Chapter 2- Odd Introductions

"What the hell took you so long Kagome? I thought I was gonna hafta drag your butt back through the well." Inu Yasha called out from a tree branch as Kagome came closer to the village, knapsack in hand.

"Indeed, Lady Kagome, that was much longer then usual." Miroku appeared from behind the cloth curtain that served as a door to Kaede's plain little hutt. "We were beginning to worry that Inu Yasha had chased you off again."

"Hey!"

"Yes, what delayed you this time Kagome?" Sango inquired, ignoring a clearly seething Inu-kun.

Shippo, perched on Sango's shoulder, sang out her name, "Kagome! Did you get sick or something?" Kagome laughed cheerfully.

"No, Shippo-Chan. My crazy tutor cornered me and made me do algebra lessons- ick!" Shippo's tiny brow furrowed in concern as he reached out with his tiny, soft hands, hoping she would pick him up.

"That sounds awful. Is that that math stuff again?"

"Feh, you should give up on that crap. There's no way you'll catch up anyhow." Inu Yasha jumped down from the tree and landed gracefully beside her. "So what's the point of one dumb lesson? Your teacher's a idiot." Kagome sighed. He does have a point.

"You know, I'm beginning to think you're right. Even Kon'an Sensei believes I'm going to fail my entrance exams. She doesn't even think I will pass for the year." I could use some encouragement.... She looked up at him hopefully.

"Exactly. Just forget about it and stay here from now on. It smells nicer here anyway." Shot down. Kagome wrapped her arms around Shippo and hugged him tightly, glad to have a distraction from her abysmal grades. She stroked his soft tail and he purred contentedly, feeling safe with his adopted mother figure.

"Inu Yasha.." Sometimes you can be so closed minded. I wish just onces you would consider my feelings too. I mean, it's not like my life is here… she drifted off, lost in thought.

"Oh, I can't WAIT to hear her explanation for this," Gao said as she made her third attempt to climb out of the well. Gao had been trying for ten minutes to get out of the well, and was quickly losing her patience. With the wall, that is. "AH-HA!" Gao finally managed to get a decent foothold and began to pull herself up despite the crumbling soil and ancient roots. "How the hell did Kagome manage this? She practically never leaves her house."

"Oh no! I forgot my math book!" Inside Kaede's, Kagome threw the contents of her knapsack here and there, desperate to find that wretched torture device, house to all that was unholy- or at least to 9th graders.

"So what's the big deal Kagome? I thought we agreed there was no point in lessons." Inu Yasha gave her a quizzical expression, as if to say 'why bother'.

"YOU agreed, I did nothing of the sort. My tutor is gonna cream me if I don't pass the next test! I have to go back and get it!" Kagome tore out of Kaede's hut and down the weather-beaten path that led to the old well.

"Feh, she can be such an idiot when it comes to that 'mat' stuff of hers." He folded his arms and leaned back on the wall, looking slightly put-out.

"Inu Yasha, it's called 'Math'." Inu Yasha replied by dealing a nice little blow to Shippo's ever-bumpy skull. "OUCH! I'm telling Kagome!" Shippo scampered out the door, quickly determined the fastest root to Kagome, and took off running.

"No you don't! Come back here ya idget!" Inu Yasha clamboured after Shippo, with Sango and Miroku following close behind.

Shippo caught sight of a white-green blob ahead of him and called out to it, "Kagome! She didn't go through yet! KAGOME!! Inu Yasha's being mean to me ag-" Shippo stopped short, bewildered by the scene he was witnessing. Kagome was standing at the old well, looking quite shocked, and with good reason. In front of her was a very confused Gao.

"You are.." Kagome just couldn't finish the sentence. My tutor is here. In the feudal era. This is not good.

"Kagome, where… are we?" Gao turned to look around, unable to believe what her eyes were telling her. The message got lost somewhere on the way to her brain as she struggled to take in her new surroundings.

"What the hell is this?" Inu Yasha appeared at the far edge of the clearing, a disgruntled look on his face. Just wonderful. I am so screwed, Kagome thought as she tried in vain to figure out what was going on. How could this happen? Nobody should be able to travel through the well without Shikon Shards or demonic blood. Does my teacher have one? How did she figure out the well?

"Um.."

"Who are you? What are you doing here? Kagome, is this person bothering you?" Inu Yasha strode forward, seeking to intimidate this newcomer. Whoever this person is, she had better start talking. It looks like she just came out of the well, but that would mean she's from Kagome's time. How is that possible?

"My name is Gao Kon'an," Gao stated, trying to calm down and put on her most fearsome face. Relax, Gao, she thought. A forest at the bottom of a well, a guy with dog ears, a mysterious disappearing pupil... what does it mean? "I am Kagome's tutor. I was searching for her, as she had just skipped out on her fifth lesson with me, and I still require an explanation as to why." She crossed her arms and threw her own version of the half-demon's scowl back at him.

"But how did you get here?" They all turned towards the sound to find Miroku and Sango making their way up the path. "I was under the impression that time travel doesn't work without shards of the sacred jewel, at least for humans." Miroku gave the woman a friendly smile.

"Miroku is right. For you to have traveled here without one means you must be of demon decent," Sango stated coldly. "A demon that masquerades as a human is always dangerous, so you had better start talking before I decide to loosen your tongue with my hirakotsu." She brought her foot down on Miroku's violently, and he bit his lip to keep from yelping.

"Wait!" Kagome was really worried now. I don't know what the hell is going on but I can't let them hurt my teacher! I can see it now: middle school student driven crazy by entrance exams kills tutor in rage, news at eleven. "She really is my teacher! I don't know how she got here, but you can't hurt her!"

"Uh, excuse me... I still have no idea what is going on. Who are you people? Kagome what exactly is this place?" Everyone just stared. "Well? I gave you my name, the very least you can do is give me yours!" How dare they act like I'm a criminal! I've done nothing wrong! You'd better have a good reason for all the trouble you've put on my head, Kagome.

"Uh, it's kind of hard to explain.." you see, I'm the reincarnation of an ancient miko and my family well has a portal to the warring states era of Japan… yeah, that sounds perfectly logical. Not. Kagome looked to the others for help, unsure of how to start.

"You're absolutely certain that this person is your teacher, Kagome?" Miroku said curiously, admiring the way the sunlight bounced of Gao's hair.

"Yeah, that's right." Kagome nodded, "One hundred percent sure. It's her."

"Well, in that case.." Miroku walked over and clasped Gao's hands in his. "I'm Miroku, a humble monk at your service."

Gao relaxed a little. He seems civil, at least. "You are a friend of Kagome's then?"

"Yes, and I was wondering.." His face came very close to hers, his eyes gentle and kind.

"Yes?" I wonder if this is that boyfriend Kagome is always complaining about… he seems alright to me.

"Would you consider bearing my child?" The slap resonated off the surrounding cliffs and echoed through the nearby hills.

"PERVERT! You arrogant, good for nothing, useless, you, you, MAN!"

"MIROKU! She's my TEACHER!" Kagome sighed. And we're off to such a wonderful start....