Author's Note: It feels so good to be back! I have had a writer's block for the past, what?, maybe two years? I found that when I had my first boyfriend a couple years ago, I lost myself. I lost my imagination and the child that was within me. I guess I became an "adult"? But that child was still in me, wanting to be heard. And I finally heard her, loud and clear! I'm drawing anime again, writing poems, writing stories. I love it!
I've been out for a long time so pardon my writing. I hope this story reaches out to you the way my characters reach out to me. I had to repost this chapter again because I have given up on Microsoft laptops and moved over to Mac. Mac doesn't fit well with the rest of the world, lol. So trying to get my chapters posted up is the hardest thing. Now, I transfer my files to my work desktop and it's so much easier now.
For those of you who are my followers and love my stories, I thank you for your encouragements and loyalty :) Feel free to review each chapter, I won't be writing an author's note for every chapter anymore, unless there's something I need to point out. But I hope you like this story. Let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, just this fictional story :)
The clouds covered the sky as the wind brought them through the land like smoke rushing from its fiery center. The wind couldn't contain its excitement as it tickled the branches and leaves of the trees in the forest. It was a cool afternoon with little to do and little to worry about.
A woman walked through the village, her braided hair fell all the way down to her waist. There were small purple flowers placed in some areas of her braid. The woman wore a purple kimono, holding a basket of herbs and vegetables in her hand, humming her way through the streets.
"Good afternoon, Suzume-san," a man said.
Suzume looked to her right and saw an elderly villager walking by, his smile contagious on his wrinkled face, and waved at him. "Good afternoon." The elder waved and then turned back towards his destination, walking away from her.
Suzume looked around her at all the villagers walking by, some of them smiling and bowing their heads, some of them acknowledging her and giving a friendly greeting. This was her home, a demon slayer village. Everyone around her she either fought in battle with, trusting them with her life, or she saved them from a demon some time in their lives. Whatever the case, Suzume loved these people like family. They were demon slayers, either apprentices or full-fledged demon slayers, and they watched each other's backs. They knew how to fight, they knew how to survive and they knew how to love each other at the end of the day. That was one thing Suzume loved about this village: how much everyone appreciated the time they had with their family.
"Okaa-san!" Suzume looked ahead as she heard the voice of her little girl. And for sure, her daughter of only three years, Kagome, began running down the path she was heading. The villagers walking moved out of the child's way, smiling down at her enthusiasm.
Suzume smiled and went to her knees as Kagome ran right up to her. "Kagome, sweetheart," she said, putting her basket on the ground and reaching for her daughter as Kagome came barreling into her. "Ooof!" Suzume laughed as she stood up with Kagome in her arms, bracing Kagome against her hip.
"Okaa-san! I beat Otou-san!" Kagome said proudly. Kagome pointed where she just ran from and her father was seen making his way towards her. He wore a dark green hakama over his white kimono, and he had a purple obi tied around his waist where his katana was held securely at his side. He acknowledged those he passed and made his way to his wife's side.
"How were the children?" Isao asked, kissing Suzume on her cheek as he pinched Kagome's tummy.
Kagome squealed and squirmed in her mother's arms as Suzume laughed. "They were fine. We were able to find some herbs and vegetables on our walk today. So I brought some home." Isao looked down and bent to pick the basket off the ground, looking them over to see what she was able to find.
"How were you today, sweetheart?" Suzume asked, turning her attention to Kagome as she started walking to her home. Isao followed next to her and shook his head with a smile.
"Me and Otou-san had so much fun! We went to the onsen! There was a demon. A big demon."
Suzume turned to her husband, worried for a second. But when she saw him smile at her and shake his head, she knew that he had it under control. Suzume smiled, loving her husband a little more every day. His strong jaw and broad shoulders reminded her of how small she seemed next to him, but she loved him all the more for his kindness and his heart. Suzume looked back to Kagome, "Did you help Otou-san vanquish the demon?"
Kagome looked sheepish and shook her head. "Uh-uh."
Suzume sighed, "Well did you learn something?"
Kagome nodded and smiled. "Yes, Okaa-san. Otou-san showed me how to find the worm's weak spot. Under its belly where it's soft!"
"Good job, Kagome," Isao praised. "We did learn a lot today. And Kagome also was able to practice her shooting."
Kagome nodded with a smile. "Yes. I didn't hit the demon though." She remembered grabbing her bow and arrow as she tried to aim at the worm demon her father was vanquishing. She wanted to help. But somehow, her arrow didn't have enough strength and it just barely made it to where the demon was. Her heart sank remembering what happened.
Suzume shook her head, "It doesn't matter, sweetheart. I'm just glad that you got to practice in the field. It's totally different than training, huh?" Kagome nodded her head. "That's why I want you to come out with your father and I when we have demon hunts. It'll be good for you to start learning in the field."
"Yes, Okaa-san," Kagome said, feeling a bit happier now that her mother wasn't disappointed in her. Suzume bent to put Kagome on the ground and she watched as her daughter ran off in front of them. They walked through the marketplace, taking their time through the different stands to see what was being sold today. Every day was always different, depending upon the demon that was killed the following day or today, or even on the fresh animal catch they found in the surrounding land.
Kagome walked up to a stand and spoke to an old man behind counter. Suzume watched as her daughter spoke to him, her cheerful and beautiful smile beguiling him to give her a fish for dinner. Suzume shook her head with a smile and was about to step forward but Isao beat her to it.
