuyasha, Ranma ½, or Yu Yu Hakusho.
A/N: So very sorry for the long wait. My schoolwork has been getting in the way and I just don't have the time to work on this anymore. Rest assured that I will finish this fanfic. And this isn't just an empty promise that I'll finish it in the next 5 years. I intend to get it done before the end of the school year actually. However, for now, it is on hold. I don't know when I'll have time to post new chapters so you'll just have to live with what you get, when you get it. If you don't want to bother checking here for an update every few days, then review with your email address and I'll be happy to tell you when I manage to get a new chapter up.
Now, without further rambling, here is the next chapter.
Chapter 3: What the heck!?
Inuyasha and Kagome stared at Botan for a minute, then Kagome promptly fainted. Inuyasha ran to grab her before she fell, then turned his attention back to Botan.
"Who are you?!" he asked shakily, still ogling at person in front of him, who looked exactly like him, down to the furry white ears atop his head.
Botan glared at him then said sarcastically "I'm your evil twin." She couldn't help but burst out laughing as Inuyasha's face became a mask of horror. Kagome seemed to be recovering, but was still in a daze.
"Relax, I was just kidding." continued Botan impatiently. "Is there any hot water around here?"
Inuyasha nodded bluntly, not moving from his position, but Kagome seemed to snap back to reality quite quickly. "Right. Hot water." she mumbled and ran to her house, leaving Botan and Inuyasha facing each other, an awkward silence heavy in the air.
"So…" said Botan meekly, looking away from the hanyou's piercing glare. The conversation didn't get much further though, because just then Kagome returned with a kettle of hot water.
"Thanks." said Botan, pouring the water over herself and reverting back to normal. "Ah, that's better."
Kagome didn't faint this time, she ran away, as did Inuyasha.
Botan sighed, not having expected a better response to her sudden change of form, and walked over the Higurashi's house, knocking on the door. She might as well return their kettle and at least try to explain her situation to someone who wasn't in shock. Kagome's mom opened the door with a smile.
"Why hello miss, can I help you?"
"Yes actually" replied Botan, trying vainly to dry off her clothes. "I need to talk to you for a minute, and by the way, here is your kettle."
Mrs. Higurashi looked quite confused, but took the kettle and invited Botan inside.
"Shall I make tea?" she asked, gesturing for Botan to sit down at the kitchen table.
"Oh, no, I'm fine thanks. I'm sure you know about your daughter's travels to the feudal era." Botan said, her conscious mind switching gears swiftly to business mode.
"Um…yes."
"And I trust you know of her traveling companion, Inuyasha."
"I do."
"Well, I've come to inform you that in the modern world he had died drowning in the Jusenkyo springs.'
Mrs. Higurashi's eyes widened in surprise, but she stayed quiet, eager to hear the rest of Botan's story.
"Well, the Jusenkyo springs are cursed. Whenever someone or something drowns in them, anyone who falls in afterwards, takes their form. And it just so happens that I fell into that spring."
Mrs. Higurashi frowned in confusion. "Then how come you don't look like him.
Botan sighed and walked to the kitchen sink, turned on the tap, and splashed herself with water.
"Oh…" was all Kagome's mom said as she saw Botan changing from her blue-haired self the exact image of Inuyasha.
"You see…" she continued. "Cold water turns me into Inuyasha, and hot water changes me back."
Now sopping wet again, she sat down looking miserable.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I don't know how to set this right." Mrs. Higurashi said sadly.
"Yeah..." Botan agreed, her eyes twinkling with excitement, "but I do."
A/N: You know, this is so short, that I'm gonna call this chapter 3, part one. So there you go. Chapter 3, part two will be up as soon as I have the time. Be sure to review or I might not find the time to update. Heh heh heh heh….
