Inuyasha YuYu Hakusho Crossover 1 Chapter 11
Healing Soul Chapter 11: Goshinboku Greets
Kurama sucked in his breath involuntarily as the miko once again casually holding his hand led him through the barrier surrounding the Higurashi Shrine. It was hers –that he had been able to ascertain far before being within physical range. It was how hidden it was from being picked up on a spiritual sense that startled the millennia old fox and had him on guard. It was so large, and so very powerful, and yet it would cause not even a blip on the Reikai sensors unless the equipment or persons were already familiar with Kagome's power.
'I cannot determine for certain… but without confirmation I would say this shield keeps out any with intent to hurt the shrine or its inhabitants, regardless of their species. I certainly feel no ill-effects upon entering, which I cannot accredit to my current human form. I feel this shield would see through such a hampering with little to no problem were I antagonistic. Not to mention… there are youkai scents here, though the most recent ones have been separated from their energy prints –what little of those are determinable. As if… as if they were hiding from Kagome herself. Interesting.' Putting that thought aside for now until having more conclusive evidence to add Kurama returned his thoughts to the shield itself, rather than who it might or might not let in and why. 'It is so pure in here, so clean… unlike the rest of the world. As if pollutants are not permitted. How would a modern female know how a pure atmosphere felt so accurately? Most so called 'clean' air environments lack a believable, naturally needed balance. It is in here as I would hazard it was centuries ago in the Ningenkai –before manmade toxins were around to hover close to the ground around their cities. It is amazing to find a spot like this within a city. Although it is Kagome's the shield runs completely independent from her own consciousness, not relying on her for power or retention though it did strengthen a bit once she entered. But how did she…'
He could not withhold the small gasp as his spirit was buffeted by an ancient, natural energy. It felt vaguely familiar and Kurama cast his gaze questioningly at the tiny female who guided his steps closer to its source. She led him past a small sealed building -perhaps a mini-shrine- bearing a strange residual energy that touched his curiosity though not enough to deter him from the pull of the much greater though still suppressed natural energy source paired with Kagome's childish enthusiasm. Her laughing eyes looked deep blue with happiness in the growing darkness, the grounds of the shrine only slightly lit with traditional paper lanterns. She was amused… jubilant in what she was taking him to see.
Or to meet.
The collection of lanterns was strongest around the trunk of a massive and antediluvian tree. 'A god tree. Surely. And here I had the impression there were no such trees remaining in the Ningenkai, though Genkai has assured me otherwise.' A pause… remembering that the aged master psychic knew Kagome's grandfather. 'Sly woman… she knew of this tree in particular. I cannot fault her for protecting Kagome, even inadvertently.' Glancing at the young woman Kurama was once again overwhelmed with the feelings she instilled in him. Shaking himself from her thrall Kurama returned to taking in his surroundings. Smoothly he felt the god tree's energies reach out to him in caressing fingers like wind rustling its branches so that they might brush against the kitsune avatar's aura. 'This tree… this god tree… there is a barrier around its energies as well, shielding most of its wonder from the unsuspecting. In form and function its barrier is much like Kagome's but holding millennia the miko cannot. It has been protecting itself from discovery and from displaying the full of its immense natural energies for a very long time. Is it from this tree Kagome learned…?' He saw the pleased, proud look upon Kagome's face just before his green eyes slipped shut peacefully, gently and reverently feeling the unexpected welcome. 'It is beautiful, whatever the case. For there to be a plant such as this, here… I am in awe.'
"I thought you'd like it." Kagome's soft whisper slipped through the silence perfectly, weaving into the comforting presence of the great tree. "Though you're good at everything there's a special way you get around botany and nature stuff." She said it with the barest of teases partnered with a gentle, pleased smile that Kurama caught in a quick sidelong glance to her before both turned back to the tree. He could not help feeling a responding smile of his own. The contentment he felt now held a tinge of memory he could not place, and truthfully enjoying the tree's and Kagome's energies comforting and mingling with his own Kurama was not of a mind to delve too deeply into the matter in preference of the now. "This is Goshinboku. It was old already 500 years ago."
Her voice held a sense of memory and time, her aura flickering with that age-sadness only a moment before Kurama felt the spirit of the tree touch his with its own to reach their auras out to comfort her. It was so easy, so natural, so much what Kurama wanted to do anyway that he did not resist as Goshinboku included him in the comforting of its miko.
