Last Time:
Kenshin watched from behind them, as they asked her questions. But something told him that she was merely happy to be back. So this was her time, was it? Blue eyes wandered the area. Her home. Kenshin sighed out. He was really beginning to miss his own home, once again.
/ It's not a dream. I'm really back. I've come back. /
Kagome continued to stare ahead of her, but the familiar sting came back too as tears slowly welled up within her eyes. Without too much thought, she turned her heel and found herself in her grandfather's arms, crying. That had caught the attention of the redhead, and he couldn't help but smile a little. She seemed to be happy and relieved to have returned after what could have seemed like an eternity for her.
"Oh! Grandpa! I was so scared!" she said through her shaky voice and tearful eyes, that had shut.
"Oh, Kagome... What on Earth"
(((((((((((((( ***** ))))))))))))))
The Ribbon That Binds Us (Kagome's Decision)
Back into the feudal era, the sun was seen lowering beyond the horizon, casting a large shadow across the land. In the forest, somewhere, the red clad male was now using his hands to dig a small human size hole in which to place Kaede. The dirt passed between his legs, as he threw it that way making him seem much more like a dog digging a hole for his bone. After having finished his work, InuYasha stood upright to inspect it for a short time all while crossing his arms over his chest.
"That should do it. Well, all things considered It's the least I could do for you" He said, leaning down to pick her up and place her into the hole that wasn't all that deep.
InuYasha had just begun to cover her in dirt, when her voice interupted him for a short moment or so.
"I'm resting, not dead..." her eye opened to look at him, directly.
"Then think of it as a hiding place. I'll even come back and dig you up, if I remember" he said as he lay leaves around her head, most likely to cover the smell of her blood with the smell of forest and dirt.
"Do ye promise, InuYasha? Ye won't forget where you left me?"
There was a prolonged pause between the two, and Kaede could almost tell what he could be thinking at that question. He stood upright once again with a sigh, his amber eyes turning to look over his shoulder at the setting sun. Then after another short moment, InuYasha turned his heel to walk away but was halted by her voice after two steps.
"Do not forget, InuYasha"
"Okay, I heard ya. Geez" he said looking over his shoulder in her direction with a bit of an annoyed look to his face.
Once she was done nagging his ears off, InuYasha bolted along the forest grounds. Occasionally he used the momentum of his speed for a powerful leap through the air.
"Curse that stupid woman, taking off on me rightwhen I need her"
Back at Kagome's time, the school girl had finally calmed down enough with some of her families help. At least now, she was much more at ease. With all that happened in the past several days, she was glad to be back home. Kagome, at the moment sat comfortably in her warm bath. The water easing the tension in her muscles despite the contant questions overflowing her mind. A small sigh of happiness and relaxation escaped her while she enjoyed her bath time.
Meanwhile, InuYasha was still rushing past the trees, unbeknownst to him that a large bundle of hair chased after him but remained at a distance. On the other end of that thick bundle of hair was none other then the demon who had previously had a strike at Kagome's life. Her fingers moved about now and then to control the strings of hair. She laughed and spoke softly, as if she was taking to a small infant, when she was not.
"Little girl. Come out, come out, wherever you are"
Kagome on the other hand, now stood in the bathroom, brushing her fingers through her silky damp hair despite her lack of clothing.
"Ah. Shampoo, it's a good thing" she said to herself, a smile rising to her lips.
The night had finally arrived in Kagome's time, a full moon had made it fairly high into the sky. It was silent enough outside save for the barking dog in the distance. Inside the home, was different however. The Higurashi family of three, at least of the moment, now sat at the livingroom table, one of which one had to kneel into order to eat and speak. Atop the table sat a cup of tea before the elderly male of the house.
"Come on, don't tell me you believe her story?" the mother sad, as she knelt down with the other two.
Despite questioning him, she too was skeptical in believing the falsehood of her daughter's words from before. Her thoughts drifted onto what had happened earlier in the evening.
FLASHBACK
Kagome, Souta and the elderly male had entered the home with a redhead in tow. Grandfather of both Kagome and Souta was skeptical in allowing the swordsman enter, but his concern was mostly centered around his only grand daughter who was still in tears. Her mother, Kagome's mother rushed to her side from the kitchen.
