"To Hold the Flower"

Chapter One: The Journey

"I trust that you will be able to keep your end of the bargain?" the oily voice of Naraku questioned from the shadows.

"Of course," a cold, feminine voice replied. "The fool is entirely too trusting."

"Good. The seal will hold until it comes into direct contact with her miko powers," Naraku said, motioning towards the elaborately engraved box sitting on the pedestal. Torches lit the area, and the flames reflected off the box made it seem like it was glowing from within. It had taken him months to find the exact location of the artifact, but at last he had discovered it hidden deep within the cave complex that the two conspirators stood in now. "Make sure you only touch the chain. As twisted as you have become, you are still a miko. I'd hate for you to suffer this fate, Kikyo. Kukuku."

"I'm sure you would be devastated, hanyou."

Walking forward, the second shadowed figure picked up the box with delicate hands and studied it. It was small, but surprisingly heavy. Stylized dragons that some master smith had outlined in gold chased each other around the edges. In the center of the lid was a carving of a kneeling woman holding a glowing round object in her hands. Flames that had been outlined in red-gold were engulfing her, and her hair seemed to be blending with the fire. An enchanted lock held the box closed. It would take some time and a great deal of effort to open it. But, it would be worth it.

Holding it gingerly, Kikyo slipped it into her pack, which already contained the various ingredients that would be necessary to complete the spell needed to open the lock. Naraku had already explained what she would be up against long before they had even entered the caves, giving her time to prepare.

Ignoring the amused hanyou, Kikyo turned and prepared to leave, only to be stopped by Naraku.

"I have spent too much time and effort on finding the Tamashiino Henkan for you to fail, Kikyo," Naraku said, the threat plain in his voice. "Do not waste what I have spent, or else you will be going to Hell sooner then you planned." Nodding slightly, Kikyo exited the cavern, carefully following the twisting tunnels back up to the surface. As soon as she stepped into the sunlight, her soul collectors twined around her, lifting her into the sky. They carried her away from the cave, moving deeper into the ancient mountain range.

After an hour of travel, Kikyo signaled them to stop. Lowering her down onto a good sized ledge near the top of one of the peaks, the soul collectors released her and went off to look for the souls she would need to replace the energy she was going to use up.

Choosing a spot underneath a small, tough tree that grew up between the rocks, Kikyo knelt and removed her pack, placing it on the ground beside her. She took the box out and placed it in front of her with the lock facing forward. Then she got to work on the removing the ancient spell that held the box closed.

After hours of chanting, burning various herbs and waving a branch from a youkai tree, the spell was finally broken. Exhausted, Kikyo collapsed to the ground beside the box and waited for her soul collectors to return. She did not have long to wait. Soon she felt them approaching, and each held the glowing orb that was the soul of a woman. Her body absorbed them quickly, and she felt herself growing stronger.

All the souls absorbed, Kikyo pushed herself back up into a kneeling position and regarded the box before her. She cautiously reached one hand towards it, gripping the edge of the lid gingerly and opening it slowly. Unlike what she was expecting, there was no blast of power, and she could not sense anything from the artifact inside.

'The seal is still strong, then,' she thought. 'Naraku was correct.'

Kikyo reached into her haori and brought out a piece of violet silk. Unfolding it and laying it over one hand, she started reaching into the box when markings on the underside of the lid caught her attention.

"What is this?" she murmured. The writing was an older form of Japanese, but she could still make out what it said. It was a verse, maybe a warning of some kind.

"Dragon that Dances in Flame

Entranced by a Pure Heart

Sought to Hold the Flower

And Change it to a Star

Only to Lose it to Darkness,"

she read. "Hmmm. It must have something to do with the legend of the Tamashiino Henkan."

She mulled the verse over in her mind, but the legend was an ancient one, and not many people, human or youkai, even remembered what it was about. She had been surprised that Naraku even knew about the artifact, and believed the legend enough to spend time searching for it. She herself had only heard a couple vague hints and mentions of the Tamashiino Henkan when she was a young girl, and had not known what the artifact was supposed to be able to do until Naraku had told her. The warning, if it was one, was directed at the one that used the artifact, though, and since Kikyo had no plans to be the one who wore it she dismissed the verse from her mind.

