Chapter 2
When Kagome woke up she found herself in a strange place.
She looked up ahead she saw Onikiri and Kotetsu trotting to her.
"KAGOME-SAMA!" Onikiri yelled.
"Have you waken up?" Kotetsu asked.
"Onikiri, Kotetsu, where am I?" Kagome asked as she stood up and walked out of the place standing in front of them.
"This is the inner Sanctuary of the Shrine. It's your room, Kagome-sama." Onikiri said.
"But it looks different from yesterday, doesn't it?" Kagome said.
"Tomoe-dono arranged it, to make it easier for you to live here." Kotetsu said.
"Really? Then,"
Kagome turn to her right to see Tomoe, in a red hakama, a red haori and a white long outer haori, who was sitting on his knees and looks a bit mad for being ignored.
"thank you Tomoe."
When Tomoe turned to look at Kagome he gave her a smile.
"You're quite welcome and good morning, Kagome. Your bedroom was not very nice, so I rearranged it while you were sleeping. I prepared everything I assume you might need. I'm still reluctant, but starting today I'm your familiar, as long you give me an order I will obey it without hesitation no matter what it is. From now on, if there's anything you find inconvenient to tell me."
Kagome then sat down in front of Tomoe on her knee.
"I'm a little surprised you didn't yell at me for making you my familiar, I thought you were still mad."
"The word 'Mad' doesn't describe it." Then Tomoe's smiling face turned to a rage looking face.
"I'M BESIDE MYSELF WITH RAGE! SOMEONE LIKE ME, THIS TOMOE-SAMA, WHO'S A FAMOUS FAMILIAR EVEN AMONG THE GODS, HAS TO SERVE A POWERLESS LITTLE GIRL LIKE YOU! WHAT A HUMILIATION!"
He then turned away like he was sobbing a bit. "It's so pathetic that I couldn't sleep a wink last night."
'Oh so you are still mad.' Kagome thought.
"Now then, I'm going to have you become a living God suitable for someone as great as me. A God's power is called, 'Divine Power', your divine power will increase as you use it, however in order for your divine power level to increase, first, you have to hurry up and finish listening and granting people's wishes.
For example, Mikage is a marriage God. He's granted many Marriage wishes and his divine power to binds fates is extraordinarily strong."
Then Tomoe pushed a bucket of water infront of Kagome.
"All right let's see how strong your divine power is, change this water in to wine. I don't mind if you use the white charm."
When Kotetsu brang a white charm and a brush to Kagome she wrote, 'Wine' and put it in the water.
"Try drinking it." Tomoe said looking at it.
"Then I'll have a sip." Kotetsu said as he used a wooden dipper.
When he drank it he said to Kagome. "The water taste more delicious, it taste like mountain spring water."
When Tomoe heard it he turn around and walked away. "Where are you going, Tomoe-dono?" Onikiri said.
"I'm going home."
"THAT'S NO FAIR!" Kotetsu and Onikiri yelled in unison to Tomoe as she tried to stop him.
"YOU'RE LEAVING US HERE TO RUN AWAY!" Onikiri yelled, pulling Tomoe's kimono to stay along with Kotetsu.
"LET GO OF ME! I'M GOING BACK HOME!"
"I kind of expected it." Kagome said.
Then Tomoe, Onikiri and Kotetsu stopped and Tomoe said, "What do you mean you expected it?" when Kagome turned away she then answered.
"I just became the Land God a couple of days ago, so it would take a while for me to get used to it and then it would become stronger."
Kagome then went toward the a hall to go to the bathroom and said to them without looking before she left.
"I'm going to get ready and after that I will practice the white charms."
Outside the Shrine,
Kagome was in a her Miko clothes again, sitting on a square cloth, writing on another white charm 'Blooming' and stick it to a tree that has flower buds un it she saw nothing happening.
'That was the seventh tree. Hmm... Let's see what happens when I add a little Miko energy.' When her hand touched one of the white charms that were already on a tree, she pushed a little of her Miko energy into it she then saw the tree blooming flowers.
'It works.' Kagome thought and made a small smile without knowing.
"KAGOME-SAMA!"
When Kagome heard someone her small smile disappeared and looked to her left to see Kotetsu walking up to her holding up a platter filled four bowls of food and a small plate on the center.
"Please have your food soon." Kotetsu said after he put the platter next to her.
"Ok" She said as Kotetsu began to walk back to the Shrine.
She then walked back to her spot on the center of the square cloth and began to eat.
'I just realized something, Tomoe is already taking care of my bedroom, my meals, cleaning, and everthing else. He said it's only natural since it's his duty as a familiar. I've got to do something around here than just eat like this.' Kagome thought as she continued eating.
When Kagome was done eating she then walked up to the tree she made bloom closed her eyes and leaned against it to rest.
Kagome opened her eyes when she felt Tomoe's aura and saw him looking at her.
"Is ther something you need?" Kagome said with a blank look.
"I forgot to tell you that the white charms suck away the powers of the user." Tomoe said.
"Oh," Kagome said, "you don't need to worry about that."
