Yay! I'm on a roll! I just had my BF hypergirl15 (email her and make her post her fics cuz she won't) post the last chapter, and I'm working on the next! Go me! I only have two reviews and it's been posted for a few days, so I'm assuming people didn't like it… Sorry! (Even though you aren't reading this if you didn't like it…). But I like the way it's going, so… Yea. R&R, peeps! Love ya! (P.S. Someone help me! The word 'mom' in Japanese- is it okasan, okkassan, okassan, or okkasan? Help!)
kody leigh- Um forgive my ignorance but how is Inuyasha saying they've only known each other for two days funny? Thanks for reviewing! I love new reviewers!
ThebigW- Thanks for reviewing! You rock!
flip-x-fantasy- Heh, yea. Sorry it took so long, really… Thanks for reviewing!
Keiko89- Sorry! L Really, I meant to update sooner but school is REALLY taking it's toll on me… Sorry! Thanks for reviewing!
eveilpristess345- Thanks, but you do know that there are now five chapters right? You reviewed chapter three when chapter four was up… So please read four before this or it will be VERY confusing to you!
shangxiang10- Thanks! Updating!
CybrIdolMink- Updating!
DarkSilverMaiden- You shall see! Hehehe… And it's Tetsusaiga, for future reference. Thanks, hope you did too!
Miroku69- rolls eyes Enthusiastic as ever, little brother…
aNiMeaNgEl- Thanks! Here it is, at long last!
Okay, on with the story!
Somebody Like You
Chapter Five: Down The Well
"Okay, run this by me one more time," said Inuyasha, eyeing Kagome skeptically.
She sighed. "We're going to Japan."
"Why?"
"Because! The well from my dream is exactly like the one at the shrine back home, and the Goshinboku too! We have to go back and figure out what's going on."
"Mm-hm. And how exactly are you going to get there?"
"By airplane of course!"
"Uh-huh. And your mom is going to give you a couple thousand dollars to go back home to figure out a dream that she won't even believe is real?"
Kagome's face fell. "You're right," she said softly, looking at the ground. "We don't have any money to spare right now… She won't give it to me. It… it's stupid anyway. I just thought I could… Could… Well, figure out what that dream meant, and… and see Souta again…"
Silent tears slid down her cheeks, and Inuyasha gently pulled her into a warm embrace. "Shh…" he said softly. "It's okay…" The situation seemed hopeless. But what if… He bit his lip. It was crazy, but it just might work… "Come on," he told her, lifting her into his arms. "I have an idea."
He stopped running after a few moments, and Kagome gawked at the place they were standing in front of. It was a nineteenth century mansion, complete with a huge front garden and elaborate gate. Kagome shook her head to clear the amazement from her mind and looked over at Inuyasha. "Um… Why are we here?"
He looked away, blushing, and mumbled something Kagome couldn't understand. "What?" she asked, sending him a quizzical glance.
"This is where I live," he said softly.
Kagome blinked. "Wow," she replied. "That's awesome! The garden is so pretty! Where did you get all those flowers?"
Inuyasha sweatdropped. She was standing in front of the most elaborate mansion in town, and she was obsessing over some flowers? He supposed he should be grateful, at least it hadn't made her uncomfortable. It wasn't his fault his dad had been a multi-millionaire! But Miroku had treated him weirdly for days after he found out, and none of the others knew. He hadn't wanted to tell her, but if dreams could hurt her… Something was wrong, and they needed to know what. The only problem was… He shook his head. He'd find a way. "Flowers aren't important, Kagome. What's important is finding out what's wrong with you, ne?"
Kagome blinked. "Well yea, but how-"
"Leave that to me. Just… Come on."
She nodded and took his hand, squeezing it tightly, and they walked up to the gate. "Oi, Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha called. "Open up!"
A calm, cold voice came from seemingly nowhere, and Kagome pulled Inuyasha closer instinctively. "Who is your friend, little brother?" it asked scornfully.
"That's none of your concern, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, scarcely controlled underlying anger in his tone. "Just let me in. Why do we have to have these arguments after school every day? Do you enjoy my frustration? It's my home too, you know."
"Father left it under my jurisdiction."
"And he left the Tetsusaiga to me, which is why you hate me," he spat out bitterly. "You know, we used to be friends. Then father died, and you shut everyone out. You don't think I miss him? You're not the only one who lost both their parents, Sesshomaru!"
