Chapter Two:
"Kagome Goes To School"
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."-Henry Adams
Pulling herself up from the well, Kagome took in the familiar sights and sounds of her time. Looking up into the sky, she saw that the night sky was clear but starless.
Taking in the sweet smell of sakura blossoms her father and mother had planted so long ago, Kagome took a moment to sit on her playground swings from when she was a child and sat quietly observing the night.
The back porch glowed as it appeared that her brother Sota had finally been allowed to put up his white rope lights. The lights gently illuminated the darkness and added a sense of magic and romance to the atmosphere. Although, Kagome highly doubted that that was the effect her little brother was aiming for.
The crickets chirping and the fireflies humming, reminded her of nights around a fire with InuYasha, Shippo, Miroku, and Sango. They would stay up half the night talking and fighting and strategizing how to battle Naraku next.
Thoughts of Naraku made Kagome appreciate that she was home and in an era where demons like him, no longer reigned in terror over unsuspecting humans. Here, she could just relax. Although, she knew she couldn't stay relaxed forever. As a matter of fact, she was going to have to be even more prepared.
Grim determination set across her face. Kagome knew that InuYasha was worried. He was worried because the new moon was approaching and they were getting close to Naraku and gathering the remaining jewel shard fragments.
Normally, a new moon wouldn't signify anything, but to ahanyō like InuYasha, it signified the time period when he became a human. Yōkai didn't have this period of weakness, because of their full-blood heritage but hanyō's, like InuYasha, were subject to specific periods of time where their human blood took over.
:: This one night, InuYasha will lose his demon power and weaken to the strength of a normal human being…he'd be able to be hurt, mortal—human.
Because of this period of vulnerability, hanyō's guard this time with the utmost secrecy. And for all intensive purposes, InuYasha would be relatively helpless and extremely vulnerable. Both of which, he doesn't particularly take well to.
:: And just like the hothead he often is, to prove that he isn't helpless, InuYasha will foolishly put himself into harms way! I have to be ready.
What was even worse was the fact that even though Naraku was a self-made hanyō, he could control his period of weakness. He would use this time of vulnerability and hide away to reconstruct his body and become something stronger and altogether different than he was before.
:: That's too creepy! No one should be physically able to disassemble themselves and then put themselves back together as something stranger! Who does Naraku think he is? Mr. Potato Head?!
Kagome wondered if it were a coincidence that the appearance of a new moon—the crescent signature, adorning Sesshoumaru's forehead, had any significance with InuYasha's loss of demonic power. The new moon always indicated that start of a new month, but maybe; just maybe, it could be used to indicate the start of something else. Something more menacing …
:: Oh come off it Kagome! You're home for a few moments and you're already coming up with conspiracy theories.
Swinging back and forth and back and forth, Kagome thought about all she had experienced in her past few years traveling with InuYasha and their group. She was certainly a lot stronger and more confident to boot. Although the harsh reality was that she was more prepared to go into battle and face her own death, than to have a stable relationship with a boy or know how to act on a proper date.
Sighing with the enormity of what awaited her back in the feudal era, Kagome took one more look at her starless skies and then she walked over to the side door, leading into her house.
"Mom", Kagome yelled once inside their quiet house.
"Mom?"
"Kagome dear, you're home!"
Turning around to see her mother standing inside the kitchen, she took a starting run and then leaped into her mother's open arms; feeling the warmth of her mother's love within that welcoming embrace. Burying her face into her mother's apron, Kagome smelled the sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate chips.
"I hope that smell means you made cookies…" enquired Kagome.
"I had a feeling you would be home soon, and I figured you'd want something sweet."
Sighing blissfully Kagome snuggled more deeply into her mother's warm embrace, as if holding on for dear life.
Kagome asked, "Mom, how do you always know what a I need?"
"Sweetie, a parent always knows when their child needs them most", replied Ms. Higurashi, as she gave her daughter a little squeeze.
"Really?"
"Yes. And sometimes, like before you arrived, we can even sense it."