"Thanks, Takashi," Isao said as he grabbed Kagome's hand. Takashi just smiled and nodded his head, waving at them as they made their way back to their home. Kagome proudly swung her fish back and forth with her steps as she held onto her father's hand.
Finally they reached their hut and they all entered, Isao pushing back the reed mat. Kagome went straight to the fire pit in the middle of their hut and began to push the sticks together to start a fire. Isao smiled as he held the reed mat open for Suzume to walk in. He followed suit, letting the mat fall and he watched with pride and wonder as his young daughter began to strike stones together to make a fire. She was too old for her age, and that was one thing that he admired of and yet feared for his daughter. Kagome was a bright child, too smart for her years and too talented for outsiders to know. She was trained by him and Suzume on killing demons, as it was her destiny being a child of demon slayers. Yet he and Suzume knew the day she was born that she would be different from other children in their village. She was special.
"Otou-san! I did it!" Kagome moved back as the fire blazed to life, dancing for her as she smiled and turned her bright brown eyes at him.
Isao smiled and nodded his approval. "Good job, Kagome." He watched as Kagome smiled, tilted her head to the side in childlike amusement, and then turned to join her mother. The two of them were off to the side where they kept clay jars of herbs stored on baskets and shelves. The two were busy preparing for dinner and he would do the same. He went back outside where Kagome left the fish that Takashi had given her, and walked to the back of their hut where he could gut and clean the fish.
As he focused on his task, memories flooded his mind. Isao remembered the day he and Suzume found out they were pregnant and expecting a child. Suzume had been sick for a few days, but the both of them thought it was just a cold. She would throw up in the morning and at night, getting nauseous at certain smells of food. When the village healer couldn't find out what was wrong with her, and no herbs helped, they started to piece things together. Over time, their suspicions were confirmed when Suzume had gone to see the midwife of the village and the woman told them they were expecting a child.
Isao and Suzume were so happy; it was one of the happiest days of their lives learning that they would soon become parents of a boy or a girl. They didn't care what sex it would be, so long as their child was healthy and strong. Suzume had an easy pregnancy and continued to fight against demons even when her belly rounded out and her feet were swollen. She never placed herself in immediate danger, but remained behind her husband and the other demon slayers, as a backup in case the demon tried to outsmart them. But Suzume knew her limits and wouldn't put her child at risk if she could help it. They were demon slayers, however, and this was her life even if she was pregnant.
It came in the night, around the ninth month of Suzume's pregnancy, a little before she gave birth to a baby girl. Suzume woke in the middle of the night screaming, waking him from his sleep in a fright. His first thought was their child, something was wrong with their child. But Suzume was doubled over in pain, screaming and shaking her head in agony. Isao picked up his wife and ran to the midwife, her screams filling the dark night of the sleeping village. The midwife was awake the minute he burst into her hut, the cries of Suzume signaling his arrival. They placed her on the midwife's floor and she examined Suzume.
Suzume was sweating and panting, her eyes closed in pain, her hands protectively over her swollen belly. The midwife undid Suzume's kimono and immediately recoiled as the two sides fell away. He was shocked as the midwife was. His wife's belly was a strange light blue, as if a light was shining within her belly. It was weak but it was a light nonetheless. Isao was scared for Suzume and for their child, but also confused as to what was going on.
"We need a priest," the midwife whispered to herself. Her hands flew to the floor to help her stand quickly and in a flash she was gone. Isao was left to tend to his crying wife, in pain and fear. Her eyes looked at him now, realizing that something was terribly wrong, and all he saw was fear in her glazed, brown eyes.
"Isao…" Suzume panted, "What's wrong with the baby?"
Isao shook his head, trying to keep his calm composure for her when he heard the pain in her voice. "I don't know, Suzume. The midwife went to get the priest. She believes he can help us right now." He actually didn't know why the priest was needed, but whatever this strange light was, the midwife thought he could somehow help them. Maybe it was a supernatural thing.
Suddenly, there were two pulses that he could clearly feel originate from Suzume's womb. Suzume screamed in pain, grabbing at her exposed belly, her legs writhing all over the floor. Isao's heart began to pound louder. 'What was that?' He stared at Suzume's belly as she cried, the pain subsiding slowly.
"Isao…" Suzume cried. He reached for her hands and pulled them to him so he could hold them.
"I'm right here, love."
Suzume opened her eyes and stared up at him. "What's going on? It feels like contractions… but like I'm being ripped open…" He shook his head, unable to answer her, but fearing what she was saying and feeling. Something was happening to their child. Whether it was, demonic or not, he didn't know, and he didn't care. What he feared now was losing his wife and child.
Finally after what felt like forever, the midwife burst back into her hut with the priest right behind her. He had his rosary in his right hand and wore his black hakama with a white kimono, his face looking like they did in the middle of the night.
"What have we here, Suzume," the priest said. Their village had one priest, a holy one to keep their village clean since they were all demon slayers and didn't want to bring home any bad omens. He was a traveling monk who decided to settle in their village when their elder asked him to become their permanent priest. He agreed and was there to cleanse them of demonic spells or curses, to send off their fallen comrades who lost their lives in battle, and in a way to remind them of their sanity.
The priest took one look at Suzume's belly and his eyes flew to her brown ones with seriousness. "Suzume… I need you to think… do you know your family lineage?"
