Chapter 47: The Mannequin Host
"I'll help you." Mrs. Hitori tells them in hesitance. The rest of the group have no idea on how to react to that response. "Are you sure about this? You told us that there was an accident with the mannequin." Kagome asks her first before anyone else. Mrs. Hitori nods her head. "The last time, the spirit wasn't strong enough to withstand the spell I casted upon to make it stay in the device. But if Kikyo is able to pull it off, we should be able to make it work for the trial." She assures the girl. "What was the spell?" Inuyasha asks her this time. Mrs. Hitori heads into the back to pull out something from one of the shelves. "It's this spell I used." She hands over an old book to Kagome after turning the page from where the spell is on. Kagome reads the instructions while everyone else look over her shoulder to see it too.
"These ingredients are based on DNA samples." Kagome states to her as she hands the book back to Mrs. Hitori. "Exactly. The last time the spirit was an ancestor of mine and I though that my DNA would be able to work. But there wasn't enough of it to do it. That's why the spirit wasn't strong enough because I was the only descendent." Mrs. Hitori explains the process of the spell's purpose.
That's when it hit Kagome on the head mentally. "So, we just need to give a piece of our DNA to make it work for Kikyo." She smiles as she plucks out a few strains of her raven black hair. Ai and Miyuki decide to do the same thing and gave them to Mrs. Hitori. "I'll get onto this right now." Mrs. Hitori smiles and begins her task. Everyone but Kaede are so thrilled about this upcoming project. Kagome turns to see her with a sad look. "What's the matter, Kaede?" Kagome asks her. Miyuki turns to catch the look.
"I'm not a blood relative to Kikyo. I cannot give a piece of my DNA to help out." Kaede tells Kagome. Miyuki comes to her. "Kaede, I know how much you want to help out with this. But remember this, we're family. Rather through blood of marriage. It doesn't matter." Miyuki wisely tells her stepdaughter. All Kaede does is nod. So enough, the family of Kikyo handed of a piece of their DNA to Mrs. Hitori to do the task. With nothing else to do, the family decide to head on home.
Later that evening, Kaede is in her bedroom focusing on something else instead of her so called homework. A knock on her opened door gets her head out of her head. "Kaede." Kaede sees it's her mother with a concerned look. "Oh, hi." Kaede responds back as she closes her one textbook. Miyuki sits on the foot of her daughter's bed. "Still can't get over the fact about not being a blood relative to me?" The mother asks her. Kaede nods as she pulls her knees to her chin to rest upon on. "I just wish there was a way to help out with Mrs. Hitori's project." She spoke with uncertainty in her voice.
Miyuki can tell how much Kaede really wants to help. "If I had the answer, I'd give it to you but I don't. Maybe you can find somewhere else. And hopefully soon." Miyuki advises her. But then something crossed Kaede's mind. "What do you mean soon?" She asks her stepmother. Miyuki smiles gently, "Mrs. Hiroti told us that she has to take time to perfect the protect for it to work in our favor. Maybe you could use that time to find the answer that you were looking for." She takes a hold of Kaede's shoulder in a comforting way. "I'll try." That was all Kaede could say back to her. Miyuki can tell that Kaede needs time to herself and leaves the room.
Back in Mrs. Hitori's store, the woman is mixing the necessary ingredients that she used the last time she used for the mannequin. But this time, she has enough supply of DNA to make sure that the mannequin can turn itself in Kikyo. "Ok, so far, so good." Mrs. Hitori smiles. She then puts the locket around the mannequin's neck. Before she can pour the contents onto the mannequin, Mrs. Hitori dips her finger into the bowl. "I can upon the soul that I permit to occupy the mannequin." She chants clearly. The bowl pulsates a few times. Then a light emerges from the bowl and begins to takes form
The form turns into Kikyo. "Hello, Kikyo." Mrs. Hitori greets the soul kindly. Kikyo turns to see a familiar face. "Hello, Mrs. Hitori." Kikyo smiles back. "So what can I do to help out?" Kikyo asks right away.
Mrs. Hitori smiles, "I want you to help your family out in court for your death." She explains as she positions her hand to the mannequin. Kikyo comes to the mannequin and observes it carefully. "I see. How does it work?" She sounds intrigued. "Well, I have to gather your family's DNA to make sure you don't fade away whenever you in the item." Mrs. Hitori explains to her as she shows the bowl with the hair of her mother, aunt, and cousin. "These are to make sure you can in the item for the appointed time." Mrs. Hitori keeps talking about the plan to Kikyo. "What about Kaede? Does her DNA count for the task?" Kikyo asks her this time. Mrs. Hitori shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but Kaede's DNA doesn't have a match to your own. I was hoping that maybe you could help her out somehow so that she doesn't feel left out." Mrs Hitori gives her idea out.
Kikyo understands where this is going. "Sure, I'll go to her tonight. I might know something to communicate with her. I'll be right back" Kikyo turns to Mrs. Hitori and winks and fades away. Mrs. Hitori knows that Kikyo needs to get Kaede's information so that it'll work in their favor. "I'll make sure that this will not fail." She comments and begins her task.