Slowly reaching into the box, she held the chain attached to the artifact as if it were a snake that was threatening to strike. Lifting it up, she removed the artifact from its resting place and held it to eye level. The necklace of silver chain flowed over her fingers and her eyes followed it down to where the artifact hung suspended.

The orb, about the size of a marble, looked to be made of ruby until one noticed how the color shifted to gold as it turned in the sunlight. Silver wire was twined around it, holding it to the chain. It was beautiful. And, to those that wore it, deadly.

'Or should I say, "life changing"?' Smiling softly, she carefully lowered the necklace onto the silk that she held, wrapping it up neatly. Placing it into her haori, she called to her soul collectors and once again they lifted her, and she disappeared into the distance.

○ ~ T.H.t.F ~ ○

"Hey guys! Breakfast is ready!" Kagome called cheerfully from the entrance to Kaede's hut.

"All right!" Inuyasha yelled, jumping down from the tree he had been sitting in. Shippo left the jacks that his adoptive mother had given him on the ground by the doorway and ran to Kagome, climbing up to sit on her shoulder. Chuckling, Kagome grabbed the little fox kit and began tickling him unmercifully. Shippo laughed and squirmed in her arms, trying to get away.

Sango and Miroku, who had been sitting together and enjoying the early morning sunlight, stood and started walking toward the hut. They smiled to see the young miko and the fox kit enjoying themselves. The group had returned to the village for a much needed rest after another long, unsuccessful search for Naraku. The only thing good that came from it was the addition of two more jewel shards to Kagome's small collection, bringing the total to five. The lack of success in the hunt for Naraku and the fact that Kikyo had joined the group a while back seemed to depress the naturally cheerful woman a bit.

Naraku's death was what everyone hoped for, but Kagome had decided that traveling back and forth between her time and the feudal era would be too dangerous until Naraku had been defeated. Sango still remembered the teary confessions and conversations that they had shared in the hot springs before Kagome made her decision.

Fearing that Naraku would somehow discover the well and be able to use it to affect the future, Kagome made one final trip home to say goodbye to her family and friends (Kagome told them that she was going to be travelling abroad for a while). When she returned to the feudal era, she sealed the well and discovered that Inuyasha had let Kikyo join them. That was three months ago.

Kagome had tried to make the best of things, but Kikyo didn't seem to want to have anything to do with her. Or anyone else besides Inuyasha, for that matter.

Going back inside the hut Kagome sat down against one wall, setting Shippo beside her, and waited for her friends to join her for breakfast. Kaede began filling bowls with rice porridge from the large pot on the fire in the center of the room, handing them out to the group as they filed into the hut. Glancing at the silent figure of Kikyo sitting in a shadowed corner, Kagome accepted her bowl with a soft thank you. They ate their meal in a peaceful silence for once, enjoying their down time.

Ever since she had joined the group, Kikyo would often go off on her own, sometimes for several days. The other miko had been gone for nearly a week this time, and had returned late last night looking as tired as Kagome had ever seen her.

'If I ever tried to do that, Inuyasha would go ballistic,' Kagome thought. After the first few time this happened, Kagome had asked the hanyou why he didn't stop her. "Kikyo's not weak," he replied. "We don't need to worry about her getting hurt like I know you would be." She had protested that she could take care of herself too, but Inuyasha just scoffed and said that Kikyo had much more control over her powers, and that Kagome would be useless as anything but a shard detector. "Kikyo's power would be a match for Naraku, if that coward would dare to show his face to us. She's doing all she can to find him. What are you doing about it?"

That had hurt, but Kagome understood what he was saying. Compared to Kikyo, Kagome had less power and very little control. She had been practicing and getting better, but it was difficult work, and Kaede could only do so much to help. She was old, and got tired easily, especially if she was using her miko powers. Kagome was not comfortable enough with the dead miko to ask for her help, either, so she had mostly been working on her own.

