A/N:
Ugh, I don't know anything about Japanese honorifics other than what I've gathered from Wikipedia, and the more I look into it the more confusing it got. So trying to not butcher it anymore, I've decided to write this story without the use of honorifics and went back to remove the references from the first chapter. My bad, please point out if I've missed any and I'll update it.
Hope you guys are enjoying the story! I've finally figured out a plot/direction I want to go so stick with it to find out. Again, I have trouble with tenses.
In case anyone didn't know, the ~/~ signifies a flashback/memory/dream, and is all in italics.
Italics with single quotation marks are thoughts.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha & characters from the manga/anime belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
WARNING: There will be dark themes in this story, I'm not sure when, but there will be. Watch the rating.
The Longest Road
Chapter 2 - Omen
The sun was setting over the hill saying its goodbye to the approaching night sky. Out in the distance his golden orbs spied the pointed gates of his domain. The structure sat discretely against the backdrop of Mount Hotaka, dark red tiles lined the roofs giving off a look of spilt blood in the fading light of the sun.
Glancing around him, the demon made his ascent into the moonless sky in a powerful leap. Cold air rushed around him as his speed shot him through the crisp air, white silk sleeves fluttering in its wake.
Within a short moment he landed within the palace gates on the open courtyard, standing up to his full height as he regarded his men. The guards gave their bows of respect as he stepped towards the double doors of his fortress. As the entrance opened for him, the light soprano voice of a little girl floated throughout the dim hallways.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" The petite human donning a bright orange-checkered yukata launched herself at him at full speed, trailing behind her a very disgruntled Jaken. With her short arms reaching around the demon lord, she enclosed him smothering hugged; it was her usual greeting for whenever he was away for more than a few days.
"Rin" intoned the Lord, carefully placing his clawed hand on her shoulders to ease her death grip off his person.
"Oh, my apologies Lord Sesshomaru. You're back later than usual today. I'm just glad you're back" Rin smiled up at him, arms quickly clasping behind her as she tipped on her toes rocking back and forth. It was a hard habit to break, though no one has ever greeted the Lord in such a manner; she was always the one exception.
"Of course Lord Sesshomaru would be back you impatient child! When Lord Sesshomaru says he'll be back, he will be! Now go back and finish your supper" Jaken grumbled, pattering his way towards the standing girl and his Lord.
'That behaviour needs to be adjusted' he thought sourly. The imp immediately changed his tone as he spoke, bending down in a full bow, "Lord Sesshomaru, welcome back!"
Sesshomaru looked at his retainer passively. "Tell Yakamoto to meet me in my study." The Lord strode past the imp and down the grand hall, taking measured steps before Jaken even had a chance to straighten up.
"Yes, right away Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken scurried away as quickly as he could, pulling Rin along by her short sleeves and depositing her into the dining room from which she had emerged prior to Sesshomaru's arrival.
"Finish your dinner before your Lord becomes displeased!" he shouted before stepping back out into the hall again, muttering beneath his breath about babysitters and job descriptions.
Rin observed as the small toad youkai hastily make his way out the door before turning back towards her meal on the table. 'Master Jaken sure is in a grouch today' she thought idly as she picked up a piece of sushi with her chopsticks. Knowing her Lord, she knew he was a busy person and would often times be away. It didn't make her miss him any less; it was a bit lonely around the castle. Inwardly she was glad she had at least Jaken around to keep her company.
Sesshomaru stepped into a darkly lit room. Shelves of old books and scrolls lined both sides of the wall, filling the air with the smell of paper and used parchment. Pacing towards the single table in the middle of the room, the Lord glanced down at the piles of paperwork before lowering himself in a seated position on the soft tatami mat. The opaque clouds of the night had shifted letting the ambient light of the moon filter in through the large open window. The lone candle on the desk gave enough light to make reading a hassle-free endeavour, its flame flickering as a soft breeze sifted through the room.
A moonlit hand reached out to lift the first parchment off the top of his desk as his eyes scanned through the contents. Sesshomaru hated paperwork, but he must honour the duties of his title.