When Tomoe looked at the bloomed tree that she was near, his eyes widened again.
"LAND GOD-SAMA! LAND GOD-SAMA!" They heard from the sky. When Tomoe snapped out of his shook both him and Kagome looked up in the sky they saw a little yellow bird with a hat on it's head flying to Kagome.
When Kagome put her hand in the air, the bird landed on it and said to Kagome as Tomoe walked toward them. "I'm the familiar of my princess, I came to deliver a message. This evening, the princess of the swamp will come and greet the new Land God."
"Really? Well thank you for the message, and I can't wait to meet the princess of the swamp." Kagome said, and watched as the bird fly away.
"Tomoe, who is the princess of the swamp?" Kagome asked as she looked at Tomoe in the eyes.
"She's the master of a swamp called, 'Tatara'. Originally, she was the incarnation of a catfish. Tatara swamp is a part of the land that Mikage protects. After hearing a new Land God came here, it's natural for her to come here and greet you."
"Is that so?" Then Kagome continued with her practice as Tomoe walked away and did some of his chores.
In the evening,
"What are you dressing up for?" Tomoe said, looking at Kagome who was brushing her hair in front of a mirror still in her Miko attire from the morning.
"We're going to have a guest so it's normal to get ready."
"You don't have to show up. If they know that the new Land God is a powerless young girl they won't keep quit about it. Even if you show up you'll only be a nuisance. Listen up Kagome, absolutely don't get out of here until the guests go back." Tomoe said as he left.
'Tomoe, Tomoe, Tomoe. You don't know who I am or what I am. So you can't just boss someone around.' Kagome thought as she kept brushing her raven colored hair.
Then she heard Tomoe greet princess of the swamp, and said that she wasn't feeling well.
'That was quick.' Kagome thought, then she began to tie her hair.
Then she saw Onikiri and Kotetsu come in and Kotetsu said, "Don't be upset of what Tomoe-dono said. He only said that because he was worried about you." but was ignored by Kagome.
Then Onikiri said to Kotetsu. "The guest is Numano Himemiko, the controller of all the spirits in the region of the swamp."
Then Kotetsu said, "Even Tomoe-dono won't be able to deal with her with ordinary means." when Kagome heard that she finished tieing her hair to make it look like Kikyo. Kagome stood up and walked toward where Tomoe and the princess was while listening to their coversation ignoring Onikiti and Kotetsu's protest.
"Lady Himemiko-sama came here to see the Land God. Not showing her face is an insult to Himemiko-sama." Kagome heard guessing it's one of Himemiko's servents.
"I'm very sorry. Once she feels better, we'll go there to gereet her." She heard Tomoe say.
"We heard that the new Land God is a human girl. Could the reason why she can't come out to see Himemiko-sama is because she's shaking in fear in there?" Himemiko's servant said.
"Not at all. She's appointed by the previous Land God, Mikage. Even though she's human she is by no means inferior to us."
"But according to what I heard she was attacked by a monster a few days ago and got away in a flurry." The servent said.
Then Kagome was in front of a door hearing them on the other side of the door, and shushed Onikiri and Kotetsu when they kept protesting.
Then the servent continued. "It's not even funny, she's just a human, more over she's a frail little girl. To let someone like her become the Land God, this Shrine is going to fall down."
"No, no, even though Kagome seems that way, she's a strong willed girl. Someday she will be able to flowers bloom without using help from something." Tomoe said.
"I see you're a cowardly fox who's pushed around by that little girl." The servant said.
"Oh my, you're being to harsh. Saying that isn't any different from saying that your master who came all this way to greet that little girl is inferior than our god."
"Enough with your cheekiness. I'm telling you to bring that little girl here right now or I'm going to send your neck flying, you fox."
"You're so hot-blooded, there's no helping it, then-" Tomoe was cut off when Kagome opened the door.
Kagome then walked in front inside and sat on her knees in front of Himemiko a couple of feet away. "I apologize for being late. I'm Higurashi Kagome, the Land God. I wasn't feeling well and fainted a while ago, I swollowed some pills, I told Tomoe to keep you company till I felt better. I'm very sorry for keeping you waiting." She then bowed respectfully to them gracefully then sat up straight.
She saw a big catfish with big eyes, in a pretty pink kimono that has a bunch of leaves in different places, and she guess she's the princess. She then saw a man next to the princess with pointy ears, his hair tied up, in a bown hakama, a haori with wierd pictures of a bid all over, and a brown outer sleeveless haori over it and guessed he's the servant that said some rude things about her.
When she saw the sword on the servant's hand pointed at them. Kagome then put her hand on the tip of the sword and lowered it. "Can you please put your sword away?"
"Kagome" Tomoe said as he bended down next to her and touched her hand.
"Hn?" She said as she turned her head to him.
"You idiot, why did you come out? What ever happens, it'll just be me who has to endure it, but now that you've come out, I have no choice but to protect you."
Then he let go and stood up as Himemiko's servant walked up to them.
