*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 16
New Courses
The amulet shattered into thousands of tiny fragments; quickly decomposing into the earth like cadaverous beings. Mayumi began to wither away, her body and face turning frail and cold. She looked above her, and saw that the moon appeared. It was three-quarters full, as a shooting star was seen traveling the sky, and an ironic ominous wind brushed through quickly, carrying her ashes away.
The only remnants of her were the three jewel shards, which floated to the ground softly, like harmonious feathers. Mayumi's shack faded as well with the wind, brushing away like sand. Her powerful magic ceased and vanished.
Shouta and Shippo were finally awakened and free from the confines of the shack. The villagers remained awed at the spectacle they had just beheld; Mayumi's decision. After a moment of intense silence, Inuyasha picked up the jewel shards from the ground and allowed Kagome to keep them. Shouta's mother embraced her son, however, scolded him repetitively for worrying her.
At that time, different people felt different emotions. Inuyasha remained slightly indifferent and impassive, however, internally satisfied in obtaining the shards after all they endured. Daisuke thought that it was best, for everyone, that Mayumi was killed, even for Mayumi herself. The villagers all felt relief that danger had passed. Shippo and Shouta stood befuddled, for they were unconscious for most of the time, and had not experienced what everyone else did. Kagome felt a heavy sadness for Mayumi, and even a type of guilt. Soon, they all decided to leave the quiet forest, and return to the village.
While meandering the depths of the forest and trying to reach an exit, Inuyasha informed everyone of what had happened; all he experienced.
"So, Mayumi, this witch, was the one that killed Lady Kaede?" Shippo asked the musing Kagome.
"Yes, Shippo," she told him. "But I feel really sad for her. From what Inuyasha said, she seemed to be corrupted just because she had no one. No family, no friends."
"I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
"Yeah, it's good not to be alone. Isn't it, Shippo?"
They finally reached the outskirts of the village, when they caught eye of a small gathering of the villagers. They were clustered around a large clump of dirt that rested beside Lady Kaede's grave. One man had a muddy shovel in his hand, and the women next to him held a bouquet of flowers.
The bigger crowd of Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, Shouta, Daisuke, Shouta's parents, and the twelve villagers approached the gathered crowd.
"What happened?" Shouta's mother asked.
"Momoko's mother," a gentle woman spoke. "She died."
"What?" Daisuke wondered. "Of what?"
"We don't know. I thought she was asleep at first, but then, she wasn't breathing..."
"You already buried her?"
"Yes. She looked unusually peaceful as we did."
"It is a shame that I wasn't able to examine her."
"We saw no marks anywhere on her," the woman continued. "Perhaps it was from old age."
"No, I don't believe so."
It was the voice of Myoga. He abruptly hopped on Inuyasha's shoulder, in a feeble attempt to suck some blood. Inuyasha reacted quickly however, and his attempt was thwarted.
"Ugh."
"Well, Myoga, you're back," Inuyasha said.
"Yes, Lord Inuyasha," Myoga recovered. "Anyway, as I was saying before, I don't believe it was age that caused her death, but perhaps it was just her time to leave."
"What the hell is the difference?"
"Well, Lord Inuyasha, I've heard some deaths are caused because of blood links. But, of course, I'm not sure if that's the case here."
There was a brief silence.
"Well, how about an explanation, loyal Myoga?!? What are blood links?"
"Pardon me to intervene," Daisuke said. "Myoga, I do believe your guess may be valid."
"Thank you, Lord Daisuke," Myoga said. "Just here to help."
"Blood links are deaths caused by a strong link to a relative. If that linked relative dies, the blood link breaks, causing the death of the other person linked," Daisuke explained. "And, from what Inuyasha has told us, about the death of Momoko, Momoko's mother might have died due to her daughter's horrific demise. That's what blood links cause. Although it can be controversial and arguable, even considered a myth, it stands out strong here."
Everyone agreed.
In the morning, they decided to hold a funeral-like ritual for Momoko and her mother. Although Momoko's body was not present, they still made her a grave beside her mother's. Flowers were laid, prayers were said, and the village cemetery suddenly appeared to be enormous.
Shouta was finally reunited with his family, although his mother continued to scold him.
"Shouta, how many times have I told you not to go by the forest?!? It's dangerous!"
"I'm not Shouta! I'm Shoutayasha! Fear my claws of blood!" Shouta said, while flailing his arms, attempting to mimic Inuyasha.
Shouta thoroughly enjoyed listening to Inuyasha's stories, and all of the adventures of capturing pieces of the jewel and triumphing over evil demons. Even after his experience of being captured, trapped, and concealed by dangerous magic, Shouta's sense of adventure and mischief continued to grow even stronger.
Daisuke said his farewells to the villagers and everyone.
"I must go now," he said. "Other villages need my medicinal expertise."
They thanked him, Kagome especially for his remarkable rescue.
