A/N SO SORRY it has taken me so long to update. It's been what...2 years? Yikes. Life takes a toll. Honestly I thought about this from time to time but didn't think anyone really cared that I hadn't finished it. A comment from one of you, my lovely readers, let me know that I was wrong. I promise to update once a week from now on. I know I made that promise before but this time I WILL keep it. Without further delay, here's the new chapter.

Chapter 15: Down the Rabbit Hole

Inuyame groaned as she blinked against harsh light. Her head was throbbing and her neck felt stiff. She reached a hand up and felt a large bandage covering the wound she'd received from the attackers' knife. The incidents of yesterday came flooding back to her and she bolted upright. "William!" She called out and frantically looked around the room.

"Hey hey calm down. He's alright, you're all okay." A soft yet stern voice said as a woman stood up from where she'd been sitting and walked over to Inuyame.

"Who are you?" Inuyame asked, her ears flattening warily.

"My name is Riza Hawkeye. Colonel Mustang and I subdued those who were attacking you then brought you here to be taken care of." Hawkeye saw the question in Inuyame's eyes and answered. "William is going to be fine. The water just winged him. With the proper medicine and bandaging, it shouldn't even scar."

The relief on Inuyame's face was obvious as her shoulders and ears relaxed. It was then she realized she didn't have her bandana on anymore. Her hands flew up to cover her ears but Riza just shook her head.

"It's okay. Edwin explained to us all about your...predicament. Though I myself have no idea what this is or how this happened, there are others here in Central that should either know or be able to find out. And thanks to you guys, those killers are no longer running loose so Central is a safer place once again." Hawkeye said and held her hand out. "Do you feel well enough to stand?"

Inuyame thought about it for a moment then nodded. She took Riza's hand and stood up, swaying slightly but staying upright.

"Just take it easy, you lost a lot of blood." Riza turned and led Inuyame into a different part of the house where Colonel Mustang, Edwin, and William were sitting and talking. They all turned when they heard the girls come in and William's face lit up when he saw Inuyame.

Inuyame gasped in dismay, there was a bandage over half of William's face. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt." He said with a smile when he saw the look on her face.

"O-oh. I'm glad." She said and tried to smile back, though it was halfhearted at best. "So...what's everyone talking about?" She asked and sat down.

Colonel Mustang looked up at Hawkeye, waiting for her nod before he continued. "Well, to start with, My name is Colonel Roy Mustang, it's nice to meet you." He said and held his hand out. Inuyame shook it hesitantly. "Now, unfortunately Riza and I have no idea how you've gotten into this...predicament, nor do we know how to get you out of it. The good news is that we think we know someone who can. There's a librarian named Sheska who not only takes very good care of the library but also remembers pretty much everything she's ever read. If anyone would be able to help you, it would be her." He concluded.

"Sheska..." Inuyame said the name slowly, the pronunciation intriguing her. "So she should know how to fix this?"

"Well not necessarily. If she doesn't she should at least be able to point you in the right direction." Roy said, clasping his hands together. "Now, word of caution, she's a bit eccentric and kind of a clutz, so be careful around her. And if I were you, I wouldn't let her see your ears or she might never let you leave."

Inuyame's eyes widened and her ears flattened against her head. "Why not?" She asked warily.

Roy held his hands up. "No nothing like that! She would just want to ask you a million questions and would want to study them. Probably want to write a book about it too. But I digress."

"Oh. Okay." Inuyame's ears perked back up as she calmed down. "So...when do we go meet this person?"

"That's the thing, right now she's on a trip and she wont be returning until the day after tomorrow, so you have until then to figure out exactly what you want to ask her and to maybe explore the city a little, get to know the place." Roy said and nodded to Edwin.

"Right! You're probably getting hungry, want to see my favorite place to eat?" Edwin said as he stood up, offering his hand to Inuyame.

Inuyame just stared for a moment as the sun came in through the window and glinted off of his golden hair. "Uh, sure." She took his hand and stood. And with that, the three of them were off on another adventure, though hopefully less dangerous this time.

Meanwhile in Japan

Kovu and Alice arrived at the well to see Kagome and Inuyasha asleep against each other. "S-should we wake them?" Alice whispered.

"Well we can't just let them sleep while Inuyame is in danger." Kovu said as he kicked the side of the well.

Inuyasha and Kagome immediately woke up, jumping to their feet. "Is this the girl?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. Alice hid behind Kovu.

"Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you were a little nicer to her." Kovu said.

"Oh, like you were nice to my daughter?" Inuyasha asked, grabbing the hilt of his sword.

Kagome stepped between the two of them with her hands out. "Enough! Fighting is not going to bring Inuyame back. Now, I hear you have something that will help us?" She asked Alice gently.

Alice nodded and came out from behind Kovu clutching a small handkerchief. She handed it to Kagome gently, taking care not to drop it. "I hope it helps." She said quietly.

Kagome clutched it in her hands tightly. "I hope it does too, thank you." She said and smiled at Alice, then turned around to face Inuyasha who was holding his hand out. "I can hold it." She said.

Inuyasha shook his head. "You have to stay here and take care of Taro, he's probably already wondering why he had to stay the night at Miroku and Sango's house. Besides, we don't know how dangerous it is on the other side. Remember how bad it was when you first came here?" He asked earnestly, looking into her eyes.

Kagome sighed and handed him the handkerchief. Alice squeaked in protest but Kovu shook his head at her. "Just...bring her back. Okay? Tell me she's going to be okay." Kagome said as she stood there trying not to cry.

Inuyasha enveloped her in a hug. "I promise I'll bring her back safely, you know I will." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He hopped up onto the edge of the well, looking down into it and clutching the jewel in his hand hoping it would work. Kagome turned to leave, grabbing Alice's hand as she did so. She didn't want to watch Inuyasha disappear. Inuyasha jumped in, and before Kagome could stop him Kovu jumped in as well. Kagome sighed and started leaving, turning away just in time to miss three other figures jumping in too.