Past Vengeance

Chapter 1) Prologue

"Where are ye child?" I heard an old voice asked. I rolled my eyes. "Lady Kaede! Can't I just play like a normal eight year old?" I begged as I showed myself. Kaede seemed to stifle a laugh. "No my child." she replied. "Nazi?" I groaned. "Because ye are not normal. Now come, we must continue." she beckoned me. I looked at her frail body for a minute. Her gray hair shined as smooth as silk and her eyes were gorgeous. She must have been beautiful in her youth. She raised an eyebrow at me. "Nani?" she asked. I shook my head. "Nothing. I was just thinking how pretty you look now and how better you probably looked when you were younger..." I replied. Kaede grinned. "Flattery shall not work my child." she chuckled.

"Aw! Come on!" I moaned. "I don't want to train!" I childishly stated. I was a child, only eight at the time. I also had every right to feel this way. I was forced to live out my childhood inside this ichidou and train while other girls got to play with dolls and have friends. I just wanted to be normal. I knew that I would never be normal, but the thought and longing was still there. Kaede let out an annoyed sigh. "Ye must train! Stop being so difficult, please. It is important that ye become as strong as ye can be." she forced into my brain. Tears began to fill my eyes. "Nazi, Nazi, Nazi? I want to play with a doll! I want to have friends! I want to feel the warm sun on my face on a cool summer day! I want to have fun!" I immaturely exploded.

By now tears were flowing rapidly down my face. I may have been only eight, but I had the mentality of a thirteen year old. Kaede looked at me with sad eyes. I turned from her gaze. "Don't gaze at me so." I mumbled with crossed arms. "Kagome..." she began. I whirled around. "I want to know why I have to train? There are a dozen other miko's in this neighborhood and yet only I am being forced to train! You've lied to me long enough, I want the truth!" I finally demanded. Kaede sighed in defeat and sat down on a nearby chair. "Kagome, I think it is time ye finally learn why ye must become stronger than the other miko's. Why ye must be strong enough to avenge ye parent's murders..." she told me.

My eyes widened. "You told me they died in an accident!" I accused as I pointed at her. "Aye, I did. I was waiting until ye were older before telling ye the truth. I didn't want to take too much of ye childhood away." she confessed. I realized she did all of that out of consideration for my childhood. I sat down in front of her. "Lady Kaede, I never had a chance at childhood the moment I begun training. Please, tell me the truth of my parents..." I begged. She laughed. "Nani?" I asked. "Ye are just like your okaa-san... Always acting and talking older than ye really were..." she told me. I smiled as she began her story.

"Ye were only four at the time of their death... I remember it like it was yesterday. Ye had the finest pair of folks I ever knew. Ye okaa-san was beautiful. Her name was Keiko... Her hair was much like yours is today. Except when she married your otou-san she had it cut. She was one of the strongest and most caring people I ever met and I always envied that aspect of her. Her whole world lit up when she looked at ye." Kaede reminisced. A small smile graced her lips. "Then there was ye otou-san. He was a handsome lad. He gave ye your soft chocolate eyes and he was always so considerate of ye okaa-san; a little over-protective of ye two, but considerate and loving none-the-less. Such a sad fate that befell them..." she trailed off.

"Lade Kaede, please go on..." I beckoned. She nodded as a tear fell. "Ye okaa-san and otou-san were ordinary folks, not having an ounce of spiritual energy in their bodies. It wasn't until after they met me that they understood your capabilities..." she began. "Until after they heard of your sister, Kikyou..." I interrupted. She nodded. "Aye, when I told them she died fighting youkai's to protect the Shikon no Tama and that ye were her reincarnation did they realize your true potential. They weren't the only one to notice. An evil man known as Onigumo coveted your power. Being a mortal he knew he could never acquire it in that state so he called upon a spider youkai known as Naraku and was tricked into merging with him. Naraku betrayed him and took over the body. He eventually found you and began attacking your parents." she stopped. I respected her wish to take a deep breath before continuing.

"Even then your spiritual abilities were strong for your age. Somehow you managed to keep them safe but because ye were such a small child, your energy depleted. Naraku killed your parents before I got there. I only made it there in time to banish him and save ye..." she finished. "Oh Lady Kaede!" I cried as I stood up. "You have to train me now! I can't let this go! I must avenge them!" I pleaded. "Oh child..." she whispered as she took me into her arms. "No, please. Now..." I begged.

She pulled from me and looked at me. "Ye have changed.. I can tell.. I no longer see a child. I now see a great miko in the working..." she whispered. I nodded and I walked alongside her to the back of our small ichidou.

That was the day my eight year old interior left me and I grew up before I was supposed to. That day was the turning point in my life. I learned what it was to fight for something. I also learned how important it was to never give up your duty and to try your hardest to make your purpose in life a reality. Read on to learn of my, Higurashi Kagome, journey to avenge my past, my unexpected new found world, and my battle for my parents.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note: In this story everything takes place in modern day Japan. Kikyou, InuYasha, Onigumo/Naraku, and Kaede never had a past together. Kikyou died trying to fight off youkai's that were after the Shikon no Tama. She did die in Kaede's arms and Kikyou hid the jewel in shards so that no evil could grasp the whole jewel. This is just a little note so none of you become confused. Also, there are some Japanese words in this chapter and there shall be in others. Here is a small dictionary:

Nazi - Why

Nani - What

Ichidou - Shrine

Miko - Shrine Maiden; Priestess

Okaa-san - Mother

Otou-san - Father

Youkai - Full Demon

Shikon no Tama - Jewel of Four Souls; Ball of Four Souls

Thanks for taking the time to read this little chapter! Please read & review! I do accept flames, but only if they are for credible reasons such as: You don't like the plot, don't like how the characters are being portrayed, don't like my writing style, etc. Irrational reasons are: You are not a fan of Kagome, you just simply want to rant and rave, etc. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha in whatever way whatsoever. InuYasha is the property of the wonderfully talented Rumiko Takahashi. Viz Media also shares in the production rights.