It. Was. Hot.

Those three simple words are what pretty much summed up my summer here in good ole Tokyo, Japan. I had entered a summer abroad program, or rather my dear mother had, meaning that I would be spending my entire summer with another family in a totally different country and learning about their culture.

That is how I ended up here in Haneda Airport, waiting for my new family for the summer. Apparently they had a daughter my age who speaks English. Yep. I cannot speak Japanese, so that is going to make my life just that much harder this summer.

"Waller-san!"

My eyebrow twitched as I heard my last name being called out in a high pitched voice, turning toward the noise I saw a medium height high school girl with black hair holding up a sign and looking around. I sighed and stuffed my phone into the back pocket of my jeans before making my way over.

"That'd be me" I waved over to her as I approached, immediately sparkling blue eyes snapped over to me before taking a glance up and down as a slow smile stretched her lips upwards.

"Ohayo!" The girl greeted cheerfully in Japanese but as soon as she was the look of confusion on my face, she switched to English. "Good Morning!"

Nodding in greeting, I set down my luggage so I could stick out my hand, "Nice to meet you. My name is Noel Waller." She looked a little bit bewildered at my outstretched hand but hesitantly placed her palm in mine.

"Kagome Higurashi" A toothy smile graced her face as she let her hand slip back down by her side.

"My kaa-san is waiting outside for us, so just follow me." Kagome motioned over to the glass doors that had to be the exit. Picking up my suitcases, I stepped in line behind her trying to avoid getting ran over in the midst of so many people.

I was getting a lot of stares thanks to my blonde hair, I stuck out like a sore thumb.

Just as I shot a glare over to a woman with her child that was pointing at my head, Kagome giggled in front of me. "Your hair color isn't very common here, so people are curious." She explained looking over her shoulder with a grin.

I shrugged. "It's not a big deal, really." Kagome chuckled as we stepped out of the airport and into the sunlight.

"Her car is right there" Kagome pointed to an older model silver Toyota corolla. Just as a older Kagome stepped out of the drivers seat.

"Ohayo, Waller-san!" Kagome's mother waved over at me as we walked over to the vehicle, I raised my hand in greeting and spoke "Nice to meet you, Miss Higurashi. Just called me, Noel."

The older woman popped open the truck so that I could stick my bags inside and as I closed the truck, a breeze blew by making my hair fly in my face and mouth. "ACK!" I spat out the hairs that had stuck to my tongue but the wind kept getting stronger so as I closed my eyes, I swore I heard a small voice in the wind. As soon as it appeared, it was gone.

"Odd." I muttered trying to pat down the rebellious flyway's back into place.

"Noel-chan!"

"Coming!" I called back and crawled into the backseat.

"So, Noel-chan. How have you liked Tokyo so far?" Mrs. Higurashi asked politely, looking into the rearview mirror to peer at me.

"It is a very big city. My home is nothing compared to this." I replied resting my chin on my palm.

Kagome turned around in her seat to look at me, "Where are you from in the US, Noel-chan?" She asked curiously with a tilt of her head.

I blinked and sighed "I'm from the south, if you haven't noticed from my accent already. But I'm from North Carolina."

Both females seemed to consider this and nodded to themselves as the mulled over my accent, then they both continued to question me about my plans for the summer and about my life. It was like that the whole way back to their house, which turned out to be a shrine.

"Wow…" I gaped as we pulled up to this religious shrine.

We exited the car, and just as I was pulling my luggage out of the truck, two figures walked out of the house.

"Grandpa! Souta!" Kagome cupped a hand around her mouth as she waved them over "Come meet Noel-chan!"

A little boy, obviously Kagome's younger brother, ran up and caught his sister around the knees in an embrace. "Nee-chan! You're back!" He squealed looking up at her with a grin, Kagome smiled back and patted his hair with her free hand that wasn't holding the car door.

"Ne? Who are you, lady? Why is your hair that color?" Souta asked innocently with a tilt of his head but yelped as his mother pinched his arm. "That is Noel, she will be staying with us this summer….So you better be on your best behavior" Mrs. Higurashi warned as seemingly lighting strikes came out of her eyes.

Souta gulped and stepped away from his mother, I cracked a grin and laughed a bit at the situation.

"It's fine, he is just curious." I waved her off. "I was born with hair this color, just like you were born with brown hair."

The boy blinked and then nodded understandingly just as his grandfather came to stand beside him.

"YOKAI!"

Smack.

"ACK!"

I had been hit with a handful of sage.

"GRANDPA!" Kagome cried out horrified at the scene that had just happened. "Noel-chan is not a yokai!" She snatched the leaves from his hand as he drew back from another swing.

"Kanojo no kami! Watashitachi no ie no naka de akuma ga arimasu!" He hollered in Japanese.

