Chapter 20 - Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore

AN: Sorry for the delay! I will do my best to keep updating this story, but I'm moving into my busiest season…so please be patient. It's better that I update less, but update with better stuff and longer chapters, than not update at all. Furthermore, can you say writer's block? It's so strange to have because I usually set myself up nicely, but there's just been something about this chapter that has been EXCEPTIONALLY difficult for me to get out. Hence the unusually long time between chapters. Blech. I need to go revise the last chapter.



A minor note, I've gone back and started combining chapters. So, if you're just joining this story, then lucky you! I think I'm going to try combining every three chapters or so.



Temporary suspension of disbelief: In my story so far, is it really too much to think that when everyone fell through the well, they inherited the powers the characters we all know and love already have? That's the best part of AU!



I do not own the characters.



Chapter 21: Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore



Kagome came to, unaware of where or when she was. Even her name sounded a little foreign in her head. Her last memory had been being swooped up by Naraku and then jumping into the well. There had been a flash of light and then…nothing.



Inuyasha…



Kagome remembered the look of utter devastation in his golden eyes when Naraku hadn't let her go. She knew then, without question, that he would be coming after her.



All you have to do is stay alive until then…



As her thoughts were coming around, she realized in horror that she had landed on top of Naraku in what she assumed was the bottom of the well. Fearing the worst she tensed up and was surprised when Naraku quickly hauled her out of the well. He looked at her, leering, and Kagome was glad for the completely non-revealing outfit she was wearing as she pulled it even tighter around herself. Naraku's intense stare was interrupted by a whistling sound emanating from deep in the well.



He peered over and called down, “Kagura?”



Both he and Kagome pushed back when something came flying up the well. Kagome blinked a few times, not believing if what she was seeing was actually true. Kagura was there, with Kanna, and the sword all floating on a giant feather. Kagome noted that the sword was now the size and shape of a normal weapon…as if the slip through time had brought its powers back to normal.



Naraku scratched his head, “But how?”



Kagura shrugged her shoulders, “I'm not sure, but I do know that I will no longer be a part of your evil plans any longer!”



With that, she snapped her fan and took off into the night, leaving Kagome very alone with Naraku. He spat, “Heinous dog!”



He's angry…



You don't say.



Make sure he doesn't take it out on you. Remember, you need to stay alive for Inuyasha to rescue you.



Just thinking of the golden-eyed hanyou made Kagome feel instantly better.



I should've kissed him…



Your life is in danger, you're all alone 500 years in the past with the school psycho, and all you can think is `I should've kissed him'?



Well, if something happens to me here, that would be one of my only regrets.


Look alive.



Fearing the look in his eyes as Naraku turned on her, Kagome managed to squeak out, “You need me.”



“What did you say?” His breath was hot on her neck.



Grow a backbone, Kagome!



Kagome took a deep breath, so she would be heard clearly, “If-if you want to get back through the well, I have to be, um, pure, and reunited with the sword.”



Naraku considered his options. As unhappy as he was to leave Kagome unharmed, he still needed the technology on the other side.



“Only until I find someone else who's pure, Higurashi.”



Kagome shuddered as he said her name.



“C'mon. We're going to find that sword!”



Naraku dragged Kagome off in the direction Kagura had flown.



Inuyasha dusted himself off and took a deep breath, and, not scenting a death trap for miles; the hanyou was satisfied he was definitely back in his own time. Seconds later, Miroku and Sango were suddenly in the well with him. Far too crowded for three people, Inuyasha scooped them up and sprang out of the well.



Sango and Miroku were shocked breathless as he put them down.



Miroku was the first to recover, “What in the hell just happened?”



Inuyasha was already sniffing, “Where in the hell is she? ”



Sango asked, “Where in the hell are we?”



Inuyasha looked at the two humans in front of him. Granted, he was impressed by their loyalty and blind devotion to their friend, but he didn't want to get stuck babysitting in this time…not while Kagome was in trouble.



Some pack is better than no pack at all…



Keh.



Let's face it, in this world, how far has being alone got you? Plus, what's going to happen to them if you leave them?



Inuyasha didn't like his thoughts at all, but grudgingly agreed to his inner voice. Miroku and Sango were looking at him expectantly.



I didn't ask them to come with me.



They are here now, so deal with it.



Inuyasha told them, “We're not sure how it happened, but somehow the well became a time portal to the past…to my time.”



“What do you mean your time? You said that before we left,” Sango glared at him.



“Where is Kagome's house? Where is the party?” Miroku sounded worried.



