Yay, chapter 10 of Forgotten Legend! :D
Sorry it took so long. D:
Reply to Reviews
PrincessAnime08
Thank you. I enjoyed writing this chapter so much! *_*
And I enjoyed your review too. ^^
Silkrose
Oh, it's ok. My computer gets on my nerves sometimes too. Thanks for reading my story and reviewing it. Means a lot to me. *_*
And... oops, that one slipped. I forgot about the play station 1. XD But it's not that either. :P
KikyoWillDieByMyHands
Thanks! =D
kolrussiakol
First review:
Thanks. =D
I like to twist some parts of original stories sometimes. I've been thinking about writing a bunch of oneshots about a few ways I imagined the anime to end. Still only planning on that though. ;)
Second review:
You're welcome. :D
If you're confused about anything, you can ask me, and I'll gladly explain. ;)
Third review:
Thanks again. :D
And thanks so much for the reviews. ^^
glon morski
Yeah, they are quite nice, aren't they? :D
I like to listen to these kinds of songs while writing. I get more... involved and inspired, you know? Oh, and I've read your Advice hoarding. Tthis tip about hearing a suitable song was there, wasn't it? :D
I'm so happy that you liked the chapter. I can tell you that there is some more of this kind of chapter to come. ;) Guess you'll like it, since you liked this one. ^^
And... oops, another mistake. I even watched some episodes of Inuyasha just to get that suffix, and yet I got it wrong. :c But thanks for pointing that out. :D
Thanks for the review too.
On with the story!
Chapter X – Home
The sky was clear and the birds chirped enthusiastically, with a gentle breeze blowing on the grass. It was a beautiful, perfect day. Inuyasha and his group resumed their trip earlier that day, even before the sun had risen from the horizon, and they had been travelling the entire morning. Their lunch was basically some of Kagome's last 'ninja food' as they used to call it, and some fruits they found along the way. They never stopped walking though, since they were already so close to the village. And about two hours after midday, they spotted the first signs of civilization, the blooming croups of the village.
-We're home!-Shippou shouted enthusiastic as he leaped from Miroku's shoulder and took off on the road, aiming the view of the first huts of the village.
-Home…-Kagome closed her eyes and sighed with a smile.-Feels so nice to hear this word.
-Yeah.-Sango agreed.-Whenever we are here, we get this felling of being home.
-A place to go back to.-Miroku commented.-All of us feel like this, am I right?
-Yes.-They nodded.
-"A place to come back to…"-Inuyasha looked up at the vast blue sky and smiled. He liked the sounds of those words. This particular feeling he felt whenever he was with his friends,… his family,… his pack. Especially in this village. When was the last time he felt like he belonged? When he had a place to come back to when he just wanted to stop and rest? When he just wanted to sit on a high branch and watch his pack's stupid antics, knowing that they were exactly where they were supposed to be? It was just… hard to explain how good it felt.
And it was just as hard to explain how good it felt when he felt Kagome get closer to him and shyly brush his hand with her own, getting his attention and presenting him with that small pure smile that was all hers, and that she only gave it to him. It was… something only they shared. It was… special for them.
He smiled a little at her and took her small hand in his bigger one, giving it a light squeeze before letting go. Silently, but clearly satisfied, she walked ahead of them, eager to see Kaede.
Then Inuyasha remembered that he had to tell the old miko about what happened… again. Tell her that Kikyou… was gone… for good.
The closer they got to their destination, the slower Inuyasha walked. The others wanted to ask, but thinking a little about it, they decided to just walk ahead and leave him be. Somehow they knew he wanted sometime for himself before facing Kaede.
Kagome looked back at him from over her shoulder, questioning herself if she should be there with him to deliver the bad news or not. She wanted to be by his side in good moments and bad moments as well, but this situation was already too complicated for her to suit in, whether she wanted to or not.
/\\\\\
Since Shippou had already announced their presence basically to the entire village, the group entered Kaede's hut and found the old miko sitting near the currently unused fire place, ready to receive them.
After they greeted each other, Sango and Miroku went to see the villagers, and Shippou and Kirara went to play with the others kids. Kagome looked at Inuyasha, unsure of what to do. She hadn't decided which decision she should take yet, so she decided to ask the hanyou, even if she knew what he would answer.
-Do you… want me to stay with you? Need any help?-She asked in a low tone near him, making sure that Kaede didn't hear. Inuyasha easily heard her though.
