Seekers of the Sacred Jewel

I guess I should have expected this, Inuyasha thought as tension crackled through the air. I mean, Kaede did say that Kagome attacked the village to get the jewel. If she's willing to attack a whole village, of course she's willing to fight me.

"You cannot have the Shikon Jewel!" Kaede said firmly.

Kagome glared at her defiantly, but then her nose twitched as she sniffed the air and her eyes widened in surprise. "Kaede?" Kagome's arms dropped to her side her head tilted in confusion. "Is that you? But how?"

Or maybe she's not going to attack me? Which Inuyasha was okay with considering he was already injured, but he was getting mixed signals here and he really wanted to know what exactly was going on.

"You have been pinned to the Sacred Tree for fifty years," Kaede said. "I have aged in that time."

Kagome rocked back on her heels, apparently totally floored by the news that she'd basically been in a coma for fifty years. Despite knowing what she'd done to get the jewel in the past, when Inuyasha saw that look on her face, he couldn't help but kind of feel sorry for her.

"If it's been fifty years," Kagome said, "then is Kikyo…?" She trailed off, leaving her question unspoken. Kaede apparently understood what she meant though.

"My sister Kikyo died the same day she sealed you to the tree, killed by the mortal wounds you inflicted on her," Kaede said, narrowing her one good eye at Kagome.

Wait, Kikyo. That's who Kagome said I smelled like…I do not smell like a girl! Inuyasha scowled and glared at Kagome, not that the girl took any notice of him. Inuyasha was really starting to feel like a third wheel in this conversation.

"That isn't possible!" Kagome said. "I never attacked Kikyo! I wouldn't! She was my friend! You know that, Kaede!"

"I know you pretended to be her friend," Kaede said without flinching. "I know that you betrayed her, killing her and attacking the village for the Shikon Jewel."

Kagome vehemently shook her head, silver hair whipping around her face. "No, you've got it all wrong!" She took a step towards Kaede, and every villager in the area pointed their bows at her. Kagome froze, and her gaze swept over the villagers' hard expressions. Her face crumpled, and suddenly she looked like she might cry.

Oh, heck no! I am not dealing with a crying girl right now!

"Hey," Inuyasha said, gaining everyone's attention. "I hate to interrupt, but I'm kind of bleeding out over here." He looked at Kagome. "Will you just promise not to try and steal the jewel until we get this mess sorted out at least?"

Swallowing her tears, she nodded. "I promise."

"Good," Inuyasha said. He turned to Kaede. "Can we please go back to the village so I can get bandaged?"

Inuyasha couldn't read Kaede's face, but she nodded. "Very well."

Some of the villagers stayed behind to deal with the body of Mistress Centipede, but most went back to the village. Kagome stayed off to the side, out of everyone's way, but she followed Inuyasha and Kaede to Kaede's hut and sat in a corner near the doorway while Kaede bandaged Inuyasha's side.

"So," Kaede said without looking up from her work, "you claim not to have attacked the village."

"Yes," Kagome said. "I want the jewel, but I don't want to hurt anyone to get it."

Not what it looked like out in the forest. Of course, Mistress Centipede had been trying to kill them, so Inuyasha couldn't blame her for that one.

"Then how is it that I saw you attack the village myself?" Kaede asked. "And how is it that Kikyo named you as her attacker?"

After a moment of silence, Kagome said, "I don't know. I don't have any idea who attacked you, or why they would pretend to be me. But it wasn't, I swear!"

Inuyasha glanced over at her and saw the earnestness in her big golden eyes. It was weird. Eyes like hers should have just seemed strange and alien. But looking at them now, she just seemed honest and sad.

"I believe you," Inuyasha said.

Kaede looked at him sharply. "Inuyasha, you mustn't trust what she says!"

"Look, I've met power hungry people before," Inuyasha said. Granted, the jerks he was thinking of from his school weren't likely to murder people for power, but that didn't mean they weren't power hungry still. "I can tell that Kagome isn't power hungry."

"There is no other reason to seek the jewel but power," Kaede said.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome. "Then why do you want to the jewel?"

Kagome glanced away to the side. "My reasons are personal." She met his gaze once more. "But I'm not after power."

