Actually people I'm gonna have a name change…to...o0Che0o
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Words: over 4500.
Barrier Between Two Worlds:
Chpt 2
Miko: High Priestess
Izayoi walked into the breakfast room, her ladies in waiting stopping at the door. "You all have less than an hour to get ready and be in the hearing room for today's hearing." She dictated to the members of her family at the table. "You will all meet me and Kaede there in your appropriate clothing. I will see you all then." She turned to leave.
"Hey, mom, you not grabbing anything?" She turned and smiled softly at her son.
"No, Inuyasha, I do not 'grab', I had something earlier with Kaede." She left them with another smile.
"Another day to sit through, doing nothing, but acting big and unaffected," Shippo stated as they walked to their destination. "How come Botan doesn't get to go this time." He directed his question to Inuyasha.
"She ain't here, so stop your complaining." Inuyasha leaned down to eye level to the little fox demon. "I know ya miss her, but don't worry she'll be back soon." Inuyasha teased nastily.
"Yes, little Shippo." Miroku said on the other side of Shippo's face. "You're young love will be here soon."
"Shut up! I don't like her like that! I don't even like her at all."
Sesshomaru looked at the fox demon, they could all see the doubt there, Rin laughed. "Not you too, Sesshomaru. I don't really. Ohh, leave me alone." Shippo pressed down his ears to block out Inuyasha's and Miroku's evil laughter and walked quickly ahead of them and entered the Hearing room. He walked grouchily pass Izayoi's seat and sat at the furthest seat, on a smaller platform behind the High Chair, puffing his chest and cheeks and pushed his nose in the ear and turned his face away.
From her seat, Izayoi smiled at the scene, "I see Inuyasha has rubbed off on him." She commented to Kaede. Izayoi's chair was about three feet high, the throne of a sovereign, the back rest was on the same level as the arm rest and the cushioned seat of the chair was wide enough for two people to sit in and well cushioned. She sat locus style in it, as it was designed to be seated in.
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"My queen," A nobleman bowed awaiting the acknowledgement of his sovereign.
"Yes, Nobleman Akamura." He was the head of one of the twelve noble families in the western lands. Six human and six youkai; it had not been planned that way, it just was. The Hojo family, a human clan, of which the awaiting nobleman belonged, was one of the riches, but in the Western Lands riches did not mean most influential, it meant most hard-working, efficient, and productive and so on. He would be the last of the noblemen to bring up a family query.
"I humbly request a spot for my daughter in the Miko Academy and for my eldest son to learn with the Princes for a fortnight?"
"Your request has been noted Nobleman." The queen stated. "You will be notified when a decision has been made about your daughter; however, the decision about your son shall be left to the Princes themselves."
"Thank you, your Majesty." The man replied bowing to his Queen, then to the rest of the royal family, before returning into his family's circle to the side of the room.
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"Here mom," Kagome brought over the wide straw basket to her mother. "The finest fruits in all the land, we each put something in there."
Her mother smiled as she cover the basket with an embroidered clothe, the white of it and the rich brown walnut colour of the basket making a pretty picture.
"Hey we haven't put our stuff in yet." Souta rushed in from the side door to their home, Kohaku close behind. In their hands was a small clay cut in the shape of a dog and a thin hardened square.
"What's that Souta?" Sango asked as she and Kurome entered the kitchen.
"Well," Souta pushed out his chest, "We decided we were gonna make a figure of a dog out of molding clay, grandpa's been teaching us how and since Kohaku is better than me, I decided that I would draw it on a paper, too and Kohaku would print it out on this flat clay I made and attach this," He held up a small paper, "Telling her majesty to paint them how she wants to,' He paused, "Well, we were gonna paint them for her, but we didn't finish in time for today, they only finished drying today."
Mrs. Higurashi bent and kissed her son on the head and then moved to give one to his beaming companion. "It's brilliant boys." Kurome and Sango bent to inspect the models in the boys' hand, all four feet of the dog was intact and properly proportioned, and there were swirls to indicate the demon's majestic fur. The dog demon doll was in a galloping march, his small sharp fangs bared at invisible threats. The thin hard plaque was obviously of the same dog demon only in a different pose than its figurine counterpart, it was on his haunches in what appeared to be a wisping background watchful, peaceful and powerful. Both girls were impressed, only Kurome being surprised at their talent.
