Inuyasha: Upon A Wishing Well


Chapter Four

This is the place where there had been five halves, brought together by tragedy itself. In the time where she was fifteen and unable to really grasp what she was doing, Kagome had been the one with the least tragedy to accompany her. She was there because she had been at fault for the loss of the Shikon no Tama. She had to help find it, because no one else could see the pieces. Slowly, they found others who were affected by the Shikon no Tama and Naraku himself. Every time she remembered the people she loved, who travelled with them and ultimately helped end Naraku, she recalled just how dangerous her life had been. She had no idea how much suffering and loss people went through, and the extents they went to for revenge. Even women, like Sango, and children like Shippo, were forced into battle. It was a nightmare, and every time Kagome thought of Kagewaki's Castle, she only thought of that time they went to confront him, and found it was another trap.

Naraku shed so many disguises, ruined so many lives, and this had been his apex for a period of time. For an adult Kagome, this place evoked more of a sense of fear than it used to back then. Standing so far from the village that guarded this dark secret, knowing what she did about what became of it in her time, made her feel even more powerless.

Questions about who would turn that place into a shrine entered her mind. Obviously, the Ishiguro family had to come at some point and build a shrine there. It was sitting empty now, supposedly, after they'd eradicated Naraku's many demons. It was a place where life shouldn't have gone back to.

A sad Kagome thought of Maiko, living where a demon so horrible had devastated so many lives. The entire demon slayer clan that Sango had belonged to, Miroku, Inuyasha and Shippo had all suffered because of Naraku's influence in their lives in some way. Buried there, under that soil, was so much blood and turmoil. But people came along and assumed a shrine would calm that influence. Instead, a fire had erupt and destroyed more lives, taking with it the peace and future of another priestess.

Kagome finally decided the only way forward was to go in the village and see if someone would take her over to Miroku's village. It wasn't far from here, she hoped. She couldn't know the direction, save that it had to be renown for its spiritual energy. Miroku was a real monk, and she imagined the stories of a monk and a demon slayer having children had to have crowded everywhere. Miroku and Sango being in love gave her happy thoughts, enough to be able to go to the village, with slow steps. Her feet were shaky as she approached a villager, who looked up out of surprise. Kagome knew she was dressed unusually, and it worked in her advantage, even a little. Everyone seemed to notice her. She found it easier to talk once she was close to the villager, unintimidated now by the presence of Kagewaki's castle beyond her.

"I uh.. was wondering if you could help me," she asked, as politely as possible. The villager seemed to look at her as if she were a demon. It was a conclusion most people had when she was younger, her clothes now were far more concealing. Still, she wasn't surprised when murmuring started around her. The voices rose until she could hear mentions of calling the town guard. And then there was more mentions of calling the local priestess. Kagome knew she had to explain a lot of things at once. For beginners, she would probably be tied up again, just as she was when she first appeared in Kaede's village years ago. She would have to explain she's a priestess too, give unusual origins for herself. She should have prepared and brought along a pair of red and white hakama, but she'd been to embroiled in being practical. Oh no.. They're actually calling a priestess. What am I doing to do?

She took a step back as a crowd formed. Voices rose in unison to call her a witch, then a demon. It seemed as if the wildest conclusions came out at once, and she tried to defend herself. Until another voice beckoned out from outside of the crowd, loud and strong.

"Please, leave the girl alone. She has no demonic energy!" the female voice spoke out. Kagome recognised the voice in an instance. Six years could not change the strong, feminine and yet still commanding voice Sango had possessed. The person who had saved her had to be Sango. As someone pushed through the crowd, Kagome's heart gave a loud leap. But she also thought about why Sango would be here. Shouldn't she be with her children and husband? Shouldn't she be with Miroku?

The tall, muscular woman that pushed through had never gone through childbirth. Kagome was trained now to see signs on a body. She looked the same as she had before, if not even more powerful. Sango was beautiful, tall and easily in stronger shape than she had been when Kagome was younger. Sango had been a year or two older than Kagome, and her age made her taller than she was before. It was apparent that time had been kind on Sango. How did she have time to do these things? How did she manage to fight demons and do her own duties for Miroku? Questions raked her mind, but were pushed aside when she met Sango's eyes.

Kagome's eyes watered over and then she saw Sango's look of shock. Comprehension dawned over the other woman. It made Kagome relieved that someone remembered her, that the appearance she had wasn't so different from herself. It made Kagome cry to see Sango here, finally a real person. Standing where she was, she smiled over at the other woman, unable to believe what she saw. "You came back," Sango finally managed, in a voice that was both in awe and happy. Pleasant surprise was what Kagome thought it was. This was real.

