Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters in any way or form, nor do I make a profit from this story. The story-plot, however, is mine.
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CHAPTER ONE - TWENTY YEARS
It had been twenty years since she had disappeared from the surface of the Earth. Kagome had vanished. She'd fallen off the edge of a cliff after taking a sacred arrow that was aimed directly at the Lord of the West. It had hit her square in the this day the sound of that impact haunted every soul present that very day.
Her body had never been found. Not in the foaming waters below, nor along the shores for miles around.
It was as though she had never existed. She was gone. Her aura, her scent, her spirit. Only her memory remained. The complete Shikon no Tama had disappeared with her. No one could sense it, not even a youkai as powerful as Sesshoumaru could catch a whiff of it's power, nor its protector.
After weeks of searching the shores, the inutachi's despair turned to a faint, lingering hope. If no one could sense the jewel, then perhaps Kagome had managed to wish upon it before it was too late.
Everyone had been prepared for the fact that the jewel most likely would return the future-born miko home to her own time - though it had pained them once, now it was a bright and shining hope. If she had been returned to her home, then she would at least be alive, they hoped. Inuyasha had told them all about the advanced medicine and human healers in Kagome's time...
So they hoped. And they prayed that perhaps, one day, the beloved young miko would return to them through the well.
Inuyasha took the loss of the miko very hard. He'd sworn to protect her - true, he hadn't always succeeded, he'd put her at risk more times than he could count and left her defenseless while he chased after Kikyou, but he had always MEANT to protect her... He wished he could've told her that he was sorry... He had Kikyou, though. He had his first love...but Kagome's selfless love was hard to forget. Kagome had to be alive, anyway - they all told themselves that, because Kikyou felt nothing within the sliver of a soul she kept that was originally Kagome's.
The well had closed. This gave them all another small glimmer of hope that Kagome was, indeed, in her own time. If the jewel had been wished upon, and Kagome was back in her time, then the well would rightfully be sealed. So they all clung to those ideas, using them as a lifeline when they needed it the most.
Sesshoumaru, the Mightly Lord of the West, paid little thought to the well or the strands of hope his halfbrother's pack clung to. What bothered him most was that the silly little human miko had taken that arrow for him. She had dared think that he, the Killing Perfection, the Lord of the West, had needed protecting! It was infuriating! How dared she make him indebted to her!? Her last selfless act was troublesome. He HATED the thought of owing someone, a HUMAN, a lifedebt.
After a full cycle of seasons had passed, he and Rin approached the small village in Edo, where his half-brother and his pack resided. Rin had wanted to see Shippou, the kitsune kit that the young miko had adopted and treated like her own. To say that the kit and his ward got along well was an understatement. Both were orphans, and had seen Kagome as more than just a playmate - reluctantly, he had to admit that the miko had taken on a mothering role to the young girl and fox. How dared she leave them behind!?
Shippou ended up returning to the Western lands with Sesshoumaru, to be trained in the ways of youkai under Sesshoumaru's watchful eye. And over the years that followed, the kit grew stronger and showed more potential than the Inu Lord had first thought. Now he owed the miko nothing. He'd taken care of her kit and ensured his survival. A life for a life.
So, twenty years.
Kagome never returned through the well. The old wooden structure started to slowly crumble as its magic died down. Sango and Miroku visited the site every year, on the day of Kagome's disappearance and laying down her favourite flowers, remembering her. The kind soul had made a huge impact on their lives, and they would always keep her in their hears and minds, fondly, no matter how many years that went by. Both the humans were now both grown adults, with five children and two grandchildren. They were happy together. They had a good life. They hoped that Kagome was happy, too, wherever she was.
Twenty years...
Kishino opened her eyes and blinked against the bright sunlight glittering through the canopy of leaves above her. She'd fallen asleep under a tree again... Great! What was it with her and trees?! Why did she still find such comfort in them?
She was on her feet not many seconds later, stretching her long, lean figure lazily - arms reaching above her head before dropping to hang by her sides. She inhaled deeply. The fresh air of the remote countryside, far away from villages and people was like balm to her soul! She loved it out here! Under the open sky, with no place to be, no sworn duty, no hassle, no rush to be somewhere.
Her relaxed body then proceeded to tense up, and she shifted her stance in anticipation.
"KISHINO-SAMA!"
Kishino cringed at the loud shriek, and quickly gathered her weapons; fastening her katana to her left hip, slinging a quiver of long arrows and her longbow over her shoulder and securing a quiver of shorter arrows on her right hip while clenching a smaller bow in her right hand. She didn't even bother reaching for the long battle staff which she had leaned up against the tree.
"Yes!" Her voice gruff, deep, melodious - managing a small sigh to herself before squaring her shoulders, setting her posture, and preparing for impact.
