Chapter 2 – The Village of High Stone
Kagome leapt to her feet when the sun began to rise over the horizon. She loved watching the sun come up over the hills and the light hit the little huts and land before it making it pretty reds, oranges, whites, and yellows mixed together.
She sat on the edge of her balcony rail her legs hanging over the other side as if she were to jump from it. She gaze set forward when she felt a presence behind her she turned and thought she saw something but shook her head and watched as the sun rose higher into the air.
The shadowy figure smiled when she tried to find where he was. She couldn't see him he knew because he was a man made of dust and wind until his task was done and he could rest in peace. That's right he's no living being but he has a task set and that task is to make the young maiden before him free from her cage. Yes she was perfect in everyone's eyes but even she deserved to wonder as she wished. If people watched as she past or gawked at her beauty let them but don't lock her away from the world. He would set her free.
'Soon my daughter, soon,' the figure thought and once again faded into the shadows to await the arrival of their lord and he'd urge her to leave the house when he was near.
Kagome wrapped her hair around her fingers in her hair as she watched the sun come up. It was a slow process yes but beautiful all the same.
She knew that Sango and Miroku wouldn't be awake at this hour but in a few more they would. Then she'd put on her cloak and go to see them even if she couldn't take off her hood until they were inside the hut they owned.
Hours past and finally Kagome felt it was the right time to leave. Sango was always up by this time and Miroku would be 'exercising' demons even when he really wasn't.
She couldn't see how he just lied to get money. Kagome hated to lie and thus she never did not even to her mother… her torturer…
No that wasn't right Kikyo tortured her and her mother kept her prisoner. Yes that was a better way to put it. She began looking for her black cloak, which she had to wear or she couldn't leave the estate.
Upon finding it she slipped it over her head and straightened it once it hit the floor beneath her. Her kimono had bunched and she pulled one arm inside her cloak to straighten it as well. Once done she put her hand back through the long sleeves that covered her hands and hung toward the ground. Kagome raised a hand and pulled her hood over her head letting it fall over her face until ending just above her lips.
If you were to look upon her then you'd see only black shaped as a figure. The only skin visible would be her lips, chin, and long neck, nothing more. A frown crossed her lips as she looked through the transparent fabric. She could see through but they couldn't see her.
Walking from her room quickly she grabbed a pouch and tucked it inside her sleeve. She never left without money since she'd be gone for hours and would need at least water. Without being able to pay she'd have to go out into the forest and she didn't need to do that when they had more then enough money for the entire village.
Her form seemed to float down the halls as she past the servants. All seemed sadden that the beautiful creature was hidden from the world but none of them stood a chance against Lady Yukena or Lady Kikyo.
"Where do you think you're going?" a voice sounded behind her.
Hiding a sigh of disappointment Kagome turned toward the inuyoukai female behind her. Her sister had blue eyes as well but they were dark and nearly black. Her hair was straight and a deep brown in color. She wore a bright red kimono that had yellow petals floating across the shoulders.
"The same place I always do my dear sister," Kagome replied her voice devoid of all emotion.
Kikyo raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "I don't see what you like about the Village of High Stone it's a dump. Remember though sister dear don't remove the cloak or mother will be every displeased," she said jealously clear in her eyes.
It was not something Kagome wasn't used to. She did this everyday and went through the same thing because her sister knew her routine. Everyday her sister came out and said the same thing before going her own way. And the jealous looks Kagome was used to as well. She knew her sister longed to be her though not in every sense. No Kikyo wished for her beauty, musical voice, wisdom, intelligence, and everything besides being hated by their mother.
Kikyo was always her mother's favorite and when her mother found she had given birth to a more beautiful child she hadn't wanted to hurt her. No their mother wanted Kikyo to feel like she was everything and in the beginning mother almost said to hell with Kikyo and started over with Kagome because she was temping… and every man would want her. Her mother was to attached to Kikyo though and decided that if she made Kagome's life miserable she got rid of the beauty; though that wasn't true.
"Hm," Kagome said waiting for her sister to leave. Kikyo was never one to get one over on her. Kagome could easily beat her at anything because unknown to them she'd had training when younger from the man who had trained their father. A very wise inu and he even handed down his prized sword because she'd trained so hard even after her father's death.
