Hanyou Family Chapter 3: Where are you?

I apologize for the long gap between uploading these two chapters. I ran into a spell of writers-block after a stretch bridging two stages of this story, how to transfer Inuyasha and Kagome to Konoha in a satisfying way. Another fanfic also took some priority from me, Demons of Konoha.

I am still continuing this fic, but you really should not rush art. They may be uploaded sporadically, but they will come. Thank you everyone who has still followed this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Naruto.

After the last Iwa-nin was killed by the Wind-scar, Kagome lowered her bow and turned towards the wounded people behind her. Kurenai and Anko were confounded. Their minds struggling to comprehend how their situation had gone from guaranteed death, into a Kami-sent salvation. Guy was still unconscious from his poisoned wounds, while Kakashi was on the verge of joining him in oblivion.

Inuyasha's eyes were roving over their surroundings; his ears twitching for any people nearby who might attack. "What the Hell! Why do you have Dog Ears!" a certain scantily-clad woman with purple hair cried out.

"Excuse me?" Kagome interjected, calling her attention away from the hanyou. "That is not important right now. The state of yourself and the people beside you is. I may be able to heal your injuries if you allow me to examine them." 'They don't need to know about Inuyasha being a Hanyo, yet. That'll just cause some problems.' Kagome thought.

A moment of silence followed, before a grey-haired man abruptly collapsed. "Kakashi!" Kurenai cried, grabbing his arm and shoulder to help. One look told her the Copy-nin was completely exhausted. Then she looked towards Kagome; "Alright. Please, help our comrades." Kagome nodded and approached the group.

The other woman stayed silent. Her guard still raised towards their surroundings and the new arrivals, as one of them introduced herself. "My name is Higurashi Kagome. This is my husband, Inuyasha. What happened to these men? Also, how many injuries do the two of you have?"

"My name is Yuhi Kurenai," the crimson-eyed woman answered. "This is Mitarashi Anko. Our comrades are Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy. Guy was struck by poisoned kunai earlier; but we had the antidote and he is recovering. Kakashi has chakra exhaustion from using so many jutsu, and Anko has a couple of burns. Otherwise we are none the worse for wear." Kurenai responded.

"Hey, stop try to act all tough!" Inuyahsa admonished her." You're pretty close to collapsing yourself! Don't try and hide it!"

Kagome paused for a moment. 'Chakra? What is that? I guess we really are in another world, but we shouldn't' reveal that. Thankfully I was carrying my healing-ointments and other herbs to the Void-well. I can treat their injuries, then find out more about where we are.'

While Kagome examined Kakashi and Guy, Anko and Kurenai began to take-stock of the dead nuke-nin[1] in the area. They both consumed their last soldier-pills to muster enough chakra to seal the Jonin's bodies into scrolls, while the Chunin were decapitated and their heads collects into a separate scroll.

Inuyasha questioned why they were desecrating the dead. There was some resistance as they explained the need for proof of their deaths and the completion of their mission. The pair then began to burn the remaining bodies they could not take with them. Afterwards, the group moved away from the battlefield to a nearby cave. Anko needed to remove her cloths to let Kagome apply healing-ointment to her back and legs. Kakashi and Guy were left at the entrance, with Inuyasha standing guard so the ladies would have some privacy.

"If that white-haired creep tries to peep on me, my snakes 'll snap his balls off!" Anko promised.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that you're worth looking at! I'm married! And Kagome is a lot more beautiful than you are, purple-haired slut!" Inuyasha replied.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME!" Anko shouted, indignantly.

"Excuse me!" Kagome called the woman's attention to herself. "Do you want me to help you or not?" she coolly asked the raging Anko. "Then do not insult or threaten my husband again."

Soon after, twilight was beginning to fall, and nobody wanted to stay in a cave with no escape, or out on the open ground. Anko led the group back to a nearby village, Tazuhana town, for the night. Inuyasha had unceremoniously slung a certain Sleeping Blue Beast and an ocular-mismatched scarecrow over his shoulders, while Kagome helped a barely-conscious Kurenai.

