InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ How Do We Learn to Love the Ones We Hate? ❯ Return to the Takashi Lands ( Chapter 15 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I own absolutely no characters created by Rumiko Takahashi; as much as I wish I was brilliant enough to come up with these characters, but I did not. This goes for everything but the ideas. A lot are spin-offs of different ideas in the story, but others are completely off the charts for weirdness and/or are not related to Takahashi's work at all.

Return to the Takashi Lands

(As if the title didn't give away the plot of this chapter, jeez)

Kagome looked down at the cluster of odds and ends at the bottom of the well. Because she couldn't get back and the well seemed to be only one-way, she assumed that one of the things that had come through the well had to have opened the passage.

“Now what?” Akane's penny-pinching sister, Nabiki, asked. She was standing back, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, clearly bored.

“Is it open sugar?” Ranma's second fiancé, Ukyo asked her, edging closer to Ranma as she spoke.

“Well, just in case the well is open now, good bye to all of you, and thank you for all that you've done.” Kagome bowed deeply.

“If you can, come back, ok?” Kasumi asked, her normal smile shining through the blue battle aura seeping off of Akane because of Ukyo draping herself on Ranma. Ranma looked terrified at the moment, and Kagome didn't blame him in the least.

“I will.” Kagome promised, and walked over to the well. She smiled one last time at her new friends before jumping over the side of the well.

Kagome closed her eyes, peaking through them slightly to see the blue light again. I'm coming Inuyasha, don't you dare do anything stupid!

Only to come in contact with the ground way too soon.

Kagome shook her head, trying to get the ringing out of her ears that was there thanks to her contact with the ground. “Huh?” she said out loud.

“Kagome?” Akane called.

Akane? Kagome pounded her fist against the ground. “Damn it!” she screamed.

“Kagome?” Ranma and Akane asked again, leaning over the side of the well. Kagome lunged for the vines on the side of the well and heaved herself up, nearly plowing Ranma over in the process as she stomped back over to the storybook of Chikurin and Tenma.

“Well that was exciting.” Nabiki rolled her eyes.

Takashi Lands

“But Kagome---!”

“Mother, I love Bankotsu.” Fukuhon told Kagome's mother. “Besides, Inuyasha and I signed a treaty. We will not start any wars.” She smiled, putting on her proudest face.

“But…” Lady Higurashi didn't have a good argument for that. The reason that her daughter and Inuyasha had gotten engaged in the first place was to end the wars, so if the wars would end anyways, there wasn't a reason that her daughter shouldn't be happy.

“When did this happen Kagome? I mean, you and Inuyasha seemed so happy together…”

“I thought that would be what you wanted mother. Anyway, Inuyasha is happy with Kikyo now, and I'm more than happy with Bankotsu. There is nothing for you to worry about.” She smiled and left the room quietly.

“What is it Lady Higurashi?” Yuka asked, approaching her with Eri by her side.

“She just… seems so different.” Lady Higurashi whispered, mostly to herself. “I don't know, it's probably nothing, or that Bankotsu has changed her. It's nothing, you're excused girls.”

“Thank you ma'am.” The girls said together, bowing in unison and walking off to the servants' dining hall.

The only thing is… Inuyasha doesn't seem too happy at all with Kikyo, like he's putting on a brave face.

“Lady Higurashi! Lady Higurashi!” Eri cried, running back into the room as fast as she could go.

“What?” Lady Higurashi asked, not too terribly excited because of the girls' usual reactions to every day situations.

“One of the maids watering the garden was just watching Inuyasha and Kikyo, they got engaged!” Eri wailed.

Tendo Palace

“Ranma's my fiancé!” Ukyo yelled, giving Ranma's arm a sharp yank.

“Is my groom!” Shampoo yelled back, wrenching on Ranma's other arm. Meanwhile, Ranma was paralyzed with pain and fear that Akane would stomp over the ten feet distance between them and beat him to a bloody pulp.

