Updated Note *Important*
I have been thinking through this story for a while now and I would just like to inform everyone that this will be a slow burn. I have tried varying my chapter sizes (kinda) and tried to move the plot along at a somewhat faster pace without loosing the essence I want in this story, but it has not really worked.
So to be fair with everyone, I'd just like to say that this story will undoubtedly be quite long, and will take a while until things start to unravel more. Only snippits of the story have fallen into place so far and we have already reached nearly 90k words.
I know we all have our own style of story and likes/dislikes so I wanted to give this warning for those of you who know what you dislike. This one might fall under 'drawn out', but I see no good way to build it otherwise since I have to essentially lay the foundation first while trying to stay true to people's character.
Thus, I don't want to waste anyone's time, and if you feel this story is no longer for you with this updated information, I understand, and thank you for your support regardless. I'd just rather have it said now than further in, when you may be dissuaded and feel like it isn't going anywhere.
Again, thank you.
Blue eyes stared ahead, blank. Kagome's face was lax as she stood in the sun, the gentle gust of wind ruffling her clothes. Distant voices were carried to her, familiar yet different.
Kagome blinked, her blue eyes suddenly glowing with power as her consciousness caught up to her. She stood before the god tree, her eyebrows raising in surprise. Kagome whipped her head around, black hair swaying roughly, catching the sun's light.
"How…" her voice trailed off, brows drawing down as she took in her surroundings. She gasped, color draining from her face even as her heart sped up. The organ almost felt as if it could escape her chest.
Kagome stared at her home, the white walls slightly yellow around the edges, the tiles slightly darker than she remembered. She was about to turn to run inside, to tell everyone she was home before she paused, her heart skipping. She didn't know how she ended up here. She looked behind her towards the god tree, its presence ever the same. The last thing she remembered she was standing over the well, magic long gone, but it had been her newest shrine. She remembered the faces of her friends as they helped her claim the small shrine, each happy for her in their own way. Kagome furrowed her brows, a nagging feeling tugging at her gut.
She had managed to successfully claim it, had felt her power leave her and reside within the old well. She remembered the feel of aged wood under her hand and then…nothing. Somehow, she had been dragged back through. Still, something didn't quite feel right about her home.
Her heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced, her adrenaline starting to spike. She could feel her instincts screaming at her, warning her. She had to hide.
Without giving it much thought, Kagome flung herself towards the side of her house, walking under the shade to hopefully stay hidden. She glanced down and frowned at her clothes, as gold as ever and shimmering even when no light was on her being. This would be harder than she thought.
Voices trailed up to her, and she peeked her head around the corner, spotting her grandpa and mother at the steps of the shrine. Kagome squinted as the nagging feeling intensified and wrapped around her belly. Something about how they looked. She trotted closer, careful to avoid the dappling sunlight that fluttered through the foliage of the trees.
Kagome focused her gaze and let out a small gasp, her thoughts freezing. Her mom looked worried, her face drawn tight, and her grandpa was standing tall, his shoulders back and his head only having a few grey hairs.
She swallowed hard.
Her grandpa was a man who was stooped with a head full of grey. Her mother had a kind face, yet it had begun to wrinkle at the edges. The people in front of her had neither of those things, but they were undoubtedly the family she had grown up with.
"Kaaa-san!"
Kagome heard her own voice, but it was much, much higher. She gasped again, watching as a young toddler ran out, black hair bobbing, blue eyes shining…
Kagome leaned back against the wall, tearing her gaze away from the scene.
What was happening!?
She forced her heart to calm, her hand fluttering over her chest before she looked back. Her mother was herding her younger self away, back inside. The older woman shooting a worried look back to her grandfather as she did.
Kagome had already put the pieces together. She was somehow back in the future, but not her future. Not all the way. She was a few years short, but it was nice seeing her family again. Even if she couldn't talk to them. She hoped she didn't mess anything up while she was here, she could only imagine the damage she'd do.
More voices trialed over to her, and blue eyes snapped back towards her grandfather. He seemed distressed as he talked to another man in a suit. She leaned closer.
"-no use, there is no kami here. It has abandoned this place like it has abandoned you." Kagome frowned at the harsh words that came from the suited man, her annoyance bubbling to the surface.
"I refuse to believe that! This shrine has been held by my family for centuries! I will not let you take it!" Her grandfather shouted, his voice indignant.
Kagome smiled at him from her hiding spot, her chest puffing up in pride at the older man. Sometimes, she wished she had listened to him a little harder, stuck by a little longer… She shook her head. Those thoughts wouldn't help her here.
