I love the Sacred Longbow of Mount Azuza! It is my favorite weapon in the series.
"What is that?" Kagome asked, as her group ate their lunch. Mathew was fiddling with paper, writing something on it. She knew it was mystical, just not sure what.
He looked up, smiling at her. "I am trying to make Shikigami."
"Huh?"
"Think of it like a western witch's familiar only made of paper and drawing their power from those who made them. I am no spiritual powerhouse, but I think I can make them and use my mystical powers to do the same. It is just an idea really. I read on them quite a bit in my work with Suijin and Din. To jumpstart the spell, I need to harness a lot of power into something. I am going to be making a talisman to hold the power, but that will take some time."
Kagome nodded, turning to her own work, the things she was studying for school. "How could you do it, Mathew, how could you just... abandon the Present? You seem to have entirely assimilated to this era."
Matthew sighed and gave her a sad look. "Unlike you, I cannot leave this time easily. It took being on my death bed to leave our time, and that was by accident or destiny. I am trying to make the most of what I have going for me, which is not much. Magic and healing and helping you lot is my best bet to do something that not only might get me home, but will also help me to make something of myself and do something good... so I am focusing on it."
She nodded, eyes filled with sorrow. "I can understand that... so... do you think I should assimilate more?"
"Kind of yes. It might make your life easier..."'
She nodded once more, before pulling out the sutras she had been given by Miroku to study. "These are the sutras I need to cast barriers... I think I have only ever tapped into my spiritual power when angry or scared, but he said if I could tap into the Sacred Beads on Inuyasha's neck, I could use my powers entirely since they were using the same power."
"Fair assessment."
"I am going to study... and make something of myself. I am tired of being a damsel, I want to help more."
"Good on you, girly... good on you. Now we both have our own projects to work on. I can't give too much advice, but I do know meditation helps... so start there?"
That made Kagome smile...
"""
"Naraku took the offensive," Miroku said, as he, Mathew, and Inuyasha sat around the roaring fire. "If he's keeping a watch on us from somewhere it'll be hard to make a move."
"It'll save us time looking for him. That bastard, let him come and attack anytime, anywhere!" Miroku started to laugh at Inuyasha, making Mathew sigh." Miroku, what're you laughing about?!"
"Sorry I won't be able to use my Wind Tunnel for a while."
Mathew turned to him. "Likely not for another week or so, but honestly, even with your WindTunnel we are at a tremendous disadvantage. He has eyes on us, he can understand our moves and thoughts. He has spies, power, time and energy we just do not have. He can plan ahead in a way we can never manage. That is why it is vital we get ourselves stronger, better, more powerful... it is vital we have too much variety that he can plan for... it will never be perfect, but it is something we much strive for."
They all looked at him, eyes wide. Miroku frowned. "How do you know that?"
"I play a lot of strategy games. Anyway, we must continue to strive forward. Kagome is making strides, Inuyasha I know you are working with Sango... maybe you can learn barriers and so on, demonic barriers would make a tremendous addition to our collective powers."
"I guess I could try... I mean my old man did place a barrier on my Tessagia, I guess I could learn to do the same..."
"In theory anyway..." He sighed. "I think we should send Shippo back to that Kaede lady you all told me about. He is at tremendous risk and he is so little, he is honestly going to be a hinderonus, not a help..."
They both shared a look, both sighing. "We can't really disagree." Miroku said. "We've had that conversation with each other before, but we know Kagome would never allow it."
"Then overrule it." He frowned. "She is one person, if she tries to abuse the Beads I will take them off." He saw Inuyasha's eyes, the pain and fear in them and he knew when hit the mark. "Shippo told me about the beads, a few times actually... I never realized that they were so... accurate, the stories. They are not meant to be abused, they were meant for safety and that alone. Abusing them dishonors their very purpose and you Inuyasha." Grabbing his sword, he approached Inuyasha with the blade. "Pull them away from your body and I will cut them off." Inuyasha obeyed and in one fell swoop, he managed to slice the beads off of Inuyasha entirely in a surge of bright purple energy.
Inuyasha gaped. "How did you do that?"
"Their magic is only for repelling demonic or spiritual magic, not my earthen power. I am a loophole... now toss the beads into the fire, they do not belong on your neck nor do they belong abusing you in any way."
Inuyasha obeyed, a smile on his face, watching the fire eat away at the beads entirely...
"WHAT DID YOU DO!" Kagome would ask, an hour later, looking into the fire. "Why did you take those off, you could-"
"I hear you abused them Kagome. He is our friend, we do not hurt our friends." Mathew glared at Kagome. "He is not a threat, he is working with us willingly. We will not enslave him to our cause. That would make us no better than Naraku."
She glared, then sighed and sat down, huffing angrily. "They were there for my protection."
"And no longer needed, Shippo's been great at informing of me your collective past... I know that you use them to punish rampant punishment, mistreatment and just moments of jealousy. I cannot and will not tolerate the abuse of my friend. Now, enough whining, we are a team. Miroku will work with you on your magic, I will work with Inuyasha on his barriers, and Sango will keep watch."
They all move to their own sides of the clearing and got started, working to make the most of their powers...
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord.
Mika.