Full Moon,Full Heart
Part III
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Several years had passed since Kagome last visited the Higurashi family shrine. She didn't remember the last train-ride there having taken nearly so long as the present one, nor was it a fraction as awkward. Though, that last trip had been for a double funeral. It hadn't been a pleasant experience either.
While Kagome sat next to Koga, Inuyasha sat in the seat directly across, facing them. The two men glared at each other a good portion of the journey with palpable hostility. Miroku and Sango sat on the seat across the aisle. Miroku did his best to keep up an easy conversation, but it was hard with only Kagome making an effort to talk. Sango stared out her window at the passing landscape sullenly. Sango had made peace with interacting with werewolves earlier, but now she seemed to be struggling again.
"Your pack —I mean family— lives a great distance from you," Koga observed. He slung his arm casually across Kagome's shoulders, hugging her against him with a natural grace.
Kagome relaxed against Koga's strong body. She didn't fully understand what was happening, but the wolf prince's presence was reassuring. She'd always felt awkward and stiff with men, but this strange creature made her feel comfortable in her own skin. If she could just escape into his warmth and ignore the rest of their travel companions, the journey might even be enjoyable.
"Souta isn't there, is he?" Inuyasha asked, startling Kagome. He'd not spoken the whole two hours since they departed the station.
"He's studying abroad at the university," Kagome said. "It's just my mom and grandfather."
"Your mother's father?" Miroku asked, a relieved expression on his face not to be the only one sustaining the conversation.
"No, my paternal grandfather. It's the Higurashi Shrine," Kagome explained. "My father and his mother were killed in a plane crash about five years ago." It was devastating to lose her father and grandmother on the same afternoon. The worst part, she was supposed to be on the plane with them, but had missed her flight. Inuyasha was dropping her off at the airport, but they were delayed half an hour due to a flat tire. Changing that flat had saved her life. "After that, Mom and Souta moved in with grandfather at the shrine. I was already at university at that time, so I didn't live there, except on holidays."
"So maternal and paternal relations are there," Koga said with a nod. "Great! We'll stay a few days at your family shrine, find out what we can, then I can seek your family's approval on a courtship. I'd like you to return to the den with me."
"I don't need my family's approval," Kagome said, shifting out from under his arm. It had suddenly grown heavy and oppressive with the casual chauvinism that had entered Koga's dialect.
"Welcome to the twenty-first century," Inuyasha answered, smirking at the wolf. His golden eyes settled on Kagome's gaze. "Women's liberation isn't understood by everyone."
"Don't even pretend you're an ally of women's rights, Inuyasha," Sango chimed in, never taking her eyes away from the window. "Koga is centuries old. We need to be patient with him, as he is only learning how to interact with humanity."
"I apologize for my offense, Kagome." Koga began to crack his knuckles one at a time, a nervous habit he wasn't even aware of performing. "Thank you for your patience, Sango."
"It's okay, but let's just focus on the present." Kagome reached across and laid her hand briefly over his to stop the knuckle cracking.
Koga huffed, acknowledged his fidget and laced his fingers together over his knee.
Not even Miroku bothered to try and hold conversation the last leg of the journey. They finally arrived at the station between the crowds of students and professionals. They opted to walk the three kilometers to the shrine rather than take the bus, all wanting to stretch their legs. They passed through the the turn style and the attentive attendant at the ticket window. A single passerby stood at the Ramune vending machines while a short line exchanged their credit for a ticket at one of the ticket machines, avoiding the attendant.
The sun was mid-descent into the west, casting long shadows in their wake. "The trees are very big," Koga remarked. His head angled up as he enjoyed the scenery. "It seems as if their roots stretch for ages, but it's only their shadow. The optics are pleasing."
Kagome shrugged. "They are pretty old trees and shadows are always long this time of day."
"It reminds me of what Japan looked like before the Feudal era ended. People lived in harmony with their environment," Koga said, his voice wistful.
"And they struggled to eat regular meals and not freeze in the winter," Inuyasha retorted. "Industrialization does come at a cost, but it's worth it."
"Is it?" Koga asked, turning his gaze towards Inuyasha. "The air is so polluted, the animals are over-hunted, the people are miserable working their long many hour jobs and not spending time with their families. Seppuku was common amongst the overly proud Samurai, but the suicide rate among all peoples is very high these days."