"So you guys think they'll like it then?" Kohaku smiled proudly at Souta. Kagome walked over to them with a pouch and the boys placed their light grey gifts into it. Kagome handed the pouch to her mother and she gently placed it beneath the clothe in the side of the basket.
"I'm sure she'll love it, Kohaku. You and Souta have done a wonderful job."
"Yeah, at showing us up, all we got were fruits what everyone else is no doubt giving them."
"But sis, they're the best fruits in the land." Souta declared. She smiled at him.
"That's what we all say, we can only leave it up to the royal family to decide – so we may never find out, and that's even if they even eat them."
"Well, they have been the best since we got Kurome here."
"Well, we're off; we'll be back in the afternoon in time for the beginning of the festival, watch the boys and behave yourselves." Grandpa instructed as he lift the basket up with a great show of effort and followed after his daughter.
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Finally it was their turn to go in and offer their best wishes for that day to the Royal Family.
They approached the double doors knowing what would lie inside having done this two times before for Mrs. Higurashi and at least five times before for her father. This tribute was held every ten years at the request of the subjects of the Western Lands to honour the life of the current sovereign's passed husband. They walked through the guarded double doors. The room was long; columns ran on each side and toward the front, the representatives of the twelve noble families and the council members sat behind the line of columns, in front of the platform. There was a family of five at the platform of the Royals baring their many gifts to the Sovereigns.
A single step led to the platform where a thin gold curtain was drawn hiding the people who sat, and it could be seen even in silhouette, regally facing all who entered. The High Priestess was the only one in front of the curtain, which hung from the ceiling, her miko's garb setting her apart from her background. She motioned to some inconspicuous guards who materialized at her discreet signal; they walked over to the gifts placed below the step that led to the platform, carrying them off to the side. As Mrs. Higurashi and her father walked at a steady pace toward the front, only two more families who were before them were left to go, they noticed that there was a steady stream of servants placing gifts neatly along the floor of the long room and upon tables. An array of smell filled the room, the combination of which was like the aroma of a full market on a fresh morning breeze. It was pleasing.
Then there was no one between them and the family. Behind the curtain, the Queen's silhouette could be seen sitting in a wide chair higher than the rest of her family. Behind her another raised platform seated the other occupants behind the gold screen. To Mrs. Higurashi's left was a bigger silhouette than the Queen's, then a smaller one, to her right were two more big silhouettes and then one small one.
Inuyasha was getting impatient and hungry, where was this family they were to see? Were they not coming to pay tribute to his father? His already depleted patience wearing thinner the more families that came and went and Sesshomaru did nothing. A woman and an old man was approaching as the latest family went by, the daughter straining her eyes to get a peek at them all through the curtain even as she walked away. For him behind the curtain he could see them a lot more clearly than he imagined they could, or maybe it was that he didn't care enough once he figured they weren't the family they sought since the lack of indication from Sesshomaru was all he needed.
The basket held in the woman's hand looked nice even though it was simply decorated with only a white embroidered clothe over it, but most importantly whatever foods were inside, smelt nicer. Glancing at the rest of his family they showed them interest too.
"Hmm," Miroku leaned forward slightly from beside him, not enough to be noticed on the other side of the curtain screen.
Mrs. Higurashi and her father kneeled in front of the step, and placed their gifts down. Her father reached inside his top to pull out the deck of sutras he'd personally prepared to present to his Sovereign. He placed them down atop the basket's covering. And spoke the words he wished to portray his feelings about his missed King, Lord Inutaisho on behalf of his family.
Mrs. Higurashi looked over at the High Priestess and saw that she was looking at her with a strange new light in her eyes. About to stand they noticed that the top sutra glowed blue before lifting off to hover above their gifts, at first they thought it was the High Priestess' doing, but their heads rose to meet the extended hand of a royal behind the curtain; the second silhouette to the right of the queen.
"Hmm, these are a first." The voice floated back to them, the sutra landed back on the pack. It was deep and cultured: a majestic sound to their shocked ears. The distraction worked as no heard Sesshomaru's comment to the Queen and Kaede.
