Kagome growled in frustration as she tried to figure out the math problem that had her stumped. She had understood this in class. That was three weeks ago. While the teacher was explaining it. And actually, he'd had her pencil in hand while doing so. Okay! So she sucked at math. But really, was this even necessary? I mean, she fought demons for a living. Who need to know what this variable equaled and to balance the equation when you were busy running from a demon who wanted the jewel shards around your neck? Exactly, nobody.
She felt that presence from yesterday reach the peak of the stairs and enter the barrier provided by the God Tree. She'd been shocked yesterday when she'd stumbled out of the past and into an entire class of students. One was a demon, of some sort; and another was something resembling Miroku, her friend the monk. The rest of the class seemed average humans. She was going to kill her grandfather sometime for not warning her they were going to there. She didn't care if he didn't know they were coming until after she was back in the past, he could have left a note on the door or something.
She tried to turn her attention back to her equation. The auras of the boys from yesterday presented too much a distraction. Not that she tried very hard. And she wouldn't admit that to anybody, not even if Sesshomaru tried to torture it from her in the guise of training. No way.
So, she got up and went to the door to greet the shrine guests. Maybe they were doing a report and needed more info. A reasonable excuse to procrastinate on her homework, after all, she wouldn't want to impede on another's education.
Her hand was on the door to open it when she realized what her over sensitized powers were trying to tell her. There were two more with them. And they were demons. Questions slammed into her and she threw all caution to the wind as she tossed the door open and stepped outside. She'd thought demons had become practically extinct. Now in two days there were three? She had to find out what was going on.
"Hello. Welcome back to our shrine." Kagome greeted with a smile as she closed the door behind her and stepped down to meet them. "I'm Kagome Higurashi, how can I help you?"
Yusuke turned away from Kurama and the God Tree to introduce himself and his teammates to her. "I remember. Your gramps told us yesterday. I'm Yusuke."
"Nice to meet you, Yusuke." Kagome tilted her head slightly to the left and repeated her question, "How can I help you, today?"
"Well, we were here yesterday for our class and Kuwabara, that guy over there," he said pointing to his tall friend, "and I picked it for a class project."
Complete improvising on Yusuke's part. Everybody knew he'd never actually do a class project, much less go out on his free time and research it.
"My other friends here have always been interested in this kind of history, so we let them tag along with us. This is Shuichi."
"Nice to meet you." They greeted each other as they shook hands.
"And Hiei. He doesn't talk much." Yusuke finished his introductions and stuffed his hands in his pockets while he watched the small and awkward interaction between Kagome and Hiei.
Kagome smiled cheerfully at Hiei and didn't offer to shake his hand. It was pretty obvious to someone as experienced with taciturn demons such as Sesshomaru, that he did not wish to be touched by a 'filthy human'. Hiei returned her greeting with a stiff nod and quickly turned his attention away from her.
"So, what exactly does your project entail?" Kagome asked, honestly curious.
"Well," Yusuke hesitated, scrambling to come up with something legitimate sounding, "that tree right there."
Kurama looked at Yusuke in exasperation as he barked out worst story to get more information about that tree.
Kagome cocked her head again, this time to the right, as she looked at the historical tree and back at the quartet, "Okay. It's a tree. A very big tree. A maple."
"What he means is, is there a history behind the tree?" Kurama scrambled to fix his leader's muck up, "their project has to focus on one object and learn the myths and legends of it. They picked your tree. The God Tree or Goshinboku?"
Kagome laughed, "Well, that makes more sense. I told you guys the story of the myth of the demon that was sealed to it for fifty years yesterday. I can tell you again and elaborate some if you'd like."
Kurama shot a glance at Yusuke when he didn't respond immediately.
"Yeah! Of course. That would be great, thanks Kagome." Yusuke practically shouted when he realized it was his turn.