[*Our miko.*] Green eyes flicked open in surprise as he thought he heard the will of the tree. All his connection with plants… never had one quite so literally spoken to him. It was not speech so far as most talking creatures would acknowledge, nor even the animal languages with which many creatures could converse with each other. It was something more sensed, felt, and understood on a purely spiritual level. Though it was close to how he could get some plants to communicate information to him it was exceedingly different as well. Clearer, somehow, and with more intent. This ancient tree had a sense of individuality he never encountered in flora that was not a youkai itself and its happening at all floored him. Not to mention what it had conveyed to him. Proclaiming both its own possessive… and granting or permitting him the same… It was a heady honor to fathom. This sacred tree felt him worthy to claim its miko –a human it clearly (as much as a tree could) loved.
"It is wonderful." Kurama murmured reverently, eyes slowly opening and taking in the height of the massive branches reaching high into the starry darkness high above any last lingering warm tones remaining of the sunset. Her joy heightened his joy and Kurama turned to smile softly at the petite young woman beside him. "May I…?" he asked, indicating Goshinboku and the short fence around its trunk at their ankles.
Kagome laughed, the lilting sound lifting upward in pleasing waves into the night. For a moment Kurama's eyes darted to the family dwelling, wondering if they had realized Kagome was home before now, if her laugh woke them, if they minded that she was not coming directly inside, and if it would worry them that she was outside with him –especially considering what he was. What would her family think of their pure miko being around a youkai, even a youkai avatar as he was? Should he take her to the door and meet them? He wanted to –Kurama was not joking about his offer earlier even if it was somewhat round-about.
"Sure. Go ahead. I think it wants you to."
His thoughts drawn away from her family back to her smiling face and the question posed as he gave a grateful smile before stepping over the thin but sturdy fence. Holding his hand out he rested it on the barely gnarled bark, feeling Kagome's eyes on him as his closed in silent communication with the living ancient.
[*Welcome back, Spirit Fox.*] Once more Goshinboku stunned him -above and beyond the heightened connection physical contact imparted. 'Welcome back…? As if I have been here before? I do feel as if I have been in this tree's presence… long ago, when we were both younger… but I have no memory of ever being in the Ningenkai before hiding here. Perhaps it is meant in a more spiritual sense.' That thought, Kurama conveyed his honor at being near and being so well received. If anything he felt he received somewhat amused understanding in return.
"We go back a long time." Kagome's soft, slightly distant voice murmured from his side drawing him from his thoughts and back to her. She was close, so close, beside him –practically tucked against him without touching. Her hand too settled upon the bark of the tree, not far below his. "Sometimes… when I'm here with Goshinboku like this it's like looking back through time." In her eyes a gentle but sad smile. Kagome seemed so full of memories of melancholy joy. 'She was happy… and I sense it was wrenched from her.' Goshinboku's gentle affirmation blended subtly with the fox's own desire to bring her heart to happiness once again without the pain of sensed conflict that seemed to thread within the miko's memory aura. Slowly her hand reached up to a section of bark that was especially smooth, her fingers trailing over it and lingering on a small but relatively deep indention there. Kurama followed with his eyes rather than his fingers to not infringe on what felt like they must be personal thoughts. Thin, tightly contained magic lingered in the small spot causing the avatar to blink. 'A miko spell? And not Kagome's. Centuries old, if I'd guess. The barest trace of holy energies retained almost in nostalgia. Why hasn't the scar healed over? It should be many rings in, not visible on the surface as if occurring but yesterday.'
[*Many human generations have come and passed since her arrow pinned him to my side. It is the nature of my magic to keep it forever fresh as a reminder for my miko.*]
Kurama had not expected an answer to his inner thoughts and certainly not the one he had been granted. For a brief moment his jaw dropped before it was hastily brought to bear. 'There it is again with claiming Kagome so paternally.' To Kagome he said aloud in his gentle voice, "Yes… I can sense the tree's energies reach towards you and surround you."
Her joy was breathtaking, all radiant white with glimmers of prismatic rainbows in flickering light. "Truly?"
"Hai. It is a great honor." Kurama did not elaborate, letting her take the obvious interpretation of his words at face value with nothing of their second nature though he meant neither less than the other for both held true.
"Oh Goshinboku…" She breathed softly, hand lightly caressing the bark of the tree in companionable gratitude. Kurama watched what looked to be a personal moment in honored silence before the two participants surprised him by each in their own way reaching to draw him in. Her hand touching his wrist Kagome glanced up at the taller male with a swallow precursor to speaking. "Ever since…" Smiling gently down at her serene face Kurama showed his acceptance Kagome's desire not to elaborate -his willingness to wait until she was ready to speak of it. One of her healing, heartfelt smiles was his reward and he could not feel disappointment in not knowing more. "For the longest time I've only had Goshinboku. My family's great but… there's only so much they can really understand. Goshinboku's my tie. We've been through so much together. We were both still lonely… but together our loneliness dimmed."
