InuYasha Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Down the Rabbit Hole ❯ It's Just A Dream ( Chapter 1 )

~*~AN~*~ This is a teaser first chapter ^^. I'm writing this because the idea struck me, and I want to work it out and get it out of my head so I can work on Whispers In The Dark again. Now, if you want to hear more, review! The continuation of this story will be in the hands of the readers.

 

 

The sun beat down on his shoulders as he trekked through the field, duffle bag slung over one shoulder, sweat breaking out over his skin and made his t-shirt stick to his back. The sun was causing his reddish-brown hair to become hot to the touch, and the long thick rope of a braid it was kept it was now unruly. The clear crystal like violet eyes scanned the field, the forest edge in the distance, and clear sky above; he was looking for any sign of a town or even a shack, so long as there were people to tell him where the hell he was. `Why the hell did I ever let those guys talk me into going on this trip.'

 

The worst part about the whole thing is the 20 year old had no idea how he had ended up out here. One minute he was hiking through the Japanese wilderness and the next he was hiking through, well some kind of wilderness. He had to still be in Japan somewhere, but he had no idea where. And he blamed his friends for being lost.

 

Duo Maxwell was quite happy to stay in the Preventer's office and work the day away, but his partner, Heero Yuy, had also taken a vacation. It surprised Duo how much Heero had changed since the end of the Eve Wars, let alone how he had changed when Heero and another friend and fellow Preventer, Wufei Chang, had started a relationship. Wufei had changed for the better while with Heero as well. He managed to unclench a little and relax, and they both now understood how to have a good time, and were happy together.

 

Heero and Wufei couldn't be partners at the Preventers, because of the stupid rules, so they each had another partner. Not only that, but seeing as most of the former Gundam Pilots were now Preventers, they usually didn't get along well with the other officers. Mostly, because they were used to doing things their own way, Duo included. That's why when Heero went on vacation Duo was forced to take one too, as well as Wufei's partner Sally. Now Duo was left wandering around, alone, just because he got thirsty.

 

Duo was a former solder and still was one at heart, so one would expect that he could handle himself on a hike. He had mapped out the area, and knew that there would be places to stop and refill his water canteen, but when he stopped at the well house behind a seemingly abandoned shrine, all did not go well. The well house doors had been propped open and Duo's only concern walking in was whether the water was still clean, but when he got inside he noticed there wasn't a bucket. He thought it might have dried up, but he decided to peer in and check, and that's when it happened.

 

He shifted his duffle bag from one shoulder to the other; reluctant to set it down since he had a few weapons in it. He was just as bad as Heero when it came to weapons and when he leaned over he placed a hand on the stone edge of the well to balance out the heavy bag on his shoulder. That was apparently the wrong move. Duo had misjudged the strength of the old well walls and the stone beneath his hands gave out and tumbled down into the empty well pitching Duo forward. He would have been fine when his waist hit the well if not for a number of other stones giving way, allowing his momentum to carry him right into the well. He must have hit his head on the way down, because he knew he saw lights.

 

When Duo came to, he found that he was still in the well, but it was brighter than before. He looked up and saw blue sky and fluffy white clouds instead of what he had expected: the dilapidated roof of the well house. He had blinked in confusion before testing out how well he could move. A groan escaped his lips as he sat up, his muscles sore and stiff from lying in the awkward position he had landed in.

 

Once Duo had rested a bit, he hauled himself out of the well, which seemed much more secure, and found himself here. He had no idea how he could have fallen in the well on shrine grounds and pulled himself out of the well in the middle of nowhere. Now he was more concerned with finding water once again. Suddenly Duo caught the sounds of a bubbling river nearby, inside the forest to his right. He sighed, not really wanting to venture into the woods, but his empty canteen was screaming at him to follow the sound.

 

Of course he found himself wandering into the forest, at not long after he passed through the tree line the wind carried the smell of fresh water to him. Not only that, but his nose, ears, and eyes were bombarded with sites, smells, and sounds. The braided officer couldn't quite understand it. He would have chalked up the sound smell of the river to a heightening of his senses for survival since he was in need of water, but now he was confused.

