InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Infinite Possibilities ❯ Strange New World ( Chapter 2 )

WL1031: Alright, folks. We're back with chapter 2!

Jade: And we got 4 reviews at FF.net! YES! Also, 2 review at AFF.net!

WL1031: I know I read them and got a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Jade: Actually, you looked sort of goofy. *laughs and runs offstage*

WL1031: *sighs* Don't mind her, people. She only knows that goofy look because she's got it on her face all the time. And now, here's the disclaimer. *points to a sign behind her.* By the way, reviewer responses are at the end of the chapter.



Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter Universe. It is the fabulous brainchild of J.K. Rowling. Nor do I own the Inu Yasha Universe, which is the baby of Rumiko Takahashi. So don't sue!




Infinite Possibilities
Chapter 2: Strange New World



An old well sat in the middle of a very dense forest. It was surrounded by foliage, the mass of greenish brown vines curling around and into the mouth of the well. To any artistic eye, this scene would have been just right for a beautiful woodland painting. However; this was not the case. The well sat in the middle of a dark and dank patch of woods, a place teeming with strange wildlife and even deadlier plants. It was definitely not the place for the faint of heart.

The Forbidden Forest surrounding the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a very dangerous place to be. Extremely hostile plants and animals were ready to do a person in at the slightest moment, ready to defend themselves from a perceived threat. Many people often died or went missing in the dense growth, never to be seen again. The ones who did make it out alive were either very brave or just lucky that some benevolent and caring deity granted them safe passage.

A blue light could be seen emanating from the well before it fell dark again. Lying at the bottom of the well, Kagome was instantly aware that this well was in some kind of forested area. The menacing looking trees and sounds swaying over and down into the well were much different from those of the Feudal Era, not at all like the quiet and friendly trees of InuYasha's Forest. Letting out a breath, Kagome sat up and prepared to climb out of the well. Shippou jumped onto her shoulder as she placed a foot and hand on the vines growing down into the well. However, they both screamed when the seemingly listless plants began to wind around them. Any struggle was soon realized to be a waste, finally understanding that the vines were lifting them out of the well and not trying to suffocate them. Kagome and Shippou were gently placed on the ground next to the well-from which they quickly backed away from, only to see a set of bow and arrows to be placed down a few moments later.

Shippou looked at his adopted mother with fear on his face. Even though he was a youkai, he was very afraid of the sounds that were resonating in the clearing around them. He had never heard such noises before in his life and the look on Kagome's face told him that she had not either. Instinctively, she tightened her arms around the little cub, her mothering instincts jumping into overdrive.

"I think that we should get out of here, Shippou." She said, turning her eyes to different points around them. She was searching for whatever was causing her miko energy to radiate along her nerves. "There's something out there and we need to leave now."

"So do I, Kagome. It's really scary out here!" Shippou was also feeling a strange sense running through his body-the last loud growling pushed him over the edge. It was coming closer and closer, sounding nowhere near close to being friendly. Staring at each other in fright, both decided to make a run for it.

"Quick, grab my bow and arrows!" Kagome said, as she straightened the bag on her back. She held out her arm, allowing Shippou to climb to her shoulder.

As they escaped through the sweeping branches and gnarling bushes of the forest, Shippou couldn't help but feel that where ever they had landed, this strange new world, it definitely wasn't any place they'd been to before.




`A strange new world, indeed…' he thought.

Turning on his side, the man lounged in the big silk covered bed. He had woken an hour before feeling slightly anxious. It was a gnawing sensation that prickled at his conscious until his eyes snapped open. Looking through the curtains that draped around the bed, he saw that it was still night time. The moonlight bathed his body with an ethereal glow; a virtual angel in the form of a human.

Sighing at the fact that sleep would no longer come, the man got out of bed. It wasn't like actually he needed to sleep; on the contrary, a few hours of dozing didn't hurt every once and a while. Walking towards the window, the man stood silently and watched the expanse of lawn outside of his window. He could see lights in the distance, the street buzzing with the sounds and movements of the irritating humans moving about. Living so close to them was an annoyance, but he lived with it. It wasn't like he could just go around killing them-although it wouldn't hurt to be rid of a few of them-it would be nice if they would just shut the fuck up. Out of all the houses he had in the world, this one was by far the noisiest.