"I'm glad you had each other." Kurama murmured gently, lifting his free hand to brush back her bangs, then trace her temple and the shell of her ear as he tucked an errant strand of hair which had thought to join her bangs back with the rest of her ebony mane. Letting his hand gloss over the softness of her hair the redhead hoped Kagome understood his more than willingness to be here for her so that she would never be lonely again as well as his understanding that he would never want to come between her and the god tree. Their bond was something to be commended and upheld. "What you share is special –a relationship to be treasured. I don't need to know why it began to respect that." Her delighted smile of pure joy filled him with warmth beyond measure. 'I am honored to be privy to their connection. But what IS their connection? I sense it: more, strong, timeless. Yes… that's it. Their bond is timeless –somehow out of the natural flow of time and yet aware and not aware of the linear concept of time all at once. There are legends of great Trees of Ages… could Goshinboku be one?'
A gentle rumbling touched his thoughts and spirit leaving Kurama with the impression of the god tree chuckling warmly. A glance at Kagome smiling as she leaned her side and cheek against the sturdy tree gave Kurama the impression that she felt Goshinboku's cheering amusement as well. [*Trust a fox to be both curious and clever enough to see what the worlds have all but forgotten.*] Mentally Kurama reeled even as he preened a little at the unexpected compliment paired with affirmation of his conclusions. He could pick up an odd impression that the ancient tree was having difficulty acquiring a sense of time –as in its placement upon the timeline. It knew… and yet Kurama harbored the perception from their exchange that there was much that overlapped.
It was easier than Kurama would have thought from a purely scientific standpoint to become acquainted to this new experience of plant communication. He was accustomed to the ways in which plants 'conversed' with each other -regardless of distance- and had through his long life become rather well-versed with integrating his reiki into the weaves of their 'song' for lack of a better description in such a way as learn what others could not and even at times ask for information otherwise unknown. Though his logical mind often translated the energies and sensations of flora into words and concepts in truth the 'plant talk' was more on line with the basic distinctions of senses like smell or pure reading through spirit energy or youki. With Goshinboku however… things were clearer –almost becoming the equivalent of images or sounds at some points and sometimes just bordering on the fringe of actually bearing the weight of words. For a true plant… Goshinboku was somehow truly sentient. There was no way Kurama could adequately express his awe.
[*You who can make thought-sense of the simplest of my brethren, who can bid their forms to your will and bring them to new potential.*] It was something innate to his spirit fox nature, something instinctive that Kurama had never really contemplated its rarity considering few youko upon attaining their elevated state returned to the Ningenkai after living in Reikai. It was likely seldom if ever plants of the human world communicated with others besides themselves. But what had that to do with what this god tree implied? To what was it leading?
Feeling Kagome inching near the redhead gently opened his arms to her, enveloping the petite young woman within the circle of his embrace when she permitted herself to close the gap. Her barely audible murmur for him to please hold her was met with a light nod against her silken tresses and a soft smile he did not bother to contain. Closing his eyes in the unaccustomed bliss Kurama leaned them both against the tree so that the three were all touching. He did not have to reach far to feel Goshinboku too sigh with contentment –the ancient tree unfettering the last traces of loneliness it had held, enveloping too with its energies something hidden and unseen within its branches. Kurama could feel the touch of eyes on them from a darkened window of the home and hoped whoever was inside seeing to the safety of their beautiful family member would forgive him his disrespect for not introducing himself or otherwise speaking to them for permission first but could not bring himself to alter their position. All of them were simply too satisfied to change anything until it was absolutely necessary. Patiently, more than content with his current location, Kurama waited for whatever it was Goshinboku felt a desire to impart unto him.
[*We are beings of seasons, Spirit Fox, some live only a season yet even a flower's life is as full to it as all my rings to me.*] The sense-thoughts whispered at last, articulating on the nature of the average plant. [*Tell me, Spirit Fox, how do you count your life?*]
'In years.' It was the obvious reply and yet Kurama felt intrinsically that he had been backed into an intellectual corner. Again that tree-y chuckle and Kagome beamed up at him, the light in her eyes revealing her unveiled thoughts that he had something to do with Goshinboku's happiness. She was not far off… but how was he to ever overcome his pride to tell her he had been made its joke, however innocently?
