Welps, this trip of Kagome's is going to be interesting...its giving me a chance to play with personalities and choices...with the very people and realities of my story...this is going to be fun! Hope you like...ENJOY- R&R!
Chapter 41
Kagome looked around at the quiet village below them, collecting herself as she began to accept the fate handed to her. "I thought you said we were going on a journey...we've gone no where...why am I back at my village?" She looked back at him with a stoic, yet soft gaze- watching as he stepped forward, looking down at the dark huts. "This is your journey...but this is not your village...it's hers..." His head gestured slightly as she followed his gaze, her breath escaping her a moment as she was caught off guard.
"But thats...thats..." Her voice trailed as she watched the slender figure saunter down the path in a familiar school uniform, toting a familiar yellow backpack, headed for a familiar hut. "I don't understand..." Kagome's realizations hadn't quite kicked in as she watched the young girl smile brightly up at the night sky, stretching out with a yawn before disappearing behind the hut door and greeting her friends with a forgotten, carefree tone.
"You don't remember this...do you?" Konomi spoke distantly as he began walking into the village, heading for the hut. "No...should I? And why are you showing me the past?" Konomi smiled slightly as Kagome caught up to his side, a bit of animosity still hiding within her breath. "Well, you wouldn't remember this- because it never happened to you...this isn't your past...its the life of someone else." Kagome stopped short, watching him as he continued down the path- then shaking her confusion away as she caught up to him. "What do you mean by that- I just saw myself go into that hut!" She pointed to Keade's hut just ahead of them where laughter and voices could be heard within. "How could this be anyone else's life?"
Konomi rolled his eyes slightly, trying to be patient as he began to explain. "Listen, I told you I was going to show you the paths that split off from yours...these are alternate universes- the Kagome you saw was a completely different person than you...we are only what our experiences and choices make us- and this Kagome has different experiences, memories...everything- the only thing that is similiar in all these places your going to see is that you are or were there at one time...I'm going to show you a few alternate realities where you were born...these are just the 'what ifs' that you humans are always wondering about..."
And with that, they stopped in front of the door to the hut- hearing the cheerful calamity that Kagome so often longed for on the nights she spent alone in her hut after Inuyasha's death. "One more thing, we are nothing more than shadows in these realms...they cannot see or hear us- so its no use trying to stop things before they occur, or interfere with anything going on...we are merely apparitions, and we can have no affect on the decisions or destinies of those we observe..."
Konomi then slid through the wall of the hut, passing through like a spirit to disappear inside. Kagome watched in amazement, and after a moment, she placed a hand up to the wall- watching it go in and come out again, until finally she stepped forward and arrived inside the hut only to be surrounded with the familiar look of so many wonderful memories- the large yellow backpack sitting in the corner as everyone gathered around the fire, talking and eating, playfully teasing each other about stupid annoyances. Kagome smiled slightly to herself as she watched everyone.
Her eyes came to rest on herself- sitting by Inuyasha as she always had, in her school uniform with the same wavy haircut that flowed down her back and the dependable carefree attitude and high-spirited optimism that her friends trademarked her for. She sighed, envying in some ways this world that she had stepped in to, and in some ways, resenting it. She blinked, trying to reset her thoughts in vain as she watched the smiles around her- then switching her eyes to Konomi as he circled the group like a rabid wolf, speaking in a stoic tone, his eyes glaring at each face dispondently.
"This is the Kagome who has yet to experience loss- in this world, Inuyasha never died...they got through the final battle with Naraku without losing a soldier...however, in doing so- she DID lose something...she lost her full potential, she lost the reason to become stronger and in that, she will not be strong enough to save their future..." Kagome looked at the couple for a moment with longing, then her head upturned, watching as the scene changed- flashing into a large field that seemed to stretch on forever in its vast expanse. She watched as a battle began to ensue between her group and an enemy she did not recognize.
The strange figure stood ackwardly hunched over in a large, draping robe of dark crimson. He looked up with a devilish smirk, throwing aside the robe to reveal his demonic stature of unruly dark brown hair and the blackest coal eyes on a large, stalky body covered in drooping robes. The ground beneath him seemed to quake, flowing in waves as his arms commanded them- his fingers rested on his belt, where a large blade was attached to a chain which he proceeded to throw straight out and whip back, stabbing at the scattering group.