Suzume shook her head, but Isao wasn't sure if it was because of the pain or because she was unsure of her lineage. Her face was masked with pain but her eyes remained focused on the priest.
"Suzume… I need you to think… what is your family name?"
"It… Itsumoto… my father's name."
The priest nodded his head. Suddenly, there was another surge in the room and two pulses emitted from Suzume again. And again, she screamed in pain, pulling her hands from Isao and grabbing at her belly. The blue light seemed to have gotten brighter now. The priest stared at Suzume's belly as she cried out. Isao noticed the bewildered look on the priest's face.
"Takeo… what is going on with my wife and child?" He knew the priest must know something. The weird questions he asked were as if he suspected a reason for Suzume's condition.
Takeo looked up from Suzume's belly and caught Isao's eyes. "I believe your wife might be having contractions."
The midwife fell to her knees beside the priest and placed her hands on Suzume's belly, felling around and pressing in certain spots. She nodded her head and looked up at him and Takeo. "Yes. Suzume is having contractions. But I don't think it is labor. In order to know for sure, I would have to check her cervix."
"No need," the priest said, turning to look at Suzume. "Does holy blood run in your veins, Suzume?"
Suzume caught enough composure to look at Takeo with seriousness. "No," she gritted out.
"It runs in mine," Isao said, watching as all eyes fell on him now. "What is this about?" Now Takeo really had his curiosity and he worried that now it was his fault for Suzume's pain.
Takeo sighed and ran his fingers along his rosary. "It's a long story… a legend actually. And I don't know for sure or why it's happening to you, but for now, we need to seal your child's spiritual powers before it kills your wife and your child."
Isao gasped, shocked at the priest's words. 'K…Kill?' He couldn't believe what the priest just said. His child would kill itself? He glanced down at Suzume and noticed she had the same face he must have: shocked.
"I know it's shocking to hear… and like I said I can't explain everything now. There's not enough time. Either you give me permission to seal your child's powers… or it will k… the powers will become too much and kill them both." Takeo was serious as he tried to explain the dire situation. His face was stern and his lips were pressed together. He was ready to do what he had to, but Isao still couldn't wrap his head around why this needed to be done. Just then, another set of pulses began again and this time he felt it through his whole body, making him tremble at the vibration. Suzume cried out and writhed in pain. That was it. He couldn't take seeing her like this, and if it meant saving his wife's and his child's life, then so be it.
"Do it."
Isao looked up from gutting the fish, his eyes gazing up into the trees around him, providing shade for his family's home. The wind moved through the trees, causing some of the leaves to fall. 'Autumn comes…' he thought, sighing and going back to his task.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
The stars came out as the sun set beneath the land, leaving the sky in darkness freckled with thousands of stars. The earth shook. Kagome awoke with a start, sitting up alert as the ground beneath her shook with such force that she thought the earth would split apart. Kagome's eyes looked around and her mother and father were gone. 'Okaa-san… Otou-san?' Getting to her feet, Kagome went to the door and placed her hand on the reed mat but froze. Screams erupted into the air. The villagers were screaming outside and she heard them running past her door, the reed mat swaying just a little at the frenzy. But she couldn't move to go and see what was happening. She was afraid, worrying about her parents.
With her mind set up, Kagome put on a steel face and pushed the reed mat aside. Her eyes widened at the scene in front of her. The night was lit up, some huts engulfed in fire and screams filled the night air. She saw children running from homes, knowing the plan of escape, something they were all taught in case situations like this happened in their village. There was always a plan, always a way to get the women and children out of the village in case of a demon attack. Kagome knew what their family plan was, practiced it a dozen times, but she wasn't going to leave until she knew where her parents were. 'Okaa-san… Otou-san…'
Kagome closed her eyes and clasped her hands in front of her, drowning out the screams around her, and praying for her parents. 'Please… Okaa-san… Otou-san… tell me where you are.' Her whole body took on a shimmering blue light and she was shown a vision of where her parents were. Kagome gasped and opened her eyes, turning on her heel and running out into the burning town. She knew where to go, where they were. They were fighting a four-headed snake demon attacking the village in the marketplace. Her parents were one of the demon slayers fighting it off. Kagome panted, running as fast as her little feet would take her. She needed to get there in time; she could help, her father taught her how to use a bow and arrow. Kagome stopped suddenly, remembering she left her weapon back at home. She turned to look back at where she came from, seeing people running around her and houses up in flames. No, she couldn't go back. There was no time. She would just have to help some other way.
The ground shook again, this time Kagome could feel where this earthquake was originating from. It was coming from the marketplace where the battle was. That's where she would go.
Finally, she entered the marketplace only to see the huge four-headed demon that she saw in her vision. It reared its ugly head above the flames and the dark black smoke that filled the marketplace. Food and carts were on fire, caused by the demon. Kagome could see why now. She ran to hide behind one of the water barrels set up next to a food stand, somehow only missing a roof, and watched as one of the snake heads blew out fire from its mouth. Kagome's eyes widened in amazement. 'Like a dragon…' She watched as some demon slayers leapt out of its path and went for the attack, striking the head with their weapons and causing the demon to scream out in pain. Another snake head was quick to help, spewing out ice shards at the demon slayers. They had to leap away before it was too late, although two warriors got struck from the shards and fell hard to the ground. Kagome gasped as their bodies fell like rocks, and they lay motionless. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, a real demon fight and the villagers were dying in front of her.
