Disclaimer: If I owned InuYasha would I be taking time out of my busy
schedule of organizing our little hanyou's life to write FANfiction. No?
Thank you for seeing that. Because the lawyer knocking on my door doesn't.
Make him go away!!!! AHHHHH!!!!
Family Secrets
By: Aelinwen Elentari
Chapter 10: The Worst Thing
Translations: (should have done these a while ago, ne?)
Musume-chan~little daughter, little girl/friend
Otousan/tousan~father/daddy
Okaasan/kaasan~mother/mommy
itoko~cousin
Kokoro Chikara~Soul Mage (literally Spirit Power)
When Kiry had reacted so violently at first to Deloth's statement, Kagome had edged over to InuYasha's side, but when Kiry had lit the clearing with the brilliant light from her hands, Kagome had leaped into InuYasha's arms. It was a reflex, the safest place she knew to be when bad things were happening. She couldn't remember when she had first realized that . . .it had been so long ago and so natural to do when she did, that she had never really thought about it. Besides, InuYasha had never seemed to mind.
Therefore, here she was, wrapped in the hanyou's warm embrace, watching as her cousin crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, thrown away as an unwanted object would be. The sobs of misery and anguish tore at Kagome's heart, but she couldn't figure out if she wanted to go to Kiry or not. She looked at her companions and friends for some hint of what she should do.
InuYasha was watching the prone girl with suspicion and a predatory watchful air. He held Kagome in a protective grip, her head tucked under his chin, but ready to push her behind him if need be at any second.
Sango sat on Kirara, Haraikostu strapped on her back again. It was a good thing that the feline was underneath her, because she wasn't certain that her feet would have held her up if she had tried to stand. The idea of someone besides Kagome from her time having power of any sort-Kiry least of all-had never occurred to the demon exterminator.
Shippo, Kagome couldn't see, but she could feel his slight body trembling against her leg. Small paw-like hands wrapped around her ankle to hold on tight, hoping for reassurance from his surrogate mother/sister.
Miroku-it was the strangest thing-was staring at her with a reverence and surprise never before seen on his face at any time past. He murmured something inaudibly to himself. InuYasha snapped his head towards the monk. "What was that, bozu?"
"She . . .she's . . .she's a Kokoro Chikara. A . . .a Soul Mage." The hoshi was obviously trying to get a hold of himself, failing, but trying.
"And that would be . . .?" InuYasha was obviously as clueless as Kagome on what that might be, and a glance at Sango added her to that group.
Miroku turned to look at him. "They're . . .they're so rare, hardly thought to even be alive these days. To know one-and of such power!" He looked at the blank stares his friends were giving him. "I'm sorry, I'm just having so much trouble attempting to explain the Chikara. I know so little about them . . .I think she's going to have to explain it herself." He shrugged helplessly.
"I will." They looked over at the so-called Chikara. She had sat up, slowly wiping tear trails from her dirt smudged face. Her slight frame drooped with a weariness that came of long held pain. "I'll tell you it all." She sighed, and slowly raised a hand, palm up, in front of her. She looked down at it. "Guess I don't need this anymore." She flipped her hand over and rubbed her fingers against each other, like she was brushing off dust. The inch long crystal teardrop at her throat started to glow with a faint pale green light.
InuYasha's head rose alertly. He sniffed and took a step forward, releasing Kagome from his embrace as he did so. Smells. He could detect all sorts of scents coming from her-FINALLY! A waft of green tea, the tangy smell of sweat, the salty flow of tears still clung to her; sorrow was as potent as perfume, and. . . his golden eyes widened. She was so young! She shouldn't have THAT scent! Though. . .he slanted a sideways look at Kagome from underneath the cover of his bangs. . .if SHE had that scent on her-at her age, or ever-it had better be his, tailor made.
"Kiry. . .what's going on?" Kagome walked hesitantly to her cousin, who turned her head to the ground, unable to meet Kagome's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I should have told you. I just didn't know how. . ." Kiry was surprised when Kagome knelt in front of her. The raven-haired girl placed her hand on the tear marred cheeks, wiping away another that had slipped down to make another trail in the dirt, testament to her sorrow. Violet eyes looked up hopefully into comforting blue-gray ones.
"It's okay. It's going to be okay-" Kagome started.
"No! It's not okay!" Kiry cried out and fisted her fingers in her hair, yanking it from its bun in the process. The golden brown hair tumbled about her face, and she shoved at it impatiently. "Because. . .because he's gone. And I can't do anything to save him!"
"Who's HE?" Sango asked, trying to at least get that cleared. Kiry looked up at her and opened her mouth to answer the girl. But InuYasha knew.
"Your mate." he said in a low voice.
Kiry looked levelly at him as the widened eyes of the others did the same, before snapping them back at her for confirmation. She slowly nodded her head.
"Yes, my mate. . .my life. . .my love. He's gone. And it's all Naraku's fault." She slowly shook her head, oblivious to the pole-axed looks the others were giving her. "He has hurt so many. . ." She looked up at them. She grinned at their faces, in spite of the way she felt, which was basically as if a MacTruck had turned her into a parking spot.