 

The confusion was pushed to the side as he caught sight of the river, smiling and breaking out in a jog. Duo was happy to have some water to drink and cool off with. He was covered in sweat and sure he smelled horrible. He dropped his bag on the ground and crouched over it, practically straddling it to keep it as close as possible, before his dunked his hands right into the river. The water was cool and he splashed it up onto his face a few times before taking big gulps from his cupped hands.

 

Duo smiled, dunking his canteen into the river and waiting for the air to be forced out as bubbles and the water to trickle in and fill the container. As the river began to still, Duo caught sight of something over his head so he looked up and around him, unable to see anything. He turned back to the river and leaned closer and realized that the shadowed form he saw was on top of his head. He blinked and pitched forward, slapping his hands on the riverbank just in time to keep him from toppling head first into the river. He inspected the forms, and gasped when he figured out what they look like. They were ears! Duo lifted a shaky hand to the fuzzy reddish-brown ears perched on top of his head and started when they rotated towards a far off noise all on their own.

 

When he finally managed to touch the surprise appendages he was startled by how soft and sensitive they were. Duo then decided to check himself over for any other surprises. He twisted around and gave a sigh of relief when he found no tail extended from his tailbone. Then he held his hands out before him and blinked when he noticed his nails where longer than before, he flicked them over his jeans to test the sharpness, and found that they were razor sharp. Duo frowned at the cut now in his jeans, but he pushed that matter aside, running his hands over his face and lifting his shirt to check for any other abnormalities. He fell into an old habit of his during the wars, biting his inner cheek, but yelped when he felt a sharp pain and tasted a bit of blood.

 

He fingered his teeth, finding that his canines were elongated and sharpened. `What the hell?! Am I some kind or dog or something?! Ears, claws, fangs, what the hell is this?!' Duo had no idea what was going on and wasn't looking forward to ever finding out, he just wanted to go home. Once Duo dried himself off and collected his duffle bag he walked back towards the well. It had gotten him stuck there and he was praying to any god that would listen that it take him back home.

 

Duo managed to follow his senses back in the direction of the well, and was quite happy when it came into view, that was until his nose and ears told him there was a group of people nearby. At least, he hoped they were people. He slowed his approach to the well, trying to use his newly heightened senses to figure out where the others were. They were very close by, and he figured they were lying in wait for when he got closer.

 

There was a rustle from the bush to his right, and he reacted instinctively, dropping the bag and whipping around, catching the fist coming at him and using the momentum behind the attack to push the attacker to his left, hard, before turning back around to face his opponent. He kept his senses alert for attacks from any of the others.

 

~*~*~

 

Inuyasha and the gang had moved to the well to meet Kagome, who had gone back to her time to stock her back pack with more supplies, as well as a treat or two for Shippou. She had said she would be back shortly after noon, so they had lunch at the village before making their way to the well.

 

As they got closer to the well, both Inuyasha and Shippou noticed an odd scent around the well and leading off towards the forest. It was the scent of a male Kitsune, and had dead-ended at the well. The hanyou sniffed around the area, and couldn't figure out what the male had been doing, and just figured he had come from the forest to investigate and went back the way he came.

 

The scent was fairly fresh, which at Inuyasha on his toes, hoping the stupid wench hadn't come back early and gotten herself kidnapped or worse, killed. His fears were quelled when the wench herself came through the well a short time later, toting her now heavy backpack.

 

“It's about time, wench!”

 

Kagome gave a sweet smile, almost as if she had taken the nickname of `wench' as an endearment, but unfortunately for Inuyasha, that wasn't so. Her smile turned wicked before she yelled out `sit', effectively drilling the poor hanyou into the ground. The others had waited to give their greetings, expecting such an interaction between the two by now. Shippou was the first to truly welcome the miko.

 

“Kagome!” The little Kitsune shouted happily and he jumped up and gave her a tight hug before scampering up to settle on her shoulder. Sango have the miko her customary hug and Miroku chose to stay back and nod his greeting, since the last time he had tried to hug Kagome (and groped her in the process) had gotten him not only slapped by both Kagome and Sango, but also thrown to the ground by Inuyasha before he was subdued.

