AN: I've had this story tucked away for a long time, and decided to finally bring it out and finish it. I had it stored away on my old computer, so I didn't remember I had it till recently when I was looking through some old files. I like the idea, and want to finish it.
I also realize that I have many stories that are unfinished, and to post another one would be taking on a lot of work but…I just can't help it. ;) I always have an easy time starting stories…and a terrible time trying to finish them. But I'll do my best.
For now, enjoy the first installment!
Chapter 1:
A New Adventure Begins
-O-
The sun slipped behind the hills just beyond the trees, the sky turning dark immediately after, as if it had never been there. The forest became hushed, but at the same time, a new noise entered into the trees. The sound of rapid footsteps marred the would-be quiet evening.
A flash of red danced between the trunks and brush as a figure moved swiftly through it. Soon, the figure bent low just beneath a large oak and then sprang forward into the limbs above. This was done in one fluid motion. The figure sat cross-legged on the largest limb and closed their eyes, waiting.
It wasn't long before the peaceful night was disrupted again, this time by two figures, each one carrying a torch to light the way. One light bounced very low to the ground, only two feet or so. The other was supported by an average height of five feet. Soon, the two people came into the clearing beneath the large tree. Their voices floated up to the one residing in the tree.
"Kinai, I'm scared…what if Mitsuyasha doesn't show up?" The voice was tiny and small, girlish in nature. It came from the small one now sitting on an overgrown root.
The taller one, standing near the other, said smoothly, "Don't worry, Ko. Mitsuyasha will come. She called the meeting."
Kinai set the torch in the ground, and then took her boomerang from around her shoulders and set it near her hand, so she would be able to grasp it quickly in case of danger. Her gaze swept over the clearing, as if searching for something, but seeing no threats, she took her seat.
Kinai, in the half-light of the torch, could be mistaken for a boy. She had shoulder length black hair that fell into her eyes, the straight hairs never staying behind her ears. Her eyes were calm and cool, a bright purple that showed comfort and serenity. She looked like a monk, just like her father.
An owl hooted into the darkness, sending Ko scrambling into Kinai's lap. Ko wasn't a human, but you wouldn't need to be told so if you met her. She had hair the color of rust, and eyes that shone like emeralds. Her hair was done in two pigtails, each one tied with a big green bow. This wasn't what set her apart from her companion though. In place of feet, she had fox paws, and a fluffy red tail as well, making her a fox demon.
"What's taking them so long?" Ko asked, her large eyes looking to her left and then her right.
Kinai put a hand on Ko's shoulder, settling the ten-year-old. "You know Nimiko lives further away. She may not be here as early as us. Have patience."
"Okay…"
The figure watched from up above, her presence yet to be discovered. She continued to hide. She would wait to show herself when Nimiko arrived. Not until then.
Footsteps slow and steady could be heard, ere long, coming from the dense forest around them. Ko and Kinai both turned their heads to the source of the noise, awaiting the upcoming arrival. A tall girl stepped from out of the dark. Ko's breath let out loudly, a breath she had held the whole time. Kinai gave the newcomer a small smile and nod.
The newcomer was in fact Nimiko, or at her home in the Western Lands, Lady Nimiko. She was a lady, her father being the lord. Her long white hair showed this. Her eyes, two deep garnets of color, however, showed she was related to Kagura, the Wind Sorceress. She had a milk white face with a blue stripe on each cheek, a crescent moon on her forehead.
She said not a word, but took three steps toward the group and continued to stand. Her eyes, cold and calculating, took in her surroundings with little interest. She did not want to be there. She didn't even know why she'd come. A second after this thought, the sound of fabric flapping in wind met their ears. They all looked up, with the exception of one, to see Mitsuyasha drop from the tree and land gracefully on the ground.
Nimiko turned slowly, her eyes expressionless, to face her cousin. They had this tension between them, one that couldn't be explained. Their fathers feuded. Everyone there knew that. They had no reason to fight, and they even liked each other somewhat. Still, they always wanted to be stronger than one another, and that's the line they drew on their kinship.