The pair of Kunoichi offered to cover a room at the local inn for their add-ons, and quickly selected a pair of suits, one for the ninja and a second for Inuyasha and Kagome. Kurenai and Anko decided to take shifts on watch within the hotel during the night. Due to Kakashi's and Guy's state, leaving them unaware and incapable toward their surroundings could be a dangerous mistake. Additionally, the inn was adjacent to the local hot-springs, which the four conscious members found very appealing.

Kagome was amazed at the modern appliances in the town. Her eyes were twinkling at the sight of a working bathtub in their suite. Street lamps, powerlines, running water taps…all of them she had given-up on seeing again after joining her beloved in the Japanese feudal era.

Inuyasha was also surprised by them, though he had the maturity to avoid commenting on such installations to prevent awkward questions from their new companions. He was quite happy to see Kagome feeling some familiarity with their surroundings.

After settling into the hotel, Kagome coyly suggested that her husband take the first-watch over the men and give the ladies some time to recover. Inuyasha was out-voted by the other females and left behind while they enjoyed the hot-springs. This backfired when Kagome had to literally carry Anko and Kurenai out of the water when the pair passed-out from fatigue. 'Hhhh. Good thing I've gotten a lot stronger from bow-practice and feudal-lifestyle over the last eight years.' she acknowledged while carrying Kurenai to their room. After returning to find Anko, she insisted the Inuyasha should try the hot-springs as well, and he only offered token-resistance.

Yet, after being left alone with the four Konoha ninja, a wave of bewilderment and loss overwhelmed Kagome. She began to truly assess the situation she and Inuyasha were in; cut-off from the world and home they shared and thrust into another dangerous world, she sunk to the floor and curled into a fetal position. 'What are we going to tell Kurenai-san and Anko-san when they wake-up? Will they help us, or simply drag us to a crazy house for apparent insanity. Inuyasha and I could go back to that other well. But would it work the other way, or just leave us in another separate world with no way to return home?...' She buried her head in her lap, try to think of a solution.

'I just wish Inuyasha was here to cuddle with me,' she ached for her husband's touch. 'To reassure me. But I'm just being selfish. He'll be here soon.'

After a few more moments, she noticed that night had fallen over the village. Rising from the floor in Anko and Kurenai's room to look out the window, Kagome marvelled that the town lights shining against the dark blanket of the night. The sight reminded her of her childhood at the Higurashi shrine, in modern Tokyo. She let out a comforting sigh at the familiar view, and heard the door open.

A pair of arms laced themselves across her hips. "Feeling a little like back at your old-home, Kagome?" Inuyasha rested his chin on the crown of her head. "More than a little, I admit," she replied; before closing her eyes and nuzzling into his touch. Feeling the comfort and warmth of his strong arms washing over her. 'No matter what happens. As long as we are together, Inuyasha and I will find a way to move forward. Against any hurdle our lives place in the way.'

Demonic Dimension:

A bright orange sunset glowed over the village. The air was growing cooler as people hustled about, to complete their final jobs for the day before the veil of dusk cleared away for a starry sky.

A single villager set his baskets down near the door of his house as to fetch them easily in the morning. Whipping his brown from the day's fatigue, he looked off to the headman's house with a sorrowful face. After the party that set out to the Void Well returned missing two of their number, the joyous feelings in the village withered at such misfortune.

Many had been eager to express their thanks to demon-slayers, and apologize to the miko and her hanyou husband for some early hostility. The loss of the latter pair heightened this regret, some honestly believed they were gone forever. Yet their efforts to persuade Songo and Kohaku of this truth had failed.

Sango sat near the fire with Kirara nestled in her lap. She was stroking the cat-demon's fur, both drawing some comfort from being together after a long separation during Kirara's travels with Kohaku. 'Hmmmm. After Kagome-chan and Inuyasha-san disappeared from our sight, we were so lost. I noticed that Kagome had spoken a word before they were gone, yet both of them were the only ones to pass through the Bone-eaters well and return. I hope Myoga-san and Totosai-sensei will be able to enlighten us when we reach Kaede's village. I just wish…'

Songo's sigh echoed her frustration and discontent. Across the room, Kohaku noticed his sister's mood. "Nee-chan. I'm worried for them as well. Our victory over the hanyou had everyone elated, only to be snatched away by the Void-well. But jumping in after them would only have made the situation worse. Can you imagine Miroku nee-san and your children if they learned you were gone?"