Kikyo narrowed her eyes on the person she longed to be. She wouldn't temp her sister into fighting her though because she wasn't that stupid. Kikyo could easily sense the power coming off her sister in waves and wasn't going to try and beat it. "Leave then sister dear," she said.
"Very well," Kagome said turning and walking away.
Kikyo watched as Kagome walked down the hallway. She longed to be her. Noble men would flock to mate or marry her and not just because of her beauty. People would also come to her because of her kind nature. Kagome was strong and fierce but she held a gentleness and kind nature that made her perfect. How she hated her and thus she did everything she could to make her life worst though lately she couldn't even haze her younger sister. It seemed Kagome was starting to just ignore her more then anything.
Kagome used demon speed to reach the front door but not before her mother stood before it stopping her from leaving. This was new and Kagome moved her head to one side to ask her mother what she wanted. Never before had her mother asked her where she went or why as long as she had on her cloak.
"Where do you think you're going Kagome?" Yukena asked looking at Kagome. Like Kagome her eyes were light blue but unlike Kagome's they didn't cut like ice but seemed to be light like the sky. Her hair also straight was more like Kikyo's and no one would have guessed Kagome got her figure her mother. Her mother held more curves then Kagome did and her beauty wasn't as good. Her hair didn't glow but seemed dull brown and she stared at her daughter in boredom.
"The village mother," Kagome replied not wanting to anger her mother.
Yukena circled Kagome trying to tell if she was lying. When she was certain her youngest told the truth and stood before her. "Why do you go to this village so often my young one?" she said venom in her voice as she finished.
"It is refreshing to get out with other people even if they cannot see me mother," Kagome said indifferently. She told no lies though Sango had seen her once when she was drinking from a stream and Sango had been hunting.
"I see why do you not just spend time with the servants?" Yukena said. She didn't like the idea of Kagome going out but she allowed it so her daughter didn't just run off and never come back. Though she didn't like Kagome deep down she was her daughter and she didn't just want her running off without saying anything. She'd known over the years just locking her away would force out her animalistic nature and she would have jumped from her balcony never to be seen again.
"The air is fresher and once in a while it is nice to run through the forest," Kagome said smiling at the thought.
Yukena nodded knowingly. Even she loved to run through the forest at times just to feel like the inuyoukai she was. It made her feel free and made her feel better when in troubling times. She hadn't know she'd past this trait on to her youngest daughter because she always spent time with Kikyo and she'd said she hated dashing through the forest. Something about it made her feel too much like the animal she was and it would ruin her kimono.
"Very well," she said moving aside and but before Kagome exited she grabbed her upper arm. "Don't take off your hood unless in the forest and you don't sense anyone," she hissed.
Kagome nodded and watched as her mother walked up the staircase. That was very new because her mother had smiled softly when she mentioned running through the forest. Maybe there was something they had in common but she still held a seed of hatred for her captor. That would never change because Kagome had been free until her father died and then she found herself locked away like a bird in a cage until five years ago when she was allowed into the forest to run and found the village.
Sprinting she decided to pay a visit to little Shippo since she could be out all day. Sango would most likely be either off on business or talking with others in the village.
She seemed like a flash of black as she ran toward the cave not far from the estate. Everyone knew the kitsune family lived there but no one bothered with them because they were kind.
Kagome came to a stop once she neared the cave. She didn't want to scare them into a fight like she had at one time. It wasn't like they scared her in true fox form but she didn't want to scare them.
Shippo had been sitting outside the cave when the dark hooded woman walked into the clearing. He looked up and watched through narrowed eyes, as she seemed to sniff the air. He knew Kagome-san always wore a black, or dark purple cloak but he always made sure it was Kagome-san before going to close.
The cloaked figure raised an elegant hand, the sleeves falling down its arms showing off lethal claws and shimmering silver strips. The hand came up and grabbed the front of the cloaks hood before slowly pulling it over its head.
Shippo's eyes light up and the bouncing ball of fur jumped to his feet running toward the figure. "Kagome-san," he yelled grabbing a hold of her waist when he jumped up to her.
"Hello Shippo," she said grabbing him and twisting in a circle. Her hands held him paws making sure her claws didn't hurt him and she spun.
"Ah Kagome-sama what a pleasure to see you again," another male fox said coming from the cave. He was tall and held the looking of his son but older. Kagome had yet to learn his name because they didn't want to get to attached to one another.
