**WARNING: Half of this story's characters are OCs! Though, later on they don't impact the fanfic as much. Also, this story is not mature in any way, nothing will ever surpass the T rating.**
**DISCLAIMER: InuYasha does not belong to me, the anime and manga belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And I make no profit from this fanfiction.**
CHAPTER 1:
Fire.
It burns.
In the midst of the roaring flames and crackling wood, a mass of black flowed frantically in the wind. The harsh cries of an infant sliced through the air accompanied by loud hiccups. She didn't know what to do, she didn't know where to go. Charred wood constantly got in the way, the flames seemed to stretch even farther.
It burns!
"Get to safety, children!" An old voice rasped before a soft thud was heard.
"There are still people alive?" A man clothed in black asked gruffly, his stoic posture resting stiffly on a black steed.
Panicking, the girl willed her brother to be silent, rocking him as gently as she could. She darted into a shed and sat shakingly in the corner. "Souta, please! Please be quiet, Souta!" In the darkness of the shed, the moon's light shone on her brother's beautiful red-streaked face. His eyes opened to reveal worried brown orbs, and his wails died at the sight of his pleading sibling. "Souta, we just have to be here for a little longer."
The infant seemed to calm down at those words and closed his eyes in peace. His breathing softened and soon he was nuzzled against his sister's warmth. The tears that were once falling freely on both of their faces dried quickly, but the girl sat somberly and still. She'd seen it, after all. Her brother had been cradled in her mother's arms, her father was rushing them along. A bandit witnessed them and almost killed Souta, but another villager distracted him.
She'd hurriedly taken Souta before he got burned and a wall of fire seemed to separate her and her parents. Their silhouettes, so miserable and crouched, before they were gone. All three of them. She shivered at the memory. A gun shot, one form falling to the ground. She'd let out all of her anguish then, before the clear, loving voice of her mother rang out.
"Kagome, we're okay! Stay safe and take care of Souta for us!"
Kagome closed her eyes and rested her head against the soft skin of her brother's. "Mom said we'll be fine, Souta." She was so tired, her limbs drained from playing all day and then running for her life. But she couldn't sleep, not when the bandits were still lurking in the village. If they discovered their hiding spot… Kagome held back a sob.
"The village is clear," the gruff voice from earlier dismissed the others. Soon, Kagome heard the uniform stomping of the horses as they faded and her stiff body loosened immediately. "We'll return later to do a thorough search of their goods."
Tensing, Kagome realized the situation. She couldn't even rest here for the night! "They'll be back before the night ends!" She had to leave the village now, and find another one to possibly stay the night at. Standing on shaky legs, the small child wobbled over to the shed door and opened it slowly. Peeking out a single brown eye, Kagome surveyed what she could of her destroyed village. "Everything's gone…" she whispered. "What could they possibly be looking for?"
Deciding that the clearing was safe, Kagome stepped out of the shed and carefully walked past the sizzling flames. She just had to make it through the forest, then the Hinohara village would be on the outskirts. Determined, Kagome shifted Souta into a more comfortable position before walking carefully over fallen bodies. It took all her willpower not to look at old friends and elders, because she knew the image would be burned in her mind. Suddenly, her footsteps faltered as her eyes unwillingly zeroed in on one still form. "Ren!" she wailed, her voice cracking. She rushed over to the dead body of her horribly burned best friend. Tears leaked from her eyes as she reached out to touch her. "Ren…"
A violet eye cracked open. "Kagome…" Burned lips parted with great effort. "My necklace…"
Kagome watched dumbstruck as her dying dear friend managed to smile. "I'm gonna be with Akira now. I haven't seen him since he was born. You have to be strong, Kagome, for both of us."
"Ren, I'll carry you to a healer!" Kagome said meekly, though even she knew it was hopeless.
"Don't bother, Kagome." The violet eye closed slowly. "You survived for a reason. I won't let you forget me. Take my necklace and think of me every day…" Her breathing slowed.
