Maiden of the Sword
Ch. 4
"Sesshoumaru, you were out with Kagome for some time last night," Inutaisho mentioned, none too innocently.
The prince groaned inwardly. He had been hoping to avoid his father at least until he had breakfast. Unfortunately for him, Inutaisho had stationed himself right outside their hut, waiting for his son to emerge. Sesshoumaru sneered at the older man momentarily before biting in an apple left by one of the priestesses.
"I do not like your inference to anything other than loathing between us. Trouble seems to follow that girl and when it doesn't, she invites it," Sesshoumaru grumbled.
His attention was called to said girl, bright and cheery, despite the frown on Kaede's face as she approached her. Kagome ignored the woman, running toward the two dog demons with seemingly boundless energy.
"Kagome, you are not to leave the grounds anymore today. The ritual will begin immediately," Kaede announced.
"Alright, Prince. Let's go!" Kagome exclaimed with a wiry grin.
"Kagome, did you not hear me? You are to remain here!"
Kagome turned to Kaede, "I know, I know, but Sesshoumaru and I have something to take care of and it will only take a moment!"
She turned back to Sesshoumaru with her hand on her hip, "Well? Are you ready?"
Inutaisho held a thin smile, "Why is she asking for you?"
Sesshoumaru tossed the apple core on the ground.
"It will come as no surprise to hear that she," Sesshoumaru said, narrowing his eyes at Kagome, "completely wasted my time and my day, battling a dragon to protect some kitsune village."
Kagome heard his explanation and grinned widely, "We did more than protect; we beat that bullying bastard!"
"We?" Inutaisho picked up amused. He'd never known Sesshoumaru to get involved in matters outside the Western court. The prince didn't get his hands dirty for nothing.
Sesshoumaru ignored his father's inquiry and turned his attention to the priestess before him, "I never agreed to assist you."
A haughty laugh escaped Kagome's lips, "Well, of course you will. You helped make the mess in their village; it's only right that you help clean up. They don't teach that skill to royalty?"
Sesshoumaru was seething, 'How dare she? Stupid, insolent little brat.'
Kagome tapped her own chin in mock contemplation, "Of course, no one would teach you this with all those servants around. What a shame, to come out of your blissful bubble, worthless with little to no real-life skills."
Her eyes slanted to Sesshoumaru's tauntingly.
"I demand your respect, girl. You're playing with fire," Sesshoumaru warned dangerously.
Kagome rolled her eyes, "Oh right. I'm supposed to hold you in high reverence. Why? Because you're older, because you're a full-demon, because you're some handsome prince? I don't care about any of that stuff. You want my respect? Come help me."
"You're supposed to respect me because I could snap that neck of yours. Even your puny brain can comprehend that, can't you half-breed?"
Sesshoumaru smirked when he saw Kagome's cheeks puff up again at the insult, shifting away from her cool demeanor.
Inutaisho chuckled, watching the yipping pups go at one another. He could have stepped in, but it was too enjoyable to stop. He particularly enjoyed seeing the angry flush on his son's normally impassive face as he traded verbal jabs. This was new to Sesshoumaru and a far cry from the treatment he was usually given by females vying for his attention. Finally, Kagome threw her hands up in defeat, a personal victory for Sesshoumaru.
"Whatever, don't help. I don't need you around me anyway. I swear I've gotten dumber even entertaining you."
Sesshoumaru didn't miss a beat, "That isn't true. There's no way you could ever be dumber than you already are."
"Kagome, I don't know of your outside foolishness, but this task takes priority over all. Wherever you must go will come later. Understood?" Kaede chastised. Kagome sighed, her dog eyes drooping.
"Yes Kaede," Kagome growled at Sesshoumaru, stomping away.
"I think she likes you," Inutaisho answered cheerfully once they were alone again.
Sesshoumaru regarded the man as if he'd grown another head, "She hurled nothing but insults at me."
"Not true. She called you handsome."
Sesshoumaru was rendered speechless, but scowled picking up another apple. He watched Kaede corral the other women to her hut where Monk Iruka waited outside. The ladies lined up single filed. Iruka led them to a grassy space, more lush than the land surrounding them.
