Hello!
I'm going to start by saying this chapter has lots of information and I just realized I did this. I really want to update SOMETHING so I'm going to post this and if it's overboard I'll repost a rewrite later…
In the meantime a guide to what the hell happened this chapter is at the end so read it after you read the chapter if you don't understand.
No such thing as Fate is on hold. I'm doing senior seminar and trying to get editors to look at those CRAPPY first chapters while I try to graduate with a decent paper.
Onward!
Chapter 5: Reincarnation
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Blue stared to the sky silent and thoughtful. The stars twinkled invitingly and he eyed them with a sharp focused gaze, cataloging each flash and shimmer in the sky.
He blinked slowly before letting his gaze roll to the two females sitting by his side. They had been quiet for the longest time, just staring at each other. It was as if they were memorizing one another's faces, Kagome with the awe of seeing her favorite model in person and Midoriko with the gaze of an interested older sister seeing a younger sibling for the first time.
Blue snorted at them both. Kagome jumped and Midoriko blinked lazily and glanced to him. Kagome pet his arm absently, partly to make sure his hand was where she wanted and the other to comfort him for reason's she didn't understand.
He huffed like an indignant child but was ignored.
"You look like me…" Kagome reached out hesitantly. Midoriko took the offered hand and pressed it to her cheek.
"I've noticed, it's quite strange," the older Miko closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth from Kagome's hand.
"You're so pretty," Kagome blushed at her own comment. Midoriko only looked amused. "You look more like Kikyou though. Does that mean Kikyou is your reincarnation?"
Midoriko frowned and pulled Kagome's hand from her cheek, "Well…I think that would be rather difficult to reincarnate a soul that hasn't passed on."
Kagome froze, "Then why do we look so much alike, why do you look so much like Kikyou?"
Midoriko sighed and looked thoughtfully to the forest, all the while holding Kagome's hand close.
She hummed, "I did have siblings, two sisters."
Kagome squinted, not quite understanding where the older woman was going with the conversation.
"My younger sisters were such silly girls, they argued constantly. The youngest was a wild little thing, traveling did good to calm her. The other was always into something she wanted knowledge and her thirst caused it's problems, most of the time I disapproved of what she got into but it made her happy and so we let her be. We traveled constantly, outcasts so that we could have some semblance of peace and be ourselves."
Kagome listened enraptured. The wary glances from Midoriko told Kagome that her blue friend was listening too and staring in that creepy way that made your skin crawl.
"My sister, my poor younger sister died long before I did in the battle against those creatures….so many of them," Midoriko shook her head, brown eyes darkening at the memory.
"Why don't we hear the story of your sisters, we only hear about you and your battle. I had no idea you even had sisters," Kagome gushed both excited and horrified. "I've constantly been told that it was you alone who fought and created the jewel."
Midoriko jerked back as if offended, "What nonsense is that? I'm a miko not a goddess. I would have fallen quickly if not for my sisters."
Midoriko continued in a subdued manner.
"I do not know what attracted the first demons to us, probably the prospect of killing three Miko's who had been causing trouble where there had been no opposition against them before. The first few appeared and we were able to fight them off but our battle kept attracting more and more…." Midoriko paused thoughtfully, "I think it may have been a planned attempt at our lives. We were three powerful Mikos, nothing short of a horde could stop us, and alas a horde five times over is what we got."
Midoriko sighed painfully and Kagome took Midoriko's hands in her own with a sad smile and an encouraging nod.
"Our youngest sister; so young, only 14, and so frightened, near hysterical," Midoriko moaned. "As her older sisters, we had to see that she be allowed to survive. The second oldest created the jewel from her own soul, it burst forth from her body killing her instantly. It was a long hard struggle but my youngest sister kept a barrier up and fought off what she could while I prepared the jewel with prayers and powerful magic's. I sealed the demons into the jewel with my own soul as sacrifice, hoping to hold them and keep my remaining sister safe. She charged herself with protecting the jewel from other influences that would tip the balance of power. She even sealed her own powers for fear that her influence would break the bead and start the battle all over again, wasting her sisters efforts."
"…So you think me and Kikyou are the reincarnations of your sisters?"
Midoriko squeezed her hands, "I believe so." There were tears in her eyes, "My sisters swore to help me stop that evil horde in any way they could. We swore to take care of each other and we have," She gave a chuckle, "In the most absurd way possible, but we have never followed the normal rules of society."
"But I don't feel like your sister Midoriko-san. None of that makes sense anyway. I'm supposed to be Kikyou's reincarnation, we share a soul."
Midoriko gave a huff, "Kikyou did that to herself. She died after the jewel was passed on to her. She had the jewel burned with her body, the jewel caused its mischief and you were given Kikyou's soul and your own soul when you were born. It was yours, both of my sisters working together to guard the jewel from influence."
Kagome's eye jumped in irritation, "Then she came back from the grave and snatched the soul back."
Midoriko agreed with a nod.
"Okay, who is who if what you say is true and shouldn't a soul be missing. The Shikon jewel is made from…Kikyou's soul right. She's older than me…so that means she has my soul…ugh!" Kagome moaned in confusion.
