Hymn of Time

Chapter Two

Brand New World

Da dum…Da dum…Da dum…

That sound thrummed away in the back of her head as it pulsed against her skull. The feel of hard earth beneath her aching back, and the strange hum echoing through the dimness of her mind was beginning to cause her head to burn as though set alight. Her senses were temporarily blinded by a startling mirage of unfamiliar scents. An acidic smell like smoke prickled at her nostrils mingling with perfume of dust and decay present in the air around her. Her lungs rasped taking in deep draughts of air as her brain tried to persuade her that she was conscious despite the assortment of colours dancing in front of her eyes.

Coughing she rolled clumsily onto her knees bent over as the blood rushed to her head and her heart strummed away in her chest. A cloud of dust permeated her sight as she sat up on her knees feeling distorted as she glanced around at the unfamiliar wooden walls boxing her in with only a small pool of yellow light fading from above shining through the gloom. Almost immediately she knew she was not home - the smells were too different. No moist soil, no grassy perfume, no small scents of other animals. Where was she? On the other side of the well obviously.

"Huh?"

Izayoi groaned glancing around at the dirty ground beneath her as her eyes were drawn to the shimmering aquamarine colour looking so out of place. Reaching out she picked it up examining it in her hands touching the smooth crystal taking in it's cold texture. Holding it up to the light she watched as it glowed feeling it beat against her hand like a tiny invisible pulse; for a fraction of a second she could have sworn she saw a storm rage in the heart of the amulet before she tucked it away in her hakama and stood up brushing the dust off her clothes.

Whatever the amulet was she was willing to bet that it was responsible for her current predicament. Perhaps it was cursed or infected? The more pressing worry was the fact that she was stuck here. Panic gripped her painfully squeezing in her abdomen as a lump rose in her throat - no. There was always a way home, her parents would come. There was no way they'd rest knowing Izayoi was trapped. Resolving herself she sprang deftly from the bottom of the well feeling the air rush past her canine ears as she landed neatly on the top brim.

The first sight that greeted her was the mouldy wooden walls of the outhouse. Must and dirt had made the unused shed their new breeding ground as they spawned into the air causing her to sneeze. Through chapped, cracked wooden small dots of sunlight poured in illuminating the dust as it spiralled above her head. Izayoi swallowed feeling suddenly itchy as she listened carefully to the roaring sound drifting for far off like growling. This was the future, she tried to reassure herself, she had been here before many years ago. Nothing here was going to hurt her.

Timidly she pushed open the rusty door and winced as yellow light blinded her. Stepping out into the open air she gazed around wide eyed in curiosity and awe. A wide yard was spread before her but she recognised some of the typical features of a shrine. The wooden archway leading in and the structure of the building suggested that it was perhaps not much younger than she was but more than that the spiritual aura of the entire place set the tiny hairs on the back of her neck erect. Distantly she recalled far off memories of being chased by a youth.

Sniffing the air cautiously she tread carefully out into the open keeping a good grip on her bow. A familiar scent, smell of earth. Darting forward she felt a strange sensation of melancholy as she stood before the Goshinboku.

The tree of ages still bloomed centuries later.

Tracing the ancient bark with her claw she jumped into one of the lower branches. She had to check, just so when she went back to the past she could actually tell Tomiko she was right. Brushing aside a few small buds gingerly she felt surprised when she recognised the faded carving barely eligible after centuries of ware and tear. It was still there though. "Looks like To-chan was right," Izayoi murmured jumping back to the ground glancing up at the darkening sky. Sunset, the horizon was lit up with a pink glow as the city was drenched in dying light. So many humans…she remembered her mother's stories but until she saw it with her own eyes…

"So now what do I do?"

Amber eyes turned on the door across the yard. From within the dwelling she could hear the tinkling sound of laughter and smell the scent of food. Nervous apprehension built up inside her like water crashing against a dam. What was she supposed to do? Knock on the door and go "Hi do you remember me? Wow, guess I've grown a little since I was five!" It seemed ridiculous but what other choice did she have? A part of her really wanted to see these long lost relatives while another was just as keen to avoid them. Weighing up her alternatives she debated inwardly for a few lingering minutes before warily approaching the door. Taking a few deep breathes in she hesitated before her fist connected with the wood.

