A/N: Kaede's age here is twenty-two and Kenshin's is thirty-six. I made them this young so Kenshin could remain a touch more young.
Keep in mind that this story is purely a fan fiction.
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape or form own either InuYasha and it's characters nor Himura Kenshin.
The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Twelve: The Awakening)
Kaede continued to approach the schoolgirl, while the red head remind just some few steps away. Kagome looked between the two for a moment, but movement from her right caught her eye shortly after Kaede halted before her. The young lady dressed in a Shinto Shrine outfit, consisting of red colored pants and a pur white haori took hold of a bag filled with something, handed to her by one of the males. Next thing she knew, Kagome had to shut her eyes as the young priestess tossed what she could only guess was some type of purification salt, towards her. Listening to Gramps from time to time, did prove useful from time to time, she supposed.
"Begone, demon!" Kaede yelled out with a smooth, calm voice.
Once the motions of tossing salt stopped, Kagome shook the salt from her raven locks and opened her chocolate brown hues to send a bit of a glare at the priestess before her.
"I'm not a demon!"
Kaede was slightly surprised, if not, taken aback at the outburst. The priestess could only stare at her, with a slight wide-eyed expression despite her attempts to hide it. She overheard the others behind her, however, her singular dark eye was stilled on the school girl. Kagome begun to feel a light touch umcomfortable at the stare she was receiving, yet she could only blink. Kenshin merely watched as Kaede knelt in front of Kagome and cup the girl's chin. Kagome was utterly lost but, the older woman seemed to be examining her face closely. That alone had caused silence within the group of village men, women, and children on looking the scene.
"It is there... Though, I know not why"
Others could, at this point, probably see the question marks circling Kagome's head. Kaede stood and regarded to the red head on her right, with a questioning stare. The male only shrugged but nodded, almost in knowing what Kaede wished to do now.
Some moments later, Kagome foud herself unbound from the ropes and seated by a small fire pit within the small hut of the priestess. She learned short moments ago that the two were named Kaede and Kenshin. She had also shared with the two. Currently, Kaede was seated by the firepit as well, stirring some stew with care. While Kenshin lay resting his back against the door, his sword huddled to his chest. Occasionally, Kagome could feel his eyes on her it was somewhat unsettling, but tried to pay it no mind.
Kaede turned her attention to Kagome after the prolonged silence, the priestess offered a small smile to her. Kagome blinked, but offered her own smile, though it was also small... And a bit awkward. At least, until she was handed a neatly poured bowl of stew and pair of light wooden chop sticks. Kagome's smile widened somewhat as she accepted the offer.
"Real food, real food, real food..." she repeated aloud.
Kaede merely watched her for a few short moments, as the strange clothed female sipped at the stew that was soon followed by a sigh, before speaking aloud.
"Bear us no ill will, Kagome... For now, I know ye mean us no harm" Kaede offered a smile to the school girl, and gave a short lived glanced to Kenshin who only smiled somewhat and shut his eyes.
"In these troubled times of war, no stranger may be welcomed without deep distrust" she continued, fully knowing that Kenshin was listening in.
Kagome listened as well, keeping eye contact with the young priestess seated a little ways away. The schoolgirl took a moment to think as Kaede poked at the fire with an iron pike with skillful hands. Then a thought occured to her...
"We really aren't in Tokyo, are we?"
Kaede turned her attention on the girl again, confusion clear on her features but Kenshin knew that place. He remained quiet however, satisfied with only listening to the two conversing... For now.
"To-Ki-Oh... I have never heard of it, Is that where your people are from?" Her singular eye watching Kagome closely.
"Yes, and I should really get going..." Kagome replied after a brief pause, offering Kaede a smile while shutting her eyes to add to the look of happyness.
/ But I have no idea how to get back of course... /
Kagome returned to sipping at the stew while Kaede could not help but stare at her. She resembled her so much, but how was it possible? The only explaination her mind could conjure up was that Kagome, this girl in strange clothes, was in reincarnation of her sister. She furrowed her brow in the slightest, recalling that day.