"Kohaku, I don't need to hear of that any more. I…" Songo's sharp demeanor began to ease away. "I'm so worried about them. I'm searching for something I could have done differently, but nothing is coming to my mind. I feel so much regret…lt's like when I lost you to Naraku and Sesshomaru."

Kohaku rose to his feet, and soon had a comforting arm wrapped over her shoulders. "And you still found me again. Even when Kagome-san returned to her own time, she came back after 3 years. We will find them again, or they will find their own way back to us. The wells appear to be similar, so they might even emerge from the Bone-eaters well by a twist of chance.

We just need to learn about these wells, and what kind of mysterious power called only them into its depths. Totosia-sensei and Myoga-san should have some ideas or rumors about it. Or perhaps Sesshomaru-sama will have heard something during his travels."

Songo's head gently nodded at her brother's ideas. Yet her gaze remained fixated on the flames. Kohaku sighed, and glanced out a nearby the window towards the stars.

'Wherever they are. At least they remained together. I can barely stand to imagine how wreaked they would be if one had been taken from the other. Or if nee-chan had disappeared while they stood by as helpless as we were.'

At the Void well:

"So, this is the well that sucked you in, and someone carried you into our dimension?" Kakashi spoke, standing 100 metres distant from the object of their curiosity.

Inuyasha nodded, "That's the one Kakashi-san. So, how is this plan of yours going to test it without risking any of us?"

The masked shinobi glanced at the man and his wife. He wasn't questioning their account at all but was nonetheless perplexed by the apparent circumstances of their arrival. He and Guy did not awaken until the late-afternoon following their night in Tazuhana town. There had been a hassle as he and Guy noticed Inuyasha's abnormal ears and eyes, and they explained to the latter what had happened during the battle. Kagome and Inuyasha had decided to introduce and explain themselves to the four Konoha-nin together rather than telling Anko and Kurenai and repeat the story for Kakashi and Guy later.

After spending four hours of recounting their lives, identities and experiences to the shinobi, Anko was gobsmacked, Kurenai was scared, Guy was baffled, and Kakashi asked them to repeat themselves. After repeating everything four times over, Kakashi decided they were telling the truth, as their stories had no inconsistencies.

Then he decided to visit this well they had found and investigate. Guy was too crippled to run or fight, but he could manage walking seamlessly. So, with everyone taking turns to help the chakra-fatigued Kakashi move, they were standing before the newly christened "Void Well."

….."ggggrrrrrrrrrrr Will You Stop With The Ears!"

Guy and Anko had begun to reach out and stroked Inuyasha's ears. For the fortieth time since their introduction to each other. "I'm sorry, Inu-san. But…it's just too strange to resist." Guy tried to apologize.

Kagome growled in frustration. "Can Everyone One Stop Getting Distracted, and Focus on Solving How this Well Works!" She asked through gritting teeth.

Kakashi felt a petrifying shiver run through himself; recalling a similar tone from a certain Red-Hotblooded Habanaro. 'This woman sounds a lot like sensei's wife when she became angry…' "Y-y-you're r-right, Kagome-san," her hurriedly stuttered. "Anko. My plan was to use shadow-clones to examine the inside of the well; then dispel once something strange happened. Hopefully, they will remain intact through any strange phenomena, and transfer the experience into the original." He explained.

Turning to the Tobuketsu-kunoichi, he grinned. "Unfortunately, you and I are the only ones who can use them. And my chakra isn't too usable at the moment."[2] Anko gawked at him, before grumbling out "the lazy, tardy, dog."

"Shadow-clones? What are those, Kakashi-san?" Kagome inquired.

"Well," the masked man replied, "watch Anko-san here for a moment. I'm certain she would love to show off this skill."

Her mood placated by the spotlight, Anko positioned her hands in a cross-symbol; "Shadow-clone jutsu." A duo of spare Anko's poofed into existence, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome surprised. Kakashi noticed their amazement and began to explain the nature and mechanics of this power.

"For this technique, a ninja justs channels their chakra to create a complete physical copy of myself made out of chakra."

"And I'm the only one out of Kurenai-san and Guy-san who can do it!" Anko gloated. "Now one of you. Hop down into the well and see what you find."

