"Tadaima!"
"Okaeri nasaii" came Mrs. Higurashi's voice as she welcomed her daughter home from a long journey from the feudal era.
"A! It's a good thing that you've came home early dear." The older woman said as she led her daughter towards her room. "Go change~ we will be having visitors."
"Ee? Who's visiting us mother?" Kagome asked as she changed inside her room.
"You see, your father has called me earlier, a friend of his will be staying with us for the mean time. Alas! We are going to clean the guest room." The older woman dragged her daughter towards the rarely used room.
"Do you know who this visitor is mother?" Kagome asked as she put on a new cover on the bed.
"I'm quite sure you've met him before Kagome.. 7 years ago he went here with your father. A fine young man he is. He was your father's student back then. He's now become your father's colleague at work." Mrs. Higurashi said with a dreamy look in her eyes.
"I think he'll appreciate it if you don't show that side of yourself in front of him mom." Kagome said as she giggled at her mother's antics.
"Well he is a handsome young lad. Too bad he's too young and is about to have his wedding next summer." Her mother heaved a sigh.
"Shouldn't we be glad that he's found someone?" Kagome sweat dropped as she finished up cleaning the room.
"Well then I guess he'll have his fiancé with him when he arrives."
`RIIIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG' The doorbell rang – signifying the arrival of their awaited guests.
"Oh! Here they come!" Mrs. Haigurashi cheered as she dragged the whole household towards the front door.
"Irashaimase!" The whole household greeted as they opened the door.
Standing at the door step was a tall man in his early twenties, short black hair, tan skin and dark blue determined eyes. Beside him stood a very elegant looking woman smaller but a bit taller than average; pale white skin, jet black hair reaching her waist and silver calm eyes.
"Thank you for having us." The man bowed gracefully towards the family.
"Good morning Takashi-san! Welcome to our humble household."
"Hello, my name's Takashi Yuya and this is my fiancé Andou Haruka." The cheerful young man motioned towards the shy woman beside him.
"We're pleased to have you again, Takashi-kun. It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Andou!" Mrs. Higurashi had now ushered the guest towards the dining room – signaling at the others to follow.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Mrs. Higurashi. This is my daughter Kagome, my son Souta and this is Grampa." The new comer bowed her head as she acknowledged the whole household.
"I would like to formally apologize for intruding at your home. Thank you for letting us in Mrs. Higurashi." Kagome couldn't help but notice her mother blushing as she looked at the young man seated in front of her.
"It's always a pleasure Yuya-san , both of you can always visit whenever you want to."
'This is so embarrassing' Kagome thought as she smiled awkwardly towards their guests.
"Haru-chan will be staying for a while - I'll be leaving first thing in the morning tomorrow. For the meantime, please look after my Haruka for me." Yuya said dejectedly intertwining his fingers with hers.
"That will not be a problem Yuya-san. I'm sure Ando-san will enjoy Kagome's company during her stay." Kagome's smiled and waved her hand at Haruka.
"My little Ruka here has been stressing herself for the past 2 years. She had been working non-stop since she graduated from the university. That is why I decided to take her out and brought her here to relax and enjoy other things than work.
"It's no bother at all! Kagome, after supper, would you be so kind to take Andou-san for a walk around the lot? Show her around while I catch-up with Yuya-san." Kagome nodded her head.
'She's too shy I think.' She pondered as she looked at the silent girl seated in front of her.
"This is the torii located at west side of the temple." Kagome pointed towards the 3rd torii of the sacred temple. "Oh, that tree is called the Sacred Tree or Tree of Ages. It has been standing proudly in this shrine for 500 years." She had mentioned towards the curious girl beside her.
"Higurashi-san, may I know what's inside this part of the temple?" The timid girl pointed towards the building where the bone eater's well was located.
"That is the location of the sacred well."
"I'm sorry, Higurashi-san. I'm not really good when it comes to talking with other people."
"Oh no, no! No offense taken." Kagome giggled uneasily. "Honestly speaking, I would like to know you more, Ando-san." She had reassured the flustered girl.
Haruka heaved a sigh as they sat on a bench new the sacred tree. "Thank you for understanding. Please call me, Haruka. I'm a former student of your father." Kagome nodded towards her – encouraging the other girl to continue. "I am a native of Hokkaido. Kagome… Can I call you Kagome?"
"Y-yes".
"I work as an archeologist – we excavate sites and analyze old artifacts from throughout the history of human kind." She had seen a faint smile appearing on Haruka's face.
"Why did you choose to become an archeologist then?" Kagome asked interestedly.
"Ever since I can remember, I felt that I feel strongly connected to human history. It's the fire inside me; yearning to find something – I just don't know what it is." Haruka sweat dropped.
"That's nice; at least you have something to look forward to."
"What about you Kagome? What do you look forward to?" Haruka had asked her suddenly –Inuyasha's face suddenly flashed inside her mind making poor Kagome blush beet red.
"I… I don't…." The question had rendered Kagome speechless.
"Oh… I apologize if my question made you uncomfortable."
HIGURASHI HOUSEHOLD
"Ah! Andou-san, are you aware of a priestess from the past who has the same name as yours?" Grampa asked the moment they settled in for supper.
"Not this again.." Souta stopped and looked at his food with a grimace on his face.
"Really?" Came an amused male voice.
"Yes! That is true, it is said that this priestess is the pillar of the Mikos. You see... she was the very first miko, so powerful that demons would run away whenever they feel her presence." Grampa indicated a bit excitedly.