Flexing his claws, Sesshoumaru smirked at the thought of silencing his bothersome neighbors-after five hundred years, humans were still an irritant to him. Still, it wouldn't do to draw attention to himself. Turning away from the window, he silently made his way downstairs to his den. Just as he reached the door, a quiet humming noise touched his senses. He ignored it for a moment because it went away as quickly as it came. Stepping into the room, the sensation assaulted him again. Glancing towards the wall, his eyes narrowed.

"It couldn't be." His thought being spoken out loud, he moved closer to the wall. Mounted on the wall were the three swords of his past. The Tetsusaiga was glowing in a bright white; the Tensaiga emitting a pale blue color, while only the handle of the Toukijin remained. It had been a long time since he had held any of these swords, maybe close to one hundred years; the last time he had been in Japan. Reaching up, he placed a clawed hand on the grip of the Tetsusaiga. It began to beat in time with his heart beat, the strange humming he felt under his skin reminding him of…

Suddenly, there was a flash from the sword and for a moment he could not see. The next thing he knew, the sword was in his hand. His mind was assaulted with memories of the past; the Feudal Era when Inuyasha was alive and her… that woman-child that intrigued him to no end. Kagome… the brave little miko who completed the jewel after Naraku was defeated. His brave little miko… More memories flew through his mind as he tightened his grip on the sword handle. The first time he saw her; the way she smelled when he got close; how she treated his daughter Rin and her little fox cub; the smile she wore when he agreed that they would be friends…all of them pleasant memories. Then, the next batch of images flooded his mind right to the moment when she disappeared from his sight.




Flashback

Kagome held the completed Shikon no Tama in the palm of her hands. It was glowing softly in pink, the ugly blackness of the jewel purified away. This should have been a happy moment, but it was not. Inuyasha was dead, having been killed by Kikyo. Miroku and Sango had been injured, as well as Kouga, but they would all live. Turning away from the scene before her, Kagome walked to sit under an old tree. Shippou jumped and cuddled into her arms, noticing the sadness radiating from his mother. He tried to cheer her up and she patted his tail gratefully.

"What are you going to do, Kagome?"

Kagome sighed and tears blurred her vision. "I don't know, Shippou. I have not a clue what to do with the jewel nor do I know what to wish for. Our friends are hurt and Kohaku and Inuyasha are dead. Sesshoumaru tried to use the sword to revive them, but it would only work on Kohaku." The tears were sliding down her cheeks now, having burst from her eyes. "I-I just don't know, Shippou!" Curling her head into his soft fur, the two cried together.




Moments earlier, Sesshoumaru knelt next to Inuyasha as he was dying. He watched as his brother struggled to breathe, fighting to live even as the undead miko's arrow poisoned his body. Kagome cried as she also knelt behind Inuyasha, having placed his head on her lap. He reached up a bloodied claw to her cheek, wiping away a few tears that had escaped from her sad eyes.

"Don't cry, Kagome," his raged voice whispered. "I don't want you to suffer and hold on to me when I am gone." He wearily turned his eyes towards his brother. "Sesshoumaru, I don't hate you anymore. I don't blame you for anything now. You…you are…" He suddenly grabbed the sword by his side. "Brother… I… I want you to have the sword…to protect Rin…take it…" He let out a deep breathe and closed his eyes. "I love you… Kagome…"

"No! No, Inuyasha!" Kagome leaned down and tried to shake the life back into him. A rusty laugh met her efforts. His eyes lifted open.

"Kagome… I have to…it is time." Inuyasha smiled, his bloody lips creasing upwards in a true grin of happiness. "Sango and Miroku will be happy…tell them to live… and Wimpy Wolf… Ayame is waiting for him…Shippou…th-that little runt was my son… Sesshou… my brother… live for me…try to… smile…" Inuyasha took a deep breathe and then exhaled, his head turning to the side. His eyes drifted shut for the last time.

