InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Okaeri Nasai, Welcome Home ❯ Ring ( Chapter 1 )

Well, another fanfic, inspired in the deep recesses of my mind. Sorry if this chapter doesn't make a lot of sense; I'm hoping it will eventually.

Just a warning: This fic contains characters from the first and second Inu-yasha movies, so if you haven't seen them, gomen!

Okaeri Nasai (Welcome Home)

Chapter 1: Ring

---The Edmonton Airport---

A taxi pulled up to the Edmonton airport, and three girls about high-school age stepped out. After unloading some baggage from the trunk, they stepped into the already-bustling airport.

"So when were these three girls getting here?" one of them asked.

"Let's see." Her companion pulled a book out of her pocket. "They were arriving at nine twenty-five. We still have five minutes."

"And their names are Arimi, Eri and Yuka, right?"

"Yeah. There was supposed to be a fourth girl coming, but she had health matters and couldn't make it."

"Excuse me, ladies." The three girls turned to see an airport attendant smiling at them.

"Can we help you?"

"Not exactly." The man held out a small bag. "This was sent from Japan two weeks ago, and a note said to deliver it on this date to this very spot." Opening the bag, the man took out three little boxes. "Is one of you `Meg'?"

"That's me." A tall brunette stepped forward, her slim body moving easily in black jeans and a black tank top that exposed her navel, which was pierced with a little dolphin belly-button ring. Black and white flip-flops were on her feet, a beaded ankle bracelet on her left ankle. A few thin bracelets hung on her wrists and she had double piercing in both ears, as well as an earring in the cartilage of her right ear. She took all three boxes from the attendant with a smile, her eyes glittering with several colors at once. The attendant looked at her nails, which were long and had been filed to a point, then painted sea-blue. Those things could easily draw blood.

"Uh, well, have a nice day, ladies," he said nervously, and turned.

"Thank you!" Meg said cheerfully, her low voice almost purring. She turned to her companions, and looked at the boxes. "Here's your box, Kat."

"Thanks, Meg." Kat took her box, a questioning look on her face. She was several inches shorter than Meg, but her body was well muscled and her figure average. Her shoulder length hair was auburn, and her eyes were a brilliant green. Her normally pale skin was nicely tanned so that it didn't look too trashy or too dark. She wore blue jean shorts and a blue tank top with a light cotton jacket. On her feet were black sandals, and a silver toe-ring was on her left foot. Around her neck, dangling on a short chain was an ankh, the Egyptian cross. Her hands were unadorned, but that didn't stop people from noticing her long nails, longer than Meg's; Kat didn't bother to file and color them, liking them better plain. She also had double piercing in both ears.

"Hey, where's mine?" The last girl asked. She was an inch shorter than Kat, and her features were of Chinese descent. Her eyes were aqua-green, and her waist-length hair was braided. She wore black jeans, black sneakers and navy blue tank top with a black work shirt overtop. On her hands were black fingerless biker gloves. Her body was muscular, almost boyish, indicating she worked out a lot. She had a single piercing in both ears, and that was it for jewellery save for a blue stone that was on a chain around her neck.

Meg smiled. "Here, you go, Akkiko." She handed her friend the last box, then frowned at her own. "I wonder who sent these."

"How cares?" Akkiko said, and took off the ribbon and tag on her box. "Maybe the high school we'll be going to . . . ?" She stopped as she opened the box.

"It's a ring," Kat said, and held hers up. It was indeed a small silver ring, separated into three bands that intertwined to form one.

"Somehow I don't think that our new high school sent this." Meg commented.

"I have a note in mine," Akkiko said, holding up the piece of paper.

"So do I," Kat said, unfolding her note and reading out loud.

"To the three who receive these rings,

"They will be very important to you in Japan. The three bands are your present, your past and your future, all of which you will discover in Japan. You will meet a girl connected with your pasts, and she will lead you.

"From, The Oracle"

The three girls looked at each other with identical unimpressed expressions.

"`The Oracle'?" Akkiko said sardonically. "Can you get any cheesier?!"

"Whatever." Kat put on her ring. "I say what the heck? This thing is pretty, and it would be rude to just get rid of them."

"Yeah, I guess." Akkiko put hers on.

"Hey, mine's on a chain." Meg read her note, puzzled. "It's just like Kat's, only there's a P.S.: By the way, Meg, this ring could give you a rash, so wear it on your neck." Meg blinked. "That's kind of creepy."

"Feh, don't let it faze you. Now, let's go meet the exchange students!" Akkiko delved into her red backpack and brought out a sign that read, "Eri, Arimi and Yuka".

Kat sweatdropped. "We're going to stand like a bunch of idiots with a sign?"

Akkiko grinned. "Yep!"

Meg glowered. "No way in he-HEY!! AKKIKO!!"

Akkiko laughed maniacally as she grabbed Meg's purse and started to run through the airport. Meg, mumbling obscenities as she went, followed the cackling pest whose purpose in life seemed to be to annoy her. Kat sighed and reluctantly followed. All three of them ignored the odd looks they were attracting, because that was just the way they were.

