InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding My Heart ❯ A Drop at the Well ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Disclaimer: Nope I don't own em.
Chapter 4- A Drop at the Well
Kagome yawned as she drove on the busy road to work. She had decided in the morning that Sesshoumaru wasn't worth losing her job over and would try to catch him after work. She felt more awake than she did most mornings, Buyo obviously did help with her sleep. As Kagome turned into the parking lot she noticed Ayumi standing outside the doors of the building. Kagome turned the shiny black car off and flattened her mid-length black skirt as she got out and locked the doors.
“Kagome-chan! You came! Are you alright? Are you sure you should be outside in your condition?” Ayumi asked as she drew closer to Kagome.
Kagome was struck dumbfounded by all the questions, she had to think for a second to answer them. “What condition? I feel better today.” She replied with a cheerful smile. Although her back still hurt a little, she felt really healthy and aware.
“That's great because the most important presentation of the year is today.” Ayumi said as she grabbed Kagome's arm and pulled her into the building.
Kagome pulled her arm away, slightly shocked of what her bestfriend just told her. “What?! When are we presenting?” She asked, her voice full of panic.
“In two hours. So you have to get up to your office and get everything ready.” Ayumi said pushing her friend into the elevator.
Kagome felt like pretending she had one of those many illnesses her Grandpa use to tell her friends in highschool so she wouldn't have to do the presentation. She had totally forgotten about the presentation. Her mind had been so caught up with InuYasha, the sword, and Sesshoumaru that she hadn't given any thought to work. `Luckily everything has been prepared about a week ago but I never looked over it and got mentally prepared.' She thought as the elevator ascended towards the top floor.
“Kagome don't be so nervous. You're II Daro's best employee.” Ayumi tried to reassure her friend that she'd do fine.
“Why didn't you remind me last night? And what would they do if I did stay home sick today?” Kagome asked. She felt her eye twitching while she looked at Ayumi.
Ayumi stopped smiling when she saw Kagome's eye twitch. “Ah...I forgot about it too until Rakki-sama told me this morning. If you were sick then I would've told them and they would have to re-schedule it. She replied with a fake smile.
“Oh I guess it just came so fast.” Kagome said. The elevator stopped and they both walked out and headed to Kagome's office, hearing a plentiful amount of `good lucks' from the workers who passed by them.
“Okay you can help me recite and organize everything Ayumi-chan.” Kagome said as she flicked through papers.
“Sure, anything to help Kagome-chan.” Ayumi answered.
Both Kagome and Ayumi got the presentation ready within two hours and Kagome would find her mind wondering back to the feudal era and Sesshoumaru but then Ayumi would bring her out of her daze.
`You can do it Kagome! I mean you are the highest employee here.' She told herself on the way to the presentation room. When she entered the room she felt butterflies in her stomach, looking at the people lined up on either side of the long tables of polished wood.
“Kagome-sama, you may present to us your marvelous idea.” Rakki said and sat down in the chair closest to her.
Kagome began presenting, her voice a little jittery from nervousness but soon enough flew right through it like a pro. When she was finished people congratulated her and shook her hand.
“Well done Kagome-chan! I knew you could do it!” Ayumi said with a big smile on her face as they walked out of the room.
“Kagome-sama you deserve an early lunch break. You can go to lunch now if you wish.” Rakki said, pleased with Kagome's work.
“Great! Thank you Rakki-sama!” Kagome said, her eyes shining. `I guess all that hard work paid off. I'm glad I did decide to come to work today.' She thought and headed for the elevator. “Time to get some fresh air.” She said to herself. Once she made it out of the doors her thoughts trailed from her successful presentation to Sesshoumaru. She wanted to see him again and ask him if he could help her find out what happened to InuYasha. Although she did fear him she still felt she needed his help. `The bank is not that far. I'll walk to it this time.' She thought, knowing she had an extra long lunch break and began to head in the direction of the bank.
