Sora: Chapter 5 is finally here…. Is anyone still rereading these? Are they better than the originals?
Lol, I was just rereading the old chapters and I noticed a major plot hole! Inuyasha can't go to the dark tournament because he'd attack Kagome the entire time! Ha! Good thing I'm rewriting everything, ne?
Quote: "…Incompetent good intentions will only bring tragedy. If you intend to do what is right, you need the strength to accompany that. You lacked that. You were weak." Kratos Aurion: Tales of Symphonia
Kagome woke to her alarm clock blaring some random radio music, demanding that she stop being lazy and get out of bed. Sighing she flopped over, her hand wandering on the table next to her trying to find the button that would silence the annoying contraption. Succeeding she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled across the room to her closet to pull out some day clothes. She needed to return to the past today. The end to their journey was coming soon; all but a few shards had been collected. Sadly, Naraku had the majority of the jewel, leaving her group with such a small portion that it could hardly even be considered a fourth.
Yawning, Kagome silently cursed their annual festival. It was a pain to help set up all those booths, not to mention the stage and all the props to go with it. The clean up was even worse. Stumbling over to her closet she pulled out her 'past-clothes,' as she had come to call them. After a year's worth of ruined expensive uniforms, Kagome had requested that Sango make her a demon-slayer outfit of her own, one that would last much longer than the flimsy school uniform of the future. Slipping into the bathroom Kagome began her daily routine of getting ready to face another day.
With a towel wrapped around her hair, she slipped down stairs, tip toeing quietly past her Grandfathers room, no need to wake the excitable old man, especially since he needed his rest, and into the kitchen. Mia was already up, preparing breakfast for her small family. Kagome muttered a greeting as she slumped into her chair, going over all the things she'd need before going back to the past.
Noting her daughter's unusually early arrival Mia asked, "Going to the past, sweety?" At Kagome's dazed nod she turned back to the stove, "There's extra ramen in the pantry, and I've already restocked you medical supply."
"Thanks mom," came her quiet reply, half drowned out by a yawn. Footsteps thudded down the stairs, causing Kagome to wince, had her brother no concern for their Grandfather at all? "Good morning!" the young boy chirped as he bounded into the room, sniffing the air as the food's aroma drifted toward him.
Kagome merely glared. "No one should be that cheerful in the morning," she mumbled into the sleeve of her old shirt, a comfortable thing that was easily replaced should it get mangled in the past, "It's criminal." Souta responded with the typical response of a younger brother, he stuck his tongue out.
Souta settled down into his own seat, cheerfully waiting for breakfast to be served. "Are you going back today?" He asked, look vaguely toward the well-house. At Kagome's lethargic nodded he 'hmmed.' "Do you know when you'll be back? I want Yusuke to come over, and he never comes if your not here too!" the little boy complained, looking thoroughly put upon.
Rolling her eyes she responded, "Probably a week at best, I do want to graduate regardless of what my teachers may think . . . and Inuyasha for that mater." Kagome leaned back in her chair, staring at the white ceiling above. "It's not that I don't understand the importance of finding the shards, but it's not like I can live the rest of my life in the past either. So I need to focus on both, Inuyasha just doesn't seem to comprehend that. And I'll give Yusuke a call as soon as I get back, that boy needs someone to watch him, or at the very least nock some sense into his thick skull when ever he gets stupid ideas." She continued to stare at the ceiling, mulling over what she had heard Yusuke say last night; his comment about being more than worthless. That boy seriously needed a hammer to his head to get such ideas out of it.
Only an hour later, far too short a time to Kagome, and she was on her way to the past. To the life she loved but knew she could never have; after all, her being in the past could seriously mess up the future. It made sense that since she had broken the jewel that she would have to be the one to fix it, but anything beyond that would throw the time stream off. What if she irrevocably hut an ancestor of some great leader, or even one of her own ancestors? Or what if she married the wrong person? It was just too risky for her to stay, even if her heart wanted to. There was also the matter of her family, and the magic of the well. Who knew how stable it really was?
There was a great possibility that the well would stop working once she was back in the future with the completed jewel. There were just too many doubts and uncertainties for her to stay in the past. There was also the troubling thought that she would never complete the jewel. How else could a jewel have still been imbedded into the Noah mask? Besides, she no longer had a place. She was a friend to Sango and Miroku, and they could easily gain more friends as their lives progress. The same could be said for her little fox-cub. While she had taken on the role of mother for the young child, Sango could fit into that position just as well as herself, and Miroku, for all his pervertedness, could provide a solid male role. And Inuyasha? Well, she might have once had a place with him, a chance to have that place, but that had long since been taken from her. If Kagome was honest with herself she would admit that she knew her place by Inuyasha's side was lost the second Kikyo had been revived. The first love was always the deepest after all.
