“Yuka-chan!”  Yuka’s eyes were open wide as she took in Inu Yasha crouching next to Kagome, both of their expressions slightly shell-shocked, as if they had been caught doing something that they shouldn’t. She stared at Inu Yasha, and walked quietly over to them. Kagome wanted to put her head in her hands. She hoped that Yuka wouldn’t want to tug on Inu Yasha’s ears like her mother did.

            “Kagome… are you feeling okay? I came over to see how you were, but I see that you already have company.”  Kagome blushed slightly, and ignored the comment, but instead walked over to Yuka, holding the history book in her hands.

            “Yuka-chan, how long has this story been in our book?” Her expression was serious, and Yuka looked at the words in there, reading them aloud to make sure that was what Kagome was referring to.

            “The Legend of Inu Yasha.” Inu Yasha’s ears pricked up at this, not to go unnoticed by Yuka. She looked down at the book, then up at Inu Yasha again. Her eyes grew wide.

            “K-Kagome… this has been in our book for a long time. Don’t you remember reading about it?” Kagome shook her head, still in a slight daze over what was in there. What had happened? How did she and Inu Yasha manage to get into the history books?

            “Girl…. Yuka… can you read that legend to me?” Kagome’s eyes fixed on Inu Yasha’s, and she frowned. Inu Yasha just grinned, daring her to make him “sit” in front of her friend, further proving that something wasn’t quite right here.

            “Hai…” She whispered, and began reading out of the book, Kagome looking away from Inu Yasha.

 

            “The legend of Inu Yasha is a great one, spreading back to the days of the Feudal Era of Japan. Inu Yasha was a ‘hanyou’, a half youkai, half human who wanted the power of the Shikon no Tama for himself, so that he could discard his human side and become a full youkai. He had almost succeeded when he was stopped by the village miko, who was the protector of the jewel. She fired an arrow at Inu Yasha, pinning him to the Sacred Tree, sealing him there for eternity. The miko died in the battle, from the fierce wounds that had been inflicted upon her. The jewel that Inu Yasha had tried to obtain was burned with the miko’s body.”

            Yuka stopped reading for a moment, looking at Kagome and that strange boy that was still leaning against the tree. He seemed distant almost, a sad look in his eyes. His gaze flickered to her, and she quickly looked away, going back to the story. She had always loved this legend, but it seemed that Inu Yasha was so focused on the words that she was saying, almost as if he was confirming something with every word that she spoke.

            “Inu Yasha stayed in the enchanted sleep for many years, and the Forest that he had died in was renamed the Inu Yasha forest. Fifty years went by and then a mysterious girl appeared out of the Bone Eaters well, a dry well that ate the bones of the mononoke that attacked. She noticed the boy pinned to the tree, an arrow in his heart, and she investigated, curious about the boy there. She was surprised to see dog ears on the top of his head, and touched them, to make sure they were real, confirming to herself that this was not a dream.”

            At that, Kagome blushed, and Inu Yasha gave her a strange look. “You touched my ears? Bah! And while I was asleep, too!” Yuka’s eyes grew wider, and she tossed down the book, glaring at Kagome.

            “This isn’t just a history lesson for you, is it? Who is that boy, Kagome?” Kagome blushed and mumbled something.

            “Eh, what was that?” She said, raising her voice so that Kagome would get the message.

            Kagome whirled around. “Is there anything about a magical spell in there?” She shouted, pointing at Inu Yasha. “Something that the “mysterious girl” said to control the hanyou before he killed her?”

            Yuka blinked. “I don’t see what that has to do with it. I still want to know the truth. Why is this boy dressed up as Inu Yasha? Just because there is a sacred well at your shrine, and you happen to have the name of the girl in the legend.”

            Kagome picked up the book, and looked at Yuka. “Here, read this. It’s about the spell that “Kagome” uses to control Inu Yasha.” Inu Yasha was giving her a strange look.

            “I’m glad only Kagome can use that word, or even the youkai could have killed me by now.” Yuka caught his mumbling, and read the words.

            “Inu Yasha went to grab the jewel from Kagome, when she looked at his dog ears, and thought of a word to make him stay away from her. “OSAWURI!” She yelled, and Inu Yasha fell to the planks of the bridge, face first. Kagome had learned how to protect herself from the hanyou.”

 

            Inu Yasha backed warily into the tree, his eyes wide. “Kagome, you wouldn’t do this just to prove a point, would you?”

            “Osawuri.” She said calmly, and Inu Yasha nose-dived into the ground, snarling out of habit.

            “Bitch! Why did you do that?” He demanded. “To prove a point. Yuka-chan… I would like you to meet Inu Yasha.”

