Chapter 23

The Full Story

Kagome stole another glance towards Kaede as she crouched to dig up more shoots for her basket. The two women had been gathering herbs for a while and Kaede had yet to say a word.

It was frustrating and confusing but, Kagome took a deep breath to settle her impatience. If there was one thing she'd learned long ago, it was never to rush Kaede. The elderly miko always got to the point once she was ready, and not a moment before.

"Koga means a lot to ye, doesn't he, child?"

And, apparently, that moment was now.

"Yes," Kagome answered, her face reddening slightly. "He does."

"And, he treats ye well?" Kaede asked after a moment of silence.

Kagome smiled warmly as she nodded. "He does," she replied, wiping her hands together to get the excess dirt off her palms. "Always has."

"And, I'm assuming he's aware of the Jewel," Kaede added, still keeping her back facing Kagome.

"Yes?" Kagome answered, her brow starting to furrow in worry. "Naraku revealed it to him."

"And, how did he react?"

Kagome blinked repeatedly as she tried to understand where her old mentor was going with this line of questioning. Hadn't she already been reassured in this?

"He was….surprised," she answered carefully. "But, he wasn't swayed by it."

"Of course, not," Kaede replied calmly. "He had an enemy to hold his focus."

The comment had Kagome's hands freezing around the young shoot. What?

"Yokai, especially ookami, are doggedly driven in whatever is their goal," Kaede continued in the all-knowing tone Kagome had long recognized. "It is in their nature and their greatest strength. Koga had been searching for Naraku, and ye, for some months, as I understand it…."

"Y-yes," Kagome answered, her throat starting to grow tight.

"He'd spent the winter hunting for his prey, preparing for his goal to claim," Kaede added with a nod. "The Jewel had been…..unexpected."

"What are you trying to say?" Kagome asked, her hands starting to shake as she swallowed the nerves jumping in her throat.

"I'm saying," the old miko replied in understanding calm. "It has been some time since that day. And, his focus may have shifted. Has it?"

Kagome knew the question was fair. Kaede didn't know Koga like she did. But, it still caused a flare of righteous anger to spike in her at the suspicion in the old miko's voice. She'd scared Kagome to death!

"Koga hasn't changed," Kagome stated, trying to be calm.

"That's what worries me," Kaede answered, causing Kagome huff as she turned to face her mentor.

"Kaede, I know you mean well, but what is this about?" Kagome asked, crossing her arms as she waited. "Koga has done nothing to harm me. And, he's a good man."

"I believe ye," Kaede agreed, only raising Kagome's irritation.

"Then, why—"

"Do ye remember when I first told ye about my sister, Kikyo?" Kaede interrupted, taking Kagome by surprise. "Do ye remember…..what I told ye?"

"You….you told me that Kikyo had been attacked by a yokai that wanted the Jewel," Kagome replied tensely. "That she had lowered her guard and he took advantage."

"Aye," Kaede answered, pulling another handful of shoots to place in her basket.

"But, Koga isn't like that," Kagome argued. "I know him. He knows me. I trust him."

"Child…," Kaede breathed, taking a deep breath before clearing her throat. "There's something ye need to understand. Something I….should have told ye long ago.
'This was not some stranger that decided to attack the village and steal the Jewel on a whim."

"What?" Kagome asked, a familiar worry tightening her throat again.

"His name was Inuyasha," Kaede informed. "And, he had been close to the village for some time. He was, at first, the usual troublemaker; trying to intimidate and force his way through fear with the villagers. But, it was obvious what he really wanted.
'Word had spread that my sister was the Shikon Jewel's guardian and the foolish boy had thought to steal it from Kikyo, outright. But, she was too strong for him. Normally, that would be the end of it but, he became stubbornly attached to the surrounding forests.
'Ye see, he was a hanyou, a half-yokai."

The pronouncement caused Kagome to gasp as she stared in shock at her old mentor. She'd….never mentioned this!

"Because of his blood, he had no-where to go," Kaede continued. "And, I suppose Kikyo pitied him and his situation. So, she left him to his own as long as he didn't harm anyone.
'I was young at the time, a trusting child. Probably a little too trusting. But, Kikyo seemed to think Inuyasha wasn't anything to worry over. And, for a time, it seemed that way.
'He guarded the village and forests like it was his own territory; fought off many yokai who had come to try and steal the Jewel. It almost appeared like Kikyo had….subdued him somehow. Even those who were most skeptical in the village trusted my sister's decision in how to deal with him.
'But,…..Kikyo's judgement was flawed."

