Sorry for the late update everyone. I've been busy with college applications and haven't had the time to update between French IV and AP Euro. So I've been feeling a little wiped out. As a "reward" I've decided to post both chapters 3 and 4 today. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu-Yasha in any form.
Unforgotten
Chapter 3: Ephemera
I wonder where he is right now... I sighed quietly and continued grinding the herbs in my bowl as Kaede walked into our home and sat down beside me.
"Have you heard the rumors?" Kaede asked me. I looked at her with slight surprise.
"What rumors?"
"The rumors about Tsubaki, onee-sama." My eyes widened slightly but my face remained neutral as I shook my head.
"No, I haven't Kaede. What manner of rumors are they?"
"They're scary... there's been a lot of talk about her in the village lately. I'm surprised you haven't heard anything."
"So am I," I said, placing my bowl on the ground and rolling up my sleeves. "Well, tell me about the rumors Kaede, and help me plant this herb," I said, taking my small shovel in hand as I began digging.
"Yes sister." Kaede sat and began digging beside me. "Well, the rumor about Tsubaki is that she has sold her soul to a demon. The demon promised to make her more powerful and beautiful, as well as help her possess the shikon no tama."
"It's been said that she is going to come after you, sister," Kaede said with slight fear in her voice. I nodded.
"Well, of course she would come after me, as I am the protector of the shikon no tama, but I wouldn't worry Kaede."
"But, sister... I'm afraid... I don't want anything bad to happen to you... Why aren't you worried?" I smiled slightly.
"I've defeated Tsubaki before Kaede. I will defeat her again. Tsubaki cannot win because of her jealousy and greed for the shikon no tama. That is why you have no reason to worry." I stood and picked up my bow and quiver of arrows and placed them over my shoulder.
Kaede looked at me with sadness in her eyes then cast her eyes down to the floor. "Sister..."
"Yes?" I asked, wondering what could upset her this much.
"Sister... do you think that... Inu-Yasha will ever come back?" Kaede asked, looking at me questioningly. I felt a pang in my heart at the mention of his name. Inu-Yasha... where are you? I closed my eyes as the pain in my heart grew stronger.
"I don't know Kaede... he said that he might not return," I answered slowly, "But don't worry, Kaede. I am sure that he is safe."
I walked out of our home with Kaede still staring at the floor sadly. I felt a pang of sadness wash over me. It's been so long since I last saw you... Inu-Yasha... when will you come back?
I continued down the path that led to the forest. A strange feeling was leading me to something inside of the forest. Something very powerful. The power was calling me, drawing me towards it. I continued walking until I stumbled over a pile of leaves. I stared at it intensely. That's not just a pile of leaves... I examined it carefully and began uncovering what was underneath.
I stopped when my hand touched upon a piece of white clothing. What..? I quickly uncovered the rest of what was under the pile and found myself looking at a woman about my age. The power was radiating from her..? Is that possible..? She's more powerful than anyone I've ever seen before... She had long, straight black hair and was wearing a white yukata. I studied her carefully and checked to make sure she was alive. I could hear her breathing and, satisfied she was alright, moved to wake her up when someone grabbed my arm to stop me. I looked up and was shocked to find myself face to face with Inu-Yasha.
"Inu...Yasha..." I managed to say, staring at him, unsure if he was really there or just a figment of my imagination.
"Kikyou," Inu-Yasha said. He seemed about to tell me something but I interrupted and embraced him tightly.
"Inu-Yasha..." He froze for a moment and then returned my embrace.
"Kikyou... heh. I guess that means you missed me, huh?" I didn't respond and merely held onto him, burying my face in his chest and breathing in his scent. You've come back... Inu-Yasha... I'm so happy... you're here... I let go and pulled away, looking at the girl on the ground.
"Inu-Yasha, do you know this girl?" I asked, "Is she a friend of yours? A relative?" Inu-Yasha shook his head.
"No. Don't wake her up just yet though. She's wounded badly, I did the best I could with her wounds but, I'm not exactly an expert at dressing wounds. I brought her here so that you could help her."
"Why didn't you bring her straight to the village? Her soul is beginning to leave her body..." I said half to myself while I was examining her wounds. Inu-Yasha was silent for a while.
"Kikyou, look at me." I turned and gave him a questioning look. He then showed me his hands and indicated his clothes and my haori. They were covered in blood. How did I not notice all of this blood...?