They didn't care what others thought and lived only for themselves.

~~~

"Ugh, that was such a long flight," Yuka whined as she, Arimi and Eri got off their plane to step onto Canadian soil.

"Yeah, it was, but how can you complain? You were asleep most of the time!" Arimi laughed as Yuka glared at her.

"I wish Kagome could have come," Eri said softly, as the three girls walked into the airport. "I'm sure she would have loved to come to Canada."

Arimi snorted. "Well, she could have, if she wasn't so sick all the time."

Yuka's expression changed to one of worry. "I hope her rheumatism doesn't start acting up again."

"Or her diabetes," Eri added.

"Or her inferiority complex," Arimi finished. "But we can't let that worry us. Remember, our teacher said we had to come back with a report on our stay."

"Yeah, and that we had to start with our introduction to the people that are taking our place in Japan." Yuka pulled a little book out of her backpack. "Let's see . . . their names are . . . Meg, Kat and-"

"AKKIKO NO BAKA!!"

"Huh, what a coincidence. That's the last girl's name: Meg, Kat and Akkiko. Wait-" The three girls looked up to see three more girls running towards them. The girl in front looked Asian and carried a sign with "Eri, Arimi and Yuka" written on it.

"Those are the girls that are going to Japan?" Arimi blinked. "They're even more hyper than Eri when she's jacked up on five cans of soda."

"Hey, that was not my fault!" Eri said. "Everyone else kept buying them!"

"Someone SAVE ME!!"

"Akkiko, you should know better than to steal Meg's purse!" The last girl in the line, her reddish hair streaming behind her, stopped a few feet away from Eri.

"Excuse me," Eri said. "But are you Meg?"

"Huh?" the girl panted, trying to catch her breath. "No, I'm Kat. That-" she pointed at the brunette who was chasing the Asian girl, "is Meg. The girl running ever so gracefully away is Akkiko."

"Oh. . ." Yuka, Arimi and Eri bowed to Kat. "Hello. We're the exchange students from Tokyo. Pleased to meet you."

Kat bowed back. "Pleased to meet you, too. Meg! Akkiko! Get over here!"

Meg stalked over to where her friend was standing. Akkiko followed a few paces behind, rubbing a goose-egg on her head. "You didn't need to smack me quite that hard, you know," she grumbled.

Introductions were made, and the six girls quickly got acquainted.

"When you get to Japan," Eri said. "I'm afraid none of our parents will be there to greet you. They all have their jobs, but we asked our friend Kagome to meet you."

"Okay," Kat said, nodding. "And I'm sorry your ride to our house isn't here. My half-brother should show up any minute-"

"Kathy! Oh KATHY!!" A teenager pushed his way through the crowd, grinning. Kat developed a twitching vein in her temple. "Hey, Kath-" WHACK!!

"How many times do I have to ask you not to call me that, Dain?" Kat said, as her idiot brother rubbed the swelling on his head.

"Sorry, Sis," he mumbled. He was about Meg's height, and perhaps a few years older than his half-sister, who was sixteen. He had piercing blue eyes and long dark brown hair which he kept in a braid. "So, are these the ladies I'm taking home?"

"Yes," Kat sighed. "Try not to get a ticket, `kay? Meet Eri, Arimi and Yuka. Ladies, this is my half-brother, Dain Muller."

"Nice to meet you," Dain said, bowing.

"ACK!" Meg said, looking at her watch. "Kat, we have to go! Our plane leaves in five minutes!"

"Damn! Bye Dain! Have a nice stay, girls!" Kat waved as she ran off with Meg and Akkiko.

"I feel so sorry for them," Dain murmured.

"Huh?" Arimi looked at him. "Do you think they'll get homesick?"

"What? Oh, no, those three will be fine. It's Tokyo I'm worried about."

~~~

"Come on Kat; don't tell me you're scared."

"This is my first time on a plane, okay? I'm allowed to get freaked out!!"

"We haven't even taken off yet."

"SHUT UP!!" Kat glared at Akkiko, who was chuckling.

"Hey, Meg, isn't she . . . Meg?"

Meg was taking a few breaths in and out, looking slightly nervous. Akkiko sweatdropped.

"Don't' tell me this is YOUR first time on a plane, too?"

"If I did that, I would be lying," Meg snapped. Akkiko sighed.

"And I'm going to have to deal with you guys for thirteen hours?"

That was when the plane started taking off. And all hell broke loose.

"Oh my God!" Kat muttered as the plane vibrated.

Meg sat quietly in her chair, her expression trying to mask the fact she was tense.

Akkiko grinned. Time to fan the flames, she thought. "Hey, guys, remember that movie we saw a few weeks ago where the plane crashes?"

Kat and Meg looked at each other and shrieked. "WE'RE GONNA DIEE!!!"

