Chapter II

Welcome to the Feudal Era

"What happened?" Al questioned as he stood up and checked his surroundings. He was still at the bottom of the well. Al looked down to see Ed lying unconscious on the ground. Al crouched down and began shaking Ed harshly.

"Brother, wake up," Al said as he continued to shake him. Ed grunted slightly and then opened his eyes. "Brother, are you okay?" Al asked helping him sit up.

"Yeah," Ed replied still sounding a little dazy, "But where are we exactly?"

"We're still at the bottom of the well," Al answered as Ed now stood and looked around. Unexpectedly, Ed hopped up at the walls and attempted to climb his way up, but a few moments later he slid back down. Angry, Ed didn't give up he just kept climbing and slipping back down.

"Brother," Al said, "I don't think that's going to work."

"Come on Al," Ed protested, "I'll get up, you'll see." Al sighed as Ed continued to jump up and slid down. After a few minutes of getting nothing accomplished, Ed gave up and sat on the ground angry and frustrated.

"Why don't you ever listen to me," Al joked.

"Okay you were right," Ed unhappily admitted, "Happy now?"

"I would be if we were out of here," Al replied.

"There's got to be another way out of this stupid thing," Ed said as he again surveyed they area. Ed kept looking until he saw some vines that were growing out of the well's walls. Ed gripped one firmly in his hand and then pulled hard on it. "Seems sturdy enough," Ed said to himself still pulling on the vines.

"What?" Al asked, looking at Ed with the vines in his hands.

"I think we can climb up these," Ed answered, "they seem like they'll support our weight." Ed then wrapped himself onto one and started to climb up to the rim. Seconds later Al followed his lead and began climbing up. When Ed reached the top he looked around, not to see the small black corridor, but instead the sun shining brightly over lots of grass and trees.

"Al, you better hurry up and come see this," Ed said, shock in his voice.

"What," Al replied as he grabbed the rim and pulled himself up. But there was no need for Ed to explain, Al could already tell what he was talking about just by looking. Ed hopped out of the well to get a better look at his surroundings. He then looked up at the sky. He noticed how much clearer the sky was here, and how much more of the sun could be felt in warmness.

"Al, look at the sky, it's so much more beautiful without all the smoke from war covering it up," Ed said still staring at the sky, his eyes fixed upon its beauty.

"Brother, look over there!" Al shouted as he pointed to the far right. Ed quickly turned around to look at what had caught his brother's attention. There he saw a girl laying unconscious on the ground. He and Al quickly ran over to her.

"Hey! Are you alright?" asked Ed as he held her in his arms.

"Inu...yasha," she answered weakly as she slightly opened her eyes. After opening her eyes completely she realized that it wasn't Inuyasha, but someone she had never met before. She quickly sat up, startling Ed and Al.

"Who are you?" she asked looking them over.

"Uh my name's Edward Elric," he replied.

"And I'm his younger brother, Alphonse," Al piped in, "Who are you?"

"My name is Kagome," she answered, "Sorry I startled you. I was afraid you were a demon." Ed and Al gave her confused expressions.

"What's wrong," Kagome asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

"Did you say demon?" Ed asked.

"Yes," Kagome replied, "What have you never heard of a demon before-" Kagome stopped herself as she realized. Their clothes were different, they were near the bone-eater's well, and they seemed to have never heard of a demon before. "You're from a different time aren't you?"

Ed and Al exchange glances. "Different time?" they asked in unison. Kagome sighed, knowing this would be hard for them to understand.

"You both fell inside the well, right?" Kagome asked. Both boys nodded, patiently awaiting the answer. "Well, when you fell inside did anything weird happen?"

"There was a bright blue light," Al answered as he remembered the blue lights that surrounded him and Ed as they fell.

"That blue light you saw, was a time stream," Kagome replied, "And, well, this is the feudal era." Both Ed and Al held wide eyed expressions.

"He he, that's funny," Ed said, "But really, where are we?"

"Brother, I don't think she was kidding," Al said as he looked at the seriousness in Kagome's face. Ed only stared, too shocked to say anything. Kagome didn't say anything either, she didn't know what to say.

"How is this possible?" Al asked lowly.

"There's this jewel called the Shikon Jewel, that allows the time stream to flow," Kagome explained, "It's kinda hard to explain." Ed and Al both sat quietly. "Don't worry, I was frightened when I first came here too," Kagome said, "But it's really not that bad."

"You mean, you're not from around here?" Al asked. Kagome shook her head.