"So you're the Land God?" He said, "Just like the rumors, what a frail little girl. I'll make you pay with your flesh and blood for all those insults to Himemiko-sama." then he stopped walking.
Then Tomoe stepped in front of Kagome while saying. "Sorry, but even if my master is right behind me, I won't go easy on you. Please don't hate me even if I kill you."
"THAT SHOULD BE MY LINE!" The servant yelled angrily, then the princess clacked her mouth or her teeth.
Kagome then stood up and stepped a few feet away from them so she wouldn't be injured in there fight, when she saw about 5 feet away from them she crossed her arms and looked at them carefully.
"All right, into what dish should I make you?" Tomoe said.
"THAT'S MY LINE!" The servant said again. Then he ran at Tomoe with his sword and swung it at Tomoe who jumped in the air and landed behind him.
When Tomoe turned around to face him he pulled out on one of magic leaves. "I've decided I'll make fried fish." When he through it at the servants forehead if landed and there was a poof, and he disappeared leaving a fish with the same hair as the guy, with a leaf on it who's wiggling for water.
When Tomoe picked the fish up by the tail with his fingers he said, "Moderate fire for 5 minutes perfect for a side dish for breakfast." then his other hand make a fire.
"How's the feeling of being burnt by a fox's fire while still alive? Your name is... Uhm... What was it? Oh well, I'll take your stinking bowels out before frying you."
"Tomoe" Kagome said as she walked toward him, "let go of him." she said with a voice of command. The second Kagome said that Tomoe's hands release the fish quickly making it fall to the ground.
"Sit down and make up with the fish so the fight can be over." Then Tomoe sat down on his knees and shook one of his hands with on of the fish's fins.
"You're awefully obedient." She commented with a hint of amusement, "I wish it was Inuyasha, he barely listens." then sighed.
"Heh," When Kagome turned she saw the Himemiko standing up, "So that's the spell 'Word Power Bind' used on familiars, huh? Looks like you really are the Land God."
"Word Power Bind?" She questioned as one of her eyebrow raised.
"Kagome-sama, "Kagome turned to see Kotetsu crawling next to her. "an order that the God gives becomes words with power, and binds the familiar. The more powerful the order is, the stronger the force is. A familiar is restricted by the powers of those words. That's the contract between a God and a familiar."
Then Kagome looked at Tomoe when he fell on his side and his hand covering his face.
"STUPID KOTETSU! I TOLD YOU TO KEEP IT FROM KAGOME!"
Then Himemiko walked up and looked at the fish in front of her when she stopped walking.
"Mister familiar, this Aotake is stil inexperienced so would you forgive him? I apologize for his impoliteness." Himemiko said. "I didn't come here to quarrel. I came here to ask the Land God to grant my bond-tying prayer."
"Bond-tying? So it's a love story?" Kagome said, then Himemiko clacked her mouth or her teeth again as a 'Yes'.
"I only met him once, ten years ago at Tatara swamp, I fell in love with a human boy. He's Urashima Kotatou, from the new residential area. He's crying face was adorable, he was an eight year old child. Since then, it's been ten years in the human world, he must have grown into a fine man by now, but I can't meet him in this form. I want to tie the interrupted bond between Kotatou and me once again. Kagome-dono would you please grant my wish?"
"She won't." Tomoe said next to Kagome. "Romance between a spirit and a human is taboo. You must know that very well too, Princess."
"I do know, I do know." Said princess answered.
When Kagome looked at Himemiko she say sadness in her eyes even it she tried to cover her face.
'It's almost like Kikyo and Inuyasha, it's taboo because they are supposed to be enemies for there difference.'
"I understand, I will do my best in anyway I can." Kagome said as she gave a small smile, making Tomoe shocked at both her agreement in doing it and seeing her smile a bit.
"Thank you" Himemiko said.
Next day,
"Good morning" Kagome said to Kotetsu and Onikiri who was sitting on there knees and looking at a door on the floor.
"Good morning, Kagome-sama." They said looking at Kagome, who was wering something different.
She wore a black sleeveless shirt showing her curves and her C-cup chest that stopped just above her belly button, over it was a yellow jacket with three big buttons that aren't buttoned in, a jean skirt that stopped just above her knees, and she had a chained necklace with a blue crescent moon.
"Kagome-sama, you look beautiful." Onikiri said.
"Thank you."
"And where did you get this necklace?" Kotetsu asked looking at the said object.
"The necklace was a gift from a friend." Kagome said with an unnoticable smile on her face as her hand gripped on it for a while.
"Oh" They said at the sametime.
"Now why are you in here?" Kagome walked up to them and stopped in front of the floor door.
"It looks like he's in quiet a bad mood." Kotetsu said.
"He's down there, he kept locking himself up in his own room after the princess went back." Onikiri said.
"Tomoe-dono."
"Tomoe-dono, Kagome-sama is here."
Then they stood up an ran out as Onikiri said, "There's no helping it, we'll go and prepare breakfast." then Kotetsu said before they left. "We'll see you later."
'They didn't give me a chance to say that Tomoe isn't in there.' Kagome thought as she turned around and walked out.
