Fancy Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not my own.

Warning(s): Minor violence.

A/N: Now everyone knows the love is shared between the yaoi pair of Kouga and Miroku.

IV. Barrier

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The desk clerk had been the one to wake me. My farewell had little influence on anyone, so I walked on without another thought. When I came to the path that led to Kaede's village, I changed course. I had no desire to see her. I had avoided that part of my past, and I planned on continuing the trend.

Kagome had asked me to place sacred sutras upon the Bone Eater's Well to seal any passage in or out. As I came upon the old well, I saw my sutras as clear as day. I was the only one allowed to travel through time, since my sutras had been the ones to end the travel. Of course, if I desired a companion—if anyone else were left—they could have accompanied me.

"Lady Kaede thought you might come here." I had sensed Rin's presence, so her voice didn't surprise me.

"Ah, how is she?" I put on a polite smile and turned to face the young teen.

"She's still very sick. Lord Sesshoumaru thinks that her time is near," Rin said with a sad smile. "Are you going to use the well, Houshi-sama?" Rin perked up a bit, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"Hai. I should visit an old friend. Shouldn't you be in the village?" I asked, raising a brow in question.

"Yes. Lord Sesshoumaru would be worried if he knew I left all on my own," Rin blushed.

"I won't tell anyone. Get back to Lady Kaede. Tell her that I send my wishes," I said as I turned my back to Rin.

"Houshi-sama?" I replied with a small noise, and Rin continued speaking. "I miss them too." She ran off before I could respond.

Standing atop the edge of the Bone Eater's Well, I stared down into the darkness. The well throbbed with demonic energy, but my own sutras served to lessen the negative aura. When I finally got the nerve to jump into the well, I experienced a rush of adrenaline. Falling faster and faster, I closed my eyes and focused on my thoughts. Eventually, I came—with an ungraceful landing—to be in the future.

I had only been to the future once, and it had been when I finally brought my dear friend home. Her brother and I spent much time together, and he was rather heartbroken. The last I had heard, Souta had taken on the responsibilities of his late grandfather.

"Mrs. Higurashi? Souta?" I peered around the entrance of the well house, and then made my way towards their home. "Hello?" I poked my head into their house, and I felt a sudden wave of demonic and spiritual energy. "Souta! Mrs. Higurashi!" Without another thought, I ran into their home in search of the sources.

"Stay back!" Souta yelled, cowering in a corner.

A firm barrier was around him, and I smelled the scent of blood. The demonic force was coming from a rather human-looking girl. As she turned to face me, I felt myself crumbling.

"K-Kagome?" My eyes widened, and I watched in horror as her red eyes narrowed.

"You know this girl?" Kagome struck me, and the raw force sent me sprawling on the floor.

"Miroku! What happened to her? She's...you're dead!" Souta exclaimed, his eyes filled with tears.

Kagome began to laugh, and I heard her normal undertone beneath the demonic noise. I had never heard of a demon going to so much trouble to possess a human, let alone a demon possessing a corpse. I reached for my mala beads to use my Kazaana, and then I remembered that I had no weapons and my friend was my enemy.

"This isn't Kagome." My expression hardened, and I got to my feet. "Release your hold, demon. You possess a miko," I said, throwing three sacred sutras at Kagome.

"This girl was a miko, now she belongs to my master," Kagome laughed, slapping the sutras aside.

Her skin sizzled when the holy objects made contact, but the pain didn't register on her face. Briefly, I wondered how Souta had constructed a barrier, but I didn't have time to figure it out. I rushed forward, bringing my shakujou (staff) around to knock Kagome over. She stumbled forward, then punched me square in the jaw.

My vision was blurry for a moment, and I saw Souta leave the safety of his barrier to help me. He threw a vase at his sister, hitting her on the head. Her attention strayed to Souta, but it was quickly back on me. She reached out to grab my right hand, and the most peculiar thing happened. She wailed in pain.

"Curse you!" She ran and jumped out a window, sending a barrage of splintered wood into the tiny room.

Souta ran to my side, his hands shaking. I heard him asking me if I were all right, but I couldn't respond. Kagome—the demon—had been burned by my scarred appendage.

"Souta, where is your mother?" My right hand was burning, and I held tightly to it as I looked up at him.

"I...," Souta looked ashamed, and he glanced down at his shoes. "Kagome took her. She...took her to Goshinboku. Mom vanished." As he spoke, I imagined Kagome's smiling mother.

There was so much loss surrounding the site. When I felt another peak in demonic energy, I grabbed Souta's arm and began pulling him towards the exit.

"Where are we going? Miroku, my sister just crawled out of her grave. What's happening?" He demanded as I tugged him along.

"It's not safe here. I'm taking you back to my time." I knew he no longer wanted to reside in that time, but he didn't fight my decision. "I have to ask you something," I said as we came upon the well house.

It looked as if someone had already used the well. The sacred sutras I had placed upon the well had been torn to shreds, and there were traces of blood along the old wood. The well seemed passable at best. The demonic energy had risen within the Bone Eater's Well, something that hadn't been heard of in my lifetime.

"Souta, how did you create that barrier?"

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Author Rant

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As readers should know, I have announced the yaoi pair. In the next chapter, Kouga will make the smallest of appearances. After that, he'll be co-starring in the story with Souta and Miroku. Let the love blossom!

Possible Question(s): Is this going to end up being InuKag or MirSan? Hell no; next question. Why did you choose Souta? He deserves the spotlight for a bit. Will there be hints of MirokuxSouta? Um, no? What if I don't understand something? Review with the question or send me a message; I'd love to help.

Reviews are loverly!

Ja ne.