Midoriko made a face, "Not quite…being an elder sibling in one life doesn't always mean that it will be the same in the next, in fact you two aren't even siblings this time around. That is beside the fact you are from a very strange era Kagome."
Kagome's eyes gleamed and she wondered how much Midoriko knew of the future where skyscrapers and fast food dominated.
"Okay, so I've been running around on energy from Kikyou's soul and she was kind of right to hate me for having said soul. Just peachy, I at least understand that now."
Midoriko raised an eyebrow as Kagome forced out a calming breath.
"So where is my soul, playing hooky somewhere?"
Midoriko ignored the sarcasm skillfully, "We'll like I said, it is the jewel or at least half your soul is the jewel. Kikyou's soul was a temporary replacement, or rather support, for the missing half that was used to make the jewel."
Kagome blinked a few times at the other woman, "Are you trying to tell me my soul is a little bead that has caused chaos and suffering across japan?"
Midoriko stared at Kagome in a very aloof and Kikyou manner. Kagome expected Midoriko to deny it, maybe reassure her, she was horribly shocked when Midoriko said, "Yes" quite bluntly.
"That makes no sense!" Kagome howled desperately. She snatched her hands from Midoriko's and stood.
"Kagome," Midoriko stood quickly and took Kagome's face in her hands before the younger miko could explode in anger.
"Kagome, dearest Kagome, I didn't come here to scare you" She cooed.
Kagome glanced up with tears in her eyes, Midoriko was a full head taller making Kagome feel awkward as she tried to meet the older woman's gaze.
"Then what are you here for. I'm not your sister and I don't think I want the extra responsibility of that title."
"Title? Whatever you may be to me I feel you are my savior."
Kagome paused in shock.
"There have been others before you Kagome, who fought and died to protect the jewel, others before Kikyou," She tenderly brushed a strand of dark hair from Kagome's face. "You are the first to set me free, you are the first to see past your own fears of the jewel and its place in the world."
Kagome stared not quite believing the woman before her.
She giggled and the sound quickly became a desperate laugh tinged with fear.
"I set you free? Then where is the jewel, where are the demons that you sacrificed yourself to seal!"
Midoriko let her hands fall to her side, "The jewel went home, its desperate wish. It completed your damaged soul."
"Where are the demons?"
"They are a part of the jewel Kagome," Midoriko explained sternly, "The jewel has fused with your soul as it should have been at the beginning; sealing the demons for all of eternity yet combining your soul with theirs."
"What did you do to me," Kagome whimpered in disbelief bagging away.
Midoriko closed her eyes, her expression pained.
"I didn't do anything. You made the decision to become a witch, to become a demon." Kagome was ashen as Midoriko continued.
"I had never thought of such a solution, neither had anyone else. To become a demon and take the jewel onto yourself…The thought would offend another Miko but I see now it was the only way to control the jewels power. I feel like an imbecile for thinking someday the battle would be won against the demons."
Kagome stood a moment blinking slowly. "Are you trying to tell me I've become a demon?"
Midoriko blinked rapidly, "Of course you are. You wished to become a youkai, to become a witch, the jewel only took advantage of the changes already happening. Besides that, you do need a soul to live and Kikyou's soul isn't there to support the soul you still do have. It worked before but now…"
Kagome swayed feeling faint.
Midoriko stepped closer and Kagome stumbled away with a nervous laugh.
"Well none of that matters here, I'm dead! I died fighting Naraku!" She blurted out.
Midoriko's eyes widened suddenly making sense of the situation.
Kagome had been immensely calm since the begging of all this mess. She had seemed to accept it and had even spoken to Kikyou without anger or rage before being flung from limbo.
It wasn't that she had accepted her situation, it was fierce denial.
That was besides the fact that she probably hadn't wanted to leave the living realm spitting mad and filled with hatred like Kikyou had.
Midoriko considered the younger woman a moment before nodding slowly, "Kagome, you are alive."
Quiet swept the area.
Blue looked between the two still and silent women in interest.
He took a deep breath and dug in his ear absently looking for something more interesting than Kagome's emotional roller coaster.
"I'm alive?" Kagome whispered. Color rushed back into her face and it was if the rest of the conversation had never happened.
"Hai, you chose a most selfish mistress to teach you Kagome. A witch like Aneko won't let an apprentice she put so much work into just die without it being her fault"
A chill ran up her spine at that bit of information but she smiled lopsidedly anyway.
"I'm alive?"
Kagome swayed and Midoriko rushed forward with a squeak as the younger woman collapsed.
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Shippou tilted his head, frowned, then tilted his head the other way.
The pile of rocks didn't move.
He glanced to the one rock that was out of place, laying innocently on the ground beside all its siblings. He then glanced back to the pile of rocks.
This didn't make sense. If one of the rocks had fallen away it had to come from somewhere.
The pile tapered into a pyramid of sorts with one single rock balanced precariously on the very top. If a strong enough wind came through it usually fell over and Shippou was always the one to put it back.
To move any of the rocks meant that the top one had to fall over except it hadn't…
Shippou squinted and walked around the grave. Another rock sat on the other side, displaced from the pile.