As the gentle blue light of the wells magic faded Kagome began her assent to the fresh open air of Japan's past. Pulling her abused bag out behind her, she placed its fraying straps on her shoulders and made her way toward Kaeda's village. Slipping through the quiet forest she started humming an old tune her father used to sing to her all the time, his special lullaby for his only child (Souta had been born after his death after all.) It was a gentle haunting melody, one that was easily recognized but not remembered. Shippo had once remarked that it felt like a spell of some sort, like how he focused his demonic energy with his fox fire.
Nearing the village, Kagome let the song fade into the stillness of the forest. Once thing city dwellers didn't know was that a forest is never quiet, something any country-born fool could tell them. When the forest was quiet it meant danger was coming. A feeling of apprehension began to grow in her stomach. It was far too quiet.
Picking up the pace she hurried past the tree line and into the open fields surrounding the village proper. Something wasn't right, though the villagers seemed not to notice anything different as they greeted their sometimes miko. She gave them her greetings, her eyes never losing their alert scanning as she checked to make sure all was well. There, a soul steal floated lazily over the forest, a bright soul burning within its grasp. Kikyo was near. Sighing Kagome relaxed a little bit. Kikyo was not to be trusted, but she was also not the biggest threat.
"Kagome!" shouted the young familiar voice of her adoptive son. He came dashing out of the plain hut, a small blur of brown and red, before launching himself into Kagome's waiting arms. "I missed you so much! I thought you'd never come back!"
Kagome laughed lightly, ruffling the small boys auburn hair. "You know I'll never willingly stay away don't you Shippo?" At the boys enthusiastic nod she laughed again and made her way into the hut to where Sango and Miroku where waiting. "Good morning," she cheerfully greeted her two friends, taking a seat beside her female companion, carefully avoiding Miroku's 'cursed' hand.
"Good morning Kagome-sama," greeted the perverted monk, looking forlorn at the lost chance of feeling up the pretty miko's butt. Sango sent a warning glare in his direction, which he did his best to avoid (not an easy feat in such a small area.)
Shaking her head, Sango turned her attention back to her closest friend. "Welcome back Kagome-chan, how was you visit with your family?" she inquired, slowly patting her demon companion.
"It was good, I got to see some friends that I haven't seen for a long time, and it's always nice to see my family." Settling into a more comfortable position, Kagome allowed Shippo to climb onto her lap. "Is Inuyasha off with her again?" she questioned, no need to explain who she was. They all knew it was the deceased miko Kikyo.
At Miroku's solemn nod Kagome sighed. Inuyasha was going to get himself killed one of these days by going to her. Patting Shippo's head absently, she placed the young fox-demon onto the huts ground and stretched to her feet. "Might as well go find him," Kagome muttered, waving off Sango's and Miroku's movements to get up, "He'll want to get started on the hunt soon. You guys stay here, I'll be back in a few moments." With that she left the Kaeda's hut and made her way east, to where the gentle tug of the Shikon no Tama pulled her.
Even knowing what caused the forest to remain unusually quiet, Kagome could not help but feel unnerved. There was always a chance that the stillness caused by Kikyo and her soul stealers could mask something far more dangerous, something like the likes of Naraku.
Sighing, she continued down her path, not bothering to hide her presence. Kikyo had long lost the ability to truly feel the jewels presence, and Inuyasha would hardly be paying attention to anything else while Kikyo was so near.
Once she could hear their voices carrying above the gentle whisper of the wind blowing through the trees, Kagome slowed down to a crawl, carefully making her way to an area where she could watch without being seen. Her only purpose here was to make sure that the long dead miko wouldn't try to drag her friend into a never ending inferno.
They stood in the center of a clearing, a ray of sunshine lighting up their figures as if they were angles and not mortals. Inuyasha, his silver hair shining in the soft light, stood a few feet from his beloved, a look of pleading on his face. "What can I do, Kikyo?" he asked, "I'll give you anything!"
Kikyo gazed back, her gaze blank, lacking a true soul that would make them shine. "You couldn't give me anything Inuyasha," she murmured, "Your life? You cling to that, always saying that you'll follow my wishes once Naraku's dead. Your friends? Never, you cling to their lives more than you do to your own. You can't even give me my own life. Instead you let that false copy of mine run around." Her eyes flashed and her voice took one the emotion of anger, the only emotion that her incomplete soul could feel. "I came first, and yet I am the one to suffer."
Inuyasha's eyes softened and he closed the small space separating him from Kikyo to embrace her. "Their lives aren't mine to give, but if it is what you truly want, I'll give myself to you now. They're strong; they can defeat Naraku without me." He tightened his hold on her, eyes focused on something no one else could see.
Gazing to the side, toward her reincarnation, she muttered, "You are a fool Inuyasha."
