AN: A bit of a tweak on these two chapters…still the same suspension of disbelief. And yes, I am working on getting the next chapter finished. Bear with me – I have two other stories going on and am trying to finish final edits on my original stuff.

Chapter 19: Down the Rabbit Hole

Inuyasha quickly heaved himself up with the help of the sword … Tetsusaiga… and scrambled towards Kagome's scent, which was becoming increasingly panicked.

Back at the party, Miroku leaned and whispered in Sango's ear, "Would you like to take a walk? I'd like to see how beautiful you look under the moonlight…"

Sango had already promised herself that on this night, she would be a regular teenage girl and not to over think any of her actions. She took his hand and replied, "I'd love to."

Inuyasha crept silently in the direction of the well and in the almost full moon was able to glimpse Naraku, Kagura, Kanna, Kagome and Souta. He was easily able to determine what was going on. Those bastards. His instinct told him to charge in and start hacking away, but recognized things might be done differently on this side of the well. If he had learned anything in his time, Kagome's time, it was that sometimes brute strength wasn't everything. However, that didn't prevent the war that was currently waging within himself. Must protect Kagome…

We need to wait to get the details of the entire situation.

He's all over her!

Just wait. You're only going to have one shot and you don't want to wreck your chances of saving Kagome, do you?

No.

Perking up his ears, the hanyou listened for a moment.

Naraku was practically on top of Kagome, "Tell us what we want to know!"

Kagome was trying to be as brave as possible for the sake of her younger brother, when all she really wanted to do was cry hysterically.

You have to bluff! Get Souta out of here.

Kagome took a deep breath and answered, "I will tell you. I know about the pure soul, I also know of the sword you seek. Release my brother and I will tell you what it is you want to know."

Naraku grabbed her chin and forced her to look into his face, "If you're lying…" He slid a finger down her chin and into her shirt, "There will be consequences."

Kagome was literally paralyzed with fear. She nodded, praying that somehow Souta would get back to the house and alert her mother who could get the authorities and finally lock Naraku up for a long time.

Naraku grunted, "Kagura will take—"

Kagome may have been struck with fear for herself, but her older sibling instincts were definitely still kicking, "Absolutely not. Neither you nor any of your creepy friends is going to be anywhere near my brother. Souta knows the way back to the house and can get there on his own, can't you, Souta?"

Souta nodded mutely.

Kagome said, "Now, let him go!"

In the nearby bushes, Inuyasha swore he could see Kagome glow a distinctive pinkish, purple. Kagura looked across to Naraku, who nodded, and Kagura released Souta. Souta looked at Kagome, torn between wanting to protect his older sister and saving himself.

Kagome yelled, "Go!"

Souta sprinted in the direction of the house.

Naraku straddled Kagome, "Now, about this information…"

Inuyasha couldn't hold back a second longer. He growled loudly and came running out of the forest, and pulled the sword out of its sheath. In a flash of blinding light, what appeared was larger than any sword Kagome had ever seen. It was definitely not of this world…something that Naraku was obviously instantly aware of.

Kagome cried out, "Inuyasha! Stay away from here! Go for help!"

"That's not likely, wench."

Naraku laughed, it had almost been too easy, "Would this be the sword?"

Everything seemed as if in slow motion. Kagome was suddenly thinking very clearly about the situation. She couldn't put any more lives in danger. She began speaking as if in a trance, "There is a special ritual which must be performed."

Naraku looked to see if Kagome was lying, but she appeared to be completely out of it.

"What must be done?"

On a nearby part of the property, Miroku was silently congratulating himself on how well this evening had gone. He and Sango had shared a wonderful meal together and at the dance she had even let him grope her a few times during the slow dances. The only thing that would make it perfect was a kiss from his lovely Sango. He didn't think he'd have the guts or the chance to do it again any time soon, so he took a deep breath and placed his hands on either side of Sango's face. She looked up at him.

Miroku was closing the distance between him when suddenly he heard shouting in the distance. Damn it!

Sango had obviously heard the commotion too, she sighed.

Was that disappointment on her face? Miroku smiled as he grabbed her hand, "Sounds like someone's in trouble. We'd better go check it out."