Shippou huffed and went to sit at the foot of the grave.
Someone messed with the rocks. Who would put it back at the top though?
A butterfly fluttered absently into the clearing. Shippou watched it quietly as it swept past his face. A breeze blew and the little creature didn't fight it. The butterfly flew back and landed lightly on the grave for a rest.
With the breeze came a scent on the wind.
Shippou sighed to himself and minutes later quiet footsteps paused behind him.
"Shippou?"
Kikyou stood by the well, an innocent hand resting on its rim. He blinked warily at her then turned back to watch the butterfly. It was gone and Shippou sighed in disappointment.
"What are you doing?"
Shippou didn't respond immediately but when he did his tone was one of defeat.
"Visiting Kagome-chan."
Kikyou came forward and lowered herself to the ground beside Shippou. They sat in silence a moment before Shippou finally dared to look at her. She sat with her a knee propped up and an arm draped across her lap. The bags under her eyes revealed stress and many a night without sleep. Despite how relaxed and in control she seemed Shippou could feel her irritation and energy humming just under the surface. Not miko energy, just physical energy as if she would jump up and run through the forest like a mad woman.
Shippou sniffed again and snorted.
Now, instead of smelling like grave soil and death, she smelled of depression and irritation, Shippou honestly couldn't decide which scent was worse.
He sighed again.
"You sigh a lot for a child…like a grown man with the weight of the world on his shoulders."
"I'm a child with the weight of the world on my shoulders. Not much difference." Kikyou glanced at him and he gave a wry smile, "I certainly act more mature than most grownups"
The ex-Shikon Miko shrugged, she couldn't deny the kit that truth.
"You look like crap," he said bluntly eyeing the shadows of Kikyou's face.
Kikyou stiffened, "You're a rude child, did you know that?"
Shippou gave another of those smiles that should never be on the face of one so young.
"I think I'm allowed this much"
Kikyou forced out a frustrated breath, once again finding she couldn't deny the kit's words.
Shippou shook his head, "Inuyasha is sad," He began bright green eyes shining, "and being mean to others is how he gets energy I think. It doesn't help after what happened."
He paused uncertainly then continued, "I think you should sit him like Kagome used to do. That'll set him straight"
Kikyou rubbed the bags under her eyes with a low chuckle, "Sometimes I wish I could kit. I think that would hurt him more than anything else I've ever done." She smiled tightly, "Taking Kagome's famed subjugation and using it against him after her death."
Kikyou looked to the pile of stones, "I could have done it when I was dead," she admitted wistfully.
"Why?" Shippou asked, squinting at her suspiciously.
Kikyou made a face, "Well, because I was angry at the world. I never ever expected to be brought back to life, no matter what I did. It's just against the flow of the things. I was sabotaging everyone's life just because I could and they had what I had wished for." A thought suddenly struck Kikyou and she smiled at the irony, "Dead or alive, this mind and heart of mine is only human."
She crossed her legs and smiled knowingly at Shippou, "You know Kagome taught me that."
Shippou laughed at that, "She called them epiphanies. It was something that might change the world."
Kikyou pondered this in amusement, "I'm not sure about changing the world but it's done something to me. I don't mind it so much," She admitted.
Shippou giggled and Kikyou smiled. She hadn't come with the intention of cheering Shippou up but it made her feel good nonetheless.
"Do you have advice to deal with the rest of the village?" She asked curiously.
Shippou's laughter faded eventually and he glanced to her with light in his eyes, "Time, at least for Miroku and Sango. They might never like you but the hostility will go away someday. I didn't know you were having trouble with the rest of the village."
Kikyou looked away her expression wistful, "They accept me because I know about medicine and Kaede is old." She absently ran a hand down her smooth youthful face, a strange light in her eyes.
Shippou pressed his lips together and nodded, "That's just the humans in this village, they've gotten used to strange happenings so it doesn't bother them as much as it would other humans."
Kikyou shrugged at that and they settled into comfortable silence.
"Do you miss her alot Shippou?"
A frown creased his brow and Kikyou wondered when lines had begun to appear in his expressions.
"Of course I do and it hurts real bad," He admitted.
"Pain fades with time" she said quietly.
The comment amused Shippou to no end and Kikyou smirked.
"I don't think it will. It's been months, and it still hurts. I think it's because," he paused in thought then nodded as if liking his train of thought, "She was my mother."
Kikyou's head tilted at that and she met Shippou's gaze. She felt the child had revealed more about his past than he'd originally intended but his stern gaze and the set of his posture said he knew very well what he'd told her even if it made him uncomfortable.
"I never knew my mother either," Kikyou admitted quietly.
"Oh?"
Kikyou looked to the pile of stones, "I was taken for training soon after I was born. I'd seen my mother but I didn't 'know' her."
Shippou seemed uncertain how to respond to that and his eyes shifted nervously.
Kikyou reached out and put a hand to his bright red hair.
"You may be a very intelligent kit but don't force yourself to carry troubles on your own. That is my problem not yours. Go be a child while you can," She said quietly, "Because once this time is past you don't ever get it back may you be demon or human."
Shippou nodded after a long moment.