"Do you have a crystal ball you look into, to anticipate our needs?"
"I wish, honey! Then I wouldn't worry so much about you when you're gone. Fortunately I'm not that precise."
Laughing to herself, Kagome asked, "And what do parents do when they "sense" that their child is in need?"
Smiling down at her daughter, Ms. Higurashi said, "I would imagine that we would all do the same thing. As parents we would do everything in our power to help you…or prevent you from being in too much trouble."
Finally letting her mother go, Kagome sat at the table while her mother gathered glasses of milk and a fresh pan of cookies.
"So, where are grandpa and Sota?"
"Dear you know your grandfather can't keep his eyes open past sundown and I think your brother tired himself out, playing video games an hour ago."
Kagome's grandfather, her father's father, had come to live with them when Kagome was younger; just after her father had died in the accident. He soon became the self-proclaimed guardian of the Higurashi shrine and liked to believe himself a priest and practitioner of Shinto, although he lacks any spiritual powers.
:: Grandpa wouldn't last a day in the Feudal Era and he'd certainly be crushed, once he realized that his sutras did him no good.
"So…are you going to tell me?"
Giving her mother the most 'perplexed' look she could pull off, Kagome watched as her mother eyed her wearily in return.
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me why you had such a long face when you came in the door? Tell me why you practically 'jumped' into my arms when you arrived here? Tell me why you looked like the world had just crashed at your feet, as you looked upon it like a guilty child in a china shop?"
"Oh…that. I had hoped you didn't notice."
"Yes. That…and I did."
Ms. Higurashi sat up a little straighter in her chair, as she prepared for the worst. She was hoping that her daughter and InuYasha hadn't gotten into another fight, or that brother of his had not tried to kill her daughter again.
Any parent would acknowledge that it was hard seeing their child grow up, but Ms. Higurashi found it even more difficult knowing that her daughter was growing up in the Sengoku Jidai—which wasn't exactly a great era for a modern woman to return to.
Feudal Japan would be a harsh time for anyone to grow up in. Dealing constantly with wars and warlords, famines, diseases that wouldn't be controllable for centuries to come; AND on top of all that, demons, would be stressful for any human being. Although, she had to respect the fact that people had done it centuries before her daughter arrived there and people seemed to progress and move-on just fine.
Ms. Higurashi knew that her daughter had responsibilities there and friends she thought of as family as well. She just hoped that things wouldn't be getting to be too much for her daughter. High school and being a priestess warrior could be difficult to balance, not to mention "unrequited love".
"I'm not really upset; it's just that I sat outside thinking for a while."
"And what did you conclude?"
"Nothing too serious. I'm always trying to be stronger than I thought I was and now I'm finally realizing that I might have been strong all along."
"That should make you happy dear."
"It does. But, attempting to be strong constantly, doesn't allow me much time to 'freak-out' and I just wanted to do…that."
Heaving a big sigh of exasperation, Kagome continued to look off blankly into the distance, until her mother's laughter jolted her out of her thoughts.
Smiling at her daughter from across the table, Ms. Higurashi asked, "And did you do that?"
"Yes!"
"And do you feel much better?"
"Yes!"
"Well, then, that's all that matters dear. So tell me, what are your plans now that you are home?"
"Well…"
oOooOooOooOooOo
Day 1:
Walking out of the church hand in hand with InuYasha was like something out of a dream.
He looked so handsome in his black tux and pearl colored tie. His hair glistened in the light, as those silvery strands sparkled as bright as her wedding ring.
All of their friends were gathered around to bestow congratulatory hugs and pats on the back. Shippo had been the ring bearer and her friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi acted as both flower girls, while Sango was her maid of honor.
It had been sweet to have grandpa walk her down the aisle and to have Sota give permission for InuYasha to take her as his bride. All in all, it was a perfect day!
Miroku had acted as InuYasha's best man; because there was no way Sesshoumaru was going to be playing that part!
