The Bride Chapter 1

The Sengoku Jidai was a period marked by social upheaval, political intrigue, and near-constant military conflict. Battles between warlords commonplace. Every daimyo was looking for a way to get the upper hand, by whatever means possible. This often included the use of demons, mercenaries, monks, and just about anyone that could lift a weapon. But perhaps the most sought after being was the miko. Capable of fighting but also of healing. Of winning wars by armistice or force if necessary.

The year Kagome was born the most powerful miko was Midoriko. Midoriko refused to work for any particular daimyo, instead always fighting for the greater good. She had helped many villages free themselves from merciless Lords, stopped many wars from even occurring, and trained multiple young women to follow in her example. While she was still powerful, she was growing old.

The year Kagome turned ten the title of most powerful miko belonged to Tsukiyomi. Trained by Midriko she was a gifted miko, but also a powerful Samurai. She distinguished herself from her mentor by hunting and exterminating rogue demons alongside her duties. She fought in many wars, oftentimes the deciding factor. In the end, it was love that would be her undoing. In order to save the man she loved, she used up all of her powers and in turn, gave up her life.

The year Kagome turned fifteen there were two powerful miko that shared the title, Kikyo and Tsubaki. Both were trained by the same master and both dangerous in their own right. There was always a "friendly" rivalry between the two, but Tsubaki grew to resent Kikyo. Wanting to be the most valued miko she set out to curse the young Kikyo; should Kikyo fall in love she would die a most violent death. Kikyo, being of tremendous power, while unable to stop the curse completely was able to turn a portion of the curse back against Tsubaki. This curse gravely injured Tsubaki, and in order to remain among the living, she made a pact with a demon. Having become a half-demon, she traded the title of miko for kuro miko. As for Kikyo, she fell in love with a half-demon. Because of this love when a daimyo asked her to destroy all the demons in his domain she refused. Kikyo was beheaded for treason.

Of course, at fifteen, Kagome knew none of this. And that is how her parents would like to keep it. But had Kagome known of it she would have found it all rather perplexing. Kagome was aware of her spiritual powers but didn't care much for them. So why should she care if she were the most powerful miko in the world? What difference did it make if she were the third? Or even the sixth? (Kagome was barely in the top twenty and that was primarily based on her potential. Kagome did little to hone her skills. She hated mediation, she thought praying was a bore, and fighting was for heathens. The way she saw it, the more powerful one was the more others would seek to use them.) Instead, Kagome enjoyed playing outside, studying, learning how to shoot her bow, playing with her cat, and irritating the new help her father had hired for the farm.

Having a brother and now a farmhand Kagome wasn't expected to help with the farm but it was something she found joy in. She woke up early every morning to tend to the animals. Kagome had developed a bond with all of them, from the cute baby chicks that played in the flowers to the intelligent swine that lounged in the mud. She took her time with each one: feeding them, grooming them, and showering them with affection. She knew each animal had its purpose and they all deserved to be treated with love.

Kagome had always felt a little guilty because more than any other farm animal she loved the cat. Buyo was the cat that her father had intended to keep as a barn cat. Instead what he got was a cat that Kagome continued to sneak into the house, feed table scraps, and cuddle with. These actions turned what was supposed to be a mighty hunter into a fat furball that was good for nothing more than being loved, lazing about the house, and acting as a distraction so Kagome could procrastinate her reiryoku training. The mice population went unchecked and Kagome's love for the cat was the only reason her father kept it around.

The farmhand was new to the area. Where he had come from and how he had come to work for her father, Kagome did not know. What she did know, however, was that he was very different from anyone that Kagome had met before, both in looks and attitude. He appeared to be a boy of fifteen, with long silver hair, a bright red robe, and most peculiar yet were the little dog ears atop his head. Yet his appearance didn't bother Kagome, there was something about being around him that was calming and warm. (This was before Kagome had learned of auras and feeling the auras of others.) His attitude, however, was the most jarring thing about him, especially when juxtaposed to the calm he radiated. He was gruff, if not rude. But he was a hard worker, so his attitude didn't seem to bother her father and as such, she refused to let it bother her. More so, she liked to poke at him, because getting a reaction out of him was far easier than getting him to converse.

Should Kagome try to converse with him, his only response was "Keh."

At first, Kagome tried to learn about the new half-demon. She asked him questions and offered to help him with his daily tasks. Initially, he ignored her. But if she was anything, Kagome was persistent so she continued with her daily barrage of questions.

"Where are you from?"

"Do you have a family?"

"Why do you always wear that when it's hot?"

He continued to ignore her, only occasionally grunting or "kehing" in her direction. That was until the third day when he snapped. Quite literally, he snapped his fangs at her and in a low growl he finally responded with words.

"I don't need help, especially that of a weak human such as yourself!"

From then on Kagome would just watch the half-demon while she played with the animals. A glance here, a stare there. When he caught her staring his ears would lower and he would growl. It startled her at first, but it also made her more curious. This very action also brought her attention to his ears. They were very reactive to his surroundings. If anything nearby moved, his ears would follow the sound. The half-demon didn't even have to turn his head.

She took to test out the extent of this, she'd call for him from different distances to see just how he would react. If she were close enough his ears wouldn't even twitch. But at a farther distance, they would move. And if she was particularly far, he would turn his whole head. She could tell these little games she played annoyed him and often time if he wasn't growling at her he was yelling at her, "Damn it, woman, CUT IT OUT!" He always responded to her though, even if it was just an ear twitch. She initially felt a little contrition but deep down Kagome felt the half-demon needed interaction with more than just animals. She had noticed the way he would occasionally get lost in his own thoughts while staring off in the distance when he thought no one was looking. He always looked a little lonely when that happened. She didn't much like the look and decided that she should try to reach out to him again.

"Here." She held a rice ball out to him. "I made it myself."
He barely even acknowledged her.
She tried not to look offended as she continued to hold the offering to him.
"Can't we be a little friendlier? Please?"
"You make me wretch." He didn't even take the food she had offered when he stormed off.

Kagome was hurt by his words, but she kept trying. She took to leaving him something to eat by his hut. The dishes were always returned to the same spot, clean. She figured he at least had consistent meals. Kagome also made it a point to speak a little more lovingly and louder when playing with the animals, just so he might overhear something nice. He seemed so off-put when she was nice to him, she figured he just wasn't used to it.

Kagome's mother had also grown rather fond of the boy as time passed and had even convinced her husband to write the boy into his will.

"He should get an acre of land." Kagome's mother would often declare. (The half-demon lived in a small shack by the animals he tended to, and according to Kagome's little brother, he didn't have much in there. Sota had told Kagome that all he ever saw in there was a sword.)

When asked by Kagome's father why she cared for the boy, her mother would always respond, "He's worked hard, and hard work along with loyalty should be rewarded." Oftentimes to avoid starting a fight with his wife over the farmhand Kagome's father would turn his attention to Kagome.

"Lady Kaede said your mind was not on training today."
"It was, it was!" She argued.
"Not well enough," he continued, "You still can't heal small wounds."
"No, but I can purify water once poisoned." Kagome tried to explain to her father.
"You've been able to do that for a while now Kagome," Her mother would join in, "No daimyo will want a wife that can do so little."

"Daimyo this, daimyo that," Kagome exploded, "I do not care for daimyos or what they want. Buyo loves me, and that is sufficient, thank you." Kagome had given this speech many times at dinner to her parents. And it would continue to happen. But whether she liked it or not, things were beginning to change.