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Chapter One – The Essay

"Where do you think Naraku could be hiding?" Miroku spoke startling the rest of the group and surprising them with his out-of-the-blue question.

"Keh, if we knew that we would be out killing that bastard right now." Inuyasha stated bluntly.

"Miroku's right Inuyasha," Sango spoke getting into the conversation. "We haven't felt Naraku's presence for some time already. Do you think he's planning something Miroku?"

"I'm sure of it," Miroku responded sarcastically. "Naraku is always planning something evilly sick-minded. I wouldn't be surprised if he's writing in his journal of 'evil plots' while we're here."

"Do not joke about this Miroku," Kaede spoke wisely as she handed each member of the group a bowl of stew she was brewing up, excluding Kagome. "Ye have to take Naraku's plans seriously. Whatever brings suspicions, ye must check it out."

The group had gathered into the hut three days ago, after finding no clues of Naraku's whereabouts. Kagome had mentioned that she needed to go back home for a while to check up on school and work, but she was staying there longer than she said she would have.

"Well we can't check it out without Kagome. When is that wench coming back! It's already been three days!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Calm your self down Inuyasha," Sango exclaimed. "Kagome has a life there too. Just because you love her, it doesn't mean you have to have her with you 24/7."

Inuyasha mouth went dry at Sango's statement. 'Just because you love her? Where the hell did that come from?'

"I-I don't love her! How can I love a dimwitted wench!" Inuyasha shouted back.

Everyone in the hut simply sighed and rolled their eyes. Clearly Inuyasha was still in denial, but everyone else was better than that. Miroku and Sango confessed their love to each other, so why couldn't Inuyasha and Kagome do the same? Granted though, Kagome did mention something about having feelings about him, but then why couldn't they at least say 'I love you' and get the drama over with?

"What?" Inuyasha asked with a confused look in his face at everyone's expression. He was obviously missing something here…as usual.

500 years in the future:

"EEHHHH?" Everyone in the class shouted.

"Quiet down class!" Mrs. Hamada yelled, trying to get the explanation of the essay over with so she could rest her feet.

"But Mrs. Hamada, we already have a math test tomorrow plus our English report is due this Friday." Eri complained.

"This essay will be due in two weeks, which will give you plenty of time to finish it. If you all would just calm down and let me explain what the essay is about, you won't be too worried. It's fairly simple work."

The class finally calmed down while Mrs. Hamada took her time to explain.

"You all will write an essay about the Feudal Era, stating the major events that occurred during that time. Briefly summarize the events because that Era had many different events. Don't hesitate to include legends and myths, but make sure you have at least half of the information to be true facts like wars and battles. Don't even try to make up the legends and myths, because when you hand in you report, you will also show me your source of information. Don't add any information about how they lived and what their lifestyle was like during that time; I don't care about that. After you summarized all the major events, you must write your own personal view of how those events affected our life style today." After Mrs. Hamada caught her breath from the long explanation, she spoke again. "…Any questions?"

Kagome slowly raised her hand up hesitantly.

"Yes Miss. Higurashi?"

"Did you say, the Feudal Era?" Kagome asked somewhat nervously yet anticipated.

"That's right."

Before Mrs. Hamada could finish, the school bell rung signaling that school was over. Everyone scrambled to their feet, excited that school is finally over for today. Mrs. Hamada quickly cried out before they left. "Don't forget, the essay is due in two weeks!"

Kagome almost reached the door to join her friends when her teacher called for her. "Oh Mrs. Higurashi, before you leave I need to talk to you."

Kagome silently walked to her teacher, suspicious as to what she needed to talk to her about. History has always been her strong subject, being that she had actually BEEN through history so to speak.

"Miss. Higurashi, I know you've been missing school a lot lately because of the illnesses you always happen to come across…"

'A new illness a day' Kagome thought sarcastically 'good job ji-chan.'

"…so since you'll have more time on your hands, I expect your essay to exceed your classmates. Okay?"

'Oh great…more pressure. Just what I needed. Well at least it's the Feudal Era. I guess I could use Inuyasha's help after all.'

"Don't worry Mrs. Hamada." With that said, Kagome walked out the class door to meet with her friends.

"What did she say Kagome? Are you in trouble with all the classes you missed?" As usual the nosy Eri started questioning Kagome like a mad news reporter.

"No, Mrs. Hamada just expects my essay to be well done because I have more time on my hands," Kagome explained.

"Oh well that's good. Now you can boost up your mark Kagome-chan," Ayumi said encouragingly. Of course Ayumi had always been good at school so she never realized how hard everyone else was struggling with work.

"Come on I'm starving, let's go to WacDonalds and have a snack," Yuka begged. "Then you can talk to us about your boyfriend Kagome. He really wasn't rude like you said he was. Eri-chan, Ayumi-chan and I think he's really sweet."