            Yuka shook her head. “I don’t know how you made him do that, Kagome, but it’s not real! This legend is very old!”

            Kagome tugged on her friend’s hand, waiting for Inu Yasha to get up. “I will show you the Bone Eater’s Well. Would you like me to prove my point further?” Inu Yasha growled.

            “Kagome! I don’t think it’s very wise. What if it takes her in, too? What will you do, trying to protect your friend there? A youkai could eat her very easily. She could be kidnapped. Or worse.”

            Kagome sniffed. “Baka. I’m not stupid enough to drag her into the thing. I can prove to her that I really do go back in time with it. After I’m back to your time, she can jump into the well and see that I’m not there.”

            “Bah! Like she’ll believe a wench like you.” Inu Yasha was trying to get over the fact that he was in one of Kagome’s books. It was impossible. “You’re just acting out an old legend to her. Baka. She probably thinks you’ve flipped your lid.”

            “OSAWURI!”

            ‘THUMP’ “Bitch!”

 

            Yuka watched the proceedings with interest. Was this the guy that Kagome was always talking about? The one that made her cry, but would hurt anyone who tried to hurt her? She remembered trying to talk Kagome out of this person. And he was a demon? The name clicked in. “Dog Demon.” She muttered aloud.

            Inu Yasha nodded. “Hai. That’s what I am. Tell her that you think she’s crazy. Her Ojii-san tells everyone that she’s sick all the time, ne? Maybe it’s just some fever.”

            Yuka shook her head. It wasn’t very likely. Even the excuses that her ojii-san were starting to pale. There had to be a reasonable explanation for this, and if Kagome wanted to jump down the length of her dry well to prove that she was insane, then who was she to stop her?

            “Let’s go.” She muttered, and walked again to the shrine of the enclosed well, and this time Kagome stood on the rim, smiling. “Inu Yasha, I know that if you come with me, you’ll want me to search for the Shikon no Tama some more. So stay here.”

            Shaking his head, Inu Yasha grabbed her wrist. “There could be something waiting to grab you up there, baka! Do you want to get killed all that easily without me there to protect you?”

            Kagome glared. “And leave you with the Shikon no Tama? Bah! You’d run off with it, become a real youkai like you always wanted to, or run to Kikyo.” At Inu Yasha’s startled look, she leapt into the well, Inu Yasha cursing and jumping after her.

            Yuka leaned over the rim of the well, seeing the bottom of it, and nobody there.

 

 

            “Kagome! What are you doing? Why are you coming back here?” Kagome glared at him. “I thought you wanted to collect the Shikon shards. Why the hesitation now? Shouldn’t I just leave my friend behind? Like I leave my family behind? My life behind?”

            Inu Yasha stared at her, speechless. She started to cry, and he backed away slightly. Damn it, why did she have to cry? He hated her crying.”

            “Oi! Don’t cry! We’ll go back! I don’t know what this is going to prove to her, though.”

            Kagome shook her head. “I’m just tired of lying to my friends. They have been my friends for such a long time, and now look. They think I’m dating some two-timing; no good insensitive jerk who kills people who try to hurt me! They all think I’m crazy, that I’m in danger, or that I’m dying. I want them to meet you, so they know that you aren’t a bad person.”

            “Bah. I’m not a good person. I’m a youkai. I’m going to… going to…” He trailed off. He couldn’t say that he was going to use the Shikon no Tama to become a full youkai. It wouldn’t be true.

            “Baka. I know that you wouldn’t want to become a full youkai. You are going to become human to be with Kikyo, the one that you love. The one that I am only a holder of her soul! Is that really all I am to you, Inu Yasha? The one that can find the Shikon shards, and make all your dreams come true? Am I?”

            Inu Yasha shook his head. He did love Kikyo, but he cared for Kagome. Kikyo was gone… he knew that… and Kagome was here. Kagome didn’t belong here, though. She said so herself. She had “tests” and school. She had other people in her time, and she didn’t need to be hanging around with a half youkai like himself.

            “Kagome! You’re back!” Kagome stopped her ranting at Inu Yasha to welcome Shippo. “I’m not really back, Shippo. I have to go back to my time really soon, but would you like to see if you can come with me this time? I know you can’t visit by yourself, but maybe you can come with me if I’m holding you.”

            Shippo’s eyes grew big. “I can really go with you, Kagome? Really?” Kagome nodded.

            “Bah. What are you doing, showing us off like some kind of freak show? What do you think we are?”

            Kagome frowned at him. “I want to take Shippo to see my world. He might enjoy it more than you.” She climbed over the edge of the well, looking at Inu Yasha before she jumped.

            “Osawuri.”