How Will I Know
Disclaimer: I'm going to try to stop beginning the chapters with 'Kagome walked' or InuYasha bounded' or something along those lines. Also, I don't own InuYasha, but I own this storyline. If you're going to use something off of it, ask me first. I'll usually say 'yeah, ok, you can use that' unless it's something like 'Can I use chapter 1? Can I use chapter 2?' Nah, Just pieces of the chapter. And, please, for copyright infringement's sake, ask!
Chapter 12: Enter: Ekonika!
The sun began its decline toward the west, its rays sparkling over the landscape. Kagome continued along the path, having killed two more demons. She was getting out of forested area as the path began to wind through hills and rocks. There was a pass about twenty feet wide, but well covered. There was a ledge on one side and a large jagged boulder on the other. Kagome walked towards it cautiously; it felt like something was on the ledge. It didn't help when she thought she saw something glimmer. As soon as she saw the sparkle, however, a large demonic aura rapidly approached from behind her. She gasped as she sensed something else too.
"A jewel shard…"
The grey pony was lying on the ledge watching over the path. (A/n: I mean grey like white with black skin, like horsemen call it) Her ears twitched when she caught the sound of footsteps coming along the path. An aura like the one she felt earlier, the pure one, came along. It was softer, though, as if it just radiated from this being. As the being came into sight, the pony was watching for a priestess of some sort, or a demon crossed over. When Kagome finally came into sight, she was surprised.
The pony turned her head swiftly, fluffing her sparkling mane. A dark aura was approaching, much faster than she was sure the girl could run. It would be a shame to have one so pure pass away right in front of me. Especially when it seems like… I don't know, it seems like I'm familiar with her.
The pony stood, and watched as the girl turned her head towards the aura. She heard her whisper about the jewel shard, and was amazed. Now it would be a real shame; she can sense evil and jewel shards. Only one other person I know could do that… Her thoughts were cut short as she heard the creaking of a bow. The same powerful energy filled the air as when the demon was blown up. Is she a reincarnation?
As the demon passed over a hill, the pony saw it was probably too fast for human eyes to track. She leaped from the ledge, and as she flew through the air to the front of the girl, she transformed. Out of her head sprouted a fine white horn and her coat became more like armor. Her hooves shimmered now, being made of diamonds. Her mane flowed powerfully around her withers and her entire body grew to be taller than Kagome. Her shoulder was barely taller than Kagome's head, and as she stood on the defensive, she was a sight to behold.
The white horse demon lifted her head, parrying an attack from the cheetah demon's rider. It stopped both swords she was using, and flung them off to the side. The rider managed to maintain the weapons in her possession. The horse spun to face another attack, and charged to carry the battle away from the girl.
Kagome looked down the path and saw nothing, but the shard came steadily closer, faster than Koga. She pulled out her bow, loading it and aiming it at a point next to the jewel shard, or in the general area. Suddenly, a movement caught her attention from the corner of her eye. A large white horse landed in front of her, although she could have just sworn it was no bigger than a pony when it leaped. A metallic ringing sound reached her ears and the horse swirled away, chasing after an invisible demon.
Down the road about 50 feet, the horse stopped and began fighting the demon. Now she was able to see it; a large slim cat being ridden by a demon woman, hanging onto the cat with just her legs. As she watched, scratches appeared on both demons, and the horse got a particularly good gouge on her shoulder from one of the demon rider's blades. The horse suddenly shied away and took off running, causing her shoulder to bleed, running down her leg. She raced alongside the cat, challenging, and biting at it. When she skidded to a halt, the rider spun with her, and when the horse reached out to scar the large cat, her cheek was grazed by the sharp edge of a blade. She squealed and kicked at the cheetah, slicing its shoulder muscle to the bone, then took off running once again, this time towards Kagome.
Kagome watched in stunned silence, her bow brought down to her side. When the now-reddish horse charged back at her, she realized it was looking for help. She aimed her bow at the speed demon that was now incapable of traveling too fast for her to see, and let her arrow fly. The cat's rider reined it out of the way and as the horse flew past Kagome with blinding speed, cat and rider vanished. The arrow disappeared for an instant, then a large firework-like thing exploded; the arrow. Kagome slowly turned around to examine the horse. When she turned back around, she was surprised to find the small white horse she thought she'd seen leap from the cliff. So she does transform.
