AN: Ok, I have been referring to top of Inuyasha's costume as a kimono, and it is actually called a haori. So, gomen about that.
Japanese 101:Shakujou: Miroku's staff
Nani: what
Houshi: Buddhist monk
Miko: Shinto priestess
Kuso/chikuso: damn/ damn it
Chapter IV
The Matter of the Miko's Dispirited Seal
With the dawn the group awoke and made the decision to return to Kaede's village. Supplies were low and with the badly injured Nobara now subsequently in their care, this was voted as the best course of action. The vote of course was not unanimous, due to an insistent Inuyasha.
"We should be hunting for Naraku, chikuso!" He complains, grumpily folding his arms in his haori and squinting his eyes with frustration.
"Inuyasha, Nobara-san is still healing and you know what tonight is," Miroku tries to counsel. They were standing outside of Kaede's hut, having arrived late that morning and Inuyasha was still being stubborn as usual. 'It would be foolish to look for Naraku like this. Especially since tonight is the night of the new moon."
"Keh!" Inuyasha spouts turning away from him, his brow furrowed with aggravation. He hated when people brought up his weaknesses and that everyone treated him differently when the new moon rose. He wished Miroku would leave him alone and be with Sango, but Sango and Kirara went back to the Taijiya village so she can work on Hiraikotsu. Inuyasha is about to tell Miroku off until a figure appears in the shadows of the doorway between them.
"Listen to the Houshi, Inuyasha," Nobara's clear velvety voice drifts form the doorway as she props herself against the doorframe. She was fully dressed in her deep blue kimono and hakama. A deep blood red obi tied around her slender waist. Her katana Hisuibara hung at her left hip, its black sheath tucked under the long obi. Her yellow mane of wavy hair was partly pulled back in a low slung ponytail that tied at the nape of her slender neck. Miroku and Inuyasha were taken slightly aback by her sudden appearance. A slight smirk curled the corners of her mouth on her long face. "Despite how you feel, a warrior knows to only attack when he is at full strength. It is best if you wait until the 'first night' is over."
Inuyasha and Miroku look at Nobara with mouths agape. Inuyasha drops his folded arms to his sides.
"She knows my secret?!" he reacts alarmed. Nobara continues her smirk and looks away towards the rest of the village.
"You forget that I knew you when you were young, Inuyasha," Nobara says as she pushes her self from the door frame and begins to walk toward the stream where Kagome, Shippou and Kaede were. "You and I once shared our secrets," she added quietly and almost sadly as she continued without looking back at the still startled Inuyasha.
"Should you be up, Nobara-san?" Miroku asks after her, seeing her slightly favor that shoulder as she walked.
"Hai, Houshi," she calls back as she continues towards the stream, walking slowly.
Inuyasha and Miroku watch her walk away. Inuyasha still standing with his mouth open and eyes wide at Nobara. Miroku sees Inuyasha's frozen expression.
"I would not be worried, Inuyasha," Miroku consoles, when he assumes Nobara is out of earshot. Inuyasha just acts nonchalantly about it and with a characteristic 'keh' began to wander off to be alone.
"I very much doubt that she will use that information to her advantage," Miroku continued as Inuyasha turned to leave. Miroku's dark eyes then follow Nobara as she disappears down the hill to the stream.
"I hope."
Down at the stream, Shippou playfully chases a butterfly as Kagome sits by the water with Kaede washing bandage cloth. Kagome recants Nobara's story to the old woman, hoping for some ideas about this strange new youkai. But as Kagome finishes Nobara's story something nags at her. Kaede's wise intuition notice's the young girls struggle.
"The same question with her story bothers you as it does me, right Kagome?"
Kagome suddenly looks up at the old miko, unsure if Kaede knew exactly what she was thinking.
Kaede sighs and looks down at the bandage cloth soaking in the stream. "If she were sealed by Kikyou-onee-sama's arrow," Kaede starts.
"How was she unsealed," Kagome instinctively finishes. Both women look down into the water in thought. As a leaf flows past on the calm currant, Kaede remembers what her sister told her of sealing arrows before she died.
"A sealing arrow's spell can only be undone if someone wishes to release the youkai...."
