Dark Kuuchuu

A/N: I bet you're all furious with me, aren't you? My family and I moved from Massachusetts to Florida and it took us almost three months to get settled. During that time, I had no access to a computer. Sorry!

But, to make up for it, I'll try to make the chapter nice and long and descriptive. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Inuyasha.

CHAPTER SIX: Enter Natsu and Kanna's Discovery

She sat down at the well to rest, the sun setting slowly over the horizon. She sat quietly, and her searching blue eyes took in her surroundings. There was a faint whisper of wind that tickled her skin; the grass was swaying gently. The world around her was so tranquil.

She only wished she could enjoy it.

Inuyasha, obviously, was not here. Kanna could not have expected him to linger in one place long enough for her to catch him.

She sighed and stood up once more, her legs aching with tiredness as her body begged her to sit down again.

She leaned against the well, wondering where she ought to look for Inuyasha next. She knew that the later she stayed out, the more danger she was in, because she had a large piece of the jewel, and demons would do anything to get their hands on it.

Kanna's legs were practically asleep, so she decided to stretch a little before walking again. She hoisted herself up on the edge of the well and began to swing her legs up and down. She giggled and began to enjoy herself, swinging her legs up higher and higher.

It was the first time Kanna had ever laughed…and it was a funny feeling. So, she did it again. She continued to kick her legs up and down, laughing, and for a moment, forgot that Kagome was possibly dead, forgot that she was still on the run from Naraku.

It only took one kick that was too high. Kanna's foot swung above her head, and suddenly, she lost her balance. The laughter stopped and turned into a cry of surprise as Kanna fell backward into the well, with half of the shikon jewel still clutched in her tiny, slender fingers.

"No one can ever replace Kagome," he growled. His eyes were practically aflame with anger. "Whether she's dead or alive, you will never replace her. No one will."

A bird chirped somewhere off in the distance, crying out a quiet, almost mournful song. Aside from the bird, the crowd of people who had just seen Inuyasha backhand Kikyo was quiet.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, a red mark on her cheek from the sting of his hand. She looked almost confused, as if she couldn't decide whether to cry, laugh and make a snide remark, or hit him in return.

Before she had a chance to do anything, however, Inuyasha was gone. He had darted into the woods quicker than Kikyo had ever seen him run before. She did not call out to him as he ran away. There was no point to it. Inuyasha's heart belonged to someone else now. Not Kikyo.

She couldn't move. She felt paralyzed and nauseas. Even if she could move, she wouldn't want to for fear that she might vomit.

She tried hard to think about where she was or what had happened, but memory failed her. She was in someplace soft and warm, and she wanted to stay there forever. She slowly curled up, allowing the blanket to become a cocoon.

Blanket?

Kagome opened her eyes. She was in her room.

How am I in my room? I thought I was in the Feudal Era.

And at that thought, memories came rushing back. Inuyasha kissing Kikyo, Naraku kissing Kagome, Kagome giving Kanna the jewel, Naraku trying to rape Kagome, Kagome drowning.

So how the hell did she end up in her room?

Maybe Inuyasha saved me before Naraku had a chance to finish me off, Kagome thought. Or maybe…maybe Inuyasha didn't come to the rescue. Maybe I'm dead, and this is what my heaven looks like.

"You're awake. Are you alright?"

There was something hidden under the kind voice, something like malicious intent, but Kagome couldn't tell. She had no knowledge of who this boy was. She had never seen him before in her life.

Messy black bangs hung down into his eyes, but his eyes were definitely visible. They were a sharp lavender color that startled Kagome. He was handsome, thin, and looked about her age.

And those intense lavender eyes, with their thin black pupils, were staring right into Kagome's eyes.

"Who…..who are you?" Kagome asked, suddenly feeling intimated by this strange boy.

"My name is Natsu," he said calmly. "I, too, was a prisoner in Naraku's castle. I found Naraku preparing to drown you, and I was able to stop him and knock him unconscious. I brought you out of the castle, and into the woods, where I fell down this well. Judging how the scent of this room was similar to your scent, I figured that this was where you lived."

Kagome blinked as Natsu finished his story. Somehow she knew he was lying, but she couldn't think of why he should lie to her. She also noted his unusually long fingernails; judging from what he had said about scent; he was probably a demon.

"Before Naraku took me prisoner, I discovered this well into the future. I would come here often, learning about the customs of your people," he continued, still staring at her.

