"Talking"
'Thinking'
Telepathy
Stressed
The sun had painted the sky with its rays of light. Four figures sat in Kagome's hut around a dying fire. Kagome was spread out on a futon with Bankotsu at her side. The sunlight filtered into the hut and illuminated everything. A sigh was heard from an older voice that was dry with age. Bankotsu let his gaze stray from the Miko and to the group he was excluded from.
"What the hell happened?" Inuyasha demanded.
"There have never been any true records on Mikos," Miroku spoke as he glanced at Kagome.
"Nothing like this ever happened to my sister," Kaede sighed.
"Then why her?" Sango asked as she gazed at Kagome's body.
"I have heard of Mikos that convey the words of gods," Miroku spoke as he watched the fire die.
"This was definitely a female god," Inuyasha growled.
"Goddess," Miroku corrected.
"Why would a goddess communicate with Kagome now?" Sango questioned.
"It's his fault," Inuyasha mumbled as Bankotsu tensed.
"Inuyasha," Miroku sighed, even though he had an inkling that it had to do with mercenary.
"What did this goddess say?" Kaede asked in hopes to prevent a fight.
"She said that she would give him life if he fulfilled some crap," Inuyasha answered.
Bankotsu remained silent as he ran his fingers over Kagome's hand. He would let them talk; he didn't care about their opinions.
"Anything specific?" Miroku questioned.
"Izanami said that he had to learn something before the second snow fall," Inuyasha recalled.
"But it hasn't even started snowing yet," Sango pointed out.
"Look again," Miroku whispered.
They all turned to the window and watched as the little flakes coated the ground. Inuyasha growled and shook his fist at this. Bankotsu softly sighed as he glanced at the latest change in the weather.
"Anything else?" Sango asked with a frown.
"She rambled on about him being pure, selfless, and making a sacrifice," Inuyasha listed as he held up three fingers.
"Kagome has received a message from a goddess, the gods and goddesses haven't communicated with us for years," Kaede softly spoke.
"So…this was bound to happen?" Inuyasha asked.
"I don't know, but if they are communicating with us now…then something must be taking place," Kaede said as she watched Miroku rub his chin in thought.
Kagome groaned as she sat up and with her eyes closed. She rubbed her eyes and then opened them with a yawn. Everything was so dark, and even with her eyes open everything still seemed dark. Her hand grabbed Bankotsu's and he gave her a reassuring squeeze.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Inuyasha quickly asked.
"Yeah…why?" Kagome questioned with a yawn.
"You don't remember?" Bankotsu questioned in confusion.
Kagome paused in shock. Flashes ran through her mind as she watched the images play like some twisted slideshow. She grasped her hair and pulled. It was a failed attempt to rid her mind of what she saw. A cool hand on her forehead brought her out of the current flashes.
"I remember," Kagome assured with a tried.
"Did she tell you anything in private?" Kaede inquired.
"No," Kagome quickly said.
"Then we have no idea on what to do," Inuyasha growled.
"I'm sure I'll be fine," Kagome softly said with a smile.
"You were communicating with a goddess…that is not fine," Miroku firmly said.
"I think I'll be fine, I mean my training at the temple did wonders," Kagome assured.
"What training?" Inuyasha asked.
"I trained with a Karasu-Tengu at the temple," Kagome answered. Miroku's face fell and dropped into his hands. Kaede groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Tengu only medal in affairs to keep things quiet," Miroku explained.
"So something big is going to happen," Inuyasha concluded.
"What did he say he was training you for?" Miroku asked.
"He said to make me stronger so I could be a Betsushimiko," Kagome answered.
"We haven't had a true warrior Miko since Midoriko," Kaede informed.
"I have to wonder what has the Tengu and God's stirred up," Sango spoke with a frown.
"Maybe there's a power struggle," Bankotsu suggested.
"Keh," Inuyasha mumbled.
"He has a point," Miroku agreed.
"It has to be major struggle if it involves humans and Tengu," Inuyasha grunted.
'Does this concern the darkness?' Kagome wondered as she rested her head on Bankotsu's shoulder.
It was never easy living on a mountain. There was always wind and snow on Kurama. Black feathers ruffled as the light from the snow reflected in his eyes. He came to the throne and kneeled before his king. In order to gain the throne, he had to learn the value of hard work. His father had to make sure that he wouldn't blow years of dedicated ruler ship into the wind. A firm, but cracked voice ordered him to his feet. He stood and walked closer, closer to the king, closer to his father.
"I hope you bring good news," the old king sighed.
"Sojobo-sama, I bring word of the Betsushimiko," Maro offered with a smile.
The king leaned forward and closer into the light. His snow-white hair rolled over his shoulders and gently touched his knees as he sat. His knowing pearl blue eyes searched his son for answers. He shifted his fan, which was made from seven white feathers to his left side. His skin held a reddish tint signifying that he was Kohsha-Tengu, the ones that were higher in rank.
