(A/N: Here's the 2nd chapter of "Mirai of the Magic". This is when the plot really starts!

Guest review [gwencarson126]: Thanks for the recommendations. I didn't enjoy the Inuyasha/OC one. I skimmed through it, and thought I might like it. But the bad spelling and grammar and the constant use of typing out sound effects instead of… properly explaining the action of sequences in detail annoyed me too much to enjoy it. But I did enjoy the Inuyasha/Kagome one. It's good to see a nicely written Inuyasha/Kagome without either of them being too much of a couple of selfish, immature brats. It's endearing on Inuyasha because… that's just how he is. But not on Kagome. And Kagome childishly stooping to Inuyasha's level or becoming an unpredictable raging bitch because of it makes it worse. That said, I kinda enjoyed the Inuyasha/Kagome fanfiction. It's rare to see Inuyasha/Kagome stories I actually like. So… thanks for that.

And thanks to everyone else who was interested in the premise of this story, and encouraged me to write it!

Enjoy!)

The Girl Who Gets Dragged Through Time

Today was the day.

I was in one of the rooms in the house where I keep most of my tools for magic in. It was the room I mostly used to store basically anything related to magic or Magic Society.

I scanned through one of the many jewelry chest boxes I had. The box sat on top of a fancy, black desk.

I carefully sorted through all my jewels, deeply pondering which ones to take with me. I examined the assortments of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, moonstones, quartzes, pearls, amethysts, and jades. Each of these jewels and gems were filled with weeks or months' worth of mana. The moment I activated them, they would release a spell residing in them at the cost of being destroyed. It's easier to think of them as disposable, readily charged magic grenades. They weren't really my strongest set of jewels.

The magic spells in each of the gems- let's just say- different. However, it's not as simple as pouring a spell into a gem. Each gem has a very unique affinity for a specific type of spell. That is why I don't just have a bunch of rubies and emeralds. Some jewels only have an affinity for fire spells. Others have an affinity for wind magic. It's that type of condition when it comes to the relationship between jewels and magic spells. It's the reason why I needed to collect a plethora of gems for each specific type of spell I want to implement in them.

There was no need to take all of them since all I was doing was reinforcing the barrier- and I don't necessarily need them for that. The gems were more for my protection in case something happened than anything else. I rarely leave my house without bringing a few magic jewels with me.

However, there was a prickling sense of uneasiness deep down inside that wouldn't go away. Something warning me to be very, very… cautious.

After several more moments of contemplating, I decided to take a few rubies and emeralds with me along with a pearl. Each one contains days' worth of mana, so they are- by far- nearly my weakest set. They were only good for casting E-rank magic. But they would have to do.

I packed up the rest of the jewels and gems back inside the jewelry box, and slid the box back inside of the desk's drawers.

Okay, I was all set to go.

I was dressed in a white, long-sleeved button up blouse. The blouse had a bit of a ruffle trim down the middle, and at the collar of the blouse was a star-shaped, sapphire brooch with a royal blue cravat scarf. It also had small, golden-yellow buttons at the cuffs. The royal blue, under bust dress reached all the way down to my mid-thighs. There were white accents around the hems of the dress. The pattern at the bottom of the skirt though was more wavy than the rest. The straps of the dress weave around towards the back of my neck and form a tight ribbon. Little golden-yellow buttons that matched the ones on the cuffs of my sleeves were at the waistline of the dress. I had on black tights underneath, and on my feet were a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. Let's not forget that I wore my blue earrings with the gold accents. The same ones I couldn't wear to school yesterday.

Overall, my attire was very simple yet elegant. I was not the most… curvaceous woman out there, but I was not exactly flat either. I think I was plenty curvy for someone who was only 5''1'. But… I guess… my bust wouldn't be the most physically attractive attribute about me. I was a double B- which was- once again- not flat. Just not very voluptuous and well-endowed. I had a modest chest size, okay?! The outfit did help to accentuate my figure though. I do have a nice pair of shapely thighs and legs, if I do say so myself. Everything below the waist was not too bad either. In addition to all that, I was blessed with a beautiful face. I may not be the bustiest woman in the world, but that doesn't matter. I am very proud of my figure!

I stuffed the jewels I was going to take with me into my pocket. The train I was taking to Ito was scheduled to arrive at 1:30. It was already past 1, so I better hurry if I wanted to make it in time. After I grabbed the pink backpack that was lying by the door, I left the house- all packed and ready to go.

The weather was nice today. A tad cooler than yesterday, but still nice. I leisurely walked to Matsunoki Station. From my house, it should only take me a little over 15 mins to get to the station.

Once I arrived at Ito- my plan was to head to the outskirts of the town- and check on both the well and the barrier. After strengthening the barrier and confirming that everything was fine- it was nothing but senseless worry and anxiety- I planned to have lunch at a nice cafe or diner. I had brought some pocket change with me in my backpack. I figured that I was going to spend all afternoon in Ito. After all, I won't be able to catch a train ride back to Shinagawa until 6 in the evening. And until that time comes, perhaps I could do a little sightseeing. There was a shop that I knew of that sold jewels, so maybe I could stop by there and browse.

