||\ The First Scroll /||
=========
The Revival
=========
It was another typical day in Inu-Yasha's Forest. It hadn't been too long since Kagome had come back through the well again. The sound of heavy breathing and the blurred speck that was jumping through the trees was proof enough that the young girl and hanyou had teamed up again...but this time, it wasn't over a shikon jewel shard.
A small, black gumdrop-shaped rabbit with white paws and a silver, triangular gem seemingly glued to its forehead was sprinting through the tall grass as fast as it could. Its sapphire eyes were glowing as it passed beneath the shadows of the dark forest, not stopping to look behind. It was rather strange in appearance as its left eye opened just a little before snapping closed again. It didn't have to look to know that it was being pursued.
Kagome heaved a sigh as she held onto Inu-Yasha's back, trying to get a good shot at the tiny creature as it sprinted here and there. It wouldn't stay still long enough for her to get a lock on it and it was beginning to frustrate her.
"Can't you go any faster?" complained Kagome as another arrow missed the rabbit youkai by about two miles.
"Hey! If you're gonna complain, feel free to walk!" snorted Inu-Yasha as he picked up his pace.
They were catching up to it and it must have known. It turned sharply, passing a black sakura tree and avoiding its branches, but its pursuers were not so fortunate; they crashed into the huge oak instead when Inu-Yasha lost his balance and kept going straight, though he had turned to the side.
Three groans sounded in the woods. Inu-Yasha was far from happy as he rubbed the knot on his forehead, only to notice that something, or rather something, was prohibiting him from even lifting his arm. Kagome was on top of him.
"Get off!" The hanyou snarled as he abruptly pushed her off. With her went the bundle known as Shippo, who had been clinging to the girl's back the whole time.
Kagome frowned as she glanced at Inu-Yasha and picked Shippo up, checking over the poor, dizzy kitsune youkai. Once sure that he was alright, she looked around again, "Hey. . .where did it go??? Kaede said that we need to catch it. . ."
"Well,if she wants that...that thing, she can catch it herself!" said Inu crossing his arms.
A small bead of sweat ran down the side of the girl's head. How had she gotten herself into this again?
"Come on! Stop moping already and lets find the thing so we can get out of here! This place is creepy!" Kagome said whilst shivering. After all, this was a rather strange part of the forest. They hadn't been there before.
Inu-Yasha shrugged. Whatever!"
--------
The gumdrop-shaped bunny demon giggled as it watched from the bushes as the group of three began to leave. Once it was sure that they were really gone, it took a few hops out, just to be sure, and ran off, still holding the dark red crystal in its mouth-the crystal it had taken from the village.
It moved faster now, passing a rose tree of black as it walked up onto a small mound that abruptly stopped, letting a person look directly at a strange round seal with one piece missing in the middle of the many circular inscriptions upon the panel that was secured in the ground. This little hill was in the center of a clearing, a short distance from where it had led the three pursuers from 'that evil grandmamma-lady'. Well, they didn't matter now. It had made it back and it wasn't late at all!
"Puuuuuuu?" The rabbit walked forward and stopped at the top of the little mound. Its closed eyes seemed to lift, as if it were a child smiling with his eyes closed. The rabbit's little tail twitched as it leaned forward and stopped, holding its position for a moment before suddenly beginning to race around the mound.
It picked up its speed the fifth time around and then changed its course. Rather than go around the mound again, it jumped upward, at least eight or ten feet in the air, and came down towards the center of the mound. It was in that brief moment that it completed its mission, for it spit the dark red jewel from its mouth into the missing hollow of the panel.
--------
The ground began to shake wildly within the black part of the forest. A black light shot out from the trees in the direction that the rabbit youkai had gone, suddenly spreading at a rapid speed. It took only a second or two for the light to reach Shippo, Kagome, and the hanyou. Just then, the shaking became more violent. The shaking was so forceful that it knocked the group down.
"What's going on?" Kagome gasped as she tried to stand up.
A dark feeling rushed through her. Something was wrong.But what? What was this evil presence she felt and where was it coming from?
"I don't know!" said Inu-Yasha. Just as he said those words, the rabbit youkai that had caused so much trouble came into his view and attempted to jump over him, but he was too quick for it. His hand darted up and caught its head as the ground began to calm. "Let's get out of here! We can find out later!"