When Kagome stepped out of the door she bumped into someone and fell to her butt. When she sat up and looked who she bumped into she saw Tomoe on his butt looking at her.
"Tomoe, where were you?" Kagome asked as they both stood up.
"The moon was beautiful, so I watched the moon and drank wine on the roof. I was drunk, so I just flept there like that. Don't worry it's a light case of 'Escaping Reality'." He said as he looked at Kagome's attire.
When Kagome was about to say something Tomoe cut her off.
"If it's about Himemiko, I won't listen to it. I'll apologize to her later, don't get involved in that case anymore. After all, humans and spirits be bound together, most importantly, what can you do?"
"I won't know till I try." Kagome said.
"I'm certain even if you don't try."
"Even human and spirits can love each other too." 'Like a human and a demon or a half-breed love each other.'
"The category called 'love' is based on human's standard." Tomoe said, then Kagome turned around and said to him as she walked away.
"Whatever you say."
"Where are you going?" He questioned making Kagome stop walking.
"To Town, I'm going to search for Kotarou." Kagome said not looking at him.
When Tomoe heard that he remembered when Mikage left saying to take care of the Shrine till he came back which didn't happen yet.
When Kagome began to walk again Tomoe grabbed her shoulder and said to her. "Wait, I'm going too."
"I will let you as long you don't where those loose clothes and loose your ears and tail, I don't want to draw attention to ourselves because of your ears and tail." Kagome said, which surprised Tomoe at her conditions.
In the Town,
Kagome and Tomoe, who was now wearig the clothes he wore when they first met, were walking through the sidewalks.
Kagome and Tomoe then walked through the park and sat on a bench near a fountain that had three girls talking and laughing with each other near it.
When Kagome looked at the girls she realized something, they all wore the same thing. They wore different length brown skirts, a matching long sleeved brown shirt with 2 buttons that are buttoned together, a white blouse underneath it, a yellow bow around their neck, long socks that stops below their knees, and black shoes.
'They're wearing my school uniform, I almost forgot all about it since crazy things happened to me again.'
"What's wrong?" Tomoe said, looking at Kagome confusingly.
"Nothing," Kagome then stood up and looked at Tomoe, "let's get some ice cream." then she began to walk away with Tomoe following her.
When they went to a ice cream store they sat down and ate, both eating vanilla in a small bowl using a plastic spoon.
"Tomoe," Kagome called out.
"Hm?"
"I'm thinking of going back to school soon."
"Where did this come idea come from?"
"Remember the girls that were talking to each other near the water fountain in the park a while a go?"
Getting a nod.
"Well the uniform they wore was my school's and I was thinking of going back to school." She said as she looked away.
"I'll thin about it, just remember that we came here to look for Kotarou."
"I know." She said as she continued to eat her ice cream.
"Huh? Isn't it the Shrine-Maiden Higurashi? What are you doing?" Someone said.
"Hm?" Kagome glanced to see who it was and saw her classmate from school.
"Hey Isobe" She said as she looked away and continued to eat.
"What are you doing, not coming to school? Having a guy with you, how lewd." Isobe said looking at them.
"Don't get the wrong way. Now, got away." She sighed.
"Hey, is it true that your house burned along with your mom and grandpa in there? And that your brother is missing?"
Kagome then stopped and turned to him. As Tomoe stared at Kagome now knowing what had happened that made her find a place to live in.
"Alot of rumors has been flying around in school about you."
"That's non of your business, now buzz off."
He ignored her and said, "It's true, isn't it? Come on tell me?"
"Leave" Kagome said getting annoyed.
While they were talking to eachother Tomoe had been watching them with a weird look on his face and in his eyes he had a different vision of them taking to eachother in a loving way as Kagome talked abit with a small smile on her face.
Then he got up and pulled Kagome's arm making her stand up while he said, "Let's get out of here." still having that weird look in his face.
"What's wrong?" Isome asked then said wanting to get his answers from Kagome, "Hold on a-" then was cut off by having Tomoe's pointed nail touching his forehead.
"Don't touch her so casually, you damn brat." Tomoe said darkly with a tick mark on his face.
Kagome then stopped him before he went to far by yanking his fox ears that recently reappeared and said a bit loudly. "STOP IT!"
When she let go she took a glance at Isome to see him space out from shock. She then turned back to Tomoe who had the same look, thenhe shook it off and turned to Kagome and yelled at her.
"DON'T SHOUT CLOSE TO MY EARS! YOU CAN'T DO YOUR WORK, BUT YOU ALWAYS GIVE ME ORDERS! HOW MATURE ARE YOU?"
"It's your fault for starting a fight with a human. Besides didn't I come here to work?" Kagome retorted.
"Uhm... Please don't fight in the store..." A boy who looks like a worker there said but was ignored.
Tomoe then calmed down a bit as the ears disappeared again and looked away a bit and said quietly."You're not doing any of your work. You...have too many lingering feelings for this world. Don't you think that someday...you'll come back here?"
