The Scroll
After her training in the dojo, Kagome had retreated to her room, refusing to leave even for the midday meal. Eventually, Izayoi had pushed her way in to reason with the girl. It was incredible, Mafuyu mused, that she could be so mortified over such a tiny thing. If she had been raised within a pack... and that was just it, he realised. She was so unused to being treated as a person, so used to being dismissed as a vile abomination, a monstrosity, that she could not fathom that the lad may return, even in part, her attraction. She was probably deathly afraid that she had shattered not only any chance of a relationship, but also their budding friendship. The idea that he would find her attraction repulsive was also likely weighing on her mind. He nodded. He would talk to both of them, and soon, before she began to distance herself from him. The faintest of smirks flitted across his face... he had been waiting for a chance to unite the clans for almost a millenia, and now all he had to do was prevent misunderstandings... and it would be dropped into his lap. Resolving to offer up a prayer or two to the Kami at the first opportunity, he made his way to the library.
Upon his first meeting with the girl, he had noted the shining purity of her aura – something almost entirely unheard of in one of even partial demon ancestry. With one notable exception, he amended, grinning wryly. And that, really, was the crux of the matter. The idea had settled in his mind even then, and refused to budge, resisting all logical argument. Honestly, he thought, he was being paranoid about the whole thing. It would be the most extraordinary coincidence, yet the more he thought, the more his mind drew parallels which all indicated that he was right... He had known her before, in her former life, or one of them. The chance to know a soul in two forms... Mafuyu quickly clamped down on the scientist in himself. His new ward deserved better than to be known only as who she may have been in a previous life. Nonetheless... Mafuyu had already trawled through his own extensive library without finding anything of relevance, but it was likely that Tougaou had something in his, after all, his clan had always had a penchant for human mates... This situation was bound to have occurred and been catalogued at some stage and branch of the clan's history. Besides, with all the chaos of the household, it would be calming to spend a few days in that chamber, the comforting smell of camphor and old paper ensconcing him, with the only sounds the wind in the chimney, the spitting of embers and the occasional rustle of dry scrolls and creak of old leather bindings.
It was approaching dawn before Mafuyu found anything of relevance to his search. Various old legends bound into a thick volume contained the tale he knew, the very beginning to the tale of the Shikon-no-Tama, that accursed jewel. His Youki purring in contentment, he layed out every scroll and volume he had selected in some semblence of order, and settled in. He would read the legend, remind himself of detail that the passage of time had undoubtably erased from his memory, then work his way through all the information he had garnered. Holding the volume carefully, he inched closer to the last few embers of his fire, and began to read.
A moment of time do I beg, Learned Sage, to describe to you the strange and curious tale of Midoriko, the dual-natured warrior. It was many years past that a child was born into a great clan of Inu-Youkai, of the northern forest. The child was quick-witted, wise beyond her years, kind and honourable, with a purity of spirit that was remarkable to all. She was gifted the name Midoriko, and twin blades with which to train. As she grew, Midoriko proved quick to learn all that was shown to her, with a particular aptitude for the warrior arts. It became noticable, however, that she also possessed skills uncommon in demons of her calibre – her opponents on the training field complained of weakness, injuries not healing as they ought, and most severely, a burning sensation which accompanied a touch of either her or her weapons. The crisis came when a fool attempted to force her affections, when she had just barely reached the age of maturity. Once Midoriko had exacted her punishment, only ashes remained as proof of the scoundrel's fate. It was determined that the woman-child Midoriko possessed not only the powers of a strong, even lordly, Youkai, but also uncommonly strong Miko ki, existing in a harmonious state with her own Youki. The clan necessarily banished the young warrior until it could be proved that she had obtained enough control over her power to no longer be a threat to those in close proximity. After many years, whose events are lost to the mist of time, she returned, no longer a girl on the brink of womanhood, but fully mature, a proven warrior with confidence in her own ability, using both sides of her power to deadly effect. For a few years she lived again with her clan, defending them, however the wanderlust was too great to be denied, so she set off once more, becoming known to Youkai as Midoriko the Inu-Miko and to Ningen as the Warrior-Miko. How many years she roamed the territories is not known, but whilst she was still in the prime of her years, a great evil grew in the lands. A dark soul had collected Youki, drawing many lesser-Youkai under its thrall, collecting them together with the sole intention of destroying the pure warrior. Lured into it's trap, Midoriko fought valiently against impossible odds, filling a great cavern with the bones of the dead. As the demon horde was reduced, she grew closer to the root of the evil, engaging it in mortal combat, though already sorely wounded. As the sun rose and fell in the sky, it became clear the cause was lost, yet summoning the last of her strength, Midoriko embraced her enemy, giving up her all to bind the evil to the purity of her soul. The might of her effort reduced her and the enemy to stone as their souls were crystallised and forced out of her body in the form of a small round jewel, there to remain locked in combat until another takes up the fight with enough strength to tip the balance. It is said that the jewel roams the lands, striving in its battle still, tainted by contact with Youki, purified by Reiki, and none have the strength swing the balance, merely pawns in the endless battle. Thus, dear reader, does the tale of Midoriko continue yet, surpassing this chroniclers ability to tell its end.
Owari.
Mafuyu smiled sadly. He could remember her, just, and that curious companion of hers.... what was its name? Ah yes, Kirara. An odd thing that, a Neko-Youkai choosing to travel with an Inu. She had always thrived on contradictions though. The legend was much as he remembered, although the late realisation of her Reiki was new knowledge. It seemed to confirm the suspicion he had formed though. If Kagome truly did have Reiki as well as Youki... well, it would explain the purity of her aura as a start. This was all assumption, he ruefully admitted. The proof of the pudding would come, he decided, that afternoon. He simply had to devise a test that would bring those powers to the fore.
A/N Phew. I'm finally free of exams long enough for my brain to work on this story without turning everyone into tiny molecules laughing at me... So yeah. Not much note needed for this chapter, except to say that Kagome, to me, has never been Kikyo's reincarnation. It is only assumed in the story, up until Kikyo's resurrection, but surely anyone with a soul as large as Kagome's must be able to donate a small part of it out of compassion to another? Personality and looks-wise, she has always reminded me far more of Midoriko, untrained, or Rin... more so Rin... I guess what I'm trying to say is... it's my plot, so Nyeh! -Sticks out tongue- She doesn't have to be Kikyo's reincarnation. I am VERY tired of that particular plot-device in fanfictions.