Kagome's Rules for the Unchanted, Cursed, and Misfortunate
Chapter 1
Sometimes the long way around is the best way home
Summary: Kagome is blind, though not by birth. After unknowingly breaking a Geas that was placed on a village heirloom when she was 18 years old she lost her sight. Now she is seen as cursed. Kagome is an outcast, a pariah that everyone believes to be cursed with misfortune and that it will follow her everywhere she goes.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha and comp. in any way, shape, or form. Any other made-up charachters I DO happen to own though. ^_^
Dreams
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
Chapter 1
Sometimes the long way around is the best way home
Kagome sighed deeply as she slept, her eyes flickering behind her eyelids. She was lost in a dream. Or really, a memory from the past:
An ominous wind blew through the large village that sat at the bottom of a valley, the rolling hills and steep landscape acting as the arms of a mother, protecting the habitants of the village from the harsh winter winds. As the leaves whispered their secrets in the wind Kagome walked along a path on the edge of it. Looking down at her feet as she walked she saw herself clothed in her priestess garments, a sign that she was dreaming once again. A dream she was familiar with because it was actually a memory that had been seared into her minds eye. The memory of the day she lost her sight.
Having no choice but to follow the patteren of the memory, she slowed her walk as the sacred hut that her and her fellow priestesses had been entrusted to guard came into her periphial view. It was part of her duties as a village miko that she make her rounds when it was her turn for guard duty. Though for some odd reason, she broke her normal route and headed straight towards the small hut. For some reason she felt a pull from the object that it hid, she could sense something about it that just seemed...not quite right.
Using her staff to help her up the steep hill the bells on top jingled everytime she struck the ground, eachtime it rang she felt as if some kind of energy was building up. An energy that was opposed to the purifying energy of her aura and bells. Now in front of the hut she couldn't help but notice how hard her heatbeat sounded in her ears, curiosity was now peeking her interest as she kneeled a bit to enter the small door of the hut.
She gasped once she was inside, unconciously placing the sleeve of her white hakama over the lower half of her face. The energy that washed over her was the most peculiar sensation. It didn't feel good, nor did it feel bad. Looking on a small alter she was suprised to see a komainu placed on a stand, along with an ofuda and gohei. "Akki..." she whispered as she read the ofuda. Her heart sank as she realized that this was a shrine to a demon and that it must be the cause of the disease and misfortune that had befallen her village everytime they fail in regularly sacrificing and worshiping to the komainu. Tightening the hold on her staff she stepped forward, chanting the purifying spell that had been taught to her when she first began her training.
Feeling the energies clash in the room the darker energy began to make itself known, trying to defend itself. "Zen!" Kagome shouted outloud as she lifted her staff up and brought it down hard on the komainu, breaking the wood carving as a burst of blinding energy blew her back off her feet.
"Ahh!" Kagome yelled as she jolted awake, jerking awake as her heart beat painfully against her ribcage. Taking in the sounds of the forest around her she began to relax. She sensed no threat or danger in the immediate area. "I hate that damn dream..." she muttered she brushed her sweat drenched hair out of her face, her heart beginning to calm to its regular pace. She also hated that the one day she wanted to forget always haunted her in her dreams. She was glad that the village was no longer forced to worship some praise hungry demon, but because of their lack of spiritual understanding they got the facts confused and filled in the blanks with their own twisted logic and Kagome had ended up being the villan in the situation.
Now she was seen as some profane derlict that enjoyed desecrating shrines and sacred objects, which if anyone really knew her they would KNOW that was the complete opposite of what she was. Pulling her knees up to her chest she wrapped her arms around them and put her head down with a soft sigh. 'No one ever really knew me...and they never will with the way things look now.' Kagome thought to herself. When she felt the suns rays began to sear uncomfortably hot on the back of her head she lifted it up, closing her eyes as she felt the warmth from the sun caress her face like a human touch would. "Well...today's a new day." she spoke optimisticly to herself as she opened her honey brown eyes, the pupil no where to be found.
Standing to her feet slowly she felt around for her summer kimono, she had just gotten used to wearing it since she was no longer a priestess of the village shrine. She now considered herself a solitary miko, someone who would take what she learned and hone her craft to the best of her abilities to better herself and hopefully mankind. 'If they would even accept my help.' she snorted to herself at the irony. Ever since the accident her other senses have grown to compensate for the loss of sight, including her miko abilities. She felt more powerful than she had in a long time despite her circumstances and there was no demon needing to be slaying or exorcised. Or if they did no one in their right mind would seek her help.