Kagome's head dropped as she withdrew her hand to clutch Souta tightly. She didn't have the power to scream or protest. She took in the sight of Ren's short black bob burnt to a crisp, leaving only a few hairs on her head. The unrecognizable features, her blackened skin… Kagome held back tears as her eyes landed on the glowing necklace tied around Ren's neck. A small green jewel surrounded by a pure white, a supernatural gleam causing the jewel to shine in the darkness. In the middle of the jewel, a black 'H' was carved delicately. "Hatsuren…" Kagome whispered, her thumb ghosting over the harmless letter.
Kagome unlatched the necklace from Ren's neck before slipping it onto her own and clasping the hook. The jewel touched Souta's cheek but the cool touch didn't stir the infant. With renewed strength, Kagome said a silent prayer before bowing and getting up. The night had only just begun, she needed to leave the village now.
"Bye, Ren." Her voice carried into the wind, and Kagome was sure Ren's spirit received her farewell. Kagome left the village quickly after that, not daring to look back.
When her feet touched the cool dewy grass of the forest, Kagome broke out into a run. If the bandits planned to return, they couldn't have gone far and were resting somewhere close by. It'll take the whole night to get to Hinohara! She wanted to just give up, to follow Ren to the afterlife, but… The steady breathing of Souta allowed her legs to push onward. Thirty minutes into nonstop running, Kagome finally stopped as air was ripped from her throat. Gasping, she slid against the bark of a tree and rested. Souta had begun crying five minutes into her run, the sudden, uneven movement unsettling to him. Her black hair was sticking to her face however the sweat was providing much needed relief.
Souta's cries faded as he realized Kagome stopped moving. His eyes opened curiously and he searched her face for any signs of life. Kagome smiled weakly before closing her eyes. She'd made it a good distance from the village, hopefully in the right direction, so she could rest for a few moments without worrying about the bandits.
"Are you sure you heard a baby crying?"
Kagome stiffened and cursed her bad luck. Her eyes darted around desperately, before she realized there was nowhere for her to hide. Getting up, she tightened her sandals and reached up towards a branch. Gripping it tightly, she hesitantly placed her right foot on the rough bark of the tree. Souta hiccupped and Kagome whispered, "Please don't cry, Souta!" She lifted her foot to rest on the branch and began to get her left foot onto the tree. Looking up, Kagome looked in horror at how high the next level was. She couldn't endanger Souta's life by reaching for it with only one hand. Sitting onto her current branch sullenly, Kagome waited to hear voices again.
"I must've been hearing things," a light, airy voice answered in a troubled tone. Kagome's eyes widened. "I heard the village nearest to Hinohara got raided by bandits about an hour ago. Perhaps that infant was abandoned by its parents?"
The man's voice from earlier responded in surprise, "Maru is very fast! The best messenger Hinohara has had…" His voice trailed off. "But if the infant is no longer crying, it must've had someone to calm it down."
"That's even worse!" The woman scolded, her voice suddenly louder and closer. "Those children must be in bad condition! We have to get them to Hinohara."
Kagome's heart began to beat erratically, but her body refused to move.
Suddenly, a brown head peeked from behind a tree. A beautiful woman stepped out into the moonlight, her clear, blue eyes blinking elegantly. Her fringe was swept to the side, and her long hair was tied near the end. She was tall and slim in shape, her kimono hanging loosely around her. Her pale skin seemed to glow as she looked around slowly.
"You're not even supposed to be out here, priestess!" The man followed suit, his disgruntled appearance apparent. His tanned skin complimented his brown eyes nicely, his hair the same shade and length as the woman's, but it was not tied. His thick eyebrows scrunched together as he nervously shifted his feet. "I was supposed to be collecting herbs for you. You need to watch over Enju!"
The priestess dipped her head in response, not seeming to be particularly bothered. "Of course, so I must make sure the herbs are accurate." She grasped the man's hand happily. "And can't I just spend time with you, Shinnosuke?" she whispered. "Without the eyes of the village judging me?"
A harsh blush erupted onto Shinnosuke's face as he looked away from the alluring yet pure priestess. "You must respect your profession, priestess. I only serve to protect everyone in the village."
Huffing, the priestess dropped Shinnosuke's hand abruptly and turned stubbornly. Immediately, he opened his mouth to protest and Kagome continued to watch with a mesmerized expression. Suddenly, the priestess' eyes snapped up to where Kagome was. Surprised, Kagome jumped and disturbed Souta's rest. A protesting sound ripped from his throat and Kagome closed her eyes in horror.
