This chapter is short, sorry about that! Just wanted to get this part over with. Is the pace I set for her growth in strength, realistic? Didn't feel like going through her learning the chains, plus, don't want to give how she does it. You'll find out soon enough, I assure. there will be fighting, at some point, in the next 3 chapters. (probably the next one and carry on to the sixth.)
Two years...okay, maybe just short of two years. A year and eight/nine months. That's how long Kagome and Shippou have been in the future. A lot's been accomplished over that time., Kagome muses, as she sits herself from one of the tallest trees on the shrine ground, and not the god tree. From her spot, she can see down to the street. Watching people pass by. It's about five in the afternoon, so there are hordes moving along the side walks. So calm, unknowing of the real dangerous in the world. How many have been tainted by the evil of a spirt? It's so clear to her now, as it wasn't before. Is this what Kaede see's...or even Kikyo, once upon a time?, she pauses, as something occurs. How can she even have miko powers, when she's a shell?, the thought makes her frown. Maybe having taken a piece of Kagome's soul really did an effect on her? The fact that even a fraction is separated from her, Kagome can now feel. It hurts, not a stabbing pain that barely allows her to move, but a hole that can never be filled. Even with Shippou's youkai. A look of determination crosses her face.
I will be taking my soul back, soon enough., both she and Shippou are ready to go back. The kitsune has learned all he can in that era, and both know a kitsune trainer will need to be sought in the near future. Kagome has her reiki weapon summoning down to a science. She is relieved and yet, saddened. There are things she has gotten use to using again that she'll miss. Plumbing. Radio's. Tv. Shippou and she taking the bus around Tokyo and just people watch. Sometimes, they even make up stories for the people. Complete ridiculous stories. Shippou loves those moments, it's bonding between he and his mama.
Shaking the thoughts off, her head turns slightly to see a trio coming up the street. Toward the shrine. She knows who it is, her reiki easily picking up on the youkai of her son. Not to mention the gentle flow of energy of her mother and son/brother. Luna had gone to pick both up, since Souta already had soccer practice. Shippou had a play date with another kid, from the very school Kagome and Luna enrolled him in. He hadn't been sure about it before but it was different then what the kitsune was use to. The teaching he received from his own father, before his death. Sure, some of the stuff he learned was common sense and their stuff he catches on almost immediately. Plus side, he had kids his 'own age' to play with.
Humming to herself, Kagome climbs down and moves toward the stairs, to meet them. Out of the woods to the side, Lacon appears, running over to his mistress. His large body circles her, shaking his tail. She reaches down, absentmindedly, to scratch his head. Makes him preen, stretching out. "Mama!" a bundle of brownish-red hair collides into her legs.
"Shippou!" hands slip under his arm, lifting him and spinning. The kitsune giggles at the move, before being placed back on the ground. "Did you have fun?"
"Yes...we watched tv, ate chips, cookies, and sodas. Played a couple war games." he gushes with excitement.
"That's good...but I hope you didn't spoil your appetite." she tisks lowly.
"I didn't!" he looks up at him with those wide, innocent eyes.
A soft chuckle leaves her, shooing him toward the house. "Go wash up." nodding fiercely, he disappears.
"Motherhood looks good on you, Kagome." Luna sings, coming up to kiss her daughters cheek. Kagome shrugs lightly. "I just preferred if you had waited a bit longer to make me a grandmother." a longing sigh leaves her.
Kagome rolls her eyes and can't help point out a very common fact. "Mom, girls my age back in the Feudal era, they're usually married and with a couple kids."
"True...but your not from that time." Luna hums, passing her and heading for the house.
Sometimes I wonder if I was born in the right time., she muses over the constant thought-now-a-days. She seems to fit in much better back in time. Her use is more needed in Feudal Japan. Looking down at Souta, she smiles and throws an arm over a shoulder. "So, how was practice?"
"Fine, scored three goals." he boast.
"One day, you'll make a fabulous soccer player." she assures, ruffling his hair. "C'mon, made dinner." they head for the house. Gramps, Shippou, and Luna are already at the table, having been set and ready to go.
The meal isn't silent, laughs among the small family. Telling stories. Just enjoying each others couple. After that day, Kagome and Shippou were to go back through the well. It's time to finish the jewel for once and all. Since school is done and over with, Kagome won't have to come home as often. It's also a load of stress taken off, if she'll fail class, maybe straight out of school.
"Are you sure you have to go back?" Souta pouts, arms crossing.
"Yes Souta." she rolls her eyes, reaching out to ruffle his hair. Makes him grunt, swat her hand away and run his hands through the shaggy, ear length. "Oh, you're so handsome!" a cry of surprise leaves him when she yanks him toward her. A forced hug.
"Kagome, ge'off!" he struggles to free himself but to no avail. Gramps chuckles from the sidelines, as does Luna and she takes pictures. Shippou and Lacon share a look before shaking their heads.
"Do you have everything?" Luna asks, cutting into the brother-sister fight, making both freeze in comical poses.
