Chapter 3: Grassy Knoll
"Humph. Ugh," were the punctuated grunts emitted from the girl tumbling on her face. She landed face first in the dirt. Genevieve rolled to one side and peeked one eye open. She was staring at the wall of the old gateway. Slowly, she sat up and checked in front of her. Where's Sango? Where's the park? What the Hell?? Whoa, calm down. What is this place? Did I smack my head too hard?
A rustling came from bushes to her left. Cautiously, she shifted her weight from her rear to her feet. With cat-like stealth, she sank to her haunches and steadied herself for anything. "In a strange place, always be prepared," is always good advice, according to her wise instructor The rustling stopped. Her ears perked and tried desperately to hone in on the slightest sounds. A roaring hanyou came raging out from the bushes with sword in hand. Without the blink of an eye, Genevieve sprung to the air and dislocated the sword from the clawed hand. Her foot continued spiraling through the air as it connected with the masculine jaw of the being attacking her.
The being fell to a rumpled pile of fabric, swathed with red. Genevieve landed, squatted with hands poised for the ready. Her heart beat quickened as the figure began to rise. Are…are those, dog ears? Where AM I? I know I'm not dreaming, but am I crazy?
"What are you?" She commanded with a voice that slightly cracked with adrenaline.
"How did you do that?" The dog eared man lifted his body to his feet and stared, mouth slightly agape, at his sword a few feet away. He rubbed his jaw with his left hand while he reached for his sword with his right hand.
"I don't let my guard down for anything." Now that the "thing" wasn't attacking her, she took an opportune moment to look at the figure, recognizing it from Japanese mythology. "Are you a youkai?"
"Feh, no I'm not. I'm a hanyou, can't you tell?" He turned to look at the woman who over powered him. She was dressed so differently. I don't know what she is, but she seems powerful.
Okay, now I'm really confused. One second I'm walking with my friend, the next I fight off a demon…or half demon rather. This doesn't make any sense. "Where is this place?" she asked, standing. Her heart still beat wildly in her chest.
"Uh, are you okay. This is JAPAN, where do you think?" He flicked his hand at her as he started to walk away. "Stupid girl…" he muttered under his breath.
Genevieve, mildly scared, decided to follow that man. He seemed to know where she was, but how did I end up in Japan? Do demons actually exist? Boy, would my Japanese mythology teacher love to hear this! She soundlessly stepped over the fuzzy green terrain that was coated by a slight layer of dew.
The man hunkered down at a tiny campfire where a small rodent twirled on a kabob. Genevieve crossed the distance to the other side of the fire to face the hanyou.
"Why did you attack me?" she stated forwardly. She gritted her teeth to keep her fear under control. The adrenaline quieted down and her heartbeat resumed normal.
His eyes opened with a glassy reflection of fire. "Heh, when you hear and see some unnatural things going on, you go investigate it. I didn't know if you were a threat to me, so I attacked you. I wasn't expecting to see a woman, but I thought you'd be easy practice." I still can't believe she clocked me in the jaw. I can't let her sense that I'm still trying to figure out my sword. Because I haven't figured it out, my speed is a snail's pace.
"Did you see where I came from?" Genvieve questioned. Okay, now this is getting weird. First, I fall through some sort of portal and now I'm talking to a mythological being!! How does that happen?
"All I saw was a yellowish light over powering my campfire and I heard some noises. I don't know where you're from. You're dressings are weird." He eyed her purple sweater and forming blue jeans. His eyes focused on hers.
"My dressings are weird? Wait, you said you saw a yellow light? Coming from that old gateway over there?" Come to think of it, that old gateway did look pretty new.
He nodded yes and turned his eyes to his roasting rat.
Well, now that IS a surprise, she thought. I've heard, from legends transcending cultures, of a gateway that ignores space and time constraints. My crazy Greek Mythology teacher may not be so crazy. He stated his theory that our park housed the portal that all mythology described. Ha, now how do I get back?
"Would you maybe know how I could get back through there?"
"Feh, how should I know? You're the stupid wench who fell through it." He turned attention back the roasting rodent. He pinched it to see if it was done yet.
"What's your name? My name is Genevieve, but you can call me Gen."
"Inuyasha." He yanked the meat off the stick and rudely shoved it into his drooling mouth. "Uh, you want some?" Genevieve looked at the hanyou, mouth stuffed with charred flesh.
"No thanks. I've already eaten." She shied from the outstretched clawed hand. Creepy. "Well, I guess I should try getting back. Nice to meet you." All she received was a head nod, followed by loud munching of rodent bones.
Genevieve carefully scanned the gateway she supposedly "fell" through. Hmm, it seems like the same old gateway I know. But, it looks…newer. Oh well, time to give it a shot. She stood and stalked to the portal. She stopped a foot short of the entrance. She took one step and she was halfway under the gateway. It was two steps under and I was deposited here. She stepped once more. Now fully under the gateway, she waited for the gush of wind to knock her back to her own time. Yet, it was unsettling calm. Uh oh. That's not good. Wait, don't panic. I did something wrong. She turned around and tried it once more. Then she tried it again.
Inuyasha crawled to the bush he hid behind earlier. Stupid girl. She can't even get back to her own "place." He watched her with darkened yellow eyes. Heh, women are so useless and lost. He continued to watch her reason through her footsteps and varying distances to the left or right of center under the gateway.
She turned on her heels and trudged back to the makeshift camp the hanyou made. Well, if anything, I could stay with him until I figure this out. He doesn't seem threatening. Inuyasha struggled back into his cross-legged position at the fire.
"I guess you can't get back," he snorted. His eyes remained closed as he chomped on the last bite of rat.
"Thanks for noticing," Genevieve retorted. Her head swung in exhaustion. It must be late. I'm usually this tired at bedtime. Have I been here three hours already?
Inuyasha dampened the flame with spit and cuddled up with the bark of the tree behind him. Genevieve stared in disbelief at his insensitivity. He didn't ask if I was cold or tired. How rude. Genevieve tossed her legs to one side and threw her torso to the ground. She bent her arm under her head and used it as a pillow. I'd better get some sleep at least. I can meditate later, and might be able to get out of here.
The grass glistened around the blonde haired girl. Inuyasha popped one eye open to view her once more. Humph. She may be a woman, but I don't think she's stupid. It took some quick thinking and reflexes to kick me in the jaw. She's only a human. The girl stirred and rolled to her back. The outline of her figure was pronounced between the shadow of night and moonlight. I might be able to use her for something…