Series: Inuyasha
Universe: Modern AU (UniversityProfessor!Sess x Student!Kagome)
Pairing: Eventual SessKag (?)
Rating: PG-13 (For now, susceptible to change)
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the intellectual property of one Rumiko Takahashi. I only make bad fanfiction about it.
Authors notes: This may not be one of my more popular stories…but it's certainly one of my favorites!
I won't be available to post this Saturday as per schedule so have an early update instead! Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
Priestess's Favorite
888
Kaede was getting too old for this bullshit. She wondered, begrudgingly, as she stared at the oddly mismatched trio in front of her - a monk, a miko and a taiyoukai - what she'd done in a past life to warrant such calamity thrust upon her.
Before her, Miroku grinned that shit-eating smile she abhorred so much, the one that came before he asked one of his ridiculous favours and surmised that yes, this was definitely divine punishment for past-life indiscretions.
"Pray thee tell, why dost thou darken my doorstep with great evil so late in the evening?"
"Now Lady Kaede, that's no way to talk about our demonic friend here." Miroku chided teasingly, nudging his head towards the stoic white-haired demon with a wink (which an irate Sesshoumaru did not return).
Kaede blinked impassively at the foolish monk, not one bit charmed by his boyish antics. Her wrinkled lips thinned. "Though he too warrants my preoccupation, I was not referring to your demon companion. 'Tis the girl I'm more concerned about."
"M-me?!" Kagome blubbered, unused to being thought ill of by elders.
Kaede levelled a stern, mistrusting glance at her. "Tell me lass, what evil presence doth thou carry in thy bag?"
"You can sense it!?" All three acclaimed, in different degrees of volume and alarm.
Kaede scoffed impatiently at the trio. "Aye, any fool with enough wits can sense it! And I shall have no part of it-"
"Please!" Kagome interrupted, grasping gently at Kaede's fingers. "Will you listen to my story first?"
And though Kaede's first instinct was to reject the girl's plea outright, something held her back. It could be the almost frightening similarity the young stranger had to her deceased older sister when she had been around Kagome's age. The similarity was beyond uncanny; it was supernatural. Kaede was a devout religious woman, and though reincarnation was not beyond her level of pious belief, it was still quite unnerving to have her faith tested so fiercely in this manner, with the image of a parted family member staring back at her in the flesh.
And thus, despite her better judgment, Kaede agreed to hear the girl out. If only because she could pretend to talk once more to her dead sister, surrogate or otherwise.
An hour layer found Kaede deeply regretting that moment of weakness.
Exasperating sentimentalism!, she cursed to herself.
"So you mean to tell me you have brought THE Jewel of Souls, known to attract deadly demonic hordes, into my neighborhood? You've brought such legendary calamity here to the detriment of my community and partitioners?!" Kagome had the good sense to wince in reprimand, realization finally dawning on her at their actions. It's one mistake after another, Higurashi, she thought pitifully, hanging her head.
Kaede whirled her beady eyes towards Miroku, her fellow religious servant, deeply furious. "What is the meaning of such insolence and depravity, Miroku?!"
Miroku bowed deeply, pressing his forehead against the tatami flooring. "We beg your pardon, but this was not a decision we made lightly, Lady Kaede. The girl was desperate, and you are the wisest priestess I know. If anybody could help us, you could-"
"Bah! Enough with your empty flattery! Who knows how many innocents have been attacked since because of your recklessness!"
The collective group sat in silence again, fuming quietly for different reasons. But one cursory glance was enough to detect the more miserable of the individuals, and the old woman stared openly at their grieving figure. Defeat weighed heavy on Kagome's shoulders. The college student stared down at her hands, knuckles white as they fisted over her knees, surely composing another pretty little speech to convince Kaede to train her. Yet as most of speeches directed at the old woman throughout her life contained either a lot of colorful cursing or a fair amount of ass-kissing, she was not certain how persuasive they were.
On her end, Kagome's gears were in over-drive, flabbergasted that this meeting had collapsed so spectacularly before they had been able to build it up to anything close to an open conversation. Kagome had for sure not anticipated the resistance from the shrine's guardian, Kaede. Miroku had mentioned she was a gnarled, sharp woman with little patience for lost causes but still. Weren't mikos supposed to train other mikos? Wasn't there some kind of unwritten miko social contract? It seemed that there should be, but then again she wasn't really a miko, so it wasn't surprising that she didn't know.