"Inu-Yasha, where did all of this blood come from?"
"It's demon blood," he said as his eyes darkened, "As I was bringing that girl here I kept being attacked by hordes of demons. They all seemed to be after her. That's why I hid her under that pile of leaves, to wait for you to come."
"How did you know I would come here?"
"I thought that the demons must have been attracted to her soul. It is a powerful soul after all. I knew you would pick up on her power from here and follow it. You never leave anything uninvestigated. And I knew you wouldn't ignore something like this girl's power."
I nodded and examined her more carefully, trying to see what it was about her that troubled me. I wonder... what is it about this girl... that's making me feel as though... I have to help her..? She seems so... familiar... almost as if... she was someone very dear to me... but that's not possible... Who is this girl..?
I looked up and, for a brief moment, caught Inu-Yasha's expression. An expression I'd never seen him display before. He's acting... like he knows this girl... but that's not possible either... is it? He saw me looking at him and shifted his gaze abruptly.
"Inu-Yasha..."
"What?" he asked, seeming surprised to hear me speak again and facing me.
"Can you help me carry this girl back to the village?"
"Sure," he said off-handedly, picked her up and walked with me to my home.
"Kikyou," Inu-Yasha said, laying her down. I looked at him and noticed how careful he was with her. Why is it that... I can't shake this feeling... that he knows her... "Do you think..." he said, straightening up, "That she'll live?" I nodded.
"Yes. She doesn't seem fatally wounded; even though she is weak... she's in no danger with me. I'll see to it that she's alright. Can you bring me some clean water and fresh bandages?"
"Yeah." He turned to leave.
"Wait." He paused at the doorway and looked back at me. "Tell Kaede to help you." He nodded and left.
I wonder what happened to her... I keep sensing this tragic aura surrounding her... she must have gone through a traumatic experience... but what? Why does she seem so familiar... why do I feel that I know her from somewhere... What should I do..? Train her..? That would be best... but how would I help her to overcome this sorrow that she feels? I want... to take care of her... train her... and then... see what I should do. From this point onwards... she will be my responsibility.
I looked up as Inu-Yasha came back inside with the water and the bandages, setting them down next to me. He stayed by the door and I felt him watching me closely. Silence...
"I found her wandering in a massacred village," Inu-Yasha said, looking at her again, "She was mumbling something about having to help someone. I couldn't make out the name. I asked if she was alright and she grabbed me, begged me to help her and broke down in tears. I told her to calm down and tell me what her name was. She managed to say 'Tanaka' before she collapsed. I thought maybe you'd be able to help her. You can help her, can't you?" I nodded.
"Of course... but it will take time to help her regain her memory. Someone must have cast some kind of curse on her to make her forget everything," I said, dressing Tanaka's wounds carefully. The person who placed this curse... I see... could it be... Tsubaki?
Inu-Yasha stood and walked towards the door to leave. I watched him without turning my head and continued bandaging Tanaka's wounds. I won't be seeing much of him now... Inu-Yasha...
"Ne, Kikyou," Inu-Yasha said, turning to face me.
"What?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Tomorrow... let's meet at the usual place," he said, looking at Tanaka, "I've got... something to show you." I nodded.
"Tomorrow morning then," I answered.
He left without another word. I smiled slightly. He hasn't changed at all... I had just finished bandaging Tanaka's wounds when Kaede walked in.
"Onee-sama," Kaede said, "Why did Inu-Yasha bring this woman here?"
"Her name is Tanaka, Kaede, and she'll be living here with us from now on," I said not giving her any further explanation.
"Okay. Um, onee-sama, do you want me to start the soup?" I nodded.
"Put the onions and meat in first, Kaede."
"Yes."
After night had fallen, I stood and replaced Tanaka's water. I walked towards the door to leave and turned to face Kaede.
"Kaede, call for me when Tanaka wakes."
"Yes, but where will you be?"
"At the shrine." Kaede nodded and yawned. "If she doesn't wake in a few hours you can go to sleep," I said and walked out the door and towards the shrine. Why is it... I can't shake this feeling... of foreboding...
I knelt before the jewel inside the shrine and began purifying it, as I did every few nights. I closed my eyes and prayed. I heard the doors to the shrine open abruptly, letting in a cool wind. I opened my eyes and turned my head. What happened...?
"Onee-sama! You have to come quickly! When Tanaka-san woke up, she..." Kaede cast her eyes down. I stood, walked to Kaede and placed my hand on her shoulder.
