Switched! by Sesshomarei

Fated Series of Events

Rubbing her forehead she double checked her bag. Socks, clean cloths, extra first aid supplies, heavy blankets, bath supplies, hair brush and... What was she missing? It wasn't as if she couldn't come back if she forgot something. Besides she didn't plan on staying that long this time. With Christmas over, and about a week before New Years she figured they could get down to business find some more shards and then she could take a break and be back again before New Years eve. She had after all made plans with a few of her friends. InuYasha would just have to deal. Making another quick round she tied her bag shut, and slung it over her shoulder. Sighing she looked to her bed.

"Good bye bed, I'm sure going to miss you." With that she headed out of her room and down the stairs. Bidding farewell to her mom, gramps and little brother she slipped into her boots and jacket and ran out the door. Now if only she could get to the well with out any distractions. Looking around outside she scanned the area. All clear.

Quickly she ran across the shrine, passing the age old tree, and to the well house. 'I made it' she silently cheered in her head. Slipping inside the well house she shut the doors and made her way down the stairs. Pulling her bag onto her back the rest of the way, she put a leg over the edge of the well and pushed off. But she didn't go anywhere. An arm grabbed her around her waist pulling her back.

"Where are you going?" Caught! Groaning she dropped her head forwards, and then turned to look at him. He raised a thin brow at her in question.

"I have to go back. I have to finish the Shikon jewel remember." He made a face. "I'll only be gone a few days." His expression didn't change. "Don't give me that look."

"You'll be spending time with InuYasha again." She sighed, and shook her head.

"Alright look." She said getting down off the edge of the well to face him completely. He stepped back a step or two watching her. "You know for a fact that I have to keep going back. And you can't do this every time I try to go back."

"Why not it worked last time."

"Yes, but not this time I'm sorry to tell you that. But you can't interfere with my travels back and forth from the feudal era."

"Why do you want to go back so badly?"

"It's not that I want to it's a matter of having too. What part of that don't you understand?" He made another face and looked away from her. "Sesshomaru." She said crossing her arms. He raised that brow at her again, glancing to her out of the corner of his eye. "Don't be difficult. Besides if you don't let me go back then, InuYasha will surely come looking for me." That got his full attention.

"He can pass through the well also?"

"Yep."

"Hn."

"You are so stubborn!!"

"As are you."

"That's not the point. You do realize you'll be there as well you know."

"Wouldn't be the same thing." She threw her hands up in frustration.

"Ugh forget it I give up trying to reason with you!" The day before she had attempted to head back as well. And like today she was hindered by him. If it wasn't for spending Christmas Eve in the well house with this Sesshomaru she didn't think she'd have this problem. It seems after that he was reluctant to let her go anywhere. This was going to turn into argument if not another mating session. "I'm going whether you like it or not." Again she climbed up on the edge of the well.

"You're not." He replied pulling her off it again.

"Sesshomaru please!"

~} @ {~

"Shouldn't she of come back by now?"

"Usually yea." answered the hanyou pacing about outside Keade's hut.

"Then why has she not come?" the youkai asked amber eyes watching him pace back and forth.

"I don't know." He made a face at the hanyou and he stopped. "What? It's not like I have a say of when she come and goes you know."

"I didn't imply that you did. I merely asked a simple question as far as what could delay her departure."

"And I answered."

"No, and answer would of been describing events that could postpone one from travels. You merely said you didn't know."

"You know what maybe I'll just go and see what's holding her up then."

"Hm?" But he didn't receive a response as InuYasha took off towards the clearing towards the well. Sesshomaru sighed. Now just how does he plan on doing that she disappeared down the well. "Ignorant half breed." He mumbled.

"Lord Sesshomaru look what I made!" Rin exclaimed coming out of the hut holding a strange object.

"What is it?"

"A marshmallow snowman! Shippo taught me how to make it." The Inu Lord just raised a brow. 'What in the world was a marshmallow?'

~} @ {~

InuYasha touched down inside the well house and looked up seeing Kagome's bag on the ledge of the well. So she was on her way after all. So it was a worthless trip. With a sigh he was about to climb up about half way and turn around to go back then he heard the voices above.

"Why do you have to be so difficult!"

"I'm not being difficult. Just practical. What reason have you to return to that era?"

"I already told you."

"Besides the jewel shards. Surely they can manage on they're own." InuYasha raised a brow. That sounded just like. No. It couldn't be.

"Hey Kagome are you coming or what?!" He shouted up the well. She turned and leaned over the edge looking down into it.

