Unspoiled

Finders Keepers (PART 2)

"Today was the day?" Donguri whispered.

"Yes."

"We knew it was soon... but how can you be sure?"

"I remember the sweater she's wearing."

"Oh. So, what we did... it worked?"

"Hnn."

"And now?"

"We wait."

Kagome had just about convinced herself that she'd imagined the brief flare of demonic energy when she realized that something else was off. I think... this is taking longer than usual. Though she'd never actually timed the transition, she'd made this trip enough times to know she should be there by now. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down by counting. 1... 2... 3... 4...

Everything else is the same—a gentle wind blew past, neither warm nor cold, and the black silence was filled with shifting ribbons and sparks of light. 15... 16... 17... 18... Kagome's heartbeat quickened as fear took hold, and every sense strained for something that would let her know that she'd reached her destination. 27... 28... 29... oh! Kagome gasped at a subconsciously familiar shift that signaled her arrival, but instead of a gentle settling onto the earthen floor at the base of the Bone Eater's Well, she was plunged into a clinging coldness that took her breath away. Her mind screamed with a shocked realization—I'm under water!

With a surge of relief, Kagome realized that it was light above and dark below. Slipping the straps of the heavy pack that hampered her progress, she urgently kicked her way upwards, breaking the surface with a grateful gasp that quickly changed to choking coughs. She floundered to the side and scrabbled for finger-holds in the stone wall, hanging on for dear life until she caught her breath.

Where is this? Kagome took a long look around. Above her, a perfect square of sky was visible, dismal grey. The shaft is the same size and the stonework looks the same, but I don't understand. How can this be the Bone Eater's Well? It's filled with water! The obvious answer, when it came, left her feeling somewhat foolish. Oh... right. It's a well.

The frigid water was already sapping the strength from Kagome's limbs, and she worked her way around the edge, searching for niches that would make better handholds. Kicking off her shoes, she peeled away her socks and felt along the wall for footholds. I need to get out of here. Though the water level carried her closer to the opening, she held no hopes of scaling the sides without assistance. "I-I-Inuyasha!" she called through chattering teeth. "Are you th-th-there? Inuyash-sh-sh-a?"

Nothing.

Kagome rested her forehead against slick stones and pondered the benefits of screaming her lungs out. If this is the Bone Eater's Well, then the village was at the base of the hill, so no one will hear me. She adjusted her grip again and had just heaved a shuddering sigh when she caught the sound of voices. Holding her breath, she listened. They're coming closer! Two women? Listening carefully, she decided that she didn't recognize either of them... but help was help.

"There's something eerie about the woods today. The birds are silent," one of the women said in wary tones.

"It could be the storm that's rolling in. Feels like a bad one," replied her companion tentatively.

"Aye, that... or predators," the first answered darkly.

"Let's fill these and be gone."

The two reached the mouth of the well, and Kagome leaned back as far as she could, trying to catch a glimpse of the women. A wooden pail bounced hollowlyagainst the side of the Well, and then it was tossed it into the shaft. Kagome squeaked and hunched her shoulders, but it missed her, splashing into the water just to her right.

"Did ye hear that?" the first woman inquired.

"Aye," the second answered tremulously.

"Hello?" Kagome called, trying to sound reassuring in spite of her desperation. "P-please, can you help me? I... erm... I fell in."

"Demon! There's a demon!" With cries of alarm and much screeching, the women ran away.

That went smoothly. With a groan, Kagome turned and made a grab for the bucket. If this is tied to anything at the top, I'll thank them later. Thankfully, it was. Hauling herself up with the rope wasn't much different than hauling herself up using the vines, but being cold and wet made the process much less pleasant. By the time she wrapped an arm over the Well's lip, she was panting. Throwing her leg over the top, she rolled over onto the ground and lay there, too tired to do more than breathe... and shiver. This makes no sense. None.

With increasing uneasiness, Kagome picked herself up off... packed earth. No grass? Barefoot, she stood in the middle of what was supposed to be a meadow, but the setting was completely unfamiliar. Houses... these used to be huts. At irregular intervals all around the Bone Eater's Well, blackened heaps of charred wood and ash, straggling patches of weeds, jumbled stones, and broken tiles lay upon the ground. She turned slowly, surveying the ruins of a village. Only the Well was untouched by what must have been a terrible fire.

