*Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or its characters. I do own, however,
the original characters: Mayumi, Shouta, Momoko, Daisuke, Kenta, and
Nanami. Using my original characters in your own stories is not permitted,
unless with my consent. Thank you.
Chapter 13
Momoko, Medium of Nanami
The dark room was alit from the glow of the powerful sparks. The light from the urn blinded Kagome. Mayumi covered her eyes and reached in the urn for the empowered shards.
"The time is now."
Suddenly, there was a voice. A voice familiar to Mayumi's ears. A voice of an enticing siren.
"Mayumi..."
Mayumi turned away from the urn and the brilliant rays of light. She dropped the shards back into the potion when she beheld a mystical sight.
It was Momoko. She was hovering off the ground, stasis in midair. Her body gave off a holy-like aura. Her once short hair had changed into flowing white tresses that almost touched the earth. She opened her eyes, and Mayumi let out a shriek.
"Is that...you, mother?"
"Yes, Mayumi," the possessed Momoko said. "But I'm afraid I cannot stay long. My spirit has possessed the dying body of Momoko. She is on the verge of death, the pivotal time in which dead spirits can project themselves into dying bodies. Once she dies, I will have to leave."
"Mother..."
"Please, Mayumi. Listen to me. I wanted to tell you this, but I never could."
"What is it, mother?"
"It is about your father. When he ended my life on that night, and left you a lost orphan, he wasn't himself. There was something wrong with him."
"What, mother?"
"You see, Mayumi, your father had something wrong with his mind. It was said that his mind had been possessed by an evil specter at birth. But I had loved him for himself, not for his unfortunate mind. I loved him for his kindness and compassion. He seemed to have the specter under control, but then, that one night; he couldn't suppress it any longer. I knew it wasn't he who had killed me. But then after, when you discovered your uncanny powers that night, you killed him. I don't blame you for his death, Mayumi; perhaps it was inevitable. But I wanted to live longer to stay with you. I wanted to help you through the drastic changes. Help you deal with your witchcraft. But I knew I couldn't. My amulet couldn't let me live after I was mortally wounded. That is why I bequeathed the amulet to you. I believed in you; that you would do good."
"Mother..."
"I had faith in you..."
"Mother, I swore to avenge you. I swore to myself that I would devote my life to avenging your death. By destroying the cause: humans."
"Humans?"
"Yes, mother. Now, that I possess the jewel shards, I will..."
"No, my Mayumi. Your father was human. He allowed me to discover what humans were, what they lived on. Their soul. Their soul of purity and intense will. Their soul of unyielding hope and kindness. That is what I learned, and that is why I loved your father so tenderly."
"Mother..."
"I believed in you, Mayumi, to help others with your gift. But I was mistaken, for I now see that your powers have tainted you and corrupted your soul. I wanted to be with you, Mayumi, to help you. I knew you would be alone. Without anyone to guide you. But all I could do was hope, and yet, I was saddened with despair. It seems so paradoxical, but now I know the truth, and what has become of my Mayumi."
"Mother...I...didn't know..."
"Ugh. I am sorry, Mayumi...but...I must go."
The celestial light faded. The angelic locks of Nanami disappeared, along with her voice. The body was transformed back into the cadaverous, maimed Momoko. Momoko's eyes closed one final time, and she died.
"Mother..."
Inuyasha awakened from his perceptual numbness, coming back into consciousness.
"What..."
"Mother," Mayumi sobbed. "I am sorry."
There was a minute of intense and agonizing silence, but was interrupted by a gentle cry. Mayumi's eyes became watery.
"How could I be so blind?" Mayumi said. "I haven't even experienced life outside this room, nor associated with any humans except tainted father. How could I?"
Mayumi cried silently.
"I don't even deserve to live any longer. All these years. I have been terribly mistaken. I've become immortal, and yet I have no knowledge. Why, mother? Why did you leave me? You left me a mislead orphan without anyone. How could this be?"
Inuyasha remained silent. He knew he shouldn't say anything. It was a poignant scene, and Kagome was silent as well. He stood near Kagome.
"I have been mistaken, mother. I am sorry. For all these years, my mind has become pierced with vindictiveness and utter vengeance. I know you will forgive me. And I wish, with all my heart and soul, to begin anew."
Mayumi held the amulet of immortality tightly in her hands. There was a sudden, conspicuous change in her. Her eyes had an unusual look of determination and will. With that, she pushed the mixing urn over, onto the floor. Its contents spilled over the old earth, and the radiant jewel shards floated along with the mixture, like weightless feathers meandering a river, where they reached Inuyasha's feet.
