Me: Hey ya'll! This is my first fic for InuYasha, so please go easy on us! (referring to an OC in my story)
Kino: yeah, or she'll have to go back to Stony Brook. laughs menacingly
Me: HEY! That is confidential! I'll take your Goldfish crackers if you don't cut it out! (A/N: don't own 'em, just love 'em)
Kino: Meep! sulks in a corner, but still munching on Goldfish, and humming, 'I love fishes cuz their so delicious!'
Me: Well, the sum-up on this fic is that Kagome finds something very important, and very secret, about the priestess ways. Unfortunately for her, the gift came in a bad wrapper, and sent loads of issues her way. Sooo, here it is!
The miko breathed deeply, and exhaled, as she stood at the bottom of the BoneEater's well. Her breath quickly turned into a mist and disappeared. Winter finally came.
Upon realization she smiled. She'd seen the feudal era in the snow before, but only for a short time, because she was injured and became sick, so InuYasha had to bring her home.
Kagome started to climb out, and when she reached the top she gasped. Snow covered everything. The leaf-less trees were covered with it, and the ground had blankets of the white stuff all over.
She was glad she brought her snowboard, which was strapped to her backpack, because it had been snowing in her own time, as well. "Wow…" she muttered, "It's so pretty." she climbed over the well's top, and adjusted her black overcoat. It was definitely old and worn, but it suited her just fine; and it did it's job. It had a big hood, and it was warm and protected her whole body from the cold.
Kagome took a step forward and she immediately fell to her knees. "Ah! Oh…better watch it. The snow's really deep." She stood up again, and pulled her booted-foot out, and walked, more carefully, towards the village. As she walked, she wondered why InuYasha hadn't come to get her. 'Where is he?'
When she finally got to the village she saw how deserted it looked. But she wasn't alarmed. There was smoke coming from the smoke holes on the hut's roofs. She ran, or rather trudged, through the snow to Kaede's and lifted the fur covered door. After stomping on the mat to rid her shoes of the snow, she walked in, letting the fur covering flap back down again.
"Hey, Kaede." she said, as she saw the old priestess mixing herbs for one of the villagers.
"Hello, Kagome. How are ye doing this cold day?" the old miko said, looking up from her work to say hello.
"You mean beautiful, cold day." the young miko said, cheerfully. The old woman laughed lightly as Kagome continued, "I'm fine. Have you seen---
They heard a commotion from outside and watched as Sango came storming in, followed by Miroku, with a searing, red handprint on his face. He was smiling like an idiot. "Ah, lady Sango. I wish you would understand how I feel about you."
The demon exterminator rounded on him. "Not feel about me," she said with gritted teeth, and blazing eyes, "About my BUTT!"
Kagome was trying not to laugh, when Shippou jumped onto her shoulder. "He just won't get it." she said.
"I think he did." said Shippou with a smirk.
"Shippou!"
"Gomen." he said, not necessarily heartfelt.
Kagome shook her head, and asked, "Has anyone seen InuYasha?"
Sango turned to her and said, "He left a while ago; looked like he was in a hurry. I thought he was going to get you?"
"Haven't seen him." the miko replied. "Well, I'll go look for the baka." she said, as she pulled on her gloves.
"Alright. But hurry up. It's getting late, and it looks like it'll snow." said Sango.
"Will do."
Shippou jumped from Kagome's shoulder and hopped around on the floor, saying, "Can I come? Can I come? Can I come?!"
"Sorry, Shippou. It would be faster if I went to find him, groan and when I get back I'll give you a candy cane."
The kitsune stopped his groaning and said, "Alright, but you have to give me a piece of that candy crane stuff. It even sounds good."
"Candy cane, Shippou…here." Kagome handed him the piece then said, "See you guys in a little bit." Then she turned and left, taking her snowboard with her.
Kagome maneuvered her snowboard, with practiced skill, around the trees and over small boulders. 'He must be at the Bo-Shiboku.' she thought.
When she got to the huge tree, she allowed her board to stop itself, and looked up. She didn't see any red, but she still yelled, "InuYasha? Hey! Are you up there? If you are, and you think you won't answer, I'll say the 'word'." she threatened. Nothing.
"Fine…SIT!" her voice rang out and echoed across the clearing, and then silence. InuYasha's usual, muffled, slur of curses were not heard. 'Where is he?'
"Maybe I should just head back?" she said to herself softly. She was worried about him. First he didn't come to get her, and now he wasn't at his tree. 'Where are you?' she thought again. She didn't want to think about the negative thoughts, but they came anyway.
Is he hurt? Is he dead? Or worse, did Kikyo take him to hell?
Kikyo.