Kagome wandered over to a small burrow in the roots of the Goshinboku and folded herself into a comfortable position. She waved her hand in invitation for them to all join her. The males, human and demon alike, formed a small half sphere around her as they relaxed to listen to the tale she promised to tell. And so she did. Kagome told them the story of the priestess from the villiage of Edo who took care of the sacred jewel and the half demon that fell in love her. She told them of the apparent betrayal of each other and then the truth of the matter.
She spun her tales for hours, telling them the true history of the Shikon no Tama and the miko and hanyou that centered around the tree. And when they asked about the origins of the jewel she went further back into the past to its creation. They asked about the origins of the evil half demon that destroyed the blooming relationship of the miko and hanyou and about the origins of the miko's half demon. She told them all they asked, weaving stories so realistic they almost felt as if they were part of it themselves.
They asked what happened after he was sealed to the tree and the jewel burnt. Only then did Kagome hesitate. She unfurled her legs from the crossed position they had been in and tucked them close to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them as she carefully took in each of the men.
Kuwabara looked interested and open about it. He had avidly listened to her tales and asked many questions throughout. Her attention turned to Yusuke.
He was a bit less open about being interested in her stories. He reminded her a bit of Inuyasha with his actions. The only bit missing was the ear that rested on top of white locks that would always remain directed at her. He would look away from her while she was telling the story and pretend indifference, and then his attention would shift back as soon as it sounded like she was winding down. He'd prompt her to continue, not with his words, but with his questioning "What happened next?" looks. She smiled inwardly at the comparison and turned her attention to Hiei.
That one could have been raised by Sesshomaru. His face was a blank sheet the entire time. The only hint of interest he gave was that he remained. She was sure that, had he not been interested in her recollections, he would have left. Yes, that one was definitely very much like Sesshomaru. She let her gaze slide past him to Shuichi, the most vocal of the group.
Shuichi had prompted her at every pause and ending. He'd been the one to ask about the creation of the Shikon Jewel and about the origins of Naraku, not that she'd given him Naraku's name. No, the only name she'd given at all was Midoriko. Inuyasha may still be around somewhere in this time. If these demons existed, perhaps he did, too. If she gave Kikyo's name, she'd have to provide Inuyasha's too, after all, what kind of story only knows the name of one lover? Shuichi was definitely the most interested of them.
Kagome opened her mouth to tell the story about a girl that appeared one day to release the half-demon when she heard her name called. She, and all four males, turned her head to the house.
"Kagome," her mother repeated, "dinner is ready; why don't you bring your guests? There is plenty for everybody and it's getting dark. I'm sure your friends are hungry."
Kagome smiled at her mother and responded with an agreement before looking at the boys inquiringly.
The four exchanged glances, and Kurama, after a quick quelling glare to Hiei, looked to Kagome and accepted with a smile.
"We'd be glad to stay for dinner, if it's not an imposition."
"No! Of course not! Mom always loves having guests for dinner, and Souta, my brother, will be overjoyed to see other males about. My grandpa knows more about the shrine history than me, if you want to quiz him for your school project." Kagome led them into the house, internally cursing when she saw her math homework lying on the table. She'd forgotten about it and now would need to stay up late to finish before class tomorrow.
The group ate dinner with quite a bit of chatter. Yusuke and Kuwabara squabbled a couple of times with one another, and then with Souta when he brought up his game systems. Kurama conversed with the adults and Kagome the most. He showed avid interest in the shrines history to the patriarch of the family, earning his immediate approval. He complimented Kagome's mother about the delicious meal and ate heartily. Kagome's mother wasn't as accepting as her father though; these young men would have to do a little more to win her approval.
Kagome and Kurama conversed a bit, mostly about school where she learned if she ever needed a tutor, she could probably appeal to him. She tried including Hiei once or twice, but after he proved reticent to all attempts, allowed him to sit quietly and without bother. The meal ended and the spirit detectives left with their thanks and a promise to come back so she could finish her tales.
But when the returned a week later, she wasn't there. The strange old man told stories of impossible diseases and pushed them off without allowing even a short visit. After the third week of such attempts and denials, Hiei allowed himself to be convinced to peek into her window. What he discovered, worried all of them, three openly and one hidden.
