Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha nor any other characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.
Tsukikage
By: LilBlueFairy
The slowly growing flames flickered to life as Kagome watched their entrancing dance. 'First I manage to find a glowing book, then I stupidly touch it, now I land in a sacred field! What next! I find my missing twin? This is WAY to much to handle for a 17 year-old girl like me to handle. I should have just kept minding my own business and focused on graduating. Dang glowing books.'
"Child, I have many questions to ask of you but first you must wake up," said the worn old voice.
Kagome shook her head and cleared her thoughts, there was no point to thinking about what she should have done. She was stuck for now. "Yes Kaede-sama?"
"Ahh, there she is. Coming back to join me now?"
The old woman chuckled at her own antics as she stirred the fire. Kagome smiled back kindly and readied herself for questioning. "Alright, child. My first question is where are you from?"
Kaede sat down slowly and began preparing vegetables for her lunch that she was making. Kagome cocked her head to the side and connected her pointer finger with her chin. 'How can I possibly explain my world?'
"Let's see. I'm from Tokyo. I live on the Higurashi Shrine and let's just say my world is vastly different than from yours." Kaede nodded in understanding, from the girl's clothing she couldn't possibly be from these lands. 'Or any for that matter.'
"May I ask a question, Kaede-sama?" Kagome knew Kaede couldn't solve all her problems, but at least she could fill her curiosity.
"Of course you may child." Kaede had begun to place a container full of water over the fire to make it bowl and tended to the fire once more, before returning to chop more vegetables.
"Umm, I don't realize how I got here, All I know is I touch a glowing pink book and now I'm here." Kagome stared out the window and heard birds chirping happily in the distance. "Do you know what could have sent me here? And why in a sacred field of all places?" Kaede looked up from her chopping and placed a thoughtful look on Kagome.
"Child, what color was the book glowing?" 'It couldn't be...' Kaede stared at the young woman as the said girl cocked her head to side again. 'What an amusing girl.'
"I believe it was pink. Just like that light that surrounded the komainu!" Kagome answered back excitedly. Maybe this old grandma knew something!
"The Komainu, you say child? Umm..." Kaede puckered her lips in contemplation. "Tis strange. Very strange indeed."
"What? What's strange?" Kagome questioned anxiously.
Kaede sighed deeply and said under her breath, "Kikyo." Then she straightened her back and looked at the jittery girl in front of her. "Child, you do know of auras and their signatures?"
Kagome nodded her head vigorously. Of course she knew! She learned about them when she was young and didn't realize you didn't have to listen to Gramps rattle on about Shrine stuff.
"Good, well the aura is also used as a stamp when magic is used. Such as the book, the one who placed the magic upon it also placed the barrier over the sacred field. You can tell by the same feel and look of the magic."
Kagome nodded as her eyes took their far-off look again. 'Yes! I'm one step closer! Now to see who used it!' "So are you saying the one that placed the barrier over the field brought me here too?"
Kaede placed the vegetables in the now boiling water and looked at the girl sadly. "No, I supposed that bright flash of blue power was what brought you here. It was not the same signature."
'And one step back.' Kagome blew her bangs from her forehead in annoyance. "Well, do you know where the blue light came from?" Kaede looked up with a surprised face and then smiled sagely.
"That is a mystery, I cannot help you with."
'Dang old ladies and their riddles! She reminds me of Gramps! They should get married. They would make a lovely couple with their frustrating riddles and long-winded stories!' Kagome grounded her teeth but counted to ten quickly. "Well then, Kaede-sama. What can you help me with?"
Kaede smiled mysteriously. 'She asked the right question.'
"I can tell you the story of Kikyo."
Many ages ago, when my mother was but a dream of my grandmother, there lived a powerful priestess named Kikyo. Kikyo was a beautiful and kind soul. She possessed grace, honor, dignity, beauty, intelligence, but most of all, she possessed the Shikon no Tama, the Jewel of the Four Souls.
