"Lovely"
Chapter Four--Truth
Kagome stared in puzzlement at the women named Relaina who stood in front of her. 'Something...important?' Relaina opened her mouth to speak again, taking a seat on the soft grass upon which they stood and motioned for Kagome to do so as well before she continued. When they were both settled into comfortable positions Relaina beagn,"Kagome, let me start by telling you how all of this began in the first place, yes?" Kagome nodded. "Well it al started eons ago, when I was a very small child..."
-Flash Back-
"Lanna! I-I caught one," An excited voice chirped just a few feet down stream from the child form of Relaina who sat on the edge of the stream bank, plucking pieces of grass from the earth beside her to twist into rings with other pieces of grass and an assorted collection of small flowers. But hearing this, she stood and rushed toward her blonde haired twin sister, Lyla, who was trying her best not to let go of the fishing pole that jerked wildly in her grasp. As she reached her, she took hold of the pole as well, looking down into the crystal clear water and the rather large fish that wiggled ferociously, trying to break loose from the hook, almost seeming to stare up at her with glossy eyes as if it were a prisoner.
This caused her to feel and pang of guilt and she loosened her grip on the pole saying in a soft voice to her sister,"Lyla...maybe we should let him go...he looks so sad..." Lyla only answered by gritting her teeth and pulling harder against the pole to keep it from flinging free. "Lanna...if we..grr..if we let it go, it will only be caught sooner or later, and if we brought it home mama would be so hap-..py.." Relaina thought about this for a moment then sighing in defeat, she murmured an apology to the doomed fish and helped her sister pull it from the water, catch the wiggling being as it flopped on the ground, and stick it in the bucket. After that, Relaina sent Lyla home, saying that she needed some time to think. Lyla had giggled and hugged her, saying she was the weirdest person ever to mourn over a fishie, and left.
When her sister had left, she crouched down by the stream again and dipped her fingers into the cool water, picking up the pile of grass rings that had been forgotten earlier and now remembered as she tossed them one by one into the water, watching them as they flowed down stream. When that was done, she hung her head, whispering a prayer then raised it again. But as she did, something caught her eyes and she glanced down again near her feet to find that beneath the clear water lay a small sphere only about the size of a crab apple. What was weird about it though is that it glowed, a bright pink color that shone brightly in the growing darkness. Leaning down, she picked it up carefully and looked at it with wide eyes, a look of awe on her face as she just sat there for a few minutes and stared at her precious new treasure. 'It's so beautiful...'
She would have stayed there all night looking at it if it had not been for her mother who had gotten worried and come out to search for her. She had startled her when she heard her name being called and Relaina had stood quickly, turning to realize that it was indeed her mother. Gulping, she ran to her and stood in front of her as her mother started on her saying,"Lanna! I was half sick with worry, your sister said you just a few minutes behind, you know it's not safe to be out after dark!" Her eyes began to water and she looked up at her furious mother, her lower lip trembling. "Mommy, I didn't mean to, it's just..." "What, what is it Lanna?" Relaina hesitated for a moment then lifted the sphere cupped in both hands to show her. "Mommy, look what I found! Isn't it beautiful?"
She looked at her puzzled when the only response she got was a gasp. "Relaina Asakari! Where did you get that?! Didn't I teach you better then to steal?" Shaking her head enthusiastically, Relaina's eyes filled with fear as she answered back earnestly," Momma, I swear I didn't steal it, I was just praying by the stream and all of a sudden it was there, I swear!" She waited for a response for what seemed like ages with her mother looking down at her with a judging face, a face that always made her feel so helpless because she never knew what she was thinking. "Mommy...I swear...," She said again, her voice cracking. And this brought her mother down to her knees as she wrapped up her daughter in a reassuring embrace. "Lovely, I believe you, its ok, don't cry sweetie." Relaina sniffed a few times, her tears stopping and a smile forming on her lips as she and her mother started back toward the house and her awaiting sister...
-End Flash Back-
"Aww, that is soo cute," Kagome exclaimed, clasping her hands together beside her face," I'm so glad your mother wasn't angry with you." Relaina laughed and nodded," So am I, she'd give one heck of a punishment if I was doing so." Kagome laughed then said excitedly," Well, well, what happened next?" Ralaina smiled and continued," Well ten years later..."