To put it in the most accurate description possible: their jaws had dropped to grace the floor, tongues rolled out like red carpets awaiting royalty, eyes bulged in their sockets, and distinct sounds resembling 'AWOOGA!' were emitting from said mouths. In English: 'Aliens had come for tea and scones and had accidentally landed in the missus's prize rose garden' would have shocked them less.
The others finally caught a grip on her grin and glanced around at each other. The stunned faces were enough to set the others smiling sheepishly, then grinning themselves, and finally chuckling helplessly.
"I'll explain, I'll explain. But. . .um. . .can we go somewhere else? I'd rather not talk about anything.here." Kiry gestured around her at the bodies that lay in disorganized heaps.
Everyone agreed with her and Kagome picked up the shards, which turned pure at the merest touch. They picked up themselves and any dropped weaponry and started a trek up the hill.
@}~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~
Miroku grumbled under his breath as he tried to light the 'stupid confounded gods forsaken' fire. Apparently it had rained there in the last couple of days and the wood was wet everywhere he looked. So, here he was, attempting to use one of Kagome-sama's 'lighters' to set the sopping pile of wood a-blaze and mentally cussing the wet into the seventh level of hell. Maybe then he could get a bloody fire started; it might be drier after a trip to hell, maybe even set on fire.
He felt eyes on his back and looked up into the amused face of Kiry. She said nothing, just kept watching. Miroku's eye developed a twitch. "May I help you?" he asked, somewhat politely. She didn't say anything, but the amused look in her eyes grew ten fold. "Care to lend a hand?" He gestured at the damp wood.
Kiry transferred her look from him to the sticks. They burst into flame with such a vengeance that Miroku flung himself backward to escape his robes being incinerated. "HOLY SHIT!" the monk yelped.
Kagome heard, but she really didn't believe it when Miroku swore. She turned from unrolling the blankets and sleeping bags to stare at her friend. "Miroku!" Kagome scolded. Then she saw the cheerily snapping fire and her cousin adding more wood on the blaze. "Oh good! You got the fire started!" She turned before she could see Miroku's exasperated look and glanced at her cousin. . .who was looking almost suspiciously innocent about something. She shrugged it off. "Kiry, are you. . .ready to tell us?"
Everyone gathered around the campfire, which was somehow burning the still sopping wood, and sat down. Kagome sat next to Kiry incase she needed moral support.
"I'm ready. Just please don't interrupt me, cuz I may not have the will to continue if I stop at some point." At their nodded consent, the weary girl started her tale as she focused on the flames dancing before her eyes.
@}~~~~~~^~~~~~~~
Kiry had been born on July 13 a perfectly perfect baby. She grew up as normal as a person of her state of mind can [meaning: she's crazy, but she's not insane. Yanno?], and took a keen interest in martial arts.
But when she hit the age of 11, everything changed. She started to hear things, people's voices, inside her head. It took her a while to figure out that what she was really hearing wasn't the signs of her going insane at last, but what people were thinking. They drove her crazy. She didn't want to know everyone's dirty secrets, especially not her friends'. She didn't tell anyone: she was convinced that the second she mentioned it, she'd get sent on an all expenses paid trip to the rubber room. She kept it inside, feeling like she was losing sight of herself in all the people crammed in her head.
She couldn't keep her secret for long though. Soon after her 12th birthday, her secret burst out in the most unlikely way imaginable and she did the unthinkable.
Kiry had been making breakfast one Thursday morning. It had been a highly stressful week, what with a math test, a kempo match tomorrow, and now breakfast to cook every morning; she was now nearing the end of her rope. She was almost done with breakfast, her dad was fumbling with his tie in the reflection of the hallway mirror, and her mother was scooping up things to shove in her briefcase.
But, the toast decided that her life wasn't hectic enough and went and burned itself. Or, rather, the toaster oven had a tizzy fit and rebelled.
Kiry felt cold anger wash over her. She was mad, madder than she had ever been before at anything. And this time, she didn't push away the tingly feelings of fury. She let them in for once.
When she had been a child, she'd had tantrums, like all other kids, right? But even at the young age of four, she'd realized that there was something not quite right about hers. So, she stopped having the fits. She might be mad at something or someone, but she didn't show it with anger.
But today was different. Today was 12 years of keeping her temper in check built up. And she was tired of it, to no end.
She stared at that toaster, the embodiment of evil in her mind, and uttered one word: "Die."
The toaster exploded in a flash of purple light.
When the plaster dust settled and the smoke cleared Kiry pushed herself up off of the floor where she had be thrown, and looked around. There was. . .a hole. . .in the wall. The toaster was gone, fried into nothing.
She shook with horror and started to cry in a big panicky wave. 'What had she done?' her mind screamed at her. She was shocked when she felt her mother's arms about her.
"I think we need to tell you something, sweetie." Her okaasan murmured in her ear.
After sitting her down in a comfy chair, giving her a glass of Diet-Pepsi and a box of Kleenex, they told her about her heritage. Way back in her family on her mother's side, there had been several people of great power, called Kokoro Chikara, or Soul Mages. They had the ability do things, like hear minds, *grin* blow up toasters, and heal bodies and minds. But, sadly, that talent had disappeared from the bloodline over two centuries ago, and passed out of all knowledge in the world, save for the stories passed down through the generations.