"Right!" Kagome gave a nod before looking at the unconscious kitsune. Shippo was clutching her arm, even in his sleep.
---
The journey back to the village was not a pleasant one. The shaking had lasted at least for half an hour, off and on, like tremors after an earthquake, minus the earthquake. The trip back had taken even longer than usual. Kagome hadn't allowed Inu-Yasha to move too fast for Shippo's sake, the rabbit youkai had made rather strange sounds and tried to escape more than ten times, and Inu-Yasha had made negative comments the entire way back! Needless to say, the trip was tiring.
When they arrived in the village, both hanyou and human were relieved. They could finally walk their own separate ways...or so they had thought.
They were greeted by Kaede who had been waiting for them from the moment they had left, "Did you find the creature?"
"Yep! Here ya go!" said Kagome, handing the rabbit youkai to Kaede who then called for a strong cage to hold the thing.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Kagome? You seem a bit uneasy. Something you want to tell me?" Kaede asked with a hunt of curiosity in her voice.
"Uhhhh...well..."
(Five minutes later...)
"WHAT??? " Kaede's voice was so loud that the entire village heard it and, of course, peeked their heads out of their huts to see what the commotion was about. Rarely did Lady Kaede lose her temper and yell in such a manner!
The poor hanyou certainly hadn't expected it. He had experienced a far-from-graceful prat fall and was twitching upon the ground.
"No...this cannot be true! Are you sure that is what you saw?" Kaede's voice was concerned. "A black light from the forest...?"
"Y...yes." replied Kagome, hardly noticing the angry look that had appeared upon the standing hanyou's face.
"What is this all about, anyways?. . .Old hag, you've got some serious explaining to do!"
Inu-Yasha's eyes were lit with fire as he lifted the old priestess from the ground by her collar.
"Osuwari!!!" Kagome's 'sit' command came into play causing Inu-Yasha to fall face first into the ground with a loud crash.
Kaede straightened her wrinkled clothing and sighed as she sat down, glancing to the creature who had finally been placed into a cage. "It isa long story...but I will tell you anyhow."
"Story?" At this, Shippo woke from his deep sleep and sat in front of Kaede with Kagome.
"Long ago, perhaps a bit after Inu-Yasha was sealed by my sister, Kikyou, there were rumors of a youkai, a hanyou, in fact, that was terrorizing the land surrounding the forest and killing innocent people. In those times, there was a village that existed deep within the forest where the trees turned black. The village was hidden for many reasons, but often impossible to find, though it was not too far from here.
"Anyhow, it was when I was still a young priestess-"
"You? Young?" Inu-Yasha scoffed.
"-that the Lady Naomi and priestess Haruka came to this village to request assistance in sealing the demon. Lady Naomi was the head of the hidden village at the time. It was by her will that the village was sustained. I agreed to help them in any way that I could." Kaede's eyes seemed to reflect the very story as she told it, like a mirror of memories.
"The demon was strong...but also strange. She didn't kill anyone in the hidden village on that day-the day after I had arrived in the village, that is."
'She?' Kagome thought, blinking a few times.
"The hanyou made it past the guards easily and to Lady Naomi's home. Our arrows were not swift enough to find their mark. The village was small, but its combined effort was no match for the halfling at all. She had apparently been targeting the Lady the entire time. She had moved so quickly. By the time that we reached Lady Naomi's abode, we arrived just in time to see her fall to the ground."
"What happened then?" Shippo was leaning forward, eager for the old woman to continue. He had practically forgotten that it was a true story and not just a fairy tale.
"Then," Kaede continued, "a blade of great power began to form in the hands of the hanyou. I did not get a good look at it. The priestess Katsuki and I were focused on Lady Naomi's body. Katsuki-sama, in her rage, shot a single arrow and after that..."
Kaede sank into silence. Her eyes were focused upon the ground. She might have remained in that silence if not for Kagome.
"...And...then?"
"The village was filled with light. I could not see. When the light cleared, the hanyou was on the ground and didn't move at all." Kaede raised her head to look at the group again, observing each one of them. Her eyes lingered on Inu-Yasha for a brief moment before she continued, her voice strong again.
"We sealed her in a cave in the forest of Kage that surrounded the hidden village. She was never to awaken again. . .but that demon girl, I don't believe she had always been so evil. She had lived in the region for a good time. Katsuki-sama may know more of her."
