InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Presence of Autumn ❯ Just Another Shard Hunt ( Chapter 1 )

Okay. *sigh* I do not Inuyasha or anything you recognize from said series. There! I said it! You happy? *tries to shrug off hand of official-type person* Let me go. I have chapters to write…

Chapter One: Just Another Shard Hunt

Kagome breathed in deeply as she looked up at the sky. All she could see from the bottom of the well was a bright square, but she didn't think it could have possibly been more perfect. It was bright blue, there were high fluffy white clouds drifting slowly across it, the breeze was warm and sweet and reached her nose even at the bottom of the well. She smiled and heaved her bag up onto her shoulders and began climbing her way out.

Her sixteenth birthday was less than a month off and she was looking forward to it greatly. Her friends in the future were planning the party already. She could tell because of the conspiratorial twinkle in their eyes and the way the conversation died instantly when she entered the room. Her mother was in on it too; she'd begun locking the study door, something Kagome could not remember her mother ever doing, and walking away humming merrily to herself with a tiny smile on her face.

Even with all of that happening in the future, Kagome was still glad to return to the Feudal Era. Perhaps even more so because of it. It seemed that the more time she spent in the past, less often did she want to go to the future, and the less time she wanted to spend there. The past felt more like her home, now. It was quieter here, for one thing. No cars, no planes, no electronics.

Reaching the top of the well Kagome threw her bag over the lip and jumped over after it. She straightened her skirt and took a moment to catch her breath before grabbing her bag, hoisting it onto her shoulders once again and collecting her bike. Her bike made travel here possible. Without it it would take her twice as long to reach the village. As it was, it took her five minutes of brisk pedaling to reach the outskirts of the village.

The rice farmers stood up from their planting and smiled at her, waving in greeting. Kagome smiled back and kept on pedaling.

Of all the strange things to see when she found Inuyasha, Shippou, and the others, the about the thing she least expected to see was what greeted her. Inuyasha was sprawled on his back under a large maple tree, mouth agape and snoring like a rip-saw. Shippou was sprawled on his back on top of Inuyasha's stomach, snoring a lighter counterpoint to Inuyasha's earth-shattering cacophony. It was about the cutest thing Kagome had ever seen and she would have killed someone for a camera.

A short distance away, Sango was seated on a blanket in the grass polishing her giant boomerang with a slight smile on her face as she watched Miroku play silly chase games with the village children. Kirara was curled up against her hip. Off to the right Kaede was chatting idly with another woman of the village while pulling weeds from her herb garden.

Kagome felt utterly at peace as she quietly leaned her bike against the maple tree under which Inuyasha and Shippou were sprawled. She sank down into the cool, shady grass next to them and leaned back to watch Miroku's exploits. She glanced over at Inuyasha when his snoring stopped and saw his nose twitch, followed shortly by one of his ears flicking.

"How long have you been back?" He demanded gruffly. His voice was quiet, though, and Shippou slept on undisturbed.

Kagome smiled, though Inuyasha didn't see it. "Only a little while. What's been happening here?"

"Nothing." Inuyasha grunted. He opened his eyes finally and turned brilliant golden orbs on her. "It's been as much fun as watching laundry dry. Which is about all I've been doing when I wasn't sleeping. I'm bored. I want some action."

Kagome laughed lightly. "I think it's peaceful. It's nice not to have our lives be in danger for once."

Inuyasha grunted again, heaving his chest enough that Shippou stirred slightly before curling up again and resuming his slumber. "If it stays this peaceful I'll go nuts."

"Short trip." Kagome muttered.

"I heard that."

Kagome snickered. She turned and began rummaging in her pack for the thing she'd brought Inuyasha as a treat. Eventually she emerged with a box of Pocky. "I brought these for you."

Inuyasha sat up quickly, dislodging Shippou and tossing him carelessly to one side. Shippou bounced once before sliding to a stop on his back, still asleep. "What is it? Is it Ramen?"

"No, it's not Ramen!" Kagome tried not to laugh, still mad at the way Inuyasha had just flung Shippou aside like a piece of trash. "They're Pocky, and I'm not sure I want to give them to you now, after the way you just chucked Shippou clear across the yard!"

Inuyasha solved that problem. Before Kagome even blinked he'd snatched the box out of her hands and neatly sliced it open with one of his claws, revealing the contents to his nose. He took one cautious whiff before chowing down on them with a delighted smile on his face.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome protested, but it was half-heartedly. She just couldn't ruin such a beautiful day by Sitting him.

Inuyasha happily crunched his way through almost an entire box of Pocky. While he was still in the middle of it Miroku was chased over by the children. He collapsed in the grass a few feet away under a giggling torrent of munchkins. After a bit he convinced them that he was tired and would play with them again later, but that for now he needed to rest. The kids wandered off in small clusters to find their own amusements.

"How were your tests, Kagome?" Miroku enquired, after he had caught his breath.

Surprised that he'd remembered, Kagome was caught off guard for a moment. Then she smiled, "I think they went well! Math was the hardest, for sure, but I think History and Biology were both at least B's."

Miroku stared blankly for a moment and then nodded as though he understood what she'd said. She was about to tell him he didn't have to pretend when something caught her attention.

She caught the faintest tingle in the back of her mind, a slightly nagging little buzz that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Far to the north there was a jewel shard.

"Kagome, what is it?" Inuyasha asked, seeing the far off, slightly unfocused look in her eyes.

"I sense a jewel shard." She pointed. "To the north quite a ways. But it's there, and it's big."

Inuyasha was on his feet in a second. "Sango, Kirara, Shippou, get over here."

Sango and Kirara were there in a flash. Shippou was slower, stumbling over in a sleepy daze. He caught sight of Kagome though and shook it off, jumping happily into her arms. "Kagome! Did you bring me any chocolate?"

"Shippou, I-"

"Not now, wench." Inuyasha cut her off, turning to the rest of the group. "There's a jewel shard to the north and Kagome says it's a big one. Everyone pack your stuff. I want to leave in fifteen minutes."

Well, fifteen minutes later they were on the road and traveling fast. Kagome rode on Inuyasha's back clutching Shippou to her. Sango and Miroku rode on Kirara. They made incredible speed, traveling the hundred or so miles to near where Kagome said she had sensed the jewel shard. Nights they spent camping out under the stars. Kagome had brought a plentiful supply of future foods, much to everyone's delight, and they had a very enjoyable trip.

That's it for now. Next chappie will be up shortly. Thanks for reading! If you have anything to say please leave a review. They're always nice to receive. Ja ne!