Author's note: YES! I'm back and with all new chapters for all you lovely patient readers. On my birthday too so here's your birthday gift.
Disclaimer: I was very disappointed to see that Inuyasha was not one of my birthday presents )= so I don't own him…maybe next year.
When Good Mikos Go Bad
Chapter 15 Plans
"You haven't by any chance…come across a priestess?" the monk inquired of yet another random villager. "Black hair, brown eyes, odd clothing, kind smile…possibly wounded from a fall?" Miroku continued his description. The man who was lodging them for the night shook his head. Four of the companions sighed with disappointment, Inuyasha just growled at their lack of leads.
Later that night the incomplete gang was discussing plans for the next leg of their travels. "This is the fifth village we've been to in the last seven days." Sango exclaimed. "With all the people Inuyasha threatened to pummel you would think someone would have heard about her; the way she dresses doesn't exactly blend in."
"Quite true," Miroku agreed, "it must be what now, sixty unsuspecting travelers, that our good friend here has nearly scarred to death with his line of questioning?" The monk clapped his friend roughly on the back. The hanyou didn't bat an eye at the insult hardly sparing a glare for the man.
"Damnit! Kagome's harder to track down Naraku!" Inuyasha let out yet another stream of curses. Shippou, who had taken to sitting on the hanyou's head, pulled harshly at one of the triangular dog ears. "Ow! What'd ya do that for runt?" he slapped away the kit's hands, giving his ears some distance.
"What would Kagome say if she heard you swearing like that?" the young boy chastised his father figure.
Inuyasha winced internally at the sits he would have endured, but snapped back anyway, "If she was here to say something I wouldn't be swearing would I?" he gave a smug victory smile.
The kitsune just shook his head sadly "You'd still make an ass out of yourself and get sat." Smugness slipped from Inuyasha's expression, a sweat-drop taking its place, as Shippou stole his victory.
Monk and slayer fought back laughter at the hanyou's distress. "If Kagome is looking for us which she probably is," Sango reasoned bringing the group back on track, "then she will be either headed back to the village or out searching for the jewel shards like we would be." It wasn't the first time they had discussed this particular line or action but at Inuyasha and Shippou's insistence that someone was bound to have noticed a girl traveling alone dressed like that, not to mention the miko powers, they hadn't acted upon it. However they were both starting to wonder if that was the case.
"How would we find any shards without Kagome?" the hanyou asked as if the y hadn't gone over this a million times already.
Miroku's 'I do not know' was interrupted when Shippou had a sudden spark of inspiration. Without controlling his impulse the kitsune shouted, "Keade!" right into sensitive dog ears causing Inuyasha to go temporarily deaf.
While Inuyasha attempted to pummel the runt, Sango and Miroku discussed Shippou's exclamation. "Its true that most of our old leads come from Keade," commented the monk.
"Yes, but it was Kagome who sensed if it was true or not and told us how to find and eliminate the demon." Reasoned the slayer.
"Quite true, but if Kagome senses the same lead as Keade we have a high chance of crossing paths." Miroku smiled at his winning argument. They took the hanyou's temporary loss of hearing to get him to agree before he figured out what was going on. With that settled they would be returning to Keade's in the morning.
"Kagome-sama," whined Shiri, "I'm tired." Kagome bent over to pick up the small girl. Shiri rested her head on the older girl's shoulder drawing comfort from the woman's steady movements.
"Don't worry Shiri-chan, we need to find a place to camp for the night. Then you can sleep all you want." The lead miko consoled as the little girl yawned. Kagome surveyed the tree tops looking for signs of a clearing with a practiced eye. A few minutes of quite travel later she spied a gap in the foliage, motioning to the others to follow as she veered of course in favor of the clearing ahead.
Tari was the first to enter the clearing, it was the perfect camp sight; open enough so the fire wouldn't spread, yet protect from the surrounding area and easily defendable. Not to mention the bonus of soft grass rather then hard dirt to sleep on.
While Marianne and Tari were examining their surroundings, Kagome got busy setting up camp; unrolling Shiri's bed roll with one hand as the other still supported the now sleeping child. When Shiri was tucked in and looked comfortable Kagome set about building a fire. Calling Tari and Marianne over to her she asked the later to watch over Shiri while she went to get kindling, and Tari fire wood. Both nodded, though one more enthusiastic then the other.
After the two miko returned with their supplies, Kagome began to expertly arrange the wood and kindling in a way that would contain the fire while giving off maximum heat. As observant as ever Tari spoke up, "Kagome how did you get so good at this? Its like you've done this a thousand times." The bubbly young woman giggled knowingly as flames sparked at Kagome's flint.
In turn Kagome giggled, "Who knows maybe I have." Tari finished unrolling her and Kagome's bed rolls as did Marianne with her own.
