Chapter 3: Traversing Through the Village

Previously:

"Think about this carefully," Kikyo told me seriously as her body began to turn translucent. "Do not take the jewel's power lightly."

"Wait!" Kagome grabbed at my wrist. Her own hand was see through. "Who are you really? You know my name. I don't know yours."

I gave Kagome a small smile. She didn't look like she was angry with me anymore. "My name is Anna. It's nice to meet you, Kagome."

The dream around me vanished.

It was a new day and the villagers were busy with repairing their homes. I was in the meantime, letting Kaede clean my stitched wound. I hissed and breathed through my clenched teeth. Boy, did the herbs sting like a scratching cat.

"How is that?" Kaede asked me. "Perhaps I'll put more ointment on your belly."

"I think I'm good now, thanks…" I just wanted it to be done and over with already. Kaede nodded and bandaged me up once more. "Umm, I wanted to apologize."

Kaede looked up at me, "whatever for, child?"

I looked down at my lap feeling guilty. "It's my fault that Mistress Centipede attacked your village. I knew that she was after me but I allowed myself to get a little too comfortable."

A snort came from InuYasha and I gave him a pointed look. He was lying on his side with his back to us while facing the exit. Apparently he had been here since before I woke up.

"Worry not, Kagome" Kaede used my alias without question. She seemed to have caught on that I was not going to use my real name. The priestess thankfully respected my decision. "Demonic attacks are not unusual in this world and our village has seen its fair share of them. However, now that the sacred Shikon no Tama is back among us, far worse than Mistress Centipede will come to claim it. And not just demons. There are humans whose hearts are more evil still. In this era of war and chaos, the powers of the jewel can make any ambition a reality."

I slumped back against the wall with a sigh. "Of course," I said. "In other words, by being here I am putting you all in danger."

"As I said before, we are used to it," Kaede smiled at me with the intention of calming me. "Ye are not the first to have the jewel in her possession."

I smiled back at her, albeit with some force. Whether they were used to it or not, it still wasn't right. I looked over to InuYasha who still hasn't moved from his spot. "Hey, InuYasha. Are you okay over there buddy? You look bored."

InuYasha glared at me from over his shoulder, "I'm waiting for the jewel." He turned away again.

I couldn't help but smile for real at his attitude. I couldn't help but feel giddy. Here he was. InuYasha in the flesh. The real deal! "You are going to be waiting for a long time, then," I giggled.

"Tch…" his ear flicked with annoyance. God… I wanted to touch it. My fingers twitched in my lap and I grasped my green skirt instead. Somehow I doubted that he would allow me to get close to him.

"With the beads around his neck, his threat is diminished," Kaede said. "It is perhaps the only way we can allow him so close to the jewel."

"Speaking of which, I'm surprised that you didn't steal it while I was under," I told InuYasha. "You seemed so willing to kill me for it. What changed?"

"Nothing has changed," InuYasha growled and he sat up, his back still facing me. "There's just no point in stealing it from you when you are sleeping like the dead."

I raised my eyebrows, "You didn't strike me to be the honorable type." At least not yet.

"I'm not!" InuYasha spun around and glared at me. "If I'm going to take the jewel from you- and I will- I want it to be worth the effort!"

"Hmm," I picked up the jewel off of the cloth that was laid out next to me. I looked back at InuYasha in thought. Perhaps I should stroke his ego a little as a manipulative tactic to sway his desire from claiming the jewel? "I don't see the point of you going after the jewel. You are more formidable than any demon that I have seen." And by that I mean all of the demons that he had encountered in both the manga and the show. "I mean look at you. You obliterated Mistress Centipede like she was… well… a centipede."

"Ah, but he's just half demon," Lady Kaede replied in his stead.

InuYasha punched through the floor with his fist, splintering the wood. I flinched back. It was one thing seeing him do it in the show. It was a whole different experience seeing it first hand. Honestly, knowing that he could do that to my face without the slightest effort- it scared me a little. InuYasha bared his fangs at the priestess. "You know what? I'm sick of hearing some dried up witch I just met talk like she knows me!" he snarled.