"InuYasha!" She sounded a little surprised. Behind her he heard a growl. "What are you doing here?

"Coming to get you what else? What's taking you so long? Sesshomaru's driving me nuts back there." She laughed.

"That'd be exactly my problem." she said back up as he jumped to the top, and perched in his little dog stance on the edge.

"InuYasha." Sesshomaru growled. InuYasha nearly fell backwards into the well.

"Sesshomaru!?!" He looked over his brother in complete shock, his own amber eyes wide. "Are you serious!?" Hopping down off the edge of the well, walking around his brother. "What the hell happened to you?"

He made a face. He really didn't see the humor in the situation. Considering he hadn't the faintest idea why his idiot brother began to roll on the ground at his feet laughing. The moment he walked into the clearing and his brother saw him he started in. Narrowing his eyes at the laughing hanyou.

"Explain yourself." His tone was less than amused, and on the verge of pure annoyance. However, it granted him no response from the babbling half breed. Turning his gaze away from his idiotic sibling he turned towards the girl that stood leaning against the side of the well. She merely shrugged at his look.

"I dunno, he started that before we left."

"We? Are you staying this disgrace may travel through the well as well?" She nodded. "Hn" Turning he started away from her back towards the village. She sighed and started to follow.

"Hey wait up." InuYasha said getting up to his hands and knees, trying to control his laughter. Sesshomaru on the other hand didn't falter in his step and kept walking.

"Hurry up then." Kagome said turning to look back at him. He got up and ran a step or two to catch up to her, and they started off after Sesshomaru, who turned ever so slightly to give InuYasha a look over his shoulder. Which had InuYasha laughing again.

"What is it you find so amusing?"

"Oh nothing." The Inu Lord didn't look convinced, glancing to Kagome. She sighed.

"He saw you in my time." He raised a brow to her comment and InuYasha bust out with his laughing once again.

"Lord of the western lands my ass!" He burst out in his degrading manner again.

"InuYasha I would advise holding your tongue."

"You're hardly intimidating after I've seen what you've turned into." Again Sesshomaru looked to Kagome for an explanation.

"Never mind can we just get back already."

"Oh come on Kagome you have to admit.."

"InuYasha..." She began giving him a look.

"But..."

"Sit!"

"Ah-oomp!" He cried as he plummeted face first into the ground. She stepped around him and continued on ahead towards the village. A smirk graced Sesshomaru's lips and he followed after her.

As she walked she couldn't help but notice just how different the two were. Sesshomaru here still held the ever present ice prince persona. Though he was here, and from the looks of it not going anywhere anytime soon. He was still distant. What was it that managed to change him so though? Granted there was a five hundred year difference between this time and her time. But in her time, he was more light hearted, and carefree about things. As if his regal roots and blood weren't important. Here it was all grace and standings, in the future blue jeans. She still couldn't get over that face. Pausing to look back at him as he followed her she shook her head. The image just seemed so unimaginable looking at him in this time. She sighed, as if it wasn't bad enough she had to deal with InuYasha's antics she was now forced to deal with Sesshomaru's both the ice prince and her mate. Still something seemed to trouble her. How would he react if he knew what she had done with his future self? Was that cheating? 'No, it's the same guy' she told herself shaking her head. But then again, looking back to him once more. It really wasn't the same guy. He was so different.

"Something troubles you?" His voice broke her train of thought.

"Hm? Oh it's nothing." she murmured. Before he could question her further the little fox that traveled with her came out.

"Kagome your back!" he exclaimed and jumped up to hug her. She returned the gesture.

"Did you really miss me that much? I was only gone for about two days."

"Yes, it's been really weird around here with you know who hanging around all the time." She gave the little kitsune a look.

"That's not very nice Shippo."

"Sorry."

"Ah Kagome you've returned." Miroku smiled. "Where's InuYasha?"

"Leaning some manners." Sesshomaru's cold voice trailed into the conversation.

"I see." nodded the monk. Kagome noticed immediately how tense the situation was with Sesshomaru around. This was going to cause problems within her group. But what could she do?

Awkwardly the group eventually resigned to Keade's hut and sat discussing what their plans were for finding the remaining jewel shards. InuYasha joined them a few moments later and stifled a few laughs every time he looked in Sesshomaru's direction. It was becoming very apparent that he was grating on Sesshomaru's last nerve. The situation would turn ugly soon if InuYasha didn't keep a lid on it. Before anything could erupt into anything serious though Sesshomaru arose and walked outside away from the group. He said nothing when he left, he just merely got up and walked out. His servant Jaken followed him. Rin however, merely glanced up and then proceeded to color with Shippo, in a book Kagome had brought him for Christmas.