~~ Flashback ~~
There were many villagers surrounding two particullar young ladies. A woman dressed in a Shinto Shrine Maiden attire, while the younger one was dressed in an orange-yellow kimono of a young child.
"Sister... Please, let someone..." the younger Kaede said with urgency, reaching for her sister.
Kikyou regarded her sister through the pain and held out the jewel with a cringe of pain, already the numbing was increasing to such a degree in her arm that is hardly hurt as much.
"Take this, Kaede... And be sure that it is burned with my body"
~~ End ~~
Kaede had turned her attention to the fire, as she had been recalling the past. She continued to stare at the crackling flames, lowering the small iron pike to her right, onto the wooden floor.
/ Twelve years have passed since that day... /
For some moments longer, there was a calm but awkward air in the home of the priestess. But suddenly the screams of people and the sound of destruction. Kenshin was first to react at those two sounds, he gripped his sword and jumped to his feet to exit the door. Kaede and Kagome quickly followed, their sight was met to the destruction of a total of the three huts. Home to different families that lived here. Kaede furrowed her brow and scanned the area quickly enough, trying to stretch out her awareness. Much like her sister once did. Kenshin on the other had went to work immediately, helping possibly injured people and guiding them to a safer place. Before all three could react further, the neigh of a horse caught their hearing. With a loud thud and a final breath from the animal, it went limp.
"It's a monster!" one man yelled out running away, towards assumed safety.
Kaede glanced up with her single eye and was met with the sight of a centipede demon. The top part of her was that of a woman, and the rest of her was the long body of a centipede. She could have sworn she'd see this particular demon before. A voice from behind her was heard... The oddly dressed girl.
"It's that thing!..." Kagome shouted out, worriedly.
Kaede's eye remained on the demon however, she had forgotten her bow inside!...
"Give me the Sacred Jewel!"
With that being said, the demon launched her way towards the pair but with quick reflexes Kenshin rushed over and drew his sword to clash it with the demon's head. With his years spend here, he learned that demons were quite a bit tougher then humans, and not just in strength. That gave him the chance to use quite a bit more of his own strength. The cenptipede demon fell face first into the dirt, before she could reach the girls. The victory was short lived however, when the demon grabbed Kenshin's ankle and rose her face to look at him despite the sword behind at her skull.
"That hurt" was all she said before tossing him into the roof of another home.
Kenshin winced as he felt the impact against his back, for a moment he cringed in pain but he was soon pulled from that by a small scream from the school girl, most likely. Kaede never screamed like that... He pushed himself up just in time to see the demon lauching herself towards the ladies again, both of them dodged the oncoming attack, luckily. He could almost sigh out in relief, and would have, if not for the demon seeking to lunge at them in an attempt to injure either girl but thankful they managed to avoid injury a second time. Kenshin lauched himself towards the demon, hoping to at least offer some time for Kaede to get her bow yet the young priestess had merely turned her attention towards the school girl behind her.
"It said Scared Jewel... Do you bear it's skil"
Kagome tore her eyes from the battle happening just some feet away from them, in hearing Kaede's question.
"Uhh... I have no idea... I mean, I've heard of the Jewel but I-"
Some of the men in the village had, in that time, fetched some bow and arrows and attempted to subdue the demon, for both their protection and to assist Kenshin in at least distracting the demon. That was short lived however when she spun her entire body rapidly, and sought to attack the villagers aside with the bottom of her form. Kenshin had managed to dodge that, despite the continued pain in his back. He was a fighter and no injury such as this, would slow him down. He'd have to find a way to take care of this... Demon, before he could rest.
Kagome stood there staring at the destruction so far and furrowed her brow somewhat, as Kaede could take it now more and fetched her bow and arrow. The priestess secured an arrow and aimed, at the demon centipede.
/ That thing, It's after me... / Kagome thought.
Two villagers ran over to the two women, one of which held a spear in both hands. The spear wielding man mentioned then, about nothing seeming to work on the centipede woman. Kaede's brow furrowed and focused to push purifaction energy into the arrow, she let it fly when ready, however it merely whizzed passed it's head. Mistress Centipede turned her head to look at the group, with hate filled eyes then.