"The city is in need of more space. If you will not let me buy it from you, then I will buy it from the city. There's nothing here Mr. Higurashi, I'm sorry, but there are no kami. If there were, they have long since abandoned us." The man almost sounded pained, and as much as Kagome didn't like him, she somewhat understood how he felt.
Please, please
Kagome's breath hitched as her grandfather's voice echoed in her head.
'Don't let this man take my home. Please kami-sama, you have been quiet so long, after all of our work towards you. Please help us in our time of need.'
A large lump formed in Kagome's throat, her blue eyes shimmering in unshed tears. She had never seen her poor grandpa look so defeated, so down and abandoned by the very gods he worshiped. Kagome wiped her tears stubbornly. She had to have faith; she knew she still lived in her shrine when she was older. Something had to have happened-
Her mind blanked as her eyes widened. Something did have to happen. Kagome glanced around, taking in her surroundings again. Maybe she was what happened. Her heart began to accelerate once more, the lump in her throat slowly dissipating.
Was that why she was here? Kagome looked back to her grandpa, he had fallen on his knees in front of the man, his face hidden by shadows. She had to do something. She couldn't bare to see him like that.
Kagome wiped her face and took a deep breath, shaking her hands out in front of her as she tried to give herself a pep talk. 'It's okay Kagome it's ok. You can do this!'
Kagome came from around the building, using her faster speed to appear behind her grandpa, placing a strong hand on the back of his head. He stiffened but didn't get the chance to move.
Kagome poured power into her throat, making her voice chime and distort into a choir before she spoke. "Do not move" she commanded, hoping her nervousness wasn't noticeable. The suited man that had turned away from her grandpa and had begun to descend the stairs whipped his head back, his eyes going wide and mouth slack as he took in the sight of her.
Kagome amped her power up, her skin glowing brighter, her hair floating around her face. Her clothes were bathed in sunlight and the rainbow of colors that reflected off them lit up the area in colorful hues.
"Y-yes kami-sama" Her grandpa's voice was a whisper, but he obeyed. Kagome sighed internally at that, glad her grandpa respected the kami so much.
The suited man walked back up the few stairs he had descended, his eyes never leaving her. "W-who are you?"
Kagome could have rolled her eyes. She thought it was obvious.
"Are you daft Hiroto? Bow before kami-sama!"
Kagome almost laughed at her grandfather. Even with a kami touching his head and forcing his will on him, he still made sure others were respectful. She did wonder how he knew she was a kami though, probably the voice? The man named Hiroto jumped out of his daze and bowed low, still in shock.
"H-how!?" His astonished voice was slightly muffled.
Kagome was wondering the same thing. She subtly cleared her throat and ignored the way her powers began to tingle against her skin.
"You threaten my shine, then you ask how?" Kagome only let some of her anger go through, she wanted to scare the man, not scar him for life. "A kami does reside here, and if you ever think of tearing down my home, you and yours will face the consequences for generations to come!" Her voice had raised to a shout, not quite being able to keep all the anger out. From the corner of her eye, she could see her mother watching from the kitchen window, her eyes wide and mouth agape.
"I am deeply sorry kami-sama! Please forgive me!" Hiroto had his forehead against the floor, his form trembling.
"Leave!" Kagome flexed her spiritual energy, forcing a gust of wind to breeze harshly thought the shrine and whip up leaves. The man stood and ran, not even glancing back.
Kagome held in her chuckle and let go of her powers, but made sure to keep her voice distorted.
"You're doing good here, Higurashi-san. Thank you for your work in maintaining the shrine. I will let you go now, but do not turn around."
Her grandfather nodded his head under her hand and she slowly let go, trusting that he wouldn't turn around.
"Thank you, kami-sama." His voice was a whisper, but Kagome could hear the rattle of his breath as he fought back tears. Her eyes softened on his hunched over form, a smile forming on her lips as her anger dissipated.
"Of course gr-" she cut herself off, almost giving herself away. Kagome let out a sigh, wondering how she was going to get back. Her gaze trailed to the small shed, and she nodded to herself. It was worth a try.
"Close your eyes, I have to go." Her grandpa didn't respond, he just nodded again. Kagome glanced to her stunned mother in the window, hoping the woman didn't recognize her. She took a deep breath as she poured power into her legs and ran as fast as she could to the well, slamming the door shut. Kagome leaned her back against the door, her shoulders relaxing. That was not what she had planned to do today.
