Chapter 3 - Through the Well Again
Kagome looked down into the well and saw nothing but darkness.
"She's gone!" she exclaimed. The others murmured to each other.
"I guess Serena doesn't need the jewel shards to go through," Sango said. Miroku stood next to Sango, nodding his agreement. His hand wandered toward Sango.
"Whatever that is, you'd better pull it back before you lose it," Sango said, flaring her nostrils.
"I'm going after her," Kagome suddenly spoke up. Inu-Yasha looked at her.
"Why?" he asked. Kagome positioned herself on the edge of the well and preparing to jump in.
"Because I'm worried about her. This has been a very confusing day for all of us."
"You sure that you're not just trying to sneak away again?" Inu-Yasha asked. Kagome looked back at him.
"How DARE you!" she raged. Inu-Yasha looked shocked at her volume. "I am going back home to check on my cousin and no pathetic puppy dog is going to stop me!"
"But I…" Inu-Yasha said in a tiny voice.
"Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit…SIT!" Kagome screamed. Inu-Yasha plowed headfirst into the ground. Then Kagome jumped down into the well. The group looked on in amazement. Then, recovering from the 'sits', Inu-Yasha got up and jumped into the well after Kagome.
"You owe me five coins, monk," Sango said, turning to Miroku.
"Huh?"
"She said 'sit' seven times. Now pay up." Miroku backed away.
"Sango, be reasonable. I…I…" he stuttered.
"You don't have it?" she asked. Miroku nodded. Sango smiled.
"I don't believe you," she said, advancing toward him. Miroku looked scared as Sango raised her boomerang-bone.
Shippo had long since returned to Kaede's hut, being unable to keep up with the others. Now all the priestess and the fox-demon heard was a girlish shriek and a loud thump.
Serena saw the floor this time, having jumped in headfirst, and so she managed to land on her hands. But, as a handstand was very difficult to do in a well, she pushed down and flipped upright. As she did the first time upon arriving in the well, Serena looked around.
"All right! I don't need the shards!" she exclaimed, having seen the rope ladder that Kagome had put in the well and also having looked up and seen the ceiling of the well house. She used the ladder and climbed out of the well much easier than before.
Serena smelled something wonderful coming from the kitchen and, since she hadn't eaten all day, decided to pop in and see what was cooking. She had just reached the back door when she heard loud yelling coming from the mini-shrine.
"I guess Kagome and Inu-Yasha came back too." She debated for a moment, then decided to abandon her hopes for a meal and go assist her cousin. Serena ran back toward the well house and found Kagome and Inu-Yasha just outside the doors.
"Why the hell did you follow me! I thought I told you that I was just checking on Serena!" Kagome screeched.
"I'm just here to make sure you come back this time, wench," Inu-Yasha replied. Serena stepped forward toward them.
"Awww, were you guys worried about little ol' me?" she asked.
"Feh…no," Inu-Yasha replied.
"Well…kind of. It's been a very confusing day," Kagome said, looking at her cousin. "I wanted to make sure you were all right." Serena smiled.
"I'm perfectly fine. This morning I was a scared orphan who was moving in with a bunch of strangers. Now, I have an awesome cousin, I got to beat up a perverted monk, and I can travel through time to one of the most bitchin' eras in Japanese history," Serena said grinning. Kagome blushed a little bit.
"Oh," she said as she started toward her house. Inu-Yasha watched Kagome start to walk away from the well. He easily caught up to her.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" he asked. Kagome glanced at him for a moment, then continued walking.
"I'm hungry. I'm going to have something to eat before I go back," she said before reaching the door and holding it open.
"Feh…fine," Inu-Yasha said before walking through the door. Kagome followed, and then they both looked back toward the well.
"Are you coming, Serena?" Kagome asked. Serena nodded, then put her hands in the air. She pushed off with her legs and flipped onto her hands. Then she repeated the process, but starting with her hands this time. She kept flipping until she reached the door. Serena walked into the kitchen past the shocked Kagome and Inu-Yasha. Then she flipped back onto her feet.
"What's cooking?" she asked Mrs. Higurashi, who was at the stove with her back to the group.
"Oden," she replied. With a smile, she turned and faced them. "Would you like to join us for lunch, Inu-Yasha?"
"Whatever," was his reply.
After lunch, Serena had run upstairs and packed a few clothes in a small backpack upon the urging of Kagome. She then met up with her cousin and Inu-Yasha by the mini-shrine. Inu-Yasha looked surprised to see Serena.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"Um…down the well, dingus," Serena retorted, trying out a new nickname for the dog demon. Inu-Yasha ignored the comment. Serena shoved past the pair and went into the well house. Inu-Yasha turned to Kagome with a look that said 'what's going on, wench?' Kagome took a deep breath and prepared herself for another argument.
"I invited her to come with us on our shard hunt, since she is so good at gymnastics and martial arts," Kagome explained cautiously, since Inu-Yasha would be sure to remember their lunch conversation about Serena's back-flips. Serena looked back at Inu-Yasha from inside the mini-shrine.
"Which means I'm your new partner, dingus," she said grinning. Inu-Yasha looked ready to protest but stopped when he saw Kagome's 'try and I'll sit you' look. He crossed his arms.
"Whatever." Serena snickered and jumped into the well. Kagome jumped in right after her.
"Stupid wenches," Inu-Yasha said before also leaping into the well.