Kagome let out a cry of pain, the loss of her friend breaking her heart. Getting up, Sesshoumaru left the sword on the ground next to his brother and Kagome. The Tensaiga at his side was dormant, completely ignoring his wish to revive his brother.

"Sesshoumaru, please! Use your sword to revive him!" She turned her red rimmed eyes up to him in desperation. "Do something!"

But he only stood silently. For one sharp moment pain reflected in his eyes. "The sword will not allow it. It is dormant."

"No, don't say that!" Kagome's voice got louder as the desperation began to build. "Onegai, please use the sword! DO SOMETHING!"

"I can not do anything. The sword has chosen to let him die." He pulled the sword from its sheath. "It was what he wanted. I can not use the sword on those who wish to die. It would be unnatural."

"Then I will use the jewel! I will use the jewel to bring him back! The jewel-"

A bright pulse of energy flashed from the Tetsusaiga. It lifted off of the ground and floated before Inuyasha's body. It throbbed for a moment and then drifted to hover in front of Sesshoumaru. A strong wind began to whip around them as the blade began to glow with its power. A voice whispered along the path of the wind.

Take it…

For the first time in his life, Sesshoumaru hesitated. Would the sword really be his?

Take it… the Tetsusaiga is yours, brother…

He reached out his hand. The winds shifted and he wondered if his hand would be burned like it was the last time.

Take it…

He placed his hand around the hilt of the pulsing sword and waited for it to burn him.

Nothing happened. The sword immediately stopped pulsing and the high winds stopped. It was as if nothing had happened.

"Sesshoumaru…" Kagome stared at the tall demon, tearstained face tipped up towards his. "I-"

"Kagome," Shippou said as he ran to his mother. Tears were on his face as well. "Inuyasha… is he…" Kagome nodded and he burst into tears. Taking in a deep shuddering breath, she set Inuyasha's body on the ground. Gathering the tiny kitsune in her arms, she moved back from the cooling body.

"The Goshinbuko… we should put him there." Sesshoumaru nodded, putting the now silent fang in his belt. He picked up his brother and signaled for the others to follow as he made his way to the burial place.




Sometime later, Kagome sat with Shippou under another old tree. Ruffling the sleeping child's small fluffy tail under her hands, she thought about what she should do with the jewel. It was already complete and it shimmered softly whenever she put her hands around it. Currently, the jewel hung from a chain around her neck, the same chain that Kikyo had broken months before. Sighing, she looked down at the small round stone, turning it over and over in her soft hands. Raising her eyes, she watched as Sango and Miroku sat next to each other as Kohaku played with the small child, Rin. She saw Jaken grumbling to Ah-Un as it ate the grass and shrubs around its feet. A sleeping Kouga was lounging in the shade under another tree, Kirara in her larger form wrapping her tail around him. Finally, her eyes drifted to Sesshoumaru. He stood tall and quiet against another tree, lounging like some kind of beautiful god come down from his celestial home. His eyes and hair glinted in the moonlight as he held his body completely still. Then, he moved towards her coming to a stop before her. Contemplating her for a moment, he tilted his head to the side as he watched her. Then he kneeled in front of her; his eyes never broke contact from her own.

"I don't know what I am going to do," she sighed. "I want to go home, but I feel like I am needed here." She looked fondly down at Shippou as he cuddled closer to her warmth. "It would not be fair or right for me to wish selfishly-where would that leave all of you?" Tears slid down her cheeks again, but she wiped them away in frustration and sadness.

"You must wish for what will put your heart at ease," was all that Sesshoumaru said.

"But…" the jewel began to shimmer in a soft pink light. What will put my heart at ease?

Happiness… a voice said.

N-nani?

Happiness….wish for their happiness to gain your own…

But…

Happiness… it said as the voice faded into her mind.

The bright pink light of the jewel grew until it enveloped Kagome. She now understood. The others noticed and came to see what was happening. They all stood in awe of the light around their friend-they could only imagine what was about to happen.

"I want all of you to be happy," she said, holding up her hand before any of them could speak. "It would be the most wonderful thing for all of you to be happy, that you would have peace in your lives."

