Kagome: A Feudal AU
A Sol-leks Production that isn't a parody! Technically!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha franchise or related characters. The 'rearranging' I do in this fic is unofficial, unauthorized, and I am not profiting from it, save in entertaining my readers. I will try to keep characters as in-character as possible. Note, however, that my top priority is not to simply retell the Inuyasha series by changing names here and there, but to create an original (and hopefully entertaining) story. If I'm stepping on any toes, I apologize, but I would advise that you either try to enjoy it or not read. (Here's hoping I haven't just reduced my readership to me and my beta reader…)
Chapter One
The young kendoist paused to inhale the crisp spring air before he began his kata. It was difficult to train without a proper sparring partner, and moss was beginning to cover the remains of his last training dummy. Nevertheless, he practiced, visualizing an expert opponent in his mind's eye. The bokken cut gracefully through the air, and he was filled with a familiar exhilaration.
"Look, Todd! A samurai!"
"No, dear it can't be. They have bamboo armor."
Tourists, the boy cursed. He winced a second later. If he had had a real sparring partner, the distraction would have cost him. He whipped around to glare at the gawking crowd. The way his long platinum hair whistled through the air only added to the effect.
"Take a picture," he growled. "It'll last longer."
He was nearly blinded by the sudden sea of flashes.
"Look," he continued, with all the calm found at the eye of a hurricane, "I'm kinda busy here, and I'm not part of the shrine exhibits either. So, I'd feel much obliged if you would just leave me alone."
"You're not an exhibit? But you're swinging a sword around!"
"Oh, forget it!" He threw up his hands and stormed off.
And right into his younger brother.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, Hojo?" he demanded, pulling the black haired boy back up to his feet.
"Grandpa sent me to find you, Inuyasha," Hojo replied. "He says he has to talk to you."
"Wait, wait, lemme guess," Inuyasha interrupted. "Something about destiny, ancient legends and the shrine in the backyard?"
"Technically, it's next to the house, but otherwise, you're right on the mark."
Inuyasha sighed, roughly massaging his temple.
"Hey, Hojo, you love Gramps' stories, right?"
"I hope you're not implying what I think you're implying!" Hojo's eyes were as wide as dinner plates.
"Aw, c'mon," Inuyasha pleaded. "A little hair dye and he'll never be able to tell the difference!"
"Big brother!"
"OK, OK, I'm going!" The young kendoist threw up his hands. "You're such a sap, bro."
"I am not a sap!" Hojo insisted, drawing himself up to his full height (5 feet). "I'm your little brother."
Inuyasha tousled the younger boy's hair. "Of course you are."
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"Hey, Gramps!" Inuyasha called, letting the door slam shut behind him. "You in here?"
"I am right in here," the old man replied testily, poking his head out from the kitchen. "There is no need to shout so."
"So what's so important that we have to talk about it right now, huh?" the kendoist demanded, throwing himself down into an empty chair at the table.
"I am simply trying to prepare you for your destiny," Gramps explained, clasping his hands together. "One day, you will succeed me as the protector of the shrine, and you must be prepared with knowledge of the legends that have been handed down through our family for generations."
"Look, Gramps," Inuyasha cut in. "Like I told you already, I'm not that interested. I'm not gonna base my life on ancient make-believe."
"Make-believe!" the old man huffed. "The legends are not make-believe!"
"Get with the 21st century, Gramps. I don't know how it worked in your era, but nowadays, people don't find mummified hands to be thoughtful gifts."
"Kappa hands are good luck!"
"Giving Buyo indigestion doesn't seem all that lucky to me," Inuyasha pointed out.
"Well, they're not supposed to be eaten," Gramps replied. "Now, listen, and attend to your destiny!"
There was clearly no escaping it, so Inuyasha resorted to a trick most don't have to learn until married. Separating the conscious and unconscious minds allows one to take in, and, if necessary, spout back or sum up, anything the second party says, while not actually registering a word of it. So, while Inuyasha was able to answer any question Gramps asked him about the lecture, his mind stayed firmly in an imagined kendo championship.
He never got to see if he won; Gramps wound down, and ushered the young kendoist out the door. He wasn't out the door even a minute before he was accosted by Hojo.
"Big brother, you've got to come help! Buyo fell down the well!"
Inuyasha's retort died on his lips.
"Let's go," he replied.
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"Funny how Gramps always talks about protecting the shrine, but never bothers to repair it," he muttered as he stood beside the ancient well. The only reply was a strange scratching from the bottom of the well.
"Buyo's down there," Hojo reiterated. "I think he's hurt!"
Inuyasha only nodded, swinging a leg over the edge to climb down.
A split-second later, he was hurled backwards as…something exploded out of the well.
It looked like a snake. But not a snake; they didn't grow that large. Nor did they have arms, let alone two pairs of them.
Before Inuyasha's mouth was even halfway open, he felt the air slammed from his lungs as the creature's massive tail wrapped around him.
Hojo screamed and fainted dead away.
"Give it to me!" the snake-beast hissed, fangs inches from Inuyasha's face. He winced as the monster's rancid breath rolled over him.
"What are you talking about? Give what to you?" he demanded.
"Liar! I can smell it upon you! I shall devour you along with it if I must!"
"Put me down, damn it!" Inuyasha growled, slamming his fists against the creature's snout.
A flash of violet light; the creature howled in pain, and they were over the edge of the well, falling, falling—surely the well wasn't this deep. And then, all was darkness.