I'm putting up two chapters today. Woo! I also am really bored... So... Yeah. Hope you like chapters 4 and 5

Chapter 4: History Lesson

The next week and a half proved that Kyoumi was an excellent addition to the team. She wasn't the fastest, or the strongest, or the smartest. She couldn't even jump as high as Miroku or Sango. But she had a little bit of everything. She was brave in battle, she wouldn't hold back, and she wasn't one to quit. It was a good choice on InuYasha's part to let her come with them.

But she soon became curious of why she was helping them. What were they doing by killing all of these youkais? What were they trying to accomplish? And why did Miroku keep his hand covered up? It sure as hell wasn't to protect his hand from girl's asses.

Kyoumi soon found herself trying to figure these answers out for herself, but her answers always became demented and confusing.

On the 10th day of Kyoumi traveling with the small group, she was greeted at breakfast with some... odd news.

"I'm going to go home for about three days," Kagome said during the middle of breakfast. "I have to take a test, and I really want to do well on this. It might mean me passing the grade or not."

InuYasha looked mad, Sango, Miroku and Shippo didn't seem to care, but Kyoumi was just confused.

"Kyoumi, do you want to come with me?" asked Kagome.

"Uh... Sure, I guess... Where are we going?" she answered, still confused.

"You can't leave now, Kagome! We have to find the Jewel shards!" yelled InuYasha.

"I'm leaving, no matter what you say," Kagome said, closing the subject for further discussion.

But InuYasha wouldn't drop it. "You aren't going!"

"Yes I am!"

"No you aren't!"

"SIT!"

Kagome stood up and Kyoumi did the same, following Kagome down a path that looked worn and rugged.

"I bet you're wondering what I was talking about back there, weren't you?" Kagome asked.

Kyoumi nodded.

"I live 500-years in the future. That's why I wear such strange clothes. I'm not from here," Kagome said. "My test is for school, which is where I learn things that I need to get a job and stuff in my time. How I get to my time, is through a well."

"A well?" Kyoumi asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes, a well. I need a Sacred Jewel Shard to go through it."

"Speaking of the Sacred Jewel... Why are we collecting the shards?"

"If a youkai gets his hands on even one shard, he can multiply his power in great amounts. Just think what will happen to a youkai that gets the whole Jewel! But, the Jewel wasn't shattered before. I broke it with an arrow. And now youkais can get the shards and become more powerful. And there is one youkai that we are especially trying to get it away from. Naraku. He has done so many horrible things to people that if he got the whole Jewel, he could take over Japan. And he almost has all of it right now."

Once Kagome finished her story, they were almost to the well. Kyoumi pondered over this new information, and decided to ask Kagome later on what kind of things Naraku did.

They soon reached the well and Kyoumi looked into it, not impressed in the least. "That's it? That's the well that brings you to your time?"

"The remains of youkais were thrown in there, so it is called the Bone-Eater's Well. The youkai remains probably give it it's power," Kagome said, putting her foot on the well.

Kyoumi looked over the side of the well, and lost her balance. She fell into the well, but instead of hitting the ground, she felt like she was still falling! She opened her eyes and saw a vast area that went on forever, and was multiple colors of purple, and a few other colors as well.

Back in the Feudal Era, Kagome gasped and realized the Jewel shard in Kyoumi's neck allowed her to pass through the well. Kagome jumped in and tried to go as fast as she could, so she could catch up with Kyoumi.

Kyoumi landed in the bottom of the well and stood up, unable to keep her balance for very long. She held onto the wall and looked above her, seeing dark wood. What happened? Where am I? Kyoumi asked herself as she started to climb to the top of the well. Kagome landed soon after her and sighed.

"Kyoumi, are you all right?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah... Where are we?" she replied.

"This is my time. Well, since you are here, I might as well show you around," Kagome said, climbing up the side of the well. She got to the top and led Kyoumi outside, and turned around. "This is Higurashi Shrine. My family has been caring for this shrine for generations," Kagome said.

Kyoumi saw an amazing sight. There were small, multicolored, shiny wagons without horses on the road, traveling very fast. There was a large tree and a house, and a few other random things here and there.

"Kyoumi, follow me to my house. I'll introduce you to my family," Kagome said as she walked quickly to a large building nearby.