This jewel was said to be the most powerful entity alive. Yes, the jewel was alive for it contained a soul. The soul was of Midoriko, the most powerful miko that was ever to live. Her soul was combined with the many souls of demons and in the Shikon no Tama raged a continuous battle.
Whoever held the Shikon no Tama was said to gain exponential power and a wish. So as you can imagine, if the Shikon fell into the wrong hands it could mean the end of our world. Needless to say, it needed a pure soul to guard it. Kikyo contained this soul and held the power that was needed to protect it.
As time passed, Kikyo faced many dangers and was the target of many, but that didn't make Kikyo bitter. Instead it made her stronger. And she would need her strength.
A young hanyou named Inuyasha heard of this great jewel and wished to become a full inu-youkai. For you see hanyous live hard and lonely lives for they are not accepted in neither the human nor the youkai world. He was a handsome hanyou with snow white hair and sun-colored eyes that burned with intensity. It was no wonder that he was the one to steal Kikyo's heart.
When he first happened upon Kikyo, he had planned to kill her and steal the jewel, as many before had tried. But as Kikyo turned to face him, he saw the same loneliness in her eyes as he had in his.
What was anger was now comfort, what was sadness was now happiness, and what was hate had become love. It was a blissful time for each other. Kikyo decided to give Inuyasha the jewel so he could become fully human and they could marry, but that changed with the coming of Onigumo.
Onigumo was a wondering thief and had a cruel and black heart. Hearing of the Shikon no Tama's power, Onigumo had tried to go after the priestess but was stopped by Inuyasha. Inuyasha could see the evil in his heart and told him to leave or he would lose his life. Onigumo agreed but vowed to return.
For three days Onigumo meditated in the forest, gathering evil and weak youkai, promising them great power. Soon they took the form of Naraku. Naraku was made of pure evil and lived off the blackness of Onigumo's soul. There Naraku stayed dominant.
Thinking that it hadn't worked, Onigumo left to wallow in self-pity, but before he had made it out of the forest he was attacked by bandits. If it hadn't been for Kikyo, Onigumo would have never fulfilled his destiny.
As Onigumo looked upon Kikyo's face as she saved him, he felt the first signs of love. It was the first light to his dark life and he didn't want to let it go. So he faked injuries, causing Kikyo's soft heart to care for him and tend to him. As time went by and Kikyo cared for him, they found true love. Onigumo's dark heart had changed and Kikyo's love for him out-shown hers for Inuyasha.
It is here where the story becomes unknown but it is said that Inuyasha found out about Kikyo's affair and went mad with rage and jealousy. He tortured Onigumo till Kikyo surrendered the jewel. He then used the jewel to become the full demon he had always wanted to be and then proceeded in killing Kikyo and lover with an insatiable bloodlust. But before she died Kikyo placed a barrier around the forest, trapping him inside till his true love was able to set him free. This forest became known as Inuyasha's Forest and it was the beginning of the Central Lands.
The evil being known as Naraku was destroyed, since he had no soul to feed on and the people lived in harmony, till they realized that on the full moon, every seven years, Inuyasha's power would become more powerful than Kikyo's and he would be able to leave the forest.
In order to make peace with him and prevent him from continuing his revenge, the village that raised Kikyo would pay a sacrifice to him on the night of the full moon every seven years. And this is the tragic story of Kikyo.
Kagome's wide crystal gray eyes stared at the old miko as she finished her tragic tale. 'Wow... I wish Grandpa's stories were more like that!' "Wow."
Kaede nodded her head in agreement before scooping up the finished soup into two wooden bowls. She handed one to Kagome and then preceded to eat. "So I suppose that this is the village and the sacred tree is?"
Kaede swallowed and set her food down."Yes this is the village, Kikyo was my great-aunt and the miko of this village. Also, the sacred tree is where Kikyo and her lover died. It is also where we place the sacrifice for Inuyasha-sama."