"Modern medicine keeps people from dying from simple illnesses," Inuyasha argued. "The survival rate of babies and mothers is better than fifty-fifty odds of the past. Instead of spending all day scavenging for food, people can enlighten their minds, learn philosophy and art, create architecture that survives hundreds of years instead of being wiped out by the first typhoon that comes our way. This is the information age."
"Too much information," Koga protested. He raised his hands and rubbed his temples, closing his eyes briefly. "It makes the mind ache."
"And yet we have embarked on this quest for more information," Sango pointed out.
"You have a knack for settling arguments," Miroku said, his voice awed.
Sango chuckled and adjusted her bag over her shoulder. "It comes from years of refereeing arguments between my brother and father." She turned towards Kagome. "Your family knows we're coming, right? It won't be a surprise when five people show up on the doorsteps to the shrine?"
"Mom prepared my old room for us; it has a full-sized bed." Kagome glanced down at her watch distractedly. "Souta's room will be ready for the guys — a bunkbed and a futon. Each room has its own bathroom. Grandfather will be finishing up his evening prayers by the time we get there."
"Thank goodness, it's not a communal bathroom," Sango said.
"You should be more grateful that the toilets flush. Dad would tell stories from when he was a boy, they used holes in the ground and were grateful." Kagome pointed in the eastern direction, the sun towards their backs. "You can see the red torii gate from here."
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OoO
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It was becoming impossible to reason with the priestess. "We are not going to Okinawa," Kagura explained. "It's twelve hundred kilometers away."
"I must speak with the head priestess," Kikyo protested. "I was the noro, high priestess, of my brother's kingdom of Ryukya. She will have resources I need."
"Kyoto is only fifty-six kilometers from here. Naraku is in Tokyo. You wanted to avoid him, that's where we go." Kagura rubbed her forehead and took a deep breath, trying to maintain a calm attitude as her irritation began to mount. "He won't set foot near Kinkakuji, the golden pavilion. He hates Buddhism and there are plenty of geisha in the city. It would be easy for us to wear the attire of the geisha and blend in."
Kikyo waved her hand dismissively at Kagura. "He won't look for us in Okinawa either. It's twelve hundred kilometers away."
"There is no point in going to Okinawa. Your brother did an extremely effective job in murdering the priestesses and mediums of your time. Second, you killed everyone in a five kilometer radius of yourself before you took your little nap. And while many peasants living rurally managed to survive, your kingdom never recovered. It was completely dismantled in the late nineteenth century when the island was annexed to the rest of Japan. This is the twenty-first century."
Kikyo stopped walking. "Very well. I don't actually need to speak with another priestess. If I even found one, they would be inferior in whatever talent they might possess. I just need my journal. It's the same journal that was passed down from one priestess to the next."
"If it didn't burn down in some fire, then Naraku would be the best source of its whereabouts," Kagura reasoned.
Kikyo closed her eyes and began to chant quietly, a warm light began to engulf her body causing the hairs on the back of Kagura's neck to rise. The light abruptly vanished. "The journal still exists. It was not destroyed in a battle."
"Okay, so where is it?"
Kikyo's dark eyes flashed with irritation. "I do not know where it is, only that it still exists. And Naraku once had it. For access to my spells I need the journal."
"I see, so it's a spell book," Kagura said.
"It's not a spell book. I'm not a witch." Kikyo began to stomp off. "I'm a priestess."
"There's nothing wrong with being a witch," Kagura grumbled. She possessed the innate ability to control and manipulate the wind, a wind-witch. She was proud of her power. Her villagers treated her like a goddess. She was not ashamed of her heritage, only in what Naraku manipulated her into doing. "Where are you going, Priestess Kikyo?"
"You are taking me to Naraku, are you not?"
"I thought we agreed to avoid Naraku." Kagura didn't want to risk having her heart and free-will stolen again. "There is another we can ask." Kanna could find the journal with her enchanted mirror. "There was a medium that Naraku captured from your village. We could ask her. She's in the complex and then we can leave."
Kikyo scowled. "Kanna?"
"You knew each other?" Kagura asked, surprised by the disdain in the priestess' tone.
"She was a yuta," Kikyo scoffed. "They possess some minor talent, but most were uncivilized peasants." She narrowed her eyes and glared at Kagura. "Let us question her."
Kagura led the way through Naraku's underground mazes. Kanna avoided outdoors, claiming that both sunlight and moonlight made her feel sick. She preferred to gaze upon the world deep underground through her enchanted mirror. She might be surprised to see Kagura as much as she might be surprised to see Kikyo, or she would be well aware of their approach. It was impossible to guess what thoughts went on her Kanna's mind.
