Chapter 4-Rounding Off and Finding Out
Inuyasha and company? Oh, my, no. I don't own them. I do own Sanae, Rinao, Akiyoshi, and Ichiro.
Kagome took several deep breaths as she stood at the bottom of the steps to the Shrine. First things first. Calm the nerves, find her center, and let the power flow.
She called...and the wards answered as she climbed the steps. They ought to, she'd helped create them in their current form. The Priestess linked herself to them and gave an order. They changed, creating a subtle magic around her that would make them ignore her. It formed as Kagome felt for much loved auras. Mom was inside the house, Grandpa was talking to a couple of visitors she felt moving about. Souta was at school this time of day. Safe enough.
'Grandpa, if you only knew who the real senior Shrinepriest is. I am-just as you taught me, even in service to another Clan or married, this is my ancestral Shrine and I'll always belong to it. I'm just sorry I can't tell you that those lessons finally stuck,' Kagome thought. She looked around with grim amusement as she walked, noting as always how the place changed over the centuries.
Before her present family were born, this place was her anchor through time. Kagome had often visited, her son had married here, and now-it was off limits and she had to hide her presence because it was always possible that they might twig to something. She missed them...and wished she could tell her mom everything. Let her meet her grandchildren, see how well they'd done.
Her youkai family had paid for many Shrine improvements when they were flush. Inuyasha had owned the construction company that built the house she'd grown up in, actually. He'd teased her so, but donated much of it as a gift to her. Particularly about putting in what would be her bedroom, making sure the top of the Sacred Tree had a good line of sight through the window for his future viewing entertainment, the peeping baka.
The thought of him helped steady her. Kagome had a job to do. So, a calm woman slipped inside the old Wellhouse and wedged the door shut.
She set a ward around it, and jumped in. Getting comfortable on the bottom...she set her protections, slipped into trance and looked. Yes. The vortex of power was still active, but there was a seal across it now. Green netting now stretched across the blue of the energy, and it was set by a Priestess. One-who had to be somehow attuned to the well itself.
Gathering her will, she felt along it carefully, testing and teasing it, learning it's shape...looking for the signature of the one who made it, the resonance of the caster. Who had done this was as important as breaking it, such interference was dangerous. Then she saw it. A Shard, hovering in the center of the netting and nearly invisible as it blended into the power flow. When she reached out to purify it, tame it to her will as the Jewelguardian, it reacted...and pulled her in for a moment before throwing her out.
Kagome gasped as she came to full alertness. She knew who set it and when...not that it helped her state of mind any as she sat, dazed and drained.
Midoriko!
Akiyoshi sniffed, and sniffed again as he sat with his brother, father, and their Uncle Miroku. Who was being kept here because no one was peeping at Kagome, Sango, or Rinao as they went to bathe. The equanimity the monk showed when it was mentioned made Ichiro snort. Aki just shook his head in admiration. Definitely, the hoshi lived up to his reputation.
Shippo had no idea why Inuyasha had growled when he went to go bathe with them, and stayed with Kaede instead. Ichiro was just as glad to see him elsewhere, pestering the Priestess as she worked on her garden.
"What is it, Lassie? Smell something? Is it Timmy? Does Timmy need help?" Ichiro teased. Aki slammed his elbow into his stomach without looking. "oof!"
"Someone's coming. I smell...raccoon dog, human with spiritual powers, and...cow. Youkai and cow, coming in fast from that direction," he said, pointing.
"Mushin?" Miroku asked in astonishment.
"And-" Inuyasha sniffed, "Totosai. Bet on it. Too far off for me, but Aki's nose is better."
"Better than yours, Inuyasha? I'm impressed."
"Thank you, Uncle Miroku," Akiyoshi answered modestly.
"That hurt! Show some respect for a Priest, Scooby! Ow," Ichiro rubbed his stomach and scowled.
"When I see one, I will," his younger brother smiled.
"Enough with the damned dog jokes! Fucking brats," Inuyasha scowled. Both grinned as they got up when Hochi came into view.
It didn't take long for the human and youkai to return from their bath. But to Miroku's surprise, the ones of the future asked that he, Kagome, and Sango deal with them.