"InuYasha you really have to stop."

"What's he doing?" Sango inquired.

"Teasing Sesshomaru."

"Do ye think that wise InuYasha?" Keade asked.

"If you had seen what I have you'd be laughing too."

"And just what did you see?" Miroku asked.

"Sesshomaru, in Kagome's time." InuYasha began, a chuckle here and there as he spoke. "You, you should of seen him!" The rest of his words were lost in laughter. Kagome sighed. Miroku joined in with a laugh or two at InuYasha.

"Why what was wrong with him?"

"He, he..." InuYasha tried hard to spit it out but was having more troubles now. Kagome could swear he was in tears at this point from laughing so hard.

"He what?" Sango prompted.

"He looked human!" InuYasha finally blurted out and fell over in fits.

"What?!" Sango exclaimed.

"Tell me your joking?" Miroku asked, then looked to Kagome. "He is joking right?"

"No he's not." She replied. She didn't expect the rest of the hut to burst into bits of laughter as well. She sat there dumbfounded by her group of friends. Though thinking more on it. It was kinda amusing. The great Lord Sesshomaru, in blue jeans and leather jacket.

Outside he was listening to those still within, and made a face when the joke had finally come out. A human? Him? This was lower than bedding a human. Growling to himself he's already committed that crime against himself. And now he was bearing the to be the brunt of a joke. Impossible. Pushing the degrading thoughts from his mind he started off.

"M'lord." Jaken started to follow.

"Stay with Rin." Was his only response as he walked off, back towards the clearing of the well. Jaken nodded, and stood guard outside of the hut, continuing to listen to the voices within.

"Wait, so Sesshomaru was really?"

"Yes. Sesshomaru." InuYasha nodded.

"Geez, guys it's not that funny. Why is it so hard to believe that he may of changed over the years?"

"Because this is Sesshomaru we're talking about." Sango stated.

"Mr. Personality himself." They all laughed again.

It was obvious where they had come from he could smell InuYasha in the well just as he could Kagome. Determined to see what the joke was about, and perhaps talk some sense into his future self if that be the case he wasted little time getting to the well, and leaping into it. If InuYasha could do it why couldn't he. He landed at the bottom, and made a face. What was the trick to it? He dragged his claws over the surface of the well walls.

~} @ {~

She left with that wretched brother of his. How could she just up and leave like that? Pacing around the outer edge of the well, he paused every so often to stare down it's darkened interior. How long did she usually spend there? A while he bet. She was always with InuYasha when he'd seen her in his past. She continually stuck by his side. Though he never understood why, he never really questioned either.

He paused at the edge staring down into the darkness his claws digging into the side of the rim. It was too dangerous for her to be running around the feudal era. She was only human after all. This time was far safer for her. Why didn't he try and stop her when she tried to leave again? Making a face he pushed himself away from the well. He could always sit and await her return. And yet.

One thought plagued his mind.

"InuYasha can pass through the well." He muttered to himself. Stepping up towards the well again, he leaned over it a bit, looking down it. "What if?" He asked the darkness, as he climbed up on the edge. Shutting his eyes he mentally wished, before he dropped over the edge into the well.

~} @ {~

"Ridiculous." He muttered. Why is it the well would allow Kagome, and InuYasha passage but not him. Just as the word left his lips the well began to glow in shades of blue swirls. "What is this?" He asked as the well faded away into the swirling blue light.

Eventually his feet touched the ground again. A little disoriented from the events he immediately jumped out of the well, and froze. Strange scents assaulted his nose and the clearing had vanished. Had the well actually worked? Slowly he made his way up the stairs before him, sliding back the door to the building surrounding the well. His eyes widened at the sight before him. What was this place? Where had the well brought him? Stumbling back he slid the door shut.

~} @ {~

The world had shifted beneath his feet and when he felt them touch the ground again he opened his eyes. The smell of fresh air, welcomed him. Looking up he saw the well house was indeed gone. So it worked. 'Hm' he laughed in his head. 'InuYasha's not the only one who can travel through the well' he mused. Jumping up to the edge he, took in a deeper breath, before surveying the area. It was just as it used to be. All the sights and scents of centuries past. Hopping down from the edge of the well he started across the clearing. Picking up Kagome's scent, he followed it towards the village. Though the foot prints in the snow would of been just as easy to follow.

