Chapter two- BEAR DEMON!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. It's sad but the truth hurts.
First I want to apologize for the poor grammar from the last chapter. The last story I wrote was in present tense and second person. I'm trying to break the habit of wanting to write in that format. Any ways...
Upon reaching the village Inuyasha straightened his back, letting Kagome fall to the ground. Her butt hit the dirt with a light thump, but she said nothing to him. Instead she briskly walked ahead of him like nothing happened. After a few minutes of searching for a good hut to require help from, Kagome noticed an older lady busying herself around an herb garden. Though her hair was gray and she wore an eye patch, she seemed so pleasant like the cheerful little tune she was humming. Kagome approached the hut thinking of a way to put her situation. 'Hi, I'm Kagome and I just feel through a well into some ancient looking place. What's your name? No, she'll think I'm losing my mind.' She bit her lip as she continued in thought, and Inuyasha lagged slowly behind. Luckily for Kagome it was the lady who noticed her first. "Inuyasha?! Who freed ye from the arrow?!" Before giving him a chance to answer, she threw a thin scroll at him, and he fell over unable to move. Quickly the woman got up in her dirt stained clothing, and hurried to Kagome's side. "Oh dear child, I hope he did not harm ye. It's a good thing I threw the seal at him when I did for he was right behind ye."
"I can still hear you wench!" Inuyasha growled through gritted teeth from the ground. "You smell like Kaede, the little sister of Kikyo. Maybe you can tell me why she bound me to the tree"
"It's Lady Kaede to ye, and what do ye mean why she bound ye to the tree? Have these fifty years made ye forget your betrayal against Kikyo?"
"No, I remember perfectly! It was she who betrayed me. I was supposed to meet her that day, but when she came she was pissed. She began to yell at me about using her for the Shikon Jewel..." Inuyasha was interrupted during his tale. For when the words 'Shikon Jewel' sounded off inside Kagome's head, her eyes dilated, and a strange glow came from with inside her. Lady Kaede and Inuyasha could only stop to stare, because they knew not what was happening. A small round orb was released from Kagome's side. Ignoring the wound, she reached out to grab the sphere, but everything went black and she landed on top of Inuyasha.
"Oh dear!" Lady Kaede said alarmed. "I need to get her into the hut, but I can't lift her myself Inuyasha. I'm going to trust that ye don't try anything when I release ye." She added as she pealed off the seal. Together they placed her lightly on a cot in the front room of the hut. Inuyasha sat Indian style by her side, taking in the appearance of her strange green and white school girl uniform for the first time. While Kaede busied herself to herbal medicine like she was in her garden again. Kagome had the natural beauty of Kikyo, and Inuyasha was almost sure she had a scent similar to Kikyo's. Kagome's was an aroma of wild flowers that smelt slightly sweeter. His thoughts were distracted when he heard a small gasp from Lady Kaede.
"What? Is the girl going to die already?" Inuyasha questioned, trying to mask a minute amount of concern.
"No, she'll be fine, ye pessimist. Look at this." Kaede directed as she cradled Kagome's right hand. It was the one that still clutched the small jewel. Gently Lady Kaede unwrapped the slender fingers from around the orb. Taking it into her hand, Kaede inspected it closely. "It's the Shikon Jewel," She said in amazement. "That can only mean she is Kikyo's reincarnation! For when Kikyo was burned after death the Shikon Jewel was burned along with its protector." A hush fell upon the hut. 'I knew there was too much of a similarity between the two for coincidence.' Inuyasha thought as he peered at the girl through his amber eyes. He heard her heart rate and breath pick back up as she stirred from her black out. When her brown eyes blinked back open, the first thing she saw hovering above her head was a tuff of silver hair and amber eyes gazing down at her. She shot up from the cot, much like a dead body would in the same situation, and glanced about to remember her surroundings. Kaede was smiling warmly at her from a stove where she was preparing tea. "Don't strain ye self child. Inuyasha, would ye help her to the table if she needs it? I'd like to have tea while I explain some things to her." Without asking Kagome for her opinion, he picked her up bridal style, and slipped her into a chair.