Akkiko grinned. "I love my job."

~~~

(Thirteen hours later)

---Tokyo Airport---

"AKKIKO NO BAKA!!!"

"Help MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Akkiko screamed as Kat and Meg chased her.

"What do you have for me?" Kat asked as Meg rummaged in her purse.

"Here!" Meg handed Kat a paper fan, then swung her purse like a mace.

"Akkiko, you're dead!!"

Five minutes later, Akkiko walked into the airport with several bumps on her head. Kat and Meg followed her, still holding their weapons threateningly.

"So where's this Kagome?" Kat asked, looking around.

"Over there!" Meg said, pointing to someone holding a sign: "Fort High exchange students"

As they drew closer, they saw a young girl about fifteen years old, wearing a mini-skirt and long sleeved shirt. Her black hair fell past her shoulders, and she had bright brown eyes and a kind face.

"Hello, there," the girl said. "My name is Kagome Higurashi. Welcome to Tokyo."

~*~

---Sixteenth-century Japan, Feudal Era---

Kaguya shuddered, not with cold, but with fear. She looked over at Kanna and Kagura. She had met the two after disappearing into the monk's kazaana over six months ago. Obviously the oblivion she had sent them into led to the same place the monk's kazaana did: this horrible dimension where all three of them were about to be devoured.

Kaguya growled; damn those mortals and that hanyou, Inu-yasha! She had been trapped for so long in the reflection of the mirror, and just when she grasped at freedom, she was imprisoned yet again. And even in this dimension she was bodiless, a cloud of black smoke hovering a few feet from the ground.

Kagura heard Kaguya growl and smirked. So, the witch was frustrated. She wanted revenge. She wanted life and freedom again. The wind-demon almost chuckled. It was almost satisfying to know that the false tennyo wouldn't get her revenge.

Looking down at Kanna, Kagura grimaced. Even her elder sister was scared of this place. And who wouldn't be? About six feet away from them, surrounding them on all sides, was a thick mist that blew in an unseen breeze. Sometimes an area cleared of smoke, showing the still forms of demons the monk had drawn into his kazaana. Once the mist touched them, they turned into statues.

Kanna shuddered as the mist drifted closer to them. It came closer every day. Soon they would be statues, like all the rest. Clutching her mirror to her chest like a doll, Kanna couldn't help but whimper.

Kagura heard and tried her best to comfort her sister. "Kanna. . ." she whispered, and placed a hand on her head. "It's going to be all right."

"Like hell it is!" the cloud Kaguya screeched. "We will die soon! Not even I can stop this hell-born mist!"

Kagura glared, holding up her fan threateningly. But the demon had a point. There was no way out of this one.

Or was there?

Kanna lifted her head; she sensed something very familiar. Standing, she looked off into the mist.

"Kanna?" Kagura said questioningly. "What-" She felt it too.

There was a bright light from far off. It penetrated the darkness and caused Kanna and Kagura to shield their eyes.

Kaguya huddled away from the light, dumbstruck. "Naraku. . . ? How . . .?"

It was indeed the half-demon Naraku, dressed as always in his baboon pelt. He walked through the mist unharmed, carrying over his shoulder a package wrapped in blue silk.

"Kanna. Kagura. Kaguya." He spoke each name in greeting, his smooth voice oozing over everything.

"Naraku," Kagura whispered, still shocked. "How could you have come here?"

"I am the one who gave the monk's family the curse of the kazaana. I knew of this dimension all along, and can gain easy access to it." Naraku pulled back the hood of the pelt and smirked. "I have come to retrieve you all."

Kagura smirked back at him. "Fine. But don't think I shall be your servant anymore. After all, my heart has re-" Kagura stopped, and clutched at her chest. Pain beyond pain forced her to her knees; she gasped in agony.

Naraku laughed softly. He held up his hand, shaking back the fur. In it was a softly glowing object. "Kagura, Kagura . . . I am the one who gave back your heart. It is only natural that I can take it right back." He turned his attentions on the cloud that was Kaguya. "Now, then . . . Kaguya."

"What do you want, you slime?" she snapped.

"I see your brief brush in this dimension hasn't changed you," Naraku clucked. "Oh well. I have a proposition for you."

"Hmph. What's in it for me?" Kaguya could see what was coming, but asked anyway.

"Escape from this dimension." Gee, hadn't seen that one coming. ". . . And a body."

"What?" Kaguya edged closer, more shocked now than when Naraku had first appeared.

Naraku eased his bundle off his shoulder and set it down gently. An arm fell from the folds of silk. "This was a princess from a far-off kingdom," he said. "She is hanging onto life by only a thread. Feed on the body, Kaguya, and we shall talk in the real world."

Kaguya fell upon the body without hesitation, making short work of it. A few moments later she rose, naked, unflinching under Naraku's gaze. Kaguya was reborn.

"Very well, Naraku," she said.

# # #

FINISHED!! *dies* Ugh, that took too long. My brain! Sorry; I was hoping this chapter would be funnier, but nope, guess I'm saving all the good stuff for later!

Don't worry; there will be more to come!!

Disclaimer: none of the Inu-yasha characters belong to me, nor does Akkiko or Meg. I own only myself, Dain, and the plotline.