After getting dressed and making sure she didn't have the garment on inside out she grabbed her staff, which was her weapon and had recently become her guide. Since no one but the old priestess Kaedae would have anything to do with her she had to rely upon herself and her wits to help her through this time. The bells jingled as she made her way out the small hut that she had now called her home. She resided deep in the forest now, a good ways uphill from the village. Only the other priestesses had the stamina and physical ability to make the long trek into the heart of the forest like Kagome did.
She hummed softly to herself as the birds songs reached her ears, a soft breeze blew upwind in her face, carrying the promise of water ahead of her. Her pace was slow since it had only been a couple weeks since she'd gone blind, but she was making progress. She already knew the directions of the path by heart since she was raised in the village. It was just the tricky root that popped up every now and then or pesky rock that made her trips in the forest a hastle. The sound of water began to reach her ears and she began to smile proudly as she walked, not one fall or trip her whole way there, maybe she would be all right if she stayed blind after all. Although she couldn't help but have that glimmer of hope the size of a mustard seed in her heart, the one peice of her heart that would always be hoping for the world of colors and light to wash over her eyes once more.
As the sound of rushing water became louder and it felt as if she were close to the waters edge she slowed her pace until her feet were immersed in the cold water. Kneeling down the cupped her hands and raised them to her mouth, taking in gulps of water until she felt her belly feel as if it were going to burst open with the cold liquid. Giving a satisfying sigh she wiped her mouth. Suddenly she felt a familiar aura nearing as the sound of crunching grass and foilage reached her ears, the sound of footsteps. "Lady Kaedae." Kagome greeted warmly as she stepped out of the shallows of the river and onto dry land to greet her only friend.
She couldn't see her, but thanks to the increase of her powers the colors of her aura burned bright in her minds eye. Giving her the outline of her form in shades and hues of beautiful colors blending into one another to form one pulsing light that was pleasant in the darkness that was now her world. Kaedae gave a chuckle, "It has been a long time since I've been a lady, the village children have taken to callen me 'Oba-ba' as of lately." she replied a twinkle in her eye that Kagome could not have noticed because of her condition, and that would've let her know that Kaedae had something up her sleeve. She laughed with her as the childrens faces came to her mind, she wondered how they were doing, and inquired so.
"They are doing fine, just fine. Though they miss ye very much...I'm more worried about how ye are doing." Kaedae said, a questioning tone in her voice. "I'm doing just fine also. I think I'm getting better at this whole being blind thing." she joked with a light laugh, trying not to feel awkward under the . Now even if Kaedae WERE blind she would be able to tell that Kagome was lying. Sure she was strong girl, but she felt as if this wasn't the best time for her to be alone. She was growing into a woman and to have a perception of the world as a cold and unforgiving place was something Kaedae didn't want Kagome into having. "Are ye sure child?" she asked curisouly, just getting a forlone sigh from Kagome in return.
"Well, since ye say your are fine, how would ye feel about helping me with a little job? It wouldn't hurt you to help an old bag of bones like me would it?" she asked, putting an unseen plan into motion. Kagome perked up at the idea and Kaedae couldn't help but smile as she saw the small smile growing on her face. "I would love to, really. But you know what happens when people run into me..." she trailed off looking back over in the direction of the river. "I assure you, everything will be fine. This certain patient of mine doesn't like people that much, so there will surely be no one around but me and you." Kaedae spoke confidently, and Kagome nodded and return. "Ok. Just lead the way." Kagome said trying not to get too excited about her excersion as Kaedae began to lead the way.
She began to inform her about the person she had found injured near death and she had to practicly force him to accept her help as they began to walk towards the mountains that had protected the village. "Why do you think he didn't want any help?" Kagome asked curiously as she used her staff to help her up a particulary steep patch of hill. "I don't know...maybe his pride was more hurt than his body. Or maybe he's not used to getting help...his kind are treated horribly in this world of ours." she spoke in a wise tone as she walked in pace with Kagome. Before she had the chance to ask just what 'kind' he was she sensed an aura, well barely sensed it, and had to focus. Not because she was weak but the aura was, as if it were on its last reserves. "Just what happened to him?" she asked as they neared Kaedae's hut, where she offered shelter to the injured man. "That, is something only Kami and he knows." Kaedae whispered in response as she lead Kagome into the hut, pulling the cloth opening to the side for her enter in.