Kagome continued in the same weird tone, "The sword must be placed over the well and the pure soul will provide a blood offering to activate the time portal."

Naraku hauled Kagome up and quickly revealed a knife, that he held at her throat. He looked dangerously at Inuyasha, "The sword?"

"Never."

Naraku roughly pawed at Kagome, who whimpered desperately. Inuyasha gripped his fingers around the hilt of the sword.

Naraku smirked, "Don't do anything stupid, Inuyasha. Give me the sword or Kagome suffers."

Golden eyes locked on teary brown ones. Kagome shook her head, "Don't help him, Inuyasha!"

Weeks ago, Inuyasha wouldn't have thought twice about going after the evil man in front of him, wench be damned, but now…he walked slowly over to Naraku. In his darkest tone possible, he said, "You get the sword, she goes free."

Naraku nodded.

"On the count of three. 1, 2, 3—"

Inuyasha prepared himself to catch Kagome with waiting arms as he flung the great sword in Naraku's direction. Her familiar presence never came. Kagura had somehow intercepted the sword and Naraku still held Kagome tightly.

Do it! You have claws! Use them…why are you waiting?

If I move too quickly, she could get hurt.

At least she would be alive?

I'm supposed to protect her.

Using all her strength and the help of Kanna, Kagura placed the sword over the well and Naraku drew his blade quickly across Kagome's arm. She screamed, mostly out of fear and not out of pain, from the small cut. Naraku held her arm over the sword…all eyes watched as a drop of blood hit the sword and there was a flash of brilliant blue light.

Inuyasha could only watch in desperation as Naraku quickly swept Kagome up bridal style and jumped onto the well. He locked eyes with Inuyasha and said wickedly, "She won't be a pure soul for much longer."

With that, he kicked the sword and followed it into the well. Kanna and Kagura could do nothing but jump in and follow Naraku. In the moment, Sango and Miroku came running into the clearing.

Inuyasha was sniffing around the well but couldn't catch scent of Kagome. He turned around to see Miroku and Sango and let loose a stream of expletives.

Miroku asked slowly, "What just happened?"

"They've taken Kagome."

Sango asked, "Where? Who?"

Miroku scoffed, "To the bottom of the well? That's ok, I was actually enjoying a lovely evening with dear Sango. I'm sure you can get her out on your own."

Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, "You don't understand! Naraku has her. I have to go after them."

There was an edge in his voice that caused Sango to pay attention. She asked, "Going where exactly?"

"To my time."

Miroku and Sango exchanged a worried look. Miorku asked, "What do you mean, your time?"

"The past."

With that, Inuyasha hopped in the well.

Sango made a move to follow him and Miroku grabbed onto her, "Where are you going?"

"Kagome is my friend, too. If she's in trouble..."

Miroku sighed, then with the tiniest moment of hesitation, swept up Sango in a dramatic, passionate kiss, before walking to the well. She asked breathlessly, "What was that for?"

Miroku winked, "I'm not sure what's on the other side of this thing, but no matter what's over there, now I can look back at my life without regret."

Kouga followed Souta, who was near tears and looked around the well, "Sorry, little dude, but I don't see anyone around here."

Souta was near hysterics, "They were here! I promise! That creepy guy and his friends. They were threatening Kagome."

Kouga considered his options. On one hand he cared for Kagome, and by association he did worry about her family. On the other hand, he felt a little ridiculous looking for people who were obviously not to be found.

Souta asked quietly, "Maybe they fell in the well?"

Kouga and Souta peered over the edge of the well. Kouga shouted down into the well, "Hello? Is anyone down there? Please answer."

They were greeted with silence.

Kouga turned to Souta, "See, no one answered. I'm sure they are back at the party."

"What if she fell in and can't answer?"

Kouga had to admire the determination and loyalty Souta was showing for his sister. He asked, "Would it make you feel better if I went and checked it out?"

Souta wiped his eyes and nodded silently.

"Fine."

Kouga, as a Prince, had mastered practically every sport he chose to participate in and so, on a whim had once spent a summer doing nothing but rock climbing. He carefully began to creep down the well.

Souta asked, and his voice seemed far away, "Do you see anything?"