"Goodness, Kagome. Where have you been? I've been worried sick"
Kagome's voice hitched in her throat as she leaned into her mother's touch, to which she responded in wrapping her left arm around the startled girl and laying her right atop her head. The mother's eyes softened, even as they met the sight of the man witht the sword. He appeared to remain at the distance, for now yet, to her eyes... He also seemed kind of lost.
Some time had passed and Kagome had calmed herself enough to explain what had happened, which surrprised everyone but the rest head. At least for the most part.
END FLASHBACK
The grandfather crossed his arms over his chest while closing his eyes, in thought. Kenshin on the other hand rested against a wall some distance away with his sword tucked to his chest. He was listening to them despite pretending to rest. The light slam of hands against a wooden object caught his attention, the young boy must have done so to show his frustration.
"But it is true! Kagome fell down the well and then a monster came up and kidnapped her!"
The two watched the young boy, still skeptical yet some truth was held behind his words. Kenshin, who they learned was a swordsman from the other world Kagome mentioned was proof enough, wasn't it While Souta recalled that day, of his older sister being dragged into, his grandfather sat there, sharing his thoughts on the matter in his own way. Kenshin all the while peeked an eye opened to the group and listened in.
"There is a certain legend of the Bone Eater's well, since ancient days, whatever's inside has consumed the corpses of monsters. But what if the continue of space time itself disrupted." with that being said, the old man stood on his feet with the look of serious business and a fist in the air, at the height of his head.
Kenshin opened his other eye at the sight and turned his entire attention at the sight. What was that man planning to do? He hoped it was nothing dangerous. The other two watched on, seemingly as lost as he was. The red head watched as the old man made it to the house of the home, while in the corner of his eye he noticed the family feline let out a lazy yawn.
Sooner, rather than later, the grandfather of the two children had nailed the well shut with wooden boards. He then proceeded to add talismen that had various words, symbols and borders scribbled along the paper. The grandfather inspected his work once every last one was stuck to the well. With a satified smile he spoke his thoughts aloud.
"That'll stop you" he said with a small chuckle.
Moments later, he had returned to the house and was currently seated at the livingroom table, with a freshly boiled cup of tea. Either of his eyes were closed and Kenshin had been called to the kitchen moments ago. Kagome on the other hand was seated with her grandfather, with a black skirt and white shirt with a green button up long sleeved blouse. A bright blue colored towel over her head while she blow dried her hair with some odd contraption she was sure that Kenshin had not seen before, judging by the strange look he'd given her before going to see her mother.
"You closed it off?"
"Yup. We needn't worry about any other visitors from there. I used special spirit wards just in case" he responded calmly, lifting the cup delicately to drink from it.
Kagome turned her head away from him with a bit of a worried and skeptical look. Worried because she believe Kenshin would be upset at the news of the possibility of not being able to return to Kaede. And skeptical because of the fact that whatever "special spirit wards" he mentioned, would not work. He was never known for his power, at least to her knowledge.
Meanwhile, in the past, night had also fallen and a certain half-demon was seen dashing through the tall grass while dodging trees and root that surfaced from the ground. With a strong and sudden leap into clearing of earth and smaller grass, he landed in a crouch. Immediately, his nose lowered to the ground in search of the one scent. The reason for his still boiling annoyance. Kagome. With a few sniffs here and there inches from the dirt he glanced ahead with forrowed brows.
"That's her alright, I'd know her anywhere"
Once that was said, the red clad halfing stood and some few feet from him sat the well. For a time he stood there staring at the wooden structure but soon his eyes were drawn to folded clothing. Slowly he approached and knelt next to the well, a clawed hand lay against the smooth fabric.
"Why'd she leave her clothes?"
For a time, he kept his hand there, even as another faint scent assaulted his nose. Then another smell made it to his nose, two... No, three. One being the blood of that woman. No surprise there, she was only good at one thing he thought, and that was sitting him to the cold, unforgiving ground. Then there was the faint smell of that other man, and another scent he was unfamilar with. He chose not to dwell on that as he pushed himself to stand. Taking two short steps, he could now peer through the mouth of the well.