Kagome looked at her soup with a dazed glare. 'Poor Kikyo-sama. This Inuyasha must be a real creep!'
"Child, your food grows cold." Kaede warned as she ate hers quietly. "Hai, Kaede-sama."
After they finished their filling but bland meal Kagome mentally thought as the taste remained on her tongue, the two woman went back outside to plant herbs.
"Now child this herb is called Rosemary." Kaede explained as she pointed out the last herb. Kagome studied the plant closely then exclaimed, "My mom has this one in her garden!"
Kagome decided to help the old woman tend her garden as thanks for the meal, not to mention this herb lesson was kind of interesting. 'I'm such a dork.' Kagome thought as she sighed.
As Kaede began explaining the uses for the rosemary, a shrill scream followed by a heavy sob filled the air. "Kaede-sama! Oh! Kaede-sama! Please help me!" yelled a sobbing, female voice.
A young local village girl with wavy brown locks ran frantically into the garden. The girl's face was a nice pretty but not when it was red and puffy like now. Freckles adorned her face and her doe brown eyes were pleading. "Kaede-sama! I wish to marry Kenji! Don't make me go!"
Kagome stood off to the side filling out of place and helpless. She wanted to help! 'Poor girl, I wish I could do something.' What kind of trouble could this girl be in? She looked no more than 15 and exclaimed she had wanted to marry. 'Maybe she's pregnant... It's like afeudal soap opera!' Kagome watched closely to see watch Kaede-sama would do next.
"Child, ye know the rules. Would you rather Kenji be dead? If you do not go through tonight's Tsuki festival then we shall be in grave danger." Kaede showed no mercy in this matter. She had seen many girls plead throughout her life, and Yuki was the last person she wanted to go, but it had to be done.
Kagome held her breath and her eyes widened in surprise. 'Tsuki festival? Danger! The Tsuki festival takes place in the fall and this place appears to be in the middle of spring! And danger was never involved!' Kagome decided to let herself be known, so in a small voice she called out Kaede.
"Kaede-sama." No response.
"Oh, Kaede-sama..." Once again our heroine was left out.
"Kaede-sama!"
"Aye, child?" The old woman with the eye-patch turned to look at the flustered teen. Noticing she had also caught the stare of the young woman and now a few of her followers, Kagome's flustered cheeks soon became embarrassed ones.
"Um, What's going on?"
Before Kaede could answer, the young girl approached Kagome quickly. "Who are you? Nevermind! That doesn't matter." The girl grabbed Kagome's hands in her own and looked at her pleadingly.
"My name is Yuki and you see I have been select to be the Lady of the Tsuki festival tonight. I will wear the best kimono and eat the finest of our village foods. I will be like royalty! But, you see, I have fallen in love with Kenji, the local farmer boy. He and I have promised to marry each other since we were five and have been true to each other ever since, but I cannot marry him if I am the Lady of the festival! Please, kind one. You are not of our village but I plead you to hear my tale and show mercy upon me. Take my place!"
Yet before Yuki could utter another syllable, Kaede shouted, "No!" and slapped her hands away from Kagome's. Kagome looked at Kaede as if she were a subject in an asylum.
Kaede looked into Kagome's confused eyes and stated firmly, "You do not want to be the sacrifice."
"Sacrifice? You mean the sacrifice you mentioned was a ...a.."
"Yes, my child. It is a human sacrifice."
'A human sacrifice?' "Like you kill them and..."
"NO!" Kaede said in a hurry. "We do not kill child. We do not know what happens to the sacrifice after we leave them near the sacred tree. It is up to Inuyasha-sama, but we fear it is not good."
Kaede looked off to the side and felt helpless as she remembered all the other girls that had been sacrificed over the years. She had almost been one, but her best friend, Sango, had taken her place. She had been a fearless sacrifice, but of course, youkai exterminators are usually the bravest souls.
