P.S: This chapter isn't revised 'cause I couldn't contact my lovely beta for some time. I've been trying to e-mail her with no success. To not let more chapters waiting, I'm posting this way.
If anyone can help me by beta-ing this and some other I already have finished, please, feel free to contact me. English isn't my native language and I have some difficult to keep the right tenses, I'm really sorry if it bother you while you read.
Thank you for your support! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Five
Going back home was never this exciting. Kagome can't wait to see her family and friends again. It's already two months since she started training, a some half month more since she came back from Sengoku Jidai. So much have changed. Now, she's more confident about herself, have a strong mochirei at her side (tough she still have a lot of more training to do, specially her physical strength), even can do a bit of divination, something neither Kikyou or Kaede knows.
She is not really excited about going back, tough. Her last fortune said that she will face some hard times and will need a lot of understanding and acceptance. She choose to not think about it too much that moment, but now that the time is coming, it's hard to not wonder what could this mean? She have a few shots, like something about Kikyou or another join in their group.
Along that month she learned also a lot about the pack meanings for dog demon race.
-Flashback-
Some night, she is laid in her futon, telling Inutaisho about the Inutachi. How she met Shippou, Sango and Miroku. Their dynamics as a group and, the last two, as a couple. She tried to tell as much she as much she can about them so won't be hard to him to adapt to them. She detailed more Inuyasha antics, how he deal with Kouga and her suitors.
"You seems to like him a lot, Kagome." Touga said severely.
"Yeah, I do." She said, blushing and hiding her face in the pillow.
Touga was never one to hide things or lie to anyone. If Kagome's report were accurate, his son's actions does not mean that he plans to mate the girl anytime soon. Surely, she will be devastated but it's better now then in middle of battle and it will be digested before she face the pup again.
"Kagome, how much do you know about the pack dynamics and mating ritual?"
"Not much. Inuyasha don't really talk about it and Sango know just a little. The mating is a life bond between two beings."
"Every pack have it's Alpha. It may be a male or a female. Usually, the alpha mates the pack's beta to not split the leadership, or to another alpha, to join their packs. If they have equal power level, they fight until one of them submit, so the winner keep the alpha title and the other became beta. Any pack mate that challenge the alpha and win, will became the new alpha and the former leader and his/her mate will be expelled from the group. They can only be accepted back to the pack if the new leader approves their presence.
It's not uncommon to commit the polygamy, but, as most of polygamous cultures, the first wife is most important. Her first offspring, be it a boy, will be the true heir. If a girl is born, then the first male born, no matter from which mate, will be the heir. Obviously, his mother became more important then the first mate, that will be ashamed for the rest of her life. To bury that shame, she can incite her own son to kill the heir, and other mate can do that too, so the eldest male alive will be the heir.
Lots of families were destroyed by that power hungry so it's a institution that a land ruler take only one mate, to lessen the competition for the heritage.
There's one thing, though, that the demon law establish: Once you are promised to one, you can't break the compromise. That's why demons take so long to mate. A political betrothal can be undone as long the parts do not compromise themselves on it. After, their beasts within make sure the mating by not letting them bed anyone else until it's done."
'She's not getting the point' Touga tough, not seeing any reaction from Kagome.
"Kagome, don't you understand?"
"Understand what?" Kagome really thinks that he's only teaching her.
"You said that Inuyasha and Kikyou made their love vows in the past. So much that the pup planned to became human for her. They were promised to each other. The moment she is bring back, that vow also was renewed. That's why he always seek for her. He's always following her. His beast is making sure that the bond is complete."
"But... but. what about me? The moments we share! It have no importance?!" Kagome is crying, not ready to believe.
"He may be willing to mate you, someday, but you will always be the second mate. The second in his life."
Kagome do not respond after a while, so Touga finish his speech.
"I have seen a few relationships in this neighborhood. You are a 21th Century girl. Are you really willing to share your feelings? To share your husband with another who never wishes less then worse for you?"
"Why... why he never told me about this?" The miko said in a whisper.
"He probably cares about you and don't want to hurt your feelings. He must also know that you would not agree bigamy so easy. Therefor, I must say that none of the courtship rituals have been made. He laid no claim on you. No scent marked you. Not even let you wear his colours. "
"It's because I remind him of Kikyou in miko garbs!"
"And so? It's red and white, his colours. I'm not there yet to be sure, but you must lessen your hopes with him. As I said, you will never be the first for him. Unless you wish this kind of relationship..."
"Don't... don't say it again." Kagome buried her face in the pillow. "I don't want to hear anymore."