The next snake head sucked in and purple smoke flew out. She watched as the demon slayers quickly put on their masks and she instantly knew that it was miasma. Her father's words came to her. '"Miasma is very dangerous, Kagome. It can quickly kill a human if they inhale it. For people like us, we are trained to take on more miasma than a normal human. But in the case of a fight where we must be at our greatest strength, we all carry miasma masks should the need arise.'"
Kagome blinked and watched as the handful of demon slayers threw their weapons and struck at the heads of the snake demon. Finally she saw them: her parents! They were in the air, going together to hit a successful strike on the demon head that blew fire. They were able to sever the head and it broke away and fell to the ground with a huge thud, dark blood spewing from the body. The snake demon immediately retaliated with a swipe of one head, hitting both her parents and they went flying behind her, hitting the ground hard and bouncing several times before they came to a stop. Kagome's eyes widened in alarm.
"Okaa-san! Otou-san!" she screamed, running towards her parents' motionless bodies on the ground. Her heart pounded in her ears as she ran towards them, praying to Kami that they were alive. "Okaa-san! Otou-san!" she yelled, sliding on her knees as she came to them. Kagome took in their bodies, beaten and bruised, their clothes torn in places and blood splattered in certain areas. She flinched, hoping they were okay, and placed her hands gently on her mother.
"Okaa-san! Okaa-san!" She shook her mother gently, getting a soft groan from her. Kagome sucked in a breath and weakly smiled. She calmed a bit, now that she had a sign that her mother was still alive. She turned her attention to her father. She moved closer to him, right next to her mother, and shook him gently. "Otou-san! Otou-san! Please! Please, Otou-san!" Kagome heard his groan as well and sighed, getting responses from the both of them.
Kagome grew serious, her face set and determined. This was her duty, her task given to her by her parents, and according to them, by the Gods. Kagome turned so that she sat on her knees between her mother and father, holding her arms out on both sides of her, hovering just above their bodies. With all the chaos and earthquakes around her, Kagome closed her eyes and drowned out the sounds until it sounded like she was in a tunnel and the sounds faded away. She placed her hands over both her mother and father and chanted.
"Father, Izanagi-sama
Mother, Izanami-sama
Hear your daughter's plea"
Kagome's body began to glow bright blue and heat began to burn in her palms, her head tilting back as she felt power emanate from her soul. Gravity gave way as her powers flowed, her raven hair rising around her as if from a soft gentle breeze.
"Tsukuyomi-sama, God of the moon
Show to me what is unseen
Amaterasu-sama, God of the sun
Cleanse what is unclean"
Her parents' bodies began to glow and their numerous opened wounds slowly began to close. Her father stirred a bit, gaining consciousness, just as her mother did the same.
"Hear my command
I am the Shikon no Miko
Heal what no man can heal"
Her parents' bodies returned to normal, Kagome's light disappearing from them and their wounds completely healed. Isao and Suzume stirred, raising their heads as they looked up to see Kagome's glowing body and realized what happen.
Kagome's light faded and her hair fell against her back as she opened her eyes, turning to see that both her mother and her father were awake and looking at her. "Okaa-san! Otou-san!" she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Suzume was on her knees quickly, embracing Kagome and placing her cheek on her daughter's head. "Oh, Kagome…" She looked above Kagome to see Isao kneeling next to them and smiling at her, but it was a look of concern and worry. Suzume caught his intention and she nodded, a tear slipping down from her eye. Her heart gripped with fear and sadness as her arms squeezed Kagome a little harder, as if that alone would make her stay and keep her safe. Isao moved closer to wipe away her tear and he placed a hand on Kagome's back.
"Kagome… thank you. You healed your mother and I, didn't you?"
Kagome nodded and pushed away from her mother to see her father was just as fine as her mother. She smiled up at his smiling face. "Yes, Otou-san. The snake demon almost killed you."
"Yes it did," Isao agreed, knowing that they would have died had Kagome not been there to save them. He and Suzume had taken many blows from that demon, and the other demons that they had fought. But this one seemed like the strongest. It was ravaging their village and they had most of their soldiers fighting to kill this demon, though he knew others were missing because there were demons elsewhere in the village. Isao hoped that the women and children who were spared by the demon's wrath were by now long gone, knowing what to do should their village be under attack. He couldn't be mad at Kagome for not doing the same. He knew his daughter. He knew that she would be out here with them, fighting with them or doing whatever she could to help. It was his daughter's nature. A nature that could get her killed or that could make her stronger than any demon he has ever faced. It was her spirit that drove her to fight for what she believed in.
Isao smiled and placed his hand on Kagome's small head. "Kagome… you must go."
Kagome gasped, feeling like her father just pushed her away. "But… Otou-san…"
"Listen to your father, Kagome." Kagome turned and looked up at her mother, who was smiling down at her with the same smile as her father. The two of them were smiling as if they were saying goodbye, as if they were in pain instead of being happy. Kagome frowned, knowing that she couldn't say no, no matter how much she wanted to.
"Kagome, sweetheart," Isao said, taking back his hand and turning to look at the fight still unfolding next to them. He took in the fires engulfing the village and knew there was no way to save the village anymore. Their village was gone. If there was any chance after this, it would be to rebuild and start again from nothing. That's what he would be leaving Kagome with but at least she would be alive. 'At least she will still be alive,' he reminded himself.
