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Chapter 10: Repair and Progress
It had been several hours since Saya had hugged Inuyasha. Hours. The image wouldn't leave her alone. It was like a broken record: constantly repeating the scene over and over in her mind. It was mortifying. Her blush had yet to vanish. Haru glanced back to give her a wicked grin, wiggling his eyebrows. He obviously smelt her embarrassment and decided to torment her about it. Her attempts to stop him with a glare went unheeded—the blush splashed across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose completely defeated the purpose. He faced forward as the group began to slow. His shoulders shook with quiet laughter all the while. She made a mental note to kick his ass for it later.
She refocused her attention from her wayward thoughts when Inuyasha stopped as the group reached the peak of the hill. The hanyou had decided to return to Kaede's village before he would go to Totosai and have the old geezer—his words, not hers—fix his sword. The hanyou also announced that the group could use this time to do whatever it was they needed to before they set out again for their journey.
With the main source of his amusement—Inuyasha—gone, Haru decided to return to his tribe for a while. Once the two males had departed and everyone deposited their belongings in Kaede's hut, Hiyori requested for Saya to follow her into the woods for another training session. Saya turned to grab Yue. The young kit jumped away to sit beside Hiro, her tails swishing through the air contently and what appeared to be a foxy grin upon her face.
Confused by the sudden burst of energy the pup was displaying, Saya stood and placed her hands on her hips. The white fox mewled happily in response. Shaking her head, Saya took off after the light miko while the two animals remained behind. The duo continued deeper into the woods until they reached the Goshinboku. Hiyori sat at its roots without saying a word; Saya shrugged and joined her teacher. After a minute or two of silence passing between them, Saya glanced over to see Hiyori's eyes closed in meditation. She quickly followed her mentor's example.
The two were quiet for a while during their impromptu meditation exercise before Hiyori finally spoke. "I believe your spiritual training will begin sooner than expected. You need only to pass a test I give you before we progress with your training. Are you ready?"
Saya stared at Hiyori utterly confused. "Huh?" Her confusion rose exponentially when Hiyori lifted her hand—that was now covered in a glowing energy ball.
Inuyasha stared across the top of the volcanic mountain at the corpse in which Totosai resided. He quickly crossed the hot surface to the sword maker's abode. Looking around, Inuyasha found the old demon asleep. Waking him was simple: a knock on the head and then the two were conversing. Totosai, however, was more crying than talking.
"You fool!" His tears dripped onto the hot floor, causing small puffs of steam to rise. "My poor sword! What did you do to my poor Tessaiga?!"
"Just fix the damn thing!"
"Why should I? You obviously don't care about your father's heirloom. My poor Tessaiga…You are so unloved and uncared for by this brute." The old man began to cry once again.
The silver haired hanyou could no longer take the old man's blubbering any longer and hit him over the head.
"As I was saying," the old man said while rubbing his now throbbing, lumpy noggin, "I can fix the sword. It will take me three days and three nights, but I can do it." He paused to give a side glance to the hanyou. "Open your mouth for me, Inuyasha."
Confused, he obeyed. "Like this?"
"Perfect." In the blink of an eye, Totosai grabbed a pair of pliers and yanked out a fang from Inuyasha's open mouth. The dog demon yowled in pain. "Oh, stop your bellyaching! It'll grow back in half a day."
"Why'd ya do that, ya old geezer?!"
"I needed something to bond the sword pieces together. Hm, a little small, but I guess it'll have to do."
Inuyasha growled. "I'll be back in three nights."
"What for?"
"For my sword!"
"Oh right!"
Totosai watched as Inuyasha left his workshop quietly fuming about annoying, incompetent old men. Glancing back at the pieces of the sword and the fang in his hand, the old demon sighed. He had his work cut out for him. He just hoped that things would work out for the hanyou. His life was bound to get increasingly more difficult now.
"Is he gone?"
"Yeah, he just left."
Myoga jumped out of his hiding place and onto Totosai's shoulder to examine the broken sword. "This does not bode well."
"You're tellin' me! It's gonna be a pain to try and get these pieces to stick together with this small of a fang!"
"That is not what I am talking about! Inuyasha's demon side has now awakened full force! This could be disastrous! I will return later. I must talk to the group about this new development."