"What?" Kagome asked, trying to grasp Kaede's meaning. Since she was a child, Kikyo had been exalted as the perfect image of a miko, the very thing she'd striven to immolate and become. What could possibly have been the mistake she made?

"My sister was in love with the hanyou."

For a split-second, Kagome heard nothing: not the rustle of the forest grass, not the flapping of her haori's sleeve, not the continued words coming from Kaede's mouth. She…..what?

No-one in the whole village had said anything about this. Kikyo was…revered in her memory; the very image of the dutiful miko that made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her charge. And, she had fallen in love with a hanyou?

Not that Kagome was in any position to judge. Hadn't she fallen in love with Koga? But, to know that this was hidden from her…..it was enough to make her head spin.

"Do ye see now, child?" Kaede asked, causing Kagome to suddenly snap to attention.

See? What was she supposed to see? What had she missed?

The grey miko's sigh had Kagome struggling between blushing in embarrassment and huffing in frustration. This wasn't exactly easy to take!

"I know ye care deeply for the wolf," Kaede continued with moderated patience. "And, I don't doubt that Koga feels for ye in return. But, ye are the Miko of the Shikon Jewel; the protector that must ensure no-one abuses this great power. That was the duty ye were born for. It was decided the moment ye first drew breath.
'My sister, Kikyo, knew that duty deep in her soul. But, her feelings for Inuyasha left her open to betrayal. And, it cost her: her life, his life, and the Jewel itself.
'No-matter how pure the intension, child, the Jewel will always call to others' baser natures. It may not be now. But, one day, Koga will listen."

Slowly, Kaede rose onto her creaking legs, pressing a weathered but comforting hand on Kagome's shoulder in awkward understanding.

"I am sorry, child," Kaede replied gently. "But, as long as the Jewel exists, there is no denying the truth. It is….inevitable."

With that, the elderly priestess turned and headed back towards the village, leaving Kagome stunned in the forest clearing.

Kagome had no words. What was she even supposed to say?

There was no denying Kaede's words but….was she really meant to just accept them and move on? To ignore the feelings that she felt?

"Are you going to run?"

The soft tone had Kagome startling to her feet, a hand over her racing heart as she stared at Ginta's slightly hunched form in the trees.

"W-what?" she asked, trying to grasp his meaning.

"Again," he clarified as he stepped determinedly towards her. "Are you going to run again?"

The cautious disappointment in his voice had Kagome's heart breaking all over again. He was a good friend and didn't want to see Koga hurt. But, was there even a way around this?

"Ginta—"

"See, I'm just wondering if I should just tell Koga that it's done now or later," Ginta huffed, eyes narrowing in hard challenge. "Unless, you're willing to actually fight for him."

Kagome felt her mind go stunningly blank.

Fight? Did Ginta think she didn't want to? That if there was even the slightest chance, that she wouldn't take it? Of course, she would! The problem was, Kagome didn't know if that was possible.

A loop was occurring and she was part of it. That loop would only end in pain and suffering for all involved. Miroku would agree with that, Sango would support it, too. Unfortunately, the ookami saw things much simpler.

A flare of angry jealousy ripped through Kagome at the realization. It was so easy for them to see the world how they wanted. If humans tried to do that, it would mean the destruction of their way of life. But, the ookami could just decide what they wanted in life and "Bam!" it was there for the taking.

It wasn't fair!

Kagome was just about to let Ginta know just how unfair it was when a sudden shout echoed through the clearing.

"Kagome!"

Koga's voice was so filled with victory that Kagome found herself speechless at the fierce determination on his face as he raced to her. Instantly, his hands gripped hers in eager satisfaction as a grim smirk pulled his lips.

"It's him," he announced with a nod.

Kagome blinked rapidly to grasp his meaning before her eyes widened in recognition.

"Naraku," she breathed. "The cave?"

Koga nodded again. "Without a doubt," he answered. "He was here."

"When?" Kagome asked, brow furrowing slightly.

"My guess, years and years ago," Koga answered. "It's really faint. But, there's no missing the stink that's permeated that cave."

"I was right," Sango announced as she stepped into the clearing. "He'd been there all those years ago, when the Jewel last disappeared."

When Kikyo had died….. The realization had Kagome blinking as she quickly tried to piece all of the information together. If Naraku had been around, what had happened all those years ago? Was it possible, they didn't have the truth, like they thought?

"KAGOME!"

Ayumi's loud yell had everyone in the clearing startling as they snapped their gaze back towards the young woman rushing towards them.

Kagome rushed towards, horror gripping her at her friend's obvious distress. She'd never seen Ayumi this unhinged before.

