Kagome sighed and just sat there, letting the cold air engulf her. The Winter's air calmed her spirit, before a ruckus, and Inuyasha opened the well shed's door, "Found her!" Inuyasha called to the family. "Kagome, c'mon. It's almost time." Inuyasha said, holding out his hand.
Kagome smiled slightly, and took his hand. He helped Kagome up, and she went outside. The Higurashi stood there, in awe. Kagome was an awe inspiring sight. Kagome blinked, as the Higurashi clapped. Mama, Hitomi, Souta, Gramps, they all were wearing simple kimonos, except Mama. She looked like a miko, too.
"Almost time!" Hano said, leading the cousins to their stands.
Gramps looked at the clock, "Right, seven fourty-five. Kagome and Inuyasha, you go onto the stage in front of Goshinboku." Gramps started towards a smaller stand, "Souta, Hitomi, you open the gates. Everyone, ready?" Gramps asked.
"Hai!" Everyone said.
As people flooded in, Inuyasha looked at Kagome, "What's wrong?" He asked.
"Nothing." Kagome whispered. Why would there be anything wrong? Except Hakudoshi and Naraku... And that one shard... And that Kagome was standing in front of about one hundred people. Kagome gulped.
"Right, nothin' wrong, huh?" Inuyasha folded his arms. Kagome rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.
Children were mainly there, but a few adults. Kagome felt calmer standing next to Inuyasha. "Ohayo-gazaimasu!" Kagome waved.
"Ohayo!" The audience replied. Kagome looked at Inuyasha.
She said aloud, "Say something, Inuyasha. Just don't stand there like a prop."
The children giggled. "Like what? It's you who's supposed to be doing this!" Inuyasha smirked.
Kagome smiled and sighed, "As you can see, my friend here is rough around the edges, huh?" Kagome smiled. A few teenagers now joined the audience. "Well, which story do you wish to hear? The making of the Shikon no Tama, how it came to be shattered during the Warring era, or first the characters who retrieved and or plotted devastation?" Kagome asked.
Just like any teens, they all said the last one. "Fine, fine. Hear all the villains and good guys first?" Everyone nodded. "Well, there was a hanyou, who went by Inuyasha (not him)," Kagome lied, "who met a reincarnated miko, Kagome (not me), and she shattered the jewel. They met the young kit, Shippou, who was an orphan. And soon Miroku the lecherous monk--"
"Why was the monk lecherous?" A mother asked.
"What does lecherous mean?" A child asked after his mother asked.
Inuyasha answered the questions, "Lecherous means 'pervert', or sick man. And Miroku was a lecher because of his Kazaana in his right hand."
"'Air Void'?" A teen girl asked.
"Hai. The villain, an other hanyou, Naraku, placed the curse on Miroku's grandfather. It would soon devour Miroku, just like his grandfather and father." Kagome answered. "Before they met Miroku, they met a youkai exterminator, and her nekomata. Her name was Sango, and the nekomata was named Kirara." Kagome smiled.
"Now the story of the adventures!" A little girl said.
"Fine." Kagome smiled, "Adventure one. When miko Kagome came from an other world. She came from the Bone-Eater's Well, and found she wasn't home, but feudal Japan. Then she met the kind, old woman, Kaede--"
"You mean 'Old Hag'..." Inuyasha interrupted.
"Whatever. And she tended to Kagome, before Mistress Centipede, a youkai, bit out the Shikon no Tama from Kagome's side." Kagome said.
Inuyasha then said, "She ran into Inuyasha's Forest, and cried for help. She broke the spell under the hanyou who hung from Goshinboku, this tree behind us. Inuyasha's spell may have been broken, but not his seal." Inuyasha let his arms dangle on his sides.
"Miko Kikyou, who Kagome was reincarnated from, put a seal on him five hundred and fifty years ago. Since he stole the Shikon no Tama on many accounts to become full youkai." Kagome said. "Kagome ran to Goshinboku, to see Inuyasha awake. And he, at first, thought it was Kikyou, his former lover, but no, only her reincarnate. But Mistress Centipede swallowed the Shikon no Tama."
"And became this hideous beast!" Inuyasha acted as though he were gagging. The children clapped and laughed.
Kagome was enjoying this so much. "After almost squeezing Kagome and Inuyasha, Kagome broke Inuyasha's seal, releasing him. He easily destroyed Mistress Centipede, and almost destroyed Kagome, as well."
"But he didn't." Inuyasha pointed out.
Kagome nodded, "Right, after doing Iron-Reavor to her twice, and she used the Beads of Subjugation on him. Kaede did well by her side then. Well, a few days later, a bird youkai got hold of the jewel, and swallowed it, and took a child boy hostage."
"And Kagome took an arrow, and tied it's discarded foot to the arrow, and shot it. Seeing as it had the jewel in it, it regenerated." Inuyasha said.
"So Kagome used the arrow, and hit the mark." Kagome then sighed, "Too well, might I add. Shattered the Shikon no Tama within its belly."
"So thus, the beginning of adventures and an annoying squirt." Inuyasha said.
"I hope you don't mean little Shippou! He was innocent!" Kagome argued.
"And annoying. He was bouncing around, thinking he was so strong!" Inuyasha nodded. Everyone laughed.
Kagome sighed and told them that was it for today, but tomorrow she'd have another story. For now, her and Inuyasha were to help out sell items. Kagome went to kimonos, and Inuyasha went to the key chain stand, making sure to stay far away from the food that burned his tongue. (A/N: Episode 82, Gap Between the Ages. He burnt his tongue. And episode 128, Battle Against the Dried Up Demons at the Cultural Festival!)
Inuyasha was instructed to take 700 yen, and give the person one key chain of their choice. There was Shikon jewels, fake kappa hands, and kites... Though that had nothing to do with the festival...
Kagome was handing out the wooden dolls, that had the Shikon jewel in the center. (A/N: Hai, I know, copying of the first PS2 game...) Where the jewel was, they were to write their wish on it. And on New Year's eve, they were to bury them, and focus on that wish, as the miko, Kagome, was to say the five hundred year old prayer.
That night, after everyone left, Kagome sat on the couch, next to Inuyasha. "That was fun!" She giggled. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, until Kagome rested her head on his shoulder, "But tiring." Kagome yawned. Inuyasha smiled.
"If you're gonna sleep, change out of that kimono, at least." Inuyasha said. Kagome stood up and nodded.
Mama poked her head out of the crowded kitchen, "Kagome, your cousins Suki, Kiki, Michi, and Zoey are sleeping in your room. Along with Inuyasha." Mama then went on talking, as three females, and a male, walked up to Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, this is Suki Higurashi." Kagome introduced her younger cousin, Suki, who was only eleven. She had short black hair, and green eyes. Then Kagome introduced Kiki, who had long brown hair, and brown eyes, as well. After Kiki, Michi, who was seventeen, and was the same height as Inuyasha. He had short black hair and brown eyes, like Kagome's eyes. He and Inuyasha didn't get along. "And finally, Zoey. She's thirteen." Kagome pointed to the quiet one, who looked sad. "She's gothic."
"So?" Zoey said.
"Rude to boot." Kagome sighed. Inuyasha snickered.