The sword maker nodded, and the flea demon took off, bouncing after the hanyou's quickly retreating form. Totosai sighed as he looked back at the work ahead of him. It was going to be a really long three days…
A loud screech reached the ears of those resting in Kaede's hut. Miroku and Sango instantly became on high alert.
"That sounded like Saya-chan."
Miroku nodded and stood, grabbing his staff. The two were about to exit the hut when Kaede's voice stopped them.
"It's all right. She is not in trouble. Hiyori is simply testing her to see if she can progress into the next part of her training."
The two glanced worriedly at each other when another shriek filled the air.
"Perhaps we should go and check, just to be sure?"
The old woman shook her head. "It will cause her to fail her test. She will be fine. Hiyori will not allow anything to hurt her."
When another loud shout sounded through the air, the two seriously doubted Kaede's faith in the other miko.
Saya let out another shriek as she played "dodge the fatal objects" again with Hiyori. The stakes seemed to be higher this time, however. The light miko seemed to be actually trying to hit her. This meant that Saya had to continuously keep her guard up and use all her reflexes to make it out of this so-called test with her life and limbs still intact. It was ridiculous!
Saya hid behind a large boulder to catch her breath for a moment. Sweat was dripping down her face, making it exceedingly difficult for her to see clearly. She was sweating in places she didn't think was possible! It was disgusting to say the least.
Saya slowly leaned over the edge of her hiding place to see where her attacker was. Her eyes widened, and she dove from the rock before it exploded into pieces. As she continuously kept up with her dodging, sliding, and rolling all around the place to avoid the attacks headed her way, Saya vaguely wondered when the end of this morbid version of a test would arrive.
Inuyasha arrived back at the hut to find Sango and Miroku standing, weapons in hand. Kaede stood a short distance away. He was about to ask them what the hell their problem was when he heard it: a very loud, very Saya shriek coming from the forest. He turned skeptical eyes toward the others when they remained where they stood. (To their credit, they appeared tenser and glanced between each other and out the door quite often.) He made to leave the hut but was stopped when Kaede spoke up.
"You need not fear, Inuyasha. Saya is merely taking her test so she can progress onto the next step of her training. Hiyori will not harm her."
A loud explosion accompanied Saya's shout this time around.
"Bullshit, she won't!" He attempted to leave but was stopped by a barrier blocking the door. He looked back at the miko incredulously.
"Forgive me, Inuyasha, but you would not listen any other way. Please, just sit and wait with everyone else. We are all expectant of the results of this test."
He grumbled but nodded. Kaede released her hold on the hanyou and retreated to her mat. The hanyou sat next to Miroku while rubbing his wrist and simply hoped that nothing happened. Kagome would kill him if something did…
Saya gasped for breath behind the nearest tree. This woman was insane! She tells Saya that she has to undergo a test, but instead of telling her what she needs to do to pass said test, she just begins throwing things at her. Saya had to flee for her life! She was seriously beginning to get tired of this whole "dodge the fatal object" thing that was going on. Saya figured that if she didn't do something soon, she would become far too tired to even keep dodging. Making up her mind quickly, Saya glanced around to find something she could use as a weapon. Why didn't she think to grab her bow and arrows?! That's right, because she thought this would be just a regular training exercise. Silly her… She made a mental note to bring them with her from then on.
Saya found a large branch that she could use as a club or staff if needed. It would have to do. She made a beeline straight for the wooden weapon, grabbed it in passing, and ducked behind another large boulder. Now, that the first problem had been solved, next came the more difficult one: Figuring out how to get over to Hiyori without being blown to kingdom come, and manage to at least pin her down. (Hopefully, that would put an end to this insane training session…)
A glance around her hiding place proved what she figured was true: Hiyori was headed directly for her once again; her hands glowing in preparation for releasing another large energy blast at her. Deciding to rely only on her instincts and hoping they wouldn't fail her, Saya climbed up the rock and took a flying leap onto her teacher. Hiyori looked up, surprised, before responding with a ball of energy before her as a buffer between the two. Saya landed on top of Hiyori, the winding getting knocked out of her, but she still scrambled to regain her footing before the other miko. She pointed the branch at her teacher's throat.