"Through here, was it?" He said to himself as it echoed through, and he chose then to take a chance to leap into the dark.
Returning to Kagome era where it was still night. The moon was high in the sky, the city below was silenced for the most part yet the wind blew about the Higurashi shrine, bring with it the sound of several leaves. Within the Higurashi household, Kagome now lay on her bed within the confines of her bedroom. It was a simple girl's bedroom. Really. White painted walls. A comfortable bed, with an oak night table adorned with a unique lamp and a pink clock. On the other side of her room, sat an oak desk by the window. And in the back of her room, sat a closet filled with clothing.
"Ah, It's so good to be home. In my own bed"
Kagome slowly opened her eyes, while her head rested onto her arms. She recalled the day that she was pulled into the well by that centipede woman. When she shot that arrow towards that demonic crow, with it's own limb tied to the flying projectile. Some thing that was soon followed by the dicingration of the beast and the spears of lights piercing the early evening sky. Then the memory of that awful woman with the power to manipulate hair.
"Was I really there? In that weird feudal Japan?"
Kagome moved her head so that her chin was laid onto her left arm. Her thoughts remembering nearly remember every detail of her encounter with that woman.
"And what about that girl? What did she want? Duh... The Jewel of course"
After a few more minutes, she let out a sigh as she pushed herself up on her bed. Her large chocolate brown eyes falling onto the sleeping cat, if only for a moment or so. She lowered her sights to the pink blanket, her brows lifting somewhat in worry and thought.
"What if she won't give it back? I could already hear InuYasha..."
I never asked for your help. Go home. You'll only slow me down anyway.
Kagome shut her eyes suddenly and felt her brows scrunch together in an angry expression.
"That's right. Oh, what am I worrying about him for?"
She opened her eyes with her brows still furrowed, and clasps either of her hands together as if closing a book.
"That's it then, chapter closed. As far as I'm concerned, it was just a fairytale"
The claping of her has moments before had awoken the chubby spotted house cat from his happy slumber. A knock at her door caught her attention after a short moment and she turned her head to look over at her door.
"Miss Kagome? I'm sorry to interupt, If I am but your mother has asked me to come and get you for dinner. She has also asked me to tell you that a friend of yours is on a strange thing called a phone?"
"I'll be right down, Kenshin"
With those words he turned his heel as he heard her step off her bed, if only faintly. He walked down the steps just as she opened the door to exit. Evetually the little family sat in the living room with Kenshin seated nearly as well. He didn't seem like it, but was listening in on the conversation between the grandfather and his grandson.
"Grandpa? Those things will stay on right?
"Of course they will. If there's one thing I know, It's spirits"
Kenshin stared down at the broth of sorts was being cooked in a strange electrical contraption. At this point, he was not surprised... He was informed before by Kagome that this was her time. The future. He was reluctant to believe that yet... Kagome approaching the table and immediately chanting something about "real food" broke his train of thought.
"I'll defend you to my last breath, Kagome. So, don't you worry" he said, while small eyes closed.
"I don't think she heard you" Souta responded with a small smile to his gramps.
The next few actions took place. Grandpa Higurashi as Kenshin had learned from Kagome, began to tear up somewhat. Perhaps due to the fact he felt ignored by his grand daughter though he didn't understand why she would do that. A sigh that sounded happy came from the girl and Kenshin turned to look at her, offering a few blinks.
/ Ah. What a wonderful time to be alive /
Evetually the family of four plus their guests had begun to eat, but as Kenshin was about to indulge himself with a piece of meat from his bowl of broth, his eyes moved to the sliding door behind Kagome. No one else in the room seemed to notice until... The door slid open to reveal the silver haired male clad in red clothes and twitching ears atop his head, at least for a short second or so. For the next few seconds, it was silence between them, that is until Kagome dared to look over her shoulder with her pair of chopsticks at her lips.
"InuYasha?" she asked curiously?
"Idiot! Who told you that you could go home?!" he responded quickly enough, with either of his furrowed brows stitched together in an angry expression.
Kagome set her chopsticks down along with her bowl of broth as she was hesitant to ask, but managed anyway.