"This is Sanretsu...he is an enemy you never had to face because of Inuyasha's death- when Inuyasha died, you came into your full power and began to train yourself...because of this, you gathered the shards of the Shikon jewel much faster and this did not allow Sanretsu to be born since he was formed from a shard that was embedded in a large demon who consumed smaller demons...so you probably killed and obtained the shard from the smaller demon before he collected it...therefore, he never became this powerful..." Konomi spoke in a matter-of-fact voice as he watched the scene.
Kagome's eyes watched the battle go on just as many other battles had been fought- her friends gaining the upperhand as they charged their way closer, taking down the demon piece by piece. Kagome sighed, watching her weaker self shoot poorly aimed arrows from a farther distance than the others. "But I see nothing special about this battle...the demon is formidable I suppose, but why is it that this moment is special?" She questioned sincerely as her eyes shifted between Konomi's unflinching glare and the group. "Just watch...you'll see..."
Her impatient gaze shifted back one last time as she saw this battle take a new turn. Konomi spoke, but his voice was only background noise as her eyes fixed to the ongoing slaughter. "I am showing you crossroads, places where decisions and paths are made and split- places that change peoples lives forever..."
Kagome gave a small gasp as her head snapped to something that caught her attention from the corner of her eye. "ki...Kikyo..." She heard the words from a distance, but they were there, almost as if she had muttered them herself- the uniformed Kagome was sagging her notched arrow down as her eyes gazed with a gaping mouth at the figure on the treeline. Kagome's eyes snapped from herself to Kikyo- the two standing a few yards apart, staring each other down.
Kikyo notched an arrow, pulling it back gracefully- with much more skill than this Kagome...holding it steady as she glared at her- Kagome's feet frozen as she stood there, waiting. Inuyasha had noticed by this point, and immediately began racing for the two from the other side of the field. But it was too late, Kikyo let the arrow free, energy pouring from it as it streaked across yards, only to miss a frightened Kagome by inches- hitting Sanretsu's preoccupied form. He let out a loud cry as the arrow dissolved away with a piece of himself that was directed for Inuyasha, Kagome letting out an inward sigh of relief.
"I thought you said this would be-" Kagome stopped herself short as a loud cry came from across the field, catching everyone's attention as they fell silent- watching a limp Kagome being torn through by a long blade, now stained with crimson as it stabbed through her back, thrusting her forward only to be pulled out violently by the chain, jerking her body back again as if it were a rag doll.
"KAGOME!" Inuyasha screamed as he finally reached her limp body sprawled out on the ground, picking her up in his arms as everyone else chimed in, fear and concern filling their voices as their eyes fixed to their friend- then angrily stared at their assalant who laughed insanely in the background as his weapon returned to his hand with the stains of thier fallen comrade's blood.
Kagome watched herself be taken down, breathe shallow in her throat as she let her eyes roam over the scene. Inuyasha was pushing pieces of hair from her face tenderly as Kikyo looked on without concern or care, then simply turned and left. She smiled slightly before coughing violently, blood touching the side of her lip as she gasped for air, then turned her eyes back to Inuyasha as her hand went up to his face, streaking a small pattern of crimson across his cheek as her lips uttered something incoherent. Inuyasha layed her back on the ground gently as Sango hovered over her on Kirara, then jumped down to her friend's side. "Take care of her..." Sango nodded slightly as she looked over Kagome's body, tears filling her eyes.
Inuyasha for once was silent as he drew his sword, then in one clean motion he proceeded to use the backlash wave on Sanretsu, who defended himself for several moments, until he was overcome by the waves of power with a unbelieving last glance and a loud curse for the souls who had just slain him.
Inuyasha walked dispondently back to Kagome, picking her up from Sango's care without a second thought and holding her head next to his chest carefully. Miroku and Sango followed behind Inuyasha as he took her back to the village, Sango buried in Miroku's chest as they left. Kagome fell to her knees- sighing as she took everything in. It was unusual and heartwrenching to watch herself be slaughtered- and her friends...she hated watching them mourn her.
"Am I dead? Was that the price I payed...my life for Inuyasha's?" "Does it seem unfair?" Kagome gave a watery smile as she answered under her breathe. "no..."
Kagome sighed, shaking her head gently as she watched the time flow again, taking her back to a small hut where her body was being nursed carefully. "I would gladly do it..." She smiled slightly as she watched her bandaged friends try their best to help her- Konomi looking at her softly. "Given the choice...I would die for any of them..."
