Summary- It is 1659- a time when miko's are considered witches.
Major Pairings- Sess/Kag Inu/OC Mir/San
D-i-s-c-l-a-i-m-e-r
.....Prologue.....
.....Shatter....
...Lost...
...Kagome's POV...
It had always been just grandmother and me. We lived in peace at the edge of a forest near town. I had never feared the forest; it was like a second home. Other people considered it Satan's Realm, but grandmother and me had always ignored them. Grandmother taught me how to write and read, she also taught me how to speak Latin.
It was a calm Friday night when they came. Boot-clad feet marched boldly up to our small home, spear in hand. The men's faces were dark, eyes filled with hatred. A strange sense of foreboding washed over me as I peered out our small window. Grandmother was standing behind me, her eyes narrowed. Soon there was a knock on our front door, and Grandmother turned slowly to the door.
She opened it without hesitation, eyes gleaming with defiance.
"What do ye want?" she asked harshly.
They did not answer. What they did do was grab my grandmother roughly, shackling her.
I am Kagome Higurashi. I am a witch. And this is my story.
I did not move. I stayed frozen in place, not daring to even move an inch. I knew if I helped her, she would be even more severely punished. One of the men turned to me, snarling in hatred.
They walked her up and down the streets until her feet were swollen and bloody, but she would not confess that she did 'witchcraft.' They walked her longer. They walked her until she could not walk any longer. She still did not confess.
I prayed that Grandmother would come to her senses, and confess, so that we both could be pulled out of this hell. People looked at me funny, and crowds would grow quiet when I passed, whispers of hatred and fear circling round the gathered people. They did not let me buy anything; storeowners would say they did not sell to heathen children.
The day came when they gave up on grandmother. The day came when she was standing on the large wooden plank, rough rope circling her throat.
"Have ye any words before ye jump unto the perilous pits of hell?" the priest asked.
"Wadewater, help is there," my grandmother whispered. I understood, and my eyes filled with tears.
As the rope circling her neck pulled tight and her feet lifted off the plank I screamed, "Grandmother!"
My only kin...the one I knew as a mother was gone...forever. Strong arms pulled me back from the plank as I struggled to get near. My grandmother smiled and the last thing she saw was me, tears streaming down my face as I finally broke free from the strong grip of the men holding me back.
Her eyes closed, breath stilled, as the last remnants of life left her.
I fell to my knees at the front of the plank, hands planted on the ground.
"GRANDMOTHER!" I screamed.
Everybody around watched me, some bowing their heads in shame, some grinning triumphantly. I knew I would be next. I had to make it to Wadewater. I had to escape. The large crowd thinned as people left, only a few standing about, murmuring silent prayers.
I stood quietly, sobs coming to a small hiccup. Suddenly I heard a small voice whisper in my ear, "Go to the edge of the road by the sign post just out of town...a carriage will be waiting..."
I spun around quickly, eyes searching for the owner of the voice. The street was empty. Nothing. I wiped my tears, remembering what the strange voice had said. 'Go to the edge of the road by the sign post just out of town...a carriage will be waiting.'
Who sent the message? I closed my eyes and searched how my Grandmother taught me; with my senses and not my eyes. Small traces of magic laced through the normally clear air.
'Witchcraft...who used The Craft to speak with me?'
I didn't think twice before setting off towards the old signpost. If they were witches, they wouldn't hurt me, would they?
I sure hoped they wouldn't. I also hoped I wasn't supposed to bring anything. Grandmother would have scolded me for troubling others with food and clothes. No! Grandmother was gone...
'Grandmother, why did you leave me?' I thought, tears welling up behind my eyes.
"I am a coward..." I whispered to myself.
'Grandmother could face it...I can't...I must leave, and keep the family tradition alive.'
Tears flowed freely down my mud-streaked cheeks as I neared the old signpost. I glanced back at my old home...my grandmothers' home, silently saying goodbye.
I didn't know why I was doing this. I didn't even know if the person using The Craft was good, or bad. It could be some demented witch, like the one in the fairy tale, Kikyou. It had just felt...right. My instincts told me to go, and I was slowly learning to follow my instincts more. The voice...it had sounded so familiar, yet so unfamiliar. I leaned against the signpost, lost in my musings when I saw a large hare gazing at me from across the road.