Stunned, she padded towards the place where a small shrine should stand, but the torii arch was missing, and there were no stairs. A zigzagging footpath wound down the steep slope to where a tiny collection of huts huddled near the river's edge. It's too small... and the paddies... this is wrong. All wrong. Kagome gazed towards the river, the mountains and hills that stood against the horizon, and then back at the Well. This was the right place... and yet it was not.

I need to go back. That's all. As fast as she could, she ran back to the Well and climbed onto its rim. Pushing off, she dropped into darkness and hit the water with a mighty splash, but buoyancy brought her bobbing back up to the surface. No good. I need to get deeper. Gripping the rope, she struggled back up the side and didn't waste time resting; getting up onto the Well's brim, she sprang as high as she could, hoping for a little more momentum. Feet first, she knifed down into the water, but she didn't reach the bottom... and the portal didn't open.

A third time, she climbed the rope to safety, wheezing with the exertion. Home... home... home... she chanted to herself. I need to get home to Mama... home to Grandpa... home to Souta. In desperation, she pleaded with the Well. If you can't get me that far, at least bring me back to Inuyasha. I could be at home there. I have family there, too. Her arms were shaking and her teeth were chattering by the time she flopped back over the edge of the Well, crawled a short distance, and then curled on her side in the dirt. Lungs burned and fingers cramped. She was shivering from cold and from fear, and the hot tears that trickled down to mingle with the dust on the ground. I want to go home!

"Why do you keep jumping in?" asked a solemn, child-like voice.

Kagome started and lifted her head, pushing dripping tangles out of her eyes... which widened in shock. The boy had already turned away from her, leaping lightly onto the rim of the well, where he stood gazing down into the water. One thing was clear, though. No human child has hair that color. He's... youkai!

"Are you trying to drown yourself? You're not very good at it."

Too stunned to speak, she focused on pulling herself together—tugging down her ruined skirt and wringing out the edge of her bedraggled sweater. Yes, he's definitely a demon. Kagome could see the neat points of his ears peeking out from beneath the shimmering silver hair that barely brushed slender shoulders. The child was dressed in a fine kimono, white with a pattern of blue flowers, and his indigo hakama were tucked into small, black boots. He's older than Shippo, judging by his height.

"Or did you drop something into it?" he persisted gravely. She made it back onto her feet, wavering a little. He turned to face her; wide golden eyes with slit pupils dominated a cherubic face, and they regarded her with avid curiosity. "Why don't you answer, human?"

Impossible. Impossible! Kagome's knees weakened, and she decided it would be best to sit down. Sinking back into a thoroughly disheveled heap, she hugged herself and whispered, "Sesshoumaru-sama?"

The youkai child hopped down from his perch and walked over. In her current position, he had a very slight height advantage and used it to look down his nose at her in an innocent parody of his future self. It is him! There was no mistaking the tilt to his chin, let alone his markings.

Vivid stripes cut across softly rounded cheeks, and neatly parted hair framed a perfect crescent moon... which was currently creased by furrows of concentration. "How do you know my name, human?"

If Sesshoumaru is a child, then I've gone back too far. That explains the changes. I'm in the past... of the past!

"Can't you speak? You look old enough to talk."

"No! I mean... yes, I can speak," she managed.

He c****d his head to one side. "Why did you jump into the Well?"

"I was trying to get through."

Sesshoumaru frowned and said, "That is strange. You are strange."

"Am I?" she asked, beginning to notice just how cold she was, now that shock was wearing off.

"Yes," he confidently replied. Pointing in the direction of the village, he said, "The other humans were frightened of meeting a youkai, but you show no fear." He edged closer, nose twitching. "Why?"

She couldn't help it. Whether from nerves or tension or the sudden urge to pinch the cheek of a pint-sized Sesshoumaru... Kagome began to giggle. There was no joy in her laughter; it only served as an excuse for the tears that began to roll down her cheeks. As she giggled and wept, the young youkai crouched down and watched her until she was able to collect her frayed emotions into something resembling calm.

"Do all humans laugh when they are sad?"

"No," she smiled. "But as you said, I'm strange."

Sesshoumaru stood and tucked his hands into his sleeves. "You should go home. The rain is coming."