"Thank you, but I'm fine," she murmured weakly. Inuyasha waved off the thank you and found a chair to slip into also. Kaede had already placed a warm cup of tea in front of Kagome, and she began to happily breathe in the raising steam.
"First I'd like to know ye name child for ye have not said one word to me yet." Kaede's voice was pleasant as she smiled at the girl.
"My name is Kagome. Did you call yourself Lady Kaede back in front of the hut?" Kagome questioned.
"Yes I did call myself Lady Kaede. Now Kagome please explain to me how it was you came here." Kagome enlighten Kaede of her story about Buyo while she stared deeply into her tea. "Ah, so that would be ye cat we found sleeping in the yellow bag." Kaede said as she pointed out the sleeping cat in the corner. Kagome only nodded. "Now it is my turn share something. "The day Kikyo bound ye, Inuyasha, to the tree, I found her dying. She made me promise never to let you free for ye betrayal against her. She said ye had attacked her for this Jewel here." Kaede twirled the Shikon Jewel about in her hand. "We all know the jewel has the power to control people, and she believed you just wanted it to become a full demon instead of a half dog demon as you are."
"WHAT?! I never attacked her!" Inuyasha jumped up with his words, and slammed his fist on the table. Kagome quaked in surprised like the shaky tea cup before her. Smelling fear again Inuyasha glanced at Kagome before reseating himself.
"From ye story, Inuyasha, I don't believe ye did ever hurt my sister. There is more reason to think that ye two were pinned against each other in an evil plot. I am just not sure whose." Inuyasha swallowed back a surprised choking sensation.
"I never thought of that," He confessed, and kind of dazed from the conversation.
"Now Kagome back to you," Kaede redirected the conversation, and told Kagome what she found while she laid unconscious. "This would mean that this Shikon Jewel is yours for protection now." Kaede finished up by handing the jewel to Kagome who cradled it lovingly. "In time you will understand ye duty, but I cannot explain it to you for it is one you must find out ye self." Kagome accepted with another nod of her head.
"Am I to stay here forever?" Kagome asked several seconds later.
"From ye clothing it is obvious you are from a different time, but I don't know how far ahead of us. I would like to further talk about ye place to stay when I come back, but for now I must go to the hot springs to clean myself up before dark. Inuyasha, watch over our guest carefully. She knows not of the dangers from our period." With that Kaede walked from hut. There was no movement in the hut as Inuyasha eyed Kagome carefully. After Kagome was sure enough time had passed she scooped up Buyo and her bag before heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Inuyasha asked as he blocked her exit.
"I must go home. My mother will be worried sick." Kagome answered pushing through Inuyasha's body barrier.
"Like Hell you are." He latched onto her wrist to keep her from further movement." Kaede told me to watch you, and I'm not screwing up this time." He added while pulling her back towards him.
"I appreciate you concern, but I can handle myself!" At this Inuyasha's eyes widened.
"Concerned? Please, I'm only doing my job." He rudely objected, and released her wrist.
"Fine then I can..." Her words stopped short when walked in front of a giant bear demon that had just come out of the forest.
"Watch out!" Inuyasha had tried to shot out, when he caught whiff of the demon scent, but it was too late. The demon growled furiously, and knocked Kagome back against the hut wall with one swing of his clawed paw. She wasn't sure if she had broken her arm, but it ached and she could feel warm blood oozing from the wound. Her body slid limply down the wall until the ground stopped her.
"Iron reaver soul stealer!" Inuyasha yelled, and with a slash of his claws the bear demon was no more. He ran over to Kagome who could only stare blankly at him. He picked her up like he had before to take her back inside. "Shit, you reek of blood. I can't believe you're already injured."
"No I'm..." Kagome tried to conjure up enough power to say fine, but she fell unconscious for the second time that day.