Kagome's bedroom was empty, it hadn't been touched and her scent was almost a month old.
(Currently, 500 years minus a couple of days ago)
Kagome let a single tear fall down her cheek as she watched the last of the dirt packed over the body of her fallen comrade and friend. She almost wished she had never left her time period, had she stayed they never would have reached this stage. The jewel wouldn't be finished and her group wouldn't be shattered. Of course, Naraku had finally been destroyed. That was a plus.
She leaned down to place the rosary on the cross marking the grave and lay the flower where her friends head lay underneath the packed earth.
- Three days ago -
The group had been caught nearly unawares. They knew the final battle would come soon, Kagome had been pretty sure that all pieces of the jewel had been gathered. Naraku had most of it, but they had a fairly sizable chunk as well. The last two pieces had been given to Inuyasha by Ginta, Kouga's wolf friend two days ago. Apparently, Kouga had died protecting his pack from a creation of Naraku's. He and his pack had taken the creation down, but the resulting wounds had been too much, and Kouga died hours after the battle. He'd asked Ginta, Hakkaku had died during the battle, to take the shards from his leg and deliver them to 'his woman'. And so he had. Then Ginta had gone back to mourn the loss of the pack members and lead them to safety.
Sesshomaru had been with them that night. Had he not, the results would have been even worse. Kagome was reading Rin and Shippo a bed time story while Jaken grumbled to Ahun in the corner of the clearing about 'no good wenches spoiling the brat'. Sesshomaru had watched on in his passive way while he kept guard of the little girl he'd accepted as his ward, and the human she'd decided to adopt as her mother. The rest could hang for all he cared. Except Jaken and Ahun of course, but that was a given.
Miroku and Sango murmured to each other away from the rest. They had been married about two months ago. Nobody knew how Miroku had convinced her, but he did it. He had quit eyeing and chasing the rest of the women in the world, though he did still grope his new wife several times a day. Sango had discovered a couple of days ago she was pregnant with his child. They were discussing what their next move was. What that actually means is that Miroku was trying to convince Sango to return to Edo and stay with Keade where she'd be safe, while Sango refused to leave her husbands side. They never got the chance to finish that argument.
Inuyasha was up in a tree with Kikyo. She had joined their little band of shard hunters a couple of months ago, much to the chagrin of everybody except Inuyasha. That's not to say she was useless. She could sense the jewel shards, and while she couldn't purify them, that was a slight relief to Kagome. That meant she could go home more often, and so she did. Kikyo had nothing to do with anybody in the group except Inuyasha outside of battle. She wanted to complete the jewel shard and return to her rest. Her feelings from life about Inuyasha were still there and his for her. Kagome had to accept them as a couple.
Kagome's head shot up at the same instant a white blur snatched the children and through them on the two headed dragon. Sesshomaru didn't have to give the dragon any orders to take them to safety, the dragon launched instantly, grabbing Jaken with his foot almost as an afterthought.
Kagome stood up and gathered her weapon while the rest of the team strained their senses to see what alerted the group. Kikyo sensed it first, and after her the others quickly realized what their friend did.
The jewel was quickly approaching, its taint a beacon of evil in the blackness of that night. With the jewel, had to be Naraku. With Naraku came his minions. With all that combined, they knew there would be blood, death, and destruction. They only hoped it wasn't on their end.
Miroku and Sango exchange a heart wrenching kiss before she prepared her Hirakotsu and he prepared his sutras and wind tunnel. Inuyasha sent Kikyo a longing look before pulling the Tetsusiaga and transforming it to its formidable size. Sesshomaru placed a hand on Kagome and thrust her behind him. If the fools wanted to leave the most important member of their group undefended, he would take it upon himself to protect her. Nobody else could rid them of the headache the tainted jewel provided.
"Mmm, hello beautiful." Naraku leered to Kikyo before turning to Kagome, "and reincarnation."
