Twisted Well

The remaining Shikon jewel shards disappear from Ancient Japan. Sorcerers everywhere are mysteriously gaining monstrous amounts of power. The stage is set for chaos…

An Inu-Yasha / Sorcerer Hunter fan fiction by Iapetus

Disclaimer: I don't own either of these series, and I still won't in future chapters. This is a story born from my love of these two animes. If you think it would be worth it to try and sue me, think again: I'm a High School Junior who has an anime addiction and no job. You don't get much poorer than that.

Text meanings: italics – thoughts

*Stars around words* – action, or sound effect

_Underscores around words_ – emphasized speech, but not yelling

CAPITALS – yelling, or extreme word emphasis

Time paradoxes: Since I got this idea, and don't want to lose it, I'm basing the story of what I know so far into the series. Everything in Inu-Yasha manga volumes 1-11, (right after the extended story of Mirkou's air rip) are included. The Sorcerer Hunters manga story remains true from the beginning up to the end of volume 8. I'd like to claim the storyline you are about to read as my own, but I haven't read any Inu-Yasha / Sorcerer Hunter fictions before. (Hopefully mine is original.) If by freak accident I actually stumble upon something that does happen later in either manga, remember, I STILL don't own these series.

All right. Without further adieu, I present: Twisted Well

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Kagome sat against the smooth back of the tree, studying her Trigonometry book. Let's see, she thought, Pythagorean's theorem states that the two legs of a triangle, each squared and added together, equal the hypotenuse squared, if it is a right triangle. She looked up from the reading, and closed her eyes. That means the equation is A2 + B2 = C2 algebraically. Checking her answer, she was relieved to have gotten it right. With renewed vigor, she reached for a new sheet of paper to begin her homework from Summer School. The thin blue binder with held all her loose notebook paper was not at the top of her books. Puzzled, Kagome looked into the bag for herself, and realized that it was not there. Last week when she went back to Tokyo, it must have somehow been left behind. That would explain why I didn't notice it until now. The business with Mirkou's air rip left me with little time to study. Not that she would ever abandon a friend, but fighting demons did affect her GPA. With her attendance record wrecked due to the Shikon Jewel, and even entrance into High School a question; she had deviated far from the model of perfect student.

Kagome looked at her companions cautiously. All of them were taking an afternoon nap. It was the reason she decided to study in the first place. With company like hers, it was hard to find personal quiet time.

Finding a scrap piece of paper, she scribbled a message stating that she was going back for a couple of hours. It would take no time to get her paper, but she missed her family immensely. Even after months of hunting the jewel, she still wasn't used to it. And, she wanted to talk to her mother about Inu-Yasha…

Snapping out of her train of thought, she snuck quietly out of the clearing. Nothing would be taken with her, except her bow and arrow. She restocked her supplies a week ago, and didn't need anything for another week. Kagome was glad that their most recent search brought them near the Bone-Eater's Well. Shippo had gotten a bad gash from the Air Rip incident, and the herbal medicines of Kaede accelerated his demon-healing capabilities. Wincing again at the thought of taking advantage or shunning her friends' misfortune, she jumped in to the well, and back to her own world.

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Maye hid behind the old wooden door. Count Pepper was out and about again, and anyone who valued his or her life would hide. She knew that a majority of the Sorcerers on Spooner were evil, and oppressed the Parsoners severely. However, in her region, the Pepper family was respectable, and the sudden transformation in the Count frightened everyone in town.

I _never_ thought that the Count would end up like this, Maye thought. Why is he collecting people for slaves suddenly? We always gave him our support… The population in town of Lemon was dwindling. It was said that anyone who entered the manor now, would never return. She heard her cousin yell outside. Oh no, she said she was going out with the others to look for herbs! Fear gripped Maye's heart.  She had forgotton about that.

            Well, it looks like I'll have to go sooner than I thought, she chuckled.  Still, her cousin Chili was all she had left. As she saw the last of her family dragged away, she vowed to find some way to get her back.

With Chili gone, the Count would come for her next. To compound their problems, her town has been shut off at the beginning if Pepper's attacks, so no one would come to their aid. I have to escape here. She felt terrible about leaving her people.  When I don't return, they're going to panic.  I hope they don't give Sorrell to hard of a time.  She fought back a feeling of betrayal, not just to her town, but also to her Count. Maye started to pack. The only chance is for me to get to the Stella church in Dorado. It was only church, in an area of several small towns. If no one came to their aid soon, Lemon would sink into oblivion. I've heard the legends, as well as the rumors. Father Owosso will know if it is true. Either way, I cam claim Sanctuary, and not even a Sorcerer can get me then.