-Flash Back-
Relaina ran hurriedly through the village streets, dodging carts and other obstacles as she made her way to the Harrow house to use her powers as a priestess and the powers of the Shikon no Tama, the name she had given to the glowing sphere she had found when she was six, to heal one of the family members who had been wounded out in the fields. As she got there, she was greeted at the door and lead to the place where the farmer lay in bed, his leg bleeding heavily. Wincing inwardly, she knelt beside him and with the jewel around her neck and her hands hovered over the wound as she began to chant softly, a glow spreading down from the Shikon no Tama to her fingertips. Thin wisps of glowing pink laced through both sides of the wounds and pulled the skin together like stitches, only less painful, and were seeping into the wound, cleansing it of any parasites or bacteria. Soon all that was left after the glow faded was a red welt to show where the wound had been in the first place.
Relaina slumped a little in her spot, her head hanging as she panted. Healing was a tiring business indeed, but then as that thought came to mind, she remembered that killing was too. Yes, the Skikon no Tama had strengthened her powers as a miko, the magic properties she had found out about soon after finding the stone, caused both life and death. Life to keep her village healthy, death to keep her village safe. But after using it she always felt tired but she had gotten used to that, just as she was recovering even now as she stood and turned, accepting the thanks of the family before leaving. Though this business had seeped her of energy, she knew she would be rewarded later, for the village had returned the favor by paying her small family of her mother and sister with foods and cloth as well as other tools needed for living.
Now she made her way slowly through the streets, a yawn escaping her lips as she made her way back to her mother's house to take a nap, acknowledging greetings or waving back to people who greeted her on the way. Everything seemed so peaceful in this place, she had always thought, no fighting, and no bickering between people...it was...perfect... So she went home, ate a small supper and climbed into bed, falling asleep before her head even reached the pillow.
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Relaina woke later that night, her eyes snapping open as she sat up in bed, staring around the dark bedroom. Something was not right. Quietly climbing out of bed, she got dressed and left the house, making her way to the village, her hand clasped around the jewel at her neck the whole time. But when she emerged from the trees to the edge of the village, she was not prepared for the sight that lay before her, for the small town lay in ruin. Houses still burned and people still screamed in pain or fright around her.
Spotting what had caused this, she lifted her hand, still clasping the stone at her neck with the other and screamed a curse at the band of snake youkai that made their way through the chaos, laughing, growling, killing, destroying, burning...Well now it was their turn to feel what they had done and they began to scream as she finished the last of the spell just in time as their heads turned to take notice of her, but it was too late for them, for the burst into pink flame and screamed a horrible noise as they turned to dust.
Gasping, she fell down to kneel on one knee and lowered her head to catch her breath, not noticing the second group of demons that had walked quietly to her and surrounded her in a tight circle, their tongues lashing out to lick their sharp teeth greedily. Stiffening, she looked up in fright at the creatures around her then gasped again a one much bigger made his way through the horde to tower over her, his grim face rising in a sadistic sort of smile that only made him look more disgusting and evil.
"Mmm...The stone...lovely...," He hissed, crouching down in front of her, his form still looming a mans height above her form. Gathering her courage she opened her mouth and asked in a soft voice that slowly grew louder in rage of what had happened to her people," Why are you here, why have you done this?! What did these people ever do to you?!" The snake demon seemed to stair at her in surprise for a moment, his scaly skin glimmering as it reflected the flame from the burning houses before he threw his head back and laughed a wicked laugh that sent a shiver down her spine. He looked at her again and replied," They never did anything except let out the secret of that thing around your neck's existence...What was it said to be called again? The Shikon no Tama? You pick very lovely names." His voice seemed to ooze as he held out his huge hand, the claws barely shredding through her neck as he spoke again," Now be a good little human and let me have it, I have big plans for that treasure."
Fear rose in her gut when she knew that she was about to do the most stupid thing she would ever do again. "No." With that she stood and turned, leaping high over the youkai to take off running into the burning debris of her village. But her fear only rose when she realized that the youkai were following behind, the sound of their crashing behind her reaching her ears. Though, when she thought about it a moment a thought came to mind. 'Hey, if I can just lead them away from the village...The people might stand a chance.' With that running continually through her mind, her speed rose and she slipped into the forest, her eyes sharpening as she dodged trees and other objects in the way of her survival.
But finally, when she couldn't hear them behind her anymore, she stopped in a small clearing with a pond, small waterfalls running into it to supply the water. Smiling faintly at the lovely scene, she leaned back against the tree, panting still to catch her breath. This was foolish though, she thought later, for as soon as she had relaxed, the youkai dropped from the tree above her, circling her once more in a tighter ring, the biggest one once more looming above her, his sharp teeth showing in his twisted smile. "Well well, so nice to see you so soon," He hissed. "I won't give you the Shikon no Tama," Relaina shrieked, clasping it firmly in her hand.