That was enough to make Kagome feel the hairs on the nape of her neck stick up, and send chills through her spine. She shuddered, and turned her head towards the setting sun. 'I've got to find him…'
She was jarred form her thoughts when she heard someone, or something, crashing through the surrounding forest. 'InuYasha?' she thought. Before she could do anything, a huge wolf-like creature flew out of the trees, and with out missing a beat, ran right for her.
"Oh Kami!"
It had huge black ears, piercing icy blue eyes, and it was covered in thick, bluish fur. It had thin, diamond shaped tattoos on it's forehead, and next to each eye. On it's legs and covering it's paws was, what looked like, ripped-up, silk gloves, which flew around with the beast's speed. She had definitely never seen such a beast, even in all of their travels. It's strangest attributes, she noticed, were two, very long, snake-like things coming off it's shoulder blades. They could have been called wings, by the position they were in, but they were not wide enough to bare the beast in the air.
Kagome nearly lost it as she saw the huge paws, with five inch, black claws born on them, flowing in a graceful, deadly rhythm, towards her. It's speed made the creature a near blur.
She, again, had no time to react, for the creature caught her by the waist, and took off with her snug in it's jaws. "Ahh!" She put her hands around the wolf creature's upper and lower jaws, and tried desperately to free herself, but with no avail.
"Put-me-DOWN!" she managed to yell out. Had she been a bystander, she would have noticed she was in no immediate harm, for the beast was only carrying her, not crushing her. But she was not a bystander, so she did what her human instincts told her. Panic.
"Inu-Yasha!" Kagome shouted, as her snowboard flew off the foot that keep it connected to her.
"Let-GO!" as she screamed this, her right hand glowed blue, and a long, thin, sword-like energy appeared in her palm. She didn't take the time to wonder why it happened, just sliced at the beast's face, causing it to drop her.
She took her chance and tried to run, but the wolf-creature caught her entire right arm, fairly gently, and kept her from escaping. She quickly pulled her arm out, but as she did so, the razor sharp teeth which held her, slit her wrist, leaving a jagged, not so small, mess. She cared not, however, and tried to run again.
Just as the creature was about to grab her coat, the crashing of branches came from behind. "Kagome!" InuYasha leapt over the creature and landed between it and the bleeding miko. He wasted no time in slashing at the wolf's face, causing it to back up after the near hit. It let out an angry growl and backed up.
"Baka!" it shouted, in an, obviously, male voice.
"Whoa! It talks?!" exclaimed Kagome, as she clutched her wrist.
"Give her back! I have to take her to our "Temple" before it happens!" the wolf beast yelled.
InuYasha was seething.
"You stay away from her, Kino, or I'll ripe your throat out!"
"So protective, InuYasha. Too bad you don't put her in such a high place in your heart as you do for a pile of ash and clay." The wolf raised his head, and smirked.
"Shut up." growled the hanyou.
"What's going on?" asked Kagome, tilting slightly.
The wolf creature, or Kino, turned his gaze on her. "Kaede didn't tell you?"
"Huh?"
"I'm your Spirit Guardian." Kino said casually.
InuYasha growled, preventing anymore conversation. "Enough." He cracked his fingers, and took an attacking stance.
"You still hate me because I was Kikyo's Guardian?" Kino said this as more of a statement.
The hanyou growled again. "You attacked Kagome! That's not exactly protecting her!"
"Not so! I was merely taking her to our "Temple" but she overreact---
"I am…officially…lost…" Kagome seemed to fall asleep on her feet, and she fell into the snow. InuYasha turned to see her fall.
"Kagome!" he cried, as he picked her up. "Hey! What's wrong?!"
The Spirit-wolf sighed, and took a step forward, but her halted suddenly. One of his black ears twitched, and he became alarmed. "InuYasha." he said.
"Kagome…she's bleeding!" the hanyou exclaimed, as he saw her mangled wrist. He ripped part of his inner haori, and wrapped the miko's injury tightly.
"Give her to me!" shouted the Spirit-wolf urgently. Not waiting for the half-demon, he used the snake-like, silk things on his back, and picked Kagome up gently, but quickly, then set her on his back.
InuYasha shouted a slew of curses. "Hey! Give her---
Kino turned on the hanyou, and said, "You want her to die? She will if you don't let me take her to our Guardian "Temple". They will take care of her, and besides. My superiors need to help fix the problem."
"What problem?! Her wrist."
"It's about Kagome, not her wrist. I can't tell you more than that. Now, I have to go."
InuYasha "feh'd", but he said. "But I'm coming."
"No. Go get Kaede." Kino turned to leave, but her was blocked by the hanyou.
"No."
"Move it, half-breed! Go get the old priestess! NOW!" as he finished his sentence, a strange, visible wind surrounded the Spirit-wolf. Out of the wind came huge, silver-blue wings, which looked, and were, very strong and they seemed made of silk. They were ripped, and the flowing silk billowed behind the Guardian.
