Writing Prompt:
The roles between a witch and their familiar are reversed. Instead of an animal being the witch's familiar, it's the witch that's the animal's familiar. Write about the first time a young witch is chosen as a familiar.
A/N: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters, this prompt was found on Tumblr and I do not own the idea. This has no connection to my Witch and the Demon story.
Kagome had been practicing her craft for nearly 4 years with very little success. The traditional techniques her tutor was trying to teach her just didn't seem to be working. Her cousin Kikyou was a natural. She could easily manage all the spells and incantations. Kagome could feel the power, but it didn't seem to be working. She could imagine the magic and see the end result in her head when she closed her eyes, but when she opened them, nothing. She was so frustrated. Kikyou had already surpassed her and although her dear cousin and friend had tried to help her; she was starting to think that she would never learn.
She sat outside under the night sky, staring at the stars. The deep, inky sky was dotted with thousands of tiny lights. Twinkling behind the clouds and almost resembling fireflies in a dark field. She could almost imagine floating among them, letting the darkness surround her and feeling the cool night air. She could smell the sweet breeze carrying the scent of the blossoms and trees that surrounded their little makeshift home. When her parents had died, and she lost everything, she thought she would never be happy again. But her teacher and caregiver Kaede said she could tell she had power in her, even at such a young age. She's lived here since she was around 8 years old, and Kikyou was taken in for training when she was around 13. Kagome had still been too young, but Kaede had promised that soon she would learn the craft. Now here she was, 19 winters old, and she felt like she knew nothing. She could feel the power as Kaede had taught her to seek it, and it was thrumming inside her, but she felt like when she reached in to grasp it, it wasn't accessible.
She let out a huff and decided a walk in the forest surrounding their home would be just the thing to help her clear her mind. She was supposed to be asleep, but who could sleep when things like this were happening? Kaede was asleep on her futon, and Kikyou was asleep on her own. Kagome's futon remained empty and cold as she walked through the forest, staying close enough to stay safe, but going far enough so she could feel alone and free. As she reached her favorite spot she sat on a smooth rock next to a creek. It bubbled softly over the stones, and she could barely hear the small waterfall that was down a little ways. Bugs buzzed happily near her and she swatted one mosquito who was too close to her ear. As she sat there trying so hard to grasp her powers within her to get them to manifest, she heard a soft chuckle behind her.
Inuyasha had been prowling in the forest for some game to make a decent supper, when he smelled something new. As he approached cautiously, he saw a woman. Her power was strong. Stronger than he had ever seen before, but he could clearly see that someone had used a binding spell to keep it in check. He followed her to a small stream where she sat alone in the dark. The stupid witch didn't even have a weapon to protect herself. He felt a chuckle reverberate in his chest. And she spun towards him at the sound, but he was hidden in the darkness. She must've been either very brave or very stupid. It was time to see which.
"And what are you doing out here by yourself? Seems like a dangerous idea. Don't ya think?"
She glanced around and tried to pinpoint the voice. But there was no one there. She knew she had heard him; the voice was deep and masculine. She could feel someone watching her, and as she reached out to check her surroundings, she saw him. In the darkness, his power burned bright red. Like fresh cherries on the branch. She was facing him head on, though she knew she couldn't see his face. She would not be intimidated by a demon. She lived here. She had every right to travel in these woods.
"I, sir, happen to live near here. What, may I ask, are you doing? Seeking enjoyment in sneaking up on unsuspecting maidens?"
He smiled at the cocky bravado. She had the potential to be very powerful. Once she could overcome the binding spell. Even with her powers locked away he could see them, and that was rare. Most times if powers were bound you wouldn't be noticeable to those with the ability to see them. Hers were still bright and vibrant. Most powerful creatures wouldn't even be able to tell the difference.
"Sneak up? Why no, Maiden. I wouldn't dare do that. I was just surprised that such a young witch would be in the forest at night. Don't you know there are bears in these woods?"
She glanced around but didn't seem nervous by his statement. "Bears are not to be feared when you have made friends with them. All of the animals in this forest know me. I have lived most of my life here, and we do not harm each other."