"So ye don't remember," Kaede didn't look surprised or fazed that he had just destroyed her floor. "I thought as much." She walked over to the exit to put on her sandals. "I'm younger sister of Kikyo. She who bound ye to the tree, Kaede."

InuYasha's eyes widened as he took in that bit of information. "You're Kaede?" For a moment, I could see amazement, confusion, realization and joyless acceptance all run across his face. "So you're the brat, huh?"

"Fifty years have passed and I have grown old."

InuYasha scratched at his head, "And if you're this old, Kikyo must be pushing a hundred." He leaned back casually like he didn't care. He smirked, "I'm sure glad that I don't have to worry about being old. At least not for a while."

'Aren't you old though?' I couldn't help but think. He might have the appearance of a young man, but technically speaking… he was over two hundred. And that wasn't counting the fifty years of him being pinned to the tree. Besides, he had a head full of white hair. I fought back a chuckle. The dude was old with a capital 'O-L-D'. 'You cradle robber you…'

"Kikyo didn't worry either," Kaede said dryly as she placed wood into the fireplace. "Kikyo died."

InuYasha's ears twitched and he opened his eyes slightly.

"It was the same day she shot ye with the arrow."

InuYasha smiled, "Gee, sorry to hear it. Not that I really care or nothin'." He layed back down on his side, his back to me. He was certainly making a show of how much he didn't like me. "It's one less thing for me to worry about."

"I wouldn't start celebrating just yet, InuYasha," Kaede said. "I now know that Kagome is the reincarnation of my sister."

InuYasha's body stiffened as did I. This wasn't something that I wanted to acknowledge. Sure, Kagome was the reincarnation of Kikyo. But me? I was both Kagome and Kikyo? I was starting to sound like an all-in-one package… or a poorly written OC.

God, I needed some air. I got up and dusted off Kagome's skirt. Ugh… did it have to be so damn short? I tugged down at it a little. "I'm going to go outside for a bit," I said.

Kaede looked up at me, "Don't wander off too far, Kagome. Remember what I said about others wanting the jewel."

I smiled at her as I put on my shoes. "It's fine. I'm not going to leave the village. Besides, I don't think this guy is going to keep me out of his sight." I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb at InuYasha.

He huffed, "Ha! Damn straight I won't."

"See? I've got my own personal guard dog." I grinned at Kaede who couldn't help but smile in return.

"What did you call me?!"

"Toodles!" I sprinted out of the hut before InuYasha could get to his feet. I raced down the street and the villagers parted for me, looking confused- then startled when InuYasha sped after.

"Come back here, you!"

I didn't feel scared anymore. If anything, I was thoroughly enjoying myself. I laughed and waved to the villagers as I ran past. Then noticing a blacksmith's shop, I skidded to a stop. Oh yeah! I should probably ask someone to make this jewel into a necklace. Carrying it in my hand all the time would be inconvenient.

I must have stopped a little too quickly because a second later, InuYasha barreled into me- unable to stop in time. "Whoa!" we both fell to the ground with me face down and InuYasha on top of me. My wound throbbed and my hands and knees stung from the gravel. No longer in a good mood, I elbowed InuYasha in the ribs. "Get off of me you big dope!"

InuYasha grunted and pushed himself away from me- but not before grabbing the overpowered trinket that had escaped from my hand. "Ha! Thanks for the jewel!" he smirked at me before turning to high tail away.

"SIT!"

"GAH!" InuYasha made a satisfying splat into the ground, letting go of the jewel in shock.

I stood up and casually brushed myself off. Geeze, this school uniform was beyond saving. Why did Kagome insist on wearing this all the time? Grumbling in irritation, I walked over and took the jewel back. "No, thank you."

"You… bitch…" InuYasha cursed as he struggled to get back up.