A twist was beginning to form in her stomach as anxiety crawled its way up her chest. She wasn't sure how she was going to get back. Her eyes darted to the well and she walked forward, placing a gentle hand on the aged wood. The well hummed under her, her own power rising from its depths to meet her. Kagome lost her breath at the feel of it. This power, it was hers, but it felt far stronger than what she currently had. She swallowed and tightened her grip, raising her legs over the well and peering down at the darkness. Hopefully this would work, hopefully she could get some answers. Kagome held her breath and jumped, letting the inky blackness take her.
There were no lights, no floating, just a constant fall. Kagome's breath hitched as she braced herself to land hard, but the seconds kept ticking by. Soon enough, it didn't even feel like she was falling. Panic gripped at her and made her breaths come out fast, her hands trembling as she tried to grab at the walls of the well. No matter how far she reached or what direction, she could feel nothing, though she was definitely still in the air. She squeezed her eyes shut, fear clawing up her throat and she let her power out, unrestrained. A gust of wind blew up from under her and the familiar light of the well engulfed her, the gold hues of her power clashing strikingly against the blues and purple.
Finally, blessedly, she felt her feet touch the ground, the smell of damp earth filling her nose. Before she could even let out a sigh of relief she found herself engulfed in warmth and her vision obscured. Fluffy strains of white tickled her face and Kagome gasped, inhaling the sharp, cold scent of Sesshomaru. She forced herself to relax, a nervous laugh bubbling from her lips as she tried not to think too hard about the position they were in. A deep rumble was nearly vibrating the air around them and Kagome was slightly started to find out that the noise was coming from Sesshomaru. She winced, hoping he wasn't mad.
She tilted her head back and Sesshomaru let her, his red tinted eyes making her still. Oh, he was angry. Kagome swallowed, a high keen leaving her lips, startling even herself. Maybe she had spent too much time with foxes.
Sesshomaru blinked and his eyes were clear, but he still looked down at her intently, as if she would disappear at any moment. She felt his arms tighten around her and air whisked past them as Sesshomaru jumped out of the well. They landed softly back on the ground, the crunching snow shifting under their weight piercing the momentary silence. Kagome looked around, noting that the moon gave off just enough light to highlight the features of her friends as they worriedly came to her side.
"Kagome-sama!"
Miroku was the first to approach, paying no mind to the way she was currently pressed up against an angry demon lord. She blushed, very aware of how they looked and tried to step away. Sesshomaru didn't budge, his grip iron tight. Instead, she tried to focus on Miroku as he spoke, his eyes never leaving her.
"We were so worried about you! What happened, are you harmed?"
Sesshomaru's voice answered for her, and Kagome almost shuddered at the way his chest vibrated, even though the armor he wore.
"She has not been harmed."
Kagome squirmed, desperately trying to get away from his side. "Ah, Sesshomaru you can let go now. I'm fine." She wanted to thank him in her fox way, but stopped herself abruptly, her blush deepening as she remembered the last time she had done so. As well as the conversation she had with Kuro the day after about the different gestures between inu and foxes. She was still mortified. She wiggled more and managed to free herself from his grip, trying to ignore his towering form behind her as he stayed close. Very close.
"Please come Kagome-sama, we don't have much time." Kagome furrowed her brows and looked at Miroku, trailing her gaze along his own scrunched up brows and the slight crinkles along the corners of his eyes. She shifted her focus to Sango who stood behind him and her breath caught. Her sister was looking out towards the forest, head tilted just enough for Kagome to make out a fierce expression on her face. Sango had a steel grip on her boomerang, her brown orbs never leaving the shifting tree line.
The embarrassment and mortification faded away in an instant as Kagome forced herself to pay attention to the present situation. She gripped the fringes of her powers as she followed Sango's gaze. Along the tree line, something caught her attention and made her freeze. Several pairs of eyes were staring at them, their features distorted by the dark magic that cursed their existence and bound them to the underworld. There weren't many yurei, but Kagome knew to be cautious. She looked back at Miroku and he nodded gravely at her understanding.
"We can fight, but we are unsure if they can harm your shrine if we leave. Also, the villagers will be unprotected." He looked slightly frustrated, but she knew that it was also his thinking face. Miroku usually came up with a plan, but with their limited knowledge of the yurei and her powers, it was difficult to come up with something solid. Her heart stopped suddenly, her gaze snapping to the village where Shippo and Hajime must have also been. She knew Sesshomaru would never let them stay so close to danger. They needed to protect the village at all costs, she would not let them be harmed.
