In Present Company Chapter 1

They all stared around at each other in mild shock. Had that just happened? Kikyo turned around, just in time for them to see the Shikon no Tama turn bright white and then disappear. Naraku was nothing but a pile of goo and ashes at her feet. They all waited a moment with baited breath, but he did not resurrect. Kikyo kneeled down and purified what was left into oblivion.

Kagome let out a sigh of relief.

"I can't believe he's really dead," Sango said quietly, Kohaku still clutched in her arms.

Miroku silently peeled the purple glove off his right hand. "Ah, that feels better…" He promptly reached over to goose Sango, who hit him before he could accomplish it.

"Not in front of my brother, you pervert!"

Everyone (except Sesshomaru) was enjoying the banter until they felt a shuddering beneath their feet. Rin squealed and latched herself onto Sesshomaru's armor. Kagome silently wondered if this was an earthquake, but the sensation seemed different from what she remembered.

"Quickly, we must get out of here!" Kikyo yelled. "This dimension is about to collapse, we must leave!"

At these words, everyone ran out of the building and back towards the strange orb that had brought them there. They all paused in front of it, the rumbling earth making it difficult to stand.

"We must all go in at the same time" Kikyo instructed. "But because Naraku entered from another place, we may not all end up where we started."

"We should arrange a place to meet up," Miroku suggested.

"The well!" Kagome shouted, as the earth heaved particularly violently.

"Ok!" InuYasha yelled, and they all jumped through the black bubble.

Kagome felt herself being pulled forward at an alarming speed. Traveling to another dimension was nothing like traveling to the past. This was frightening, dizzying, and rather nauseating. The flashes of light passing her were so intense that she closed her eyes against them. After what seemed like an eternity, she felt herself falling, and landed on the ground, knees first.

"Ow," she said, standing up and brushing herself off.

"Hn," Sesshomaru obviously did not approve of her weakness.

"Hey, InuYasha-" Kagome turned around to say something to him, but he was not there. Neither was anyone else. Except Sesshomaru. "What…"

Sesshomaru looked around as well, but looked less the fool while doing it. "It would appear that we have returned to the location from which Naraku entered."

"Where is this place?" Kagome wondered out loud.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "I just explained that."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I mean in relation to where we were before!"

Sesshomaru made no reaction, but breathed deeply. "North. Very far north."

"How far?" She asked.

With an exasperated sigh, Sesshomaru pointed to the cliff behind them. Kagome walked over to it cautiously, peeking over the edge. Down below was an ocean, but it was to the south. On the beach were villagers bringing in fish.

And they were all blonde.

"Oh my god…" she whispered. "We're in Hokkaido!"

"Precisely," Sesshomaru quipped. Kagome jumped, as he had somehow appeared just behind her without making any noise.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!" she said, a hand held to her chest.

Sesshomaru ignored her, peering into the distance. "It would appear that we are on the very southern edge, as that is Honshu."

Kagome squinted. "I don't see anything."

Sesshomaru looked at her as if she had said that she didn't have a horned tail. "Your eyesight is not as keen as mine. It is 12 miles away."

"Twelve miles!" Kagome looked around. "We'll have to buy one of those boats…" she looked around herself for something of value to trade.

"That will not be necessary. Besides, they would not give it to you."

Kagome frowned at him. "Why not? Supposing I had something to trade."

Sesshomaru held up a claw. "Firstly, you are not Ainu," he raised another, "Secondly, those boats are their livelihood."

Kagome stared at him. "I had no idea you had such an understanding of humans."

He smiled dangerously. "It is important to study one's prey."

Suddenly Kagome remembered who she was dealing with, and got very quiet. After a moment, she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Uh… Sesshomaru-sama," she tried the honorific, "How do you propose we cross the sea?"

He glanced at the coast once more before turning his back to it and walking north.

"Uh… Sesshomaru-sama?" Kagome squeaked.

"We shall fly," He said, not even turning towards her. He stopped a distance from the cliff and then turned around.

"Fly?" Kagome wondered quietly.

Slowly, the dust around Sesshomaru's feet began to rise and swirl around him. He had his eyes closed, but when he opened them, they were red, the pupils small and blue. Kagome was instantly reminded of InuYasha when he transformed. The wind Sesshomaru was generating began to swirl faster and faster, while his face elongated. Kagome had only once seen him transform, and the memory made her shake with fear.

At last Sesshomaru was done, towering over Kagome. He lay down on the ground, looking like an enormous canine sphinx.

"Get on." A rough voice commanded, and Kagome guessed that it was Sesshomaru. She hurried to his side, realizing that he was probably none too pleased with carrying a human passenger. As she climbed up onto his back, she silently wondered why he was helping her at all. She decided it was better not to ask, and settled herself.

"Hang on tight," he said, and she wound her fingers in his fur. She was surprised at how soft it was, but lost all thought as he stood up and bounded straight into the air. She did not hear the cries from the villagers down below, because she was screaming. After only a few minutes, Sesshomaru landed, and Kagome slid off his back quickly, not needing instruction. She gave him room, and he transformed back, turning first into a ball of light and then into the form with which she was familiar.

"You shall mention this to no one," he said simply.

Still shaken, Kagome nodded compliantly. Sesshomaru turned, and began to walk south. Kagome followed.