Kagome focused on the soft green and mostly dark brown glowing colors of the aura that was laying on the futon on the floor, the colors of healing and also injury, there was alot going on with this man. "Inuyasha? This is my priestess friend I told ye about, Kagome I think she can help heal ye. Kagome, this is Inuyasha." Kaedae made introductions, placing a comforting hand on the young mikos shoulder as Kagome felt as if he were looking at her. Inuyasha took in the sight of the petite woman that sat in front of him, her hair was down and fell down her shoulders and back in black ebony waves. The light blue kimono she wore complemented her complexion and brought out the color of her eyes, which she noticed held an unfocused quality to them and lacked a pupil. As if she were staring off into space or lost in her own world.
"Feh! Some priestess, she isn't even dressed properly." he spoke in a loud and condescending voice that suprised her despite the weakened state of his aura, that was now beginning to have flares of red in it.
"A priestess isn't defined by what she wears. I am a solitary practicioner, and taking your state right now you should be grateful for any help you recieve." Kagome retored just as loudly as she banged her staff on the floor, making the bells on top give a jingle. Kaedae gave a chuckle, "Forgive Inuyasha dear, his personality is rather...rough around the edges. But I think he's a diamond in the making." she smoothed over as she began to tell Kagome of his various injuries. "I leave shall you alone to get to work, there's water to be fetched. Now, be easy on him child." Kaedae spoke as she backed out of the hut as she gave Kagome one more final pat on the shoulder. "Kami be with us, maybe they can help heal eachother." she whispered as took a small wooden pail and headed back to the river for fresh water. She would take her time, after all, slow and steady won the race.
Putting the comment he made earlier out of her head she began to focus on healing him. Her skills on controlling energy had increased a great deal and she was beginning to learn the art of healing. Asking which wounds hurt the most she zoned in on key points of injury on the body and aura, the most painful kind were when they were combined with emotional and physical pain. Reaching out slowly she patted around on the futon until she felt an arm, then moved her way up to the shoulder. That was one of the nasty ones. "How does that old hag think you can help me? You're blind." Inuyasha snorted as he'd found out the answer to question of her eyes. She sucked in a breath of air at that comment as she placed her staff across her lap and he'd felt regret at his mouth for the flicker of hurt that flashed across her eyes. Kagome exhaled slowly, it felt as if he'd hit her in the stomach with a good punch.
"Well sorry if it bothers you so much! I didn't ask for it to happen!" she couldn't help but snap at him, yanking her hand from his skin. She was still dealing with the accident and the confusion that came as to why she lost her sight. She didn't know what made her feel worse. The fact that everyone saw her as a sort of leper or the fact that she now felt so alone in the dark and as if she really WAS cursed. But of course, she would never let anyone know she was feeling that way. 'Great! Now he's gonna think I'm some crazy banshee. No wonder I don't have any friends.' she thought to herself as she closed her eyes, waiting for him to scream at her to leave him alone and take her misfortune with her.
"Sorry." she spoke, but opened her unseeing eyes when she realized she had spoke in unison with him. He was apologizing too, and she could tell from his voice he meant it. "I guess I'm in a bad mood from all these wounds...just make sure you don't get on my nerves." he spoke, his voice turning into a sort of grunt as if he was embarassed to be apologizing. Kagome nodded, "Ok." she said softly as she placed her hand back over the wound on his shoulder. "Now, tell me when you feel no more pain. I'm still learning so bare with me." she chuckled, trying to ease the tension in the room as she focused her energy into her hand and over the wound as she prayed and asked Kami to help her with her sacred task.
Inuyasha took a deep breath as just her touch seemed to calm him, which was odd since only his mother could do that. He looked up at the girl named Kagome, her eyes focused on him but yet not, because she couldn't acutally see him. He entertained thoughts of the conversation that he'd had with Kaedae before Kagome arrived. She had asked him to be as kind as he could, even if it was just by cursing a bit less. At first he had intended to act like a complete jackass and give both Kaedae and Kagome a hard time, but all thoughts of that seemed to just fly from his mind when he'd laid eyes on her.
He didn't think it was love or anything major like that, he was just a bit curious as to why a girl like her would be by herself in a large village like this. Usually men would be lining up by the miles to wed a girl like her, not that she was his taste or anything. He didn't get the whole story out of Kaedae because she said it was something Kagome would share if she wanted, but he got the gist that her life wasn't all cherry blossoms and sunshine. Now that he saw her 'condition' he kind of understood why Kaedae had asked what she did and that was why he was doing it. NOT because he wanted to, but because he was doing them a favor.