"High priestess Kaede... What might we do?"
"Lure it to the dry well" Kaede said in response.
"The dry well?" Kagome repeated, turning her sights on Kaede.
"In the forest of InuYasha"
Mistress Centipede had choosen then to attack but her attack was once again halted by that red head male. He was offering a distraction for Kaede yet, she seemed more interested in talking.
/ The well I climbed out of /
"Which way is the forest, Kaede?"
Either of them turned towards the forest, and as Kaede was about to speak, Kagome answered her own question wth her knowledge.
"Where the light's shining right?" Kagome said, and hurriedly, she ran in that specific direction.
"Wait! Kago-"
Before she could respond further, Mistress centipede rushed passed the group to give chase. Kenshin stepped out of yet another destroyed home, or at least... there was a hole in the roof. He stepped over to them, Kaede sitting on the ground dumbfounded. The protector of her, could see the confusion on her face as he got closer.
"Kaede?"
"How is it she can see what cannot be seen in the forest of InuYasha"
Kenshin blinked a few times, before steeling his eyes in the direction of which the two escaped. A group of men approached from behind them and shouted for Kaede as they guided some horses closer. Kaede shook her head somewhat and stood. She secured the quiver of arrows at her back and the bow over her left shoulder before climbing up onto a black horse. Kenshin took a brown one while the others took the remainders, or went by foot.
Kagome was left to run along a path surrounded by patches of water, as quickly as her feet could carry her. Her breaths coming out more heavily then the next, as she continued to pushed herself towards the light she could see within the forest.
/ Someone will save me right? They've got too! / She thought, looking back over her shoulder upon hearing the rapidly approaching demon.
"Grampa? Mom!? Anybody?!" she yelled aloud, as Mistress Centipede was seen just some feet behind her.
She further pushed herself with a loud yell.
"Whoever you are, please! Somebody help me!"
Meanwhile in the forest of where Kagome was currently heading, the boy pinned to the tree was seen. Just as suddenly a strong pulsation rushed from him, life slowly returned to him and he flexed his claws to be sure of it. His eyes fluttered open then with a smirk surfacing on his lips. He slowly rose his hand and flexed his claws again, they were aching to slice through something.
"I smell it, the blood of the woman who killed me! And it's coming closer" he said in a low tone, with venom hidden within.
The boy clad in red eyed the arrow in his chest and reached for it, but winced and cringed in the slightest at the pain that filled him the moment the arrow glowed pink.
Kagome in that time, at diverted her path up a fairly steep hill. It's impressive to think that in her adrenaline state, she could run up this particular hill. As she got to the top, Kagome had planned on pushing herself to her limit and make a mad dash past anything in her way, however... Before she could, the demon centipede crashed at the ground on her feet causing the school girl to trip and slide over to a specific tree. As luck would have it... It just so happened to be the same tree that she'd seen the boy pinned to but she did not know that... Yet.
"Hello Kikyou. Playing with bugs now are we?" he voice rang into her ears.
Kagome had to blink once or twice before her eyes rose to meet amber eyes, confusion seemed to grip her. How was he awake? He wasn't before so... How? Slowly she stood on her feet, temporally forgetting the danger lurking about.
"So... You're alive?"
"Why are you taking so long to kill it? Just to her in like you did me" he said, with a hint of teasing.
For some short moments he merely stared at her with a smile but his eyes told another story. Just as quickly though, his smile faded and his eyes held suprise in seeing her just sitting there like an idiot.
"You look pretty dumbthere Kikyou, the Kikyou Iknow wouldn't waste her time"
"That does it" Kagome stood and furrowed her brow while throwing her arms down against her sides like a spoiled child.
"Kikyou, Kikyou, whoever she is, she's not me. My name is-" Kagome continued, laying a hand on her left hip while using her right hand to motion to herself.
"She's here" was all he said, before the centipede demon appeared from the tree in which he was pinned.