"It's cold." Kikyo rubbed her hands over her arms briskly. "How much farther?"
"Less than twelve hundred kilometers," Kagura grumbled. She reached the heavy copper door of Kanna's chambers. She didn't understand how Naraku kept Kanna under his influence. She suspected he somehow stole her spirit, because her gray eyes were dull and lifeless when they gazed upon you.
"I was curious how long it would take you to come see me," Kanna said, a ghost of a smile on her otherwise expressionless face. "You have recovered from the wounds inflicted by Sesshomaru completely." She looked down at her mirror, distractedly. "I was afraid you would never wake up."
For almost ten years, Kagura had been put into an unnatural slumber by Naraku. He had sensed her desire to betray him for Sesshomaru at the time and had taken extreme measures.
She'd only awoken a few days ago on the night of the full moon.
"High Priestess Kikyo, it has been half a millennia since we last saw one another," Kanna said, her eyes never wavered from the mirror in her hands.
A faint smile crossed Kikyo's lips. "I've wasted half a millennia. Let's not waste any more time. Do you know where Naraku has stowed away my journal?"
"I do not know where your spell book is, but I can find it," Kanna whispered in a sing-song tone. She giggled, the sound shot a chill up Kagura's spine. Kanna tapped her mirror and nodded to herself.
"It is in Edo," Kanna said. She raised the mirror to show the image within. Naraku was meeting with a coven of vampires and Sesshomaru was there. The man Kagura loved was lurking in the shadows, greatly outnumbered. "You better hurry, Kagura. This will be the present in an hour. If you want that heart of yours to not shatter you must save him."
"Then we are off to Tokyo," Kagura said.
"She said it's in Edo," Kikyo protested. "I do not care about these creatures. Where is my journal?" She moved to stand next to Kanna and attempted to take the mirror for a closer look.
"Your spell book is within the inner pocket of Naraku's shirt," Kanna explained. She jerked the mirror away from Kikyo. "I can get you outside quickly," she offered.
Kagura nodded. "Okay, take us," she agreed. She grabbed Kikyo's forearm. "Edo is Tokyo. We're off to crash Naraku's meeting with Bankotsu's coven. You'll get your book and then I'm gone, with or without you." She placed her free hand over the surface of Kanna's mirror and they were both transported to the gardens outside of Naraku's complex.
"How?" Kikyo sputtered. "She is only a medium." Kikyo scanned the yard in frustration. "No doubt, she read my journal," she muttered. "Where are the horses?"
"She's a medium that has five hundred years of experience on you," Kagura explained. She pulled a feather from her ponytail and blew a breath upon it, increasing its size. The feather floated in mid-air. "My dear priestess, you are in the company of a Wind Goddess." She climbed onto the feather and offered her hand. "If you'll join me, we can be on our way riding the currents of the wind to our mutual destination."
"You're a witch," Kikyo whispered.
"I hate to remind you of this, priestess, but your brother is the one that led Japan's greatest witch hunt." Kagura pulled up the sullen Kikyo behind her on the feather and sent it soaring into the sky. "He was after you, not me."
As Kagura began to race towards Tokyo, hoping to arrive in time to help Sesshomaru, Kikyo wrapped her arms around her. "Wind goddess?" Kikyo asked quietly.
Kagura smiled. Maybe Kikyo was alright once you got past the icy exterior. She did grow up as a pampered princess after all. "That's what my villagers called me." With her heart back in her chest, she could actually remember the love she had for her villagers, not just the trauma that she'd been through under Naraku's control.
"What about Bankotsu's coven? Is it powerful?" Kikyo asked.
"The Shichinitai is not a large coven, but it is powerful," Kagura explained. "Three of the members are particularly intelligent and brutal— Bankotsu, Jakotsu, and Suikotsu. The other four are strong in a variety of ways — brutal strength, explosives, poisons."
"They are your allies?" Kikyo inquired.
"They are Naraku's allies," Kagura pointed out. She veered her feather vessel to the left and braced against a strong gust of wind, redirecting its strength toward their desired direction. "They will have no hesitation in trying to kill us. Be extra wary of Suikotsu. He has two personalities, one is quite charming. He's the reason their coven has survived for hundreds of years when so many others dissolve after decades. He's always able to keep a fresh stock of humans for them to feed upon."