At this, the old woman stood from her position again and allowed her arms to meet around her back. She closed her eyes for a moment as she looked down. Her tone was grave. "If this hanyou is truly freed from her confine in the wood, she must be stopped immediately, or her wrath will be upon us all."
"I don't like the way that sounds." Kagome said.
"Feh...probably just some weakling." Inu-Yasha murmured, crossing his arms.
"Take heed, Inu-Yasha! The demon of Kage no Mori is not to be underestimated! No one knows her true power!" said Kaede with a nod.
"What type of demon are we dealing with?" asked the inu hanyou, sighing.
"A half-dog demon like yourself!" replied Kaede.
Inu-Yasha remained quiet for a moment. It seemed as though he had been struck by something, but the look vanished quickly enough. He glanced off to the side, towards the cage that held the small rabbit youkai. "This is all your doing, isn't it?
The rabbit youkai tilted its head to the side in an almost too-adorable fashion and sounded a loud, "PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
Kaede looked at Inu-Yasha for a second and shook her head, "Ofcourse it is! Mizu-Mizu was a messenger of that hanyou. What you see now is not her true form, but her cursed form."
"Hey! She's kinda cute!" Shippo said, jumping up and getting closer to the little cage so that he could get a better look at the rabbit.
"Cursed form? You did this to her?" asked Kagome, still thinking about the forest and all.
"Katsuki-sama did, I suppose. I only know that it is Mizu-Mizu." replied Kaede.
Shippo looked up, his little hand resting on the gumdrop-shaped rabbit's head as he blinked at Kaede. "How do you know?"
"The jewel upon the forehead." Kaede replied.
Kagome looked to Inu-Yasha, then to Kaede. "What should we do now?".
"We should wait. . .and hope that the demon has not awakened."
---
Sorry it's taken so long everyone! I plan to re-edit all of these chapters and then continue. Wow...I didn't think this thing was still in existence. Ah well! Hope you'll re-read.
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha and all of its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, not me. All original/made-up characters in this story DO belong to me. I claim only my own.
(To be continued. . .)
=========
The Revival
=========
It was another typical day in Inu-Yasha's Forest. It hadn't been too long since Kagome had come back through the well again. The sound of heavy breathing and the blurred speck that was jumping through the trees was proof enough that the young girl and hanyou had teamed up again...but this time, it wasn't over a shikon jewel shard.
A small, black gumdrop-shaped rabbit with white paws and a silver, triangular gem seemingly glued to its forehead was sprinting through the tall grass as fast as it could. Its sapphire eyes were glowing as it passed beneath the shadows of the dark forest, not stopping to look behind. It was rather strange in appearance as its left eye opened just a little before snapping closed again. It didn't have to look to know that it was being pursued.
Kagome heaved a sigh as she held onto Inu-Yasha's back, trying to get a good shot at the tiny creature as it sprinted here and there. It wouldn't stay still long enough for her to get a lock on it and it was beginning to frustrate her.
"Can't you go any faster?" complained Kagome as another arrow missed the rabbit youkai by about two miles.
"Hey! If you're gonna complain, feel free to walk!" snorted Inu-Yasha as he picked up his pace.
They were catching up to it and it must have known. It turned sharply, passing a black sakura tree and avoiding its branches, but its pursuers were not so fortunate; they crashed into the huge oak instead when Inu-Yasha lost his balance and kept going straight, though he had turned to the side.
Three groans sounded in the woods. Inu-Yasha was far from happy as he rubbed the knot on his forehead, only to notice that something, or rather something, was prohibiting him from even lifting his arm. Kagome was on top of him.
"Get off!" The hanyou snarled as he abruptly pushed her off. With her went the bundle known as Shippo, who had been clinging to the girl's back the whole time.
Kagome frowned as she glanced at Inu-Yasha and picked Shippo up, checking over the poor, dizzy kitsune youkai. Once sure that he was alright, she looked around again, "Hey. . .where did it go??? Kaede said that we need to catch it. . ."
"Well,if she wants that...that thing, she can catch it herself!" said Inu crossing his arms.
A small bead of sweat ran down the side of the girl's head. How had she gotten herself into this again?