She immediately went for Kagome, her eyes searching and the girl reacted with a bit of a scream as she moved away. Luck seemed to be on her side as two roped arrows shot at the half woman, half centipede woman. Either one pierced her skin, then another two shots at the bottom half of her body. In that time Kagome fell on her behind with a sigh of relief.
"Good now, pull!"
The grunting of men was heard as they pulled the demon from her. InuYasha could only stare at Kagome there, with a look of surprise which quickly turned to confusion. A smirk slowly took shape on his lips, he could taunt her some more, he supposed.
"You're pathetic Kikyou"
"I'm not Kikyou!" she shouted back, turning to look at him with a furrowed brow.
The girl stook and turned to face him, rising up onto the branches leading to him.
"Look, I'm telling you. I'm not her. Whoever her is"
"And I'm saying you gotta be, 'cause If you're not there's no way that you could smell so-" he cut himself off, as realization hit him and hard.
He sniffed the air as she halted in front of him, the air around her was... Different. Too different. She smelled foreign, if anything.
"You're not her..." he said softly.
His eyes widened as he continued to stare at her, dumbfounded. A bead of sweat slowly fell from his brow, as she stared back at him, either of her hands laid on her hips.
"I know. My name is Kagome. Ka-go-me." she said sternly.
He turned his head then, choosing to look anywhere but her. She on the other hand, continued to stare at him, unwavering.
"You're right. Kikyou's cuter... Much cuter"
In the time the two interacted Kaede and Kenshin halted their rightful steed nearby. Kaede initial reaction was relief that Kagome had not been harmed, the second reaction was that of shock, followed by confusion at the fact that InuYasha was both awake and alive. Kenshin on the other hand, also felt relief upon seeing Kagome to be well, at least for the moment. His eyes fell on the awoken InuYasha however, and he had to hold back, both his anger and his tongue. He wished that murderous beast had remained in slumber.
The centipede woman returned and took hold of Kagome shoulder to pull her away from the pinned boy and do Gods knows what with her. He could almost smile or chuckle at what Kagome did to InuYasha, if the situation wasn't so dire. She'd taken hold of the half-breed's chest length length hair that had always fallen over his shoulders as the demon centipede begun to try and pull her away, with a scream of terror escaping her.
"Let of me!" the school girl screamed with her eyes shut tightly.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! You let go!" InuYasha yelled back, as he'd have to lean as forward as he could in his current predicament.
"Give me the Sacred Jewel!"
/ Sacred Jewel? / the red clad boy thought.
That was the moment the bug lady had enough of prolonging her reunion with the Jewel and so her face restracted to such a degree that her fangs were far more notcible and two particular ones outgrew the others. She lunged herself at Kagome, intending to kill or eat her, no one else knew.
Kagome open her eyes upon hearing the sounds of bones reforming and the screech coming from directly behind her, only to witness a terrifiying sight of that demon lunging for her. Without thinking or otherwise, she threw back her left arm at the demon woman, with a scream.
"Stop it!? she yelled out loudly.
Suddenly time slowed somewhat, Kenshin was about to jump into action but before he could even move he and others, including Kaede next to him, saw something no one expected. A large but short lived blast of pink erupted from the school girl's hand, pushing back the threat heading for her. InuYasha was mildly surprised himself, but he dare not show it. Kagome was dropped before the tree yet again, followed by what remained of Mistress Centipede's arms some few dozen inches from her. Kagome slowly pushed herself up with a sigh of relief and looked back at the steaming arms. She turned her body somewhat to take a look, then stared at her left hand while speakin her thoughts aloud.
"Hey... I did that before too, in the well"
The surprised group witnessing all of this, were all surprised, that included Kaede. She was now trying to figure how this was possible. Turning to Kenshin, she noticed he too was dumbfounded by this turn of events.
"But... How'd I do it though?" Kagome asked herself.
