DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha, character or story-wise. He and all related characters belong to his creator, Rumiko Takahashi and affiliates. This story is of my creation with the collaboration of my Muses. No monies were obtained in this writing; it is a complete work of fiction. Your reviews are my payment. Enjoy!

Eternal gratitude and reverances: to my beta and delta, Fenikkusuken and Free Da Chickens, respectfully. Thank you again, ladies.

This chapter was originally posted some two to three years ago. I decided to give it more... volume, adding the appearance of a 'special guest'.

I, Midoriko

Chapter 3

I became more adventurous as I grew older, leaving after my lessons with Hika-obaa-san to explore the forest, going a little further each day to familiarize myself with its surroundings. Mother noticed this and suggested that I start gathering various herbs for her. My mother came from a long line of healers- her mother, her grandmother, great-grandmother- as far back as she could remember. She had been trained to know which plants had healing properties, and whenever the shrine ran low on something, she helped to replenish their supplies.

One warm summer day, she sent me out on just such a search. There were two plants in particular that I was asked to fetch: one contained the most healing properties, and though it caused hallucinations due to its slight poisonous nature, it was the strongest. The other was a parasitic plant that fed on trees, and it acted as a catalyst when combined with almost any other plant. Though the second plant could be found nearly anywhere, the first could only be found deep in the forest.

Not surprisingly, I had a hard time locating the first plant, but I finally found it growing in a deeply shady thicket. To my bewilderment, there was another kind of plant twining around the one that I sought: nettle! It also had helpful properties, and Mother would be pleased if I could bring it back as well as the other, but if I were to touch the nettle, I risked painful blisters!

As I stood there, trying to determine the best way to avoid the nettle's barbs, I felt the strangest sensation- a cold breeze that caused the hairs on the back of my neck to stand straight up. A strong feeling of being watched caused me to quickly turn around.

A tall, silver-haired youkai glimmered in the shadows of the thicket, golden eyes gleaming as he watched me.

"Inu-no-Taisho-dono! Greetings!" I exclaimed, bowing deeply.

He stepped forward, glancing in the direction of the plants. "Are you looking for something?"

"Yes, I found the plant I need—over there." I pointed to the cluster of nettle that encased my treasured plant within its spiked embrace. "It has been hard to find lately because of so little rain, and my village's shrine is in need of more. Mother sent me to find some, along with the parasitic tree plant."

He focused on the clump of greenery. "Ahh… you seek out the mogusa. But, you must be mindful of the stinging plant as well."

"It's okay; I think I've figured out a way to avoid the nettle." Picking up a broken branch and snapping off the dried-up twiglets so they wouldn't tangle, I carefully edged closer to the plants, mindful of my bare legs and feet as I drew near the outermost leaves. Flattening the prickling nettle with the branch, I cleared an area so that I could reach the mogusa, but then I realized that the infernal nettle was tightly wrapped around my goal.

This posed a challenge. How can I remove the nettle without damaging either the mogusa or me? This could be tricky….

Struck by an idea, I closed my eyes, stretching out my hands until I was sure I could 'feel' the nettle. When I peeked through my lashes, my fingers were just at the tips of the barbs. It's working! My center turned warm, radiating down each arm, causing my hands to tingle and glow lightly, surrounded by a colorful cloud.

Violet? Weird. It's usually pink.

Cautiously encircling the nettle, I watched as it shrank away at the glow, leaving the mogusa untouched and unharmed. I shook my hands lightly to stop the flow of … light, then wrapped my hands around the root base of the mogusa and tugged hard. After a few moments of resisting, the plant gave way, bringing with it a small clump of dirt. Using the stick as a makeshift shovel, I dug under the root of the nettle and freed it of dirt as well. When I came out of the brambles with the mogusaand the nettle held gingerly by the rootball, the Inu-no-Taisho was still in his original position. His eyebrows were raised, like he was thinking hard on something, and his gaze was focused intently on me.

"These are the ones that I need," I said, proudly showing off my prizes. I was going to explain that Mother wanted mogusa and the nettle was a bonus when he asked…

"Have you done that before?"

I tilted my head a little. "I don't understand, Inu-no-Taisho-dono. Done what?"