"Ayumi, what's wrong?" Kagome asked as she caught her gasping friend.

"Your friend….the hoshi…. He…."

"Miroku?" Sango cried, coming up on the other side. "What's the matter with Miroku?"

"Hoshi….. struck….. took something….."

"Miroku took something?" Koga demanded from behind Kagome, causing her to tighten her hold on her shaking friend.

Ayumi shook her head as she swallowed a deep breath. "Hojo," she gasped. "He ran from the village with something. The hoshi was unconscious in Kaede's home. I think he might have tried to stop Hojo."

"Hojo?" Kagome asked, brow furrowing in confusion. "Why would Hojo take anything?"

"Who cares?" Sango hissed before she raced off towards the village.

Kagome looked back to lock eyes with Koga's serious gaze. The harsh reality in those blue eyes was almost chilling. If Hojo had harmed one of their friends, that was a problem. But, surely it had been an accident. This was Hojo, afterall.

"Kaede," Ayumi quickly swallowed, "will need you."

Kagome forced the heavy lump in her throat down. If it was that bad….

"Let's go," Koga announced, nodding towards Ginta before he took off after Sango's trail.

Kagome couldn't miss the knowing look Ginta threw her way even if she was blind. However, it would have to wait. Wrapping her arm around her friend, Kagome headed back towards the village, the hunter tailing behind them all the way.

SSS

She couldn't believe it!

Kaede wasn't sure what was more surprising to her: finding the hoshi moaning and clutching his head on her floor or the news from Ayumi that Hojo was the one who put the young monk in this state. What could have gotten into that boy to do this?

"I'm afraid it feels worse than it looks," Kaede informed as she dabbed a wet cloth on the hoshi's head. "A quick bandage and ye should be back on yer feet again, honorable monk."

The young man nodded with a humoring laugh.

"I'm sorry to worry you, or the kind woman who helped me," he replied smoothly even as he cradled his head. "I just didn't really expect him to swing first. His method of surprise was quite good."

"Aye," Kaede sighed as her brow furrowed in confusion. "I just can't understand why Hojo would do such a thing. He's such a kind, gentle soul."

The monk looked like he was about to say something. However, the sudden darkening at the hut door stilled his tongue.

"Miroku…," the young taijiya called, causing him to suddenly lie still, eyes closed as if in deep slumber.

"Oh, no," Sango gasped as she kneeled down beside him, cradling his face between her gentle hands. "What happened? Is he alright?"

"The hoshi is…." Truth be told, Kaede wasn't sure what to say. He was obviously deceiving the poor woman but what was that going to accomplish.

"Oh, Kami," Sango sobbed as she wrapped her arms around the monk like she was mourning his passing. "Miroku…. Miroku, please…. Please just wake up."

Kaede finally couldn't take it anymore. The young woman shouldn't think the man was dying, certainly not by his own deception.

"Child, he—"

However, the taijiya suddenly stilled beside the bed, her spine stiffening with almost painful severity. The change worried Kaede.

"Child?" She asked, about to reach for the woman. However, that was when the old miko spotted the hoshi's hand rubbing the woman's behind with shocking enthusiasm.

The sudden crack of a slap echoed through the house, snapping the hoshi's head to a sharp angle as the furious taijiya leapt to her feet, shaking with barely contained rage. Oddly enough, Kaede couldn't' even find it in herself to pity the idiot.

"You…..YOU….!"

The woman was so irate, she couldn't even finish a full sentence.

"My dear, Sango, I actually am in great pain," the hoshi muttered as he seemed to practically clutch his head.

"Not half as much as when I'm threw with you," Sango sneered in return. "I thought you were...! You know what, you can have your brains bashed in for all I care, you sneaky, selfish pervert!"

"I think they are," the monk moaned as he lift pained eyes towards Kaede's silent form. "It was the jar."

Kaede and Sango snapped startled eyes towards each other in confusion. A….what?

"The jar on the back wall," the hoshi cringed out. "Hojo had it when he ran out of here."

The older miko suddenly jerked her eyes towards the shelving on the back. It couldn't be!

All at once, the horror of it all stared Kaede right in the face. He'd done it! He…..took it.

"Kaede!"

Kagome's startled yell from the door, had the old miko staring dumb-founded as she and the ookami stood waiting.

"What is it?" Kagome asked, trying to catch her breath. "What did Hojo take?"

Kaede knew she should be more cautious; that this was a slippery slope to admit. But, shock and a horrifying numbness loosened her tongue.

"Kikyo," she admitted breathlessly. "He took Kikyo."