"You won't have to," Another snake demon said, slithering into view. Gasping, she recognized the robes it was dressed in as those of an evil priest with great power and she drew back as far as she could against the tree, her lower lip beginning to quiver. "No, please just go away...," She pleaded softly. The priest just grinned and bowed his head, his hands outstretched towards her as he began to chant. Her eyes wide in fear she only stared at him in horror as the leader's voice reached her faintly," Since you seem to be so attached to that jewel, we've decided to let you live as it's soul. Like my idea, no?" "No, please, stop, shut up, stop chanting," She cried, running toward the priest to shake him out of his trance.
Unfortunately, before she could, his spell finished and he stared up at her with a wicked smile as her body began to feel light. 'What's happening?!' Suddenly, there was a bright flash of pink light and she rose into the air, staring down at her body. 'What..?!' Then there was another and she found herself trapped inside a bubble the a little bigger then she, except everything she saw through the pink tint in the glossy wall seemed soo much bigger. No...No! Let me out of here!...
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When Relaina was finished with her story, she stared sadly at the ground, tears streaking down her cheeks. The sight was so horribly sorrowful, Kagome thought she would cry with the woman as she reached out a hand to set it on her shoulder, saying softly,"Relaina, I'm so sorry, that must have been terrible for you...But I have to ask...How did you get out again?" Relaina shook her head and sighed, looking up with a faint smile. "When you shattered the Shikon no Tama, my spirit was let free, but my body has died so very long ago." "Then why are you not departed from this world?" "Because I had to tell you before I left...Kagome!" Relaina grabbed her shoulders with both hands and looked at her with urgency in her eyes which startled her. "Kagome! You must not give up this search! There will be people who try and get it before you do, YOU MUST NOT GIVE UP THE SHIKON NO TAMA!" Her voice rang loudly in Kagome's ears and she nodded dumbly, watching as Relaina's form began to disappear even as she spoke these words. "Please Kagome, the fate of this world and the world to come depends on it!" With that she disappeared...
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Ok ok yea I know these last couple chapters have been going slow, thank you so much Blind Raven for being patient, I'm trying to get through the boring informational stuff so I can get to the goodies.
Please review readers!!
Chapter Four--Truth
Kagome stared in puzzlement at the women named Relaina who stood in front of her. 'Something...important?' Relaina opened her mouth to speak again, taking a seat on the soft grass upon which they stood and motioned for Kagome to do so as well before she continued. When they were both settled into comfortable positions Relaina beagn,"Kagome, let me start by telling you how all of this began in the first place, yes?" Kagome nodded. "Well it al started eons ago, when I was a very small child..."
-Flash Back-
"Lanna! I-I caught one," An excited voice chirped just a few feet down stream from the child form of Relaina who sat on the edge of the stream bank, plucking pieces of grass from the earth beside her to twist into rings with other pieces of grass and an assorted collection of small flowers. But hearing this, she stood and rushed toward her blonde haired twin sister, Lyla, who was trying her best not to let go of the fishing pole that jerked wildly in her grasp. As she reached her, she took hold of the pole as well, looking down into the crystal clear water and the rather large fish that wiggled ferociously, trying to break loose from the hook, almost seeming to stare up at her with glossy eyes as if it were a prisoner.
This caused her to feel and pang of guilt and she loosened her grip on the pole saying in a soft voice to her sister,"Lyla...maybe we should let him go...he looks so sad..." Lyla only answered by gritting her teeth and pulling harder against the pole to keep it from flinging free. "Lanna...if we..grr..if we let it go, it will only be caught sooner or later, and if we brought it home mama would be so hap-..py.." Relaina thought about this for a moment then sighing in defeat, she murmured an apology to the doomed fish and helped her sister pull it from the water, catch the wiggling being as it flopped on the ground, and stick it in the bucket. After that, Relaina sent Lyla home, saying that she needed some time to think. Lyla had giggled and hugged her, saying she was the weirdest person ever to mourn over a fishie, and left.
When her sister had left, she crouched down by the stream again and dipped her fingers into the cool water, picking up the pile of grass rings that had been forgotten earlier and now remembered as she tossed them one by one into the water, watching them as they flowed down stream. When that was done, she hung her head, whispering a prayer then raised it again. But as she did, something caught her eyes and she glanced down again near her feet to find that beneath the clear water lay a small sphere only about the size of a crab apple. What was weird about it though is that it glowed, a bright pink color that shone brightly in the growing darkness. Leaning down, she picked it up carefully and looked at it with wide eyes, a look of awe on her face as she just sat there for a few minutes and stared at her precious new treasure. 'It's so beautiful...'
