Disclaimer: yes, they apply.
Authors note: Hey there! Well here's the next chapter in the 'Time Trip' saga. I tried to put it up yesterday but Fanfiction.net was being difficult. I'm working on the next chapter right now, never fear! Stuff in () is Robin's commentary. Enjoy.
Chapter Fourteen: Time Trip -Kagome and the Wolfshead
Kagome's head hurt badly. In fact everything hurt badly.
"Don't move. Just lay still." Gentle hands pushed her back onto the hard, cold, floor.
"What's going on? Where are we?" She asked. Keeping her eyes closed.
"Don't know. Better question would be when we are."
'Huh?' She hazarded opening one eye. There wasn't much light in the room anyway, which was a blessed releif. She spotted white hair out of the corner of her eye. "Inuyasha?"
"Sorry, Wrong silver-haired stud."
Opening both eyes she turned to see who she was talking to. "Pietro."
"Yup." He didn't turn to face her, instead, he kept staring into the corner.
"Pietro, what's going on? Where are we?" She looked around the dank room. A tiny window was stationed too high up to be of any use and a door with no window locked them in.
"We're in jail. I don't know where the hell we are, just that we're not anywhere near Bayville. Probably not in the same time line even. I couldn't understand much of what they were saying, I did catch that we are supposed to be getting hung tomorrow at dawn." He said all this blandly.
"What!! Why the hell are they going to hang us for!" Kagome felt that panicking was warranted.
"Apparently for assault to the crown." A cheerful voice sounded from the corner.
Kagome whipped around and saw a man in dark brown friars robes leaning against the wall in the corner of their little cell. He was what Pietro had been staring at.
"Who are you? And how did we assault the crown?" Kagome scooted closer to her silvered-haired companion. She didn't know Pietro very well but right now he was the only familiar face available.
"Ah, I am but a humble peasant, my lady. And you two apparently fell from the sky and into Prince John's lap, right in the middle of the tournament. Bloody marvelous " He laughed.
Kagome narrowed her eyes. Somehow, she just didn't believe that he was a nobody.
Setting aside the weirdness of the stranger, she looked around for some form of escape. "Do you see a way out?"
Pietro snorted. "I've looked already. We're stuck."
Kagome glared at him. "We'll you may want to sit here and wait to die but I sure as hell don't! I've got a wonderful, sweet, fuzzy blue boyfriend to get home to!"
Pietro glared back at her. "And if we get out, what then? Do you have any idea how we're going to get home?!"
Kagome pulled herself up using the wall. "Not at the moment. But it's my power, I'll figure it outtrust me." She gave Pietro her hand. He looked at it dubiously for a minute before sighing and grabbing it to haul himself off the dirty ground.
"Rightnow, um.how do we get out?"
Pietro walked over and started banging his head against the door. "We're gonna die, we're gonna die" He kept repeating under his breath.
Kagome smacked him on the back of his head, sending him slamming against the door harder. "Knock it off. Your not going to break it open with your head, stupid. We need to figure out a plan."
Rubbing his head he turned around and leaned nonchalantly against the door, as if he hadn't just been banging his head against it. "So.Figure it out already."
Kagome growled but ignored him otherwise. Jumping as something scurried in the dark. 'I swear, if that's a rat I'm going to scream so loud'
"You knowI might be able to get you out." The mysterious stranger offered.
Kagome turned to him. "How?"
Standing up he walked over to the door, Pietro didn't move. "Pardon me." He tripped the silver speed demon and pushed him out of the way, then began fiddling with the bolts. When he stepped away, Kagome came closer to see what he'd done.
"Well that doesn't help! You've just jammed them in there so tight we can't even get the door open!"
"Precisely!" Then the man walked over and pushed a large stone on the wall. The stone indented and a great rumbling occurred. A grinding noise heralded the appearance of an opening in the wall.
"Oh." Kagome couldn't think of anything else to say. She looked at the smiling man in the dark cloak, she couldn't see his face but she knew he was smiling. She could just sort of..feel it.
"Why didn't you do that earlier?!" Pietro was slightly pissed off.
The robed man laughed. "Because it was so entertaining watching you two ague!"
Kagome crossed her arms and sulked. "Glad to know we're so very amusing."
He shrugged, then gestured at the hole. "This way, hurry now!" And disappeared into the darkness of the opening.
Kagome and Pietro looked at each other. "Should we?"
The guards started banging against the door.
Kagome nodded. "Right." And grabbing Pietro she ran through the passageway just before it closed.
Bumping and tumbling along in the darkness they emerged into the bright sunlight rather suddenly. Shading their eyes from the glare they looked around.