Kaede looks over at Kagome as she remembers Kikyou. She could still see in this young girl, the woman she looked up to her whole life. Kikyou. Kaede watched Kagome ponder and realized Kagome would not know about sealing arrows. Even though she learned how to use hamayas (purity arrows) by pure instinct, she was never trained as a miko. She told Kagome.
Kagome listened, it was the first time anyone had spoken of Kikyou, before Inuyasha and her were forced to betray each other. The story though was finished as soon it started. Kaede just bitter sweetly reminisced over her training with her sister. When she was finished both sat in silence. Shippou jumped over to Kagome giving her a slight start. She giggles as his tail tickled her cheek.
"Shippou-chan!" she laughs, as Shippou smiling holds up a necklace made from yellow flowers. Kagome smiles brightly and places the necklace around her neck.
"Arigatou, Shippou-chan," she says winking at the young kitsune youkai. Shippou smiles back and runs off again. "I'm going to go draw!" he shouts back as he takes off for Kaede's hut. Kagome looks down at the simple necklace and smiles. The yellow flowers remind her of Nobara's mane of yellow hair.
"Are you thinking of me, Kagome?"
Kagome jumps and turns to see Nobara standing behind her. Kaede glances back at the youkai warily, not wanting to fully trust her yet. Nobara had a small knowing smile on her lips and she carefully knelt next to Kagome beside the water.
"Nobara!" Kagome exclaims as the youkai falters slightly as she tries to sit down next to Kagome. "You should be inside."
Nobara turns to Kagome and stares coolly at her.
"Arigatou for your concern, Kagome," Nobara says, slight annoyance in her voice as she looks down at the water. "But I will be fine. I just need some air."
Kaede rises and gathers some of the dried cloths in her arms. Kagome looks up at her wondering at first where she was going. Kaede just looks at Kagome with one encouraging eye and nods slightly as she turns and slowly walks back to her hut. Kagome looks over at Nobara who draws her knees into her chest and rests her chin on her knees. Nobara sits quietly watching the water ripple around a distant rock, with her pale blue eyes and her yellow hair falling in waves down her back. Kagome looks down at the water, the question nagging the back of her skull. Kagome watches the reflection of the strange youkai in the water.
"She is so beautiful," Kagome realizes, almost admiring her mysterious presence.
"It has been so long since I have sat and just listened to the water," Nobara says sadly, as her slender clawed hand dips into the cool water. She waves her hand in the water lazily, letting the flow drift between her long graceful fingers. Her reflection is distorted bringing Kagome away from her thoughts.
"Nobara," Kagome starts, unable to contain her curiosity. She turns to Nobara, unsure of how to approach this.
"Hai?" she answers still watching the water like a fascinated child.
"If Kikyou sealed you, as you say, how is it you were unsealed?"
Nobara's hand stops and her pale eye's widen. She quickly removes her hand from the water as if a snake lay there. Nobara holds her hand before her face, watching the beads of water fall back to the earth. She lowers her eyes as she remembers the voice.
"I will release you if you retrieve the last Shikon shard for me." The booming voice drifted towards her as she slept.
"Why would I help you, when all I want is to avenge my comrade?" she thought, annoyed from this interruption.
"Was it not the miko, Kikyou who sealed you here?"
"Kikyou?!" She opened her eyes and peered into the blackness. There two eyes peered at her.
"She carries the last shard. I will help you find her if you promise to give me the shard," the voice was coming from the pair of eyes.
"Keh! How do you know I will not betray you?" she says trying to move and realizing she is still sealed, she looks down at the tattered arrow sticking out of her chest.
"You wished to kill the youkai, Ryuukossei?" the voice asked, grabbing her attention.
"What do you know?" she sneered.
"I know how to release the seal holding Ryuukossei; I can release him as I am to release you. And after you kill Kikyou, I will help you defeat him. Let me help you get your revenge."
"Nobara?"
Kagome's voice drifts into Nobara's memory. Nobara suddenly looks over at Kagome, her face a mask of worry and shock.
"I had forgotten that voice. My search for Kikyou led me to this girl. Does she have the shard? Did he want me to kill her? But she is not Kikyou!"
"Nobara?! Are you all right?" Kagome asked becoming more concerned. Nobara was silent for so long and now she seemed more distant than ever.
