Ch 3
The Shikon no Tama.
Three years passed since the day Keade came to live with Kikyo and Mistress Sonoa. Kikyo had passed her fifteenth winter, and was now known as a great beauty in the village, and young Keade was quickly learning her responsibilities as a miko. And both girls now looked at Sonoa as a surrogate mother. On one particular day, in early spring when the frosts of winter still clung to land in a desperate grasp, a strange man on a horse came riding up to the Shrine. He wore green armor, and black clothing that clung to his body, like a Ninja. He carried a large kunai with him. He walked through the courtyard, and to the back gardens, where Sonoa was practicing archery with Kikyo and Keade. As the priestess looked up, she smiled at the man in black, and ran to him, embracing him. The spoke a few words that Kikyo and Keade did not hear, then Sonoa went back to Kikyo and said, "Kikyo, This is my elder brother, Shako. I must speak with him briefly. Will you please give Keade her archery lesson?"
"Yes, Mistress, but why-"
"It is not your place to question," Sonoa said rather harshly. Kikyo was taken aback. Her mentor never spoke like this to her. But then the older woman's face softened.
"Forgive me," Sonoa said, "But please, Kikyo, give me a moment with my brother."
"Yes, ma'am." Kikyo said. The brother and sister left them, and while Kikyo showed her sster the best way to hold the arrow to get distance, she thought about the urgency that was in her teacher's face.
When they were inside, in her private rooms, Sonoa poured some tea for her brother. He sipped the hot tea, and sat there, solemnity on his young face. He was still young indeed. He was just two years her senior, and yet he was already married, to her old best friend from their village, far away. Sonoa had never told her young pupils much of her past. Sonoa had been born the youngest daughter of the leader of a band of demon slayers. She had already been learning archery with her father when her powers were discovered. She was then taken by the monks and priests of this shrine, to learn to hone her abilities. She had been appointed head priestess at 15 winters, the age Kikyo was now. But, every year, Sonoa still returned to her old village for an important purpose. For when she had discovered her holy powers, she also discovered that she, and she alone, could purify the sacred jewel that her father's house kept hidden. She could purify the evil from the Shikon no Tama: the Jewel of Four Souls. But she was still not strong enough to keep pure all the time. Whenever even the slightest hint of corruption touched the jewel, it became tainted. And more and more you-kai came to steal the jewel. This was the matter her brother brought to her now.
"Sister," Shako said, "We have lost too many. The Jewel needs someone to protect it, and keep it pure on a regular basis. Please, sister, return to the village."
"I cannot," she said, "I have my pupils; my duties here."
"Then take the jewel and keep it here!" he begged, "I will not have more of our comrades die because of this accursed Jewel!"
"And I will not bring these girls or this village to danger!" she shouted back, standing and crossing to the window. She looked out to watch her students…her girls…still practicing in the garden. "and I cannot keep it pure…I…I have…" she said, her head bowed in shame, "I have begun to lose my powers."
"But…That's impossible!" Kohaku said, leaping up to cross to her. "Unless…"
"When Kikyo is ready," she said, "I will resign, and leave this place. The strain has…become too much, brother." she said, sitting again. "I am tired, and worn far beyond my years can show. But Kikyo…She is stronger than I. She will be able to keep going. And Keade, though she is not as strong as her sister, is also strong enough to bear this burden. I am not."
"Then perhaps she can-" he began.
"NO!" Sonoa said, straightening up. "I will not give her the added burden of the Jewel!"
"Let her come to our village, to test her strength, at least." he begged.
Sonoa sat and thought. She did not want Kikyo, the closest she would come to having a daughter, to have to bear the responsibility of protecting the horrid Shikon Jewel. But Her own efforts had drained Sonoa…She prayed for guidance…Then she got up, and went to the door. "When do you leave," she asked her brother.
"At first light," he said.
"I will tell Kikyo," she said, "That I am leaving for the village. I will return with you, brother." she said. "But when I die, and only after I die, ask her if she will bear the Jewel. If she refuses, then accept her wishes, and seek another."
"It shall be done," Shako said, slapping his fist against his chest, "Little Sister."
At first light the next day, Kikyo watched her mentor ride away with Shako, the leader of The Demon Slayers. Kikyo and her sister were still crying as they remembered their teacher's confession about her past, and their farewell that night. Kikyo was now the official chief priestess of the Shrine. And Keade was her apprentice.
Two days later, Kikyo felt how her new position had caged her. As she was walking in the gardens, a friend of hers, a young priest named Kahn, met her. She knew since she had first come to the shrine, for he was three years older than she, and an apprentice as well. Now, he walked with her, wishing to tell her something.
"You can tell me anything, Kahn," Kikyo said, "What is it?"
"Well…" he said, blushing, "I…I have decided to leave the Shrine, for I wish to marry."
