CHAPTER II: Return of the Consecrated Jewel

~

Sesshoumaru's eyes shot open. His irises traveled around the room, trying to remember where he was. The room was a dim color, and there was a low elevation table in the center. The blank shoji screened walls; emptiness of the room, and the large man-sized window indicated where he was. He was in his room. He had probably fallen asleep on the large windowsill again...

He glanced around the dark room. It appears the sun has not yet risen... that is a good sign. No one should be awake yet. He blinked his eyes, trying to get a focus on everything around him. He had been reading a scroll on the low table. The room was extremely dark, yet Sesshoumaru could see with ease, for he was, after all, a youkai.

He immediately straightened himself out and stood up hastily. He couldn't afford to let anyone see him like that, looking so vulnerable.

A smirk replaced his scowl when he suddenly remembered. Today is the day he will go to that wretched ningen village and kill that woman. Then there would no longer be any distractions. Sesshoumaru leapt out of the window to complete his task.

~*~

Kagome saw nothing but endless darkness. She struggled against the strange youkai's hold. "Let me go!!"

"NO!" it hissed back. "Give me the Shikon no Tama!"

"Wha..?" Kagome thought in confusion. She looked up to see the youkai's face, it was completely empty.

She shuddered and attempted to push the youkai away using her right hand. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

Some strange light came out of her hand and blew the centipede youkai away. However, before it can disappear fully, one of its sharp feeler/claws slashed into Kagome's side. Kagome let out a pained scream as something bursted out of her side. Something... round, pink and shiny. Unconsciously, Kagome reached out and grasped the trinket in her hand and held it tight. She felt herself suddenly being thrown into the air, and landing on dirt painfully.

Then she blacked out.

*

Kaede yawned and walked outside her hut. "Maybe a walk around the forest will rid me of boredom." The thirteen year old had her bow and arrows with her, just in case. Just then, she heard someone call her name. "Kaede! Kaede!"

She turned her head slightly to see her sister calling to her. Kikyou's arm was latched with Naraku's. "Sister, I will be taking a walk with Naraku-kun. Would you do me a favor and tell Kiochi that I will be skipping today's miko training later?"

"Why? You've already skipped all the other lessons," Kaede answered, sounding a bit ticked. "So many that Lady Kiochi assumes you are dead."

"Oh really? I had visited her this morning, so I don't believe she assumes me dead," Kikyou replied. "Besides. Why do you use that icy voice on me so often, dear sister? Are you simply jealous? Kiochi once told me that I am her favorite student."

"Correction, Kikyou. She told you that you were her favorite student seven years ago, when you were different. You used to be so focused on bow and arrow practice and Miko training, you used to wait for Lady Kiochi to wake up so she may teach you earlier. But now, you skip lessons, had dropped out of archery, and your miko powers are becoming faint."

"I only did that to get attention. I wanted everyone to know that I was a decent perfectionist and for them to look down at me proudly. But now, everything's changed. I no longer wish to be that perfect, so long as I get what I want. Don't bother telling her I will skip today's lesson. I want to drop out completely, just like in archery. I don't want to be the new village miko anyway," Kikyou retorted icily. Naraku glanced at Kaede and said nothing, receiving a 'why-didn't-you-listen-to-what-I-said look. He turned his back to her and walked away with Kikyou.

Kaede's angry look fell to a concerned and frustrated one. 'Sometimes people can be so blind. Naraku knows that Kikyou has been with other men before, yet he still follows her around like a sick dog. Why do people only look towards a façade and not what is inside the cover?' she heaved a sigh. 'He's much older than me yet he knows so little.'

She headed out towards the forest, admiring the beautiful exotic plants. Kaede found a small boulder and climbed up upon it. "It's a beautiful day, and everyone's too busy to notice..." Kaede closed her eyes and began to meditate. She relaxed herself and steadied her breath, listening to every little sound there was.

The young prodigy listened to the running water, faint birdsongs, and chirps of crickets nearby. Her eyes slowly opened when she sensed a strange aura gradually start to grow stronger. Something was coming.