Kiry didn't know what to do. It seemed that she was one of these 'Chikara', but now what? If she ever got angry again, she could end up hurting someone on accident. And that thought scared her spitless. Fortunately, her father had a solution: the Bone-Eater's Well. [Gasp! Shock! Dun-Dun-Dun!]
Jumpei, her tousan, had been a bit of a snoop when he was kid, and snuck into the Well House one day. Otousan had crawled on top of the well lid cover and it broke, sending him crashing into the past. He had wandered around for a little while, looking around, and came upon Kaede's village. The young boy saw and heard enough to figure out where-or more appropriately, WHEN-he was, he decided that scramming was a great idea. He ran back to the well as quick as he could and hopped in, hoping that somehow it would take him home.
It did. He never told anyone when he had been, figuring accurately that they wouldn't believe him. The well was boarded up again and the incident was forgotten. But now the memory of that past time, 40 years ago, might be just what Kiry needed to learn to control her powers. The girl was sure that then and there was where she could find help. Her resolve to go set that day.
Oddly enough, her parents agreed with her. They knew their daughter could take care of herself, and could whoop the tush of some black belts even at her young age with the help of her shukusens. So anything she might meet that could give her trouble, she could most likely take care of.
So, one night, when Kagome and the family were out at Disneyland Tokyo for an overnight trip, Jumpei and Kiry went to the Well House and pried the boards of the top. Kiry was going alone. Someone need to stay to board up the well again and her father was needed at home more than she needed him with her.
They said good bye, and then she jumped, not to return till she had found herself again.
As predictability goes, she immediately got lost in the forest upon her exodus of the well. And she wandered all that day, not seeing nary a soul, just trees, a few rabbits, no youkai. She wondered if maybe this was all just a big mistake, that, yeah, maybe she was in the feudal era. . .but where were all the people? Where was anyone she could ask for help? Little did she know she had gone in the opposite direction of the village her father saw.
As she slipped off to sleep under the canopy of a large tree (not the Go- shinboku) she whispered, "Help. Let me find help." She never knew why she sent that quite plea into the darkness that night, but that turned out to be what saved her.
When she awoke the next morning, her tree was gone, and she was in an area she knew she couldn't have sleep-walked to in one night. The mountains were different, for one, and for two, there was a glittering ethereal blue wall between two trees in front of her. Toto, they most certainly were not in Tokyo anymore. The sleep bemused girl blinked a few times at the translucent apparatus, trying to figure out what it was. Somehow it never occurred to her that it might mean trouble. It just seemed. . .friendly, you might say.
Well, common sense not being so common anymore, she decided to touch it. It rippled over her fingers for a few seconds, then the whole thing vanished. The poor girl was so tired, what from jet-lag, walking all day in a forest and not getting anywhere, and sleeping on the ground, she just accepted it without question and walked through.
Along the slightly worn path throughout the forest she walked, till she came to a small cluster of buildings. There was a small group of. . .she supposed she could call them people-though one of them had dog-ears popping out of the top of her head, along with sharp fang-like teeth and a fluffy black tail-that appeared to be waiting for something or someone at the end of the path before it came to a halt in the village center. They were human looking enough-though one of them had dog-ears popping out of the top of her head, along with sharp fang-like teeth and a fluffy black tail-despite the slight humming she could feel in the air as she hesitantly walked closer.
"Hello," she swallowed "I'm looking for someone that can help me. . ." Kiry trailed of as one of them, a tall, willowy, aged woman, came forward to her. The lady put out a hand under Kiry's chin and raised the now shaking girl's head to look her in the eyes. The cool, light gray eyes that stared into her lavender ones regarded her with a bit of wonder
"Yes, little one, I know." There was something in the old woman's voice that stilled Kiry's shakes and made her feel save. "You have many questions, ones that we can answer. But I must say: how could I have not known when you were born? You winked into existence just hours ago. . .I though surly you must have just been born, a small babe. Yet you are not. A strange tale you must bear. Come, come child." The lady put her arm around the girl's shoulders and led her into a small hut towards the front and right of the village.
The lady, whose name Kiry learned to be Falma, fondly called Bachan by everyone, did help her like she promised. She told her what she was. Kiry, who soon became known as everyone's musume-chan, was indeed a Kokoro Chikara, a Soul Mage, a mage from the heart. Her power, or Gift, came from her life-soul. Use it all up, and she died, her soul shredded into nothing, not even able to be a ghost in that state.
It was moldable into anything for any purpose: spells, barriers, healing, the list went on longer than Falma could explain in one day. Her mind reading was a bonus that sometimes went along with the Gift. None had it strong enough that they could hear the thoughts of people a mile away, so teaching Kiry strong enough barriers for her mind was a little long in the process. She could never turn the telepathy off completely, but the barriers kept it in check enough that she could think without hearing them all the time. Only the really strong emotionally backed thoughts got through when she had the full barriers up.
She became a part of the community in no time. The excepted her and her time travel story without question. Time travel had been a known practice with Chikara of years past, but it was hard to accomplish. Opening spacial portals was a tricky business, time portals were trickier still, and the two together were considered to be left for the Masters. Falma neglected to tell her that last bit though.