Her bag was packed, and she dressed for a long journey. Her traveling clothes hung on a peg at the far end of the room. It was suitable for fighting, and she would not be recognized in the outfit. Working quickly, she stripped off her dress, and hid it in her closet. Pulling on the new clothes quickly, she checked to make sure it still fit. Maye wound her hair up into a crude knot, and put it under the hat. She picked up her long bow, her hunting bow, and a large quiver full of arrows. The bag and bows lay in a neat pile by the back door. Then, she ran up to her room. Crawling under the bed, she retrieved a carved wooden box. The inside was lined with silk. On the fabric rested six throwing knives, and one hunting knife – each with it's own sheath. It was the knives her father gave her at her coming of age celebration. Her mother didn't approve of a lady fighting in any way. Her father, however, had seen the potential in her at a young age, and therefore trained her in secret. Not may people knew that she was an excellent shot with a bow or knife. She unsheathed the hunting blade to admire it once again.

It was beautiful, yet practical. The base at the blade was engraved with an ivy design. It manifested into a three-dimensional type form onto the handle. She then picked up the six throwing blades. Each was simple, due to the fact that one could be lost easily in a fight. They all had a good weight, though, and she treasured them as much as the hunting knife. Maye smiled ruefully. I may have been his best student, but he still respected my love for the garden. Mama never knew I ever fought, because I was always in the garden… She blinked back tears. It was true that her father and she deceived her mother by training in the garden. Still, she did most of the weeding, and tended the herb section and the roses. Her mother had trained her to be a proper lady, at least so she thought. No, Maye thought, I'll never play the part of a proper lady, but thanks to mother – and my garden – I can play the part.

Another scream woke her out of her nostalgia. Dwelling on the past would never bring back her parents. Either way, she had a job to do. She wouldn't have to worry about locking the doors, or Pepper's men looting the manor.  Her ancestor had insured that an intruder could never do such a thing.  The screams were coming closer. If there were ever a time to leave, it was now. Putting on her weapons belt, she put the hunting knife on as well as two throwing blades. One blade went in her right boot, and the remaining four were wrapped in the fanciest dress she had, and packed carefully away in her waterproof bag. If somehow the Count got into her house, it would be ransacked. A soldier would know when they picked up the blades that they were true masterpieces, and would take them for themselves. THAT was a thought she could not handle. Looking around one more time at the home of her youth, Maye imprinted it in her mind, along with her mother, father, and her four brothers and seven sisters. Thanking Saint Mama for having the manor on the edge of the forest, she creped out into the garden, and closed the door.

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Mirkou was the first to awake from their afternoon nap. It was almost time for lunch, and went to the stream by where Kagome was working.

"Kagome, is it possible –" the monk stopped. She wasn't there, although all of her "homework" was. He picked up the note.

"Dear Everyone, I went back to Tokyo to get some paper, and to see my mom," Mirkou read in a low voice to himself. "I'll be back in a couple of hours. –Kagome."

"SHE WHAT?" Inu-Yasha yelled. Mirkou turned around, not surprised at his sudden remark. "She went back last week. Why does she need to go so soon?"

He repeated the specific part of her letter about why she went.

"I know that. But she should have told us!" Inu-Yasha was fuming.

"She did. She left a letter." There was going to be a fight when they saw each other next. He then started off toward the Bone-Eater's well. Not wanting to miss the fun, Mirkou began to follow him.

"What's going on, you two?" Sango questioned them.

"I'm going to Kagome's time to get her to come back," the half demon stated.

"No," Mirkou corrected him, WE'RE going to Kagome's time."

"We are?" Shippo had just woken up.

"No, you're not. Her mother hates me already, and does not like her being in this time. How will she like three more to remind her of it?"

"That's way to considerate of you, Inu-Yasha," Sango said with a smirk. "We all know that you don't mean that… and anyways. Kagome invited me to meet her mother myself."

"I want to go too!" Shippo cried out. Last time you went, you wouldn't let me come."

"I'm NOT taking you all! I'm going in, and dragging her back out. We need to go back shard hunting again, and we can't do it without Kagome. Let me do it alone." Inu-Yasha stormed of. The rest promptly followed him.

As soon as Inu-Yasha jumped in the well, the other three followed in. It was cramped down at the bottom of the well with four people inside.

