Disclaimer: I do not own OHSHC or Inuyasha. The rights belong to Bisco Hatori and Rumiko Takahashi respectively.
A/N: As usual, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Talking"
Thinking
Flash Back
Text
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Chapter Three: The Miko's Tale
Kagome had a hard time sleeping that night; Her anticipation for the coming morning was too much and she lay awake, thinking about the look on Mori's face when he spoke to her.
"My name is Morinozuka Takashi, Miko-sama." Takashi introduced himself.
How does he know I am a miko? He doesn't seem to possess any spiritual powers, unless he is masking them. His friend Hani-san said it is disrespectful to ignore a request from a Miko. He's right of course, but I never stood on tradition...how do they know?
"My friend Shippou, was about this tall, and had red-orange hair, a bit darker then theirs." Kagome pointed at the twins.
"Wow"
"Sugoi!"
Almost the entire group was in awe. Except for Mori-san. In fact, he looked as if it wasn't that surprising...
Ah! I almost forgot the look on his face when I was messing with the jewel! It's like he knew what it was. Kagome thought in shock.
"Why were you shooting at targets of people?" little Hani asked.
"Um...hehe. I'll tell you later." Kagome said quickly.
"You should join the archery club. If the shots used on these 'human' targets are any indication, you would do good there."
I had noticed...he stressed the word human...but he can't know that they were in Naraku's image...could he...maybe he's a demon. He seems nice enough, but if he is a demon there will be more than a discussion tomorrow. Kagome decided. It won't do to become to relaxed, even in my time, there is always the possibility of danger. I already know there are demons here, it's just that they have found a way to blend in so well.
He wants to talk...well then. We'll talk. Hopefully I can figure out what he is.
Kagome had finally fallen asleep around three in the morning. Her sleep was restless, and she had no dreams that night. When she awoke at seven, her mother came in and told her that her ride was there. Kagome dressed quickly and hugged her mother and grandfather. She ruffled Sota's hair and grabbed her bag. She hoisted it onto her shoulder, and almost immediately felt it lift off again.
She turned, "I can carry my bag myself you know." she said.
A smirk. "If you're pregnant you shouldn't carry anything this heavy." Takashi said. "Kyoya told me to make sure you didn't try."
"Damn it. I just meet these guys, and already they are as demanding and controlling as Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru..." she mumbled to herself as she left the room.
Takashi raised a brow. He shrugged and followed her and then led her to his car. He figured that since he had to talk to her, he would pick her up. Loading her things into the trunk, he opened the door, and helped her in. He slid in after her. "Take us to my house first please." he told the driver before he turned to Kagome.
She could feel he wanted to talk, so she looked at him. "Is there something you want to ask me?"
"Hai. Why did those targets look like the evil half demon Naraku?" he asked her bluntly.
Kagome's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She held up her hand, letting her power surround it. "What do you know of Naraku?"
"My ancestor was a monk." he reminded her. "We have family scrolls that have been passed down, written by the famous Shikon Miko, before her disappearance from history. There are also scrolls that my ancestor wrote, they have been sealed. We cannot open them, as they are addressed to the Shikon Miko, from my ancestors themselves." Takashi told her.
Kagome's eyes brightened slightly and she dropped her hand and her power. Miroku...you left letters for me...Sango, you're descendant is a kind boy. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Takashi-kun. I never intended to tell anyone." she began. "I-"
"I know you are the Shikon Miko." he told her. "There is something I have to show you. It's for you, and you will be given the scrolls."
"Thank you, Takashi-kun. It means a lot to me." Kagome said softly.
"We're here master." the driver said.
"Thank you." Takashi said. He opened the door, got out, and helped Kagome step out of the car.
He held out his arm formally and Kagome took it gratefully. Her back was beginning to hurt. He led her into the mansion, and said. "I must introduce you to my father. He will need to know that you will be given the scrolls."
"Yes," Kagome said. "That's understandable."