"A barrier works against them, we can protect the village at the very least." Kagome moved forward as she spoke, Sesshomaru following behind. He was unusually quiet, and she wondered what had him on edge. Just as she thought it, he spoke.
"They're waiting for something." A large, claw tipped hand grabbed Kagome by the shoulder, keeping her still and slightly frustrating her.
She glanced back at him, reluctant to turn her gaze away from her foes but she needed to know why he seemed…hesitant. It was strange to apply that word to Sesshomaru, but there must have been a reason. His gaze was set on the tree line, his mouth set in a thin line. He tensed and she glanced back towards the yurei, seeing the faintest movement before they froze once more.
"They gather closer when you look away, Kagome-sama." Miroku's voice was low, but his observant violet eyes were contemplative. He looked away from the yurei and behind Kagome, to something she couldn't see. Now she didn't dare take her eyes away from them. But if they were coming to her only, then that meant the village would be safe. From the corner of her eye, she saw Miroku's face harden as he set his staff to the ready, the sutra already lined along it to help in banishing the agonized souls away.
"There's more behind" his quiet voice was loud in the silence as he took up a spot near Sesshomaru, facing the enemies she couldn't see.
Kagome knew what that meant. She couldn't keep her eyes everywhere and they would surely approach from wherever her eyes strayed from. She gritted her teeth in frustration and raised her arm towards the village in a combination of instinct and knowledge. A massive barrier fell down around the clustered huts, the light that shone off of it a combination of pink and gold. In the back of her mind, it idly reminded her of soap bubbles mixing with oil on the floor. She ignored the look of astonishment from Miroku and held her left hand above herself, casting a barrier around them. As soon as it was cast, the yurei moved in a frenzy, their distorted faces phasing through the physical objects in their path before they slammed themselves into her barrier. It was like the time she had been walking between the realms in her sleep, but the familiarity didn't do anything to stop her fear.
By themselves the yurei didn't seem terribly strong, but their numbers were vast. It was as if whoever controlled them had power in spades, maybe enough to even rival the gods. Kagome froze, her eyes widening as she absently watched Sesshomaru and Miroku work in tandem to destroy the yurei from within the barrier. She had been so stupid to not have seen it sooner. Her blue eyes glowed in the night as she ran her gaze along the thousands of yurei that attacked her barrier. They were being summoned as quickly as they dissipated, and Kagome knew for certain no mortal could have the energy needed in order to do such a thing.
"Sesshomaru," her voice shook, and she steeled herself, resolving to put on her brave face and take this challenge head on. The demon lord didn't look away from the battle, but her mind was filled with his voice.
Miko?
She answered allowed, knowing his superior hearing could pick up a pin dropping even in this chaotic mess. "The yurei, they have to have been summoned by a kami, no one else could-"
A ferocious growl cut her off and she watched, eyes wide as Sesshomaru's anger swelled. His strikes grew harder, faster, taking out his rage on the beings that were nothing more than puppets.
Then I will tear the heavens asunder and rip that god from its throne!
Kagome's breath hitched at the ferocity of the thought, the emotions that accompanied it hitting her full force. Rage, determination, and something else she couldn't quite place. Her momentary distraction allowed the barrier to crack before she threw more power into it, mending it and layering it to be stronger. Kagome shoved her thoughts away from Sesshomaru's words and focused on the current situation, there would be enough time to ponder her thoughts.
She glanced around, frustrated that she hadn't trained her new powers and feeling as if she were the same girl that stumbled into the feudal era those many years ago. She clenched her first and was surprised when she felt something that had not been there before. She looked down to see a golden bow in her right hand, a quiver full of arrows on her left. Kagome could have sighed in frustration, of course she should choose now to forget that she had the ability to simply make what she needed.
Without a second thought she drew the string back taunt, pouring her miko powers into the golden tipped arrow and letting it fly. The blinding ray of pink dashed though the swarming goons and dissipated their energy hundreds at a time. Thankfully, the shadows did not regather, and they stayed down. Kagome smiled grimly, her blue eyes blazing as she readied another arrow, not noticing how her skin shimmered even brighter or how her glowing blue eyes stood stark against the starless sky. As the more energy gathered in the arrow, she clenched her jaw in determination and let it fly.