He made a dismissive motion with a clawed hand. "Purified what you did not need. Made the light come from your hands. Have you done this before?"

I thought for a moment. "I helped Mother, not too long ago, when she was healing someone who was hurt really badly. She had me press a cloth filled with mogusa over the man's wound to stop the bleeding, but something odd happened then, too. My hands felt like they were on fire."

"Hmm… any other times?" He half-closed his eyes.

"No, Inu-no-Taisho-dono. Well, maybe… my hands hurt the same when I punched Masuka."

I sighed heavily at the memory of the villagers' dark whispers after that day, and the Inu-no-Taisho scowled down at me. "You have what you seek, so why are you not happy now?"

Shaking the clinging dirt from the mogusa, I shuffled my feet. Should I tell him?My mind raced briefly, and I squared my shoulders to the tall youkai as I told of the fear that lay in my heart. "I don't know what this is, the funny feeling that comes from my center like a fire, shooting down my arms and out of my hands in a pink-colored cloud. I feel…like I'm not in my body when it happens, as if I'm seeing thorough the eye of someone else. I don't know if I'll hurt someone one day with… whatever this is, and I'm scared. The villagers- they say I'm an akuma."

He made that barking-laugh sound again, shaking his head. "You are far from an akuma, even though your beating of your cousin would state otherwise. Come," he invited. "Let us walk the forest to find the tree plant."

We hadn't gone far before I spotted the tree plant, overhead in the branches of a magnolia tree. It was a large bunch, full of bitter, yellow-green berries that were safe to consume in small amounts for treatment. Mother will be amazed! "Up there!" I exclaimed, pointing to the cluster. Setting down my handful of mogusaand nettle, I approached the magnolia tree with both intent and curiosity. There, in the center of the trunk, was a huge knot that looked very much like a face. Giggling mentally at the thought of a 'demon tree', I tucked up my kimono skirts and jumped, placing my feet onto the knot, and eagerly clambered up the trunk. The cluster grew off of the biggest branch, and thank the kami was not too high above the ground.

After testing my weight on the thickest part of the bough, I lay on my stomach, gripped the wood between my arms, and shimmied towards the clump. Reaching out, I snagged the main root of the cluster and gave a twist. A sticky mass spewed forth from the cluster, trying to cling to my hand. Short bursts of violet-pink light suddenly shot out from my fingers, stinging my palm where the mass was stuck, and the sap quickly burned away. I imagined that I heard a high-pitched cry coming from the cluster, and my eyes widened as the berries turned from silver to red.

What does this mean? Will the cluster be less potent now that the berries have changed color?Twisting the clump a bit harder, with a small ripping noise the parasitic plant came free. Tucking my prize into my obi, I swung off the branch and hung there like a monkey before dropping to the ground. The Inu-no-Taisho looked at me in amazement, but I felt disappointed. "I'm afraid that my climb might have been a waste," I grumbled, displaying the bright berries now adorning the plant.

He gravely inspected the wilted greenery. "It is now safe for human consumption," he declared before continuing. "About your…'funny feeling'. There is a shrine in your village?" I nodded in affirmation. "Then become a miko. You already have the ability. As a miko, you can learn to protect yourself and your village."

"They don't know what to do about me. They've never seen anyone like me before."

"Nor have I, young one," came a low baritone in the direction of the tree. Both of our glances shot up towards the knot, which had morphed into a definitive face. Two pieces of bark peeled back to reveal what deceptively appeared to be the smooth, pale yellow bark underneath. But it wasn't bark at all! Wise-looking eyes gazed back at us, apparently enjoying our consternation. "What is your name, girl?"

I blanched, pointing at the face. "You're a youkai…? A tree youkai!" A mixture of disbelief and excitement swept over me; I hadn't ever heard tales of spirit-trees. Spirits that lived amongst the trees, yes, but...

The tree-youkai turned its gaze towards the Inu-no-Taisho. "It has been a long time since you were in my part of the woods, pup. The last I saw you, we were the same height." The Inu-no-Taisho approached the magnolia, bowing politely before answering. "Bokusen'o-sama, it is you. Yes, it has been a while. I had heard you 'disappeared' for a time."

