Kikyo limped through the woods weakly her feet bare, her clothes and face dirty and her ribbon had fallen from her hair. She had lost her bow and arrows after the attack from one of Naraku's demons who were sent in an attempt to kill her. Kikyo frowned angrily her whole body aching as she forced herself to keep moving in case there were more minions of Naraku hiding elsewhere "Damn that Naraku he's so persistent in killing me yet he is too afraid to do it himself" she snarled.
He just kept playing games with her, taunting her to see how long she would last instead of killing her straight away. She was used to dealing with his henchmen Kagura and Kanna, having had confrontations with them before and capable of handling them herself. Threatening Kagura when she attempted to kill both her and InuYasha.
She no longer had her soul collectors to protect her and collect souls for her to keep going. For the first time in her life she cursed herself for working alone, she had no protection or backup when things went wrong. Part of her longing for InuYasha to be here, to bring her the sweet relief of knowing it was all over.
A shadow loomed overhead and Kikyo spotted a giant Soul collector sent by Naraku to kill her by draining her of her remaining souls. She wanted to destroy it with her sacred arrows but did not have the strength and cursed Naraku. He wanted her to suffer, he wanted to taunt her by showing how weak he thought her to be, finding this to all be a game.
Naraku was truly a monster because he enjoyed watching people suffer, the sadistic bastard he was. He had enjoyed pitting her and InuYasha against each other, then putting the demon slayer Sango against her brother after murdering their entire clan. He had also killed the entire clan of Kouga the wolf demon, finding entertainment in each and every kill.
He would never get enough of the pain and suffering he caused, he would not stop until she was dead and he had claimed everything he desired. She sighed wearily, her gaze weak and hazy, her strength all but leaving her. Wondering if this was it, if she was finally going to die again without claiming her vengeance against him.
Then far ahead in the distance she spotted the bone eater's well, the connection to this world and the feudal era. "The well I can hide there until the beast leaves" she thought to herself. It was the only choice she had by this point, there was no other way out. When she finally approached it she leaned against it weakly as the Giant soul collector approached nearer.
Kikyo sighed weakly and closed her eyes "I pray that this works" Kikyo thought and leaned over allowing herself to fall into the well just missing the demons attack by an inch. As she fell the well began to glow with a blue light and she found herself being transported to another era. Leaving her old world behind and entering a new one.
Kagome and her grandpa were in the front yard selling trinkets of the Shikon jewel and medicinal formula's for colds, aching limbs, fevers, coughs etc. "KAGOME PAY ATTENTION ONE DAY YOU WILL INHERIT THIS DUTY AND BECOME A SHRINE PRIESTESS" Grandpa Higurashi yelled crossly as Kagome looked bored.
She had heard the same shit since she was a young girl, since she had reached her preteens her grandpa had taught her everything about their shrine. However, Kagome being the normal student she was had no interest in the subject. Finding it to be rather boring, I mean after hearing it so many times it all started to sound the same.
Souta came running over with his football, though he looked after his grandpa even he found him to be annoying "Hey sis is grandpa still lecturing you about becoming a priestess" he asked curiously. Though he understood that he simply wanted the next generation to protect the shrine when he was no longer around. It felt like he was pressuring her.
Kagome sighed, a heavy groan escaping her lips. Wishing for an excuse to leave, it wasn't a school day so she couldn't escape him for her studies or education. Instead she was stuck here listening to her grandpa drone on. Honestly, she was so bored she felt like she wanted to cry "Uh huh and it killing me" she groaned.
"BUT THESE ARE MUCH NEEDED FACTS!" Grandpa Higurashi cried out in frustration. This shrine had been in their family for generations, many people had protected it from demons. Making sure it stayed safe and each generation protected it from harm, as his granddaughter it was in her lineage to not only follow in his footsteps but her ancestors.
"But Grandpa I learn all this from Kaede in the feudal era anyhow" Kagome sighed crossly to which her grandpa let her leave but complained bitterly about her being ungrateful. Over time her mother had simply humoured him while she and souta just blocked it out. I mean, what else could you do when the old man refused to take a telling.