She would have stayed there all night looking at it if it had not been for her mother who had gotten worried and come out to search for her. She had startled her when she heard her name being called and Relaina had stood quickly, turning to realize that it was indeed her mother. Gulping, she ran to her and stood in front of her as her mother started on her saying,"Lanna! I was half sick with worry, your sister said you just a few minutes behind, you know it's not safe to be out after dark!" Her eyes began to water and she looked up at her furious mother, her lower lip trembling. "Mommy, I didn't mean to, it's just..." "What, what is it Lanna?" Relaina hesitated for a moment then lifted the sphere cupped in both hands to show her. "Mommy, look what I found! Isn't it beautiful?"
She looked at her puzzled when the only response she got was a gasp. "Relaina Asakari! Where did you get that?! Didn't I teach you better then to steal?" Shaking her head enthusiastically, Relaina's eyes filled with fear as she answered back earnestly," Momma, I swear I didn't steal it, I was just praying by the stream and all of a sudden it was there, I swear!" She waited for a response for what seemed like ages with her mother looking down at her with a judging face, a face that always made her feel so helpless because she never knew what she was thinking. "Mommy...I swear...," She said again, her voice cracking. And this brought her mother down to her knees as she wrapped up her daughter in a reassuring embrace. "Lovely, I believe you, its ok, don't cry sweetie." Relaina sniffed a few times, her tears stopping and a smile forming on her lips as she and her mother started back toward the house and her awaiting sister...
-End Flash Back-
"Aww, that is soo cute," Kagome exclaimed, clasping her hands together beside her face," I'm so glad your mother wasn't angry with you." Relaina laughed and nodded," So am I, she'd give one heck of a punishment if I was doing so." Kagome laughed then said excitedly," Well, well, what happened next?" Ralaina smiled and continued," Well ten years later..."
-Flash Back-
Relaina ran hurriedly through the village streets, dodging carts and other obstacles as she made her way to the Harrow house to use her powers as a priestess and the powers of the Shikon no Tama, the name she had given to the glowing sphere she had found when she was six, to heal one of the family members who had been wounded out in the fields. As she got there, she was greeted at the door and lead to the place where the farmer lay in bed, his leg bleeding heavily. Wincing inwardly, she knelt beside him and with the jewel around her neck and her hands hovered over the wound as she began to chant softly, a glow spreading down from the Shikon no Tama to her fingertips. Thin wisps of glowing pink laced through both sides of the wounds and pulled the skin together like stitches, only less painful, and were seeping into the wound, cleansing it of any parasites or bacteria. Soon all that was left after the glow faded was a red welt to show where the wound had been in the first place.
Relaina slumped a little in her spot, her head hanging as she panted. Healing was a tiring business indeed, but then as that thought came to mind, she remembered that killing was too. Yes, the Skikon no Tama had strengthened her powers as a miko, the magic properties she had found out about soon after finding the stone, caused both life and death. Life to keep her village healthy, death to keep her village safe. But after using it she always felt tired but she had gotten used to that, just as she was recovering even now as she stood and turned, accepting the thanks of the family before leaving. Though this business had seeped her of energy, she knew she would be rewarded later, for the village had returned the favor by paying her small family of her mother and sister with foods and cloth as well as other tools needed for living.
Now she made her way slowly through the streets, a yawn escaping her lips as she made her way back to her mother's house to take a nap, acknowledging greetings or waving back to people who greeted her on the way. Everything seemed so peaceful in this place, she had always thought, no fighting, and no bickering between people...it was...perfect... So she went home, ate a small supper and climbed into bed, falling asleep before her head even reached the pillow.
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Relaina woke later that night, her eyes snapping open as she sat up in bed, staring around the dark bedroom. Something was not right. Quietly climbing out of bed, she got dressed and left the house, making her way to the village, her hand clasped around the jewel at her neck the whole time. But when she emerged from the trees to the edge of the village, she was not prepared for the sight that lay before her, for the small town lay in ruin. Houses still burned and people still screamed in pain or fright around her.
Spotting what had caused this, she lifted her hand, still clasping the stone at her neck with the other and screamed a curse at the band of snake youkai that made their way through the chaos, laughing, growling, killing, destroying, burning...Well now it was their turn to feel what they had done and they began to scream as she finished the last of the spell just in time as their heads turned to take notice of her, but it was too late for them, for the burst into pink flame and screamed a horrible noise as they turned to dust.