It seemed most of the village had followed the young girl because tons of women with different accessories and many men had followed. 'Apparently they had been preparing her for the ceremonies,' Kagome thought with concern.
"So you mean to tell me that you are going to dress her up and place her in the field that I appeared in and let this Inuyasha character have her as a sacrifice so you can spare your village?" This was ridiculous! If she ever got her hands on this Inuyasha character, boy was she gonna let him have it!
Unfortunately, it looked like Kagome was going to have her chance.
A large built man with an unruly beard pushed his way through the crowd. "Do you mean to tell me, you came from the sacred meeting place?" he asked in a deep baritone voice. Kagome squeaked and back away from the towering man. "Umm, yes?"
He turned towards Kaede and glared at her. "And you knew this? How long have you been hiding her? She can save my daughter!"
'Oh! So he's the over-protective father...' Kagome glanced at the nosy crowd but quickly tuned back in as Kaede began speaking.
"Yes, she came from the sacred field," Collective gasps were heard from the crowd and suddenly Kagome felt eyes roam over her being. Remarks came from the group and one especially snide one spoke of how that explained her unflattering and loose style of kimono.
Kaede ignored the surrounding crowd and kept continuing her speech. "But she is not of this village! She does not belong in our matters."
The burly man's face flamed in fury, "Well if she entered our sacred grounds then apparently she is!"
"Call down, Mamoru." an elderly man's voice spoke. It was the village's leader and he was upset that the village's progress on the festival had stalled. "Now Kaede-sama, tell me. How old the child is and when she appeared."
Kaede sighed this was not in favor of the girl. "She appeared this morning as I was checking the sacred seals. As for her age I do not know."
The elderly man, who reminded Kagome of her grandfather, turned towards her. "Child, tell me how old are ye?"
Kagome gulped, she decided that being in the spotlight was highly overrated. "I'm 17, sir."
The old man 'hmm'ed a bit before once again spoke with Kaede. "You do realize that this child is the exact age when the Lady Kikyo died, do you not?" The old man waited as Kaede slowly nodded. "You also realize that for her to appear on this day, at this time is most certainly a sign?" Kaede looked away, she did not want to get Kagome messed up in this.
Despite the fact Kaede didn't answer, the old man continued. "You also realize the similarities, I know I was but a child when I last looked upon Kikyo, but her features were unforgettable. And they looked very close to hers."
This got the crowd in an uproar. "She is a gift from God!" ,"She is meant to be the sacrifice!", "It is her!"," Maybe its Kikyo reincarnated!"
Kagome really didn't like how things were looking, especially when the people stated she was just a reborn copy of their dead priestess. Kagome's soul wasn't old! Plus she didn't have any magic like that Kikyo girl anyway.
Kaede looked at Kagome and knew she wasn't the incarnation of Kikyo, as a trained miko she could tell. "This isn't Kikyo reincarnated, and she is not one of us; therefore, she can't be a sacrifice!" Kaede argued.
The old leader looked at Kaede and decided upon a compromise. "We shall appeal to Kikyo's magic. Kikyo shall determine who shall be the next sacrifice!"
The crowd roared in agreement and began betting on who would be chosen. The elder shook his head and looked at the sadden miko. "Kaede, I have given her a fair chance and this is all we can do."
"I understand." Kaede replied.
"I understand too."
The elder and miko looked back at Kagome who had a small but resigned smile on her face. "I understand. I am a stranger with a lot of proof against me. Not to mention that Yuki is loved and belongs here. And If I am chosen, at least I will be able to save her life and the village. Plus her father would miss her terribly."
Kagome had a soft spots for dads, ever since hers was ripped cruelly away. 'Not to mention, I was sent here for some reason and all the signs point to this.'
The old man bowed as far as he could in respect. "Thank you my child." Kaede nodded with agreement. She was proud of her new friend.