After Kagome had finished greeting some of their guests, Sango pulled her off to the side to give her a great-big-sisterly hug, while Miroku got all secretive with InuYasha talking "MAN" stuff.
Through the tears and the mass of flower blossoms wafting through the air, Kagome turned to see her mother off to the side at the church entrance. Ms. Higurashi's smile was beaming down at her daughter as if she was the sun herself.
And then Kagome could hear the church bells. At first, they were faintly ringing in the background, but they seemed to steadily be growing in deafening waves.
Frowning up at the church tower, Kagome couldn't understand why the church bells were so alarmingly LOUD and it appeared that no one else was noticing it.
Everyone continued to talk amongst themselves, but the bells just kept booming in Kagome's ears like cannons and she just couldn't take it anymore!
Thrusting herself up from her mattress and using the palms of her hands to leverage up her torso, Kagome sat there startled and somewhat incoherent.
Breathing heavily as if she had just run a marathon, Kagome stared in a blank daze at her wall, and finally realized that she was back at home in her room…and being rudely awoken from her dream by her Felix the Cat alarm clock.
Her dream of her and InuYasha married, now gone as Kagome turned over to push the button that would silence her alarm.
:: Evil cat! With its stupid huge eyes darting back and forth, waking me up from my pleasant dream!
And it was such a beautiful dream…
Closing her eyes and dropping back on her bead again, Kagome laid her forearm over her eyes as the irritation from waking from her unfinished dream subsided.
:: I am not ready for the day to being yet.
It was amazing how she could be up early and ready to go in the feudal era when she could be battling yōkai any minute, but being home and getting ready for school did not evoke the same motivation.
:: It's the morning already? Can't be, it feels as if I've only been asleep for a few hours.
Nevertheless, her internal whining session stopped when she snuck a peek at her alarm clock from under her arm and realized that if she didn't get a move-on, she would be late to class on her first day back.
Showering and dressing quickly, Kagome rushed downstairs; only to have to rush back upstairs when she realized that she had left her notes and her book bag.
"Mom?"
"She's already gone to work", replied Sota.
"Oh."
Sitting at the table and reading the paper like the little man of the house, Kagome's younger brother never ceased to amaze her.
"But she did make you lunch and I packed it and put it in the fridge for you."
"Thank you Sota."
"No prob."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for school, Sota?"
"Not yet. My friend's mom is carpooling this week, so I don't have to rush to get ready to catch the bus."
"Oh", Kagome responded a little deflatedly.
"So, how long are you staying this time?"
"I'll be here for a couple of days…and certainly long enough to beat you in a game of racecars."
"You wish!"
Smiling down at her brother, Kagome grabbed her lunch out of the fridge, kissed Sota on the forehead and then dashed off to school.
Yelling over her shoulder, "Tell mom that I'll be home for dinner, Sota" said Kagome.
"Ok. Have a good day, Kagome!"
oOooOooOooOooOo
"Kagome! You're back!?", the three girl squealed in unison.
Sitting at her desk, Kagome looked up to see her three friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi hovering over her expectantly.
"Of course I'm back. You didn't expect me to stay sick forever?"
Kagome's grandfather had a habit on concocting these ridiculous illnesses as an explanation for why she kept missing so much school. She'd had everything from fungus to migraines, allergies to back aches and so on.
:: I wonder what it is this time.
Yuka asked, "Is it ok for you to be in school?"
"Uhh…yeah."
"Are you at least wearing a really high SPF?", asked Eri.
"N-no…?"
"Well does that mean your extreme sensitivity to light has gone away?" asked Ayumi.
"Oh! Oh, that…yeah, sure. It's no longer a problem!"
:: Sighing to herself with her head bowed, Kagome thought, "Thanks gramps."
Oblivious to the smartly dressed woman taking the podium at the front of the class, the girls continued to chat on until they were interrupted by the woman at the front.
"OK, class, everyone take your seats."
"Who's that?", whispered Kagome.
"She's the guest professor."