"They eat humans?" Kikyo asked. "What sort of dark witches do such a thing?"
"Vampires," Kagura explained, frustrated with Kikyo's prejudices against witches. "They feed on the life blood of humans."
Kikyo gasped. "Like the Nure-onna?" The Nure-onna was a snake-like female yokai that lived in the sea and fed on human blood.
Kagura shuddered. She remembered hearing stories of the Nure-onna from Kanna. They lived off the southern most island of Kyushu. "While some of the coven are ugly, they don't appear as monsters at first," Kagura explained. "Similar to the Nure-onna, they are not what they seem. The successful vampires use charm, so you must exercise caution. And they will not kill you immediately like the sea-serpents, they'll manipulate you, and play with their food. The truly talented ones kill you without you realizing it."
Kikyo began to laugh softly. "Such cursed creatures would be in for a nasty surprise if they tried to drink the lifeblood of a priestess."
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The intel was good. The Shichinitai Coven had returned to Japan. Sesshomaru had actually been tracking Bankotsu's band of monsters when he was a human hunter, before he'd been side tracked by Kagura and converted into a werewolf.
In Europe, a typical coven would contain twenty to thirty members. That wasn't the situation in the Land of the Golden Sun. He'd never seen a coven of more than a half-dozen in Japan. As humans, the Shichinitai were formidable, merciless mercenaries, however, as vampires they were impossibly brutal. Hundreds of years ago, a vampire thought Bankotsu was easy prey, an apprentice to follow a great master. That long ago vampire was killed by his would-be apprentice and then Bankotsu converted his entire crew into immortal night creatures.
Sesshomaru knew that he wasn't capable of slaying the whole coven on his own, but he planned to remove one or two members. He would weaken the coven slowly over the next few months. He would have asked for Koga's help, but the wolf prince was busy dealing with his Kagome and Naraku drama. Not to mention, now Koga had to deal with Inuyasha — Sesshomaru's brother was strong, but very difficult to work with. It would be better for him to deal with the Shichinitai himself.
The only issue he was worried about was the vampires hearing his heart rate. Physically, he was stronger than them between his wolf's curse and his hunter bloodline. He could slow his heart rate, but if they were cautious, they would find him. He would go after the potions master first — Mukotsu. That one was akin to an absent minded scientist more than a warrior.
Sesshomaru found the short, gnome of a vampire brewing potions and distilling chemicals. Mukotsu was speaking to a figure tied to a chair in the corner. Sesshomaru could smell the scent of rotten meat coming from that figure. Whomever it was, they'd been dead for quite some time.
"And you see, my dear, with this latest potion you'll wake up! It will all just seem like a dream." Mukotsu began to laugh and then started to cough. "This potion is a bit strong, don't mind the sulfur scent."
Sesshomaru eased into the room, keeping to the shadows — not that being in shadows helped with vampiric heat vision. Sesshomaru extended his claws. There wasn't room to use his sword, dagger, or whip, but his claws were the perfect daggers that were always at the ready. He waited until Mukotsu hovered over the woman's corpse and began to dribble the malodorous potion into her open mouth.
There were four methods to kill a vampire: sunlight, fire, beheading, or stabbing the heart.
Sesshomaru pierced through Mukotsu's back, left lungs, and into his withered heart. The vampire's right hand spasmed, dropping the potion to the floor and then that hand hit Sesshomaru's forearm. He felt a sharp stab and then a dull ache in his arm before Mukotsu burst into dust. A silver ring with a spike clattered to the ground.
Silver was poisonous to wolves. Sesshomaru would have to dig the silver out of his muscle before it affected his bloodstream. He used his whip to wrap a tourniquet above the site of the puncture. He staggered into the hallway, the noxious smell from the sulfuric potion making him nauseated.
His vision began to darken, the potion must have had silver sulfate in it. He felt like such a fool and now he was probably going to die, because he burst into a vampire's coven without back up.
His sensitive hearing picked up on voices in the main chambers. At least three other members of the coven were home and they had a guest — Naraku.
Sesshomaru leaned heavily against the wall. He couldn't use his claws to dig out the silver, he needed a blade. There had to be a blade somewhere.
There was a gust of wind at his back, which made no sense — he was under ground.
Suddenly there was a thin, yet strong arm banded around his waist while cool fingertips touched his injured forearm. "What happened?" a familiar feminine voice asked.
"Silver point on a ring pricked me, silver fumes. I'm dizzy," he whispered. He knew that voice, he trusted that voice.