'Petty conflicts' he thought bitterly as he placed the first parchment down to reach for the next. There are definitely better uses of his time than to sieve through the details of land disputes and minor conflicts.
Moments later a soft knock came at the open doorway. Without looking up, Sesshomaru regally gestured for the guest to take a seat in front of him. Eyes still reading through the last of the parchments the Lord waited for his guest to settle down on the other side of his small work desk.
Silence and stillness befell the room, choking out the air before the Lord spoke.
"Tell me, Yakamoto, of what you have heard in the south." Sesshomaru was now looking at his guest, cold gold eyes locked with the green orbs of the fox demon before him.
"As you have heard, my Lord, there is civil unrest between the human clans in the south. It has become increasingly disturbing." The fox sat with his back straight and posture as stiff as his armour, a solemn expression apparent on his features.
"We have already been aware of this. It is of no consequence to me. You had mentioned in your recent letter of happenings that will impact the Western territories, or were you not being truthful?"
The fox inhaled deeply as he caught on to his Lord's tone. "There is more, Lord Sesshomaru. My spies have gathered news of one of the human warlords working with a youkai general of the south. So far it has only been a rumour amongst some of the human soldiers, though we suspect the youkai Lord of the South is not aware. The rumour claims an attempt to overtake the Southern Lord. We have not yet been able to prove or disprove."
Had Sesshomaru any reaction to this news, it did not show in his calm expression, speaking only with a monotone of disinterest. "How is this of any importance to the West? Let the Lord of the South deal with his own complications. If a Lord cannot control his own territories, then he is unfit to rule."
"I agree that one who is unable to control his domains may not be suited to rule; however" he gulped down the dryness in his throat, "the rumour further entails attempts to overtake the West once control of the South has been established…"
"No one can take the West" Sesshomaru gritted out between clenched teeth. The fox stiffened as his fiery red hair stood on ends. So there was the reaction he was anticipating; he knew his Lord was agitated at the thought of anyone daring to intrude on the Western Lands and attempt to usurp his power. Nonetheless, if his sources were correct, then he must continue to bring about the news. Let's just hope the messenger does not get shot.
"No, my Lord, we are strong. But we must heed caution. We have been finding southern youkai soldiers moving closer towards the Western borders. There have been quick developments within the past year regarding the south. Whatever is happening, it is moving quickly and causing much problems." Yakamoto swallowed hard after the words left his mouth. He had been the general for the Western Lord for years and yet it never becomes easier delivering less-than-pleasing news.
Sesshomaru regarded him with a piercing glare. The fox was right, however. He had also noticed along his patrols the increasingly prevalent sense of youkai activity along his borders. It wasn't enough to engage in a confrontation that could lead to battle and death, but it was a precaution.
"Keep watch on the borders and continue to bring forth any new information. You are dismissed."
The fox nodded before quickly taking his leave. He did not want to be in the room longer than required. Whenever the Western Lord was irked it was enough to send a chill down his spine, and he was the only demon able to get him so shaken up with nothing more than a piercing glare. Quietly he made his way back towards the barracks to inform the rest of his soldiers.
Sesshomaru resigned himself back to reviewing the treaties and plea bargains on his desk. One look at the pile of papers and he let a scowl slip through his stoic mask. 'Something is brewing with the south, something that I must investigate' the inuyoukai thought pensively.
Indeed, something odd is happening. The wars between human clans were of normal occurrence, and as long as they did not complicate youkai matters they were left to their own destruction of one another. If so, then why would a youkai general be working with a human warlord? The south is strong enough as it is, they would not require human assistance. As for the humans, even if they had begged, there is little benefit for youkai to be involved in human affairs. No, something is definitely amiss.
This little tidbit of information would eat away at his mind until the Western Lord figured out the truth. Until then, it is seen as a possible uprising to his lands.
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Hidden far into a densely overgrown forest, the entrance to a small ancient temple was barely visible in the dark of the night. There were no movements but that of a lone being, stealthy as possibly to lurk beneath the shadows. Treading through the vines and undergrowth, the creature found the entrance and made his way once again through the narrow path into the broken temple.