She had lived here most of her life, but he had never known of her existence? That seemed odd. Although he didn't come this close to the humans often, he still ran his perimeter checks to ensure his forest was safe. She had to be lying, but he couldn't smell any lies on her. She seemed to at least believe what she was saying. He would have to look into this matter.
But she was unafraid of him, and that intrigued him. He stepped forward, and she took in his appearance while keeping a neutral mask on her face, but her scent belied her interest and excitement. Who was this witch?
Kagome stood and stared as the God stepped out of the shadows and stood tall. His soft silver hair that flowed in the wind, and the precious dog ears atop his head. The perfect sharp jawline and strong cheekbones. He was a God among men, and he was standing in the woods in the dark with her. She couldn't help the thoughts she was having. It wasn't like she had encountered many men in the last decade living with Kaede. If she did, it was only when they went to market to buy the few things they couldn't get themselves. This man looked amazing. Luckily, after years of practicing her meditation, she was able to school her features into a calm stance and not give her dirty thoughts away. She kept her eyes on his face mostly, only giving a cursory glance to his body. He was lean, and even through his baggy clothes his aura let off a strong power and she found herself entranced.
He, on the other hand, was bewildered. She was looking at him, and not frightened. He even could smell traces of arousal in her scent. He needed to get her out of the forest before any of the other demons residing in his territory took notice of her.
"You say you've lived here most of your life, I don't think that's possible as this is my forest. I would definitely have noticed you before this. So why not tell me where you're really from and what you're doing here?"
She glanced around, trying to make sure she hadn't stepped into a portal, but no, she knew where she was. She made this trip every day. She meditated on this rock at least an hour every single day. Mind you, Kaede always walked her here and came back to get her, but she was always here.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have come to this creek every day for the past 10 years. I live here. Perhaps it is you who is lost."
He felt himself growl, irritated at her lies, but she still smelled like she was telling the truth. As he took another sniff, he realized she also smelled like fucking heaven.
"I definitely know where I am, witch. This is my territory, and you are trespassing. Now give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you where you stand."
She almost flinched, but she managed to hold her ground. She had been trained to protect herself. Sure, the spells had never worked, but she knew how to do it. She would just have to make them work. If he tried to hurt her, she would put up a barrier or something. Definitely something.
"What right do you have to kill me? Have I broken some law or stolen something that belongs to you? You do not own the forest. I have every right to live here. You do not frighten me."
He smelled her nervousness, but she was still telling the truth. The Bitch wasn't even afraid of him. He would definitely teach her to respect him. He flexed his hand, revealing his long claws, and prepared to leap at her.
"You will learn that being afraid of me would've been a wiser choice, Bitch!"
Her eyes went wide at the word and her mouth was running before she could think to be afraid, "My name is Kagome! Ka-Go-Me! You will stop insulting me, or you will learn to fear me!"
He stopped for a second, completely dumbfounded. She just stood up to him when he was about to attack her. No one had ever dared to do such a thing. This girl had spunk. And he liked it.
"So witch, how long have you been training?" He could see her getting irritated by his refusal to use her name, but she didn't lash out again. Instead, she stared him down and kept her mouth shut.
"I asked you a question, witch."
Her eyes never left his, but still she said nothing.
Fine, then he would teach her to fear him in a different way. "Keh, you probably aren't strong enough to do anything, anyway. Especially with that binding on you. I bet you can't even light a candle."
He watched as his words registered, and the neutral expression fell for a second. She gaped, then he saw a fire erupt in her eyes and she was well and truly angry. But she was gorgeous when she was angry.
"How dare you! You don't even know me! Do not assume to know what I can and cannot do!"
She started stomping towards him and he prepared for a fight, but instead she stormed past him and he felt himself a little bummed that she hadn't tried to fight him. He wanted to see what she was capable of while her powers were bound. He would just have to push her a little farther.
He leapt into the trees and raced ahead of her. He landed in right in front of her and she almost fell over, but she managed to catch herself. If he didn't know any better, he would think that she could sense his presence and pinpoint his location. But there was no way with her powers being bound. She brushed past him again, this time ramming her elbow against him. Oh, this was going to be fun. He leapt into the trees again, and instead of dropping straight down this time, he jumped in from the side to startle her.
