Standard disclaimers apply:

Inu Yasha and all related characters are property of Takahashi Rumiko and Viz.

Rurouni Kenshin and all related characters are property of Watsuki Nobuhiro and Shounen Jump.

Three Days In Tokyo

By

koinekid

Summary: After exposure to the stomach acid of an ogre carrying a shikon shard, Kagome and Inu Yasha pass through the Bone Eater's Well. Finding themselves in late nineteenth century Tokyo, they must defend Kagome's ancestors and the Sunset Shrine against a vicious attack. Fortunately, they receive help in the form of the legendary Hitokiri Battousai and his companions.

Kenshin heads back to the dojo, and along the way debates whether to begin traveling again once the current events have played out. Inu Yasha is shocked to find the onset of morning has not transformed him back into a hanyou. Kagome, still troubled by her discoveries last chapter, puts on a cheerful façade and teases and comforts Inu Yasha's cares away.

Chapter 8

Himura Kenshin stood silently on the front steps of the shrine house. He had closed the door and begun to walk away when he heard shouting coming from within. He did not need to concern himself, as the shouting (it was really more like raised voices) ceased after a moment. Kenshin allowed himself a brief smile. Kaoru and Yahiko could be just as loud during their training sessions, and for them, no matter how they strove to deny it, it signaled affection. Yahiko's shout of "I can't get strong this way, busu!" meant "Thanks for training me, Sensei. I really appreciate it." Kaoru's answer of "I told you I'd strangle you if you called me that again!" meant "You're already getting stronger. You have so much potential, my taisetsu deshi." He could imagine Yahiko grumbling, "And I suppose breaking a shinai across my head doubles for a hug." Kenshin shrugged. Maybe not. At any rate, he suspected raised voices meant the same for Kagome and Inu Yasha as for his friends. Perhaps this would be confirmed at noon.

He walked toward the dojo at a leisurely pace. A number of the markets were just opening, and he briefly considered making a few purchases. With company coming for lunch, Kaoru would likely send him out shopping anyway. But a quick check of his pockets confirmed that in his haste he hadn't brought any money.

Before exiting the market district, he returned several greetings, mostly from grateful citizens whom he had defended from Ujiki's corrupt sword-bearing police some months before. There were a few, though, that joked with him, "Surprised Kaoru-san let you our so early!"

"Oro."

After nearly a decade of solitary wandering, it felt odd to be recognized. For a moment, just a moment, he considered bolting. It would be easy. Skip the final turn toward the Kamiya dojo and keep walking out of the city. By the time they figured he wasn't coming back he would be long gone. Why shouldn't he leave? He had not promised to stay forever. Before he realized it, he reached the turn. He paused, foot extended in mid-air, contemplating. He could think of many reasons to go. Tokyo was not the only place in need of a defender. The Seinan War had thrust suffering upon many. In its wake, there remained wrongs begging to be righted by his sakabato. This business with Kagome and Inu Yasha could be something, but he didn't sense any ill will coming from the boy. He was belligerent, to be sure. But his chi didn't seem all that powerful. Kenshin did want an explanation as to why the boy had been hurt. Other than that, he couldn't think of a good reason to stay.

Then Kaoru's face flashed before his eyes. He saw the pain and the tears, saw Tae-dono holding her, softly stroking her hair as she sobbed. "He didn't even say good-bye." Kenshin's decision was made.

He took the turn, and whispered, "Sessha is not leaving today Kaoru-dono, that he is not."

"What the hell?"

"Inu Yahsa, calm down. There's probably a perfectly reasonable explanation for this."

"Oh yeah? And what's that? It's morning. See the sunlight? I'm standing directly in it and I haven't transformed!"

Kagome tuned out the former hanyou as he began to curse. Sometimes there was no talking to him. Better to let him have his hissy fit than try and interrupt him. This she did, and in a few minutes when he run out of expletives she said, "Look on the bright side."

"Bright side?" he growled, "Yes, I see that it's bright and I'm still human. That's the problem."

So he wasn't finished grumbling yet.

She gave him another moment, and then continued. "The bright side is that a few minutes ago you were worried about telling Kenshin-san you're a hanyou, and now you can keep your secret. We don't even have to find something to cover your ears."

Inu Yasha put his head in his hands. "You just don't get it." He was talking to himself more than to her. He did not elaborate, but his thoughts were morose. If I'm a human I can't protect you. Then what use am I?

"What's so wrong with being human anyway?" Kagome asked. She gave Inu Yasha a moment to answer and when he did not, she continued, "Sango-chan and Miroku-sama are human, and they're really powerful. They've taken on Naraku head to head."

"Keh. Helped me take on Naraku, you mean! Without me he would've killed you guys a long time ago."

"Whatever," Kagome said, walking away.

"Where you going?"

"Kenshin-san invited us for lunch or don't you remember?"

"Course I remember. It's all you been blabbin' about for the last hour. Kenshin-san this! Kenshin-san that! If you like Kenshin so much, why don't you marry him?"

"Hmm." Kagome shook her head. Back home, only grade-schoolers used that old line.

Inu Yasha smiled. He'd upset her. Good. Now maybe she'd shut up and talk about something else.

"If we're stuck in this era permanently, maybe I will."

His jaw dropped. "Y-you don't actually like him, do you?"

"Mmm. I don't know. He is awfully cute. And his red hair is so exotic." This next remark would make him squirm. "And I wouldn't be surprised if he could teach you a thing or two about swordsmanship."

"What? I'll kick his ass any day of the week!"

"Not like this, you won't."

"I..." Inu Yasha looked away.

"I was right. That's what this is all about. Inu Yasha, you're feeling inferior and scared because you're human. I'm not with you because you can protect me. I was in the beginning, sure. But now...I'm with you because you're my friend and...and, I like being with you..." Kagome's heart stopped beating for a moment as she wondered whether she had said too much.

"Kagome."

"Yes, Inu Yasha?"

"I--wait a minute, what do you mean stuck in this era permanently? Can't we just go back through the well?"

The abrupt change in topic left Kagome momentarily speechless. Oh well, she thought, romance isn't an entirely appropriate topic when you've recently set your ancestor on fire and are in danger of being wiped from existence. Come to think of, what is an appropriate topic in this circumstance? She soon recovered. "I hadn't really thought about it. I suppose it might work, but we can't go anywhere until we make sure that boy's going to make it."

"Why the hell not?"

"I don't really feel like talking about it. Maybe later."

"Fine. It's almost noon. Let's get going."

"Inu Yasha, wait. Remember what Kenshin-san said. You can't carry your sword."

"Keh. He carried his around in plain sight."

"That's true," Kagome said, "But he knows the rules here better than we do. I seem to recall that only certain people could carry swords after a certain period." Kagome tapped her finger on her chin, thinking. "What era was that?"

"I don't care. Ain't nobody telling me what I can't do."

"Would you at least hide it? Please, for me."

He exhaled. "Fine."

"Oh, I just remembered. During the Meji period, only cops could carry swords. Maybe Kenshin is a cop."

"He don't look like no cop I ever seen."

"Then maybe he has special permission, or he's so strong no one challenges him on it, sort of a writes his own rules kind of guy. He seemed strong."

"Whatever," Inu Yasha said with a smug grin. "All I know is, he better not get in my way!"

Next: It's off to the Kamiya dojo for Inu Yasha and Kagome. But what should be a short walk turns into a harrowing ordeal when rogue members of the Sword bearing bent on revenge mistake them for Kaoru and Kenshin. And things go from bad to worse as Inu Yasha's begins transforming from human to hanyou uncontrollably.