Mitsuyasha and Nimiko looked similar in stature and even face, though with some major differences. Mitsuyasha had long hair like Nimiko, but hers was black. Mitsuyasha's skin was the same milky color, but no marks were on her face. Her eyes were the same deep gold as her fathers, threatening and angry.
They stared at one another for a moment, then Nimiko broke the glare and turned to look elsewhere, seemingly uninterested. Mitsuyasha gave a low growl, and then turned to face the others. Her face became calmer at the sight of Ko and Kinai. Her closest and only friends, she cherished them.
"I'm glad you both came." She addressed them both, a smirk on her face. "I thought you would be too scared though, Ko." She added, her two dog-ears tweaking in silent laughter.
Ko stood up proudly on Kinai's lap, her eyes daring and brave for a young demon child. "I was not scared!" she exclaimed.
Mitsuyasha folded her arms inside her fire-rat shirt. "Whatever you say, Ko."
Ko looked angry, her tiny hands closed in fists. Kinai broke through with a question to stop their familiar arguing. "Mistuyasha, why did you have us come here tonight?"
Mitsuyasha turned to look at the moon that hung in the sky, her eyes glazing over for a moment. She seemed to be in deep thought, her face set in a constant frown. Ko looked worried, and even Nimiko shot a glance at her cousin to see why the answer was taking so long.
Finally, after the moon went behind a cloud, Mistuyasha's voice returned and she spoke low and quiet. "I've decided to go to my mother's world."
Kinai's eyes widened only slightly and her mouth opened to ask the obvious question of why. Ko just stared, wide-eyed, visions of another land swimming in her head. Nimiko merely gave a light shrug, though she kept an ear trained for what she would hear next.
Mitsuyasha saw the question forming on Kinai's lips and silenced it by putting up her hand in a stopping motion. "I know you want to know why." She started. She turned and began to pace the ground, her hands still in her sleeves. She explained as she paced back and forth.
"I guess I wonder what it's like there. I've always been happy here, but…I don't know…" she trailed off, her confusion showing on her face. She couldn't explain why she wanted to go. She just did.
"You're curious." Nimiko's steady voice cut across the air like a sword, stopping Mitsuyasha's stride.
She looked to her cousin, and for the first time in a while, agreed with her. "Yeah, I'm curious."
Kinai nodded solemnly. "I remember my mother and father telling me stories of how Kagome went between worlds. She would bring back strange foods and materials."
Ko spoke up as well. "Yeah! My father still has the crayons she gave him when he was younger like me!"
Mitsuyasha nodded. She too had heard about her mother's world. It seemed so unreal and impossible. From her father's point of view, it sounded just as dangerous as this world. He said that there were houses and castles taller than the tallest trees. There weren't near as many demons, he said, but they sometimes popped up.
All of these stories fueled her curiosity. She wanted to know more. She wanted to see these tall castles. She wanted to go were her mother lived, or… where he mother used to live. The thought made her eyes water, but she never let the liquid spill over. She fought the tears back and turned to face her two friends.
"So, what do you think?" She asked.
Kinai stood up, slinging her boomerang upon her back. She gave a smile, a genuine one, and replied, "Do what you wish, Mitsuyasha. Just remember you can always call on me for help, if you need it."
Ko bounced up to land on Kinai's shoulder. "Go do it, Mitsuyasha! It would be so much fun!" She shouted, her goofy smile and sparkling eyes made even Nimiko break out into a small grin.
"Thanks you guys, for coming and everything." Mitsuyasha said. She would never admit it out loud, but she was glad she could depend on her friends for their help and advice.
Kinai nodded and turned to walk back to her home, a talkative little fox demon on her shoulder. "No problem, Mitsuyasha!" Kinai called over her shoulder. The last sounds of Ko's chatter died away moments later, leaving Mitsuyasha and Nimiko.
Mitsuyasha walked over to the base of the tree and plopped down cross-legged again, another one of her father's traits. She closed her eyes and said, a sneer in her voice, "What do you say, Nimiko. I'm sure you have an opinion, as always."
Nimiko lightly moved her large white tail from her face so she could see her cousin. Her eyes held no warmth, and her small smile no laughter. "I don't care what you do." She said shortly. Mitsuyasha gave a fabled "Keh!" and snorted in disbelief.