"But.. How did you..."
"Through the well of course!" he retorted with frustration, as he approached her from the right.
"The well? But the well is..." she had in that time turned to look directly at him only for her attention to be turned to her protesting grand father.
"You lie! I made those spirit wards myself. There's no way you could have.."
"Well hate to break it to you old man, but they don't work" the red clad male lifted what appeared to be a "spirit ward" paper between two of his fingers with an annoyed scowl.
The sight of the ward caused the old fellow to slap his hands on either of his cheek with tears welling up and some even fell from his eyes. The young boy next to him regarded his grandfather with a bit of an annoyed glance, himself. While this was happening, Kenshin set down his meal with a stern stare to the half demon which was returned with an angry glare. One could almost see the sparks of hate that passed between the two. InuYasha was suprisingly the first to break his eyes away from the blue eyed human. He took hold of Kagome's arm to drag her out, pulling Kenshin into reality again.
"Come on you, we're leaving!"
"No, and you can't make me" she said, as she dug her heels into the floor.
Either of the two offered a glare to each other, that was soon melted down byt the sound of a voice.
"Stay right there" She spoke out sternly, with her brows furrrowing somewhat but curious seemed to be dancing in her eyes.
In mere moments, she was before the dog earred boy and gently moving her thumb and index finger along the soft triangular appendage. Souta soon approached the trio with an excited expression, his fists balled to add to that effect.
"Your ears... Are they real?"
"Me next, me next" the boy cried out.
Kenshin would have found this scene amusing and perhaps even funny, if only they dog earred male was not growling his annoyance. Kagome at this point could feel sweatdrop slide from her temple along her cheek. Her voice sounded nervous then...
"Mom, that's not really cool, though I did it too but..."
Kenshin was about to intervene in the scene but he was the first to notice that something seemed to catch the school girl's attention. Something no one else could see. A string of hair that moved and rested along InuYasha's shoulder. Kagome reached for it after exchanging some questions and words with dog boy, the hair strand encircled and pierced through her skin somewhat, causing a few small cuts. Few drops of blood slid along the string, bring about concerned looks and gasps from those around her, save for InuYasha. Kagome too, gasped and removed the hair only to keep it held between two fingers.
"It moved..."
"Kagome, your hand" the grand father stated his thoughts.
"What is it?" her mother asked with concern.
Kagome turned to them, holding out the strand of hair with worry on her features, thinking that perhaps they'll think she went crazy in some way.
"It's right here" she said with a breathless tone before realization hit.
InuYasha watched on as did Kenshin, though unlike dog boy by the sliding door, the red head had some idea of what they could potientally be dealing with. Kagome gasped once again, and once more, he was the one to pick up on her distress. She bolted out of the room in a hurry and both the males followed after her, temporally ignoring each other's presence.
Soon though, they caught sight of the school girl slidng open the two doors which led to the well after walking down a flight of creaking stairs. As they approached, neither male saw what she did. A large clumb of black hair was seeping through the well and into the house that contained the woode structure.
"Hair! Lots and lots of it" she said aloud, with panic laced into her voice.
"So the hag was right. You do have the sight"
Kenshin sent a deep glare at the dog man, which InuYasha ignored and kept his eyes on the girl. Kagome on the other hand felt her brows furrow and turned on her heel to face and scold him.
"You did it! The hair followed you so it came here!"
"Kagome!"
"Are you okay?"
This just got better and better didn't it? Kagome moved passed the two males in order to shut the two sliding doors. Moving a small metal hook through the metal hoop in the opposite door. All to keep her family from the enroaching danger. The school girl turned and leaned herself against the door somewhat, her eyes down cast with a thoughtful expression.
/ I gotta stop it coming out... /
Kenshin stood behind InuYasha as he, much like dog boy, regarded her. As if either of them was awaiting or expecting something from her. The red head knew that he couldn't do much against something he could not see, especially considering that something was demon related. Her thoughts wercut short when her chocolate brown eyes was met with the sight of a clump headed right for her! She managed to move away only for the hair to hit the doors causing them to rattle from the impact. The hair took the path in InuYasha direction without much hesitation.
"In front of you!" she cried out.
