Kagome's Return: chapter 6: The God Tree
Also, known as Prolog: the God Tree.
Authors' note: knowledge of my story: Spring Fertility Festival (esp. the last part of ch 5) is needed to understand this story.
Kagome leaves the well house. Everyone follows her. She hands Shippo to her mother. She walks to the God Tree.
She stops arms length away from the tree. She turns to looks at Sesshomaru. "There are two things that are constant in my journeys, Sesshomaru. The well and this." She reaches out and touches the tree.
"The God Tree . . . " Sesshomaru's eyes widen. "You mean?"
"I've got questions." Kagome presses against the tree. "And I want answers!?" she screams.
She glows and vanishes in a flash of light.
Sesshomaru's grabs empty air.
"What happened?" Shippo asked.
Sesshomaru growls, "During our journey, we decided that a deity was testing us. The journey, perhaps even the jewel, and even more was his fault."
"The God Tree?" Shippo asks.
"My assumption was Susano-O, the god that my family is descended from." Sesshomaru growls. "But. She's right. The God Tree makes sense."
"Are you going to attack the tree?" Kagome's mother asks.
Sesshomaru looks up and down the God Tree. He growls. "This Sesshomaru will not. She could be anywhere, attacking the tree will not automatically return her."
He taps the tree with his claws and removes a small piece of bark. "However, my patience isn't infinite. And torturing you, is a possibility." He growls at the God Tree
Shippo and Mrs. H draw in deep breaths, as she takes a step back from Sesshomaru. Shippo hugs Kagome's mother tight.
Somewhere else, perhaps inside the tree.
"I want some answers!" Kagome yells as she stands on a featureless plain. "I am not a pawn!"
A voice coming from everywhere, or maybe nowhere, states. "If you were a pawn in my plan, you won't deserve an answer." A pause. "But, you are not a pawn."
Kagome shivers. 'Now I will get some answers. Answers about the well, the jewel, and why me?'
The shapeless plain changes . . . it turns into a copy of the God Tree and the surroundings, on Inu-yasha's side of the well.
She thinks, 'something. As the scene changed, I felt something. Pain? Aches? The throb of an open wound?'
Appearing from behind the God Tree is an old man. His thin beard and hair are white from age. His silk clothes have a pattern of beautiful green leaves throughout it. Hanging around his neck is an acorn.
"Go-Shin-Boku-kami?" Kagome whispers. 'I remember seeing him during the spring festival, but, he's different now, older, weaker.' She thinks.
He nods. "Please, sit on the roots, my dear. I will." He waves his hand at the large above ground roots of the God Tree. He, with a large sigh, sits on one of them.
'How do I act around him?' Kagome thinks.
She bows deeply toward the Kami. Then, carefully, she sits down of the ground, in front of him.
They look at each other.
"You have questions?" The Kami asks in a gentle voice.
Kagome nods. Her lips twist into a smile, "But, sir, I don't know where to start."
Go-Shin-Boku-kami nods. He rubs his chin. "Child. Please touch my hand." He holds out his hand.
Kagome swallows, she scoots forward and gently touches his hand.
She yelps and pulls back her hand instantly. "That hurt!"
"Hold my hand, child."
"Sir, Why?"
"I need to show you something. I need you to feel something."
"It'll hurt."
"Life often does hurt." A pause. "And, it will help explain why I've done what, and I've done to you."
Kagome takes a deep breath, reaches out and grabs the Kami's hand.
'Pain . . . The throb of an open wound . . . ' Kagome thinks as she grits her teeth. Her eyes open wide and she lets out of his hand.
"You're dying!"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami nods. "The power needed to maintain the well is greater than I thought it would be." His mouth twists into a smile. "I didn't expect to die because of my plan. But, I will." His eyes catch Kagome's. "I will be leaving you with great responsibilities."
Kagome closes her eyes. "I thought it was something like that."
A pause. She opens her eyes, "How much control over my life did I actually have? And how much do I have now?"
A pause. The Kami sighs, "you had more than you're thinking. But, I did influence events."
"Leaving me no choice but to do what you want me to do." She spits out.
He nods. "And now? Soon." He pauses. He reaches up and grabs hold of the acorn. "You'll have full control of you life."
"Only because I'll be living according to your plan." Kagome tries to hide it, but, her tone is accusatory.
"My plan?" The Kami laughs softly. "My plan died a long time ago, Kagome. I've been trying to repair or create a new plan, ever since."
"Your plan died?" Kagome's eyes widen in surprise.
"I'm dying. That was not part on my original plan." Go-Shin-Boku-kami looks at the acorn. He looks at Kagome.