Inuyasha growled, “If you let me finish, I'll tell you. This place, as far as I know, is about 500 years ago from your time…the present. The well is a time portal that I fell through and met Kagome. Naraku found some sort of scroll and wants to use his knowledge and power from the future to rule this world. I don't really care about all that. All I know is that he took Kagome for hostage. We need to find her before anything happens.”



Miroku scratched his head, “Are you sure that you and Kagome didn't put something in the punch?”



Inuyasha calmly walked over and pinched Miroku, “Still dreaming?”



“OWWW!” Miroku rubbed his arm, “No, but I don't see why you had to do that.”



“Let's get going.” Inuyasha took another deep breath and caught the faintest trace of Kagome's scent coming from the West.



The trio walked for at least two hours in the moonlight. No one said much of anything. Inuyasha wondered if the humans were suffering from some sort of shock. Turning around to check on them, he looked behind and saw both Miroku and Sango's eyes drooping.



“Keh, weak humans! Get some sleep. I'll keep watch.”



Lying down under the protection of a large tree, Sango and Miroku were asleep in moments. Inuyasha started pacing, unable to stay still when he knew that Kagome was in danger.



If you don't get any sleep, how are you going to have the energy to rescue her?



True.



Inuyasha walked over and leaned on a tree, trying to keep one eye open. Minutes…maybe an hour later, Inuyasha's sensed something nearing them. It was a youkai, but nothing particularly malicious. He saw a small fire-cat walk over to Sango. Sango jumped up, instantly awake and in an en garde position. Inuyasha looked at her curiously, as did the cat.



Sango looked down at her body and its battle ready stance and wondered aloud, “Where did that come from?”



Miroku rubbed his eyes sleepily, “S'going on?”



The cat mewed and rubbed Sango's legs. She idly scratched the cat's head and commented, “It's like I can understand her.”



“How do you know it's a she?” Miroku questioned.



“Her name is Kirara.”



Miroku rubbed his face and replied, “That's nice. I have to pee.”



With that the teenager, dressed as a monk, walked to a nearby tree. Sango was continuing to play with her new friend, when a great wind whipped up from the direction that Miroku had gone in. Inuyasha leaped over to find Miroku standing, shellshocked as debris from the forest flew into his…hand.



The hanyou growled over the din, “What in the hell is going ON?”



Sango came around and saw Miroku, she yelled above the wind, “MIROKU!”



Hearing Sango's voice snapped Miroku's attention back to the situation. He pulled the cloth that had previously been covering his hand and the beads and sealed the wind tunnel that appeared.



The trio looked at each other in shock.



Kouga woke up and found himself in the bottom of a well. He called up, “Souta!”



No answer.



“SOUTA!”



Still no answer.



Kouga grumbled about the lengths he was going to for Kagome and began crawling out of the well. When he got to the top, he had a sinking suspicion that he was no longer on the Higurashi property. The stars were much brighter than he remembered and there was no party going on in the distance. He heard voices coming from nearby. Feeling like some sort of an idiot in his current state of dress, he asked boldly, “Who goes there?”



Two young men came from the bushes and were dressed, bizarrely enough, just like him. Seeing him, they both dropped to their knees. The one with the Mohawk said, “It's just as the prophecy predicted.”



Kouga looked at them strangely, “What are you talking about?”



“I am Ginta and this is Hakkaku, we are from the Northern Wolf Tribe.”



“Did you say wolf?”



“We did, but you would know that.”



“Why would I know that?”



Ginta and Hakkaku exchanged a confused look. Hakkaku asked, “Is this some sort of test?”



Kouga sighed deeply, “What are you talking about?”



“You're our Prince.”



“Huh?”


Ginta repeated himself, “You are the Prince of the Northern Wolf Tribe. It was predicted you would appear to us this night.”



Kouga scratched his head, wondering if he had hit something in the well. He responded slowly, “As your Prince, what do you require of me?”



Hakkaku replied, “You are our leader.”



Kouga decided to follow his luck as long as it would last, “I need to find my Princess.”



The eyes of the two men in front of him grew large. Ginta said, “There was no mention in the prophecy of a Princess.”



Kouga shrugged, “She's a recent addition. I know that she is in this time and it is vital that I find her. Will you help me brothers?”



Ginta and Hakkaku looked at each other before nodding.



AN: Tough luck for any Shippo fans, I don't plan on him showing up. Sorry. Also, just wondering if there are any Samurai Champloo fans out there. I was watching last night and they mentioned they were in the warring states period. Does that make Jin, Fuu and Mugen around the same time as Inuyasha and Co.? I smell a cameo.



Just to clarify: The timing on the well is different, kind of like the wardrobe in the Chronic(what?)les of Narnia. So, whereas it was minutes of difference on our time, it might translate to hours on the other side of the well.

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