There was a moment of silence, in which Kagome bit her lip and clung more tightly to Inuyasha, and the aforementioned hanyou cursed himself inwardly at such a pathetic display of emotion. More ammunition for his brother to throw at him… It had been foolish to let his anger show in the past, and now he was showing regret and resentment? It would be even more difficult than usual to gain his brother's attention now… His only remaining family. You would think that they ought to care for each other more strongly than most siblings, considering they had no one else to turn to… But Inuyasha shook off these feelings. They were getting him nowhere. He had learned a long time ago that he couldn't count on his brother to be there for him, and had learned to rely on himself and his friends. He couldn't allow a single moment of weakness to undermine his whole demeanor towards his brother. "Just… Just let me in, Sesshomaru," he said weakly. Not just to the house though, he thought sorrowfully. Let me back into your life…
The voice spoke no more, but a few moments later the gates opened, creaking slightly. Inuyasha let out a relieved sigh. He's letting us inside. It's a start… Maybe there's hope after all. For our relationship and Kagome's problem… "Come on, Kagome. It's okay."
"No," she said softly, her eyes boring into his soul, "it's not. You're hurting inside…" She bit her lip, fearing she had said too much, considering they were standing right in front of the residence of the object of her concern for his well-being… "But we can talk about that later, when your brother isn't around," she corrected quickly. She shot him a dark glance. "You never told me that your brother pushed you around like this. And you never said why we're here."
He sighed and pulled her along with him as he walked towards the main doors. "My dad left Sesshomaru and I an inheritance- a big one. Only problem is that I have to be eighteen to get into mine, unless Sesshomaru signs something allowing me to take out a specific amount."
She sighed. "Considering his attitude toward you, that's not very helpful… Why Sesshomaru?"
Inuyasha laughed. "He's older. Plus father thought he was the more reasonable one." He smiled ruefully. "He was probably right."
Kagome's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you need the money for, anyway?"
He smiled and opened the door. "We're going to Japan."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WON'T GIVE ME THE MONEY!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"I don't think you need it, half-brother-"
"It doesn't matter if he won't let you have it, Inuyasha, you're not spending three thousand dollars to take us to Japan to solve my problem!"
"If it's your problem it's mine too, baka!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "I'm not going to sit around and do nothing about this. You got scratched this time, no big deal. But what if a youkai attacks you next time? You said it yourself, you can't defend yourself! I won't risk-"
"What does a problem like the one you are presently discussing with this miko- whom I am a bit wary to have in my household-" he interjected, sending Inuyasha a patronizing glare, "have to do with your transportation to Japan? If I had more of the facts I might be more inclined to… assist you."
Kagome blew a fuse. "It doesn't matter because whether you give it to him or not I won't accept it!"
"Dang it Kagome!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Will you just give it a rest? You're going whether you like it or not, I won't risk losing you!"
Kagome opened her mouth to deliver a retort, but Sesshomaru interceded.
"Will you two please shut up?" he asked, his only expression of agitation reflected in his eyes. "Honestly, you sound like an old married couple."
The two flushed. "Look, Sesshomaru," said Inuyasha. "Kagome had this dream. It's too complicated to explain, but we think she's in danger. We have to get to Japan at all costs." He looked at Sesshomaru, determination in his eyes. "I'll give you the Tetsusaiga."
Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly. Inuyasha was willing to give up the Tetsusaiga, his only memory of their father, in order to protect a mere human girl? She seemed ordinary- other than the fact that she was a miko. He smiled internally. Maybe it was a blood thing, falling for mikos. Inutaisho's human mate, Iyazoi, had been a miko, regardless of whether Inuyasha was aware of this fact. Now his younger half-sibling had clearly fallen for this miko youth. And then there was Rin… He cleared his throat. "Very well. You may have the money you need. Three thousand, no more, no less. And I no longer have a need for the Tetsusaiga. I trust you'll carry it well." Sesshomaru handed him the signed form and left the room, stoic and emotionless as ever.
Inuyasha's eyes widened, and it took him a moment to register the fact that Sesshomaru had left. Sesshomaru had given him the money without compensation? He did a double take when he saw the name of the account the money was being taken from. Sesshomaru Tashio- Inheritance from Inutaisho Tashio. And was it his imagination, or were there a few extra zeroes at the end of that number?