"Kishino-sama!" The high pitched voice sounded again before a young boy leapt through the bushes and ran towards her, crashing his little body into her legs and his arms coming around her in a deathgrip. She merely grunted quietly. His big brown, almost black eyes were gazing up at her, pleading her silently. Panic rolled off him in waves, and she frowned deeply. The child was terrified!
"What?" Kishino uttered shortly, and the boy pointed behind him.
"Wolves!" He cried, shuddering and pressing himself further into the taller figure.
"Hmph..." Kishino grunted, and rolled her small bow in her palm.
"How far, Tsuren?"
"...fifty paces behind me..."
"What!?" Kishino pushed the boy gently around herself and stood in front of him - the small bow ready in her hand.
The bow itself was perhaps a few inches short of two feet long, but it was a preferred weapon of choice - it took less time to notch an arrow and could be fired more rapidly and more accurately at shorter ranges.
"Tsuren, I want you to leg it as fast as you can to the river..." Kishino squared her shoulders and straightened her back. She angled her jaw and her eyes became more narrow, somehow changing her features completely with those small adjustments.
"...but..."
"Do it! Run to the river, dive in, and STAY in till I come and get you!" Kishino barked the order, watching the child nod and do as he was told. Good boy!
Kishino inhaled deeply once she was sure the boy was safe, then flared her powers outwards and sensed the rapidly approaching youkai auras. Four adult youkai chasing one child. Honour-lacking bastards! A growl passed through her lips.
Her eyebrow twitched slightly in annoyance before a short arrow was notched on the short bow...then fired. Another followed, then another. Three canine yelps were heard as the projectiles hit and strong barriers of holy energy protruded from the arrows - keeping the unfortunate wolves from getting free, thus effectively chaining them to the area of impact. Effective. No harm done to anyone.
She inhaled deeply, again, before yanking her katana from its sheath - swinging it upwards to block the claws of the wolf leader. It could've been a fatal blow to the back of her neck, but Kishino was not one to be taken by surprise. She'd sensed the strong aura come up behind her and had quickly calculated how many seconds she had to react. She was glad he had been correct.
A bright flare of holy power reached outwards from her entire body, and the wolf youkai flinched back at the potency of that power. Kishino huffed and sheathed the katana quickly, keeping a protective barrier around herself so the wolf couldn't get to her.
"Priest! You would come between a wolf and his meal?" The wolf growled, causing Kishino's eye eyebrow to twitch in annoyance yet again. That's right - a woman she might be, but to the world she appeared to be male.
"Your 'meal', is my ward, youkai!" HE spat back to the wolf, narrowing his blazing blue eyes. The wolf snarled, baring sharp fangs at the human priest as he stood fearlessly against him.
"No human takes in a youkai child to care for!" The wolf sneered in disgust, to which Kishino merely laughed merrily.
"That is rich, wolf! I remember tales of a human woman doing just that many seasons ago! Why cannot I?"
"That WOMAN was special!" The wolf replied, his anger suddenly deflated and remorse shone in his stunning blue eyes.
"She was MY woman..."
Kishino tilted his head slightly. Huh...that was interesting. Then he realized just who this was. Kami, it had really been too long! Kouga!? What was he doing in these parts?!
The wolf seemed lost in thought for a moment, but it was clear that he snapped out of it by a quick shake of his head when he heard the priest clear his throat sharply.
"You're the leader of the Eastern wolf tribe, Kouga, aren't yout?" Kishino then asked carefully, not really wishing to fight the youkai unless he absolutely had to.
Blue eyes met blue eyes, and the wolf, Kouga, gave a short nod.
"So, human, you know of me - care to give me your name? ...and possibly free my pack-members?"
"Hn...will you promise me to not attack my ward?" Kishino voiced his question with slight suspicion, but none the less he recalled the arrows - they floated through the air and into his waiting hand and thus breaking the restraining spells on the other wolves.
He kept his eyes on Kouga all the time, watching the slight surprise that graced the wolf youkai's features as the arrows flew back into the human priest's hand.
"You hold great power, priest..." Kouga mused, and Kishino inclined his head - not mistaking the statement for an actual compliment - he wasn't cocky, nor did he need others to confirm the potency of the powers he wielded.
"As do you, Kouga-sama, I have heard many great tales about you and your pack - not to mention your adventures and deeds in the not too distant past..." Kishino kept the polite tone, watching with slight interest how one sharp fang was revealed in a half-smile as Kouga scoffed a small chuckle at the attempted praise.
"Yeah, well...it's in the past. And you still did not give me your name..." Kouga crossed his arms across his chest. His pack members darted to his side, all growling and rubbing their sore shoulders, glaring at the priest who was now chatting to their leader like they were old friends. What was up with that!?
Arching an eyebrow, Kishino merely eyed the wolves with calm patience.