[*Oh? How many years?*] The mental sensory nudge was gentle and Kurama found himself thinking twenty without even realizing it, much to the antediluvian tree's mirth but not surprise. As if it knew Kurama recognized his slip it waited before pressing. [*From your first birth, avatar.*]
Kurama chuckled faintly, closing his eyes. 'Three thousand years.'
[*Exactly?*] Goshinboku asked with a hint of mirth.
'Shall I calculate it?' The fox avatar retorted with a thin icing of his own brand of amusement.
[*Is it important?*] Mentally Kurama shrugged. Being not even the equivalent of thoughts as most knew them the entire 'conversation' if it could be called that was taking far less time than could be imagined and yet so much was being imparted like the flash of neural synopsis in the brain. [*What IS important, Spirit Fox?*]
Flashes of his own memories throughout the millennia of his life came to mind. A few of his parents and littermates, some thrills of pride at learning new things or succeeding at a particularly tricky heist, the peace of his den and the flora collected there, some of the better moments with Yomi and their band though surprisingly few for the centuries invested, almost every moment he knew Kuronue –even the agonizing sorrow of his partner's loss, but perhaps the most astounding was how so much of his human life and memories proved dear to him. Not only because those experiences were most recent -Kurama could feel the god tree's guidance in him for the truth- but because they were most strong.
Particularly those with his friends and Kagome.
[*For me as well.*] Within the unusual connection of their conversation Kurama arched a brow curiously, waiting for the ancient barked flora to elaborate. [*The times are crisper in the years she lives to the blurring of all else, spreading until her energies reach back through all my rings –blending them all together. For her, because of her, I will always span the ages.*]
Yes… Kurama could understand why that would be. Kagome's soul was a bright, pure light through and against any darkness. Enough even, it appeared, to awaken a tree's spirit to a state of sentience never before reached. While trees being longer lived often held more self-awareness in the plant collective one such as Goshinboku the fox had never encountered.
[*Not many understand the language of trees these days, Spirit Fox. Even then… I am changed in how I view the world as well as communicate than when last we met. I could not reach your mind then as I do now, still young in my sense of self. It is our miko's influence. Her love. It changes us for the better. Even you, Spirit Fox. Even you.*]
Permitting himself to nuzzle the rich crown of silk onyx beneath his cheek as the taciturn Youko Kurama would never have done in ages past the redhead human avatar could let himself succumb to the peace and happiness of the moment. 'Yes… I know she has changed me since we met.'
There was a happy chuckle fluttering through the 'thoughts' of Goshinboku that matched with the shifting of its branches in the wind giving an implication that the ancient tree referred to more than the fox avatar gave credit but was willing to let specifics slide in light of this new harmony. Kurama was doubly grateful. Never had he felt such peace from any flora before –and flora by nature were already composed of their own peace and contentment regarding their place in the universe and the cycles of nature.
[*I don't want to feel the loss of being without her again.*] Goshinboku confided to the kitsune avatar softly, a trail of something reminiscent Kagome's 'memory sadness' tingeing its current happiness.
Kurama once more felt his heart clench at the notion soothing himself by running his fingers through thick waves of raven black and along the gentle curve of the young woman's back. 'Nor I.' He conceded with feeling, thoughts drifting once more to a plant asked of him centuries ago by an unlikely source.
The great tree's excitement as it pilfered Kurama's thoughts caught him unawares in its intensity. [*You know it –where they live?*] Kurama felt the implication that the God Tree had communicated with the plants in question but both being plants neither could convey location. That was something lost upon plants –something only creatures that could move about could fathom. [*You will find a way to have it be something her heart wants? There was once a time I would never have been so selfish… once a time I would never have known to be so… but… I need her light. WE need her light.*]
Kurama felt more than heard the extent of what the god tree asked of him. There was a feel of pleading for a promise to be made –something substantial to hold. 'I promise… if Kagome should wish it of me I have the means.' And on some barely discernable thought more feeling than consciousness Kurama harbored the notion of offering the over-symbolized organ that was his heart to the miko within the circle of his arms for her to have, but also to shelter and protect her own as well as heal whatever hurts she had sustained.
[*Protect her heart. It is large enough and compassionate enough for all –but though strong she is fragile.*] Strong arms tightened minutely around Kagome so as not to startle her as Kurama silently affirmed his agreement with the great tree's assessment. He could in good conscious do naught else and still be true. As a miko Kagome's powers were unsurpassed. As a woman and individual her will and sense of self were insurmountable. But her heart… the loneliness that at times radiated from her… in that the miko was fragile. It was as if something had shattered inside her and her heart and soul were but pieces of a vase painstakingly glued together in semblance of their former glory. Even so her soul was the most powerful, the most pure, Kurama had ever had the privilege to encounter. Within his thoughts and spirit the silver fox could feel the gentle nod of concurrence filtered to him from Goshinboku as well as the tree's pleasure that he feel the same.
