Inuyasha: Upon A Wishing Well

Xxxx

Chapter Two

Somehow, being away from Ishiguro Shrine brought more peace to her than all of her time in five years. She went to bed, went straight to sleep and woke up in the afternoon. The sound of birds chirping and tree branches poking into her vision made her turn around. She looked over at the open window sill, and let a smile replace her tired frown.

Years ago, Inuyasha used to sit on that window sill and watch me sleep.. Even though he's not here anymore, it makes me feel safe. Being alone in Ishiguro Shrine wasn't safe..

In truth, she felt more like it was a bad place. Maiko was sick, but beyond that, the place was unusually dark. Every corner felt as if it was covered in ashes. She thought maybe that was what places with the dead looked like, felt like – she had never been somewhere where so much tragedy had consumed a family. Not in this time, anyway.

When she came downstairs, she found herself blending into the routine her family had, even if she was a few hours late. Lunch, shower, prayer, then go out for some shopping. She could see herself being that girl again, who lived here. She knew realistically, her job would take her into the downtown area, and she needed to live closer. But her options weren't so bad. She could always buy a vehicle and drive, or start bussing there, like she did as a child. All of these options made her happy.

Her mother eventually asked about Maiko. Kagome had to frown, and explain she didn't get to talk to her. "She was too sick, she fainted right when I approached," she admitted. "I hope she feels well.. Maybe I'll go earlier next time."

"Just find something else to do for now, honey," her mother added. Kagome considered cooking, or cleaning. But overall, she felt exhausted. She didn't know why. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and exhaled. Her breath came out slowly. "I think I'll take a nap, maybe go look around the shrine," she decided. "I haven't seen everything since I came back."

When she stood up, put her plate in the sink, her mother stopped her with a concerned look and a hand on her shoulder. "No more messages to.. you know who, okay, dear? You know I—" "I know, mom," she answered, with a smile. But she felt something in her chest constrict at the memory of who she was talking about. Those people who were dead in her time, long gone. There was no way to reach them. And she didn't know if she ever wanted to.

Curiosity was a bad thing, wasn't it? Kagome stepped outside and felt this unusual urge to go to Ishiguro Shrine. To see Maiko? Maybe, but really, it was to know more about the mysterious fire. Three people dying, and only one living, sounded odd for these circumstances. So when she took out her cellphone and typed in the shrine name, the articles from various local online news sources did show there was a fire.

"It started in the room of the shrine maiden, who was not in there. Some say her brother started it."

"The girl survived but many of her organs were damaged in the process. She was found clutching her brother's corpse with multiple broken bones."

"The shrine was never put up for sale. No priest was ever contacted to replace her. The shrine will probably be sold off once the shrine maiden dies."

The depressing headlines made her see just how tragic the entire affair was. Maiko couldn't possibly be expected to shoulder these burdens forever. But it was a lot like Kagome, who had lost her family.

She walked outside, settled under the Goshinboku, and held her phone close. Somehow, leaning against the tree that meant so much to her throughout her life gave her some comfort that nothing else did. Home was here, after all. If Inuyasha was leaning against the tree on the other side.. Would he feel her presence?

I know Inuyasha didn't hate me. But he also didn't love me like he loved Kikyo. So me being away means I'm the only one who is alone. Everyone is happy now.. I should be too, right?

Right.

"Ow—what in the—" she peered down at her elbow, at the spider along it. The furry back made her skin churn. She brushed it away and stood up, a few steps back. Her breath staggered when it seemed to turn and crawl away. She didn't understand why she was seeing so many of this unusual species here. They never had a spider problem before. For some reason, she hadn't felt good since that shrine visit.

Maiko at the window, Maiko looking as if she was too sick to survive, but somehow managing to hold on. Something about the pale girl reminded Kagome of someone else..

Kikyo?

She chanced down at her phone, and then at an unusual picture of Maiko on one of the pages.

How is she surviving when her lungs and her heart don't function? Medical miracle? And how did those scars and burns disappear? Something isn't right, and the government needs to look into this. - JXCORVUS

How many ways were there in which someone could survive when their insides were destroyed? Kagome found none in all of her medical texts. Maiko was a living miracle, if not a little creepy. She definitely should have died. Nothing about her current condition should allow her to walk and live the way she was. She was a firm believer in medicine, but something about this felt less like medicine and more supernatural. It could be a miracle, but more often than not, as it was when she was in the Feudal Era, this could be someone else helping her.