The High Priestess nodded to them indicating that their gifts were accepted and they could go. They stood, bowed again and turned to the left which led to a corridor which ran the length of the Hearing room back to the outside of the palace.
"The prince liked my gift. Ha! He was pleased with the sutras, hehehe. When he sees the rest we'll have given them the best gift in the lands." His daughter smiled at him, pleased as well.
"Higurashi family." They turned and faced a uniformed youkai. "This way." He pointed to the other way and turned expecting them to follow. They did, confused, walking in the opposite direction of the exit.
"Um, pardon me, but may we ask why we are to go this way?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.
"The Queen's order." He replied calmly, stoically. He didn't seem to care.
They were led into a comfortable looking room and asked to sit, and then they were left alone, to ponder what was happening. The room they were in was small, with no windows and not furnished by anything but seats. So they sat in silence and waited.
They had waited for hours for someone to come and see them, and their nerves weren't helping them to cope with the wait either. The old man got up and went to the door, thinking on his way why he hadn't thought of it before. If they were in some sort of trouble maybe they could escape before someone big came to condemn them, though he didn't think they were in any sort of trouble. Peeking out, he came face to face with a guard.
"May I help you?" The tall man asked in a gravelly voice.
"Um, no… no. Just wondering how long we'll have to wait for someone to come for us." He stated nervously, not expecting anyone to be at the door.
The man grunted, "The Queen will be here when she is here."
He swallowed and went back to his daughter. He gulped again, "The queen." He said, there was no need to continue, his daughter had heard. They waited some more, even a little excited at such an honour as a visit from the ruler of their kingdom.
"Daughter, do you think it is because of our gift."
She opened her mouth to answer but at that moment a woman swept into the room. It certainly wasn't the queen, was it? The woman's greying hair was pulled back from her face; she was old but exuded power and vitality, though her face was heavily wrinkled. She had on a white haori and red hakama. It was the high Priestess from earlier, who had sat in a place of honour, on the platform of the Sovereign reign. In her hand were a bow and a single arrow. She motioned for them to follow her.
She led them through the other door of the window less room and they realized it had been an antechamber to what seemed most likely to be the throne room. At the raised platform was a higher chair than the one in the hearing room and another curtain that hid the solitary figure behind it. They knew who it was though and they followed the High Priestess up to the platform of the huge room and kneeled before the throne, their forehead touching the back of their outstretched palm, the Grand Miko moved to stand off to the side with her bow and arrow still in her hands.
This room was easily twice the size of the hearing room and they imagined it was usually busy with activity but it was currently empty of any other occupants or movement. To what did they owe the honour?
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"Hey, you want to check out the town before the real thing starts. Get a feel of the excitement in the air?" Kagome suggested as the excitement and eagerness for the night to come was too much for her to contain, a big smile on her face.
"Good idea. Kurome will be able to see the major difference tonight." Sango said. "And there are some pre-activities we can scope out."
"We'll just sneak away for half an hour tops, long enough to see enough but a short enough time to leave the boys alone." Kagome continued.
Sango stooped down and peered at her two-tailed demon cat. "Do you want to come too, Kilala?" The kitsune looked up at her and mewed.
Kohaku rushed in and snatched up the neko before Sango could, "Kilala can stay with us: a demon on each side, two girls and two boys."
"'Sides," Souta continued, their cat buyo held similarly in his hands. "We wanna try something."
Sango stood and both she and Kagome looked sceptically at their brothers. Their sudden appearance should have meant trouble for the girls especially that it seemed they had heard their plans but their words indicated otherwise. However, what could they possible want to do with Kilala and Buyo? Not bothering to linger too long to look the gift horse in the mouth they grabbed Kurome and rushed off toward the town square.
They weren't the only ones out and about.
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"Rise." Her voice commanded them. They looked up and then slowly came out of their bent position and unto their feet; grandpa struggling a little.
"You have a daughter, do you not?" She asked Mrs Higurashi.
She did not know how to respond. She didn't know what to expect from the higher Lady, but this was definitely not it. From her manner this seemed to be the reason for their unplanned detour, no preliminary, no ensuring of comfort just straight to the matter at hand, whatever it was.
"Ah, yes, Kagome."