"Come on! Stop moping already and lets find the thing so we can get out of here! This place is creepy!" Kagome said whilst shivering. After all, this was a rather strange part of the forest. They hadn't been there before.
Inu-Yasha shrugged. Whatever!"
--------
The gumdrop-shaped bunny demon giggled as it watched from the bushes as the group of three began to leave. Once it was sure that they were really gone, it took a few hops out, just to be sure, and ran off, still holding the dark red crystal in its mouth-the crystal it had taken from the village.
It moved faster now, passing a rose tree of black as it walked up onto a small mound that abruptly stopped, letting a person look directly at a strange round seal with one piece missing in the middle of the many circular inscriptions upon the panel that was secured in the ground. This little hill was in the center of a clearing, a short distance from where it had led the three pursuers from 'that evil grandmamma-lady'. Well, they didn't matter now. It had made it back and it wasn't late at all!
"Puuuuuuu?" The rabbit walked forward and stopped at the top of the little mound. Its closed eyes seemed to lift, as if it were a child smiling with his eyes closed. The rabbit's little tail twitched as it leaned forward and stopped, holding its position for a moment before suddenly beginning to race around the mound.
It picked up its speed the fifth time around and then changed its course. Rather than go around the mound again, it jumped upward, at least eight or ten feet in the air, and came down towards the center of the mound. It was in that brief moment that it completed its mission, for it spit the dark red jewel from its mouth into the missing hollow of the panel.
--------
The ground began to shake wildly within the black part of the forest. A black light shot out from the trees in the direction that the rabbit youkai had gone, suddenly spreading at a rapid speed. It took only a second or two for the light to reach Shippo, Kagome, and the hanyou. Just then, the shaking became more violent. The shaking was so forceful that it knocked the group down.
"What's going on?" Kagome gasped as she tried to stand up.
A dark feeling rushed through her. Something was wrong.But what? What was this evil presence she felt and where was it coming from?
"I don't know!" said Inu-Yasha. Just as he said those words, the rabbit youkai that had caused so much trouble came into his view and attempted to jump over him, but he was too quick for it. His hand darted up and caught its head as the ground began to calm. "Let's get out of here! We can find out later!"
"Right!" Kagome gave a nod before looking at the unconscious kitsune. Shippo was clutching her arm, even in his sleep.
---
The journey back to the village was not a pleasant one. The shaking had lasted at least for half an hour, off and on, like tremors after an earthquake, minus the earthquake. The trip back had taken even longer than usual. Kagome hadn't allowed Inu-Yasha to move too fast for Shippo's sake, the rabbit youkai had made rather strange sounds and tried to escape more than ten times, and Inu-Yasha had made negative comments the entire way back! Needless to say, the trip was tiring.
When they arrived in the village, both hanyou and human were relieved. They could finally walk their own separate ways...or so they had thought.
They were greeted by Kaede who had been waiting for them from the moment they had left, "Did you find the creature?"
"Yep! Here ya go!" said Kagome, handing the rabbit youkai to Kaede who then called for a strong cage to hold the thing.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Kagome? You seem a bit uneasy. Something you want to tell me?" Kaede asked with a hunt of curiosity in her voice.
"Uhhhh...well..."
(Five minutes later...)
"WHAT??? " Kaede's voice was so loud that the entire village heard it and, of course, peeked their heads out of their huts to see what the commotion was about. Rarely did Lady Kaede lose her temper and yell in such a manner!
The poor hanyou certainly hadn't expected it. He had experienced a far-from-graceful prat fall and was twitching upon the ground.
"No...this cannot be true! Are you sure that is what you saw?" Kaede's voice was concerned. "A black light from the forest...?"
"Y...yes." replied Kagome, hardly noticing the angry look that had appeared upon the standing hanyou's face.
"What is this all about, anyways?. . .Old hag, you've got some serious explaining to do!"
Inu-Yasha's eyes were lit with fire as he lifted the old priestess from the ground by her collar.
"Osuwari!!!" Kagome's 'sit' command came into play causing Inu-Yasha to fall face first into the ground with a loud crash.
Kaede straightened her wrinkled clothing and sighed as she sat down, glancing to the creature who had finally been placed into a cage. "It isa long story...but I will tell you anyhow."
"Story?" At this, Shippo woke from his deep sleep and sat in front of Kaede with Kagome.