TBTW
Sesshomaru's skin tingled before he saw a pink arrow fly from his left. He watched as hundreds of yurei were wiped out and silently marveled at the woman who had been turned into a kami. His sword sung in his hands with practiced ease as he moved on autopilot, contemplating. The power that she had displayed had only been her own, and Sesshomaru knew for certain she had always been strong. Even still, watching her release her now highly controlled energy made his hackles rise and his instincts scream at the feeling of such a powerful foe to his kind. Though he knew Kagome wasn't the kind to blindly follow the rules of society, a part of him couldn't help but wonder what the outcome of their fight would have been. Sesshomaru swallowed and swiveled his golden eyes forward, ripping himself from the thoughts that set fire to his blood at the promise of a challenging battle. To his relief, the yurei were lessening in their number, unable to regenerate as fast as they were being killed.
When Kagome had abruptly disappeared while he was talking to the monk, he had been watching the yurei that were sticking to the tree line, unable to see what happened. Only the slayer's gasp of surprise had alerted him, followed by a sudden chill that hung in the air at the absence of her power. A sense of helplessness had assaulted him and Sesshomaru ground his teeth at the reminder. He wasn't strong enough, he couldn't even sense the yurei and now Kagome seemed to be able to travel the planes of reality without a thought. He wasn't sure about that last part though; it had been the only conclusion they could come up with after the initial panic. The elderly miko was the one that had calmed them down, noting that Kagome's shrine was still intact and glowing with her power. It had eased the group, but they hadn't had a chance to think about what it meant before the yurei began to close in on them.
Just as they had prepared for battle, a rush of power had come from the well and Kagome was back. Though he was still left with numerous unanswered questions. A grunt left him as he let out a particularly harsh slash, his sword singing its thirst for blood, intensifying his own well controlled emotions.
"They are withdrawing!" The slayer's voice carried over to him and he glanced around, noting that those closest to Kagome seemed hesitant to leave. He growled and stepped to her side, the warmth of her energy engulfing him as he gave the yurei a reason to be afraid. When the last of the shadowy beings had fled or been killed, Sesshomaru turned to her and made sure she was ok. Blue eyes met his and his breath stilled momentarily, remembering the way she had looked up at him similarly when giving her version of thanks. She looked away from him and he could breathe again, his eyes narrowing slightly at his own lack of control.
"Is everyone okay?" Her chiming voice was followed by murmurs of confirmation and Sesshomaru forced himself to straighten his back and rejoin the forming conversation, roughly shoving his emotions aside.
"Yes, we're fine Kagome. But what about you? You just disappeared! We were so worried about you!" Sango's chastising voice carried on the wind now that the immediate threat was over. As Kagome dissipated the barrier, she wandered over to Sango and paused, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth with a contemplative expression.
"I-I don't know what happened" her shoulders slumped, and she tilted her head back towards the sky. Sesshomaru's golden gaze trailed down her soft cheeks to follow the curve of her throat, the pale skin and-
He looked away and sheathed his sword, keeping a steadying grip on the handle.
"I was in my time but… but I was a few years too early."
Sesshomaru listened intently but forcefully kept his eyes away from her.
"I saw myself, I was a little kid. And my shrine was almost sold, I guess…" Kagome trailed off, her fingers trailing though her black hair. "It was like I was called there."
He narrowed his eyes in thought, angry at the idea that she could be whisked away so easily.
"Kagome-sama, was there any danger to your home by any chance?" Violet eyes were sharp as they studied the kami, noting the far away look that lingered on her face when she thought about her recent trip.
"Uhm, I guess. They needed the land for space or something. It's pretty crowded in my time."
Sesshomaru watched as the monk nodded to himself and smiled at her.
"Then I believe I know why you were called away" he gestured for Kagome to follow him and they both ended up closer to the small shrine. Sesshomaru followed along curiously, he was out of his element but not completely inept when it came to the kamis.
"Forgive me Kagome-sama, but please bare with this." Before anyone could ask what he meant, the monk swung his staff sharply against the side of the well. Kagome flinched and Miroku was knocked back, dropping his staff with a hiss. Sesshomaru moved closer in an instant, inspecting Kagome first before eyeing the now seething hot staff. The metal glowed red and the snow it landed on sizzled as it boiled away.
"Ow" the monk sat up shakily and rubbed his back. "Okay that was a little more than I was expecting." Miroku's breath hitched as he tried to use his hands and brought them up for the others to see. Burns lined his hands from where he gripped his staff and he winced at the pain.
"Miiroku!" Kagome's worried shout was lost as she dashed to his side in an instant, surprising Sesshomaru with her speed.
"What do you think you were doing! We have to treat this now!"
Everything else was forgotten as Kagome ushered everyone towards the village.
TBTW
Hajime muttered under his breath as he tackled a squirming Shippo onto the ground, his hands grasping at the collar of the kit's golden vest. "Hey stay still! Stop wiggling!"
