I know this isn't allowed, but… we're having a quiz to see how attentively you have read the first three chapters of Sota's Wish. There are three questions for each chapter and they are multiple choice types, because I like them. The answers will be found at the end of this chapter. Enjoy!
QUESTION 1
How much yen does Grandpa's Shikon no Tama replicas cost?
A. 200
B. 250
C. 300
D. 350
QUESTION 2
What does Kushimitama mean?
A. Courage
B. Kinship
C. Wisdom
D. Love
QUESTION 3
What percentage mark did Sota achieve for his English?
A. 87
B. 83
C. 84
D. 41
QUESTION 4
What would Inuyasha wish upon the Shikon Jewel?
A. To be a brave and remarkable person.
B. To become a full-fledged demon.
C. To become human.
D. To defeat Naraku.
QUESTION 5
How many years is Kagome Sota's senior?
A. 15
B. 3
C. 4
D. 8
QUESTION 6
How old is the Sacred Tree (Goshinboku)?
A. More than 500 years old.
B. 400.
C. 50.
D. 100
QUESTION 7
Approximately when was Inuyasha's robe made counting backwards from the feudal era?
A. 1000 years ago.
B. 500 years ago.
C. 200 years ago.
D. 100 years ago.
QUESTION 8
Which of the following is NOT true about the Noh Drama?
A. It is an art form with actors
B. It is easy to follow.
C. It usually has no dialogue.
D. It is usually performed exclusively in major cities.
QUESTION 9
What happens to Sota after he switches bodies with Kagome?
A. He hugs Inuyasha.
B. He tells Inuyasha to sit.
C. He jumps intentionally off Hachie.
D. He slips unintentionally off Hachie.
Chapter 4 Complications
What did Sota do?
Kagome looked at the Shikon Jewel. She figured it out in her head. Sota must have wished upon the Jewel. Her soul had entered Sota's body and hopefully, his soul had found her body.
She had experienced something like this before. When the witch Urasue resurrected Kikyo, she took Kagome's soul and put it into the dead priestess. Kagome had woken as Kikyo. The bitterness in Kikyo's reincarnated soul overcame Kagome's consciousness, but eventually Kagome willed to be back in her body. So she broke away from Kikyo, leaving only her anger behind. Kikyo was left with only a fragment of soul that had to be continuously replenished by Soul Collectors. So souls could leave their host bodies. The question was: how could one get the soul to come to the right bodies?
When Kagome had called back her body, it had been empty. But this time, her body was occupied by Sota's soul. The Jewel was not whole enough to completely grant Sota's wish. His soul had not become brave and remarkable - although perhaps his body had, now that it was supplemented by Kagome's soul.
Who knew about soul exchange? Kagome had to see Kaede and Miroku. She was pretty sure she could use the well even with Sota's body. She still had Kikyo's reincarnated soul and the Shikon Jewel. It purified easily under her touch.
Kagome was worried about Sota, however. Not only was he now dating Inuyasha, he was also liable to be attacked in the dangerous feudal era. Kagome had to hurry.
Sota felt like he was dreaming. His consciousness was bouncing between the realms of sleep and alertness. He could hear noises in the distance, droning in his ears. He felt absolutely awful.
He had had a terrible nightmare: he had been falling from a great height. He was about to die but when he hit the ground; the impact did not pain him in the least. He saw himself surrounded by a transparent bubble amongst the dark and overwhelming trees. Then he saw an apparition approaching him but he had simply fainted then. He had expected to lose awareness forever and so he could not understand why everything did not end.
It had been a strange dream but when Sota opened his eyes, he saw the face of an all-too familiar person. "Sis!" he rasped. "What's happening?" Kagome was good news; she would be able to explain what had happened and whether this was all a dream.
"I am not your sister," the woman calmly stated. "My name is Kikyo and it was I who saved you when you were falling from the sky."
Kaede was amazed at the story Kagome had told her. The old priestess had seen strange happenings in her life, but there was none so peculiar a child as Kagome the reincarnation of Kaede's sister Kikyo. Kagome did not look like Kagome but she possessed the same flamboyant nature as ever. For the moment, however, she was deadly serious.
"…And that's what happened," Kagome finished. "Now that I've switched bodies with Sota, I'm wondering whether or not you and Miroku could somehow bring our souls back to the right owners."
Miroku and Kaede exchanged glances. They both knew that meddling with souls was a delicate business. Finally, Kaede said, "There is a way, but ye and Sota must be within close proximity. And ye must have the Jewel Shards."
"I have them here," Kagome said, fingering the cursed Jewel that had caused all the trouble. She gulped and looked up at Miroku. His calm blue eyes reassured Kagome; he even looked taller than usual.
"Now we wait," he said solemnly. Kagome nodded and wondered how Sota and Inuyasha were doing. Were they having fun on their "date"?
Inuyasha dashed through the forest, trying to follow Kagome's scent.