Thankfully, the Matsunoki Train Station was just a straightforward walk from my place- give or take a couple of turns here and there. I bought my ticket at the station, and since I still had several minutes before my train arrived- I found a nearby empty bench and took a seat.

The Matsunoki Station was crowded with people- as expected of a train station. Though- admittedly- it was one of the two only train stations in Shinagawa. The other station was Shirakabanoki Station, which was in the south side of town. This was in the north part of Shinagawa.

I sat there, pondering on what to do once I got back home after my task was done. Truthfully, it boiled down- as it always had- what was I going to do once I graduated high school? This was my last year of high school, so I was already making plans to study at the Magic Society. That was- ultimately- my goal. So I needed to hone my magic as much as possible until then. I still go to the Magic Society at times, but it's more of an on and off thing. Mostly during the times when I don't have school to worry about. Plus, I still had that Magical Artifact that I have yet to figure out what it does. Therefore, I should probably spend tomorrow testing the bag.

"Well- knowing Father- he probably put some sorta barrier around it. Cracking the code to the safe was more than likely only the first step," I muttered to myself. I wouldn't be surprised if it came to me either deciphering another code, or perhaps some complicated magical runes I needed to bypass.

My father had always been like that. Like any other mage, he was single-mindedly focused on improving the Fukumoto family's magic at any cost. That's why- even after death- he has been testing me to see how far I have come in my magic training. It's my duty as the Fukumoto family's heiress to hone my magic and refine and enhance our family's craft. For that reason- and that reason only- my blood was raging with determination to pass my father's final test. Once I do, I know I would be ready for the Magic Society.

My ears perked up at the announcement of my train arriving. Guess, it was time to go.

I climbed up out of my seat, stretching my body a little. Once done- I strolled to where my train was- gracefully weaving through the crowd of people. All the while I was ignoring the growing anxiety gnawing at the back of my head.

"Wh-What is this?"

That was the first thing that escaped past my lips when I made it to the well's location in Ito. The train ride to make it to the town took no more than 20 mins, and it took another 18 mins to arrive at my destination.

The well was on top of the tallest hill in Ito on the outskirts of the town. There were stone steps leading up to the peak of the hill. The entire hill- besides the stone steps- was covered in rich, lush grass. There was an imposingly tall and majestic tree about a couple dozen meters away from the well.

I tensed. The air was so stale, it was hardly breathable. The mana exuding from this area was very thick and oppressive. No, this was not any ordinary magical energy. The aura felt darker, ominous- like the air was tainted by a malevolent force. I was only at the bottom of the steps and I can feel it from here.

"What could have happened?" I mumbled in disbelief. I was here only four months ago, and it wasn't this bad! There were no changes at all!

My brows furrowed in determination. This was no time to sit here in utter dumbfoundment at what caused this… disturbance between a few months ago and now. I need to climb up the stairs and investigate it.

Before that, I needed to check the two sigils located at the base of the hill. There were many more sigils located all around the area. There were eight in total. The sigils make up the focal points of the barrier. They all connect together to create the barrier. So- in other words- if one of the sigils was damaged- the barrier would weaken. That would also mean- if a sigil is completely and utterly destroyed- it would leave a crack in the magical barrier.

I hurriedly trekked around the base of the hill. The sigils were hidden in places normal civilians can't see them. And even if they do- somehow- stumble upon them, they won't be able to spot or detect them. There were weak spells placed around the sigils to keep non-mages from seeing them. It was good that there were concealment spells guarding the sigils because there was nothing but bushes, grassland, and trees around the area as far as the eyes could see. It was safe to say that- since this location was mostly freed from human intervention- it maintained its natural vegetation.

I reached one of the sigils, which was located between two bushes behind a giant rock at the very bottom of the hill. When I found it, my eyes widened in surprise.

The sigil was… damaged!

It wasn't a whole lot to cause any great… significant change in the barrier. For the most part, it should still work fine and as intended. There were no cracks or weaknesses in the magical barrier. But it was still… concerning. It was worrisome enough to cause alarm bells to go off in my head.

I got to work repairing it. It was nothing but a minor fix, so I should be done in a few minutes. A tiny part of the sigil seemed to have been erased, so I needed to repair that missing part.

As I began it, I felt a tinge of uneasy nausea slither up inside me. Every nerve in my body was screaming at me that something was not right. The cells in my body were screeching at me to get away. I stubbornly ignored the feeling. After all- I couldn't leave the barrier unattended. Not like this.

I had spent nearly an hour fixing each and every sigil. I was not tired by any means, but was still incredibly bothersome how each sigil was damaged a bit and needed repairs. Not to mention, how stifling the air was. Now that I was at the top of the hill, I could feel how unsettlingly suffocating it was. I have not felt anything like this before!

Something was definitely not right!

All the while I was restoring the sigils, I did not feel the presence of another mage nor any foreign magical energy of any kind. But something was definitely here. I can't place it, but everything just seemed… off. My instincts were telling me that I should not let my guard down, or there'd be consequences.

After my tasks were done, I leaned on the bench next to the great tree I mentioned earlier. The last sigil was by the tree, so I was done. I took the time to try to analyze the situation. How could all eight sigils be damaged? When I was here last time, everything was perfectly fine and normal. So what could have caused these disturbing changes? It's almost as if there was some kinda ill omen plaguing the atmosphere around the area.