InuYasha leapt for the hair and attempted a downward slice with his right hand. Meanwhile, Kenshin had drawn out his sword from his hip, which he'd previously gathered on the way out of the house. InuYasha had missed the hair, his ears moved atop his head. This way and that, anything to find some sort of advantage. A frustrated growl escaped him as he felt something bind three of his limbs. Any other day, Kenshin would have probably laughed and cut him down but... InuYasha struggled against whatever had his limbs bound. Meanwhile just outside the well house, Kagome's mother and brother stood there with worried expressions while the old male pounded on the doors.
"Open the door now!"
"Kagome!"
Kagome eyed the door as they cried out for her, but her attention was quickly brought back to the two males. The silvered hair boy was seen clawing away at the hair and Kagome watched the clumps of hair fall only to reconnect rapidly. Looking over she noticed the same from Kenshin's end when he cut through a clump unexpectly.
"It regrows, and even cuts! Plus there's so much of it!"
From the corner of her eye she noticed a rather large clump of hair swirl and go in for another attack toward InuYasha. Once more, binding him. Kagome looked around quickly for any sign of what could potential help the two. Her eyes caught on the shine of a single strand coming from the well.
"That's it!"
Figuring it out in her head, she took for a sprint down the creaking stairs and pointed to the single strands.
"Over here, do you see it? Cut this one right here"
"Which one? This one!?" he said as he landed near her only to flail his arms blindly.
/ He can't see it... I'll need to help! / she thought before reaching her hands up to take hold of the strand.
Kenshin turned his head in time to see her reaching for something, and noticed her wincing in pain. As he was about to jump to help her, a clump of hair caught his sword hand. He let out frustrated groan as he tried to pull at whatever had him bound. Meanwhile InuYasha caught the scent of her blood and immediate changed his sights on the girl. He noticed the droplet or two slide from the string and with a confident smirk, he leapt to cut it with his claws. Mere moments later, the hair fell apart and onto the floor. Smoke came fromt he remnants as they retracted into the well.
Kenshin noticed the slacking and soon joined the two much to InuYasha's displeasure. Somehow, he'd hoped the red head had sumccumbed to the damned hair. He crossed his arms over his chest though, in seeing Kagome staring at the well. The red head also noticed her seemingly thinking.
/ That's not good... Yura's already got my part of the Jewel, so why'd she do this? /
The two remained silent, as they watched the girl only to notice her brows knitting together a little more. That was it, wasn't it? That girl was after them, and not the Jewel. After a prolonged silence she took two steps over to the well and spoke out.
"Lets go, right now"
Kenshin had to give her credit, despite her apperance, she was brave... Enough. InuYasha turned to look at her, his clawed hands placed on his hips.
"But I thought that you didn't wanna go back"
"I don't... But I have too"
"Huh?"
Kenshin cast her a long side glance with a small smile creeping over her lips, she was brave indeed. She nearly reminded him of... HER... At that thought his heart was felt sinking. The red head once thought that he had buried those memories of her, he had after all remained with her and Kaede for a while before her unfortunate demise at the hands of that... This halfing behind him. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. Kenshin shut his eyes to try and keep his anger at bay for now...
On the other hand, the red clad hanyou approached Kagome as some light rustling was head. Moments after, she felt something being tossed over her head yet not obsuring her vision.
"It's made with hair of the fire rat, you'll have some protection at least" he said as he turned his gaze from her.
"Thank you..."
"Yeah, well, if you weren't so weird lookin' you wouldn't even need it"
Kenshin's eyes snapped open as he was about to retort in her favor, but she beat him to it.
"You should talk dog boy!"
"Yeah, yeah... You ready?" he asked as he leapt onto the ledge of the well.
Kagome soon climbed up next to him after securing the fire rat top to her person. Both took a leap that was quickly followed by the red head. A burst of white light surrounded the three, one which was surrounded quickly with a blue one with brighter specks of blue.
=====...=====
I think that this will be enough for now. I apologize for cutting it here, but I'm sure you know what comes next, don't you? -snickers- But alas, that shall be for the next chapter. I love you guys! Have nice morning, afternoon, evening or night! And I'll see you in the next one.