A pink glow from underneath the school uniform she had on, caught the attention of most onlookers, if not all. Including Kagome and... The centipede lady. As Kagome stared down at her side, the demoness leapt into action before others could interfere yet again. Her fangs tore through the girl's side like wet paper and she threw her upwards with force. So much so that a small round object fell out and landed by the tree only to roll a little closer. Kagome soon followed suit, landing some inches from it. Her body was wreaked with pain, and that's when Kenshin couldn't si idly by anymore. He leapt off the back of his steed and drew out his sword, to cut through the centipede demoness. Kaede finally shook the shock off and reached out to pull an arrow, notching it to the bow and took aim. She wanted to wait for an opening however.
Kenshin rose the sword above his head and lowered the blade ot his weapon toward the demoness, unfortunately he was pushed aside with ease and speed with the bug body she had before his blade could reach her. Kaede took that chance to let the arrow fly, and it pierced the demoness within her side. The light glow of pink purification merely caused the demoness to hiss and screech. Cold eyes fell onto Kaede for just a moment, distracting her somewhat from her prize.
"Give me the Jewel! Quick!"
Kagome rose her eyes to look at the half-breed with confusion filled eyes, but it was a second too late. The bug body had taken that time to push Kagome up against InuYasha, her upper body lowering herself to look at the too, despite the arrow currently piercing her side. Kaede cursed her luck, her power wasn't enough it seemed...
"I heard some half demon spawn was after the Sacred Jewel, it's you, isn't it?"
InuYasha furrowed his brow at the centipede lady, nearly glaring at her. Kagome looked over her shoulder to her, only to glance up at InuYasha moments later.
/ A half demon? What is he? /
"Half's all I need to kick your scaly butt! Anythin' more than that'd be a waste of my time" he said with confidence.
"Listen... You talk big, but can you back it up?"
InuYasha glanced down at her with a wide eyed confused expression, blinking just few times. Kagome continued...
"Can you or not?"
InuYasha frustrated now, rose his amber eyes to stare at the demon some inches from them.
"What can he do? Pinned there like that, or you for that matter. You're powerless to stop me"
The centipede demoness could not help but laugh aloud as she lowered herself further to the jewel on the forest floor, not just beneath her. Victory was just a single step away, and power would be hers. A small chuckle escaped her as she stared at the two.
"You're helpless the both of you"
With that having been said, she opened her mouth and snaked her tongue around the Jewel. Soon pulling it into her mouth to swallow it and feel it's power surging through almost immediately.
"Don't you dare!" InuYasha yelled, but it was too late.
The arms that previously lay limb glowed a deadly red and they rose in the air to re-attach themselves to their rightful place. Kagome gripped the sleeve of the red clad kimono the boy wore as she, like the others witnessed what was going on. The centipede demon seem to be shaking then, just as Kenshin came to, seeing what was going on as well. His blue eyes grew wide as the demon's once pale skin peeled off to reveal dark grey skin with pink spots. Her eyes not a bright red color and her fangs more then visible.
"At last, my power is complete" she proclaimed.
Kagome quickly shut her eyes as the bug body begun to crush her and the boy both, reveling in their pain.
"Ahh! It's crushing me!..." Kagome continued to grip at the boy's kimono.
InuYasha stared down at her, weighing his options... He only had one choice.
"Hey... Can you pull out this arrow?" He said in a whisper, seeing at the corner of his eyes the redhead pushing himself to stand.
That stupid human male will get his soon enough, he thought to himself. Kagome opened her eyes through the pain shooting throughout her body to glance up at the time worn arrow. InuYasha looked up to glance the demoness, currently seeking to crush them both as slowly as possible.
"Look! Can you pull out this arrow or not!?"
"I... I don't know..." she reached up for said arrow, however halted when the crushing increased.
"No Kagome! Once that arrow is removed, InuYasha will be free to slay us all!"
"Don't be stupid, you stupid gir! At least with me you've got a chance! Where as that thing's gonna eat you"
Kagome continued to feel the crushing sensation through her lower body, as the centipede continued with it.
"And what about you? Are you ready to die yet?" InuYasha asked, glancing down at the oddly dressed girl.
/ I... I don't know what I should do but... Given the choice.. /
Kagome slowly reached up with a hand, her brows furrowed and a bead of sweat trinkled down her cheek.
"I choose to..." Kagome grasped the arrow and screamed out, tightning her grip onto the arrow.
