InuYasha Fan Fiction / Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Down the Rabbit Hole ❯ It Was Real? ( Chapter 4 )

~*~AN~*~ I'm trying to get these out at a quicker speed. I'm also trying to work on a chapter for each of my stories at the same time. There may be a hop in time or two from now on… I'm trying to keep the story moving at a nice pace for you guys.

 

Duo groaned as voiced started to drift through the fog he was trapped in. He could practically hear his own heartbeat as his head began to pound, the achy pain continuing to build. He was shifted slightly, which only caused his head to pound harder in protest. He hissed quietly at the person responsible, wishing to be left alone until his horrendous headache could go away.

 

The voices were becoming louder and clearer, even as the pain of the deadly migraine increased. He was making out bits and pieces of words, then was able to take in small parts of sentences before a shout close by broke through the fog.

 

“No! He can't have that! Just get Sally!” The voice had a nasal quality to it and was one he knew he should recognize, though it seemed to take him a minute. `Is that… Heero? It is. Where am I? I was hiking. The well… I remember the well. Did I fall in?'

 

The voice of a little girl broke through his thoughts. “Rin is scared. Will Duo-sama be okay?” `Rin? Duo-sama? Where have I…' A memory of what Duo had thought was a dream came flooding back to him, remembering the ears, claws, tail, and fangs. He remembered the small group led by the Inu-hanyou, and he remembered the Inu youkai lord that Rin followed around. He groaned as he took a deep breath, slowly forcing his eyes to open.

 

“Duo?” It was Wufei that was the first to notice the braided man regaining consciousness. “Hey, Duo, do you know where you are?”

 

“H-“ Duo was sent into a small coughing fit, his throat having dried out from breathing in the dust and dirt at the bottom of the well. He finally managed to croak out is answer. “Hell?”

 

Wufei scowled, knowing Duo had meant the answer as a joke. Duo looked around as much as his pounding head would allow. They all noticed that his eyes took on a glimmer of confusion as they landed on the young girl. Quatre was kneeling behind her as she sat on the ground with his hand resting lightly on her shoulder.

 

“Rin? You're okay?” The little girl nodded vigorously, seeming happy that he was okay. His voice dropping to a whisper, not noticing he was speaking aloud. “So it was real?”

 

“What was real?” Quatre's voice startled Duo a bit, but before he could say anything more the sounds of Sally pushing her way through could be heard. She shooed Heero and Wufei away from Duo's other side as she kneeled down to look him over, his gaze turning to her as she got settled.

 

“How are you feeling, Duo?”

 

“Like somebody beat me with a stone well.”

 

Sally rolled her eyes, chastising herself for not expecting an answer like that from the braided man. “Give me a run down; what hurts? Start from what's hurts the most to the least.”

 

“My head…” He tried shifting and hissed. “My back, definitely… I can't feel anything else. Any other pain, I mean.”

 

Heero was already going about carefully removing Duo's boots. Sally sighed, knowing she should expect them to know basic medical procedures such as these. “Now, Duo, I need you to wiggle your fingers for me.” She paused until she saw all ten of Duo's fingers moving. “Now wiggle your toes.” She let out a sigh of relief at the movement.

 

“Well, your back isn't broken, but you most likely have a severe concussion. You'll have to be kept awake for the next day while you're monitored.”

 

“Does it have to be a hospital? You know I don't like hospitals. Just their smell…”

 

“I know, but I'm afraid you'll have to bite the bullet on this one.”

 

Duo grumbled his displeasure as Sally turned her attentions to the little girl across from her. Rin had been watching the whole thing with a look of awe, but when the woman turned her attention towards her she was a bit leery. She hadn't been around humans for such a long time, so long that she had begun to think of herself as something other than human; youkai even. She wasn't even sure why she felt so comfortable with the blonde man that had stayed with her when her Duo-sama was being taken out of the well. She cast her eyes to the ground when the woman spoke.