"I told you three not to come!" Inu-Yasha whispered angrily. "Go back!"

Mirkou was already climbing up the ladder. "I haven't come this far to go back."

A boy poked his head into the well. It was Sota.

"Hey Kagome! Inu-Yasha's here!"

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Big Momma sat on her throne, alone in the large room. To one accustomed to seeing Big Momma in person, they would be surprised at the sight now. None of her personal guard, the Haz Knights, was there. Mille Feuille was keeping watch over Carrot and the gang. Onion was a Knight, but his duty in protecting the Secret Village kept him from the normal responsibilities of her inner guard.

The other three Knights were out on a mission as well. Since the death of Zacher Torte, Big Momma had felt a new power take hold in his stead. Not liking to be ignorant, she sent the remaining three Knights to spy and gather information on the new power. It had not made a move, but that didn't matter at all. Zacher, after his rebellion, remained quiet for thirteen years before he attacked the home of the Mochas. Even if the other Sorcerer Hunters did not notice, it was with the abduction of Éclair that set his actions in motion.

Gateau dedicated his life to becoming a Sorcerer Hunter after Éclair was taken from him, three years ago. His family was blessed with incredible physical strength, which stemmed from his power as one of the four pillar gods.

* Flashback *

Chocloat had finished the job she was on, and Big Momma was about to contact her with another. Before sending Daughter out, she checked her magic orb.

There was a man with her. She did not know the name he had received in this world, but she recognized the chi of Karlman, Protector of the North. He has come at last, she thought to herself.

"Daughter," Daughter turned to face Mama.

"Hai?" she responded.

"Chocolat has finished her job. I need to inform her of another. Will you go to her?" Mama asked gently.

"Of course, Momma." Daughter smiled. By her eyes, it was easy to tell she would enjoy the trip. She loved all of the Sorcerer Hunters, and delighted to be able to visit them on jobs.

A communication orb floated in Daughter's direction. "There will be a man you have never seen before with Chocolat. Do not be afraid of him. He is allowed to see me."

The command puzzled the winged girl. "Really?" She shrugged. "If you say it is ok, then it is!" A big smile broke out across her face. Grabbing the communication orb, she disappeared from sight.

A minute later, a ghostly image of Chocolat and Gateau appeared. He looked self-conscious, before the founder of the Stella church. The Sorcerer Hunter saw this from the corner of her eye, and stepped forward.

"I'm sorry Momma. I could not finish my mission. The enemy wasn't who I thought it was, and this was a mistake on my part." Chocolat couldn't look Big Momma in the eye.

To those who knew Chocolat, her behavior would have seemed strange. She was carefree while dressed in normal clothes, but when she broke out the leather, her personality became vicious. But, even when she was vicious, her respect for Big Momma never wavered; and she would look her in the eye.

"It wasn't your fault. How could you have known that it was Zacher? I apologize for not telling you. He disguised his footsteps well, and even I didn't see it coming.

"Gateau," she spoke gently, but with authority. He was looking at Chocloat while she gave her report, but his head snapped back to Momma.

"I want to apologize to you too. The enemy who attacked your family evaded even my spy network. If we had been more competent, you wouldn't have lost your parents, or your younger sister."

Pain was still written deep in his face. Nevertheless, there was determination there too. "Saint Mama - "

"- You may call me Big Momma." She noticed the look on Chocolat's face. Her response startled the young Sorcerer Hunter, even if Gateau didn't notice it.

"… Big Momma…" He said with uncertainty, "My parents may have died, but my sister Éclair was kidnapped. I want to save her. She's all the family I have left.

"If I became a Sorcerer Hunter, I will probably run into that man again. Chocolat said that we would have to ask you." He looked up with hope on his face. He had been kneeling.

"I told him that it might take years, but he insisted," Chocloat said, speaking up. "When I saw him fight Zacher, I could see why the Mocha family was targeted – and why his sister was kidnapped. He has great potential, even if he wasn't born a Sorcerer Hunter."

"Gateau, the Sorcerer Hunters are unlike other people. Our mission is to eliminate all the evil Sorcerers from the world. By accepting the duty to become a Hunter, you must carry out your missions – no matter what cost. Even if it means your death. Are you willing to make such a sacrifice?" Momma asked.

"To get my sister back, I would do anything! I'd give my life to protect my sister, but I'd also give my life to protect the innocent. If I die, it is because I wasn't strong enough, and deserve to. One shouldn't take on responsibility that they can't handle."