Kagome could 'see' with her energy the wound began to shrink, the brown and dark energy that surrounded the area beginning to change into a dark green color. The color of healing and regeneration. Feeling a soothing cooling sensation he looked at her hands as the burning pain slowly began to cease in his shoulder and upper arm. "Oi...I think it's getting better, the pains stopping." he said in amazement, he'd never felt anything like it. Since the weapons that gave him these wounds were specially made to destroy and purify half demons he was expecting to be out of commision for a long time, at least a week or two. "Which is exactly what I wanted to happen. Now, on to the next one." Kagome smiled brightly as Inuyasha nodded at her, unbeknowingly getting mesmerized by the smile and healing touch of the petite miko. She felt like she was finally of some use, and the sun would do her some good...even if she couldn't see how lovely the day must be.
They went on like that for a couple hours, Kagome taking as much time on each wound as was necessary, absorbed in the work she loved to do. "So, how did you come to this village?" Kagome asked curiosuly, when she was rewarded with silence she didn't know if he was ignoring her or had just fallen asleep. "Uhm...you don't have to answer thay if you don't want." she added on in a rush, then focused back on her healing work. This particular wound was deep, the deepest of anyone and was on his abdomen which was a danger zone. The stomach area was home to an important energy source of the body, everything was regulated and balanced there and if that was out of whack, then your whole body was out of whack. 'Whoever he was fighting meant buisness, they were out to kill.' she thought as she felt anger well up in her and a bit of sympathy. She knew what it was like to be dibilated to a weakened state.
"I don't really know myself...I just stumbled around after I had loss so much blood I'd lost my sense of direction. That's when the hag-I mean, Kaedae found me." he finally responded to her question, avoiding giving a real answer. She nodded, showing that she'd heard him but also understood he just didn't want to talk about it. When she didn't say anything he'd glanced down to where she was staring intently at the open wound that ran across the width of his stomach. He was astounded as he'd seen the edges of it begin to get a dried look, as if it were healing. The same kind of scab texture began to spread over the wound. He noticed she was so concentrated she didn't speak and that her lips moved, whispering so low that even his hanyou hearing couldn't pick it up. It was like he could almost make out what she was saying but some kind of magic was masking it. "If you don't mind me asking, how can you see what your doing?" he ventured, not wanting to offend her like he had earlier. He'd felt guilty for making that 'blind' comment.
"It's kind of hard to explain," Kagome spoke as she felt her energy growing low also and finished with that wound, "but I guess I 'see' with energy. It's not the same as my eyes used to be, and if someone knows how to hide they're aura I won't be able to see it unless I'm acutally intent on finding the aura and focusing on it. It's kind of a disadvantage then I think." she finished with a chuckle, wondering if what she'd said made any sense. "Sorry if I seem to be babbeling. It's just been such a long time since I've had a real conversation with anyone besides Kaedae." she excused herself wondering why she was being so open and why she was saying sorry so much, not seeing Inuyasha shake is head. "It's not bothering me...I don't talk to people that often either." he voiced, wondering why he was even having a conversation of this level with her. Only his mother and Kami knew how he felt inside.
"Why is that? And that wound on your stomach is gonna need a second session, just give me time to build my energy back up." Kagome said as she began to rebandaged the half-healed wound. "Since you can't see, I'm a half demon, so that would explain my lack of belonging in this fucked up world." he breathed out before he could catch himself on the cursing or voicing his true feelings. "I could sense that much, but that doesn't excuse people for acting heartless. If it helps you feel any better I don't care what the hell you are, I'm more worried about what lies inside the heart." she responded warmly with a smile as she wrapped the last of the bandage around him softly but securely.
He couldn't help but gasp at how...humane she was treating him, he watched her look towards him and smile. She looked so sad but peaceful at the same time. "All you can really do is take it one day at a time, at least that's what I've learned to do in the past couple weeks since I've lost my sight." she trailed off, not intending to say that much. "It's only been weeks?" Inuyasha couldn't help but let out in suprise. The way Kagome carried herself wouldn't show that she's stumbling around like a newborn in the dark, it seemed as if she knew where everything was and where to step. She nodded with a small smile.