'Well he is…sometimes.' Kagome thought, but she had to deny the meeting for once. Mrs. Hamada expects her report to be well done so she needed to cram. There's no doubt that Inuyasha would come for her today, being that it's been the third day she's stayed here.

"No thanks. I think I'll just head towards the library and start on that essay."

"Oh come on Kagome-chan," Ayumi begged. "We hardly see you now. The least you could do is spend some time with us."

"Nope, sorry. Got to cram, 'cause Inuyasha will probably be meeting me tonight."

"Ohh, I see," the three girls said at once, understanding why Kagome would want to finish her work so eagerly. Taking the hint, they left Kagome to her studies.

Once her friends had left her to work, Kagome started heading towards the library in search of books about the Feudal Era.

She entered through the old swinging library double doors, and headed straight for the librarian front desk.

"Hello, how may I help you?" an old lady with white hair spoke with a librarian voice.

"Do you have any books on the Feudal Era?"

"Yes. Why don't you sit on that desk over there while I'll go get them for you," the old lady spoke as she pointed to a single table next to the window on the far corner.

"Thanks, that'll be great," Kagome responded, heading towards the appointed table.

As she sat there waiting for the old lady to return with the required books, Kagome got to thinking about the essay while she stared out the window.

It was spring right now, which means school would be over soon…which will evidently mean that she'll be spending more time with Inuyasha. Kagome blushed at the thought, but her thoughts were quickly shattered when the old lady came with the books. That was fast.

"I have about five books for you," she laid out the four small books with a fairly large old looking book in front of the student.

When Kagome said her thanks, the lady left her to her work.

'Oh my goodness, this old book is huge! I think I'll start with the smaller ones.' Kagome stared at the large old leathered and tattered book a little longer for examination until she left it to read the smaller books.

Kagome flipped to a random page and read to herself, 'The woman in this time wore old fashion kimonos while the men always had long hair and tied it in an old fashion Japanese knot…' "I don't need any of this stuff." Kagome took out another book and read through its contents. The same information repeated itself in different sentencing, none of which she needed. Kagome was forced to look through the old book. Well at least it looked interesting.

When Kagome positioned the old book in front of her, she got a better look at its worn out leather. The binding looked like it was about to fall apart, and as she flipped through the pages, the paper was so old that it looked like someone spilled coffee all over it. The paper's density didn't seem to be in any better condition. It seemed like it would rip at any moment if she weren't careful enough.

But nonetheless she started to read its contents, once again flipping through a random page.

'…The hanyou and friends looked distressed. There was a strange presence in the air; they felt like they were surrounded. Little did they know that this was going to be the beginning of a new adventure for the hanyou-Inuyasha, Kagome, and their friends...'

"What the…" Kagome yelled, realizing what she read.

"Ssssshhhhh," the people in the library hushed, silencing the startled girl.

"Oh…sorry," Kagome apologized with a quiet voice.

Kagome re-read the sentence again…and again. There was no mistaking it. She wasn't dreaming. This book was talking about her adventures in the past….or future…depending where she was, depending 'when' she was. She was about to turn the page to read more when she heard a loud shout calling her name.

"Kagome!"

"SSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH," the people in the library hushed again, clearly agitated with the immature students with lack of respect.

"Don't 'ssshhh' me!"

"Inuyasha sit!" Kagome yelled. She recognized Inuyasha's voice anywhere. How did he find her anyways? Oh yea! That damn nose of his…

After a thud followed by a loud piercing scream, the quiet readers had had enough, and abruptly left the library once they checked out their books, not caring about how the boy fell to the ground so suddenly.

Once the spell on the rosary wore off, Inuyasha was up on his feet at once. He could tell Kagome was close by. He spotted the raven-haired girl by the desk talking with an old lady with a book at hand. He charged after her, clearly mad.

"Thank you for helping me out," Kagome said with a cheerful smile. Since Inuyasha showed up, she knew he was going to take her back. Mine as well check out the book now before he drags her back.

"No problem, and please be careful with that book. Our other librarians hadn't got the chance to fix it up yet."

"Don't worry I w…" Before Kagome could finish her sentence, Inuyasha was already dragging her out the door. Well at least she was smart enough to already check it out.

"Inuyasha! I can walk you know." Kagome scolded.

"Yea well you're too slow," Inuyasha huffed. "This way it'll be faster."

As Inuyasha dragged the struggling girl by her forearm out the swinging doors, Kagome's hand slipped on the book leaving the cover and its pages dangling from her grasp. When the door closed behind her, one of its pages got caught in the closing, ripping it from its binding. All without either Inuyasha or Kagome realizing.