"Kaede and I have purified this spot. It is to be the sacred ground in which I bestow upon one of you my power, my greatest gift. However, to be worthy of the land, we must first purify your heart, cleanse it of malice and impurity. A dirty heart is a bad heart. Come, sit."
The five sat in a circle, Iruka at the center. His hands began to glow white. With this warm light emitting from his body, Iruka went to each woman, touching their shoulders. When touched, each woman glowed a blue, differing in shades with dark black spots. Kagome's body volted and she grinned.
"I've never felt this way before! I can't quite explain it, but it's like getting a hug from the inside."
Botan smiled at her, "Yeah, that's how I feel too!"
Hitomiko looked over the other girls and turned to Iruka, "Your aura is white. Why are we glowing different shades of blue and black?"
"The color represents the darkness within you. If one of you has the purity and power, the color with change to white. Only then can you possess the power of the Tsugara blade." Monk Iruka explained.
He sat in the middle of their circle, watching each girl carefully. "Prepare yourselves."
The monk began to speak lowly and that warm feeling the women felt was replaced with a searing pain. They collapsed to the ground, shaking.
Their ragged cries drew Inutaisho's attention to the clearing, "What is he doing?"
A shockwave of purifying energy bolted toward the two demons and Kaede lifted barrier with a grunt, "It's their test. The Tsugara blade is made from evil. If the wielder has even a tiny bit of evil within, she could be exploited. Iruka is drawing the evil out. If the woman is not destined for this, she will be repelled from the space."
Sesshoumaru leaned forward. The energy was intense, pricking at his skin even through Kaede's barrier. He picked up Iruka's words as the monk began to speak.
"Born of two worlds, heart for redemption, mind of destruction, wielder of chaos or peace come forth."
Kagome couldn't even make out the rest of his words over her own screams melding with the other priestesses; the pain was unbearable, suffocating even. From the corner of her eye, she saw Botan and Momiji lift.
'How can they be so light? My body feels like lead from my legs to my damn lungs.' Kagome thought.
The sisters' wails began more frantic and with a gust of energy, they were shot from the scared area. Momiji landed unceremoniously with Botan crashing on top of her. Botan rolled off her, panting. Momiji pulled her aching body up.
"We were the first out! That was a hoax; we aren't evil!" Botan yelled at the monk.
Monk Iruka cut his eyes toward the girls, "You may not be evil, but you two are not chosen."
Kikyo began to lift.
"No," she hissed, digging her fingers in the dirt, "Damnit, no."
"Resisting does you no good. You are not chosen." Iruka commented.
She was flung out, leaving only Kagome and Hitomiko. Iruka poured even more power into the remaining women. Kagome shrieked and writhed, scratching at the ground while Hitomiko convulsed, seemingly catatonic. The blue light coming from Kagome brightened and expanded with a cackle, electrifying the air. Inutaisho sniffed the air.
"Something's different. I feel Kagome's demonic energy now."
Monk Iruka felt it too, standing up. He took a cautious step back, surrounding himself in a barrier, but it wasn't enough. Kagome held her sides in a feeble attempt to hold back her energy. She and Hitomiko lifted, enveloped in Iruka and Kagome's force clashing. With a pulse of energy, both girls and Iruka were flung from their spots. Kaede dropped her barrier and wobbled to them. Inutaisho ran ahead with his son following behind. Inutaisho lifted the monk. He coughed roughly and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Hitomiko, Kagome are ye alright?" Kaede wheezed, arriving at the scene.
Hitomiko waved haggardly, creeping over to her mentor, "I'm here Kaede. Where is Kagome?"
Inutaisho jumped over to where he'd seen Kagome fly. She lied in a tangled mess of broken branches and dirt.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Inutaisho asked.
Kagome groaned in response, "I'll be honest, Lord Inutaisho. I've been better."
Inutaisho chuckled a bit and pushed the discarded branches off her body. Kagome's body still felt heavy. She stood just to topple over again. Inutaisho pulled Kagome into his arms.
"I can walk," Kagome protested weakly, but didn't fight him.
"Sure you can."
Inutaisho brought the girl back to the clearing. The others watched her awestruck. Inutaisho placed Kagome on the soft grass.