I hummed quietly to myself. I heard that this place had quite a bit of history. According to local legends, the tree that I was sitting next to was called the Tree of Ages. It was said to be a Sacred Tree that transcends time. And those are… unfortunate enough to be bound by the tree would be frozen in time forever.

I don't quite understand what's so… "sacred" about it.

There was another legend about the well. But it was not as interesting as the Sacred Tree, if you ask me. It was an old-fashioned looking well located inside a small hut not far from here. The hut was not what you call in peak condition. But that's okay since it was mainly just a decoration used to shelter the well from bad weather. At least- that's what I believe since hardly anyone takes care of it. The Fukumoto family is in charge of it- sure- but mostly due to the potent leyline of this area. Not the well itself. We hire people from time to time to keep up with the bare maintenance of the well and hut- however- that's about it. My family has never been interested in the well itself.

There was really nothing fascinating about the well, other than its name. It was called the Bone Eater's Well because it was rumored to be where the bones of monsters and evil spirits get dumped in like trash to seal away their evil auras. Or something utterly ridiculous like that. The story also goes that the well was created using the wood from the Sacred Tree. So does that mean it has some connection to time as well?

I shrugged my shoulders carelessly.

Who knows?

That's really the short gist of the legends. Truth to be told, I don't know how accurate the local legends are. As far as I know, the stories could have been twisted, altered, and changed throughout the generations. The term "monsters" could refer to "malicious criminals". It was not too strange to hear about ancient people participating in horrible, gruesome rituals for some kinda twisted and/or misguided objective. Whatever the case may be, I don't particularly care. It has nothing to do with me, and my family has lost interest a long time ago.

There was also a possibility that the Sacred Tree and Bone Eater's Well was being empowered by the leylines of this part of town. It was a strong possibility. This area was rich in spiritual energy. Most mage families tend to greatly covet leylines. It's fantastic for a variety of things, including performing powerful rituals on them because- if they are exceptionally skilled- they could draw out magical energy from the leylines, so they don't worry about expending too much mana from within themselves. The Fukumoto mansion was meticulously built on top of a leyline.

I remembered a time when my father told me that some random family had set their sights on building a home here a long time ago. However- in short order, my ancestors ran them out- which was to be expected. And a good decision on my ancestors' part. Who knows what would have happened if non-mages built their house on top of a leyline? Can't have ordinary people being exposed to the secrets of magic. If they found out, they would've been- undoubtedly- slaughtered by the Magic Society. At least- this way- their lives were spared, and they could live happy, normal lives somewhere else. Whoever they are.

But I should be worried or concerned about legends or the past. The problem I should be focusing on was what the hell was happening now?

How did all those sigils get damaged?

What was causing this unbearably stale atmosphere? It was near… unbreathable. Certainly too much for an ordinary human to handle.

Urgh! All these unanswered questions were giving me a headache.

There was a possibility that the source of the problem was around here, but somewhere else. Unfortunately, it was hard to trace the source. And- without any leads- I wouldn't know where to start. Whatever the cause was, it was my duty as the Fukumoto heiress to get to the bottom of it!

I closed my eyes, pondering deeply on everything that happened so far. Things have been feeling off for the past few days or so, and I couldn't understand why at the time. I came here- only to discover that the area around the barrier was invaded by a strange aura, and I can't find any rhyme or reason as to why.

Suddenly, an idea popped in my head. It was a flimsy idea- but still an idea nonetheless- and the only thing I had to go on at the moment. If I concentrated hard enough, I could trace the source of the oppressive, intrusive energy. I was a skilled enough mage, so I should be able to do it. All I had to do was scour through all the familiar magical energy of the barrier until I focused on that one foreign energy and that one energy alone. It would be like sorting through a bowl of salad, and picking out unwanted pieces until all are left are only the desirable parts of the salad. It won't be easy, but it can be done.

Treating the task similarly to finding a needle in a haystack, I got to work. I meditated, letting my mind search for the unwanted aura. However- the instant I found a leeway to block all the mana that had to do with the barrier- I was invaded by an unfamiliar feeling of warmth.

It wasn't a bad feeling by any means. It was a pleasant, comforting sensation that washed over me. It was an ineffable feeling of being bathed in a purifying light. It was a tender flow of water cleansing out a dirty cup. The impurities in my mind and body were temporarily cast aside.

I know I was getting distracted. But I could not help myself. This was another source of energy that didn't have any part in mana used to create and/or sustain the barrier. However- unlike the other mysterious aura- this one was much more… How should I put it? It had a gentleness to it that was difficult to describe.

I lifted myself off the bench, and followed the source of the incredibly warm and positive aura. What happened next was a strange, powerful force pulling my body near the Tear of Ages. It felt as if my body wasn't my own anymore as my guided legs moved on their own. The tree was right next to the bench, so I only had to walk a couple of feet.

Until I was standing right in front of the Sacred Tree.

I gazed upon the majestic tree, completely lost in its magnificent brilliance. I don't why, but ever since I became the head of the Fukumoto family after my father's death a few years back- and started my duty as the heiress of the family- I felt an odd, strange sense of connection with this tree.