The eldest miko listened carefully to the others hushed conversation. "You remember anything, maybe its breaking through?"
Kagome lay back on her sleeping roll staring up at the sky as if for answers. "Not really memories, just feelings." She tried to explain. "There's just something familiar about the situation." Kagome's tone grew teasing, though it seemed a bit forced. "Hey maybe I'm some kind of shard hunter extraordinaire, traveling the world with my faithful companions, fighting injustice wherever it may be." She forced a little laugh.
Her friend however didn't think it was that funny. She adopted a calculating expression, then said thoughtfully, "Oddly enough I can picture it; adventure, danger, enemies you triumph over, maybe even a hint of romance." She added the last part as a joke, even if her intuition said she was close to the truth.
Marianne's brain was buzzing, they were much too close to the truth, if they continued down this line of conversation, something was bound to trigger Kagome's memory. Not wiling to take such a risk Marianne intervened, "I shall take first watch." She announced before excusing herself to gather fire wood. The two remaining priestesses that were awake exchanged a look that could easily be translated into 'what's her problem?'
Since it was getting late, and they had an early start the next morning Kagome and Tari opted to get some sleep. Tari was out in minutes, but Kagome couldn't find slumber, something didn't feel right about Marianne to watch over the camp. She halve wished the voice would give her some of its annoying advice. What no comment? The voice was usually very talkative when she was alone. Are you mad at me or something, wait you can't be mad at me you're in my head. She waited but no reply came, not even that strange other presence she had grown accustomed to. Come to think of it she hadn't felt the voice's presence since…since she had spotted the clearing.
An odd sense of loneliness swept over the miko, she felt like such a baka; relying on the voice inside her head to keep her company. Greif over the voice's absence filled her eyes with tears she couldn't explain. She tried to wipe them away but her eyes produced water faster than she could rid herself of them. Quickly giving up on the fight for dry eyes Kagome instead focused on remaining silent as she cried herself into an uneasy sleep. In the chaos of her emotional distress she forgot to erect a barrier around her vulnerable mind.
A twig snapped underfoot as Marianne treaded a path away from their camp. She had to come up with a plan, this was why she was here, Kagome's memory must not be restored. Scanning the area for any enemies, or eavesdropping miko, she extended her physic energy, preparing to contact the elders.
A presence brushed against the boundaries of Marianne's mind. Recognizing it as Lady Deichi she admitted the woman entrance to her mind, not that the elder couldn't break through her defenses easily, it was merely more polite to 'knock' first.
What events have transpired since your departure child? To contact us so soon after is unexpected?
Her memory is close to awakening, I fear these travels will act as trigger. Marianne sent a mental replay of that evening's conversation to the elder via her mind link.
Yes I see this could pose to be a problem. Have you bound her mind? It was clear what answer was excepted.
I have, but her barrier is strong her guide might break through. Marianne could practically hear the miko's contemplative nodding.
At first chance implement the plan, her memory shall have a more difficult chance contacting her if it has been replaced. An eerie chuckle traveled across the link, and Marianne shivered in response, that was something she'd never get used to.
Hai Deichi-sama it shall be done. She felt the elder miko sever their connection; her mind gratefully accepted the absence. It shall have to be done soon; I must set it to a trigger so as not to be suspicious. As she plotted Marianne continued the return journey to the camp, not realizing how far she had wandered during the communication.
The only flaw Marianne could see in her plan was Kagome's exceptionally strong barrier. Even if she somehow managed to break through a barrier which was more powerful than her own, Kagome would know instantly that she had been invaded and by whom. Unless by some miracle chance the girl lost involuntary consciousness or forgot to put up a mind guard she would be found out before the plan came to fulfillment.
Time enough had passed that Marianne had arrived back at camp. The fire had died down, casting a shadowy glow across her sleeping comrades. She examined their defenses with a miko's critical eye; Shiri had only a bright cheery aura, a sleep barrier was beyond her level, Tari's shield was perfectly formed, not one area weaker than the rest but still easy enough to break if necessary. The real shock was the absence of Kagome's regularly impassive mind guard.
Marianne smiled at her luck moving swiftly over to the young miko. Aww look poor thing is having a nightmare. She thought with false sympathy. Taking advantage of the missing barrier to complete her assignment she gathered her energy and the 'past' that the elders had created for Kagome within an orb of spiritual power, Marianne fed the light to Kagome's aura, carefully so as to not upset the girl's subconscious mind. When the light of the orb and Kagome's aura were blended Marianne retreated to her bed roll. Kagome next time you shoot an arrow will be a day to celebrate indeed.
There's your next chapter. Things are finally starting to get interesting. If anyone can guess what Kagome's new memories will be or what the voice is (lots of clues for that in here) then you get a prize, a virtual prize of course being a sneak peek at the next chapter before its posted emailed directly to you and a shout out in the posted author's notes.