Return To The Feudal Era

Chapter 2: Past Acquaintances
A/N: Kagome gets a surprise visit from the last person she ever expected! Hope you enjoy this latest chapter and I still do not own Inuyasha, unfortunately. Please read and review!

Inuyasha tried every day to break the seal that had been placed on the well but each time the result was the same, he failed to break the powerful barrier that was keeping him from the love of his life. From Hell Kikyo watched Inuyasha’s failure with delight at the fact that he was suffering a great deal. She could not have wished for a better punishment for the hanyou than to have him be so close to reuniting with her reincarnation only to have his dreams crushed by a barrier that was keeping them forever separated.

Inuyasha cursed loudly as he was thrown back from the barrier once again to land on his backside. Dragging himself to his feet he hung his head deciding that he should give it a rest for the day. His life had been the same pathetic existence for days on end. Inuyasha would wake up every morning and go to the well to try and break the barrier that kept him away from his precious Kagome and every night he would fall asleep wondering if he would ever see her beautiful face again. The days quickly transformed into months and still he was unable to break the barrier. The defeated hanyou journeyed to his childhood home where he had lived with his mother and father until they were both killed trying to protect him.

Inuyasha didn’t have the heart to stay near the bone eater’s well and be faced with the sickening reality that he would never see his precious Kagome ever again so he decided to stay in the old shrine turned cottage that was nestled in the mountains just on the border of Sesshomaru’s territory in the Western lands.

On the other side of the well five hundred years in the future it had been nine long months since Inuyasha had followed Kikyo into the fiery depths of Hell causing Kagome to have no other choice but to return home. She was now eight months along in her pregnancy and her stomach had become well rounded with child. Kagome had just crawled into bed feeling absolutely exhausted from being so far into her pregnancy. She was dressed in a long ivory sleeping kimono that went down to nearly brush the floor.

Her tired blue gray eyes had just drooped shut when she sensed an eerie disturbance lurking in the air and it seemed to be coming from the well house. Kagome carefully sat up and glanced out the window. Her sleep blurred blue gray eyes widened when they caught a glimpse of the familiar light blue aura that she had often been surrounded by when she had traveled to the feudal era. It was creeping out of the dark well house as if it was coming to bring her back to the warring states era once again.

Kagome climbed out of bed and tiptoed down the stairs of the dark quiet house. Her bare feet felt warm against the cool stone walkway that led to the old well house. She peaked her head into the dark well house to see the light blue aura glowing in the old abandoned well. “H-hello?” Kagome rested her right hand on her rounded stomach in a protective manner. Suddenly a tall lean figure emerged from the shadows startling Kagome. “Who are you? What are you doing in this well house?”

A confident silky sounding voice responded immediately. “Hello Kagome, it’s been a long time. I hope that you’ve been well.”

“Sesshomaru? What are you doing here?” He finally stepped out of the shadows where she could see his flawlessly handsome face.

“I need your assistance with something.”

“And what would that be?” Sesshomaru’s amber eyes swept down towards Kagome’s noticeably round stomach.

“I see that you’re quite heavy with my brother’s brat?” Her cheeks became tinted a light shade of pink instantly.

“Uh yes, but you didn’t answer me Sesshomaru.”

“Forgive me, I need your help in finding my half breed brother, it seems that he’s gone missing.” Kagome’s blue gray eyes stung with tears at the mention of her beloved.

“Why must you be so cruel to me Sesshomaru?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know that Inuyasha leapt into the depths of Hell with Kikyo! He’s been gone for nine months now!”

“Calm yourself wench! It’en ren rumored that Hades the lord of Hell and the underworld sent Inuyasha back here among the living as punishment to Kikyo.”

“What are you saying Sesshomaru?”

“You can be reunited with your beloved Inuyasha! So help me find him?”

“Why would you want to help me? You hate Inuyasha, Sesshomaru.”

“I have learned to put our past differences aside.”

“But that still doesn’t explain why you would want to bring Inuyasha back.”

“I thought that I would be happy when the half breed was gone, but I’m quite the opposite. I am miserable in fact. So you see I must have balance restored in my life and I can only do that by finding my half breed brother. So will you help me?”

“Of course but how are we going to find Inuyasha? That rumor may not even be true.”

“You still possess the Shikon Jewel do you not?” Kagome nodded and pulled the soft pink glowing jewel out from underneath her ivory sleeping kimono. “You can use the Shikon Jewel to find Inuyasha.”

“Okay I’ll do it.” With that Sesshomaru carefully scooped Kagome up into his arms and jumped into the dark well. The light blue aura surrounded the two as they traveled from Kagome’s time back five hud yed years into the feudal era.

Kagome held tightly onto Sesshomaru’s neck as they floated weightlessly through time. She had done this so many times before with Inuyasha that it felt as normal to her as breathing. Soon they touched bottom and Sesshomaru easily jumped out of the well still holding her. Once on solid ground he put Kagome down on her own two feet. “Sesshomaru?”

“Yes Kagome?”

“How were you able to get through the barrier that was placed on the well?”

“I simply destroyed the barrier. Why did you place a barrier on the well?”