After breakfast, the group sat around and talked. "I don't understand why we haven't heard any new rumors about Naraku," Miroku said, sounding worried. "I fear that means he is hiding –"

"Of course he's hiding, monk!" Inuyasha spat out. "The bastard's always hiding!"

"Yes, but not for this long, Inuyasha!" Sango said. "We haven't seen any of his puppets or demons for over three months, now."

"And ye better be watching for something to happen. I think that was the monk's meaning, Inuyasha," Kaede fixed a one-eyed stare on the impatient hanyou.

"Yes, Kaede, that was what I was going to say," Miroku turned to Inuyasha, trying to reason with him. "Naraku wouldn't just vanish for no reason, Inuyasha."

"He's planning something again!" Shippo piped up, and Kirara mewed in agreement from her place on the demon slayer's lap.

"Then this would be a good time for us to make preparations," said a soft voice. The group started, whipping their heads around to look at the person they had nearly forgotten about. Kikyo walked forward slowly, staring at each of them in turn before focusing on the young miko leaning against the wall. "I wish to speak with you," was all she said before walking outside.

Confused, Kagome shared a glance with Sango before standing and following the older woman out of the hut. The rest of the group followed, curious to hear what the dead miko had in mind.

The two mikos regarded one another for a few moments before Kikyo spoke. "Your control over your power is lacking. I wish to take you to the Meisouno Tsurii, the Tree of Meditation." Kaede gasped, and Miroku straightened a bit in shock.

"The Tree is real?" Kaede asked her sister.

"Yes," Kikyo replied, nodding. "I have come across it in my travels. It will help Kagome gain control over her miko powers."

"What is this Tree, Kaede?" Sango asked. The old woman sighed. "It is a tree of great power, much like Goshinboku. Some say that those who meditate under its branches will experience enlightenment, and those with power will find balance and control that they did not have before. It would be good for ye, child," Kaede said, turning toward Kagome.

"Alright, then. Let's go!" Inuyasha shouted, ready to take off on another journey. 'He never could sit still for long,' Kagome thought with a little giggle. "Okay! I'll do it!" she said out loud. "If it will help me with my powers, then I'm all for meditating under a tree!"

With that, everyone began moving back toward the hut, ready to begin preparing for the journey to the Tree of Meditation. Kaede stood and watched them all, pleased that they were excited and going on a journey that would be a happy one, for a change.

"This journey is for Kagome and myself. We go alone."

The quiet statement stopped the group in its tracks. "But Kikyo…" Inuyasha began, unable to believe his ears. Sango's protests were even louder. "I don't think so! Kagome is not going with you alone. Not with Naraku planning who-knows-what in his little hidey hole." Kagome may be able to forgive and forget past sins, but Sango remembered how Kikyo tried to kill the younger miko in the past. She was not going to allow her friend to go with the dead miko unprotected!

Ignoring the demon slayer, Kikyo walked over to Inuyasha and placed her hands on his arm. Looking up into his amber eyes, Kikyo said softly, "I wish to spend some time alone with Kagome, Inuyasha. It will help us understand each other more."

When Kagome heard that, happiness bubbled up in her chest, and she smiled brightly. Finally, Kikyo wanted to get to know her! Maybe all the awkwardness between them would disappear after this journey! She had given up on Inuyasha soon after she had returned to the feudal era and seen how the couple had acted toward each other. They deserved happiness, and her love had long since been turning into something different from what was found between lovers. Kagome loved him as a brother, and she considered Miroku to be another brother and Sango to be the sister that she never had.

They were her family, now, one that she had found on her journey through the feudal era. Kagome even felt closer to Sesshomaru than ever before, since he had taken to visiting their group now and again on their travels. He never stayed for long, since Inuyasha was still in the habit of trying to kill him whenever they met, but he would allow his young ward Rin to stay with them for a day or so and play with Shippo. Kagome had spent time with the daiyoukai, away from the rest of the group and, like Rin, he had allowed her to see another side of him, one that he hid from the rest of the world.

