Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho Characters.
Chapter 11: Walks Among Men
There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~ Anais Nin
~*~With Koenma in the Cave~*~Koenma eyed the decaying figure before him with suspicion. "Father will be here shortly with the dark priestess."
"Correction. He is here with me." A sweet voice said. The petite frame of a young girl walked from the entrance of the cave. Long white hair swayed with her every step. Malicious turquoise eyes gaped at the ragged form in front of Koenma.
Koenma nodded his head, "Tsubaki-san."
Tsubaki rolled her eyes, but her gazed never left the shadowed figure. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Please do tell. What dastardly deeds did you have to do to end up with such a fate? How many souls did you have to condemn to your hell to become like this?" Her eyes glittered in the dark as she let her next words echo throughout the walls in a sickening whisper, "Maybe. It isn't how many. Maybe, it's who."
Piercing amethyst eye's stopped any further taunting. Tsubaki held her tongue as she felt the air around her thicken with dark energy. The air crackled around her as it became suffocating potent.
Tsubaki spoke through gritted teeth injecting as much venom as she could, "The pot that called the kettle black."
King Enma decided now was the best moment to interfere. His tone was clipped; "Tsubaki-san, give back to this perverted saint what time has taken and you will have a second chance at life as you requested."
Koenma heard his father's booming voice hit his back. He had been contemplating on what to tell his father with the new change of events. The mark on his forehead was burning a hole through his confidence. His Jr. mark was faded with the mark left by Kami on top of it. It made him question what control he had on the growing situation.
'Who am I kidding I don't have any control on the situation…. I don't even know if I have control on my life anymore.' Koenma felt the chilling sensations of hopelessness begin to settle within him. He straightened his spine. He refused to look the part of lost puppy.
The Prince of Spirit Realm dug into his pocket to retrieve the crystallized tears of Kagome. He held them out to the dark priestess. He mimicked his father's tone of voice; "This is what you'll need, Tsubaki-san."
Koenma watched in apathy the unfolding events. The long chants, streams of bright light, and screaming couldn't faze the prince. It seemed as if everything paled in comparison to Kami's wrath.
~*~The Higurashi Household~*~
"Hey, Urameshi. Should Botan be getting all lovey-dovey with that kid?" Kuwabara asked from the living room window. The blinds were drawn down and he was using his finger to peak through them.
"Get away from the window, Dumb Ass." Yusuke lay on the couch listlessly staring at the ceiling. It was his moment of attempting to ignore, in his opinion, his fucked up life. He was going on twenty with nothing to show but an extensive record in pissing off his longtime girlfriend. He could feel the color draining from his face at the thought of Keiko. The Spirit Detective didn't even want to consider how Keiko would take the new predicament.
"But, don't we have enough going on?" Kuwabara looked behind him to his childhood rival.
"Like that's ever stopped you. You didn't consider timing with Yukina. Besides, Botan is a grown Shinigami. She can make her own decisions." Yusuke muttered.
"I hope so. I don't think Kagome-sama would take kindly of me beating up her brother." Kuwabara muttered.
"By Kami, the idiot has a working brain cell." Yusuke purposely mumbled loud enough for the other to hear. He expected the inevitable fight and welcomed it. He suspected that whatever Kuwabara was looking at was a private moment. So, he would give Botan her private moment.
~*~Within Kagome Mind~*~
"You're going to have to prove that you're the rightful owner of the Shikon No Tama, Kagome-sama." Midoriko warned her younger charge.
"How so?" Kagome asked.
"It will happen naturally, my young one." Midoriko gave the younger a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Many will challenge you and when those times comes Kami himself will show you how to deal with them."
"Will life ever be easy, Midoriko?" She questioned.
A weak smile tipped the corners of the elder priestess lips. "I've collected so many quotes and sayings over the centuries, Little One. All of them wise and true in their own right, but there were certain ones that stuck to this ones beaten soul."
"What were they?" Kagome inquired.
"One of the most difficult things everyone has to learn is that for your entire life you must keep fighting and adjusting if you hope to survive. No matter who you are or what your position is you must keep fighting for whatever it is you desire to achieve.' It's a quote by George Allen. Can you understand his words, Little One?"
Kagome looked up into fluffy white clouds of her mind. From the corner of her eyes she caught Midoriko staring at her. 'To not fight is to give up?' She asked herself.
Midoriko stood up beside her. Smiling at the young priestess she held out her hand to help her to her feet. "Kagome-sama, it's time to be reunited."
Kagome took her hand letting the other pull her to her feet. The young priestess felt her mind wake up to the real world. She caught tidbits of what Midoriko said, "Revive from the ashes and rise."
Once more the once legendary priestess was left alone to contemplate on her Kami given duties. She knew Kagome hadn't caught all she had said, but she had heard enough. "The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.' I wonder if Miguel Cervantes knew that such a day would come?" She thought to herself.