"Better they not see us," Inuyasha explained.
"I see. Makes sense. Go into the woods, and we'll handle the matter," Miroku agreed, and Kagome nodded. So it was that the trio, Shippo, and Kaede met them as they landed.
"We were robbed. Or at least, a kitsune attempted to," Mushin explained after being greeted. They told them of the loot left here and that the one responsible was dead. Hearing that his guardian youkai had attacked...Mushin took the low road-and didn't say a word. No one had been killed, so at least that burden wasn't his.
"We have your weapons, Master Totosai. But what would a kitsune want from the Temple, Master Mushin?" Miroku asked.
"That's what's strange. A manuscript of mine, Miroku. Valueless to anyone else. I don't understand it."
"Maybe Inuyasha and the others would know," Shippo suggested.
"Where is he? Likely hiding his abuse of great Tetsusaiga!" Totosai noted sourly as Kagome hushed him.
"No. He's...in the woods. Possibly fishing," Miroku answered. Not a lie. He was-and he could be, after all.
"Others?" Totosai asked.
"Nothing important. What kind of manuscript?" Kagome asked.
"A history I've toyed with, Kagome." He pulled it out to show her.
"Oh? Might I read it, Master Mushin?" Kaede asked, noting the title. And that Shippo's thought was a good one, if not the timing.
"Well-of course. If you like, Lady Kaede. Have Miroku send for Hochi to return it when you finish." Ah, guilt. It was handed over. Totosai collected his goods, and not long after the disgruntled pair left-being hurried by everyone.
"They're hiding something." Totosai muttered to himself. Mushin was sure of the same.
When the youkai returned, Rinao actually gasped as she looked it over.
"A discussion of the history of the youkai of Musashi!! Complete and unfragmented."
"What??" Akiyoshi and everyone else gaped at the scroll.
"I never figured the old drunk really wrote it." Inuyasha admitted.
"So, this scroll is valuable in your time?" Kaede asked.
"Priceless to youkai. Legend has it that it contains much lost knowledge, Lady." Ichiro answered, Rinao skimming it as it was unrolled reverently, she was checking chapters. Akiyoshi and Ichiro were reading over her shoulder as she found the section she was looking for. The Clan Inu's. The best way to tell how much of the book's reputation was fancy, really.
"Whoa. How...how could he know some of this?" Ichiro managed.
"It's all here. Grandfather's reign, Uncle's..." It was rolled down, "look, he even has-wow." Akiyoshi managed, glancing over at his Father.
"Know what?" Inuyasha asked.
"Uh-" All three looked at each other.
"What?" He got up and pushed his way into the group studying it, and was stunned.
"Did you tell him some of this, Dad?" Akiyoshi asked.
"No. But I know who had to have. Myouga. I'm going to throttle him!!" Inuyasha gritted. It was all there. A short biography of...him. A section that his younger self would have flayed Mushin for. His childhood, powers, even how exactly he took Sesshomaru's arm! Their meeting Mushin, and the Monk's observations about the fact that he was:
-hopelessly in love with the young miko Kagome. Clear to these eyes, and assured to me by trusted sources. The girl returns his affections, and it was most amusing to watch her order him, as a dog on a leash.-
Kami.
"So-you didn't share all of this, then." Akiyoshi noted.
"No. Oddly I didn't." Inuyasha snarled, glaring at the scroll.
"This is a priceless treasure, Lord Uncle." Rinao noted, seeing he looked like he wanted to rip it apart.
So, it was time again. Sanae met them at the Shrine, Ayame having driven Inuyasha there...after calling about repairs to his den's television and a badly torn pool table. She didn't ask. Only removed the pool cue from the set and unplugged it all.
He sniffed, and sure enough-a human. It was on her. Sanae didn't say a word as they made their way up the steps. Ears under disguises twitched and noses smelled it as a woman swept the courtyard and an elderly Priest was puttering about. Mom was still in the wellhouse, and it was almost time to contact the past. Meaning-distraction time.
"What do you suggest?" Ayame asked softly.