Kagome walked inside and Kyoumi followed, and she soon found herself in the largest house she had ever seen. "You live like noblemen! Are you sure you aren't rich?" Kyoumi asked as she took a few steps forward. She looked at all the bright colors and at the comfy furniture. She saw a glimpse of the lovely kitchen and the nice dining room. She noticed the stairs and was amazed that this was a two-story house.

Kagome looked around and then yelled out, "Grandpa! Sota! Mom! I'm home! And I have company!" Just as soon as she finished saying that a small boy ran down the stairs in his pajamas and he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

"Wow! Who's this Kagome? Is she one of your friends from the well? She's pretty," Sota said with a smile. Kyoumi blushed at the complement.

Kagome's mom walked in from the kitchen wearing her pajamas also and holding a cup of coffee. "It's nice to see someone other than InuYasha in the house. Not that I don't like him. It's good to see new faces. Kagome, Jii-chan is out somewhere taking care of some errands," Kagome's mom said with a sleepy-faced smile.

"Sota, Mom, this is Kyoumi. She has just started to travel with us," Kagome said. She looked at Sota carefully and asked, "Why aren't you dressed?"

"It's Sunday. And Mom has two weeks off," Sota said, stifling a yawn.

Kyoumi had walked over to the kitchen while they were conversing, and was followed in by Kagome's mom. Kyoumi was amazed by the kitchen. She loved cooking, and did it often for InuYasha and the others. She opened her mouth in awe from the kitchen.

"Your kitchen is lovely, Miss. I would love to cook here. It's so pretty, and it has so many utensils!" Kyoumi said, turning to beam at Kagome's mom.

"Yes, it is a nice kitchen. Probably much nicer than what you are used to, no offense meant. Unfortunately, I have a hard time finding time to cook with the shrine and my job," said Ms. Higurashi.

"Oh! Could I cook once? You'll have to teach me how to use the odd contraptions, but I think I could manage it," Kyoumi said with a wide smile.

"Sure! You could cook us dinner if you want. I'll teach you how to use the stove and such right now," said Kagome's mom, ushering Kyoumi over to the stove.

Kagome saw her mom and Kyoumi in the kitchen and smiled. "I'm glad mom has warmed up to Kyoumi so quickly. It's a good thing too, because I think going through the well really scared Kyoumi, and she won't want to go through it again any time soon," Kagome said to herself.

Kagome went upstairs to study and Kyoumi continued to learn how to use the stove and other things in the kitchen, practicing with them and seeing what they could do. Soon enough it was time for dinner and Kagome was starving. She hadn't eaten since the small breakfast that morning.

Kagome's mom sat at the table holding a book as Kagome walked in.

"Weren't you supervising Kyoumi?" Kagome asked.

"Oh, no, she knew it all by heart after I told it all to her! You should have seen what she could do with a knife though! She looks like a very good cook," said Kagome's mom.

"I think she had to feed herself when she was younger. She didn't have any parents at her home when we met her," Kagome said as she took a seat across from her mom.

Sota came in the kitchen and took a seat next to his mother, and he picked up Buyo from the floor and started to scratch him in his lap. Not too soon after, the door opened and Kagome's grandpa, Jii-chan, walked in with a bag of groceries.

"The market was packed today! I couldn't get anything I wanted because of everyone pushing and shoving! It was horrible!" yelled Jii-chan as he took his seat at the table, not noticing Kagome. "What's for dinner? I'm starving."

Kagome's mom shrugged and said, "I didn't cook tonight."

"Who did then?"

"My friend," Kagome said.

Jii-chan turned towards Kagome and smiled. "Kagome! I didn't see you there!" he said, and pulled her into a hug. Once he released her he said, "Who's your friend? Are your friends from school here?"

Kagome shook her head. "You'll have to wait and see," Kagome said as she got up to help Kyoumi in the kitchen.

A few minutes later Kagome brought out some plates and chopsticks, and some silverware. She went back in the kitchen and came out of the kitchen carrying a wonderful looking platter of vegetables and another plate of special rice with a hint of lemon. Kyoumi walked in behind her and carried a wonderful plate of teriyaki chicken with some other wonderful meats as well.

"Who is this Kagome?" asked her grandpa.

"My name is Kyoumi," she said as she put the chicken on the table and took a seat at the end of the table.

"That is Jii-chan," Kagome said, dishing up some food.

They ate well that night and everyone seemed happy at dinner, and the talk was very pleasant. Kagome's family asked Kyoumi a few questions about living in the Feudal era and she answered them happily, wondering if everyone was this polite.