"I am sure you caught my name while my ward shouted it in panic as you chased him through the forest..." that was his only reply, and the three wolves accompanying Kouga growled menacingly at him for daring to talk like that to their leader.
Kishino proceeded to raise both hands, palms facing them, he meant no offense.
"My name is Kishino, I'm merely a simple wandering warrior-priest, and I will take my leave now." He smiled slightly at the somewhat surprised looks on their faces.
"I ask that you do not attempt to follow me, nor try to attack myself or my ward in the future. Next time I will do worse than simply bind your wolves to the spot..." A ghost of a smile passed his lips again as he voiced his gentle and polite threat. He was about to start walking when he caught the sound of a deep, rich laughter. Kouga was laughing. Kishino shuddered inwardly. The sound was...all too familiar.
"I like you, priest! A human daring to speak so freely to a youkai is rare..." Kouga grinned mischievously, and Kishino could only stare at him with an icy calmness.
"...even if your stare can rival the Lord Sesshoumaru at this moment, sheesh!" Kouga cringed at the thought of the Western Lord.
The wolf-leader kept his eyes on the priest, studying him. This warrior-priest was of an average height despite his gender, maybe 5'8'' if he should take a guess. He appeared young, perhaps roughly twenty years of age. Lean, with a slender chest, and a narrow waist, a finely shaped face with appealing features and alluring ocean blue eyes. His jet black hair was tied back in a loose plat that fell down to his mid-back. His items of clothing were...a little unorthodox, but if this man was a warrior-priest then he could, perhaps, understand. In battle it was important that ones clothes did not hinder ones movements.
"Easy now, Kouga-sama - you need to find yourself a woman instead of eyeing up a wandering priest..." Kishino commented dryly as he realized that the wolf Lord was, indeed, eyeing him up.
Kouga blinked slowly, catching up to the meaning behind those sneedy words, then growled as he realised the priest had made a valid point. He should get home to his woman. They would finish their hunt and return to the dens.
"Let's go. Hakkaku, Ginta, Siel!" Kouga inclined his head to the priest before they departed into the forest. They would find their food somewhere else. The seal-youkai was now out of the question...
Kishino flared his powers again after a few moments, and only when he could not sense them anymore did he drop his protective barrier, grab his battle staff, and turn on his heel to run down to the nearby river.
"Tsuren!"
Upon hearing his protector's voice, the youkai boy swam to the riverbank and got out of the water.
"Kishino-sama!" He sniffed, shaking slightly before he threw himself at the waiting human, and as always a pair of soothing, surprisingly strong arms welcomed him and embraced him - even if he was dripping wet.
"Shh, Tsuren...it's alright. They're gone..." Kishino smiled and knelt down to look at the child's face. Gentle hands wiped the remaining tears of the boy's face.
"You did good..."
Twenty years...
Kishino sat leaned up against a tree. Her left hand ran absentmindedly through white, plush hair. Her little Tsuren. She smiled gently to herself.
Tsuren was a seal-youkai; a rare breed of youkai that had only been seen a handful of times off the shores of Japan. Few even knew, or remembered that they existed. They lived in the deep waters, keeping mostly to their own kind and remaining in their animal form most of their lives. Only she knew of their colourful and rich lives beneath the surface of the water - only she had seen their underwater caverns and dens. It was a whole world down there! And she'd seen it!
Tsuren had chosen to leave his watery life behind to follow her in her travels...and she was grateful. He was hers to protect. Hers to love. She had sworn an oath to his dying parents that she'd take care of him in their stead. That was ten years ago...just before she began travelling across the land. He wouldn't leave her side, and had he not wanted to travel the lands with her, she'd have stayed in the water with him.
The meeting with Kouga today had revived memories that Kishino had thought she'd locked away decades ago. He hadn't recognized her, 'his woman'. She scoffed and rolled her eyes to herself, shifting the sleeping child closer to her, cradling the smaller body against her own before placing a gentle kiss on his brow.
Twenty years ago she had taken a sacred arrow to her chest. She'd fallen off a cliff thanks to the impressive impact and plummeted into the dark waters below. The minutes after she was submerged in the water were still clouded, and she couldn't remember much, but she hadn't died. No matter how long she meditated, tried to remember, or searched her mind, she couldn't remember anything else than a blinding light right before unconsciousness claimed her.
The Shikon no Tama had disappeared. She couldn't sense it, so she knew it existed no more - but she knew she had not made a wish on it, not even in her dying moments. She hadn't died. The answer hadn't presented itself to her at first, but a dream had hinted that the Shikon no Tama had acted on its own, seeking to protect its protector. Maybe it had wished upon itself, something she doubted seeing as it was not a living thing as such... Then there was the chance it had fused itself with her body, to ensure her survival. Her body had, after all, been its vessel once. And upon doing so it had enhanced her powers and life-force so she could continue to live, and be safe.
Whatever had happened, she was grateful.