He was struck with feelings of dread that echoed within his soul. He couldn't remove that last image of Kagome falling; it was branded there as if by an iron poker - and he couldn't erase it. That look of terror… she knew she was going to die. Even though he had detected her scent, Inuyasha was worried about what he would find. He hurriedly suppressed images of mangled corpses and disentangled limbs, and quickened his pace. He had to find Kagome.
He turned around suddenly. Hachie flinched. Inuyasha said, "Hachie, tell Miroku and the others what's happened. I'll catch up with you later." With that command, he vanished into the trees. Hachie could hear Inuyasha's hoarse yelling become fainter with each passing second.
It was a light-hearted date gone terrible awry. Hachie could not fathom how it had happened, but he had to do his best in fixing the dilemma for Kagome's sake. The girl was sweet. She said kind things to Hachie and gave him junk food. He wasn't about to desert his companion!
Hachie took flight and started with urgency towards Kaede's village: why was he the one always alerting others to emergencies?
Kikyo's presence in the Spartan, unfamiliar hut in the feudal era reassured Sota. The surroundings were semi-dark and all Sota could see was the eerily familiar face of Kikyo. He was smothered in blankets feeling warm, thus adding to his sense of security and trust in the woman who had saved his life.
"You resemble one that I know," Kikyo said, peering at Sota's face with cool, calculated eyes, "And yet the soul I feel resonating from you is not hers. How is this? Can you explain it to me?" Her voice was gentle, motherly. Sota could not deny her the knowledge that she deserved, even if his tale was far-fetched. He figured that if Kikyo knew Kagome, she would also know the Jewel of Four Souls. So he told her everything: how he wished upon the Jewel; how his soul swapped with Kagome's; and how he had fallen from Hachie's back. Kikyo listened intently, and then she asked another question: "Does Inuyasha know what happened?"
Sota shook his head. For some strange reason, an enigmatic, even devious smile crossed Kikyo's face. "So he shall be coming shortly," she whispered, more to herself than to Sota.
"Um… sister Kikyo?" Sota was confused by the look on Kikyo's face.
But Kikyo's face had cleared. She looked just as saintly as earlier. She leaned over and kissed Sota's forehead. "Hush, little one," she cooed softly. "Go to sleep; I shall be seeing you shortly." She got up and left, closing the door behind her. The only light that was with Sota now was that which crept in through the makeshift curtains. The curtains were made of what seemed to be animal hide.
Sota yawned and felt safe. He turned over in his bed and fell into a light doze. His last thought before drifting off concerned Kikyo and how nice she seemed compared to Kagome. Her gentle touch lingered with Sota long after Kikyo herself had departed.
"C'mon, Kagome, don't be so worried. Play with me!" Shippo's squeaky voice cut through Kagome's thoughts.
She blinked. "Oh, sure, in a sec, Shippo." But then she was deep in thought again. Images of Inuyasha and Sota embracing flitted through her mind and she couldn't help but feel slightly abashed that she had skipped out on a date with her biggest crush ever. She had to remind herself: "Inuyasha would not knowingly turn gay for Sota; after all, he's got Kikyo." Somehow, the thought made her feel worse.
"Kagome!" Shippo's voice rang out again. He sounded rather frustrated now. Kagome grinned apologetically. She realised that playing with Shippo would take her mind off things that she couldn't influence, at the moment. She got to her feet when-
"Master Miroku! Master Miroku! Master Miroku!" It was Hachie.
The door of Kaede's hut opened and Miroku emerged, grasping his staff. "What is it, Hachie?" he demanded, looking at the urgent and frightened visage of his friend. Shippo, Kaede and Kagome looked on with sudden apprehension.
"It's Kagome!" Hachie panted. Then he went on to explain what had exactly occurred.
Kagome gasped. Miroku turned his head grimly in her direction. They both knew the true identity of the person who had fallen off Hachie's back. It was a terrible realisation and Kagome knew that what she was worried about actually happened.
"Oh, Sota…"
Kagome's scent was getting stronger; Inuyasha quickened his pace. Kagome was not far away now. Of course, the trees were uncooperative and Inuyasha swore they were trying to slow him down by getting in his way. He cursed loudly and hurried onward - he would not mutilate any of the trees. Kagome was all Inuyasha could think of.
But then a new scent invaded Inuyasha's senses and it drew Kagome right out of his mind.
Bellflowers.
Inuyasha halted and looked wildly around. And then he saw a woman emerge from behind a particularly thick oak. It was a woman all too familiar and delightful on the eyes. She was surrounded by bright lights that gave her a supernatural appearance, adding further to her beauty.
"Kikyo…"
Her slender, graceful body came striding towards him. She came to a halt a metre away from Inuyasha. Her overpowering scent teased his nose, until he was melting with love for her. "Inuyasha…" she murmured, holding out her arms, inviting him to an embrace. Inuyasha accepted, feeling her cold body of clay so close to his own. He closed his eyes, pulling her closer.
The wind blew into Inuyasha's face, carrying with it a fresh scent from Kagome.
He pulled away from Kikyo and gazed sternly into her eyes. "Kikyo, where's Kagome?" he asked.
Answers to the quiz!
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. D