"Thank you, Lord Daisuke," she said. "If you weren't there for us, we probably would be..."
"It is okay, Kagome," he interrupted. "I actually didn't know if my spells would work or not. I must say I am very limited in that field. Perhaps I should pursue it further."
Thus, Daisuke grabbed his bag, special tools, and herbs, and began to walk down the path, out of the village. Myoga the flea managed to catch up to him.
"Lord Daisuke!" he called.
Daisuke stopped and Myoga leapt onto his shoulder.
"Why, Myoga. Are you troubled?"
"No, my lord. I just thought I might ask a favor of you."
"Yes?"
"Well, your journeys seem to be very enlightening. Perhaps I could accompany you?"
"Why, certainly, wise Myoga."
Thus, they set off on a journey for knowledge and wisdom, into the strong rays of a new day.
Inuyasha was renewed with his original anticipation and zeal of shard collecting, as the morning zephyr blew by with a bright vigor.
"You ready, Kagome?" he asked.
"Yeah, in a second, Inuyasha," she said. "Just need to grab my stuff."
She began to collect her clothes and other belongings, and packed them in her large yellow backpack. She had the three shards stored inside of a little satchel that Shouta's mother had given her. She paused and examined them for a moment in her hand. They gleamed with a reassuring spark; they told her something by this, and it made her smile.
Mayumi was reunited with her family in the afterlife. Her mother had taught her many things, and answered every question she had. She was no longer lost, no longer alone. Her father had returned to normal; the demonic presence on him was lifted. Momoko forgave Mayumi for all that she did, and they quickly befriended each other. It was no longer confusing and no longer frustrating. There was no angst, no hatred. It was just serene, and purely blissful.
Kagome's slight guilt and sadness was lifted, as she put the jewel shards in the satchel, and into a small pocket in her backpack. She exited the old and used abode, and told Shippo that they were leaving.
"Already?" Shippo asked.
"Yeah. You ready, Shippo?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Let's say goodbye."
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo bid farewell to all the villagers, and they were thanked excessively. Thus, they set off down the road, with renewed eager hearts. But before long, Kagome walked and stopped directly in front of Inuyasha.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked.
She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then pulled him into a deep embrace.
"Thanks, Inuyasha," she said.
At that specific moment, Kagome could have sworn she had felt the three shards in her backpack shine with a new founded light. A spark of peacefulness, a shimmer of hope, and a gleam of contentment.
End.
Chapter 16
New Courses
The amulet shattered into thousands of tiny fragments; quickly decomposing into the earth like cadaverous beings. Mayumi began to wither away, her body and face turning frail and cold. She looked above her, and saw that the moon appeared. It was three-quarters full, as a shooting star was seen traveling the sky, and an ironic ominous wind brushed through quickly, carrying her ashes away.
The only remnants of her were the three jewel shards, which floated to the ground softly, like harmonious feathers. Mayumi's shack faded as well with the wind, brushing away like sand. Her powerful magic ceased and vanished.
Shouta and Shippo were finally awakened and free from the confines of the shack. The villagers remained awed at the spectacle they had just beheld; Mayumi's decision. After a moment of intense silence, Inuyasha picked up the jewel shards from the ground and allowed Kagome to keep them. Shouta's mother embraced her son, however, scolded him repetitively for worrying her.
At that time, different people felt different emotions. Inuyasha remained slightly indifferent and impassive, however, internally satisfied in obtaining the shards after all they endured. Daisuke thought that it was best, for everyone, that Mayumi was killed, even for Mayumi herself. The villagers all felt relief that danger had passed. Shippo and Shouta stood befuddled, for they were unconscious for most of the time, and had not experienced what everyone else did. Kagome felt a heavy sadness for Mayumi, and even a type of guilt. Soon, they all decided to leave the quiet forest, and return to the village.
While meandering the depths of the forest and trying to reach an exit, Inuyasha informed everyone of what had happened; all he experienced.
"So, Mayumi, this witch, was the one that killed Lady Kaede?" Shippo asked the musing Kagome.
"Yes, Shippo," she told him. "But I feel really sad for her. From what Inuyasha said, she seemed to be corrupted just because she had no one. No family, no friends."
"I don't know what I'd do without you guys."
"Yeah, it's good not to be alone. Isn't it, Shippo?"
They finally reached the outskirts of the village, when they caught eye of a small gathering of the villagers. They were clustered around a large clump of dirt that rested beside Lady Kaede's grave. One man had a muddy shovel in his hand, and the women next to him held a bouquet of flowers.
The bigger crowd of Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, Shouta, Daisuke, Shouta's parents, and the twelve villagers approached the gathered crowd.
"What happened?" Shouta's mother asked.
"Momoko's mother," a gentle woman spoke. "She died."
"What?" Daisuke wondered. "Of what?"
"We don't know. I thought she was asleep at first, but then, she wasn't breathing..."