The tree was wrapped around in what seemed to be paper talismans. A small picket fence surrounded the tree. At the bark of the tree was a small indentation.

I gingerly reached out and lightly touched the mark on the tree with my fingertips. A mysterious, indescribable feeling coursed through me. It was a feeling that was foreign to me, and yet so familiar as well. It's almost like I intimately knew this place, yet I didn't know it at the same time.

When I concentrated enough, l could feel the regret and sadness etched into the very depths of soils here. It was not uncommon for a skilled and competent enough mage to be able to sense very strong emotions. Although, sensing strong emotions was a bit inaccurate. What was more accurate to say was that magical energy could be drawn from a person's lifeforce. Everyone has some semblance of mana within them.

Though mages were a bit different. There are two things that qualify a person as a mage. Having a significant amount of Magic Circulatory Systems, and a "trigger switch" to turn them on and off. A Magic Circulatory System is a pseudo nervous system running through a person's body that generates magical energy. It was what helped mages constantly produce and release their magical energy. Non-mages have none of these aspects. But they still have a slimmer of mana inside their bodies, nevertheless. Their very lifeforce can be converted into mana in exchange for their life. It was also why- although very, very uncommon- it was not strange to see a new generation mage born to a family of non-mages.

That's part of the reason why the most sociopathic of mages would not mind using unsavory methods such as sacrificing the lives of humans for their research. In most mages' eyes, the ends justify the means. There were some mages who would use human lives as an excess mana source. And others would not hesitate to conduct tests on people, if it's for the sake of their study and research. Human experimentation was exactly "illegal" in the Magic Society. That's why the general consensus for mages was not "don't commit a murder", but "don't get caught committing a murder".

And I was no exception.

Granted, I would never go as far as taking the lives of innocent people. However- I was not above getting my hands dirty- if need be. I was not a soft-hearted fool by any means. I was a mage. Being cold, ruthless, and heartless was in my genes. I chose to walk the bloody path of a mage. Admittedly, there are some things I hate. However- overall- I don't generally dislike being a mage.

With all that being said, it surprised me that I could sense that sort of thing here of all places. Although- my family was in charge of this place- no one had lived in this specific location in centuries. Something truly terrifying must have happened- if the incorporeal essence of those negative feelings were seeped very deeply into the grounds here- and was still lingering after centuries have passed. Could be traces of an unspeakably dreadful event that have been left behind till this day.

Perhaps, there were some truths to the local legends.

I saw a tiny dent in the tree as if it had been struck by something in a distant past. I lightly trailed my fingers to touch it. Without any conscious thought or reason, a name quietly, silently escaped past my lips as no more than a silent whisper in the breeze.

"Inuyasha."

As soon as I breathed out a name I never heard of before, I instantly jumped back as if I was struck by lightning.

I held my hand to my chest, frowning deeply. Why would I mutter the name of a person I have never heard of before? It frustrated me because I don't even know who that foreign name belonged to. There was nothing special about the name, nor a face to place it on. And yet… It was just… As soon as I touched the mark on the tree… that name suddenly- and without warning or awareness of what I was doing- popped inside her name.

Okay, I needed to step back. Obviously- this freaky tree was doing stuff to me- and I don't like it. I don't exactly appreciate some intrusive anomaly invading my mind with things I don't know! Is this what someone would call subtle brainwashing or being possessed? Because it pissed me off! Making feel things that I don't actually feel…! My god, this was what I get for getting sidetracked!

Stomping away, I returned back to the objective at hand. I took a moment to calm down first. It's truly undignified of me to get worked up over a minor annoyance.

I took a deep, calming breath- re-centering myself once more. Since I memorized the signature of the ominous aura, it was much easier to track it this time around.

I followed the source to the hut, which somewhat confused me. Nevertheless, I pressed on. Without hesitation- I pried open the door- and was met with an expectantly empty hut. Only the lone, sorry ass- looking well stood there- dead center. It was dark and musty in here.

It was the same as it's always been. There was a short stairway- five steps- that led down into the well. The hut itself basically had two levels. The first floor where people can enter, and the bottom floor where the well was located and centered in the middle. The floor let out a softly audible creak with every step. Layers and layers of wood- some overlapping others- made up the interior of the hut. It was a sign of how many times the hut had been repaired and refurbished over the decades.

The floor surrounding the well itself was made up of different material though. The flooring was composed of stone pebbles with various shades of black and gray. The inside of the hut was a bit dusty, and I could see a couple of cobwebs in the fad corners of the hut. It's not surprising though. The hut hasn't been cleaned in months. I wrote a mental reminder to myself to have someone clean this hut once I have finished thoroughly inspecting it.

Despite how normal everything was and nothing seemed to be out of the place- the hut was the same as it's always been, dark and empty. Something felt… different. I tensed at the unusual intense air. The dark, thicker atmosphere could not be ignored. Cold sweat dripped down the side of my forehead.

I could not help the feeling of someone holding a knife to my neck. The oppressive pressure inside here was weighing me down. I had the sneaking suspicion that what I was sensing wasn't magical energy, and now I am more sure than everything.

"The dark aura is coming from here," I softly concluded to myself, the muscles in my arms tensing- gazing intently at the well. The air of murderous intent surrounded it. There was no mistaking it. That was where the source of the unfamiliar, unpleasant energy was coming from.