Kouga was about to speak, when he lost his footing and began to fall. He fell and braced himself for the landing…when he began to see strange colors and blacked out.

Kagome came to, unaware of where or when she was. Even her name sounded a little foreign in her head. Her last memory had been being swooped up by Naraku and then jumping into the well. There had been a flash of light and then…nothing.

Inuyasha…

Kagome remembered the look of utter devastation in his golden eyes when Naraku hadn't let her go. She knew then, without question, that he would be coming after her.

All you have to do is stay alive until then…

As her thoughts were coming around, she realized in horror that she had landed on top of Naraku in what she assumed was the bottom of the well. Fearing the worst she tensed up and was surprised when Naraku quickly hauled her out of the well. He looked at her, leering, and Kagome was glad for the completely non-revealing outfit she was wearing as she pulled it even tighter around herself. Naraku's intense stare was interrupted by a whistling sound emanating from deep in the well.

He peered over the edge of the well and called down, "Kagura?"

Both he and Kagome pushed back when something came flying up and out of the well. Kagome blinked a few times, not believing if what she was seeing was actually true. Kagura was there, with Kanna, and the sword all floating on a giant feather. Kagome noted that the sword was now the size and shape of a normal weapon…as if the slip through time had brought its powers back to normal. Kagura had a look of complete shock and disbelief on her face.

Naraku scratched his head, "But how?"

Kagura shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know."

The feather lifted off the ground, unsteady.

Naraku bellowed, "Get down here and help!"

Kagura shook her head, "Whatever this world offers has to be better being a part of your team any longer! I'll take my chances elsewhere."

With that, she snapped her fan and took off into the night, leaving Kagome very alone with Naraku. He spat, "Heinous bitch! What about the pact?"

He's angry…

You don't say.

Make sure he doesn't take it out on you. Remember, you need to stay alive for Inuyasha to rescue you.

Just thinking of the golden-eyed hanyou made Kagome feel instantly better.

I should've kissed him…

Your life is in danger, you're all alone 500 years in the past with the school psycho, and all you can think is 'I should've kissed him'?

Well, if something happens to me here, that would be one of my only regrets.

Look alive! He's right behind you!

Fearing the look in his eyes as Naraku turned on her, Kagome managed to squeak out, "You need me."

"What did you say?" His breath was hot on her neck.

Grow a backbone, Kagome!

Kagome took a deep breath, so she would be heard clearly, "If-if you want to get back through the well, I have to be, um, pure, and reunited with the sword."

Naraku considered his options. As unhappy as he was to leave Kagome unharmed, he still needed technology on the other side in order to become supreme ruler of this world.

"Only until I find someone else who's pure, Higurashi."

Kagome shuddered as he said her name.

"C'mon. We're going to find that sword!"

Naraku dragged a very reluctant Kagome off in the direction Kagura had flown.

Inuyasha dusted himself off and took a deep breath, and, not scenting a death trap for miles; the hanyou was satisfied he was definitely back in his own time. Seconds later, Miroku and Sango were suddenly in the well with him. Far too crowded for three people, Inuyasha scooped them up and sprang out of the well.

Sango and Miroku were shocked breathless as he put them down.

Miroku was the first to recover, "What in the hell just happened?"

Inuyasha was already sniffing, "Where in the hell is she? "

Sango asked, "Where in the hell are we?"

Inuyasha looked at the two humans in front of him. Granted, he was impressed by their loyalty and blind devotion to their friend, but he didn't want to get stuck babysitting in this time…not while Kagome was in trouble.

Some pack is better than no pack at all…

Keh.

Let's face it, in this world, how far has being alone got you? Plus, what's going to happen to them if you leave them?

Inuyasha didn't like his thoughts at all, but grudgingly agreed to his inner voice. Miroku and Sango were looking at him expectantly.

I didn't ask them to come with me.

They are here now, so deal with it.

Inuyasha told them, "We're not sure how it happened, but somehow the well became a time portal to the past…to my time."

"What do you mean your time? You said that before we left," Sango glared at him.

"Where is Kagome's house? Where is the party?" Miroku sounded worried.