~*~*~

After everyone calmed down, Kagome decided to see just where Sesshomaru had gone. Getting up she started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Sango asked.

"To check on Sesshomaru."

"What for he's big enough to take care of himself." InuYasha commented.

"I never said he wasn't. I meant because he left in such an abrupt manner. Which was probably your fault to begin with so just shush." She said slipping into her jacket, and stepping outside. She found Jaken shivering in the cold. "Why don't you go inside where it's warm?"

"Hush up girl! This Jaken doesn't need your sympathy!"

"Suit yourself." She shrugged and glanced around for Sesshomaru. Wandering a pace or two away from the hut she turned back to the little toad. "Where's Sesshomaru?"

"Stupid human do not address m'lord with such a lack of formalities."

"Look here you ugly little toad!" She said thumping him one on the head. "Will you just answer my question with out all the back talk."

"Ehh...." he grumbled. "I do not know he walked off after hearing what InuYasha said."

"Mm" she mumbled. That's just what she was worried about. Walking away from the toad she started to look for him. "Sesshomaru!" She called out getting no response. He wouldn't stay in the village she decided and started towards the outskirts of the village. She nearly passed out when she saw what was coming her way.

"Kagome." He smiled.

"What are you doing here?!?!" She shrieked, he made a face.

"Not exactly the welcome I was looking for. We'll have to work on that. You never seem pleased to see me."

"Well can you blame me? Your not suppose to be here."

"Yes, but.." He was then interrupted.

"M-m'lord." Jaken stuttered. Kagome failed to notice that he had followed her when she started searching for Sesshomaru.

"Jaken." The future Sesshomaru actually looked pleased to see the little toad.

"Stop right there. You shouldn't be here!" She butted in, and he turned his attention back to her. "How did you get here anyways?"

"Through the well."

"But how, no one can pass through but InuYasha and myself."

"Apparently that's not the case anymore." He responded smugly with a smirk.

"Well whatever, go back where you came from. Before someone else sees you."

"Not unless your coming with me."

"I can't!"

"Why not?"

"This is not the time to be difficult!" He smirked again.

"There goes that temper again."

"Sesshomaru!" he merely laughed at her. Jaken stood there in disbelief. Was this really his master? And if it were true, what was he wearing?! "You can't stay here." She said again, turning him around and then trying to push him back towards the well.

"Kagome."

"Don't Kagome me buster, your going back right this second." He resisted a bit before turning around and taking her face in his hands kissing her. Jaken's mouth dropped. She started to feel her knees give out from underneath her, before coming to her senses. She shoved him back and stepped back herself. "Don't do that." she said slapping him away from her. He made a face.

"Why not?"

"Because you're liable to get yourself killed. Need I remind you that your past self is here. And... and..." she trailed off at that point. As it hit her. Two Sesshomaru's in the same time period.

"Hn, I highly doubt that. Besides my past self isn't here." No sooner had he said the statement did he realize how odd it sounded. Where else would his past self be if not in this era? And yet he could help but know that he wasn't here. Up until he passed through the well he could never remember passing through it before. But for some odd reason, now it seemed that he remembered that he had done so but just once before. Which only seemed to confuse him further.

"What?" She gave him a look. "Where are you then?"

"In your time?" He looked to her puzzled. As if he wasn't fully understanding it himself.

"You mean you don't know?"

"I'm not really sure. I just had this odd sensation, that I had traveled through the well before now. But I know not where it came from. Considering that I didn't recall ever managing to do it before."

"Huh?" He was making no sense. Even Jaken stood there dumbfounded staring at him.

"Just what I said. It's almost as if a memory that I never had before had just come back to me. Strange huh?"

"Very." she muttered, as she tried to figure it out. Unless of course the well switched the two. If by some chance both past and future Sesshomaru had entered the well causing them to invert the times. Which could very well be the case. She wouldn't doubt it, the well was still a mystery to her, it transported her back five hundred years into the past without much explanation. It could very well be that because the well made the switch now he would suddenly end up with the memory of passing through the well from this era to hers. Either way if he was here and his past self there it wasn't a good scenario either way. Namely because the Sesshomaru from this era would certainly do some serious damage to her era. Looking back to him as he seemed to shrug it off.

"Oh well." He said as he shrugged it off with a cool air about him. As if the whole situation wasn't such a big deal. "Is Rin at the village with you?" He said turning to Jaken.