Once they finished their meal, Kagome showed Kyoumi upstairs and showed Kyoumi her room. It was pink and had a desk littered with school papers and other things of the sort. It also had a large fluffy bed that was very comfortable.

"You can sleep here, with me. I'll let you sleep on the bed, because I need to study anyway. You know what? You should take a bath. I'll show you how to use the bathtub," Kagome said. She led Kyoumi to the bathroom and taught her how to make a bath for herself. She went to get Kyoumi some clothes so she could sleep easier. Kagome then left the bathroom and shut the door to let Kyoumi take her time.

Kagome went back in her room and started on her studies. Not soon after though, she heard something at her window. She turned and saw InuYasha.

"What are you doing here!" Kagome asked, surprised to see him in her window.

"When Kyoumi didn't come back, I came to check if she was here," InuYasha said.

"Were you worried about her?"

"No!" InuYasha said a little to quickly.

"It's OK if you were. It doesn't matter. That just shows that you consider her a friend, just like Sango or Miroku," Kagome said with a smug look on her face.

"Shut up!" InuYasha yelled at Kagome. He blushed and looked at the floor.

Sota turned up at the door to Kagome's room and saw InuYasha in the window, and he smiled. "Hi InuYasha! I met Kyoumi. She's a good cook! Do you like her cooking?"

InuYasha glanced sideways at Kagome and answered, "Y-yes..." He flinched a little bit, like he was expecting Kagome to sit him.

"InuYasha, are you going to stay here? Kyoumi will probably stay here with me until I go back through the well," Kagome said, turning back to her books.

"Yeah, I might. I'll stay here tonight at least. Maybe a bit longer," InuYasha said as he looked outside.

A door then opened in the hallway, shining light into it, and a bunch of steam went into the hall.

Kyoumi stood at the door, looking better than ever. She wore a black tank top and a pair of thin, navy blue pajama pants. Her hair was long and silky, and it was the first time that any of them had seen her hair down. It almost reached the floor, but stopped right above her ankles, and it looked even darker than before, if that was even possible. It was cut straight, unlike Kagome's, and it had a small wave to it from being in a braid for so long.

Sota looked at her and gaped, his mouth open wide. He found her very pretty.

"Hi InuYasha. How are you?" Kyoumi asked with a smile. Her eyes looked surprisingly bright after she took a bath. She smelled very nice too.

"I'm fine..." InuYasha said, still looking at Kyoumi.

"That's good. I thought something was wrong since you came all the way here," Kyoumi said.

"Oh, that's right. I wanted to talk to you about something too. Let's go outside and take a walk," InuYasha said.

Kyoumi nodded and went downstairs. She opened the door and found InuYasha standing in front of her.

She walked outside and followed him to the lone tree on the shrine grounds.

"I think you should know about my past," said InuYasha. He sat down with his back against the tree. "Not because you asked or anything, but because you are a half-demon. That's why. Usually someone else tells someone about my past, but you already know the day when I become human, so why not know a bit more about me."

"Why do you want to tell me this stuff?" Kyoumi asked.

"I don't know. I don't think of you as someone who is a friend. I think of you as family," InuYasha said. He thought about Sesshoumaru and added, "As family on good terms."

Kyoumi sat down next to InuYasha, and he started off with Kikyo, and the Sacred tree that they sat next to, and him being stuck to it. He then went to Kagome shattering the Shikon Jewel and to Naraku and all his horrible deeds that he did to InuYasha and Kikyo. He didn't want to tell her everything, so he left out the part that he fell in love with Kikyo, but it was hard for him to keep his eyes from looking sad and soft. He also didn't tell her about Miroku and Sango's pasts, or Shippo's because he didn't want to stay out here for hours, even though he did kill one talking.

"Naraku sounds like a horrible demon," Kyoumi said.

"He's only a hanyou," InuYasha said.

"What?"

"He was a the human, Onigumo, who sold his body to demons."

"Wow... Oh, we better get back. Kagome is probably tired and wants to go to sleep."

InuYasha nodded and picked Kyoumi up. She gave a small yelp, but she quieted down soon enough. He jumped over to Kagome's window and jumped inside, setting Kyoumi on the floor. Kagome had fallen asleep on her books, and Kyoumi was about to fall asleep too. Good thing she was in the comfortable clothes that Kagome gave her.

That chapter was to get Kyoumi to learn about InuYasha's past. As you can see, InuYasha is much nicer to Kyoumi seeing as she IS a half-demon.