I gave InuYasha a stern look over my shoulder, "I warned you. If you try to steal the jewel away, I will flatten you like a pancake. And besides-" I turned away and walked towards the blacksmith's shop, "my name is Kagome. Not 'you bitch.' Honestly, who would name their kid that?" I walked into the hut and saw the blacksmith hammering away at some metal.

He saw me come in and he stopped working. "Hello there, young lady. How may I help you?" The blacksmith rubbed away the sweat from his brow.

"Hello," I greeted him politely. "I was wondering if you could possibly make this into a necklace?" I held up the shikon jewel between my forefinger and thumb.

The blacksmith's eyes widened at the sight of the jewel. "Oh my! Is that really the legendary Jewel of Four Souls? I couldn't believe my eyes last night, but it really is true."

I smiled awkwardly and shrugged, "Yeah. You and me both."

The man walked over to me and took the jewel when I handed it to him. "I will be honored to make this wearable for our newest priestess."

"Nah, I'm no priestess." I shook my head. Then I realized something important. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I just remembered that I don't have anything to pay you with!"

The blacksmith laughed. "I'll do this for no fee. After all, you are Kikyo reincarnate. If anything, I should be paying you for your gracious services, lady Kagome." He took the jewel to his workspace and began to look for something that he could drill a hole with.

I grimaced but said nothing in return. No point in looking a gift horse in the mouth, even if I hadn't done anything to deserve it.

The blacksmith looked up and suddenly went rigid with fear.

I looked back to see InuYasha peering through the window with an ominous expression while growling like a dog. His face was covered in dirt and pebbles so it actually was pretty hilarious. I waved my hand, brushing the half demon off. "Don't mind him. He won't do anything while I'm around," I reassured the blacksmith.

The blacksmith seemed to relax at my words and continued with his task. I merely sat and waited for him in the corner of the shop, my legs swinging back and forth. I sighed. My legs were really bruised and dirtied. My hands were no better. I picked at the gravel that had got stuck in my skin from falling down. I should get them washed…

It really didn't take long at all. Before I knew it, the blacksmith handed me the shikon jewel in it's iconic necklace form, with the pale shard-like beads surrounding it. I thanked the man and went on my merry way with the jewel around my neck.

InuYasha stalked after me while engraving a chasm into the back of my head with his angry staring. I ignored him and began to hum the 'Sailor Moon' theme song. Sure, it was the wrong anime… but honestly, who cares? It's hella catchy.

InuYasha kept his distance, especially from the villagers. Sometimes he hopped from roof to roof, or sometimes he hid away in a tree. Either way, he never let me out of his sight. I had to give the dude credit. He certainly was persistent. I noticed that I was receiving a lot of stares aside from the bitter half demon. Looking up, I saw that the villagers were all bowing at me, hands pressed together in prayer.

"I knew it was lady Kikyo all along."

"Kikyo-sama has come back just as she left!"

'Oh, would you look at that? I'm being worshipped.' Not knowing what else to do in such a situation, I gave them the good old military salute and marched off stiffly like a tin soldier with no joints. Even so, I didn't get away so easily from my new adoring fans. One after another, I recieved gifts and offerings, mainly in the form of fruit and vegetables. The villagers were mainly farmers after all. As such, their gifts were as good as gold. Before long, my arms were filled with baskets of food and I couldn't carry anymore.

I considered taking them back to Kaede when I noticed that I didn't see InuYasha anywhere. Blinking, I looked around. He had to be nearby. There was no way that he would simply take off without the jewel. Keeping my eyes peeled, I walked along the riverbank until I found him sitting high up on a tree branch. 'Ah, there he is.' His back was facing towards me seemingly unaware of my presence. But I could see his ears flicking back towards in my direction as I approached. He knew that I was there.

I smiled. I remembered that this was the part where Kagome shared her food with him, and I figured that it wasn't a bad idea to do the same. Besides, I did want to be friends- and what better way to a man's heart, but through his stomach?