Kagome growled. How the hell was she supposed to find a way through the well if she couldn't even hear herself think?! Meanwhile, Akane's battle aura was about to burn up the pages of the book and that wasn't helping in the slightest.

“Ranma! How dare you defile my Shampoo?!” Mousse screamed, jumping through the open window in the great hall and attacking a chair.

“Ranma! Fight me!” Ryoga demanded, blasting another hole through another wall. (Or to be precise, the wall opposite the one he had smashed through a few days earlier. Which, by the way, still had the hole in it.)

Ranma jumped and dodged the two females who were brawling with each other, and Ryoga and now Mousse, who was attacking Ryoga, thinking it was Ranma.

Kagome sighed. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not kill. She told herself over and over again. Especially when the one you want to kill is your host.

But she nearly lost it when Mousse knocked over another vase and drenched everyone. Ranma-chan went flying around the room with Shampoo-cat on her back, destroying everything. Mousse-duck and P-chan were chasing them, both intent on killing Ranma, and Ukyo wasn't far behind them at all.

“How do you get any rest around here?!” Kagome barked, a half rhetorical but half meaningful question.

“It isn't easy, believe me.” Akane growled.

“Mrrrrrow.”

Kagome blinked. “Did Ranma just… meow?” she turned in her chair.

Everyone in the room was frozen. No one moved but Ranma, who sank into a crouch, Shampoo-cat still attached to her face.

“Rrrrrrrow.” She murred.

Mousse took off as a duck the second Shampoo detached herself and Ryoga ran up the stairs to Akane's feet. And Genma-panda held up a sign reading: Run for your lives! before dashing from the room with Soun right on his tail.

“Wait for me Saotome!” Soun wailed.

“Ranma honey?” Ukyo extended her hand, approaching Ranma slowly, only to have Ranma hiss at her.

“What's wrong with her?” Kagome asked, backing away slowly. Demons transforming wasn't exactly uncommon, per say, but Ranma was 100% human. (Even if he was half girl.)

Ranma looked around and spotted Akane. Akane!

Akane held out her hand slowly. “Here kitty kitty kitty, come here Ranma.”

Ranma bounded towards her mate, but another scent caught her attention and she came to a skidding halt, looking directly at Kagome.

“Ranma?” Akane asked warily, looking from Kagome to Ranma and back.

Ranma stepped towards Kagome and hissed. You have no business here. This is my territory, dog.

“What's with him this time?” Nabiki asked nonchalantly, taking a bread roll off the table as she walked into the room.

“I don't know, he's not responding to me!” Akane said, almost desperately.

“It was only a matter of time before he snapped.” Nabiki pointed out, though it was not even close to the point. She whipped out a small calculator next. “Now Mousse, about that vase…” she said almost evilly.

“Ranma!” Akane said more forcefully.

Ranma looked back at her mate. She's afraid of the she-dog! You will pay for scaring her! Ranma hissed violently, lunging at Kagome.

“Ranma!” Akane yelled again as Kagome screamed, diving out of the way. Ranma's… claws, if you would call them that, shredded the floor as she dug them into the wood, stopping herself and turning back to Kagome.

“Well this is new.” Nabiki said around the roll in her mouth.

“Ranma, stop it!” Akane yelled, getting in between Kagome and Ranma. “Here kitty kitty kitty!” she waved Ranma toward her.

She doesn't want me hurt. Ranma mewed at Akane, trying to tell her that she would be fine, but looked around Akane as Kagome stood. Look out Akane! She lunged around Akane again.

Kagome screamed again and threw her hands up, pooling as much spiritual power in them as she could possible muster, creating a barrier that sent Ranma flying back into the wall.

“This is also new.” Nabiki noted around another bite.

“Ranma, stop!” Akane yelled, waving to Ranma, who had her claws in the wall, 26 feet up in the air.

“Oh my.” Kasumi smiled. “He's quite a talented boy, isn't he?”

“…If you say so, sis.” Nabiki shrugged. “Hey, who did you say Kagome's boyfriend was?”