Ryoku Furukuri came into her life unexpectedly when Falma decided that the two should take lessons together. They practiced bouncing fire and lightning bolts off each others barriers during lessons, and soon spent hours together outside of class driving the village nuts with their liking for trouble. Kiry also made friends with the dog-eared girl she had seen that first day. She turned out to be a lone wolf youkai named Kojiro. Koji had come to the village when she was a very young orphaned pup, and had remained there as a protector of the Mura.
When she was 15, Ryu and Kiry's relationship went from friends to the little tingly feelings. Everyone said that they were perfect together, that Kiry's temper was balanced by Ryu's calming nature, and that her sarcasm matched his for a very interesting fight if they even managed to get one started, which if they did, hardly ever lasted long.
On her 17th birthday, their lives changed forever when they got married. They were so happy. . .then came Naraku. The evil hanyou-or should it be said, one of his minions [*coughcowardcough*]-had captured a foolish and arrogant youth who styled himself a mage. The stupid boy had on him special texts that spoke of ways to gain a false power like the Chikara. Naraku, never being a one for passing up a chance for more power, immediately poured over the scrolls.
They described a way to draw out the souls, and therefore the power and life-force, of humans, youkai, Chikara, and. . .children. Depending on what they were and how old they were, their souls gave more power to the thief. The rite to pass on and take the soul was slightly complex. It had to be done on a full moon night (typical), certain incantations had to be spoken, and blood mixing was to be performed in a certain manner or it didn't work. But it worked, it worked alright when Naraku started doing it. He started gathering people and performing the ritual, gaining more power. This power was worse though. He was gaining the false power of the Chikara. The Limitless.
And one day he saw Kiry and Ryu together, laughing, so happy. He could feel the power rippling of the both of them and decided who his next victim would be.
@}~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~
Kiry was sitting like a limp doll next to the fire, which had burnt down to small pile of glowing embers. The others sat with eyes riveted on the girl so thoroughly weaving a spell binding story about them.
"Naraku came for Ryu one night. We. . .fought. He kept me from draining myself. . .to save him. We knew we couldn't win. Ryu was. . .almost dead. . .we ran into the woods, hiding. He. . .he didn't want. . .Naraku to get. . .to get his soul." Kiry was starting to cry as she stared into the red coals s if her being depended on it. "Without his soul. . .there was no hope. He'd be gone. . .forever. So he. . .he. . .sent his soul into exile. Into this."
Kiry held out the glowing jewel at her throat. "His soul is trapped in this crystal. He spoke a. . .a ritual. . .that takes your soul out of your body and traps it, in crystals, where they lie dormant. It's a spell not commonly used, but the soul in the crystal can be drawn out by a Chikara only and made as part of their own power. Naraku couldn't use it in this form. I was no use to him drained. He left, saying he'd be back for me later." Kiry gripped the tear dropped shape in her hand like a life-line.
She finally looked up at the others, her eyes coming to rest on Kagome. "The gods made a pact, that whoever kills Naraku can have a wish, one thing in all the world they want. And all I want is my husband back. I came to ask you for help in killing him. I knew when you were made known in this era. And when you woke the puppy up." She grinned weakly at the face he made at the nickname. "This world likes to gossip. If they ever stopped, the wind would cease blowing for its energy is gone."
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I just. . .didn't know how to say it. If you don't want me around, I'll understand. I'll go back to the village. But, you're my only hope now. If you don't help me, I'll never get him back."
Kiry suddenly toppled forward and clutched her stomach as if in pain. She started crying again, like she was dying. "My gods, Kagome, you don't know how hard it is. . .the worst thing about living in this world is being alive when the only person you ever fully loved isn't."
Kagome scooted over to wrap her arms around her cousin. The sobbing girl leaned into her lap and cried. "It's not right! He's not here. . .like he should be. . .with me! It's not right. . ." Kiry trailed off, her voice spent.
Kagome did the only thing she knew to do. She held her and rocked her back and forth, petting her hair. "There, there, Kir-chan. Everything's going to be alright. There, there."
A/N: Yes, I'm late again, I know. I blame school, my friends, and my sister. Yeah, you Amber! *sticks tongue out at sis* LOL, j/k!
Okay, explanations: READ~READ~READ~READ~READ~READ!
Kiry's story was very abbreviated. There is a whole bunch more too it, but some of it she doesn't know, and some of it she's just not ready to tell. No, she wasn't lying bout her training in the shukusens or her other training. Yes, you will eventually get the whole story.
On another note, I'm starting RP (Role-Playing) game in relation to 'Family Secrets'. The address for the site is . You can just past that link into your browser to get directly to it. There you can go and RP as a mage, a youkai, a hanyou, or a nigen. There are rules to abide by, clearly specified on the site, but otherwise just have fun! I'd love to have any and all who want to participate join the board! Kiry will be your guide in Kokoro Chikara no Mura, she'll tell you all the rules and take you on tour and then you're set to go! Just no asking her for spoilers, she won't tell. Her life on the board goes at the same time frame as the story so things will be added from time to time by me.
Well, that's it for now! I hope to have an up-date up sooner than this time, but the likelihood of that is. . .what? Yeah, that's what I thought. *grin* But, I shall try, I promise. So, until next time, I love you all my faithful little readers who I really don't deserve!
