I own nothing.
Whoo! I finally got it done! Damn that took a while.
Anyways, this includes a bit of action that Tashio suggested for. I took them up on their suggestion and included it, as it helped work into the plot. So, thanks again Tashio!
Hope you like it!
It had been a week since the Shikon no Tama had resurfaced and a week since they had found a solution. But they had no trace of the Embryo, whatsoever. And it was pissing them off. Kagome was tempted to ask Ikuto, but it had been a week since Kagome's run in with Ikuto, and she still quite hadn't gotten over what had happened (she blushed immensely whenever Shippou or Kouga brought him up).
But the holiday had made up for it.
Despite that Halloween was an American holiday; Seiyou had decided to hold a small fair, in honor of it, even if it was already April. Kagome guessed it was because there hadn't been a holiday for so long (for kids, anyways. White Day was the previous month, but it was more of a day for lovers, if anything).
However, Kagome wasn't complaining. Halloween had always been one of her favorite holidays, anyways. So getting to celebrate it twice this year was always a treat. Kagome grinned at the thought of being able to go trick-or-treating without having to be embarrassed about her age.
Most kids had decided on dressing up as American super heroes, such as Spider Man, Super Man, Wonder Woman, and so on. Kagome decided to break from the norm. In memory of Kikyo and InuYasha, she wanted to dress up as a hanyou miko. Despite the impossibility of a hanyou miko being born, Kagome paid the fact no heed (1). (She had also seen the cutest pair of cat ears at the Halloween store that would go perfectly with her miko garbs. Kagome figured that they could pass off as InuYasha's ears. She could create an illusion resembling them and make them twitch adorably like his! But she couldn't help but think that the ears looked a bit like Ikuto's...)
As an attempt to locate her miko garbs, Kagome nearly tore up her room in her hunt. She looked back at her room regretfully, silently apologizing to the maids before glancing in the mirror once more.
Gazing back at her were her deep sapphire eyes. They traveled down, examining the outfit. Her red hakamas and white haori clashing nicely with her raven locks that tumbled freely over her back, a pair of cat ears of the same color, twitching atop her head. They were an illusion, but with Shippou's help, she had managed to make them real enough to touch them.
Smiling in satisfaction, Kagome gave a curt nod to herself and headed out the door, ready to go to school.
Upon arriving at Seiyou, Kagome gazed around the festivity. Hundreds of jovial kids, dressed in costumes, skipped around happily from one booth to another. She walked to her class, careful to not be trampled on by the excited kids.
Entering the class, she saw Amu sitting in her seat, chatting merrily with another of her friends. The holiday had even broken Amu's outer character, even if for a short while.
"Amu-chan!" the priestess called, walking over to her. Kagome examined the Guardian's outfit, taking in the spunky look of it. It resembled her blue chara slightly.
She was wearing an over-sized blue beret with a spade clip of a dark shade, attached to her hat, discarding her normal X clip. Adorning a sleeveless tuxedo jacket, complete with ruffled tails and a collar adorned her slim body, as well as a pair of deep blue shorts and thigh-length socks. As an accessory, Amu had worn arm warmers that resembled her tuxedo jacket, and a pair of army boots to complete her outfit.
She has good taste, Kagome noted.
The golden eyed girl turned to Kagome. She stood up and walked over to each other, holding her hand out. Kagome accepted her hand as they did a brief exchange of friendship before taking their seats. The miko rolled her eyes at the squeals and turned to converse with Amu.
"Amu-chan, what do you plan on doing today?"
Said girl shrugged. "Don't know. Hang out with the Guardians, I guess."
"Anything specific?" Kagome pressed.
"Not really. Just walking around, watching Kukai stuff his face." They both laughed at the comment.
Stifling another giggle, Kagome asked, "I'm sure you enjoy that, don't you? Spending time with him?"
Amu blushed. "O-of course I do! He's my friend! And what about you and Ikuto?" she retorted.
It was Kagome's turn to turn crimson.
"I told you, that kiss was an accident!" She had said it a bit louder than she had wanted, and now, Kagome found herself being gawked at. After the vague sounds of males sobbing, "Kagome-hime has been taken," she snapped, "An accident, I tell you! It's none of your business, anyways!"
An hour later, after Nikaidou-sensei's 'brief' lecture on rules for the fair, Kagome walked around the school grounds, taking in her surroundings. So full of festivity and fun, even Amu couldn't stop herself from grinning hysterically. Despite the lively atmosphere of the area, Kagome couldn't help but furrow her fine brows in worry.
She took out her necklace from under her shirt collar and glared at it the jewel. It had been a week since Kagome had found out the solution, but still, there was no way to track the Embryo. She should have thought this through. How am I supposed to find the Embryo if I don't even know what it looks like!?
The jewel had caused so many problems in her life. But it was because of it that she had the friends she had now. Kagome let out a nostalgic sigh. How she missed her friends...
The miko shook her head violently, attempting to shake out any thoughts that would lead to crying. Today was supposed to be a happy day. And for once, she should just take advantage of it. Putting on a bright smile, Kagome was about to run to the nearest booth when a black blur shot by her. Instantly stopping in her tracks, Kagome turned to look at what had passed her.
It's that same tainted aura again. It's an X-egg.
Kagome glanced around to look for Amu or the Guardians, who might have been chasing after it. Unfortunately, she felt none of their auras anywhere near the area.
Groaning, she ran after the X-egg, finding no choice but to purify it herself and in hopes of finding more about the Embryo. Taking off at a rapid speed, Kagome chased after the X-egg, attempting to catch up to it. She followed it to a secluded area of the campus.
The black egg rounded on Kagome. It let out a shrill giggle before chanting, "Useless, useless!" over and over.