“Inuyasha! And he's my fiancé!” Kagome screamed, seriously miffed now. She wanted to get through that well, not fight a host for god's sake!!

“Inu, as in… dog?” Nabiki asked.

“Dog?” Akane repeated, looking at Ranma.

“She thinks I'm a dog?!” Kagome shrieked, truly pissed off now. The light purple-blue barrier in the shape of a bubble thickened and started to glow as her anger grew.

Ranma dove at Kagome again, determined to protect Akane and shredded Kagome's barrier , leaving her wide open with wisps of spiritual remains of a barrier scattered around the room.

“Ranma honey!”

“Ranma!” Akane and Ukyo called at the same time in desperation.

Kagome's voice locked up as Ranma surged toward her, she couldn't move. Inuyasha!

Takashi Lands

Inuyasha's ears twitched up and he looked around almost frantically.

“Inuyasha, what is it honey?” Kikyo asked sweetly, touching his arm lightly.

“…Nothing.” He said slowly. Someone just called my name. He looked over the horizon at the setting sun.

Kikyo's brow furrowed as she followed his gaze. Why is he looking in the direction of the Bone Eater's Well?

Tendo Palace

“Hmm?” Nabiki blinked, finally interested in something besides the costs of the fight.

Kagome stood, facing Ranma, Ranma now limping from an unusually large gash in her arm.

“Kagome?” Akane asked.

Kagome held up her hand again, it glowed light blue, the tip of the aura sharpened like the tip of a sword. If Ranma comes any closer, I'm not holding back anymore. Kikyo will not get Inuyasha and I will not die and let her.

Kagome didn't look any different, and she wasn't acting any different, but what scared Akane was the volume of spiritual power that had suddenly begun gushing out of Kagome, as if she'd had a hidden well of power and the dam had been broken by Ranma's attack, and although the thought of all that power was scary enough, what scared Akane the most was that Ranma seemed to be the target of all that power.

Ranma hissed again and began circling Kagome. Kagome's chocolate eyes followed, and the spiritual power that had been collected in her hand seemed to rearrange itself. It morphed and bubbled until finally taking the form of a bow. Kagome brought her hand up to where she would normally draw back the arrow and closed her fingers around where the feathers would normally be. She drew back her hand and as she pulled, an arrow evolved from collected spiritual power by the string of the bow.

“Yyyyowwrr.” Ranma warned Kagome to leave his territory one last time.

“Akane, is there anyway to snap her out of this?” Kagome asked.

Akane blinked. “Kasumi, will you get me some hot water?” she whispered, barely able to get any sound out of her parched throat. Ranma was in serious danger. That power could kill full grown demons, it would demolish Ranma even before it reached her.

“Of course!” Kasumi called, running back into the kitchen.

“Ranma, don't do anything!” Akane called, running to her room. If the water didn't work, then this would snap Ranma out of her bad temper.

Kagome finally registered what she was holding. When… since when do I have this much power?

Kasumi came trotting back in with a kettle of boiling hot water and passed it to Akane who had just come back from her room holding some catnip.

“Ranma!” Akane yelled, yanking the top off of the kettle and throwing the water right into Ranma's face.

“IIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!” Ranma screamed, flying twenty feet into the air and straight through the roof.

“You stupid tomboy! Why'd you do that?!” Ranma yelled, poking his head back through the hole.

“Who's stupid?!” Akane yelled back, whipping the kettle into his face.

Kagome stood like a metal man in an ice storm, completely unmoving. Ok, relax, I just magnified my power by at least 100 times … no big deal, right? And it can take shapes, not a big deal at all. She told herself, squeezing her eyes shut tight.

“Kagome?” Kasumi asked, approaching her cautiously.

“I think I'm ok.” Kagome said calmly, letting the feeling of tranquility wash over her, she didn't want to do anything rash that she would regret later.

Kagome lowered her hands and let the bow rest at her side, then she cut off the deluging power emitting from her soul until the bow disappeared.

“What just happened?” Nabiki asked chewing on another bite of bread, bored again.