Nobara quickly turns away.
"Hai, Kagome," she responds quickly rising and walking away. "Gomen nasai, but I do not know how my seal was broken," she adds quickly as she walks towards the village.
Kagome rises, alarmed, and watches her walk away.
"Nobara...what did you remember? And what aren't you telling us?"
Sango and Kirara fly through the sky returning to Kaede's village. Sango enjoys the wind on her face as Kirara races through the sky. She looks down at the distant rivers and forests below. Hiraikotsu was perfect again. A slight crack had been worrying her as it developed during the past battles. So she took the advantage of the group taking a break and went back to the Taijiya Village. She felt more relieved now that she did and she began to wonder what the others were doing with Nobara. Especially Miroku. Her face became aggravated with the thought of him offering girls to bear his child while she was away. She closed her eyes and held up her fist.
"That hentai, he better be behaving or I'll-!!"
Kirara makes a sudden cry and Sango breaks away from her thoughts and looks down at a small fishing village with smoke billowing from several huts.
"Nani?!"
"Kirara!" Sango instructs as the large neko-youkai turns to land.
As they land in the middle of the village, Sango realizes the destruction. Smoke rises from burning embers of what remained of homes.
"Who would have done such a thing?"
Sango wonders as she slides off Kirara's back and grabs Hiraikotsu, gazing at the destruction. She suddenly realizes that the village is empty. There is no one around.
"Nani!?"
"Ah, if it isn't the female Taijiya," a familiar sultry voice says behind her from atop a hut.
Sango quickly turns around as Kirara growls.
"Inuyasha, be patient," Kagome asks as she tries to study and the insistent hanyou raps his claws on the boards of the hut. Miroku walks in then and looks around the hut.
"Where is Nobara-san?"
Kagome looks up and over at the empty futon. "I do not know. She and I spoke earlier and she walked away. I believe she headed towards the shrine." Kagome looks down and tries to focus on the words of her science book, but all she can see is Nobara's worried face before she walked away. Miroku turns to leave.
"I'll go look for her," he states, unsure if he really wanted her wandering alone. Shippou quickly jumped up from his coloring and placed himself at Miroku's shoulder. Miroku walks back outside and looks up towards the shrine. He is about to walk up there until Shippou stops him.
"Look! There's Kirara!" the young kitsune-youkai exclaims, pointing to the distant flying neko-youkai. Miroku turns and faces where Kirara is approaching.
"Sango," he thinks eagerly and awaits her arrival.
Below a maple tree near the torii on the hill, Nobara stands before the shrine. The wind quietly blows the folds of her kimono and hair. She was wandering after she remembered the voice that unsealed her and her wanderings had ironically brought her there. The emotions and memories connected with this shrine, left by the many people of the village seemed to scream her name. Kikyou. Nobara looks down at the grave quietly slowly placing her hand over her heart. There the pain of Kikyou's arrow still lingered.
"So, is this where your journey ended, Kikyou? Unfortunately he may have been too late, as was I."
Kaede walks up behind from the shrine steps surprising her. Nobara drops her hand and turns to watch the old miko. Kaede's eye looks sternly at the youkai, wondering why she is at the grave of her poor elder sister. Nobara met her gaze with her cold pale eyes.
"You do not trust me, miko?"
Kaede takes a step forward then stops folding her arms in her kimono.
"Are you one worthy of trust?" she replies, her old eye burning into Nobara's blue gaze.
Nobara smiles sadly and looks down hiding her face. The irony of that question stung her, as she remembered Inutaisho. Both women stand silent for a moment, the wind playing with their hair and folds of fabric of their clothes.
"Was she your sister?" Nobara breaks the silence with the simple question.
Kaede walks over to the grave and stands quietly next to the unmoving youkai.
"What would you know," Kaede retorts coldly, showing her distrust in Nobara.
Nobara is about to answer when Kaede stops her.
"I know your power, and I know it was you who came to my hut that night searching for her," she begins. Nobara would perhaps have acted shocked if she hadn't dealt with miko's and their wisdom before. She turns and faces the shrine.
"But it appears my search was in vain. She is dead," Nobara sighs, an unfeeling tone in her voice tinged with disappointment. Kaede heard it and decided not to bother with it.