"That is wonderful," Kikyo said, giggling, "Who is the lucky girl who won your heart? The milkmaid? A girl from the village?"
"No," he said, blushing redder, "The girl is you, Kikyo."
"Me?" she was stunned. "But…I…"
"Please, Kikyo, grant me this honor," he said, taking her hands in his. "I have loved you for three years. I would have spoken last spring, but I was afraid you would not feel the same. Please, Kikyo, be my wife."
Kikyo bowed her head. She would have liked to accept, except that she did not love him as he loved her. And she had her duty. "Forgive me, but I cannot, Kahn," she said quietly. "I know of a girl, Tsuwisha, in the village. Her eyes light up whenever you are near her. She loves you. Make her happy an wed her."
"I see." Kahn said. He let go of her hands, bowed, and left. Three days later, she heard that Kahn had left the Shrine to wed a farmer's daughter in the village.
Weeks passed after Sonoa's departure and Kahn's marriage. One day as Kikyo and Keade were spreading seed out for the birds to eat, she heard one of the monks calling for her. She turned, and saw him running up to her, calling, "Lady Kikyo! Lady Kikyo!"
"What is the matter," she asked him.
"It's Lady Sonoa," he said breathlessly. She needed no more. She dropped her sack of seed and ran for the front courtyard. A great host of black clad warriors stood there, including Shako, with Sonoa in his arms. Her side was covered in blood.
"We were fighting carrion crow…" he said strained, "When one attacked her from behind. She could not fight back…She told me of your healing powers…Please Lady Kikyo, save my sister."
"I will use all my strength," Kikyo said through the tears. She showed him to a back room, and she gathered the necessary herbs, medicines, wraps and teas. The first night was tough. Each poultice she applied made her mentor scream in pain. But she lived the night. Unfortunately, with each day, Sonoa's condition worsened. She developed a fever that raged her entire body. And she would cough up blood. But Kikyo never gave up, each time her mistress coughed, she wiped her mouth and fed her either broth or tea. After some time, Sonoa would waken and begin speaking. Sometimes to Kikyo, sometimes to unseen persons. Once, Sonoa started to tell her about an old sweetheart from their village.
"He was handsome, even as a child," Sonoa whispered. "He…He was so kind…an each time I saw him…after I…he grew some handsome…This last time…I wanted to ask him if…if he would have me now…he asked me once…to be his wife…but…but he has a family now…I wish…" and she slept after that.
A week after Sonoa was brought to her, Kikyo awoke to hear her calling her name. It was still dark out. Kikyo crawled over to her mistress.
"Yes, Mistress Sonoa," she said. "I am here."
"Ki…Kikyo…" Sonoa whispered. "I…I am dying…"
"No, Sonoa, you are not," Kikyo said, taking her mentor's hand, squeezing it. "You will get well. When you do, we can pick flowers with Keade. Like we did when I was little."
"No, Bellflower," Sonoa said, using Kikyo's parent's old term of endearment. "My end is near…and…I now have no regrets…I am…I am proud of you, Kikyo…Now you must…ugh!" she groaned from an inner pain, but recovered, "You must decide…"
"Decide what?" Kikyo said as she began to cry.
"To…to accept the task of…of protecting the Shi…The Shikon no Tama."
"The what?" Kikyo said, her tears freely flowing.
"The Jewel of Four Souls…It must not fall into…into evil hands…I trust that you would guard it well, but…but I do not want you to have the burden and…and the pain it will bring…It is your decision to make…my child…."
"I will," Kikyo said, "I will accept whatever you have, Lady Sonoa. I will take the Jewel!"
"If that is your wish…Then farewell, Kikyo…my pupil…my friend…my sister…" she said the last words as she looked up, closed her eyes…and made one last long sigh.
"Sonoa?" Kikyo asked waveringly, shaking her mentor's shoulder. The hand in hers was cold, and slack. "SONOA!" she cried as she laid he head on Sonoa's chest, and wept.
The next morning, after they burned Sonoa's body, and put her ashes in an urn, to be buried in the village of her birth, Shako stood on the steps of the Shrine in front of Kikyo and Keade. He bowed, and gave Kikyo a necklace; a chain of white prayer beads attached to a lavender crystal.
"This I give into your keeping," Shako said to the young woman before him. "To keep pure and holy…to protect. The Shikon no Tama."
Kikyo said no words. She took the Jewel, and concentrated. When she looked at her hand, it seemed like any crystal…but she knew its price. She and her sister watched Shako descend the stairs, and lead his warriors away from their village.
AN: I know from the show that it was Songo's grandfather that gave the Sacred Jewel to Kikyo, but they never said how he knew about her. So I made him Sonoa's (my OC) older brother.
P.S. Thanks to Eien for correctining the name of Songo's grandfather. I have done my best to go through here and correct it.