I took out a pear and glanced up at InuYasha. Would he catch this if I threw it at him like in the show? I aimed. "Heads up!" I shouted in warning and threw the pear at him. Moving easily like it was second nature to him, InuYasha caught it in his hand without turning around. I beamed. That was so cool! I felt my inner fangirl run around squealing like a child inside of me. He caught it!

InuYasha curiously looked down at the pear in his hand and then down at me.

"She shoots and she scores!" I whooped, throwing my hands into the air. "What reflexes! I wish I could catch like you!"

InuYasha frowned, "what do you want?" He sounded more annoyed than angry, which I suppose is an improvement.

"The villagers gave me more food than I can swallow in a week. Would you like some?"

InuYasha hesitated and I could see the distrust in his eyes. I didn't pay much mind to it as I sat beneath his tree and put down the food. "Oh, so much food…" I announced in a deliberate troubled voice. "All of it will go to waste. What shall I do if no one wants it? Throwing them away… what a sad fate for these poor perishables."

It really didn't take long before InuYasha leapt down, grabbed a daikon and plopped down next to me. I struggled to keep a grin off of my face but it was hard. InuYasha was so easy to read. We sat there in silence while eating. The weather was so nice and the breeze was so relaxing. I happily leaned back against the tree, watching the fluffy white clouds float past. I could feel InuYasha glaring at me, as if he was expecting me to turn around and stab him with the daikon. "Whatever you are up to, I ain't buying it," he broke the silence.

"Does it look like I'm trying to sell you anything?" I raised an eyebrow as I bit into the pear. It was sweet and juicy. "I'm giving you free food."

"That is not what I meant."

"I know what you mean," I rolled my eyes. "You think that I have an ulterior motive."

"Aha! So you confess!" He pointed at me accusingly.

I gave him a 'are-you-f'n-serious-bruh?' look. Since when did this turn into an interrogation? I sat back up. "Will you calm down? I have nothing against you. I told you. I have too much food on my hands and I need an extra mouth to help me out."

"Hmph!" InuYasha turned away and bit into his daikon. He did not look convinced at all.

"Besides," I continued, "I thought it would be nice if we could get along. Maybe even become friends…"

"Friends?" InuYasha barked out a laugh and stood up. He pointed his daikon down at me like a sword. "Why in the world would I want to be friends with a klutzy human such as yourself! Let us get something straight here, woman. I am here only for the jewel. I don't need your friendship. I don't need your fake flattery. And I especially don't need you!"

Oh, so he noticed that I was trying to butter him up. He wasn't so simpleminded after all. I looked down at the radish that he was brandishing at me and I did what no one else would have dared to do. I took a large bite out of it with a loud crunch.

InuYasha's eyes bulged out as if I had committed a grave sin. "Wha-?!"

"Hmm," I chewed and analyzed the taste. "Doesn't exactly taste like a radish… less peppery and sweeter."

"Hey! Eat your own!" InuYasha yelled down at me, swiping his daikon away.

I gave him a coy smile, "sorry. I thought you were giving it to me, with the way you were waving it around in my face."

InuYasha was at a loss for words and stared at me like I was the oddest creature he had ever come across. "You are nothing like her…"

"Like who?" I feigned ignorance.

InuYasha growled and faced away from me. He did not answer.

I let my face relax into its resting position. I took a few strands of his glossy hair and gently tugged on it twice. "If it's any consolation, InuYasha, I'm not Kikyo. I'm Kagome. I didn't pin you to the tree. So please, don't blame me for something that I didn't do. Okay?"

InuYasha slapped my hand away and leapt back into the tree, leaving his unfinished daikon on the ground. He no longer wanted to talk to me. I sighed. This wasn't going to be as easy as I had hoped. Wordlessly, I placed a few pears and one more daikon on the ground next to his chewed up one as a peace offering. I got up and walked away with the rest of the food. I never noticed that InuYasha took the effort to glance back at me as I left.

