chp 2
"Kikyo..."
She spoke the name with nothing more than the sound of it rolling of her tounge. It didn't roll, it slid. She was like water, her movements fluid and graceful, even her clothes. The gentle silk floated in the softed breeze, following the currents. Even her hair was delicate and fluid like water, how it grazed her wind, following its cures and twists. Kikyo was the image of perection.
No one could deny it, that she was perfect. At least thats how she let off to be. Beneath those cold brown eyes though, Kagome felt something more. It was almost hidden, but when Kikyo looked at Kagome, she looked envious. Kagome was a master of seeing emotions, it came from years of careful observation. And Kikyo was obviously hiding something from everyone.
Now Kagome sat back against a tree, wondering if her mother was worried...
Well you got the adventure of a lifetime. You've got your wish...
She sighed, almost feeling tranquil despite the obvious.
To be completely honest with myself, I feel...different here. I don't really miss my family, or my life...I just feel like there's something here meant for me. Like I came here for a reason.
She closed her eyelids, letting the darkness flood over her vision. She heard soft footsteps, but continued to not pay attention. When the steps came closer she merely waited for them to come close. She breathed in deeply, pretending to be asleep. The thing came close...
"What are you..."
She felt warm fingers graze her cheekbone. Her heartbeat pulsed, as she felt something travel through her she had never felt before. A feeling deep inside her stirred from his touch, something that was dormant until now...
"So much like Kikyo...yet not. Are you a descendant...nay...you are a reincarnation. You and her are linked in too many ways to be descendants. Too similar...in both mind and power..."
She felt the warm hands of Hakuri leave her face. She felt chills run down her from the last words...
"So alike, yet so different...I wonder if you too will..."
He trailed off, suggesting something with his tone. Kagome felt his presense leave, opening one eye just enough to watch him leave sight. She felt her blood run cold, and the power within her spread...
"Uh oh..."
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Inuyasha was a little dumbstruck at the moment. The thought of TWO Kikyo's was a little akward, and a little scary, and confusing, and exciting...
But mostly scary...
He rolled his eyes slightly, flexing his claws. He cracked the knuckes out of bordom, watching the bones move...
Then he heard a twig crack beneath him. He looked down from the Goushinboku and saw the Kikyo-double walking back towards the village. He decided to have a little fun with her...
He jumped down in front of her path, suceedingly rousing a scream out of her.
"AH!"
A crooked smile played on his lips, like he had an inside secret about her he wouldn't tell...
"What the heck man!"
"Your more interesting than I first gave you credit for," He said with a twinge of malice.
"Well your a bigger jerk than I gave YOU credit for..."
"I can be worse Kikyo..."
"I AM NOT KIKYO! Why can't people get that through their heads..."
"Probably because your reactions are so funny...Kikyo..."
He watched her turn a nasty shade of red and stomp away. He thought she was gone, but then she randomly turned around and yelled,"K-A-G-O-M-E! Kagome, not Kikyo, not anything but Kagome! And if you don't stop it I'll make you pay..."
"What ever you say...Kikyo..."
She walked back up to him, rage sprawled out all over her face, and slapped him right across the face. Even he hadn't expected the reincarnation of Kikyo to be so rash...
"Kagome..." She stated monotoned.
"Wench..."
"How cute, a pet name..."
She wrinkled her nose at him and stormed off, her knee high socks beginning to fall down from her stomps...
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"Kikyo, she's not like you at all..."
Kaede looked at her older sister, trying to figure out her expression...
"I know Kaede, but I can't help but worry about her..."
Kaede looked at her older sister, eyes shinning with confusion. Why would Kikyo, the world's prettiest and best fighter, worry about a girl who is nothing but a copycat?
"Is she special like you are?"
"I think so, but I wouldn't know...thats up to Master Hakuri," She stated in a low voice shrouded with worry.
"Kikyo..."
"Hm..."
"Can I be a priestess one day?"
She smiled, her sister's foolish innocence touching her very protected heart.
"If you keep training hard and continuing your studies, I bet you'll be better than me!"
Kaede smiled, a warm smile of childhood innocence. Kikyo looked at her, remembering a time when she had wished the same thing...
"Kikyo!"
Kikyo turned towards the voice, seeing the girl-child Kagome. She nodded and sent Kaede off for more arrows...
"Kikyo, I have a bone to pick with you."
"Whats wrong?"
"That Inuyasha creep!"
"What do you mean? He's not creepy," the word felt akward on her tounge,"Just misunderstood."
"What are you talking about?"
"He's a hanyou, people are immediately put off by him. He lives alone on the outskirts of the forst in a cave. He has no friends really, just the occasional run in with me trying to get the jewel..."