"Okay, I believe that," Inuyasha said. Kaede snorted with disbelief and moved away from Inuyasha having finished bandaging his wound. "So, are you planning to steal it from me at some point?"

Kagome fidgeted. "I'd rather not," she said. "I don't like the idea of being a thief. Is there any chance you could give it to me?"

Inuyasha glanced down at the pink jewel in his hand, and for a moment he wondered if maybe he could. What was he supposed to do with it?

"What's the deal with this jewel?" Inuyasha asked. "What does it do that makes everyone want it so bad?"

"The jewel vastly increases the power of those who use it," Kaede said. "But it is easily corrupted, and it always does more harm than good. That is why it was under the care of my sister. Kikyo was to protect it from those who would misuse its power and keep its energies pure so that the jewel could cause no harm." She pinned Inuyasha with her gaze. "And that is why you must now keep it in your possession at all times, and never let anyone else take it, for you are Kikyo's reincarnation."

"Say what?" Inuyasha yelped.

"The fact that the jewel was inside you is proof enough," Kaede said, "but I have also sensed in you the same power that my sister had."

"That would explain why his scent is so similar to Kikyo's," Kagome mused.

Inuyasha stared at them incredulously. "I am not reincarnated from a girl!"

Kaede seemed amused at his outburst. "Do you really believe that gender matters to the essence of a soul?"

"It matters to me!" Inuyasha said. "I have never been a girl!"

"Whether you choose to accept it or not, you are Kikyo's reincarnation," Kaede said. "As such, the duty of protecting the jewel from all who would use it falls to you." Her gaze moved to Kagome. "Even those who claim they would not use it for ill."

"Fine," Inuyasha grumbled, his entire mood soured by the fact that Kaede insisted he'd been a girl in his previous life. He yawned suddenly, the day's events catching up with him.

"Go on to bed," Kaede told him. "We can talk more in the morning."

Tucking the jewel in his pants pocket for safe keeping, Inuyasha gratefully accepted the futon she provided, and in moments he was out like a light.


When Inuyasha woke the next morning, his whole body was stiff and sore. He sat up with a grunt, and wrinkled his nose when he smelled himself. Inuyasha didn't consider himself a fussy person, but he was covered in dried sweat, blood, and dirt from the day before. He might not be bad off by the standards of the Feudal Era, he wasn't sure, but by his standards, he definitely needed a bath.

Kaede was already up and dressed, getting breakfast together. "Good morning," she said.

"Morning," Inuyasha said. He glanced around the hut. "Where's Kagome?"

"I believe she was going to patrol the area around the village," Kaede said. "Now that the jewel has resurfaced, there will be many who wish to steal it."

"Can word about the jewel seriously get around that fast?" Inuyasha asked.

"You'd be surprised," Kaede said. She handed him a bowl of food.

"Thanks," Inuyasha said. "By the way, any chance I could get a bath this morning?"

Kaede nodded. "After breakfast I will show you the bathing area in the river."

It didn't take Inuyasha long to finish eating, so Kaede took him to the bathing area. It was a ways downstream, outside of the village.

I guess they want to make sure they're not bathing in the same area of the river they get their drinking water from.

"You may wish to wash off your clothes while you're at it," Kaede said. "If you need anything, I won't be far."

The bathing area was actually a great swimming spot. A small cliff resulted in a waterfall, and the area beneath the waterfall was more like a pond than a river, before the water flowed out and farther away. Without hesitating, Inuyasha stripped down and waded in. The water was cold, but it was a warm enough day that Inuyasha didn't mind at all.

"This feels nice," Inuyasha said, rinsing away the dirt and grime that he'd accumulated. As he washed, Inuyasha's thoughts turned towards home. Mom and Gramps must be worried sick.

They wouldn't have any idea what had happened to him. Sure, Souta had seen him get dragged down the well, but somehow Inuyasha doubted that his mom or Gramps would believe Souta's story. Heck, Inuyasha probably wouldn't believe this whole situation if he wasn't living it.

"I wonder," Inuyasha said, "falling down the well is what brought me back here. Is it some kind of time machine or something? Maybe if I jump down it again I'll end up back home."