"Congratulations, Kagome," he said with a soft smile.
"For what?" Kagome asked puzzled.
Monk Iruka smiled, "Look at your hands. You have been deemed worthy, young one."
Kagome's eyes fell to her hands, amazed by the pure white light emanating from it. "What, me? This can't be right."
"I actually agree with Kagome for once. How could she be worthier than Hitomiko?" Kikyo shot out, "She has demon blood in her veins. She should have been cast out before any of us."
Iruka pulled Kagome to her feet, "Rest assured, I have made no mistake."
The monk eyed Kikyo with almost a look of pity, "Also Priestess Kikyo, you should be aware. Kagome's demon heritage has no bearing on her soul's purity. The two are irrelevant for just as there are pure demons, there are wicked humans."
Kagome shook her head, breathing heavily.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she murmured to herself.
Hitomiko stepped up, standing in front of the hanyou. Kagome looked up at her. She didn't speak, but her face with animated in fear and anxiety. Hitomiko drew the younger woman in a hug.
"I can't do this Hitomiko. It was supposed to be you!" Kagome cried.
Hitomiko smiled softly, "No, it wasn't. You were chosen for a reason Kagome. You will leave the shrine and become the hero I know you can be. It is your destiny and a great honor that has been bestowed to you."
Kagome pushed away. This was too much. She just couldn't do what they were asking of her. Kagome did what she knew best. She ran.
"Sesshoumaru, go after her. Perhaps she will travel to where she stopped yesterday," Inutaisho instructed.
"I will not go running every time she gets emotional," Sesshoumaru grumbled, regretting following her the first time. Damn his curiosity. He folded his arms, ignoring the nagging in his chest to follow again.
Kaede sighed, "No it's fine. Kagome needs to sort her mind. In the mean-time, Monk Iruka and I shall prepare for her departure. I'm sure she will be back soon enough."
Kagome ran until she could no longer ignore the burning in her legs. She all but collapsed against a large tree trunk, leaning and uprooted from a bad storm. Kagome slid against the trunk, staring up at the sky.
"Why would I be the one of all people?" Kagome wondered aloud, "I hardly pay attention in my studying and now I'm supposed to be this thing's protector, wielder or something? I didn't even listen to what I'm supposed to do with the stupid sword!"
"Kagome?" Shippo called out.
The hanyou looked over to see the boy bouncing toward her.
"I thought you and that another dog demon were coming to the village today."
"I'm sorry, Shippo. I wanted to, but we had our ritual and…I have been chosen I guess. I have to leave tonight."
Shippo's spirit sank, "You're leaving so soon? When do you come back?"
Kagome fumbled over the words, "I don't know. I don't know if I could ever return."
Shippo slumped beside her.
"I'll miss you," he said softly.
Kagome smiled, "I'll miss you too, but hey, if I come back, you'll be one of the first people I'll visit."
That seemed to make the kit smile a little.
"Well, whatever you have to do outside the shrine, I know you'll be great. You're the best!"
Kagome hugged him. She wished she believed in herself the way Shippo believed in her. She stood, a little more confident.
"Thanks Shippo. I needed to hear that today."
When Kagome arrived back at the shrine, it was already evening. Kaede had finished cooking, but had left a bowl of soup out for her on the porch of her hut. Kagome wasn't very hungry. Her insides were doing somersaults, but she ate the soup hastily, just trying to fill herself up with something other than anxiety.
"Welcome back, Kagome and congratulations," Kaede said warmly. She sat on Kagome's porch.
"Kaede, I can't do this. I'm not cut out for this!" Kagome said softly, sitting next to the older woman.
"Ye have been chosen, Kagome. This is your fate."
Kagome scuffed the ground lightly, kicking up dust. She shut her eyes, shaking her head vigorously.
"It shouldn't be me. Hitomiko is kinder than I am and she knows way more about this kind of thing. Monk Iruka should have chosen her, not me. I'm not anyone's hero…"
Kaede patted the girl's shoulder, "What makes a hero?"
Kagome cocked her head, opening her eyes, "Are you asking me?"
