Ghosts of the Soul
Created by Tokyly Chumo
Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or other things in the anime
Concept: Inuyasha has been frozen in stone, but ocarina sorceress Kagome is here to set him free . . . whether she chooses to or not.
Prologue: after twenty years of destruction, Naraku and the Seven Lords have frozen Inuyasha in stone. With Inuyasha's father dead, and having left nothing behind, Inuyasha raged with demon blood and killed without knowing it.
Kagome, a Music Crafter, is highly skilled, as the title mentions, in Instrument crafting. Humans, and even powerful, art seeking demons, marvel at her work. But she is also a very fearsome opponent to demons. She regularly crafts whistles, that can stun demons, so that humans may get to safety. She delivers ten of these sacred whistles every season change, around every four months, to several villages.
Some of her more powerful instruments, which she sells to demon slayers, can destroy demons, if the musician is skilled enough. Her favorite Instrument is her Ocarina, and is Kagome's most tended to, and most powerful weapon. Monks and priestess' alike have blessed it.
Chapter 1The wind whistled threw the many instruments Kagome's shop held. It was a soothing sound to all the villagers in Kogaset, a fair sized town actually, of about 50 people, and home to many animals, cattle, pets, and strays alike.
Kagome, herself, sat working on a Lorikse, the sacred whistle that warded off demons and if necessary, raging animals as well.
The whistle was made of a fine oak, coated with a remedy new to Japan from the west. It looked like the front part of a recorder, but had a thinner opening, and white feathers gently fused into the wood from the center, extending towards the mouth piece, while the rest of the instrument had special symbols of magic, taught to her by a priest.
Satisfied with the last symbol carved in place, Kagome stood and held the instrument to her lips, soothing the air threw her mouth, and into it. The symbols began to glow pink, and the instrument hummed a low B flat, indescribably atoned to the highest note that a human ear could hear comfortably.
Kagome brought the instrument down, and placed it in it's case for her travels, which would begin in a few days, as autumn was soon approaching, along with a new variety of demons, and undoubtedly, the need for the self defense, for harvesting time was due.
As she stood, Kagome's attire stressed how much her way of life was her own. She wore decent red peasant pants, along with a yellow shirt, that she had cut at the sleeves. Her hair was as black and silky as ever, and in its natural position. She wore simple black padded leather shoes.
Her home, due to her profession, was very nice, and outmatched only by the village religious temples and worship centers. Its position on a hill is very strategic. She, along with help from the villagers, has carved out part of the hill. That part is where her shop is, one fair sized room that accommodated her needs. Outside of the shop, there are stone steps leading to her home on the hill, a three room buildings, a main living area, a kitchen, and a bedroom.
Her bedroom was on the second floor. Not really a second floor, but a loft, as one might say.
Now the town benefits greatly from Kagome's works. She is highly respected, as her house suggests, and her popularity threw the region attracts traders to the village. She gives generously at church (A/N: Buddhist I think) assemblies, which helps the town, because the church has a major influence in its structure.
Of course her reputation also attracts demons. The town has a staff of demon slayers on hand at all times. With each failure, the demons come less and less, so there are but occasional attacks.
Kagome walked along the dirt road towards a villager's home named Laura. Kagome was delivering some medicine to her today, because the village healer was out on business, and wouldn't be back for another day. Laura had a cold, and luckily, Sango, a familiar trader with Kagome, knew some medical practice, and sold Kagome some extra medicine.
No one was forced to give warning before entering another house or building, except holy ones, but Kagome thought it was a rude concept, and always asked permission first.
"Laura, are you awake, mind if I come in?" Kagome whispered threw the blended straw door.
"Yes Lady Kagome, I am, and you may" a voice replied from inside.
Kagome pushed the door to the side and stepped into the one room house. Most, as with this, houses had wood floors, since the village could afford it. Laura lay on a pallet on the floor, with a small pillow under her head, and a white cloth on her forehead.
"I brought your medicine" Kagome announced quietly, as to not hurt Laura already bad headache.
"Thank you, I've heard the news, that this new western medicine works quickly" She replied.
Kagome heated the stove in the corner of the room, and poured freshwater into a saucer. After about fifteen minuets, the water started to boil, and Kagome opened a pouched she had taken from the bag she carried.
She pours about a quarter of the bags contents into the water, and began to stir it. The water turned a turquoise color. Kagome then pulled a tomato from her bag and cut it into small pieces over the soup.
"That should give it some taste," she said.