Ja matta ne!
Aelii-chan, AKA: Mz. Lazybum
~.^
Family Secrets
By: Aelinwen Elentari
Chapter 10: The Worst Thing
Translations: (should have done these a while ago, ne?)
Musume-chan~little daughter, little girl/friend
Otousan/tousan~father/daddy
Okaasan/kaasan~mother/mommy
itoko~cousin
Kokoro Chikara~Soul Mage (literally Spirit Power)
When Kiry had reacted so violently at first to Deloth's statement, Kagome had edged over to InuYasha's side, but when Kiry had lit the clearing with the brilliant light from her hands, Kagome had leaped into InuYasha's arms. It was a reflex, the safest place she knew to be when bad things were happening. She couldn't remember when she had first realized that . . .it had been so long ago and so natural to do when she did, that she had never really thought about it. Besides, InuYasha had never seemed to mind.
Therefore, here she was, wrapped in the hanyou's warm embrace, watching as her cousin crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, thrown away as an unwanted object would be. The sobs of misery and anguish tore at Kagome's heart, but she couldn't figure out if she wanted to go to Kiry or not. She looked at her companions and friends for some hint of what she should do.
InuYasha was watching the prone girl with suspicion and a predatory watchful air. He held Kagome in a protective grip, her head tucked under his chin, but ready to push her behind him if need be at any second.
Sango sat on Kirara, Haraikostu strapped on her back again. It was a good thing that the feline was underneath her, because she wasn't certain that her feet would have held her up if she had tried to stand. The idea of someone besides Kagome from her time having power of any sort-Kiry least of all-had never occurred to the demon exterminator.
Shippo, Kagome couldn't see, but she could feel his slight body trembling against her leg. Small paw-like hands wrapped around her ankle to hold on tight, hoping for reassurance from his surrogate mother/sister.
Miroku-it was the strangest thing-was staring at her with a reverence and surprise never before seen on his face at any time past. He murmured something inaudibly to himself. InuYasha snapped his head towards the monk. "What was that, bozu?"
"She . . .she's . . .she's a Kokoro Chikara. A . . .a Soul Mage." The hoshi was obviously trying to get a hold of himself, failing, but trying.
"And that would be . . .?" InuYasha was obviously as clueless as Kagome on what that might be, and a glance at Sango added her to that group.
Miroku turned to look at him. "They're . . .they're so rare, hardly thought to even be alive these days. To know one-and of such power!" He looked at the blank stares his friends were giving him. "I'm sorry, I'm just having so much trouble attempting to explain the Chikara. I know so little about them . . .I think she's going to have to explain it herself." He shrugged helplessly.
"I will." They looked over at the so-called Chikara. She had sat up, slowly wiping tear trails from her dirt smudged face. Her slight frame drooped with a weariness that came of long held pain. "I'll tell you it all." She sighed, and slowly raised a hand, palm up, in front of her. She looked down at it. "Guess I don't need this anymore." She flipped her hand over and rubbed her fingers against each other, like she was brushing off dust. The inch long crystal teardrop at her throat started to glow with a faint pale green light.
InuYasha's head rose alertly. He sniffed and took a step forward, releasing Kagome from his embrace as he did so. Smells. He could detect all sorts of scents coming from her-FINALLY! A waft of green tea, the tangy smell of sweat, the salty flow of tears still clung to her; sorrow was as potent as perfume, and. . . his golden eyes widened. She was so young! She shouldn't have THAT scent! Though. . .he slanted a sideways look at Kagome from underneath the cover of his bangs. . .if SHE had that scent on her-at her age, or ever-it had better be his, tailor made.
"Kiry. . .what's going on?" Kagome walked hesitantly to her cousin, who turned her head to the ground, unable to meet Kagome's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I should have told you. I just didn't know how. . ." Kiry was surprised when Kagome knelt in front of her. The raven-haired girl placed her hand on the tear marred cheeks, wiping away another that had slipped down to make another trail in the dirt, testament to her sorrow. Violet eyes looked up hopefully into comforting blue-gray ones.
"It's okay. It's going to be okay-" Kagome started.
"No! It's not okay!" Kiry cried out and fisted her fingers in her hair, yanking it from its bun in the process. The golden brown hair tumbled about her face, and she shoved at it impatiently. "Because. . .because he's gone. And I can't do anything to save him!"
"Who's HE?" Sango asked, trying to at least get that cleared. Kiry looked up at her and opened her mouth to answer the girl. But InuYasha knew.
"Your mate." he said in a low voice.
Kiry looked levelly at him as the widened eyes of the others did the same, before snapping them back at her for confirmation. She slowly nodded her head.
"Yes, my mate. . .my life. . .my love. He's gone. And it's all Naraku's fault." She slowly shook her head, oblivious to the pole-axed looks the others were giving her. "He has hurt so many. . ." She looked up at them. She grinned at their faces, in spite of the way she felt, which was basically as if a MacTruck had turned her into a parking spot.
To put it in the most accurate description possible: their jaws had dropped to grace the floor, tongues rolled out like red carpets awaiting royalty, eyes bulged in their sockets, and distinct sounds resembling 'AWOOGA!' were emitting from said mouths. In English: 'Aliens had come for tea and scones and had accidentally landed in the missus's prize rose garden' would have shocked them less.