It might not work, but it was the only idea Inuyasha had. Eager to give it a try, Inuyasha waded out of the water. As he reached for his clothes, Kagome suddenly landed in front of him.

"Inuyasha, why are you—eek!" Kagome yelped and whipped around so her back was to him. "Pervert! Why are you naked?"

Face burning, Inuyasha scrambled to put his clothes on. "You're the pervert! I was taking a bath! What are you even doing here?"

"I'm here because you left the village with the jewel!" Kagome said. "That's dangerous! You can't just go off with it by yourself. What if you were attacked?"

Irritated, Inuyasha stalked by her. "I'm not helpless you know."

"Right," Kagome said, following him. "You were a ton of help fighting Mistress Centipede."

Inuyasha bristled at her tone of voice, and at the reminder of how helpless he'd been the night before. Inuyasha hated feeling helpless. "Would you just leave me alone?" he snapped. "It's not like you care. You're just worried about your stupid jewel!"

"That's not true," Kagome protested.

"Of course it is," Inuyasha said. "The jewel is the only reason you're sticking near me, and it's probably the only reason you hung around that Kikyo chick."

Kagome's head snapped back like he'd slapped her, and for the first time she looked well and truly angry. "Idiot! You don't know anything!" She turned and dashed off into the trees, gone from Inuyasha's sight in seconds.

Inuyasha winced, knowing his words had been uncalled for; how many times in the past had his temper gotten him in trouble? It wasn't Kagome's fault she was stronger than him. What would Mom say if she'd seen that? He cringed as he imaged the disappointed look she'd surely wear. He also knew she'd order him to apologize for his words.

Inuyasha's pride bucked at the thought. The only thing he hated almost as much as feeling weak was having to apologize. But, as a friend frequently told him, if he didn't like to apologize then he shouldn't lose his temper.

Swearing under his breath, Inuyasha stomped off in the direction Kagome had gone. Hopefully she wouldn't be too hard to find. He hadn't gone far when some men stepped out the bushes in front of him, blocking off his path. They were rough looking men, dirty and dressed in old, rusty armor. They fanned out in front of him, and Inuyasha took a step back, distrusting them on sight.

"So, this is the guy Boss wanted us to catch," one of the men said. "Don't know why. He don't look special."

"Orders is orders," another man said. "Now, we can do this easy, or we can do this hard."

Inuyasha smirked and cracked his knuckles. "You guys are just in time. I needed someone to vent my frustrations on."

One of the men lunged at him, but Inuyasha ducked under him and then hit the man with a spinning kick to the head. He dropped like a ton of bricks.

One down, four to go.

Two came after him at once them, but Inuyasha easily dodged their blows. They might have been bandits, but given their skill level they couldn't have been very successful at it.

Inuyasha caught an incoming punch and threw the bandit into one of him companions. "At least give me a challenge!" Inuyasha said.

The last two decided to grant his wish and drew their swords. Inuyasha wasn't worried. If they were as good at fighting as their friends had been, swords wouldn't do them any good.

Bellowing their war cry, the two bandits charged at him. Inuyasha waited until they were almost close enough to stab him and then jumped up into the air, flipping over their heads so he landed behind them. Unable to slow their momentum in time, the two bandits ran straight into a tree.

Eying the unconscious bandits, Inuyasha grinned. "I think Sensei would be proud of this."

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha turned in surprise to see Kagome running up to him. "I heard fighting! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Inuyasha said. "I handled it."

Kagome blinked in surprise as she took in the sight of the unconscious bandits. "I can see that."

Then Inuyasha remembered why he'd wanted to find Kagome. "Hey," he said, "I wanted to apologize for earlier. What I said…Well, it was stupid, and I shouldn't have said it."

Kagome looked surprised at his words, and then her expression softened. "Thanks," she said. "And I'm sorry about what I said too." She nudged one of the bandits with her toes. "You were obviously right; you're not helpless."

Inuyasha smirked, feeling more than a little pleased with her words.

"We should head back to the village," Kagome said. "They were probably after the jewel."

Inuyasha sighed. "It's just so weird for so many people to fight over a piece of rock."

Kagome looked away, and Inuyasha belatedly realized that his words may have been insensitive, since she wanted the jewel too. I wonder why she wants it so badly. Inuyasha didn't press the issue though. She'd already said her reasons were private, and he didn't like to pry.