"I can't," Kagome softly replied.

"Why not?"

"I guess you could say... I'm lost."

"Don't be foolish," he scoffed. "To get home, you only need to go back the way you came. That's the simplest tracking, even a baby can do it!"

"My nose isn't as good as yours, but even that wouldn't help me now."

He gave her a pitying look, then glanced about. Nostrils twitching, he quickly circled the Bone Eater's Well before running lightly in the direction of the village, following Kagome's trail to where she'd stood, looking out over the river valley. Slowly, she stood and watching him skirt the area, then double back. After looping around the well again, he shook his head. "There is no trail."

"You're right."

"Where do you belong?" he inquired, c*****g his head in a puzzled way.

"What about you?" Kagome countered, wanting to avoid his question. "You don't live around here, do you?"

"I am hunting," the boy proudly announced.

"Alone?" she inquired, somewhat surprised.

Sesshoumaru's chest puffed out. "I am. It is my first time."

"That's pretty important, right?" He nodded solemnly, and Kagome glanced around at the surrounding forest. "If you're on a hunt, what are you doing so close to a human village?"

The boy's eyes dropped guiltily, and Kagome was amazed by just how transparent Sesshoumaru was. But of course he is. He's only a little boy, after all. She crouched down to meet his gaze. Smiling she asked, "Are you curious about humans?"

"A little," he grudgingly admitted, eyeing her intently.

"Well, humans are just like youkai," she declared. "Some are nicer than others."

"Oh..." The young lordling pondered this, then confided, "Hisoka-sensei says the same thing about cats and dogs, and Father thinks he is very clever."

"I have a cat," she mumbled.

"Me, too... and a two-headed dragon," he shared, looking pleased with himself.

Ah and Un. "How big are they?"

He held a hand up over his head, stretching onto tiptoe. "This tall... much bigger than when they hatched. Father says I may ride them when summer ends. They have grown enough to be trained to a saddle."

Kagome never would have guessed that Sesshoumaru could talk this much... and to a human. True, he's more reserved than either Shippo or Rin, and his manners and speech are very formal for someone so young, but he's acting just like a little boy should. It was strange, but sweet. Random droplets had begun to fall, and an ominous rumble of thunder rolled towards them from darkening storm clouds. She used the corner of a sleeve to dab at her nose, which was beginning to run, and hunched her shoulders as the sky opened up.

Sesshoumaru spared the deluge an impatient glance, then fixed Kagome with a regretful look. "I must go," he announced, taking a step back.

"W-wait!" Kagome quietly protested, and he paused, tilting his head curiously. She was stranded in a different past with no idea how to get home; Inuyasha's half-brother might only be a child, but he was a familiar face. Don't leave me alone, Sesshoumaru-sama, her mind cried beseechingly. Every fiber of her being wanted to reach for him, to cling to him, but she was afraid to offend him. Clasping hands over her fluttering heart, she wordlessly begged for help.

"You are afraid," he pronounced.

Tears slipped past Kagome's lashes, and she nodded, not trusting her voice.

Sesshoumaru drew closer; stretching out a small hand, he poked at one of the oversized plastic buttons that closed the front of her sweater, tapping it several times with the tip of a claw. Then, he straightened to a more aloof posture. "But not of me?"

"N-n-no, not of you."

"You are different than I expected," the boy said. "Although you are dirty."

"Did someone t-t-tell you that humans are d-d-dirty?" she asked, an edge of indignation to her voice in spite of the near-constant trembling. He nodded once, and she huffed. "Well, this human prefers to be clean, but it's been a rough morning."

"I must go," Sesshoumaru repeated. "Where will you go?"

"I'm not s-sure," Kagome answered truthfully.

Golden eyes took on the sheen of childish calculation. "Since you don't belong to anyone, I will keep you," he announced loftily.

The notion of being 'kept' by anyone rankled quite a bit, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Pushing to her feet, Kagome executed a low bow. "Th-thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"Come," he commanded, striding off in the opposite direction of the village.

Kagome hurried to follow. She didn't know where he was leading, how long the journey would take, or even what might be waiting for her at its end... but she trusted him. He's just a child, but he's Sesshoumaru-sama. For reasons the young woman had never considered before, that was enough. All that mattered now was keeping that shining head of silver hair in view.