"Uh.. Why yes. Yes she is, m'lord."

"Excellent, I've not seen her for quite sometime." he smiled and started off. She slapped her forehead and ran after him grabbing his arm.

"Where are you going!?"

"To see Rin."

"You can't! You have to go back! You can't stay here! Are you out of your mind!"

"Kagome you worry too much. Besides what harm would it do?"

"It's not that."

"Then what?"

"Think about it. Your arrogant self is in the future. Think back you weren't exactly the most pleasant demon to be around in this time period. Do you have any idea what sort of damage you could do?"

"You make it sound as if I have no sense of self control."

"Um yea. Let's see you only tried to kill me a few times and then lets see what else. You've tried killing your own brother as well. And pretty much trying to kill anything that crossed your path that annoyed you in the slightest."

"Trying to kill you was an obvious mistake." She crossed her arms giving him a look stating she wasn't convinced. "Kagome."

"Need I also remind you that you armed with Tokijin in our era."

"And our era isn't nearly as dangerous or as threatening as this one. There would be no need for me to with draw it and put it to use." He said stepping forwards patting her shoulder. "Relax." With that he walked off towards the village again leaving her and a dumbfounded Jaken standing there.

"Relax he says. How can I possibly relax!"

"The master is acting very strange."

"He's not your master, he's.. well he's um." Jaken looked up to her expectantly. "Forget it, I'm not going to bother trying to explain. Come on." Grabbing the toad by the back of his collar, she took off running in the direction Sesshomaru wandered to.

~} @ {~

He listened to the sounds of the strange world outside of the well house. Was this where Kagome came from? He heard voices approaching, narrowing his eyes, he reached for the hilt of Tokijin.

"I thought I saw the well house light up."

"Non-sense Souta. Kagome had just packed up to leave. Why would she return so quickly?"

"Maybe she forgot something." The young boy said, and ran up the stairs to the well house. Silently within the demon lord drew his blade.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up." Her grandfather replied, and stood back as his grandson, slide the well house doors open.

"Kagome?" The boy called but was greeted with a blur of white and a blade directed at his throat. He jumped back a foot or two, but the one wielding the blade stepped forwards to close the gap. The blade barely a graze away from the boys skin. "Gramps?" the boy whispered in fear like.

The oddly dressed pair stood before him in fear. He could smell it on them. The old man looked like some sort of priest in his style of dress. But the boy, he wasn't sure about. His apparel was very strange and foreign to him. It reminded him of Kagome's dress in a way. He didn't like this place. The smells that assaulted his nose were repulsive to say the least. Foreign scents, and sounds plagued his mind. He narrowed his eyes at the two, and stepped back some as if to retreat towards the well. And then the old man addressed him in a disrespectful manner no less.

"Who are you and what are you doing in our well house!" He clamored. Stepping up the stairs to the door frame, reaching into his robes as if searching for something.

"Old man, if you so value your life, I would refrain from using that tone with me."

"I'll use what ever tone I so please demon. Remove your blade from my grandson's neck this instant. We've done nothing to instigate this attack."

He thought on that a moment. The old man was correct. He had put himself in this situation. But none the less he didn't like the fact of not getting the choice of who was here to greet him. Not that he wanted a greeting from this era. Narrowing his eyes again and slowly let the blade drop towards his side.

"Hey!" the boy then jumped in, after getting a chance to look over the demon before him more, now that his life wasn't being threatened anymore. "You kinda look like InuYasha. Or maybe you are InuYasha but older. Did you complete the Shikon jewel and become a fu–" The boy cut off as the blade returned to his throat.

"Do not insult this Sesshomaru with your banter of that mangy half breed!" He growled. The boy's eyes widened. Glancing past the boy he noticed the old man's expression had gone ghastly white as well. Was it possible that these mortals knew of him? If that were the case he was defiantly at more of an advantage.

~} @ {~

Back in the hut the laughter had yet to subside. InuYasha and Miroku continued to draw on lame puns and jokes about the Inu Lords appearance in Kagome's time. The group distracted by Kagome's shrieks outside the hut.

"Sesshomaru no!!" She cried. InuYasha was about to get up and investigate when the mat was pushed aside and he stepped inside. The entire hut went silent staring at the stranger. InuYasha regained quickly and started his laughter again. All eyes but InuYasha's as he was busy rolling around the floor in fits again, fell on Kagome standing behind him. Rin stood up from her coloring, stepping over towards him.

"Lord Sesshomaru?"