As the pony stumbled over to Kagome, it gazed at her, studying her. Kagome felt like she was being tested. The pony came up to her and, after sniffing her hand, laid out on her uninjured side on the edge of the path. She let her head fall, and seemed to be asleep. Kagome examined the mare's injuries and set out into the forest to look for some herbs. When she came back thirty minutes later, the mare was still 'sleeping', but her wounds seemed to be a couple days old. Nevertheless, when she walked up to apply the herbs, the only difficulty was the mare raising her head and trying to eat the herbs. After she settled down, Kagome sat across the path from her and watched the mare for a while.
When the mare rolled to her stomach and looked around, bright as ever, Kagome stood and smiled at her, and she could swear the mare understood. Kagome started walking down the path again, and was surprised when the mare was walking alongside her. The pony quickly sped up her pace and then knelt in front of Kagome, gesturing to get on. Kagome debated for a moment, but riding was better and faster than walking, and if the horse wanted to carry her, it must be alright.
When Kagome swung her leg over the mare's back, she was startled. The pony stood suddenly, and she entwined her fingers into her mane to keep her grip. She felt the mare laugh, and realized that she could tell how the pony felt. Suddenly, the mare transformed again. Her back grew wider and more comfortable, and her coat was soft but hard to move. Her mane grew thick, and of course, the horn stood prominent on her forehead.
"Are you all right?" A musical feminine voice came from nowhere it seemed. It was demanding respect, yet complacent. Kagome realized it was the horse.
"I'm fine… Do you know where I need to go?"
"Hold on…" Kagome saw pictures running through her mind, and finally they settled on one: the valley that Kagome could see from the hut where Kagura had kept her. This time, however, there was something different. The river that had wound around the valley seemed to grow larger, and Kagome saw her friends sitting on the side. Relief and happiness welled in her as she saw her friends were safe and looked like they were doing alright.
"Got it." And the horse began running so smoothly that it felt like she was on a track. Kagome enjoyed the speed of the ride, until she began to feel sick.
"Bury your head in my mane, it'll help. Oh, and, I'm wondering: what's your name? There are other questions, too, but I believe they shall be answered in time."
"My name is Kagome." She said, as she happily obliged to the mare's suggestion. "Do you have a name?"
"Yes, I am Ekonika. 400 years old, and a horse demon to boot, at your service. Well, I'll be 400 soon, anyway. I don't look it, though, do I?" Ekonika chuckled in a horsy way.
Kagome was surprised, but not surprised enough to forget her manners.
"Nice to meet you, Ekonika." She said into her mane. "I'd never have guessed 400, not at all."
Ekonika leaped a chasm that Kagome could have bet was at least 50 feet wide, yet she barely felt Ekonika break stride.
"Fine to meet you too, although I must admit I think I know you from somewhere. Ah, I remember now; are you familiar with a priestess that goes by Kikyo? I thought she had passed, but it seems I was mistaken. Does she still walk this earth?"
Kagome hesitated, then, for some reason, spilled her soul to this horse demon. She thought of all the times she'd run into Kikyo, and even though she felt pain tighten her throat, the most recent time she'd seen Kikyo, with InuYasha.
"Yes, I know her." Kagome said in barely more than a whisper.
"Ah, these seem to be painful memories to you. Why do you not spite Kikyo? You are jealous, but there is no hatred for her. I don't understand."
"I don't know. I think it's because… because I care for InuYasha, and I wouldn't want to hurt him, or even the woman he l- the woman I'm jealous of."
Ekonika caught all the emotion in that sentence, and shook her head in disappointment. She wasn't sure she liked thins InuYasha fellow. Kagome, of course, heard her thoughts, and began running through all her memories of InuYasha that were good, to her at least. Before Ekonika could respond, a giant boomerang flew at the duo and Ekonika had to leap sharply into the air. Kagome tightened her grip to something that would have made anything but a demon horse uncomfortable (AKA deathgrip), and lifted her head from the thick white mane. She saw Sango's surprised face, and wasted no time in leaping off Ekonika's back as soon as the mare came down again.
"Sango! Miroku! Shippou! Kirara!" Kagome exclaimed, and ran forward to meet her friends, tears of joy in more than her eyes.
Well, was that different? Finally, something good is happening! I was getting tired of all that depressing stuff. Oh, and that's Ekonika, the character I made up years ago and am still perfecting. She's normally a grey pony, and turns into a white unicorn for battle or travel. Also, she can control basic weather patterns, such as push out a storm or bring one in. The wind… well, she seems to enjoy light breezes, thank goodness for that, because the only other thing she would enjoy would be hurricane winds! Anyway, I shall leave you to ponder this: When and if InuYasha gets back, how will Kagome and InuYasha react to each other? (InuYasha still has no idea Kagome saw him with Kikyo.)