Kagome knew she had no ties to Maiko anymore, but her curiosity and her concern for the other girl extended well beyond just being a friend. She was a nurse, she had a conscience, and she wanted her to be well. If, even somehow, she could use her purification abilities to help Maiko, she would. She could heal her, or even see what was inside of Maiko.

How many years had it been since she was Kagome the Priestess's Reincarnation and not just Nurse Higurashi? The distinction was painful. She didn't even know if she could still do it. So reading over some sites on awakening spiritual abilities, she wandered back over to the shrine. Ishiguro Shrine looked worse in daylight. There was just no reason to live here. She could see a business establish an apartment or a complex here, but not a shrine. It didn't help that Higurashi Shrine was one of the more popular shrines now. Kagome could see how the fire ravaged everything. Nothing was left alive at the end of it. How did Maiko survive after jumping from the second floor of a building, carrying a child, with her own serious burns?

No answer really made sense. Only the one that tied to the Feudal Era did. Kagome knew when something didn't belong in her world, full of science and medicine, so the only remaining option was this one.

I can do this. I can help her. I'm.. a priestess too. I'm Kikyo's reincarnation. I can heal someone's injury. I've done it before. I stopped Naraku.

Her chanting, her mantra, held her still as she approached the residential house. She knocked on the door, hoping Maiko would be the one to open it. But it was Taro again, and he smiled and let her in. "She hasn't woken up, I'm sorry," he apologized. Kagome shook her head. It's fine, she decided. I'd rather heal her when she isn't looking.

She asked to be allowed up. "I just want to see how she is, I feel responsible," she admitted. Taro nodded and lead her up to the room. When she opened the door, she saw Maiko's resting form under the covers. She was beautiful. True to reports, no scars, no markings. She just looked sick. She hadn't moved from how she was the day before. Taro seemed to want to leave, making Kagome finally confront what she came here to do. She moved over to sit beside her on the bed, and lightly moved her covers aside.

Her hand rested on her cheek.

She inhaled, and tried to find it within her. That source of power that was her spiritual energy. She had enough to make the likes of Naraku scared. It couldn't all be gone now, right?

Please, Kikyo.. Help me find out what's wrong with her. Help me save her.

She felt a pulse. Around her hand. And then she felt the spiritual energy leave her. It spread around Maiko like silk, covering her. It was the energy she had in the Feudal Era, from Kikyo. The power that made her feel like she was more than useless around Inuyasha and the others. Her incredible abilities healed in the past, found sources of pain and terror. She saw now how much pain Maiko was in.

Inside she went, deep within her. She searched for a source. Fire, family, loss.. all of it. All of this swirled within her, and allowed her to reach into Maiko.

Until she found something wrong.

In her mind, she could hear it – Kikyo's voice. There's something foul in her. You can't touch it. It was born in her, like I was born in you. If you go too close, it will come out!

-!

Kagome drew her hand back just as she saw it. Black, purple, dark poison spreading around her. It was familiar, and all at once, too concentrated. She stumbled off of her chair and steps away, hands raised up just as she found Maiko's eyes open, looking up at the ceiling. Her heartbeat was fast. She didn't now what it was. She just knew this was familiar. "I-I.. Wh-what are you?" she asked, in a quivering voice.

Maiko, with dark eyes, looked at her for a moment, and spoke in a voice that almost lacked any tone. "I could ask you the same.. who are you?" she questioned.

Kagome couldn't take it. She turned and dashed out of the room. She didn't know what it was, how it was, or when it happened – but something horrible was inside of Maiko. She reached the front door, and without pause, ran out. She could make it home alone. She didn't need to talk to anyone.

What on earth did she see?

As soon as she was near her shrine, she tried to run quicker, and quicker, up the steps towards home. But her feet veered towards Goshinboku. She raced towards it, and as soon as she approached close, she wrapped her arms around the trunk and pressed her cheek against it. Her breath stopped, her eyes closed, and she felt tears of fear and frustration down her cheek. In one second, she had no idea who the girl she'd seen in her childhood was. Maiko was like that before? No, not even a little. Those red eyes, the black hair, it looked like someone else.