Kagome looks at the acorn. 'Power! That acorn is full of power, I can feel it.'
Kagome looks at the ground. "No. I'm not going to ask about your plan. I'm not to let you lead me down a primrose path."
"Cautious, indeed." Go-Shin-Boku-kami mummers. "My plan."
Kagome takes a deep breath and leans toward him.
"Began decades ago. I had been noticing that the air and water around me were becoming unhealthy, but, I ignored it, like many of my fellows. We were quiet, asleep more than awake." He sighs, "And, since we were asleep, we were ambushed and the world changed. For me, I just barely woke up in time to save my life. There was a fire, decades ago, during a war between Nippon and the West."
"The firestorm of Tokyo. When the Americans destroyed the city by burning it to the ground." Kagome whispers. (See note below to understand what Kagome is talking about)
He nods. "I, barely, saved myself from that fire."
Kagome nods. "Yes. I've heard rumors of something special happening that night. Some of the neighborhood was saved, mysteriously, that night."
The Kami nods. "My doing." He pauses and looks off in the distance. "That woke me up. I felt around, trying to determine what had happened during my sleep. I tried to wake up more of my fellows." He grimaces, "Most were already dead, others are still in deep comas. The few that I did wake up." He sighs, "we argued about what to do. And time passed. I felt the world grow colder, harder."
Kagome is staring at him, as he speaks.
He looks at Kagome. "You do know that mankind is killing the world." He states.
Kagome grimaces. "The Kyoto treaty? All the environmental" She starts to say, but.
He waves his waves, "It's already too late. The world is like a dying tree. Oh, there might be some leaves, even some fruit, but the rot is deep. And, mankind doesn't care." He says harshly.
Kagome opens her mouth to argue more, but shuts it. 'HE is a tree god. He must be closely connected to the earth.'
"I want you, Higurashi Kagome, to change the world."
Kagome blinks. "What!?"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami nods. "I cannot do it. The times, the people have changed too much for me. But, someone must prevent mankind from killing the world."
"But . . . but . . . "
"My plan, my daughter, was to send someone, with the knowledge that mankind will destroy the world into the past. That person would prevent mankind from destroying the world."
Go-Shin-Boku-kami sighs. "I, first, thought about your grandfather. But, his backbone would be weak for a jellyfish. Then, I considered, long and hard, your mother. But, when she was your age, Kagome, your mother was a very irresponsible person."
His mouth twists into a grin, "I may have made a mistake in not choosing her. She has matured into a much better person than I would have thought."
"So, me?" Kagome asks.
The Kami nods. "So, you."
"You're been controlling." Kagome pauses, "No, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, guiding my life from birth."
"Before then, my daughter." Go-Shin-Boku-kami says.
Kagome looks into his eyes. "That's twice. You mean that?" she whispers.
He smiles, "Ask your mother about her wedding night, my daughter. It took very little effort to influence events and give me a chance to visit her."
Kagome swallows. "That might explain my power . . . "
Her father nods. "It does."
"Why haven't . . . Sesshomaru or Inu-yasha, at least, should have noticed that . . . that I'm your daughter. You can't hide that!" She cries!
He raises his eyebrow, "Of course not. But, since you've never known about it, and with your personality, beings like inu-yasha or Sesshomaru dismisses the possibility and wonder about a different excuse for your power."
"All because I'm nice?"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami nods. "The children of most gods tend to be spoiled brats. I know that from the children I had, ages ago. By having your mother raise you, as a normal human, that allowed you a better upbringing than anything else I could have done."
Kagome stands up, abruptly. She begins to pace around looking at Go-Shin- Boku-kami. "Sota?"
"A normal human child. I decided that you needed a brother, to help your education, so I."
Kagome growls. She glares at the Kami. Her power dances in her eyes. "Stop!" she breathes deeply in and out, for several breaths, calming herself.
He stares, unconcerned, back at her.
"How many of my friends did you choose for me?" she whispers, glaring into his eyes.
He stares back, "you may not believe me, but, I tried not to interfere with your life on a daily basis."
"Daily!" Kagome screams, "What about weekly, huh! Or monthly! Damn it, Go- Shin-Boku-kami, how much of my life is my own!?"
He looks away from her. "As long as it didn't interfere with my plans, I allowed your life to be as normal as possible."
Kagome growls. She lifts her hand and looks at it. Sparks fly between her fingers. "Right now, Go-Shin-Boku-kami, I hate you worse than I've ever hated Naraku." She growls.
He whispers, "Everything I've done is for the better good. Higurashi Kagome, someone must change the world." He pauses, "There is a human saying, 'Duty is heavier than a mountain, death is lighter than a feather.'"