Was something inside the well?

I took cautious steps forward- eyes peeled for any signs of something popping out and trying to ambush me. I was fully alert to all sounds and sudden movements. Fear was nonexistent. I only felt anticipation and a strong desire to get rid of this aura. After all- mages walk the path of death and bloodshed. If whatever was causing this thought I was going to be scared by some dark, spooky aura, they had another thing coming! I was tense and ready for action.

I dug into my pockets where my gems are- ready to cast a spell at a moment's notice. I needed to scan the interior of the well, and analyze the problem. It irked me that someone thought to do something so crude in my territory. Well, whatever it was better say their prayers because I'm taking them out!

Trepidation grew the closer I got to the Bone Eater's Well. Monsters, demons, apparitions… Heh. Guess, there really were some truths to those ridiculous local legends.

I scoffed. It's not like I cared whether the legends were true or not in the first place. It wasn't like me to lament a past that had nothing to do with me. Heh, I'm just selfish and cold like that. My main and only concern was dealing with this nuisance of an issue right now.

I already knew that… If it turned out to be something too much for me to handle, then I should call the Magic Society- and they'd get some Executioners and Inspectors to deal with it. I am just here to ascertain the problem. Or perhaps they would hire a freelancer who expertly knew how to handle the mess.

My right hand tentatively gripped the edge of the well as I peered inside. There was seemingly nothing out of the ordinary. All there was down there was a slightly dusty ladder. Some would say that this should give me the initiative to feel relieved, but- truthfully- I was more wary than ever. Either it's somehow concealing itself in the well in a way I can't detect it, or it had left the well and the hut some time ago. Whatever the case was, this was its origin point. This was where that ominous aura started coming from. That I was sure of!

I narrowed my eyes at the empty void. "Perhaps, I should go down there and look for clues," I scowled, clicking my tongue. "I'm certainly not finding any by just gazing dumbly into the darkness."

Someone or something must've been listening to my cerebrations because the moment I decided on my next plan of action, the well reacted.

Quickly than an eye could blink, waves of ghostly white tentacles shot out of the well. I reacted to the strange phenomenon by instinctively pushing myself away from the Bone Eater's Well, but it was too late.

An eerie, discombobulated voice could be heard. It was a voice that sounded greatly muffled by undersea water.

"Ah, I could sense it. I could sense the Sacred Jewel!"

A cold chill ran down my arms when those uncanny tentacles grabbed at me. Before I could do anything, I was forcibly pulled into the well.

I was taken to a world filled with dazzling purple lights. My body felt incredibly light. I was not falling helplessly to my death. I was floating on air. This wonderful moment was worthy to be captured in a picture, so that it could be admired forever. Instead of feeling intense admiration for the gorgeous light show though, all I felt was unfathomable dread.

Because it was not the spectacular world of purple that had my attention. It was the monster before me.

The monster was very grotesque-looking. The upper half of its body resembled that of a naked woman's head and torso with six arms. The lower half was comprised of a mountain string of bones.

I held back a sneer of disgust. Of all the monsters I could have encountered, it just had to be a repulsive centipede-looking one, didn't it?

"It's you, isn't it?" the monster inquired in a tone that was very demanding and in a voice that was very unappealing. I observed the exoskeleton that started forming. Flesh and meat began covering the creature's bony body. "You have it, don't you?"

That pissed me off! Who does this hideous monster think she is to order me around?

I wasted no time in taking out my rubies- chunking them at the wretched creature. I muttered a short incantation, and the gems exploded in a series of fire magic. Though I doubted it would be very effective. These aren't exactly very strong jewels I brought with me.

Once the smoke cleared away, the monster left mostly unscathed. I growled in disappointment that I was right. The monster was unaffected by the spell. So it was stronger than E-grade magic? That's good to know. It seemed the only purpose my spell served was passing it off apparently. Judging by the angry expression on its face.

The centipede monster's grip did not loosen on me a single bit. In fact, it only deemed to tighten its grip on me- mainly around my arms and torso, so I won't pull that stunt again.

"You impudent girl…!" it hissed at me. "Give it to me!"

"What are you talking about?" I snarled confused, glaring at the creature.

"The Sacred Jewel! Give me the Sacred Jewel!"

I cringed in disgust as its revoltingly long tongue rolled out of its mouth. The slimy appendage slid across the side of my cheek. I grimaced at the slobbery wetness of the monster's tongue on my cheek. So disgusting! Does this creature have no manners? Nausea rolled inside my stomach in crashing waves at the detestable creature's foul breath on my face.

Urgh! I was repulsed by the monster's audacity to lick me with its abhorrent tongue! As a mage, I expected to counter many freaky things in my life. But this was by far the most freakish and repulsive!

"Get off me, you disgusting creature!" I screeched loudly. I struggled in the monster's hold until I managed to somewhat free my right arm. I angrily shoved my hand into the centipede monster's face, desperately wanting to put as much distance between our faces as possible. I seriously can't stand being near this abhorrently obnoxious monster!

What happened next was totally unexpected!