Kagome had thought that once she explained her position to Kaede-sama, the older miko would have been immediately inclined to help her. The Heroe's Journey and all that; Kaede would be the Obi-Wan to her Luke Skywalker, the Batman to her Robin. Mentors were bound to help those seeking guidance; it was a tale as old as time.
Yet Kaede-sama was foiling those tried-true tropes with her stubborness and general old-person crankyness.
Well, Kagome's more understanding side whispered in infuriating good-nature, they very well couldn't force Kaede-sama to help them. The wisened priestess was right to be wary of the Jewel's evil, and it was a momunental request that Kagome was thrusting upon her. They would just have to figure out another way...or die trying. Kagome tried not to think how likely the latter sounded. Deflated, the young girl was about to apologize to the old miko and leave with her entourage when an unexpected voice piped up.
"And what about Kagome, then?" Sesshoumaru cut in at last, his low voice laced with hostility. "Is she not deserving of your kindly piteousness and protection? Are only humans that are free of worldly worries and demonic dangers - dangers which you are duty-bound to eliminate - to be offered your holy sanctuary?"
Kagome choked on her spit and Miroku's eyebrows shot to his hairline. Had the taiyoukai gone mad?
Kaede's black eyes flashed dangerously, her mouth so thin her lips - what little she had - disappeared all together. The room filled with a quiet hum as Kaede's holy powers crackled dangerously close to the surface and clashed with the taiyoukai's youki. Sesshoumaru continued to glare back with equal vemon in his gaze, which only served to infuriate the miko more.
"I do not wish to be told about mercy by a bloodthirsty, filthy taiyoukai."
"This taiyoukai has saved my life multiple times!" Kagome interjected in Sesshoumaru's defense. "He could have stolen the jewel for himself and instead chose to protect me and it."
Kaede sneered in disbelief, her gaze never leaving Sesshoumaru's yellow slit eyes. "And why is that, o merciful one? Have grown a heart, now, have we? Hoping to get something in exchange from the nubile young girl?" Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at her suggestion. Kaede chuckled darkly, unfazed. "What other reason could a demon have for selflessly helping a human with such a burdensome task?"
"My reasons are my own." Sesshoumaru growled back menacingly, scowl deepening. His eyes could have sliced golden wounds across Kaede's already gnarled face." I merely wish for the Jewel to meet complete and utter destruction."
"So you say."
"So I do."
Miroku and Kagome looked worriedly back and forth between the glaring opposing forces like audience members at a particularly nerve-wracking Wimbledon tied game, but neither powerhouse player seemed willing to back down from the fight. Miroku turned to Kaede in another attempt to pacify her; he had a longer relationship with the older woman and thus hopefully a strong enough bond where they could reason together. At the very least, if a fight broke down between them, the monk had a stronger chance of surviving said battle than if he went toe to toe with ancient warlord Sesshoumaru.
"Lady Kaede, I understand this situation is less than ideal. But if left unchecked by our divine forces, this evil could spread and take over not just Tokyo, but all of Japan - even the world. Please, I beg of you, lend us your wisdom and knowledge."
Kaede gave one last heated glare at the taiyoukai before turning the fire of her stare to the two humans.
"What doth thou request of me, then, monk?"
"Purification lessos, my Lady." Miroku clarified quickly, exalted that the old crone was bending to the idea of taking Kagome under her wing.
Kaede sat in silence again, long and hard. Until finally-
"Very well, monk. The girl can stay and train."
Kagome gasped a sigh of relief, a watery smile splitting her face. Kaede's chest ached in remembrance, the sweet smile too familiar.
Before they could celebrate too much, the taiyoukai rose from the floor in one elegant, fluid motion. At Kagome's questioning gaze, he bent his head in a bow, a sure dismissal of himself.
"There is no place for a demon in a shrine, and my talents would be put to better use by securing the grounds and scouting the area for threats." he placed a gentle hand atop Kagome's head, which Kaede watched with rapt curiosity and unease. "I also have some business to attend to. Worry not though, I shall return by tomorrow evening, and every evening until your training is complete."
Kagome nodded quietly, her eyes glassy, her lips pressed tightly. It did not escape the miko's notice how desolate she looked at his departure, but she kept her silence. As if sensing her judgement, the demon lord turned fully to face the older human, clear disdain replacing whatever softness had settled priorly.
"I shall leave her in your care, elder miko. But if any harm befalls her or the Jewel of myth, rest assured I will destroy every single one of your incompetent shrines and those foolish enough to worship at their steps." The threat held no malice, as if the demon lord were merely remarking on the weather. It was not a threat at all, nor a promise - but a fact.
Indeed, Kaede was getting too old for this bullshit.