“I-I don't know.” Kagome shook her head slowly. “I'm going to go… get some air.” She said, stumbling towards the doors. It was hard to hold in all that power, like gauze trying to hold back the yellow river during the flooding season.

She ran as soon as the door shut behind her. The wind blowing in her hair and the wet, dewy grass under her shoes help to cool her mind a little, and she soon found that her soul was adjusting beautifully to the amount of new power in her.

She held up her hand, staring at her palm, where traces of purifying energy still danced and sparked across her palm.

It… took on the shape of a.. bow. Kagome held her hand up to the sun so she could get look at it better and unhindered some of the power inside of her. The blue energy pooled and spouted, falling back to her palm even though her palm was facing the ground, and soon she had more than enough power to take on that form of the bow.

She held her hand out and concentrated, picturing the bow she had at home in her hand, and the energy in her hand exploded outward, snapping back into the form of a bow. She grasped the handle and twisted her hand curiously, the bow moved with her. She brought her finger up and plinked on the bowstring a few times, finding the note it played enchanting.

She grasped the air right beside the bowstring and pulled back cautiously. An arrow emerged slowly from the air, as if she was pulling it from an invisible bag. Kagome drew her hand back to her ear so the arrow was completely visible and aimed it at a tree leaf, releasing the arrow from her grip.

It exploded from the bowstring in a display of sky-blue light and shot through the trees. Kagome blinked, trying to rid the spots from her eyes and looked for the arrow. She spied it forty feet away.

The arrow had speared the leaf she had aimed for, but had contained so much power inside it, that it had sliced right through the tree and embedded itself halfway in another tree. Kagome walked over to it and pulled it from the tree surprisingly easily, but as she held it, the power flowed back into her and the arrow disappeared.

But what if I'm attacked? Maybe it can take on other forms?

Kagome held her hand up and furrowed her brow. The bow melted and pooled back into her palm, soaking back into her skin when she closed the barrier in her soul, stopping the flow of power.

She looked at her palm and thought of Koga's armor as she pressed it to her chest. The power poured from her palm and cascaded over her shoulders and waist, finally solidifying to become a chest plate of armor with a blue tint. It covered her shoulder blades and wrapped around her torso the way a tunic would. The armor by her hips was in small rectangular plates that were not connected. It reached to her knees, but was disconnected so that she could still be mobile enough to run.

Kagome's forearm was wrapped in armor that also covered the backs of her hands, but while testing the mobility she had, she discovered that the armor on the back of her hand was not connected to her wrist armor, giving her as much ability to move as she'd had before she'd created the armor.

“Now, to test it.” She looked around for a suitable tree and stepped up to it. Remembering the weapon her hand had held when she was fighting Ranma, something a lot like Suikotsu's claws from the band of seven and slashed, the talons forming and slicing the tree in two.

Kagome gulped as the tree cracked and snapped with the weight, but despite all of her instincts telling her to dive to the side, she held her breath and stayed stationary.

And if the armor isn't strong enough? What then moron? The voice in her head criticized.

Then… I'm sorry Inuyasha. She returned and closed her eyes.

Takashi Lands

Inuyasha stood staring down at the decorations for the wedding from the balcony in his room. He felt bad about Kikyo postponing Shippo and Rin's wedding for theirs, but Kikyo was Kikyo. He could learn to live with it, it wasn't a big flaw.

His ears snapped up as someone called his name again, and even though he could see Bankotsu and Kagome sitting in the garden together, smiling sweetly, he was positive that it was Kagome's voice.

Damn it! What's going on?

I'll tell you what's going on. The voice in his head snapped. You agreed to marry a devil in woman's clothing because she looked like Kagome. Today! You're getting married to her today!

Don't say her name. He growled.

I'll say it as many times as I want! Besides, don't you want to hear it? You lo---

I do not, now shut up! He considered smacking himself in the head to try to get himself to shut up, but he didn't want Kagome to get any satisfaction from the way he acted, especially because it was over her.

He stomped back inside as Bankotsu leaned down to kiss Kagome, already sickened as it was.