She actually felt grateful toward Mistress Centipede for pulling her through the well and opening the door to a whole new life of adventure. It was true that she missed her family, but she would see them again after Naraku was defeated. If traveling to the Tree of Meditation alone with Kikyo would bring that into reality sooner, then so be it. Besides, she was never one to hold a grudge, and since Kikyo wanted to start over again with their relationship, she would happily meet her halfway.

She stepped forward to end the argument before it could really begin.

"I'll go with her, guys. It'll be good for us all, I can feel it."

"Are ye sure, child?" Kaede asked gently. Kagome nodded, determined not to show any weakness in front of Kikyo. Sango started to argue again, but her words died on her lips when she saw the look on Kagome's face. She looked happier then she had in a while, and if this trip meant so much to her, then how could she refuse to allow her to go?

Sighing, Sango gave in and went to stand by Miroku's side. She was still worried, though, and Miroku put an arm around her shoulders in comfort. He shared her fears, but knew that Kagome had already made her decision.

Shippo was worried as well. He didn't like the older woman, who he thought was cold and cruel, unlike Kagome. Kirara twined herself around the young miko's ankles as the fox kit climbed up onto her shoulder. "I don't want you to go, Okaasan. I'll miss you!"

Kagome looked into the tear-filled green eyes of her son, and her heart ached for him. He had lost so much, and the thought of being separated from her, his adoptive mother, even for a few days made him so sad and lonely.

"I'll miss you, too, Shippo," she murmured. "But I have to go. If I can gain more control over my powers then I'll be able to do more in the fight against Naraku."

Plucking him from her shoulder, she nuzzled him, a youkai gesture of affection. "I'll be back soon, and stronger than ever before! I promise." Blinking back tears and sniffling, Shippo returned the nuzzle and wrapped his arms around her in a hug, burying his face into her neck. "Okay, Okaasan," he said softly.

Now only Inuyasha was still against the plan, but before he could say anything, Kikyo spoke up.

"The journey will not be a long one. We will be gone for four days, at the most."

"Four days!" Inuyasha yelled. "I don't think so! What if something happens while you're gone? You expect me to just sit around here and wait for you?"

"Inuyasha," Kikyo said softly. "The Tree is only about a day's journey from here at your speed. If something happens, or if we need your help, you'll be able to sense us and come."

"Keh!" Inuyasha crossed his arms, grumbling. "Fine, you can go. Be back in four days!" With that, he ran off and leapt up into a tree.

Almost squealing with excitement, Kagome raced back into Kaede's hut to get ready. Since they were going to be working on her miko powers, she decided to change into the traditional miko clothes. Moving behind a screen, she slipped out of the kimono that she had been wearing and slipped on a dark blue hakama and a white haori. They had been a gift from Sesshomaru, who had told her that since she was a miko, then she should dress like one. Then, Kagome began packing her trusty yellow backpack. She put in another set of miko clothes and a couple kimonos that would be good for everyday wear. She also added in other essentials, like bathing and medicinal herbs and other medical supplies. Foodstuffs were added in, and some other things.

After a momentary debate with herself, Kagome placed the small glass jar that held the jewel shards they had collected into the small front pocket. She knew that they would probably attract trouble, but they always did and she would much rather have to deal with whatever came herself than leave her problems to her friends.

Kikyo had entered the hut as she was changing, and packed her own bag. Soon they had gathered their bows and two quivers of arrows and were ready to leave. The two mikos exited the hut and said their goodbyes to their friends as soul collectors began appearing, gathering together in the air over the hut.

Looking up at them, Kagome shivered, realizing that they would be carried to their destination by the beautiful yet slightly creepy creatures. At a gesture from Kikyo, the soul collectors descended and wrapped themselves around them, lifting them into the air with ease. Kagome grabbed hold of the one that had wrapped around her middle, providing a kind of seat that she could sit on comfortably, and tried not to look nervous. Kikyo just smiled serenely.

A/N: My muse kind of ran away with me on this one, but I've been enjoying the ride! I'd love to hear what you think about this one. The next chapter is already written and should be up in a couple days. Please R & R!