She rapidly stood up from her sitting position, hooked her basketful of arrows to her back while latching her bow to her arm and ran to the source of energy. It was growing bit by bit- yet it was staying in the same place. A look of confusion passed her face, but she kept on going. Along with the presence, she felt the presence of a supposed-to-be destroyed item, The Shikon Jewel. 'It had disappeared along with the deceased miko, Gomeka... could this presence I feel be Lady Gomeka herself?'

Kaede arrived at her destination and had a look around. It was a clearing in the forest, a very large one at that. At the middle of the clearing was a musty old well. 'That is strange. I've been to these parts before yet I've never seen that well.' She saw a girl lying face down on the floor, grasping something in her hands. Kaede's eyes widened. "Could it be the Shikon no Tama?"

She felt many youkai nearing. 'They must have felt the jewel also! That girl will be in danger if she does not get out of there soon!' Kaede readied an arrow and positioned herself to shoot at any youkai who dare come near the strangely clothed girl. A worm youkai appeared from the shady parts of the forest and closed in on the girl. Kaede released the arrow and struck the worm in the chest. More youkai started to come out. She drew five arrows out and shot them one by one at each youkai. They all fell limp to the floor, yet many more appeared.

Kaede felt a whimper escape her mouth. They keep on coming! Soon she would run out of arrows. As a last resort she ran towards the girl and heaved her up. Carrying the slightly larger girl on her back, Kaede hightailed it on out of there. She dashed madly through the forest, desperate to get back to the safety of the temple.

Sensing many youkai behind her, it was no doubt that they were gaining on her quickly. A demon jumped at her from the front, raising its razor sharp claws. Then it swung down. Kaede closed her eyes and prepared for death.

". . ."

Her 'death' never came. Instead, she felt the roars of the youkai around her cease, as well as all other sounds. She also no longer felt the wind that had been blowing in her face. She opened her eyes and drew in a breath. There was some kind of pale pink Miko barrier protecting her as well as the unconscious girl on her back. Could it be that she had made this protecting barrier? No... It must have been the girl on her back. She also has Miko powers, though much more powerful than her own, as well as the village miko's own. Her powers rivaled past the dead miko, Gomeka... and perhaps, the legendary miko herself, Midoriko.

She still ran, regardless of the shelter-offering shield. She saw the outline of the temple ahead. 'Almost there... just a little bit closer.'

Kaede forced her legs up the wooden stairs of the shrine and slid the door open. Panting, she gently put the older girl on the floor and collapsed next to her of fatigue.

"Kaede-chan? Is that you?" Kiochi, the 27-year-old village miko asked. The miko was wearing a kimono, rather than the usual gi and hakama she usually wore. "Who's that on the floor? ...Kikyou?" her voice had a startled note in it.

Kaede's eyes strayed to the unconscious girl's face. Why had she realized this only now?! The girl was a striking resemblance to Kikyou, yet her aura was entirely different. Her hair was also different. It looked softer than Kikyou's. Also, the girl looked younger than Kikyou about three years. "Lady Kiochi, this isn't Kikyou."

"Yes, I noticed. But at first glance she does resemble Kikyou, does she not?" Kiochi still sounded startled. "I could sense miko energy from her... very strong miko energy... and also the presence of the Shikon no Tama?!"

"Hai, it is in her right hand."

"But that is not possible. . .! The Shikon Jewel was destroyed along with Lady Gomeka!"

"I know... Lady Kiochi, the jewel will be safe here in the shrine, right?" Kaede felt fear welling up inside her. "When I found her, many youkai were surrounding her. I shot a few of them then picked her up and ran. But then one of the youkai appeared infront of me and was about to kill me, when a miko barrier spell was cast. But. . . the thing is, it wasn't I who had summoned it. So could it possibly be from the lady?"

"The jewel will be safe here in the shrine. I believe that barrier you speak of has been cast automatically by this girl." Kiochi looked down at the girl on the floor and noticed blood was seeping from her clothes. "Kaede! This girl! She is bleeding! Get me some bandages and hot water. And a set of Miko clothing, if you may. Her clothes are tattered and bloodied."

Kaede bowed her head. "HAI! Right away." She scampered away to retrieve the items. Kiochi gently removed the Shikon no Tama from the girl's hand. "I will put this somewhere safe for now."