The others finally caught a grip on her grin and glanced around at each other. The stunned faces were enough to set the others smiling sheepishly, then grinning themselves, and finally chuckling helplessly.
"I'll explain, I'll explain. But. . .um. . .can we go somewhere else? I'd rather not talk about anything.here." Kiry gestured around her at the bodies that lay in disorganized heaps.
Everyone agreed with her and Kagome picked up the shards, which turned pure at the merest touch. They picked up themselves and any dropped weaponry and started a trek up the hill.
@}~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~
Miroku grumbled under his breath as he tried to light the 'stupid confounded gods forsaken' fire. Apparently it had rained there in the last couple of days and the wood was wet everywhere he looked. So, here he was, attempting to use one of Kagome-sama's 'lighters' to set the sopping pile of wood a-blaze and mentally cussing the wet into the seventh level of hell. Maybe then he could get a bloody fire started; it might be drier after a trip to hell, maybe even set on fire.
He felt eyes on his back and looked up into the amused face of Kiry. She said nothing, just kept watching. Miroku's eye developed a twitch. "May I help you?" he asked, somewhat politely. She didn't say anything, but the amused look in her eyes grew ten fold. "Care to lend a hand?" He gestured at the damp wood.
Kiry transferred her look from him to the sticks. They burst into flame with such a vengeance that Miroku flung himself backward to escape his robes being incinerated. "HOLY SHIT!" the monk yelped.
Kagome heard, but she really didn't believe it when Miroku swore. She turned from unrolling the blankets and sleeping bags to stare at her friend. "Miroku!" Kagome scolded. Then she saw the cheerily snapping fire and her cousin adding more wood on the blaze. "Oh good! You got the fire started!" She turned before she could see Miroku's exasperated look and glanced at her cousin. . .who was looking almost suspiciously innocent about something. She shrugged it off. "Kiry, are you. . .ready to tell us?"
Everyone gathered around the campfire, which was somehow burning the still sopping wood, and sat down. Kagome sat next to Kiry incase she needed moral support.
"I'm ready. Just please don't interrupt me, cuz I may not have the will to continue if I stop at some point." At their nodded consent, the weary girl started her tale as she focused on the flames dancing before her eyes.
@}~~~~~~^~~~~~~~
Kiry had been born on July 13 a perfectly perfect baby. She grew up as normal as a person of her state of mind can [meaning: she's crazy, but she's not insane. Yanno?], and took a keen interest in martial arts.
But when she hit the age of 11, everything changed. She started to hear things, people's voices, inside her head. It took her a while to figure out that what she was really hearing wasn't the signs of her going insane at last, but what people were thinking. They drove her crazy. She didn't want to know everyone's dirty secrets, especially not her friends'. She didn't tell anyone: she was convinced that the second she mentioned it, she'd get sent on an all expenses paid trip to the rubber room. She kept it inside, feeling like she was losing sight of herself in all the people crammed in her head.
She couldn't keep her secret for long though. Soon after her 12th birthday, her secret burst out in the most unlikely way imaginable and she did the unthinkable.
Kiry had been making breakfast one Thursday morning. It had been a highly stressful week, what with a math test, a kempo match tomorrow, and now breakfast to cook every morning; she was now nearing the end of her rope. She was almost done with breakfast, her dad was fumbling with his tie in the reflection of the hallway mirror, and her mother was scooping up things to shove in her briefcase.
But, the toast decided that her life wasn't hectic enough and went and burned itself. Or, rather, the toaster oven had a tizzy fit and rebelled.
Kiry felt cold anger wash over her. She was mad, madder than she had ever been before at anything. And this time, she didn't push away the tingly feelings of fury. She let them in for once.
When she had been a child, she'd had tantrums, like all other kids, right? But even at the young age of four, she'd realized that there was something not quite right about hers. So, she stopped having the fits. She might be mad at something or someone, but she didn't show it with anger.
But today was different. Today was 12 years of keeping her temper in check built up. And she was tired of it, to no end.
She stared at that toaster, the embodiment of evil in her mind, and uttered one word: "Die."
The toaster exploded in a flash of purple light.
When the plaster dust settled and the smoke cleared Kiry pushed herself up off of the floor where she had be thrown, and looked around. There was. . .a hole. . .in the wall. The toaster was gone, fried into nothing.
She shook with horror and started to cry in a big panicky wave. 'What had she done?' her mind screamed at her. She was shocked when she felt her mother's arms about her.
"I think we need to tell you something, sweetie." Her okaasan murmured in her ear.
After sitting her down in a comfy chair, giving her a glass of Diet-Pepsi and a box of Kleenex, they told her about her heritage. Way back in her family on her mother's side, there had been several people of great power, called Kokoro Chikara, or Soul Mages. They had the ability do things, like hear minds, *grin* blow up toasters, and heal bodies and minds. But, sadly, that talent had disappeared from the bloodline over two centuries ago, and passed out of all knowledge in the world, save for the stories passed down through the generations.