Inuyasha smiled. His brother's organizational complex had finally come in handy. His heart filled with hope as he took in what this meant. His brother did care for him… Although he obviously thought he was too stupid to notice where the money was coming from and what it meant.
He was shaken from his reverie when Kagome waved her hand emphatically in front of his face.
"Um,
earth to Inuyasha?" she said uncertainly. "Anybody home?"
He
smiled. "Let's go," he said cheerfully.
"I told you," she exclaimed, "I'm not using your money for this!"
He grinned. "How about my brother's?"
Kagome snatched the outstretched paper from his hand and gasped, then smiled up at him. "This is wonderful," she said softly. "He really does care."
Inuyasha nodded. "And we can find out what's going on with you."
She shook her head, smiling softly. "That's not what's important. But never mind." She smiled. "Let's go."
Kagome sighed. It was hard work to carry this big yellow bag around all the time… Which, she noticed with a small sting of fear and a strong sense of irony, was the same bag that her counterpart from the dream had carried around. Inuyasha, smirking, pulled it from her grasp and looped it around his shoulder. Kagome smiled up at him, a touch of the same irony she had felt before in her expression. He looked exactly the same as the other Inuyasha had when he taken her other self's burden from her shoulders… She sighed once more and clasped his hand. "Come on, the plane is going to leave soon."
He nodded and started walking with her, her backpack slung over his shoulder and his own suitcase dragging behind him.
"Flight 237 group four now boarding," said the voice over the intercom.
Kagome's eyes widened, and Inuyasha held up his hands in defense. "Oh, no," he said, fear in his eyes. "Don't-"
"OH MY GOSH!" Kagome cried. "We were in group two!" She tightened her grip on his hand and sped off, leaving the poor innocent civilians behind them in a cloud of dust, sweatdropping.
"KAGOME! You just passed our gate!" Inuyasha cried.
She (once again) skidded to a halt, sweatdropping in embarrassment. "Heh. I seem to do that a lot, huh?"
He sighed. "Yup. C'mon, we better hurry." He strapped her backpack to his suitcase, hefted it onto his back, and picked her up bridal style, rushing towards the gate. He came to a halt just before the loading gate and set her down, and the two power-walked towards the plane. They sat down in their seats just as the seatbelt-on light flashed green. They quickly strapped in, and Kagome sighed, laying her head on his shoulder. "That was close…" she murmured sleepily. He smiled, draping an arm around her shoulder as she fell asleep. He pulled a blanket from the compartment above them, covered her up, and allowed sleep to overcome him once again.
Kagome blinked, but saw nothing. "Where am I?" she thought desperately. She breathed in, and her heart nearly stopped. Not again… she moaned internally.
A small child who looked frighteningly like Souta's friend Miramaru suddenly appeared. "Come with me," she said softly. "I will lead you to lady Midoriko."
Kagome hesitated. What if this child was a youkai in disguise? The voice of the woman from her other dream echoed in her mind. Watch out for familiar strangers. They are the key to your survival…
Kagome stood and nodded. It wasn't as if she had much choice, anyway- the child's glowing aura was the only source of light in the cavern. She took her left hand and allowed her self to be led away from the place where she had awoken. She thought she saw light once, some kind of glowing blue barrier, but the child promptly led her away from it. Suddenly she stopped, and Kagome stared at her. Why would this Midoriko be here of all places? It was darker here than it had been back where they had been. What was this girl up to?
As if in answer to her unspoken question, the child took something from her pocket and blew on it. The small globe lit up and flew a few feet in front of them and then stopped, hovering. It slowly increased in brightness, and Kagome gasped. The woman from before! She was carved in stone, locked in battle with a ferocious youkai three times her size. But why? She had seen her in person earlier, why was she a mere statue now?
There was a bright burst of pink light, and the glowing form of the woman from the statue appeared, smiling softly. "Hello, Kagome-san," she said softly.
"Lady Midoriko, I presume?" Kagome replied, more self-confidence in her voice than she felt.
Midoriko smiled gently. "Indeed. Do you know what you have to do as well, or may I enlighten you?"
Kagome bit her lip at the rebuke. "Please," she said quietly.