"It's alright, Kaede. Where is Tanaka?"
"She's at home, but..."
"Follow me, Kaede," I said and walked towards our home.
When I walked inside I was surprised by what I saw. Tanaka was digging her nails into her skin, leaving shallow cuts and marks, holding herself in a tight ball with her knees to her chest. She bit her lower lip and it began to bleed. Her eyes were closed and she was sobbing, the tears like a never ending stream of pain. She pulled at her long, dark brown hair and screamed as though she was going to die. Tanaka... I took a step forward and she looked up at me with tears in her soft brown eyes. I sat down beside her and opened my arms. Almost immediately Tanaka threw herself onto my lap and cried even more hysterically than before. I smoothed her hair and rubbed her back while my heart felt her pain. Her hysteria died down into hiccupping sobs and I held her as though she were my sister. Once she had quieted down I spoke.
"Tanaka, my name is Kikyou. You are here because your home..." I wonder what I should tell her... "Your home was destroyed in a fire. You're going to live here from now on because I am going to train you. Alright?" Tanaka sat up and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
"Yes... but... why... can't I... remember... anything..?" Tanaka asked. Her speech must have been affected as well... I sighed.
"You've repressed all of your memories. You don't remember anything because you don't want to remember." Tanaka looked at me with a pained expression.
"So... then... I'll... never remember?"
"Don't worry about that yet. Right now you should rest. We'll talk more in the morning, alright?" Tanaka nodded and laid down in the cot Kaede had put out for her. I stood to leave, but Tanaka held onto my sleeve.
"Yes?"
"Please... don't... leave me..." she said quietly. I sat down again and she held onto my hand like a child. "Thank... you."
I waited for Tanaka to fall asleep before going to sleep myself. I gently detached my hand from hers and checked her temperature. I sighed and found my old pair of red hakama, a white haori and a white yukata, folded them and laid them next to Tanaka's feet. I have to get her a bow... tomorrow will be fine.
When I laid down to go to sleep I was plagued by uncertainty. I wonder... what Inu-Yasha and Tanaka's connection is...
There were dead all around me, men, children, and women. I'm standing... in a slaughtered village... Tanaka's village..? I looked around and saw four demons surrounding a young samurai and a lady archer in fine, albeit blood-soaked, robes. There must have been a battle... all these people...
The sun had begun to set and the sky was a crimson orange. I looked at the woman for a long time. That woman... her face... she looks like someone...
I watched as the demons moved in and the samurai killed two while the lady killed one and, seeing the last one too late, braced herself for death. The samurai killed the demon and took the fatal blow intended for her. Her eyes widened in horror and she screamed his name.
I don't understand... that woman... she's...
I opened my eyes to the soft light of dawn. That woman... in my dream… could she have been... I shook my head slightly. It couldn't be...
I tied my hair back in tarashigami and slid into my sandals. The floor creaked and Tanaka opened her eyes instantly.
"Good morning, Tanaka. If you're feeling well enough you can come with me to collect herbs," I said, smiling gently. Tanaka rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"What... should I... wear..?"
"Hakama and a haori will be fine. I'll go get you socks and sandals. I'll be right back."
"Okay..."
"Good morning, Kikyou-sama," Kaoru said when I entered his home, "What can I do for you this morning?" I bowed slightly.
"I need a new bow, Kaoru, and I was wondering if you had any to spare." Kaoru nodded.
"Yes, of course. Here," he said handing me the bow and a quiver full of arrows.
"Thank you."
I returned with the bow, arrows, socks and sandals, found Tanaka fumbling with the ties for the hakama and haori and smiled to myself. I walked over and tied the haori and hakama for her.
"Thanks..." Tanaka mumbled, looking embarrassed.
"Your welcome. Here," I said, handing her the socks and watching her put them on with difficulty. She stood and slid on her sandals the same way I had that morning. I handed her the bow and quiver of arrows and she placed the quiver over her shoulder expertly. "I see... you were an archer, then?" I asked. Tanaka looked down at the bow in her hand.
"I don't know... sorry..." she answered quietly. I smoothed her hair.
"Don't worry about it. It will come back. Let's go," I said and began walking while she followed.
There are times when I wonder...
Could things have been different?
If they could, would it be worth it?
I don't want to be one of those annoying people who constantly ask their readers to review, but it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.