"You have to go Kagome," Isao said firmly. He got to his feet and looked behind his wife and daughter to see the midwife riding up to them on a horse. He sighed with a smile, feeling like a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders. "Kaede…" the same midwife that helped bring Kagome into this world would be the one to raise her when he and Suzume were gone. The Gods sure knew what they had in store for their future.
Kaede rode up to them, a fearful look on her face as she leapt off the horse before it could come to a complete stop. "Kagome-chan!" Kaede said, fearful for the little girl in the line of danger. The sounds surrounding them were of warriors fighting dutifully to defend their families and the demon trying its hardest to kill every last one of them. Kaede looked to her left where all the demon slayers were assembled to kill the now three-headed snake. It was obvious the snake was losing but for some strange reason it was stronger than they thought. Kaede turned her attention back to the three and went to her knees in front of the child still in Suzume's arms. "Kagome-chan, we must leave."
Isao nodded his head as he stared down at Kagome who hasn't taken her eyes off him. Her beautiful brown orbs, so much like her mother's, were now drowned in pain and rejection. He closed his eyes, feeling like she just stabbed him in his heart, and turned towards the demon. "Go with Kaede, Kagome. You will be safe with her."
Suzume frowned, knowing what they must do, and following her husband's lead. "Go on, sweetheart. We will come to you when we eradicate all these demons. There's more we must kill than just this one." Suzume hugged her daughter one last time, kissing the top of Kagome's head, and stood next to Isao's side. They both had their weapons out and ready to fight the demon again now that Kagome had healed them.
Kagome shook her head, "Okaa-san, Otou-san, I can help," she pleaded, standing behind the two looking up at their backs.
"You will be helping Kagome-chan," Kaede said, picking up the child in her arms. "Once they know that you are safe from harm, they can fight freely and get back to us." Kaede held onto the child, not wanting Kagome to jump out of her arms. But Kagome wasn't like that. Sure she would put up a fight, she was a child, but she would only defy her parents' orders up to a certain point. And that point was the truth. The truth here was that Kagome would be in the way and her parents needed to fight the demons without having to worry about her at the same time.
At once the ground shook and a huge white ball of lightning flew at the four of them, striking the ground at their feet. Kagome screamed, the lightning shocking her whole body with such force that she nearly cried at the pain. She felt Kaede lose her hold on her, and Kaede's cries also filled the air, along with her parents'. Kagome flew to the ground, bouncing a bit before her face ate into the dirt. She shakily placed her hands on the ground to lift her head, searching for her parents. She found them, both lying on the ground after that attack. Then she saw him.
A demon walked out of the thick red smoke that covered the streets of the village. Out of the bright light walked a man, no a demon, with long silver hair tied in a ponytail that went down to his knees. He wore some sort of long spikes of armor on his shoulders, from what Kagome could see, and he wore a white hakama with a white kimono underneath. There was a purple and red obi tied at his waist, over the breastplate of the demon's armor. Kagome stared in fear at the approaching demon seeming to come directly towards her. As he neared, she noticed that the snake demon would move its body aside as to make room for him to pass, and also so that the demon slayers wouldn't get their hands on him. Kagome noticed his eyes the closer he got. They were blazing gold with the promise of death. She was filled with a sense of terror. Her eyes quickly turned to her parents who were already on their knees, standing up and readying their weapons to prepare for a fight.
"Demon, who are you?" Isao exclaimed, running in front of Kagome with Suzume close on his heels. She took a glance behind her at Kagome and motioned for her to stand. Kagome stood up, her legs shaking after the immense power from that energy ball. She gasped. 'Kaede-san!' she thought in fear, remembering the woman. She scanned the ground around her and noticed the horse as if it had escaped the blast and waited patiently for its master. Then she saw Kaede, lying on her side facing away from them. Kagome bit her lip, wanting to run and make sure Kaede was okay but also not wanting to leave her parents' side.
The demon stopped walking just a few feet from them. Isao and Suzume glared at the intruder, taking in his appearance and noticed the purple marks on the demon's face. "You are an inu-taiyoukai. What purpose do you have attacking our village? Are you in line with these lowly demons?" Isao asked, wondering why such a powerful demon would be here. He must have a reason for the attack, or if he was even coordinating the attack.
The inu-taiyoukai just stood impassively, watching the three of them. Then, after what felt like minutes, he smirked. "You have forgotten, demon slayer. You have killed so many that you do not even remember the lives you have taken."
Isao was taken aback by his remark, furrowing his brows to remember if he had ever encountered this demon. He was sure that he had never seen this demon before. His deep voice was laced with venom and hatred, directed at him.
"Well let me remind you then, of what you have taken from me…" the inu-taiyoukai said as he drew one of his blades. As he drew the blade out, it transformed into a huge fang that looked twice the size of the taiyoukai. Isao gripped his weapon and readied for a fight.
Kagome took a step back and Suzume turned. "Run, Kagome! Go to Kaede! Heal her and leave the village!" Her demands were urgent and Kagome knew better than to disobey this. So she turned and ran to Kaede, reaching the woman who was still unconscious. Just as she reached Kaede she heard steel hitting steel and she knew her parents were now in a battle for their lives. But she was afraid to look. So she kept her attention on someone who needed her. Kagome shook Kaede and pushed her over onto her back so she could see if Kaede was alright. Kaede had blood covering her right eye and Kagome tried to find the wound, but when she looked closer there was a shard of wood embedded in Kaede's right eye. 'Kaede…'
The woman stirred then, scrunching her face in pain, and opened her good eye to gaze up at Kagome. "Kagome-chan. What happened?"