"I knew they were here!" The priestess announced happily, her hands clasping together. She rushed over to the tree Kagome was located at and peered up invitingly. "You poor children! You've been driven out of your home, right? Come with us to Hinohara!"
Kagome looked down frightenedly and shook her head roughly.
The priestess pouted before she was joined by Shinnosuke. "Of course if you're so loud and annoying, she's going to be suspicious of you." He looked up with his hands on his hips, a kind expression on his features. "You're hiding from the bandits, aren't you? Don't worry." He grinned, turning slightly to show his sword. "We'll protect you on the journey to our village."
Kagome stared for a moment longer before nodding and attempting to get down. Embarrassed, she looked helplessly at the two. The priestess laughed lightly and lifted her arms to grab Kagome and Souta, before placing them gently onto the ground. "Oh!" she exclaimed as she saw Kagome clearly. "You're so dirty!" She looked to Shinnosuke with a worried gaze. "Let's hurry back. We can gather herbs tomorrow."
Shinnosuke seemed to want to protest but he just shook his head and motioned for the priestess to begin walking. "I'll keep watch in the back." He looked to Kagome who was still holding Souta tightly. "Do you want some help? I can hold him for a while." He barely finished his statement before Kagome shook her head furiously.
The priestess smiled assuringly. "We understand. You don't want to be separated from your brother." She turned and began walking majestically. Kagome began to follow immediately while gently rocking Souta. Shinnosuke followed a few feet behind, keeping an alert watch.
They traveled at a leisurely pace, not the frantic running Kagome had been doing before. The sun was beginning to rise when the peaceful village of Hinohara emerged from ahead. Kagome blinked at the shrieks of laughter and the men at the entrance that simply bowed to acknowledge them. Once setting foot in the village, her fatigue was apparent as her legs gave out from under here. Souta began to cry, as expected, but Kagome couldn't comfort him as her eyes closed against her will.
-/-
"... up."
"... eyes are opening!"
A scream tore from Kagome's throat when her eyes opened to three pairs of curious orbs staring at her. Sitting up abruptly, the troubled child looked around frantically for her brother. Her eyes landed on a sleeping Souta, nestled in a makeshift crib. Kagome seemed to realize her surroundings then. A hut with a simple fireplace in the center and a pot currently cooking atop it. There was one futon and a lot of herbs along with medicinal jars. Turning back to the three people that were monitoring her every move, Kagome recognized two of them as the priestess and Shinnosuke. The third was a girl, perhaps sixteen, in a white haori and red hakama. Her black hair was tied back in the same fashion as the priestess. Her eyes were green and wild in nature.
"She really is cute now that she's cleaned up," the girl swooned as she shuffled closer to Kagome.
Kagome leaped away and ran over to Souta, her back against the wall.
"Relax," the priestess assured her. "This is Miyu." She motioned to the energetic girl shifting impatiently next to her. "She is under my supervision to become a priestess."
"Thanks for the introduction, Priestess Omako," Miyu answered cheerily, bowing lowly to her senpai. Lifting her head to gaze at Kagome, she continued excitedly, "The entire village is waiting to see you up and about! Everyone had such a fright when you suddenly collapsed."
Kagome shivered, remembering when she fainted clearly, but didn't answer.
"What's your name?" Miyu prompted relentlessly.
Shinnosuke, who had been quiet until this point, spoke up. "Stop pressuring her, Miyu."
Miyu blew out her cheeks in frustration, turning her annoyed gaze to Shinnosuke. "I am not pressuring her. I just want to know more about her."
Omako looked at Kagome calmly. "She can tell us whenever she's ready." Her eyes suddenly shifted downwards as if she noticed something for the first time. "What a beautiful necklace!" she gushed, her eyes sparkling. "'H?' Your name begins with an H?"
Miyu pounded her fist into her palm. "Honoka!"
Omako tilted her head slightly. "No, she looks more like a Haruna."
Unexpectedly, Shinnosuke pitched in. "What about Hotaru?"