"Customers... Please..." The boy said but was ignored again.
"I didn't come all the way to the town for you to treat me to ice cream. We came hereto look for Urashima Kotarou." Tomoe said to Kagome catching the boy's attention.
"I am too. I was just a little hot from the heat." She said calmly.
"Uhm... What do you want with me?" The boy now known as Kotarou asked.
Kagome and Tomoe looked at Kotarou with a slight look of shock on their face, as Kagome thought. 'I didn't expect this to happen.'
"I'm... Urashima Kotarou." Kotarou introduced himself to them with a nervous smile.
In a park Kotarou was wearing casual clothes sitting on a bench while playing with his puzzle cube.
"Kotarou-kun" Kagome said as she walked toward him.
"I'm sorry for calling you out."
"No, it's fine." Kotarou said.
Kagome then bowed respectfully. "I'm sorry that I caused a commotion in the shop just now."
"WAH, WAH! P-PLEASE STOP THAT! I don't really mind... T-That aside, what do you...want to talk to me about...?" Kotarou said nervously as he continued playing with his puzzle cube.
"Do you still remember the girl you met at Tatara Swamp ten years ago?" Kagome said looking at him after she straightened up.
"Ten years ago..." He said, he then played his puzzle cube faster.
"I-I'm sorry... I can't remember anything."
"It's alright, don't worry about it." She said and then she realized he had a puzzle cube. "Is that a puzzle cube? Is it your specialty?"
"...Yes... I...reallydon't have any redeeming points... But from long ago, this is the only thing I'm good at... When I touch this, I can calm down, or rather...I can continue a conversation with someone I met for the first time."
"I get it. It's like you lucky item." Kotarou nodded as Kagome gripped her necklace for a moment and let it go.
"My friend has had a crush on you all this time, Her name is Numano Himemiko. Would you please meet her once?"
Kotarou stopped playing with his puzzle cube when he heard someone has a crush on him.
"THAT'S KAGOME-SAMA FOR YOU!" Onikiri yelled.
"You were able to get Kotarou-dono to make a promise, right?" Kotetsu asked.
"Onikiri-kun, Kotetsu-kun? What are you two doing here?" Kagome asked.
"Tomoe-dono told us to come pick you up."
"Oh, and where is he?" She asked.
"Tomoe-dono went to take the car." Onikiri answered.
'Car?' She thought, she then felt something behind her along with Tomoe's aura.
"I'm here." Tomoe said on a floating cart like car that was mostly surrounded by some fog.
"It looks like you finished talking to Kotarou. Let's go back to the Shrine."
"What's this?" Kagome said looking at the car.
"Mikage's favortie car. It's a night fog car. Since it weaves its way through the darkness it only moves at night, though." Tomoe answered.
"Then please, excuse us."Kotetsu said as Onikiri and himself jumped in to the car that was floating to Kagome's height just below her chin.
"You should hurry up and get on, too. I'm going to start the car." Tomoe said turning around to start the car.
Kagome then struggled to get in the car.
Tomoe then said as he saw her not in the car yet.
"If you don't want to go back, you can stay here. I'll go back." He then walked away, but stopped for a bit.
"You want to stay back here, right? In this human world-" Kagome then cut him off.
"You got it wrong." She looked away with a blush on her face as Tomoe turned arouund to look at her.
"Then what?" He said confused.
Kagome put her hand out and said, "It's too high for me to get on. Can you lend me a hand?"
Tomoe's eyes widened for a bit when he saw Kagome blush a bit and pulled her up.
"You are really...slow."
When she got on Tomoe let go.
"You can't pluck the grass, get away from a witch, nor can you get on a car. How absolutely ridiculous." Tomoe said to Kagome.
"By the way, about Himemiko, there's a favor I want to ask of you, Tomoe." Kagome said when he finished.
"What is it?"
The next day,
"WHERE'S HIMEMIKO-SAMA?" Aotake yelled as he barged into the Shrine.
"You're too loud." Tomoe said when he walked into the room.
"SHE WAS CALLED OUT BY THE LAND GOD, AND SHE STILL HAVEN'T COME BACK YET!" Aotake stomped inside the shrine.
"WHERE DID YOU HIDE HIMEMIKO-SAMA, YOU FOX? DON'T TELL ME YOU TURNED HER INTO A FISH AND ATE HER!"
"You're the only one stupid enough to be turned into a fish." Tomoe said calmly.
"You're too loud, Aotake." A voice said.
"I apologize to keep you all waiting." Kagome said behind Himemiko, who now looks like a cute girl in a school uniform that was a head shorter than Kagome.
While Kagome wore a fitting light blue sweater that stopped below her hip, a skirt that stopped to her mid thigh and walked with white socks that stopped mid calf. Same with Himemiko only it was black.
"M-MY PRINCESS...?" Aotake yelled.
"I tried making her wear my girl uniform that I don't wear for school. How is it?" Kagome said.
"Does it really look good on me?" Himemiko asked.
"Hmm. With this, he won't suspect that you're a spirit." Tomoe said.
