Update (May 2020): Chapter edited and lengthened!
Chapter 16 (Special): Coraline's Secret & Gospel of the Soul
It's been several minutes since Coraline Croft revealed one of her deepest secrets involving her own being, and the three other beings in the vicinity could only listen with stock-still expression as the teenage girl reluctantly dishes out more details.
"Alrigh'...As an Aura Reader, th' core fact is that my soul 'as a higher energy concentration than mos' human souls, which grants me the ability to see into another person's aura, or spirit energy. It's a trai' d'at's been passed on through m' family for generations, including my father before me...In a way, it's like my sixth sense, allowing me to tell if someone's human, or if they're supernatural, by the way their aura is structured."
She focuses on her fellow teen with a faint smile and comments,
"I'll say this much: Inuyasha's aura is the mos' beautif'lly unique I've ever seen. While having th' central core like tha' of all human auras, the energy is also spread through his body, like tha' of a demon's...It almost reminds me of the sunrise and sunse'..."
Inuyasha is taken aback by her description of his aura, and looks away shyly. Shippō then asks,
"So, does that mean that my 'aura' is spread out through me?"
"That's right, lad, and Kaede's is structured to that of a sphere-shaped core, bu' with a thin stream of energy surrounding it, likely related to 'er powers as a priestess."
The shrine maiden herself would then postulate her own question.
"Then what we witnessed, during which ye tried to reclaim my sister's soul, was an ability of yours as an Aura Reader?"
"Yes, and a newly awakened one a' that...My, father, once told me Aura Readers can sometimes manipulate another soul's energy. Whatever remained within me at the time, must'a sensed Kikyō's rage was becoming out o' control...and then the ability was triggered, when I heard Inuyasha's cry of pain...I can't fully recall the details by then, other than a blurry figure crying out incoherently as I felt some oth'a force return to m' body...I suppose that was me reclaiming Kikyō's soul..."
Kaede nods in confirmation, and it was then the fox demon asks the one question on the minds of everyone on the receiving end for this confession.
"But, Coraline...why didn't you tell us about your ability? Why'd you keep it a secret?"
...She turns her back to them, feeling her body beginning to tremble as old and unpleasant memories began to resurface...
"Coraline?"
"I...I was scared."
Inuyasha looks back up and asks with a frown,
"Whaddo you mean? Scared of what?"
"...Of bein' judged...All my life, this ability has brought me nothin' but ridicule and disdain. Growin' up in the Village of Majora, I was constantly abused by the other children, all because I could sense and connect with th' supernat'ral easier than they. They didn't understand my abilities weren' dangerous...or didn't care to. Gh!...Some were even bold enough to throw dirt and dust at my eyes, tryin' to blind me...!"
The other three gasp, and Coraline turns around to face them again, her eyes brimming with tears of anger and pain.
"Their damn parents did nothin' to stop them eith'a! I even heard'a few of 'em encourage their kids t' hurt me any way they could! Everyone human from me childhood regarded me as a freak! (...Sniff) My father...he did the best he could, but anytime he tried to talk reason, people only made 'is life more difficult for 'm. He was never physically hurt...but his reputation plummeted to th' point where anytime he left home to restock or send his work in, he received death glares from the adults."
"Coraline..."
Casting her eyes to the hardened dirt, the redhead mutters dejectedly,
"...I left Majora when I was only ten, and while tha' was more due to my father's murd'r...I certainly don't miss the place. That damn village is no longer my home. Thanks to all th' childhood abuse, it became a condition to keep my special quirk under wraps, out o' fear of bein' ridiculed again. Only Grandfath'a and my brothers Freeman and Besa know about it...I've debated tellin' Akari-sama and Sōta...but, I haven't had the guts to do so yet...And now you three know."
Her face then shifts to a mix of fear and frustration as she cries out in a heartbroken tone,
"I don't care if any o' you call me a coward aft'a this! I know wha' I am, and I don't give a damn! I'm nothin' but a freak, a freak that shouldn' even be here!"