"We were attacked, Kaede-san. Okaa-san said to leave, now." Kagome finally had to look. She turned and saw her parents and the demon fighting in the air, their strikes hitting the demon's huge sword and being reflected back.
Kaede groaned in pain, touching the side of her right eye to test the pain, and sat up. She looked around, seeing the ground around them scarred and torn up. She set her lips together and reached for Kagome's hand. "Come!"
Kaede got to her feet and ran with Kagome to her horse. She grabbed the child around the waist and flew her onto the horse. The horse became agitated, moving into flight mode as the situation became dire. Kaede hauled herself up and secured Kagome against her body, grabbing the reins. She took a look at the battle, with the snake head fighting in the background and the inu-taiyoukai fighting in the air.
Just then, Isao and Suzume went crashing to the ground, dust spewing from their body's contact with the earth. The inu-taiyoukai floated down and gracefully set his feet on the ground, his hand lazily gripping his fang sword, now with mild disinterest in the two demon slayers. But Kagome saw something in the taiyoukai's eyes, something that he hid by his stoic expression. Retribution.
Isao and Suzume both slowly got to their feet, their nature telling them to fight until their last breath. Kagome's eyes widened as she realized what was happening. "Okaa-san! Otou-san!" Her parents didn't turn to look at her but the inu-taiyoukai did. His golden eyes turned slightly to gaze at her and his expression changed, but Kagome couldn't tell what it was. She felt the horse startle and Kaede whipped the reins, causing the animal to turn on its hind legs and bolt straight out of the village. Kagome tried to turn to see behind them, to see if her parents were okay, but Kaede held a firm grip on her and enveloped her in her body's warmth and protection. The sound of the ground rumbling from the horse's loud trample was all Kagome could hear.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
The starry night sky was uninterrupted with no clouds in sight. It was a clear night with a slightly chilly breeze that flowed through the land. The horse ran and ran, and to Kagome, it felt like forever. But more to the point, it took her further and further from her parents. The moonlight shone along the ground, making it easy for her to see where they were going. She knew where, knew that anyone who made it out of the village would be heading to the lake that was just a twenty minute walk away from the village, secluded in the deep forest. Kagome blinked as the moonlight was interrupted by the trees. They hit the forest and the horse was dodging the trees around them, getting to where Kaede needed it to go. The horse ran and ran until finally there was a small clearing where a lake rested, fed from an underground spring. The horse reared up and Kaede searched around for occupants. She spotted them next to the lake, her heart skipping for a bit in fear that no one had made it out. They made their way to the others, just a small handful of them, mostly children.
Kaede stopped the horse near the group as two women stood from the group of four children sitting quietly in a circle. They all looked up, fear in their eyes and black markings from the village fires marring their faces and hands. Kaede nodded at the two women as they gasped and made their way to the horse's side.
"Kaede-san. Kagome-chan." One of the women reached out her hands and Kagome went willingly, happy to get off the horse. The woman placed her on her feet and Kagome looked around as Kaede jumped off the horse. "Kaede-san, we need to wash out your eye," the other woman informed, already grabbing Kaede by the arm and leading her to the edge of the lake.
Kagome looked at the four children, noticing their torn clothes and the way two of them held each other. She knew the two. 'Sango… Kohaku…' Their parents were good friends to hers, and Kagome remembered they would on occasion go out on strolls or have dinners together at each other's houses. She absentmindedly wondered how their parents were. The other two, a boy and a girl, were both shaken up and their faces had dirt smears where they wiped away their tears. Kagome frowned. 'Okaa-san… Otou-san… please come back.'
Kaede cried out in pain, snapping Kagome out of her thoughts. "Kaede!" Kagome ran to where the two women were with Kaede at the edge of the lake. She went to her knees next to Kaede as the two women looked at her in wonder.
"Kaede-san. Please… let me see." Kaede shook from the pain, but she turned to the child who sat so close to her. Kaede could feel the spiritual energy radiating from Kagome, as she was a miko in-training herself. She was aware of Kagome's powers, knowing since birth how special Kagome would be. She swallowed, her face numb from the pain.
Kagome smiled reassuringly, and Kaede was shocked at the maturity of this young one. Kagome's eyes, so childlike, yet they held a certain resolve and familiarity with knowing what her powers could do. Kagome moved Kaede's hand away from her face so she could see the damage. She frowned, seeing that which was lost.
"Kaede-san… I can't… there's nothing I can do to save your sight," she said sadly, frowning at the woman. Kaede smiled, already knowing that it would have been so.
"It is alright, child. I knew by the pain that there is no hope. I cannot see anything but darkness from that eye."
Kagome closed her eyes and placed her hands together in front of her in prayer. She chanted, her sweet voice floating around them as the earth stirred to life. The chilly breeze picked up a bit, feeling the power emitted from the child. The trees began to creak and sway as Kagome's hands started to glow a bright blue light. She opened her eyes and had to move up onto her knees in order to reach Kaede's eye. She placed her right hand over Kaede's eye and finished her chant.