Kino did not wait for InuYasha to move, but he leaped into the snowy air, and headed north, leaving a seething, but for now, obedient hanyou. The half-demon growled low, and ran his fastest to get Kaede.
Kino flew his own fasted to the Spirit Guardian Temple, while Kagome's wrist was steadily bleeding out her life-blood. 'Hang on…You need to trust me, or you'll end up like Kikyo.' thought the Spirit-wolf.
Just as he made it over the worst of the mountain's forests, the "Temple", appeared in the last of the evening light. It was not exactly a temple; it more like a large estate; a collection of large and small jinja's and biru's. It was made with magic, and was built to blend with the trees and it's surroundings. A river ran through the "Temple", being the lifeline of the Guardian House.
Kino landed in front of the Healer's biru, and wasted no time in running inside. "Nami! She's hurt!" he shouted, just as Kagome fell from his back. "Kso!" he cursed. "Nami, we need you now!"
"Coming, Kino!" a woman with gray wolf ears, came through an open shouji, on the opposite side of the room. She wore complicated robes, and walked in a very graceful, almost wolf-like way.
"Let me see…" she stopped speaking and starred at the miko lying on the floor; Kagome was deathly pale. "Tell me that's not…not Kikyo? She's dead."
"No. This is Kagome. My new Kaisha."
"I was unaware that you were assigned a new Kaisha…my…She does look like Kikyo, does she not?"
Kino sighed, frustrated, and said, "She is bleeding to death, Nami. Can we talk about this later?"
"Of course." said the wolf-eared woman. Taking on the healer role, again, she knelt, and inspected Kagome's wounds. "Her vitals are dropping, and fast. Quickly! Bring her in here."
InuYasha was clearly distressed; and out of place. He sat, eerily, in a huge, snow covered, bonsai tree near the Healer's biru. The tree was definitely grown around magic, due to it's height.
He had gotten to the "Temple" hours earlier, with Kaede, who went directly into the Healer's biru. Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippou had gotten there soon after.
InuYasha was staring ahead at the biru doors, when he felt something behind him. He turned to se icy blue eyes staring into his. "AHHH!" He fell to a lower branch and shouted up, "Kino! You baka! Are you trying to scare the crap out of…" The hanyou's voice stopped abruptly as he looked at Kino.
The Spirit Guardian was not in his Spirit-wolf form, but the half-demon would never mistake him for anyone else. Kino had a body nearly identical to InuYasha's, but wore ripped-up silk gloves, a white haori with the sleeves rolled up, even though it was freezing outside, and he also wore baggy pants. At the moment, his face was unreadable. It was handsome, as well. The thin, diamond shaped marks on his forehead and next to each eye, made him look fairly dangerous.
To say InuYasha was surprised, would have been the understatement of the year; he'd never seen the Spirit Guardian's other form before; only the Spirit-wolf. Kino was squatting, much like the hanyou, himself, would. He was peering down at InuYasha, calmly.
"I've got something to tell you." said Kino, solemnly. The hidden emotions in his icy eyes were very questionable.
"Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good." answered InuYasha, quickly recovering from his surprise.
"Well, it's not exactly bad either." replied the Spirit Guardian.
"And I'm gonna hear it whether it want to or not. And it'll probably get me mad, so it might as well be you I hit." growled InuYasha.
"Haven't lost the attitude I see… I'd be lying to say I'm glad to hear it." retorted Kino, with his usual smirk.
"Come on, spit it out. I gotta check on Kagome."
"Fine. I'll keep it as blunt as possible for your slow-working brain." he received a "feh", but keep going. "The simple truth is that Kagome now has some…Guardian energy flowing through her veins, which as far as we can figure has turned her into a…um…well, a hanyou-like form…with Spirit Guardian attributes." Silence. Then…
"…W-WHAT!"
Me: Oooo! Cliffie!
Kino: Biznitch! You have to detail everything don't you?
Me: …pokes index fingers together
Kino: Little Biznitch…What about those "silk snake-like things"…oh yeah. Hey, all you readers, we got a genius here…
Me: brightens, not sensing the sarcasm Well, I didn't know if there were any episodes where it's winter, so I did what I could. If there are review and tell me about them, k? See you guys next time! Tell me if you like it so far! In the next chapter, Inu will see Kagome's new form. AHH! pff…Like this kind of plot hasn't been used yet…Oh well. Review ya'll! :D
Japanese translation
gomen- sorry
baka- idiot
kaisha- company (in this fic. means a chosen of the Spirit Guardian (their charge)
shouji- sliding screen, or wall
jinja- shrine
biru- building
kso- shit
Japanese names
Nami- Wave