 

“What's your name, sweetheart?”

 

“Rin's name is Rin.”

 

“Are you hurt, Rin?”

 

She hesitated before speaking. “Are you a healer?”

 

Sally smiled warmly. She already acted like a mother hen towards the ex-Gundam pilots, so it was no surprise when her motherly instinct kicked in to try and win the little girl's trust. “Yes, I am a healer. My name is Sally. Can I check you for wounds? I promise I'll be gentle.”

 

The girl hesitated once more, causing Sally to frown. A hand reached out to the girl, one Sally recognized as Duo's, and gave a light tug on the hem of her traditional children's size kimono. The girl looked up at Duo, as if waiting for a command, but he only smiled.

 

“It's alright, Rin. You can trust Sally. She's a very good friend of mine.”

 

Rin smiled back at her Duo-sama and nodded, scooting closer to the healer. Sally smiled, directing the girl and telling her exactly what she was going to do. It was only a quick assessment of what might hurt, and the girl followed her instructions and answered her questions.

 

“Well, Rin, aside from a few scrapes and a bruise or two, you should be fine.”

 

It wasn't long until Preventer official medical staff had arrived and wrestled a stretcher down the trail. Though Sally wasn't considered a member of the official medical staff anymore, she still worked with the staff and helped out whenever she could. Trowa, who had been standing off to the side, stepped forward to help Heero and Wufei maneuver Duo onto the stretcher as he continued to grumble. Everything came to a halt when Rin yelled out in a panic.

 

“Where are you taking Duo-sama? Rin wants to stay with Duo-sama!”

 

She easily broke free of Quatre's loose hold and ran for the stretcher, but it had already been lifted and locked into place and she was too short to reach him. Duo shifted, trying to see the girl and realized it made his head hurt too much. Instead he tried to drop his arm down to her, but they had already been pinned to his sides by the strap across his chest. He growled lightly when he realized he couldn't get to the girl, but quieted in surprise when she was suddenly sitting beside him.

 

Heero hadn't hesitated in lifting the girl up from the ground and setting her up on the stretcher. Though he never seemed like he would be the type, Heero had a soft spot for children. She was a bit dazed at the sudden movement, not used to being picked up, but once she laid eyes on Duo again she gave a bright smile.

 

~*~*~

 

Sesshomaru had been a wreck since the disappearance of Rin and Duo in the well. While it may not have been very noticeable to anyone else, the group was able to see it. The tight control the youkai Lord kept on his emotions and actions had faltered. The second he saw the blue light overwhelm the two forms at the bottom of the well he jumped in to follow them, but only landed on hard dirt. He snarled as he dug his claws into the ground, fisting the dirt as the acrid odor of his poison filled the air.

 

After he failed to kill anything in the process of poisoning the dirt at the bottom of the well, he regained what he could of his composure and leapt out of the well. The group gave him the distance he required on instinct, not wishing to get caught in another moment of rage. The youkai Lord could do nothing but pace for most of the time the group was at rest. They had traveled back to the small village that housed the old miko, Kaede, so they could see to their new wounds and had decided to stay and wait to see if Duo and Rin came back from the well.

 

Sesshomaru made it his daily duty to set out for the well. He did so three times a day and paced in front of well for close to an hour before making his way back. The group had begun to become unnerved by the Taiyoukai's slipping control. It had been a week since Rin's disappearance, and even Inuyasha was starting to worry about his half-brother.

 

“I've never seen Sesshomaru act like this. Not even when I was small, and still at the castle. Granted… I don't remember much of my time at the castle.” The group was talking in hushed tones in Kaede's hut while Sesshomaru was out checking the well once again. Even the toad was with them, though he sputtered his objection when anyone said anything he considered insulting to his Lord.

 

“He's always had such control over his emotions. It's just odd to see him like this…”

 

“Miko, are you insinuating that Sesshomaru-sama has lost control? That is ridiculous!”