The Shikon no Tama.
Three years passed since the day Keade came to live with Kikyo and Mistress Sonoa. Kikyo had passed her fifteenth winter, and was now known as a great beauty in the village, and young Keade was quickly learning her responsibilities as a miko. And both girls now looked at Sonoa as a surrogate mother. On one particular day, in early spring when the frosts of winter still clung to land in a desperate grasp, a strange man on a horse came riding up to the Shrine. He wore green armor, and black clothing that clung to his body, like a Ninja. He carried a large kunai with him. He walked through the courtyard, and to the back gardens, where Sonoa was practicing archery with Kikyo and Keade. As the priestess looked up, she smiled at the man in black, and ran to him, embracing him. The spoke a few words that Kikyo and Keade did not hear, then Sonoa went back to Kikyo and said, "Kikyo, This is my elder brother, Shako. I must speak with him briefly. Will you please give Keade her archery lesson?"
"Yes, Mistress, but why-"
"It is not your place to question," Sonoa said rather harshly. Kikyo was taken aback. Her mentor never spoke like this to her. But then the older woman's face softened.
"Forgive me," Sonoa said, "But please, Kikyo, give me a moment with my brother."
"Yes, ma'am." Kikyo said. The brother and sister left them, and while Kikyo showed her sster the best way to hold the arrow to get distance, she thought about the urgency that was in her teacher's face.
When they were inside, in her private rooms, Sonoa poured some tea for her brother. He sipped the hot tea, and sat there, solemnity on his young face. He was still young indeed. He was just two years her senior, and yet he was already married, to her old best friend from their village, far away. Sonoa had never told her young pupils much of her past. Sonoa had been born the youngest daughter of the leader of a band of demon slayers. She had already been learning archery with her father when her powers were discovered. She was then taken by the monks and priests of this shrine, to learn to hone her abilities. She had been appointed head priestess at 15 winters, the age Kikyo was now. But, every year, Sonoa still returned to her old village for an important purpose. For when she had discovered her holy powers, she also discovered that she, and she alone, could purify the sacred jewel that her father's house kept hidden. She could purify the evil from the Shikon no Tama: the Jewel of Four Souls. But she was still not strong enough to keep pure all the time. Whenever even the slightest hint of corruption touched the jewel, it became tainted. And more and more you-kai came to steal the jewel. This was the matter her brother brought to her now.
"Sister," Shako said, "We have lost too many. The Jewel needs someone to protect it, and keep it pure on a regular basis. Please, sister, return to the village."
"I cannot," she said, "I have my pupils; my duties here."
"Then take the jewel and keep it here!" he begged, "I will not have more of our comrades die because of this accursed Jewel!"
"And I will not bring these girls or this village to danger!" she shouted back, standing and crossing to the window. She looked out to watch her students…her girls…still practicing in the garden. "and I cannot keep it pure…I…I have…" she said, her head bowed in shame, "I have begun to lose my powers."
"But…That's impossible!" Kohaku said, leaping up to cross to her. "Unless…"
"When Kikyo is ready," she said, "I will resign, and leave this place. The strain has…become too much, brother." she said, sitting again. "I am tired, and worn far beyond my years can show. But Kikyo…She is stronger than I. She will be able to keep going. And Keade, though she is not as strong as her sister, is also strong enough to bear this burden. I am not."
"Then perhaps she can-" he began.
"NO!" Sonoa said, straightening up. "I will not give her the added burden of the Jewel!"
"Let her come to our village, to test her strength, at least." he begged.
Sonoa sat and thought. She did not want Kikyo, the closest she would come to having a daughter, to have to bear the responsibility of protecting the horrid Shikon Jewel. But Her own efforts had drained Sonoa…She prayed for guidance…Then she got up, and went to the door. "When do you leave," she asked her brother.
"At first light," he said.
"I will tell Kikyo," she said, "That I am leaving for the village. I will return with you, brother." she said. "But when I die, and only after I die, ask her if she will bear the Jewel. If she refuses, then accept her wishes, and seek another."
"It shall be done," Shako said, slapping his fist against his chest, "Little Sister."
At first light the next day, Kikyo watched her mentor ride away with Shako, the leader of The Demon Slayers. Kikyo and her sister were still crying as they remembered their teacher's confession about her past, and their farewell that night. Kikyo was now the official chief priestess of the Shrine. And Keade was her apprentice.
Two days later, Kikyo felt how her new position had caged her. As she was walking in the gardens, a friend of hers, a young priest named Kahn, met her. She knew since she had first come to the shrine, for he was three years older than she, and an apprentice as well. Now, he walked with her, wishing to tell her something.
"You can tell me anything, Kahn," Kikyo said, "What is it?"
"Well…" he said, blushing, "I…I have decided to leave the Shrine, for I wish to marry."