The wood-formed mouth creaked into a grin. "Not disappeared, pup; more akin to 'possessed'. Sucked the life from me—a small fry, but when your branches aren't long enough to remove it yourself, what are you to do? Damn thing was a pain in the knot." They shared a chuckle before the tree again turned its attention to me. "The cluster you removed was a parasite youkai. So, young one, who are you?"

"I… I'm Midoriko." I stammered, hardly believing that I was talking to a tree. Almost forgetting my manners, I bowed quickly. "I'm sorry, Bokusen'o-sama! I didn't mean to… I meant no harm."

"Harm?" he boomed. "What harm could have come from removing something that was actually doing harm?" The low-hanging branches bent towards me, and although I felt skittish, I stood my ground. Gently, the branches wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. "Come here, girl. I wish to have a better look at you." I stepped forward with the motion of the branches until I was eye-level with the pale, bark-framed face. Scrutinizing me up and down, he peered into my eyes for a moment. The wooden eyelids descended into a half-lidded stare that penetrated into my soul. "Hmm, you are an unusual child. Untrained you are, but aptly named. No ordinary shrine will know what to do with you, this is true, so a more suitable one must be your guide." The wise, pale yellow gaze turned toward the golden eyes. "You there, pup, you know of which shrine I speak." The encircling branches fell away.

"Indeed. The longer her power remains untamed, the more unruly it will grow." The Inu-no-Taisho gazed skyward in thought, the sunlight reflecting off of his long silver hair. Finally he said to me, "I can take you to a shrine that is dedicated to training miko."

I positively beamed at the two of them. Bowing before the magnolia, I expressed my gratitude. "Thank you, Bokusen'o-sama, for your advice." Turning in my companion's direction, I asked, "I have to return these plants to my mother, and ask for permission. Will you wait for me?"

"I cannot," he rumbled. "Not today. My duties call me to the northern borders of my lands."

I gathered my clumps of plants and the two of us headed back towards my village. Dejected, I hung my head the entire way. But wait… he did not say that he would never take me. I wonder what his duties are, and where his borders lie? We stopped at the edge of the forest, the familiar path towards my village in plain sight ahead. My hope renewed, I looked up in time to see the Inu-no-Taisho regarding me with a thoughtful expression.

"Meet me here again, in seven days. I will take you then," he said, and I smiled so wide that my cheeks hurt. Turning on his heel, he started to leave, then stopped. Glancing over his armored shoulder, he warned, "Don't be late."

Then he was gone. Again.

You have been the cause of so much death and destruction to humans that I can ignore it no longer…

xXx

Author's note on herbal 'harvest': Mogusa is one of various names for the herb mugwort. Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has been used in folk-healing over centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments. It is a nervine- used to treat insomnia, nervousness, and to kill parasitic worms. It is used in Chinese medicine for moxabustion, and has been described as a narcotic able to produce mild halucinations. The smallest amounts are used in treatment, as accidental poisoning could result from a higher dose.

Nettle (Urtica dioica) is also a healing plant, dried and brewed as a tea in folk medicine for use as a diuretic, to build the blood, for arthritis and rheumatism. It is commonly known throughout the world as 'Stinging Nettle' due to the abundance of 'stinging hairs' found on the underside of the plant's leaves. The hairs contain within them histamine and formic acid; when coming in contact with the skin, a stinging sensation is the result.

The 'parasitic plant' that Midoriko purifies is mistletoe. Known in parts of Europe and Wales as Ulchelwydd, or 'all-heal'. Mistletoe acts as a catalyst; that is, is amplifies the properties of whatever herb/plant it is combined with. On its own, two types are used in European and Asian medicine: American mistletoe (Phoradendrum serotinum) and European mistletoe (Viscum album); recent studies have shown promising results as a possible anti-cancer agent.

Bokusen'o-sama, according to the anime/manga, is a magnolia tree that had reached the venerable age of 2,000+ years after Inuyasha's 'awakening'. Since Midoriko may have existed during the Heian Era (aprox. 1100 BCE, according to the Inuyasha Profiles book), who's to say that the ancient wood wasn't a friend of the family? ::grin::