One clone-Anko jumping into the well to investigate. Down below, the clone-Anko saw a mass of various Kanji across the span of the dry-well, and shouted up to the group what she saw. Glancing around, her eyes rested on one of them: "Headbans." Repeating the word, the single Kanji began to glow, and a shout came from above. "Anko! Your clone just disappeared from my sight. The well is flooded with darkness!" came Kruenai's voice.

Glancing away from the glow, the clone saw the red-eyed illusionist for a fleeting moment, before a vortex of air began to churn around it. Colours began to emerge and swirled around the clone: black, grey, white and blood-red; the dyes of a battlefield. Clone-Anko was floating through the medium, enclosed by a cyclone of colour pushing her towards a single growing dot. Time seemed to stretch into hours, yet the clone remained intact, straining against the impulse to dispel too soon.

After the span of hours, a flash of white forced the clone-Anko to squeeze its eyes shut. Within a moment, it felt solid ground beneath its feet, and the presence of someone close by. The clone's eyes peeped open, to assess its surroundings. A well was located nearby, while standing a few meters away was a tall and stoic man.

His skin was darker than any kind Anko had seen before, dressed in baggy pants and a plain white shirt with a cigarette in his mouth. A long, sheathed katana held in his right hand, and a pristine white head-ban tied over his forehead; with a Number 2 pained on it.

"WHAT THE HELL! YOUR HAIR IS LIKE SOME LIVING AFRO!" The man's pure black hair added at least 3-feet to his looming height; forming an enormous, bulging afro.

Clone-Anko began to interrogate the stoic figure. "Are you a samurai or something!?" He nodded, plainly. "Can you tell me where I am, or what this place is? Where's the Number 1 Guy around?"

Instantly! The Afro-swordsman's eyes took a hard shape, bearing into clone-Anko like a violent storm. "You want to find the Number 1? To do that, you need the Number 2."

Quickly, Anko back-stepped and drew a kunai. "What's your problem, pal! If you want to fight-"

Shinobi dimension.

Back in the Shinobi dimension, Kakashi was telling Kagome about the Hidden Villages and how Shinobi functioned in their world. Anko and her clone were pacing, annoyed at the complacency around them. Kurenai had given-up try to placate the impulsive kunoichi, while Inuyasha and Guy were antsy with their own impatience.

After an hour had passed, Anko stopped in her tracks. "My clone was just destroyed!" In a pair of seconds, everyone was gathered around her. It saw a kanji for "Headband," and got caught in a vortex just like Inuyasha and Kagome described! They're definitely telling the truth! My clone found itself on a barren track beside another well, facing this guy."

Moving her hands together, Anko henged into the figure her clone had seen. In a strong, brooding voice, the figure continued, "This crazy Afro Samurai got mad when I said I wanted to see the Number 1 guy, and started a fight out of nowhere. He even cut my snakes apart and shrugged-off my fire-jutsu. His katana cut me in-half and the memories came back to me!"

"I've gotta get back at the bastard!" the second clone-ANko shouted, dashing for the well. Guy was faster, though, and he soon had Anko in a vice-grip. "Anko-san, please cool-off your youthful flames at being affronted! I understand this Afro-man's actions insulted you, but Kagome-san and Inuyasha-san are a more pressing matter."

It took a further 20 minutes and the promise of dango to placate the eccentric kunoichi. After Kagome confirmed that it was not the grassy clearing she and Inuyasha had been pulled from, the other Anko descended into the well.

Another hour passed, before Anko let out a terrified shriek, and was trembling in fear. "I…I…My clone chose a kanji for 'Hell-spawn.' It found itself in a forest at the full-moon, and met some guy in a red hat and suit. He…he practically radiated death, and tried to talk tough to me. After a bit he invited me to join him rescuing someone. I went along with him, and met some kind of priest that was trying a rape a really young woman. The Red Guy called himself Alucard, and…he…he…" Anko was on going into shock, her skin whiter than bleach.

Recognizing her fear, and unfamiliar with her disposition, Kagome stepped forward and wrapped the girl in a comforting hug. Anko began to cling to Kagome, desperate to feel some comfort and safety. "He was more terrifying than Orochimaru was…" she murmured.