Step by step, the lone creature weaved through bushes and vines towards the centre of the ruins. Light steps of his feet carried him down a hidden pathway, the only light provided by the moon through broken holes in the ceiling.
Dust filled the room in a cloud that almost glowed in the omniscient light. He knew his way around, feeling his hands along the walls to find his path towards his goal. The walls seemed to have been placed in an endless maze, purposely confusing anyone who might have stumbled upon this structure. Wild vines coated the cool stone walls of the underground temple and holding up the remains of the collapsed roofing. Webs of lonely spiders etched each corners and crevices. He was accustomed to this empty place, for it was not his first time treading upon such a discovery.
Upon reaching the location he desired and careful not to knock over the already-fallen debris, he came closer to the raised, creaky platform near the end of the room. Dark eyes landed upon the wooden chest before him, the brass lock having already been pried opened in a hasty manner.
Reaching in towards the center of the chest, the creature picked up the sole item within and grinned devilishly as the moonlight reflected off his prize.
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"Jinenji, these are beautiful!" the raven-haired girl gasped as she took in the sight of the wide garden. Plants of varying sizes and shapes grew; some as tall as she was and some were speckled in vibrant colours reminiscent of a spring bloom.
The tall ogre-like half-demon loomed over her small frame, opening his calloused palm to reveal a small branch lined with five-petaled white flowers. Kagome turned her sight from the garden to the flowers in front of her, eyes looking up at the timid creature questioningly.
"These are lovely, what healing properties do they have?" she said, reaching out with her soft hands and holding up the plant in her tiny palms.
A blush spread across Jinenji's tanned face as he looked upon the girl, the crown of her head just barely reaching the height of his chest. At that moment she seemed as delicate as the flowers she was examining.
"Pear blossoms…" he said quietly in his deep voice.
"Pear blossoms?" Her wide eyes were now looking up at him through the curtain of her bangs.
"Not for healing… they signify… friendship. They are for you." He wasn't sure what he was doing, but he was beginning to feel a bit nervous as she did not respond, but just stood there staring intently at him and then back at the flowers.
A moment passed before she suddenly looked back up at him with a large smile plastered on her face.
"They're wonderful. Thank you very much" she breathed, once again examining the composites of the rare flower. The silky petals were white as milk and the stamens a deep shade of pink. It was the beautiful but lesser-known cousin of the cherry blossoms, she mused.
Jinenji let out a sigh of relief as he relaxed, not even realizing he was tense the whole time. It had been a good idea giving her the flowers, he thought. Kagome was someone he considered to be a close friend, perhaps even a saviour, and he would never forget the first time he had met her.
She had been travelling with the half-demon Inuyasha at the time and had helped him by clearing his name to the villagers of being an evil oni. Since then, his life had been more peaceful without the constant death threats and prejudice of mob-mentality. It wasn't until perhaps a year after they had met that she crossed path with him again. Only this time it was different; she was alone and without her companions and he could never forget that look on her face...
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"Jinenji! Come here and help me!" the old woman shouted from the gardens. With his heart leaping to his chest, the large half-demon hurried out of the small hut towards his mother, fearing the worst.
"I'm coming, ma! What has happ…" before he could even finish his sentence he found himself frozen in place as he took in the sight before him. His mother was holding up a young woman with an arm under her shoulder and around her back, barely balancing both their weights as she struggled to make her way towards the hut. Snapping out of his frozen shock, Jinenji hurried over and carefully lifted the girl in his large arms, carrying her inside the hut while taking caution of the gaping wound on her shoulder.
"… Jinen-… it's… poison" the girl breathed out raggedly, taking in shaky breaths as he laid her down in the hut. Her face was pale and her eyes unfocused. The dried blood on her clothing told him it had been some time since this injury occurred. Jinenji turned his attention to her wound as his mother peered from around his shoulder to look at the girl.
