AN: I miss that weird little disclaimer. I feel lonely. I think I'll put one in!
Disclaimer: The little me does not own the little Inuyasha. Do all the big people comprehend??
CHAPTER 15: DREAMS
What? Why? This darkness is weird… Kikyo, why did you leave me? Kikyo? KIKYO! Don't leave! I don't want to be alone again…
An image of a happy, smiling, dancing Kikyo flitted away, back into the dark.
Though…
But I'm not really alone, am I? I have friends now. Friends. Like Kagome! Kagome. She's been here for me. Why did she leave too?
KAGOME! WHY DID YOU LEAVE??
Inuyasha jolted awake. It felt as if every part of his body had been cruelly pricked with unseen thorns. Something BIG had just happened. And it wasn't just him either.
From his tree, Inuyasha could hear the sleepy grumbles and words of Miroku and Shippo. It seemed as though, at that moment, everything in the world had just been pricked awake.
An unusual hum filled the forest world. Absolutely every living creature was awake, at the same time. It was unusual. Abrupt. The order of life was, temporarily, broken.
Something had indeed just happened, and somehow, it had the power to change all their lives.
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The moon, the moon…I can finally FEEL it!! The witch has finally lost interest in me.
If only I could find my mistress again… Who else would take care of her if not for me?
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NOW!
"Gryaaaawwwr!" Kirara roared into the night. The prickling sensation was a bit harsher on demons (and half-demons) than humans. But that didn't stop the latter from feeling them too.
"What was that?" Sango sleepily murmured, quickly trying to sort through events in her mind. There were bags under her eyes and she was considerably skinnier than last time.
"Kyyyyyyyawr!!" Kirara transformed into her large demon version.
"Yeah, I guess that means we check it out." Sango didn't know what she was doing anymore. This was like the last thread of sanity her life had; if this was a blind goose chase for… what? She didn't even know anymore. But SOMETHING had better happen.
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"Owww…"
Once again, Kagome found herself on the ground. And, guess what? Yep, covered in leaves. Feeling slightly dysfunctional and majorly disorientated, this young priestess nevertheless managed to drag herself onto her knees.
If Kagome's head didn't crack first from her headache, then her teeth surely would from the way she's been grinding them so far. She carefully brought her hands to her ears, hoping that would shut out some of the outside world and perhaps help with her head. It did – a little.
It also allowed her to actually take in what was happening around her. She seemed to be in a pentacle of some sort. Some enchantment, a ritual - perhaps? But Kagome forgot all this when she noticed the prone body of Kikyo lying next to her, unmoving.
"Kikyo! KIKYO! Can you hear me? Please wake up!" Kagome reached out to Kikyo – and recoiled in shock. Kikyo was COLD. Once again, Kikyo was of clay.
That was the way she was always meant to be… So why was Kagome so surprised, and strangest of all, sad? Maybe it was the solitary confinement. Especially with the person you disliked – even hated – the most, it could actually make you like them. Or was it something else? Was it getting to know Kikyo the person, not Kikyo the priestess? Was it laughing, eating, and living with her?
Or was it understanding Kikyo? Beyond trivial emotions and characteristics, there was the inner soul and being of a person. Could Kagome have, somehow, throughout their time, touched on the essence of Kikyo?
Yes. She had.
As the answer came to her, Kagome could not stand it anymore. Tears began falling of their own will against her cheeks, dripping off the tip of her chin onto Kikyo's face, until any bystander would not have been able to tell if it was Kikyo or Kagome that was crying, or even, who was who.
Unheard by Kagome, Tsubaki let off a little girlish giggle, quite unbefitting her image.
"Oh. How cute."
And she cackled evilly into the damp night air.
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"Whoa! Miroku, get up!!" Inuyasha tried, unsuccessfully, to lift his monk friend up by his robes – which were way too loose and large for the job.
"Ugh. Give me a bit, would you?" Miroku slowly made his sleepy way up vertically until he was his normal height. "Huh. Is it just me, or is there a-"
"-Massively evil aura emanating from the south-east? YES, SO MOVE IT!!!!!!!" Inuyasha growled. It didn't feel like Naraku, but it did feel familiar… And it might have something to do with Kagome and Kikyo. He didn't have time to wait for Miroku.
Inuyasha started sprinting, jumping in the treetops. The aura was coming from nearby… hopefully he wouldn't be too late.
Miroku followed closely on ground level, with a screaming Shippo trailing from his robes, begging for a reduction in speed.
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I…
What have I done? What have I been? What am I?
I…
I am a great priestess. I am a beacon of purity, discipline and righteous force. I am strength for the weak, compassion for the steel mind, punishment for the steel sword. I… am what people make me into.
Not who I am, nor who I wish to be. I am Kikyo, the woman who gave up her life to become a true priestess. A true priestess but not a real identity. Truth and reality – are they that far apart? I have made myself with words and might that - which I could never be with love and life. Even before I died my life was over. It was given over to dedication to perfection. I have made myself into a demi-god without humanity. Or, perhaps, my lack of humanity made me? Did I really believe I was in control of my destiny?
Or perhaps, I knew all too well that I could no more control who I was becoming than I could control the circumstances that made it all so.
I have covered myself up with weapons, scathing looks and distance into something I no longer recognise. Did I ever? When I looked into the mirror, was my reflection even mine? For it seemed to me that I could never have been so cold, so remorseless.
I didn't believe in my reflection. I didn't believe in me. Was that my flaw?
While I was alive – everyone thought me to be …? Ah yes, a priestess. I remember. I had thought that that was the same as a human being. If I could laugh now I would. I was gifted. I had no choice. I chose.