Inuyasha growled, "If you let me finish, I'll tell you. This place, as far as I know, is about 500 years ago from your time…the present. The well is a time portal that I fell through and met Kagome. Naraku found some sort of scroll and wants to use his knowledge and power from the future to rule this world. I don't really care about all that. All I know is that he took Kagome for hostage. We need to find her before anything happens."

Miroku scratched his head, "Are you sure that you and Kagome didn't put something in the punch?"

Inuyasha calmly walked over and pinched Miroku, "Still dreaming?"

"OWWW!" Miroku rubbed his arm, "No, but I don't see why you had to do that."

"Let's get going." Inuyasha took another deep breath and caught the faintest trace of Kagome's scent coming from the West.

The trio walked for at least two hours in the moonlight. No one said much of anything. Inuyasha wondered if the humans were suffering from some sort of shock. Turning around to check on them, he looked behind and saw both Miroku and Sango's eyes drooping.

"Keh, weak humans! Get some sleep. I'll keep watch."

Lying down under the protection of a large tree, Sango and Miroku were asleep in moments. Inuyasha started pacing, unable to stay still when he knew that Kagome was in danger.

If you don't get any sleep, how are you going to have the energy to rescue her?

True.

Inuyasha walked over and leaned on a tree, trying to keep one eye open. Minutes…maybe an hour later, Inuyasha's sensed something nearing them. It was a youkai, but nothing particularly malicious. He saw a small fire-cat walk over to Sango. Sango jumped up, instantly awake and in an en garde position. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, as did the cat.

Sango looked down at her body and its battle ready stance and wondered aloud, "Where did that come from?"

Miroku rubbed his eyes sleepily, "S'going on?"

The cat mewed and rubbed Sango's legs. She idly scratched the cat's head and commented, "It's like I can understand her."

"How do you know it's a she?" Miroku questioned.

"Her name is Kirara."

Miroku rubbed his face and replied, "That's nice. I have to pee."

With that the teenager, dressed as a monk, walked to a nearby tree. Sango was continuing to play with her new friend, when a great wind whipped up from the direction that Miroku had gone in. Inuyasha leaped over to find Miroku standing, shellshocked as debris from the forest flew into his…hand.

The hanyou growled over the din, "What in the hell is going ON?"

Sango came around and saw Miroku, she yelled above the wind, "MIROKU!"

Hearing Sango's voice snapped Miroku's attention back to the situation. He pulled the cloth that had previously been covering his hand and the beads and sealed the wind tunnel that appeared.

The trio looked at each other in shock.

Kouga woke up and found himself in the bottom of a well. He called up, "Souta!"

No answer.

"SOUTA!"

Still no answer.

Kouga grumbled about the lengths he was going to for Kagome and began crawling out of the well. When he got to the top, he had a sinking suspicion that he was no longer on the Higurashi property. The stars were much brighter than he remembered and there was no party going on in the distance. He heard voices coming from nearby. Feeling like some sort of an idiot in his current state of dress, he asked boldly, "Who goes there?"

Two young men came from the bushes and were dressed, bizarrely enough, just like him. Seeing him, they both dropped to their knees. The one with the Mohawk said, "It's just as the prophecy predicted."

Kouga looked at them strangely, "What are you talking about?"

"I am Ginta and this is Hakkaku, we are from the Northern Wolf Tribe."

"Did you say wolf?"

"We did, but you would know that."

"Why would I know that?"

Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged a confused look. Hakkaku asked, "Is this some sort of test?"

Kouga sighed deeply, "What are you talking about?"

"You're our Prince."

"Huh?"

Ginta repeated himself, "You are the Prince of the Northern Wolf Tribe. It was predicted you would appear to us this night."

Kouga scratched his head, wondering if he had hit something in the well. He responded slowly, "As your Prince, what do you require of me?"

Hakkaku replied, "You are the leader we have been missing, returned to us to lead us through this time of great uncertainty."

Kouga decided to follow his luck as long as it would last, "I'll help with that, but first I need to find my Princess."

The eyes of the two men in front of him grew large. Ginta said, "There was no mention in the prophecy of a Princess."

Kouga shrugged, "She's a recent addition. I know that she is here and it is vital that I find her. Will you help me...brothers?"

Ginta and Hakkaku looked at each other before nodding.

AN: Hopefully a new chapter soon. I am working on it!