She sidestepped him easily. She could see him. Her powers were bound, but she could still sense him. It should have been impossible. He ran ahead of her one last time to test it, and he waited along the side of her path. When she got close he tried to grab her, but she did an interesting little turn to avoid his hand and bounced away. He was floored! She was going to be an amazing witch once her powers were unbound. It was at that moment he made up his mind. He was going to stay with her. This was going to be the most fun he'd had in a century.
He continued to follow her, until he bumped into an invisible wall, and her scent vanished. A barrier. Inside his territory. This is why he didn't know she existed. If he hadn't been on her trail, he wouldn't have been walking in the direction. Even as he stood there, he could feel it compelling him to turn away. So this explained everything. She had placed a barrier around her home, and it masked it, even to him. It was probably placed by the same person who bound her powers. What were they hiding her from? Or who?
Kagome was furious as she stomped back to their little hut. The nerve of that demon, well half demon. He had no right to judge her the way he did. It wasn't like she had been judgemental, as she was sure almost anyone else would have been. She knew what it was like to be an outcast. She would never treat anyone else like one. But he had been so rude. And what was the big idea of acting like he owned the entire forest? She was allowed to live here. After all, Kaede had been living here for decades. She noticed his aura stopped a ways before the clearing and she stopped, staring towards it, waiting to see if he was playing another trick. She wouldn't let him goad her like that. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
After a moment of waiting, he didn't catch up, and she figured he was tired of playing and gave up, so she went and sat by their little garden to relax again. Obviously, her meditation had been rudely interrupted. She could feel him sitting there. He was in the woods but wasn't moving. Why was he sitting there like that? Why didn't he keep following her?
"Ugh! Why do I even care! He was rude, and-and vulgar, and just plain mean!"
It seemed like several minutes passed before she felt his aura moving. But it wasn't moving away or closer, he was moving sideways. She tried to focus her powers in meditation, but his aura moving in the forest was distracting her. After what seemed like an eternity but was probably about half an hour, his aura began moving away and left her range. She sat there for several hours trying to focus, but her mind wouldn't stay where it needed to be. She finally felt herself begin to doze off and went inside to sleep for a few hours before dawn.
She still woke up before Kikyou and Kaede and went to fetch the morning water from the well and started breakfast. They lived in the forest and had basic foods; they had a nice garden and plenty of rice stored away so she made a rice pudding, and steamed a few vegetables over the fire, she also sliced a few pieces of fruit and brewed some tea. She knew they would wake up as soon as the smells began to fill the small house.
As she poured three mugs of tea and began plating the food, she heard them begin to wake up. She sat at the table and waited for her teacher and friend to join her, sipping her hot tea patiently. The ladies rinsed their faces in a washbasin and sat down at the table to join her. She was debating on mentioning the demon, but Kaede had barely sat down when her eyes went to the door.
"Kagome, where did you go? Did you leave the house last night?"
She looked so puzzled. Had she accidentally awoken her teacher?
"I went to the stream to meditate for a while. But I was trying to be quiet. Did I wake you up? I'm sorry, I was having trouble sleeping last night."
Kaede stared at her hard. "Did you see someone?"
Kagome felt her eyes go wide, then her head dropped. She must have done something wrong, but she had gone to that stream a thousand times, she didn't see the harm. She nodded softly, but kept her head down.
"Did they follow you?"
Kagome looked up and back towards the door. She could feel his aura, but it wasn't close. It was the same distance that it was last night. He hadn't come any closer. It was exactly the same place he had stopped last night. Which seemed weird. Like he couldn't come any closer.
Her eyes went to Kaede's and she could see her teacher was worried. "He came to see me at the stream, I had never met him before, but he didn't seem to do any harm. He followed me part of the way home, but I ignored him and he gave up. He never came any closer than he is now, though."
Kaede shook her head, "That is because he cannot get past the barrier, but it will probably mean he will not be going away. Did you tell him about us?"