With that, the troubled redhead turns and sprints from the area down the path up to Urasue's hideout, much to the protests of Kaede and Shippō.
"Coraline!"
"Come back, Coraline!"
Meanwhile...Inuyasha watches the teenage girl's form disappear from view, feeling a strange frown form on his face.
...A freak, she says?
With a grunt, he then leaps after Coraline.
Coraline's POV
I ran fast, tears flying from my eyes and blurring my vision as I fought to get as far from the area as possible...I eventually stop a couple feet down the mountain by a tree which surprisingly thrived in this rocky environment. Sniffling a bit, I go to sit down at the trunk, wrapping my arms around my legs and burying my face into my knees...Memories of the jeering from those brats came flooding back, echoing in my brain.
(Flash)
"Los'r!"
"Freak!"
"Weirdo!"
"Alien!"
"Why don'chya leave for the woods with the other creatures and nev'a come back?!"
"Wild monst'r!"
"Monster...Monster...MONSTER!"
(Flash)
I clutch my head, whimpering as I try to stifle those hateful jeers.
...I was doin' so well...Why did I allow m' wall to crumble?
Why did I hafta unleash my power?
...What'm I to do now?
"Oi! Coraline!...Just what the hell do you think you're doin?!"
"(Sniff) H-Huh?"
I look up, and softly gasp at seeing Inuyasha standing in front of me, a more or less serious scowl on his face and his arms crossed disapprovingly. I quickly stand up, wiping my eyes on my sleeve and avoiding his...
"I'm askin' what you're doin'...Why'd you run off like that?"
I hear him step closer to me, and look up to meet those gold irises which were, not sharp like they usually are, instead having a softness that rarely shows...Still, I was too upset to really take this change in with a grain of salt, feeling like he was trying to pity me. Sniffling, I hoarsely utter under my breath,
"Don't, look a' me. I look horrible," and turn away, wrapping my arms around myself...
I then feel strong hands grab my arms, pulling them out of my security grasp and turning my body back to their source.
"Coraline. Look at me."
...I remain silent and immobile, too afraid to listen...Inuyasha sighs at my sad stubbornness, before he grabs my chin gently but firmly and lifts my face upwards.
"I said, look at me."
"...Please, Inuyasha. Jus', leave me be. I-I can't-"
"Shut it."
I flinch at his stern tone, and he continues as his scowl shifts into a serious frown.
"If you wanna talk cowardly, then I'd say what you're doin' now fits the description."
"W-What?"
"You heard me. Running away just now, when all you're scared of is just a lousy memory or two? That's cowardly."
I avoid his eyes, ashamed of myself and knowing how right he was...
"And another thing...You're not a freak."
I snap back to meet his eyes, searching for any signs that he was lying...
I guess he sensed my uncertainty, for I saw his eyes soften a bit more as he insists,
"I mean it. You're far from a freak; you're great just the way you are. I know now that you're a pretty decent fighter...and from the past time we've spent together, I know that you have a heart that opens to everyone, now matter where they come from, or what they look like. I mean, sure, this whole 'Aura Reader' thing's a bit over my head, but if it means you can sense danger quicker, that'll be a big help in the long run for finding the jewel shards..."
He releases my chin and moves that hand to my shoulder, squeezing it a bit in his own attempt at comfort.
"There's nothin' freak-like about you, Coraline. You're, unique, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
...He...He really doesn' care, that I'm no' a normal human?
I feel myself shake a little...before I lunge forward to hug Inuyasha around the middle, crying tears of relief and happiness at his words.
"Uh!"
"Th-Thank you, for s-sayin' that. I needed to hear that, Inuyasha..."
...He slowly put his arms around me, and softly scoffs before replying,
"Yeah, sure, you're welcome. Now can ya stop crying already? You look like a mess..."
"Heh, right..."