Chapter 13
Momoko, Medium of Nanami
The dark room was alit from the glow of the powerful sparks. The light from the urn blinded Kagome. Mayumi covered her eyes and reached in the urn for the empowered shards.
"The time is now."
Suddenly, there was a voice. A voice familiar to Mayumi's ears. A voice of an enticing siren.
"Mayumi..."
Mayumi turned away from the urn and the brilliant rays of light. She dropped the shards back into the potion when she beheld a mystical sight.
It was Momoko. She was hovering off the ground, stasis in midair. Her body gave off a holy-like aura. Her once short hair had changed into flowing white tresses that almost touched the earth. She opened her eyes, and Mayumi let out a shriek.
"Is that...you, mother?"
"Yes, Mayumi," the possessed Momoko said. "But I'm afraid I cannot stay long. My spirit has possessed the dying body of Momoko. She is on the verge of death, the pivotal time in which dead spirits can project themselves into dying bodies. Once she dies, I will have to leave."
"Mother..."
"Please, Mayumi. Listen to me. I wanted to tell you this, but I never could."
"What is it, mother?"
"It is about your father. When he ended my life on that night, and left you a lost orphan, he wasn't himself. There was something wrong with him."
"What, mother?"
"You see, Mayumi, your father had something wrong with his mind. It was said that his mind had been possessed by an evil specter at birth. But I had loved him for himself, not for his unfortunate mind. I loved him for his kindness and compassion. He seemed to have the specter under control, but then, that one night; he couldn't suppress it any longer. I knew it wasn't he who had killed me. But then after, when you discovered your uncanny powers that night, you killed him. I don't blame you for his death, Mayumi; perhaps it was inevitable. But I wanted to live longer to stay with you. I wanted to help you through the drastic changes. Help you deal with your witchcraft. But I knew I couldn't. My amulet couldn't let me live after I was mortally wounded. That is why I bequeathed the amulet to you. I believed in you; that you would do good."
"Mother..."
"I had faith in you..."
"Mother, I swore to avenge you. I swore to myself that I would devote my life to avenging your death. By destroying the cause: humans."
"Humans?"
"Yes, mother. Now, that I possess the jewel shards, I will..."
"No, my Mayumi. Your father was human. He allowed me to discover what humans were, what they lived on. Their soul. Their soul of purity and intense will. Their soul of unyielding hope and kindness. That is what I learned, and that is why I loved your father so tenderly."
"Mother..."
"I believed in you, Mayumi, to help others with your gift. But I was mistaken, for I now see that your powers have tainted you and corrupted your soul. I wanted to be with you, Mayumi, to help you. I knew you would be alone. Without anyone to guide you. But all I could do was hope, and yet, I was saddened with despair. It seems so paradoxical, but now I know the truth, and what has become of my Mayumi."
"Mother...I...didn't know..."
"Ugh. I am sorry, Mayumi...but...I must go."
The celestial light faded. The angelic locks of Nanami disappeared, along with her voice. The body was transformed back into the cadaverous, maimed Momoko. Momoko's eyes closed one final time, and she died.
"Mother..."
Inuyasha awakened from his perceptual numbness, coming back into consciousness.
"What..."
"Mother," Mayumi sobbed. "I am sorry."
There was a minute of intense and agonizing silence, but was interrupted by a gentle cry. Mayumi's eyes became watery.
"How could I be so blind?" Mayumi said. "I haven't even experienced life outside this room, nor associated with any humans except tainted father. How could I?"
Mayumi cried silently.
"I don't even deserve to live any longer. All these years. I have been terribly mistaken. I've become immortal, and yet I have no knowledge. Why, mother? Why did you leave me? You left me a mislead orphan without anyone. How could this be?"
Inuyasha remained silent. He knew he shouldn't say anything. It was a poignant scene, and Kagome was silent as well. He stood near Kagome.
"I have been mistaken, mother. I am sorry. For all these years, my mind has become pierced with vindictiveness and utter vengeance. I know you will forgive me. And I wish, with all my heart and soul, to begin anew."
Mayumi held the amulet of immortality tightly in her hands. There was a sudden, conspicuous change in her. Her eyes had an unusual look of determination and will. With that, she pushed the mixing urn over, onto the floor. Its contents spilled over the old earth, and the radiant jewel shards floated along with the mixture, like weightless feathers meandering a river, where they reached Inuyasha's feet.