Seshoumauru jumped into the well, and Kagome held her breath, anxiously. However the sound of a thud, made her eyes widen in surprise. Leaning into the well, she called out.

"Seshoumaru! Are you all right?"

Upon hearing a muffled yes, she sighed in relief and then called out, "Stay right there. I'm coming to get you."

"I can do it." With a well executed jump, Seshoumaru landed in front of the startled girl. He gave a small smile at her surprised expression.

"Why isn't the well sending the brat back where he came from?"

Hearing Inuyasha's irritated voice, Kagome sent him a warning look, and then looked at the well thoughtfully, "The well always has had a mind of it's own. We have to do something however. Seshoumaru can't stay here. What if he runs into his future self? There's going to be hell to pay then."

"And Naraku is still out there. I ain't dragging the runt along with us."

Kagome stood stock still. "Oh shit! I forgot all about Naraku. Naraku can't find out, no matter what. He'll make it a point to get rid of Seshoumaru since he's the only one who's strength is at a higher level than Naraku's."

Inuyasha protested that but was ignored, as Seshoumaru looked up at Kagome, "What is going on? How far along in the future am I?"

It was Inuyasha who answered that question gruffly, "Nearly 500 years."

Seshoumaru's eyes which were narrowed in his future self's version were wide and round as a chid, and they grew even rounder, "I am a fully mature male?"

Inuyasha grunted.

Kagome groaned, "Now what? We can't let Naraku learn about him, and we can't let Seshoumaru find out about him."

Inuyasha snorted, "I don't see why not. Let's just hand over the kid to that bastard and see how he handles it."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome hissed, "You know we can't do that. It'll mess up the timelines or something. We can't afford to mess up the future!"

Inuyasha looked away, "Keh!"

Seshoumaru looked at the two adults, "Does this mean that I can't go home now?"

Kagome tried to smile but failed, "We don't know. You probably will find a way back home, but now right now, I guess." To herself, she mumbled, "We should probably take a break from shard-hunting."

Inuyasha snarled, "Oh, hell no! We ain't taking no break! While we're sitting here trying to solve his problems, Naraku is probably collecting the shards now! As soon as Sango and Miroku come back, we're leaving! Leave this brat with the old woman!"

Kagome growled back at him, "Fine! But I'm not leaving Seshoumaru alone!"

"Why the fuck do you want to help him! Are you forgetting the number of times he's tried to kill you?"

Seshoumaru stared at the human girl who was protecting him so fiercely, "Am I your enemy?"

"No! No. No, of course not." Kagome glared at her half demon friend, "Inuyasha is just blabbing like always. It's just that you don't like humans in this era, and well, you have been known to blanantly try to kill me once or twice. Not that I'm holding a grudge or anything. I'm cool with it!" Kagome hastily tried to assure the bewildered child.

Inuyasha scoffed, "You don't hold grudges, eh? SO what was that I heard about you planning to purify that bastard's dick off?"

Kagome aimed a small purification ball at Inuyasha who yelped and then growled at his angry friend, "What the fuck, wench!"

"Watch your language, Inuyasha." Kagome warned.

Inuyasha shut up.

"I have tried to kill you, and you still offer me protection? You are a strange human."

Kagome just shrugged nonchalantly, "My name is Kagome, all right. You can call me that."

Seshoumaru nodded. Then with a backwards look at the well, he asked, "What should I do now? I cannot return home, as the well will not transport me."

Kagome ran a hand through his hair and noted absently that his hair was short. Not very short, just till his shoulders. It made him look even more adorable and she suddenly had an uncontrollable urge to pinch his cheeks. She stared at her hands in horror. Oh, God! She was turning into her grandfather!

"You can come with us, you know. I'll find some way to return you home, but it's safer to travel with Inuyasha. He is the best protector as they come."

Inuyasha pretended not to hear that, but swelled with pride, which was obviously what Kagome had wanted to do. Now he would have no choice but to look after the past version of his brother's self. Kagome hid a smile.

Seshoumaru looked uncertain, and cast a yearning look at the well. He wanted to go home to Nina-sama, and Ah-Un. This was a strange place. He hung his head in shame. Father would be so disappointed in him, getting himself lost on his very first hunt. Tears burned his eyes and he sniffed, pulling them back. He was a youkai prince and Inuyoukai never cried, especially not the heir to the throne.

His voice was small, "But he does not like me."

Kagome could sense the uncertainty and confusion present in the child, and her heart reached out to him. Kneeling to his level, she impulsively put her arms around him, offering comfort. Seshoumaru stiffened, not knowing what to do. When he had leapt into the well, Kagome had held him, and he had responded, but he hadn't known why. Now he was at a loss at what to do.

He was distressed and Kagome was offering him comfort. He wanted to just put himself into her hands, but his parents had always taught him to strive alone, to be independent.

"It's all right, Seshoumaru. We'll figure something out, okay?"

He struggled with himself and finally gave up. His small arms hugged her back, and he buried his face in her shoulder.

Inuyasha stared at the enfolding scenario with shock. This was his emotionless half brother? This scared little boy?

I wonder what happened to turn him into the bastard he is today, he mused. Finally annoyed with the fact that Seshoumaru wasn't letting the miko go, he growled at the boy. To his surprise, the boy growled back.

Kagome leaned back and looked shocked. Did Seshoumaru just growl?

"Uh…"

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed into little slits. The boy was challenging him, was he? One look at Kagome's face and he shut up. He would soon have to put the boy in his place. Seshoumaru or no Seshoumaru, he wasn't handing over his claim on Kagome to anyone.

"Let's go, Kagome. We have to meet Miroku and the others halfway to the village."

Kagome nodded and started walking, Seshoumaru by her side. She had no idea what had just happened, but she was going to make sure that Inuyasha didn't make Seshoumaru more miserable than he was. He may be an ice cold killer, but for now he was just a little boy who was scared and far away from home.

A.N: Um…Reviews?