'Not like he would exactly think of her as a spirit.' Kagome thought, ignoring the look Aotake had when he look really shooked that the cute human girl is his princess.
"With this, I can meet Kotarou, right?" Himemiko then put her hands on each side of her face with a blush on her face.
"But be careful, it's hard for my transformation magic to hold a human form. Absolutely don't use black magic. If you use your power, you'll return to your spirit form." Tomoe warned her.
Himemiko then clacked her mouth as an answer.
"...and stop that, too..." Tomoe added.
"Come on, let's go, Himemiko." Kagome said. "Kotarou-kun is waiting."
"Kagome-dono..." Himemiko said stopping Kagome from almost pushing her to the park. "thank you."
"No problem" Kagome said with a small smile.
"And you sang beautifully." Himemiko added.
"Sang?" Tomoe questioned.
"Kagome-dono sang a song that was short but beautiful while she did my hair." Kagome turned her head away.
"Oh really? Let me hear it?"
Kagome didn't do anything.
"I did you a favor, you should at let me hear the song."
Kagome sighed and began to sing.
(Song Of Parting-Inuyasha)
Father once said to me
Many moons ago
A demon hand will defend
Mother said one day
There is more that you must know
A mortal hand will sustain
Two hands together
Incomplete alone
Balance and union
And the gate will open
Go my children go
Go to crimson flames
To save our children
The lights of memory remain
"It's a beautiful song." Himemiko complimented, with Tomoe nodding in approval along with Onikiri and Kotetsu.
"We should be going." Kagome said, pushing Himemiko to the meeting place, at the plaza at Nishiguchi park, with Tomoe, Onikiri and Kotetsu fallow after them leaving Aotake behind.
"Where did you come up with that song?" Tomoe asked when he caught to them.
"I didn't. I used to live in a Shrine, well not exactly in a Shrine, a house that is built near it. Anyway my mother used to sing me that exact song that was part of the history of our Shrine." Kagome answered as they walked.
'Speaking of the Shrine I should visit it so I could clean it up and still do those monthly tours and maybe put a sign up just in case. Of when I would be there like a schedule and of where I am if they need something from me. It's still my family Shrine, it's just that I can't live in there nor in the house anymore.'
"Which Shrine?" Kotetsu asked.
"Hm?" Kagome asked not paying attention.
"Which Shrine were you in?" Onikiri said for Kotetsu.
Kagome saw it up ahead, which didn't surprise her seeing that the park is close to the Shrine.
Kagome pointed at it as they were in front of the stairs.
"This one." Kagome pointed at the Shrine that's on top of the stairs.
"Wow" Himemiko, Kotetsu and Onikiri awed at it at how it looked seeing as they rarely went out, while Tomoe stared at it at shock that Kagome used to live there, kind of.
"I'll be coming here to take care of it. It's still my family Shrine."
Tomoe's eyebrow twiched for a bit.
"Alright we have to hurry up, we don't want to keep Kotarou waiting." Kagome said with a bland look on her face.
They then began to walk, when they saw Kotarou Kagome gave Himemiko a push so she could go meet Kotarou as the others went behind a bunch of trees so they could observe.
As they watched Kagome, who was standing near a tree as her hand was on it, seemed to be satisfied at what is happening infront of them.
'Cute' Kagome thought at how Kotarou reacted when Himemiko said she missed him alot, seeing as he still doesn't remembered, and when she said she loves him makig him blush. Then he said some stuff about how confused he was of why she likes him but would be disappointed with him right away. However Himemiko wasn't listening as she realised he had a puzzle cube and is playing with it.
She then asked what the puzzle cube was and Kotarou answered along with how to do it. Then he offered if she wanted to give it a try which she gladly accepted it.
He then got up and told her that he would go buy something to drink and left.
"THAT'S KAGOME-SAMA FOR YOU!" Kotetsu yelled.
"SHE FINISHED HER FIRST JOB SO FAST!" Onikiri yelled.
"HOW WONDERFUL!" Kotetsu yelled.
Kagome ignored them as she saw two guys walking toward Himemiko.
"You're cute. You seem to be free." One of them said.
"Want to go somewhere for a bite with us? It's our treat." The other said, then he took the puzzle cube from her hands. "Don't play with something like this."
"Give it back." Himemiko stood up and tried to get it but having a hard time from how short she was compared to them.
"Is this important to you?"
Then his friend went behind her and looked under her skirt.
When Kagome saw this she looked down a bit making her bangs cover her eyes. The hand that was on the tree pushed against it abit making the branch break from the pressure, making a crunching noise that could be heard in a long distance.
(The same way in Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) II episode 10, after Claude helped Ciel into his socks making Sebastian mad as he observed from a distance.)
When Tomoe, Onikiri and Kotetsu saw this they stepped back a few times, shooked that Kagome had actually had that much strength and she didn't seem to look like she knew she did that as she continued to look at what was happening to Himemiko.
The two guys looked at where the sound came from but didn't see anything because of the tree's blocking the way. They then brushed it aside and continued on with what they were doing.
