Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
A Path Preordained
Chapter Two: Two Paths
A large monster-like figure stood in the middle of the town. Kagome gazed at it measuringly as several men were putting the finishing touches on it. Every year, the town built a large youkai and would begin the festival with a symbolic burning of the object.
The statue stood far taller than anyone around it, with large menacing eyes, fangs, and multi-colored scales adorned all over its body. The figure never varied too much from year to year; no one in the town was really quite sure what a youkai exactly looked like; aside from myths and the tales of travelers. Kagome also was largely unaware of the characteristics of the creature.
The town, in fact, was not too far away from youkai territory. The forests only about a half days' walk away signaled the border between the two. And yet, everyone in the town lived rather peacefully. No one made attempts to get involved in any fighting over territory or jewel shards, so the town lived on quietly with little change over years and years.
Kagome sighed and turned away from the statue. She received a bag of apples from the merchant standing on the other side of the rather makeshift-looking stand. Preparations for the festivals were still in full swing and the raven haired girl had been recruited as her family's errand runner, coerced into taking several trips to town and back each day. She sighed once again, remembering her mother's words to her.
"Kagome, you can't cook or sew! If you're so upset, then you should have thought twice before skirting the lessons I gave you."
She entered her home quite angrily, putting more force into opening the door than necessary, causing it to slam loudly against the adjacent wall. To her confusion, she saw her grandfather and Hojo happily chatting away inside.
Her grandfather looked over and gave a very uncharacteristic smile in her direction. "Kagome! Wonderful news!" He exclaimed, lifting his arms up with enthusiasm. Hojo stood next to him, grinning like an enamored child.
Before she could question her grandfather's oddly genial behavior towards her, he resumed. "I never thought it would happen, but we've found you a fiancée!"
Kagome's blood ran cold as she stared at the two with utter disbelief. She opened her mouth as if to say something but the girl couldn't muster any words to form. She pressed her lips together and her gaze shifted between the two men standing in front of her as a feeling of dread welled up in the pit of her stomach.
While Kagome was still registering the new development, Hojo approached her and clasped one of her hands in between his own. "I came to ask your grandfather for his blessing." He explained with a truly jovial look reflected in his eyes.
"Ha Ha Ha!" Kagome's grandfather laughed heartily as he stood near the couple. "This is absolutely wonderful! Just think, we'll be able to have a wedding ceremony during the festival. Kagome, with luck the high priestess will be the one to marry you!" He placed his hands on both Hojo's and Kagome's backs, pushing the two even closer together.
Kagome closed her eyes with discomfort at Hojo's constricting proximity. She turned her head to the side, wary that their noses were practically touching. As soon as the old man released his grip, Kagome stepped back and pulled her hand from the unwanted embrace and rubbed it against her upper arm awkwardly.
"I'll just let you to lovebirds talk amongst yourselves for a while. I have so much planning to do! We have so little time!" He gleefully bounced up the stairs and soon was out of sight.
Kagome gazed down at the floor hopelessly. "When did you decide to do this, Hojo?" She asked quietly, barley above a whisper. She couldn't bring herself to look at him.
"We've known each other for so long," Hojo grabbed both her hands for another embrace and lifted them up in between him and Kagome, "I don't know how it happened so fast but look at us, we're already adults. We can start our own lives together."
Kagome kept silent with a small frown. She was having a difficult time keeping track of this little speech. The thought of an entire life with him returned no other reaction from her than endless boredom.
"I felt it was finally time. It's a big step, so I understand if you want to be alone for a little." With that, he gave her a chaste kiss on the lips to which Kagome couldn't help but flinch. Hojo gave another small smile, lightly laid his hand on his fiancée's cheek, and walked out the door without another word, never feeling so joyous in his life.
As the door closed behind her the dark sense of hopeless that engulfed Kagome dispersed and was replaced with a seething rage from deep within. Her jaw clenched as the enormity of the situation fully hit her. Not bearing to stay inside the place where her future had been so violated, she left as quickly as possible.
Villagers busy with chores looked oddly at the dark haired girl who was marching angrily through the village. Her two hands formed into fists so tight that her nails begun to dig into her palm. She continued to trudge through the village until she found herself in its outskirts, where no one else was in sight.
Kagome closed her eyes and promptly screamed at the top of her lungs. Nearby trees started to rustle as birds quickly flew out of them, away from the earsplitting sound. Soon the girl ran out of breath and gasped deeply.