Fierce green eyes turned on him and Hajime let out a yelp of surprise as sharp teeth sunk into his hand, but he refused to let go. Shippo stared at him with glossy green eyes as tears threatened to spill. Hajime sighed, the fight leaving him at the sight of the helplessly worried kit. He ignored his blood pooling around Shippo's mouth and used his other hand to pat his head affectionately.
"Hey, it's going to be okay."
It seemed as if that was all Shippo needed because the tears started to flow freely down his cheeks. The kit clenched his eyes shut and removed his teeth from Hajime's hand before launching himself at him. Hajime let out a sigh of relief as he stroked the kit's back, his brown eyes glancing around the dark hut. The coals had gone out and the smoldering embers flickered listlessly in their dying breaths. Hajime adjusted Shippo so that the kit was on his left shoulder and peeked a look outside, the pink and gold light of the massive barrier cutting through the darkness with ease. It lit them up in swirls of color as he hesitantly stuck his head out, looking for any change.
It had gone up not too long ago, and Shippo had insisted that Kagome was in danger. Even though Hajime tried to reassure the kit, he himself could not help but worry. Still, Lord Sesshomaru was with them, so the chances of anything happening to Kagome were slim to none. As he continued to idly stroke Shippo's soft, baby fur he tried to take his mind off of what could be happening and instead focused on what was in front of him.
"I've never seen a barrier so pretty before" and he had seen many throughout his years. Large, small, weak strong. All held the same colors or slight variations, but never a mixture. Shippo sniffed on his shoulder and he felt the kit nod in agreement.
"Y-yeah. Mama is pretty so it makes sense that her barriers are too."
Hajime couldn't find it in himself to fight that logic, so he just nodded, staying silent as they both watched the swirling colors clash. The peace didn't last long however, soon they could both see flashes of pink light that illuminated the sky brighter than the moon. The flashes of pink came from his kami's new shrine and Hajime forced himself to stay seated, even as his brows furrowed in worry. He felt Shippo begin to squirm anew but gave the kit a firm pat on the bottom, making him whine but still.
They both continued to watch, the moon lazily running across the sky. Eventually, the light show stopped, and Hajime stood and stepped out of the hut. He picked Shippo off his shoulder and brought him level with his face, giving the kit a reassuring smile. "Okay, now we can go."
Shippo didn't argue as Hajime gently placed him back on his shoulder and ran towards the direction of the shrine.
TBTW
Rin hummed to herself as she wandered around the grand shrine that sat in the middle of the castle. The polished stone under her feet was cold as the bite of winter grew stronger, the air crisp even in the building. She didn't bother lighting the hearth, she was only going to stay for a few minutes to make sure Kagome-sama had fresh flowers. She didn't know when they would be back, but she wanted to make sure the shrine at least had something for the kami to admire. With each flower that she placed, she muttered a prayer under her breath, her heartwarming at the thought of helping her beloved mother figure in such a way.
"Where'd you even get those flowers anyways?" Rin glanced back at her guard, her chocolate brown eyes crinkling as she smiled. The ground outside had already hardened and become bare from the first snow that had fallen on the castle, and there were still many more to come.
She hummed under her breath at his confusion and gave him a sly smile. "Flowers grow in other places than here."
Her guard grumbled but remained silent as he followed Rin around shrine. Once she was sure every room and floor had flowers, she turned back to her guard and gave him a warm smile. He was dressed in the uniform of her grandmother's soldiers, all black and billowing fabric. The only splash of color came from a small magenta moon that was sewn over his heart, identifying his allegiance to the house of the moon. His black hair was drawn up high in a tight ponytail, the messy bangs billowing over his blue eyes and resting on sharp cheekbones. He scowled at her when he noticed her staring and folded his arms across his chest.
"Keh!"
Rin stifled a giggle behind her hand and drew her many layered kimono closer to herself so she could descend the stairs safely.
"Don't be a spoil sport, Inuyasha!" She chimed behind her, using her mother's odd phrasing, and giggling more when she heard Inuyasha's indignant sputtering.
"Oi! Don't call me that here!"
Rin's eyes danced in mirth as she glanced behind her, her hand on the front door. "Then act more 'guardly' Rokkaku, I could have you on cleaning duty for the rest of your life you know!" She didn't wait for the disguised Inuyasha to answer before she flung open the door and walked ahead. She peeked back at him and watched him visibly struggle to hold back his comments. Now she knew why Kagome had always riled him up, it was just too much fun.