The queen indicated, a silhouetted hand braced in the direction of the old woman, "This is the High Priestess Kaede; a Miko and for a long time the last. Mikos have trained here for many years, it is tradition. The trainees that are now here are not Mikos but there have been a few with a little more spiritual energy than the usual human, but none who have the amount that a Miko possesses. This is why we want your daughter to come to the palace to train as the next High Priestess, to succeed Lady Kaede."
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"Another female has joined the group, My Prince. She is a demoness, and she has a jewel of her own." The youkai hesitated before continuing. "She has told the girl that she is a miko and named the jewel to her." He told Sesshomaru about the rest of the girls' conversation with the female youkai.
'Where did she read about this?' Sesshomaru thought. 'Where is this girl from? Is she a treat?'
"How did she find the girl?" Sesshomaru asked with a frown firmly on his face.
"Actually sire, it was they that found the youkai; she was captured by a nix demon, she and about a dozen other human females." The messenger was holding back something else. It was obvious.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked irritated he had to demand the information he employed this demon to provide.
"She was asked to stay with them and she had accepted, Lord Sesshomaru." Sesshomaru's frown deepened. This was the second incident within two years. He sighed and rubbed his temples, it was time to act.
"Watch the demoness closely." Sesshomaru commanded, trusting this youkai and his partner to keep the miko safe until he was ready.
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The youkai knocked on the door, entering when summoned. The soldier looked at his Prince and bowed, then at Jaken.
"What is it?" Sesshomaru asked a lot calmer than he was a week ago when his agent had come with his report. When his uninformed charge was brought to the palace then it would be one less thing for him to worry about, over sixteen years was enough time spent manipulating, planning and worrying over one person. Dealing with Inuyasha and Miroku and the rest of his extended family were enough for him to handle before taking over the kingdom.
"My lord, the demoness has revealed last night that she is from the Northern Kingdom."
Sesshomaru frowned, his eyes icy-cold and hard. "Tell me everything."
He delivered his message and bowed his way out of the office at his dismissal. Sesshomaru's door opened again.
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They were on their way back to the house making their way from one side of the square to the next, pleased with themselves for bringing Kurome to see the buzzing town and experience the before festival excitement jitters. Kurome had taken everything in and though she didn't bounce about and grin as much as Kagome did she enjoyed the outing just as much. They all looked forward to tonight.
As they reached the three-quarter mark of the town's square, two liveried males blocked their way, the human male was more pumped up in his dress, but both their uniforms had the same colour scheme – white and red. The human had a scroll in his hand and he unrolled it, while the other, the youkai, looked on silently.
"Miss Kagome of the Higurashi family," The man began in a loud carrying voice. By the time he'd said her full name the boisterous noise of the excited citizens that had filled the capital square was no more. In the ensuing quiet his next words rang louder to her ears. "Your presence has been requested by Her Royal Majesty Queen Izayoi current ruler of the Western Kingdom. You are to come with us immediately."
Kagome, Sango and Kurome stood frozen after the missive had been delivered in its entirety. A royal summons. What could it possibly mean? It could mean great honour or disgrace, one could never tell, neither could one ignore it and turn away. Kurome turned to look at the red faced Kagome.
"This way, Miss Higurashi." Her silent emissary spoke up; there was a sympathetic light in his eyes as he looked at her red face. He'd obviously cut off the human with thoughts of her embarrassment in mind. The announcer looked resentfully at his companion.
"You know that's my job, Genshu." The man pouted further as he muttered quietly. Only Kurome was able to catch it with her sharp hearing.
Both men turned and Kagome staggered helplessly after them. Sango took a step to follow after Kagome but stopped at the restraining arm that held her wrist. Sango looked back at Kurome. Kurome shook her head, her eyes on the retreating men's back, her forehead creased. Sango was confused.
"Aren't you two coming?" Kagome asked confused as well, Sango turned back around and faced her. Kagome had stopped when she realized they were no longer walking beside her.
Kurome still held Sango's hand, but never had the chance to reply.
"No Ms. Higurashi, your friends cannot come with you." Kagome opened her mouth to protest. "The Second Queen requested that you be brought to her immediately." The youkai stated firmly. The human smiled to ease her worry.
"Yeah, I suppose you guys have to go back and watch the boys. We did stay out longer than we'd planned." With one last look at her friends she followed reluctantly after her male escorts. She held her head high as every eye were still focused on them, trying desperately not to think about why she was summoned by the queen and especially not about what the towns folk thought.