"Kagome, what are you trying to sa-" Sango asked, tears gathering in her eyes. Miroku put his arm around her shoulder.

"I want all of you to be happy." Kagome smiled sadly. "I wish for all of you to find joy and peace and happiness in your lives."

Suddenly, the pink light grew to envelope all of them casting a pleasant feeling. Then it receded back into the area around Kagome. At first nothing happened, and then the pink light grew fainter-but she was growing fainter with it.

"Lady Kagome!" Miroku gasped. "You are fading away!"

Kouga shoved his way to the front of the circle. "No! You can't go! I need you!"

Kagome smiled sadly. "There is someone waiting for you… she was there all along." She looked at all of her friends in turn, her eyes lingering on them as she tried to imprint their faces on her brain. She settled on Sesshoumaru last, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I will see you again…"

Seconds later, Kagome along with her yellow backpack, bicycle and the sleeping Shippou were gone.

End Flashback



I will see you again…

Her voice echoed into his mind again as his hand tightened around the Tetsusaiga. The blade pulsed again and this time he felt another presence within the light. It was a kind and gentle presence that reminded him of…her. The fang beat and he was enveloped in the bright light. Soon, he could hear the beat of another, causing him to turn around. Now, the Tensaiga was glowing brighter than when he stepped into the room-he grabbed that one as well.

I will see you again…

Now, he knew that it was true. He would see her again. He didn't know how, but he knew the swords would lead him to her.

"I will see you again."




Finally coming to what seemed to be the edge of the dark forest, Kagome made a break for the clearing in front of her. She could see a castle of some sort and the distinct sound of voices echoing in…English? She didn't spend much time contemplating why they were speaking in a foreign language or where she was as she ran. Gripping Shippou tighter, she sped across the grass towards the group.

"Kagome… those things are back! We have to get away!" Shippou said, panicking. "Where are we going to go?"

Just as Kagome was about to answer, the sound of screams erupted into the air. The people she could see in the distance were scrambling to get away as the floating demons swooped around them. Shouts could be heard and flashes were seen and they seemed to chase the demons away. But, it wasn't enough. They kept coming, more of them swooping down trying to suck the lives out of the people.

Sliding to a stop on the wet grass, Kagome put Shippou and the heavy backpack down. Immediately, Shippou began shooting the fox fire on to the demons behind them until there were no more. Soon, they began to drift to the people in front of them, starting to dive onto those who had managed to get away from the first round. Picking up her bow and arrows, Kagome took aim and let the arrow fly. It shot off like a pink comet, the energy around it growing larger and larger as it got closer to the evil beings.

The demons howled as they were purified in the beautiful pink light.



The sixth and seventh year students were out on special permission after curfew. Tonight was the night of a beautiful meteor shower as well as the last night to see the summer constellations before the new moon. It was a calm and clear night, perfect for watching the celestial display.

Ron Weaseley covered a huge yawn with his textbook. He tried to keep the others from seeing it, but soon everybody else was yawning. Lavender Brown glared at her boyfriend, yawned herself and then smacked him around the ears.

"Hey, what did you do that for?" Ron yelped, holding his recently boxed ear.

Lavender narrowed her eyes. "For yawning, you git. Now everybody else is doing it, too." Both of them turned their heads at the sound of laughter.

Hermione Granger shook her head at the couple. "You two fight like some old married couple. It's only been a year, not fifty!" She laughed and then squealed when a pair of hands tickled her sides. "Harry! I can't breathe!" A soft laugh followed her exclamation.

Harry Potter wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. "I couldn't resist, you know." His emerald eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He stared into the toffee brown eyes that always made him feel like he was home; the one constant in his life. Hermione smiled.

"Oh, is that right?" Her cute little grin turned decidedly wicked-the complete opposite of the shy bookworm that she was. Harry nodded, entranced. "Well then, I have something for you."

"And what's that, dear?" Harry whispered, leaning closer.

"It's something really good. It's the best thing in the whole wide world."

"Yeah? Well, I'd like to see it sometime…"

Hermione raised her wand behind his head. "Oh yeah… I've got it right here!"