Light as a feather his fingers grazed the wounded flesh where her clothing left her exposed. The shoulder was turning black, blue and green with infection. If not treated it would soon turn deadly.
"It's that girl Kagome; I saw her heading towards our fields and then she collapsed" said the old woman, her eyes wrinkling at the edges as she took sight of the gasping girl before her. "That gash on her shoulder does not look good…"
"Mama, please watch her," Jinenji spoke in a low tone before kneeling up and heading out the door. Moments later returned with a basket of herbs. Grabbing his mortar and pestle from the shelf on the side wall, he gingerly began grinding up a mixture of the plants. His mother watched worriedly as her son did his work. She eyed the girl morbidly.
'She might not make it, this poor girl, the infection looks like it has already spread to over half her upper body…' The grave thought in the old woman did not deter her from putting on a brave face for her son. She knew how precious this girl was, she was the one who gave her son his life back. She recognized this odd girl as soon as she stepped foot on her lands; she looked somewhat the same, minus her odd green and white outfit from when they first met. Now she wore the traditional clothing of a miko. She was still the tall, slender girl with dark raven hair, azure eyes and skin silky smooth. Oh how this young girl reminded this old woman of the days of her youth.
"She will make it, Jinenji. She will heal" his mother said gently, patting her son on the back as he started applying the green paste onto the open wound.
Kagome was phasing in and out of consciousness at this point, her eyes struggling to remain awake. All she felt was a warming sensation seeping from the gash on her shoulder and spreading in a soft embrace around her. She had made it…
"..Thank you… Jinenji…" she whispered before she completely faded out.
Jinenji wiped a droplet of sweat from his forehead as he finished bandaging the girl's wound, taking extra care to ensure everything was cleaned of dirt and potential irritants. His mother had stayed by his side the entire time giving him a silent comfort.
He stared his round blue eyes back at the girl, gleaming with unshed tears. He never thought that he would see someone whom he would call his dear friend like this, in so much pain and seemingly near death. No, she wasn't near death, not even close, but the way her hollow eyes had looked at him…it seemed as if she was about to embrace death itself. Those eyes that used to be so full of spark have faded to a silent whisper. Inwardly he wondered where was Inuyasha and the rest of her friends…why had she come to him alone?
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Softly shaking his head free of the old memory, he smiled tenderly at her. "You are my dearest friend, Kagome. Whenever I see these flowers in their full bloom, I am reminded of you."
Now was Kagome's turn to blush. "Well, I am honoured to be of such a friend to you" she said before turning back towards the field.
They both stood in silence, looking over the greenery in its soft hues of pink and gold cast upon by the sinking rays of the sun. Minutes passed in silence as the two enjoyed each other's company while bathed in the scene of the lively garden.
"Jinenji! Kagome! Come on in, supper's ready!" came an old woman's voice. Kagome was the first to turn and start heading back towards the hut.
Stopping mid track, she glanced back at Jinenji who was still looking out into the distance. "Come on, we don't want to keep your mother waiting" she chided playfully. He turned back to regard her, a serene smile upon his face, as he nodded before making his way over to join her.
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It was late afternoon by the time she reached the village. The broken-down buildings were looking a lot better after weeks of repair. Greetings were welcomed her way as she strode past many of the now familiar faces. Readjusting the package carried on her back, she hastily made the rest of her way past the village entrance and up towards the headman's hut.
Seeing him just outside his humble abode and chopping up logs for firewood, Kagome made her way towards him while watchful of the direction his axe was aimed.
"Hey Takashiro, have you seen Natsuko?" Kagome greeted.
"Well hello there young lady, you're back!" he replied as if surprised to see her. "I was starting to wonder if you had gotten lost" he teased.
Kagome laughed softly, "Ahh... no, just stayed a bit longer than expected."
Putting his axe aside to lean against the wall of his shed, he wiped away the glistening perspiration on his face with a towel pulled from a hidden pocket. "I believe she is still in the infirmary, you can find her there. Were you able to get what you needed?" he asked.