Outside the hut Kaedae made her way up the steep slope of the land to her hut through waist high grass. "Why, oh why did I decide to settle on top of a hill like this. My old bones can't keep this up." she panted under breath as she carried the pail of water that now felt heavier then a sack of boulders. She could almost hear her joints screaming at her for mercy. But as her hut came into view she slow her pace as she focused on not cloaking her aura but rather blending it into her surroiundings as a sort of camoflouge. That was simpler, since a blank space of energy would look suspicious. Hearing the voices of Kagome and Inuyasha in conversation made her smile, she wouldn't say she was eavesdropping, more like supervising and safeguarding the friendship of two lonesouls that needed eachother more than they thought, in her opinion at least.
"Yeah...it gets somewhat easier everyday. So I guess day by day is my new motto, plus my miko abilities are picking up the slack." she chuckled with a wink, earning a laugh from Inuyasha though it turned into a groan of pain as his stomach muscle were still injured. "Don't work yourself too hard...I'm sorry I couldn't finish that one. You were so banged up I used most of my energy on the other wounds." she said apologeticly placing a hand on his shoulder, maybe she still needed more training. She made a note to herself to do more strengthening exercises. "No, you did great. Really...the last time I've got this type of care was from my mother." he said as his mind took him to past memories of the only time he had true happiness. After her passing, it seemed the world game to swallow him with claws thristy for his blood. "That was a long time ago." he said with a forlone smile that Kagome could hear in his voice.
Kagome smiled a genuine smile, sensing of how much that statement meant from the emotion in his voice. "I am honored that my skills please you, and hope I can continue to give you good care that comes from the heart." she said putting her hands and bowing her head in thanks, it was true that her care came from her heart. She had delivered the village from the wrath of the evil Akki from the goodness of her heart but no one was grateful or even saw it that way. It just felt good to get some credit once in a while besides curses and banishment sutras thrown at her. Kaedae burst into full grin outside and resisted the urge to do an old lady jig, looks like things were on track without her help, just like she thought and prayed it would be.
Deciding to make herself known she gave a loud sigh as she made it over the last bit of hill and a few feet away from the hut entrance. "Oh, Lady Kaedae, don't tell me you went and got water all by yourself?" Kagome exclaimed as she jumped to her feet, feeling her way to the hut entrance just as Kaedae was making it through. Inuyasha watched as Kaedae set the water down then began to talk to Kagome, telling her how she was just enjoying the walk and that he bones needed it. "And I told ye child, just call me Kaedae." the elderly lady chuckled warmly, then went on about cooking dinner.
He could tell that the bond between them was close and wondered just what all Kaedae knew about Kagome. Sure he wasn't scared to ask Kagome questions that he still had on his mind, he just didn't want to bring up any bad memories. Which he understood all too well. "Inuyashaaa?" Ya there?" Kagome's voice pulled him out of his thoughts as he looked over to her, seeing that her gaze directed at him was a bit off 7 inches to the left of him. "What ya say?" he asked as he tried to recall what they were talking about. "Maybe you should rest, do you want to eat before bed?" Kagome asked kneeling right down beside his bedside as she reached for him then felt over the injuries, seeming to do an assesment of some sore. "I'm fine woman! Just gimme some damn food, and don't interuppt me when I'm thinking." he said gruffly as her eyes focused him a little better on him when he spoke. "Fine . Hmph!" she said as she stood, then with staff in hand slowly went to the door way.
"I'll return after a soak in the hot springs. It always helps refresh me after energy work." she said over her shoulder as she pushed the cloth out of way and exited the hut. "I hope ye are happy with yourself . Now she's gone." Kaedae glared at him as she put a iron pot over the fire-pit, then poured water and started a fire underneath it. "She wanted to leave! I didn't tell her to get an attitude and walk out." Inuyasha retored with a sort of pout as he turned of slowly on his side so his back was to Kaedae. "Yes child. But you also didn't tell her to come and heal you, and neither did I. I asked her, and she offered to help me out of the goodness of her heart. Kagome holds a lot inside, and I'd appreciate it if you don't do anything to make her close up anymore than she has already. " Kaedae said as she then grabbed another thin blanket and placed it over Inuyasha.
Walking over to a small chest that was in the corner she pulled out a chopping board and knife along with bowls and chopsticks. "She's a strong girl though, and has been through worse. I have faith that she will make it through this obstacle also." Kaedae chuckled when Inuyasha didn't respond. "Dinner should be ready when she returns." she added as she began to chop vegetables and herbs for the stew.
'Worse?' Inuyasha pondered as his eyes fluttered shut and he fell into a light slumber, the healing energy that Kagome used on him doing its work as the chopping sound of Kaedaes blade lulled him to sleep.