Kaede guided Kagome to the porch of her hut and Kaede handed her a knapsack filled for her journey. "A moment makes a hero. The moment when a person can falter or fight and you always fight, Kagome."
Kagome chuckled, "I don't know if that was actually a compliment, but I'll take it."
Kaede smiled, "Iruka didn't make a mistake."
Kagome smiled back before an array of light drew her attention away. She stood, peering out at the distance. Lanterns danced against the blackness of night and they were approaching the clearing. The priestesses ran into position, alert to the intruders when Kagome recognized Shippo leading the group. Kagome ran out to greet him.
"Shippo, what's all this?"
Shippo jumped in Kagome's arms, "I'm glad we came before you left. I told my dad that you had to leave and he wanted to give you a good sendoff. Me and a couple others ran out to the other nearby villages you helped to see if they wanted to say goodbye, and the crowd got pretty big!"
"Maybe this role of protector won't be so hard after all, Kagome," Kaede said, walking up to them.
Shippo grinned, "What do you think?"
Kagome held the kit tighter. Her eyes were hidden by her bangs, but Shippo saw the trickle of a tear slide down her face and then another. Shippo wiped her cheek, worried.
"Why are you crying, Kagome? Are you sad?"
Kagome laughed shakily before it improved, "No. You made me really happy Shippo. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Some villagers had brought small instruments, others food and small gifts. They crowded the little shrine singing and dancing before the young maiden. Kagome danced with the small children by lantern lights, laughing with giddiness. The other priestesses were quick to join. In a world of exorcisms and mediation, a night of joviality was a rarity. From the corner of her eye, Kagome noticed Sesshoumaru standing off by himself, watching her. She pulled herself away from the fun, walking to his side.
"You're not going to enjoy the party? Even you dad is out there."
"I'm enjoying myself here just fine." Sesshoumaru said, not looking at her.
"Oh live a little Grumpy," Kagome teased, tugging at his tail.
Sesshoumaru staggered back, growling to hide his embarrassment at being caught off guard.
"Your tail of surprisingly soft," Kagome admitted. She had the strangest urge to grab it again.
"You stay where you are or leave entirely and I'll thank you to keep your claws off my person!"
Kagome shook her head. To think such an innocent action could have that response. She ignored him, enjoying the silence between them for a moment. Sesshoumaru continued to watch her. There was no way she was going to get that close and familiar with him again. The music died down and as Inutaisho approached with Ah Un by the reins, Kagome knew it would soon be time to depart.
"I guess we'll be seeing more of one another, Prince," Kagome stated, starting the conversation again.
"Hopefully not much more. You're more my father's responsibility than mine," Sesshoumaru retorted.
Kagome gave a dry laugh, "There you go pushing your duty off on someone else. Your father doesn't have such a sense of entitlement. What's wrong with you?"
Sesshoumaru growled. Kagome covered her laugh with her mouth and Inutaisho walked up. He handed Sesshoumaru his dragon's reins. Kagome bowed to the Lord.
"Thank you for accompanying me on my travels, Lord Inutaisho. I'm glad I won't have to do this on my own."
"Think nothing of it, Kagome. This will be a pleasure I'm sure," Inutaisho smiled.
Kagome returned his smile, "Well I better get my belongings, I don't want to keep us."
Even after Kagome had let, Sesshoumaru's eyes were slits from how hard he was glaring.
"What is it, Sesshoumaru?"
"It is her," he ground out.
"Kagome?" Inutaisho asked in mock confusion.
Sesshoumaru sent a similar glare toward his father, "I will not be able to travel with her for any length of time."
"What's wrong with Kagome?"
"She is arrogant, unrestrained, loud, clumsy-"
"She is also kind, strong, dedicated…pretty." Inutaisho gave his son a knowing glance.
"She's plain at best," Sesshoumaru bit out. "Why are you looking at me like that? She is just a woman, nothing compared to others I've met."
"If she were just a woman, you wouldn't be speaking of her even now or so riled up by her."
"That means nothing. She is horrid."
Inutaisho's eyes gleamed in a way that infuriated Sesshoumaru even more, "Yes, of course, Sesshoumaru. Just horrid. Come along, let's not prolong your travels with the horrid woman any more than we must."