Midoriko's grin widened. "Very well. You are heading home, ne?"
Kagome nodded. "Hai. It will be nice to return… But more importantly, I can figure out why these dreams are plaguing me so. I do not understand what they mean… Please, help me my lady!"
Midoriko smiled at the energy in her voice. "The well, you recognize it?" Kagome nodded emphatically, and Midoriko continued. "You must jump in with Inuyasha. You will travel to this world's past, and meet up with your counterparts. I cannot say what you will do then, no matter how much I wish to; it is against the rules of fate, which even one such as I must abide by. But remember, child- you must trust yourself and the others. Despite your differences you are of the same being, just in different worlds. There is a reason there is more than one universe- human beings themselves are too powerful on their own, that was discovered eons ago. So each being, human and youkai alike, separated themselves into countless fragments and created worlds that mirrored their own to deposit these pieces in. If the gap between all worlds was breached, and any one being was able to join with their other selves… It would be catastrophic. They could control all the worlds through sheer brute force."
Kagome's eyes widened. "Is that what Naraku wants? To join with each of his counterparts and destroy the universe?"
Midoriko smiled internally. The girl was so naïve… But if her simplicity made her more willing to do the world's bidding then why not go along with it?
"Yes," she replied. "Naraku would use the jewel to open the portals between all the worlds and recombine himself in to the all-powerful being he once was."
Kagome sighed. "Figures Naraku would do something like this…"
Midoriko smiled once more. "Good luck, child. And farewell…"
She placed a small ornamental comb in her hands, and then Kagome's world went black.
"Kagome?" came a quiet voice from above. "Kagome, are you all right?"
Kagome blinked to clear her blurred vision. What was going on? Where was she?
"Kagome?"
Kagome smiled as she recognized the Inuyasha's voice. "I'm fine," she said softly. "But…" she took a moment to consider whether she ought to tell him. He would probably become even more worried than he already was… But she had to tell him. She shuddered to consider how she would feel if their positions had been reversed…
"I had another dream."
Inuyasha was immediately at full attention. "What happened?"
"I… I was in a cave," Kagome began. "A child came and led me to Midoriko, who told me that Naraku was planning to unite with his counterparts of other universes and destroy the world… She said we had to jump in the well and work together with our other selves to destroy him."
Inuyasha snorted. "Sounds easy enough. With two of me, I can take him easily."
Kagome sent him a wary glance. "Don't be so sure. In the immortal words of Foaly, "If you're felling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know."
Inuyasha blinked. "Who's Foaly?"
Kagome sighed. "Never mind. But when we get back home I'm introducing you to the world of Eoin Colfer."
Inuyasha smiled, and Kagome shot him a quizzical glance. "What?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. It's just… You referred to New York as your home."
Her eyes widened, and then she smiled slightly. "I suppose it's starting to feel that way… You and the others make me feel so safe and loved… Home is where the heart is, ne?"
He smiled softly. "I'm glad you feel that way."
She grinned in return, and he brought his lips down to meet hers…
"Attention passengers, please fasten your seatbelts. We will be descending shortly."
Kagome sighed and leaned back in her seat, making sure her buckle was secure. Stupid flight attendant. Going and ruining the moment like that…
Inuyasha, however, didn't seem to particularly care. He tilted her chin to face him and leaned over. "Now," he said softly. "Where were we…"
Kagome closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing the world around her to melt away…
The plane jerked seconds before their lips met. "Attention passengers, we are now descending. Please remain seated."
Kagome pulled away and threw her hands up in the air. "I give up!" she exclaimed.
Inuyasha sighed. "It's no big deal," he told her. "We should be worrying about other things, anyway."
She shot him a quizzical glance. "Like what?" she asked skeptically.
"First, what we're gonna do once we get to Japan, since you already sold your house and going in would be breaking and entering, second, how you're going to see your brother without his 'parents' finding out, because based on your descriptions of them they wouldn't take kindly to a visit that wasn't prearranged, and third, what excuse you're going to make up for your mother, because I doubt the truth is gonna cut it," he supplied.
Kagome sighed. "One, Souta's family bought the house so it won't be a problem, he can let us in, two, if I ask him not to tell he won't, and three…" She sighed. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
He was a bit apprehensive about her last explanation, but he let it go, seeing how weary she looked already and not desiring to stress her further. He gripped her hand supportively, and she leaned into him as the plane touched down.