"Wha-" was all Inuyasha was able to get out before Kikyo placed a corrupt shard into his neck. Infused with her impure miko power, the jewel glowed a sinister purple and worked quickly in helping Inuyasha's demon half over power his human half. Released from his hold Kikyo stepped back. "Your command, half-demon," she spat, "Is to kill the imposter that seeks to take my place, to destroy her and return my soul."
Inyasha struggled for a moment, 'Why should he harm his friend?' But Kikyo's will soon blocked all memories of his friend, leaving only the force of her command. Kill the imposter; return the soul to its rightful owner. That was all that was left of the half-demon, no awareness of what made 'Inuyasha' was left, only knowledge of his desire to please the corrupt miko in front of him.
He turned; the smell of his target was near, running away as if that would save her. The demon gave chase.
-
Having chosen to once again ditch school, Yusuke strolled down the street, ignoring all the distrustful glares sent his way. After years of such treatment he had long since grown immune to such behavior. Staring absently into a store window as he passed, Yusuke wondered how his Aunt would react if he showed up during school hours. Well, her reaction would be calm, but Kagome? Yusuke shuddered to think of her reaction.
Deciding decapitation did not sound very fun, he sighed and started to worm his way through the crowd, heading to the small apartment he shared with his mom. He was just about to cross a street when a crowd gathered near a buildings corner caught his eye. As he started to head toward the crowd to see what the commotion was about something else caught his interest, making him freeze temporarily on the spot. On a black motorcycle sat the younger Togoro brother. After making sure Yusuke's attention was on himself, Togoro drove slowly away. Never fast enough to lose Yusuke. Gritting his teeth, Yusuke set off toward the other man, knowing he was most likely heading straight into a trap.
They ended up at an old abandoned warehouse. Yusuke slowed his pace, warily watching as Togoro entered the building. Stopping at the entrance, he glared into the shadows, than broke into a run to catch up with the man everyone had assumed to be dead. Skidding to a stop in front of the tall man, Yusuke growled, "How the heck are you still alive?"
"Simple," the human gone demon replied, "It was fake, a mere test to see how strong you truly are." Yusuke clenched his hands into fists; they were just playing with them? Even if that was the case, he couldn't just sit back with such a dangerous demon on the loose. The monster would hurt more innocent people . . . he couldn't let Togoro hurt his family . . . he couldn't let him have a chance to hurt Kagome. Yusuke's jaw tightened at that thought, Kagome had gone through enough pain for one lifetime, she didn't need any more. Forgetting rational thought, as he often did when riled up, he charged. He sent his hand flying toward Togoro's face . . . and missed. Togoro had ducked beneath the punch, far faster than Yusuke could even follow. As Yusuke tried to recover from his wide throw Togoro took advantage and landed a hit to Yusuke's stomach. Gasping for air, Yusuke collapsed into himself, arms wrapped around his stomach.
Stepping back, Togoro allowed Yusuke to fall to the ground. His cold gaze rested on the younger man's withering form for a moment, than he turned away. "Get stronger Urameshi-san," he said, "You wouldn't be able to survive the opening round, yet alone make it to the finals in this state. The boat for the Dark Tournament leaves in two months. I hope to see you on the island; I would be disappointed should you die before reaching it." With that he left, leaving Yusuke alone as he struggled to catch his breath.
Kurama found his friend sitting on the ground, leaning against one of the support beams of the old building. He was staring into space, one hand still clutching where Togoro had hit him. "Koenma has the details of our next assignment," he said, his gentle voice carrying across the open room. Yusuke nodded, accepting Kurama's assistance to stand. "Guess its time to visit the Old Hag again," Yusuke responded.
"Hey Grandma!" Yusuke shouted as he reached to top of the steps of the Monument Shrine.
Genkai glared, walking out of her training room. "What is it dimwit?" she asked, but upon seeing Yusuke's determined face, his hands tightened into fists, she knew. "It won't be as easy as before," she warned.
Yusuke nodded; his gaze hardening. "I know," was all he said.
-
"Daisuke!" growled the black haired demon as he chased after his unusual friend. "What the heck are we doing?"
His companion laughed, his blue eyes shining with mirth. "Being a good father and uncle of course," he replied, dashing ahead to some unknown goal. The wind pushed back his short midnight colored hair, and tugged at a small charm on a necklace.
Raizen speed up, vowing silently to himself to rip his obnoxious friend to pieces when they finally stopped. "Why the heck do you keep saying that? Neither of us are mated! How could either of us have a kid?"
Daisuke just laughed; what a stupid question for his long-time friend to ask. He should know by now that his kind never reviles more than they need to. His eyes narrowed, he just hoped he'd be fast enough to stop the foolish half-demon and end the life of the parasite miko.
Here's the end of the new chapter 5 for you folks! (Posted 08 - 23 - 08) Now, I've made a goal with myself. I'm going to try to at least write a few sentences a day, that way I'll probably be able to get a chapter out each month. So let's see if I can do it, ne?
Only two more chapters to go and than the actual new chapters will begin!