"Class, My name is Ms. Yamamoto Hinagiku. Today, I'm here to talk to you about the era of the Sengoku Jidai and some important mythology from that time."
"This is going to be so exciting," whispered Kagome gleefully.
The three girls looked at her strangely as if she had just grown a second head.
:: She must be really missing being in school, to think ancient history will be exciting.
:: Why is she so giddy? Kagome must have hit her head!
:: Well, at least she's conscious…
"Let's begin…"
The Legendary Japanese Sword: Kusanagi
Although the sword is mentioned in the Kojiki, this book is actually a collection of Japanese myths and is not considered actual historical documentation. The first reliable historical mention of the sword is in the Nihonshoki. The Nihonshoki also happens to contain mythological stories that are not considered reliable history, but it records some events that were contemporary or nearly contemporary to its writing, and these sections of the book are considered historical.
:: Wow, another mystical sword…
Oh, now Kagome WAS really interested. Her life in the feudal era really became "exciting" when she was able to draw InuYasha's father's sword Tessaiga from his tomb, when InuYasha didn't seem to have the strength to, even though he was a powerful hanyō.
Sesshoumaru had been especially pissed because his father had enchanted the blade so that Sesshoumaru couldn't wield it—mostly because he would have to use it to protect a human (which is a foreign concept to him). The great Inu no Taishou also put a barrier around the sword, so that it would reject him and burns his flesh. That unpleasant occurrence also left Sesshoumaru weakened afterwards.
That was also the first time Sesshoumaru had tried to kill her. And it had everything to do with Kagome giving the Tessaiga to InuYasha after freeing it from its base.
Kagome certainly didn't want to die at the hand of Sesshoumaru or anyone for that matter, but she could understand Sesshoumaru's anger. The Tessaiga was a powerful sword that could slay 100 yōkai with one swing. The sword that had been bequeathed to Sesshoumaru, the Tenseiga, was a sword of healing that could revive the dead. Sesshoumaru didn't really care for it, because he didn't particularly have a need or a reason for someone to not stay dead.
It all made Kagome smile with the intuitiveness of Inu no Taishou. It was obvious that their father intended this from the beginning, so that the brothers could not duel to the death after he was gone. And he knew that InuYasha being a hanyō would need all the extra help he could get.
:: What with Sesshoumaru trying to kill him all the time and take back the Tessaiga…
…The mythological story tells that this supernatural sword was first given to the grandson of Japanese mythological sun goddess, who was about to become a Japanese Emperor. This additional gift coupled together with other symbols of imperial power: the mirror and the necklace connected the earth and divine world; gave the ruler of the country a real weapon.
The story goes, that: the Japanese god Susano'o encountered a grieving family headed by Ashi-na-Zuchi in the Izumo Province. When Susano'o inquired of Ashi-na-Zuchi, he told him that his family was being ravaged by the fearsome Yamata-no-Orochi—an eight-headed serpent of Koshi. This serpent was said to have consumed seven of the family's eight daughters and that the creature was coming for his final daughter, Kushinada-hime. Susano'o proceeded to investigate the creature, and after an abortive encounter he returned with a plan to defeat it. In return, he asked for Kushinada's hand in marriage, which was agreed.
:: It always starts with a demon…
…He instructed the preparation of eight vats of sake to be put on individual platforms, positioned behind a fence with eight gates. The monster took the bait and put each of its heads through each gate. With this distraction, Susano'o attacked and slew the beast.
:: Susano'o should be glad that Miroku's guardian Mushin wasn't there or he would have drunk all the sake himself—and there would have gone that great plan.
…Susano'o decapitated each head and then proceeded to the tails. In the fourth tail, it was said that he discovered a great sword inside the body of the dragon, which he called Ame-no-Murakumon-no-Tsurugi. This is the sword he presented to the goddess, Amaterasu, to settle an old grievance.
