The cool autumn breeze that precedes the coming of winter blew across the lands stirring the grasses into flowing waves of greens and browns. The change in weather was an all too needed respite from the summer heat, which had climbed to record highs causing the deaths of many village folk throughout the Musashi domain. So it was with no small relief when summer gave way to fall.
A sentiment heartily shared by one Higurashi Kagome: High school student, time traveler, and demon slaying Meko extraordinaire. Laughing at the absurdity of that thought, she shook her head as she climbed out of the bone eaters well and into the past. Why'll the first two titles rang true, the third one was a bit of a stretch. She was a Meko and she did slay the occasional demon, but she didn't think of her self as all that extraordinary. In her mind she was simply doing what she could with the gifts she'd been given.
The fact that she was the re-incarnation of a powerful Meko of years past did not concern her (she had moved past that). Nor the fact that at times she had displayed more raw power than her mighty predecessor had. She had seen what arrogance and hubris could do and she had no intention of getting a swollen head over her gifts. Swiftly dispelling any thoughts on that matter, she instead focused on the beautiful weather.
Clad in a blue long sleeve logo shirt and a pair of jeans, Kagome couldn't keep a spring from her step. A pair of hiking boots and her trademark yellow backpack completed her look. With a determined look in her eyes, she felt ready to tackle any obstacle; including a certain loudmouthed, obnoxious, stubborn, childish, socially challenged hanyou. Speaking of Inuyasha, where was he anyway? Readjusting her pack, she nibbled on her bottom lip, a nervous action she never grew out of.
He should have been here by now. Normally she would no sooner step foot in the Sengoku Jidai than he was at her side grumbling about lost time. Even more unusual to Kagome was the fact that she had been late in coming back. Late by four days. She had only planned to stay for a week or so to study for her exams. But, noticing her dropping grades, her Algebra teacher had offered her a chance at extra credit. Kagome had of course jumped at the chance.
Algebra was her worst subject and she was in danger of failing. So, after taking her tests, and doing surprisingly well on them, she had burned the midnight oil diving head first into the extra credit assignments. She had fully expected an irate Inu-hanyou to come storming in through her window demanding that they go back immediately. However, much to her surprise and subsequent relief, Inuyasha set neither hide nor hair in the modern era. Elated at first she thought that maybe he had finally learned his lesson, that she would come back but when she wanted to. Three days later, her assignments completed and turned in, Kagome started to worry. Maybe there was something wrong? She could hardly imagine Inuyasha being this patient. Especially considering the fact that since Kouga had joined their group, Inuyasha had been even more insufferable.
Was he injured? Had Naraku struck knowing she wasn't there? A number of scenarios raced through her head. Most unpleasant. However, she was prevented from going back right then. Her friends from the modern era had convinced her to spend an entire day with them. Citing how long it had been since they had all hung out. It had indeed been quite awhile since she had spent time with her modern friends.
So, convincing herself that Inuyasha and the others were fine, she had gone out for a day on the town and quite enjoyed herself. But now that she was back in the warring states period and there was no sign of the surly hanyou those dark thoughts came rushing back to the fore of her mind.
Unconsciously hurrying her steps, she continued on the path towards the village all the while trying to convince herself that everything was all right; that he was all right. But, when she crested the hill that overlooked the village, she could no longer hold on to the hope that all was right with the world. What she saw took the breath form her and confirmed her worst fears.
Backpack slipping from suddenly numb fingers Kagome stared out over the devastated village with an ever-rising sense of dread. All across the village huts lay demolished. Some had bee gutted by fires while others were simply obliterated. Craters and scorch marks littered the earth and the very distinctive gouge marks left by the Kaze no Kizu and Goraishi stood out in numerous places and, eyes widening in horror, Kagome saw that one entire section of the village was utterly obliterated.
It was a war zone.
Thoughts of her friends came rushing back to her mind and she found herself running like the wind down towards what remained of the village. She navigated the maze of rice patties without thought and soon entered the village proper. Passing demolished huts, funeral pyres, and the crying dirty and bloodied survivors sifting through the wreckage of their homes Kagome's fears rose ever higher.
'Please be alright Kaede, Miroku, Kouga, Sango, Kirara, Shippo...Inuyasha.'
A sense of relief flowed through Kagome as Kaede's hut came into view whole and intact. Her relief soon fled though as Miroku emerged from the hut. His robes were torn in places and drenched in gore. He was favoring his left leg heavily and using his staff as a make shift crutch grimacing with every step he took and his head was heavily bandaged. However, what caught Kagome's attention was the basket of blood soaked rags he carried.
Kagome slowed down as she neared him and as Miroku took notice of her arrival and their eyes met the sickening sense of dread in the pit of her stomach blossomed several fold. His eyes said it all.
She could feel the onset of tears as she took in his expression.
"Ah, your back Kagome." Miroku didn't even try to put on a cheerful front like he normally did in bad situations. There was no reassuring smile and no cheer in his voice. Just a tired sadness in his expression as he looked at her.
It was all Kagome could do to choke back a sob.
"Miroku...what happened?"
He hesitated a few moments, not so much because he didn't know what to say, but because he didn't know exactly how to say it. In the end, the words just spilled forth.
"A demon attacked 4 day's ago, we defeated him but Sango, Kirara, Shippo, Kaede, Kouga, and Inuyasha were injured badly."
'There alive, he didn't say they were dead!'
Kagome latched onto that bit of hope like a drowning man to a plank of wood.
"But they'll be all right, won't they." Kagome could hear the pleading almost desperate note in her voice but didn't care.
'Just tell me they'll be alright, that their going to live. That he will live.'
Miroku couldn't meet her gaze any longer. He let out sigh as he closed his eyes and replied.
"Sango, Kouga, Shippo, Kaede and Kirara will heal. But Inuyasha..." Miroku found it difficult to speak with the lump in his throat and had to swallow several time to dislodge it.
"I...we don't think he's going to make it. He's dying Kagome.
"Oh, gods." Kagome knees almost buckled and she couldn't help the wale that escaped her lips at his words. She desperately looked to Miroku for any sign that this was all just a joke, any sign at all that things weren't as he said they were. But she found none. Just a sense of grief riddled resignation.
"I have to see him," murmured Kagome.
Miroku didn't even try to stop her as she stumbled by him into the hut. It would have been futile, he knew, so he let her pass and clenched his eyes tight and gripped his staff white knuckle tight when the young girls cry of grief reached his ears.
'I'm so sorry Kagome.'