A few minutes passed, and Kagome found herself standing outside of two large doors. Mori went in first, and announced her presence.
"Father, may I introduce to you, Higurashi Kagome, The Shikon Miko." he bowed as she entered the room.
"Takashi-kun, I told you, I don't need you to bow. I never liked it, and I'm sure I won't start to just 'cause I'm here." she told him sternly.
"My apologies, Miko-sama." he smirked.
She sighed in frustration. The turned toward Takashi's father. She bowed respectfully. "Konnichiwa, Morinozuka-san. My name is Higurashi Kagome."
"You are the Shikon Miko?" he asked her. "She lived five hundred years ago, how is this possible?"
Kagome thought quickly. She never mentioned in her scrolls that she arrived using the well... "If it would please you, Morinozuka-san, you may question me as you see fit. Would you like a demonstration of my powers? Mind you I cannot go all out, due to my condition." she smiled apologetically.
"Yes...fine then." he turned to his son. "Have you told her anything other than you know who she is?"
"Just that there are scrolls. I did not tell her the contents." Takashi told him. "If she is the true Miko, she would have written them herself, and will be able to answer you."
"How true." his father said. "Miko." he addressed.
"Hai." Kagome answered.
"We'll start out easy. What is our ancestor's name, who traveled with the Shikon Miko?"
"My that one is easy." Kagome grinned. "Miroku the monk. He was a huge letch. In every village we would stop in he would ask almost every pretty girl to bear his children." Kagome laughed in remembrance. "Sango, married him during the hunt for the shards of the Shikon Jewel. She used to get so mad when he would..." Kagome flushed a bit, "I'm sure you know what he did...hehe."
"We do, but you seem to not." Takashi's father said rudely.
Kagome glared. "He used to grab mine and Sango's butts, every day, no matter how hard Sango slapped him. No matter how many times she used her weapon to hit him he would flirt with every girl he saw." Kagome snapped. "Don't tell me I don't know my friends. I know them better than you."
She turned to Takashi. "I would like to read the scrolls Miroku left for me. Since he knew I would eventually return to get them, it is his last words to me."
"Not yet." Morinozuka-san said. "I need a few more things confirmed, so please be patient."
Kagome growled. "Fine."
"Who were the companions that traveled with Miroku, and Sango?"
"And me." Kagome griped. "Inuyasha, the dog-eared, silver haired Half dog demon. He had an awful temper when you upset him, but I never worried about that. I used a necklace of prayer beads and demon fangs to curb his anger or rashness. The command word was Osuwari."
"Sit?" Takashi asked.
"Well..." Kagome began sheepishly. "It was the first thing that popped into my head at the time, and he IS a dog demon. Well...half, but still."
"The rest of their companions, if you please."
"Sango's companion. A two tailed half demon, named Kirara. Her first form is a tiny little kitten form, bout yea high, and her transformed form is huge. She could carry at least three people on her back comfortably." Kagome said, thinking fondly of Kirara. "I miss her. She was good to cuddle at night."
"Is that all?"
"No. Sometimes Myoga was there. He was a flea demon, and liked to suck Inuyasha's blood, and he was a big coward. He ran away whenever there was danger." Kagome said. She knew she had one more to tell them about. "..."
"Miko-sama?" Takashi exclaimed, worried. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just...the last companion...little Shippou...he asked me to be his Okaa-san just days before I left. I never wanted to leave." she struggled to curb her tears. "He was a Kitsune. A fox demon. He was just a child, around seven or eight, though he looked younger. He had red-orange hair, and a cute little blue bow in it. The brightest green eyes, little fangs. His feet were fox paws, and his tail was so fluffy...he called me Okaa-san." Kagome felt her heart hurting.
"Father, finish the questioning. Can you not see how it is bothering her?" Takashi demanded angrily.
"Yes." he turned to Kagome. "Miko, just one more thing, and I will be convinced of your status."
