Author's Note: Yay! I got my first reviews ever! This makes MB happy! Thank you Epic face101 and Amber the Bluebird for being my first reviewers, and thank you Lightning Streak for favoriting me! I really appreciate the support and I really like reviews! :D On a side note: I am not generally a Kikyou fan (if you can imagine why -_-) but I'm portraying her as someone nice in this little story, so she's got some screen time and I'm even thinking of doing some chapters with interaction between Inuyasha and Kikyou (if this makes you mad I completely understand but it's for the sake of the story and you will get it by the end of this fanfic...hopefully.)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha, however this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Down the Well and Back Again

"So…what I'm trying to say is that I think I'm in some kind of alternate universe…or something like that?" Kagome said thoughtfully.

"Alternate…universe? I don't believe I am familiar with this term." Sesshomaru cocked his head and pondered.

"Umm…it's like I'm in a different world than you, but I know everyone here, too, because all of you are in my world, except you are in different roles…maybe?"

Miroku propped his chin on his knuckles in concentration, then said, "Would you care to elaborate a little more, Kagome-sama?"

"Argh! Don't do that!" Kagome raised her fists to her temples.

"P-pardon?"

"Don't call me Kagome-sama! We're friends, and well…we…we just don't do that!

"I am sorry if I have offended you, um…Kagome."

"No, well…it's just…I've known you guys, like, forever! Miroku, you're the perverted monk who always makes sense, and Sango, you're like the kind, strong big sister I've always wanted, and...and—" Kagome was looking hysterical, and Sesshomaru could smell that she was close to tears.

"Kagome, is that what we are like in your world?" Sango asked, looking at her with a mixture of sympathy and concern.

"Yes! We were all the best of friends! You guys, me, Inuyasha, and Shippo! We were on a journey to recover the shikon no tama and defeat the evil Naraku!"

"And…where am I in your world?" Sesshomaru asked suddenly.

"Um…well, you're there, but I don't know you that well. It seems every time we run into you, you try to steal Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha. Oh! And you're a powerful, cold yokai lord who obliterates all who oppose you!" Kagome smiled, raising a fist in the air.

Sesshomaru's ears flattened, and he turned his head to ponder this information. He had listened intently to the "Kagome who was not Kagome" for the past hour. She looked, smelled, and sounded exactly like the Kagome he had known, but her memories and manners were completely different. Of course, he wasn't quite sure he was happy or sad about her loss of memories. Maybe it was better that she did not remember the hurt and betrayal the both of them had endured, but at the same time, all the sweet and loving memories the both shared were gone as well. And now there was this world she had described where the both of them were complete strangers.

She claims that I was a full-blooded taiyoukai and not a hanyou. That part doesn't sound so bad, but a world where I do not know Kagome would be a sad world, indeed.

Of course he would never admit that. But what should he do with this other Kagome? Should he tell her to leave? No, that would not be honorable. On the other hand, seeing her pained him; reminded him of a time long since lost.

"If all you say is true, what will you do now, Kagome?" Kikyou asked, curious.

"Um…well, I haven't exactly thought that far yet. I mean, I'm not even sure how I got here! One minute I was watching Inuya—I mean I was flying towards the well, and the next I woke up here with Sesshomaru…uh...yeah."

"Hnn." This could be a problem. "You mentioned the well?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yeah but—Oh! I see where you're going with this! Maybe I can get back through the well! Brilliant Sesshomaru!" She beamed a large smile up at him that sliced right through his heart.

"Alrighty then, let's get to it!" And before Sesshomaru knew it, she was bounding towards the well.

Kagome jumped on to the ledge, but before she jumped in she smiled at the group and said, "Well it was nice to see you all again, or maybe I should say it was nice to meet you? Oh never mind. You get what I mean." Without another world she dropped into the deep well.

xxx

Kagome leaped into the well, but she could not feel its hidden power or the tug of the time slip. She was simply falling. Kagome panicked.

"Ahhhhh—umph!" She hit the ground face first. She slowly lifter herself onto her hands. "Ooohhh, that hurt," she moaned.

"Kagome!" Sesshomaru had already vaulted down the well and was now kneeling beside her.

"I'm alright. Just some slight bruising, that's all." But it will sure hurt like hell tomorrow.

Sesshomaru gently picked her up and jumped out of the well. "Eeep!" was all she could manage. She couldn't get used to the fact that Sesshomaru was being so familiar with her.

The minute he put her down he started back toward the village, the others following close behind. "Come," was all he said, and for a second, Kagome saw the old Sesshomaru before her; cold and aloof as always.

Kikyou walked up beside her, but continued to stare at Sesshomaru's back. "He's always like that, but I don't think he would be him if he wasn't." Kikyou turned towards Kagome. "You said the Sesshomaru you knew was cold. Maybe the two are similar, since they are the same person."

"Maybe, but I think this Sesshomaru shows more emotion."

"Hmm, I see." The two walked in silence for awhile before Kikyou suddenly said, "I am sorry for my rudeness earlier."

Kagome's eyes widened and she stared at Kikyou in shock before replying, "Oh! No, that's ok! I mean, we both made the mistake of thinking each of us was someone else." Kagome worried her lip before finally asking, "What am I like in this world? Sesshomaru said I was dead, and what exactly happened between us?"

"I do not believe I am at liberty to reveal that. You should ask Sesshomaru if you would like to know, but I don't think he will feel comfortable telling you."

"Let me guess. I betrayed him and shot him to a tree." Kikyou's eyes widened. Bulls-eye.

"How would you know of this?" Kikyou looked at her suspiciously.

"Because the same thing happened in my world." She sighed. Wonderful! I've turned into Kikyou of all people! Maybe I am her reincarnation. Kagome really didn't like the sound of that.

"You mean you shot Inuyasha to a tree?" Kikyou asked curiously.

"No, but you did. My guess is that we switched roles. In my world, you shot Inuyasha to a tree, and in this world I shot Sesshomaru to a tree…or something like that."

"I…see." Kikyou looked quite troubled, so Kagome decided to change the subject.

"So what's the modern world like for you?"

"Umm…well I go to school and I live at an old shrine that holds the well I use to travel back and forth between here and the future. I live with my mother, grandfather, and my little sister Kaede."

So that's where Kaede is.

"Well the same goes for me, too! Except I have a little brother named Sota!"

"Yes, we all know Sota-sama. He has been a wonderful and wise friend for all of us."

Kagome smiled. "I'm glad to know he grew up well."

The two walked in silence the rest of the way until they reached Sota's hut. She could smell stew cooking and her stomach started to growl. Oh yeah, I haven't eaten all day!

Kagome smiled at Kikyou then bounded into the hut shouting, "Ikadakimasu!"

Other Author Note: I'm debating whether to make this a weekly update or a daily/every other day update, so please give me feedback regarding my delima! Also, would someone be so kind as to explain how to post links on my page? I haven't figured out how to do that yet and I'm planning on making a commercial for this little fic and putting it on youtube! (Another one of my hobbies is amv making! Yeah I know, I'm a nerd ;P) Oh, and one more thing: give me some feedback on the picture (left hand corner at the top). Drawing is my favorite hobby so I'm curious to see what you think of it cuz I just might post more! If anybody else likes to draw, I will always appreciate fanart! Big whoop for the artists out there!