InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Take ❯ The Mission Begins ( Chapter 8 )

My only excuse: I’m a slacker, pure and simple. *Sigh* I’m sorry. I hope you’re still reading. *smile* I love you guys!!Double Take
Chapter 8: The BeginsAnubis_Himura

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“Kirara, start bringing us down.” Sango instructed, the fire-cat did as told.

The ride to Kaede’s had been very silent; everyone was confused, in one way or another. Inuyasha had taken off his Halloween costume ears, leaving them at Sango’s, and Kagome’s costume accessories were removed as well; besides their costume clothing they looked as human as ever.

Kirara settled down next to a small hut and everyone jumped off. “Thanks Kirara.” Sango said to Kirara as she turned back into her smaller form. Kaede heard Sango’s voice and went outside to investigate.

“Child, what are ye doing here?” She asked, looking at the group quizzically.

“Kaede –“

“Grandma.” Kagome said before she could stop herself.

“Excuse me?” Kaede looked at her, as though deciding what to make of her.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that, you look a great deal like… someone I know.”

“What is going on here?” Kaede looked to Sango and Miroku for answers, noticing immediately that Inuyasha and Kagome were not themselves.

“It’s a long story Miss Kaede. Allow us to explain.”

“Come in children.” Kaede ushered them in and prepared for a long story.

~

“The future eh?” Kaede asked the group nodded uniformly. “The bone eaters well.” She muttered.

“The what?” Inuyasha asked.

“The bone eaters well.” Kagome said. “I’ve heard of that. My grandfather, he always talks about demons and the Feudal Era. The bone eater’s well… they used to throw the corpses of demons in it right?”

“Yes child; but, the well has a much more dignified purpose. The well is what you may call mystical. It had great powers, beyond our comprehension. Now ye say ye traveled through the well? And Inuyasha and Kagome are on the other side? And ye cannot get back through. This is trouble.”

“You can help us, right Lady Kaede?” Inuyasha asked the desperation in his voice clear.

“I don’t know child. I don’t know.”

~

Kagome opened her eyes lazily. She had never had a more comfortable nights sleep. She stretched and looked around the room. Confusion hit her briefly before her brain reminded her of her situation. She was somehow in a strange land that she did not recognize. She looked beside her to see Inuyasha, still fast asleep. She smiled at him, rubbing his ears softly. He made a small noise of happiness and subconsciously leaned into her touch.

Kagome looked around the room. It was clean, and neat. She wondered if her and this other Kagome were anything alike at all. Kagome was already trying to figure out how to get home. I am rational, calm and collected… I wonder if that other Kagome is the same way. How is she holding up? If they figure out how to get back before we do, then could we go back the same way? Kagome sighed heavily, she did not like being in strange situations.

Kagome quietly got off the bed, making sure Inuyasha was still asleep. She was going to go investigate the well more closely. She opened the window and saw the well house sitting peacefully in the morning light. Kagome jumped into the nearby tree and then jumped onto the ground, landing gracefully and barely making a sound. She went into the well house, sniffing and searching all around the well. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, but she knew if it was there she would sense it.

Kagome had searched well into mid morning. The household was now awake; she could hear the excited clamor coming from her ‘mother’ in the kitchen as she entertained Tai and Izayoi. She expected Inuyasha to come and search her out any second. She sat on the edge of the well, feeling completely hopeless.

“Where are you from?” the voice was an elderly man that Kagome recognized immediately as the grandfather.

With a sense of frustration building up Kagome gave up on the charade. She didn’t care if these people knew she was someone else, maybe they could help her to get home.

“I am Kagome from a time far different than this. I am from but there are few houses, few towns. The lights we use are torches and candles, we do not have switches that provide light. There are demons, and Hanyou’s and humans, and they coexist with little peace; but… I just want to go home.” Kagome turned to the old man, her expression exhausted and depleted.

Sal had considered purifying the demons, but he was glad now that he had not. “Kaede has a charm that will bewitch you to appear human. Now that Halloween is over it does not make sense for you to have pointy ears and a tail.” Sal smiled and was joined by Kaede.

“Be sure to give the other one to Inuyasha.” Kaede said, smiling kindly to Kagome.

Kagome nodded, donning the necklace Kaede had handed her. A blue light floated around her and she felt like a hook was tugging her skyward from her naval. Kagome fought the urge to loose the contents of her stomach. Slowly she felt as though she were landing, it was then that she realized her feet had never left the ground in the first place. She exhaled forcefully, as though she were just learning how to breathe. Her lungs felt smaller somehow, she felt weaker. Kagome collapsed to her knees, trying to ignore her depleted senses. She could no longer smell Inuyasha, sleeping calmly two stories up and a hundred yards away. She could not define every tree, flower, and person in the surrounding area. Her enhanced hearing was diminished as well. She could hear her own heart beating loudly in her chest, but she could no longer understand every word her mother was saying, she could no longer hear the sounds of the mysterious world around her. She felt more scared now than she had before. She felt defenseless and helpless.