Nimiko turned to leave, but with her back turned she added, "Just don't get killed. I have to become stronger than you by fighting you. So if you die, I will have no one to fight." She tried to hide the feeling from her voice, but Mitsuyasha heard it, and it made her smile. Her voice, however, came out harsh and cocky.
"Keh! Don't expect that any time soon! I'll be back, and when I do come back, you can bet we'll fight!"
Nimiko merely nodded, and then as if she'd never been there at all, she walked into the black forest. Mitsuyasha sat there for some moments, thinking. Nimiko had been only half right in her explanation of why she wanted to go to Kagome's time. Sure, she wanted to see it and know it, but she had something else she wanted to see.
Inuyasha was the best father anyone could hope for. He was strong and funny. He could make her laugh all the time, even when she wasn't at her best. He taught her how to run, how to dodge, how to fight. He'd been there for her through everything. He was her family, and always would be, but deep down, she knew there was more.
Her grandmother and uncle lived on the other side of the well. Her father had told her once how he'd met her uncle when he was younger than her, and how he'd met Kagome's mother when she was only a young woman. No doubt she was older, probably fifty or so. Her uncle, too, would be a young man, twenty and some odd years.
She wouldn't say so out loud, but she badly wanted to meet them. She had Inuyasha and her uncle, Sesshomaru, as well as Nimiko. Still, she had to meet her mother's family, even if it was only for a few months, or even a few weeks.
She stood up and stretched her arms above her head, twisting her neck to work out the kinks. Seconds later she was speeding through the forest, back to her hut where Inuyasha and she resided.
-O-
She entered through the front entrance, the screen flapping behind her. Her father sat in the same position she had been in moments ago, his eyes closed, as if asleep. She knew better. She took her seat across from him, her smirk ever present on her face.
"So, how did it go?" came the offhand question from Inuyasha. He opened one eye, feigning disinterest, then both, openly wanting to know what had gone on.
Mitsuyasha shrugged her shoulders and replied, "It was alright."
Inuyasha put his hands on his knees, giving her the eye that said, "I don't believe you."
She sighed loudly and raised her voice a notch. "Really! It was actually boring. We only stayed for thirty minutes or so. Then we all left for home."
He stared for a moment more, as did she. They had a small staring contest, and then a scent flowered in Mitsuyasha's nose. She raised her nose and sniffed. There! A steaming pot sat to her left, boiling with soup. Her stomach growled at the sight of it.
Inuyasha gave a small bark of laughter. "I see your hungry!"
Mitsuyasha yawned widely, her canines flashing in the firelight. "Yeah, I've been running around so much I forgot to eat anything."
She reached over and got a bowl for herself. Inuyasha did the same and soon they both were slurping their meals in silence. Mitsuyasha was used to the quietness of dinner. She didn't mind it; neither did her father. They liked it that way.
The silence was broken though, as Mitsuyasha cleared her throat to ask him the question that had been burning inside her ever since the meeting with her friends and cousin.
"Father…" She started, waiting for his attention to focus on her.
"What?" he asked, his growl-like voice still holding the boyish quality from when he was young.
"Well," she began. She turned away from his glare that was so like hers and instead stared at the wall. "I've been thinking about the other world…" She paused, feeling the tension that always came with subjects involving Kagome. "I was thinking about going there, for a visit."
At first, he said nothing. She was afraid she had made him angry, or worse, sad. After a few minutes she turned back and looked him in the face. From his scrunched brow and set frown she knew he was in deep thought. About what, she couldn't say.
He still didn't speak, and Mitsuyasha grew worried that he would say no. "Please, Father, I just want to see my grandmother and uncle. It won't be for very long, and I can take care of myself. I won't get in trouble or—
Her father cut in before she could finish her plea.
"Just don't go around savin' people." He looked at her from across the fire, a small grin on his lips. "They start to bother you and stuff."
Mitsuyasha's eyes grew wide. Was he really saying yes? She gave a startled laugh then launched herself at her father. She hugged him tight saying over and over "Thank you! Thank you!" He returned the hug, and then they drew apart. His eyes held humor from her behavior, but also seriousness.
