TMK: I apologize for taking so long. I have been very busy with my life. That, and I had absolutely no inspiration for this. Thank you for reading!
Chapter 18: Cracks
She slept for three days, all of which Moriko was in a frenzy. "When I catch that bastard!" Her fingers convulsed and it was all Luki could do to keep her from going out and trying to find him. "Calm down, Moriko. You said you wouldn't get involved in Kagome's problems unless she asked you." He reasoned. She growled, her fingers twitching again, "I know!" She snapped angrily and sighed, "I know. It's just…my instincts with family and the ones I have from being the Gatekeeper are screaming at me to do something." He pulled her into an embrace, "You can't do everything, dearheart. Sometimes people need to work things out by themselves." Moriko muttered something, "But I like meddling."
"Only if you're the one meddling."
"Speaking of meddling, have you heard of what Inuyasha tried to do after Kagome's call?" Moriko alter the subject course.
"You're still hung up on that? You know what's going to happen, if you don't have the Sight."
"Yes. They'll end up together. I know it in my bones, but he doesn't have to do it like that." She squirmed slightly and Luki let go of her. She stood and surveyed him, "Do you plan on doing anything about it?" she questioned cautiously.
He shrugged "Do you want me to?"
She was silent for a while, "Only if he does something out of hand. He will be removed from this house if he does anything to harm her." She clenched her teeth, "Any idea when she'll wake up?" A loud crashing sound interrupted their conversation. Moriko bounded up the steps. Kagome was leaning against the doorframe.
"Moriko…what happened?" she rubbed her forehead, "How long have I been out?" Moriko put an arm around her and lead her back into the bedroom, shaking her head at Luki and silently telling him to close the door.
"You were asleep for three days, Kagome." Kagome blinked at her and shook her head, "Why? I can't remem-oh." Everything flooded back to her in a rush. "That bastard!" She leapt to her feet, "Ah!" She collapsed back onto the bed, her body still weak after her expenditure of her magic. Moriko placed a cool hand onto her forehead. Warm energy flowed into Kagome, relieved her weakness and healing her damaged magic ducts. Kagome looked at her as she took her hand away, "Thanks." Moriko shrugged, "It's my duty to take care of the Gate's vessel." Kagome raised an eyebrow, "But it's my pleasure to help my aunt." Moriko placed a hand on her shoulder, "What do you think of Inuyasha?" she asked.
Kagome stared at her niece, "What do you mean, Moriko?"
Moriko shook her head, a faint smile on her lips, "I mean, do you like him? As a friend? More then a friend?" Kagome's cheeks flooded with color when she realized what her niece was suggesting, "Moriko? Why are you asking this?"
"Because…I think Inuyasha is…interested in you."
Kagome blinked at her, "You mean…romantically?"
Moriko nodded. Kagome's cheeks almost glowed, "Moriko-chan! What are you talking about! We hate each other! We could—"
"You don't hate each other anymore, if you ever really did. Technically neither of you would be outcasted because you're both half-demon. There would be nothing wrong with you two being together."
Kagome looked at her niece in astonishment, "I can't believe you're suggesting this! Me and Inuyasha--!" She leapt to her feet.
"Fate has a cruel agenda, Kagome." Moriko's voice was sad, "Besides, it's not like we have a choice about who we fall in love with." Kagome sat down, "What do you mean, Moriko." Moriko's cheeks were slightly tinted, "I didn't exactly choose to fall in love with Luki." She shook her head, "Ah well, it is your decision after all and like I said before I will support you no matter what." Moriko stood, "Now, we might as well head down and get you some food while assuring your friends that you are alive."
They went downstairs and after much fussing and making sure she was indeed alright; Kagome was permitted to eat.
"So where'd you go this time?" Asked Inuyasha. Kagome looked up as she gulped down a piece of pancake, "My favorite place." She replied, a smile playing on her lips, "A world where anything is possible." She turned to look at Moriko, "Remember? The first place I ever went to." Moriko chuckled, "I remember when you first took me there, fun place, too bad we couldn't stay there."