“To keep anything from coming through the well seeking the Shikon Jewel.” Sesshomaru nodded seeming to accept her answer.

“Come, let us journey to my palace in the Western lands.” Before Kagome could say a word Sesshomaru had scooped her up into his arms once again.

“Sesshomaru, I can walk on my own!”

“Not for a long period of time in your condition.” The two journeyed most of the way in complete silence. Kagome’s blue gray eyes roamed over the countryside her mind being forced to relive all the memories she had made with Inuyasha when he was with her. She felt her eyes begin to fill with tears and before she could stop herself she was sobbing like a little girl.

Sesshomaru arched his brow curiously when the salty scent of Kagome’s tears assaulted his sensitive nose. “Kagome?” She answered him with a sob that made her entire body tremble in his arms. “Why do you cry?”

It took her a moment to gather herself so she could respond to his question. This place reminds me of Inuyasha. Everywhere I look I’m just flooded with memories of the time that we shared together.”

“I see. Well we will find him so you need not shed anymore tears over him.”

“How do you know for sure that Inuyasha is even here and that he isn’t still in Hell with Kikyo?”

“I don’t but we have to try and find him regardless.” Kagome remained silent until they reached the large white stone palace that Sesshomaru called home. She had only seen the palace two previous times before now. The first had been when Sesshomaru had kidnapped her and tried to trade her back to Inuyasha for the incredible sword Tetseiga. The second had been when Kagome had been taken to help Rin learn how to understand what becoming a woman was really about and when that time would come.

“Sesshomaru?”

“Yes Kagome?”

“You can put me down now. Is Rin still here?”

“Yes she is. She was quite pleased to know that you would be coming to visit her again.” Kagome smiled softly as Sesshomaru placed her back on her own two feet.

“How old is Rin now?”

“I believe she is ten now. She’s becoming quite lovely for a human.”

“I thought all humans were ugly filthy worthless fools?” He gave a small and very quick smile. If she would have blinked she would not have seen it.

“I’m not the same demon you once knew Kagome.”

“Are you saying you’ve changed?”

“Perhaps. So you should be giving birth to my brother’s brat very soon I should expect?”

“Oh uh yes, in another month.”

“And what will you name the child?”

“His name is going to be Tanmaru.”

“Tanmaru? Yes I suppose that’s a fitting name.” Kagome let a small and sarcastic sounding snort escape her mouth.

“Since when do you care what I name your brother’s brat?”

“Loorealrealize that we were enemies at one time, but I’m not your enemy now Kagome.”

“I’m sorry Sesshomaru, it’s just not very easy to start trusting someone who used to try and kill you.”

“I understand.” Kagome looked around realizing that Sesshomaru had led her past the foyer and into the sitting room. “Please Kagome, sit down and rest a while.” Kagome nodded and wearily sank down onto a large black velvet cushioned chase lounge chair. She propped her feet up almost instantly trying to relieve the pain from her swollen ankles.

A high pitched bubbly young girl’s voice echoed loudly off the stone walls of the palace causing Kagome to sit up quickly. “Kagome came back to see Rin! Rin is so happy to see Kagome!” Kagome smiled at the raven haired young girl with warm cocoa brown eyes. She stopped short when she finally noticed Kagome’s rounded stomach. “What is wrong with Kagome’s stomach? Is Kagome sick?”

“No sweetie, I’m fine. I’m not sick I’m expecting a baby.”

“Kagome is having a baby?”

“That’s right.”

“Is is Sesshomaru-sama’s baby?” Kagome’s cheeks burned bright red from Rin’s blunt question and she didn’t dare look up at the frigid demon lord.

“Oh no Rin, it’s Inuyasha’s baby.”

“Inuyasha? Rin does not know Inuyasha.”

“Yes Rin, he is Sesshomaru’s younger brother. He is the man you said looked like Sesshomaru a whole lot. Remember?”

“Oh yes! Rin remembers Inuyasha now!” Kagome smiled at Rin’s childish excitement. “Rin wants to see Inuyasha. Where is Inuyasha?” Sesshomaru watched as Kagome’s face fell instantly at the mention of her lost love. He stepped in before Kagome’s calm and collected front fell completely apart.

“Rin, that’s enough questions for now. Kagome is very tired so go play. You can visit with her later.”

“Does Sesshomaru-sama promise Rin will see Kagome later?”

“Yes I promise, now go.” With a quiave ave and a very sweet smile pointed at Sesshomaru Rin was gone.

“Thank you Sesshomaru.”

“Are you alright?” She nodded quickly. “I’m sorry that Rin asked about my brother.”

“She’s just a child Sesshomaru, she meant no harm by it.” Sesshomaru nodded.

“Well get some rest. Later this evening I wish to see the place where you last saw Inuyasha.”

“You want me to show you where Kikyo appeared and took him from me?”

“Yes, do you remember where that spot is?”

“I couldn’t forget it if I tried.”

“Very well. Rest.” Sesshomaru was exiting the sitting room before Kagome could even respond. Being left alone in the large room Kagome had no other choice but to sleep. Her dreams were haunted with is ofs of her beloved Inuyasha trapped in Hell with Kikyo.