"Be careful, okay?" He said, the concern in his voice coming out full force. He only let things like that show when he really meant it. No one really knew how kind and gentle he could be, save for his daughter…and her mother.
Mitsuyasha nodded quickly. "I will! I promise!" At this, he relaxed.
After that, they resumed eating. Inuyasha didn't really want her to go, which was evident to his only daughter easily. Kagome used to leave to go to her own time, and Inuyasha never liked that at all, or so he'd said. She knew that her leaving was like Kagome doing the same thing. Only this time, she would come back. She would.
-O-
Mitsuyasha stood in the clearing, the well only feet in front of her. Around her neck hung the sacred jewel, the jewel that Kagome had died putting together. She clutched it to her chest, the small round ball giving her comfort for the adventure she was about to have. She walked two paces and leaned over to look down into the well. She couldn't see the bottom; it was too dark.
She straightened up and ran through the things her father had told her before she left. He'd said:
"Don't go sniffin' around and smellin' things. Hide your ears so no one can see 'em. Stay away from the 'cars'. They kill people sometimes. Oh yeah, and make sure you come back soon. Ya got that!"
His advice sounded odd. Why would she need to hide her ears? True, she inherited her father's demon abilities, but she wasn't full demon. She'd decided it was because people were afraid of demons. And she didn't want to scare people off. As for the 'car' thing, she would have to ask Kagome's mom when she got there.
She held the jewel that was tied around her neck. It was the only thing she had that belonged to her mother. She wouldn't loose it. Her mother had died purifying it, and even though it held no powers, she treasured it. The only thing the jewel could do now was connect her world to her mother's. Using her other hand she grabbed the ledge and jumped over the side, letting go as she fell. Instead of hitting the bottom, she began to float in a bluish purple light. She stayed there for a few seconds, then it disappeared, and the bottom of the well surrounded her on all sides once again.
She looked up to see that the sky was no longer there, but instead a roof. She jumped out of the well in one leap, brushing off the dust that had landed on her. She looked around. It looked as though no one had come in here for years. She stopped. Her grandmother probably closed it off because it brought to many memories of Kagome. She nodded quietly. Yes, they'd even tried to seal it up so no one could get through. Obviously, the sutras hadn't worked.
Mitsuyasha slid the door aside and was met with blinding light. She waited for her eyes to adjust, blinking them once or twice. Soon, she could see. And what a sight it was!
She was in a temple, a shrine. Up ahead of her she could see a building, a house it looked like. How big it was! Much bigger than any huts she had seen in the village. She looked past the house to see even bigger structures. There were so many of them, all lined up along the horizon. The sun reflected off their surfaces like glass. Amazing!
After she took in all the sights, she noticed that the air here was much more…foggy. She couldn't think of a better word. It seemed thick, and she could smell tons of things: plants, people, and animals, nothing to unusual. She looked to the house with the open windows and wooded door. She could smell people in there as well. That must be were her grandmother lives, she reasoned.
Wasting no more time taking in the sights, she hastened to the front door. She didn't know the customs of knocking or ringing the doorbell, so when she reached the entrance, she simply walked in.
She walked down the hallway, hands in her sleeves, looking here and there. The house was nice and clean, no dirt for floors, but wood like the walls. She saw an open door up ahead, as well as a stair leading to the next level of the house. Steam came floating from the open door, drawing Mitsuyasha's attention and curiosity.
She went to the entrance and looked inside. A woman stood facing away from her, her back hunched over what looked like dishes. She was cleaning them, the hot water being the reason for the steam. A table was to the left of her, a pot of daisies in the center. The woman hadn't noticed Mitsuyasha, so she decided to speak first.
"Uh…excuse me…" She called out, only loudly enough so the woman could hear here.
The woman whirled around, her hand clutching tight to the washcloth that dripped water down her front. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of Mitsuyasha. She took a step forward.
"Who are you?" It didn't sound demanding, but more curious than anything. Mitsuyasha smiled fondly at the woman before her. There was no mistaking it; this lady was her grandmother.
"My name is Mitsuyasha." She began, feeling both nervous and excited all at once. She decided to come right to the point, and declared, "I'm your granddaughter."