As she was sinking into the dark waters, she was found by Tsuren's clan-members and brought to their very secret and shielded domain far below the water's surface. Winding mazes of underwater tunnels and caves several miles from shore kept the small clan of seal-youkai safe and hidden from the world.
She remembered when she first woke up, surrounded by seals. It was a large domed cave, with an impressively high ceiling. They'd all clustered together to provide warmth for her, they had offered her food, and their healer had tended to her wound.
She'd connected with them in an instant, and had stayed with them for nearly a decade, swimming with them, learning to hold her breath for a long period of time, hunting with them, and manoeuvring around the tunnels and learning where to go up for air.
Ten years she had been living freely with her new family before she decided to return to land. It had been so hard to bid her friends goodbye.
And then there was little Tsuren. His parents had been killed by eagle-youkai while hunting for fish near the surface. Blasted birds had auras that couldn't be detected by other youkai. She hadn't been able to do anything for them other than swear to look after their cub in their place.
The first weeks back on land had been difficult. It had been very trying and took every ounce of patience and knowledge she possessed.
She had learned a lot about the seal-youkai, but trying to teach a cub how to change into his humanoid youkai form, and then hold that form without changing back, had been a real challenge. The other challenge had been to decide how she would be travelling... A quick monologue with herself resulted in the decision to 'genderbend' herself - well, as best she could anyway.
She'd purchased simple clothes for herself and Tsuren from a small fishing village a day's march from the place they went ashore, using precious pearls and shells as payment. She'd also managed to purchase a simple bow and some arrows. At least it had been something to start off with.
And now here she was, ten years after she and Tsuren started travelling on land. She now wore black, slightly flowing trousers which were tucked into soft mid-calf black leather boots. The soles of the boots were soft, allowing her feet to feel the ground beneath them, provided precious grip and guaranteed surefootedness.
She had made the top she wore herself, very inspired by her original birth-era's turtleneck jumper, also black in colour. A white haori hung over her shoulders, hiding most of her weapons, aside from her longbow and arrows and her battle staff.
She'd practised her walk and refined the way she carried herself to become the man she needed the world to see her as. She'd altered her voice through endless hours of training so it could match her male appearance. She would never have a very masculine voice, but it was convincing enough to suit her youthful look.
She had set aside most of her futuristic beliefs. This wasn't the future, this was the bleepin' feudal era! A travelling man was more acceptable than a travelling woman. Even if she had posed as a miko she'd still be a woman. As a man, a self-proclaimed warrior-priest, she had the possibility of being heard and respected. Her powers were stronger, and she had owned up to them and learned how to use, manipulate, manifest, and honour them to perfection. She had become more than what she'd ever thought she would ever be.
She sighed. Twenty years. She'd come a long way. Without the jewel she knew the well wouldn't work - so she had never travelled near Edo. If the jewel had indeed fused with her body, which she suspected more and more to be what had actually happened since she didn't seem to age, she guessed that...well, she'd have to endure the long route home to her birth-era.
Her blue eyes gazed down at the boy resting against her. His hair soft like plush cotton, shoulder length, white as shimmering snow - he was still just a young cub. His hair would change as he grew older, right now he looked the equivalent of a five-year-old human boy. He had the sweetest face, with the biggest, most heartmelting eyes! Big, round, dark brown orbs that one simply could lose oneself in and never want for anything else than to keep staring into them.
She had dressed him well, suited for travel. Brown trousers and soft brown leather boots, and a pale green longsleeved kosode. She'd taken the liberty of enhancing the fabric with her powers, making sure that he would never be cold, and that he'd keep cool during the warmer days, just like she'd enhanced her own clothes. It also repelled water, so rainy days never hindered them as they travelled.
Twenty years. She'd not given her past much thought. Ever since she woke up with the seals she had felt like it was OK to let go of the past. She'd fulfilled her task; Naraku had been slain, Inuyasha could be with Kikyou and be happy, and she had repaid her debt to Sesshoumaru for saving her life by giving her own for his.
She'd moved on to live her life as she herself pleased. Did she miss her friends? Of course! She always would! She loved them! But...she would never be able to watch Sango and Miroku grow old while she remained the same. She wasn't particularly keen on seeing Inuyasha and Kikyou together either, even if she had given up on the hanyou, romantically, long before the final battle against Naraku... There were just too many sore memories tied to those two.
And Shippou...her little kit...Kami, it still hurt to think about him. She missed him so much! But thanks to her new family she'd learned that he was safe and under the protection of Sesshoumaru. He would live.
"Mrr, Kishino-sama.." Tsuren whined softly in his sleep, tearing Kishino out of her deep thoughts, and she adjusted him in her arms.
"You can sleep a little longer, Tsuren. I'll wake you when it's time to continue our journey." She closed her eyes. She could do with a few hours of sleep herself. Her barrier would keep dangers away.