He dismissed both mikos and acknowledged Sesshomaru, "Western Lord, I'm here for the jewel only. I have no quarrel with you, and should you wish to depart the battlefield, I will not give chase. You have my word."
"This Sesshomaru do not flee from half-breeds. You're a blight to this world and an annoyance to this Sesshomaru. You've attempted to harm what is belongs to me and continuously hinder the travels of this miko, a ward of the western lands. Prepare to die."
Inuyasha listened to his brother's monotone speech and glared at Naraku and his horde of demons. He politely waited until his brother was finished before unleashed his attack on Naraku's minions with an eloquent, "Feh!"
The wind scar ripped through the right side of Naraku's forces, decimating a large number. More demons poured in to replace them.
Sesshomaru let loose a wave of poison from his claws, destroying his adversaries. He charged his whip and pulled his sword, grateful that he'd managed to regrow his arm. Not that he'd ever admit it. Kagome still hadn't been able to wheedle the story of how he got it back out of him. He made quick work of any demon he faced, but for every five he slaughtered, twenty more replaced them.
Blue and pink charged arrows flew through the demon horde, purifying any stupid enough not to get out of the way. Kagome and Kikyo stood back to back, for once dissolving all tension between them, and fired arrow after arrow to protect their companions. Miroku, Sango, and Kirara were taking down their numbers, but they were struggling with it.
Miroku had opened his wind tunnel, but the poisonous insects were present and he had to close it before he could make much of a dent in the opposing force. Hirakotsu had just been launched at a group of demons approaching them when one snuck up behind Sango. Miroku grabbed Sango and flung her out of the way. She stumbled to the ground on Kagome's left side before she leapt back up to her feet and drew the saber she kept at her side. She whipped around to attack and saw her husband collapse the ground, a fist size hole through his side and chest. She shrieked in rage and loss and horror. She charged at the demon and sliced its head clean off before the demon had time to react. She straddled Miroku, protecting him from all directions fighting the hardest she'd ever fought.
Kirara had brought her giant boomerang back and stood with her defending her mistress's mate. Kagome, after hearing Sango's shriek, rushed to her aid and kept any demons away with the threat of her purifications powers. Miroku reached up and clasped Sango's leg as he coughed up black blood.
"I love you, always have, always will. Live your life. I'll see you in the after life." The life in his eyes faded as Sango turned her attention fully to her love. She grasped his hand and yelled her love to him, tears openly flowing down her face as she begged him not to leave her and their child. He smiled at her, squeezed her hand, and died. She sobbed one large gasp, folded his hand lovingly on his chest, and stood up. She glared at the demons, the numbers largely demolished, and snarled for them to come and get her. Her eyes were dead, and she was determined to end it one way or another. If she died, she'd get to see Miroku, if she lived… well, she'd worry about that later.
Kagome had tears streaming down her face as she fired her rapidly dwindling arrow supply. She'd loved Miroku like a brother, and would miss him terribly. She vowed to do everything she could for Sango, even if it meant bringing her to the future.
Naraku had turned his attention to focus on the woman he had yearned for when he was human and destroyed when he turned into the abomination that he currently was. He would destroy her again and fix the mistake that she was. Kikyo fired an arrow at the demon trying to sneak up on Inuyasha and turned her attention to the evil presence she felt approaching. She knocked her last arrow and charged it with her blue priestess powers.
"Naraku," Kikyo stated, as she aimed the glowing arrow his way, "this is for who I was."
She fired the arrow into Naraku. He dodged it, mostly. Her power was enough to purify enough of him to weaken him severely, but not destroy him. Not when she only had a small portion of her soul. Not when her arrow only nicked him. And not when he had three fifths of the jewel. In revenge, Naraku was able to impale her right through the heart. Her small gasp was unheard through the battle raging around them and Inuyasha's pained cry.
"Kikyo!" The hanyou abandoned the demons he had been attacking to attend to the woman he had loved before she died, when he slept, and after she was brought back. He arrived in one leap and caught her as she slid off the tentacle. She smiled up at him, the first true smile since she died.