~*~

Kagome woke up and felt a sharp pain in her side. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and propped herself up with one arm. "Where am I?"

She looked around the room and saw she was lying down on a futon nearby a small bonfire. The room itself glowed orange red from the fire. Rubbing her eyes, Kagome looked down at herself. She was wearing strange garbs.

Her eyes scanned the box shaped room once more, and saw the sliding door slowly open. A young teen poked her head in. "Are you awake?" she seemed shy and timid, yet there was a mature note to her voice.

"Yes."

"You are wounded, you should not move around too much," the girl muttered quietly and opened the shoji door fully. She walked in with a tray of food. Red-orange shadows flickered along with the girl's movement. "My name is Kaede. I found you in the forest, you were wounded."

"I was, was I?" Kagome said thoughtfully. "Oh! Forgive me for my manners! My name is Kagome. Will you tell where and when am I?" she didn't really mean the 'when' part, she just wanted to joke around because everything around there looked so old fashioned. Kaede offered her tea, which she gladly accepted and sipped.

"You are in a village. It is year 1503."

Kagome choked on her drink and almost spat it all out. She gulped and sucked in a deep breath. "WHAT?! That can't be!"

"Why? Is there something wrong?" she asked with concern.

"You're really serious?"

"H-hai... I am."

Kagome let out a weak laugh and fainted onto her futon. Kaede sighed. "She has a strange accent. She must be from the future... that well I saw earlier. It is probably a dimensional door that links the past and future together. I wonder..."

Later...

Kagome's eyes opened once more. She groaned when she saw the familiar red- orange shadows flickering on the ceiling. 'Hah. So it's not a dream.' When she sat up, the girl infront of her was now joined with an older woman. She looked like she was in her late twenties. "Who are you?"

"I am Kiochi. Your name is Kagome, from what Kaede told me, correct?"

"Yeah..."

"And you fell through that well I saw, right?" Kaede asked also.

"Mmhmm."

"That's it then!" Kiochi smiled a smile that made her look ten years younger. "You had the Shikon no Tama with you, and it probably allowed you to travel through time when you fell through that musty old well. So that makes you from the future."

"Umm, right. Mind telling me what this 'Shikon no Tama' is?"

Kiochi opened her hand, revealing the Shikon no Tama, which now was attached to a beaded necklace. She began to explain the Shikon no Tama to Kagome.

Later-

Kagome was lying down on her stomach, her cheeks rested on her hands. "Sooo... you're saying that with this Shikon Jewel, I fell through a time portal and ended up here, in the Sengoku Jidai?"

"Yes, that is what it seems," replied Kaede.

"Here you go," Kiochi handed the Shikon jewel to Kagome. "Don't worry, you will be safe."

"What are you talking about, Lady Kiochi? You know that many youkai will come after Kagome with the jewel hanging around her neck!" Kaede argued.

"Another lesson in Miko Training. No youkai can just appear and grab the jewel from a miko. The Shikon jewel will ward them off. They will not be able to take it. And besides, I had put a small spell on it to hide its presence from youkai. She will be safe." Kiochi reassured Kaede and turned to Kagome. "Kagome-san, go back to your time. You and the jewel will be safer there."

"Yes, but that creature I saw in the well..."

"The jewel will protect you. Now please, go. I do not wish to be rude, but I cannot guarantee that our village will be safe for long with the jewel here."

"Okay. Hey-! My wound!" Kagome's eyes went wide when she looked at her wound. It was gone. Kiochi only smiled mysteriously and led her into the hall infront of the exit.

"Kaede is getting a bow and arrow for you. Do you have any archery skills?"

"No, not that much. I just started lessons two years ago-"

"That is good enough," Kiochi cut in.

Kaede rushed towards them with a bow and arrows. "Here you go, Kagome! Be safe on your journey home."

"Hai, I will!" Without thinking, Kagome embraced the young girl she barely knew. Kagome pulled away. "Thank you for everything-"

The entrance door slid open and a long, wavy-haired man stepped in. His eyes were on Kaede first. "Girl, I need to ask you so-"

His eyes casted to Kagome, in her miko outfit. "Who are you?"