She began marching back and forth restlessly and roughly grabbed her own hair. "Ask for his blessing? What about mine? It's my life they're throwing away like this." She stopped abruptly and yelled furiously, "No, no, no!" while shaking her head.
She found herself staring at the same wild flowers she admired only days before. "Stupid white roses, stupid Hojo…" Kagome muttered, kicking at the dirt angrily. She stood and place and pressed her hand to her lips. "And who does he think he is just kissing me like that?"
Kagome looked up at the sky, seeking an answer to escape her newfound misery. "This isn't supposed to happen. I'm not supposed to stay in the village and become run-of-the-mill house wife Kagome." She spoke to unhearing ears more quietly and fell onto her hands and knees.
Tears began escaping her eyes. "What about the adventures I'm supposed to have? This can't be all that's meant for me. A mediocre husband, mediocre house, mediocre life….and I'm supposed to be happy?" She stared at the ground, not knowing what to do next. She ran her fingers through the short grass, contemplating silently.
"Maybe it won't be so bad? Everyone settles for something at one point or another, right?" After a moment of silence, Kagome shook her head violently, "No! Who am I kidding? I just can't live with this."
The tortured girl stood up once again and wiped her eyes. "And now I'm talking to myself… no this isn't going to happen," she remarked once again, starting to walk back towards the village.
Kagome found herself in front of Ayami's door. Knocking on it quickly she spoke in an almost pleading tone, "Ayami, please open the door."
She heard hurried noises beyond the entrance and soon found a small woman wearing a worried expression. "Come in, Kagome." She invited immediately.
Kagome nodded gratefully and sat down at the small wooden table. "Kagome, what happened?" Ayami asked as she pulled out a chair and sat next to her."
Kagome couldn't hold back a few tears that escaped her eyes. "Hojo asked my grandfather for my hand in marriage," she spat the words out hatefully.
"He did not think to ask you alone first?" Ayami offered a reassuring hand on Kagome's arm.
Kagome sniffed and wipes one of her eyes. "No, and I don't want to but grandpa's already making arrangements, thinking it's a miracle someone would even want me," the tears began to fall more steadily down Kagome's cheeks.
"Its okay, Kagome." The woman gave a warm smile and brushed a stray hair out of Kagome's face. "He's not the one for you and you don't have to commit yourself to that."
"But how? How can I just say no? My family would never accept me again."
"Sometimes," Ayami paused and looked out the window behind Kagome, "sometimes you have to make sacrifices to do what you think is right. My parents were set on me marrying a man I didn't love also."
The teenager looked up quickly. Ayami never mentioned anything about the past to her before. "I was ready to make the best of the ordeal and give in," Ayami shook her head as a sad smile formed, "But then I met my future husband."
Kagome listened intently. "I quickly found I was deeply in love with a person my family would never approve of. I was torn, but it didn't take long for me to choose to tell my parents the truth; that I refused to marry the man they matched for me and that I had found another."
"What happened?"
"Well," Ayami folded her hands in her lap, "they spared no time in disowning me and I never saw them again."
Kagome's hand covered her mouth, "Ayami I'm so sorry."
Ayami smiled at the girl she saw so much of herself in. "It's all right; I have never, even for a second, regretted my decision. I spent ten years with true love and it was worth it." Her smile faded and she took a more serious tone, "The point is, Kagome, that you shouldn't let other people decide something so crucial for you. If you really feel strongly about this, well, then I think you know what you must do."
Kagome looked down and played with the ends of her robe silently. Did she really have it in her to go through with it? Sure she was never happy in her village, but to run away and start over with nothing and no one?
"When you were disowned," Kagome began, "how did you get by on your own?"
Ayami tilted her head slight and gave a sad smile, "It was difficult. But I wasn't on my own. I found someone who was worth all the relationships I had lost." She leaned closer to Kagome and grabbed her fiddling hands, "But I'm not going to gloss it over for you, dear. It's extremely painful losing everyone in your life and not being able to turn back."
She paused and looked at Kagome in the eyes, "Think of it this way; if you don't leave and marry Hojo, will you regret it? Never live your life in regret. Mine has been far from easy but at least I am at peace with the choices I made."
Kagome nodded and grinned, "How is it you always know what to say? I would regret it completely." The young girl gathered herself, "I'm going to leave tonight," she announced resolutely.