Kagome shook her head. She didn't think she had; she told him she lived in the forest most of her life, but she didn't think she had mentioned anyone else. "I don't think I did. I told him I lived here most of my life, but I made no mention of anyone else living here."
Kaede sighed, she would have to go talk to the demon. Perhaps he would be understanding, though with the stories of the Hanyou who ruled this forest he was not patient, nor did he tend to be forgiving. She stood up, and her bones creaked. Kagome ran over to her to help her up.
"Kaede, I will go talk to him again, I will make no mention of you or Kikyou, and tell him I live alone here in a hut I found. I will make him listen. Please do not go out there."
Kaede just shook her head, "Child, ye cannot even harness the most basic of spells, yet you have power. You will be no match for the beast. Nay, I will go and if I need assistance it will be Kikyou who will aid me most. You will just be a liability, as ye have already shown. Kikyou, please come with me but ye must stop before the edge of the barrier, and stay hidden. I do not want him to see ye, unless it becomes necessary."
They both left her there. She felt terrible and didn't know what else to do. After a few minutes, she began to cry silently to herself. Kaede had been trying to teach her for years, but it had never worked. She was a liability. She made up her mind then and went to gather the few possessions she treasured. Her mother's favorite book, and her father's necklace charm. She packed a small satchel and walked the opposite way of her teacher and cousin. She would leave. It was better for all of them.
Inuyasha was waiting at the edge of the barrier where the witch had disappeared the previous night. He figured she used the stream for fresh water and would see him when she came to collect some. What he wasn't expecting was the gnarled old woman who appeared.
"Hello Inuyasha. I know ye do not know me, but tales of your power and history have reached my ears many times in my lifetime. I am Kaede."
"Keh, o'course you've heard of me. Apparently, you been living in my forest without my permission. Now where's the witch I met last night. I have a proposition for her."
Kaede looked him up and down. He was definitely the hanyou of legend, and if he decided to fight her, he would win.
"Kagome is a young child, and you have no reason to speak to her. I told her to stay home where she will remain safe. Now, what do ye want, Inuyasha?"
"Keh, I will not talk over the proposition with someone who is not the witch I want. I have no reason to talk to you. Now, she will have to come out sometime, and I will just wait. I guarantee I'll outlive you, ya ol' bat!"
Kaede heard Kikyou gasp in outrage behind her. Unfortunately, Inuyasha heard her too.
"So, you did come out here. Well, if you'll come talk to me, then I have a proposition for ya. I think it'll help ya."
Kaede turned towards her and nodded, and Kikyou walked out of the brush and foliage. She stood tall and strong. She was every bit a strong witch, and she would play the role as such.
"You're not the bitch who I met last night! Dammit, how many of you are there? Fuck, who cares? If the other witch will accept my proposition I will let all of ya stay here so long as you remain inside yer barrier. I don't want other demons thinking I've gone soft or some shit. Now where is she?"
Kaede stared at him hard for a moment, then she felt a pull. Her head swivelled back towards the hut. She could feel Kagome leaving the barrier! Why would she do such a foolish thing? She looked to Inuyasha and tried not to show any emotion.
"I will speak with Kagome, and see if she is interested, but she did not want to come out to see you. You, however, cannot get inside the barrier and so you cannot stop us from living here. I do not see what you truly plan on doing. Now, do you want to tell me the proposition, or shall we give up now?"
Inuyasha looked mad, very mad. Then his head lifted up. He could feel her aura, meaning she was out in the forest. The barrier no longer protected her. He flashed a fang in a smirk and stared down at the old hag.
"I'd much rather make the proposal to her myself, thanks. Now, I'll see ya later. Hopefully she will accept, or else I will make sure you leave. You won't have a choice."
He took off faster than they could ever hope to keep up and was soon halfway around the barrier. Her scent was getting closer, and it seemed off. Tears? What the hell happened to the feisty woman he'd met last night? He stopped when he got close and she had stopped moving and was looking in his direction, even though she couldn't see him through the foliage.
"Have you come to kill me?" Her voice wavered. But it wasn't fear. It was something else, almost acceptance. She was carrying a small rucksack and seemed like she was planning on traveling far.