Bankotsu peaked up at the balcony and leaned back, sighing as he did.

“What?” Fukuhon joked, putting on a mock-devastated face. “I'm not a good kisser?”

“That isn't it.” He growled.

“I was kidding.” She confessed, letting go of his arm and leaning back against the bench. She sighed. “We're good, he bought it hook, line and sinker.” She glanced back up to the balcony where Inuyasha had stomped away.

“Well, he is an idiot.” Bankotsu chuckled.

“Lady Kagome! Lady Kagome!” Yuka yelled, careening towards her with Eri right on her tail. Shippo looked over from where he was standing with Rin, his ear rotating slightly to hear the conversation better.

“Yes?” Kagome stood.

“We couldn't find your mother, so we came to you!” Eri huffed, she'd been running for a while.

“We found where Ayame is!” Yuka reported. Shippo looked over in horror.

“What is it?” Rin asked, her stomach now eleven and a half months out of her twelve-month pregnancy duration. She was big to say the least. He shushed her, desperate to hear the rest.

“You did, huh?” Bankotsu stood. It would be better to get rid of as many of them as we could before the fight…

“And?” Kagome pressed.

“We would like your orders ma'am!” Eri saluted.

“We have them surrounded, how should we proceed?” Yuka asked.

Good, they're asking Kagome, so Ayame and Koga will be free of charges---

“Please carry on with my mothers orders.” Kagome said suddenly. “I've come to realize that I was wrong, and everyone that is a danger to me should be eliminated, just like enemies.” She smiled.

Sango's breath was stuck in her throat as she listened to the conversation from behind on of the walls of the maze. If I go out and try to convince Fukuhon not to do that, it isn't revealing whom she is, right? I have to stop her!

Sango prepared to step out from the bush when a small sound from behind her stopped her.

“Ahem.”

Sango turned slowly to see Kikyo standing menacingly behind her in her wedding dress for tonight, an obnoxiously large wasp perched on her raised finger.

“I wouldn't.” Kikyo warned. “One more step and your brother's dead, and your sister's next on the hit list.”

Sango clenched her teeth. Would they ever let up?

“You're never alone.” Kikyo answered her unasked question, smirking wickedly. “We wont even let you out of out sights for a second. Whether Fukuhon's watching you, or me, or my brother, who by the way, is in the band of seven. But you will always be watched.”

Sango unclenched her teeth, defeated, until she saw a flash of purple from behind the corner of the maze that Kikyo hadn't noticed.

I can let him know! She thought ecstatically. “You can't marry him, he still loves Kagome! Even if that Fukuhon demon is in Kagome's place, I will stop you somehow!” she threatened, hoping that Miroku would hear everything.

“You can't, unless you want to lose your brother.” Kikyo laughed. “Remember Sango, he is always under watch, and more importantly, under the watch of my brother Hakudoshi.”

“Hakudoshi?” Sango repeated, turning to Bankotsu. “You lied about his name too?”

“No, you haven't met Hakudoshi.” Kikyo shook her head. “But I promise you, he's just as merciless as Bankotsu. One word from the Saimyosho, and poor Kohaku's history.”

“Any more siblings you want to let me know about?” Sango snapped.

“Quite a few, actually.” Kikyo laughed. “First, there's my uncle Muso, my father's twin brother. For children, I'll tell you in order of age. First is Bankotsu, then me, my sister Kagura, my twin brothers Juromaru and Kageromaru, then Hakudoshi, my sister Kanna and my baby brother Shouni.” (Note: Shouni is the infant. Shouni means infant, gee I wonder why? Hee hee.)

“Big family.” Sango mocked. “You ever forget about anyone?”

“No, and a big family is good for battles and taking over kingdoms.” Kikyo hinted.

“You mean…” Sango realized in horror.

“Yes, after the marriage, and maybe after an heir is born, maybe, then the Takashis and the Higurashis will be no more. And you know, I think we'll have to get rid of the Rumikos while we're at it. We don't want and Sango disciples running around.”