She fingered the pink gemstone around her neck, the tiny sphere sparkling in a light of pure radiance...
"It seems his life's obsession is trying to become a full demon. But he's not really evil, just...misleaded..."
"He's a jerk! He jumped in front of me, scared the heck outta me, insulted me...repeatedly...and called be a wench..."
Kikyo sighed and took Kagome to a little shrine in the back. A garden was growing in there, flowers and ferns were flourishing. Kikyo picked off a rose from the bush, holding it out to Kagome.
"This is you an I, beautiful and flourishing. Life courses through us, and we have good color from happiness."
She bent down and picked up a dead rose with the petals withering away," This is Inuyasha. No more life courses through him, and he has no color or beauty because his is mistreated and unloved. So life has left him nothing but the thorns, and he uses what life gave him. He hurts to protect himself, because on the inside, he doesn't want to be hurt again."
Kagome watched Kikyo crumble up the rose. She took a new one...
"But I think, if he finds happiness again...maybe even he could fourish. Thats why I haven't the heart to kill him. He's just lonely, and doesn't really know that not everyone wants to see him dead. Some people understand whats its like to be singled out, some people understand him..."
Kikyo looked thoughtful for a moment, her eyes glazing over...
"Someone like you?" Kagome asked...
"I wish, but he wants nothing to do with me."
"You like him, don't you..."
"It is not in my path to love..."
"You're only human..."
Kikyo looked at her,"I wish it were that simple..."
Kagome felt her sadness, to want love, to be loved. She felt pity for Kikyo, pity for Inuyasha. Maybe that's why she was here, to put them together...
"You should take a bath..."
Kagome looked at her muddy skin and oily hair.
Kagome looked up hopefully,"You have those!"
Kikyo rolled her eyes," Yes, we do..."
Kagome looked at her hopefully, Kikyo eyed her...
"Will you show me where it is..."
"I suposse..."
Kagome smiled, an honest-to-god smile.
"Thanks...Kikyo..."
Kikyo just gave her an akward stare...she seemed to be getting those alot on her little adventure...
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"Cold..so cold..."
Kagome shivered under the freezing waters of the river. If this is Kikyo's idea of a bath, she'd hate to see what soap was...
"Here..."
Kikyo came back with some clothes, a towel, and soap.
"Thanks."
She watched as Kikyo peeled off her clothed and dipped into the freezing waters along with her. Kagome watched her with amazement, she truely was perfect...
"Kagome, why are you here?"
She looked at Kikyo, with her floating hair and perfect shoulders sticking out of the cold water, and felt a surge of pitty wash over her...
"What do you mean."
Kikyo turned her head and looked at her, trying to comtemplate whether or not to explain again. She tilted her head to the side, the tendrals of her hair diluting the water like ink...
"You, why are you here. Why are we meeting?"
Kagome looked at her, realizing she had no idea what was going on...
"I'm here because I am curious. I wanted an adventure, and here I am in the feudal era with a priestess, a half demon, and a dried up well. I don't know why I am here, but I know its for a reason."
"May I confine in you?"
Kagome looked at her with almost a shocked look on her face. But something in Kikyo's face made her heart grow soft...
"Sure..."
Kikyo gave her a sad stare," I don't want to be who I am. A perect woman, a perfect priestess, an idol to all. And when you came along, I felt like you might take it away...but..."
She looked at her halfheartedly...
"Now I feel like I have to be perfect now more than ever. I have to be a model to myself in a sorts, if you catch my meaning."
"Yea, I do."
"I don't want to be like this, and I think it would be naive and idiotic to try and convince you that I do."
"I can sympthasize, I do understand whats its like to be an idol, to be a standard..."
"I'm sure we have much to learn from each other."
"I wouldn't count on it coming from me..."
"Why?"
"I'm not normal, I'm an observer. I see things and take note of them in my mind. I never act upon my thoughts, only conjure up more."
"So you prefer to be a bystander instead of the hero?"
"Not really, I just don't have a choice to be anything but the bystander..."
They stood there, silent as the cold water grew slightly warmer from remaining in it. Kikyo grabbed the soap, and split it, giving half to Kagome. They washed up and and dried off. Kikyo handed Kagome a pair of red pants, and an off white shirt. Kagome realized thet they were wearing the same clothes...
"Um Kikyo, are you sure peopel will be able to tell us apart."
She looked at her...
"You are to be taught in the ways of a priestess. You need proper garmets..."
She turned away, her matted hair sticking to her clothing...
Kagome sighed and continued to dress, feeling a sense of lonliness for the first time since she had come here.
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