"Good morning," Kagome said. She smiled showing off her white fangs as they glimmered in the sunlight.
"Oh Kagome-sama is that you?" the female called from inside. She came out and like her son had a head full of red hair but her eyes were a darker green.
Kagome merely giggled and placed Shippo on her shoulder. He was so cute and she saw the glimmer in his eyes before he bounced over to his father.
"Oh here I brought you some money," Kagome said pulling out the second coin pouch she'd pulled off Kikyo a few weeks ago. It was nature for her to bring money to them so they could go into town and purchase what they needed in return Kagome got to rest and play with Shippo.
"We thank you Kagome-sama," Shippo's mother said walking forward and taking it.
"Hai and this time we have a gift for you," Shippo said grinning.
"There's no need," Kagome said. She put her hands up trying to get them to reconsider put his mother went straight in and brought out an elegant kimono with a haori and hakama's. Though Kagome didn't wear this type of kimono often she found them easier to run in then a female style.
"We want you to have it Kagome-sama. I've been working on it for so long and I wish for you to wear it," the female said holding it out.
Kagome smiled and took it folding it out looking it over. It was beautiful (same style as Sesshoumaru's different colors and design). Black was the main color and purple was the other. The hakamas were completely black in color and the haori had purple on the sleeves ends. Also there was purple on the right shoulder down until about her the beginning of her arm and down the back a bit. It held designs in the sleeves of hexagons with circle on the inside; black in color among the purple. Its obi was silver with a light blue weaved within.
"Arigatou, its beautiful," Kagome said breathless as she looked at it. She really didn't deserve this but she wouldn't want to hurt their feeling by refusing.
"There's armor that comes with it," the male said bringing out shimmering black armor made of demon bones. It had a silver outline and spikes came from the metal connecting the front to back. The piece would be on her right side she could tell by looking at it. A female's armor she knew and decided she'd take the gift and wear it.
The female brought her inside and instantly took off Kagome's cloak. The black female kimono came off and Kagome first put on the haori and spun in it. It fit like a glove and knew the kitsune had been working on it for quite some time. Her hakamas were pulled up and they made her up on a tight black obi, which was tied so it wouldn't be seen under her armor. Then they helped her put on the light yet steady armor and they silver obi went on over it. She looked down and smiled at the way she looked.
"Arigatou," she said pulling her cloak over her head. She tore a hole in the sleeve so the metal piece over her shoulder didn't stretch the fabric. She also had a boa, which she had left here and took it wrapping it over her right left shoulder.
"Now dear take off the cloak I had a hood made into your haori so you no longer have to wear it," the female said as Kagome wrapped the boa over her shoulder.
She looked at them and saw the look of disappointment the female was giving her. Slowly she took off her boa and cloak and watched as the kitsune pulled up the transparent hood over her eyes.
"All you have to do is say 'be gone' and the hood will vanish and then 'come back' and the hood will return to the fabric. Its magic dear so it will not be there when you tell it 'be gone'," the kitsune said as she stepped back from her.
Kagome nodded and once again thanked them before running off toward the village. Upon arriving she got several curious looks and some pulled out weapons. She looked down and noticed that this though hiding her form made her appear lethal; deadly. You could see her claws at the bottom of the sleeves but nothing more and she looked down at the black boots she hadn't noticed the kitsune put on her feet.
The hood worked the same making sure only her lips, chin, and neck could be seen. She walked passed them and heard, "Stop youkai!"
Turning Kagome saw Sango walking up to her with her boomerang in one hand. She seemed to have a determined look and Kagome smiled. They didn't know who she was because they were used to her cloak and didn't know she was the same person.
"Sango-chan," her voice came out like music on the breeze. She saw Sango stop and smile all of a sudden before turning to the others.
"Don't worry I know this youkai. She won't hurt you," Sango told the other villagers who calmed and went back to what they were doing.
"Kagome-chan what happened to your cloak. You look ready for battle," Sango said walking over to her friend. Sango was just a bit shorter then the inuyoukai before her and saw Kagome's lips curve back into a smirk showing off her fangs.
"The kitsunes' gave of Shippo's family gave me this gift," Kagome said.
"Really?" Sango squealed taking Kagome's hand in her own. She was mindful of her friend's claws but pulled her along through the crowd toward her own hut. "That must be why the male though he won't tell me his name wanted me to make that armor."
