Always My Soul
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.
If Sango had not been privy to the differences in personalities between Kee and Kagome she would have never thought twice that it was not Kagome who talked so desperately to the priest Usuti.
Usuti had come to meet them at the door as they mounted the last steps. He appeared to be a middle aged man of no remarkable characteristics save that he habitually rubbed at the prayer beads that hung on the front of his belt as he listened attentively to Kee. Sango did everything she could to not seem as if she knew something was different about the girl.
"Will you help me?" Kee begged of Usuti as her tale finished, she even topped the performance off with tears in her eyes.
"Of course dear child, I am but a servant to those in need. Please do come in." Usuti said gesturing for them to enter.
Sango brought up the rear of the group as they went through the doors and down a long hallway. As they went Usuti and Kee continued to discuss the particulars of what had happened. Sango swept the hallway suspiciously as a feeling of immense power overcame her. It was like stepping into the presence of some omnipotent personality and she resisted the urge to hunch her shoulders in reaction. She watched Inuyasha's ears perk and then quiver continuously as if he were anticipating a dangerous sound. Miroku, beside Inuyasha, did his best not to appear as if he were entering enemy territory, in fact he passed the concept off brilliantly. He offered tidbits of information when Kee faltered in her story telling, seeming at ease with the entire situation. Sango shook her head in wonderment. He was such a consummate actor. If she were Usuti she would not have suspected a thing with Miroku and Kee doing so well at their jobs. She was glad she was not being called upon to convince the priest. She had never been very good at hiding the truth. Especially not in hostile circumstances like the one they now found themselves in. Even the familiar weight of Hiraikotsu did nothing to ease her growing anxiety.
They came to a spiral staircase that led downward. There Usuti paused, as if sensing their uneasiness.
"The earth is a conduit for the soul, within the earth is the chamber that I perform such rituals to help lost souls" He informed them then proceeded to descend.
Sango noted Inuyasha's hand going to his weapon's hilt as he followed the others. She held back slightly before also went behind them, her hand going to the side of Hiraikotsu in an attempt to dispel her apprehension.
"It is not often a miko comes to me in need of my services." Usuti commented, his voice carrying back to Sango.
"I'm not all that trained in my miko powers yet. Yensa took me by surprise." Kee informed him, sounding more naive then Kagome had ever been.
~ Don't lay it on too thick Kee. Kagome was never stupid. ~
"You are old for not knowing how to control such things" Usuti replied.
Sango tensed, taking offense for her friend's sake.
"They did not awaken in me until recently" Kee smoothed over.
Usuti seemed to accept this reasoning, "Unless there is need that can happen. It must have been difficult for you."
"It was at the time...and now this happened" Kee said, sounding distracted.
Sango found out a moment later why as they entered an enormous chamber. On the opposite wall then the one that the staircase emptied out of stood a rectangular engraving of a massive youkai. It stood with arms outstretched as if welcoming people who entered the chamber. Its face was human enough save for the horns that rose out of its forehead curling backwards. Its extended hands ended in wicked claws. It was draped in a robe that held many symbols down the outer edges. Sango could understand perhaps three of the symbols those of "soul", "purification", and "endless". She was lucky to understand those since most was written in such an old text that anyone without training in ancient youkai writing would not recognize any.
Sango pulled her eyes away from the figure and studied the rest of the room. It was illuminated by maybe twenty torches along the walls. The walls were carved with even more ancient writing, none of which Sango recognized. In the center of the cavernous room stood a long wooden table with steel loops placed in such a way that made it obvious that the person laid on the table was to be restrained. Off in the back left corner stood an area that was covered in even more tightly packed writing that flowed down onto the floor, arched in a semicircle and then flowed up again to arrived back to the continuous writing.
Usuti walked closer to the table and then turned to them, his face serious.
"I have noticed that you travel in the company of a hanyou and a priest with a dark presence. I must assume you do not wish harm to come to them."
"No I don't" Kee confirmed.
"Then they must enter the symbols of protection. What I must do may release your miko powers into this chamber for a few moments and such a thing would destroy them." Usuti explained gesturing to the circle in the corner that Sango had noted earlier.
Kee nodded and glanced back at Sango. Inuyasha decided then to allow his normally charming personality to come out and Sango sighed in frustration with him.
"I am not going anywhere near those things" Inuyasha maintained stubbornly.
