Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Ranma ½ or Inuyasha! They are humbly borrowed from Rumiko Takahashi, to whom I'm eternally thankful.

The More the Merrier
(A crossover fanfic by allergi)
Chapter 3: Kagome's World

Akane walked silently beside Kagome, trying to look at everything all at once. The truth of being back in time became quite clear to her as they approached the village. Small bamboo houses were built on either side of the dirt road. Some had small yards that were fenced off for livestock. Most had small vegetable gardens. The sounds of village life - crackling fires, chickens and pigs, a horse in the distance, the shuffle of sandals on the dirt – all reinforced the time difference in Akane's mind.

Many of the villagers stopped to wave at Kagome, only then to stare at Akane. She stared back amazed at the traditional clothing they wore. She suddenly grew uncomfortably aware of her own appearance, in her shorts, her t-shirt, her shoes. She was relieved when they stopped to enter a small house.

Inside Akane saw four figures seated around the fire. A very old priestess with an eye patch was tending the hearth. A girl dressed in black armour sat a little ways from a young monk, who had his hands tied in front of him. Lastly a small bundle of light orange fur bounded up to them in the entrance…

"Kagome! You're back!" Shippo cried, hugging the raven-haired girl.

"Hey Kagome! What gives?" Sango then spotted the young girl behind Kagome. She looked at Kagome in surprise.

"What's going on?" asked the young monk.

Akane stood shyly in the doorway, not knowing what to say.

"Everyone, this is my good friend Akane!" Kagome motioned her to take a seat by the fire.

"Akane, this is Lady Kaede" nodding to the old woman. "She's the priestess who leads this village."

"That's Sango. And this priest is Lord Miroku." Pointing at each in turn. "Don't mind him. He has to be tied up every now and then."

"It's not fair!" he pouted.

"Well if you behaved yourself a little better!" replied Sango heatedly.

Kagome shook her head. "He did it again?"

"I didn't mean to!"

"Pervert! You grabbed both of them this time!"

Akane shifted, puzzled at the conversation. Kagome leaned towards Akane. "He really likes women." she whispered. Behind them, Inuyasha snickered into this sleeve. Miroku, however, turned a dark red.

"Uh ... It's nice to meet all of you." said Akane.

"And I'm Shippo." Piped the creature on Kagome's lap.

Akane stared at his twitching tail. "Are you like Inuyasha?"

She heard a loud snort from behind her. Shippo giggled. "No, I'm a full fox demon! Inuyasha's a half-dog demon."

Akane nodded, looking back and forth between the little kisune, who was sticking his tongue out and the hanyou who glared back at him.

"Kagome, why are you back so soon? I though you were going away for a few days?" asked Kaede.

"I would have stayed in my time if a certain SOMEONE didn't climb out of the well" said Kagome heatedly.

"Feh. What were you doing watching the well?" he shot back.

"We were watching the sunset! I wasn't expecting anything to come from the well, much less Akane!" Kagome explained. "Anyhow, after seeing HIM I figured the best way to explain everything is to bring her here."

With that, all eyes turned to Akane, who was sitting calmly. She smiled. "It's okay. Really, I'm not that surprised - well maybe a little."

"Really!" asked Shippo.

"Well, you and Inuyasha aren't the first demons I've met."

They all gasped. "Whaaaaaat!"

"You never told me that!" cried Kagome.

"Well … What was I suppose to say! " she shrugged sheepishly. "Anyhow, we have demons where I'm from. They're a little different I suppose."

"Wow!" exclaimed Miroku.

"Do they have Shikon shards?" asked Sango.

"Huh?"

"Do any of them use this?" Kagome pulled a small silk pouch hanging from her neck. She reached inside and plucked out a tiny glass-like sliver. It glittered in the firelight.

Akane shook her head. "N … No! I've never seen anything like it."

"Ah! Just as well." replied Sango. Akane noticed a mixture of relief and disappointment cross Kagome's face.

"But you still have demons where you're from?" asked Miroku.

Akane nodded. "Yeah. Though the ones I've encountered come hunting for Ranma, or me. But's that's usually because of him."

"Who's Ranma?" asked Shippo.

"My…uh…fiancé."

Shippo exchanged blank looks with Miroku and Sango. "Fee-ah-see?"

"It's like her betrothed" answered Kagome.

Akane felt her face grow hot. "Um … It's another long story" she muttered, seeing the round of shocked faces. "Uh… anyhow, what about these shards? They sound important."

"Very." replied Kagome. "It's another long story …"

Akane awoke early the next morning, staring in confusion at the unfamiliar wooden roof. She turned her head and caught sight of Kagome's sleeping form. Curled up next to the girl was a mass of orange hair. Small ears twitched and a little bushy tail flickered gently. She was suddenly wide-awake, remembering all that had happened the night before.