Blinking, I started pulling some dry leaves that had shaken off into my hair, "Did I just get smacked with leaves?"

Kagome turned with a sheepish expression on her face, "I am so sorry, Noel-chan. My grandfather is a very superstitious man. Ya know, since he runs the shrine and all." She laughed nervously while rubbing a hand up and down the back of her head.

I watched wearily as old man lumbered back into the shrine, and sighed. This was going to be a long summer.

It had been a couple days since I moved into the Higurashi shrine, and was fitting in quite nicely if I do say so myself.

SLAM!

"NOEL-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

I stiffened as I heard Kagome thunder around below the tree I had taken refuge in. I let out a sigh as Kagome huffed and went back inside to continue looking for me but it'll be a cold day in hell before I go shopping with her and her friends.

Jumping down with a slight wince, I dashed behind and into the old well house that occupied the backyard.

The well house itself was a wreck, old and forgotten heirlooms lined the shelves, cobwebs and dust littered the place. I traced a hand over a wooden plank and scowled at the thick layer of dust that had come up onto my hand.

"Ew."

Wiping my hand onto the fabric of my jeans, I turned and sat on some boards that were piled up and nailed over the old well. Leaning forward on my knees, I placed my chin in my palms and sighed, "Wish I was enjoying summer with my own friends" I mumbled seating straight then moving to lean back on my…

Air?

Blink.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

I fell backwards into the cool air of the dark well, I couldn't catch myself in time so my bottom part followed my head back into the emptiness. Trying to twist around so I could at least see the bottom of the well, I shielded myself as a burst of blue light up around me.

Peeking out from my fingers, I gasped in fright at the sight of myself hovering in midair. But I didn't have time to panic because just as soon as I removed my hands from my face, I hit the bottom.

"FUCKING HELL!" I yelped having landed face first into the dirt, at least it wasn't concrete. Rising on shaky limbs, I pressed myself onto the wall of the well and looked up to see….Is that the sky? As in the blue sky?

WASN'T THIS WELL IN A SHACK?!

"Why is this summer getting more and more weird?" I asked myself then shook to free my clothes from the debris, grabbing a jutting rock, I began to climb out of the well. Just as I was reaching over the edge, a flash of a hand snagged out and yanked the back of my tank top.

"WHAT-" I sputtered as the slight pressure against my throat surprised me but as soon as it was there, the pressure was gone and I was dropped. "HEY WHAT IS THE BIG IDEA?!"

Brushing a hand across my throat, I glared up at the person that had snatched me out of the well, the sun was making it hard to look at this person, but whoever it was had to be tall.

"Ningen."

Furrowing my eyebrows, I recognized this language to be Japanese. I didn't speak Japanese. I stood up and brushed off the seat of my jeans, "Look buddy, I'm not from around here so if you know any English that'd be great." I grumbled looking down at my elbow that had a small bead of blood dribbling out of a scratch.

No response.

I sighed and cupped a hand over my eyes so I could properly see this person, and the sight promptly took my breath away. Standing before me was a tall man, much taller than my own 5'4 height, with the strangest golden eyes that seemed to be looking into my very soul. He had very odd color hair too, silver. Not white, not grey. SILVER. He was dressed kind of funny too, with a giant spiked armor that cased his left shoulder. So, without further ado I wondered out loud,

"Is this cosplay? Is that what this is?"

Once again, no response.

He seemed to be studying me, taking in my clothing and hair color. Even my scent, if I guessed correctly when he fared his nostrils a bit.

"On'nanoko wa, naze anata wa watashi no shurui no mesu no nioi ka?"

"FINALLY, HE SPEAKS!" I hooted shooting a grin his way, "But unfortunately, I have no idea what you are saying."

Silence.

"Okay, well….I am just gonna...go away….now." I waved and turned sharply on my heel but before I could even take two steps, a firm hand shot out and gripped my shoulder. "Um…can I help you?"

Looking over my shoulder, I met the man's eyes. They looked intrigued, confused and emotionless all at the same time, "Ningen o watashi ni kotaete kudasai." He insisted hardening his grip on my shoulder. I winced and tried to pull away, "HEY! That hurts, jerk!" I hissed but when no understanding light up his eyes, I did the next best thing.

"Itaidesu….shiri." I spat in broken Japanese, I had picked up some words here and there having lived with Kagome and her family. Instantly, the words had effect because the once emotionless eyes turned into a swirl of hot golden lava.

But before he could eject an attack on my person, I heard a voice.

"SESSHOMARU-SAMA!"

Sama? Doesn't that mean….oh shit.

Gulping, I looked back up at the irate man. Just my luck, I suppose.

I had insulted a lord.