Aftermath Problems and Benefits

"There, that's it." Sanosuke pointed to a worn down Dojo. They walked into the dojo and were great by an ecstatic Kaoru.

"You guys are all right! We were so worried! What happened exactly? Kagome came back to the restaurant and told us to go home or somewhere safe. She didn't tell us any of the details though. She just ran off again!" Kaoru helped Kazuki set down Kenshin and Inuyasha. "Are they all right?"

Sanosuke was about to open his mouth however Kagome beat him to it. "Oh, they were some pretty tough bandits. They ran off though when Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Inuyasha started whipping their butts! Though they did get injured badly." Lucky for Kagome the bandages hid how badly they were injured.

"That's Kenshin, always managing to get himself in trouble. Megumi went to work and Yahiko's training. How can I repay you guys for bringing them back safely?"

"Food and sleep…food and slee…" Kazuki collapsed and fell into a deep sleep…

The smell of food filled Kazuki's nostrils. It smelt like ramen…chicken flavored. He sat up and looked at his surroundings. He was in a different room and had a blanket over him. He stood up and walked outside where the smell was coming from. Kagome was cooking ramen noodles in Kaoru's cooking pot outside. He saw everyone at the dojo---excluding Megumi--- at the table outside. He sat down between Inuyasha and Kenshin. "So…how long was I asleep?"

"To damn long. I even woke up before you!" Inuyasha gave him a smug smile. "You humans sure do heal slowly. Kenshin woke up a little before you."

Kagome gave them each a bowl of noodles and smiled. She sat down between Inuyasha and Yahiko. "Hope everyone likes it! You should see Inuyasha eat this stuff!"

"Hey Kagome…" Kazuki gave her a suspicious look. "Where did you get the ramen…I thought you forgot the stuff…"

"About that…" She let out a nervous laugh and placed an arm behind her back. "I looked in the wrong pocket. Kazuki fell over and so did Inuyasha. "Anyways Kazuki, I told our them about my little trips to the past and our jewel collecting." Everyone talked happily during breakfast. They loved the noodles, especially Sanosuke who ate almost as bad as Inuyasha. When they finished Inuyasha excused himself. He nodded for Kagome to follow. She excused herself as well and followed him.

"Kagome, I transformed again. Didn't I?" They walked down the stream nearby the Dojo.

"Ya…"

"How many more people did I kill?"

"Quite a few bandits. You didn't kill any innocent people though!"

"I hurt Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Kazuki I bet though. I don't want to jeopardize any more lives! As soon as we figure out what's wrong with the well you're going home and Kazuki too. I won't let myself hurt you."

"No way! Besides, if it weren't for Kazuki you and Kenshin would be dead and I'm the only one who can sense the jewel shards! So you're outta luck!"

"Kagome…I…uh…Fine whatever. But if anything happens…I want you to kill me. I couldn't live with myself if I knew you were killed just because of me."

Kagome shook her head. "No way. Besides, we all owe our lives to you. Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and many other people owe you their lives! With all of us we can stop Naraku! Now come on. Let's go get Kazuki and head back to the well." Inuyasha nodded and they walked back to the dojo.

When they arrived back at the dojo Kazuki was out back straightening out his backpack. "We ready to go anytime soon?" He slung his backpack over his back when he finished. "If the freaking well works!"

"Feh, forgot about that stupid thing." Inuyasha sat down on the ground and got into a thinking position. "What could be wrong with the damn thing?"

Kagome sat down next to him and bit her lip. "What if we can't go back?" She fell back and closed her eyes absorbing the afternoon sun. "What if we can never go home?"

Everyone's train of thought was disrupted when five figures jumped over the wall and into the dojo yard. The group consisted of two females and three males. They held short swords and were glowering at Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kazuki. The group looked like well-trained ninjas and they wore the same colors: Blue and black.

"I believe these are the ones who killed our allies. Shall we kill them boss?" One of the females asked in a mocking town. She let out a sinister laugh and unsheathed her weapon 'accidentally' cutting down the tree with a clean cut. "Opps? Did I do that?"

"Yeah, we'd be doing everyone a favor getting rid of this monster. Maybe we'd get an award for his head." One of the males commented. He unsheathed his sword and settled into a fighting stance. Two of the other fighters unsheathed their sword and joined their two comrades.

The leader of the group took out his sword and glared at Inuyasha. "You're the one who killed our entire bandit squadron. Ever since the one named Kenshin left this town we've reigned over Tokyo! You'll be the first to die!" The man barked an order to one of his male comrades in some unknown lingo. The man obeyed him and charged at Inuyasha. The dog demon rolled his eyes and easily swatted him to the side with his arm. The man crashed into the walls and fell down like a pancake to the ground. Inuyasha looked at the leader and raised his eyebrow waiting for him to make his next move. The leader let out a low growl. "He's new…and a distraction."

One of the female ninja's came out of the dojo holding a squirming Yahiko by his shirt. "Who the hell is this twerp. He bit me! And called me a man!"

"Let go of me ugly!" Yahiko continued to struggle trying to free himself from her grasp.

"Ugly? Why you little…" She smacked Yahiko with the back of her hand. Yahiko yelled because of the pain and noticed the tiny needles on the back of her glove. "Now be good or I might have to hurt you!"