What if this was what they wanted? Kagome asked herself. Now that my senses are gone and I am weak, maybe… will they try to kill us? Are they hostile? As though reading her thoughts she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was Kaede. Kagome looked into the older woman’s kind eyes.

“I can only imagine the shock you are feeling. It will get easier. We will help you find your home.” Kaede stood back up, walking back in to the house with Sal. Kagome was thankful. She needed a moment to realize what had happened. She allowed a small smile of hope to reach her… these people do not mean to harm… they mean only to help. Kagome stood on shaky legs and she made her way back to the room. She tried to jump through the window, before she realized she could barely jump a foot off the ground, never mind trying to leap an entire story. She sighed… this is going to take some getting use to. She walked into the house, smiling at everyone that she passed. She quickly made her escape and returned to Kagome’s room… her room. The notation still made her dizzy.

Inuyasha was awake, he seemed concerned. “Kagome, you’re okay. I felt something, like you were in trouble.” He took in her appearance and it dawned on him what he was looking at… his mate was human.

“What… what did… why?”

Kagome knew that Inuyasha loved her, and she knew that Inuyasha had nothing against humans, heck she even knew that she was still the same Kagome… but she felt ashamed, embarrassed almost, at being human.

“Inuyasha, Kaede has a concealing charm… I’m wearing it. It is so that we can stay here and not be… persecuted.”

“Well, we’re not going to be here much longer.” Inuyasha said confidently. “And I’m not concealing my power… what if I need to protect you? Feh. I can’t do it as a human.”

“But you won’t need to protect me. This land is not as dangerous. Please… wear the charm.” Kagome handed him the necklace. The pinkish beads shown brightly and Inuyasha stared at them skeptically.

“A stupid rosary is supposed to make me look human?” he asked. Kagome nodded. “Feh.” Inuyasha gave no reason for his sudden acceptance of the charm, as he slid it over his neck Kagome watched the blue light swirl around him, and she pictured the sensations he must be feeling… that she had felt.

Inuyasha was breathing heavily as the light stopped. He looked around as though trying to hear something, or sense something. Then he seemed to accept it. After all, once a month he was human anyway… he was used to feeling vulnerable and weak… he hated it.

“Inuyasha… we’re human.” Kagome said, stating the obvious. Inuyasha nodded back at her. Kagome rushed in to his arms, trying to hold back the tears.

Kagome too had a night of weakness, when she was human until sunrise. But she always slept through the night, knowing Inuyasha would protect her… she never really thought about her vanished senses much. What happens, now that we are both defenseless? Kagome had never felt this out of place, this scared and lost.

“It’s okay Kagome. Even as a human, I will protect you no matter what.” Inuyasha kissed the top of her head and she felt comfort in his presence. “I love you.” He whispered. Inuyasha rarely said those words, and they were a treasure to hear. Kagome smiled.

“I love you too.”

~~

Kagome stared intently at Kaede… she had been silent for a long time, gazing at the fire as though the answer might pop out of the flames. Kagome’s patience was wearing out. Finally, after at least an hour of silence, Kaede broke it.

“I have a solution.”

Kagome smiled, “You know how we can get home?”

“No.” Kagome’s smile faded. “But I know someone who knows far more than I do. Tai Yi Min.”

“On the mainland Kaede?” Miroku asked.

“Aye.” Kaede nodded.

“But… the journey would take months.” Sango interjected.

“And even if they got to the mainland, they would have to find this Tai Yi Min.”

“Aye.” Kaede seemed solemn. “But Tai is the only person I can think of that would know the solution to this problem. After all, was it not his ancestors that created the well, and bewitched it?”

“But Kaede. Tai Yi Min is a myth. What if the person does not exist?” Miroku asked.

“It is a risk going there.” Kaede admitted. “But I have no other solution.”

Kagome looked at Inuyasha and he shrugged, not knowing what to think or do. “I’ll go.” He said. “I will find Tai Yi Min and I will find a way for Kagome and I to get home.”

“And you won’t do it alone, because I’ll do everything I can to help.” Kagome agreed.

“You’ll need navigation.” Sango said, “And I have to admit I have a pretty good sense of direction. I’m in.”

“Well, if any evil attacks you, you’ll need a priest.” Miroku chime in. “Guess you need me too.” He smiled to the group.

“Well you can’t leave me behind.” Shippo said, “So I’m coming too.”

Inuyasha looked at the group curiously. “Do people of your times always risk their lives for people they don’t know?” he asked.

“No. But even if you’re just their reincarnations, you are our best friends.” Sango said. “We want you to find your way home, and hopefully make sure Inuyasha and Kagome get home too.”

“Thank you.” Kagome felt as though she would cry.

“You should start your journey first thing in the morning. It will take a long time to get to ”

~~