 

Kagome only brought her fist down on the toad's head, effectively silencing him before they continued with their conversation.

 

“Maybe the young Rin really had changed Sesshomaru.” It was Miroku that spoke up. “He let her help him, or at least let her believe she helped him, and he's let her follow him around, even assigning Jaken to be her retainer.”

 

“Jaken is not Lady Rin's retainer, or I'd be the one to tend to her while home at the castle.”

 

“You don't care for her at the castle? Than who does?” The toad did not answer Inuyasha's question, but another voice from doorway filled with a cold tone of annoyance.

 

“Shingi-sama cares for Rin.” Sesshomaru's use of the same honorific people used when addressing him did not go without notice. It surprised the group that the youkai Lord would show such respect for another, but Inuyasha was more surprised with hearing such a familiar name.

 

“Shingi-sama? Well, if you have someone to care for Rin as her retainer, than why doesn't he come with you when you hunt for Naraku?” Inuyasha asked. Sesshomaru simply glared at the hanyou for a moment, reluctant to share such information, but he let out a small sigh and answered anyway.

 

“That is because Shingi-sama is the acting Lord of the West while I am off hunting Naraku. He is the only one I trust with either task.” He hesitated in speaking of his uncle, but he knew Inuyasha would eventually remember him on his own. “And Shingi-sama is this Sesshomaru's uncle, the only youkai at the castle that does not have a natural hatred of humans, and happens to like children. He was your retainer for a short time, Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened, as did everyone else's, but everyone's attention was drawn to Kagome when she gasped.

 

“The well!”

 

~*~*~

 

Duo had been reluctant to tell the others what had happened. He figured that whatever happened on the other side of the well had to be real if Rin was there, still dressed in her traditional clothing and speaking with an old Japanese dialect. Most of the nurses at the local hospital thought she was adorable because of it.

 

He had only managed to hold off the questions until the next morning. He had been kept awake for the rest of the night, but the doctors still wanted to keep him awake until the afternoon, so the others used that time to grill Duo for answers. Rin stayed by his side the whole time and aided him in telling the story. The girl knew more of the background information than he did, after all. The reactions he received were mixed.

 

Sally thought he had brain damage, which only served stress Duo out as he tried to explain things further. Quatre wasn't quite sure he believed the story, but he was being supportive of his friend none-the-less, and Trowa had just kept silent and stoic. Heero was skeptical, but held his tongue. The most surprising reaction was Wufei's, because it was one of understanding.

 

“So… you're saying you actually believe me?”

 

“I'm saying the events are a possibility. My clan, the Dragon Clan, has passed down stories of our ancestors having great powers, odd un-humanlike appearances, and even ties to real dragons for centuries.”

 

“But the traveling from one time to another? With the use of an old well?” Quatre was trying to remain the voice of reason.

 

“The well house was located on land that at one time used to be a shrine. The shrine itself and the house that the family used to live in were destroyed during a skirmish before the Eve Wars.”

 

They didn't push the issue or bring it up with the doctors. Sally wanted him to get a psych evaluation before he came back to the office, but after the head trauma he had received it was basic policy anyway. Little did she know, he wasn't planning on going back to the office. In the few days he had spent in the feudal era, the people intrigued him, and there was a challenge there. Plus, he felt bad about just dropping Rin off back in the past and leaving again.

 

Duo hadn't been the only one to grow fond of the little girl. Heero, as Duo's partner, had stayed in Japan while Duo was in the hospital and whenever young Rin couldn't be with the braided man she was in Heero's charge. Rin took to him quickly, as he reminded her of her Sesshomaru-sama when he kept his cold, seemingly emotionless mask, but whenever they were alone he was warm and caring, just as her Duo-sama was.