When night fell, I laid awake on the futon that Kaede had prepared for me. I took out the jewel and held it in the light of the fire. I could make a wish now. I could wish to return back to my own world and back to my own body. But… Kikyo's words frightened me. What if the consequences of wishing upon the jewel were too great? In the entirety of the series, nothing good has ever come out of using the Shikon no Tama. I stared at my reflection in the jewel. That face was not my own… If it wasn't for my eyes, I'd probably have no recognition of myself. I sighed and let the jewel fall back onto my chest. I stared up at the ceiling while Kaede snored on the other side of the fireplace. What was I going to do? There had to be another way for me to go home. I didn't use the jewel to come here so going off that logic, whatever caused me to end up inside Kagome could potentially take me back. But how did I end up here in the first place? I couldn't remember anything…

I couldn't remember anything…

Fear welt up inside me. I tried to remember what my day consisted of before I woke up as Kagome. Nothing. I was coming up blank. What day was it? A Monday? A Sunday? Did I have work that day? Did I have my art classes? What did I eat that day? Did that day even happen?!

The sound of cawing snapped me out of it. I was breathing heavily with sweat dripping down my forehead. I looked over to the window where the bright moon shone through. Losing the will to sleep, I got up from the futon and walked over to the window. I looked up to see a murder of crows perched in a tree a field away. They were staring dead at me and my flesh began to crawl. I knew that one of them wasn't a normal crow, but a demon. They could sense the jewel. I took a nervous step back.

In an instant, InuYasha was there in that tree swiping at the birds with his claws. The crows scattered, cawing in agitation as they flew away. I let out a sigh of relief. Of course, while InuYasha was here, there was little chance of any minor demon getting to me. I clutched at the jewel in my hand, feeling it adjust to my body temperature. I stared at the dog-eared boy for a while, watching his hair shine silver in the moonlight, swaying in the breeze. I couldn't help it. There was something magical… practically otherworldly about him. Kind of like how you couldn't help but stare at a unicorn (if those things even exist).

I gasped when InuYasha's golden eyes met mine. My heart skipped a beat and I rushed back to my futon. I pulled the covers over my head and lay still. I had no idea why I suddenly acted like a flustered child who was caught up after bedtime hours. I curled into myself pathetically and tried to drown out the world around me. Maybe… if I fell asleep now, I would wake up in my own bed. Maybe I'll finally wake up.

After one worrisome thought after another, my eyelids eventually grew heavy and closed. I had no dreams that night.

The roosters crowed at the crack of dawn and I woke up in the exact spot where I had fallen asleep. I gave a sad sigh. I was still stuck here in the feudal era as Kagome. I sat up, pulling the covers off of my head. Kaede was still asleep and the fire had burnt out. I simply sat there on the futon, not really looking at anything.

It was day three. What was I going to do now? What was supposed to happen today? I recalled that in the series, Kagome snuck away from the village to look for the well- only to get kidnapped by a bunch of bandits. Their leader was an undead giant who was being controlled by that demonic nesting crow. I grimaced. I didn't want to go through that. No way no how.

So I had made my decision. I would not leave the village today.

Silently, without waking the old woman, I left the hut. The morning was a cool one and slightly misty. The villagers were only just starting to stir so it was still pretty quiet. I glanced around for InuYasha. I didn't see him, how odd. Turning back around, I felt a smile pull at my lips when I found his signature red and white colors atop of Kaede's roof. He was sprawled out on his back, hands behind his head and eyes closed. He was asleep. My heart warmed at the sight. Despite all his true intentions of stealing the jewel, InuYasha had watched over me that night. I couldn't help but feel touched.

I continued on my path, letting the sleeping dog lie. I stretched and yawned. I felt the kinks start to leave my body. Going for an early morning stroll was actually a good idea as I felt my mood brighten up with the rising sun. The birds chirped a tune that was incredibly familiar to me.