She felt Inuyasha fall into step behind her and she tilted her head to the side, wondering at the silence that clung to the usually active castle grounds. She was about to speak but a soft 'hush' from Inuyasha made her pause. He took a step towards her, head tilted high and nostrils flaring. From this close she could appreciate the work of her grandmother's favorite kitsune. Inuyasha looked every bit the demon he should have been born as. Well, besides his very different face. Where the silver haired inu's face was sharp and wild, his disguise as Rokkaku was aristocratic and soft. She found that it didn't suit him nearly as well.
"It's too quiet," he muttered under his breath, hand falling to the katana at his hip. It wasn't Tessaiga, but Inuyasha was still a skilled swordsman. Rin looked around, her brown eyes straining to see anything out of place. Just as the silence became suffocating, life seemed to be breathed back into the land. Birds chirped off in the distance and the pitter patter of demons mulling about resumed. She glanced back up to her guard and found that he hadn't relaxed, his frown harsh on his face.
"What the fuck was that?" He was muttering to himself but let her shoulder go, startling Rin that she hadn't even noticed when he had placed his hand there.
"Let's go find Lady Inukimi," he dragged her towards a set of doors before Rin found her footing and led them to where she knew her grandmother would be. She walked on autopilot, her mind far off and wondering when Inuyasha had decided to give the elder demoness such respect.
A sharp rapt against the door made her jump out of her thoughts, Inukimi's permission to enter sounding not long after. They swept in and Rin opened her mouth but was once again cut off by Inuyasha.
"Barrier" he muttered under his breath, it was so low that even Rin had to strain to hear him and she was right beside him. A white haired kitsune at the end of a bookshelf snapped his fingers and Rin's ears popped. The ice fox's head bowed towards Inukimi and she hummed her appreciation.
"You may speak freely now."
And Inuyasha sure didn't waste any time.
"Some freaky ass shit just happened in the courtyard," he glanced around as if he expected it to happen again. His mouth twitched in a frown as he paced around the room, his eyes constantly roving over the window.
"Oh?" Her grandmother's voice held no inflection but after being with her for so long, Rin knew what her curiosity looked like.
"Was too quiet," Inuyasha spun to look the woman in the eyes, his hackles raised. "Something was there, watching, but I don't know what. Then it just fucked off." He grumbled the last part and Rin furrowed her brow. She had felt uneasy, but it didn't feel like they were being watched per say. She folded her legs down to sit at the low table, watching as her grandmother leaned back on the plush chair behind the desk. The room was silent besides the tapping of claws against wood and Inuyasha's continued pacing.
"Where did this occur exactly?"
"We were leaving the shrine, grandmother." Rin bowed her head to the demoness and continued. "I didn't notice anything wrong until Inuyasha said something, it felt…" she hesitated briefly. "Uneasy. As if time had just stopped around us."
Inuyasha was nodding his head, his eyes glaring into the floor as he rested his knuckles under his chin. "Yeah, yeah that's exactly what it felt like." He lifted his icy blue eyes towards her and furrowed his brows before snapping his gaze back to the demoness, a sharp exhale leaving him.
"The clouds weren't movin" he nodded to himself in confirmation, regaining his confidence.
The room was silent as they processed that, and Rin was hopelessly unaware of anything that could do such a thing. An uncharacteristic sigh left her grandmother and Rin nearly gaped at the change in her demeanor. The demoness was pinching the bridge of her nose, her fine silver hair nearly obscuring her face from view.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her, his black pony tail cascading towards his left shoulder in a sea of black as he tilted his head to study Inukimi. "You know something."
Rin clenched his hands around the edges of her kimono as she watched Inuyasha and her grandmother stare each other down. To her surprise, Inukimi nodded, cutting off Inuyasha before he could say anything.
"A suspicion, but not enough to go off of. For now just keep an eye on things."
Inuyasha watched her a while longer, almost as if he wouldn't let the topic go before he stiffly nodded and turned back towards her. Rin scrambled up at the dismissal her grandmother gave her, bowed, and swiftly left the room, not missing how Inuyasha walked just a little bit closer than before.
TBTW
A mocking laugh left torn, bloodied lips as the woman joyfully jumped from boulder to boulder. Long black hair streamed behind her as she flew through the air, the screaming wails of tortured souls her audience as she performed. Bare feet covered in dirt and grime bent gracefully as they carried the weight of the deranged woman who had a wild smile on her face.
"So, so perfect." A giggle burst from her lips as she descended lower and lower into the underworld. "So much to use, so much blood to shed!"