The two were silent for a few moments, save from them trying to regulate their breathing, before Hiyori began to quietly chuckle. "You win. Congratulations, Saya. You have passed this test. You will begin training your spiritual powers tonight." After a short pause, Hiyori added with a smile, "It seems that you have great potential. You seem to be able to channel your power through whatever means necessary. Take a closer look at that branch in your hand."
Saya kept a close eye on her teacher but spared a glance in the branch's direction before blinking in surprise. The impromptu weapon was surrounded by a pale light that was fading between a purple-pink and periwinkle. She was so surprised about it that she dropped her guard enough to allow Hiyori to stand. In the next second, Saya grunted as her back collided with the ground.
"Just because the battle was deemed over, does not mean you should lower your guard," the light miko spoke with amusement as she began the return trip to the village. Saya remained on the ground for a few moments longer before she slowly stood and followed Hiyori.
When the two mikos returned to the hut, they were instantly bombarded by everyone rushing to check to see if Saya was all right. She assured them that aside from the bumps, bruises, and sore muscles, she was fine. Miroku and Sango told her that they were all worried about her; they had heard her screams and shouts from the hut. Saya's face colored slightly upon hearing the news.
For a while after, everyone seemed less willing to allow Saya to be alone with Hiyori—even Inuyasha was less willing. She didn't blame them, though she was quite shocked about Inuyasha. Hiyori requested an audience with Saya when the sun was beginning its trek down the lower half of the sky. Miroku was the first to oppose. When Hiyori stated that under no circumstance could there be a male present, Sango volunteered to venture out with the mikos. Hiyori shrugged before stopping Saya from retrieving her bow and arrows.
"There will no need for those in what we are doing."
"That's what I thought last time," Saya muttered.
Hiyori smiled. "There will be no physical activity with this training session. There really is no reason to bring them." With a grumble, Saya consented, and the group entered the woods.
"So, what is the purpose of coming into these woods so late? And why can no males be present?"
"Simple. I am going to have Saya do some meditating, and the place will require her to change into something fitting for a miko's meditation—unless she does not mind walking around in sopping wet clothes through the woods when the weather is beginning to chill the night air."
Saya's face fell. "I think I'll have to pass on that…"
"I had a feeling you would say that," Hiyori replied with amusement.
The trio arrived at their destination not long after. It was a beautiful setting. A waterfall fell gently into a small pooling before the water flowed on into a small stream. The pooling appeared to be deep. Directly beneath the waterfall was a large, flat rock. Saya assumed that would be where she would be meditating. That could prove to be mildly troublesome. Saya's attention was redirected from the setting toward her teacher.
"This is where you will come to train every night until we depart for our travels once again. You will meditate under the falls. The water has a purifying quality to it, and it will assist you in your attempt to draw out and harness your spiritual powers."
"Question," Saya said raising her hand. "Don't I already have that ability? You know, with the whole sacred arrows bit and all?"
"You can only tap into a small fraction of your powers, and when you do, you are almost completely unaware of doing so. With the completion of this training, you will be able to realize you are using your powers, become familiar with them, and expand your potential beyond your wildest dreams."
"Okay. So, how does one go about 'drawing out and harnessing' their spiritual powers?"
"Shed your clothes, change into these robes, and I will join you in your first attempt. Sango, if you could kindly stand guard?"
"Gladly." The demon slayer turned on her heel and walked several paces away from the waterfall before standing at attention; Kirara resided upon her shoulder to assist in the endeavor.
Saya slowly peeled away her jeans and tee shirt from her body after toeing off her tennis shoes and socks. Accepting the offered articles of clothing, Saya changed into the thin, white miko robes and felt exceedingly uncomfortable. Hiyori stood by her side not long after.
"Shall we?"
Releasing a shaky breath, Saya nodded and took a step into the water. She had to bite back her yelp; the water was freezing! There was no better way to become one with your body when everything began to grow numb, she thought with a bite of cynicism in her mind. The two slowly made their way to the rock beneath the pouring water. Once finally situated so they would not fall off, Hiyori minutely turned her head in Saya's direction.
"In order to draw out and harness your powers, you must first know how they feel. For every miko, it is different. Mine, for example, feels warm and bright—like it's made of sunshine—and yet it flows through me like a river. Yours will likely not feel the same way to you. Your task today is to try and discover what your powers feel like to you. Understood?"