Kagome smiled and looked back towards the dark pathway. 'Plus I'm a Higurashi! I can do anything!' Kagome gulped as another warm wind blew the trees, 'I hope...'
The whole village had lined up and was silent as Kaede appealed to Kikyo's magic and spirit. "Oh mighty spirit of the beloved Kikyo, we come to you for your guidance and wisdom. May your magic speak to us and choose which you send to save your village." Kaede continued in this manner for at least five more minutes.
Kagome twitched and played with her skirt as she and the rest of the village had their bodies in a sitting position with their heads bowed to show respect. 'This is taking forever! It reminds me when Gramps wanted me to learn how to do a proper tea ceremony.' Kagome stomach growled in nervousness and hunger.
Kagome, Yuki and the village elder sat in front of the village but right behind Kaede. As Kagome's stomach growled the old man stay in the serious focus but Yuki allowed a small smile play upon her lips. Yuki was a happy and kind person, she just really didn't want to be the sacrifice. Of course, who could blame her when she had a good loyal man like Kenji.
Kagome had met Kenji before the ceremony and liked him instantly. He reminded her of her friend Hojo, who was a kind but simple spirit. He was loyal, handsome and madly in love with Yuki and Kagome couldn't bare to separate them.
As Kaede finished her prayers and chants. She told the two girls to come forward. "Now I want you to place your hand on the komainu in front of you. Once you do this, who ever Kikyo has chosen with glow with her magic." Kaede explained.
The girls looked at each other nervously then step forward. Kagome placed her right hand on the right komainu as Yuki placed her left hand on the left komainu. Soon the bright pink light filled the area and temporary blinded the village folk, but as soon as they could see again they gasped.
Kagome's body was engulfed in a comforting embrace and her skin tingled with the magic within her. She knew she was the one that had been picked.
Yuki flew back from the komainu and shielded her eyes with her arm. As the light retreated, Yuki looked to see Kagome smiling lightly at her. Kagome's entire form was surrounded by a soft pink light. Her silky raven locks floated around her in an invisible wind. She looked ethereal. Kagome's blue-gray eyes filled Yuki with warmth and Yuki whispered a small grateful thank you.
Yuki had almost wished the magic had chosen her. Kagome was such a nice person, she found out. And realized why Kaede was fighting for her.
Yuki had ALMOST wanted to be the sacrifice, but her love with Kenji won over.
As soon as Kagome had stopped glowing she was yanked into the frantic crowd. "We must fix her hair first!" "No her kimono!" "She needs to have her face done!" Kagome flinched at that one, she had remembered what geishas looked like and refused to do that. "Lets show her how to read the scrolls!"
Many of the shouts continued but they when unnoticed by Kagome who looked back at Kaede in question if she was going to follow.
Kaede smiled sadly. "I shall see you at the end of the festival, small one." Kagome nodded before she had been dragged off.
After hours of primping, measuring, fighting off the make-up ladies, and explaining that she was educated enough to read, Kagome was about to burst. 'Being treated like royalty, my foot! Yuki had really been buttering it up. No wonder the girl came running in tears. I bet this was worse than being left to that Inu-creep.'
Kagome had given that Inuyasha character a nickname after she had to sit there for at least two hours of people pulling her hair. She wanted a good name to curse at for every painful yank and tug.
Once they were finished Kagome observed herself in her room. They had adorned her body with a dark blue silk kimono and a baby blue obi. On the kimono was a small sliver dragon that flew upon pastel pink cherry blossoms. While that was nice and brought out the blue in her eyes, the job on her hair was even better.
'All that tugging and pulling was almost worth it.'
Her midnight hair had been woven in an complex design that didn't make her head seem to large, nor too small. They had also left a few strands down to frame her face, which was unmarred by make-up.
"I won that battle," stated Kagome proudly as she lifted her chin up in self-praise. Of course, the self-praise was earned after fighting those women tooth and nail. Needless to say, when Kagome entered that room, it had, had a nice wooden floor and the ladies wore simple brown kimonos. When she left, with a smirk, the room had a nice new white floor and the woman's kimonos looked like they had been painted by a drunk artist. Not to mention their faces contained a few unique marks as well.