"I refuse that." Kagome growls. "I will choose my life."
"And do what, Higurashi Kagome?" Go-Shin-Boku-kami asks. "What will you do?" He holds up his hand, "I don't mean over the next few days, I mean over your lifetime. Which, because, of your heritage from me, will be, at least, much longer than normal."
"What do you mean?" she asks her tone, still upset. 'His heritage . . . that must explain Sesshomaru's unconcern about my lifespan, he must have known that I'll live longer than normal, he just didn't know why.' She thinks.
"Let's assume that you live on the other side of the well." The Kami asks, "You know how the people live on that side. Wouldn't you try to make their lives better? Can you, for the rest of your life, let them live like that? Won't you try to prevent bandits, soldiers and others from hurting them? And, if you're successful, your fame will spread."
Kagome calls out, "Stop!" she rubs her forehead. "I get it." She glares at Go-Shin-Boku-kami. "If I live in the past, I will change it." She grinds her teeth together. "I've seen a lot of bad men ruling Japan, and if I lived there, I would have to act against them."
"And you'll have to replace them, somehow." He mummers. "Have you ever thought about the castles and villages that Naraku controls? What will happen to them after you've defeated him? Who will take control of them? And will he be as good a ruler as Naraku?"
"Will we beat Naraku?" She asks.
"That is the final test, my child." Her father replies. She shivers. "After that, there is no more. Except, of course, for the challenges that life brings."
She grimaces, her eyes bore into his, "That is your promise. No more interference?"
He smiles, "Of course. I'll be dead, soon. So there is no way that I can interfere."
"And if we fail?"
He sighs, "Then my plan fails. The world will be destroyed by mankind." His eyes spark, and he catches her eyes, holding them. "But, at least, I will die, knowing that I tried to save the world."
"Damn you." She whispers, as his eyes hold hers.
His eyebrow raises, "Inu-yasha has been a stronger influence than I thought."
Her mouth tweaks into a smile. "I've spent most of the time with him convinced that his behavior is horrible, but." Her eyes narrow, "Right now, though, I wish I could yell, screams and curse you out, just like he would."
He nods, "If you wish, you may do so. If that, makes you happy."
She grimaces, "it wouldn't change a thing."
"You are learning."
Kagome sighs, "And, you're right. If we defeat Naraku, those castles and villages do become our responsibility. I've seen enough Daimyo's and bandit leaders to know that if we don't do something, they will."
She bites her lips, "And, as much as I hate to admit, I've seen worse rulers than Naraku. He might treat everyone as slaves, but he knows that they have value, so he doesn't kill them, without reason. And I've meet people that would kill without reason." She pauses and asks, "And if I live with my mother?"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami sighs, "How soon do you think it will take before men in black suits, start asking about you? Will you go with them and be their guinea pig?"
Kagome purses her lips.
"If you fight them, wouldn't you like to have a cause?" He continues, "saving the world is a better cause, than, say, leave me alone."
Silence. Kagome begins to pace back and forth, thinking and glaring at Go- Shin-Boku-kami.
She thinks, 'he's right. If I live on this side of the well, my powers will cause people to notice me. And if Shippo and the rest live on this side of the well, they'll be noticed. Can I leave them in the past? No. Not Shippo. I've promised him that I wouldn't. Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha?' She shivers. 'I... No. I will be with them. And if they live here . . . neither of them will be unnoticeable. Sango and Miroku? They actually might be able to blend in, but . . . '
She cracks her knuckles. She stares at her hands, 'Inu-yasha's habit, he is part of me, no matter what. Hmmm. What about my daydream of becoming some sort of special agent? Maybe. But, even in that daydream, I was helping people. And if I'm helping people . . . I should help the most people, right? And saving the world . . . '
Kagome stops her pacing. She turns and asks, "Go-Shin-Boku-kami. I would like a full explanation of what you've done to me and my friends?"
He nods. "And you deserve it." He pauses, as he thinks, "My first plan began trying to create a person that cares."
He nods to Kagome. "Your mother, by the way, had much more to do with that, then I ever dreamed of. Before I activated the well, I did not interfere with you life, to any great degree."
"Truth?"
"Truth."
Kagome nods. "Thank you."
"I would then create a portal to the past." He sighs, "That is where my plan failed."
"But, the well goes to the past." Kagome says in a puzzled tone.
He shakes his head, "No. It does not."
"But? But?" Kagome sputters.
"Like with the cube, the world on the other side of the well, is a different universe, not the past." He sighs, "although, I didn't realize it that until later. When I first talked to my younger self on that world, I really thought the well went to the past. I explained about how mankind is destroying the world to him and enlisted his support."