"Long ago, perhaps a bit after Inu-Yasha was sealed by my sister, Kikyou, there were rumors of a youkai, a hanyou, in fact, that was terrorizing the land surrounding the forest and killing innocent people. In those times, there was a village that existed deep within the forest where the trees turned black. The village was hidden for many reasons, but often impossible to find, though it was not too far from here.
"Anyhow, it was when I was still a young priestess-"
"You? Young?" Inu-Yasha scoffed.
"-that the Lady Naomi and priestess Haruka came to this village to request assistance in sealing the demon. Lady Naomi was the head of the hidden village at the time. It was by her will that the village was sustained. I agreed to help them in any way that I could." Kaede's eyes seemed to reflect the very story as she told it, like a mirror of memories.
"The demon was strong...but also strange. She didn't kill anyone in the hidden village on that day-the day after I had arrived in the village, that is."
'She?' Kagome thought, blinking a few times.
"The hanyou made it past the guards easily and to Lady Naomi's home. Our arrows were not swift enough to find their mark. The village was small, but its combined effort was no match for the halfling at all. She had apparently been targeting the Lady the entire time. She had moved so quickly. By the time that we reached Lady Naomi's abode, we arrived just in time to see her fall to the ground."
"What happened then?" Shippo was leaning forward, eager for the old woman to continue. He had practically forgotten that it was a true story and not just a fairy tale.
"Then," Kaede continued, "a blade of great power began to form in the hands of the hanyou. I did not get a good look at it. The priestess Katsuki and I were focused on Lady Naomi's body. Katsuki-sama, in her rage, shot a single arrow and after that..."
Kaede sank into silence. Her eyes were focused upon the ground. She might have remained in that silence if not for Kagome.
"...And...then?"
"The village was filled with light. I could not see. When the light cleared, the hanyou was on the ground and didn't move at all." Kaede raised her head to look at the group again, observing each one of them. Her eyes lingered on Inu-Yasha for a brief moment before she continued, her voice strong again.
"We sealed her in a cave in the forest of Kage that surrounded the hidden village. She was never to awaken again. . .but that demon girl, I don't believe she had always been so evil. She had lived in the region for a good time. Katsuki-sama may know more of her."
At this, the old woman stood from her position again and allowed her arms to meet around her back. She closed her eyes for a moment as she looked down. Her tone was grave. "If this hanyou is truly freed from her confine in the wood, she must be stopped immediately, or her wrath will be upon us all."
"I don't like the way that sounds." Kagome said.
"Feh...probably just some weakling." Inu-Yasha murmured, crossing his arms.
"Take heed, Inu-Yasha! The demon of Kage no Mori is not to be underestimated! No one knows her true power!" said Kaede with a nod.
"What type of demon are we dealing with?" asked the inu hanyou, sighing.
"A half-dog demon like yourself!" replied Kaede.
Inu-Yasha remained quiet for a moment. It seemed as though he had been struck by something, but the look vanished quickly enough. He glanced off to the side, towards the cage that held the small rabbit youkai. "This is all your doing, isn't it?
The rabbit youkai tilted its head to the side in an almost too-adorable fashion and sounded a loud, "PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"
Kaede looked at Inu-Yasha for a second and shook her head, "Ofcourse it is! Mizu-Mizu was a messenger of that hanyou. What you see now is not her true form, but her cursed form."
"Hey! She's kinda cute!" Shippo said, jumping up and getting closer to the little cage so that he could get a better look at the rabbit.
"Cursed form? You did this to her?" asked Kagome, still thinking about the forest and all.
"Katsuki-sama did, I suppose. I only know that it is Mizu-Mizu." replied Kaede.
Shippo looked up, his little hand resting on the gumdrop-shaped rabbit's head as he blinked at Kaede. "How do you know?"
"The jewel upon the forehead." Kaede replied.
Kagome looked to Inu-Yasha, then to Kaede. "What should we do now?".
"We should wait. . .and hope that the demon has not awakened."
---
Sorry it's taken so long everyone! I plan to re-edit all of these chapters and then continue. Wow...I didn't think this thing was still in existence. Ah well! Hope you'll re-read.
Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha and all of its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, not me. All original/made-up characters in this story DO belong to me. I claim only my own.
(To be continued. . .)