I let him go and wipe away the moisture from my eyes, a small smile forming as the weight of my fears finally starts to leave me. I see Inuyasha half-smile back, probably relieved I wasn't so troubled anymore.
"Keh, that's better."
"...Inuyasha!"
"Coraline!"
"Hm?" "Huh?"
We both turn around and see Kaede and Shippō coming down the path towards us, the latter bounding ahead of the former.
"There you guys are! Boy, Coraline, you sure know how to run!"
"Heh, yeah...I'm sorry for running off like that; I wasn' thinking rationally."
"It's okay, I understand. At least you didn't run too far that Granny Kaede and I couldn't catch up with you and Inuyasha."
I smile and nod, before looking up at said elder priestess.
"I apologize t' you as well, Kaede. I shouldn't have run off like I did. It was wrong of me."
"It is alright, child. Ye were in a fragile state, and unaware of how to approach the issue other than to escape...But I hope ye realize now that it is impossible to run from your fears forever."
"I do, and I won't now...I feel ready to begin facin' them head on."
"Good. Now, perhaps we all should make way back to the village?"
We all nod, and begin walking down the path to exit the mountain...
As we move along, these were the thoughts that began to weave through my mind.
Well, that was a stupid way of dealin' with me issues. I'm glad Inuyasha was kind enough to se' me straight...Well, kind in his own way, heheh.
Anyway, now that he and these two know abou' my ability, I don't have the weight of keepin' it a secret anymore...
Still, there's that other bit regardin' my soul...Urasue said that my soul and Kikyō's were merged, and I saw that Kikyō's aura is only half of what it once was...
I frown in concern as I recall the specifics of the revived woman's divided spirit.
Not only that...but it had a rather dark energy to it...I wonder if I somehow absorbed only the light in her soul?
...And then that flashback. That, dream...the little girl with the pink orb...Is it possible she was the origin'l reincarnation?
Actually...now that I think about it...the little girl, kind-of looks like...
Flashback, No POV
"Say, Akari-sama? Who is this?"
Turning the clock back three years prior to current events, we see a twelve year old Coraline peering at an old family photograph consisting of the Higurashi Family standing in front of the shrine...What made this picture peculiar, was an additional member: a young girl with long black hair, a skin tone similar to her younger brother, brown eyes the same shade as her single parent, and was wearing a pretty off-white shift dress with a pink cherry blossom pattern...
Akari comes over to where the redhead was standing, and looks at where precisely the young tween was pointing...She then forms a sad smile and replies,
"Oh...That's my daughter, Kagome."
"Kagome...Pretty name...Forgive me for askin', bu'...did something happen to her?"
"Unfortunately, yes...You see, two years ago, I was driving home with Kagome from a parent-teacher meeting at her school. We were there a bit longer than expected, so it was already very late into the evening...As I was getting ready to turn onto the next street, the traffic lights were acting up again...Next thing I knew, a large truck came out of nowhere, and crashed into the side of the car..."
"...Oh no..."
"Yes...Luckily, someone called for help, and we were rescued by the paramedics and the fire department...But, while I only sustained several cuts and bruises, Kagome...she...well, let's just say her injuries were worse than mine...As we rode in the ambulance to the hospital, she went into cardiac arrest, and the paramedics did their best to help her fight for as long as she could...But, in the end...Kagome didn't make it. She passed away before we even reached the hospital..."
Coraline goes to hug Akari, noticing the tears falling from her eyes.
"Oh, Akari-sama, I'm so sorry..."
The older woman hugs back and replies,
"Thank you, dear...but I'm alright. I've already gone into mourning for as long as I needed to...and for Sōta and dad, as well as Kagome's memory, I vowed to stay strong, and live life with all that I have...I, know that she would have wanted it that way."
The young tween releases her hold on her guardian and comments with a sad smile,
"That's a good vow...If it helps, I understand the feeling of losin' someone you care deeply about. I too have gone through mourning...Maybe a part of me still is...but I wanna continue living life to th' fullest."