Kiochi handed Kagome the bow and arrow and led her out the door, ignoring Naraku. "Have a good journey, good luck!"

Kagome sweatdropped and walked down the stairs. "Bye?"

~

Kiochi smiled at Naraku. "Ahahahah, that was no one. Now, why don't you ask Kaede that question you wanted to ask. . ."

Naraku narrowed his amber eyes at her and walked out the door to follow that strange girl. 'They're keeping something from me. . .' He cunningly and soundlessly followed her into the woods.

"Lady Kiochi, why didn't you tell Naraku who she was?"

"Because, Kaede, all demon blood want the jewel. Naraku, being half demon, has his instincts to take the jewel for himself. But now that he's going after her, he will soon find out that she has the jewel and his youkai blood will take over."

"You mean he might attack Kagome?" Kaede asked, her voice filled with panic.

"Don't worry, little one, I know just the trick. Fetch me the prayer beads. I'm afraid I have no choice,"

"Are you going to. . ." Kaede trailed off.

"Aye, I am."

*

He could smell her scent very clearly, it differed from your regular human. She smelled... sweet. Not that he cared about scents or anything. (if he lived in modern day, he would have stated she smelled like chocolate.)

She came to a halt at a small clearing and turned around. On her face was a look of fear and discomfort. "Who are you and why are you stalking me like that?!" she said in a creeped out voice.

"The question to ask is who are YOU?" Naraku retorted hotly, stalking forward.

"My name is Kagome. You?" she replied, stiff and her hand tightened around her bow. 'I'm almost there........' her eyes darted to the well, which was through the woods in the next clearing.

"Naraku." He walked up to her and circled her from a five feet radius, looking her up and down. "Why do you look like Kikyou? Are you related to her?"

"Who's Kikyou? Ah, you know what, I have to go now, back to my time." She started to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist. "What nonsense do you speak of?"

"You mean Kiochi-san didn't tell you? I have the Shikon no Tama with me and I can travel from here to-"

"You what?" Naraku felt his youkai blood beginning to take over. He stalked closer. "How interesting... it would also be in your best interest to give me that jewel."

"What?! No, sorry, I can't do that," Kagome gulped fearfully backing up.

"Girl, give it to me and I promise a quick death." Naraku growled maliciously. The crimson in his pupils appeared to spread throughout his eyes.

"NO! Kiochi-san said it was my responsibility," she shrank away from him, feeling fear take over her body. Just then, she saw Kiochi and Kaede watching from the side. She looked hopefully and helplessly at them. "Please help!!"

Kiochi nodded once with a stern look on her face. "You are not to harm Kagome-san. She is an important acquaintance of mine," she said sharply to Naraku, who didn't seem to be listening. "Let her go back to her time...... leave her alone, Naraku," Kiochi said, her tone of voice saying clearly 'last warning.' When Naraku didn't move, she sighed. "I thought that you'd be able to control that demon side of yours, but I was wrong."

Smiling casually, the skilled priestess put her hands together. A beaded necklace of some sort was wrapped around her right hand, and as she chanted some foreign spell, the beads of the necklace glowed intensely before disappearing from her possession.

Then, one by one, the white-bright beads appeared around Naraku's neck, who only ignored it, blinded by the desire for the jewel. Naraku unsheathed his katana and raised it above Kagome's head. "Heh, heh.... the jewel is mine......"

Kagome closed her eyes.



"Kagome! Quick, say a subduing word, and your enemy will be at your feet!!" Kiochi hollered.

She searched her mind for any word. A good fast word... but what?!?! "Uhhh... SIT!"

Kaede would have laughed out loud if this wasn't such a serious situation. The necklace around Naraku's neck glowed white once more and pulled him towards the earth with a loud WHAM. He had a shocked expression on his face as he looked up at Kagome. 'What the he...'

Kagome stood above him, looking down nervously. "Ehh... sorry. Did that hurt?" she asked truthfully. Naraku growled and got up. He instantaneously launched himself at her.

"SITSITSITSITSITSITSITSITSITSITSITSIT!!!!!!!!!!!"

Naraku plunged deep into the dirt, feeling defeat as blackness claimed him. "Ugh..."


 End chapter 2. Please Review.