"Yep! And lots of it! Natsuko can use these herbs and plant the extra seeds in the garden. They should be ready within a season" Kagome said proudly while gesturing to the large pack on her back. Watching her readjust the bag for the second time, Takashiro smirked as he reached over and pulled it right out of her grasp.
Kagome looked up in surprise at the sudden loss of weight and feigned an annoyed huff when she saw his smirk. "I'm strong enough to carry that, you know. I made it all the back, didn't I?"
"Yes, and I want to make sure you'd make the rest of the way to the infirmary, before we have to add you as one of the patients" Takashiro laughed haughtily, seeing her fake a frown before letting out a smile and making her way towards the infirmary. He followed closely behind.
As the two neared the large building that marked the medical centre of the village, Natsuko had already spotted them and was waiting at the entrance for the pair to arrive. Kagome was the first to step in, followed by Takashiro as he placed the pack of herbs down on the ground. Turning back to the girls he watched as they said their pleasantries while Natsuko squeezed Kagome in a tight hug. It almost looked as if Natsuko was embracing her late sister.
Reminiscing back on the past few weeks that Kagome's been with them, he'd realized that many of the villagers had already taken a liking to her, especially those that she spent time healing. It was natural, of course, to have that relationship with your healer, but it seems the injured regards her much more than just a healer providing her services. Never has he seen such dedication. She was in the infirmary every day and sometimes even more so than Natsuko. It was no wondering that the villagers spoke so highly of her. Even he, as he had started to notice, felt more at ease around her presence. How strange, that a stranger can bring such lightness to them all.
"I've brought back some goodies for you, Natsuko!" Kagome exclaimed as she broke away from the girl's amicable embrace and reached for the pack of herbs on the floor. Brown eyes going wide in anticipation, Natsuko hastily led the two towards a small table and sat down, gesturing the two to do the same while awaiting Kagome to unveil her gifts.
Placing the pack on the table and gently untying the strings that wound it together, Kagome carefully opened the package, taking care not to damage any of its contents. The wrappings came undone and a variety of greens filled the table.
Takashiro looked on with curiosity. Herbal remedies and the art of healing was not his forte, but it would do good to gain some helpful knowledge. He was glad that the village had Natsuko and now Kagome to help with the task as healers.
"Ohhh, there's so many, what do each of these do?" exclaimed Natsuko as she reached to finger a few of the plant stems.
Seating herself comfortably, Kagome reached for the plant furthest to the left of her and picked it up, holding it to eye level for both of them to see. "This one here is an Elderberry plant. It's used to treat pain, swelling, coughs and fevers. It's actually quite robust as a healing plant."
The two pairs of eyes lingered on the plant dotted with black berries. "They look delicious too" Natsuko laughed.
Kagome let out a small giggle, "I suppose they do, it's a good thing they're good for us then."
Putting down the Elderberry plant, Kagome curled her fingers around the next plant, holding it up as she did before for both to examine. "This here is an Opium Poppy, very potent as a pain reliever. Oh and this one…" she said placing down the second herb and picking up the third, "…is liquorice root, used for sore throats and certain infections."
Kagome continued on explaining each of the different herbs that she brought back and their medicinal uses, how to prepare them, when best to use them, and how to plant the seeds to grow more in the garden. She was thankful that Jinenji had taught her so much; in addition to the teachings from Kaede, she knew that her knowledge of healing was admired amongst those she visited.
Kaede… she was like a grandmother to her. She was like family… and now she won't ever see her again. All this talk of healing and herbal remedies reminded her of one of the few times where nature just didn't have a cure and it had cost her the only family she had left…
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"Kaede! Oh dear Kami, Kaede!" the girl screamed, running towards the fallen old lady on the ground in the fields. "Quick! Don't just stand there! Help me get her to the hut!" Kagome was yelling at one of the nearby farmers now. He promptly dropped his basket and rushed towards her.
"Is she ok? Lady Kaede…" the farmer spoke. The frightened farmer and Kagome assisted in lifting the old woman to a standing position, each with an arm under her shoulders to support her.