Kiry didn't know what to do. It seemed that she was one of these 'Chikara', but now what? If she ever got angry again, she could end up hurting someone on accident. And that thought scared her spitless. Fortunately, her father had a solution: the Bone-Eater's Well. [Gasp! Shock! Dun-Dun-Dun!]
Jumpei, her tousan, had been a bit of a snoop when he was kid, and snuck into the Well House one day. Otousan had crawled on top of the well lid cover and it broke, sending him crashing into the past. He had wandered around for a little while, looking around, and came upon Kaede's village. The young boy saw and heard enough to figure out where-or more appropriately, WHEN-he was, he decided that scramming was a great idea. He ran back to the well as quick as he could and hopped in, hoping that somehow it would take him home.
It did. He never told anyone when he had been, figuring accurately that they wouldn't believe him. The well was boarded up again and the incident was forgotten. But now the memory of that past time, 40 years ago, might be just what Kiry needed to learn to control her powers. The girl was sure that then and there was where she could find help. Her resolve to go set that day.
Oddly enough, her parents agreed with her. They knew their daughter could take care of herself, and could whoop the tush of some black belts even at her young age with the help of her shukusens. So anything she might meet that could give her trouble, she could most likely take care of.
So, one night, when Kagome and the family were out at Disneyland Tokyo for an overnight trip, Jumpei and Kiry went to the Well House and pried the boards of the top. Kiry was going alone. Someone need to stay to board up the well again and her father was needed at home more than she needed him with her.
They said good bye, and then she jumped, not to return till she had found herself again.
As predictability goes, she immediately got lost in the forest upon her exodus of the well. And she wandered all that day, not seeing nary a soul, just trees, a few rabbits, no youkai. She wondered if maybe this was all just a big mistake, that, yeah, maybe she was in the feudal era. . .but where were all the people? Where was anyone she could ask for help? Little did she know she had gone in the opposite direction of the village her father saw.
As she slipped off to sleep under the canopy of a large tree (not the Go- shinboku) she whispered, "Help. Let me find help." She never knew why she sent that quite plea into the darkness that night, but that turned out to be what saved her.
When she awoke the next morning, her tree was gone, and she was in an area she knew she couldn't have sleep-walked to in one night. The mountains were different, for one, and for two, there was a glittering ethereal blue wall between two trees in front of her. Toto, they most certainly were not in Tokyo anymore. The sleep bemused girl blinked a few times at the translucent apparatus, trying to figure out what it was. Somehow it never occurred to her that it might mean trouble. It just seemed. . .friendly, you might say.
Well, common sense not being so common anymore, she decided to touch it. It rippled over her fingers for a few seconds, then the whole thing vanished. The poor girl was so tired, what from jet-lag, walking all day in a forest and not getting anywhere, and sleeping on the ground, she just accepted it without question and walked through.
Along the slightly worn path throughout the forest she walked, till she came to a small cluster of buildings. There was a small group of. . .she supposed she could call them people-though one of them had dog-ears popping out of the top of her head, along with sharp fang-like teeth and a fluffy black tail-that appeared to be waiting for something or someone at the end of the path before it came to a halt in the village center. They were human looking enough-though one of them had dog-ears popping out of the top of her head, along with sharp fang-like teeth and a fluffy black tail-despite the slight humming she could feel in the air as she hesitantly walked closer.
"Hello," she swallowed "I'm looking for someone that can help me. . ." Kiry trailed of as one of them, a tall, willowy, aged woman, came forward to her. The lady put out a hand under Kiry's chin and raised the now shaking girl's head to look her in the eyes. The cool, light gray eyes that stared into her lavender ones regarded her with a bit of wonder
"Yes, little one, I know." There was something in the old woman's voice that stilled Kiry's shakes and made her feel save. "You have many questions, ones that we can answer. But I must say: how could I have not known when you were born? You winked into existence just hours ago. . .I though surly you must have just been born, a small babe. Yet you are not. A strange tale you must bear. Come, come child." The lady put her arm around the girl's shoulders and led her into a small hut towards the front and right of the village.
The lady, whose name Kiry learned to be Falma, fondly called Bachan by everyone, did help her like she promised. She told her what she was. Kiry, who soon became known as everyone's musume-chan, was indeed a Kokoro Chikara, a Soul Mage, a mage from the heart. Her power, or Gift, came from her life-soul. Use it all up, and she died, her soul shredded into nothing, not even able to be a ghost in that state.
It was moldable into anything for any purpose: spells, barriers, healing, the list went on longer than Falma could explain in one day. Her mind reading was a bonus that sometimes went along with the Gift. None had it strong enough that they could hear the thoughts of people a mile away, so teaching Kiry strong enough barriers for her mind was a little long in the process. She could never turn the telepathy off completely, but the barriers kept it in check enough that she could think without hearing them all the time. Only the really strong emotionally backed thoughts got through when she had the full barriers up.
She became a part of the community in no time. The excepted her and her time travel story without question. Time travel had been a known practice with Chikara of years past, but it was hard to accomplish. Opening spacial portals was a tricky business, time portals were trickier still, and the two together were considered to be left for the Masters. Falma neglected to tell her that last bit though.
