The Scent of Despair
Written by Catrina Winner
Author's Notes: Heh. So, how was that prologue? Bet you couldn't WAIT to read chapter one, could you? *ducks rotten tomatoes* Okay, okay!!! Well, here's chapter one anyway…
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Chapter One
The mist burned away under the sun's warm glare. The small camp, resting in a clearing, stirred slowly to life. Birds began to chirp hesitantly and tiny animals started to shuffle in the undergrowth. Miroku stood and stretched, yawning hugely. He let his eyes trip over his companions, noting Sango was awake, but curled in a ball. He was slightly surprised when he noticed Kagome sitting on her sleeping bag, soaking wet. Her eyes were staring somewhere off in the distance, somewhere past him, not even registering his presence. The usual sparkle around her was gone, replaced by a heavy sadness. He blinked, shocked by her silent behavior. Miroku looked across the camp again, noting that Inuyasha was gone.
He turned and knocked over his staff, letting it drop to the ground, creating a surprising cacophony of noise as the prayer beads clicked and clattered against the rocks and dirt. He cleared his throat and picked it up, quickly dusting it off. With this Miroku had, of course, awoken the entire camp.
Slowly, he glanced back over his shoulder. When he located Kagome, she was wringing out her hair, grumbling about sleeping in the rain and several things he did not quite catch. Even through her complaints, she was smiling gently, a far cry from her earlier appearances. For all Miroku could tell, the smile was genuine and her usual upbeat attitude was restored. He paused and wondered for a moment whether he had ever viewed the downtrodden Kagome at all. Shaking his head, Miroku wondered if beneath all her pleasant smiles and words, if she was hiding something. Inuyasha reappeared, interrupting Miroku's thoughts by demanding food.
The entire band awoke, ate, and continued their trudge back to Kaede's village, where they would finally purify the jewel and end their quest. And… perhaps return Kagome to her present time.
The Shikon Jewel – The Jewel of the Four Souls – was finally restored to its normal state. Kagome kept the jewel with her, for the demons were still a constant threat… though not so much anymore. In the depths of her own mind, she wondered if it was because Inuyasha would soon become a full demon. As soon as they reached the village, she would pray for other things… The Jewel's power was not great enough to do anything quite as dramatic as banishing all the demons from the world. Besides, even if it could, Kagome doubted she would be able to bring herself to pray for it. She stole a sidelong peek at Inuyasha. Even half-demons would be destroyed with the wish. Trying not to sigh, lest her cheerful mask be broken, Kagome moved on, following Miroku and Sango through the tangled woods.
She already knew what she was going to pray for with the Shikon Jewel. Anything that would make her friends happy. A bit like… a going away present… Going back to her time seemed a strange twist of fate. But, she was going to go back for she had to return.
It was midday when the rain started again. Up until noon, the sky was free of clouds and the gentle sun dried their belongings that had been soaked the night before. The spirits of the group grew with the warmth and the disappearance of the heavy mist. They fell again quickly as dark clouds rolled across the land and split, sending down torrential waterfalls of rain.
The rag-tag group rushed for the safety of a cliff's overhang. As long as the wind did not rush through their hiding place, bringing the bone-chilling air with it, the rain would not be carried there. Still, the area was damp and uncomfortable and no fire could be made to chase away the cold. Everyone was silent, far too busy shivering to chat with each other.
Kagome looked at the Jewel, turning it over and over in her hands. She stared into its glassy, pale red surface. It caught what little light the area still retained, shimmering slightly. Its smooth surface was cool as she tilted it in her palm.
Suddenly, she felt dizzy. Putting the Jewel slowly back around her neck, she bent her head between her legs, squeezing her eyes closed. Even then, it felt as if someone was spinning her in circles. Kagome opened her eyes and looked at her friends, letting her gaze settle on Inuyasha. He was watching her too, but she saw his face for but a moment before a thick darkness flashed over her eyes and she felt herself falling backwards. The last memory she had was the damp floor digging into her spine. Then it was all over and the darkness overtook her.
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Hope you all liked that one. Don't worry; I'll explain what happened to Kagome in the next chapter. I'm so sorry this one was so short, but school and homework is REALLY starting to clash with my writing time. But, thank goodness, it's almost summertime. Then I can have all the time in the world to write. *smiles* That will be so much fun!! PLEASE review!!!!