That day, she cried to sleep. For two years, she have dreamed about her life in Sengoku, bearing Inuyasha's children in a small hut in Edo. How could she accept share her dream future with Kikyou? Always in her shadow. Always the copy.
-End of FB -
At ser side, Touga is watching the city. In his month back to living world, due to Kagome's hard training, he have not the chance to meet the big Tokyo. He is mesmerized by the advanced technology around. This big steel cart where they are riding, train if his memory is correct. A lot of people is inside handing little things he remember Kagome naming cellphones. Those electronic gadgets all around seems like magic to him. They also proof his assumptions about human capacity to adapt things in their need.
As a ghost, he can't feel if there's still youkai living among humans in disguise. Although, he is sure that his race have found a way to remain. There is a lot of spells and charms that can change your physical form and hide your youki, in case of powerful mikos making their hunting.
Thinking about priestesses make him think about Kagome. One in a kind. Such a sweet girl filled with dreams about love and happiness. He was sad for telling her the truth about his son's words and actions. As the former Western Lands ruler, he was never suppose to take another mate after Sesshoumaru's mother, but Izayoi beauty was overwhelming. Never a human have called his instincts like that. Sesshoumaru was almost an adult and any descendant he could have with her would never match a full youkai power, so the heritage won't be matter of discussion in his family. Sesshoumaru never understood that. To him, his mating was a disrespect regarding his mother and family. A shameful add to Inu no Taisho family. He hope to have time to explain himself to his eldest son.
"Kagome, once you got home, what are your plannings?"
"I will spend some time with my family. I am sure that the hospital gave me time enough up to summer break and I plan to not come back until it's over." Kagome have put some bluetooth headphones in her ears, so it do not seem like she's hallucinating. "I don't know if I'm ok to deal with whatever is expecting me back there, but I've spent time enough here. It's all my fault the jewel is broken and it's my duty to collect the shards."
"You are a very loyal woman, Kagome. A miracle among any species. Anyone who have you at it's side is a lucky one."
"If you say so..." Kagome say, nonchalantly.
The rest of the trip went in silence.
Near home, Kagome is already missing the peaceful surroundings at Funbari. Shinjuku, where the Higurashi Jinja is located, is a high populous metropolitan area, so there's a lot of pollution. Cars, rings, cellphones, motorcycles, bicycles, people talking very loud, screams, and, now that Kagome can see, thousands of ghosts. Later, she will deal with them. It's her duty as a shaman to make sure they went to next life in peace.
Reach the shrine's ladder makes her heart ache with longing. She run up to the shrine's courtyard, yelling to her mom, tears filling her eyes.
"MOM! I'm back! Jii-chan, Souta!"
When she meet the last step, her mother is already it the door, smiling for her. They run to each other, mother and daughter in a strong embrace. At the door, Grampa Higurashi is standing, glad for his granddaughter safe return.
Seeing her grandfather, Kagome runs to him, holding the elder with love.
"Is Souta at school?" asked Kagome.
"Yes. He should be back soon. He was most excited about your return. You know he always love to hear your tales." Said Mom.
Although she does not want to say that, Mother Higurashi must ask one thing.
"Kagome, How long you plan to spend before returning to your friends?"
"I don't know, Mom. As much I know the well is sealed but I wont look forward yet. I want to stay with you for a few days, then I'll deal with the well."
Kun-Loon is glad to know this, so she went to kitchen to prepare his daughter favorites dishes as a welcome back gift.
A few hours later, Souta come back from school just to scream at the vision of a full grown man roaming around his house.
"MOM, Grampa! There's a stranger in the house!" Yells Souta.
Worried, Kun Loon run to the main room already with a phone in her hand. Grampa was outside and Kagome come down from room screaming.
"Calm down! He's with me!"
"Who's with you?" Kun Loon ask.
"Mom, this man in front of me! He's staring at you right now!" say Souta.
"Well, Kagome must explain this cause I don't see anyone else in this house."
"Mother, you can't see him 'cause he's a ghost. His name's Touga and is my spirit guardian."
"Why does he look so much like Inuyasha?"
Like that, Kagome told her family about what happened along her training, how she met Touga and his parentage with Inuyasha. She take the opportunity to show them Sounga. While it's past make them uncomfortable, Kagome keep it's evil aura at bay, always neutralizing with her purification. She have not the opportunity to test Sounga's special ability, since it can turn in to a rampage if people see undead rising from their graves. She hope to not have to use this anytime soon.
Kagome use her oversoul to materialize Touga, then he introduced himself to her family as her mochirei. He tells them about his intentions besides help with Naraku demise, that is to interact with both of his sons and play a little of his position as their father.