Then it vanished, as if it hadn't even been there. I blinked. Was that an omen? No...the hare oddly comforted her. I shook my head, 'To much going on in one day...'
Once again my thoughts turned to my Grandmother. I remembered when I was little she used to teach me how to use the craft....
...FlashBack...
...Normal POV...
A small Kagome ran wildly through the house, getting different items out of random drawers and cabinets.
"Pan...Racer Plumes...Coda Flower...Dragon Tail...water...is that it?" Kagome murmured coming to a screeching halt in the kitchen, arms over flowing with items.
(I'll explain the herbs at the bottom...A/N)
Grandmother looked up, smiling gently at Kagome.
"Did ye bring all I asked?"
"Yes! Now, onegai Grandmother, tell me what we are making!"
"Alright dear, sit ye self down and I shall explain. Only a witch can evoke the powers of certain herbs, and ye must know how."
Kagome sat down eagerly, ready to learn anything grandmother told her. Grandmother pulled out her retort and mortar and pestle.
"Today we will be making a levitating potion, useful for traveling long distances and not tiring ye out. Aye, but ye must know how to properly make the potion. Ye must crush the Coda Petals until they turn into mush, then ye must drain power into the Dragon Tail, making it glow brightly."
Kagome watched as she crushed the Coda Petals, then watching in fascination as Grandmother closed her eyes, hands cupping the small, light blue Dragon Tail. Grandmother murmured something and the Dragon Tail sparked to life. It glowed warmly, emitting a soft blue light.
"Wow Grandmother! May I try?" Kagome asked, giving her best puppy-dog look.
"Of course ye may, ye must learn, must ye not? Now, focus on the flower, and whisper 'Ryuu.'"
Kagome cupped her hands just as Grandmother had done, concentrating on the flower.
"Ryuu," she whispered, praying she did it correctly.
'Please, please, please!'
"Ye mind is elsewhere, concentrate, Kagome."
Kagome cleared her mind again, repeating the process.
She opened her eyes hesitantly, and beamed when she saw the Dragon Tail glowing.
Later that day her Grandmother and her floated mindlessly around the house, resting on thin air.
...End FlashBack...
...Kagome POV...
'Such good memories...I miss Grandmother...'
She had only been gone one hour...the longest hour of my life. It felt like eternities had passed.
I looked to the western skies; the sun was sinking, sending an array of colors across the sky. I wished I had brought something to occupy my time, but I had to get out of that horrid place. Grandmother, who had cured the sick for them, healed the wounded for them, what do they pay her back with? Nothing but death. I hate them. I hate them for what they did. I always will.
Always.
I was going to cry again, but I stopped myself as I saw an elaborate carriage coming down the old path/road.
The carriage stopped before me, door swinging open magically. (Literally...)
Such a nice carriage, for me? I looked down at myself. My old, worn clothes looked like an old scraggily puppy compared to the beautiful clothes the woman was wearing in front of me.
A veil covered her face, so you could not see her eyes or her face as she called, "Well, are ye going to get in?"
I looked down at my clothes again. "I'm afraid I'd dirty your carriage, miss."
The woman waved her hand fleetingly, speaking softly, "Come now, I don't mind."
"Alright..."
I stepped into the carriage nervously. I sat opposite from the woman as she whistled to the driver to go on.
I dared not speak; she had a demanding air of defiance around her.
...Still, why did she seem so familiar?
...End Chapter...
...Authors Note...
Yeah, I know strange. It'll all make sense soon. Do you think I rushed it? I hope not...I'm REALLY trying hard on this story.
Definitions-
Onegai- please; I beg you
Racer Plumes- (got this from morrowind, the game.) Long, narrow, brownish black strips. Leathery feel, offers levitating powers and drains magick.
Coda Flower- Large, red flower with thorns. Offers limited levitating powers and fortifies magick; also is poisonous in some parts.
Dragon Tail- Small blue flower that glows heals poison and heals magick.
...End Authors Note...
Disclaimer- I own no herbs/plants from the game morrowind.