"Well, I was wondering if you two were going to come, or if you'd decided you'd rather stay for your date with the gallows." The cheerful voice sounded again. They both squinted up at the shadowed figure. "Come on, up you get! This way!"
He led them along a dirt road into a dense forest. Pietro was very tense. But Kagome was just tired. Tired and worried.
The man stopped so suddenly that Kagome slammed into his back. He turned quickly and caught her before she could touch the ground. "Careful now." Setting her back on her feet, he then placed his hands to his mouth and made a strange cawing noise.
It was answered by another. Then another. Again, and again the call came. It made both Kagome and Pietro nervous and they edged closer to each other.
Quite suddenly, literally a hundred men in Lincoln green clothing came out of nowhere and surrounded them.
"Oh god, oh god" Kagome tried to hide behind Pietro who seemed frozen.
'Tights. There wearing.tights' Pietro was too shocked over the site of grown men dressed in tights to do much of anything.
"Who are you people? Peter Pan and the Lost boys?" Kagome joked, turning to their mysterious friend just as he threw off the robes, reveling himself to be dressed in the same green clothing as the men surrounding them.
"I know not this Pan fellow you speak of. As for me, I am known as Robin of Locksley. Also called The Wolfshead, Prince of Thieves, or just plain..Robin Hood."
"Robin.Hood?" Kagome welcomed her old friend unconsciousness, and promptly fainted.
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'I really need to stop passing out.'
Kagome rolled over in her pallet and stared out into the endless sea of green trees. She was obviously very high up.
'I thought Robin Hood was just a legend?' Kagome pondered as she sat up, not seeing Pietro anywhere.
'They must have taken him captive.' She tilted her head to the side. 'Wait, wasn't Robin Hood a good guy?' Shaking her head she kicked off the covers. 'Better not take any chances.'
Crawling out of the bed, she noted that, yes, she was in a tree and very high off the ground. No, there didn't appear to be a ladder. but there was a nice long length of rope. Good enough.
Slinging the rope over the edge she peered over and saw that the coast was clear. Sliding down the rope and wincing at the pain in her hands, she jumped the last few feet then darted behind the tree.
Peeking around the large oak she checked that the coast was still clear. Glancing around what appeared to be a camp site, she scanned the area, then did a double take when she spotted what she was looking for.
No not Pietro.
A bow and a quiver of arrows was leaning against a log near the campfire.
Walking as quietly as she could Kagome snuck over to the weapons. Slowly placing the strap over her shoulder and picking up the bow she notched an arrow and glanced around. Now to find Pietro.
"Going somewhere?"
"Meep!!" Kagome whipped around and fired the arrow.
Robin just tilted his head as the arrow whizzed past. Smiling cockily at her.
KABOOM!
Of course.the explosion managed to knock him off his feet.
Lifting his head from the dirt he stared first at the sheepish girl clutching his bow, then looked at the charred stump that, used to be, a great oak.
He turned back to Kagome. "I thinkyou need archery lessons my lady." He glanced back to the smoking stump. "Just so that you don't accidentally hit me next time."
Kagome sweat-dropped.
++++++++++++
It had taken a lot of explaining on her part as to how she could blow a thousand year old Oak tree to kingdom come. Robin didn't pretend to understand all of it but he accepted it nonetheless.
Archery with Robin was frustrating at first and reminded Kagome of at least one thing that Kikyo had always done better than her.
But Robin was persistent. They trained day and night(Good to know how to shoot in the dark) Rain or shine(It's harder when everything is all slippery from the water.) At first she couldn't even hit the targets until Pietro made her mad.(Of course Little John *who's not so very little* would always smack him on the head with his quarterstaff for it) But eventually, after months and months of practice(And one really twitchy Will Scarlet) Kagome graduated Robin Hood's school of Archery. She was now a master of the bow according to him.
And she really was damn good.
She could now split a branch from three hundred yards. Hit the target right in the center blindfolded, tag Pietro to a tree while he's running at full speed, and fire five arrows at once, all with deadly accuracy.
Robin had said she was the greatest pupil he'd ever taught.( "But Robin, I'm the only pupil you've ever taught." "That's besides the point luv.")
Kagome and Pietro had been staying with Robin and his band of Merry Men for about four months now. Kagome was good friends with the giant goofball named Little John, who was about seven feet tall if she guessed right. Had a run in with Friar Tuck. Are all holy men perverts?( it's because their celebrete, poor bastards.) Will Scarlet, Robin's cousin, was still a little weird around her. She honestly hadn't meant to charge the arrow when Robin had her shooting apples off his head. Really. Much the millers son, which is what everyone called him, was a sweet little boy who reminded Kagome of Shippo. It made her even more homesick every time she saw him. When it got too bad she would clutch at the pouch tied around her neck that contained some of Kurt's fur. Pietro had found it on her clothes soon after they moved into Sherwood. She'd treasured it ever since. Then there was Alan a Dale who was kinda flighty and dressed a lot like Will, but was otherwise an ok guy. They met a lot of people, and made a lot of new friends. (Will Stutely, not to be mistaken for my cousin Will, Gilbert of the White hand, nice fellow, David of Doncaster, little peculiar that one is, and.)