Gasping, she fell down to kneel on one knee and lowered her head to catch her breath, not noticing the second group of demons that had walked quietly to her and surrounded her in a tight circle, their tongues lashing out to lick their sharp teeth greedily. Stiffening, she looked up in fright at the creatures around her then gasped again a one much bigger made his way through the horde to tower over her, his grim face rising in a sadistic sort of smile that only made him look more disgusting and evil.
"Mmm...The stone...lovely...," He hissed, crouching down in front of her, his form still looming a mans height above her form. Gathering her courage she opened her mouth and asked in a soft voice that slowly grew louder in rage of what had happened to her people," Why are you here, why have you done this?! What did these people ever do to you?!" The snake demon seemed to stair at her in surprise for a moment, his scaly skin glimmering as it reflected the flame from the burning houses before he threw his head back and laughed a wicked laugh that sent a shiver down her spine. He looked at her again and replied," They never did anything except let out the secret of that thing around your neck's existence...What was it said to be called again? The Shikon no Tama? You pick very lovely names." His voice seemed to ooze as he held out his huge hand, the claws barely shredding through her neck as he spoke again," Now be a good little human and let me have it, I have big plans for that treasure."
Fear rose in her gut when she knew that she was about to do the most stupid thing she would ever do again. "No." With that she stood and turned, leaping high over the youkai to take off running into the burning debris of her village. But her fear only rose when she realized that the youkai were following behind, the sound of their crashing behind her reaching her ears. Though, when she thought about it a moment a thought came to mind. 'Hey, if I can just lead them away from the village...The people might stand a chance.' With that running continually through her mind, her speed rose and she slipped into the forest, her eyes sharpening as she dodged trees and other objects in the way of her survival.
But finally, when she couldn't hear them behind her anymore, she stopped in a small clearing with a pond, small waterfalls running into it to supply the water. Smiling faintly at the lovely scene, she leaned back against the tree, panting still to catch her breath. This was foolish though, she thought later, for as soon as she had relaxed, the youkai dropped from the tree above her, circling her once more in a tighter ring, the biggest one once more looming above her, his sharp teeth showing in his twisted smile. "Well well, so nice to see you so soon," He hissed. "I won't give you the Shikon no Tama," Relaina shrieked, clasping it firmly in her hand.
"You won't have to," Another snake demon said, slithering into view. Gasping, she recognized the robes it was dressed in as those of an evil priest with great power and she drew back as far as she could against the tree, her lower lip beginning to quiver. "No, please just go away...," She pleaded softly. The priest just grinned and bowed his head, his hands outstretched towards her as he began to chant. Her eyes wide in fear she only stared at him in horror as the leader's voice reached her faintly," Since you seem to be so attached to that jewel, we've decided to let you live as it's soul. Like my idea, no?" "No, please, stop, shut up, stop chanting," She cried, running toward the priest to shake him out of his trance.
Unfortunately, before she could, his spell finished and he stared up at her with a wicked smile as her body began to feel light. 'What's happening?!' Suddenly, there was a bright flash of pink light and she rose into the air, staring down at her body. 'What..?!' Then there was another and she found herself trapped inside a bubble the a little bigger then she, except everything she saw through the pink tint in the glossy wall seemed soo much bigger. No...No! Let me out of here!...
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When Relaina was finished with her story, she stared sadly at the ground, tears streaking down her cheeks. The sight was so horribly sorrowful, Kagome thought she would cry with the woman as she reached out a hand to set it on her shoulder, saying softly,"Relaina, I'm so sorry, that must have been terrible for you...But I have to ask...How did you get out again?" Relaina shook her head and sighed, looking up with a faint smile. "When you shattered the Shikon no Tama, my spirit was let free, but my body has died so very long ago." "Then why are you not departed from this world?" "Because I had to tell you before I left...Kagome!" Relaina grabbed her shoulders with both hands and looked at her with urgency in her eyes which startled her. "Kagome! You must not give up this search! There will be people who try and get it before you do, YOU MUST NOT GIVE UP THE SHIKON NO TAMA!" Her voice rang loudly in Kagome's ears and she nodded dumbly, watching as Relaina's form began to disappear even as she spoke these words. "Please Kagome, the fate of this world and the world to come depends on it!" With that she disappeared...
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Ok ok yea I know these last couple chapters have been going slow, thank you so much Blind Raven for being patient, I'm trying to get through the boring informational stuff so I can get to the goodies.
Please review readers!!