Sighing softly Kurama slid his hands one more time over her hair. "It is late… I really should see you inside." He had not intended for his regret towards such action to seep into his voice yet despite his best intentions Kurama had failed to contain it.
Her sigh was huge and heavy, rattling her petite frame even as she was supported by both the red-haired male and the great tree at their sides. "Yeah… you're right." Something warm warred with something painful in his chest as Kurama knew there was no misreading the girl's reluctance in slipping from his embrace. Though… for all she showed disinterest in being released Kagome was surprisingly adept at maneuvering out of his arms. Trying to withhold a display of his conflicting emotions the fox avatar was slow to lift his gaze from the ground where he had let it fall only to have his breath catch in his throat as Kagome playfully crinkled her nose at him. "As usual."
He smiled, a slow chuckle in his chest gently breaking up the tightness which had started to sink in. Emerald eyes glinting Kurama allowed himself to be pulled from his repose against Goshinboku with little more than a gentle tug of a delicate hand upon his wrist. Calmly, coolly, yet with that undercurrent of disappointment in not wanting the evening to ever end Kurama walked the raven-haired priestess across the remaining shrine grounds and up the few steps to the porch of the family home. They walked without touching, without talking, and somehow… it was perfect.
It was not until they reached the door proper that something awkward and ominous reared its unpleasant head. Nothing as dangerous as an enemy, but something more frightening as it could not be battled with familiarity. Kagome turned, her eyes a softly fiery blue in the lantern light with faint hints of grey seeping in as they sought with a sharp dart the new green gaze of her companion. Still neither spoke –though this time not from comfort but a loss of words. Kurama watched her soft lips open and close a few times before a slight frown marred her heart shaped face. He wanted to soothe the uncertainty from her brow but hesitated, realizing he was in the same rudderless boat.
How should they say goodbye?
Giving in to his impulse Kurama gently tugged the small woman into his arms. His tension fled him as Kagome came unresisting, her slender arms slipping around his waist as his circled her shoulders and upper arms, hands buried within her thick hair. Breathing in contentment Kurama rested nose and lips upon the crown of her hair, drowning himself in her scent and aura before regretfully disentangling himself gently and pulling away. Kurama answered the dreamy, confused expression on her face with a soft smile of his own. He swore the weak smile that came to her face indicated she understood he did not wish to go. "Sleep well, Kagome-chan."
"You too, Kurama-kun." Kagome whispered, blue eyes large and looking up at him as he took a step back to the stairs and she did the same towards the front door. Another slight smile for how her volume was barely of level for human hearing but perfectly clear though soft for youkai enhanced senses before he padded silently down the porch steps. He paused at the bottom, turning halfway with hands shoved less casually into his pockets then normal to watch as she opened the door, smiled shyly, and slipped inside.
He walked slowly away from the small family house across the courtyard, glancing back occasionally to catch the shift of lights from inside indicating Kagome's passage within. He caught sight of royal blue framed with soft pink just before the pink curtains were drawn over Kagome's silhouette. Only moments later that last light in the house went dark and Kurama found he could pull himself fully from the shrine grounds with the thought that Kagome was safely sleeping in her bed.
Passing by the sacred tree Kurama paused to give a respectful bow.
[*Soon.*] The Goshinboku whispered to his spirit, though Kurama was not fully convinced it was not something more private like accidentally murmuring one's thoughts aloud. [*Soon indeed.*]
Author's Notes: Had a big scare with this chapter while I was finishing the last one –accidentally deleted 2k words of it after checking the word count out of curiosity and DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL WRITING TONS MORE. O_O eep! Luckily… I'd not turned my laptop off in the interim so saving as a new file then clicking 'undo' for ten minutes brought the missing section back from the grave. Thank goodness, for some of it was among my original writing for this piece and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it justice in a second attempt.
This chapter was otherwise harder than I anticipated because I have been so worried it might disappoint. I've long harbored images of what happened but few were jotted down in time and to me this chapter was very important. Perhaps not so much in the scope of the story as it is to my heart a momentous meeting. I also had to be very careful about its integration with a later chapter. :winks: But on that you will simply have to wait and see to understand.
Happy Halloween, Samhein, All Saints' Day… and all that jazz. ^_^
Originally posted 31 October 2010
Edited 27 May 2012