Mitsuyasha's smile barely contained. She watched as the woman's eyes began to water with tears. She took another step and reached out to touch Mitsuyasha's face. She gasped loudly, and in an instant Mitsuyasha was being hugged tighter than ever before.
"You look just like her!" the older woman gushed, "I can see so much of her in you." Mrs. Higurashi pulled away and held her out at arms length. "And you look like your father as well." She added, giving a glance to her ears and claws, not with anger, but pride.
"Yeah, he's been great." Mitsuyasha replied, her throat blocked with unshed tears of joy. But she didn't keep the warmth from her voice. In this woman's presence, she felt she could say anything, just be herself. This was the thing she'd been missing. She felt whole, complete.
"So!" Mrs. H began happily, wiping the tears away hastily. "What can I fix for you?"
Mitsuyasha looked confused. She scratched her head. "I, uh, don't know what you mean?" What did she need to be "fixed"?
"You must be hungry." Her grandmother explained.
"Oh!" Mitsuyasha realized what she meant. "No, I'm alright." She responded quickly, waving a hand at the idea.
"Nonsense!" Her grandmother cried, all smiles. "I'll make you some soup…and rice and chicken…" Mrs. Higurashi's voice trailed away as she began to pull out pots and pans, her mind already two steps ahead of her words. Mitsuyasha watched her for a few moments, not sure what she should do. Mrs. H saw her standing there and smiled.
"There's no need for you to wait around in here. Go on, have a look around. I'll call for you when it's ready."
Mitsuyasha nodded, replying, "Thank you."
She walked out of the kitchen and back into the hallway. Once again, she saw the stairs at the end of the hall. A door at the very top loomed above them, calling to her. Could that have been…her mother's room? Excited, she shot a glance down the hall, hearing the clatter of the metal and the sizzling of the food. She would just take a little peak. Besides, her grandmother had said she could look around…
She walked up the stairs, leaving the rail unused as she climbed. Once she reached the top, she pulled on the pink-cushioned doorknob and pushed it aside with a faint squeak.
The sun slanted in through the windows, the pink curtains fluttering slightly in the open breeze. Her eyes drank in the pink bed and matching chair. The desk sat untouched, the clutter and paper that she'd left there still remained where it had been. Mitsuyasha sighed sadly. They hadn't even come in here since she died. She walked in and turned a full circle, soaking in the warm colored walls and the soft-carpeted floor.
A large, thick book caught her attention. It lay underneath the bed, a corner of it sticking out. She wondered what it could be for. Taking a seat on the ground, she reached under the sash and drew out the dusty book. A word was sewn into the cover, but the dust made it hard to read. Blowing the dust away, and coughing up a storm in the process, she made out the word "Scrapbook".
Opening up the first page, she was met with a picture of a small girl. Her hair was curly and short, the black tendrils coiling around her puffy cheeks and large brown eyes. She wore a frilly rose dress, her shoes polished and white. In her arms she held a large spotted cat, a huge smile on her face. Underneath it read, "Kagome's Fifth Birthday".
She continued to look through it, watching as the girl in the pictures became older and older. Soon, she was wearing a uniform with a green cape and skirt. Three other girls stood on either side of her, each one making goofy faces and laughing. Mitsuyasha smiled. She looked happy.
The next one's had been the most recent. The first was a very strange one. She had to turn the book at an angle to see the figures properly. An angry dog demon was running after a laughing fox demon, the dog being Inuyasha, and the fox being Shippo. She could see the ground they were running upon, a few trees in the distance.
There was one with Miroku and Sango, though they looked nothing like the married couple they were. Sango stood with a scowl on her face, while Miroku sported a knot on his head and a goofy smile on his face. It was obvious what had happened, and it made Mitsuyasha laugh.
The next one was the last one, a group shot, with even Kagome in it. Miroku and Sango stood next to one another, Sango blushing and Miroku staring dreamily at her, love shining in his eyes. Shippo sat on Kagome's shoulder, a large grin in place. Inuyasha stood in the middle, Kagome at his side. He had one hand around her waist, almost possessive. He didn't look happy, but his posture showed that with Kagome there, he was content.