"Kikyou-onee-sama may be dead," the old miko informs her. "But her bones do not lay in the burial soil of this shrine."
Nobara turns to the old miko in shock. Her cocky demeanor shattered with this unexpected information.
Sango and Kirara land before Miroku. Sango sits quietly on Kirara's back looking straight ahead.
"Sango!" Miroku calls, greeting her, a smile on his face. Shippou waves from the houshi's shoulder. Sango turns troubled brown eyes to them.
"Sango, what is it?" Miroku asks, stopping as he approaches and seeing her troubled face. She looks away for a moment.
"Where is Inuyasha?" Sango asks quietly as she slides off Kirara's back. He points to Kaede's hut, halfway relieved that whatever the problem is, it wasn't with him at the moment. Kirara is suddenly engulfed in a ball of flame as she shrinks to her small form and follows her companion loyally. Shippou jumps down to give Kirara a hug, but she sadly looks away and mews. Miroku watches Sango as Kirara runs to catch up with her mistress and Shippou stands beside Miroku.
"What is going on?" Shippou asks him.
"I don't know," he sighs and walks toward Kaede's hut.
Kaede tells Nobara the tragic tale of Kikyou. She tells of how she met Inuyasha 50 years ago and how they were betrayed to hate each other. Anger rose in Nobara's chest when Kaede told of how Inuyasha was sealed for 50 years. Kaede recanted the whole story of how Kagome, the mysterious reincarnation of Kikyou suddenly appeared and released Inuyasha. She ended with Kikyou being resurrected in a clay shell of anger and how her sister is suffering in this world.
Kaede looked older as she finishes the sad tale. Nobara looks up at the swaying branches of the maple tree.
"So that is why he wants me to kill her. She is still a threat to him," She realizes and turns her gaze back down to the grave. "So, the miko Kikyou still wanders this earth, almost as she did 50 years ago," she states.
Kaede nods sadly and gazes at Kikyou's shrine. She retrieves a small bundle of blue flowers from her inside the sleeve of her kimono. She walks up and places the flowers at the base of the shrine. Nobara realizes that this was the old miko's intent for being there. Nobara looks down at the small blue bell shaped blossoms. Chinese Bellflowers: Kikyou's namesake. Kaede draws Nobara's attention as she bows to the grave and walks away. She sees the old woman's forlorn face. Without a word Kaede walks slowly under the torii and down the shrine steps. Nobara turns from the shrine and walks to the torii at the top of the steps. Underneath the torii she senses the loss and sadness in the old miko's heart for her sister as she watches her small figure continue down the steps. Nobara stops and turns back to the shrine. She smirks.
"Keh, so Kikyou, now you know what it is like to lose everything you love."
Kaede pulls back the grass mat flap in her doorway and enters the dimly lit hut. Nobara grabs the flap just as the miko dropped it and enters as well. After she takes a step inside she freezes. A figure quickly positions themselves behind her, blocking her exit. Nobara's eyes glance back and she knows it is Inuyasha. Kaede notices Inuyasha's stance and sees the others before her. Sango stands in front of Nobara in her Taijiya regalia with arms folded, her eyes glaring. Beside her, Miroku stands holding his shakujou as a staff in his right hand, his dark eyes suspiciously inspecting her. Kagome sat quietly with Shippou and Kirara behind the fire. Her eyes lowered. Kaede is alarmed by the group's sudden hostile behavior.
"What is going on?" Kaede asks, searching their faces for an answer.
"Keh, why don't you ask her" Inuyasha spats, a hand on Tessaiga as his thumb loosens the blade from its sheath. Nobara discreetly moves her hand to the hilt of Hisuibara. She could sense that Inuyasha was on the verge of an attack.
"Inuyasha," Miroku says and steps forward arms crossed and eyes lowered in thought.
"Houshi-dono," Kaede starts, hoping he would shed some light on the groups' strange behavior.
"Gomen, Kaede-sama," Miroku starts. "But perhaps that question is better asked to Nobara-san."
"Hai." Sango angrily adds. "Ask her why she is working for Naraku!"