I was stunned with utter flabbergasted surprise when a bright pink light shot out of my hand, and injured the monster. The centipede cried out in pain- releasing me from its grip. My hand burned with a power that surely wasn't mine. I was a mage with an incredibly rare affinity for all five base elements. What amazed me even more was that I did not feel any drainage from my mana storage. Not one little bit.

I was ignorant of the faint pink glow at the side of my waist. Unfortunately, the creature's voice snapped me out of my astonished stupor.

"Wretched girl! I must have the Sacred Jewel! I must!"

The centipede monster gave off one last curse of a promise before disappearing into the empty void. How did it disappear? I… don't know.

The floating sensation stopped, and I finally landed ungracefully on the ground. I quickly concluded that I was still inside the well and had reached the bottom of it, judging by my surroundings. Then what was up with that sparkling light show?

I checked for any signs of something out of the ordinary- because there's no way the monster could suddenly disappear like that without a trace- when I noticed an arm on the ground. I felt a sense of morbid satisfaction and triumph at seeing the creature's severed arm. Ha! That ought to teach it!

Still though- besides the arm- I could see any marks on the ground, peculiar painted symbols, or anything out of place for that matter. Nothing but green vines stretching along the walls of the well.

My eyes widened at that- doing a double take. Wait a second…! Vines? There were no vines in the well, were there? No, I'm sure there were no vines before! There was supposed to be an old, somewhat dusty ladder. But… the ladder was nowhere to be seen. Everywhere I looked there were vines, but no ladder.

What was going on?

Well- I wasn't gonna get any answers standing around here looking stupid- I decided. I should get out. I can't have a creature like that roaming around freely in my territory.

It was relatively easy to maneuver myself out of the well using the layer and layer of vines growing against the well. I wasn't exactly lacking in athletic abilities. What good would it do me to be a mage with poor physical strength? Not to mention, a proper lady like me has to stay in shape.

What greeted me once I escaped out of the Bone Eater's Well was a drastically unfamiliar scenery. I was in the middle of some kinda forest. Trees, bushes, and foliage were everywhere. No signs of the big, bustling city.

Was this an illusion? Did that monster put me under some type of spell?

No, the grass under my feet felt very much real. I had a feeling that someone would suggest that I fell unconscious somehow and was experiencing a very lucid dream, causing me to scoff at the ridiculous notion. I am not delusional enough to believe that I knocked my head against the side of the well, and was now finding myself in a strange land.

I paused, a feeling of incredulous dread flooding me. "No, that wasn't it," I muttered to myself, sheer disbelief overcoming me. Because if I were to deny what I thought I was thinking, I'd only be deceiving myself.

The scenery might've changed, but this was definitely still the Ito district of Tokyo. I could sense the slightly familiar energy of the leylines.

…

Was this… time travel? Did I travel through time?

No… No way! That's impossible! Time manipulation was a very, very rare power, near impossible to achieve. It goes beyond magic, and enters the realm of mysticism. It was the greatest of greatest feats. An act of a True Miracle. No mage alive today could accomplish it! Yet a stupid well was able to perform a True Miracle?!

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sheer and utter mockery at all the efforts of mages.

This was no time to freak and marvel at the fact that I just experienced a True Miracle. Right now, I had to find a way out of here. Hmm, I could jump back inside the well. That's how I came here, right?

But then again… Why not do some exploring while I'm here? How many other people- mages and non-mages- could say they witnessed a True Miracle? Mages rarely get to be exposed to this extraordinarily rare occurrence. The very slim chance of it happening was once every several generations! Why would I waste this opportunity? Who's to say if I were to go back that this would happen a second time? I would be beyond lucky, if it did! And… a target for the Magic Society, if word got out that I was a time-traveling mage.

Yeah… Let's not think about that. My status as a mage noble would keep me… mostly safe and unharmed… on a physical level.

I don't know what the average person would say, but I'm feeling pretty adventurous and… curious about this new familiar yet unfamiliar I wound up in.

I could only deduce that I found myself in the past by simply noting all the wilderness. There was no way the future of Tokyo would lead to an ever-growing forest. Unless… something incredibly drastic happened in the distant future that led to some kinda post-apocalyptic world- which I highly doubt. Especially considering the fact the Bone Eater's Well seemed newer- not older.

Anyhow…

Feeling giddy with excitement, I began my trek through the unknown forest.

I eagerly explored the forest. I could hear birds chirping in the distance, and crickets singing under the bushes. The typical yet harmonious sound of the forest thriving with life. I witnessed how untouched the forest was by human hands. It was interesting to see how rich in natural greenery and vegetation the land was before being destroyed, reduced, and lost due to human intervention.

I found myself eyeing every nook and cranny of the forest. That is… until my gaze landed on a very recognizable tree.

"That's the Sacred Tree!" I gasped, intrigued. So the fact that the tree really was old was true, huh?

My feet subconsciously followed the direction the tree was. Huh, let's see how different the tree was in the past than it is in my time.

What I found though caught me by complete surprise.

"Was that… a boy?" I uttered out loud to myself, staring speechless at the guy tacked to the tree in front of me. He was wrapped up in heavy, thick vines. He appeared to be around my age. Maybe a bit younger- give or take a year or two. He wore a red kimono, and had long, silver hair. But what immediately caught my interest was the two dog ears sticking out of his head.