She then headed off to wonder around the grounds, looking for an excuse to clear her mind. "Geez grandpa is such a pain I wish he'd give it a rest" Kagome sighed then froze on the spot when she came close to the sacred well. She sensed Shikon jewel shards and they were coming from the bone eaters well.
But how could that be, she had currently got a large portion of the shikon shards in her protection. Keeping them in her room at all times when home, then when in the fuedal era close to her person. It was her duty to collect the shikon shards and then recreate the shikon jewel into a whole once more. What would come afterward nobody knew.
"Hey sis what's up?" Souta asked curiously running up to Kagome. He had seen her suddenly freeze and become panicked, though she only tended to wear that face when danger was upon them. The last time he had seen her make that face was a few years back when they were attacked by the Noh mask that was after the sacred jewel.
"Jewel shards…I sense jewel shards" Kagome said and ran up to bone eaters well and opened the doors. Her heart was pounding in her chest but she had to protect her family from whatever potential danger. When she went inside she followed her senses to the well itself and found Kikyo at the bottom looking badly injured and unconscious.
"SOUTA GET MUM AND TELL HER TO GET MEDICINE AND CLEAN CLOTHES!" Kagome yelled worriedly. She was curious as to why Kikyo was here and how she got there and then figured it must have been due to her jewel shards but how did she get so badly hurt?. Anyway, they didn't have time to think about that now, they had to help her.
Mrs. Higurashi removed Kikyo's clothes and put her in a white bed robe then took her priestess garments to be cleaned. Kagome secretly took Kikyo's Shikon shards and put them with her own as Kikyo wouldn't notice (hopefully). She had the same goal to collect the shikon shards and use them to kill Naraku, but why she didn't just work alongside them she didn't know.
"She looks really badly hurt do you think she was beaten up?" Souta asked Kagome curiously. Kagome hadn't looked happy when she saw her, making him wonder if she was Kagome's rival or enemy. But she refused to tell him, simply asking him to help out instead of asking so many questions. So he kind of dropped the subject altogether.
Kagome shook her head, while she had hoped to avoid this subject for a while it seemed she had no other option but to tell the truth. I mean, it was evident she would be staying with them for a while. There was no way she could go home after all. "No Kikyo has really strong spiritual power that I inherited so I this must be Naraku's doing".
Souta and Grandpa looked confused, wondering what she was talking about and why she had never mentioned this before "What do you mean you inherited Kagome I'm confused" grandpa said curiously. He had never seen Kagome look so serious, these powers had been in their family for generations. So why was she bringing up reincarnation?
Kagome clenched her fists, bitterness swelling through her body. Part of her hated that her identity was linked to Kikyo, I mean they were the same person after all "I'm Kikyo's reincarnation that's the reason for my powers grandpa" she said sadly. If Kikyo hadn't died and her feelings amplified into the jewel, she would cease to exist.
Grandpa sighed wearily, this was certainly a deeper subject than he had ever faced before in all his years. He could see why it would be a touchy subject for her. But Kagome was still his flesh and blood and he loved her. "I see so that's it well it would explain your similar facial appearance and genetical appearance similarities".
Suddenly Kikyo made a weak moaning noise and clenched her fists then opened her eyes slowly "W…where am I?" she asked weakly. This place was not her home and it was not a world she was used to. She had thought she would wake up at the bottom of the well and the demon would be gone. Instead she was in a room that was strange and bright.
"Ah Kikyo your awake just stay still your pretty badly hurt" Kagome said worriedly hurrying to Kikyo's side. The best thing she could do was not move, it would only put strain on her body. She had obviously been in another confrontation, Naraku still after her life. The guy just wouldn't give up, not allowing Kikyo to live out her undead life in peace.
Kikyo smiled gently when she saw Kagome, compared to their past tension she had come to share a bond with her reincarnation. However, they still clashed every now and again with their different opinions. "Kagome you look well but please tell me WHERE AM I?" she said intently but in a gentle tone. What had happened after she had escaped?
"You're at our house" Souta said cheerfully. This girl and Kagome seemed to know each other and since she would be living here with them he might as well be nice. If she was a priestess like Kagome, that meant she had to know InuYasha. He wondered what kind of stories she would be willing to share with him.
