Beauty & The Beast – InuYasha Style

Kagome's Beginning

Kagome's past, present and future laid in the past. A time in history where youkais were part of everyday life. How she got there was startling. It happened a while back, the day she turned 15. Her day was just like any other. She knew here Okaa-san would have a special family dinner and she would be released from her shrine-maiden duties for the next week, in order to hang out with her friends or go someplace out of Tokyo. Souta, her younger brother, would have to see to their Ji-chan who had a residence further up the hill where the shrine was kept. It's a part of the shrine's storage facility for artifacts. Souta would probably be expected to check and verify the inventory kept there and the museum attached the shrine itself. He would get to listen to stories from their family's past and get introduced to another artifact or scroll kept in the family's shrine museum. Ji-chan kept a small vegetable garden in the greenhouse attached to the storage facility that was as big as a barn house. Messy as one, too until she took it upon herself to organize. It made her smile just thinking of the look on his face as Ji-chan pulled out a creepy artifact from no where and start explaining the gruesome uses it had been used for. At least, that is what he did with her on a day-to-day basis.

Souta probably would just be given a list to inventory and made to sweep the steps up the shrine every other day. Which, was tiring on its own.

That morning though being amused by her little brother having to take on some shrine duties was overlooked. Her okaa-san was calling for her because she had taken too long getting ready for school. She rushed out in a pair of cobalt blue hakama, a silver obi, white kosode, and a cobalt blue haori with silver and white designs. Rushing down the stairs with the haori in her hands calling, "Coming Oka."

The sounds of foot falls coming down the stairs made her Oka call for her little brother to get Ji-chan. A sign for Kagome to realize breakfast was ready. Not like the smell hadn't been a tell but calling Ji-chan is like screaming "You will be lucky to get breakfast." Thankfully, she was down before Souta hit the back door.

Kagome looked up to check the time. She had been sure that she had enough time to style her hair but it was still wet. Something that was rectified when her okaa-san saw her in the arch way to the kitchen. "Kagome, you can't go to school like that. Your sensei will be calling me," her expression must have given her Oka concern, "Don't look at me like that. They let you wear your normal dress as a Miko here at the shrine," she paused before continuing, "I am not sure they would let you wear that," pointing to all of her with distaste, like she was wearing a few skimpy threads.

She had never felt comfortable in the normal reds and creams she wore. Something about them made her cringe. She didn't talk much about it. Every now and then she would tell everyone how blues and purples were more her. Today, would have to be another reminder, "Yes, and when you picked this up for me a few days ago, you pointed out how these colors complimented me," she paused to look at her Oka and what she thought. Had she been lying or trying to appease me?

It was at this time, Souta came in with Ji-chan. He obviously liked it smiled and made a historic reference to the House of West. It made me smile. Shortly after he pulled out ribbons that matched from his hakama and pins, "Here you will need these," and pointed to my hair. Then added, "Before you leave, I would like you to walk me back to the shrine."

"Her sensei is going to send her home like that. You think you can get her out of it," asked as she set everyone's plates out for the morning meal. "She has to change into her regular robes before school starts."

Ji-chan turned to look up at his daughter, "Feh! I will call them later. She shouldn't be punished for showing pride as part of the West." Then looked back to his little girl, "Besides, they are your colors. Aren't they?"

Pleased, she nodded and smiled at her Ji-chan, "I am almost done eating. I can braid my hair up at the museum," then politely turned to her Oka-san, "What do you think?"

She smiled, "My Musume, I could never say 'no' to you." Kagome looked more like her Otou-san in many ways. Her smile was one of them and with him gone she was like a light. Her hair was not dyed and had a natural jet-black hair the color of night with a shade of blue like her eyes. It was also thick and took additional hands to tie back her. How she thought she could finish her hair in time for school was a wonder. She smiled back down and thought, "Maybe it is better she doesn't."

It was not long after, Ji-chan was ready to go back up to the shrine. She had practiced kendo when she was little and followed up with different martial artist as time went by. It had not been serious but with the extra exercises she felt stronger. On days when she was lazy and did not go through the forms, she felt aches all over her body. Somedays she goes through them unconsciously as she took care of the shrine. His gift to her was a set of weapons and a book of herbs known for healing. The book was hand drawn and added to by ancestors over the years with notations, advice and wisdom. Some of the plants were no longer in existence.