They made it back to the village and found Kaede. Inuyasha quickly warned her there were bandits lurking nearby.

"If they waited until you were alone to attack, then they probably won't attack the village," Kaede said. "But I think this is a sign that we should begin your training immediately."

"My training?" Inuyasha asked blankly. When had he agreed to that?

"Yes, your training," Kaede said. "When trained properly, your spiritual powers will prove very dangerous to demons. But if they are not trained, they will be useless to you."

"My spiritual powers," Inuyasha said. "You mean like that thing I did to Mistress Centipede? I could learn how to do that whenever I wanted?"

Kaede nodded gravely. "You could."

Then I wouldn't need Kagome to protect me.

"Okay," he said eagerly. "Let's get started."

Kaede led him to a clear area towards the edge of the village where they wouldn't be disturbed. Kagome followed them, and jumped into a tree when Kaede had Inuyasha sit down. Inuyasha figured she was probably standing guard in case anyone attacked.

"We will start with meditation," Kaede said. "It is the easiest way to learn to access your power."

Inuyasha wasn't too surprised by that. His sensei always ordered a time of meditation before they began his martial arts training, so it was something Inuyasha was used to doing. With the ease gained by years of practice, Inuyasha shifted into the proper sitting position for meditation, closed his eyes, and began to take the proper breaths.

A few minutes into the meditation, Inuyasha heard Kaede speak. "Inuyasha, I want you to look inside yourself," she said, her voice calm so as not to break him out of his meditation. "Reach inward, feel for your power."

Inuyasha turned his mind inward, searching for that warm glow he had felt when he'd used his power against Mistress Centipede. The power rose to meet him, and in his mind's eye, Inuyasha could see the pink light of his spiritual power. He could feel it pushing and pulling at his senses, like waves on the ocean.

"I found it," he said.

"Good," Kaede said. "Now, try to guide it outside of yourself."

Inuyasha tugged at the power, but it pulled back, slipping away from him like water through his fingers. He tried again, with the same result. Inuyasha growled in frustration. It was his power. Why couldn't he get it to do what he wanted?

"Enough," Kaede's voice said sharply, snapping Inuyasha out of his meditative state.

Inuyasha's eyes flew open, and he was surprised to see that it was already well past noon. He'd been working at his meditation for hours, though it had felt like mere minutes. But now that he was out of his meditative state, Inuyasha noticed how hungry he was, and how stiff his body felt from sitting still for hours on end.

"You did well today," Kaede said as Inuyasha stood and started stretching to work the stiffness out of his muscles.

"Well?" Inuyasha scoffed. "I never managed to get a hold of my power."

"No," Kaede said, "but you found it. That is more than most manage their first day of training." She eyed him speculatively. "How long have you been meditating?"

"I started martial arts training when I was four, and Sensei always makes us start training with meditation," Inuyasha said. "It comes pretty easily to me at this point."

"That will certainly benefit you in your training to become a priest," Kaede said. She stood. "Come, I will prepare us some lunch. Afterwards, I will begin teaching you how to use the bow."

"A bow?" Inuyasha asked. He hadn't seen that one coming.

"I know the staff is a more traditional weapon for a priest," Kaede said, "but I am not well versed in the art of fighting with a staff. However, I do know the bow, and you will need a weapon to help you in any fight against demons. No human can hope to take them in hand to hand combat, unless it is a very weak demon."

"Right," Inuyasha said.

Geez, I never would have thought I'd have to end up worrying about being attacked by demons. It probably never would have been an issue if he hadn't fallen through the well and come to the past.

Which reminds me; I've got to try jumping down the well again to see if it takes me home.

But putting the attempt off for a few more hours wouldn't make a big difference. He'd wait until Kaede was done with her lessons for the day, and then he'd see about trying to get back home.


Lord Destroyer:I have not read Legend Becomes Reality, nor do I intend to do so. I'm sure it's a good story, but I don't want to read any other role reversal stories right now, because I don't want to run the risk of them influencing what I write. And no, I probably didn't need permission for this, but since I had read and reviewed the other story, it seemed like the polite thing to do. I hope you'll enjoy reading my version.