 

Rin found there were a lot of similarities between her Duo-sama's pack and those from her time. Duo-sama was warm and caring, just like Kagome-san was; Heero-sama could be cold and calculating with others, just like her Sesshomaru-sama; Wufei-sama could be cold as well, but his outbursts mostly reminded her of Inuyasha-san; Quatre-san was open with his emotions while still being strong, just like Shingi-sama; and Trowa-san just seemed so emotionless and quiet, yet the he seemed the least threatening out of all of them. She had decided he was most like one of Sesshomaru-sama's generals, General Onwanaka-san.

 

Duo had only been in the hospital for three days total, and after that he stayed close to the park where the well was located, young Rin staying with him. Wufei and Heero had also stayed, but the other's left, having business to attend to back home. Duo had spent his days outside of the hospital grilling Wufei on his ancestry and wondering if he could possibly come from a family that were once youkai. Duo decided he wanted to go back, for as long as he could, but he knew if he tried to sneak away the others wouldn't let him, so he approached Wufei about it while Heero was occupying Rin at the park.

 

“I want to try and take Rin back.”

 

“Do you think the well will let you both back through?”

 

“I can only hope. And if it does, I'm not sure it'll let me come back right away. The times seem to run at the same rate, so I'll be able to tell how much time has passed here.”

 

“I'm worried about you, and you know Heero will be, too. It's not guaranteed that the others stayed close to the well waiting for you. You said it seemed wild, dangerous.”

 

“We were the cream of the crop warriors in two wars, and that was just as teenagers. And besides, I'm 3/4ths youkai there.”

 

They paused to smile as Heero complained. He was being covered in flowers by young Rin and making faces at her as her peels of laughter reached them from across the field. Their silence was broken when Wufei sighed.

 

“We aren't going to be able to stop you, are we?”

 

“No. I'll see to it that Rin is back home and safe, where she belongs.”

 

“What are you taking with you? You should be careful with bringing certain items and technologies.”

 

“Kagome is from the future, too, and she brings enough strange things, but I'll be careful. I think I'll dress the part this time with a yukata. You know, the nice ones the people wear to the festivals here.”

 

Wufei just smiled and shook his head. He still didn't like Duo and the girl going alone, but he would have to talk to Heero first. He had a feeling the Japanese man would be even more upset about it than he was. He was pulled from his thoughts by a soft elbow to the ribs.

 

“Hey, you two ever think about adopting? Heero's good with kids, and you probably hide a soft spot for children under that warrior attitude of yours.”

 

Wufei scowled and the smirking American, only earning himself a chuckle.

 

~*~*~

 

Duo was dressed in a black yukata with silver and blue dog wood flowers printed here and there across the fabric. He had a plain black obi with his precious sword at his hip and traditional sandals. His hair was in its typical braid and lay over his shoulder. Rin was standing off to his right with her small hand clasped in his. She was wearing a new kimono of her own in pink and white. She had been delighted with it when she saw it. Duo had a small pack slung over his shoulder filled with a few primitive supplies, figuring he could forage or hunt for anything else they'd need. Or steal it if there was a town or village near by.

 

He had managed to get the well house door propped back open without much trouble when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. They were loud, almost too loud, and Duo figured it was done deliberately. He turned once the footsteps stopped and saw two very familiar faces. He sighed.

 

“I knew you two weren't going to let us leave alone.”

 

“Heero-sama? Wufei-sama? Are you coming with us?” Rin clapped when they nodded in response. “Rin is happy! You get to meet my Sesshomaru-sama!”

 

Heero was dressed in a plain blue yukata with a white obi, a small dagger tucking into the material. He was otherwise weaponless, as Wufei had previously wrestled his gun away from him. Wufei was wearing his usual white pants, a black tank top, and white Chinese styled over shirt with his usual black slipper-shoes. His saber was at his hip.

 

“Like I'd leave you to get yourself in trouble again. We're coming to watch over you, and drag you back if need be. It's my duty as your partner after all.”

 

“How does Une feel about losing three of her top Agents?”

 

“The onna will have to deal with it. She knows we take care of our own first and foremost.”

