Disclaimer: I do not own either Inuyasha or Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter 3.
The mysterious old man left early the next day. He created a glowing sphere around himself and shot off like a light across the landscape headed for the west. Kagome watched him go before heading into Kaede's hut and looking through her packs. She had just found what she was looking for when Inuyasha came in.
"So Kagome, what are you doing now?" he said as he entered the hut.
Kagome glanced up at him and then put her finger to her lips, pointing at the Kaede and the others who were still asleep. "I'm trying to find a way for you to become more powerful." She whispered.
This immediately granted her Inuyasha's undivided attention as he sat next to her looking at the thing she had extracted from her pack. "Is that a spell book from your time?"
Kagome chuckled for a moment. "No silly, this is a history book. I remember reading about something that might be useful to us."
Inuyasha scratched his head for a moment. "How's history going to make me more powerful?"
"Simple. I've been reading about Japan's history in the century prior to my own. It was the time of industrial revolution as well as political revolution. There's an excerpt here from the Meiji Era that talks about the great swordsmen of the day. It's said that they were some of the greatest swordsmen that ever lived. Men like this Kenshin Himura, Aoshi Shinomori, and Hajime Saitoh."
"I still don't follow you."
"It's simple. We'll take you forward in time and have one of these men teach you how to fight with a sword!"
"WHAATT!" Inuyasha's voice hit the roof, along with everyone there as they bolted upright out of their futons. "There is nothing wrong with the way I fight!" Inuyasha said heatedly.
"No one is saying there is Inuyasha, but it wouldn't hurt for you to know a variety of fighting techniques and sword styles. It will make you a more flexible opponent." And maybe you won't get your butt kicked by Sesshomaru either…
Inuyasha sat down getting calmer for a moment while he thought it over. Everyone else started to rouse and move around since they were already so rudely awakened.
"Can I go too?" Sango said getting up. "I heard what you were talking about and I'd like to go."
"Yeah me too, Kagome." Shippou said bouncing over to her from where he had been sleeping in her sleeping bag.
"Not this time Shippou, it's going to be hard enough covering Inuyasha's appearance while we're there. In fact it would probably be a good idea to let me and Sango take a look around to make sure we know what type of clothes might be appropriate for you to put on while we're there Inuyasha."
Inuyasha grunted and stalked back outside. "Fine. I'm going hunting."
"Please bring back an extra fish as well, Inuyasha." Kaede called after the retreating demon. "How exactly do you and Sango intend to fit in Kagome?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "Well, people where kimonos in my time as well as in yours. It's a traditional Japanese garment after all. If I can borrow a kimono from you Sango, we'll both be on our way."
"What about weapons?"
"Well, it says in the book here that swords were outlawed in the Meiji Era, and imagine that your boomerang wouldn't fit in the well very well, so I guess we'll have to leave them. The only problem after that is going to be what are we going to do for money."
Kaede walked over to them and sat down. "Why don't you take some of the medicines you've been helping me make?"
Kagome thought for a moment. "I guess that might work. I don't know if they'll still be used in that era, but if it doesn't work we can always come back. We can pack some food in case we aren't able to sell them. I don't know how long it's going to take for us to find the men we're looking for, but hopefully we'll be back in a few days."
Kagome and Sango changed into kimonos while Shippou held a blanket down over Miroku's head. He tried to struggle claiming he couldn't breath, but hurt as he was he wasn't going anywhere. Finally the two girls packed up their parcels of food, herbs, and Kagome's history book and set out for the well.
The two of them reached the well and Sango started looking around. Kagome looked around for a few moments as well before they hiked up their kimonos high enough to climb down into the well. "One of these days I'm going to have to invest in a ladder." Kagome said nearly out of breath when they reached the bottom.
Kagome took Sango's hand and began imagining the Meiji Era and imagined her and Sango standing there amidst the buildings of Edo. She felt the power surround her and Sango let out a startled gasp as the two of them disappeared.