“You…” Sango seethed. Please go warn them monk!

Sango almost screamed as six more of those Saimyosho landed on her, binding her arms by her side and covering her mouth, then one placed its stinger at her neck.

“I wouldn't go anywhere Miroku.” Kikyo said calmly, catching them both off guard. Sango tried to scream for him to run, but he slowly walked back and stood behind Kikyo.

“We could get rid of the Rumiko children right now…” Kikyo warned. “Weren't you taught that it isn't nice to eavesdrop?”

She doesn't think I tried to tell him? Sango thought in relief.

“Forgive me.” Miroku said as politely as he could. “You knew I was there the whole time?”

“The Saimyosho are very good for keeping watch over the area. You can go stand by her.” Kikyo pointed.

Miroku, no, run! Sango tried to scream, but nothing came out. The Saimyosho was almost cutting off her air, screw her voice as long as she could breathe. Miroku stood over by her, and carefully peeled the Saimyosho from her mouth.

“You'll be fine.” He told her, smiling gently.

Kikyo waved them over and they released Sango, flying over to hover above Kikyo.

“I'm getting married tonight, and I don't expect any interruptions, is that clear?” Kikyo warned.

Sango and Miroku nodded reluctantly and Kikyo smirked wider.

Meanwhile

How could Kagome do that? She and Ayame were best friends since she was two! Shippo ran as fast as he could while keeping as quiet as he could. He blessed his nose again for being able to follow Koga and Ayame's scent without having to wait for those damned, slow humans.

There! Shippo picked up the pace as he caught Koga's scent. They're close.

He ran faster, if possible, when his demon ears picked up the sounds of the… battle, they were fighting.

He heard the crack of a whip and Ayame scream Koga's name.

Demon whips? They were recent inventions. They looked like ordinary whips, but when they came in contact with a demon, the roped the demon like a lasso and were unbelievably strong for a human invention.

He leapt into the clearing, landing on guards' head and kicking a few into trees.

“Shippo?” Ayame asked, dodging some of the demon whips.

“Ayame, run!” Shippo yelled, avoiding the whips while knocking more guards out.

“Lord Shippo? He's gone mad---oomph!” a guard yelled before he was knocked unconscious.

“I can't leave you!” Ayame protested.

“Ayame go!” Shippo yelled more forcefully, cursing as the tip of a whip his arm and stick there.

“I---” Ayame yelled again.

“Ayame, bodyguards' code!” Koga yelled, his torso was bound with a demon whip, but his legs were still as useful as ever.

Ayame bit her lip, but took of into the trees.

“Hey, get her!” a guard yelled, but Koga knocked him out before he could take one step.

“Code?” Shippo repeated.

“You ordered her to go.” Koga explained.

“Ah.” Shippo rebounded off a tree trunk to take out six more guards at once.

“Why are you here? You'll be marked a traitor!” Koga yelled suddenly.

“Something's wrong, seriously wrong.” Shippo said between kicks and punches. “Kagome ordered the death of Ayame just now---”

“What?!” Koga yelled.

“---and she recently ended her engagement to Inuyasha to marry Bankotsu, not only that but Inuyasha's now with Kikyo because she looks like Kagome, Sango acts like she's being watched, and Miroku's always looking out for Sango like she's in danger.” Shippo continued.

“Jeez! We leave for a few months and the whole world falls apart!” Koga snapped.

“But I think that something's really wrong with Kagome, and we need your help.” Shippo said, cursing again as another demon whip snapped against his back and stuck there. “The wedding's tonight, you two have to come help!”

“Fine, and that's the last.” Koga said triumphantly as the last guard fell. “Ayame.” He called, and she stepped out from behind a tree no more than ten feet away.

“I thought I told you to run!” Shippo barked. “What if you'd been caught?! Their orders were to kill you!”

“You told me to run.” Ayame corrected him. “And I did, to the other side of that tree.” She pointed over her shoulder.