She was the one that rushed forward and let her arms sling around Sango. Who had possibly been her best friend, her co-conspirator against Miroku, her solace when she fought with Inuyasha. The slender, powerful woman was the person she had spoken to most about her worries with Kikyo, her need for home. It was as if she'd found her sister again, after so many years apart. When she held Sango close, she could feel the need to cry crawling up her skin. It came out in short sobs, until she felt Sango's grip around her, and felt the older woman letting her know it's okay. I can't believe it's her.. Sango is here. Sango..

Pulling away from the hug was hard. Kagome didn't want to, and Sango was in a similar position. When they separated, it was clear they needed to address the crowd of people. Sango helped tell them that she would handle it, and then lead Kagome away to the inn. Apparently, Sango was staying there until she dispatched a demon that haunted this village. The talk leading to the inn was so informal that Kagome was sure that there was more to tell. Kagome knew she had a lot to say, a lot to find out, and she wouldn't know when to shut up. By the time the inn door to Sango's room opened, Sango forced Kagome to sit down. She offered her sake, and then they both seemed content to merely look at one another. Kagome knew Sango looked even more beautiful now. She looked like she'd spent years training herself. Muscular development like this, while remaining lean and agile, was something unachievable by a woman who had children. It was impossible. Kagome had to know how Sango didn't bear Miroku's children. They had been so close before Kagome had left.

"So.. How did you come back?" Sango asked, in a voice that teetered on cautious. "The well didn't work, right? I'm glad to see you, but it concerns me that you didn't come back sooner. Did you.. was it Inu—"

The I word was what her mother called him when Kagome sometimes brought it up. Sango didn't know the codeword, so Kagome could forgive it. She knew the reason why Sango hesitated to mention him. How on earth did someone forget their true love? Kagome had never forgotten him, even though she'd met a new boyfriend, had so many firsts of her life in her new world. Kagome could never forget those amber eyes that haunted her dreams, made her push away Greg when he promised her the world. It was true that he wasn't here, and had no idea she came back, but she'd never, ever let him in on her thoughts. Her hand reached out to Sango's, holding it gently, and then she gave her a smile that said more than it should. Six years could not wipe out the pain in her smiles when she thought of it. "I have a problem, Sango.. I came for help," she admitted. "But it can wait. Where's Miroku? You two had no children..?"

Sango's hand withdrew. The other woman was different suddenly. Kagome hadn't caught on before, but Sango was definitely much more independent. It made no sense. Miroku had been by her side, shouldn't she be dependent on him. "I didn't have his children, Kagome," she said, in a distanced voice. Kagome felt her world upheave a little. "What do you mean?" she asked, in a voice that sounded younger suddenly. Something had changed after all. Sango was not with Miroku. Did he cheat? Did he not want her? Kagome's mind formed these negative ways that were insane and probably a little sexist.

Sango took another sip out of her sake. "I left him, Kagome."

Sango had been the one to move on. The power of those words reminded Kagome of the past. Sango had been so in love with Miroku. As much, if not more, than Kagome had been with Inuyasha. She had dealt with how he was with other women, and become his fiancée. It was the biggest twist of events for Sango to have left Miroku. It was so unlike her. "After you left. I didn't feel the same way about becoming a mother and having children," Sango continued, with another polite sip. "Miroku wants family, I want to rebuild my clan. I can only do that by training other demon slayers. I don't want to give all of my opportunities up for settling down. Honestly.."

Sango finally looked at her, but it was a sad look. Maybe pitiful. Kagome had not been here for this change, and she supposed no one else was, either. This was a Sango who had selected her own destiny, not unlike the women of the modern era who chose to work and forego family for themselves. Deciding for yourself was an important distinction. Kagome could almost feel proud. But she wanted to know what happened to that powerful love that drove Sango to Miroku. Did it die? "Did I ever really love him?" Sango asked, in a voice that sounded unsure. "I saw the way you were with your love.." Kagome knew that was why Sango seemed so sad. To mention an unfulfilled love. Sango had her own. ".. It just didn't seem like love to me, Kagome. I was looking for my strength in someone else, but I really wanted strength in myself," she finished. "I can't love someone who wants me to change for them. It was never me. I've always wanted to teach others my strength, show them the path to becoming a taijiya.. So when I left Miroku.."

Sango wiped her eyes with her sleeve, the pretty off pink turning dark from tears. Kagome wanted to reach out and comfort her, but she also knew that crying helped. Kagome had patients who cried about their losses. Sango had to cry or no one would know what she felt. "I did it for me, Kagome. And I don't regret it," she finished. Sango's smile was the one Kagome had ached to see for so many years. She lifted her glass of sake – "to your happiness!"—and then swallowed it. They could see that their lives were so different, in so many ways. Kagome had to leave hers behind because she had no options, Sango made the choice to leave Miroku behind. In a way, both of them had somehow carved out their own destinies away from those who influenced them. Naraku had changed so much by not being a part of their lives. "Enough about me. What did you do? You look, a lot like Lady Kikyo now," Sango admitted.