Another gust of wind blew over him and the dizziness abated and his vision began to clear. He looked down in time to see Kagura with the quill of a feather digging into his arm and whispering under her breath. He could see the trace amount of poison leave his flesh and trace up the feather's shaft.
Sesshomaru stared down at the woman he'd not seen in a decade. He thought he'd killed her. She haunted his dreams at night. "You're dead."
"Apparently, I was comatose until a few nights ago." Kagura stepped back and held up her hands peacefully. The feather burst into flames and vanished. "I have my heart back. I can control my own actions. What I did to you, was against my will."
"I won't kill you, tonight," Sesshomaru promised. He might kill her tomorrow, but for now, she saved his life. And he needed to find out why Naraku was there and get out alive. "How are you here?"
"I can explain later, when we aren't in the middle of a vampire's coven," Kagura whispered, glancing over her shoulder nervously.
Sesshomaru could sense a large presence approaching. He unwound the whip from his arm and flexed his fingers. Maybe the hallway would give him just enough room to deal with the largest of the coven, Kyokotsu.
"They're down here," Kyokotsu shouted, his deep voice shaking the walls.
"Now that I have my heart back, they can hear me, sorry," Kagura apologized.
"Kagura! My dear! It's such a lovely surprise you coming to visit. Kikyo was just telling me how you two were bonding over your mutual respect for me!" Naraku bellowed. "Why don't you and your friend join us?"
"I have a skill over vampires," Kagura whispered in Sesshomaru's ears. "You keep Naraku away from me and I'll see to it you make it out of here alive."
"We will make it out of here, together," Sesshomaru agreed. "You have a lot of explaining to do."
They approached the den, only a portion of the coven was home, but Naraku and a lithe, elegant woman sat comfortably on a pair of blood red chaise lounges.
"Well now, if it isn't the White Wolf Assassin," Bankotsu greeted. His long dark braid fell to his waist and his gigantic sword was propped up on display on the wall behind him. "I don't remember inviting you in." He glanced over at Kagura and smiled charmingly. "The Wind Witch! I am pleased to finally see you are awake! Jakotsu will be so disappointed to not see you! He absolutely adores those crimson eyes of yours."
Sesshomaru scanned the room. Naraku and the woman were sitting on the distant side of the den. Bankotsu was in the middle of the room. Kyokotsu the troll was closest. Renkotsu the fire lord stood with his hands held out towards a fire pit - when one doesn't breath oxygen it doesn't matter if there is poor air ventilation. Unlike most vampires, Renkotsu was somehow immune to fire.
"I kill white wolf now!" Kyokotsu roared, charging towards Sesshomaru like a bull. The white wolf readied his whip, but was stopped by Kagura's hand on his wrist.
"Shikabane mai — corpse dance," Kagura whispered and then flicked her hand towards the large vampire. Kyokotsu stopped abruptly and then turned around and ran straight for Renkotsu's fire.
"Stop, Kyokotsu! What are you doing?" Renkotsu shouted. He tried to snuff out the flames, but it was too late. The troll of a vampire lit up like a torch and began to dance chaotically about the den — Kikyo cried out, snatching her book close to her chest while the others shouted in confusion and anger.
"Go, go, go!" Kagura said, grabbing Sesshomaru's sleeve and dragging him a different direction than from where he'd come. He didn't recognize the tunnel, but he could smell the fresh air.
They broke out into the woods and she turned towards the tunnel. She used her power over the wind to cause the cave entrance to collapse.
"That's a handy talent," Sesshomaru said, impressed. "I didn't realize you could do all that."
"Neither did Naraku, but he does now. He's had me under his control for hundreds of years, but even he didn't know what I'm capable of with full possession of my powers." She looked up at him, her crimson eyes brimming with tears of emotion. "I'm so sorry. I didn't want to betray you. Naraku had my heart and could control my actions."
"I don't really want to talk about that right now. We need to get out of here— fast. Those stones won't hold them back for long," Sesshomaru said. It was too much to process seeing Kagura after so many years. He had a heart of ice and didn't intend it to melt for a pretty face— even if she just saved his life.
Kagura pulled a feather from her hair, blew on it, causing it to enlarge. "I know a place," she said. "Are you willing to come with me?"
He could take her out if he needed to. He was intrigued to hear her side of the story. He'd already lived with the guilt of murdering the woman he loved for the past decade, even though she had betrayed him, it didn't make his feelings less real. He wasn't quite ready to end their reunion just yet.