"Kagome would scold me right now if she knew I'd spent months staring at her grave looking lost." He admitted with a groan.
"You're grieving kit, nobody is going to tell on you," Kikyou promised.
Shippou shrugged and climbed to his feet.
Kikyou paused then quickly reached in her sleeve, "That's right I came to give you something." Shippou stood before her his tail twitching as he stretched.
She pulled out a dark cloth and unwrapped it to reveal another cloth, bright red and familiar.
"This was Kagome's. I wanted to keep it to remember all the things I did and what was lost because of my actions." She offered the cloth cradled in another cloth to Shippou. He took the necktie of Kagome's uniform.
"But I realized it wasn't mine to keep, you deserve this much more than I ever will."
Kikyou stuffed the dark cloth away and stood as Shippou pressed the necktie to his face.
"Kagome…it's Kagome's scent," he whimpered. He glanced up with tears in his eyes, "Thank you," He said quietly.
Kikyou nodded and stood slowly. Shippou stood numbly with the cloth watching as Kikyou dusted the dirt from her bottom. She reached over and took the necktie from him and he reached for it alarmed. She squatted before him and wrapped it around his ponytail.
He relaxed and blinked up at her, "You take care of that kit, I don't have anything else to give you if you lose it."
He nodded as she turned and began to walk away.
Shippou watched her go a moment before something made him call out to her.
"Where are you going?"
Kikyou glanced at him amused, "what do you mean?"
Shippou frowned. Of course she was going into the village, what had made him ask?
Kikyou nearly smiled at the confusion on his face.
"I'm going kit, you're right."
He glanced up, "Where?"
"Anywhere. Everyone needs time and so do I. I am a selfish woman Shippou and don't let any other Miko tell you they are any better. We are humans forced into servitude. I want to be free. I'm causing pain and making myself sick trying to remain here, that's beside the fact I hated being here in my last life."
Kikyou took her hair down from its ponytail and ran her hands through it absently.
"You better take of yourself, or I'll hate you forever" Shippou called after her.
She stood and thought about it a second before she smirked knowingly and continued down the path to the village.
Shippou frowned and glanced back.
"No bye's Kagome-chan, I'll see you later."
Shippou bowed to the grave before turning and racing away.
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"I'm alive?"
Midoriko sighed at the hysterical murmur from her ward.
"Yes young one, I know." She stroked Kagome's hair.
Kagome lay on her back with her arms pulled tightly to her body as if a straitjacket were restraining her. Her head rested on Midoriko's lap and the older miko worked to keep her calm.
It seemed the shock of everything, from the battle with Naraku to the announcing of her status, had finally caught up with her. Kagome coughed and blinked up at Midoriko, a steady stream of tears flowing from her eyes, wetting the pants leg acting as her pillow.
Midoriko felt immensely bad for her.
A figure appeared from the forest and she frowned at Blue's form walking toward them. His hand's were held out in a strange manner as if he were carrying something precious.
Midoriko squinted uncertainly, this man looking creature was rather strange and she wasn't about to try and figure out what was wrong with both him and this upside down realm they were now inhabiting. He came closer and some part of Midoriko wanted to shy away, possibly hide in a deep dark cave with a massive rock in front of it.
In his hand was what appeared to be a big glob of…some wiggling, slimy looking water he was impossibly holding in his hands.
Blue came closer and stood over the two women. Midoriko gazed at him with horror in her eyes and Kagome blinked groggily at the huge hunk of what looked like gel.
Blue took a deep breath and Kagome felt her face twist into something fierce and angry.
"You better not," she stared up at him and he seemed to be debating whether to listen or not.
He made his decision.
Both Kagome and Midoriko shrieked as he gave the blob of gel a little toss and moved his hands away.
Kagome tried to sit up but the gel fell like a sac of bricks. Most of the mess missed Midoriko but Kagome gasped as she suddenly found herself drowning. Midoriko threw her hands up in alarm as the younger woman struggled for breath.
By pure force of will, she snatched herself free from the water-gel with a frantic gasp. She rolled over and coughed up the liquid that had gotten into her mouth, her hair, and everywhere else.
Kagome looked to Blue who seemed immensely proud of himself for almost drowning her. She gave a snarl and jumped to her feet.
Midoriko watched numbly as Kagome ran over, stopped, and kicked Blue viciously in the knee. He stumbled away trying to grab at his abused leg and failing horribly. He shoved her and Kagome collapsed to the ground with a gasp.
"That's it!"
Kagome seemed to pull a stick from nowhere and she swung the two-by-four at Blue. He stumbled away and Kagome was yanked forward from the force of her missed swing. Blue took the chance to run away and Kagome followed him with rage etched in her features.
Midoriko rubbed her eyelids to ward off a headache before watching Blue and Kagome race about the clearing. It was mighty funny, she had never seen someone of Blue's size run so fast and the fact he was running from such a little bitty thing as Kagome added to the absurdity.
Absently she rubbed her hands down her thighs noting the cloth was dry, even Kagome's tears had dried up.
She looked and saw Kagome's hair still clung to her but was quickly drying. There was no other traces that the gel had ever been there.
Midoriko didn't know what Blue had done to Kagome but it had snapped her from the shock.