-I'd like to do it alone, Kagome. It's my responsibility to tell her about what happened. And I need to speak with Kaede anyway.-Inuyasha answered in the same low tone.-Looks like we're staying here for some time. You can go visit your family if you'd like.
-I… can?-She arched her brows in confusion. She was really questioning Inuyasha's sanity these days.
-Sure, go ahead. I'll bring you back if you're late.
-"Took you long enough, dog boy…"-She rolled her eyes and smiled playfully.-I'll borrow some clothes with Kaede and take a bath in the river. Gotta wash these too.-She looked at her own clothes.-I'll visit my family some other time.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome went to ask Kaede those clothes she wanted to borrow. He then realized that the young miko just wanted to make sure she'd be there… if he needed. He smiled in gratitude when she turned to leave the hut.
-You're welcome.-Her lips mimicked the answer without emitting a sound before she left.
He observed her till she left, before turning to Kaede. The old woman nodded to him, as if she already knew. Sighing, he sat down across from her. He needed to tell her all the same, even if she already knew.
/\\\\\
Kagome walked to the forest and away from the village faster than she intended, before she slowed down to a calm pace. Birds of many colors and species sang happily on the branches above her, making her smile in peace. It was all so calm and beautiful and perfect…
-"A perfectly peaceful day… it's not really common these days, isn't it?"-She thought to herself as she smiled to herself and looked up at the passing clouds high in the sky. It felt almost like yesterday, the day she came here for the very first time. A girl who was born and raised in modern Tokyo… thrown in the wild nature of the Feudal Japan. And now… it felt so… right. She didn't feel out of place here anymore. But she was almost scared to realize that she felt out placed in her own time of origin. She truly didn't know where she belonged anymore. For how long would she be able to keep on living two lives? Was it right to live two lives?
-What am I thinking?-Kagome let herself fall softly on the ground. The clothes she brought fell beside her, and the grass caressed her body as she rolled on her back, feeling suddenly lazy like a cat. Sighing deeply and holding her breath to 'work out' her lungs, Kagome felt her senses sharpen as far as her human nature could allow. A stupid attempt, Inuyasha would say, but she didn't care. After all, someone who has to fight demons 24-7, dealing with sealed powers she never heard about till now, collecting shards of a small pink marble ball, and keeping all of this a secret from her time while keeping her grades from sinking like a rock in a river… she deserved some rest, didn't she?
-The question is…-She sighed as she rolled on her belly, pulling the pendant from under her shirt and looking tiredly at it.-…for how long will it last?
And as a response to her question… well… nothing happened. What a relief!
Chirping, a small bird perched itself high on the branches of a tree near Kagome, watching curiously the human laying beneath it. A small leaf fell from the tree and softly landed on the wooden pendant Kagome had been gazing at.
She looked from the leaf to the tree, then back at the leaf. She blew the leaf away, facing once again the eight-pointed star pattern carved on the wood.
She rolled her eyes.
-Now THIS is stupid.
Standing, she picked up her clothes and resumed her walk to the river. Yup, taking a bath and changing into clean clothes would work better than staying there in the middle of the forest staring at that necklace as if it would answer all of her doubts.
-Or maybe I am the one being stupid…-She glared at a rock that she dodged before she could trip on it. Another sighed left her lips.-I'm a lost case, that's what.
She left the innocent rock alone and continued on her way to the river.
/\\\\\
-I see.-Kaede sighed sadly.-So my sister Kikyou...
Inuyasha kept his eyes on the wooden floor. He had been explaining to Kaede what had happened for the last few days. He didn't mention Kagome's situation... yet. Informing Kaede about her sister's pass away seemed more important now.
-I'm sorry I couldn't save her.
The old priestess looked at him with sympathy.
-Inuyasha, you've been through a lot too. And besides, there was no other way. The only way to free my sister's soul from all this torment was to truly free her soul from that false body. Death... was all that was left for her when Urasue brought her back from the soul of Kagome. And now, at last, my sister is now free from the agony she had been suffering.
Inuyasha looked at the old priestess, not so sure, but nodded.
-Yes… maybe you're right.
Kaede smiled reassuringly at him. But then her eyes were filled with uncertainty again as she looked down in deep thoughts.
-But the problem is: what to do now? Kagome will have to take my sister's place as a priestess and guardian of the Shikon no Tama.