As he gathered these items, she brushed her hair and began twisting the pins and ribbons in intervals through her hair. Every now and then she would use a soft brush to make her hair smooth and remove any tangles she had not gotten out after her bath. It was a soothing action. In the background she could hear him fumbling around looking for her gifts. That was usually when she started a new section and more ribbons and hair pins. By the time her Ji-chan found her and had his gifts the twists of hair and braids on the top of her head rolled into a spectacular intricate bun held together with the thickest ribbons and kept in place with many pins. The rest of her hair fell like a blanket down her back.

Seeing her dressed up he almost fell. He did that with regularity already but as always ran to her Ji-chan's assistance. "Oh, thank you child," he said as he steadied himself. Once, he did took an even better look at her and smiled at her with adoration as he lifted her chin up and around, "Gorgeous! You are looking more and more like the woman you will someday be." His voice was raspy and filled with amusement, chuckled and picked the boxes up off the floor that had fallen. He ushered her back to the cushioned bench where she had been sitting. "Now, come. Sit and open these."

"Ahhh . . . Ji-chan," he put one in my lap. He kept muttering to open. It was like a chant as he continued to put items in my lap. I opened the first one. It was in a deep mahogany case with prayers and charms circling the box. It tingled my senses and I noticed that there were paper ofudas littering the case's beauty. The ofudas were meant to conceal what the purpose of the item. "What is this," I asked as I read the prayers, enchantments and what was written on the ofudas.

Ji-chan was becoming more insistent about opening any and all items I held in my lap. I felt compelled to open them but was hesitant. "Ji-chan," I stressed, "give me a moment. These ofudas… These enchantments… "Normal ofudas have a kanji for its purpose. Not only were there kanjis there were scriptures and signed. One of the more recent ofudas had been written by her ji-chan. "Why are there so many?"

"Heh, I have had to add more and more as you got older. Not only to this," he petted the air around the case, "to everything." He gestured towards his gifts and then to all the artifacts he had been collecting over the years. "You are more powerful than you think," he paused and reflected, "these scriptures were supposed to keep you from being compelled to come here. They have not worked. You come here all the time looking for something."

"Hai, because I keep inventory. I make sure everything is accounted for. Ji-chan Look around," all she saw were shelves and shelves of artifacts boxed up with no markers to signify what they are. No cards to describe the items or historical importance. It drove her nuts. "It's a mess. I am surprised you can find anything." Not the she was perfect, but she even inventoried her jewelery. Worthless or not.

"Hmm," he looked down with his right hand on his lips thinking of a better way to explain. It didn't take long when one of their ancestors Midoriko came to mind. "Ahhh, give me a moment," and ran off to pull something off of one of the lower shelves. It was a box of souvenirs, key chains, earrings, and other baubles sold in the gift store on the side of the shrine. Excited as he was all she could do was raise an eyebrow as he continued to explain "compelling".

He pulled out one of the key chains. There were a few types that were in relation to the Shikon no Tama. "Just amuse and old man and finish what you have been doing to your hair," she did so and he continued, "The Shikon was one of the most compelling objects known to man, youkai, and hanyou." In the light the shiny pink glass bauble glimmered. "The jewel was created by your ancestor, Midiriko, to purge the land of evil. In doing so, her soul was ripped from her body in order to continue the fight," he paused and saw the recognition. He probably told her the story more than anyone else including her mother.

He continued, "With all actions there is a reaction. The jewel was born and the power it held was neither good nor evil. It brought out those qualities in those that which to posses it and what it could do for them. Without even knowing what the power was it compelled everyone to seek it, treasure it, and posses it for their own. It created a power struggle because with out thought or reason those who possessed it made a wish. The jewel would become tainted the longer it was not protected by someone with a pure soul. Villages were raped, pillaged, and killed looking for this little bauble but they didn't know why. That's what it means to be compelled."

She stopped brushing the back of her hair. She had been compelled to do many things in her very short life. She strived to know the herbs used by mikos and healers and had devoted time and energy to learn acupuncture. She even made a garden and learned to make soaps from scratch. ( Another item sold at the shop.) The list went on and on until it included sword techniques and fighting styles. History always spoke of women who had been hurt in wars. She was not going to ever apply but she felt it best to know incase she ever had to defend herself against dishonorable rogues.

