Chapter 8: Welcome to the future!
Tenko's ears perked up as she heard a sound in the forest. The gang stood up; they heard it too. Tenko and Inuyasha sniffed the air and unsheathed their swords.
"It's a demon."
On cue, a big bear demon appeared out of nowhere and slashed its claws out at the two hanyous.
"I'll take this one." said Inuyasha.
Tenko stood her ground. "No way, dude! I'm not gonna let you have all the fun…"
Tenko and Inuyasha jumped out of the air just in time as the demons claws dug into the ground causing dirt to fly everywhere.
"Now, Tenko!"
Tenko nodded and raised her sword. Inuyasha did the same.
"WIND SCAR!"
"STORM SLASH!"
Yellow and green lights raced toward the demon, and with a great howl of the bear, he shattered to pieces. Kagome took out a little piece of crystal out of the bear demon's remains.
"Another jewel shard!" she beamed as she slipped the little shard in the glass bottle she wore around her neck.
Tenko rested her blade on her shoulder and walked over to Kagome.
"He had a jewel shard, eh?"
She nodded, but then gasped.
"O crap! I almost forgot! I have another history test coming up! I need to get to the well and fast! Sango, can I borrow Kilala?"
Sango shook her head.
"No, she's over in Shishito valley. It's too far away."
"Why is she there?"
"Catnip."
Kagome almost fell down.
"Inuyasha, can you take me?"
He smirked.
"Not on your life! I'm not going to stay in a house for twenty four hours. And anyway, if I wait near the well, you'll take FOREVER like you did with Kilala! (A/N: In episode- 'Kilala come home')
Kagome fumed.
"You guys are unbelievable! This is a VERY important test!"
"I'll take you."
Everyone whirled around to see that Tenko was the one that was offering. Kagome got sparkles in her eyes and cupped her hands.
"You'd do that for me, Tenko?"
Tenko shrugged. "I guess. I carry rice bags and Shippo at the same time, so you can't be hard to carry."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Tenko. I carry Kagome all the time, and let me tell you, it's not the best job in the world…"
Kagome's head became really really big and flames encircled her.
"You trying to tell me something, buster!"
Inuyasha was starting to sweat and he backed away.
"N-No, I was just-"
"Wrong move, genius…" 'complemented' Tenko.
"SSSSSSIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTT!" screeched the enraged Kagome.
"Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit! SIT!"
And soon Inuyasha was in a meteor-sized crater that was smoking as much as an active volcano.
Kagome grabbed her things and mounted Tenko's back.
"I'm ready. What's wrong?" she asked as she wiped sweat from Tenko's brow.
"Damn! Inuyasha wasn't lying about Kagome's weight!"
She took a couple of steps with struggle, and then she was running through the forest at regular speed.
Tenko jumped in the air and Kagome marveled at the view. A seemingly endless forest of trees and plants consumed the mountains and the valleys alike. Brushing strands of midnight black hair away from her face, she stared at the woods down below, forgetting the real world.
"Here we are, the Bone eater's well." said Tenko, falling to her knees.
"Already?" asked Kagome, dumbfounded by the time pass.
"Doi. So why are we here again?"
"I have to go through the well so I can return to my own time to take a test."
Tenko jumped in excitement.
"Really? Can I come?"
"Huh?"
"I've always wanted to see the strange realm where you come from. Is it okay if I come too?"
Kagome smiled and grabbed Tenko's shirt.
"Okay, but hold on tight!"
As soon as they jumped in, white circles danced in the shiny blue lights that encircled them. All of a sudden, it got back to normal again. New scents and sounds came from the outside. A roof blocked the sunlight. They climbed out and Tenko came to find out where exactly they were.
"A Shinto shrine?"
"Yeah, welcome to Higurashi shrine, Tenko." said Kagome as she opened the doors of the well house.
Tenko marveled at the buildings and the noisy, big life forms that crossed huge black lines. (A/N: Cars for the true baka)
"Wow…I never realized the future was so…different…"
She sniffed the air and pointed to the house.
