"Talking"
'Thinking'
Writing
Stressed Words
"I told you once and I'll not repeat myself!" Suiichi growled as he heard Yoko lash out inside their head.
"Just hurry up and open the third scroll," Yoko growled as he reached out for the sacred item.
"Patience is a virtue," Suiichi scorned.
"Stop dwelling and start reading," Yoko growled again.
"Why can't you just wait?" Suiichi asked.
'You really want to know why I can't wait?'
"Yes, enlighten me."
'I haven't had anything that could connect me to my old life, and most of my life was horrible. I finally found something from my past worth wanting, and I refuse to wait." Yoko explained as he took control of the body and opened the third scroll.
"This time life won't be so bad," Suiichi whispered.
1606, Cherry Blossoms are Blooming
It has been forty years since the sun fell upon my face and caressed my skin. I walked outside the hut knowing that my clothes were a little strange to the people. I was excited to have the soft touch of wind on my face and know that it was wind. Forty years without sunlight could really cause your skin to lighten and your hair to turn a shade down. The sun was just rising and I spent every moment bathing in its warmth. It was so intoxicating that I didn't hear the footsteps behind me. When the hand touched my shoulder I prepared for a fight.
Reaction took over as I grabbed the wrist and flipped the person on their back. I then took out an arrow and held it to the neck. The eyes widened as I stared at them in shock. I soon put the arrow away and hugged the person on the ground as I smiled in joy. It was a bliss that I hadn't felt in forty years. I stood up and helped the person up as he just sniffed at me in suspicion. He then smiled and squeezed me while he spun in circles.
"Kagome," he whispered my name.
"Inuyasha," I whispered as I closed my eyes knowing I was safe again.
"What the hell happened to you?" He asked in pure concern.
"That's something I will tell when everyone is up," I responded before I backed away from him.
He looked confused when he saw my outfit for the first time. Her stared at my forest green pants and finally noticed that my arrows were attached to left leg. The problem was they were inside my pants and a slit was on my pants so I could reach in and grab an arrow. On my left hip I had a small dagger for close combat in case my arrows failed. The Miko shirt was traditional, that's the way I planned to keep it. Around my outfit I had armor similar to Sesshoumaru's, except mine was lightweight and had been made with Miko ki.
"You're dressed for battle," Inuyasha said as he looked into my eyes.
"I've just got out of a battle," I stated to him as I reached up and touched the crescent moon on his forehead. He reached up and touched my hand that was still on the moon.
"I didn't want this," he said as he lowered my hand.
"You found what you wanted?" I asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes, I found a place to belong," he answered before he smiled at me.
"You know I miss the dog ears," I responded.
"Keh."
"I have to go," I quickly stated as I placed my bow over my shoulder.
He hesitated with a frown adorning his face before he placed something around my neck. I reached up and came in contact with a warm, glassy surface. I looked down to see the dormant Shikon no Tama around my neck. I looked into it and swore I saw a light before I dropped my hand. I went to say something but stopped.
"When will you return?" Inuyasha asked as he walked me east of the village.
"I need to walk to Eisei," I said as we stopped before the forest.
"What's there?" He questioningly asked.
"Someone that deserves a life," I answered before I began to walk away. I stopped walking and gave him a true smile before I waived.
Eisei Village, Three Days Journey
It had been three days since I left the Shikon no Tama. There was a person here in this village that I owed a favor to. I couldn't make this person's past leave them, but I could give them a future that they could call their own. I only needed their permission before I granted them this wish. This is how it is, and I can't change the fact that this is a burden you just hand out. I know Midoriko handed this gift out when she took me. She explained that they were needed for a purpose. I finally came across a villager when I reached the houses.
"Welcome to Eisei, Miko-sama," an older man greeted.
"Where can I find Kohaku, elder," I asked trying not to be rude to the older man.
"Kohaku is on his deathbed as we speak. He can be found in the last hut at the end of this village," the elder man informed.
"Thank you elder," I said before I walked towards the last hut.
It wasn't a hut worth anything. I could feel the creatures of the underworld all around this one hut. The roof looked thin and there were holes everywhere. I stepped on one stair and felt it bend to my weight. I hurried into the hut hoping that it would be more stable. I heard a hoarse breathing patter as I stood still as looked around. The hut looked better from the outside than it did from the inside. I frowned before I followed the breathing.