Kaede's old eye widen as she looks back at a sullen Nobara. Nobara lowers her eyes. She knew what was coming, it was inevitable, but how did they find out? She hides her eyes as her lips curl into a small wicked smile.
"So, you have spoken to Naraku? Does he miss me already?"
Her teasing tone shocks them and angers Inuyasha more as he squeezes his grip on Tessaiga.
"So, you do know Naraku," Miroku confirms. Kagome looks away. She had hoped it wasn't true.
"I never said I did not," Nobara answers in the same tone as she ignores Inuyasha's threatening stance behind her as she steps forward towards the fire. She slowly settles down before the flames, wincing slightly with the pain from her shoulder and gazes in to the fire. "Naraku and I...made a deal once, that is all."
"A deal?!" Inuyasha finally exclaims unable to take any more of her attitude. He approaches her, ready to fight. Her pale blue eyes dart back and she smiles. "A deal to take Kikyou's life?!"
"Deal to take Kikyou's life?" she responds acting coy.
"Liar!" Sango suddenly snaps. "You know exactly what we are talking about. Naraku has sent Kagura to find you," Sango informs harshly. "Kagura approached Kirara and me."
Sango quickly turns around as Kirara growls. There Kagura stands atop an undamaged hut. Sango betters her grip on Hiraikotsu.
"Do not waste your energy, Taijiya," Kagura informs as she places her closed fan against her chin. "I have not come to fight you."
"Then what happened here!?" The Taijiya exclaims angrily.
"This?" Kagura gestures to the village. "The village was abandoned when I got here. I only burned it to get the attention of your little group, since you care about such things."
"What do you want!?" Sango yells angrily, not hiding her disliking of the youkai from Naraku.
"Naraku has lost a youkai by the name of Nobara. Have you or Inuyasha seen her?"
"Nobara!?!" Sango contained her stern face, hiding her disbelief.
"No, why would we?" she finally asks.
"Naraku sent her to kill Kikyou, he made a deal with her when he unsealed her."
"Did he break Kikyou's seal on you?" Kagome asks looking sadly at Nobara. Nobara looks up and over at Kagome and feels ashamed by the girl's gaze. She lowers her pale blue eyes.
"Hai."
"Keh!" Inuyasha spats. "So you do work for Naraku!"
Nobara, smirks as she looks back at the anxious youth.
"Do you wish to fight me, Inuyasha?"
The young hanyou was slightly taken aback by her calm demeanor. He smirks, exposing his fangs and unsheathes Tessaiga. The others stand there shocked.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome calls quickly rising. "Osu-"
"Now!" Nobara suddenly yells interrupting Kagome's binding word as she spins around sweep kicking Inuyasha from his feet. As he falls she quickly leaps over his falling form and out of the hut. Outside she waits for him.
"Kuso!" he curses as he gets up and runs outside.
"Keh!" she exclaims as she leaps up into the forest.
Inuyasha smiles and follows. The group runs outside as Nobara disappears into the trees.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku calls after him. "She wants him to follow her!" He realizes. "Sango!"
She nods in response and looks to Kirara who runs forward and transforms into her larger self. Sango and Kaede climb onto the neko-youkai's back and Shippou transforms into his pink puff ball to carry Kagome. Miroku runs with Kirara and her passengers. They see the two youkai first, in a clearing not far from the village. Both stand facing each other. Tessaiga before Inuyasha and Nobara standing across form him, calmly.
"What is she doing?" Miroku wonders, realizing that Nobara seems to just want to fight Inuyasha.
Nobara looks up at Inuyasha with confident eyes.
"Why do you care that I kill Kikyou? I thought you would be happy to have the woman that sealed you put out of her misery."
Inuyasha growls and lunges forward with Tessaiga. Nobara unsheathes Hisuibara just in time and blocks Inuyasha's attack. The sound of the two youkai blades hitting resonates into the woods as both blades spark. Inuyasha jumps back.
"Why is she doing this?" he wonders confused, as he goes in for another attack. The clang of metal echoes again and again as Kagome with Shippou approaches the scene. She sees the two fighting in the clearing. Nobara able to block all of Inuyasha's attacks with Hisuibara, despite her injuries. Kagome and Sango then unknowingly realize the same thing. Nobara was not fighting back.
"She is just toying with him!" Kagome realizes.
