This chapter is a replacement for an older, shorter, more boring chapter. I think it moves the story along better than the old one, and I just plain like it better. If anyone had read this story before with the old version, I'd be very interested to know whether or not you agree with this, as well as your thoughts on all the other changes I made!
Chapter 5: The Well
Kagome had been silent most of the walk home. She was so content with everything she had learned about her fate, and endlessly grateful to Sesshomaru for humoring her curiosity. That thought had plunged her into deep contemplation over why exactly he was willing to entertain her at all. He was never one for small talk, or any kind of talking, especially to her. In the feudal era he seemed to do little more than threaten or ignore her, if he was forced to acknowledge her at all. Even during the fight with Naraku he had only helped her grudgingly. Or did he? She looked over at her escort, his face illuminated by the setting sun. He hadn't chosen to cover his marks today, which she reasoned was because he wasn't working, whatever it was he did. What was his end game when it came to helping her?
Seeming as though he read her mind, or maybe just because she had stared long enough for him to take notice, he glanced over at her. He quirked his brow as if to ask her why she had been staring so intensely. She smiled nervously, not wanting to admit to him that she was becoming suspicious of his involvement with her.
"Kagome." He said, shaking her out of her thoughts for a moment.
"Hm? What is it?" They were nearing the shrine steps, where he usually left her to return home. They both stopped at the base, turning to one another. Was he finally going to tell her what he wanted out of this?
"I want you to… show me this well you described." His tone was mildly skeptical as he turned to gaze up the steps. She was a little thrown off by his request but nodded, happy to bring him there, though she didn't understand why he would want to see it. Since she had returned it was really nothing but a dusty old well. It didn't even have water in it, so really it was less than a well! She led him up the steps anyway.
"It really isn't very interesting. It won't work anymore, so there's not much to see." She said as she pushed open the door, gazing down at the old wooden frame at the center of the dark room. She waved her hand lightly in front of her face, clearing away the dust she'd kicked up opening the door. She looked at Sesshomaru, wondering at his serious look as he stood in the doorway.
"This is it?" He asked, jumping from the steps to lightly land on the edge of the well, looking down at the dry soil below. Kagome walked down the steps slowly to join him, leaning over too, staring sadly down the long drop.
"Yup. I told you it's nothing now." Her voice was heavy with sorrow. She sat lightly on the edge, feeling the ancient frame beneath her fingers. "Before I returned I only had to jump down, and I would find myself five hundred years in the past. Now, I'm more likely to sprain an ankle." He watched her as she spoke, staring longingly at the void. Her story was odd, but he could tell it was all true. She couldn't lie to him even if she wanted to, but so far, she hadn't tried. Glancing back down to the bottom, he stepped gingerly over the edge, gliding down the narrow shaft before landing lightly on the packed dirt.
Letting his senses take over he could feel the power that radiated around him. It was probably her possession of the Shikon Jewel that had amplified the well's natural power enough to become a gateway. It held a distinct smell of the feudal era, so different from the modern city just outside. He reasoned it was probably from Kagome returning after spending time there, but it could be that the connection was still present, only attenuated to a lesser strength. She had also been down more recently, most likely checking on whether or not it would open for her again.
Just as he had begun wondering how exactly she got down to the bottom and back up he heard her slide off the rim above him. His eyes went wide in surprise as he opened his arms, catching her at the last second before she hit the dirt. She made a little 'Unf!' as she hit his chest, laying bridal style in his arms. Just as he opened his mouth to scold her for not warning him she hit his chest lightly, looking suddenly angry.
"What did you do that for!?" She said heatedly. He stared down at her in shock. She was mad at him? "If I don't hit the bottom, it definitely won't work!" He was stunned to silence for a moment before he was able to formulate a response.
"You- you wanted me to let you fall? You would have broken an ankle from this height, you said so yourself!" He had raised his voice to her, which he almost never did outside of a heated battle. Maybe it was her proximity making him snap, he thought, setting her on her feet and taking the only step back he could without hitting the well. He wished to be farther away from her, the confines of the well suddenly making him claustrophobic.
"Well duh! Why else would I jump?" She snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. She glared at him for only a moment before her face fell, showing the sadness that now seemed like a permanent fixture of her personality. "Oh who am I kidding, it wasn't going to work anyway." She leaned back on the wall, her arms still crossed, looking at him with a kind of world-weariness she shouldn't have yet known at her age. Sesshomaru looked up as he senses someone approaching quickly. He grimaced. Now he was stuck down here, unable to use his demon strength to simply jump out without risking being outed for what he was. Kagome looked up too, just as her mother peeked over the side of the opening.
"Oh! There you are Kagome! Who… is your friend?" The woman squinted at Sesshomaru for a moment, the light of recognition in her eyes as she scanned over his hair.
"Hey Mama! This is…" She glanced at him, unsure whether she should make something up. He tried to communicate that she should with his eyes, but she ignored him. "This is Sesshomaru! He's Inuyasha's half brother!" He grimaced as she shouted up the words, which clearly seemed to excite the woman.