He smiles, "A lot of your adventures on that side of the well are his doing, by the way. I just explained the problem and my desire to test you. To forge you into someone that can change the world."
"Stop repeating that." Kagome growls. "I know what you want."
"And?"
"Continue with your story." She commands.
"This, by the way, is when we decided to use the jewel of the four souls. The cycle of violence connected with the jewel, we thought, would be a perfect way to test you." Kagome shivers. "All we would have to do it nudge things along a little bit, the jewel and the grab for its power would do the rest. On his side of the well, Kikyo had been burned next to him and he used that opportunity to grab the jewel and Kikyo's soul."
"And then you placed them in my body?"
He nods. "I had thought that everything was going perfectly, until . . . I sent you through the well, then, I realized my mistake. My well went to another world, not to my past." He sighs. He glances at Kagome. "You don't know how close you came to be stranded on that side of the well, my child. I came very close to closing it and trying again."
"But?"
He grimaces, "It was too late. It took too much of my power to open the well. IF I closed it, I would not have the power to create a new portal. I didn't realize until later, that the well was taping my personal life force. But, I had to work with the well, as it was."
"Wait!" Kagome cries. "What about the Noh Mask? I always considered that as proof that I was going to the past."
"Ah. The mask?" He grins. "When the jewel shattered, my younger counterpart gathered up some of the shards. He is the reason that so many of them have fallen into the hands of the people that they did, by the way."
"Naraku?"
"He made sure that one of them found its way to him, along with enough knowledge to become your foe." Go-Shin-Boku-kami says, "He gave me a couple of the shards, so I could test you on this side of the well." He holds out his hand, and flips Kagome a shard. "Here, my child. I will not need this."
Kagome grabs the shard from midair. "The mask?"
"I created it. And placed a shard in it." Go-Shin-Boku-kami smiles. "I wanted you to believe that the well went to the past, so I had to create a link. I even gave the mask some false memories, just in case you somehow talked to it."
"False memories?" Kagome asks. She brightens, "Ah, I see."
"That, by the way, is when I learned about the well tapping my life force. The creation of the mask drained me more than it should." He sighs, "Which is why I didn't use that other shard. It would take too much energy to create the enemy that I had planned."
"What did you have planned?"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami pauses, "I was going to create a false reincarnation of one of your foes, and then have it find a shard." He nods to the shards. "And use that to take control of a body here in the present, probably Hojo."
Kagome glares at him. "It's a good thing that you never did that. If you had hurt my friends." She hisses.
He raises an eyebrow, "And hurting your enemies is better?"
She grimaces and nods. "You're right. Hurting anybody is bad."
"After that." The Kami sighs and repeats himself, "After that, I didn't do much. I prodded my younger self to get this." He holds up the acorn.
"What is it? I can feel it's power." Kagome whispers.
"This is Izanagi's, the father of all us, favor." Go-Shin-Boku-kami says, "During the Spring festival, my younger self invited Izanagi to appear."
Kagome blushes as she remembers the spring fertility festival . . . and the appearance of various gods as part of the ceremony. She nods.
"Before Izanagi left, he gave this to him." He tosses the acorn up. It lands in his palm. "This is the raw power of a god." He sighs, "I have considered, long and hard, using it to restore myself."
Kagome draws in a deep breath. He shakes his head. "But. That wouldn't change much and I'd have to do this all over again." He smiles at Kagome. "And waste you and your effort."
Kagome pauses as she thinks. 'Should I love or hate that statement?' She doesn't react to it, undecided.
He sighs, "and by the time a new generation was born, any chance of saving the world would be gone. Mankind must be stopped and soon."
Kagome licks her lips and asks, "The cube?"
Go-Shin-Boku-kami gives a small laugh. "That didn't work like I had hoped." He takes a deep breath and sighs, "Once I recognized the problem with the well. I started trying to find a way to change so it did connect to the past. While I was doing that, my mind meet Cthulhu. He was testing that cube."
"And the two you decided to send Sesshomaru and me on that journey." Kagome growls.
"Actually, my dear, no." He states. Kagome's mouth opens. He continues, "I wanted you and Inu-yasha to go on that journey."
Her mouth shuts his with an audible snap.
"The two of you needed to be alone to get past yours and his difficulties and become the team that I knew you could become. A journey, with just the two of you, would do it. Cthulhu, however, changed it. He choose Sesshomaru." He pauses, "And, he prevented me from affecting you during that journey."
"So everything that happened."
"I didn't affect."
"I don't believe you."
He nods. "That is your right. I am telling the truth." Kagome grimaces. "Your mother, is the one that you need to thank."
"Huh?"