When they finally made their way back to her hut and placed her down, Kagome was already diligently trying to pinpoint where the source of the wound was.
"…my ankle..." Kaede's voice was barely above a whisper.
Pulling up her hakama to reveal her swollen joint, Kagome gasped as she saw the two distinct puncture wounds of a snake bite. Her scattered brain tried its hardest to focus in on anything and everything she had learned about venomous snakes from her science and biology classes. All of her thoughts led down to two roads of possibilities; non-venomous bites would just be a puncture wound and would heal just fine, but venomous bites can start the clock on a deadly countdown, and she knew for sure that anti-venom wouldn't have been invented until the late 1800's.
Noticing the sweat forming on Kaede's face, she knew she was facing the latter of her fears. Kagome patted away the old woman's sweat with her sleeves. "Don't worry Kaede, we'll find something that can heal you, don't worry we'll just-" Kaede grasped Kagome's frantic hand, holding her still with what little strength she had left. She knew the poison was working quickly and that her time would soon come to an end. Pulling together all of her remaining energy, she spoke.
"No, my child. Do not waste ye efforts. My time is coming, and I shall embrace it." The old woman coughed softly before continuing, looking into the teary eyes of the young girl before her, the girl that resembles so much of her sister yet is utterly and completely different.
"Do not waste ye life here, Kagome… I want ye to find true happiness. Do that as my last wish, my dear child…" Kaede was fading out as each of her words was spoken softer and softer.
Tears dripped down Kagome's face, soundlessly soaking onto her clothing in her kneeled position. "Kaede…don't leave me…I- I have no one else…" she said barely above a whisper. She didn't know if she was speaking to the old woman whom she loved as a grandmother or herself in preparation of the inevitable.
"Ay… my dear Kagome, know that you will never be alone… just promise me… a happy life…" Kaede's eyes closed once more as her hand loosened around Kagome's, and her last breath was drawn.
Tears fell freely from the miko's eyes now as she cried, letting out all the sorrow that she'd been holding in for the past year, letting the pain consume her.
The farmer watched silently from the side of the hut not wanting to intrude on such a precious moment. He had known Kaede for a long time and had come to welcome the strange girl into their small community. Any friend of Kaede's is a friend of theirs'. It was such a sullen moment that he discreetly made his way out the door, letting the girl have her final moments with the last of her family.
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"…Kagome…? Are you ok? You're crying…" Natsuko stared at her with worried eyes.
Kagome quickly shook her head and wiped at the tears that were discretely trailing down her face. Focusing her eyes again she saw the worried faces of Natsuko and Takashiro. "Sorry… I-I'm fine... Please excuse me."
The miko quickly stood up and exited the infirmary without turning back. Natsuko faced Takashiro with a questioning gaze as both felt the uneasy atmosphere of the room.
"Do you think she'll be alright? I don't know what's wrong with her or what's causing her to be unhappy… do you happen to know anything?" Natsuko asked gently.
Takashiro sighed heavily before answering, looking down towards the plants scattered over the table. "No, I do not know what ails her. But I do think that she has experienced a great loss, perhaps even greater than any even you or I have known."
"When she's happy, she's as bright as the sun, but I can see that she's trying so hard to hide some sort of sadness… I haven't asked about it, and I don't think she'll tell me either…" the girl said sombrely, reaching out a hand to brush against the gifts of herbs left by Kagome. Natsuko wondered what could have triggered such an emotional reaction from her dear friend. She had seemed so happy when speaking about all the herbal remedies and explaining the treatments the herbs can provide.
Standing up, Takashiro started to make his way towards the door, his broad shoulders slumping a bit and not representative of his usual strong posture.
"Let her have her grievance. When she is ready, she will tell us." Glancing back at the girl still kneeling by the table of herbs he gave her a reassuring look before lifting the mat away and exiting, making his way back towards his own hut.
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Nothing but darkness surrounded her. Walking along the path, the girl desperately tried to decipher her surroundings. "Hello? Is anyone there?" she called out.
Silence.
Echo.
Nothing.