When Kagome was about to walk toward them Tomoe brushed his shock away and stopped Kagome from helping Himemiko, by placing a hand on her shoulder making her turn her head a little to his direction.
"Wait, Kagome. It's not your job to save someone, a human has to move forward on his own." Looking somewhere else, followed by Kagome to see Kotarou. "If one wants to move forward, one can move, even if he only has little power. Your job is to push that back."
Tomoe then pulled out a blank charm and a brush that has already been soaked in black ink and gave it to Kagome.
Kagome then took it and wrote 'Kotarou', she then sticked it on to a tree near by and pushed it a bit.
Then real Kotarou was standing watching the two guys harrassing Himemiko. He then felt something or someone push him toward them and then he began to help Himemiko.
"Looks like those two have moved forward. Good job, for now, that is..." Tomoe said.
"Now that problem is done, I need to ask you something, Kagome." Kagome then looked at Tomoe confused and nodded slowly.
"What do you mean you will take care of two Shrines and how are you able to do that?" Tomoe questioned as he pointed toward the tree she crushed a few moments ago.
"The first one is that I'm going to take care of two Shrines, my family Shrine and Mikage Shrine. You already know about my situation and I'm the only one left in the family to care of it and seeing as I'm the new Land God just recently it would make sense for me to take care of two Shrines. And as for the last question... You'll just have to find that out yourself."
On a Saturday morning,
Kagome was in the Shrine, in her miko garbs, writing down on a paper and had a frame near by. When she was done she looked at it.
"Tomoe, I'll be going to my family Shrine for a while that is if you want to come along." Kagome said as Tomoe came in the room.
Tomoe looked at the paper that she was working on for a while.
Kagome's Schedule
On week days I will be here from 3pm-5pm
On the weekends I will be her from 12pm-4pm
When it's those monthly tours I will be there from 9am-3pm
If there is an emergency that you need me immediately go to Mikage Shrine.
If you are just here to pray then you can do so.
"What's this?" Tomoe asked.
"This is a schedule for my family Shrine." Kagome answered.
Tomoe then looked at the clock on the wall and asked. "Why are you going right now it's 8:45am?"
"Today is the monthly tour so I have to get there pretty soon." Kagome said as she put the schedule in the frame.
"I'll come along, I want to see how you do." Tomoe said.
Kagome nodded toward him.
Kagome and Tomoe then began to walk to her family Shrine.
When they got there Kagome hung the frame next to the sign that says, 'Higurashi Shrine' and when they looked what time it was they have a couple of minutes left until 9am.
"Tomoe can you hide your ears and tail?"
Tomoe then pulled out a leaf and put it on his head making his ears and tail disappear.
Then a group of people came and some seem to be tourists while the rest were the people who are interested with the history of the Shrine.
"Good morning, my name is Kagome Higurashi, new head of the Higurashi Shrine and your guide for this tour. Before we start is there any questions?" Kagome asked with a small smile and a few raised their hands.
Kagome then pointed at one of them.
"What do you mean 'new head of the Higurashi Shrine'? Aren't you a little young?"
"Well you see about a week ago I lost my home, grandfather, mother and my brother. My house burned away along with my grandfather and my mom while for my brother, he disappeared. I'm the only one left it would make sense for me to take care of my family Shrine." She said with a sad smile.
"Anymore questions?" No one raised their hands.
"Well then, we begin our tour."
Kagome then walked up the stairs with Tomoe following behind along with the tourists.
When they got to the of the stairs Kagome then jestured to the huge Shrine in front of them.
"As you can see right there, that is the Shrine. Before it was built there used to be a village that was a bit poor, but before it became poor they were famous for having a powerfu object. The object was called, 'The Shikon no Tama' which meant 'Jewel of Four Souls'.
The Shikon no Tama was created by actual four souls.
The jewel was created by the battle of the great priestess Midoriko and a strong and powerful yōkai (demon). She was able to seize the souls of yōkai and purify them, this power coming from having a positive balance of the four souls within her heart, and in a time of many yōkai ravaging the earth those who possessed spiritual powers such as hers were considered to be as powerful as one hundred samurai. Her spiritual power alone paled that of any other person alive, and it was said she could purify and destroy ten yōkai at once. Her final adversary and the one that claimed her life was created by many yōkai joined and anchored within the evil heart of a human who secretly lusted for her; similar to how Onigumo loved Kikyo and created Naraku which I will tell you later about.
After seven days and seven nights of fighting, Midoriko realized that she would be unable to fight off the yōkai, and as she was drawn into the creature's massive jaws, she seized the spirit of the yōkai and bound it within her own with the last of her power, killing both of them and creating the Shikon Jewel, which burst from her chest. Within the jewel, her soul and the souls of the yōkai she bound within it still battle on. The state of this battle is influenced by the person who possesses the jewel.
The jewel was controlled by various humans and yōkai for several centuries until it ended up being rediscovered by a demon slayer in a centipede yōkai, Mistress Centipede. The demon slayer entrusted Kikyo, who was the current priestass, with the guardianship of the jewel due to her purifying powers, but it leads to her untimely demise.