"Inuyasha..." Kee began.
"No miko it is understandable for the hanyou to be suspicious. Rarely do youkai or half youkai volunteer to be near such things. But you must understand for me to fix what has been done to her I must be able to erase all of her concerns. Since this will put you in danger I must insist that you either leave the chamber entirely or submit to the protective circle. No harm will come to you there I assure you." Usuti explained.
"Inuyasha please" Kee asked.
Inuyasha's face darkened and Sango knew what would come out of his mouth next. She stepped in front of him deliberately blocking his view of Usuti. She put a hand on his arm.
"Inuyasha this is the only way. We're here to help Kagome get better...remember?" She said forcefully.
He gazed down at her, his golden eyes almost burning her with their intensity. She knew what concerns he had, knew that it was killing him to back down in something that would put him at a disadvantage to helping Kee/Kagome if the need came. She squeezed his arm in understanding and hoped he understood what she was trying to convey.
~ We know it's a trap Inuyasha but please don't mess this up. It may be Kagome's only chance, if she wants it, to come back to us. It may be Kee's only chance to survive. ~
Unbeknownst to Inuyasha Sango had indeed spoken to Kee about what had happened. She had also accidentally found out what would happen to Kee if Kagome did not choose to return. Sango had been having a troublesome time with the knowledge up until now. She found that she had to be the one to uphold Kee's wishes and permit, if Kagome did not decide to return, the miko to die doing exactly as she preferred. Although Sango felt traitorous in allowing such a thing she simply could not stand in Kee's way. Not after all that Kee had gone through. Not after knowing it was oblivion that Kee faced if it happened. There was too much at stake now. Not only Kagome was at stake but also the rest of their world. Her father had instilled too much responsibility for the world into Sango for her to turn her back on it.
She hardened the look she was giving Inuyasha and he responded by closing his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again Sango wished she hadn't been privy to such a glimpse into his internal state. So much of his soul swam in those tawny orbs, so much unspoken emotion. Sango felt the slight shudder that ran through his body and knew he was barely holding himself back.
"For Kagome Inuyasha" Miroku said coming up beside them.
Inuyasha dipped his head slightly, "For Kagome".
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.
If Sango had not been privy to the differences in personalities between Kee and Kagome she would have never thought twice that it was not Kagome who talked so desperately to the priest Usuti.
Usuti had come to meet them at the door as they mounted the last steps. He appeared to be a middle aged man of no remarkable characteristics save that he habitually rubbed at the prayer beads that hung on the front of his belt as he listened attentively to Kee. Sango did everything she could to not seem as if she knew something was different about the girl.
"Will you help me?" Kee begged of Usuti as her tale finished, she even topped the performance off with tears in her eyes.
"Of course dear child, I am but a servant to those in need. Please do come in." Usuti said gesturing for them to enter.
Sango brought up the rear of the group as they went through the doors and down a long hallway. As they went Usuti and Kee continued to discuss the particulars of what had happened. Sango swept the hallway suspiciously as a feeling of immense power overcame her. It was like stepping into the presence of some omnipotent personality and she resisted the urge to hunch her shoulders in reaction. She watched Inuyasha's ears perk and then quiver continuously as if he were anticipating a dangerous sound. Miroku, beside Inuyasha, did his best not to appear as if he were entering enemy territory, in fact he passed the concept off brilliantly. He offered tidbits of information when Kee faltered in her story telling, seeming at ease with the entire situation. Sango shook her head in wonderment. He was such a consummate actor. If she were Usuti she would not have suspected a thing with Miroku and Kee doing so well at their jobs. She was glad she was not being called upon to convince the priest. She had never been very good at hiding the truth. Especially not in hostile circumstances like the one they now found themselves in. Even the familiar weight of Hiraikotsu did nothing to ease her growing anxiety.
They came to a spiral staircase that led downward. There Usuti paused, as if sensing their uneasiness.
"The earth is a conduit for the soul, within the earth is the chamber that I perform such rituals to help lost souls" He informed them then proceeded to descend.
Sango noted Inuyasha's hand going to his weapon's hilt as he followed the others. She held back slightly before also went behind them, her hand going to the side of Hiraikotsu in an attempt to dispel her apprehension.
"It is not often a miko comes to me in need of my services." Usuti commented, his voice carrying back to Sango.
