My leather covered feet touched the damp soil inside the well and the tingling sensation of magic slowly faded away. The sudden smell of decaying flesh and plants reached my nostrils and I brought my sleeve of my shirt up to cover my nose. My eyes darted to Kagome for an explanation.
I almost sweat dropped at the excited smile she gave me. Her large, brown eyes glittered in the darkness as she grinned from ear to ear.
'If she continues her face will split in half,' my wristwatch chuckled.
I raised my eyebrow at Kagome before I let out a laugh.
"Hannah, we made it!"
"I know."
"I can't believe it!"
I glanced around the smelly, dark well. "How do we get out of here?"
Kagome smiled and grabbed one of the many vines and pulled. It seemed to be secure enough. Apparently she thought so too as she begun to climb with practiced ease. I, on the other hand, had no such practice.
As Kagome had reached halfway up the sides of the well, I huffed.
I glanced up, trying to avoid looking straight up into her skirt. And as I looked up to see past her, I caught a glimpse of silver past Kagome's form.
I watched as Kagome's body was pulled upwards.
Panic gripped my body. What happened?
But then the fact that she had not screamed hit me. She had not been afraid. Muffled voices from top of the well reached my ears and I sighed. The possibility that it could be her friends was plausible.
If she had been afraid, she would have screamed. Right?
With the Tenseiga securely wrapped in an old sheet and strapped to my back I took a hold of the thin vines. The walls of the well were slick and cold as I inched higher and higher. My feet slipped several times and each time I let out a curse. I was not overly fond of ruining my shoes.
I struggled with the vines before I finally managed to grab the lip of the well. Kagome's hand shot out to grab mine and she helped me heave up.
Kagome's face was inches from mine and I saw the happiness swirl in her deep eyes. I blinked.
Perhaps I had been wrong. Perhaps she needed to return after all. I retuned her smile. I had never seen her this happy before and it warmed my heart. But then the thought hit me – if she was this happy now, how would she cope after the week was up?
She seemed to understand where my thoughts had taken me, as her smile slowly faded. Maybe my face betrayed me. I could not help but not share her joy.
"Just keep it in mind, Kagome. Please…" I smiled and lifted myself out of the well.
"I know," she whispered. "But right now, I simply want to focus on being here."
I nodded and stood straight. I inspected my shoes and scowled. I had managed to rip the leather, but they still looked fine. I mentally praised the shoemaker for his wonderful job. The shoes had not exactly been cheap.
A rough voice was heard and I glanced up to see a young man clad in red holding Kagome's hands. His silver hair gleamed in the sun. His description fit his name – this was InuYasha. So it had been him who was the silver I had seen from the bottom of the well?
I caught myself staring at his dog-ears.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked with crossed arms over his chest. "You don't smell like a demon."
I raised my eyebrow at his attitude. "My name is Hannah, and I'm not a demon. I'm a good friend of Kagome. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, InuYasha." I stretched my hand in greeting, pulling on the sweetest smile I could muster.
He took a step back as I did, his clawed hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
I was confused.
Kagome must have noticed as she leaned closer to him. "You're supposed to shake her hand," she explained.
He gave her a puzzled look. "Why?"
"Hannah is not from Japan, InuYasha. Which is why she looks so strange," she threw me an apologetic look and I rolled my eyes.
She thought I was strange? Hello? The guy had dog-ear on top of his head! But I understood how I must look for him. Blonde hair and blue eyes were rare, if not non-existent, in feudal Japan.
"In her country it's customary to shake hands upon greeting. Just like we bow," Kagome explained further. "She means no offense."
"You would touch someone you only just met?"
I nodded. "But out greeting is far from the most intimate…"
I felt ridiculous as I stood there with my outstretched hand and withdrew it. He had obviously not intention to grab my hand. I gave him a shy smile before I noticed the couple.
Kagome stood chest to chest with the half-demon, hands touching. I blinked. I suddenly felt very out of place. Kagome must have noticed as she smiled as the half-demon and whispered something to him.
He nodded.
Movement in the corner of my eye caused me to turn to glance at the people that walked towards us. It was a woman and a man – along with…
'This energy…' I narrowed my eyes at the small fox demon on the man's shoulders. 'Fox…'
"Sango! Miroku!" Kagome's happy voice reached my ears. "I'm back!"
She moved to hug her friends and left me alone wit InuYasha.
"You helped her?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Thank you," he whispered.
I waved my hand dismissively in the air. "It's nothing, though."
Golden eyes softened and he bowed his head slightly. I suppose it would be all I would get from him. I took what I could get as I watched him walk towards Kagome, placing a large hand upon her tiny shoulder.
I smiled and sat down on the lip of the well and watched with a torn heart at the beautiful reunion. Why torn? Because I knew that, in a week's time, I would have to tear her away from her beloved friends. I could see how happy she was here and I would case her heartbreak once again.
Here… I glanced around us and took in the beautiful, untouched nature. Tall, thick trees stretched up to the clear, blue skies, lush green grass covered every inch of the forest, and the fresh, unpolluted air filled my lungs. I could understand why Kagome had missed this place so much.
Once again, my heart stung in my chest.
"Amser, notify me when a week has passed," I whispered in English to my wristwatch.
'Certainly, Miss Moore.'
And as the group began to trek out of the clearing that surrounded the well I stood up and followed them.
I felt that this would become a very long week of constant 'third-wheeling'.