Blue caught Kagome's wrist and they struggled. Midoriko frowned as the real horror of this situation dawned on her.
Did Kagome realize who she was trying to beat with a stick…
Blue opened his mouth revealing darkness and eternity that threatened to swallow Kagome up. The young miko wasn't alarmed. She snatched free and tried to shove the stick down his throat.
Blue bit the stick before it could cause any damage and shook his head like a dog destroying the master's morning newspaper.
Midoriko raced toward them, "Kagome you don't want to-"
Blue and Kagome turned at once and blinked at her in confusion.
Midoriko realized she had just missed something…they couldn't be playing could they.
"Kagome you aren't mad are you?"
Kagome's smiled, "Of course not, Blue's just a big brat. It's hard to stay mad at him."
The stick still gripped in Kagome's hand jerked violently and Kagome yanked it free of Blues mouth with alarm. Her weapon looked as if a massive pencil sharpener had gotten hold of it and someone quite clumsy had broken the lead after the initial sharpening. There were even groves in the wood that seemed to suggest Blues head had at some point been spinning around.
She stared at the stick in disbelief then turned and jabbed Blue in the side. He grunted and glared at her. Kagome grinned brightly and Midoriko stared still alarmed by all this.
"Kagome, do you know what he is?"
Kagome thought about it then shrugged.
"Just Blue"
Midoriko nodded slowly, "Where did you learn such a name?"
"I made it up."
"Oh."
Midoriko stared, uncertain how to continue. She vaguely remembered having similar conversations with her younger sibling about why you couldn't keep mud demons as pets and such.
"Kagome, I don't know who he is but this isn't a realm for you and I, in fact I'm quite stunned we're here. This isn't the human realm or the afterlife I think it's safe to assume we're in a realm of gods and spirits."
"Oh," Kagome glanced at Blue seeming to realize what Midoriko was saying, "Oooooh, ok"
Her gaze was thoughtful, "Well Blue's my friend, so I guess it's ok"
Blue shrugged giving his input on the whole situation.
Midoriko rubbed her temple, turned, and walked away.
"Where are you going?"
"I have a headache, I don't think the dead are supposed to suffer such things."
Kagome frowned, "So you're ready to pass on?"
Midoriko paused as if suddenly realizing that was an option for her. Kagome smiled and came closer, rubbing away the evidence of her earlier crying fit.
"I think," Midoriko looked to her with eyes alight, "I would like that very much. Rest after fighting so long is…"
"Unimaginable, a wonderful thought, peace?" Kagome filled in for her.
Midoriko didn't need to answer but the look she gave Kagome said it all.
Kagome took Midoriko's hand, "Me and Blue will show you the way?"
Midoriko frowned as Kagome pulled her along gently and Blue followed them, his gaze bored.
"There's a 'way' to the afterlife?"
"Yeah, when you've been here as long as I have you just find these things. Blue gave me a little tour so that helped"
Midoriko shook her head baffled, "Weren't you just in horrible shock?" She asked, feeling stressed by Kagome's random mood swings.
"Yeah, but I'm over it. I'm happy to be alive. Believe me if I hung on everything that's happened to me in my life I'd be crazy"
Midoriko eyed her but said nothing.
They walked all of 5 minutes before they stood at a wall of light. It was about the size of obscenely large double doors, as tall as the oldest oak trees. Midoriko had expected something a little different, especially not such a short walk to something so strange. She walked around the wall of light absently, finding it looked the same no matter the angle. Finally, she came to stare with Kagome and Blue.
"The afterlife is a wall of light? Does that mean everyone goes through and ends up in the same place?"
Kagome tilted her head, "I don't think so but I've never been through." She stepped closer to Midoriko and they examined the portal together.
"How do you know all this?"
"I don't know, I just learned a whole ton of stuff while I've lived here. I stopped questioning it a while ago. Besides how do you question the existence of something like him?" Kagome motioned over her shoulder to Blue.
Midoriko chuckled at that and Kagome grinned.
"Oh Kagome," Midoriko paused and stared, "Your see through"
Kagome examined her hand and shrugged with an annoyed look on her face, "Not the first time I've been see through. At least Blue hasn't tried to poke me yet."
Midoriko only shook her head at the both of them.
"There are a few of these all over. There are people who just die and go to the afterlife automatically then there are people who linger on earth or limbo for whatever reason. They fall onto this plain eventually and then they can wander toward one of these portals." Kagome explained quietly.
"Oh."
There was a whimper and all three of them turned to look.
A child as transparent as Kagome stood at the tree line. He was probably about 6 or 7 with raggedy little clothes. His eyes were slitted, the color of bark stripped wood and his ears were pointed. A little demon child.
"I have to go to that," He asked pitifully eyeing what had to be an opposing doorway to a child.
Kagome's eyes widened and she looked at it, as did Midoriko. They looked at one another, "It is very scary isn't it little one." Midoriko held out her hand to the child.
He looked like he would rush to her, not yet taught to fear mikos, but he paused and glanced back.
"There's no going back," Midoriko advised gently.
He looked back to her and came forward timidly.