"I live in modern day Japan," Kagome explained, "I was in my family shrine's well house looking for my cat when a demon called Mistress Centipede pulled me down the well."

"When did that happen?" Ed questioned.

"Hmm…let's see," Kagome answered, "It's almost been a year now."

"WHAAAT?!" Ed and Al both shouted. Kagome gave a surprised look.

"You mean you've been stuck here for a whole year?!" Ed exclaimed. Kagome started laughing. "Did I say something funny?" Ed asked Al as Kagome continued laughing. Al just shrugged.

"Of course I haven't been here the whole time," Kagome corrected, "I travel between my time and this time."

"You mean you just go back and forth whenever you want?" Al inquired, "But how?"

"I just use the well," Kagome answered.

"Alright then," Ed said as he dashed to the well and jumped in.

"No wait!" Kagome tried to warn, but it was too late. Moments later, Ed could be heard moaning in pain at the bottom of the well. Al and Kagome quickly ran over and looked in to see Ed laying face-down and covered in dirt.

"I take it we aren't getting home this way," Ed said lowly as he slowly stood up, his back aching.

"Why isn't it working," Al asked worriedly.

"I'm not sure, but maybe Kaede would know," Kagome suggested.

"Who's Kaede?" Al questioned as Ed climbed out.

"She's a priestess who lives in the village I was headed to before that demon attacked me," Kagome explained.

"So that's why you were unconscious when we found you," Al said. Kagome nodded.

"A large rat demon sent me flying into a tree with its tail," Kagome said, "Lucky for me, the rat ran off. Probably when you two came through the well. The light must have scared it off."

"So you travel here all the time by yourself?" Ed asked as he wiped the dirt from his pants, "Isn't that a little dangerous."

"No, not by myself," Kagome replied, "I have my friends Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo."

"So, where are your friends?" Al asked.

"They're at the village with Kaede," Kagome answered.

"Well, then I guess we should pay Kaede a visit," Ed replied, smiling.

"Okay then, let's get going," Kagome said cheerfully as she began walking.

They all started walking through the small clearing and continued to follow the path of the main road.

"So, do you think Kaede will know how to get us back home?" Ed asked.

"Well, she was able to help me, so probably," Kagome answered. Just as they were discussing this, they passed by an enormous tree with long and healthy branches.

"Wow!" Al exclaimed, "That tree is beautiful." Kagome stopped and looked at it.

"That's the Sacred Tree," Kagome explained, as she stared at it, now lost in thought.

'This is where I first met Inuyasha. I remember when I first saw him, how peaceful he looked.'

'The Sacred Tree, that means I'm almost home,' Kagome thought as she ran through a thicket of bushes. As she entered the clearing where she thought her home would be, she was surprised to find something else in its place. There stood the Sacred Tree, but a boy was there too. He appeared to be sleeping yet he was bound to the tree with an arrow in his chest and roots wrapped around his body. "Is that a, boy?" she questioned herself as she walked up to him. "Hey there," Kagome tried to make conversation, but the boy continued to sleep. Kagome didn't try to speak to him again seeing as something else caught her attention. Atop of the boy's head sat two ears. 'Wow, they look like dog ears,' Kagome thought as she brought herself closer to them. 'I think I want to touch em' Kagome then placed her hands on his ears and began rubbing them.

"Uh…Kagome?" Ed questioned, shaking Kagome from her thoughts.

"Oh sorry," Kagome apologized, "This tree just bring backs a lot of memories."

"Memories, like what?" Al asked.

"Like when I very first came here and I met Inuyasha," she replied.

"You mean this is where you and he first met?" Al inquired as Kagome blushed slightly and nodded. This conversation caused everyone to stare at the tree.

"Let's keep moving then," Kagome said as she managed to pry her eyes from the tree. Ed and Al nodded their heads in agreement.

As they continued walking, Ed whispered over to Al, "I think Inuyasha and Kagome are more than just friends. What do you think?"

"Yeah," Al whispered back, "Just like two other people I know."

"Who?" Ed asked.

"You and Winry," Al said.

This small comment just about made Ed explode. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BETWEEN WINRY AND ME! IT'S JUST A "HI HOW ARE YOU" TYPE THING!" Ed shouted his face turning a crimson red. Kagome turned around and gave him a funny look.

"Who's Winry?" Kagome teased, a smile growing on her face.

"She's no one," Ed replied quickly as he lowered his head to hide his blushing, "Besides, what's the deal with you and this Inuyasha guy?"