"That's good. I'm more than certain your father would want that for you."
Akari then moves back to the kitchen to continue prepping dinner...and Coraline looks at the photo one more time, specifically, at the little girl.
"...Kagome...It's strange...though we've never had the pleasure of mee'in' eachother..."
She puts the frame back onto the shelf, as she adds,
"I, feel like we had sometime befo'..."
End of Flashback, Coraline's POV
I gasp quietly as that memory closes, realizing something I should have clued into.
"...No way...Is it, really possible?"
"What is?"
I turn to see Inuyasha looking at me funny as we all exit the mountain and begin crossing the bridge. I reply with slightly bated breath,
"...Okay, this is probably gonna sound crazy, bu'...I think, I may know the identity of Kikyō's original reincarnation."
"What?!"
We all stop near the end of this rickety structure in accordance to the shock that bounces from the three with me, and Kaede asks,
"What do you mean, child?"
Moving along again, I begin my explanation.
"Well, I only just rememb'red this...but five years ago, abou' two weeks before my father died, I had this, strange dream...I was in a black space with no light anywhere, and no other signs of life besides me own...until I feel this, warm glow coming from ou' in front of me...That's when this little girl abou' my own age, with black hair and brown eyes fades into view. She was wearin' a white dress with pink cherry blossoms on it, but it was tattered, and she had several injuries on 'er body...Despite that, she was smiling softly...and her whole being was partially transparen'."
"You mean, like a ghost?"
I nod Shippō's way as we all begin entering the path into the woodland area.
"That's what I was thinkin'. Anyway, I start wanderin' her way, askin' if she was okay...but she never replies, and only smiles at me...Next thing I knew, she held both her hands out, and a pink glow manifested, shaped like a sphere. I could only stare as the obje't came floatin' m' way, before touching my left side. I immediately feel a piercin' charge of energy, and cried ou' in pain as the sphere began entering me body...Then just as quickly as it came, it was gone...I look back up, my eyes as wide as china plates, and the little girl giggles a bit before floating backwards as she slowly disappears. I try to chase after her, asking for her name, but I couldn' find her...That's when I woke up."
"...Weird dream."
I look at Inuyasha and add,
"Yeah, and the aftermath was even stranger...For the next few days after tha' night, I kept feelin' a slight ache in my side, right where the glowin' orb entered me...It stopped after a while...but now I realize this ache, is exactly where the Shikon-no-Tama once resided before Mistress Centipede ripped it ou'."
Kaede concludes,
"So then, ye are proposing that the spirit of my sister's original reincarnation came to you years ago, and passed the Shikon-no-Tama onto ye."
"Yes. I don't know why she would choose me; maybe I'll nev'a know...but I think I now know who she once was. Back in my world, there used to be one more member of the Higurashi family, a young girl by name of Kagome. Unfortunately, she and Akari-sama got into a terrible accident years ago, and she passed away on the way to the heal'rs...But now that I think about it, Kagome looks exactly like the little girl from my dream."
They all gain a look of astonishment as Inuyasha exclaims,
"So, wait: you're saying that this 'Kagome' died in your world years ago, and her spirit came to you to pass on the jewel?"
"It's more of a theory, but, it makes sense, in a crazy way. It's even possible the jewel had been temporarily housin' Kikyō's soul, which would explain why mine and hers were merged...until today. Again, I don't know why Kagome's spirit would choose me as th' next safe house for 'er soul and the jewel, but, there you have i'."
"Hmm..."
We all go into silence, each of us having our own thoughts on this new situation...After a few minutes, Shippō looks at me with a smile and says,
"Well, I don't really care about the details. I'm glad that you were the one to come to our world, Coraline."
...I smile back and say,
"Thanks, Shippō...I'm glad I came too."
Because maybe, I'm finally close to th' path...to where I belong.