Inuyasha frowned in confusion, but Guy, Kakashi and Kurenai were petrified by ANko's statement. They all knew the atrocities the rouge-Sannin had committed, while one had confronted him in-person.. For her to label someone worse than him and show such pure, undiluted fear of them, was very distressful.

Kakashi, the most familiar with personal trauma, spoke up to the group. "Kagome-san, Inuyasha-san. Does that name, Alucard, mean anything to you?" Both of them shook their heads, and questioned Anko about what else she had seen.

While the forest and the clearing matched the hanyou-couple's description, Kagome's hope fell as she realized Anko was describing people using guns on each other. "No," she spoke up. "I do recognize the weapons Anko-san is describing, guns. But the ones you are describing are not from the feudal-era that Inuyasha and I live in. That was not our home."

Kakashi frowned, running the facts through is head. "It appears that this well functions as a space-time connection to different worlds, depending on which kanji someone speaks aloud within it." his eyes travelling over to the well. "If they call out the right kanji, then Inuyasha-san and Kagome-san could travel back to their home dimension, and theoretically use one called 'Shinobi' to travel here.'

"Then that's our way back," Inuyasha declared. "If the snake-wench keeps-"

"What was that!" Anko angrily cried.

"-using those shadow-copies of hers, then we can find the right dimension for our home and head back there right now." He finished.

"I'm afraid it is not as plausible as that, Inuyasha-san." Kakashi answered. "Anko. How many different kanji did you see down there?"

"No way! I'm not helping the dog-man at all until he apologizes for calling me a wench!" she declared.

"Come on, just say it! The sooner Kagome and I find our way home, the sooner we'll be out of your hair. What's there to complain about, snake-wench?"

A tick formed on Anko's forehead, as her patience ran dry. "That's it! Shadow-snake-strike!" Her hand flew up, and dozens of snakes shot out from her sleeve.

Inuyasha jumped back, drawing the Tessaiga from his hip and deflecting the serpents with the same gesture. In a flash the blade morphed into a giant fang and was leveled into Anko's face. Both figures were tensed for a fight-

"Sit boy!"

"Wha-" WHAAAM!

Inuyasha face-planted the ground. His prostrated form sunk into imprint of his body, 2 feet deep. "That is enough. Now, apologize to Anko-san, so we can find out how we can get home."

The eyes of three shinobi turned towards Kagome, with a mix of confusion and fear in each of them. While Anko was smirking in satisfaction and admiration of Kagome; 'I've gotta get her to teach me that move!'

After a moment, Guy cleared his throat and continued to speak. "Uh…Anko-san. How many kanji did your clones notice down there?"

"Hundreds of them. Maybe a thousand at least," she replied, her arms folded over her chest and a comfortable smirk.

"I see." Kakashi spoke up. "While Inuyasha's idea could work, Anko and I do not have the chakra to create anywhere near that many shadow-clones. Any attempt would very likely kill us both due to how much chakra it would cost. Plus, we need to return to Konohagakure now that our mission is complete."

Meanwhile, Inuyasha was crawling out of the imprint left by his wife's "sit" command. "Grrrr. So, you're going to just leave Kagome and I stranded here; after we saved your lives from those other ninja's?" his frustration clear towards the masked ninja.

Kagome began to speak at her husband, but Kakashi spoke before she could. Facing the hanyou, his posture was relaxed and easy, with a smile clear in his single eye. "Not at all, Inuyasha-san. After you saved the lives of my team helping you both is the least we can do. Also, Guy and I are still far from top-shape to travel back to the village, so some extra company in case we run into another ambush on the way would be deeply appreciated. If you and Kagome-san come to our village, then Hokage-sama should be able to help you both by forming a squad of additional ninja to return here and find the correct symbol for your own home."

Inuyasha was surprised by the man's offer. Such an open invitation to go anywhere was still an unusual sensation to him. While Kagome was curious. "'Hokage-sama?' Is he the headman of your village, or another shinobi?"

Kurenai and Anko gawked. While Kakashi chuckled at the realization that his team had not explained Shinobi to the pair very well.

"Ahhhhh! We have not told you already, have we! How unyouthful!" a certain someone shouted. "Well, please leave it to me to rectify this oversight with my youthful charm!" Guy promised, with a blinding smile, wink on his face, and his thumb pointed to the sky; his trademark 'nice-guy' pose.

