Down The Well, Down Again
Chapter Three: Life
Wargh
AN: Sorry If I confused everyone with the last chapter, hopefully things will make a bit more sense after this chapter. Also I apolgize for how long it took me to get this chapter out. I just started my new job, began having asthma attacks and had writers block. This is a really short chapter, but the next one will be more exciting... I hope. Flowers and thanks go to ArghZombies, who has once again contributed some spectacularly helpful advice.
Kagome hit the ground hard and groaned as she opened her eyes. When she looked around, instead of the familiar interior of the Bone Eater's Well, all she saw was barren land. Standing up, Kagome brushed the dirt off of her skirt and was about to begin walking when someone called her name.
"Who's there?" Kagome replied, turning around to look behind her. When she saw no one, she sighed and started walking. After a few moments, the voice called out again.
"Kagome." Kagome turned around and this time saw a shimmering figure standing there.
"Who are you?" Kagome asked as she peered at the woman in front of her.
"I'm surprised you don't recognize me, but then again last time we met I was a statue." The woman said then sighed. Kagome froze, the only person she knew who was a statue was...
"Midoriko." Midoriko smiled sadly at her, then spoke again.
"Kagome, when you wished for Inuyasha and Kikyou to have 'eternal happiness', your anger overrode everything else and all your soul was focused on the words you spoke. Since the wish was made in anger, the Jewel was tainted, releasing the evil trapped inside."
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked softly, horror creeping into her voice.
"When you made your wish, the Jewel called the piece of your soul contained in Kikyou's body back to you. In order for Kikyou and Inuyasha to have 'eternal happiness', the Jewel had to give Kikyou a new soul, and it did, the soul of the demon I trapped inside the jewel. And now that it has been released, it is free to destroy the world once more. No one alive is powerful enough to stop it, not even you Kagome." Kagome stared at her, horrorstruck.
"What have I done?" Kagome whispered softly, fearfully, as she sank to her knees. Midoriko stepped closer to her and gently placed her hand on Kagome's head.
"Kagome, no matter what wish you made, this would have happened. No matter how pure your soul is, no one can wish on the Jewel, because all wishes are selfish to some extent. The only thing we can do now is to rectify the problem, instead of complaining about past events." Kagome looked up at her.
"But you said it yourself, no one alive is strong enough to beat him." Midoriko smile mysteriously at her.
"A long time ago, there was a man who offered to help me destroy an evil being. In my foolishness and pride I refused his offer, because I believed I was strong enough to do it myself. If I had trusted him and accepted his offer, the Jewel would not exist today, because together we would have been strong enough." Kagome's face lit up hopefully.
"So all I have to do is find him and convince him to fight?" She asked. Midoriko shook her head.
"It's not that simple. Not only is he dead during this time, when he was alive, he was given a prophecy of his death and he accepted it. You would have to find a way to circumvent the prophecy, convince him to live, and to help you." Kagome's face fell.
"I will help you all I can. I have enough of my strength left to send you to him, but you will have to find your own way back, one that doesn't change the past." Midoriko hastily reassured her. Reaching out, she took a hold of Kagome's hand, pulled her to her feet, and led her to the well.
"Kagome, when you meet, he is the only one to whom you can tell the truth. If you tell anyone else, you could irreparably damage the future. You must also warn him not to tell anyone else." Kagome nodded at her.
"How will I know who he is?" She asked.
"You will know." Midoriko said as she pushed Kagome backwards. Kagome shrieked as the backs of her knees hit the well and she fell down into time.
Kagome pulled herself out of the well, and tumbled over the edge. Landing in a heap, she sighed.
"You'd think with how many times I've done this, I could be a bit more graceful." She complained as she stood up. Suddenly the point of a sword was placed against her throat. Kagome froze and looked up at the man who was holding the sword, meeting his hard amber eyes.
"Who are you?" He growled.