"You made this armor Sango-chan?" Kagome said looking down at it.
"Hai I made it but he must have turned it black and silver because I didn't do that," Sango giggled pulling her into the hut.
Kagome sat down and waited until Sango covered the door to pull down her hood. She smiled at her friend who allows seemed taken with her beauty.
"All you need is to wear that sword what was it was called Toki something," Sango said going back to the battle part.
"Tokiron the blade meant to bring death Sango-chan," Kagome said thinking back to her glimmering blade. She hadn't used it in a while maybe she would go out and practice later on.
"Hai, hai but still wear that and people really would be afraid of you Kagome-chan. I've never seen you look better," Sango said pouring tea for her friend.
"Arigatou Sango-chan," Kagome said when Sango handed her the tea.
"No problem," Sango said leaning against her weapon and smiling at her friend. "Miroku-san should be back soon," Sango said.
"Hmm… indeed isn't his monk duty's usually done by now?" Kagome said.
Sango nibbled at her bottom lip before nodding. Kagome smirked and said, "maybe he's found a village girl to bare his child."
"He better not have," Sango jumped to her feet pulling Kagome's hood over her face and tugging at her to follow.
Kagome followed like a good girl and watched as they passed the many shops in High Stone. It really was a good place to be once you got used to the smell of under bathed ningens'. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to smell but it was better then staying locked up in an estate.
They walked passed a clothing shop and the shopkeeper eyed them. "Oi Sango-san. You lookin' for Miroku-sama?" he called.
"Hai Killian-san have you seen him?" Sango said looking the old man right in the eye.
"Yah 'bout couple minutes 'go. 'E went off 'hat way Sango-san," Killian sad smiling at the demoness behind her.
"Arigatou. Come Kagome-chan," Sango said going off toward the west like Killian had pointed. She walked not to far when she saw the lechorous monk talking to some of the village girls. Her eyes narrowed and she walked up to him, and smacked him in the back of his head.
"Hey what was that for?" Miroku said turning and saw Sango. He looked behind her and looked at the youkai. "Youkai leave this place," he said walking up and felt his robes being pierced by the youkai's armor.
"Miroku-san that's Kagome-chan. Now where have you been?" Sango said poking him in the chest once he backed away from Kagome.
"Kagome-sama, what a pleasure to you again," Miroku said looking over at his friend. He saw the smile that formed on her lips and smiled himself. His smile was innocent when he turned to Sango, "What do you mean Sango-san?"
"Fine I'll ask them," Sango said and walked over to the village girls. She began talking with them and Kagome could hear everything they were saying. It seemed Miroku had asked but they refused.
Miroku looked forlorn when Sango returned fire blazing in her eyes. She grabbed him by the ear and started pulling him back toward their hut. Kagome held a smirk the whole way.
"Sango-san there is no need for this," Miroku said stumbling behind her.
"No need we go through every morning," Sango said walking past the giggling girls and laughing adults.
Kagome merely shook her head and when they entered the hut took off her hood. She smiled at them both and watched through narrowed eyes as Miroku came up to her and held her hand.
"I must say Kagome-sama I wish you'd bare my children. You're a beauty among women and they would be just as beautiful as you," Miroku said a far away look on his face.
Kagome glared at him and her gaze dropped to the hand holding hers. She could see Sango blazing in the back pulling up her weapon to slam it over his head but shook hers.
Sango grinned and watched as Kagome glared again but got no response from the monk. Sango sighed and waited until Kagome was done with him before having her fun.
Kagome growled low in her throat making Miroku look into her red eyes. "Let go my hand before I remove the offending appendage," she snarled and looked down at her hand. She gripped it allowing her claws to sink into his skin and saw him pale.
"Gomen Kagome-sama onegai let go," Miroku said looking down at his pain filled wrist as she sank her claws a little more before letting go. It hadn't gone deep enough to bleed but enough to warn.
"That's the fourteenth time Miroku-san next time the hand comes off," Kagome breathed seeing him flinch. She smirked and watched as Sango stood.
SLAM!
Sango watched as the now unconscious monk fell to the floor before getting more tea for Kagome.
They had been talking for hours before Kagome said she'd better go. Sango watched from the hut as her friend walked toward the estates. It really was a shame she wasn't allowed to walk around without that hood over her face. Sighing Sango walked back inside to wait until the monk awoke from his sleep.