A knock on the door let Kagome know that it was time to begin the festival. Kagome sighed as she grabbed the nearby scroll. "Here goes nothin."
A pair of luminescent amber eyes took in the jovial scene as it leaped through the surrounding trees. "Who will they send this time?" it growled to itself as it found the main attraction.
Inuyasha was late for the festival and missed the presenting of his future slave. "Probably some weeping little girl who will be as boring as usual," he grumbled as he made his way to the village. The sun was getting closer to the horizon and telling him that it was closer to the time he would play the big bad beast and scare the girl, then she would faint and he would take her.
It was a tiring process and quite annoying but that was the only way Inuyasha could meet the one who would set him free. "Damn Kikyo and destiny! Why does the girl have to be from that fucking village!"
As you can see, Inuyasha had a short temper.
Now the girl would be seating and feasting upon all sorts of delights as the others dance and played music. After that would begin the re-enactment of his and Kikyo's story, then the weakling would read from the scrolls and proceed to the entrance of the "sacred pathway." There everyone would say their goodbyes and then the old miko would perform the opening ceremony and hand her those stupid bow and arrows that she 'sanctified' then tell her to met the youkai, Inuyasha, at the sacred tree.
As Inuyasha thought of the usual routine, the more angrier he got. 'This Tsuki festival is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard!' He growled irritably and then began searching for the girl. He looked in the usual spot where the wench sat but she wasn't there! Half of her food was gone, but she wasn't there.
Inuyasha tried to look among the crowds for the most painted wench but none of them looked like geishas! Sure there was this one nice looking wench in a fancy blue kimono but there wasn't any paint on her face nor was she crying. In fact, she was dancing around with the other villagers and laughing.
"Feh. Must be the elder's grand-daughter or somethin'." Inuyasha grumbled.
But he found himself almost wishing that she was the "sacrifice." She didn't have too bad of a face and her figure was nice and curvy. "Oi! Damned monk is rubbing off on me..." Inuyasha grumbled as his cheeks began to glow pink.
It wasn't that Inuyasha hadn't been intimate before, it just the innocence that shown in her eyes made him feel wrong for thinking that about her. As if she were some angel, that he had dirtied with his thoughts.
Inuyasha kept staring at his "angel" till she disappeared again with some of the small children. Apparently they wanted to dance with her as well.
In order to reassure himself that he wasn't disappointed in her disappearance, Inuyasha grumbled, "Feh, good riddance. Damn, distracting wench," and resumed his search for the annoying simpering girl known as "the sacrifice."
Tsukikage: Moonlight
Tsuki: Moon
Hai: Yes
Hey, its me again! I hope you enjoy this longer chapter! It was a bit difficult for me to write Inuyasha's part, due to the fact I'm a bit uncomfortable with cussing, but its Inuyasha. Also, I realize I made Kagome older, but I felt it would be in the best interest of her character to make her that old.I also really need to know what you guys think of the story so far, so I can tell if this is going in a good or bad direction. Next chapter involves the meeting! (Alright some Kagome and Inuyasha action!)Thanks for reading!
Reviews are my inspiration.
Shout Outs:
turtlerad17: Thanks for the awesome review for my 1st chapter! I hope you like what you see.
FallenInsaneDemon: You also reviewed on my 1st chapter and I didn't get it till to late! Sorry for that. But I hope this update was soon enough!
priestessmykala: I'm so glad you think I got Kagome into character! I think it is one of the hardest things in a fanfiction piece, but she may become more OOC later on. Hopefully not to much though! I'm glad you also enjoy my daydreams too! lol. And thanks for the wonderful complement on my word usage.
mweph: I'm glad you think this is a good story! Oh and you might need a little more time to read this chapter. lol.