 

Duo smirked and turned back to the well house walking through the door and being careful of the old weak brick wall.

 

“Well, let's get on with our little adventure than.”

 

They situated themselves carefully around the well, Rin securely in Duo's hold and the pack he had been carrying in Heero's. They looked over one another briefly before they all jumped into the small well.

 

~*~*~

 

Sesshomaru had arrived at the well first and growled when he saw a Riyuu (1) youkai standing outside the well, looking down. He sensed the others coming up behind him, but they were keeping quiet, waiting to see who had managed to pass through the well.

 

A black bag was tossed up out of the well into the hands of the Riyuu, who slung it over his shoulder and stepped back. Then another figure jumped out of the well. It was another male, an Ookami (2) youkai it seemed. They were dressed to suit the time, though the Riyuu's clothing was a bit odd. Then the Ookami reached into the well and when he stood upright he was holding a small girl-child. When the girl's scent reached Sesshomaru he growled.

 

“Rin.” He started forward as the Ookami moved back from the well and placed the girl back on the ground, taking her hand. He drew Tokijin and ignored the shout he heard from his half brother's woman. He brought his sword down towards the Ookami, but it was blocked by another figure. Fury swirled in the deep violet eyes that met his golden ones. He allowed the other to push his sword back once he recognized him.

 

“I bring your ward back to you, safe and cared for, and you attack one of my pack? Not very noble of you, Sesshomaru-sama.”

 

Gold eyes flicked to the Riyuu and Ookami. Both were in a defensive stance, though the Riyuu had his hand on the hilt of his weapon, while it seemed that the Ookami was unarmed. The Riyuu had a small line of black scales across his right cheek, while the Ookami's face was unmarked. They were both full youkai, but it was easy to see the Ookami was the Alpha in this pack. His observations were broken by a shout of his name, his eyes flicking toward is ward.

 

“Sesshomaru-sama! Rin is so happy to see you again!” She hugged one of his legs as his large clawed hand rested carefully on her head. He turned his attention back towards Duo, giving as close to a thank you as the Kitsune was going to get.

 

“This Sesshomaru is relieved Rin is back safe.”

 

Duo simply smiled; he understood how Sesshomaru thought and knew what he had really meant. He didn't spend the ten years after the wars getting some of quietest and withdrawn people he'd ever known to open up without learning how to speak their silent language while he was at it. Inuyasha and the others had approached by this point and the Inu hanyou was the first to speak.

 

“So you decided to come back. Didn't think you'd want to. You heading back now, or are you and your pack staying?”

 

Duo raised a brow. “Why wouldn't I want to come back? I had to bring Rin back after all, and make sure she got back to Sesshomaru-sama safely. And it's not my pack, it's his.” He pointed his thumb towards Heero, who had calmed to his traditional emotionless mask and perfect posture.

 

“And we're staying for a bit, if only to annoy you a little longer.” Duo smiled, the expression full of mischief. Heero wasn't too surprised to hear Duo name him as the pack leader. They had actively done so during the wars so there wouldn't be any confusion when final orders were given in battle. That, and they had all seemed to treat him as though he were the Alpha anyway. He took the position with pride, but made sure to show the others that he thought of them as equals, especially Wufei.

 

“Well, then it's settled. We'll head to the village, introduce ourselves, and settle in for the night before deciding where we'll go from here.” It was Kagome that had spoken, and Wufei almost expected the Alpha Inu hanyou, as his heightened sense had told him, to protest the orders given by the woman, but he simply agreed. Duo glanced back to Heero as Wufei flicked his gaze towards his lover. When the Japanese man nodded they followed the group back to the village.

 

(1) Riyuu - Dragon (as you might have guessed)

(2) Ookami - Wolf

The more detailed explanation for how they are able to pass through the well and change is coming up. Sorry if this chapter is a bit slow. Needed to deal with the set up. And please review, I like knowing you enjoy the story.