Generations later, in the reign of the Twelfth Emperor—Emperor Keikō, the sword was given to the great warrior, Yamato Takeru. This sword was part of a pair of gifts given by his aunt, Yamato Hime—Shrine Maiden of Ise Shrine, to protect her nephew in times of peril.
These gifts came in handy when Takeru was lured onto open grassland during a hunting expedition by a treacherous warlord. The lord had fiery arrows to ignite the grass and trap Takeru in the field, so that he would burn to death. He also killed the warrior's horse, to prevent his escape. Desperately, Yamato Takeru used Ame-no-Murakumon-no-Tsurugi to cut back the grass and remove fuel from the fire. In doing so, he discovered that the sword enabled him to control the wind and cause it to move in the direction of his swing. Taking advantage of this power, Yamato Takeru used his other gift—fire strikers, to enlarge the fire in the direction of the lord and his men, and he used the winds controlled by the sword to sweep the blaze toward them. In triumph, Takeru renamed the sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi—the Grasscutter Sword to commemorate his narrow escape and victory.
:: That warlord sounds an awful bit like Renkotsu from the Shichi'nintai—the Band of Seven. He was definitely an expert with explosives and metallurgy. He also created fire from his mouth by drinking a liquid and set wires hooked onto his hands on fire, thus pulling his victims into a net of fire…
…Eventually, Yamato Takeru married BUT later was defeated in battle with a monster, after ignoring his wife's advice to take Kusanagi with him.
:: That's funny! Men should always listen to their wives.
…In the Nihonshoki, the Kusanagi was removed from the Imperial Palace in 688, and moved to Atsuta Shrine after the sword was blamed for causing Emperor Temmu to fall ill. Along with the JEWEL and the mirror, it is one of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan; the sword representing the virtue of valor.
:: "Did she say 'jewel'? Like the sacred jewel—the Shikon no Tama?", Kagome asked herself.
Today one can find mentioning of the sword in the oldest chronicles of Japan-Nihon Shoki. The fact that the sword actually existed is still a matter of doubt to many people. As it was believed that Kusanagi became the cause of the Emperor's illness it was decided to place it in Atsuta Shrine, which is now the second oldest Shinto shrine in Japan. Although, no one can say for sure, that one of the famous Emperor's regalia does exists; seeing as the sacred Japanese sword was never displayed to public. It was rumored that one of the Shinto priests did see Kusanagi and he eventually died right after that as believed from the magic power of the sword. With all the stories, which in one way or another were connected with the legendary sword, it still symbolizes undeniable power and bravery…
:: Is it real? Who would make such a sword and where did it come from?
Kagome knew that she was especially intrigued about the Ame-no-Murakumon-no-Tsurugi because her grandfather had once mistaken InuYasha's father's sword—So'unga for Kusanagi.
:: Of course, grandfather called it Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and grandfather is perpetually confused…
"KAGOME!"
Surprised, Kagome blinked twice at her friends as they gathered around her in a semi-circle and stared at her in a concerned manner. For a moment no one said anything, as if they had asked her a question and she had yet to respond.
"What?! Did I miss something?"
"Kagome, are you sure you're 'OK' to be in school?"
"Yeah, maybe this is too much for you."
"Yeah, you were spaced-out for a while."
"I was just thinking about the lesson Ms. Yamamoto Hinagiku just gave. Didn't you guys find it interesting?"
A resounding, "No" answered that question.
:: Oh brother. These girls have no idea how fun history can be.
:: Smiling mischievously to herself, "Especially when you get to relive it, with a reluctant but attractive hanyō at your side!"
The girls continued to walk out of the class room and onto the school yard, where fellow classmates lounged on the grass, ate their lunches, and talked with friends.
"So, Kagome, do you want to go grab some burgers and then head to the library so we can discuss what each of us is going to do for that project Ms. Yamamoto Hinagiku just assigned?"
"PROJECT?! What project?"
:: I knew she was being too 'spacey' to be ok…
Ayumi replied, "Ms. Yamamoto asked each of us to find a mythical artifact from history and write a five-page report on it."