I finally found a futon with a worn blanket over the owner. I kneeled down next to the elder man hoping that this was indeed Kohaku. The old man looked towards me and his eyes widened before he smiled. This was the little boy I had journeyed to find and make an offer. I think he was finally sixty, which was a rare age to live to. I reached out my hand and smoothed out his gray bangs. I then took hold of his hand and squeezed it with reassurance.
"How are you Kohaku?" I softly asked, afraid that if I spoke to loud he would break.
"Tired," Kohaku weakly, responded to me.
"Have you made peace with your soul?" I asked him hoping the answer was yes.
"No, I'm to evil," Kohaku spat out like it was a disease. I sighed and squeezed his hand hoping he would just say yes to this question.
"Do you want to make peace and live again?" I asked him in a calm voice.
"I want to make peace, but it is too late to live," he answered as he wheezed.
"Do you want to live again?" I asked him. His worn brown eyes looked confused before they shone with a decision.
"Yes." He stated in an even voice.
I smiled down at him and closed his eyes before I put the jewel on him. All Midoriko had told me was that the person had to be true of heart and I had to give the jewel a piece of myself. I held my hand out over the jewel and his chest before I started to pray. A bluish-white light came from my hand and floated into the jewel. The Shikon no Tama had began to shine with a pure pink luminosity. I could hear the youkai's trapped souls begging to be released and making me promises.
I ignored the souls before I heard a voice silence the others. Its voice silenced the others and mixed all the emotions of a heart into balance. I began to tell the jewel what I wanted it to do. It asked for an offering and I gave it a piece of myself. It was satisfied with the offering and began its task of what I wanted. I watched as the pink glow flowed into Kohaku's body and began to purge him of any sickness. His skin began to shift and flow into a smother looking cream. His hair went back to a chocolate brown and his skin began to take on a light tan color.
I heard the jewel say it's finished before I saw Kohaku's eyes open again. I put the Shikon no Tama around my neck before I watched Kohaku admire his younger skin. He then touched his face and smiled when he looked at me.
"The Tama has made you twenty-four," I answered before he could ask.
"Are my freckles gone?" He asked me with interest.
"You have a few left," I answered.
"Thank you so much Kagome," he thanked me.
"It was no problem to do this," I told him.
"I owe you my life, it's in your hands," Kohaku told me.
"Your life is your own, but I do ask you to become the guardian of the Shikon no Tama's master," I stated.
"I shall guard you with my life," Kohaku stated to me.
"I take your vow and seal it with blood," I seriously said.
"I hold the vow true and seal it with my own blood, my life," Kohaku repeated to me.
I smiled at him and told him to pack his most important items. He packed them and put his Taijiya's outfit on under his navy blue pants and silver shirt. He then picked up his chained sickle before we left the village of Eisei. We traveled to the village of that was half a day's journey to Kaede's village. The village was small and very quiet in my opinion. It was the village of Hourou. Kohaku and I easily found a restaurant where we could talk together in private.
"Are you going to see your sister?" I asked him as I raised my tea to my lips.
"Yes, I have come to terms that it is not my fault, but I have apologize to Sango," Kohaku whispered as he looked down.
"Kohaku, as a Taijiya you have been taught discipline, endurance, attitude. The battle at Naraku's castle was where you learned your hardest lesson of all. Life." I stated in an even voice.
"How can life be that way?" Kohaku demanded to know.
"Life is what you make it and what is handed to you. You were dealt a rough hand and chose to deal the only way a child knew how. There is little blame on you," I explained to him knowing that it was useless.
"I will try to learn life," Kohaku said, as he looked me.
"That is good, but now I have to explain what should happen if I die or disappear," I began.
"What do you mean?" Kohaku asked.
"The Shikon no Tama is the main item you will deal with if I am defeated or disappear. You and my other guardian will take the Tama to a safe place. Do not give it to anyone! You will pass it to the new guardian and stay with them till your job is finished."
"How do we tell whose the next guardian?"
"The jewel will glow when around the next guardian, and it will tell you his or her name."
"Do we just travel to find the new guardian?"
"No, the guardian will come to you consciously aware or clueless."
"I will do my best trying to guard you or the Tama," Kohaku swore.
The Guardian of the Shikon no Tama
Kagome the Miko