Inuyasha's ears perked, and he felt his heart twist painfully. Taking Kikyou's place... it meant that Kagome would suffer endless pain just like Kikyou did. He just couldn't stand that. He just couldn't let that happen.
-Does she... have to?
Kaede sadly nodded.
-Kikyou entrusted Kagome to finish what she started. If she doesn't... the consequences will be terrible, and my sister's sacrifice will be in vain. All will be lost.
-Kaede...-Inuyasha looked at the old priestess with genuine determination.-If Kagome has to suffer like Kikyou did... I prefer to risk everything to keep her safe. I will not let Kagome suffer.
-I understand you, Inuyasha.-Kaede nodded.-But we have no choice.
-No, Kaede.-Inuyasha shook his head.-You don't understand. If Kagome needs to take Kikyou's place, she will be in serious danger. Kagome... was born a star miko.
The silence filled the hut. Kaede stared at the hanyou, almost in a daze.
-Star miko, you say?
-Yes.-Inuyasha confirmed.-That's what the priestess Hitomiko told us.
Kaede sighed.
-Tell me what happened, Inuyasha.
And so did the hanyou. He told everything about what happened, the incident with Kaou, the strange fever and weakness prior to that fight, the battle against the dead bull yokai, and everything that happened when they met Hitomiko.
-I see...
-You know anything about it, Kaede? The star mikos?
-I'm afraid I know very little about them.-Her wise brown eyes returned to the open square in the middle of her hut, where she used to prepare the fire.-Very few are the ones who are lucky to know anything about these mikos. I once heard that once a star miko dies, the next star miko is born a thousand years later.
-Kagome told me last night... that she had a dream about the last star miko, Hannari, and my father. She told me that her antecessor had the power of prediction. In her dreams, Hannari knew my father and told him about me and the Tessaiga and Tenseiga, even before he knew my mother. Do you... think it could be possible?
Kaede was in silence for a few seconds before answering.
-The powers of the star mikos are unpredictable, Inuyasha. They might be the only human beings that can make the impossible possible.-The old priestess looked up at him.-Do not doubt them.
Inuyasha went silent while the information sank in.
-As I said, a star miko is born a thousand years after the death of the last one. Kagome is from five hundred years in the future, so it means that her antecessor, Hannari, lived five hundred years ago. You think it could be possible for her to have met you father in the same circumstances as Kagome's dream?
Inuyasha thought a little about it. His father died when he was born, about two hundred years ago. Myouga once told him that Sesshoumaru was about five hundred years old. So it was, indeed, possible for Hannari to have been the first human his father met. And also, she might be truly the one who predicted his birth and the banishment of Souunga by the sword sisters Tessaiga and Tenseiga.
-Yes.-He answered Kaede.-Maybe she did meet my father, and also made predictions for him about me and the swords.
Another period of silence fell upon them.
-Inuyasha, you mentioned that Kagome's powers were sealed since she was born. You think that my sister have something to do with it, don't you?
-Apparently, that's what Kagome thinks.
-I don't think so. Kikyou trusted Kagome with everything left. Otherwise, why would she give Kagome the bow she kept safe in Mount Azusa?
-Then who do you think is responsible for it?
Kaede lowered her eyes.
-It's possible... that the Shikon no Tama feared and sealed Kagome's powers.
-Shikon no Tama?
-As you know, the Shikon no Tama has two opposing spirits: the good spirit, named Naohi, formed by the great priestess Midoriko's soul, and the evil spirit, named Magatsuhi, formed by the souls of countless vicious demons. The jewel was originated by the death of a star miko, Midoriko, and had never been completely purified, even by its most pure guardian. Maybe only a star miko has the power to completely purify it, interfering in its cycle of chaos. So the evil spirit Magatsuhi must have sealed Kagome's powers. There was a good reason for it.
Inuyasha replayed the old miko's words over and over.
-"From the death a star miko... to the birth of another."-He thought.-"But if only a star miko can completely purify the Shikon... then why Hannari didn't?"
Preview to Chapter XI
All of a sudden, she felt a terrible omen. One that almost froze her spine. She whimpered and pried her hand away from the pendant, which fell on top of her shirt. It was glowing and its surface was hot. She turned around and looked at the door, only to find nothing out of the ordinary.
-What... what was that?-She wondered, looking at the floor, shivers running up and down her spine. Her legs trembled and her palms were cold and sweaty.
Don't forget to review, please? :3