 

The group had formed a small pack, and it was evident that Inuyasha was the Alpha male and Kagome the Alpha female, not to mention the personal relationship that had begun between them close to a month ago. Shippou had become their adopted son of sorts while the others fell into their rolls amongst the pack. Even Kirara had her place.

 

Inuyasha was suddenly recovered from his `sit' and alert, sniffing the air. The scent was coming from the forest and was following the previous trail towards the well. It was same male Kitsune from earlier, but there was something off with his scent. He definitely wasn't a hanyou, but he didn't smell like a full youkai either.

 

“What is it, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked as she stepped up behind him.

 

“Someone is approaching the well from the forest. They may sense the jewel shards you have with you. We don't have enough time to leave; he'll follow our scent. Hide yourselves in the bushes and brush. We'll surprise him.”

 

The others did as they were told, and Inuyasha took to the branches of a tall tree. They all had their weapons drawn, and Shippou was tucked safely behind Kagome. They waited as the man walked up towards the well. He was proceeding cautiously, as if he knew something was going on, but he hadn't managed to scent out any of the others surrounding him. Just as he passed the tree Inuyasha was perched in the hanyou launched himself at the Kitsune and the others were surprised to see the man turn, using Inuyasha's own momentum to throw him to the ground.

 

The turned to face Inuyasha, and what he had been carrying was dropped behind him. Inuyasha growled and quickly stood, beginning to circle the stranger who simply turned to face him, reluctant to move too far from his bag. The male was flexing his fingers, looking like he wished for the time to open his bag, which was most likely where his weapon was.

 

Kagome had gotten those few seconds of circling to get a good look at the man, and what she saw made her swallow a gasp. Her eyes had widened at seeing the duffle bag the man protected to fiercely and the clothes he wore. He had on jeans, a t-shirt, and army boots. Those were definitely not from this era, and the revelation that hit her next had her dashing from her cover and moving between the two males.

 

“Wait! Inuyasha, don't attack him! He's from the future, like me!”

 

Duo, the male Kitsune, had been startled by the girl's shout, whipping around to follow her movement, now seemingly unconcerned with the one that had attacked him. `From the future?! So that means I'm in the past?! No way.. but..' Duo managed to look his attacker over, as well as the girl and was confused by their difference in clothing, and startled by the man's appearance.

 

The man, Inuyasha, was wearing traditional clothes that looked as though they were from the feudal era, but the girl was wearing a high school girl's uniform. Inuyasha also had ears perched at the top of his head, as silver as his hair color, along with fangs and claws just like him. Also, his eyes were a shocking shade of gold, which was even more unusual than his own violet colored eyes.

 

“Hey, my name is Kagome. What is your name? And how did you manage to get here?” The girl had walked closer to him, and as she spoke he noticed others appearing out of hidden places. Duo growled at the new comers before blinking in surprise, not used to being able to make such an animalistic noise.

 

“I'm sorry! We thought you were after the jewel shards-“

 

“He still might be, you wench!”

 

“You're a Kitsune, too!”

 

The last had taken Duo by surprise and he turned to the small child standing by Kagome, but slowly inching towards him. He tilted his head to the side and crouched down, putting himself almost level with the little boy.

 

“A Kitsune, ne? So that's what I am…” Being that the five ex-pilots could speak each other's native languages he knew the word. He was a fox, but a fox what? Mutant? Demon? As his thoughts faded, and the child crept a little closer, his mind finally caught up with his eyes and realized this boy wasn't a boy at all. “So, what are you? Kitsune, I know from your scent, but a Kitsune what?”

 

Shippou looked confused for a second, but answered anyway. “I'm a Kitsune youkai. What're you? You don't smell quite like a hanyou or like a youkai either.”

 

Dup eyes widened. So they were talking in Demon terms were they? Well, he was sure he was just lying unconscious at the bottom of that stupid well, which would make all this was a dream. A very vivid dream, but a dream nonetheless. He was just going to play along.

 

“Well, I… I'm not sure. I just got here and had ears, claws, and fangs.”

 

“So you don't remember?” The voice was male, and not the one in red. He turned to face the speaker and found a man, seemingly human, dressed in old priests clothing. The corner of Duo's lip twitched upward at the sight. He remembered when he used to wear his priest garb, and was glad to see it's retirement.