Kagura held her hand out to him and he took it, enjoying the way her small hand fit inside of his large one.
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Kagome screwed her eyes closed tight and mentally counted to ten. She let out a deep breath and then opened her eyes, hoping to clear the vision. Instead of a scene of fire and screams, a giant of man — almost troll-like- jumping around with his arms flailing about — she saw Inuyasha staring at her with narrowed eyes.
"Did you have a vision?" her grandfather asked.
"Maybe," she said. She had seen a red couch from the point of view of lounging on one, with her legs outstretched, and Naraku was sitting next to her. A chill raced down her spine at seeing Naraku alive and well. "It's fine. Go on, tell us more." She cleared her throat and scooted a little closer to Koga, whom she shared the bench with inside the family temple.
Koga patted her knee gently, then focused on the talisman on the table in front of them.
"Well, it was said that someone in our family would one day have great spiritual powers. Naturally, I always thought that would be me," her grandfather said. He braced his hands at the base of his spine and arched his back, popping his arthritic bones loudly.
"What did you see, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked.
"It was as if I was seeing through someone else's eyes. She was me, but not. She was so calm in the midst of so much chaos. Naraku was there. And there was a giant of a man, but he was more like a creature. He was huge — like a troll! And he was on fire."
"Like a troll?" Miroku asked, "Anything else? Anyone else?"
"If I may?" Koga asked. "I can delve into your memories."
"How exactly can you do that? Some sort of physic memory thievery?" Sango asked. "More werewolf magic?"
"Pack magic," Koga corrected. "And I can only do it in close proximity for a non-pack mate and and only look back within a ten minute time frame."
"Can you look into the memories of humans too?" Inuyasha asked.
Koga scratched the back of his head, jostling his ponytail. "I've never actually tried on a human. Kagome isn't human though, is she?"
Kagome wasn't sure what to think of that. She wasn't human?
"Kagome never was just a human," her grandfather said. "She's descended from a mighty line of holy Shinto priests and priestesses."
"Good point, it might not work, but the more time we waste talking about it, the less likely it will work," Koga explained.
"Just do it," Kagome said. She steeled herself, ready for some sort of painful psychic drain, but all that happened was Koga placed his warm fingertips against her temples and massaged gently.
Koga pulled his fingers away after a few moments. "If your vision is correct, which it seems you connected with the consciousness of another woman, Naraku is in the lair of the Shichinitai Coven. Sesshomaru was going to investigate those vampires tonight." He stood up abruptly and began to pace, his pony tail swishing behind him in agitation. "This is bad. Sesshomaru was going to scout alone. If he was caught….," he trailed off.
"Do you know where this coven is? Let's go. We'll go rescue his sorry arse," Inuyasha declared.
"Now, just hold on," Miroku interjected. "Do we have a timeframe for this vision? Is it going to happen? Did it already happen? How far away is it from here? And what about our purpose in coming to the shrine to begin with?" His amethyst eyes shone bright for a moment and he grew quiet.
"Why don't you and Kagome figure out why holy heritage interferes with wolf magic? Let the hunters do our job," Sango said.
"Wait!" Koga shouted, holding his hand out. "I wasn't thinking. I can check on Sesshomaru. Give me a minute." He turned away from the group and walked towards the edge of the shrine's grounds.
"I just felt a huge surge of power coming from downtown," Miroku said. "Did you feel that?" he looked between Kagome and her grandfather.
"I felt something," Kagome said. "It felt like an electric buzz."
"That's it," Miroku explained. "It's a high level of power- like magical power."
"Magic? Next thing, you'll say youkai are real and still exist," Sango scoffed.
"They are! Though, diluted. You don't think Inuyasha is so strong because he works out," Miroku pointed out.
"Hey!" Inuyasha protested. "I represent those remarks!"
"Yes, you do, but I think you mean you resent those remarks. Your bloodline is descended from the most powerful dog youkai in the history of Japan. It's part of why your family has always been such great hunters and protectors," Miroku explained.
Koga returned, a look of relief across his handsome features. "He escaped. He is going north for a while. He'll be back in a few days. You must have sensed that vision moments before it actually happened, Kagome."
He sat next to her again.
"Do you know who the woman with Naraku is, the one that Kagome mind-melded with?" Inuyasha asked.
Koga shook his head. "I don't, but Sesshomaru has a companion with him that knows her."