~*~ With Koenma in the Cave ~*~
For nearly three hours the cave vibrated with conflicting holy energies. The cave's grounds quivered under the pressure. Koenma had to admit that he was impressed that the cave hadn't collapsed under the onslaught. Then again, the old bat that resided within these walls had probably chosen the cave for its sturdy residence.
King Enma voice boomed over the screaming energies, "Koenma, do what is necessary."
The young prince nodded to his father's command. His pacifier glowed. He brought his hands out in front of him.
"By my father's command, as Prince Koenma of Spirit Realm, you have my permission to walk the Earth once more. This seal is removed!" The power from the pacifier shot out from his outstretched hands and into the fray of holy energies. A deafening boom shook the area.
"It is done." King Enma said.
Koenma rolled his eyes at his father's cliché line. He wouldn't tell his father that it was obviously over. That just seemed too much like a Yusuke move.
From the settling dust Tsubaki stepped forth. Her young features scrunched in a scowl as she kept her eyes towards the back of the cave. Turquoise eyes narrowed in hatred as a second set of footsteps could be heard following after her steps. She visibly tensed up. The hair on her arms stood at end.
"Tsubaki-san, you have fulfilled your end of the bargain and I have restored your life." Koenma confirmed.
His eyes followed Tsubaki's gaze into the darker corner of the cave. The other had yet to emerge, but he knew the saint was once more among the living. "Raise again, saint, and take your spot among the living." Koenma commanded.
"No, I will take my spot next to her." A deep voice corrected.
Tsubaki gave a dark snicker. "She'll never want you. You are just as damned in her eyes as I am in your eyes."
Koenma's eyes widened a fraction as he noticed the shadows clinging to the emerging figure. Long slick black hair swayed behind broad muscular shoulders. The tall frame matched that of Koenma's adult form. Piercing deep wine eyes cut through the shadows around him.
"King Enma and Prince Koenma, thank you for the gift of life you have restored to both Tsubaki and I." The saint said as he bowed low to the dirt floor in front of the Spirit World's royal family.
Koenma cautiously watched the now able body in front of him. His energy was still dark, yet it was not malicious. He couldn't detect any lie or sarcasm in his thanks; but, he was still weary of the fact that he would thank him for Tsubaki's life. It was too obvious that they hated each other.
King Enma interjected, "You are both welcome. Tsubaki, you may do as you please under Spirit World's rules. Saint, you know your task. Koenma will show you to her."
Both young men nodded their heads in agreement. The saint stood from his spot and turned to the dark priestess. His robe's hood had dropped to his shoulders, so the sharp features of his face were visible to everyone around him. Two rows of beautiful teeth stood out as he spoke to the priestess, "Thank you, Tsubaki. You helped give me a chance at redemption."
"I did it for my gain. Never yours, Monk. Besides, I will gain much entertainment seeing her turn you down. You'll be forever dancing on ice trying to gain her favor." She bit back. Slowly she began to inch her way next to King Enma's side.
The monk shook his head. A smile was gracing his handsome features as he flexed his hand. He was in better health than he was in his first life. Cursed far more than before, yet, he didn't mind. The world could push his mistakes into his face; however, all that mattered was her and he would make sure the world knew that.
He grabbed one of Tsubaki shoulders. He spun her around to face him as he smiled wider in her face, "I know. I only thanked them because I would have the chance to do this."
Tsubaki's eyes widened as she felt his power covering her form. The soft whisper of his named echoed off the walls, "Damn you, Miroku."
Koenma watched as the shadows seemed to engulf Tsubaki. Her face contorted in an expression of pure horror. The shadows reseeded into one of the hands of Miroku. The monk flexed his hands once more. His purple eyes landing on Koenma reflected an unsettling calm appearance.
"She waits, Koenma." Miroku said.
~Fin of Chapter Eleven~
AN: Hey Readers, apologizes for the long wait. Life has been busy to the tenth power. However, I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter. You have got to tell me what you think of Miroku making an entrance into the story! As a Miroku lover, I love it. But, that doesn't mean other characters can't make their way back into Kagome's life.
Still don't have a Beta. If you want the job tell me.
A huge THANK YOU to all that continue to read and review my story!
rspringb – Glad to see my story can be addicting. It means I must be doing something right.
DeLaLunaLove - It means a lot to me that you think my story has an original plot line. I try my best to stay away from the cliché with this story.
dimensiontimetraveler - It probably would be/had been awesome if I made Sesshomaru come to Kagome's aid; but, I don't think Sesshomaru would actually help Kagome without a really good cause. I am planning a background story for the Inu-gangs turn on Kagome. Plus, with Miroku back I am going to reveal some secrets about the past.
Kira Kyuu - I am guilty of the Author Note Chapters, but that won't happen again. Hope this short chapter lives up to the rest of the story for you. What you think of Miroku as my mystery person?
Venas - I am a Sesshomaru fan; however, I don't see him saving Kagome. He can definitely come into the story line though. Shizune and Keiko will probably make their grand entrance in the next chapter too! Smiles.