Kagome got an alarmed face expression. "He-he-he's just my friend," Kagome blurted out now turning as red as Ed. Al suddenly burst out in laughter.

"What's so funny?!" Ed and Kagome both asked trying to sound angry.

"Look at your faces!" Al pointed out, "You two are so predictable." Al continued to laugh in spite of their faces turning redder. Ed and Kagome both looked at each other, and then joined Al in laughter.

"I guess we are just a bit predictable," Ed admitted, wiping the blush from his cheek."

"Yeah, I guess we are," Kagome agreed, "But please don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry we won't," Al promised. Kagome let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, we really need to get going, it's going to get dark soon," Kagome replied as she began walking. But then, Ed put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Kagome quickly turned around to see a large rat demon with purple fur and red eyes glaring down at them.

"Is that the rat demon?" Al asked shakily. Kagome slowly nodded her head in response. The rat continued to hiss at them through his sharp buck teeth. Everyone remained silent and still and until the rat lunged at them. Ed and Kagome ran out of the way just in time, but Al wasn't as lucky. The rat scratched him and sent his helmet right off his head. Then he smacked Al's body with his tail and whacked it next to the helmet.

"Al!" Ed and Kagome shouted. The rat now turned its gaze towards Kagome and Ed.

"Kagome, take care of Al, I'll keep the rat busy," Ed said, "Hey over here! Come and get me!" Ed began running while the rat gave chase. Kagome quickly ran over to Al and picked up his helmet.

"Al, are you okay-," Kagome started but stopped when she saw that there was no body in the large suit of armor. Kagome dropped the helmet and stared at him in shock.

"Please don't be scared Kagome," Al pleaded as he took the helmet from Kagome's arms and placed it on top of his shoulders, "It's just the way I am."

"But…you don't have a body, so how can you be alive," Kagome asked still slightly shocked.

"I'll explain later," Al answered as he stood up, "Just trust me for now."

Kagome nodded slowly and then grabbed her bow and arrows from inside her backpack. She then notched an arrow and aimed for the rat.

Ed, who was still stalling the rat, was suddenly swept off his feet as the rat whacked him with his tail and sent him skidding to the ground near Kagome.

"Brother, are you alright?" Al asked.

"I'm fine," Ed replied lowly, as he pulled himself up and clapped his hands together. He then placed his hand onto his right arm and transfigured his auto-mail into a small but sharp knife.

At the same time, Kagome released her arrow and sent it flying towards the rat. The rat demon attempted to jump out of the way, but wasn't quite quick enough. The sacred arrow pierced his arm and in moments was disintegrated. The rat then hissed in pain as it held its bleeding limb.

"Time to end this," Ed said as he dashed up to the rat and cut his auto-mail straight through the rat's chest. The rat became motionless as blood spilled from its chest.

Ed stood there, with his blade in the rat, as time seemed to stop. Then, the unthinkable happened. The rat grabbed Ed with it's claws and threw him with great force into a tree.

"Ed!" Kagome and Al shouted simultaneously as Al ran over to Ed.

Kagome hurriedly notched another arrow and attempted to aim for the rat, but she was stopped when the rat began charging at her,. As Al was helping Ed up to his feet, Ed saw the rat running towards Kagome.

"Kagome run!" he shouted. Kagome quickly dropped her bow and ran as fast as she could, but the rat was too fast and was easily catching up. She kept running, until her shoe caught in a small ditch and she fell.

"Kagome!" Ed and Al yelled.

But it was too late; the rat was headed straight for her. Kagome shut her eyes tight as the rat approached her, claws at the ready. Then suddenly, she was picked up and moved out of the way by someone incredibly fast.

Both Ed and Al looked to see Kagome in a silver-haired man's arms.

"Inuyasha," Kagome said as she smiled at him.

"Hey, you know better than to fight demons without me," Inuyasha replied sarcastically as he set her down.

"Kagome, are you okay?" Al asked as he and Ed ran up to them. Just as Kagome was about to answer, the rat demon began hissing at them.

"So, you're the demon I smelled earlier huh?" Inuyasha questioned himself as he pulled out and transformed the Tetsusaiga. "WIND SCAR!" he shouted as the Tetsusaiga shot off yellow waves. The attack hit the rat demon head on, but the rat somehow was unharmed.

Inuyasha and Kagome both gasped. "Impossible, how could he have survived a direct blow?" Kagome asked nervously.

"I don't know, but it can't be good," Inuyasha answered.

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