He gently kissed the top of her head and whispered, "It'll be okay, koi. Everything will be fine. I promise."
She smiled softly and replied, "Don't make promises you can't keep, Inuyasha."
"I will keep it," he said forcefully. "I'll die before I see you get hurt."
She turned to him apprehensively. "Don't say that," she said softly, fear in her voice. "I don't want anyone to die for me, especially not you. I need you, Inuyasha. Don't leave me, please."
He stood as the seatbelt-on light turned off and gathered her into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply.
"I'm here for you," he said gently. "I'm right here."
Kagome took a deep, shaking breath and said, "We need to go, Inuyasha. We're holding up everyone else behind us."
"Are
you okay though?" he asked, concern in his voice.
She nodded.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
He took their bags in one hand and grasped hers with his other and slowly made his way down the aisle. They stepped out of the plane and into the terminal, their eyes bugging out at the line at the baggage claim center.
"Glad we brought everything on the plane," Inuyasha muttered.
"Now to get a cab back to the shrine…" she said, sarcastic enthusiasm dripping from her words. "Joy."
Inuyasha smiled, at least she was getting a little of her sense of humor back. "Why is that such a big deal?"
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Because it takes forever."
Inuyasha grinned. "Well then we had better get started."
Mrs. Higurashi entered her new home with a few bags of groceries, humming. She missed her home back in Japan, but the transition was going much better than she had expected.
She called for Kagome, but the girl didn't answer. Must be at a friend's house, she mused. Oh well. I'll tell her the good news later.
She put the cold items in the refrigerator and left the other foodstuffs on the island to put away later. Still humming happily, she walked over to the answering machine and listened to the messages she had received during her absence.
Are your car payments too high? Going out of house and home trying to pay for damage and other problems? Well the Geico Gecko can-
Mrs. Higurashi rolled her eyes and pressed the delete button.
Congratulations, Atsuko! You have won a complimentary cruise to the Caribbean! Just sign up for one of our plans and spend a thousand dollars or more on-
She rolled her eyes again. She was beginning to seriously consider agreeing to her daughter's idea of putting the phrase, "death to all telemarketers" at the end of their message…
Hi mom! This is Kagome!
Her eyes widened. Why would Kagome leave a message?
Um… I really don't know how to say this…
She sounded so worried… What if something was really the matter?
I'm going to be gone for a week or so. I know it's awfully sudden and you'll be worried to death, but it's extremely important. If it makes you feel any better, Inuyasha is with me…
It did make her worry lessen a little, but she was still very concerned about her daughter's well being. How dare she simply walk out like that! Well as soon as she left a number, she was going to call her up and give her a piece of her mind…
I'm afraid I can't give you a number to reach me at now, I'm borrowing Inuyasha's cell at the moment but I'm not sure it will work where we're going. If it does I'll call you the minute we get there. If not then I'll see you when I get home!
Which will be…?
Don't worry though, I should come back in one piece.
That is not funny, Kagome…
And if not…
Atsuko's heart stopped. If not…
Well, that's not important. Don't give me up for dead for a month or so, okay?
What was going on? Her tone was joking, but her words… Her daughter wasn't like this. She didn't make up things like this. She didn't make things up at all. Which meant…
If I'm not back in six weeks, someone will come tell you everything. I'm leaving everything with him, and he's trustworthy. You know him, but don't try and find out who he is, because you never will.
That wasn't going to stop her from trying.
Just remember, mom… I love you, and I always will. Sayonara!
There was a click, and the dial-tone echoed throughout the small living room. Atsuko Higurashi merely stood there for a moment, fear encompassing her. What if Kagome never came back? What was had happened? And what did it have to do with Inuyasha?
She picked up the phone to call the police, flipping through her address book and marking the name of every person she thought Kagome might have contacted. In her worry, she absent-mindedly skipped over the name Souta Higurashi-Junio…
Okay, what do you think? I know this has taken forever… Sad part is that I only added the last two paragraphs today. I finished the rest the day after I posted the last chappie, and the first sentence of the second to last paragraph gave me major writer's block. So I came back to it today and deleted that sentence and started over… And that was all it took. Yea, sad, I know. Ah well. Please review!
Torina
