Chapter Two

Explanation

Miharu got back to the apartment around five. She threw her backpack on the couch and sat in one of the kitchen chairs. Michiyo wasn't back yet so she decided to prepare dinner. She opened the fridge to see what there was to eat and took out Yakisoba (fried noodles). She set the table when the phone rang. She answered it and Nakamura's voice came through. "Hey, Miharu!" she said.

"Oh, hi Nakamura. What's up?" Miharu asked.

"I was wondering if you'd seen Kuroda or Naoki? I wanted help on my Social Studies homework from them since they're in my class." Miharu thought a moment and then remembered something.

"Actually, Naoki wasn't at my Kunai Knife practice today. Wait, I'll call you back after I ask Michiyo if she's seen Kuroda. He's in her Martial Arts class." Miharu hung up the phone just as Michiyo walked in. "Hi," she said.

"Hey," Michiyo answered, setting down her books and bag. "Anything happening?" Miharu nodded. "Was Kuroda at your practice today?" Michiyo blinked. "Well…no, I didn't see him. Why, has something happened to him?" Her voice was fearful. Miharu quickly shook her head. "No! Nakamura just wanted to know where he was, that's all." She sat down at the kitchen table and when the Yakisoba was ready she served it. "Cause, I mean, last I saw of him and Naoki was after school. I wonder…"

"I'm sure they're fine! Let's just eat!" Michiyo said hurriedly. Although she hardly touched her dinner. This worried Miharu. "Hey, Michiyo, are you scared that something happened to them?" she asked, her voice comforting. Michiyo looked up. "Well…I'm just wondering what could have happened. Kuroda has never missed a practice since he joined. And Naoki wasn't at Kunai Knives today either?"

"Nope," Miharu replied, setting her chopsticks down. "Well, I guess if we're not going to eat, I might as well do the dishes."

"Hey, you cooked, let me do them," Michiyo offered. Her friend nodded and stood up. Michiyo cleared the table and started doing the dishes. Miharu sat down on her bed and looked at her dresser. On it was a picture of their entire group. From her and Michiyo to Kuroda and Naoki. She picked it up, looked at it, and sighed. Where…were they?

Kagome led the very scared and confused Kuroda and Naoki through the forest. It suddenly occurred to her that there were demons in this forest. She looked nervously over at the two boys and said, "Let's hurry. InuYasha isn't very patient." Kuroda quickened his pace. "Who's InuYasha?" he asked. He had been asking and asking and asking and Kagome would not answer. "You'll find out very soon," she responded. He sighed and Kagome could tell he was getting annoyed.

But she kept her word, and it didn't take much longer until they were standing outside of Kaede's village. Kuroda and Naoki looked around in awe. Horses were standing nearby as well as strange people dressed in…kimono's? Their were fields of vegetables and little houses more like huts. "Wha…Where are we?" Naoki asked, tensing. Kagome smiled. "This is Kaede's village. Kuroda…Naoki…this is Japan…500 years in the past."

That nearly did it for the two. They stood there, hardly even breathing, and starring around them. Kagome sighed and motioned for them to follow her again. They obeyed and she led them over to a hut slightly larger then the rest. She entered but the two boys remained outside. Kagome blinked and realized they weren't with her. She rolled her eyes and dragged them in after her. Kuroda and Naoki looked around the hut. Inside it were four people. Three adults and a small kid. When they looked closer they realized the kid had a…tail? Naoki started to point at the kid and Kagome noticed this.

"Oh, don't worry. That's just Shippo. He won't hurt you," Kagome smiled. The kid called Shippo hopped up onto Kagome's shoulder. "How do you know I won't hurt them? I'm strong! And tough!" He balled his hands into fists and showed his…fangs? Kuroda gasped. "Kagome…what is it?" he asked, starring at Shippo. Kagome looked from Kuroda to Shippo and back again. "Kuroda, Shippo is a fox. A…um…a fox…well, a fox demon." She winced when Naoki let out a small scream.

"THERE ARE DEMONS IN THIS…THIS…FEUDAL ERA!" he shouted. Kagome tried to calm him. "Yes, I'm afraid so Naoki. And once InuYasha arrives…"

Just then, a man walked into the hut. He was dressed in a red kimono and wore black beads around his neck. He was bare foot and had what seemed to be claws. And…on his head…were little white…dog ears? Kuroda screamed louder then Naoki had before. "A DEMON!" he shouted. Kagome sighed and nodded. "And this, Kuroda and Naoki, is InuYasha." She pointed to the man and he blinked. He looked at the boys and snorted. "So are these the ones you mentioned Kagome? The ones with the power?"