She closed the book slowly, absorbing all she'd seen. Kagome had been happy, both in Mitsuyasha's world and her own. Maybe Mitsuyasha would be happy here too. She slid the book back under the bed, and stood up, stretching her back to work out the cramp that was taking root there. Really, she thought, this room isn't so bad.
"What are you doing in there?" came a voice from the door.
Mitsuyasha whirled around, already taking a battle stance. Instead of meeting the eyes of a demon or foe, she was met with a pair of brown eyes, the same as her grandmother's. She stood back, taking in the features of the man in front of her.
He was tall, taller than Inuyasha even. He had short black hair, spiky and wild. His clothing consisted of black pants and a light green shirt. He was looking at her accusingly, but with the same curiosity her grandmother had had.
"Well?" He prompted, waiting for her answer.
"I'm Mitsuyasha." She began, "I've come to visit my grandmother," She declared, his tone annoying her.
Confusion flashed in his eyes. "Who are you?"
"I'm Mitsuyasha, Kagome's daughter."
He glared deeper, putting both hands on his hips. He looked so much like Inuyasha in his human form. "You lie." He stated simply.
Mitsuyasha folded her arms as her father would and replied rudely, "Keh! I would never lie about something like that!" Her ears twitched in annoyance, and her claws flexed in her sleeves. "Who are you?" she demanded, pointing at him.
He puffed up his chest in a manly way and said smoothly, "Higurashi Sota."
Mitsuyasha gawked. No! This couldn't be her uncle! She frowned at him. "Great…" she mumbled, then without another word she stalked down the stairs, leaving a confused man in her wake. She walked back into the room her grandmother had been in to find that food had suddenly appeared on the table.
Her grandmother smiled when she came in and pulled out a chair for her to sit in. "Here, come sit. I was just about to call for you. I'll bring Sota in and then we can all sit down and have a nice meal." Her voice rang with warmth and happiness. Mitsuyasha nodded and took her seat, though she wasn't looking forward to eating with her new Uncle Sota.
"Sota!" Mrs. H called, walking down the hall to find her son.
He was talking to Mrs. Higurashi as he walked down the hall with her, and with Mitsuyasha's good hearing, she could pick up everything he said.
"Mom," he began, "there's an annoying girl here who's claiming to be Kagome's daughter. I don't believe her." Her grandmother laughed and replied, "Of course she is! Now come, let's eat…"
That's when they entered the room, Kagome's mother all smiles, while her uncle merely sent her a curt nod and took his place at the table. Mitsuyasha lowered her eyes and stared at the delicious food. Somehow, she didn't think she'd enjoy it as much. Looking at Sota from across the table, who was giving her the "eye" currently, she confirmed her earlier thoughts. Taking her chopsticks in hand, she dug in, trying hard not to notice the angry glares from her grandmother's son.
-O-
Mitsuyasha lay on top of the bed her mother had slept in all her life. She inhaled the scent and found it was just as pleasant as her father had said it would be. She wiggled around in her new clothes, finding them comfortable and warm. They were a pair of "pajamas", her grandmother had said. They were clothes you slept in. She didn't see the point, but liked them all the same.
A knock at the door made her sit up. She didn't know what to say. "Yes?" She asked tentatively. The door was opened and Mrs. H walked over to sit on the bed beside her. She looked tense in the room, and her eyes clouded over slightly when she looked around, but turning to Mitsuyasha, she smiled and regained her composure.
"I just wanted to come in and tell you Good Night." She said, her smile always there.
Mitsuyasha nodded. "Thank you."
Mrs. H patted her thigh fondly. "It was nice of you to visit, you know. It's been kind of lonely around here since…" she trailed off, knowing that she would understand. "Well, I hope you have a nice sleep." She concluded, leaning over to kiss her granddaughter on the forehead. Mitsuyasha smiled as Mrs. H walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
She lay on the bed, her arms crossed under her neck, her legs at the ankle. She looked at the ceiling, watching the moonlight make shadows on the wall. The last thing she heard was the beating of her own heart, content and peaceful, before she fell asleep.
-O-
AN: It's a pretty long chapter. I'm sure this is goodto some, and badto others. But either way, I think it's a decent start. Reviews are always welcome,flames and compliments alike.Let me know what you think, okay?
Until next time,
&Niiroke&