She looked at the other silent figures, still slumbering in the early morning. Another girl lay curled up in a heavy woollen blanket. A massive boomerang leaned against the wall behind her. A young man wrapped in a large cloak snored lightly, clutching a wooden staff as he slept. Akane saw a small shadow approach the doorway and a little cat with two tails silently padded inside.

Akane smiled to herself. "Well, living with Ranma, nothing is impossible."

'Ranma!' She softly sighed. She wondered what the pigtailed young man was doing.

'Probably up to no good.' she thought, then quickly added, 'No! That wasn't fair, Akane!' Visions of Phoenix Mountain surfaced bringing an ache in her heart as she remembered that day.

"HIRYU SHOTEN HA!"

She saw a blinding stream of light that charged towards Saffron, engulfing the young prince in it's fury. He shrieked once and fell towards the earth.

'Ranma! You did it!' A wave of relief washed over her ... and she smiled.

Then she heard his voice call out from the wind.

"Akane! Hold on!"

Warm hands reached out and gently held her. She felt her body relax. 'Ranma's here! Everything's okay!'

"Keep you're eyes open!"

'Ranma...I want ...'

"No! NO! Don't leave me!"

She suddenly felt weightless. ' ...to be...'

"Please! Not like this!"

She closed her eyes. '...with you...'

"Akane!"

'...forever.'

"AKANE!"

The young girl stared hard at the ceiling, blinking away the tears. She turned and noticed Kirara watching her intently. She looked again at the two tails that twitched

"Hey hello! Good morning Akane!"

"Oh! Sorry! Uh ...Good morning!"

Kagome lazily stretched. "You still asleep? I've called your name a few time already!"

"Really? Well, yeah, I'm not much of a morning person." she mumbled.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Alright. Not the best I've had."

"Ah, you get used to the floor!" yawned Kagome. The young priestess shook the little kitsune. "Shippo! Up you go!"

"Mmm." he groaned and burrowed further into the blankets.

"Good morning!" called Kaede. She entered the hut carrying a bag of steamed buns.

" Mmm! That's smells great Lady Kaede!" yawned Miroku, who sat rubbing his eyes. Beside him Sango slowly combed her hair. Only Inuyasha stayed lying down.

"You'll need to eat these quickly I'm afraid. There's been a reports of a pair of demons attacking the nearby village a few hours ago."

"What! Damn! They may have already left!" exclaimed Sango.

"Well hurry up then!" Inuyasha jumped up and snatched a bun from the bag. The rest rose and quickly packed.

(Later that morning)

Akane looked down an gulped. The world beneath her rushed past her in a blur of colours. She held on to Kirara more tightly.

"Don't worry! She won't let you fall!" shouted Sango from behind. "Just don't look down!"

'Right. That's easy for you!' she thought grimly. But the journey wasn't the only thing that troubled Akane. She felt very uncertain about the battle that lay ahead.

"Look, over there! The trees!" pointed Miroku. Near the village, they saw the surrounding trees violently shaking. As they approached they saw a flash of yellow dart in and out of the forest.

"Damn them! They're using the trees as cover!" yelled Sango. "Kirara quickly!" The cat took a steep dive.

"KIYAAA!" screamed Akane. They hurled faster towards the trees. Suddenly a flash of silver and red appeared ahead of them.

"DIE!" Inuyasha brought down the Tetsusaiga on the slithering yellow body, severing it in two. The snake demon howled in fury.

"Take this!" yelled Sango and unleashed the Hiraikotsu. It sliced though the trees, revealing the second demon.

"Now we have both of you!" snarled Inuyasha. As Kirara landed, Akane gazed in horror at the sight before her. Two gigantic yellow snakes towered above them, one thrashing in pain, it's red eyes burning with hate. The other had a woman's face that bared four bloody fangs from a huge gaping jaw.

" I see it! In the back of her throat!" cried Kagome as she notched an arrow.

Akane forced her eyes to look back into the grotesque face. A small glimmer appeared from it's black throat.

"Is that what you're looking for?" asked Akane.

Sango nodded, hefting her boomerang for another strike. "We need to get it before the demon escapes."

"Don't let it cut you Lady Akane!" said Miroku as he stood grimly beside Sango. "It's poison is lethal."

The martial artist looked at her companions standing ready for another attack. Seeing thier courage, she grit her teeth and fought down her fear.

Kagome glanced over at her friend. "Be careful! The jewel shard makes that demon more powerful."

Akane took a deep breath to steady herself. "Right. Let's do this."

A/N: Sorry it's been a while but I finally got Ch. 3 up (I've moved and had to get the internet hooked up - again!) Now this was a really difficult chapter to end. I was trying to sort out Akane's introduction to the feudal era, where to introduce Ranma and the bigger story plot that involves everyone! The pieces are falling into place (hopefully right side up) so please, read on ...