"Four scenes, four, four seasons. Four scenes, I'll be alright. Four scenes, four, four seasons. Four scenes, stay with me...," I sang along lightly. The rest of the words I made up with 'la-la's and doo-dee-doo's'. It had been years since I have heard that particular ending song to 'InuYasha' so the lyrics escaped me.

The village was really lovely and I found myself wanting to get a better look at it. Conveniently, I found a tree that looked easy enough for me to climb. I smiled and walked up to it. I grabbed at the branches and pulled myself up higher and higher. It had been forever since I climbed a tree. Maybe it was because I was fifteen again that I was filled with the desire to explore… to seek out a higher branch. I made it up pretty high and I gasped at the beauty of the world around me. It wasn't just the village that looked stunning. I could see past it and towards InuYasha's forest and the mountains behind it. The wind played with my hair and skirt. I felt so free!

I couldn't resist the urge to cup a hand around my mouth and shout into the distance, "Good morning!" My voice echoed back to me several times before it faded away.

After getting my fill of the view, it occured to me that I would have to somehow get down. "Ugh! Why do I never think ahead!" I whined. It was always easier to climb up. Shakily, I started to make my way down. And as fate would have it, my foot slipped off the branch. I screamed in terror as lost my grip and fell. I was going to die!

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the impending impact- but it never came. Instead, a hand grabbed the back of my sailor uniform and I found myself hanging uselessly in midair. "Huh?" I looked up to see InuYasha glowering down at me. Did he just save me?

"Are you trying to kill yourself, stupid?" He snapped.

"InuYasha…" I blinked up at him dumbly. "I fell…"

"No duh!" With a single bound, he jumped out of the tree and back onto the ground with me in tow. I squeaked when he uncerimonsiouly dropped me on my butt. "What were you thinking? What if you lost the jewel?!"

Oh. So THAT was what he was worried about. I rolled my eyes and got up onto my feet, rubbing my poor rear bumper. "The jewel is fine, don't worry."

"Keh!" InuYasha crossed his arms. "How you managed to get this far without dying is astounding."

"What's even more astounding is that you saved my life," I gave him a smug smile. "I thought that you hated me."

"I do hate you! I just don't want anything happening to the jewel."

The tsundere force was strong with this one. I shrugged, "Well, whether or not you intended to, you did save my life… so… thank you." I gave him the most genuine smile that I could muster. Come on, buddy. You know you can't resist the Kagome smile.

I didn't know that it wasn't the smile but the 'thank you' that affected him the most. InuYasha moved away from me, eyes avoiding my own. "Yeah, well don't get used to it. I'm not going to keep saving your ass every time you decide to jump out of a tree."

I sputtered, "I did NOT jump out of the tree!"

InuYasha snorted, "Could have fooled me. With the way you were waving your arms around, you probably thought that you could fly."

I was about to retort back when understanding struck me. InuYasha was bickering with me. He wasn't antagonizing me. He wasn't threatening me. He was… teasing. I was dumbstruck and my mouth hung open. Wait… was this the same InuYasha from the show? This was only the third day and already he was acting much more civil towards me. What the hell did I do to unlock this level in our poor and suffering relationship? Was it the food? It had to have been the food.

InuYasha caught me gawking and he frowned, "What the hell are you looking at?"

"You, apparently."

"Well quit it! You're creeping me out!"

"Aye, aye, mon capitan." I smiled and walked past him. I stretched my arms up with satisfaction. Yup. This was so much better than trudging into the forest by myself and getting myself captured by bandits. Maybe I won't have to break the jewel.

I turned back around to face InuYasha. "You know what sounds good right now? Breakfast. How about we have some?" I grinned.

A/N: I'm on a roll here. Another chapter so soon! I can't help it. After ten years of being away from the fandom, I feel like I need to make up for lost time. So what do you guys think about this chapter? It's a little more slice-of-life with nothing really happening but it felt right. Remember to leave a review if you liked it! :) Reviews are yummy.