Okay…! I definitely needed to get a closer look!

Ignoring everything around me, I stalked up to the tree, and climbed up the overgrown roots that certainly weren't there in the present.

The closer I got, the more real the boy and his unnatural features became. The highly intrigued mage part of me could not help but to poke and probe at the unconscious guy. I fondled his ears, and they were as soft as they appeared. Velvety soft and pleasant to the touch.

I liked it.

My eyes finally landed on the arrow protruded from the guy's chest. I instantly sensed the aura radiating off the arrow. The aura surrounding the arrow felt somehow alien to me. I inspected the arrow- gazing at it intently- but never touching it.

My attention drifted back to the boy's unconscious form. I gingerly touched his cheek. He was… warm. So… he wasn't dead. Was he just placed under a spell?

I paused, my eyebrows scrunched together a bit thoughtfully. He had a very peaceful-looking expression on his face. My curiosity grew more and more. I was once again fascinated by the wonderful curiosity before me. Was the boy under some type of spell? That seemed to be the case since the boy didn't seem to be dead- only in a very deep sleep. Still… Only one way to find out.

And…

So…

I slapped him.

No reaction.

Yep, definitely under some sorta sleeping spell.

I studied the boy once more. I could not help how amazed I felt by him. I have seen anyone like this before. Amazing! Truly amazing! I was completely and utterly fascinated! The mage inside of me giggled with glee. I had to study him! There was no way- absolutely no way I could let an opportunity like this slip me by. I would be insane, if I let it!

I inwardly sighed disappointment with myself when I realized I didn't bring any tools. Shoot! Ugh, a blood sample would've been nice. Sigh… Oh, well… It's not like I knew I was going to end up in some kinda fantastical past of Tokyo, Japan. Everything that's been happening has been a… happy accident… for the most part. I softly breathed out of my nose- somewhat dissatisfied and frustrated- shrugging my shoulders. Gotta work with what I got, I guess.

I started with his face.

I squeezed and pinched his cheeks, trying to get a feel of how firm his skin was. Was it as soft as a baby's bottom, or was it as hard as rocks? To my surprise- they were firm- but to the extent I was inspecting. Little to no baby fat at all. Definitely a sign of a boy fully transitioning into a man. Ordinarily human, overall.

I touched his ears once more- not getting enough how pleasantly soft they felt between my fingertips. Ah~! If only I had a scalpel to scrape off a few skin cells from his eyes.

The mage inside me could not get enough of this otherworldly creature before me! If someone I had foretold that I was gonna fall down the Bone Eater's Well and encounter a beautifully unworldly man like this, I would've come packed with my tools! Taking blood samples, skin cells, strands of silver hand… Anything I could think of to study him more once I got back home. To suffice to say, my mage curiosity has been piqued.

I needed to touch every part of his body!

My curiosity and fascination would not be quelled until I have seen every inch of this mystical man!

And even then… It still wouldn't!

Excitement burned across every fiber of my being. I had to keep my balance on the roots to prevent myself from falling over from my overwhelmingly elated enthusiasm.

Every mage has their own sense of curiosity and intrigue, so a person cannot blame me for being fascinated with this… unknown creature before me.

Hell, having a very curious and innovative mindset, and a healthy thirst for the pursuit of knowledge is a staple for being a mage. It's what allows us to improve upon our brand of magic.

I am fully aware a normal person would scold me for probing the body of an unconscious man, but proper social etiquette and conduct was the furthest thing from my mind right now. The mage part of my brain could not resist the… inhuman creature before. It's not like I was planning to kill him or do anything indecent to him.

My gaze drifted down towards his arm that was held captive between strong vines. I instantly zeroed in on something.

Were those… claws?

I immediately went for a closer inspection. Grabbing his hand between my own- they were strong and muscly I noted at the back of my head- I held them as much as the restrictive vines allowed me to lift it. Tentatively- I held up a couple of fingers- and barely pressed the pad of my forehead against the sharp point of his claws.

They were sharp and real. He could probably tear through steel bars effortlessly with how sharp they were. Wow~! Would it be bad of me to want to rip off a claw or two? Even if it was, I don't really care.

His fingers were nice, long, and slender. I could feel his warm pulse under his wrist. Another reminder that he was alive, and merely asleep. His marvelously youthful expression bore no ill-will to the unfortunate fate that was cast upon him, nor towards the person who cursed him with eternal slumber. He appeared to be more than accepting of his "death".

Hmph, how stupid.

Well, not like I cared about what happened to this guy, who he is, or his past. I was more captivated by what he was rather than who he was. Which was why I was cursing myself for umpteenth time for not bringing any bottles of vial, scalpels, syringe needles, plastic bags, surgical scissors, tweezers, and everything else I could think of to carry as many pieces of the mystical guy with me to study at home as possible.

Who knew I would come across a wonderful specimen like this? I just… wanted to rip him apart, dissect him, and study him!

He was a truly incredible specimen!

Too entranced with my incredible fascination with the unusually mysterious guy, I did not notice nor hear the rustling of leaves.

Before I could react, a hail of arrows shot towards me.