 

“Well, I'm pretty sure I remember who I am and wear I come from.” He turned to the girl, Kagome. “What did you mean when you said I was from the future?”

 

~*~*~

 

They had sat around the well trying to make sense of the situation for hours, but it had been decided that Duo was meant to be there, just like Kagome was, and that his history as a soldier might help them defeat Naraku. All Duo knew about Naraku at this point was that he was evil, and has been trying to collect the jewel shards Kagome carried to use the wish he'd be granted.

 

Duo was still fairly confused, and was still set on it all being a dream, but he had agreed to travel with them… until he woke up. Inuyasha was not very happy about this at all. He obviously didn't believe Duo's story, but what made it worse was Shippou's enthusiasm for the new male. His instincts were screaming at him to protect his pack, to challenge this male and put him in his place.

 

Since their conversation had lasted until the sun began to set, the group had decided to move back to village, where Duo was subject to an inspection by Kaede. He wasn't particularly happy about being poked and prodded at by the old woman, and she only came to same conclusion as the others.

 

They ran into a little snag, however. Normally the group would take shelter in one of the huts when back at the village, but Inuyasha refused to allow Duo to stay in the hut.

 

“Inuyasha, knock it off!” Kagome was furious at the hanyou.

 

“I am the leader of this pack, and I don't trust him! He sleeps outside!”

 

“Honestly, I don't care. I've slept in worse places, besides, that's what I was planning on doing on my hike anyway.” Duo was getting a headache from all the yelling, and he couldn't possibly imagine them yelling like this all the time. The priest, Miroku, told him the scene was commonplace, and that the best part was yet to come.

 

Once the argument, only taking place between Kagome and Inuyasha at this point, came to a climax Kagome let out a yell, “INUYASHA! SIT!” Duo's eyes widened as he was plowed face first into the dirt, at first thinking he was dead, but once the hanyou muttered a weak `wench' he couldn't help but find it hilarious.

 

Inuyasha was furious when he heard Duo chuckling at him, even though he was trying to contain himself. He regained his strength quickly and growled at the adult Kitsune; unable to keep his instincts at bay now. He unsheathed the Tetsusaiga, but before Kagome could `sit' him again, Sango stepped in.

 

“No Kagome.”

 

“But-“

 

“They're youkai, they have different customs, and even though Duo is from the future, he should still be able to follow them.”

 

“What customs?” Kagome was rather confused. Although she had traveled with the group fro a while, they had never had another youkai male in the pack other than the kit, and he was just a child.

 

“She's talking about dominance.” Duo answered. He knew full well why Inuyasha hadn't liked him. He had seen the same thing within his own group of friends. Heero had asserted his dominance among the others very early on, and no one other than him, and perhaps Trowa had ever noticed. He was the strongest, smartest, and fastest of them all, so they had unconsciously given over the position of Alpha male without a second thought.

 

“Dominance? What-“

 

“Inuyasha is the Alpha male, and until now, there was no other male that could challenge his position. Now that I've arrived, and I'm at least a hanyou like him, I'm seen as a threat to his position. Especially since you-“ Duo pointed to Kagome. “-Are arguing for me.”

 

“Either pick a weapon or come at me as you are.” Inuyasha was impatient as ever, but Duo simply smiled. He knew the hanyou wouldn't think he was particularly good with a sword, but Wufei had taught him the art, as well as given him his own sword. It was a cherished blade that was tucked safely in his duffle bag. He dropped the bag to the ground and zipped it open, the others leaned closer, curious as to what was in it, but didn't get much a look before a cloth wrapped bundle was pulled out the bag was closed once again.

 

The bag was shoved behind him with a foot as he unraveled the sword from the cloth. The sheathe was black, and the hilt black leather. When he pulled it from it's sheathe the blade had a blue tint to it. It had been forged from Gundanium, which was completely illegal, but it had been overlooked in his case. From the hilt dangled a chain with a misshapen bullet.

 

The cloth and sheathe were set aside and he took a defensive stance, waiting for Inuyasha's first move.