"I know. " Konomi sighed, watching the day unfold before them. "You are still holding on...you always were stubborn...even when it came to death..." Konomi let his voice trail in thought a moment before returning his eyes to the task at hand. "Lets skip ahead...shall we?" He circled around to the other side of the hut; Kagome watched as the figures disappeared, leaving only the two between the empty walls. "Come on, we have to go..." She looked up, following Konomi from the hut reluctantly, hesitating slightly as she looked back at the large yellow backpack that sat in the corner of the lonely hut, then turned and left.
She met with Konomi outside, he was watching the horizon expectantly. She followed his glance to see a group of people coming over the hill- Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, and Sango all were posted at four ends of something, carrying it down the path as they headed solemly for the forest. Kagome couldn't quite tell what they were doing from this distance, but she realized what was happening when she saw the large group of villagers following behind. Women and their children and even the men followed behind, giving silent prayers as the procession continued into the forest. Kaede, Shippo, and Kirara followed beside the four as they entered the forest. Kagome watched them pass by her, walking into the treeline quietly as her eyes caught the glimpse of the beautifully decorated covering that layed over the mass they were carrying.
Kagome fell in beside Inuyasha without a hesitation, walking silently as if she knew where they were going. Her hand instinctively went into his, and suprisingly- her hand didn't pass through it, but gently stayed against his. She couldn't feel it, and she knew he couldn't feel her- but she didn't care, she walked this way, Konomi following quietly behind.
The sun poked through the trees, lighting the path and playing off the figures as they neared their destination. The procession slowed at the Goshimboku tree, where a large stone had been placed, not so different from the one placed at Inuyasha's grave, although this one had a magnificent color and beautiful crystals graced its surface, creating prisms of light that seemed to glow.
'Its perfect Inuyasha...' Kagome smiled slightly, looking down to see that his hand was closing tighter until it was a fist and had completely passed through her own. She pulled her fingers away gently, listening to the villagers comment about her, and the wonderful stone that the half-demon had erected for her. She watched as her friends gently placed their load down on small stilts, then pulled away the cloth that covered their burden.
Kagome swallowed hard as she saw her body- beautifully decorated in a flowing kimono of pinks and reds, with flowers and trinkets in her hair and around her still body as if she were a doll. A slight breeze blew by as tears began to roll down Sango's cheeks and Shippo buried his face in a saddened Kaede's robes. Kagome looked over all her friends, her heart breaking as her mind simply wanted to scream 'I'm here...don't cry anymore- I'M FINE...I'M RIGHT HERE!' She swallowed again to keep tears away, though it almost seemed impossible as tears began to slip down every cheek silently...even Kouga let a small drop grace his cheek under his shadowed eyes solemnly, everyone mourned, whether silently or uncontrollably, they all cried unforgiving tears- everyone except Inuyasha.
This was just a nostalgic dream for her, watching her death and funeral like this...this wasn't right...how was any of this fair? Miroku took Sango in his arms as Ayame fell against Kouga's chest...hai, everyone she knew was here...Inuyasha was watching with a dispondent gaze, as though no one else was there, as though nothing in the world could affect him. She looked away as four men came forward and lowered her into the ground. Villagers then came forward and threw flowers into the hole where she now resided. Children threw petals innocently into the grave, watching them float down into the darkness and touch the young girl's face; a young girl who seemed to be sleeping to them...having unfathomed dreams from which she would never awake...
Soon, everyone left- everyone except her friends. They stayed, even after the soil had covered her- they stayed. Dusk wore on, and they put their last bouqets and trinkets to rest at the gravesite, praying their last prayers- though it seemed their was nothing more to pray for now...Kagome was dead and their prayers had not saved her, they would certainly not resurrect her...so what was left? They couldn't dry their tears...no- it may be their last goodbye, but it felt as though pain would never end for them now. Sango touched Inuyasha's shoulder silently as she looked down at the grave, sighing slightly and leaving with the others- leaving him to his own prayers.
Konomi watched silently from a distance as Kagome stood by Inuyasha, watching over him as he looked down on her resting place. She looked up into his eyes, though his gaze was shadowed and unflinching- small streaks began to wet his face- suprising and hurting Kagome unimaginably. Inuyasha clinched his fists tighter as his shakily angry voice began to talk to the grave before him, reaching out with a broken heart. "Why Kagome? ...why did it have to be you- you weren't suppose to die on me! I'm sick of watching people die- especially the women that I- loved...stupid girl...I should have protected you..."
She looked away, unable to stand the sight as she shook her head. She gather herself together as Inuyasha jumped into the sacred tree just above her hollowed ground. She sighed, walking back to Konomi with a gaze that she wanted to build barriers with, but everything was falling apart. "I'm sick of this...let's leave this place..."