`I think there is only one way to find out what happened and that is probably to go down the well. I haven't gone down the well since the day we defeated Naraku. I don't even know if the well will let me pass through anymore.' Kagome thought as she walked down the street. She was a little scared at the thought of returning to the feudal era. There were many questions she couldn't answer. If she returned, what time in the feudal era would she return to? Would InuYasha be there? Would Naraku be alive? Many questions such as those ran through her mind.
“Kagome.”
“Ah!” She yelped at the sudden jolt out of her daydreaming. She turned around to find Sesshoumaru standing behind her. She had been so deep in thought that she didn't realize she walked onto the bank's parking lot. “Uhh... sorry I was just thinking.” She apologized for what she was not really sure of.
Sesshoumaru stared down at her and could not only smell but see the slight fear in her face. “Why have you come?” He asked.
“Umm... Sesshoumaru? Oh I mean Lord Sesshoumaru?” She said, hating to have to call this stiff emotionless demon a Lord. “I can't stop thinking of the sword and what may have happened and I guess I came to say that I would like you to help me find out.” She said hoping it wouldn't anger him.
Sesshoumaru just let out a little grunt and looked away from her.
“Hey don't look away from me. I'm talking to you!” Kagome yelled and pointed a finger at him.
Sesshoumaru instantly glared back at her, resisting the urge to punish her for yelling at him.
Kagome pulled back her finger and looked at the ground when he glared at her, remembering what he had done to her the last time she got angry with him. “Aren't you just a little curious as to why the Tetsusaiga is here in a sword shop and what happened to InuYasha?” She said trying to convince him.
Sesshoumaru watched her, almost pleading below him. Once again he saw her, the little girl of his past. He remembered the dream he had last night; Rin rode peacefully at his side on Au-Un. She was smiling and singing, teasing Jaken who walked behind him annoyed at Rin. He looked back at Rin and she gave him a warming smile and he slightly smiled back at her. It was like his life was back to the way it was suppose to be. The way he wished it could be. He wouldn't say it and had a hard time admitting it to himself but he missed Rin a lot.
Kagome looked at him and realized that he wasn't even looking at her at that moment. He was looking at someone else. “Sesshoumaru?”
Sesshoumaru came out of his muse. “I will help. But only on one condition.” He said hating that he had given in to a mere human but he wanted to see Rin again.
`Wow that was easy. It doesn't seem like it was me who convinced him to help though. Oh well it doesn't matter what made him want to help but that he is.' Kagome thought her face lit up when he said he would help. “Okay what condition?” She asked hoping it wouldn't be too vile.
“You must do whatever I say.” He demanded instead of answering.
“What! That's not fair! Why should I have to listen to you?” Kagome yelled all of a sudden. `Oops, I have to stop doing that.' She thought, forgetting once again who she was really talking to.
Sesshoumaru glared daggers at her and began to turn around.
“Hey wait! Okay I will do what you say.” She said and watched Sesshoumaru stop. `I hope I'm not going to regret saying that.' She thought, hoping what he told her to do wasn't bad. “But the only way we can find out what happened is by going through the well.” She said to his back.
Sesshoumaru turned his head slightly to look at her. Yes, now he remembered. He sometimes would see Kagome jump into the Bone Eater's well in the woods of InuYasha and she would come back out of the well a few days later with a full yellow backpack. That's how she got to the feudal era. Kagome had a chance of still being able to pass through it but Sesshoumaru had no chance. Demons couldn't pass through the well unless they had some connection with the jewel shard or had power over time.
“I'm not sure if I can pass through it anymore. It might be impossible for both of us to get through.” Kagome said more to herself than to Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru turned to face her, finding himself getting more interested with the mention of the well and Shikon no Tama. It had been several years since he had had any excitement. “How do you suggest we get through then?” He asked unsure of how she even passed through before.
“Well see the thing about that is....I don't know.” Kagome answered looking at Sesshoumaru. “Maybe I could still get through.”
“Where is this well?” Sesshoumaru asked.