"Hear my command
I am the Shikon no Miko
Heal what no man can heal"
Kaede felt Kagome's power flowing into her, warmth flowing into her eye and radiating over her face until her whole body felt warm and her pain was taken away. The numbness was gone and it was as if her eye was fine, but Kaede still couldn't see out of it, her sight was gone. Kagome's light vanished and she placed her hands on her lap, smiling up at Kaede. The woman raised her hand to touch her eye but all she felt was skin. Where there was once an eyelid and lashes, she could only feel warm skin. Kaede was shocked, both at Kagome's powers and at the fact that she was now missing an eye.
"Thank you, Kagome-chan," she said with a smile, watching as Kagome smiled softly. Kaede turned to the two women to show them and saw their amazement at what Kagome had just done. They looked at Kaede's healed eye and though it was a shock for them to see Kaede with just one eye, they were more amazed at Kagome's abilities. Kaede noticed the sad look in Kagome's eyes, though she tried to hide it with her smile. She frowned, looking off into the dark forest toward the village, willing for the child's parents to return.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
Light broke onto the land, igniting everything that was once shrouded in darkness. The animals of the forest began to awaken and gave out their first cries of the day. Life was beginning again as if the night before had been a dream.
The small group made their way back to the village, now nothing but rubble and grey smoke billowing from the huts that had been burned down. Kaede rode into the village with Kagome in front of her and the small group of six walking behind the horse. Kaede looked around at the damage that was done. Their village was totally destroyed. Nothing was left in the aftermath, not even a food cart. Everything was destroyed from the demons' attacks. And Kaede knew that it was much more than just one or two demons. The screams and violent shakes of the earth only signaled to Kaede that this was a group of demons that invaded their village in perhaps a coordinated attack. Maybe that inu-taiyoukai had something to do with it.
The group looked around at the damage as they walked through the village, careful of where they stepped. Pieces of wood littered the streets and their fallen loved ones scattered the ground. Even innocent children lay motionless besides their parents, their souls long gone from this world. Sango grabbed her brother Kohaku and pulled him close to her, protecting her younger brother. The other two children gasped and each held onto one of the women that guided them behind Kaede. Kagome, however, looked with wide eyes at the destruction around her. So much death, so much innocent lives taken in just a few hours. 'How… how did this happen?' She couldn't believe that all these people, these children that she grew up with, were now dead in the morning sun.
A piece of wood cracked under a heap of smoke and the horse jumped, frightened. Kaede shushed the horse and continued on, taking in the scene and searching for any bodies that may still be alive. They needed to find out if anyone lived, if there was anyone that they could save. The village itself looked like it could not be saved, but they could maybe help one of their own. The group moved through, heading to what used to be the marketplace, where they last saw Kagome's parents.
Kagome looked ahead where she noticed the ground that had been split open from the inu-taiyoukai's energy ball. 'Okaa-san… Otou-san… where are you?' The ground held evidence that there was a huge fight, and all over the ground were bits of flesh and scales scattered everywhere. Kagome remembered the snake demon and found one of its heads lying on what was once someone's home. She frowned, worried for her parents. They had to be alive, right? Maybe they fought all night and were just too tired to leave the village and meet them at their emergency spot. But deep down, in her heart, she knew that her parents were dead. She knew. She was keenly aware of life and death all around her. And right now, death suffocated her wherever she looked. There was no life, no light, anywhere. The village was dead, and so was everyone who stayed to protect it.
"Oh no…" Kaede's voice snapped Kagome out of her thoughts as she turned towards what Kaede was looking at. The horse stopped and Kagome saw the bodies of her parents, lying on the ground unceremoniously as if they died before they even hit the ground. Kagome screamed, wiggling out of Kaede's hold until the woman let her go and she got off the horse, falling to her knees from the height of the horse.
"Kagome-chan!" One of the women ran up to help her but Kagome quickly got up with dirty hands and ran over to her parents. Her heart was in her throat, hoping desperately that they were not dead, praying they were not dead. Tears burned in her eyes as she ran, soon falling down her dirt-stained face and landing on the blackened soil. She got to her mother first, screaming her name.
"Okaa-san! Okaa-san!" she yelled, touching her mother's shoulder and gasping when she realized one of her mother's arms was completely torn off by the shoulder socket. She grimaced in pain for her mother and with trembling hands touched the back of her mother's hair. Her mother's face was against the ground and Kagome was too afraid to lift it, to see if her mother was alive. She knew. She could feel no life in her mother even before she touched her. She knew. 'No… no… Okaa-san…' Her mother was gone, and tears fell down her face. Kagome cried with heart-breaking sobs, still too afraid to touch her mother too hard, in fear of hurting her body even more. But she wanted desperately to see her mother's face, to see if she died in pain or if it was quick.
"Kagome…" Kaede said. Kagome could hear Kaede's footsteps and she moved, her childish curiosity and love for her mother getting ahead of herself. She reached over and pulled her mother's body over towards her so she could see her mother's face.
Kagome reeled back with a gasp, horrified. Suzume's eyes were wide open in fear. Eyes once brown and warm were now void of life and dull, as if blind to this world. Her mouth gaped open and she stared up at the bright sky, lost. Kagome shut her eyes, shut out her mother's pain and death. Her body trembled, unable to cope with this lost but now even to see her mother like that… it was too much. Kaede gasped seeing Suzume and went to her knees next to Kagome, grabbing the child into her arms, trying to shelter her as much as she could. Kaede slowly pushed Suzume's lifeless body back down so that she lay on her stomach, causing a nauseating feeling in her own stomach. Suzume was a good woman, a strong and loyal fighter, and a loving and devoted mother and wife. She was too good of a person to have died, especially this way. And there was no denying that the inu-taiyoukai from last night had something to do with it. Kaede felt Kagome's whole body tremble, whether from her heart-breaking sobs or from the frightening sight, she didn't know. But Kaede was sure that Kagome would be traumatized by this. Her parents, both of them, were gone in just one night. They had just seen the two of them only a few hours ago, and with the bringing of a new dawn came the loss of their families and homes. How cruel this world is.
