Too Late
If you could change the past, would you?...
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or themes associated with Inuyasha. Too bad, though...
The sun shone brightly overhead, sending light to cover every crook and cranny that may have hid in the well house, entering through the opened door. Taking his time, a man whose age was defined through gray hair and skin covered with wrinkles, eyed an old well- his attention now where else. The old well, covered with useless spells and scrolls, stood in the center of the small well house, and seemed to omit an unseen power. However, the elderly man knew it was there. For he had witnessed it, himself.
Many a time, he'd seen his young granddaughter come and go through that very same well. Although it didn't look like much, it was actually a portal between the present and 500 years into the past. There, his granddaughter bravely battled demons, apparitions, and spirits for one soul purpose; to restore the Shikon no Tama.
This ancient jewel, while innocent looking to the eye of a human, held great power that many demons wished to possess. And his granddaughter felt as though it was her duty, although she was accompanied by others, to gather the scattered shards of this jewel and return it to it's full form, in hopes of keeping its great power from falling into the hands of danger.
Heaving a sigh, the man ran a hand through the thinning hair on his beard, before sitting on the edge of the well. Looking down into its depths he saw nothing but darkness. Shaking his head, he brushed his fingers gently over an ink covered scroll. It was a concealment spell he had slapped on the well months before, in hopes of sealing away it's power. And, his little Kagome's connection to the past.
Yes, she was still his little Kagome. He could easily recall her birth, and the proud look on her parent's face. He could remember her first steps, her first word, and even her first solid food. After the death of her father, he had taken on the duty of raising her and being the father figure she'd lost. He always had tried to do a good job... But now, as she switched between the past and the future he felt his connection with her slipping. He could no longer protect her. Now, the job had been passed on to that half-demon.
The old man was filled with years, knowledge, and stories. Both of his grandchildren knew that. Since they were young, he'd told them many long hours of stories... Had they ever believed any of them? Did they still remember them? He'd told his granddaughter one story once, when she was still a baby. He doubted she remembered. But, it was something he'd read when he was a young lad. It was the Legend of the hanyou and the Miko.
Oh yes, he'd read that story many, many times. It was a favorite of his when he was younger. And to think that he actually knew the characters from the story! His young granddaughter, his own flesh and blood, was in fact the very same miko. While that dog-eared, silver-haired boy that she traveled with was the hanyou. He knew of Kagome's companions well enough to depict their characters from the story, as well.
But, he also knew the ending of the story, even though they didn't. The courageous miko would purify the demon who threatened to spread evil throughout the land, with one single arrow. The brave hanyou would charge into the battle, accompanied by his mighty sword. There was of course help by the monk, and the taijiya. He even remembered that a small kitsune helped to fend off demons sent by the one he now knew was called Naraku. It would be a long, dangerous, and hard battle. All would suffer a horrible amount of wounds. The monk and slayer would die, bravely in battle. The kitsune would pass soon after, from complications with injuries he'd suffered from the fight. And, the miko would soon find that she was unable to return to her home. Although, the book had never verified where that was. The story ended with saying that the hanyou would be all she had left.
He'd always hoped that his Kagome could change the past. Perhaps if she never went down the well, and into the world full of demons, she could have? He'd purposefully filled her head with horrible stories about demons that ate human flesh, and other hideous monsters, in hopes of making her fearful of demons. And, possibly Inuyasha. Alas, he knew it was too late when he'd discovered that she went missing in the well house on her 15th birthday. She'd returned soon after, and explained to them all what had happened. How disappointed he had been to discover that she'd already met Inuyasha, and had planned to go back.His stories had done little to scare her away from a dreadful fate he knew she and her friends would one day meet.
"That was four years ago..." He gave another mournful sigh, his dark eyes becoming glossy. The quest would be completed soon, he knew. The sequence of the story was matching to what Kagome was telling him. Although the end would mean the demise of the demon Naraku, it would also mean his Kagome would never be returning home. "That half breed had better take care of her..." He grumbled, his thoughts shifting from poignant to angry in a flash. "Next time he comes through that well I'll be sure to give him a piece of my mind!"
And he would have, if only the hanyou and his granddaughter would have returned through the well.
Reviews are greatly appreciated. This is the first one shot out of a series of many that I have already written, and that I have in mind. I'll upload this one first as a sampler, to see what people think and decide if I want to continue to make my ideas public. Until I begin to write actual stories once more and have enough inspiration, I'll keep with small, simple, projects such as this...
Suggestions are always welcome. Whether they be about my writing or simply ideas for other one shots, I'd love to hear from you.