"Um-we need to keep both busy, and out of sight..." Sanae glanced around-and got it. Telling Inuyasha to go to the Tree and wait, they boldly approached Grandpa.
"Excuse me, honored Priest." Sanae and Ayame bowed and smiled.
"Yes? How can I help you young ladies?" he asked with a smile. Sanae realized Aki had inherited Grandpa's little grin.
"We-were hoping to purchase some things from...the gift shop. Is it open?"
"Yes! Yes, yes! We've some fine authentic replicas of many treasures within! This way, this way. Lucky for you, and fine gifts for friends! She'll help you," Grandpa excitedly gestured to them as he directed them to the little building, beckoning Sanae's stunned Grandmother.
"We were thinking of-lots of things?" Ayame added when Sanae nudged her.
"Lots? Ahhh, well, we can-"
"With help, maybe? We'd love to hear the tales behind what we'll buy," Ayame eased in, and he nodded, hurrying over to the shop and rubbing his hands. Inuyasha waited, and when they were inside, he moved.
He went to the wellhouse, and it opened. Kagome peered out and sighed, looking exhausted. A seed of a plan had formed as she'd sat in there waiting for rescue.
"Clear then? I was stuck in here when Mom started sweeping!"
"Yeah. They took 'em in there. That place with all the crap for sale."
"The Gift Shop? Someone went into the Gift Shop. Gramps'll be busy for hours," she smiled-but it was a pained one.
"What's wrong?"
"A lot. I also spent a lot of energy in there. I'll tell everyone at once, alright?"
Hands went to the Tree...and the connection opened.
"We have trouble." The Priestess filled them in on what she found.
"Midoriko? What the hell is she doing this for?" Inuyasha demanded in the Feudal Era.
"I don't know. All I can tell is that we have to talk to her somehow. That spell was no remnant of old magic, it was set when we fell in. Meaning, she's done it now. From that Shard. It's anchoring the center of the seal and is active as hell. She threw me out of the vortex when I tested it, and I know there's definitely an intelligence in there, not some fragment of a soul."
"How is that even possible?" Higurashi Kagome asked.
"Almost anything is possible in magic if you've got the will, the power and the knowledge to make it happen, and are willing to pay the price. Remember that. I want you to tell Kaede and Miroku they have to teach you how to enter trance. Tomorrow, we're talking to her, miko, if you're up to it. She's not removing that seal and we can't get her to unless we find out why."
"Not if it's dangerous you aren't!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Not dangerous. Just tricky. I think since the Tree's letting us talk, that we are going to be able to link our powers together. If we can, I can use her powers to reach Midoriko, and mine to get us safely in and out. What say you, miko? Up for it? It's going to be rough, and you'll have to trust me."
Kagome bit her lip. But...if she couldn't trust-the Priestess, who could she trust?
"I'll do it. It sounds like the only way to get the well opened."
"Alright." They planned quickly. Tomorrow morning, she'd jump into the well without her Shards, and go into trance. Inutaisho Kagome would then try to link with her powers...and use them to unseal the well. Or at least convince the one who sealed it to let them through.
When they broke contact, a grim maiden corralled Miroku and Kaede, who agreed it was possible, but more dangerous then they'd like. Even so-they began her lessons on basic meditation and trace.
In the future, an exhausted Kagome was all but carried to the cars as the girls emerged with large shopping bags. She drove carefully home, and frowned when the compact pulled in behind them.
"What the heck did you buy?" she asked, showing a spark of interest as they got inside.
"Ohhh...Coffee mugs, hats, and I bought Ichiro a T-shirt. Sanae bought key chains and a bunch of other stuff too. The old Priest and your mother were giddy," Ayame giggled.
"Yep. One for everyone. Including one for you, and one for Dad too. Here."
"Key Chains?" Kagome frowned as a bag was opened and she was offered a slim box. It was opened, and the woman started to giggle.
A replica Jewel Key Chain!
"Couldn't resist," Sanae admitted.
"Hopeless."
Author's notes-Ah. I hope it was interesting. The key chains are a nod to the pilot episode of the anime, they show up when we first meet Grandpa. Thanks for Reading!-Namiyo