Glaring at it intently, Kagome materialized a bow and arrow from her miko ki. She notched the arrow and fired at it, aiming for the X. When the egg dodged easily, Kagome swore under her breath. Notching another after another, Kagome fired at the egg, missing each time.
Her eyes flashed a bright pink before returning to its normal state. Her eyes widened as they saw the egg crack in half, a dark character emerging from the shell.
A tiny, tainted chara smirked at her, the large red X on its forehead gleaming down at her. "Useless! Useless!" it chanted, shooting waves of power towards her.
Kagome deflected them easily with a barrier and formed one around the character. It beat its tiny fists against the pink walls of the barrier, shooting attacks at it, only to have them bounce back. She brought the barrier down towards her and reached into her shirt and brought out a sutra. It was possible that Kagome could have purified it without the sacred seal, but as this was her first time, the miko didn't want to take any chances.
Reaching into the barrier, Kagome stuck the sutra onto the X. Chanting a few words, the paper began glowing a bright blue before a piercing scream filled the air. In the place of the dark figure, a pure chara stood in its place, ashes of her sutra lat at its feet at the bottom of the ground. Somehow, her barrier had been defused during the purification. Large hazel eyes blinked up at the miko. She gave Kagome a smile.
"Thank you, Lady Priestess. Your act of kindness is much appreciated." it uttered before returning into it's now white egg. The heart egg flew off to its owner, leaving a dumbfounded Kagome staring at the spot the chara had previously been.
"That was... odd." Kagome muttered before heading back to the fair, her bow and arrow disappearing in her hands. She walked off; ears twitching and an impassive look on her face.
Little did she know, there were people watching her from afar, their mouths open with awe.
Kagome groaned. Was there even a point in that last battle? She hadn't gotten any information and had wasted one of her precious sutras at the same time.
Her cat ears twitched when she heard someone call her name.
"Kagome-chan!" it called. What did Amu want? She slowed down to allow Amu to catch up to her. "Kagome-chan, can we talk to you?" she asked, once she caught up. Amu motioned to the Guardians as they looked at her expectantly.
Kagome nodded. "Sure. But what for?"
"Not here. At the club house." Tadase announced. "Come, Higurashi-san. We have things to discuss." He walked off, the cape of his king costume swaying slightly with each step, Amu following him.
Giving an eye roll at his commanding personality, she complied. Noticing her attitude, Kukai gave her a grin. "Sorry, Higurashi. Tadase can be a bit demanding in some situations." He shoved his hands in the pants of his soccer uniform. "He's a pretty nice guy."
Sticking up for your friend, Souma-kun? Very admirable of you. Kagome thought idly. "He must be to have friends like you, ne?" she queried thoughtfully.
A faint blush appeared on Kukai's tanned cheeks. "I-I guess."
"Souma-kun is right, you know?" Nadeshiko cut in, slinging an arm around Kagome's shoulders. "Although Hotori-kun has his moments, he is a very good leader." He kept up with their pace easily. Kagome momentarily wondered how he could keep up with his Kabuki costume on. (2)
"Yes! Yaya thinks so too!" the youngest member piped up, latching herself on Kagome's arm. Her baby outfit flapping loosely as she moved.
Kagome giggled. "Alright, minna-san. I'll take your word for it."
Kukai winked at her. "Yosh! And we'll all become friends too! You'll see!"
"I know." she replied, grinning and giving Kukai a wink of her own. The priestess walked off to catch up to Amu, giggling internally as she saw Kukai blush once more.
She still thought that he and Amu made a much better couple, though.
"Alright, Higurashi-san," Tadase started, propping his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his hands, "would you care to explain to us how you purified a chara?"
Kagome paled. They saw her? She was in deep shit now...
Taking a deep breath, Kagome answered, "Mikos have an ability to purify anything tainted, as well as youkai. I suppose X-eggs and dark charas count as well."
"How is it that you are able to see the X-eggs in the first place?" the king pressed.
"As a miko, I have the ability to see many different things. Auras, both dark and light, are what I see most. My miko chi must allow me to see heart eggs as well."
Amu still seemed bewildered. "Kagome-chan, you're a miko!?"
Said miko sighed. "Yes, Amu. I am a miko."
"A trained miko, at that," Nadeshiko commented. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs in a feminine way. "Never have I heard of a miko still alive today. I thought they were all extinct."
Kagome sobered. "I am the last miko of this time." She thought back to her history books. None had ever mentioned a single miko since the Feudal Era. Had they been wiped out by demons...?
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Kukai interrupted. "How is it that Higurashi knows about X-eggs in the first place!?"
She sighed. There was no getting out of this was there? "My father told me about them, as well as how to recognize them."
The oldest boy let out a small, "Aa." before leaning back into his chair. An awkward silence reigned as Kagome shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"So, can I go, or what?"
Yaya shook her head. "Tadase-kun still needs to pop the question!" Question? What's he gonna ask? To marry me? Kagome shuddered inwardly. I should hope not...
For a moment, Tadase looked almost sheepish before he turned to her. "Higurashi-san. How would you like to be part of the Guardians?"
Hehe, Ari-chan, don't kill me for the slight Kukai/Kagome moment. Please? I wanted some fluff between them...
Anyways, this might have some people wondering:
(1) It is impossible for there to be any sort of demonic miko, as the miko chi would purify any youkai blood within them. A hanyou miko would be killed by the purification of her youkai blood, and thus, killing her.
(2) Kabuki is Japanese theater and dance, which is what Nadeshiko does.
Oh, and basically, Amu's Halloween costume is Amulet Spade. Don't know how she got it or whatever. She was wearing it, so it must've been hers. Or Miki's. You can decide.
Hope that clears a bit up!
Reviews are greatly appreciated!