"The companion — she's the one that released the wave of power," Kagome said quietly. "Her name is Kagura." She closed her eyes again. "And the one I mind-melded with is a high priestess by the name of Kikyo."
"Kikyo?" Kagome's grandfather echoed. "That's the name the high priestess and sister of the last King of Ryukya!"
"How do you know that, grandfather?" Kagome asked.
"Because she was the last priestess of Ryukya. There was a witch hunt throughout Okinawa about 500 years ago back when Confucianism was first brought over from the mainland." He reached into the dirt and drew a kanji with his index finger. "She was called a noro."
"So how is Kagome connected to a priestess from five or six centuries ago?" Sango demanded.
"My family has always been connected to the Shinto shrine as far back as I can trace — at least eight hundred years," her grandfather explained. "However, my wife's family was originally from Okinawa. Maybe Kagome is somehow descended from the Ryukya royal bloodline."
"It would be diluted, but it might be enough," Miroku said, nodding. "Since we're not rushing off to go hunting just yet, let's finish what we started. Tell us more about the family's history High Priest Higurashi. And I'll look up about Ryukya and the witch hunts later. See if any of that helps."
Kagome's grandfather groaned. "I'm so sorry, Kagome." He stood up abruptly. "I completely forgot. I'll be right back." He walked back into the house.
Koga sat back besides Kagome. He leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Since we are learning so much about your history, if you want, I will tell you mine. My origins, my family. Maybe we can go on a long walk and talk."
Kagome smiled. "I'd like that."
Her grandfather returned, he extended what appeared to be a light purple colored journal. "It was your grandmother's she wanted me to pass it to you when you were older, in case she wasn't around to do it herself. I should have given it to you sooner. I apologize for being a forgetful old man."
"It's okay, grandfather. You remembered now," Kagome said, reverently opening the front cover. She recognized her grandmother's clear, crisp letters.
He handed another book toward Miroku — this one fat and red. "This is my family's history. It's better to read it than to trust my old memory. I need to go to bed, before I fall asleep in front of you and make a fool of myself."
"I'll escort you," Sango volunteered.
"Thank you dear, I'd like that," the old man said with a crooked smile. "And then maybe you can check on Kagome's mother? She's probably still working in her home office."
"Inuyasha, why don't you join me in the kitchen?" Miroku asked. "I'll read through this book and you can do an internet search on Naraku's new friend."
Inuyasha looked like he wanted to protest, but silently agreed.
Koga offered his arm. "Shall we take that walk?"
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Kagome shifted on her bed, careful not to knock into Sango. The bed was a lot smaller than she remembered. Sango had been prepared to sleep on the floor, but while they weren't great friends yet — Kagome hoped they would be, and offered to share the full sized bed. It wasn't like they were trying to squeeze onto a twin.
She thought about Koga's story. He was most certainly an older man! He was born in 650BC — 100 years before the founding of Rome. Naraku was his half-brother. Koga's mother — a natural-born wolf— died when he was young — four or five years old and he was mostly raised by his aunt. His father married fifty years later — Naraku's mother. She had been a human that King Heisei had fallen in love with and turned into a wolf — before it was forbidden. She was a sorcerous with the gift for prophesy and eventually she went mad. She was slain during the European witch trails and Naraku was consumed with rage afterwards.
The tribe immigrated to Japan, but they split paths once they arrived. Koga and the rest of the tribe went to Mount Fuji. Naraku went to Okinawa where he was involved in the witch hunt. He didn't know what happened after that, but now he suspected Naraku had become involved with the king's sister somehow. Naraku had been fairly quiet in his activities until the last ten years.
"Are you still awake?" Sango asked.
"Yes, sorry. Did I move too much?" Kagome asked apologetically.
"No, you hardly moved at all, but I can practically feel your mind racing." Sango sat up, propping herself up on her elbow and glared down at Kagome — her dark eyes flashing in the faint starlight streaming through the curtains. "We learned a lot tonight. You learned a lot about your heritage. Naraku didn't just come after you because you're pretty, or because of your connection to Inuyasha. I actually doubt if he even knew about your relationship with the hothead. It's something about the priestess bloodline that he's trying to tap into."
"His mother was a sorcerous," Kagome explained. "Koga told me. They are half-brothers."
"Woah. Okay. I didn't see that coming." Sango plopped back down on the pillows. "I want to apologize. I've been angry. I hate Naraku. He's killed a lot of people I love. And then I find out you went on a date with him. I mean — how did you not know he was evil?"