As she'd done that, the arrow began to glow a bright pink, as if trying to resist the breaking of the seal. It quickly lost however and burst into hundred of tiny specks of pink, only to vanish soon after. That caused a bright pink glow coming from the boy clad in red, that quickly faded. Several pulses came from him as the glow faded, and Kagome could only stare up at him in confusion. Both Kenshin and Kaede were wide eyed, as were the villagers.
"Umm... Inu... Yasha?..." Kagome whispered under breath.
InuYasha had heard her, but chose to ignore her. He felt his power slowly but ultimately return to him in droves. That caused him to shake with a chuckle, which grew into laughter just as quickly. The demon just feet away looked over and screeched. She expanded her body out and just as quickly went to crush them, ending her little game. Just as soon as she had however, a bright yellow light burst from the openings that had been left. InuYasha tore through her the bug body with ease and Kagome flew back, Kenshin immediately ran for her. Aiding her away from the danger, and to Kaede's safety. The priestess finally got off her steed as well.
Meanwhile InuYasha used the tree bark as a foothold and leapt into the air, landing on the other side of the demon centipede. He spun around with a toothy smirk, his claws aching for more things to tear through. A yellow glow dissipating from his claws as he had spun.
"Wicked child!"
"Nasty hag!"
The demon centipede screeched and lunged at InuYasha, seeking to tear through him with her fangs. InuYasha had other plans, his claws took on the now familiar glow of yellow and tore through her entire body as if it were wet paper. As he spun towards the end, he landed in a crouch and stood looking around that the falling pieces with a victorious smirk.
Kaede immediately told Kagome what had to be done to stop the revival of this demon, to which the girl panicked and glanced about. Her eyes caught a faint glow from a rather large piece. Kaede rushed over and pulled the jewel from the flesh, watching as the it turned to dust, leaving nothing but bones. Kenshin stepped closer to Kaede, his eyes never leaving the red clad murderous beast. InuYasha turned his head and flexed his claws in seeing Kenshin again. Amber eyes slowly travelled down to the girl kneeling next to him. Why she looked so familiar, he did not know or care. His first priority was the Jewel, then it would be a wish to be all demon. Like he'd planned orignally, then...
"Now, hand over the Jewel" InuYasha stepped closer, crushing a bone beneath his right foot to prove a point.
Hand over the Jewel, or you will be crushed as his silent messsage. Kenshin glared at the boy and Kaede only stood, turning to hand the round object to Kagome, whose small hands lifted to accept it. She was confused, why was she handed the Jewel? InuYasha wasn't the hero? He did save them... Didn't he?
"I'm not gonna repeat myself"
"Ye will not be handed the Jewel" answered before Kenshin could.
InuYasha growled low and Kenshin readied his blade, in case of oncoming attack. Kenshin had no time to reacti however when InuYasha ran forward and made a mad dash towards them. Something within Kagome her told her to turn and run away. She gripped the Jewel in her hands as she did. Luck appeared to be on her side, when she tripped on a rock and fell forward. Her hair was not so lucky when his claws cut through a few strands, she watched as they fell to the forest floor.
Just as she was to turn her attention to the red clad boy and yell at him, he leapt away from a sword aimed right for his shoulder in a downard motion. InuYasha's eyes met with the glare of a certain red head, and his sword ready to another attempt. The boy landed some feet away from the pair, Kagome seemed to silence herself at the sight. Best not interupt...
"I'm getting really tired of you" InuYasha shouted.
"The feeling is mutual, that it is..."
Hee hee! Gotta love cliff hangers, right? ^^ ; I do hope this is enough for you guys and gals though. I think I spent about... 12 hours or so, on this chapter. of course, I occasionally took a little break but you know... It is done! :D Long chapter as promised.
Also, as an added bonus, I'll let you all in on a little secret. I'll soon be putting the Unexpected Meeting story on hold. Why you might ask? Well, I thought of another story I'd like to write, so... If I write a prologue and a chapter, and you all end up liking it too, then I will proceed with that one. Anyway, Much love to you all. 3 3 3 3