Saya nodded before closing her eyes and concentrating. As she focused her thoughts and attention inward, she attempted to shut off all connections to the outside world full of distractions. It only mildly worked. She was still aware of the waterfall beating down upon her body, as well as Hiyori's presence next to her. In her mind's eye, everything was black—like she was in a void of some kind. She couldn't see anything. Couldn't feel anything. It was just pure nothingness. The longer she closed her eyes, the further into the blackness she fell.
The light miko peeked at Saya from the corner of her eye. Something was wrong. Opening both eyes and turning her full attention on her student, she realized with alarm that Saya was shaking, a frown upon her lips and brows creased in emotion. This was not good. Reaching her hand out, Hiyori attempted to touch her quaking student, only to realize in shock that she was unable. There was a barrier of sorts around her body, trapping her within her own mind. This was not good at all.
Saya felt herself falling. While she knew she couldn't actually be falling—her body was on a rock for crying out loud!—she still felt the sensation all the same. She still couldn't see or sense anything. The only thing available to her senses was the sensation of the freefall. She was not comfortable with that fact. She attempted to open her eyes, to pull herself out, but she found herself unable to do so. The hell? She found herself beginning to lose hope of stopping herself from experiencing whatever was happening until she felt something warm in her chest suddenly erupt. Slowly, a calming, pale blue light made itself known to her mind's eye. Her consciousness reached out to it, attempting to cling onto it for dear life.
She slowly became aware of the sensation of grass moving beneath her back and arms beneath her own. Saya slowly opened her eyes with a groan. The sight that awaited her was Sango's and Hiyori's faces washing over with relief as they stared into her now opened eyes.
"Are you okay?"
Saya nodded her head. "I think so." Taking her time, Saya lifted herself into a seated position. "What happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us. You closed your eyes to begin your training, but after a while you began to tremble. We tried to wake you, or at least open your eyes, but you weren't responding. Then something on your chest began to glow. Hiyori brought you out of the water and onto dry land. By the time you reached this spot, the glowing stopped, and then you opened your eyes. So, what happened?"
Saya shook her head. "I really don't know. I tried to follow what Hiyori told me to do, but all I could see and feel was a black void. I had tried to open my eyes myself but couldn't. It wasn't until I was losing hope of ever coming out of whatever it was that was happening, that I felt something warm in my chest and then I saw a light. I just reached for it, and the next thing I knew, you both were leaning over me."
Hiyori was silent for a moment as her brows furrowed in thought before her eyes rested on something on Saya's chest. "You are still wearing the fragments?"
It was now Saya's turn to furrow her brows in confusion. "Of course. Momma told me to never take them off."
"Do you possess anything else on your person?"
"Just a necklace a friend of mine gave me at graduation."
Hiyori was silent for a moment before she stood. "We are done training for the day. We will resume tomorrow evening. Next time, remove the shards from your person; you will continue to wear those robes for your training until stated otherwise."
"What about the necklace from my friend? Should I remove that too, or am I okay to continue to wear it?" she asked with a roll of her eyes.
"May I see it?"
Carefully removing it from beneath the white cloth, Saya held the pendant up for the light miko to inspect. She stepped back after a moment of careful examination.
"You will most certainly keep that pendant on. It is what brought you out of whatever was happening a while ago."
"It did?"
"Yes. It is a charm for protection. Whoever gave that to you did their research. It is very well crafted and possesses great amounts of spiritual power and should be able to protect you from most non-physical attacks. Consider yourself lucky." She finished with a smile before turning around and walking away. "Change back into your clothes and return to the village. I will be back before you are to begin your training tomorrow. There is something I must attend to."
Saya was silent for a moment before looking at Sango. "Was it me, or did something seem a little…off…about what she said?"
Sango shook her head. "You are not the only one. I noticed it too. There seemed to be some hidden emotion or an ulterior motive behind what she was saying."
"What should we do?"
"Nothing for now. If something happens, I'll be here with you."
Saya smiled. "Thank you, Sango-chan."
The demon slayer returned the smile. "You are welcome, Saya-chan."
Sorry for the incredibly long wait, everyone! I've had a lot going on in my life for the past few months and just got some time to finish this chapter. As always, please let me know what you think.