"I'm free, Inuyasha. I can rest now." She sighed and brushed his face, "don't mourn for me. Fight the battle and win. You must save the jewel and complete it."
"Kikyo…" Inuyasha gasped. He watched as she crumbled into the dust and earth she truly was. It has been a false life this time, and there would be no body.
Kagome gasped as her soul became whole once more and turned to where Inuyasha knelt empty handed. Naraku sent a wave of tentacles his way, to destroy the dog demon the same way he'd destroyed his lover. The attack was repelled by the western lord in a rare show of brotherly support.
Sesshomaru stood in front of his brother, defending him from Naraku, the only opposition left. Naraku sneered at Sesshomaru and moved to attack the elegant demon in white when a red blur leapt over the older brother to attack. Naraku redirected his attack at Inuyasha at the last minute. So many things seemed to happened at once.
It was only later Kagome put together the actual events. She released her arrow at the exact second Sango released Hirakotsu. They flew towards the evil creature, one glowing brighter and brighter as it crossed the distance in seconds, the other making an ominous wuffing sound and it flipped towards him.
Sesshomaru had unleashed his attack fractions of a moment after the females. It hit Naraku as his tentacles ripped into Inuyasha. The attack melted almost all the tentacles that Naraku wielded while Sango's Hirakotsu struck, the giant boomerang sliced the body in half, the lower half falling to the ground useless. The upper half looked at Inuyasha in astonishment before it was purified by Kagome's arrow. The arrow had been powered so strongly by her grief that it had actually slowed the speed, making it hit Naraku a full second behind Hirakotsu. They watched, frozen, as Naraku melted into pink blazing light.
Inuyasha and Naraku's part of the jewel hit the ground at the same moment. Kagome dashed to Inuyasha's side, completely ignoring the jewel. She grabbed knelt by his side, grabbed his hand right hand in hers and placed her left hand on his forhead.
"Inuyasha!" She cried, "Inuyasha!"
He looked through her, "Kikyo."
"Please Inuyasha, don't go!" Kagome wailed, "Please, don't leave me!"
The hanyou died, never once acknowledging the girl from the future. She sobbed into his chest, not caring that his blood coated her. She leaned back and kissed his forehead and stood up. Kagome turned to Sango, only to find the woman cradling the dead monk and weeping.
Sesshomaru watched as his self proclaimed ward wept over his brother. He felt a pang in his chest and realized it was sadness. He hadn't liked his brother. He'd loathed him as a matter of fact, but that had been his brother. He stooped to pick up the tainted jewel and strode to the lost looking miko.
Kagome looked away from Sango when she felt Sesshomaru approach. He took her hand and placed the dark shards into her hand. They watched it turn back into its pure color and he nodded in satisfaction.
"Come, Miko." He gathered Inuyasha on his shoulder and looked at the monk. He strode over to the demon slayer and said, "He fought bravely and protected his family. He was a powerful man and will be honored in death. This Sesshomaru gives his condolences for your loss."
She glared up at him. Sango wasn't ready to accept his death yet, "What about your sword? You can raise the dead, why won't you use it on him?"
"Your husband was a holy man. This sword can only resurrect mundane humans. Even Inuyasha, who bears the blood that sired this sword, cannot be resurrected by it."
Sango firmed her grip on Miroku and began to weep harder.
The remaining members of the group eventually managed to gather their emotions and leave the battle site. Kirara held the body of Miroku while Sesshomaru carried Inuyasha. The group traveled to the forest he had slept in for fifty years on Sesshomaru's cloud.
The burials were scheduled for the day after they arrived. It was too hot to leave a body unburied for too long.
-Back to the present (of the past) -
Kagome felt another tear roll down her face as she rose up from the crouch. She looked at Sango and walked away to give her some privacy. Everybody else had already dispersed. Kagome wandered to Sesshomaru and stopped in front of him without saying anything. She looked to the ground and hoped he'd understand what she needed without him needing her to say it.