"Umm, that doesn't sound too bad."
"So what are you thinking of doing your report on?", asked Eri.
"I'm not sure, but I think I'll be more inspired if I go to the museum or visit the Atsuta Shrine."
"Why do you want to visit the shrine?"
"I was really interested in Ms. Yamamoto's retelling of the story behind the Ame-no-Murakumon-no-Tsurugi, and was hoping to see if I could get a chance to see it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. As a matter of fact, I think I'm just going to go get a head start on over there now. Might as well take advantage of my 'good health' while it lasts!"
The girls watched as Kagome ran off, waving goodbye to her friends and turning-up dust in the wake of her hurried escape.
Ayumi smiled, "It's great to see Kagome being so studious now. Maybe we can be study buddies."
Eri and Yuka looked at Ayumi like she was crazy and then strolled off.
"Hey! Wait you guys. What did I say?"
oOooOooOooOooOo
Finally a safe distance from her friends and their curious glances, Kagome slowed down enough to enjoy her walk to the Atsuta Shrine, through downtown Nagoya.
The mid-day sunlight filtered through the swaying tree branches and cast whimsical shadows on the pavement. This ever changing pattern lulled Kagome into a deep sense of thought over the lesson Ms. Yamamoto had just given.
:: So, we know the sword is old—actually ancient, but with so much myth and legend surrounding it, it makes it hard to sift out the truth.
Kagome knew from her own experience that just because something was legendary, didn't make it false. She had seen enough mythical things in the feudal era to become a believer.
But still, something was bothering her about that sword. The Ame-no-Murakumon-no-Tsurugi burned in her mind as if she should know more. Rubbing the base of her palm against her forehead, Kagome almost felt lightheaded with the intensity of her feelings.
:: Maybe I just need to hurry up and get out of this sun, before I fry my brains out. I won't be of use to anyone blubbering like an idiot.
As Kagome approached the shrine entrance, she began to feel a little overwhelmed. This would be Kagome's first time visiting Miya—the Shrine and going inside to see the priceless artifacts. She had been here once before, early last May, for the Bugaku Shinji festival.
It had been entertaining to watch the ceremonial dances that had been practiced since the Heian era in the tenth century. In the full bloom of May, gorgeous music and dances would be performed on a big red painted stage, leading spectators to reconnect with the elegant world of the former monarchic days.
However today, Miya was quiet and still. The stone steps led their way up to the inner sanctuary, where the wooden floorboards creaked under the weight of Kagome's footfall. It appeared that she was practically alone, with the exception of the occasional monk dressed in their traditional white robes.
Quietly, so as to disturb no one, Kagome carefully peered over artifacts artfully displayed under what she would imagine to be the strongest of Plexiglas. She turned to see a not-so-traditional prayer tree outside and made a mental note to attach a prayer to it on her way out.
Turning back around to check out the next relic, Kagome screeched in a failed attempt to not scream at the quiet monk standing beside her.
Bowing, the monk said, "My apologies, my dear. I did not mean to startle you."
Returning the bow, Kagome answered, "No, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention."
Smiling back at the girl, he replied, "My name is Utsumi Naoto. I have been a monk at the Atsuta Shrine for over 40 years."
"Oh…"
"You appear to be in need of assistance. Are you searching for something in particular or were you just looking around?"
"Oh, well…In class today, I learned of the legendary sword—Kusanagi, and I was hoping that…well maybe if it's not any trouble…"
"Yes dear?"
"…thatIcouldseeit…"
Smiling widely at the girls discomfort and hurried words, the monk soon took on a look of sadness as they walked in silence down the corridor.
"That look means I can't see it, doesn't it?", asked Kagome.
"I would love for you to see one of Japan's greatest treasures, but we no longer posses the sword."
"WHAT?! Did like, somebody steal it?"
"No, no. Nothing so sinister."
"Then what happened to it?"
"The sword was entrusted to a private collector some years ago…"
Now, greatly distressed Kagome balked out, "You sold it?"