Mama Higurashi is thrilled with his resolution and decide him as trustworthy to protect her daughter. She noted, too, that Kagome is avoiding mention Inuyasha in her portrayal, but decide to speak with her daughter later, alone. Some sparkle in her eyes in missing and she needs to know the meaning of this.
Later that night, Kun Loon have a mother talk with Kagome.
A week went by and Kagome felt the need to fulfil her duty with the Shikon no Tama. She have not entered the well house the whole time, decided to enjoy much as possible her family. She filled her old yellow bag with food and medical supplies, bought a mortuary tablet for Touga and a traditional shrine maiden garb. She is decided to play her role as a Miko and everyone will have to acknowledge her for herself, no matter what she is wearing.
Waving goodbye to her family, she open the well house door. The magic is heavy inside, coming from the well bottom. To no try her luck, she materialize Touga in his original form, just smaller, and jump inside the well. As soon his paws met the ground, a bright light shine and when it's ever, a image of the legendary Midoriko is in front of them.
"My child, I'm glad you raised so much you power that you could break my spell."
"Midoriko, is that you who sealed the well? But how?! Why?!" Kagome said.
"My soul lives inside every shikon shard and the on e your wear and the one buried in the well bottom made me able to create the spell. Your earlier power level wont ever destroy Naraku and you are the only one who can do that."
"But I'm still not strong enought!"
"Kagome" Says Touga. "Always remember your power comes from your will. Don't doubt yourself. Your worst enemy will always be your confidence."
"That's right, Kagome. You exceed my own power this moment. I can't fight anymore against Naraku's evil intent, only you can keep the jewel purified. These two are the last shards besides those with the wolf prince and that with the exterminator boy. Naraku is hiding, looking for these two shards before take the other three and complete the jewel. But I fear that it wont be your biggest problem."
"What you mean?"
"You must go now. I trust you to protect my remains for now on. Be safe, Priestess Kagome."
"Wait! What do you mean..." The light dissipated and Kagome and Touga are in Sengoku.
Since she is still on top of Touga, Kagome jumps out of the well. Outside, she disassembles herself from him and ask him to stay inside the tablet to avoid any turmoil like happened in her house.
Walking toward Kaede's hut, she tries to find her friends auras, but they are nowhere near. A familiar energy, besides Kaede, in around, tough she can't put her finger in who's the owner. Reaching the village, he see the not-so-little Rin holding a basket of herbs.
"Rin-chan!"
"Kagome-nee-san! You came back!" Rin drops the basket and runs toward her sister figure.
"Why are you here?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama asked Kaede-sama to keep Rin as her apprentice. He told it's getting dangerous to a female human to walking around the lands since Kagome-nee-san disappeared."
"Is anyone else around?"
"Kaede-sama told Rin that the others from Kagome-nee-chan's group left weeks ago. Rin have been staying here for eight weeks."
"They left so soon..." Kagome is a bit sad for them not have waited at last a month for her return.
"Nee-san, what's these things you are holding? And your clothes? Rin never saw Kagome-nee-san like this."
"Let's get Kaede, I have a lot to tell you."
Sesshoumaru is jaded. That damned hanyou is getting bolder each attack, seemingly that the dead miko traveling with his brother isn't adequate to deal with Naraku. Her powers aren't neither pure or strong enough. He always knew that the younger miko have the key to destroy the villain but it was not much of his business to confront him, besides a few treachery, none of his actions made any harm on him.
Now everything has changed. Naraku attacked his lands and castle and is cracking little by little his defense army. While his men are skilled, the continuous attacking is demanding too much of them. The other lords refused to help, claiming having to have their defenses prepared to any danger. He know the truth behind their words: once he's down, they invade and take over his kingdom. Such alliances his father made. Sometimes, he wished to know how his father would deal with this kind of betrayal.
The lingering threat forced him to separate from his ward. He left that old miko Kaede in charge of her. The village of Edo have always been a safe place due to the Tree of Ages power. The villagers probably don't know about this and should never know, anyway, the human greed is too powerful and they could harm the sacred being.
Rin was very wary when he mentioned leaving her with the old woman, thinking that he will left her forever. She never said a word, but the sadness in her scent were almost overwhelming. To ease her fears and also for a bit of protection, Ah-Un was ordered to stay with a little charm around his neck. Any menace that it can't deal send a energy message to Jaken's Two-Headed Staff. Gratefully, it was not needed up to now.
Reaching the border of Inuyasha's forest he feels an familiar aura albeit it's different. Also there is a very know scent, that was missing for some time, the Shikon Miko.