He slid his hand into hers and Midoriko was mildly surprised at how solid he felt despite his appearance.
Kagome stepped back as Midoriko swung the child up into her arms, they both looked to the portal. Some part of Kagome was horribly surprised by the turn of events. After all Midoriko had been through, she thought the legendary miko would be wary of demons, no matter how small.
"We'll go together," Midoriko said softly brushing a thumb over his chin.
He nodded seeming pleased.
Kagome pressed her lips together as she and Midoriko shared one more look. Midoriko raised an arm and Kagome stepped into her hug. They squeezed one another tightly. Midoriko held on a second longer before releasing her. Kagome rubbed a hand across the back of the child's head in silent goodbye. He smiled at her, innocent and oblivious.
The fireflies crowded around his head and he looked to them and pointed, "They say we have to go to the light."
Kagome raised an eyebrow, so the lightening bugs had another purpose, to lead dead souls to the portals. They certainly didn't help live people who accidently fell into this world.
Midoriko seemed amused by the little bugs but she obeyed, they started toward the portal.
"Why does that lady look like you," The boy asked loudly.
Midoriko chuckled, "It's a long story"
He shrugged, "I like stories, tell me."
"Well I suppose I can manage that, it's a scary story though."
He made a face and pointed to the portal, "If I can go through that, nothing in the world is scary."
That made Midoriko laugh and Kagome chuckled.
She turned to Blue, "Give me a hug, I think it's about time for me to go too."
Kagome wrapped her arms around his torso and he put a hand to her back. He poked her in the side a few times and Kagome squirmed, grateful that it only tickled instead of leaving her in mind numbing pain like it had before.
She stepped away and stared into Blue's eyes a minute. He blinked slowly and looked to Midoriko and her new little friend. They stood before the portal with wide eyes. It still looked like a wall of light to Kagome but something had been revealed to the two of them.
The little boy squealed happily and struggled to be let free. Midoriko set him down, he rushed to the light without hesitation and vanished.
"How's it look Midoriko?" Kagome called to her.
Midoriko wrinkled her nose at Kagome; half amused half disapproving. Kagome wasn't dead, it wasn't her place to know what was on the other side.
She waved to them, walked forward confidently, and vanished into the beyond. Kagome looked to her only remaining companion.
"You be good Blue, don't make me come back here."
He snorted and Kagome laughed at him. She walked forward and Blue watched her vanish into thin air.
Kagome was suddenly just awake for no apparent reason. She hadn't drifted into awareness nor did she recall the darkness of sleeps grip, one minute she'd been walking from blue the next…
She blinked uncertainly at an unfamiliar ceiling and unfamiliar walls. Turning her head this way and that, she examined the bare room.
She tried to open her mouth and speak but all that came out was a strange crackling sound that reduced her to a fit of coughing.
Rolling over slowly, she curled into herself trying to stifle her coughs. The noise drew attention. A door Kagome hadn't realized was there slid open and she glanced up surprised.
"Kagome-sama?"
An aqua-green foot rushed past her. Moments later someone was helping her sit up and take a drink. Kagome had never been so thankful for water in her life. The woman pulled the water away what felt like seconds later and Kagome clawed for it blindly.
"I'll get you more. Just hold on."
Kagome moaned softly and released the poor woman. She had the strength to sit up on her own and she wasn't told to do otherwise. The woman moved away and Kagome finally focused on her. The first thing she noticed were the webbed ears waving back and forth absently, next she noticed that the woman was blue, aqua-marine blue with scales that shined in the light. She wore a simple green yukata that complimented her coloring. The strange fish woman turned and Kagome saw grey eyes and flat thin lips. It was as if someone had made a slit across otherwise unblemished skin and told her it was her mouth.
She smiled, a strange sight, just the movement of the corners of her mouth.
"Where'm I?" Kagome croaked before eagerly taking the water and inhaling it.
She coughed and the woman pet her back with a very human shaped hand.
"This is a shrine to the Water God. Lady Aneko bought you here."
Kagome looked up at the familiar name, "Aneko? Aneko is here?" she whispered.
"Yes, lady Kagome. She said to bring you to her when you awoke. Do you think you can handle it right now?"
Kagome held the cup shaking a bit, she didn't think she could stand let alone see Aneko.
The woman frowned a bit, her ears standing out on the sides of her face humorously. "Are you ok Kagome-sama."
"What are you?" Kagome asked weakly.
Webbed ears flapped curiously, "Mist."
That hadn't answered the question but it had helped a little.
"Mist, ok, I got it," Kagome scratched thoughtfully at the back of her neck. Dirt fell away and Kagome made a face as she looked at the mess under her nails. Someone had tried to clean her up but they hadn't gotten all of the mess.
Mist looked at her thoughtfully, "How about a nice hot bath and then we'll see if you're up to seeing the mistress?"
Kagome nodded gratefully. Mist stood and walked gracefully to the door. She stepped out, bowed, then closed it and was gone. Kagome sat a moment unsure of what she'd gotten herself into. She glanced around. The room was four tatami mats long and three mats wide, incredibly big for just one person. The walls were hardly walls but were instead paper sliding screens decorated with paintings of a fields and birds in fight or resting. There was only one solid wall decorated like the sliding screen doors. There were three windows in this solid wall. The furthest window was propped open by a neatly cut stick. Kagome could hear the ocean rolling just outside.