(A/N: That's the end of the 2nd chapter! Hope you enjoyed it! I wanted to write the whole first episode of Inuyasha, but the chapter was getting long enough as it is. So the rest of the first episode would be finished in the next chapter.

I thought long and hard about how I want the story, so I'm gonna explain. Like I said last chapter, this plot of Inuyasha told from Mirai's perspective. And since Mirai is not Kagome or any OC clone of her, the dynamics between Mirai and the characters and between characters themselves will be different. Most scenes are told from the 1st POV from Mirai's perspective. So scenes Mirai is not involved in will be skipped. I figured everyone's familiar with the story of Inuyasha by now. Just imagine Mirai instead of Kagome. However, there would be times I would switch to 3rd POV. When that happens, it means two of the three things. 1) Mirai is not present at the moment. 2) We are seeing the scene overall from a more neutral perspective. And/or 3) there has been a slight change to the original plot that causes me to write the newly changed scene. And with Mirai's interference, these changes are inevitable. Once again, Mirai is not Kagome. That's pretty much it as far as the basic premise of the story goes.

For this story, I'm going to try to make the Inuyasha/Mirai romance more… adultlike [hence the rated M]. One of the things that bothered me about Inuyasha/Kagome [besides the toxicity that everyone has gripes about] is just simply not my cup of tea. It felt too childish and immature. Especially with Kagome's callow, romanticized, and by-the-book views on romance.

Maybe- after watching so many anime [and those of the romance genre] since I first Inuyasha years back- revisiting it and seeing the whole "will they or won't they" aspect of the romance drag on and on and on frustrates me. Because- nowadays- the official couple of an anime would be established in the first 50 episodes or so in the show. Perhaps, even shorter. Unless romance isn't the main plot or even the subplot of the romance. Yeah, characters might have crushes on other characters, but- overall and generally- romance isn't the focus in any way whatsoever.

I know Inuyasha's indecisiveness is to blame, but so is Kagome's insecurity issues and pride. Another toxicity about the romance in Inuyasha is the stereotypical gender roles. Hahaha. The man has to be the one to confess to show how much of a man he is. And Kagome herself never gives Inuyasha a clear answer. She says one thing, then backtracks and says something. Nearly every emotionally charged romance on her part has her bringing up Kikyo in some way or form. It makes sense in context, but out of context… It's like… Are you okay with Inuyasha two-timing you or not? Kagome enables Inuyasha to be indecisive. Which is not good. Not for either of them. And this goes back to my discussion of how Kagome hinges all her self-worth on Inuyasha genuinely loving her or not. Shit, Kagome! You either properly confess or back away from the issue. Because what you are doing is beyond pathetic. What Inuyasha does is bad, but what Kagome does is just as bad.

I guess what I'm saying is that… Inuyasha/Kagome felt way too juvenile as a romance. It's a good romance for a dragged out teen drama sitcom. But as an adultlike, more mature romance- no. Probably how it explains how I used to like it when I was younger, but started disliking/being dissatisfied with it as I grew older and older. Perhaps- as I started maturing and grew wiser and smarter and gained more life experiences [including in the romance department]- I started to see something inherently wrong with Inuyasha/Kagome that I can't put my finger on. And not just Inuyasha/Kagome, but Inuyasha/Kikyo too.

I am starting to notice that the creator knows how to write teenage romance quite well… to some degree. I still say that Kikyo's powers weakening because she fell in love with Inuyasha is bullshit. It makes no sense because… Shouldn't the same thing happen to Kagome? Exactly why I said Kagome being Kikyo's reincarnation is explained so poorly [at least- one of the reasons]. Honestly- it would have been better if the explanation was that Kikyo was being distracted by love and that's what caused her to fuck and make mistakes. Kikyo was in the "honeymoon" phase, if you know what I mean. I think we have all been there [including myself]. A bet… when a lot of us had our first crush/love… we were so… tunnel-visioned on them that we forgot the world around us. In my opinion- if Takahashi explained that reason for Kikyo's demise was because she was so tunnel-visioned on Inuyasha, and that she was distracted because it and forgot the world around her [as I'm sure most of us can relate]- it would make much, much, much more sense- instead of something some bullshit nonsense as her powers weakening.

Anyway, what I'm saying is… I want Inuyasha/Mirai's relationship to be more… mature. Of course- they would still be a bit… childish- but they are going to go through all the trappings of a more… adult romance. Besides the reasons the story rated M for the sexual content later in the story [people who are familiar with Mana Transfer and anything similar to it would know why], Inuyasha and Mirai would also learn how to compromise, make sacrifices, etc., etc. I'm not good at explaining it, but one of my main goals for Inuyasha/Mirai is to have them be happy and satisfied with themselves and each other. I do want them to be happy with each other, but I don't want their happiness to be overly dependent on one another. Not like Inuyasha/Kagome. Mirai and Inuyasha should be able to find personal happiness within themselves. If they could do that- in my opinion- it could lead to a much healthier relationship. And this goes for any relationship for that matter. I am a firm believer that a person must be content with themselves before they try to be content with others.

P.S. I found a picture on Google of Inuyasha reading an algebraic equation- thinking it's some kinda spell or witchcraft- and found it hilariously adorable! I don't know if it's from the actual manga [never read it nor am I interested] or a fanart, but still funny and great.)