Sharp, silver eyes cut through frightened souls as they helplessly ran from her grasp. Agonized faces flinched at the sight of her and she clenched her fists in anger. She was beautiful, they had no right to look at her that way! She backhanded the closest spirit next to her, its crying fail soothing her heart as she watched it wither on the ground and disappear.
Frightened murmurs echoed around her and no one dared to approach. Opened wounds and scares of torture lined them all, their eyes hollow and cheeks sunken as they prayed for a death that wouldn't come. As eons passed, she had watched more and more souls cram inside, their bodies piling high until they recovered enough to move and drag themselves away.
"Here, here little bellflower!" She called out, her voice cracking from disuse. Silver eyes gazed around lazily, passing over the hundreds of souls that littered the plane. She moved forward once more, her once impeccable white dress black from blood and her own tears. The fabric was crusted and stiff as she moved, scraping against her sharply.
"My belllfoowweerrr," she sang out, her vicious smile turning cold as she jumped from pile to pile. The bodies under her feet crunched and she delighted in the snapping of their bones. She crouched down at the latest mound, ripping her claws into the closest body and savoring his cry of pair before she let him slide off her arm with a squelch. She reached forward with both hands, clawing at faces and ripping limbs from torsos as she searched. Blood splattered against her face as she hummed, to the crescendo of their wails.
Her feet had sunk into the bodies up to her ankle, the slippery organs under her heel doing nothing to upset her balance. Screaming faces flashed by her vision but she paid them no mind, only tearing them from her sight as she looked for her prize. Oh how lucky she was, how fortunate that she had a card to play.
Mirth bubbled from her lips once more as she thought of her perfect plan. It was finally time, all the pawn were in place. All she had to do was make her move and watch the show unfold. They thought themselves clever, but no mortal spells could cloud her sight.
She had nearly screamed in delight as she watched Inuyasha fall into place. He had been the only outlier, but they played right into her hands.
"Belllflowweerr!" She called again, becoming more vicious as she tore through the bodies. Their blood was cold, and it offered her no relief, but she enjoyed the pain she was able to inflict upon them.
"Oh there you are my little flower, why didn't you come for me when I called?" She cooed at the frightened face that stared up at her, brown eyes wavering as they met silver.
"Now, now Kikyo, did you really think this was it for you?"
Brown eyes widened in horror and the doll like woman froze, her wounds from her torture still open. "N-no!" Kikyo's voice was small, nothing like it had been in life.
"Oh my child, you can't honestly say no to me right? You, a priestess who serves the kami? Would you deny me?" Black hair cascaded around her as she leaned closer to the still body of the miko, her sharp teeth biting through her own lip in her glee. Her black blood spilled down onto Kikyo's face and the woman flinched back, her eyes squeezing shut.
'Its not real its not real itsnotrealitsnotrealitsnot-'
She tilted her head back and laughed, her chest filling with delight as she dragged her bellflower up and cut off her thoughts. "Oh my bellflower, I am very much real." She enjoyed watching the woman's shocked expression as horror dawned on her. That this was in fact her reality.
"P-please. No, no more. I can't do this again!"
Sharp claws curled around Kikyo's face as she smiled down at her. She trailed her gaze lower and hummed at the sight of bone white ribs peeking through her bare chest. "My my, what a cruel punishment you've endured. Don't you think it's time for a break?"
Kikyo shook her head, a violent cough quaking though her even as she denied wanting to be released from torture. "No…I rather lay here and repent."
Kikyo watched as a smile bloomed across the bloodied face of the woman, a wild glint to her eyes.
"But you don't have a choice dear, if I demand, you must obey." The deranged woman dragged her up and forced Kiyo to look her in the eye, their noses brushing. A sharp gasp left the miko as her broken bones scraped across her sensitive flesh.
"You know me, you will obey."
Tears threatened to fall from Kikyo's brown eyes as she let out a shuddering breath. Even if she wanted to, there was no way she could deny the kami in front of her. No matter how far from grace she had fallen. With a whimper she nodded her head, "yes." The words burned coming out, and it had nothing to do with her torn throat.
The woman's eyes widened in glee, and she forced their foreheads together, her silver eyes boring into Kikyo. "Yes who?"
Kikyo squeezed her eyes shut, tears cold as they trailed down her cheeks.
"Yes, Izanami."
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Sorry this took longer than I intended. School is kicking butts and I was sooooo stuck on how I wanted to continue the story. I think I got it now…I think.
Still no beta sorry for hiccups.
Thanks for reading and please review!