“At my families shrine.” She answered. Kagome found herself getting excited. She almost felt as if this was a start to another adventure except with a demon Lord that she feared.
“Where is that at?” He asked.
“Well it's not some place you can just fly to if you don't know where it is so how about we drive.” Kagome offered, not wanting to fly incase she got lost in some woods with him.
“Drive?” Sesshoumaru said more as a question.
“Yes, don't tell me you don't have a car or even driven one?” Kagome questioned almost ready to laugh at him. She held back her laugh and asked, “ So what do you do for transportation, fly?” She asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded. His face still held no emotion but on the inside he couldn't wait to get to this `well.'
“Oh ...well let's walk back to my car then.” She said and started walking back up the street.
Sesshoumaru followed behind her quietly the entire way. Once they made it to Kagome's car they took off towards the shrine. Kagome forgot all about work while her mind was set on getting through the well.
“What is that?” Sesshoumaru asked as he put his hand up by a vent in front of him.
“It's the air conditioner.” Kagome answered. `He's lived here for many years but it's like he's still half in the feudal era in the mind. “It gives out cold air on hot days so you can stay cool while driving.” She added to help his confusion.
Sesshoumaru tried moving his legs away from the vent. They were beginning to freeze from the air hitting them. His long legs were cramped up from the lack of space he had to put them.
Kagome watched from the corner of her eye as Sesshoumaru fidgeted and moved his legs. “You know you can reach for the lever under the seat to let your legs have some room.” She said wanting to laugh again at his lack of knowledge of these everyday things everyone knew about.
Sesshoumaru looked at her with a clueless look on his face and then reached under the seat and pulled a lever, his seat moved back to the farthest it could go which let his long legs have some room.
Kagome found he was quite a distraction while she was driving. Not only would he not stop moving but he was also very handsome. Sometimes she would find herself just wanting to take another glance at his face.
“We're here!” She said excited to get to see her family along with going to the well. She parked on the sidewalk and told Sesshoumaru how to open the door. `He has obviously never been in a car before.' She said to herself and locked the doors with the remote on her keychain. “The shrine is up these steps.” She said and began walking up the steps with Sesshoumaru behind her.
Once they got up the steps Kagome smiled when she saw Souta running towards her.
“Kagome! It's been awhile since I seen you!” Souta said and gave Kagome a hug then eyed Sesshoumaru. “Who's he?” Souta whispered.
“I'll tell you later.” Kagome replied. “Where's mom?” She asked looking around.
“In the house.” Souta answered.
The miko and youkai followed Souta to the house.
“Hi mom!” Kagome said with a smile.
“Kagome you never said you were visiting?” Her mother said and put down the knife she was chopping celery with. “It's good to see you. How's Buyo doing?” She asked smiling at her daughter and wondering who the tall man is.
“Buyo's great, he helped me get a good sleep last night.” Kagome replied. “Mom I'm sorry we just dropped by but we came here to go to the well.” She said hoping she wouldn't have to explain that this was Sesshoumaru yet.
“Oh okay dear that's fine. Go ahead, you don't need our permission.” Her mother said and looked at both of them before continuing to cut the celery.
“Thanks mom.” Kagome said and headed out the door and towards the well.
Sesshoumaru examined everything around him and picked up many different scents, one that seemed very familiar. As they drew closer to the well house the familiar scent grew stronger and he walked ahead of Kagome.
Kagome watched Sesshoumaru, his nose slightly pointing up in the air and eyes staring at the doors to the well house.
Sesshoumaru opened the doors and walked down the stairs. The old well was there with a seal of wood over it.
`Granpa.' Kagome thought when she saw the well was sealed and it had a few of her grandfather's spells on it.
“This is the well?” Sesshoumaru asked Kagome. He knew the scent, it was the smell of the woods of InuYasha.
“This is it.” Kagome said now getting slightly nervous, wondering what would happen if she did get through.