Of course all good things must eventually come to an end. Usually not the way we want them to either.
Kagome was away from the camp, practicing her archery. She couldn't wait to get home and show Inuyasha that she was a million times better than the living dead girl.
Sherwood forest was a beautiful place, the air was fresh, and there was plenty of deer for them to feast on venison every night. Robin and the others had been wonderful friends. She even felt that Robin was like the annoying, older brother that she never wanted.
She and Pietro had grown closer as well. Being the only two time travelers among the Merry Men(and one woman) of course that didn't mean he stopped making smart assed comments about her boyfriend, but now she could retaliate. A few hours pinned to a tree usually cooled his tongue.
They hadn't gone into Nottingham town a few miles from the Shire Wood. Horror stories of Prince John the usurper, and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham saw to that.
A noise startled her from her thoughts. She slowly lowered the bow so that it pointed down. That was the first thing Robin did when he started teaching her. Broke her of that 'shoot first ask questions later' jerk reflex of hers.
A twig snapped behind her. She whirled around, bringing the arrow up to meet her would be attacker.
And met with the butt of a sword.
She had one last thought before unconsciousness claimed her again. 'Oh bugger.'
+++++++++++
Kagome was nice and comfy. Warm and happy.
At least she was until someone started trying to jerk her covers off.
"Leme' lon Robin, I don wanna prac's today." She slurred, fighting the invisible entity for possession of the covers.
"Robin. You know Robin Hood?"
'Eh?' That didn't sound like any of the guys, and as far as she knew, she was the only female for at least five miles in any direction. Opening her eyes she saw a beautiful woman sitting next to her. Long blond hair, blue eyes, and the most kick ass medieval dress Kagome had ever seen.
"UmI don't mean to be rude or anything but..who are you?"
The woman smiled. "I am Maid Marion."
Kagome nodded. 'Right. Maid Marion. Should have seen that one coming.'
Sitting up carefully she turned to face Marion directly. "How did I get here?"
"Well, some of the Sheriff's men knocked you out when they were patrolling the woods. They saw you dressed in green and thought you to be one of Robin's men. Upon discovering you were a woman they allowed me to care for you. You have been given to me as my maid."
"Pardon?" Kagome stared at the other woman in shock. 'Can they do that?!'
"Oh don't worry, your not a slave. But tell me, do you really know Robin Hood? I wasn't aware that he allowed women to join the Merry Men." She gestured at Kagome's green clothing.
"Uh, right. Well, I guess you could say I know Robin." Kagome shrugged.
Maid Marion's eyes narrowed. "Oh, are you.good friends then?"
"Well yeah. I mean, he did teach me archery, and he's always pulling pranks on me" It was then that Kagome became aware of the death glare she was getting from the lady. She waved her arms frantically. "No, no, no! Nothing like that! He's like my brother! Besides I've already got a boyfriend!"
Maid Marion's glare softened, then a look of confusion crossed her fair face. "What is a .boyfriend?"
Kagome tilted her head. "Oh right, you guys don't have those yet huh. Um, well I guess you'd call him my.suitor."
"Oh, I see."
They trailed off into an uncomfortable silence.
Marion finally tried to start up a conversation. "So.what does your suitor look like?"
Kagome grinned a little. "Well, he's really.unique that's for sure."
Maid Marion blinked at her confusion. "Oh, well is he fair?"
'What?' It was Kagome's turn to blink in confusion. "Uh, he's good looking if that's what you mean." 'I just won't tell her he's covered in blue fur and looks like a demon.'
"Well, where is your suitor? Is he one of Robin's band?"
Kagome lowered her head, homesickness hitting her like a punch to the gut. "He'sreally far away."
Marion watched her in sympathetic understanding. "I know how you feel. Robin and I don't see each other often. That's why he gave me this locket with a piece of his hair, so that he would always be with me. Sometimes, when I hold it, I feel as though I were with him. As though I could.fly to wherever he is."
Kagome furrowed her brow in thought. Why was what Maid Marion just said ringing bells like crazy in her head.
The sound of yelling and violence issued from the open window. Marion stood gracefully and rushed to look out.
"Tis Robin!" She cried happily. Kagome didn't pay any attention, to absorbed in solving the riddle buzzing around in her brain. It was right there on the tip of her tongue. She knew it.