Ayami didn't seem surprised and padded Kagome's hand reassuringly, "There is a village, east of here. If you follow the dirt path there, it should lead you straight to it. But," Ayami raised a finger, "you must wait until dawn. If you leave then you should reach the village only a few hours after sunset. It will be hard, but you shouldn't rest before you get there, the forests surrounding the paths can be dangerous."
Kagome swallowed loudly at the daunting task. She couldn't help questioning herself as to whether she would be able to do this. "Those forests…..they're in youkai territory, aren't they?" She inquired, though dreading the upcoming answer.
"Yes they are." Kagome slumped over slightly, her chances of being able to do this were dwindling lower and lower. "But not all youkai will harm you, remember that, Kagome." The teenager looked at Ayami questioningly.
"They are good and bad, just like humans. But that doesn't mean you should let your guard down." The young girl furrowed her eyebrows at the information. It was the first time in her life she had heard anything remotely positive about the demonic creatures. It was especially surprising coming from a woman whose family as killed by them, but Kagome did not want to press the sensitive subject.
"There is an old priestess who resides in the village by the name of Kaede. Tell her I sent you and she will provide you with shelter. Just don't stay there too long. It's too close to here." Ayami stood up and walked to the backroom of the house with the slight limp she had never managed to rid herself of after being attacked.
When she returned she carried an old bow and a quiver of arrows. "I know it's not much, but it might come in useful."
Kagome stood and took the weapon from Ayami. "Thank you so much."
Ayami then hugged the raven haired adolescent and said softly, "I know you'll find what you're looking for. Just please be careful."
Emerging from the embrace, Kagome smiled and headed for the door. "Kagome," Ayami started as she grabbed the door knob. The girl turned around. "Remember not to stray from the path. Some youkai are indeed trustworthy but they come in short supply."
Kagome nodded. "I'll see you again, Ayami."
When the teenager left, Ayami stood where she was for a moment, hoping she didn't push Kagome in the direction she wasn't intended to take.
…..
Kagome placed the bow Ayami had given her underneath her bed and then sat down with a fatigued sigh. So much had happened that day, she was to be wed and now she was going to run away.
Thinking back to Ayami's past, Kagome realized how much a like they were. She admired the woman's decision and was determined to follow her example. "I'll find what I'm looking for," she murmured.
But why had she told her such a thing about youkai? Never had she heard that there was a single one to be approachable, let alone trusted. Was there something about the woman that she didn't know?
"Kagome, dinner!" She heard her mom's muffled voice coming from downstairs.
The meal was tense for Kagome, to say the least. She could not resolve herself to look at her grandfather or mother as they happily celebrated her upcoming wedding. Souta was mostly silent, a feat very unusual for him. Kagome felt guilty, but was already set on the path chosen. Every time she was presented with what was planned for her here, her decision only became more absolute. Until her mother chimed in.
The woman took a break from her food and fixed her gaze at Kagome. "I know we don't always see eye to eye, but I want you to know that I am proud of you, my daughter."
The girl in question nearly choked on her food after her parent's admission. She coughed for a moment, trying to clear her throat and swallowed loudly. "Thanks mom," she managed in a raspy tone.
Her mother rarely said anything so kind to her.
But she went on, "I thought I could never bridge our differences, but perhaps we can manage it. You're finally growing up," she admitted and gave a loving look Kagome hadn't seen since her early childhood.
Kagome tilted her eyes upward to stop the impending tears. 'You would regret it, you would regret it, you would regret it.' She chanted mentally.
Her response was limited to smiling at her mother, unable to form any words.
"We can see how my old wedding dress fits tomorrow."
Kagome forced an even wider smile that was beginning to seem more maniacal than anything else. Why mother had chosen this second to be so kind, she would never understand.
"Hey Kagome," Souta chimed from the opposite end of the table, "Can I be the ring bearer?"
Kagome's eye widened even more and the double onslaught. Maybe she wasn't strong enough after all. Taking a deep breath, she opened her mouth. "Sure Souta good idea! Say, this food was really great. I'm so full. Great dinner mom. Hey look at that I'm pretty tired, long day you know? Ok off to bed good night," she got out in a few seconds and ran upstairs as quickly as she could.
Kagome's grandfather frowned, "She must be excited."