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They were shocked at her words. Kagome was to be the next… they remembered where Kaede had sat in the hearing room. A place of high honour, a place reserved for the High Priestess. It was a wonderful position for her daughter to attain. It was offered to her child, who was she to refuse it, but she was hesitant. What did it mean, why would they want Kagome?
Mrs Higurashi couldn't speak; her father had no such compunction.
"Well, my granddaughter is a very talented girl; however, I do not think she would be able to do the job of a miko. Your Highness."
"Why do you believe that?" Kaede addressed the man.
"Simple, milady, Kagome is not a miko."
"May we ask why you've chosen Kagome, Your Majesty?" Mrs. Higurashi asked the queen meekly.
"We shall await the arrival of your daughter before we proceed." The queen dictated from behind the curtain. They weren't keen on the waiting, but it was a good idea to get the main character in on the decision making though they were sure the Queen and her lady was not giving them a choice, they were merely informing them, something they didn't need to do. Then Mrs. Higurashi thought of how her daughter would feel to receive a royal summon. Kagome might be shocked, fearful even. "Then I will divulge a little more about Kagome's future."
A few short minutes later, hard knocks to the floor was heard.
"Send her in." The Queen issued forth. She didn't even speak very loudly, but the main door opened upon her command nevertheless and in walked Kagome through the main double doors. Her family's eyes were trained on her.
Kagome's eyes immediately zoned in on her family, and they widened in question. Her mother smiled faintly and mouthed to her daughter, whose eyes widened a little more before she nodded in understanding.
Kagome went to her knees and bowed over placing her face down between her flattened opened palms.
"You may rise, Kagome." The Queen's voice floated to the slightly trembling girl's ears. The Higurashis looked up, surprised that she sounded so close.
The Queen was no longer behind her screen, both her and Kaede was now standing closer to the family.
Her hair was dark and elaborately done. Her dark brown eyes were large and luminous, dark pink kohl placed artfully over her eyelids, her lips similarly made-up; the make up enhanced her beauty splendidly. Her clothes were just as beautiful as she was the folds upon folds of expensive fabric draped attractively over her figure. The michiyuki of the kimono was a deep red and many designs were embroidered along its hem. This was certainly their Second Queen; they would have been able to tell just by her appearance, as they were able to tell by her voice. A broad gold band of an elaborate and intricate design ran around her forehead, the crown was a lot simpler but more beautiful than they thought it would be.
The Queen looked directly at Kagome as she spoke, "Some will not remember or even know quite how it was before, but there was a time when there were many mikos in the Western Lands." Kagome remembered the night before when Kurome had been talking to them about Mikos. "For 200 years the numbers where… mediocre, and over seventy years ago, there were only two left, and then soon after there was just the High Priestess," She indicated the woman standing by the bow and arrow. "Lady Kaede."
"The High Priestess?" She stared at Kaede wondering why she hadn't though about her, 'A possible teacher for me?'
"You are going to move to the palace to train under Lady Kaede and then succeed her as High Priestess in Prince Sesshomaru's reign." Kagome's eyes widened at the queen's authoritative words.
"You are the first miko to be born in over fifty years, Kagome." Kaede says as she walked up to the younger girl. "And, therefore, you are not only able but the only one capable of filling this position."
"How do you know what I am?" Kagome asked.
"How do you know this?" The elder Higurashi's asked together, not hearing the softly spoken question coming from Kagome.
The queen's face was serene and smooth, her eyes holding a secret, "We're about to find out."
Mrs. Higurashi blushed, her father stammered, both aghast at themselves, at how their questions may seem doubting of their queen.
A/N:
Michiyuki – Over coat.
For the purposes of eliminating complexities, 'demon cat, kitsune, two-tailed' for Kilala, and simply 'cat' for buyo.
This is not modern time, people travel by horses, wagons and carriages here, mostly horses. The houses are board, mostly, only some rich people have stone house that are huge, some Royals even have wooden palaces. Some are made of concrete basing and wooden walls and ceilings. Inuyasha Castle has both too.
The dress code is also the same as what you see in feudal era japan in the anime 'Inuyasha'.
o0Che0o…
…out