"You hear that Ruka?" Yuya said placing his hand over his fiancé's
"She had vowed to serve humanity – Seeing her courage, the Gods took interest on her bravery, they decided to give her 3 gifts. One was a part of their Godly powers, the second one is a pearl that is placed at the gaping hole in her heart – It was especially made to aid her; if your heart is pure and you ask her to grant your purest desire, it will be granted. The third one is her very powerful bow and arrow. On her death bed she handed it over to the young Midoriko on her last breath. Midoriko then used the power of the pearl to seal herself and Magatsushi's soul inside the jewel. Traditionally, the jewel is supposed to be handed down by the priestess who is guarding it to her next in line to guard it." Upon the end of the story all heads are turned towards the oldest man in the house.
"How do you know all that stuff grampa?" Yuya stood as he placed himself near the older man – eagerly waiting for the older man's answer.
"Would you like me to tell you another story young lad? I almost forgot! There has been an old urban legend surrounding that the priestess' death. According to those who were guarding her final resting place – the priestess had been resurrected and escaped from her tomb. She is said to be wandering around Japan to find what is rightfully hers." The old man stated – scratching his chin as if in deep thought.
"Tell us more, grampa!"
"Well... during those times, people are adamant to believe that such powerful being would die in such a way… The Feudal lords decided to pay her grave a visit, something had happened that lead for it to be dug up and alas! There was never trace of a body that was buried." Kagome had stopped whatever she was doing as she heard the whole story – her attention now drawn towards Haruka.
'It can't be.' She thought.
"Maybe Haru-chan really is this priestess? " Yuya asked cheerily as his eyes sparked.
"Enough with that grampa, you're making up those stories again." Kagome said as she stared at the old man with a shocked expression on her face.
"I am not making this up. This story is true!"
"This is the first time I've heard of this story." Haruka answered politely. "I would surely like to hear more, grampa." Haruka smiled graciously. "I'd like to excuse myself. I feel a bit tired from the journey. Thank you for the wonderful dinner and story." With that Haruka bowed and decided move toward her and Yuya's room.
"Do you really need to leave me behind Yuya?" The woman asked as she settled on to the bed with her lover.
"I don't want to but it's for the best. You need a break, you're stressing yourself out." He answered as he cuddled with her. "I'll be back before you know it." With that they've decided to close their eyes and rest.
"Grampa... by any chance, the jewel that you were pertaining to, is it the shikon jewel?" Her grandpa nodded, confirming her suspicion. "Mother, I will be returning to the Feudal era the day after tomorrow."
'It can't be.' She thought. "I'll seek Kaede's help to know more about the priestess and if the legend is true then we should seek her and ask her to help us with our fight with Naraku."
"But Kagome, she's already dead. These are only urban legends - a rumor." Kagome stopped on her track as she heard her grampa's statement.
"It's worth a try grampa.. It's worth a try."
" Thank you for letting me in for the night and for letting Ruka-chan stay. I will visit every now and then. I'll be on my way." Yuya had left before Haruka woke up from her dreamless slumber.
"Be careful young lad. When you get back I'll be telling you another sotry." Grampa waved to the young man.
"I'll be looking forward to another story grampa!"
'Ah… my head hurts. Yuya?' I covered my eyes as I was welcomed by the sunlight shinning from the window adjacent to my bed. 'I guess he left before I woke up.' I sighed internally.
"Good morning." I greeted as I saw the owners sitting at the dining area.
"May I have a stroll around the yard Mrs. Higurashi?" She inquired politely.
"Of course! Would you like Kagome to accompany you?"
"I think I'd like to go alone for now, I wouldn't want to bother Kagome on her rest day." She smiled as she stood and went outside.
'I must have wandered off unconsciously.' I thought as I found myself standing in front of the sacred tree. "Good morning, Mr. Tree." I jokingly said as I placed my hands on the ornaments surrounding it.
'That's odd.' I thought, 'A pulse.'
'lub-dub, lub-dub.' I was a bit frightened as I heard a faint heartbeat coming from the odd tree... I could've sworn..
-BLAG!-
I heard a loud sound in the distance – the old temple that was sealed yesterday had its door open. 'Don't. Avoid it at any cost.' I heard a voice inside my head.
'lub-dub, lub-dub.' It was now coming from the sealed temple.
'Go back! You don't want to go near that thing.' A voice in my head kept on nagging me as I approach the old building.
"No.. Go back." I felt a strange sensation as I entered the building. I felt nauseous.
'Lub-dub, lub-dub.'
"What…" I mused as I went inside the temple.
Before me stands the old well, standing some feet away from the well I had this nagging feeling inside me and it's telling me to scram! Go away and never return. But my feet did otherwise; it started heading towards the well. Every hair on my body rose up - as if warning me...
'Nothing's down there Ruka. Now let's head out.' I whispered to myself, turning my back away from the well,
"wh...what?" I felt something pull on my waist and before I knew it, I was falling down the well – a bright light had engulfed me.
'Am I dead?' I thought as I waited for the impact that never came. Instead I felt the soft moist brownish soil beneath me.
'Brown?' I asked curiously as I held it with my hand. Once I looked up, I was surprised - clear blue sky instead of the dark roof of the old temple. I didn't have time to ponder as I saw a ladder made out of a rope hanging inside. By the time I got out of the well, I saw the vast forest in front of me.
"Where…" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red settling on the tree in front of me.
"Where am I?" I asked sounding tired. 'What is this...this…place..?' I managed to whisper as I felt myself fall on my knees and darkness settled in.