She met Inuyasha, an inu hanyō, who attepted to steal the Shikon no Tama to become a full demon. Kikyo then pitied him and left him alive warning him to not steal the Shikon no Tama or she would have to purify him. Inuyasha then began to spy on her and then after a few days they began to be friends and while it happened they each began to fall in love eachother little by little without knowing it.
Kikyo then found a burnt bandit and help cure him and occationally Kikyo's younger sister, Kaede, who is training to become a priestass. The bandit then began to fall in love with the priestass. Onigumo gave up his body to demons in order to regain his strength, mobility, and power. He did this because he desired Kikyo and the Sacred Jewel for himelf, while the demons did it because they wished to get rid of Kikyo and obtain the Sacred Jewel. This created the evil half-demon Naraku who then immediately tricked Inuyasha and Kikyo into becoming enemies so he could have the sacred jewel for even more power than he already had.
Naraku deceived Kikyo and InuYasha, who had fallen in love with her, into hating each other by making them believe they had betrayed one another. The purpose of his plan is to steal the jewel and corrupt it with their hatred and bitterness. InuYasha is sealed to a tree for fifty years, and Kikyo is killed by Naraku, although she believes InuYasha is responsible for her death.
Her last words were to burn her body along with her body. Making the jewel disappear until fifty years when a girl came out of a well, that looks almost identical to Kikyo, and found out that she had the Shikon no Tama inside her body. She also found out that she is the reincarnation of the priestass fifty years ago. The girl eventually unsealed Inuyasha however, the jewel was lost to a carrion crow. While attempting to retrieve it by shooting the crow with an arrow, she accidentally shatters the jewel into hundreds if not thousands of shards which scatter themselves across Japan.
Through out their journey they came across a fox yōkai, a monk, and the last demon slayer alive after a herd of demons massacred her village, along with a two tailed neko yōkai. InuYasha's group are attempting to collect the shards and stop Naraku from getting the jewel for himself. Naraku has completed a corrupted Shikon No Tama. When Naraku was killed, the girl was absorbed into the jewel to start a new battle between good and evil.
The jewel was trying to make the girl make a wish so it can start the battle all over again. Because unlike most beliefs, Midoriko is still alive and fighting the demons within the jewel. The jewel wants the girl to take Midoriko's place and replace the demons with Naraku instead. The girl finds out that the jewel does not really grant one's true wish. She realizes that Kikyo wished to be with Inuyasha and Naraku's wish probably wasn't a evil one as he had intended it to be. She remembers her grandfather telling her that the Shikon no Tama can only be purified by one soul that wishes to save everything. It's then that the girl realizes the wish and makes it. She wishes for the Shikon no Tama to be gone forever, thus freeing Midoriko's spirit so that she can pass on to the afterlife; Naraku is shown to have awakened and finally is content by the warmness that the Shikon no Tama shined as it is destroyed.
When the battle was all over there were a few who were left alive. The girl who freed the souls in the jewel, Inuyasha's half older brother, Sesshomaru, who is an inu daiyōkai, one of the most powerful and most feared daiyōkai in Japan, and also prince of the west. The other people who were alive were Sesshomaru's human ward he came across, Rin, Sesshomaru's most loyal servant is a imp yōkai, Jaken, and also Sesshomaru's pet Ah-Un, who is a two headed dragon. And lastly the fox yōkai, that was in the girl's group.
After the battle Sesshomaru went back to his castle, along with Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un. The girl went back to where she came from through the well after she put the fox yōkai in the village's care."
Kagome then began to walk toward a large tree followed by the tourists and Tomoe.
"This here is the tree of ages. The exact tree Inuyasha was sealed to by Kikyo's own arrow. The tree have been around for more than 500 years and it probably has been around here twice that long." Kagome said making some people gasp at it.
Kagome then walked toward the well house and opened the door. She then moved away so people could see the well.
"That is the well the girl went through. Back then they called it the bone-eater's well. They called it that because when they throw bones of demons they killed into the well and after a while the bones with disappear."
Kagome then walked to where they were, infront of the stairs. She then looked at the group and then bowed.
"That's the end of our tour, thank you very much for coming and also if you want you can pray there." Kagome said pointing at where people would usually pray.
When everyone was gone it was 12pm.
"Well, what did you think of the tour?" Kagome said as she looked at Tomoe.
"Really interesting."
Kagome then looked at theplace where people through their money and pray.
When Kagome took a look at the box of where the money thrown she saw a bunch of coins in there and it looked to be half way filled.
"Oh my, I guess I have to clean it up." Kagome sighed. "Tomoe can you help me with this?"
Tomoe walked next to her and had a surprised look on his face at how many coins are in there.
It took about an hour and a half to finish cleaning the coins and replacing the water with fresh new water.
For the next hour and a half Kagome cleaned the Shrine, dusted and sweeped inside and outside the Shrine.
Tomoe and Kagome then took the coins and put them in a bag so they could bring it with them.
They then left to go back to Mikage Shrine.