Kagome put out the fire and closed her bag. She waited a good five minuets before taking the saucer and pouring the contents into a bowl. She hand it to Laura.
"Drink this, and you should feel better in no time" Kagome stated.
Laura nodded and took a sip of the soup.
"Thank you again, Lady Kagome" Laura said.
"No problem, I'll be in to check with you later, bye!" Kagome said, waving.
As she stepped down from Laura's home, Kagome heard the Demon Slayer's Horn. Another attack was underway, and Kagome could hear it, even from her distance.
'That's the third on this week, I wonder why so many lately' she thought.
Kagome dashed down the village roads, towards the sound, which she no longer needed to hear, because she saw the demons quite clearly now. The demon slayers where hard at work. There where at least thirty demons, and Kagome thought it was time to step in and help.
She reached into her bag, and pulled out a fair sized Ocarina. It was white, with blue scar like markings going across it. They're where two thumb holes on the bottom, and six more in a row on the top. The mouthpiece curved out gradually from the round figure.
A demon curved around the building to the right of Kagome, although it had now sealed it's own fate.
Kagome closed her eyes once more, and began playing a melody, one that she called 'Apologize'.
An aura of blue surrounded Kagome, and the wind began to twist and bend around her, swaying her hair in an upward motion.
The demon froze in mid-air, a stunned look in it's one eye. It was a worm-like one-eyed demon, with a yellowish body, and brown caterpillar type feet. The mouth under its eye was stuck open, it's sharp teeth still barred.
Every one of the demon slayers halted their attacks. The demons they where fighting had froze too, and now they turned their attention to Kagome.
Kagome's calm expression relieved the demon slayers greatly. She was having no trouble with these demons. But now the demons had a white aura around them. The aura condensed slowly, until it was just a mere speck, and then all the demons burst inside the bubbles, which then caused the aura's to explode like rain, the droplets floating away with the wind.
The blue aura around Kagome dissipated as she stopped playing, and brought the ocarina away from her mouth.
"Hey Kagome, why don't ya leave some demons for us? It makes us feel a little guilty if we get paid for what your doing" a voice joked from behind Kagome.
"Well there's a challenge for you then, kill all the demons before I get here, Jak" Kagome replied sarcastically.
Jak walked up to Kagome. He was wearing a standard slayer uniform, without the mouth cover though. His eyes where brown, along with his hair, and he stood about two or three inches shorter than Kagome.
The others began to gather their weapons and clean the remains of the demons they had slain before Kagome had gotten there, out of the village. Everyone thanked Kagome as they walked by.
"Jak, shouldn't you be helping the others" came another voice behind Kagome.
"Yes Lady Kaede" Jak replied.
He rushed off after grabbing his weapons, and headed towards the others.
Kagome turned around and bowed slightly, "Good evening, Lady Kaede".
"As to you, Kagome" Kaede replied, " Would you please accompany me to my home? I need to ask you something"
"Of course" Kagome replied, picking up her bag, and following Kaede threw the center of the village.
They passed the Main worship center in the very center of the village. It was three stories high, and a good distance around. Right next to it was a stable, one of which contained Kagome's favorite horse.
"Could you please wait a second Kaede?" Kagome politely asked.
Kagome pulled an apple out of her bag and handed it to a short black horse. It accepted it and ate it in a few bites. Kagome patted its head, it was a female, and had soft eyes.
"Kagome, I see you around that horse a lot, why don't you just buy it?" Kaede inquired.
"Because, I wouldn't have enough time for her, it's the curse of responsibility" Kagome replied.
"I see, but you may be able to spend more time with it than you'd expect, please, lets continue" Kaede replied.
They walked on towards the priestess Kaede's home, at the very edge of the village, by the forest. The forest on this side of the village was not to worry about though, because it was thick, and besides, it was next to a waterfall.
'What could Kaede mean?' thought Kagome.
They arrived on the steps and entered Kaede's dwelling. It had several rooms, but they journeyed west, towards the back of the house.
The room they entered had a table, and on a both sides a mat to sit on.
"Kagome, your journey to neighboring villages may take longer this season, something very serious has happened in the north . . ." Kaede began
What is the serious matter? How should I know! I make this up as I go, besides major plot lines that guide me!
So make sure you read carefully!
Hope you all liked that chapter! Credits to Kris's friend for ocarina inspiration!
If any interest sparks, or I just feel like writing more in this story I will.
Please Review! It is a big factor in if I write more or not.
Kudos, later!