"He doesn't seem evil," Kagome muttered. "Not when he's being charming anyway."
"Yeah, I know. The truly evil ones are usually beautiful — Lucifer, Ted Bundy, Mario Lopez, and Naraku. I'm sure there are others," Sango said.
"Mario Lopez?" Kagome asked.
"Those dimples are mesmerizing. I suspect he's a warlock," Sango explained. "Anyway, I'm sorry. I'd like to try to be friends — for real this time. We should at least be allies."
"I really need to give notice to work. They think I'm just on vacation. I shouldn't return there. I'll put those kids in danger," Kagome said.
Sango chuckled. "I'm sure they'll find someone to replace you."
Kagome wasn't so sure, but she didn't argue.
"You need training in martial arts, archery, and in honing your spiritual powers," Sango continued.
"I've actually been receiving training from Sesshomaru in martial arts. I'm pretty good at archery — it was my sports elective in school. I'm not so sure how helpful grandfather will be with my spiritual powers. I know the lore — but I don't know the practice." Kagome thought about her grandmother's journal. "Maybe I can learn from my grandmother's journal."
"Miroku is a good teacher. He's the strongest of our team," Sango said. "He's physically strong, but he's so intelligent, and his powers of observation are unparalleled. He makes connections between seemingly unrelated instances. He can help you hone your spiritual powers."
"It sounds like you really respect him, hearing you talk about him," Kagome said. "Though, watching the two of you interact, it seems you can't stand him."
Sango groaned and covered her face with a pillow. "He infuriates me, but it's mostly because I'm in love with him — against my better judgment."
"He's a good man. Why against your better judgment?"
Sango tucked the pillow behind her head. "Because we're hunters. We might not live to see tomorrow. It is foolish to allow one's feelings to interfere with our efficiency. If he knew how I felt, he might act different — let his emotions sway him from a rational decision. I don't mind being his girlfriend, as long as he doesn't think I'm too serious about him. Maybe after we retire, I'll let him know."
Kagome bit her lower lip, but said nothing. She wasn't exactly making the best decisions when it came to her own love life. She'd been ignorant of Inuyasha's true feelings, she'd fallen for a monster, and then was rescued by a prince — only to discover her oldest friend loved her too.
"It seems a little lonely to wait," Kagome said quietly.
"It's even lonelier if your feelings get your loved one dead," Sango snapped.
"I cannot argue with your logic." Kagome sighed and stared out the window. Koga was fourteen hundred years old! Why in the world was he interested in her? Was he bored? Was she interesting because of the current events and once things were resolved, he'd move on to the newest mysterious woman?
"If you're really having this much trouble sleeping, I can go get some wine," Sango offered.
"You know what," Kagome said, sitting up. "That's not a bad idea. I'll go grab a bottle. My mother always keeps extra."
Sango sat up also. "Just the bottle? No glasses?"
Kagome grinned at her. "I'm not planning to have any left over."
Sango laughed — a beautiful, genuine laugh, and Kagome's heart soared at the sound.
"I'll be back in two minutes," Kagome promised.
She ambled towards the kitchen and wasn't surprised to see the guys sitting around the kitchen table. Inuyasha was on the computer, Miroku was reading her grandfather's red book, and Koga was reading her grandmother's purple journal. All three sets of eyes looked up at her. "Don't mind me, just getting a little something for girl time."
She opened the wine cooler and pulled out a full bottle of plum wine. It was a twist off cap, so she didn't bother with a cork screw. None of the guys protested and as she walked away, she smiled a little at the sound of Koga's chuckles and Miroku's wolf whistle.
"Wait!" Inuyasha cried out. He hurried after her and handed her two large glasses of water and also a block of cheese and sleeve of crackers. "You'll need the water in the morning to avoid a hang-over and you'll need the cheese and crackers to keep from puking up your guts."
Kagome smiled. "Thanks, Inuyasha."
"Keh, whatever. I just don't want to hear you two whining in the morning about headaches."
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A/N Edited March 28, 2020: My apologies for the great delay. This story is something I've looked forward to re-writing for years and I haven't previously the time necessary to dedicate to it. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I had a little more free time than usual with the whole social distancing solution that's currently happening. Be safe, my readers! We don't have the impeccable immune system of a werewolf! I had to edit this again, I apologize for the inconsistency between details - I think I've got them all matched up now! I had too many conflicting ideas/notes.