Nobara starts to use her claws sparingly on her hurt arm, giving more for Inuyasha to be concerned about.
"Houshi-sama!" Sango exclaims, recognizing something from what Nobara was doing. She was standing next to Miroku, Kirara with Kaede still on her back beside her. "She is just sparring with him. She is seeing how well he can fight! My father used to do the same thing with me and Kohaku when we were training."
Miroku looks over and realizes the same thing. "But why?"
"You will not kill Kikyou!" Inuyasha shouts as he is blocked again by Nobara.
"Why does it matter? She is already dead! And that was the deal!" she sneers leaping to the side to deter one of his moves. Inuyasha suddenly realizes that she is enjoying this and that she is toying with him. He clenches his teeth and growls. He leaps back from his last attempt and sticks Tessaiga into the ground.
"What are you doing!?" Nobara yells, unsure of why he was retracting.
"And what about Kagome!" Inuyasha suddenly shouts. Nobara stands there confused. "Was the deal to kill her, too and take the Shikon shard?!"
"Nani!?!" Nobara thinks turning to where Kagome floats above on Shippou with a shocked look.
"Keh, why act so surprised?" Inuyasha speaks glaring at her haughtily. "Kagura told Sango that Naraku wanted you to kill Kagome. Wasn't that your deal?"
"Kagome?!" Nobara suddenly exclaims, dropping Hisuibara and continuing to look at Kagome. She felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She remembers the kindness that Kagome showed her. She places a hand on her sore bandaged shoulder.
"She had done for me what no one ever did...."
"No!" Nobara yells and turns to Inuyasha. "I could never hurt Kagome! Kagome was kind to me, it was the first time anyone has shown me such kindness! He...Naraku tricked me! He told me Kikyou would be traveling in a group and that she carried the last shard.....but, no. Kagome does," Nobara suddenly realizes something as her voice trails off. She looks over at Kagome as she now stands at the side of the clearing holding a reformed Shippou. "I never noticed before. Why is it I cannot sense its change on her? Is she?"
Sango and Miroku run up to Inuyasha and Kirara carries Kaede. Inuyasha sheathes Tessaiga as they approach. Kagome walks over to join them.
Nobara looks down and hangs her head. Inuyasha warily watches Nobara as she retrieves Hisuibara from the ground and sheathes it.
"Gomen nasai," Nobara suddenly says shaking her head and looking up at the group. "Naraku did break my seal and promised revenge. He also promised me that Ryuukossei was still sealed and that I could still kill him. But I did not trust Naraku from the start," she pauses for a moment and clenches her teeth. "I don't trust anyone. So I killed his nagging saimyoushou and ran off to see Ryuukossei. He was gone. Already defeated. I made a new vow to kill Kikyou for sealing me. Sealing me so that I could not fulfill my vow to Inutaisho. I began my search for her on my own; using my ability to sense what is in people's hearts. I sensed her from the miko, Kaede first. But I received a mixed message that at first I did not understand. I saw Kikyou and Kagome in her heart and searched for Kagome knowing only that is 'Kikyou now.' Of course, now I know that Kagome is Kikyou's reincarnation and Kikyou......."
Nobara suddenly becomes quiet in thought.
"Why did you goad Inuyasha to spar with you?" Sango asked.
Nobara looked up at the group. "I know what Naraku is and how powerful he is. I wanted to make sure that Inuyasha could fight him...."
Kagome looks shocked at Nobara. "She was concerned for him!"
Nobara turned away from the group and stood silently searching the passing clouds. Placing a hand on her sore shoulder.
"Kaede-sama told me of Kikyou's fate," she finally spoke.
Kagome and Inuyasha look down sadly, both with mixed emotions over this subject.
"Kikyou," she smirks, the same playful knowing smile returning to her face. Then it slowly fades. She turns back to face the group and Kagome notices Nobara's sudden distant gaze.
"Nobara?"
"Kikyou....I have relinquished my vow to kill Kikyou."
A gasp fills the still air in the clearing. Nobara looks up at Kaede, a look in her eyes of hope and forgiveness.
"Kikyou suffers enough in this world," Nobara states then looks down as her smirk returns and her eye's harden. "She and I are even."
End Chapter