"I'm not all that trained in my miko powers yet. Yensa took me by surprise." Kee informed him, sounding more naive then Kagome had ever been.
~ Don't lay it on too thick Kee. Kagome was never stupid. ~
"You are old for not knowing how to control such things" Usuti replied.
Sango tensed, taking offense for her friend's sake.
"They did not awaken in me until recently" Kee smoothed over.
Usuti seemed to accept this reasoning, "Unless there is need that can happen. It must have been difficult for you."
"It was at the time...and now this happened" Kee said, sounding distracted.
Sango found out a moment later why as they entered an enormous chamber. On the opposite wall then the one that the staircase emptied out of stood a rectangular engraving of a massive youkai. It stood with arms outstretched as if welcoming people who entered the chamber. Its face was human enough save for the horns that rose out of its forehead curling backwards. Its extended hands ended in wicked claws. It was draped in a robe that held many symbols down the outer edges. Sango could understand perhaps three of the symbols those of "soul", "purification", and "endless". She was lucky to understand those since most was written in such an old text that anyone without training in ancient youkai writing would not recognize any.
Sango pulled her eyes away from the figure and studied the rest of the room. It was illuminated by maybe twenty torches along the walls. The walls were carved with even more ancient writing, none of which Sango recognized. In the center of the cavernous room stood a long wooden table with steel loops placed in such a way that made it obvious that the person laid on the table was to be restrained. Off in the back left corner stood an area that was covered in even more tightly packed writing that flowed down onto the floor, arched in a semicircle and then flowed up again to arrived back to the continuous writing.
Usuti walked closer to the table and then turned to them, his face serious.
"I have noticed that you travel in the company of a hanyou and a priest with a dark presence. I must assume you do not wish harm to come to them."
"No I don't" Kee confirmed.
"Then they must enter the symbols of protection. What I must do may release your miko powers into this chamber for a few moments and such a thing would destroy them." Usuti explained gesturing to the circle in the corner that Sango had noted earlier.
Kee nodded and glanced back at Sango. Inuyasha decided then to allow his normally charming personality to come out and Sango sighed in frustration with him.
"I am not going anywhere near those things" Inuyasha maintained stubbornly.
"Inuyasha..." Kee began.
"No miko it is understandable for the hanyou to be suspicious. Rarely do youkai or half youkai volunteer to be near such things. But you must understand for me to fix what has been done to her I must be able to erase all of her concerns. Since this will put you in danger I must insist that you either leave the chamber entirely or submit to the protective circle. No harm will come to you there I assure you." Usuti explained.
"Inuyasha please" Kee asked.
Inuyasha's face darkened and Sango knew what would come out of his mouth next. She stepped in front of him deliberately blocking his view of Usuti. She put a hand on his arm.
"Inuyasha this is the only way. We're here to help Kagome get better...remember?" She said forcefully.
He gazed down at her, his golden eyes almost burning her with their intensity. She knew what concerns he had, knew that it was killing him to back down in something that would put him at a disadvantage to helping Kee/Kagome if the need came. She squeezed his arm in understanding and hoped he understood what she was trying to convey.
~ We know it's a trap Inuyasha but please don't mess this up. It may be Kagome's only chance, if she wants it, to come back to us. It may be Kee's only chance to survive. ~
Unbeknownst to Inuyasha Sango had indeed spoken to Kee about what had happened. She had also accidentally found out what would happen to Kee if Kagome did not choose to return. Sango had been having a troublesome time with the knowledge up until now. She found that she had to be the one to uphold Kee's wishes and permit, if Kagome did not decide to return, the miko to die doing exactly as she preferred. Although Sango felt traitorous in allowing such a thing she simply could not stand in Kee's way. Not after all that Kee had gone through. Not after knowing it was oblivion that Kee faced if it happened. There was too much at stake now. Not only Kagome was at stake but also the rest of their world. Her father had instilled too much responsibility for the world into Sango for her to turn her back on it.
She hardened the look she was giving Inuyasha and he responded by closing his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again Sango wished she hadn't been privy to such a glimpse into his internal state. So much of his soul swam in those tawny orbs, so much unspoken emotion. Sango felt the slight shudder that ran through his body and knew he was barely holding himself back.
"For Kagome Inuyasha" Miroku said coming up beside them.
Inuyasha dipped his head slightly, "For Kagome".