This place was so black, so bleak.
She didn't want to be in this place. It was cold, so cold. The shivers only seemed to come harder and the shrill feeling of ice crept further into her limps.
She could hear a sound, a very faint… sound….
Straining her ears she tried to listen.
One.
Two.
"Kagome…."
"What…?" she replied automatically.
"….You've left us…. How could you?" the strained voice said softly, almost as if it was in pain.
"No…. I didn't leave… I'm here! I'm here! I've always been here!" Kagome yelled out, reaching desperately out into the darkness for whatever she could grab. But her hand grasped nothing; there was nothing to hold on to….
"No… you've left us…Now, you're gone. We're gone…."
"Wait! Don't go! Please! Souta!" she screamed.
Silence.
Nothing but silence followed, the echo of the last voices ringing barely above a whisper in the wind, echoing throughout her consciousness…
"We're gone…"
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Kagome awoke with a start, eyes fluttering open and blinking away the darkness of her dream.
'Not again…' she thought frustratingly. Her damp skin glistened in the moonlight with matted hair sticking to her face. Cupping her face in both her hands, she took three deep breaths before wiping away at her tired eyes. The dreams came back again and it was always the same. She couldn't do anything to change the reminders of her subconscious.
Sitting up and sliding the blankets off her body, she looked towards the window. A lone pear blossom sat on the ledge from where she had placed it earlier, beckoning towards her with its iridescent petals.
The moon was full tonight. Skies were clear, stars were bright. No matter where she went the moon would always be the same. Some nights it would appear and some nights it would shy away from the dark, but she knew it was always up there. Just like the stars, the moon was a constant.
How many times has she had this dream? The dreams of her past haunting her; it plagued her with guilt, with something that she couldn't event control. Standing up she brushed away at the entrance mat and made her way out of her stuffy hut. She needed to take a walk to clear her mind and she knew just the place.
Turning to her right she treaded steadily towards a quiet cliff discovered on her first week at the village. It was on the outskirts of town but close enough where it wasn't too far of a journey.
Making her way through the trail the girl closed her eyes to let her senses take over. Her bare feet flourished at the feel of the soft grass beneath her toes, crisp and cool sensations awakening every step she took.
As she approached the clearing, Kagome sat down slowly, bringing up her knees to her chest. The light of the moon and the calm of the sky always seem to sooth whatever plagued her night terrors. Looking up she could make out the constellations that she had learned about in school, in a time so very far away.
The clearing allowed for a striking view of the vast expanse of the forest beneath her. Sounds of the forest critters reached her ears; the soothing melody of the crickets chirping and the soft thrum of the calm wind as it blew past her hair. Her mind was in a state of calm once again...letting go of the memories, of the dreams…of the past…
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Dark eyes lurked within darker shadows as he spied the young woman stepping out of the quiet hut. Noiselessly he followed her leisurely pace, blending into the forest edge like a creature of the night. It won't be long now. Following and observing her for weeks had been a tedious task set by his commander. He should have gotten her that first night instead of waiting all this time, but she had been prepared then. This time, however, she was too comfortable; she didn't even bother bringing her bow and arrows.
A sly smile slowly spread across his face. Once he was done with his task his commander would be pleased. It had taken a while, but he had to make sure that the rumours were true, and that meant tedious hours upon hours of observation.
His beady eyes followed her every movement as the woman made her way towards a clearing, watching her slender form as she sat down on the bushy grass.
Moving ever so carefully to round the area, he slowly approached with steps light as a feather, arms raised to come down in a sweeping motion with a large object in hand.
The noise of a twig breaking sounded to her right. Snapping her head in that direction, the girl barely had a chance to gasp before she was knocked to the ground, a trickle of blood streaming from her temple and staining the grass below.
Wincing in pain, Kagome was struggling to open her eyes only to see a dark, blurry shadow looming before her. Finally, her consciousness faded to black.
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Woohoo chapter 2! Slightly shorter than the first chapter, oh well, I wanted it to end here.
Originally Posted: November 11, 2015