"Your assumption would be correct, Kagome-san; If you were to add a mountain of other responsibilities on top. The Hokage is the leader of Konohagakure, with the full authority over all shinobi associated with our village. Our current leader, the Sandaime Hokage, was chosen by the Niidaime Hokage and leading shinobi and members of the nobility of Hi no Kuni. Sandaime-sama is responsible for the security and prosperity of the village of Konoha, and assigns missions for different shinobi such as us to complete.

After what you both have done for the four of us, I'm positive he will be youthful and eager to help you. While the nature of this well would certainly worry him, in-case some of the demons and monsters from your dimension, or a separate one entirely, would find their own 'Void-wells' and come through this one."

Inuyasha and Kagome were surprised by the man's description, while Kakashi winced at his exuberant claims, despite how accurate they were. The hanyou-couple glancing at each other.

Konohagakure.

Within the Village Hidden in the Leaves, a single boy sat on his bed. Plagued by lonesomeness and longing.

Naruto glanced out his window, at the bright full moon accompanied by distance clouds. 'Even the Man in the Moon has something with him. The clouds keep him company, but I have nobody.' His head sinking into his lap. In a rare moment, he let the waves of despair and isolation wash over him.

The adorable little boy, in simple Pj's and a buck-tooth nightcap curled up on the bed. Hours earlier, he had been walking along the river, heading for diner from his favourite Ramen stand. Then, passing the park, he stopped at the park…watching gaggles of children playing together, or enjoying time with their siblings and parents. He tried to look away, when the sound of crying filled his ears.

Looking back, a single child had fallen back from the swings. Rubbing the back of his head, the boy's cry was simple and heart-wrenching, desperate for some way for the pain to stop. In a moment, a woman was kneeling beside the child, wrapping him in her gentle arms. Naruto watched as the boy clung to her, as she kissed the top of his head, and carried him over to the bench.

It was easy to see the woman was his mother…and to be reminded that his was gone. Naruto couldn't stop the dark and sad feelings growing in his heart. Watching a boy with a mother…seeing how she held and loved him…the emotional hole in his heart was pulling him into its depths.

Try as his might, Naruto couldn't stop the ache from growing at what he had seen, and never had before. Squeezing his eyes at the pain, hurting deep in his soul, tears began to form in his eyes.

He had run through the village, trying to move away from the awful feelings that cased him. He lost his appetite soon after, and nothing could clear the haze of loneliness and depression that usually hid deep under his boisterous antics. After changing into sleepware and crawling into bed, he soon fell asleep.

Yet no solace came even there.

Within his dreams, roars of chaos and confusion swirled around him. A powerful threatens force was close, one so overwhelming it pierced his entire body and soul with fear and terror. He was moving, some force carrying him across a wide expanse, until it settled in a single place. Flickering lights surrounded by a haze of black and red covered him. He was crying out at how confusing it was, and the desire for it to stop.

Then….

"Naruto….you're going to experience a lot of pain and suffering. Remember who you are! Find a goal…a dream…and don't stop trying until it comes true. There's…there's so much more that I want to say…to teach you…I want to stay with you…I love you."

A woman's words came clear in his mind. The final three jerked him awake! He found his eyes open, those words echoing in his mind.

'Some…someone to love me!' The boy…he craved to hear those words so deeply. Yet they were never spoken, by anyone.

Now he was curled up on his bed, trying to remember who had said it to him.

'Wh…where did those words come from.

Jii-jii-san. They must have come from him. He talked about finding a goal and following it is what a true ninja does. The love part must have just been a dream.'

"But…." He whispered aloud to the darkness around him. "But wish someone would say it to me. From a Mom. I really, really wish I had a Mom….."

End.

I hope that the concepts and mechanics of the Void well are compelte and satisfying. First off, yes it can link Naruto and Inuyasha to Afro Samurai and Hellsing. They might appear again or be explored through some curious characters in the future of this story.

[1]-"Nuke-nin"= rouge/criminal ninja.

[2]-Kurenai was noted to have chakra-reserves smaller than Kakashi and even Itachi in the databooks, and she prefers Genjutus over ninjutsu. I do not see her executing Shadow-clones at all.