"She continued to use the spell that Keade gave her. And she keep trying to bring you home. While she didn't succeed, she did bring you to the world where the Goddesses lived."
"And from there . . . " Kagome whispers. She looks sharply at him. "You know about the airport. Was that you?"
He shakes his head, "not really. I'm just not going to prevent the professional paranoia of the security agencies from acting normally. I'd imagine that it'll take a week or so for all the reports to get through the bureaucracy. Then, your problems here will start."
"Your plan seems to be set up for me to live in the world on the other side of the well and change it. Not here." Kagome accuses him. "But, if I live in that world, then you die on this world." Kagome is interrupted before she can finish.
"And that doesn't make sense?" He asks himself. He nods. "You must remember Kagome, it wasn't until you traveled through the well, that I realized my mistake. And it wasn't until after the Noh mask that I understood that there was no way to change the well. So, all the plans were set up you to change the past, not the present."
He sighs, "And, then . . . " He shakes his head. "I started trying to plan things. Trying to change things around. That is why you meet Tendo Akane and her finance Ranma."
"What did you do?"
"I just made sure that your opponent found out about you, nothing more." Go-Shin-Boku-kami replies. He grimaces, "I have soo little power left, that there isn't much more I can do." He sighs, deeply again, "And since my plan to change the past meant that I wouldn't have to worry about understanding the present, I didn't pay close attention to the present. So, all my planning had to start from seed."
He looks at the acorn. He looks at Kagome. "My fragility means that there isn't time for more elaborate planning."
A pause, as they stare at each other.
"Mankind will destroy this world or the world on the other side of the well, Higurashi Kagome." Go-Shin-Boku-kami states. "I've done what I can to help you change either world."
He waves, and three-dimensional holograms of Kagome's friends, Shippo, Sango, Miroku, Keade, Kouga, Sesshomaru, and Inu-yasha appear before him. "On that side of the well, your friends include a woman whose common sense is always useful. A kitsune, for his spying. Miroku for his knowledge. And some of the most powerful warriors in existence."
Holograms of Kagome's mother, Sota, and the Ranma cast, appear. "On this side of the well, your friends include your mother, whose also possess great common sense. Your family is respected and your neighborhood will rally around you. And you are friends with some of the powerful warriors in existence."
He stares into Kagome's eyes. She stares back, unflinching.
Her jaw clenches and unclenches, "change the world." She whispers.
She glances at the acorn. "That is my reward when I return, I assume?"
He nods.
A pause . . .
"Was I correct about the well? Will my blood get Sesshomaru through?"
He nods. "It would be easiest on my powers if your blood and their blood were mingled together. I would suggest cutting your palm and cutting his, then, while holding hands, jump through the well."
Kagome nods. "You're dying. How long?"
He sighs. "That depends on the well. The more you use it, the faster it drains my power."
"Can you use mine?"
He shakes his head. "Not without killing you."
Kagome grimaces. "How many times?"
"Some, I'm not that weak yet." Go-Shin-Boku-kami replies. "I'll try to warn you and give you some notice. But. Each time the well is used it draws more power."
A pause . . .
Kagome nods. "I want to return to my house. Please."
Go-Shin-Boku-kami nods. The holograms vanish.
Kagome vanishes . . .
Outside the tree . . .
Kagome appears.
Shippo, Sota and Rin are playing around the base of the tree. Kagome's mother is watching the tree, standing next to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru is watching the tree. His fingers are extended and his claws are sharp . . .
"Kagome!" her mother, Shippo, Sota and Rin yell. Her mother wraps her up in a huge hug.
Kagome hugs her mother back. "Mother!" Shippo, Sota and Rin gather around Kagome, touching and hugging parts of her body.
"Kagome?" Sesshomaru growls. "Was he the one?"
Kagome, looking over her mother's shoulder, nods. "Yes. He is."
"And?" His growl deepens. Shippo, Rin and Sota put Kagome between them and Sesshomaru.
"And I've got things to tell you." Kagome says, her voice low and hard.
The end chapter 6
Authors' note: in the last chapter, I mentioned Kagome breast-feeding Shippo. That is part of my story Motherhood. Please read that story for the full details.
Authors' note: during WWII on the night of March 9 and 10, 1945. 334 B-29 bombers loaded with firebombs attacked the city of Tokyo with about 1,700 tons of bombs. The resulting firestorm . . . burned more than 16 square miles (10,000 acres for readers used to stories about western fires) of the heart of the city. More than 100,000 people died. (Exact numbers where never determined. Some of the victims tried to escape by hiding in various rivers. You had a choice. Drown or be burned to death . . . )
thank you for reading jeff shelton