"Sir?" Kagome asked. "What would you have me do?"
"I will lead you into the unused garden. There is a maze there. You are to enter the maze, and use your powers to retrieve something of importance to my ancestor's. There are two of them." he told her. Please bring them to the opposite side of the maze. There will be obstacles of course."
"Of course." Kagome said. "Lead the way."
Several minutes later found Kagome entering the maze with nothing but her bow and arrows. Takashi and his father were to wait outside the maze.
After a while, Takashi turned to his father. "Why are you holding your radio?"
His father said, "This will be the deal breaker, Takashi." he pressed the button. "Go in. She's in the center of the maze. She'll get the objects soon. Stop her."
Takashi looked as if he would protest, when he saw a gray blur drop into the maze from the tree above.
"Miko-sama!" he yelled as he pushed past his father and rushed into the maze.
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Kagome turned and at seeing a demon puppet, quickly shot it through the heart. She moved on following the twists and turns, using her miko powers to find her way to the two objects that she could feel her friends aura's on.
Soon she knew she was at the center of the maze, and then she saw them. "Miroku's staff! Sango's armor!" she rushed to them and gathered the things close to her. She was elated. "Oh Miroku, Sango...I miss you all so much."
"Drop the items Miko." a menacing voice spoke quietly.
Kagome quickly sent out a tendril of her power and upon meeting the aura that was attached to the voice she spun on her heel.
A short boy, dressed in black, was in a fighting stance. He wore a mask so she could not see his face.
"No." she said. "I will not drop them. They are precious to me and to my friends, and I will handle them as such. They are old items. Not to be thrown about."
"If you won't hand them over, I'll have no choice but to take them by force." the boy stated flatly.
Takashi heard voices, and rushed into the center of the maze. He jumped in front of Kagome. "Miko, you must leave now. I can handle this."
"I think not." the boy told him. "You will fall at my hand."
Kagome used her power to put a barrier around Takashi and pushed him out of her way. "This one is mine." she said. She carefully placed Sango's armor into her shoulder bag, and held Miroku's staff in a defensive position. She began to circle the boy, watching his feet closely. He was using his hands, she noticed. It would be easy. She waited until he lunged toward her, and she invoked the power in the staff and swung it at the boy's head.
She missed. The boy ducked and leapt high into the air. "Fine then, if you're fighting at top strength, then so will I!" he used a branch to push back at her. He pulled his hand back and yelled. "Fox fire!"
Kagome dropped the staff in shock.
"Miko-sama!" Takashi yelled in horror as she was enveloped with bright blue flames.
Kagome took a step forward. Then another, before, "S...Shippou!"
Takashi watched as the fire dissipated and Kagome was running toward the boy. She threw her arms around him. "How did you survive! Oh Shippou!"
"Isn't Shippou the demon child you were talking about...?" Takashi asked. "From five hundred years ago? How did he survive?"
"How did I survive?" Kagome asked him.
He stared at her.
"Shippou, take off your mask." Kagome told him.
Hands reached up and took off the mask. Bright green eyes shined out and he lowered his hood. His bright orange red hair was sticking up from the material. "Hi, 'kaa-san." he grinned.
"Okaa-san?" Takashi asked confused.
"She adopted me when my parents were killed by the thunder brothers. I traveled with her and Inuyasha." he turned to Kagome. "I stayed with them, 'kaa-san. After you disappeared, I stayed with Sango and Miroku, I promised to watch over their descendents and protect them until you could."
"I'm so proud of you Shippou." Kagome hugged him.
"The test is done...we should leave the maze now..." Takashi said, overwhelmed.
After Shippou confirmed Kagome's status, Takashi's father agreed to let her view the scrolls left to her by Sango and Miroku.
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A/N: Sorry to leave this off here, but the next chapter will cover the last letters written by Miroku and Sango.
Inuyasha: 1
Koga: 5
Sesshoumaru: 20