Kagome gripped so tightly she felt the wood dig into her skin. Her eyes closed almost painfully. She didn't want to let go, for fear that she was being followed. Evil spirits? Ghost? Or a demon? Maiko was a shrine maiden, so how could she be a demon? Her lips trembled and that sinking sense of fear gripped her.

When she looked down, she saw another spider, skittle away. How many spiders were there?

Spiders, death, and poison. She didn't know how that shrine could be so foul. But it existed, and it was full of negativity.

"Kagome, honey? What happened?" she heard. Her mother approached her.

In all of her time away from home, Kagome had never once felt that kind of fear gripping her. She had no answers for how a shrine could be full of demonic energy, but disguise it so well. What could she do for that girl who was being possessed by a demon?

Kikyo's voice still remained in her mind.

Where could she go for help? Who could she turn to? Her path to the Feudal Era was closed. When she looked over at the building that housed the well, she knew it was locked. She wanted to go back, to help, but she was afraid of confronting the person she was.

Of seeing Inuyasha, and of not being able to love him anymore.

She sunk to her knees, and held onto the goshinboku, until her hands felt raw. At long last, her mother approached her and pulled her into her arms. She could never tell her mother what she saw, but it made her feel weak and injured.

I don't know the answer to this. I don't think anyone on the internet does. But if Kikyo had to protect me from what it was that was inside of Maiko, I have to help her too. It's above me.. And the only people that know what to do are in another time.

I'm scared. I don't want to go back. I don't want to see Inuyasha and to know that he's moved on.

But if I don't go, Maiko will suffer. She is a good person. She's.. everything that I am, and I want to protect that. If she doesn't survive this, it means I won't either.

I don't know what to do..

But I do know what Kikyo would do. She would go back if she was me. She would save Maiko. I can't stay here anymore.. I know I have to..

"Mom, I have to go back."

Her family was shocked. Between hysteric tears, hiding on the couch, and overall feeling more afraid than she had in years, Kagome finally calmed enough to know what was right. "To America?" her mother asked, in a disappointed voice. Kagome shook her head, firmly. "No.. I don't mean there. I mean back, to the Feudal Era," she answered.

To this, her mother looked most taken aback. "Sis, what do you mean? You can't go back, the well doesn't work," her brother said. "Besides, you left forever. Right?"

Sure, she left. But she left for herself. If she was going back now, it was because it was her duty to do it. Inside of her, the sense that protecting Maiko because she was a priestess, helped her make the decision. As terrifying as facing her past was, she knew it was nothing compared to facing the possible death.. possession, of someone who she knew needed saving. Kagome could do this. She had done it before.

"I know. But I have a feeling that I have to go now," she decided. "I have a feeling this is the time. I promise, I'm going to come back. I promise I won't let it swallow me again. But this time, this is to help someone else. I.. I have a feeling that somewhere deep inside of me, someone is helping me.. I'm going to go."

Her mother wiped a tear, and then turned around to one of the closets in the main room. "Will you need it?" she asked, sliding it open. Her old bag, a hiking bag meant for ten day travels, was in there. Kagome forced a smile. It didn't reach her eyes. She knew she was going to regret going, but it was no longer her decision. For some reason, she felt as if she had awakened in her, the feeling of being a priestess that Kikyo had. She felt like that part of her was cemented. She could do this if she put her mind to it.

"Give me the keys to the well house, grandpa," she instructed.

She slid the key into the door.

Her family watched behind her. She'd asked to go in alone, because she didn't want them to hear her when she failed to pass through. Part of her wished she would. But when she opened the door, consumed a lot of the dust that flew out, she knew there was no turning back. The well was there, the same as ever. A top had been slid over it to make sure nothing could go out, or come back in. She walked over, carefully, and put her hands on the wooden lid. She heard silence around her. Her fingers toyed with lifting it, to no luck. Heavy.

She gave it a firm push. It budged! She pushed a little more, until it slid off entirely and onto the side. A sizeable gap was left in place. She slowly lifted her bag, and tossed it in. Although she didn't hear a sound, she was sure dust came up. Coughing again, she slowly put her leg over. Like that fifteen year old girl who stumbled through the well, she let her leg dangle off, and looked down into the black of the well.

I wish I could go through. This time, not for me, not for anyone else.. But for my duty as a priestess.

Please work.

She closed her eyes tightly, and let herself fall.

CRUNCH.