Suddenly, Kagome pushed out of Kaede's arms and ran towards her father's body, just a few feet away. His legs were sprawled out, his arms too, like he had been flown back like a doll. Kagome stopped suddenly, her heart beating too loud in her ears. She needed to see this; she needed to see her parents' bodies and to know for sure they were dead. Even though her sixth sense knew for sure they were dead. Kagome took a steadying breath, wiping the tears from her face, and bent down to push her father's body over so she could look at him. She drew back, shocked at the sight. Her father's face, so handsome and so strong, was now torn open. Kagome gasped, her hands flying to cover her mouth. Isao's face was torn as if four claws had ripped open his right cheek. Kagome could see some of his cheekbones exposed to the morning air with dirt intermingled with his blood. His eyes were closed, unlike her mother's, and his mouth had dried blood coming out on both sides. Isao's chest was the worst of it. It looked like an animal just ripped open his body, tearing into everything that was her father. Kagome made a sound, not sounding like it came from her, and tears streamed down her face again. Her father's body was ravaged, ripped open from his face to his legs. Everywhere his kimono and hakama were torn by claw marks. 'Otou-san…' she thought, her heart breaking for this man who once held her with such strength and security. 'Otou-san…'
Kaede came up to Kagome and reached down to place her hands carefully on the girl's shoulders. "Kagome… we need to go…"
Kagome shook her head, shutting her eyes as if the pain could go away. "No!" She would not leave her parents again.
"Kagome…" Kaede tried, talking softly to her. Even her own tears were falling from her eye at the child's pain and the loss that they will grieve. "We will bury the fallen and then we must leave. Demons may come at the smell of death."
Kagome knew this. Her father taught that to her. She remembered his voice clearly, ringing in her head. '"Never stay too long with a corpse. Other demons in the area will smell the demon's rancid bodies and they will take advantage of it." Kagome gazed up at her father with a puzzled look. "Why, Otou-san? It stinks!" Isao chuckled and placed his hand on Kagome's head affectionately. "Because the demons want to salvage what they can, take it for their own. Whether that be the dead demon's limbs, armor, blood, organs… whatever. Demons will do all they can to feed, to stay alive and to become stronger. It's what they are. Demons."'
Kagome opened her eyes and they fell on her father's body, looking nothing of what she remembered in her memory of him just now. "No."
Kaede sighed and stood up, turning to see the two women bringing the four children closer, waiting to be told what they should do. Kaede looked at them, at a loss. She was the eldest of the group, so she would have to make the decision. But how could she leave their loved ones like this? Even though it was just the eight of them, they would have to bury everyone. It's the least they could do for those who sacrificed their lives for them. But Kaede knew now that they would look to her for guidance when they have no one else to guide them. But… Kaede looked down at Kagome's head. 'This child has already seen so much. But she would have to grow quickly. She will become our protector, our priestess, as it is her destiny.'
Kagome turned so that she faced Kaede and the others, wiping away her tears and causing more dirt marks on her face. But Kaede noticed her eyes. For just three years old, it alarmed her at how old Kagome really was. Maybe not on the outside, but on the inside it was as if she had an old soul in a child's body.
"We will stay," Kagome said firmly. The children looked around them in fear, knowing that they needed to go in case more demons came. Plus this place was a death zone and they were afraid of finding their parents the same way Kagome found hers. Kagome looked at them with a small smile, trying to offer them comfort when she had none to give. "This is our home… we must stay and protect it." Kagome looked up to Kaede, seeing the woman's surprise. "Kaede… I know I am just a child, but I also know who I am, and so do you. I know what everyone was saying… I know what they whispered when I walked by…" she whispered.
Kaede frowned, feeling sorry for this child. It would be her destiny to be aloof, to be the Shikon no Miko that she was born to be. She knew about her birth, and though her parents never told Kagome, Kaede knew that one day Kagome deserved to know everything. But now, this child standing before her and showing so much strength after seeing the brutal way her parents died, Kaede was in awe. Kagome was truly something special.
"But this is our home. We will bury everyone and I will give them a proper sending. Then, we rebuild our homes."
Kaede smiled and closed her eye, shaking her head. Should she trust this little girl? She was older, of course, but it sounded that Kagome was older than she. Kaede marveled at the fate they were dealt, but knew that fate had its way in everything. Maybe this was what would form and shape Kagome into the miko she needed to be. Whatever the case, Kaede knew Kagome was right. They couldn't leave the village. Even if demons attack, they would have to stay and defend it. This was their home. They were attacked before, not this severely, but after attacks they would always rebuild their homes and start again. Why would this be any different? Kaede sighed and opened her eye, gazing down at the child waiting for her answer. Even though she spoke with authority, Kagome understood that it was Kaede's final word that she would follow because Kaede was her elder.
"You are right, child."
Kagome smiled, her brown eyes softening, and that was Kaede's sign. Things would get better. Somehow, this little child would lead them into a future that she saw. Kagome would become the leader that Kaede saw in her.