Kagome blinked again. Somehow she felt dazed and confused, as though what he was saying didn't make any sense at all.

"Okay…um… thank you?" Kagome said awkwardly. She had meant for it to be a statement, but it came out as a question. "Why… why would you want to rescue me, though?"

"Because you're beautiful," he replied casually. Kagome raised an eyebrow skeptically, but when she saw how sincere he looked, she blushed.

He's serious! Kagome thought.

"Th-thank you," Kagome stammered. She was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. This guy was just like Hojo, except for the fact that there was nothing awkward about Natsu. He was very sure of himself, and he seemed like the kind of person that wouldn't take no for an answer. Someone who had the powers of persuasion.

"I-I think I should go back to the Feudal Era to see how my friends are doing… they must be worried," Kagome said, standing up quickly.

But just as quickly, a firm hand grabbed her wrist.

"I know a lot more about you than you think," Natsu said quietly.

Okay, so, let's see… I just slapped Kikyo, Kagome might be dead and it's my fault, what else… oh, yeah, this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't started feeling depressed and ran to Kikyo…

Inuyasha had no idea what to do. Naraku and Kagome's scents were nowhere to be found. He was trying to make a mental list of reasons why he should just go kill himself now.

"Inuyasha!" called a voice above him. Inuyasha looked up to see none other than Kagura on her giant feather. She landed below him, underneath the tree in which he was perched, and opened her mouth, getting ready to ask a question. But Inuyasha cut her off.

In seconds, Inuyasha was standing in front of Kagura. He looked shaken, angry, and scared, and it showed in his voice.

"Where in the name of hell is Naraku's castle?" he growled menacingly, although his voice shook.

"Listen carefully, Inuyasha," Kagura snapped. "Kanna showed me something a short time ago. Kagome has been imprisoned in Naraku's castle, and Naraku kissed her. Kagome got scared and gave Kanna the shikon jewel."

"EXCUSE ME?" Inuyasha cried, looking thoroughly alarmed.

"I told you to listen, half-breed! Naraku is going to find me if I don't get to where I need to go, so I must make this quick!" Kagura said urgently. "Naraku tried to rape Kagome, but Kagome refused. Naraku threatened to kill her, and he probably did. But you don't need to worry."

"DON'T NEED TO WORRY? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Inuyasha screamed.

"The jewel is safe, Inuyasha! Kanna has it and she's looking for you! Just find Kanna and get the jewel. She has no interest in it whatsoever," Kagura said hurriedly, looking behind her should several times.

Inuyasha's jaw dropped.

"DO YOU HONESTLY THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE JEWEL RIGHT NOW?"

Now it was Kagura's turn to look surprised. "You mean… you're worried about Kagome!" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course I am!" Inuyasha cried desperately, his voice cracking. "Please, where's Naraku's castle?"

Kagura sighed. "I don't have time to give directions. Find Kanna," Kagura ordered as she tossed her feather into the air and watched it grow. "But I warn you, Inuyasha, don't expect to find Kagome alive."

And with that, Kagura flew off on a feather into the darkening sky.

Very slowly, Kanna looked through her shimmering white hair, looking up through the well, expecting to see a blue and pink sky.

But that was not what she saw.

Instead, everything was black. Kanna could not even see her hands in front of her face. She felt around the sides of the well, looking for some kind of rock or foothold—and instead, she found a ladder made of rope.

Slowly, she grabbed on and began to climb upward. Her heart thudded in her chest as her fragile nose was bombarded with strange and new scents. She could smell a hint of Kagome in there somewhere, and it startled her.

Perhaps this is some kind of passageway to heaven, where I can see Kagome…but how did I die? Kanna wondered.

When she felt the edges of the well underneath her fingertips, she pulled herself up and climbed over the edge. A wooden floor greeted her bare feet.

Kanna began to feel frightened. There was no way she could still be in Inuyasha's Forest. The smell of trees did not even exist in this air, and Kagome coughed from the strong scents of smoke, among other things.

She could tell that she was in a room of some kind; she could see slivers of light coming into cracks in the walls.

She could see the outline of a door. Carefully and slowly, her eyes wide, her breath catching in her chest, she walked forward, getting closer to the door, afraid of what was on the other side.

But someone opened the door before she could.

A/N: I am sorry, dear readers, but I am pooped! I apologize for the big, fat cliffie. I need a break. I swear, I'll have another chapter up in a day or so! Please review!