Kikyo looked at Souta with a confused look, lightly tilting her head as she looked at him "Who are you?" she asked curiously. He had the same bright eyes filled with innocence that Kaede had at his age. Only he was still pure, he had not seen the scars of war like she had, making her guilty of the crimes she had committed against her sister.
Souta smiled "I'm Souta Kagome's little brother" he said cheerfully. If she was still feeling sick they could make her some medicine to help make her better. Though some of it tasted icky, it really did make you feel better. Sadly their grandpa used all kinds of ingredients unheard of in this day and age, often calling it mystery medicine.
Grandpa Higurashi came closer and said in a friendly tone "Glad to see you are feeling better my dear, I see you know my Granddaughter Kagome who will inherit the shrine one day and you've been introduced to my Grandson Souta". Hopefully she took her priestess duties a lot more seriously than his granddaughter currently did.
Kikyo noticed her clothes had been changed to which Kagome smiled "My mum cleaned you up and gave you clean clothes your Priestess garments are being cleaned as we speak" Kagome explained. She had felt strange touching Kikyo's body what with it being so cold and once her own body, but she had slowly gotten used to it.
Kikyo smiled, she didn't have to help her after their issues in the past. But she had anyway, saving her life which she was very thankful for. "Thank you I'm grateful" and she began to sit up. She had rested enough, she had to return as the beast would surely be gone. She had a mission to continue with and had no time to waste.
Suddenly Mrs. Higurashi came in to see Kikyo sitting up "Ah good your awake I'm glad to see you are well I thought you could use something to eat to raise your strength" she said kindly. After what she had been through she could use a good meal, after all a healthy mind and healthy body were key. She would need a bit more rest though before she was back to full strength.
Kikyo took the food kindly and ate it slowly, pacing herself as her body ached with the injuries she had received. When she was done, she left it to the side next to her bed silently "I should be leaving" Kikyo said trying to get up to which Kagome panicked. Now starting to think this was where she got her stubborn side from.
"No you shouldn't leave Naraku may attack you again!" Kagome said sternly keeping Kikyo in bed. She understood that Kikyo was worried about the shikon jewel falling into Naraku's hands. But trying to fight when she was in this condition was suicide, if something happened to her InuYasha was be distraught.
Grandpa Higurashi took Kikyo's hand, holding it gently and stroking it "I heard from my daughter that she is your reincarnation" he said politely. The feudal era had been a decade of war, bloodshed and hardships. He could only imagine what kind of things she had faced or endured during her role as a miko all those centuries ago.
Kikyo nodded "Yes this is true why do you ask this?" she said curiously. There was something about this man, she sensed a similarity to her. A sense of duty to his role as a priest which she took great respect in. Yet felt strange knowing that these people were her family in an alternate timeline, many centuries later.
Grandpa Higurashi smiled "If so then you must be a priestess am I correct?" he asked. So young, compared to how relaxed Kagome's role would be in the modern era the same could not be said for Kikyo. You could see the pain in her eyes, remembering everything she had faced or endured up until this point.
Kikyo nodded again "Yes I am I slay demons with my spiritual powers through a bow and arrow plus other tactics" Kikyo confessed. From a young age she had learned to harness her abilities, robbed of a childhood as she was forced to protect the village and her younger sister after her parents deaths.
"I would like you to work here as a priestess and teach my granddaughter the correct methods so she can take over from me one day plus you seem to very skilled" Grandpa Higurashi confessed. This girl obviously had nowhere to go and had many years of experience under her belt, he felt she would truly make a good mentor to his granddaughter.
Kikyo sat there in the bed for a second pondering over her thoughts "It's really none of my concern about Kagome. But she is yet to harness her own abilities and has so much to learn and they have been very kind to me, plus my wounds have yet to heal…" she thought. She didn't want to be a burden to them any longer than she had been.
"Listen Kikyo I know you like to take care of yourself but there are times when you can't afford to be a stubborn ice queen and this is one of those times!" Kagome said sternly. She was afraid that Kikyo would get mad but she stood her ground. She knew her being hurt wi
Kikyo turned to Grandpa, Souta and Kagome then smiled "I accept the position" she said politely.