Ji-chan took a moment. He could tell that she felt being compelled was bad. He had to continue, "There was a Shikon Miko who was tested to extreme measures. It was broken and she had to use her powers to find the pieces. She was compelled to find them because she was responsible for making it whole once more. In our history, this Miko became the strongest to ever walk the earth."

"Nani ga kanojo o tokubetsuna mono ni shita no ka," she asked. "Being compelled sounds more like an uncontrolled, mindless being," she looked her grandfather in the eyes with sorrow, "I don't want to be like that," barely came out in a whisper.

He contemplated telling her more and opted not to. With the ribbons, pins and braids she looked more and more like the painting of the Lady of the West. He did tell her what he could, "That's because you have no desire to and you probably never will. You are so pure of heart that you are like breathing in fresh air. We can live with out it, as you can feel this around you, but with-it others are compelled to be around you. Does that make them mindless and uncontrollable?"

She had to chuckle at the comparison to her and her friends, "Umm . . . Eri, Ayumi, Hojo and the rest are up for debate." With the gifts he had there was a heavy canvas bag to carry them all in. Enchantments to keep the bag waterproof and according to the letter that came with it the ability to add as much to it as one wanted. He thought this was a fitting gift that could be learned about as time passed. For now, he passed the case back to her, "I have a few special presents. Hopefully, they complement you." The bag was beside her to put the objects back in. She looked at the objects again that he pulled out of the bag. He must have been putting these together for years. He wrapped them in cloth to present them. "Are you sure we should? Mom probably would like us to do this as a family."

"Feh, this is just for you. Open it. Open it," he began to chant again. This time she took a deep breath, closed her eyes to everything around, and breathed out. She felt her ancestors taking a deep breath with her gathering Ki to unbind the gift. It was not hard at all and she would keep the scriptures and ofudas as reminders of their legacy. She felt like whatever was in the case was welcoming her home. Once the spell of protection was cancelled the ofudas were taken off with care. Later, she planned on finding out about each of them. Inside she found a katana that looked like it had never been used. Without taking it out she examined it with care. The blade was also incased in a protective sheath. Unsheathed it looked to be polished and sharpened to perfection without a flaw with a strong and powerful energy that seeped out. How strange? The hilt was hard and littered with gems as if it was just for show. Designs pressed into the hilt created protection spells far stronger than fading ofudas. It was put back into its sheath and placed carefully into the case. "Is this what I was compelled to find? If so, why?"

Ji-chan smiled and spoke softly, "No. But, it is a magnificent sword. I have never seen one so fine." She put the case aside for more objects being put in her lap. The first one just happened to be bag he brought the gifts over the begin with. "Here, put that back in here. It's part of the present."

"You know Ji-chan I don't need such fine things. This," picking the bag up, "was present enough." "Humm, but this birthday promises to be more special than any other birthday. So, open the next case. It is just as special," he placed an even larger case on her lap. It wasn't littered with ofudas like the last but it had a spell on it no less. She doubted he even knew it. It was subtle but sometimes the finest spells were the ones hardest to detect.

Unlike the last gift it wasn't meant to be lifted before opening. The case smelled like lemon and sakura blossoms. Its contents were most likely homemade soaps and shampoos. Why those types of items would need to be protected is perplexing. It turned out to be two more weapons a staff, normally used by a houshi for protection, a bow with a quiver of arrows, tools to make more as needed, instructions written by family members on how to make ofudas and sacred arrows with oils used to clean them and keep them strong. Taking out the bow, images assaulted her senses. It took a moment or more to breath. Tears came to her eyes. She wanted to be angry. She certainly was in pain with what was to come who wouldn't be. But not all the images made sense, they could be out of order, there could be some holes. With a choked cry, she put it back and grabbed her Ji-chan. "Thank you. It will be cherished."

Whatever he thought her reaction would be, it would not have been tears. He wanted her happy. However, he did not know why it had been so important to him to give her these things today. "Well, I knew you would appreciate such fine things." He gave her one last bag. "These are letters from our family, books, recipes, and other stuff." He held her hand from opening the last one, "Just put them in your bag. You may find wisdom in those parchments when you need it."

About that moment Kagome heard her little brother crying for help. It was just a low sound muffled by the fact they were in the shrine's storage and Ji-chan's home. "Gotta-Go," she exclaimed kissed on the cheek and ran out to find the issue.

TBC