"Yahiko!" Kagome stood up but was stopped by Inuyasha.

"Let the kid go. It's me you want not him." Inuyasha clenched and unclenched his fist trying not to make a wrong move. Inuyasha sniffed the air and growled when he smelt the little blood droplets slowly sliding down Yahiko's cheek. "Grrr…what do you want in exchange for the boy!"

The second non-leader male grimaced, "It's your life we want, you will pay for what you have done!" He unsheathed his sword and glared at Inuyasha. His expression was cold and angry.

The leader laughed, "Calm down, with the boy in our hands we're in charge…huh? Where did she go…" He looked around and saw the ninja woman unconscious beneath a tree. "What the?"

Kenshin put Yahiko down, "I really don't like hitting women…"

Kaoru smiled and lifted up a frying pan, "That's why I did it!" She glared at the three remaining ninjas. "I suggest you three leave before we get serious."

The conscious female ninja's eyes grew worried, "What do we do now?" She steadied her sword in a fighting position.

The non-leader male shouted, "Just attack! I want the demon dead!" He got tapped on the shoulder and turned around, immediately a fist contacted his face and he was thrown into the knocked over tree.

Sanosuke cracked his knuckles and looked at the remaining two, "Any questions?" When he received no reply he decided to knock out the last male. "And then there was one!"

Feeling frustrated the female ninja charged at Kagome with her sword aiming for her heart. Kazuki jumped in the way and punched her in the face forcing her to land unconscious onto one of her fellow ninjas.

"Oh my gosh! You just hit a girl! Sit boy! Oh wait…" Kagome smacked her own forehead forgetting that she couldn't sit Kazuki like she could Inuyasha and now Inuyasha did a face plant into a steaming bowl of hot ramen…

"Ah! It burns! What the hell was that for?" He was running around the dojo trying to find water and ended up washing his face with water used to clean clothes. "Kagome…"

"Sorry! I forgot!" Kagome laughed nervously. Kazuki was laughing his rear off, as were Sanosuke and Yahiko. She looked at the ninjas scattered everywhere, "Well, what should we do with them? Oh first let me help you with your wound Yahiko!" She started searching for her supplies.

"Humph, fine." Yahiko scoffed. He sat down and watched Kagome go through her stuff. "What exactly are you getting?"

"Oh…just some future remedies…"She pulled out the squirt bottle. Sanosuke jumped at the sight of it then snickered knowing what it would do. "Hold still…" she grabbed Yahiko's head and squirted his cheek…

"Ow!" He jumped away from her. "Get away from me witch!"

Kagome stood up and yelled, "Fine! Get it infected! See if I care!" She started heading towards the well. "Come on you two! We don't have all day!"

Inuyasha and Kazuki sighed and started to follow. The other four wanted to see the well for themselves so they followed as well. They walked in silence until they reached the well. Kagome jumped down again and moments later she was back up.

"It's just no use!" She held her knees and began to sob. Kaoru patted her back in comfort and Inuyasha continued to test the well each time it was futile.

Kazuki pondered for a moment then looked at Kagome, "Maybe I have to go through first. I did go first when we got stuck here…Maybe that's just how it works?" He shrugged his shoulders.

Kenshin looked at Kagome then Kazuki and then looked at the well, "I wish to go with, I owe Kazuki my life, and I need to repay him back." He looked at Sanosuke, "What about you Sanosuke?"

"What? Hm, you do have a point…" He grabbed his chin in thought, "I am up for some more excitement…so I'm in. Besides…" He grabbed Kazuki around the neck and gave and ruffled his hair. "We can't let your little reincarnation get himself hurt." He stopped when Kazuki started breathing funny and Sanosuke noticed the bandages around his neck. "Huh? How did this happen?"

Inuyasha growled, "I did it because I thought he was attacking Kagome's little brother! Now back off! Anyways, you're not going!"

Kazuki grabbed onto Sanosuke and Kenshin then gave Inuyasha his most devious and mischievous smile, "Wanna bet?" He jumped down the well with a hold of the two scared people. A red light illuminated from the well and when Inuyasha peered down they were gone.

Inuyasha snarled, "That idiot! Sorry about this Kaoru, but I guess until Kazuki comes to his senses the two are stuck where they are. I'll bring them back, sooner or later so don't worry!" Kaoru nodded and Inuyasha grabbed Kagome around the waist and they both jumped down the well. When they landed they noticed a roof above their head now. "Feh, we're back at your house Kagome. They both climbed out and were greeted by Kazuki and his two stowaways.

"Cool! I got groupies!" He laughed and turned to Kagome, "Sorry 'bout that." He gave her a winsome smile. "Besides…" He turned serious, "I want to talk with Kenshin some more about something…" He shook the thoughts out of his head. "Well, let's get some more supplies and I'm gonna check how my mother is…"

"You better tell me what's going on young man!" A woman shrieked.

"Oh…hello Mother…"

Next time on Inuyasha (Rurouni Kenshin). Yay! Time to do a little explaining to Kazuki's mom! Fun, fun! Kagome and Inuyasha get to meet the rest of the Kitakawas. Kazuki sure has been acting strangely…but…another day…another chapter…Next time on Inuyasha, The Kitakawas. See you soon.