"And are you saying you can handle the responsibility?" Momma asked questionably.

"Yes." There was no lie in his face. Momma knew he was being sincere.

The goddess turned to Chocolat. "I know you like to work alone, but I would like you to train Gateau. His family's strength is impressive, but there are things about magic that he must learn from you. When he becomes an official Sorcerer Hunter, you can go solo again." Chocolat gave a small smile. Momma took that as a 'yes'.

* End Flashback *

Momma smiled. Gateau became one of the best Sorcerer Hunters of the organization. His strength grew exponentially. Not only that, but after his training had been completed, Chocolat insisted that Gateau become her partner. She said that the solo job wasn't for her after all, and that they made a good team. Chocolat may be in love with Carrot, but there was also a deep devotion to her work partner. The feeling was mutual.

Now, though, they worked with Carrot, Marron, and Tira. Those five could give Mille, Onion, and Apricot a run for their money – when they were younger.

She shook herself out of the memory. This was no time to be slacking off. The Haz Knights were off doing their jobs, and she should be doing hers. Peering back into her magic orb, she watched over her people once again.

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A hushed silence hung over the Sorcerer Hunters. It was three days since the "Magic Carpenter" incident, which left everyone at a loss for words. Yes, in the end Crepe got what she wished, but it was at a high price. For a long time after her grandfather brought her back, she didn't know how many had died to complete the feat of her resurrection. Evil sorcerers could be dealt with, but the lives of those lost would never be replaced. It was the harsh reality of this world.

Carrot seemed the most subdued of all. It was him who had killed both Crepe and Jingo Roe. After a big fight, he usually complained about the sores and cuts from Tira changing him back into a human form. Chocolat's glomping made his injuries worse, and his howls could be heard for miles (or so it seemed). No one had wanted to confront him on the topic, because they didn't want to talk about it either. For some reason, this job had been different from the rest.

Since Big Momma didn't have a new job for them, they decided to go to the next city. The island was too depressing, and fresh memories made it difficult for them to stay in such a place. But the silence was deafening. Something needed to break the ice. When Carrot found out about being the God of Destruction, he rebounded incredibly. It was no problem for them then, but soon afterwards they got the Knossoss job.

Tira was walking behind Carrot, next to her sister. She cast a glance in her direction, indicated Carrot with her eyes, and looked back. It was easy to tell that Chocloat missed the old Carrot. Even if he went to chase a girl, and we got mad at him, at least it would bring us back. Chocloat would be infuriated - well, I would be too. Gateau would go on and on about how ugly Carrot was, then ask Marron to look at his muscles. Marron would try to get away from Gateau, embarrassed.

A noise halted the somber party. That sound, what is it? It is too big to be a twig. It sounded more like a large branch. They were traveling through the forest, but the noise was disconcerting.

* Snap * another one. This one was louder, and closer to the path. A wave passed over them all, as they felt the fighting chi of the noise-maker. It was unmistakably evil, but there was something foreign about it. It wasn't human, or a creature of the forest. Anticipating action, Tira checked her bag to make sure the compass they had retrieved for Big Momma from Jingo Roe's workshop was safe. But, something seemed wrong with it. It was glowing a soft blue.

"THERE IT IS!" a voice shouted. A creature jumped high into the sky, in front of the sun. Shielding their eyes against the glare, the creature landed on the ground.

It was the most hideous thing Tira had ever seen. The thing had five legs, which appeared to have been sewn roughly on with twine. One was a tiger leg, another a human leg, a bear leg, a crocodile leg, and a greatly marred brownish hand. Where did THAT come from? She wondered. There were five green tenicals: two where each arm should be (the thing was some-what human shape), and the fifth was at the top of her head. Hair the shade of green olives trailed down and ended in a tangled mass around her legs. She was completely naked, giving way her gender.

The creature didn't leave much time for them to wonder what she was after. Leaping toward Tira, she moved at a surprised agility. In the surprise of what happened, Tira was barely able to dodge it.

"GIVE ME THE SHARD! I NEED ANOTHER SHARD!" the creature demanded. It dove at Tira again, and tried to grab her bag. But, she had given her enough time to take off her cape. Chocloat followed suit. Taking out her thread, she began to spin it around the branches and trees secretly.

"What are you talking about?" Marron demanded. His voice was quiet. He may not be as defensive about his friends as he was with his brother, but trying to harm them was something that had been known to make his blood boil.