"You already buried her?"
"Yes. She looked unusually peaceful as we did."
"It is a shame that I wasn't able to examine her."
"We saw no marks anywhere on her," the woman continued. "Perhaps it was from old age."
"No, I don't believe so."
It was the voice of Myoga. He abruptly hopped on Inuyasha's shoulder, in a feeble attempt to suck some blood. Inuyasha reacted quickly however, and his attempt was thwarted.
"Ugh."
"Well, Myoga, you're back," Inuyasha said.
"Yes, Lord Inuyasha," Myoga recovered. "Anyway, as I was saying before, I don't believe it was age that caused her death, but perhaps it was just her time to leave."
"What the hell is the difference?"
"Well, Lord Inuyasha, I've heard some deaths are caused because of blood links. But, of course, I'm not sure if that's the case here."
There was a brief silence.
"Well, how about an explanation, loyal Myoga?!? What are blood links?"
"Pardon me to intervene," Daisuke said. "Myoga, I do believe your guess may be valid."
"Thank you, Lord Daisuke," Myoga said. "Just here to help."
"Blood links are deaths caused by a strong link to a relative. If that linked relative dies, the blood link breaks, causing the death of the other person linked," Daisuke explained. "And, from what Inuyasha has told us, about the death of Momoko, Momoko's mother might have died due to her daughter's horrific demise. That's what blood links cause. Although it can be controversial and arguable, even considered a myth, it stands out strong here."
Everyone agreed.
In the morning, they decided to hold a funeral-like ritual for Momoko and her mother. Although Momoko's body was not present, they still made her a grave beside her mother's. Flowers were laid, prayers were said, and the village cemetery suddenly appeared to be enormous.
Shouta was finally reunited with his family, although his mother continued to scold him.
"Shouta, how many times have I told you not to go by the forest?!? It's dangerous!"
"I'm not Shouta! I'm Shoutayasha! Fear my claws of blood!" Shouta said, while flailing his arms, attempting to mimic Inuyasha.
Shouta thoroughly enjoyed listening to Inuyasha's stories, and all of the adventures of capturing pieces of the jewel and triumphing over evil demons. Even after his experience of being captured, trapped, and concealed by dangerous magic, Shouta's sense of adventure and mischief continued to grow even stronger.
Daisuke said his farewells to the villagers and everyone.
"I must go now," he said. "Other villages need my medicinal expertise."
They thanked him, Kagome especially for his remarkable rescue.
"Thank you, Lord Daisuke," she said. "If you weren't there for us, we probably would be..."
"It is okay, Kagome," he interrupted. "I actually didn't know if my spells would work or not. I must say I am very limited in that field. Perhaps I should pursue it further."
Thus, Daisuke grabbed his bag, special tools, and herbs, and began to walk down the path, out of the village. Myoga the flea managed to catch up to him.
"Lord Daisuke!" he called.
Daisuke stopped and Myoga leapt onto his shoulder.
"Why, Myoga. Are you troubled?"
"No, my lord. I just thought I might ask a favor of you."
"Yes?"
"Well, your journeys seem to be very enlightening. Perhaps I could accompany you?"
"Why, certainly, wise Myoga."
Thus, they set off on a journey for knowledge and wisdom, into the strong rays of a new day.
Inuyasha was renewed with his original anticipation and zeal of shard collecting, as the morning zephyr blew by with a bright vigor.
"You ready, Kagome?" he asked.
"Yeah, in a second, Inuyasha," she said. "Just need to grab my stuff."
She began to collect her clothes and other belongings, and packed them in her large yellow backpack. She had the three shards stored inside of a little satchel that Shouta's mother had given her. She paused and examined them for a moment in her hand. They gleamed with a reassuring spark; they told her something by this, and it made her smile.
Mayumi was reunited with her family in the afterlife. Her mother had taught her many things, and answered every question she had. She was no longer lost, no longer alone. Her father had returned to normal; the demonic presence on him was lifted. Momoko forgave Mayumi for all that she did, and they quickly befriended each other. It was no longer confusing and no longer frustrating. There was no angst, no hatred. It was just serene, and purely blissful.
Kagome's slight guilt and sadness was lifted, as she put the jewel shards in the satchel, and into a small pocket in her backpack. She exited the old and used abode, and told Shippo that they were leaving.
"Already?" Shippo asked.
"Yeah. You ready, Shippo?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Let's say goodbye."
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo bid farewell to all the villagers, and they were thanked excessively. Thus, they set off down the road, with renewed eager hearts. But before long, Kagome walked and stopped directly in front of Inuyasha.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked.
She looked into his eyes for a moment, and then pulled him into a deep embrace.
"Thanks, Inuyasha," she said.
At that specific moment, Kagome could have sworn she had felt the three shards in her backpack shine with a new founded light. A spark of peacefulness, a shimmer of hope, and a gleam of contentment.
End.