…
Kagome sat up from her bed. The sky was slowly filling with light as the sun rose closer and closer to the horizon. Grabbing her bows and provisions she had prepared earlier, she walked up to the stairs but stopped before continuing down.
Dinner last night had been a disaster. She was so ready, so sure. Leaving was so much simpler when she had thought her family would not miss her at all. But she had already made her decision and it was too late to turn back now. There was one thing she was positive of, and that was the regret she'd always suffer if she did stay.
She lingered there for a moment and then proceeded outside the house where she was raised. She took in everything in her village for one last time. It was so peaceful out. Kagome could hardly believe it was the same village. The purplish-blue light of early morning made the town so much more charming, giving it almost an ethereal quality. The distant sounds of birds rang in cool, clean air that calmed Kagome as she breathed it in. "This is a good way to remember you." She announced to no one.
As she began walking along the dirt path, she admired looking at the vast field and the far off forests in the dawn's light.
Kagome looked at the path ahead of her. Although her determination faltered slightly, she continued forward.
…..
The unforgiving sun blazed against Kagome's skin. The dark haired teenager wiped the sweat forming on her brow and continued walking. She grabbed a brown, leather canteen from her small bag and swallowed the water inside, savoring its cool taste in her mouth.
The unreal and calming effect of the morning had been cast away by the harsh sun and humid air, bringing forth the reality of what Kagome had done to her life. Every time she thought of the village that she left behind, perhaps forever, a pain shot through her heart. She would miss Ayami, Souta, her mother…..and even grandfather.
She pictured her mother, looking around in their dusty storage area for her old wedding dress, excited to see how her daughter filled it out.
Kagome sighed. She tried with all her will power to hold onto the thought of regret. It had been the rock that allowed her to actually go through with running away; but now the idea was becoming weaker and weaker in her mind. Kagome called it forth again and again, trying to make it offer her the reassurance it once did.
She had never realized until this point how selfish the choice was of her. But on the other hand, how could she not be selfish about her own life?
Kagome mind raced with these thoughts for miles, continuing on the endless dirt path. She was in hell, but she could not stop until she reached the village. Everything would be better once she reached the village; the girl forced herself to believe.
Suddenly, her rhythmic walking stopped. She looked over to the forest in the distance. There was something there, a soft light among the trees. It was calling her, softly whispering to come to it. Kagome stilled at the odd sensation. The object was pulling her to it. Her hand reached out almost in need. It consumed her; and soon nothing else seemed to matter besides the mysterious summoning.
Recalling Ayami's warning, she gazed at the old, looming trees cautiously. Humans weren't allowed in those forests, it was far too dangerous.
As if the object could read Kagome's thoughts, its calling became louder, reverberating through her as if a large bell was ringing inside of her. It became painful to stay in place. Her body ached to move forward.
At that moment Kagome forgot why she couldn't go get it. She raked her mind for the reason she was hesitant to retrieve it but the calling made it impossible to think. Nothing else mattered except getting the object. It belonged to her. Yes, it was hers.
Kagome took a step towards the woods. Her feet began to move faster and faster, by a force that was not completely her own.
Before she could realize, Kagome was standing at the forest's edge. She looked up at the ancient trees; she recalled they were some sort of barrier. The girl furrowed her brows together to try and think why she could not pass these trees.
But the calling continued to grow louder and louder in Kagome's mind. With reluctance, the nervous girl entered the forest. She pushed aside the thick vines and branches and continued to follow the soft humming reverberating in her head. Kagome winced in discomfort as sand and pebbles from the forest floor became wedged between her foot and sandal.
She managed to stumble through the thick foliage and came to a clearing. Small amounts of sun filtered through the hundred year old branches above. The strange glow she had followed shown dimly in the middle of the field between the blades of grass. She approached slowly, knelt down and touched it lightly. As soon as she touched it, the calling stopped. She picked up the object with her hand and examined it.
It looked like a broken shard of glass. It was a purplish-pink color and gave off a ghostly aura. "What…..is this?" Kagome said softly with puzzlement, not wanting to consider the ominous answer she held in her head.
She put the object in her robe and then stood up with a start. It was as if a haze had just lifted and she sobered into the harsh reality once again. She was in youkai territory, if she didn't leave now she would die.
"Well, look what we have here," grunted an inhumanly deep, bone rattling voice from behind her.
Kagome turned around quickly. She feared for her life.
A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger... couldn't help myself haha. Look for chapter three soon!