Kagome remained silent before taking in a quiet breath. Looking up at the trio through her bangs, she whispered, "Hatsuren."
Three sets of eyes blinked rapidly, as if dumbstruck that Kagome had actually spoken. Miyu suddenly squealed and clapped happily. "What a beautiful name!"
"... The name of my best friend that died by the hands of the bandits."
Miyu's exclamations ended instantly and Omako gasped in horror, her hands flying to cover her mouth. Shinnosuke barely covered his surprise, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised. An awkward atmosphere encased the hut and Kagome slid down the wall to sit comfortably.
"Before she died," Kagome continued softly, "she told me to take her necklace." She watched as tears dripped onto her clothes. Lifting her head, she said shakily, "She doesn't want me to forget her."
In a flash, Miyu was by her side and Kagome was bawling into her priestess garb. Miyu's shape was very similar to her mother's, and her arms were long and warm. Before Kagome realized what she was doing, her own tiny arms wrapped around Miyu as she held on tightly. "Mama!" Kagome sobbed, tears flowing freely from her closed eyes. Miyu watched sadly as Kagome vocalized her pain.
Shinnosuke got up and bowed slightly. "I think I'll go now." He walked to the mat that served as the entry and exit before pausing to turn and look at the distressed Kagome. "I've yet to know your name," he started awkwardly, "but I do know that you must stay strong for the sake of your brother, who will not remember this day. Good luck." With that, Shinnosuke vanished, his sword gleaming in the light.
Kagome's cries soon stopped as she thought more and more about Shinnosuke told her. She turned her head to look at Souta who was peacefully sleeping. She had to be strong, just for him. He was her reason to live now, her parents were gone and probably killed by the awaiting bandits.
Omako watched the pair quietly as Miyu stroked Kagome's hair. She was conflicted as to what she should do in this situation. Breathing deeply, Omako decided to busy herself by attending to the stew that was cooking. Evening was slowly approaching, and everyone would surely get anxious if Kagome never revealed herself. "Miyu, why don't you show her to the village?"
Kagome pulled away from Miyu and said priestess got up and outstretched her hand for Kagome to take. Kagome accepted greedily and Miyu led her out of the hut. No one had noticed their appearance yet, so Miyu quickly asked a question.
"How old are you?"
Kagome stared at her. Such a harmless question, but what was wrong? Tightening her grip on Miyu's hand, Kagome answered hesitantly, "Kagome. My name is Kagome." She looked up with a small smile. "I'm seven years old."
Miyu grinned happily and ruffled Kagome's hair with her free hand. "Kagome-chan!" she cooed, her eyes sparkling enticingly. "Or just Kagome?" she added sheepishly.
Kagome's cheeks heated slightly. "J-just Kagome is fine," she muttered.
Miyu opened her mouth to reply before a joyous voice rang out,
"She's awake!"
Immediately, the villagers flocked Kagome and Miyu with a bunch of questions. Kagome squirmed uncomfortably, her uneasiness from earlier returning, causing her to grip Miyu's garb tighter. Miyu seemed to get the message and smiled in gratitude to the villagers.
"Kagome is just fine," she informed them. "She was just really tired from all her traveling." Looking down at the scared child, Miyu winked. "Isn't that right, Kagome?"
Kagome nodded quickly and the villagers seemed to be relieved. They dispersed soon after that, leaving Miyu and Kagome alone again. Kagome lifted her head to watch the first stars appear in the sky. Miyu followed suit but closed her eyes peacefully. "Hinohara is truly a beautiful place to be," she muttered, her eyes opening once more.
Kagome didn't answer, but she did agree. Hinohara was peaceful and the villagers all got along in harmony. Similar to her own village… Sniffling, Kagome held back tears and instead squeezed Miyu's hand. "Miyu-san, can we go back now?"
Miyu left out a hearty laugh before nodding. "Miyu-san?" She began to giggle. "Just Miyu is fine," she mimicked Kagome's earlier statement. Kagome felt her lips upturning before she could stop it. But was it really okay? Her smile dropped quickly. Was it really okay for her to smile after her entire village suffered and her parents were gone? Quietly, she followed Miyu, not noticing the large pair of blue eyes drinking in her presence.