Kikyo was Kagome, in a way. Kagome could tell she looked older now. She was matured, and she'd been through a lot. "I've learned so much, I'm basically going to have this amazing job! I found a boyfriend, I'm happy," she said, in a voice that didn't sound like it believed itself. Sango's awkward congratulation was jut as unbelieving. How did you go from being madly in love with Inuyasha to this? It was nothing like Sango, who was happy as she was. Inuyasha was the one, and Kagome had to settle for Greg at some point. "What happened to everyone else? How is Kohaku?" Kagome asked, trying to move the subject along.

She truthfully ached to see Inuyasha, but wouldn't be able to. It was better not to bring him back into her life.

Sango instead seemed to finally realise something more important was at play. "Why did you come back, Kagome? It's dangerous here. This village isn't a nice place," Sango asked. Her concern was so genuine, it made Kagome feel safe again. Kagome smiled, leaned back and exhaled. "Well.. I came back to Japan from the place I went to study, and went to visit a shrine nearby.."

She explained all of it. Maiko's sickness, how she went to visit her to see how she was doing. "But when I went to help her, she seemed.. Not normal," Kagome explained. She omitted the part about Kikyo telling her it was something inside. No one had to know that she was hearing Kikyo's voice. Hallucinations were never good things. If Kikyo was really still with her, guiding her, it was better not to let her become the forefront of this. "Sango.. it's like she was possessed. I couldn't help her. A priestess, possessed by a demon, in my time, is so unusual," Kagome explained. She didn't want to seem afraid, but in her mind, she saw those red eyes looking at her, and the question of who she is. Maiko had to be possessed. There was no other explanation for it. "When I came back here, the elder looking after Kaede's village helped me come here. I used my GPS—uh," awkward pause, a search for the right words. "I used one of the things from my time to locate where Ishiguro Shrine is in this time. It's Kagewaki's Castle, Sango.. They built the shrine over the castle."

Her words were confirmed with Sango's ghastly expression. She eventually seemed to swallow the information. "I think we need to go see Miroku," Sango agreed, in a voice that sounded more and more as if it was in shock. "I can't help, but maybe he can give you a talisman to help. Any demon that survives five hundred years is more powerful than Naraku. To possess someone within a shrine is the work of a demon at high levels.."

Both girls seemed even more defeated when Kagome could admit that she was in over her head. Maiko's predicament was worse than she had ever thought. Sickness, possession and tragedy loomed over Maiko in ways that echoed what Sango had gone through.

When Kagome was brought over a futon, she lied down and looked up at the dark ceiling. Sango was beside her. It felt like they were teenager again, although Sango had always been too mature to be just a teenager. Their different upbringings showed in those times. Now, Kagome could relate to the other woman. "Maiko had a younger brother, too," Kagome said, in the empty dark. She pulled the blanket up to her chest. Sango seemed to turn to face her, listening now. "He died in the fire. She jumped out of the second storey to try and save him.. And he died in her arms. The caretaker said it hurt her to lose him.."

Sango seemed to melt then. She heard the audible sigh. "Kohaku is alive, but I held him too, when he died," Sango admitted, in a voice that still held the pain of six years ago. Naraku had wrenched Sango's entire family from her. Kagewaki's castle had been the place where a spider demon slaughtered an entire clan of taijiya, and where Kohaku had his fateful showdown with Sango. They had been manipulated to their deaths for the shard of the shikon no tama that Sango had found. The loss of Kohaku, the gift of his life, and his torture throughout it was something Kagome remembered all too clearly. "I can't imagine her pain.. But I know you do," Kagome whispered. "I can only imagine one type of pain.. And it's not the same."

"Your pain, Kagome. I felt it. I still feel it every time I see you. You loved so deeply. He hurt you so much. I wish I could help.. We hoped you'd found happiness in your world. But I know nothing will ever end pain that deep. And I'm sorry," Sango whispered back.

They drifted off to sleep, but for Kagome, she thought of Inuyasha. Of his red haori, and of him pinned to the goshinboku, forever there to rest until his death. She thought of how he looked so peaceful asleep. She thought of the life they almost had. She thought of him loving Kikyo, even when she died. She thought of everything except about Maiko, because she could never really move on from the life she had.

Sango had left her love willingly, but Kagome wished she had that choice.