"THE SHIKON SHARD!" the creature shrieked. "HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW YOU HAVE IT?" it demanded.

"Easily," Carrot spoke for the first time in days. "We don't."

Gateau chuckled. "The dope's got a point."

It jumped for Tira yet again. This time however, she did not duck or flinch. All she did was stick a finger out into the air. The creature stopped, unable to proceed.

"It isn't very nice to attack innocent people," Marron spoke darkly. "We have done nothing to you –"

"GIVE ME THE SHIKON SHARD, AND I'LL SPARE YOUR LIVES!" It desperately tried at Tira again. When it saw that it couldn't move, evasive actions went in place. This time, the target was Gateau.

"Baka," he muttered under his breath. A single punch by the muscular man sent it reeling backward. Screaming in frustration, it turned its sighs on Carrot.

He was unable to move out of the way. Caught head on, he was slammed into a tree behind him with a sickening crunch.

"WHITE TIGER!" Marron shouted. He had gone over the edge. No one hurts my older brother and gets away with it, he thought. The electric force burned the back skin of the thing. The shriek of pain was audible, and pierced all five of their ears.

Carrot was still awake, but his left arm was bent grossly in the wrong way. His face was contorted with pain, but he was still conscious.

"Darling!" Chocolat aimed her garotte wire at the monster's head. Despite going through its head, the monster still was alive. But, the burn and the wire were enough to sidetrack it away from Carrot.

Laughing, the creature grabbed the wire with one of its tecnicals, and pulled it so it's own skull split. To the shock and disgust of everyone, the head wound, the broken jaw from Gateau, and the burnt skin from Marron began to disappear. The scarred injuries were being replaced with new flesh. In a second, it looked just as it had when it first attacked.

"DO YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME? DON'T FOOL ME WITH SUCH SILLY IDEAS. I AM IMMORTAL!" it taunted.

"Don't be so stupid," Tira shot out. "We've faced a man who called himself immortal… and found out he was lying. "What do you want of this 'shard', hm?"

"WHAT DEMON _WOULDN'T_ WANT THE SHARD?" it stated a-matter-o-faculty. It was said as if its question answered their own.

"Demon?" Gateau said with disgust. "What sorcerer do you work for?"

"I WORK FOR NO ONE," it stated defiantly. "WHEN A DEMON IS ORDERED AROUND BY A MEER HUMAN, THEY LOOSE THE RIGHT TO CALL THEMSELVES ONE."

"Some demons have the ability to heal. But, what about this?" Tira brought down her finger, and the monster was suddenly unable to move. A look of surprise greeted the thing as it noticed (for the first time), the threads strung across the forest. Tira smiled wickedly as she dropped her finger even lower.

The sound of flesh being severed rung out into the woods. Even the birds stopped chirping.
"I wonder what that was about," Chocolat spoke aloud. She then ran over to Carrot. Tira was already healing his arm, chanting under her breath. The older Misu sister was about to Carrot how he was doing when his eyes went wide.

"Chocolat, look out!" he shouted. The monster had come back to life – without even a scratch.

Turning around, Chocolat saw the enraged demon rushing her. As she stepped back, she noticed how wild its blows were. Must be her anger, she thought.

Ever since the battle began, something tugged at Carrot's mind. The demon's forehead seemed to glow. When his arm broke, he was close enough to see it.

"It" was a sliver of something, and the demon's power seemed to come from it. I need to hit that point, he thought. Somehow, it is the only way to kill it. However, the pain drained his energy from him. How was he to warn the others?

He saw the garotte go through its head. Chocolat had missed by an inch. She must not be able to see it, hr thought, otherwise she wouldn't' have missed.

Before he knew what was happening, the monster lay in pieces at Tira's feet. She was by his side a second later, using gaeis on his broken arm. Strength returned to his body, but he was nervous. No one else saw the demon healing itself from the pieces. He couldn't speak yet….

Finally, when he did, it was just in time. Its anger was a boon; for Chocolat was so surprised that Carrot thought even she wouldn't have been able to dodge the blow. Summoning everything he had in him, he pulled his sword from his scabbard, and thrust it into the demon's forehead. It happened so fast that the demon didn't even have time to shout out in surprise. A bluish-silver sliver came out of its forehead, and Carrot caught it. He then promptly fainted, accompanied by astonished looks from his companions.

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So, how do you like chapter 1? Please review; I accept both comments and criticisms. Both help me to become better writers.

Well, until chapter 2- goodbye everyone.