"Really? How wonderful! Come up so I can meet him properly!" She called, disappearing over the edge. Kagome and Sesshomaru exchanged looks, his annoyed and hers expectant. She moved closer, as though he could just carry her out with him. He glared at her as she stood at his arm, tilting her head as if to ask what was taking him so long.
"How do we get out, Kagome?" He said evenly, keeping his voice low as her mother was still next to the well above them. She looked confused.
"What do you mean? Just jump..." She said softly, completely missing his point. He closed his eyes, clearing his throat.
"It's too far for a human to jump." He raised a brow, his emphasis finally making her understand. She giggled when she realized the reason for his hesitation, shaking her head.
"Mama knows about you and Inuyasha being demons. She won't be surprised, really." He glared at her skeptically. "She's met Inuyasha before… Even touched his ears! I promise, it's okay." Her explanation only raised more questions, but he gave up with a sigh, pulling her to his chest and jumping effortlessly over the rim of the well to stand lightly on the frame before Kagome's mother. Her eyes lit up when they appeared, clasping her hands over her heart and wearing a smile that looked quite similar to Kagome's.
He released Kagome to watch her hop down and hug her mother before turning back to him. "Sesshomaru, this is my mom!" She chirped happily. The woman smiled at him brilliantly, seeming to fixate on his marks.
"Ah! I see the resemblance! Though you look a bit older than Inuyasha." She said politely, not knowing how much such a comment annoyed him. He sighed, giving up completely on hiding what he was in this situation. It was a mystery as to how exactly she had met his brother, but she also wasn't lying. She knew exactly what he was. He stepped off the well to stand before the two women, offering a simple 'nice to meet you.' as he did. "What interesting marks…" She mused. Almost like it was as normal as a handshake she raised her hand to touch the marks on his face. He snatched her wrist quickly, being sure not to be rough, only stopping her action. Now he knew where Kagome got the touchiness from. She looked a bit surprised at him as he held her wrist. He dropped it quickly.
"Ah- sorry, but I would rather you not…" She nodded, smiling softly.
"Oh of course, I apologise, I guess I thought you wouldn't mind! How bold of me!" She laughed a bit nervously, again looking much like Kagome. "Well, would you like to stay for dinner?" She asked, genuinely hoping he would.
"No, I must be going now. Kagome, I'll see you tomorrow." He said as though they'd discussed it earlier. She nodded anyway, happy to accept his plan.
"Sure, see you later." She said, the relief on his face not being lost on her. She couldn't believe her mother had tried to pet him! With that he gladly made his exit. The two women watched him go before pushing closed the well house door and heading inside.
"He seems… very serious." Mused miss Higurashi. She didn't mean it in any way, really, just stating a fact. Kagome smiled at the observation. That was an understatement!
"Yeah, he can be, for sure." she agreed, hoping to end the conversation there. She didn't want to explain too much about him, knowing he was already uncomfortable with someone knowing he was a demon.
"Why doesn't he have the ears?" Her mother's question amused her with the slight disappointment in her tone. Kagome sighed.
"They're only half brothers mama, and… if you wouldn't mind, can you not mention him to anyone? I guess he doesn't want anyone to know he's a demon." Miss Higurashi nodded, agreeing to keep his secret.
"You mean half-demon, right?" She asked innocently. Kagome paled. Would it matter to her mother that he was a real full fledged demon? Most mothers might discourage their daughters from hanging around actual demonic influences.
"Ah… no… he's a full demon." She said hesitantly, keeping her voice low. Her mother was a fifty fifty chance, but grandpa would definitely not allow it!
"Oh I see…" Her mother seemed to think it over, tapping a finger to her lips. "Well, we shouldn't tell grandpa, that's for sure." Kagome smiled, knowing she got so much of her personality from her mom in this moment.
"We shouldn't tell anyone mama." She reminded softly. Her mother nodded in agreement.
"Alright, alright, I'll keep it to myself. Go wash up for dinner." Kagome did as she was told, happy to have such an understanding parent. "But one last thing!" Her mother pulled her close by the sleeve, leaning in to speak sofly. "Have you touched the marks on his face?" Her face was squinted in suspicion, as though she was discussing a dangerous conspiracy that she didn't want anyone to overhear. Her mother's curiosity was even worse than her own!
"No! Of course not! I'm sure he wouldn't like me touching them any more than you!" She whispered, her mother's face showing a bit of disappointment.
"Thats too bad, I really want to know what they feel like now…" She said absently. She looked at the embarrassment on her daughter's face. "What? I'm curious! Inuyasha let me touch his ears!" Kagome groaned, rolling her eyes.
"He's really not very much like Inuyasha, so just forget it okay?" She stared her mother down, making sure she would drop it. When she nodded as if to say 'fair enough' she finally went to wash up. She shook her head at her mother's ridiculous fixation. They were just a couple stripes and a little moon, just like tattoos! At least, she thought they were like tattoos… were they though? She groaned. Now it would drive her crazy too! Kami, she really was her mother's daughter.