"It doesn't work that way...we aren't through here yet..." Kagome looked up at him. "What is left! I'm dead...how can I see anymore?" Her voice drifted off, sighing apologetically. Konomi only turned and began walking, Kagome following obediently. "Years are passing, seasons are coming and going...life is moving on and leaving you behind as nothing but a memory...but your memory has effected time..." She looked up as the forest broke, coming into the village- though it seemed changed somehow. "It has been 5 years since your death now...but your memory lives in this village..."
Kagome looked down to see Miroku and Sango walking up to the forest, Sango holding the hand of a small boy while Miroku carried a small girl on his back. They smiled happily as they played together, disappearing into the trees as Kagome's wide eyes followed them until they were gone. "Miroku and Sango bring their children to see your grave very often...they were married shortly after your death."
They followed the happy couple deep into the forest until they reached the Goshimboku tree, a place she had just left. Kagome had listened with a content smile as the children questioned their parents innocently. "Otousan...tell us about the priestess again...please?" The little girl begged her father with an eager voice and sweet smile. Miroku smiled caringly to the children, looking at Sango for a moment before consenting. "Alright..." He gave a small nod as he gave in to the children, who both laughed and began listening intently as their father began to speak.
"She was a most beautiful and unusual priestess from another era...her arrows could cut through demons easily as any sword, taking out all demonic aura in her path and a single touch would pruify the sacred jewel shards effortlessly and dissipate any miasma she wished." Miroku spoke in an ominous, caring tone as Kagome listened just as intently as the young ones, smiling as she heard her legacy being passed on.
"And her name was KAGOME HIGURASHI!" An excited little voice burst out happily, the little girl throwing her arms up and then wrapping them around her father's neck again with a smiling giggle as the young boy laughed, awaiting their father to continue. Miroku and Sango both smiled as they approached the grave in which they sought.
"Yes...Kagome...that was the name of the priestess who brought back the Shikon No Tama...breaking it apart and helping to collect countless shards...she slayed numerous demons, and to purify the most evil and vile demons- all she had to do was touch them and their poisons were turned to a glassy surface of neutrality...she was an amazing girl..."
Kagome listened a few moments longer as Miroku told of demon slaying and herioc battles, as though Kagome was a fairy tale that he had made up. He told of her arrival, and how she met Inuyasha. Soon, Miroku took the children into the forest to play, leaving his wife Sango to her thoughts and prays at her old friend's grave. Kagome watched as Sango kneeled down by her resting place and began to talk to the stone in a nostalgic voice.
"Well Kagome-chan...here we are again...another year has passed, and it seems as though the children are growing faster everyday..." She smiled to herself slightly. "It also seems as though it was just yesterday when you walked into the village with your bright smile and cheerful greeting...I know its silly, but I never really did get over that feeling that one day we would look up to see you coming through the well with your large bag, riding into the village the smile you always wore." Sango smiled, down-hearting herself a bit, but continuing as Kagome listened. "You know I worry about Shippo and the others...its just not the same around here without you...if only you could see the beautiful children we have raised and the wonderful life we have made...Kagome- it wasn't suppose to be this way..." Sango got to her feet, smiling as she turned from the grave. "Until next time my friend..."
"I know Sango...it never turns out the way its suppose to..." Kagome let a small smile drift onto her face, curving her lips as she looked back to Konomi. "And what of Inuyasha and the others?" Konomi led her back into the village, going down a path toward Kaede's hut. "Shippo grew up fast after your death- he swore he wouldn't let anyone else die while he was around..." His head nodded to the horizon where Kagome's brown hues met with a tall looking boy, hair flowing in a high ponytail down to his neck as he threw two swords into a tree skillfully. She watched as he raced down steps and came to the tree, pulling out the swords and hopping into the tree branches above him, looking down as a young figure raced down the steps after him.
Kagome's eyes met with a young girl who seemed to be slightly younger than Shippo. By her appearance she was obviously of the wolf demon tribe, wearing light armor of a brownish tint. Her wavy locks were a very deep brown, tied back in a ribbon near the base of her neck loosely. Kagome thought she reminded her of someone, but she couldn't quite place who.
Welps, this is a pretty long one...hope you enjoy this one, its just the beginning of the new worlds we will discover...:smiles devilishly: well, R&R! ja ne!
Here's your translations, as always...
Otousan- father
jinseikouro-path of one's life
Konomi-his name means "choice"