“Whatever, let's just go.” Koga said and took off through the trees, pulling off the whips using tree branches as he ran, Shippo and Ayame right behind him. “That damn mutt can't live his life without killing himself if I'm not there.” He muttered. “Damn puppy.”

Meanwhile

Kagome rubbed her chest, walking back to the Tendo's palace, her armor dissolving as she cut off the flow of power. The tree would leave an impressive bruise on her chest, but the armor had completely protected her otherwise.

“Kagome!” Akane called, walking towards her. She was trying her best to ignore Shampoo and Ukyo fighting over Ranma, and then Mousse and Ryoga fighting Ranma simultaneously.

Kagome saw red as she looked beyond them, where the well was sitting, almost mocking her. She didn't know she was walking until she passed Akane.

“Kagome?” Akane asked.

Kagome walked right up to Ranma, and Akane thought she was going to break them up, but Kagome walked right over Ranma.

“Ouch.” Ranma croaked, his face in the dirt and footprints leading up his back.

“What priestess-girl doing?” Shampoo asked and Kagome stood on the edge of the well.

This is all your fault. Inuyasha's going to die, and I can't get through---

“---because of you!” she screamed, the bow bursting from her hand. Kagome drew back her hand and let the arrow fly so fast that she didn't even see the Shikon Jewel fall from her pocket until it had hit the bottom of the well, and when Kagome's arrow connected with the floor of the well, the jewel glowed do bright that Kagome had to shield her eyes with her arm.

The explosion that followed sent her flying backwards, straight into Ranma's arms.

“Ranma…” Akane said dangerously and Ranma quickly dropped Kagome.

“Don't drop her!” Akane screamed, pointing at the spot where Kagome was on the ground.

Had been.

“Where…?” Akane looked around, finding Kagome looking over the edge of the well.

The jewel is gone… Kagome's brow furrowed.

“Sugar?” Ukyo asked, approaching her slowly.

Kagome took a deep breath and threw herself over the side of the well.

“Ranma, go get her.” Akane sighed.

“Uh, she's not here…” Ukyo said slowly.

“What stupid spatula-girl mean?” Shampoo asked, walking over to the well with everyone else.

“I mean what I say, you thick-skulled, Amazon bimbo!” Ukyo yelled, pointing to the bottom of the well. It was completely empty.

“It opened?” Akane asked. Ranma quickly grabbed her arm, thinking that she was leaning too far, but let go before anyone noticed. He didn't need another fight with Ryoga over Akane right now.

“Well, was nice knowing priestess-girl.” Shampoo turned to go.

“But she said someone was trying to get rid of her…” Ranma said slowly.

“We can't just let her go by herself.” Akane protested.

“So what? You're going to follow her?” Ukyo asked, clearly disapproving.

Akane shook her head in disapproval and stood. “Of course.” She said and jumped over the side of the well, holding her skirt down as she fell, disappearing in a flash of blue light.

“Akane!” Ranma yelled, jumping in after her without a second thought.

“Akane!” Ryoga yelled, following quickly behind.

“Ranma-honey!”

“Airen!” Shampoo and Ukyo yelled, jumping in after Ranma.

“Shampoo!” Mousse yelled, following as the last flash of blue light.

Meanwhile

“Do you two young men, take these two lovely young women to be your lawfully wedded wives, through sickness and through health---”

Inuyasha drowned the rest of the minister's words out, thinking. What am I doing? He asked himself.

You can still leave.

I can't, it might start a war. He told himself.

“I do.” Bankotsu said.

“Inuyasha.” Kikyo shook his arm after a minute.

“Oh, um… I-I do.” He looked at Kikyo, almost frowning as he did. She was pretty, but…

She's not Kagome. The voice in his head finished.

Shut up! Just shut up!

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Inuyasha gulped and reached down, drawing back her veil and revealing her smiling face. He leaned down and her lips puckered.

Stop, I need to stop! He shouted at himself, panicking as they both leaned toward each other.

“STOP!”

Everyone looked up and gasped.

I know, cliffhanger, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it! I've always wanted to do a major cliffhanger at least once!