"Yes," Kagome answered, standing next to them. "This is Kuroda and this is Naoki. They have the same power that I do." Naoki gave her a confused look. "What power? What's going on here?" he demanded. Kagome told them to sit and they did. "And who are these people?" Kuroda asked, looked blankly at the three others sitting beside him. Kagome introduced them as Sango, Miroku, and Kaede. Then she began the story.

Michiyo sighed and curled up on her bed. "I'm goin' to bed, Miharu. Don't stay up too late. We have school tomorrow." She walked off into the bathroom, changed, and reappeared. Miharu nodded and yawned. "Good night then," Michiyo told her and pulled the covers over her body. Soon she had drifted off to sleep and left only Miharu awake. Miharu sighed and continued writing her essay for Science. She was so into it though, that she didn't even notice the pair of black eyes watching her through the window.

"And that's our story," Kagome finished, after explaining everything to the two boys. They sat there, completely and utterly shocked at what they had just heard. At first, they were silent, but then Naoki asked, "And that's why you've missed so much school? Because you were here helping InuYasha gather…um…what were they? Jewel Shards?" Kagome nodded. "But what's our power?" Kuroda asked her. Kagome looked at the floor.

"You two can also see jewel shards, just like me. I don't know how, but you can. There are two others who can see and sense jewel shards, I just haven't found them yet. But I had to bring you here so InuYasha can protect you. If I hadn't, Naraku might have found you and used you. I just hope we can find the other two before Naraku." Kagome finished and starred at Kuroda and Naoki with warm eyes. "So, will you help us? Will you promise not to ever work for Naraku?" Kuroda nodded and Naoki said, "We promise."

InuYasha had been fairly quiet, which was unusual, but he looked at them as well. "Naraku is a devious bastard who has caused nothing but problems for all of us. If he can restore the Sacred Jewel before us who knows what he might use it for. To become a full demon? Maybe." Naoki squinted at InuYasha. "InuYasha…why do you want the jewel?" he asked. He had been wondering. Kagome answered that.

"It's so he can become full demon as well," she informed him. InuYasha glared at her. Kuroda gasped. "You mean he's a human?" Kagome shook her head. "Not exactly. He's…somewhere in between." The two guys gave her confused looks. "So he's like a…like a…half…sort of…."

"Like a half demon," Sango finished. Miroku nodded. InuYasha stood and left the hut. "What's wrong with him?" Naoki asked. Kaede sighed. "He's sensitive sometimes. It's best to leave him alone." Kuroda and Naoki nodded. "I need to lay down," Kuroda said.

Kagome prepared a bed for each of them and they laid down to rest. Once he was sure they had fallen asleep, Miroku spoke. "So, Lady Kagome, how are you planning on finding the other two?" he asked. Kagome shrugged. "I haven't figured it out yet. I knew these two were it about a week ago. Kuroda had pointed to one of the school yard trees and asked, 'What's that glow?' When I looked I realized it was a jewel shard. And then one day when I took the jewel shards to school with me Naoki told me my pocket was glowing."

"Interesting. But we don't have much time until Naraku finds the other two," Miroku said. "You have to find them Kagome." Kagome nodded and looked at the sleeping boys. Morning was approaching and Kagome suddenly realized how tired she was. She yawned and took the bed next to Naoki.

Back in present day Japan, the sun was rising. Miharu woke up feeling rather refreshed and after taking a quick shower she got dressed and finished her Science essay. Michiyo was being slower then usual. She took longer to shower and dress. But when it came to breakfast she ate so fast she had time to spare before leaving. "I get to drive," she said, perking up a bit. "Where're the keys?" Miharu handed her the car keys and finished her essay. She stuffed the essay into her backpack and headed out the door.

Michiyo put the key into the ignition and turned it. The car started to rumble and pull out of the garage. As she drove, Michiyo tried to remember her spelling words. "I have a big spelling test today in Language Arts!" she informed the friend sitting next to her. "Quiz me!" Miharu rolled her eyes and said, "Ok! Ok! Um…what are some of your…MICHIYO, WATCH OUT!" The car had gone off the road and was speeding down a hill. Michiyo had gone pale and Miharu was hanging on for dear life.

"It's not my fault! The brakes and steering wheel have locked!" she shouted, and the two of them started screaming and yelling for help. Suddenly they crashed into a huge ditch and were knocked out. A man dressed in a white baboon costume grinned maliciously to himself and pulled off the roof of the little car. He grabbed the bodies of the two unconscious girls and disappeared.