A dusty old wooden closet sat pushed into a corner as if it weren't meant to be used. Beside her sat a water jug on a tray. Other than that, the room was eerily bare.
The door slid open again and Kagome looked to see Mist had returned and she had a friend. They were obviously the same species of…whatever they were, but this one was a beautiful coral pink with pearl colored eyes.
"Come On Kagome-sama, we have a bath ready for you."
Both women came closer and hauled her to her feet. Kagome hissed as her legs tingled uncomfortably.
"Try and walk with us Kagome-sama."
Kagome grumbled her whole way down the hall. It wasn't until two creatures with the heads of koi walked past on thin little legs that Kagome realized something was very wrong. They were obviously bickering, rapidly swatting at each other as they passed.
Now as she looked about, Kagome realized that wasn't the only strange thing making its way through the building.
The halls were busy with all manner of creatures. A frog sauntered down the hall, standing upright like a man and croaking absently as it passed. A dragon made its way past, a beautiful creature of water, it's long whisker caressing her face as it floated on by.
A woman walked past, her hair and clothes were dripping wet. A plain white mask, a single eye drawn in the center, covered her face. She glanced at Kagome curiously before continuing on her way down the hall leaving a trail of water in her wake.
"The hell…" Kagome murmured.
"We're here!" Mist cried happily.
Before she could register what'd been said the coral colored woman pushed the door open revealing a room filled with three large above ground tubs that stood over Kagome's head and were probably large enough to fit a car. She glanced up absently to see the ceiling of the room was gone. There were levers and ropes hanging at the far wall that suggested they could pull the ceiling back over the room if they so chose.
The closest tub steamed invitingly.
A woman sat on a high bar-like stool in a simple yukata she didn't bother trying to make look decent. It hung off her and one bare leg was revealed as she rested her foot on one of the higher footrests. Her hair was a dark reddish brown and it looked as if she had painted makeup on the underside of her eyes instead of over her eyelids.
"So your Anko's new pet," She began, "second one this year."
Kagome frowned, but the two fish-like women stepped in with sharp glares.
"Don't start Dia."
Dia snorted and hoped down from her stool. She pulled the fabric up over her shoulder lest a bit of breast spring free.
"So pet, what's your name?"
Kagome bit her lip and refused to answer. The woman snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, "A stubborn one" She rolled her eyes, "Bring her this way."
Dia turned and walked with the confidence of someone who knew her way around. The two fish women helped Kagome along not bothering to keep up with the other woman's confident stride. Dia slid a door open just past the last bath.
It took a moment for Kagome's eyes adjusted to the dark and she could see Dia moving about. She walked over to a corner, grabbed hold of some rope, and began to pull. The whole room seemed to groan in protest. The ceiling slid away a bit allowing in just the reasonable amount of light. Kagome sighed in thanks and finally allowed herself to glance around. The room's walls were fashioned into wooden shelves and filled with as many jars as would fit. Whatever was contained in those jars made the room smell heavenly in Kagome's opinion.
Dia left the ceiling cracked and turned to Kagome, walking the room as if she were a predator and her new ward the prey. Kagome glance around nervously and was mildly alarmed to find the other two women had vanished.
"What's your favorite scent?"
Kagome blinked in confusion as Dia finally stalked closer and helped Kagome stand again. She tugged at the simple sash of Kagome's yukata and it fell away letting the light cloth slip open. Kagome squealed and tried to cover herself but Dia was having none of that. She moved Kagome's arms, pulled the fabric away and forced Kagome back onto the stool naked. She snorted as the younger woman tried to cover herself yet again.
"I-I don't know," Kagome bit out.
Dia sighed in annoyance and tossed Kagome's yukata over her shoulder like trash.
She came closer and Kagome tensed. Suddenly Dia was in her face, tilting her head this way and that, sniffing her arm, and sniffing her hair.
She finally snorted, "You smell like graveyard soil."
Kagome had the sudden urge to bite her in the face.
Dia smiled at Kagome's anger and she took another sniff of the hair she held.
"Tangy" Dia stuck her tongue out and Kagome was afraid this mad woman would lick her. Dia tasted the air and nodded, "Fruity? Tangy fruit? Oranges perhaps?" She shook her head, "Not quite but let's find a smell that won't clash with your natural scent."
Dia was suddenly rushing away and Kagome was left dazed. The strange woman climbed ladders, lifting leather coverings off pots and sniffing at their contents. Every so often she would take a bowl from a shelf and use it to scoop ingredients from varying pots. Kagome stared as different bowls of things began to pile up around her. At eight bowls Dia finally came over and eyed her.
Kagome blinked at her wide-eyed, feeling exposed and horribly confused.
Dia knelt beside her, took a hand full of some gel from one of the bowls, and smeared it over Kagome's arms. Kagome shivered at the cold concoction. Dia worked with a near obsessive gleam in her eyes.
Kagome's nose began to burn as the scent of tangerines and sweet things nearly overwhelmed her.