"Keh, not quite. If I wanted ya dead, ya'd be dead. Now, I was talking to the old crone and told her I had a proposition for ya. Are ya willing to hear me out?"
She shrugged but stayed put. He was a little bit wary of her completely changed demeanor. What had happened? She had been so full of fire and life, now she seemed empty and vacant.
"Huh, I guess you're too weak. Nevermind. You'll never be able to handle it obviously." He had hoped to rile her up more, but she just stared at him a minute before nodding and turning back the way she'd been going.
She took a few steps and then she turned back around, "Are you going to hurt them?"
He smiled smugly, "Well yeah. They're in my territory. I have to make them leave or kill them. Especially since you're not powerful enough to barter for their lives."
Her eyes went wide, "What do I need to do?" Her words came out in a rush. She apparently cared about them. She didn't even seem to care what he was going to ask of her.
"So, you've got a lot of power, but you can't use it. I think you should become my familiar and I'll help you unlock it."
Her eyes went from concerned to puzzled to almost disheartened. Her voice came out in a whisper. "I'm not powerful enough to unlock it. I can feel them there, but they seem out of reach."
"Keh, that's because someone put a binding on ya. We'd have to figure out how to remove it. It's a strong one, after all. Stronger than I've ever encountered before."
At the word binding the disheartened look vanished to be replaced with confusion, "what do you mean binding?"
"Keh, you really don't know? Hell. I thought the other witch would've seen it. Someone bound your powers so you couldn't access them, but you're so powerful that they are basically spilling out over the binding and that's the little bit you can access. Now if you remove the binding and get access to all of your powers, you'd be a witch worthy of being my familiar."
"If I can't break the binding but still try, will you let them live and stay here?"
He thought it over, "No. You will break the binding within the next year, or they have to leave. I won't kill them, but I won't let them stay. If you break the binding within a year, you can stay. Deal? Or you can turn me down and you all have to leave or die today."
Her mind was reeling. Her powers were strong, and there, but she couldn't access them. She could save and protect the only family she'd known, but it might not work at all. But at least if she agreed, he wouldn't kill them.
"I don't have all day! Are ya gonna agree or not?"
Her head came back up, and he was happy to see the fire in her eyes again. "Yes, I will agree. I have one year and you're going to help me break the binding. In the meantime, you will let my family live here safely and if I break the binding, they get to stay safely in the forest. If after the year is up, and I am still bound, then we will all leave your forest. Will that end our deal, if I fail?"
He shook his head, "No. Once you're my familiar, it doesn't go away that easily. You are going to have to stay with me. So, you'd better break the binding. Or else I'll hafta kill ya. I will not be bound to a weakling. Understand?"
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Yes, I understand. I have one more question, please."
"Damn, you act like this is something you've never heard of before. Have you not been training in that little hut for your entire life?"
"I have, but I could never get the basics down, apparently this is why, so I was never taught anything this advanced. I don't know what a familiar really is. What would that do?"
She didn't even know what a familiar was? Damn, he had a lot to teach her. Hopefully she was a fast study or she wouldn't be able to get this done in a year.
"As my familiar, once you have your powers you will be my partner. In the meantime, I would guard and protect you. I would help you study and train and do whatever you needed until you come into your powers. Once you do reach your full potential, you would do the same for me. It would become a more mutual relationship. Helping each other. I have guarded this forest for the last century alone, so you would move in with me and help me keep out the riff raff. Like your old lady kept a barrier up you'll learn to do the same thing, but it will be around all of my territory."
She nodded, "How do we seal this bargain? Do we have to exchange blood rites?'
He just shook his head, "No, we will perform a ritual. The full moon is next week. That will help power our spell. Meet me at the stream from last night on the full moon and we will activate our binding. If you would like to work on learning before then we can still do that. But if you change your mind, and don't show up on the full moon, I will hunt you down and skin you alive. I will not be crossed. Understand?"
She nodded. "I will not back out of the deal. I want to help protect them. Plus, I want to free myself of this spell on me. I need to be able to access my powers and if you can help with that, then I will accept it. Please, when can we start?"
He smirked. This was going to be a fun adventure.