Tag in the Rain by Ariel

Down the Rabbit Hole and into a Dog's Den

A/n:

If anyone has read this story before on Aff.net then know that I may not post there anymore. Also I've decided to revamp (again). I want this story to come out perfect and my OCD won't leave me alone. I have a twitter (kawaiisanosuke) and I will tweet when I update chapters. I don't know how long this will take or how this story will end but I WILL finish this story, even if it kills me.

Lets hope it doesn't come to that.

I don't have a beta so I know there will be mistakes. If someone wants to beta me or has a suggestion then please leave a message.

PLease enjoy!

--------------------------

Kagome sat under a tree silently as she read the book in her lap. She could feel its weight dig into the leg she had propped it on, almost as if each small math equation inside the book weighed a pound. Standing alone each equation would have been harmless, easy to master; but here with all of them together it was like the weight of the world. Dramatic, yes, but that was a right she earned in her own opinion. She had three days to learn everything she had missed so she could at least pass the math exam back in her time, 500 or so odd years in the future.

“And It’s never going to happen” She said to no one in particular.

She had no clue where she was at the moment and she never really knew where the Inu-tachi was heading until they got there.

That is, unless it was extremely important.

At present time they seemed to be off to the side of a mountain. Nothing large and fancy, just an average mountain with rocks and snow cap; definitely no Mt. Fuji… The group had just finished a late lunch and decided to camp out for the night, which was perfect for Kagome because that math test and all. It was still light out, just now passing into the early stages of sundown, beginning to turn the first shades of orange and pink.

“This is never going to work!” She scratched her head in frustration.

Kagome wondered why she even tried anymore. It hadn’t slipped her mind the idea of just dropping out. Considering how things were going, she’d be better off here where she was somewhat important and useful. Even though most of her skills were rudimentary, they were leaps and bounds ahead of most of the people in this time.

She decided to take a break and gazed over her group. Shippou was happily drawing with the crayons that she had brought him. Her backpack was so full of drawing he’d given her that it threatened to break but she wouldn’t dream of throwing any away. More often then not, they consisted of victory pictures; Shippou saving the day instead of Inuyasha. Kagome had promised herself she would bind them all into a little book so she would have them to look at anytime.

Sango was busy grooming Kirara and Miroku was nursing a bruised cheek. She wondered if they would ever act like a normal couple. It wasn’t a secret that they were engaged now but they acted the same as before. Kagome had assumed they would have been a little more lovey-dovey.

“I guess things are different in this time…a lot different” Kagome mused.

She thought about her cousin who was recently engaged. There was a glow about her that Kagome had never seen before on a woman, and Kagome was understandably envious.

Of course, they didn’t have to deal with demons and jewel shards in the future. Kagome felt so much sorrow for her companions.

Each one was brought to her because of Naraku. She was so blessed to know them but sometimes wished she had met them in a different, happier, way.

Kagome looked around camp for a familiar fuzzy eared grump, but found no trace of him. She didn’t remember him leaving but she hadn’t exactly paid attention earlier.

“Sango-chan, did you see where Inuyasha went?”

Sango looked up from Kirara puzzled. She glanced around camp reflexively before meeting Kagome’s gaze.

“No, I didn’t.” She shook her head. “I didn’t hear him leave either, it’s not like him to be quiet.”

“I’ll find out where he went I guess.” Kagome sighed.

She sat her book down and got up dusting the grass and dirt off her skirt before waving to Sango and heading down the hill toward the nearby forest. She suspected, with past experiences as a guide,  that he would be there. It was normal for him to disappear into the forest of his namesake whenever they went home. Him being creature of habit, she assumed he would do the same here.

“Be careful Kagome-sama, there are dangers everywhere.” Miroku called after her. “Would you like me to accompany you?”

Kagome picked up her bow and arrows that were leaning against the tree she was residing under.

“I’ll be ok Houshi-sama!” and with that she made her way down the hill.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When she had said she would be ok, she never expected the forest to be so dark and spooky, for lack of better words. The once orange sky took on a green tint here under the shade of the forest canopy and the forest floor was covered with many shades of brown. Brown leaves, brown twigs, brown dirt. The large tree trunks were casting shadows every where. Every shadow was a hungry yokai waiting to jump out and devour her.

“It was so sunny a second ago…” She murmured.

She jumped when a movement in her peripheral vision spooked her and as expected when she looked in that direction there was nothing.

“For once…can’t I have a normal day?”

“Little miko, what are you doing away from your…companions?”

Kagome jumped as the voice scared her witless. She swirled around, her arm rising to the arrows on her back. She felt the tension lessen a little when she realized whom it was.

“Sesshoumaru…”

Of course not too long afterward, she realized the absurdity of her attitude. She shouldn’t be relieved that it was Sesshoumaru. In a way, he was just as big of a threat as Naraku; Different reasons, same out come. Either way, she’d end up with the short end of the stick.

Or sword.

“That is Sesshoumaru-sama to you, miko.”

Kagome cringed inwardly at the way he spat out her adopted title. It wasn’t as if she carried the plague. It almost made her sad…almost; right now though, she was just scared stiff.

But her anger always had a way of winning...

“Forgive me, Sesshoumaru-sama” She said sarcastically.

Boy, was she pushing it…

The only reaction she got was a slightly arched eyebrow. For a split second, Kagome cheered at the small victory.

“If your looking for the hanyou, you won’t find him” Sesshoumaru spoke uncaringly looking off into the forest.

“What did you do?” Kagome spat out angrily.

“This Sesshoumaru did nothing. That half breed of yours is consorting with the undead one.”

That one simple sentence was a blow to the gut for Kagome. Kikyou… It figures. Kagome wasn’t sure whether or not to believe Sesshoumaru…did he have something up his sleeve? She looked around her for any sign of Inuyasha but found none.

Was she really so surprised by the news. How many times has this happened already? Every time she would tell herself ‘it’s not your problem anymore’ and she would pretend to move on and then it would happen again. The process would just start over. She couldn’t just pretend to not care when she did so deeply.

“Then I better go back.” She felt dejected and slowly turned and began to walk away.

“This Sesshoumaru believes you are defenseless…”

Kagome felt a forbidden chill run up her spine the moment the words left his lips. Everything seemed to darken in that one second, more foreboding.

“Run” was his single deadly command.

She heard the sound of metal sliding on metal and knew he was drawing his sword. Sesshoumaru wouldn’t really sink that low would he?

She didn’t wait to find out.