Suddenly, a shot of ice ran down the back of Harry's shirt. He yelped as the cold touched his skin, bouncing from side to side to get it out. Hermione laughed as did Ginny Weaseley and Neville Longbottom.

"She got you there, mate. It's the quiet ones that get you all the time." Ginny said as she poked the pink-cheeked boy in the side.

"Okay children, enough of the fun and games." The new astronomy teacher, Professor Astralis Noctu, came to the head of the group. She was a dark-haired slender woman of medium height with olive skin and vivid violet eyes. "Now, please direct your eyes to the southern sky. There we should see the beginnings of the meteor show-" She gasped at what she saw in the sky.

"Dementors!" Someone screamed.

A flurry of activity burst from the small group as many began running and ducking, as they tried to get away from the diving evil beings. Shouts of magical incantations to ward of the dark creatures, followed by the flashes of magic from numerous wands.

Harry shot off another round of magic. The large stag stomped around, taking out dementors with its great antlers as it swept them to the side. Hermione and Ron fired their own rounds of "Expecto Patronum" which were pushing the floating monsters back and away from the crowd. But, it wasn't enough; more of the dementors were flying down from the sky as if they had multiplied out of nowhere.

"They keep coming!" Ginny said as she shot out another round. "They're coming from out of nowhere and we can't fight them off." Not paying attention, she was pulled down by Neville as a dementor launched an attack from behind. Rolling to the side, they got up and ran to the others.

Lavender dodged to the left as one of them tried to get her on the side. Skipping back, she jumped and then ran as she saw one giving chase to Ron. "Ron, watch out!" Right when he was about to dodge out of the way, he slipped on a patch of wet grass. Before the dementor could move in for the kill, a mass of pink energy surrounded by what looked to be an arrow flew through the unsuspecting creature. It completely dissolved on contact, causing a howl of pain to erupt into the air.

Everyone turned to the direction of the arrow. Nobody had ever seen anything like that; apparently, the dementors hadn't either. They saw a girl with a bow and arrows launching an attack. There were numerous explosions of pink light along with the howls of the dying beings. A little fluffy beast could be seen throwing fire at the closer ones circling, but soon the girl ran out of arrows.

"We should help her!" Hermione said, as she made to run to the fighting duo. Others joined but were stopped by the second onslaught of angry dementors. They became surrounded by the floating beings on all sides.

"We're trapped!" Professor Noctu tried to cast a light charm to fend them off, but they kept swarming above them. Everyone crowded together as the threat came closer and closer.

Pulling Parvati Patil closer, the once bad boy, Draco Malfoy wrapped his arms around her. He looked into her sad brown eyes and kissed her brow. "I wish we had met sooner." She nodded sadly.

Just when everyone thought that they were done for a blinding light glared into the air around them. The dementors screamed and withered into nothingness. Coming out of the huddle, the group saw a tall man holding a large sword in front of him. He looked at them for a moment and then turned around to walk off calmly.

"Who in the bloody hell was that?!" Ron gasped.

"I have no idea, but he really helped us out." Harry said. "Whatever he did was amazing."

Ginny nudged Hermione in the side. "You know… whoever he is, he sure is good-looking." A sly look came over her face and she winked at Parvati and Lavender.

"I know what you mean. Look at that hair flowing and rippling. He's hot!" Parvati giggled at the shocked look on Draco's face.

"Hey, I thought you said that my hair was nice." He flipped his ungelled hair back from his face.



Sesshoumaru placed the Tetsusaiga back into its sheath. Stepping away from the group, his ears twitched as their conversation drifted on the breeze. Shaking his head, he walked towards Kagome, seeing her crouched on the ground. He smirked at the expression on her face, almost laughing at the complete shock gracing her features. Shippou jumped up onto her shoulder with a similar look on his little face, the small mouth dropped open in surprise and awe.

"What… what… how did you get here?" Kagome stuttered.

Sesshoumaru smirked again, pearly white fangs glistening in the moonlight.

"Hello to you as well, Kagome."

"Wow," was all that she could say in response.