"What are you doing," Kagome choked, tears in her eyes.
"Let me work!" the dark haired woman snapped.
Seconds later Kagome squealed and twisted away when a hand groped her chest.
"Stop being a pervert!"
Dia only grinned and Kagome paled, having hoped the comment would make Dia shy away.
A hard squeeze to her left breast had Kagome flailing in alarm. Dia chuckled then paused, "Oh damn, I was having so much fun I forgot to do your hair first."
She tsked and picked up another bowl. Kagome tensed when its contents were dumped on her head. Dia stood behind her and quickly used her fingers to comb the liquid into her dark locks. She twisted Kagome's hair into one long tail and draped it over her shoulder.
Kagome frowned at the white mess mixed in her hair but was distracted when Dia immediately went back to groping her. She yelped angrily and tried to fight her off but the woman ducked her swings expertly with a delighted grin.
Suddenly it was over.
Kagome was smeared with paste and liquids from head to toe. The crazed woman appeared behind her and Kagome shrieked in alarm at the ice-cold water dumped over her head.
Shivering and in shock she barely noticed when Dia began a quick scrub down then abruptly stopped again.
"Come now pet, get up." She helped Kagome stand and walk back into the tub room.
"Get in the water," She ordered. "Can you do it alone?" she asked when Kagome wobbled on her feet. Kagome nodded numbly and climbed up a small set of stairs between the first two tubs. She turned cautiously and slid into the warm water, grateful as it chased away the chill and hid her from the other woman's gaze.
Dia sat on her stool and looked to Kagome with a lazy smirk, "Rinse yourself well pet or I'll be forced to do it for you. Leaving that stuff on you makes you itch something fierce."
Kagome sunk into the water enjoying the way the soap in her hair made her scalp tingle.
"Are you always this perverted or am I just lucky enough to catch you on an outgoing day."
Dia smirked and leaned back in her seat, "I'm always outgoing pet."
Kagome rolled her eyes and the older woman chuckled, "I have to try, I've had the occasional customer who loved my attentions."
The implications ran through Kagome's head like a mantra.
"Lady Anko is always interesting to deal with; perhaps you can join us one day. I assume you're going to be here awhile?"
Kagome blushed and submerged herself completely.
She stayed down as long as she dared and rubbed the paste from her hair.
She could hear loud but distorted voices. Coming above water slowly, she peered at the two servants who had left her to Dia's caring attention. Squinting at them accusingly, the pink woman looked at Kagome and smiled nervously.
Mist smiled brightly at her but Kagome noted how they stood a good two arm lengths away from the crazed head of the baths who grinned wildly at them.
She shot them a heated glare and they both giggled nervously. They obviously knew exactly what they'd left Kagome to face.
"Sorry to interrupt you're bathing time Kagome-sama but milady is impatient."
Kagome huffed at them and submerged herself again.
When she came back up again she climbed from the tub noting how much better she felt. Her stinging muscles only tingled uncomfortably every so often but she could move fine, that was beside the fact she felt the cleanest she'd been in a long time.
The two servants quickly wrapped her in cloth and helped her dry off.
A third servant appeared at the door. A more human looking woman than anyone else Kagome had seen thus far. She did a quick sweep of Kagome's wrapped form before passing over a bundle of cloth to Mist.
Kagome reached out and took the strip of unassuming cloth.
"What's this?" Kagome waved the thin cloth oblivious to the gapping looks she received, even from Dia.
"Urm…undergarment's Kagome-sama."
Kagome blushed, "Oh…well how do I wear it. This is a pair of panties right?"
The three women exchanged looks and Kagome's blush darkened.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Yeah…I had a brain baby for this story.
The bath scene is in no way significant to the story, I just had fun writing it. Tell me what you think. if you have a problem with Dia's undertone's that's your own problem, I have no intention of fixing it cause I think it's hilarious. –Shrugs-
For those people I overwhelmed with information on mistake (I just realized this but am desperate to update something this year. It got complicated without be realizing it.):
Midoriko believes that Kagome (Middle sister) and Kikyou (Little sister) are the reincarnations of her sisters.
Kagome's soul was fractured in the attempt to make the jewel. Half her soul is the shikon jewel the other half was reincarnated and supported by Kikyou's whole soul thus they worked together to help their older sister.
In Kikyou's attempt to get rid of the jewel we're going to say the jewel grabbed Kikyou's loose soul while it tainted and selfish, and dragged the soul along to its hiding place, Kagome. Kikyou had been wandering around with half a soul for most of the series (Not really, I'm using creative license here so for my story it's true)
When Kikyou was brought back to life, she snatched back the missing half of her soul Kagome had been using as support.
Midoriko was shoved from the jewel when a new sacrifice (Kagome) stepped forward to restrain the evil half of the jewel, thus she was set free from her eternal duty and allowed to pass on. The jewel is balanced by good and evil. Instead of Kagome being sucked into the jewel to be it's good half, the jewel was melded with her soul giving her a bad half. Balance…
Things for the hell of it:
Mist(s) is supposed to confuse you (lol, you'll get more when the need strikes me)
Dia came from the same part of my brain that created Blue. Enough said.