The door slamming open heralded the arrival of Pietro. "Yo Robin! I found her!" Then he walked over and stood in front of Kagome. When no praises of thanks where forthcoming for his timely rescue he waved a hand in front of her face. nothing. He even tried shaking her and got his hands batted away for the effort.
Kagome was too busy thinking to pay Pietro, or anything else for that matter, much attention. As had become her habit of late when she thought, her hand trailed up to fiddle with the pouch around her neck wait.
*Flashback*
" You seem to be effecting only immediate past, present, and future. Although it is conceivably possible for you to travel back that far, it would require a lot of power and an artifact from that time period for you to hold onto. Sort of like a rope leading to that particular place in time."
*End Flashback*
"That's it!!"
She jumped up, grabbing Pietro, and began dancing around the room.
"Um, how hard did they hit you?" Pietro questioned, looking to Robin for help in getting the crazy girl off of him.
"I've figured it out, Pietro! I know how to get us home!" She stopped bouncing. "Well, I figured out how to get us to Kurt at least, but it's a start!"
Pietro blinked at her. "How?"
"Dr. McCoy said that I can travel through time only with a lot of power and an artifact from the time period. It's a little risky but I think we can do it, since I've got the Shikon half in me!"
"And where is this artifact that we're going to use?" He raised one silver eyebrow.
Kagome shook the pouch at him. "This."
"Fuzz balls hair?" Pietro asked incredulously.
Kagome glared. Pietro continued.
"And how do we know we're not gonna end up popping up when he's still in diapers?" This was sounding more and more like a bad idea to him.
Kagome waved away his concern. "When I first time jumped I overshot by a hundred years, I've been practicing shifting so this shouldn't be too hard. We'll just go to wherever Kurt is now."
"I still don't think this iswait, you've done this before?!"
Kagome sweat-dropped. "Um, long story. You can ask Inuyasha when we find him." She began pushing him out the door.
"Wait a second, I never agreed to this! Hey!"
+++++++++++++++
Good bye's were hard. Many tears where shed and hugs given. (Mostly to Kagome) Will Stutley initiated them and made them official Merry Men (Or Merry Woman, in Kagome's case) Little John gave them a new set of Lincoln green tunics and leggings. Funny that originally, Pietro had adamantly refused to wear the 'tights' but now didn't seem to even realize he was wearing them. Friar Tuck, after the initial farewell grope. (Dirty old man) had given them each a warm cloak. Will Scarlet gave Pietro a blade, made by the finest swordsmith in King Richard's realm. Inlaid in the hilt in silver was the word 'Quicksilver' the swords name.
Robin hugged Kagome tightly to him. "You know that I will see you again someday."
Kagome smiled a watery smile at him.
Robin looked down at her. "This I vow. We will meet again." Then he smiled his familiar cocky smile. "Besides, I have to see that your keeping up on your archery skills, when we meet again we'll have a duel, aye." He winked.
Kagome laughed and hugged him tight. She was going to miss them all, dorks though they may be.
"Kagome, I have one last gift for you." She pulled away and watched in shock as he unstrapped his beautiful white bow. Carved with intricate designs of leaves and trees, a great white wolf sat proudly in the center.
"I-I-I I can't take this. Robin! This is your bow!" She tried to give it back, but he wrapped her fingers around it.
"Yes it is my bow, and, as such, is also mine to give." He looked into her eyes, green to blue. "May it serve you well, as it once did for me."
She lunged, wrapping her arms around his neck, tears falling from her eyes.
He choked. "Ok, Robin has to breath now."
Kagome unwound her arms, and backed away, sniffling and clutching the precious bow to her chest. She stood next to Pietro who already had his new sword strapped to his back.
She looked at everyone that she had come to love. Robin and his dorky hat. Maid Marion smiling gently at them. Little John blubbering and clutching his staff. Friar Tuck who was either blessing them or reading their eulogy, never could tell with him, he was always bloody drunk. Will Scarlet who seemed to be doing his best to look unaffected by their imminent departure. Much and Alan, Will, Gilbert and David. Yes she was going to miss them all dearly.
Pietro threaded his arm through hers. Kagome slipped the pouch over her head and dumped the clump of blue fur into her hand, clutching it tightly.
"Good bye." She whispered as the pink light engulfed them, lifting her hair up.
Robin ran forward. "Don't forget! This isn't good bye, we will see each other again, I swear it!" He yelled over the raging winds.
There was a flash of light and the two were gone. Not even their footprints in the grass to show that they'd ever been their. Only the memories that now lived in the Hearts of the Merry Men of Sherwood forest.
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Authors note: Well I hope you liked that. Next chapter up it's Kurt and Miroku's turn. Can anybody guess where they ended up? Later. Sayin_girl
