Kagome stood facing the opposite way, still harping over the strange feelings she was getting.
"What ails you, Priestess?"
Kagome quickly spun to see the hooded figure again. "I have been sensing some odd things. I have an awful premonition and something tells me that I should continue."
"Oh? And why is that?" The figure asked in an intrigued tone.
"I feel as though something bad is going to happen. There are people I have to protect. I need to be as strong as I can be. There is something I must do."
The hooded figure chuckled. "You are near."
Kagome nodded and continued forward. She started to sense a strong demonic aura in the direction she was going. As she hesitantly continued forward, she was practically blown away by a ferocious roar. Before her stood a gigantic reptilian demon.
"I am the guardian of this cavern. You will not pass." He growled out.
"I have to pass!" Kagome shouted.
"Then you must defeat me!"
Kagome took out her bow and arrow. "Hit the mark!" She fired her arrow at the demon and blasted it away in one clean shot.
A paper doll had slowly fallen to the ground as she sighed. "Are you serious? That was easier than I thought it would be."
Kagome slowly continued forward when the hooded figure appeared again.
"Kagome, I'll have you know that the priestesses before you were unable to defeat it so easily. Why must you continue, priestess? Are you not strong enough to obliterate your enemies?"
Kagome shook her head. "I am strong willed. I consider that my power. The abilities I have as a priestess are only the results of my training. I can continue training until I die; that will make me more trained. I don't see these results as power. I see myself as disciplined. I have a feeling that this weapon, along with wielding it will be considered more training. Mastering it will be a result of this training. Using it will be a result of my natural power and my will to protect others. There is something I must do. I don't know what it is but I know that I have no interest in becoming more powerful in any other way except in my heart. I need to be more trained in order to protect. Not to improve myself."
The hooded figure slowly faded. "Let the blade decide."
Kagome continued forward to the end of the cave where the blade stood. It was just as depicted in Yasu's paintings. Kagome stood in awe before the blade, noticing all the empty pedestals behind it.
The hooded figure appeared again behind the blade. "Grasp the Katana No Kami, priestess."
Kagome stood before the sword and reluctantly reached her hand towards it and gently grasped the hilt. As she lifted the sword, it began to pulse in her hand just like Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga. 'Has it chosen me?'
She held the blade as more hooded figures appeared before her on the pedestals. One by one, they walked off their pedestal towards Kagome. The first figure removed her hood to reveal her face.
"Hi-Hitomiko! It's you!" Hitomiko smiled at Kagome and placed her hand on the blade.
"You have finally found out who you are, Kagome. I am a guardian of this blade. I lend you my powers to strengthen your barriers." Hitomiko's spirit was absorbed into the blade.
The next hooded figure stepped down to reveal their face. Kagome was astonished when her eyes met the red eyes beneath the hood.
"You weren't expecting to see me, were you?" Kagura smirked at the surprised girl. "I have become a guardian of this blade. I am lending you my sorcery powers of wind."
Kagome nodded.
"Kagome. I have one thing to ask you."
"Yes?"
"How—How is Sesshomaru?"
" He's well. He has become kinder and stronger."
"Hmm." Kagura sighed, as she was absorbed into the blade.
The next hooded figure stepped down and revealed her face. It was Tsukiyomi.
"Young woman. You are strong. As a guardian of this blade, I am lending you my powers of sealing. Use them well." She smiled as her spirit was absorbed into the blade.
The next figure stepped down and Kagome could already tell by the height who it was and smiled sweetly.
"Kanna!"
Kanna stared blankly at her. "Kagome. I found my freedom. Now I am a guardian of this blade. I am lending you my powers of void and the powers of my mirror. You will soon learn to master them and use them how you may." Her spirit entered the blade as well.
The next figure came forward and revealed her face. Kagome stood in awe and dropped to her knees before Midoriko.
"It is I who should kneel before you, priestess. You have freed my soul from the Shikon Jewel so I could fulfill my promise to guard this sword. I am lending you all my powers. Train hard to master them all and never let your enemies overpower you."
Her soul entered the blade as Kagome stood before all the empty pedestals.
The final hooded figure who had followed her through the cave revealed her face. She had long red hair and brown eyes.
"I am Maru. You are the one who will inherit my blade. I am proud. You are a wonderful priestess. You must never lose sight of yourself. This sword is only as good as the heart of it's master. As long as you keep the sword from being tainted, I will continue to be the guardian of this blade and keep it alive and able to absorb more power. With this blade, you will overcome all. Good luck."
The final soul entered the blade as Kagome examined it. The blade glowed with the most holy of auras. Kagome picked up the sheath on the ground and sheathed the sword. She quickly ran out of the cave to head back.