Ryoku Furukuri came into her life unexpectedly when Falma decided that the two should take lessons together. They practiced bouncing fire and lightning bolts off each others barriers during lessons, and soon spent hours together outside of class driving the village nuts with their liking for trouble. Kiry also made friends with the dog-eared girl she had seen that first day. She turned out to be a lone wolf youkai named Kojiro. Koji had come to the village when she was a very young orphaned pup, and had remained there as a protector of the Mura.
When she was 15, Ryu and Kiry's relationship went from friends to the little tingly feelings. Everyone said that they were perfect together, that Kiry's temper was balanced by Ryu's calming nature, and that her sarcasm matched his for a very interesting fight if they even managed to get one started, which if they did, hardly ever lasted long.
On her 17th birthday, their lives changed forever when they got married. They were so happy. . .then came Naraku. The evil hanyou-or should it be said, one of his minions [*coughcowardcough*]-had captured a foolish and arrogant youth who styled himself a mage. The stupid boy had on him special texts that spoke of ways to gain a false power like the Chikara. Naraku, never being a one for passing up a chance for more power, immediately poured over the scrolls.
They described a way to draw out the souls, and therefore the power and life-force, of humans, youkai, Chikara, and. . .children. Depending on what they were and how old they were, their souls gave more power to the thief. The rite to pass on and take the soul was slightly complex. It had to be done on a full moon night (typical), certain incantations had to be spoken, and blood mixing was to be performed in a certain manner or it didn't work. But it worked, it worked alright when Naraku started doing it. He started gathering people and performing the ritual, gaining more power. This power was worse though. He was gaining the false power of the Chikara. The Limitless.
And one day he saw Kiry and Ryu together, laughing, so happy. He could feel the power rippling of the both of them and decided who his next victim would be.
@}~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~
Kiry was sitting like a limp doll next to the fire, which had burnt down to small pile of glowing embers. The others sat with eyes riveted on the girl so thoroughly weaving a spell binding story about them.
"Naraku came for Ryu one night. We. . .fought. He kept me from draining myself. . .to save him. We knew we couldn't win. Ryu was. . .almost dead. . .we ran into the woods, hiding. He. . .he didn't want. . .Naraku to get. . .to get his soul." Kiry was starting to cry as she stared into the red coals s if her being depended on it. "Without his soul. . .there was no hope. He'd be gone. . .forever. So he. . .he. . .sent his soul into exile. Into this."
Kiry held out the glowing jewel at her throat. "His soul is trapped in this crystal. He spoke a. . .a ritual. . .that takes your soul out of your body and traps it, in crystals, where they lie dormant. It's a spell not commonly used, but the soul in the crystal can be drawn out by a Chikara only and made as part of their own power. Naraku couldn't use it in this form. I was no use to him drained. He left, saying he'd be back for me later." Kiry gripped the tear dropped shape in her hand like a life-line.
She finally looked up at the others, her eyes coming to rest on Kagome. "The gods made a pact, that whoever kills Naraku can have a wish, one thing in all the world they want. And all I want is my husband back. I came to ask you for help in killing him. I knew when you were made known in this era. And when you woke the puppy up." She grinned weakly at the face he made at the nickname. "This world likes to gossip. If they ever stopped, the wind would cease blowing for its energy is gone."
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I just. . .didn't know how to say it. If you don't want me around, I'll understand. I'll go back to the village. But, you're my only hope now. If you don't help me, I'll never get him back."
Kiry suddenly toppled forward and clutched her stomach as if in pain. She started crying again, like she was dying. "My gods, Kagome, you don't know how hard it is. . .the worst thing about living in this world is being alive when the only person you ever fully loved isn't."
Kagome scooted over to wrap her arms around her cousin. The sobbing girl leaned into her lap and cried. "It's not right! He's not here. . .like he should be. . .with me! It's not right. . ." Kiry trailed off, her voice spent.
Kagome did the only thing she knew to do. She held her and rocked her back and forth, petting her hair. "There, there, Kir-chan. Everything's going to be alright. There, there."
A/N: Yes, I'm late again, I know. I blame school, my friends, and my sister. Yeah, you Amber! *sticks tongue out at sis* LOL, j/k!
Okay, explanations: READ~READ~READ~READ~READ~READ!
Kiry's story was very abbreviated. There is a whole bunch more too it, but some of it she doesn't know, and some of it she's just not ready to tell. No, she wasn't lying bout her training in the shukusens or her other training. Yes, you will eventually get the whole story.
On another note, I'm starting RP (Role-Playing) game in relation to 'Family Secrets'. The address for the site is . You can just past that link into your browser to get directly to it. There you can go and RP as a mage, a youkai, a hanyou, or a nigen. There are rules to abide by, clearly specified on the site, but otherwise just have fun! I'd love to have any and all who want to participate join the board! Kiry will be your guide in Kokoro Chikara no Mura, she'll tell you all the rules and take you on tour and then you're set to go! Just no asking her for spoilers, she won't tell. Her life on the board goes at the same time frame as the story so things will be added from time to time by me.
Well, that's it for now! I hope to have an up-date up sooner than this time, but the likelihood of that is. . .what? Yeah, that's what I thought. *grin* But, I shall try, I promise. So, until next time, I love you all my faithful little readers who I really don't deserve!
Ja matta ne!
Aelii-chan, AKA: Mz. Lazybum
~.^