Clearing throats, they release the other, brush their clothes off and face her again. "Yes." Kagome lifts the cloth bag for her mother to. Packed with an extra traveling kimono, comb, ribbon for her hair, all natural first aid kit, and some food. No insistent ramen, just energy bars to get them started on the other side. Luna and Kagome spoke a out her time in Feudal Japan and decided it was for the best if she didn't take anything futuristic. The plan to teach Shippou the subjects from her time still in play, she just wrote out about three months worth of work. Found stuff for him to read on scroll, had to get some of the stuff transcribed professionally...because Kagome doesn't have that sort of patience. Shippou has his usual set in his bag, as well as little figurines gramps, Souta, and he made over his time with them. His toys that can be used as weapons.
Both are sporting new outfits, the kitsune's made by his mother and grandmother. Shippou, bless him, got inspiration for the Roronoa Zoro character-One Piece. One look and he was 'in-love'. Eggplant colored hakamapants, a copper sash from his waist to right above his belly button. The shirt is a two-piece, off white, regular tank and a beige kimono, shortened so it doesn't flow to his feet. The bottoms are the same, fixed so that he can grow into them.
Kagome's look is, as her sons, uniquely her. Deep-rich brown hakama, ends tucked into cloth boots with sandal soles. Tannish-brown rawhide, sleeveless kimono that split up to her waist on either side. Trimmed in yellow and red. A pouch attached to a sash around her waist. White bandages wrap from elbows, to hands. Underneath them, the ink markings of the reiki chains.
Lacon, who has a white sash like collar, grips the back of Shippou's collar and flips the kitsune onto his back. "Well, someone is ready to go." Souta grins, scratching the beast on his chest. As scary as the demon dog can be and/or look, Lacon is a sweetheart. Mostly. Kagome's familiar and his protection spreads to the kitsune, as he is his mistresses son. The same can be said for the other humans.
"We'll come back as soon as we can." Kagome promises.
"I want to at least see you two for Christmas." Luna tells her sternly.
"Course, mom." leaning forward, she places a kiss to the older woman's forehead. Going around to gramps and Souta, she does the same. "Already told the girls I'd be traveling, I'll drop everyone's letters off in the well or send Lacon to bring them too you. Already said goodbye to Aikoi-ue and Don-sensei." Luna nods, eyes becoming watery. "Don't cry mom."
"This is different, Kagome. You'll not going in as an inexperienced fifteen year old, but as a woman. A strong woman. I'm so proud of you."
"Oh mom." she brings the sobbing woman to her and wraps her arms around her. Shippou scrambles to get to the ground, hugging her around the waist. Even Lacon settles his chin on her shoulder. They stay in the same position a good two minutes before breaking apart.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Luna wipes at her eyes. "You better get going. I imagine you have a long day of explaining."
"Alright, love you mom...Souta, gramps."
Shippou waves from the demon dogs back, as they walk away. When entering the well house, the kitsune looks up at the miko. "You okay, mama?"
"Fine, Ship...I'll go first then you two, ok?" he gives a nod. Turning to the well, Kagome stretches a hand out and touches the seal paper on the lip. Her reiki sinks into it, dominating that of Aikoi's and ending the spell. The paper leaps into the air, twisting in on itself and exploding into dust. "Huh..." a flood of magic fills the well house, one that is familiar to Kagome. She can't help the smile that crosses her face. Putting a hand on the lip, she takes a deep breath then jumps. Straight into the darkness. Here we go.
Familiar lights burst playfully into life around her. Weaving between arms and legs. She feels it when she's passed over to the other side. First thing she notices, after touching down on the fresh dirt ground, the fresh smell of earth. It's hard to smell it back home. Pollution absolutely corrupts. Second thing, when she glances up, the bright blue, cloudless sky. Made it., she ignores the urge to laugh and just smiles. I have missed this place, the simple things., glancing all around, at the dirt walls of the well, she sees a rope ladder. It wasn't there before her departure two years ago. Someone brought it here...for me? Why else would it be here? Expecting someone else to crawl out of this well?, snorting to herself, she grabs the sturdy rope and lifts a foot to the first step. She knows, immediately, it's not wooden but stone. Made to be smooth. Ha! Nice guys., shaking her head, she starts the climb up. Barely does she roll out of the way, before Lacon and Shippou come through. The dog leaps straight from the depth of the well and lands on the ground beside his mistress. "Show off." he huffs back in answer, tongue luring out the side of his mouth. "Lets get it, boys."
For so long, those that have waited patiently, couldn't feel an ounce of magic from the Bone Eaters Well. It seemed dead to the world. So, the flare of the ancient well's magic flaring to life can be felt for miles. Not only that, but it's mingling with that of reiki, strong reiki. Familiar reiki.
Miles away, a single form tenses up. A miko that has a connection to the young time traveler. She is surrounded, a hanyou, two humans and many more demons. It's an alert to the group, only a couple who look to her in concern. Is it another attack? So soon? "She has returned." that is all the miko says. While most are confused at the comment, a handful perks and climbs to their feet.
"Stop." the command stops them in their tracks, slowly turning to see the demon lord. He has entered the 'war' room. "If the miko has really come back, she will come to you."
"What if Naraku comes across her first?" only human adult female, the claypot miko doesn't count, wonders. Her grip on the bone weapon tightens.
"She left to get stronger, did she not?" a silver brow cocks, no one verbally answers, just nods. He leaves it at that, meaning if she got hurt or killed, it's on her. The time training was a waste, if she can be defeated so easily. "She will come to us." he sounds very sure.
There's a wave of murmured 'Yes Sesshoumaru-sama', as everyone settles back down. There are battleplans to be made and information to share.