"Why's that?" question Sango as she sipped her drink.
"Because we are bound to this world tighter then any other being. We can't stay any place other then here for an extended period of time." She sat back into her chair, "One Earth month is the longest either of us can stay there. Any longer and the balance will deteriorate and the Earth may die." Kagome who had continued with her meal paused again, "Besides, the gods would tell us if they wanted us to leave, we swore that centuries ago when we first acquired this curse."
"What do you mean about 'the gods'?" prodded Miroku. The two women were unusually forthcoming today and they were going to milk this for what it was worth. Moriko eyed him, "Every civilization has mythology, with the exception of the U.S. What most people don't know is the fact that those gods do exist, the Roman gods, the Greeks, the Vikings, all other civilizations that had religions and gods. Zeus was real-is real-though he is pretty annoying. Loki can be very entertaining as long as you stay on his good side. Mostly you should avoid Hera, she doesn't like people-especially mortals-with power of any kind. Remember when she found out who we were at that party, Kagome?" Kagome choked on her pancake. Moriko pounded her on the back until the coughing subsided. "Do I ever! I think that's why Hermes likes us." Kagome grinned, "We should go back there soon."
"What's it like?"
Moriko raised an eyebrow, "The Gods Realm? It's one of the few places that Kagome and I can go to without consequences. We don't go there much though, mostly because we aren't accepted because of the fact that we're mortal on Earth—"
"Explain." Interrupted Miroku.
"Time out. You takin' notes on this or something?" snapped Moriko.
Miroku shrugged, "I'm interested in this kind of thing."
Moriko shrugged, "On Earth we are mortals. In the Gods Realm, we are demigods. I assume you know what a demigod is? Because we are directly attached to the physical plane we call Earth, the gods choose to look down on us. Now, I bet you're wondering where the Christian God is in all this. Well, he's a god that only recently came to power. Considering the fact that many gods were there long before him, he is relatively new to his role. God doesn't live in the same realm as the other gods either; he has yet to graduate up to there, that and most of the older gods view him as a weirdo and don't like to associate with him much." She paused in her litany, turning her head to look out the kitchen window. Kagome turned her head too, as if something had drawn their complete and total attention.
"Moriko? What's wrong?" Luki laid a hand on her shoulder. Moriko turned to look at Kagome, "Interesting."
Kagome glanced at her niece, "Yes." They stood up in unison.
"What are you doing, Moriko? Where are you going?" Moriko looked back at them as they reached the door. "The gods are requesting an audience."
"They've done so before, what makes this one so special?" inquired Luki
Moriko smiled faintly, "They called us by our Astral names. Something is very wrong." Kagome was already out the door, not bothering to speak to the others.
"Is Kagome okay?" asked Ayame as she watched her friend move to the middle of the backyard. Moriko glanced at her aunt, "She's fine. We won't be back so a while. Don't wait up."
"Kagome just woke up! Are you sure she can handle this?" demanded Inuyasha angrily. Moriko looked at him, "She is the Gate, Inuyasha. And we cannot refuse the gods. She's not weak, she has already recovered from the incident." The backyard glowed with blue light. Moriko cursed, "We'll be back later." She ran out and reached the circle just as the spell completed. With a blinding flare of light, they vanished from this Realm.
"Good. You're here." Greeted a voice hurriedly as the circle faded from sight. Moriko and Kagome turned to the voice, their robes rippling from the movement.
"We didn't expect to meet you here…Zeus" Zeus stood just inside the doorway, is expression, usually lecherous and smiling, was grim and serious. He motioned with his hand, "Come with me." Kagome and Moriko glanced at each other with closed expressions and followed him down the corridor to an elaborately decorated door. Ancient runes had been carved into the dark gray stone and countless beasts had been attached to the stone. Gods stood in front of the door, their faces mirroring Zeus's.
"What happened?" asked Moriko her gaze traveling up and down the door.
"Despite our efforts…The Gate's Seal is cracking."
TMK: Chapter complete. Tell me if this seems a little out there, I'd really like to know!
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