Sesshoumaru moved closer and with a swift kick he broke the wooden seal and the pieces of wood fell to the bottom.
Kagome looked down and could still recognize a few bones that had been there when she traveled through two years ago. Kagome looked over at Sesshoumaru. He was peering into the well intently. She watched when he all of a sudden jumped down. “Sesshoumaru!” Kagome yelled not sure what was going to happen to him. Sesshoumaru landed on his feet at the bottom and looked around. “I knew he wouldn't be able to. It must be nice to land on your feet so gracefully. I'll end up on my ass.” She said to herself.
Sesshoumaru grunted in anger and jumped out of the well in one leap. He had hoped that someway he could get through.
“Well I guess it's my turn to try.” Kagome said and looked down it again. “Why did you have to break that wood? Now I'm going to land on it and get hurt.” She said wishing she didn't have to jump.
“Just go.” Sesshoumaru said in a demanding tone that said, `or else I'll push you.'
“Here it goes.” Kagome said and leapt into the well. She then hit the ground with her feet and fell on her bottom with the force of the fall. It felt weird, there wasn't any blue glow surrounding her and taking her to see InuYasha and her friends like it use to. A hint of sadness filled her heart as her life in the feudal era came back to her. She missed her friends and little Shippou. `I have to find a way to get through.' She thought and stood up.
Sesshoumaru waited for her while she climbed back up. `If we both can't get through then maybe there is a way that we both could get through.' He thought, wondering how they could get through. “What is it that let you pass through before?” He asked not looking at the girl.
“I'm pretty sure it was the jewel shards. Since I had the jewel shards it meant I was still connected to the other world.” She answered not realizing she had her fingers up where the jewel use to hand around her neck.
“Something that kept you connected with the feudal era.” Sesshoumaru said deep in thought. The jewel was completed, so what else could connect them to that era? `Tetsusaiga.' Sesshoumaru thought. `Tetsusaiga is part of that era.'
“Sesshoumaru what are you thinking?” Kagome asked.
“I think Tetsusaiga could get us through.” Sesshoumaru said.
“But how will we get the Tetsusaiga and if we do, it still might not work.” Kagome replied.
“I thought you wanted to know what happened to your friends.” Sesshoumaru said looking at her.
“I do.”
“Then do you want to try it or not.” Sesshoumaru said. Even if Kagome decided not to try he was going to try without her. Now that he knew the passageway to the feudal era he wouldn't give up until he could get through. Just thinking of getting out of this world and back to his rightful place when demons roamed the earth made him happy.
“I do want to try it!” Kagome said not liking the idea of getting the Tetsusaiga from the sword shop and it being so close to Sesshoumaru. At one time Sesshoumaru would've killed to get his hands on Tetsusaiga but then he gave up when he found Toukijin. `Toukijin!' “Sesshoumaru don't you still have Toukijin?” She asked.
“I do but Toukijin belongs to me and I now belong in this era which means the sword does too so I don't think it would work.” He answered and began to walk out of the well house.
“But how do you intend to get Tetsusaiga? You can't even touch it remember.” Kagome said.
“You look pretty well off and I'm not poor either so we could try buying it.” Sesshoumaru answered and kept walking. “Who says I can't touch it now?” Sesshoumaru said with grin on his face as he held up his left arm.
`Oh God maybe this isn't a good idea. But ...how did he get another arm?' She wondered.
Sesshoumaru stopped and waited for Kagome, then grabbed her waist and took off into the air.
“Hey wait are we going to the shop now?! And how did you get another arm.” Kagome hollered questions at him hundreds of feet high in the air.
“I thought you would've known the answer to that priestess.” Sesshoumaru said.
`What does he mean? Oh wait with technology these days he could've had a fake arm put in at a hospital.' She thought. `I don't like the thought of Tetsusaiga in his hands.' She thought getting mental pictures of Sesshoumaru killing and slicing everything around him with an abnormally large Tetsusaiga. “Oooh.” She wined in fear of what was going to happen when they got to the sword shop.