A human being could love. I could not – or perhaps I could love only so much. A human being needs as well as wants. I could only ever be one.
And whenever I look into her eyes I feel peace. Peace with myself, even though I do not know who myself is. Or maybe I do. Perhaps it is her?
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Tears, wetness. A horrid choking lump in her throat. Burning cheeks – not from shame, nor passion. No, it was from numbness. And perhaps a mess of nerves and emotions. Kagome just couldn't process anything right now.
"What… WHY?" Kagome did not even think of the how.
It simply didn't occur to her. Just as a thousand other things never occurred to a thousand other souls
Just as truth never occurs to any of us. It's all LIES, LIES, LIES. And a want – no NEED – to be perfect. Hmm. Which is it?
Tsubaki went through a strange moment of pondering off-the-topic. Ironically, this was exactly what had occurred to Kikyo just a few (or maybe a million…?) moments ago in another time, another world. And in the moment of those million that Tsubaki's thoughts chanced upon Kikyo's, Kagome and Kikyo's two power-spheres (or, at least, representations of them) had finally blended. Into one.
The tension building up in the forest snapped. Like a thick, taut string.
Like this:
SNAAAAAP!!!
Bits of energy flying everywhere. Oh yes, pandemonium reigned all right. For now, Chaos was the queen.
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"WHAT THE –" Miroku never finished the curse – Shippo interrupted him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Miroku, SLOW DOWN!!" Shippo was holding on to the very last –longest– hairs of Miroku's ponytail.
"I can't, I – Inuyasha- WOULD YOU LET GO?" Miroku jerked Shippo off his ponytail, and without breaking the pace, settled the little fox demon upon his shoulder.
"WHAT THE HECK?" Inuyasha roared from above them, finally realising the 'problem'.
"I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY THAT!!!" Roared Miroku back. If this kept on, they'd be hoarse by the time they got to wherever it was.
A new contestant joined the roaring contest:
"GYAWRR!!" Greeted the fiery cat-demon.
"I know, it's crazy, hey – SANGO??" Miroku stopped, stunned.
"Hop on."
Miroku obliged, as Kirara swooped down to collect them.
"A brief statement for someone who's been away so long. You don't look too good, either, you're all skinny - OWW!" Miroku nursed his sore face, freshly slapped.
"Haha. Lecher." Shippo taunted. "Good to see you back, Sango. You too, Kirara. It got irritating being the only demon in the place."
"Thanks."
"Grawr."
And that was it. Apart from a similarly short greeting from Inuyasha, they were back together - just like that… without Kagome, of course. As if they had never been apart.
But maybe the reason they couldn't talk was because of the 'problem' – a sudden exodus of every living woodland creature for miles. Above the whole stampede, Kirara, Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Inuyasha – among the treetops – witnessed this insane event. All the little wolves, bears, squirrelly-things, birds and other such inhabitants of the quiet woods were making their very quick, loud way AWAY. And in the centre of the mass departure was a little clearing, glowing with eerie light and reeking of foul magic.
"I can sense them!" Inuyasha yelled.
Nobody asked who because they similarly, could sense them too. The pace picked up just that little extra bit.
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Naturally, with the combined harnessed powers of two of the strongest priestesses the world has ever seen since Midoriko, Tsubaki dropped all pretence at not being there. That caused all her strong and highly detectable magic to leak out of the careful border she had maintained over the last months.
But - who cares? Midoriko was just ONE priestess. And look at what her powers (with a hundred demons) had made – THE Sacred Jewel. Then came Kikyo – a priestess almost as good as Midoriko, and then came Kagome – an equal to Kikyo. What pretty little wish-divining Jewel could THEIR powers make? Especially if combined? It would SURPASS the Sacred Jewel!
All one had to do was get the two priestesses' powers magically bonded. In such a way that it would replicate the situation in which the original Sacred Jewel was created. That would, normally, be impossible – any two priestesses would be too dissimilar for it to work. But if they share a soul…?
It's perfectly possible.
A Sacred Jewel was simply another deposit of power – like sutras that monks use. Only sutras are weaker, and less pure – they are simple charms that contain only a fragment of spiritual power. A Sacred Jewel is a complete draining of any power a priestess or other being might have – magic, in Jewel form.
The process that Tsubaki used was different to Midoriko's – but the same requirements applied. A life. And power.
The globe of priestess-magic hovering just above Tsubaki's outstretched hands was blinding. Light, purity – essence of the priestesses.
Kagome had by now turned her eyes to Tsubaki as well.
"What is that?" Her quiet voice whispered to no-one in particular. Her own senses answered her: she knew a Sacred Jewel when she saw one. Those powers of hers, at least, had not been drained.
Kagome shuddered. She felt empty. She felt weak. Her eyelids seemed to close themselves, and she fell onto the ground, next to Kikyo.
Tsubaki herself had voluntarily frozen into a pose – she couldn't extricate herself from the building anticipation. THIS was her moment. Nothing could ruin it…
AN: This was my 'proudest' chapter yet. I feel really really good about it. It has a lot of satire, and a lot of 'duhhhh' moments. As you might have noticed. PLEASE don't pick on the little 'how did Tsubaki do it?' thing. I know that in the anime series someone else tried making fake Jewels… And failed. I only remembered that when I started that last section. But oh well. Let's just say – for my convenience – that Tsubaki did somehow manage it. Ok?? Happy? Thank you!! Please review! And thanks for sticking with me this far if you're reading this!
Wow... lots has happened. DID I ACTUALLY MOVE THE PLOT (yay! i have one...) FORWARD?? WOW!