"This Sesshomaru will take Inuyasha's body to the Western Citadel. It will be interred with honor as all of our bloodline has been in the past. Do not mourn him, Little Miko, it will dishonor his sacrifice and weaken his honor. Stand tall and remember the good times with him." He paused, "You are ward and ally to the Western Lands. That shall stand until you die. If you wish, you may come to the Western Citadel and complete your training there. You will have free run of the place and may come and go as you wish. The slayer should not come though, not until after she has had the children she carries. She will be too much temptation for the demons housed there."
"Children?" Kagome asked, shocked, "as in plural?"
"Yes, two children. I believe you call it twins."
Hours later, Kagome and Sango stood together with Keade, letting them know what the plans were. Kagome was heading to the Western Citadel to fetch Shippo would be back in a week. She was going to stay with Sango until she had her children and go from there. There would, of course, be visits to the future, but she wasn't going to leave her friend alone in her grief. But first, there was one thing she must do.
The three females walked outside to where Sesshomaru waited in front of the Goshinboku. She had entrusted the jewel pieces into his care (he could protect them on the trip better than her) until they got back to Keade who would know how to make it whole again. She took the jewel from Sesshomaru and turned to Keade and waited for instructions.
"Simply think of it as whole again, child." Keade told her, "you'll want to use a small amount of your blood though as it came from you."
And so Kagome borrowed a dagger from Sango and made a shallow cut in her hand. She let it drip on the jewel pieces until they were covered in an ominous red. She curled her uninjured hand around the jewel and thought about what it felt like and looked like whole. She felt the magic of the jewel as it began to reform itself and knew immediately that something was wrong.
The audience of three was watching her in horror as she slowly faded, even Sesshomaru had dropped his mask and reached for her.
"Watch over them, Sesshomaru!" Kagome shrieked as she realized what was happening. "Please! Protect them! In five hundred years, if you still live, come find me. I'll be waiting! Remember them and tell me them. I love you, Sango. I'm sorry to break my promise. I'll try to come back, if I can't – always remember me!"
Kagome opened her mouth to say one final thing and the world faded. The group watched as the priestess cried her impassioned farewell and requests, tears streaming down her face. They watched as she reached blindly for them and disappeared.
Sango and Keade never saw her again.
(Back to the future, or present)
The detectives had come one final time to get answers of Kagome. When the told the old man that they knew she wasn't sick, that she was gone, Kagome's mother came forward to try and placate them.
She still didn't trust them, but she was wearing down at their persistent visits and obvious concern for her daughter.
"Kagome has gone to visit some friends. Her health is fine, but expressed her wishes that we not give out her location. I'm sure when she is back she'll contact you. We don't know when that will be, I'm sorry." She said as she looked down and made to close the door.
Yusuke stuck his foot in the door to stop it from closing, "Why didn't you just say that in the first place? Why make so many excuses, which were really bad ones I might add, and not just say that to begin with?"
"Kagome did not wish it to be known." Kagome's mother repeated. This time more forcefully and glared at the offending appendage blocking her from ending this confrontation.
"We'll be back next week. If it won't be too much trouble, we'd like more information at that time." Kurama said, obviously implying that it better not be too much trouble, or else. Something strange was going on here, and it had the feel of their field of expertise. This girl was a mystery, surrounded by a mystery power on the shrine, and had mysteriously disappeared without answering his questions about the mystery tree. He would not be defeated by a mystery.
Yusuke allowed the door to close and they turned almost as one to leave the shrine. And before their eyes, they watched the missing girl appear out of thin air reaching out as if to grab something only she should see.
"Please!" she gasped out brokenly before she collapsed into sobs.
Author's Note :
I've taken some seriously liberties here with a Poet's license. I realize that. For one, I don't actually know the rules of Tensiega and am pretty sure they can raise whatever dead dies… but I didn't want that, so I changed it.
I hope you enjoyed this update… the next one won't be up this fast, but will contain more interaction between the YYH crew and Kagome. Please let me know if you find any mistakes or if you like/hate it. Any feedback is appreciated.