"So you have found a Miko worthy of this title," the figure sighed.
"Her power was unlike any I have ever felt," Maro admitted.
"Then what is wrong, why is their reluctance in your voice?" Sojobo questioned with a frown.
"She has fallen in love," Maro whispered.
"Her emotions should make her stronger," Sojobo stated.
"You are wise, but the man she loves is nothing more then a clay doll with a soul," Maro informed. Sojobo stood up and raised an eyebrow at his son. This was not the proper image for a Betsushimiko.
"I sense more," Sojobo growled.
"There is darkness in her," Maro quickly said.
"Then the gods have already gotten to her," Sojobo sighed.
"I am confident I trained the right one," Maro seriously informed.
"What makes you so sure?" Sojobo questioned.
"I am sure because she is the Betsushimiko," Maro firmly stated as he stood to face his father.
Sojobo gazed at his son before he smiled. His son would prove to be a worthy king despite the taint in his blood. He didn't care that he was a Karasu-Tengu, but the others cared. They cared and so he pushed his son to strive for excellence. If his son had trained the right Miko, then the Tengu would accept Maro as their new king.
She gazed into the river with a look of indifference. Another soul passed her by and she sighed. Darkness coated her pale skin as she watched a reflection appear beside her. Her anger welled up inside of her as she stared at the figure's beauty. She had once been beautiful, now she was nothing but a rotting corpse. The figure met her indigo gaze as she cast her illusion. She was more comfortable behind the mask.
"I see you have warned her," the male figure spoke. His crimson orbs reflected in the light of the Hitodama.
"Amatsu-Mikaboshi, I will not be ignored," the female sternly said. The god scoffed as flipped his black hair back.
"Izanami, you are dead and have no say say in the matters of the living," Amatsu-Mikaboshi stated. Izanami turned her cold stare to him as she gazed up at him.
"Death always has a say when it concerns life," Izanami reminded.
"Once my plan goes through, then there will be no life or death," he happily said.
"Then we will fade away," Izanami growled.
"No, we will be the ones that live on…never fearing death," Mikaboshi declared.
"Just accept it…it would be easier to accept that you are dying," Izanami calmly said. He growled and turned to leave this land of the dead.
"Once the darkness comes then I will be eternal!" Mikaboshi declared.
'Not if the holder of the darkness is in my keep,' Izanami thought. Her gaze settled on the river as an image appeared. 'In this river all are made clean, all are given life.'
Inuyasha grunted in annoyance as he watched Kagome stand in the doorway to the temple. She watched as the snow slowly difted to the ground. Reaching out she caught a white flake in her hand. It remained for only a few moments. Kagome sighed and as she was tugged back into the temple. Her gaze turned around and met his cerculean stare with a smile. Inuyasha watched the scene with a frown. Bankotsu pulled Kagome into a hug. Her arms instantly wrapped around his chest.
"You'll get sick if you stay in the cold," Bankotsu softly said as he rested his chin on her head.
"I'll be fine," Kagome assured.
"Eh, just get back inside," Bankotsu ordered.
"Bankotsu," Kagome said with a happier tone.
"What?"
"We are inside," Kagome said with a giggle. He rolled his eyes and she only laughed harder.
Kagome reluctanctly pulled out of his embrace and grabbed her bamboo handled broom. She swept what snowflakes fell through the temple door back outside. He sighed and sat down on the temple floor. Kagome looked over at him and shyly smiled as he grinned. She began to sweep around him and nudged him with the broom in an attempt to move him. He raised and eyebrow and laid down to make a point. Kagome took the broom and smacked him on the stomach. He closed his eyes and sighed while ignoring her.
"Move! I need to clean," Kagome whined as she poked him with the handle.
"No," Bankotsu teased as he laid there with his eyes closed.
"Please," Kagome sighed.
"Nope," Bankotsu simply said with a grin.
Kagome stuck her index finger in her mouth and lathered it with as much salvia as she could get. She kneeled to the ground and stuck her finger in his ear. Bankotsu shot up and despertaly wiped at his ear. Kagome laughed at his scrunched up face and his constant muttering of yuck.
"That was gross!" Bankotsu shouted.
"Be lucky I didn't do both ears," Kagome smugly said as he glared at her.
"You shouldn't stick things in places they don't belong," Bankotsu scolded with a grin.
"Pervert," Kagome mumbled as she swept the spot Bankotsu had occupied.
Inuyasha sighed and rolled his eyes at their interaction. He silently wondered if the this mercenary was any good. His left ear flicked off the gathering snow as he thought. Inuyasha stood up and shook the snow away from his form before he jumped into the nearby forest.
Author's Note:
I'm so happy...this story has done so well(swells with joy)
Thanks for all of you that have reviewed
Please leave a review and I'll update again