"That is wonderful," Kikyo said, giggling, "Who is the lucky girl who won your heart? The milkmaid? A girl from the village?"
"No," he said, blushing redder, "The girl is you, Kikyo."
"Me?" she was stunned. "But…I…"
"Please, Kikyo, grant me this honor," he said, taking her hands in his. "I have loved you for three years. I would have spoken last spring, but I was afraid you would not feel the same. Please, Kikyo, be my wife."
Kikyo bowed her head. She would have liked to accept, except that she did not love him as he loved her. And she had her duty. "Forgive me, but I cannot, Kahn," she said quietly. "I know of a girl, Tsuwisha, in the village. Her eyes light up whenever you are near her. She loves you. Make her happy an wed her."
"I see." Kahn said. He let go of her hands, bowed, and left. Three days later, she heard that Kahn had left the Shrine to wed a farmer's daughter in the village.
Weeks passed after Sonoa's departure and Kahn's marriage. One day as Kikyo and Keade were spreading seed out for the birds to eat, she heard one of the monks calling for her. She turned, and saw him running up to her, calling, "Lady Kikyo! Lady Kikyo!"
"What is the matter," she asked him.
"It's Lady Sonoa," he said breathlessly. She needed no more. She dropped her sack of seed and ran for the front courtyard. A great host of black clad warriors stood there, including Shako, with Sonoa in his arms. Her side was covered in blood.
"We were fighting carrion crow…" he said strained, "When one attacked her from behind. She could not fight back…She told me of your healing powers…Please Lady Kikyo, save my sister."
"I will use all my strength," Kikyo said through the tears. She showed him to a back room, and she gathered the necessary herbs, medicines, wraps and teas. The first night was tough. Each poultice she applied made her mentor scream in pain. But she lived the night. Unfortunately, with each day, Sonoa's condition worsened. She developed a fever that raged her entire body. And she would cough up blood. But Kikyo never gave up, each time her mistress coughed, she wiped her mouth and fed her either broth or tea. After some time, Sonoa would waken and begin speaking. Sometimes to Kikyo, sometimes to unseen persons. Once, Sonoa started to tell her about an old sweetheart from their village.
"He was handsome, even as a child," Sonoa whispered. "He…He was so kind…an each time I saw him…after I…he grew some handsome…This last time…I wanted to ask him if…if he would have me now…he asked me once…to be his wife…but…but he has a family now…I wish…" and she slept after that.
A week after Sonoa was brought to her, Kikyo awoke to hear her calling her name. It was still dark out. Kikyo crawled over to her mistress.
"Yes, Mistress Sonoa," she said. "I am here."
"Ki…Kikyo…" Sonoa whispered. "I…I am dying…"
"No, Sonoa, you are not," Kikyo said, taking her mentor's hand, squeezing it. "You will get well. When you do, we can pick flowers with Keade. Like we did when I was little."
"No, Bellflower," Sonoa said, using Kikyo's parent's old term of endearment. "My end is near…and…I now have no regrets…I am…I am proud of you, Kikyo…Now you must…ugh!" she groaned from an inner pain, but recovered, "You must decide…"
"Decide what?" Kikyo said as she began to cry.
"To…to accept the task of…of protecting the Shi…The Shikon no Tama."
"The what?" Kikyo said, her tears freely flowing.
"The Jewel of Four Souls…It must not fall into…into evil hands…I trust that you would guard it well, but…but I do not want you to have the burden and…and the pain it will bring…It is your decision to make…my child…."
"I will," Kikyo said, "I will accept whatever you have, Lady Sonoa. I will take the Jewel!"
"If that is your wish…Then farewell, Kikyo…my pupil…my friend…my sister…" she said the last words as she looked up, closed her eyes…and made one last long sigh.
"Sonoa?" Kikyo asked waveringly, shaking her mentor's shoulder. The hand in hers was cold, and slack. "SONOA!" she cried as she laid he head on Sonoa's chest, and wept.
The next morning, after they burned Sonoa's body, and put her ashes in an urn, to be buried in the village of her birth, Shako stood on the steps of the Shrine in front of Kikyo and Keade. He bowed, and gave Kikyo a necklace; a chain of white prayer beads attached to a lavender crystal.
"This I give into your keeping," Shako said to the young woman before him. "To keep pure and holy…to protect. The Shikon no Tama."
Kikyo said no words. She took the Jewel, and concentrated. When she looked at her hand, it seemed like any crystal…but she knew its price. She and her sister watched Shako descend the stairs, and lead his warriors away from their village.
AN: I know from the show that it was Songo's grandfather that gave the Sacred Jewel to Kikyo, but they never said how he knew about her. So I made him Sonoa's (my OC) older brother.
P.S. Thanks to Eien for correctining the name of Songo's grandfather. I have done my best to go through here and correct it.