"I smell people inside that weird building."
"That weird building happens to be my house."
Kagome turned the knob on the door and announced: "I'm home!"
A woman in a kitchen apron came walking into the room.
"Welcome home dear."
She looked down and saw Tenko, behind Kagome and holding onto her skirt in a shy fashion.
"Are those dog ears?" she asked as she walked closer to Tenko. Tenko's ears twitched.
Ms. Higurashi stepped closer to Tenko and started to feel her ears. Tenko started to panic and backed away slowly, trying to ignore Ms. Higurashi's quest for feeling dog ears.
"K-K-Kagome? What does she want from me!"
Kagome laughed and whispered something to her mother. As soon as she was finished, Ms. Higurashi laughed too.
"You don't need to be nervous, dear. Your ears are just too cute…"
Tenko gasped and stared wide eyed at Ms. Higurashi. She was the first human stranger who wouldn't try to pull, rip or cut her ears off! They were a symbol of her 'tainted' heritage and she thought they were cute?
"Welcome home, sis!" called a voice from down the hall. Tenko thrusted her head the other way, and saw a boy just about her age running toward Kagome.
"Hey, Sota."
Sota peeked behind Kagome's legs and saw Tenko.
"Cool! Another dog demon! My name's Sota!" he said holding out his hand. Tenko stared at it and sniffed it a little bit, but then eventually shook it with caution.
"W-Why aren't you afraid of me?"
Sota acted all surprised.
"Why would I be afraid? Dog demons are cool!"
Tenko felt a strange feeling in her chest and a huge lump was forming her throat. She never had this feeling before. She looked at Sota again, and this time his background was different. Instead of a house for a background, he was surrounded by pink and yellow lights and there were a couple of blue and purple rimmed bubbles. A strange melody was playing in her head and she couldn't stop looking at his face.
"He…He…He said I was cool!"
Nobody has ever said that to her before!
"Hey! Nice blade!" he said feeling the rim of the sheath.
"Can I unsheathe it?"
Tenko nodded and felt something burning on her cheeks. Kagome obviously noticed and she was practically breathing down her neck.
"Tenko, are you blushing?"
Tenko looked away and folded her arms and put on a tough look.
"Keh! I wasn't blushing!"
"Neat! This sword is awesome!" exclaimed Sota swinging the giant silver blade around.
Tenko sighed and was hypnotized by Sota just…being Sota. But then she snapped out of it.
"Get a hold of yourself, baka! I do NOT like this guy! He's Kagome's frigging brother! Although it wouldn't hurt to ask…"
"Kagome?"
"Yeah, what is it, Tenko?"
"Is it okay if I, you know…stay here for a while?"
Kagome just stared at her, but then got a sly smile on.
"Ooooohhh! I know why you want to stay…"
Tenko started blushing like crazy now.
"O yeah! Why then?"
All Kagome did was point to Sota, and she got the answer correct.
"That's not true!" she spat.
"I just want to learn more about your era! That's it!"
"Yeah right…"
Ms. Higurashi entered the room.
"Sota! Put the sword down!"
"Aw, mom! It's Tenko's!"
"Now's my chance!"
"Ms. Higurashi? Is it okay if I stay here for a while? To learn more about your era and stuff?"
Ms. Higurashi understood exactly why Tenko really wanted to stay after she blushed and looked at Sota more.
"Sure you can, Tenko. You can sleep in the living room. There's a pull-out bed in the couch."
"Gee, thanks, Ms. Higurashi!"
Ms. Higurashi beamed.
"But if you're staying here for a long time, you must attend school!"
"School? What's school?"
Sota ran over to Tenko and returned her sword.
"School's a place where you learn things. If you ARE staying for a long time, you'll go to the same school as me."
"The SAME school! Sweet! Maybe this won't be so bad after all!"
"Sure! I'll stay for a long time! A REALLY long time!"
Ms. Higurashi smiled.
"Then it's settled. I'll call the elementary school."