Izayoi squeezed her eyes shut half expecting a vicious thunderbolt to strike her where she stood. Her heart pounded erratically as the door slid open. Swallowing the anxious lump in her throat she opened her eyes anxiously to find a pair of brown ones inches from her face. There was a sharp intake of breath as the woman across from her stared in pure shock. Izayoi blinked taking in her Grandmother for the first time in eleven years. She was older than what she remembered, her hair was now a salt and pepper mix curling around her cheeks to frame her face. Small wrinkles stretched around her wide dumbfounded eyes while her mouth was open agape as though struggling to comprehend what was before her.

"K-Kagome?"

The miko cringed feeling her stomach flop. The woman was getting over emotional as one of her hands reached out to touch Izayoi's face as though to check was not a figment. Izayoi felt her curiosity pique as she took in the bizarre clothing the woman was wearing - a long green skirt and a peculiarly shaped thin jade kimono. However seeing the obvious emotion flicker behind the woman's eyes as a lone tear dripped down her cheek Izayoi fought the desire to run feeling a mixture of guilt and embarrassment.

"Hey Okaasan! Is something wrong? Is it those sales…oh!"

Higurashi Souta appeared behind his mother as his jaw going slack as the concerned expression slid off his face. Izayoi glanced up at her Uncle almost expecting to see the same scrawny teenage boy but instead she was met with a man. His hair was the exact same colour as her mother's and there were definite similarities such as the shape of their faces and colour of their eyes. He was older now though, taller and broader wearing strange black hakama's and another one of those foreign blue kimono's. For a long time there was silence as each of the assembled trio tried to find something to say.

"Souta! Souta, honey is something the matter? I thought I heard the door go?" Izayoi blinked perplexed staring over her Uncle's shoulder as a young woman appeared. The voice was odd - it had a funny accent as it spoke but the face was different too. The skin was paler than any other skin she'd seen - more peachy and ivory. Shoulder length yellow hair curled around her collar bones and she wore the same funny black hakama's and blue kimono as her uncle. Green eyes seemed to widen curiously as she stared upon Izayoi before looking confusedly at her Uncle. "Souta? Is something wrong? Do you know her?"

"Yes!" Her Grandmother finally said exhaling a breath she'd been holding in as her ears gently brushed back some of Izayoi's silvery hair from her eyes, "Kate…this is my Granddaughter. This is Izayoi."

"Um…hello?" Izayoi said awkwardly as her cheeks flushed. She bowed quickly remembering her manners.

"You mean this is your sister Kagome's daughter?" Kate said in surprise dropping into a clumsy bow. "Oh! Um…hi. I'm Benet Kate…it's nice to meet you. Er…nice ears? Where'd you get them?" Izayoi looked up feeling oddly exposed as though she was standing naked in front of this strange woman. Her mother had mentioned that there were many different countries and nationalities in the future but this woman was like this entire time - strange, weird and unfamiliar.

"I was born with them." Izayoi said defensively taking a step back. Kate's eyebrows were raised and she pointed at the bow before dropping her voice as she whispered worriedly into Souta's ear. Normally her voice would have been inaudible for Izayoi but her sensitive ears picked it up easily.

"Souta, why is your niece carrying a bow? And are those arrows on her back?"

"Izayoi-chan! It's so good to see you again!" Souta declared ignoring the woman's question as he flung his arms around his niece, "Come inside! There's so much you have to tell us! Is sis coming?"

"No…no I'm on my own," Izayoi murmured as she crossed the threshold into the new world.

"That's impossible! T-That…it just doesn't exist! Souta, please tell me this is some sort of prank cause-"

In order to avert her attention away from the argument at hand Izayoi glanced around the room. She had lived in a shrine her entire life but she'd never seen rooms like these ones. The designs on the walls were exquisite with blossoming pinks flowers painted delicately on a cream background outrivaling any of the craftsmanship she had witnessed at the palaces of feudal lords. She was kneeling on soft velvet green cushions surrounding the wooden table while pictures hung on the wall with brushstrokes so fine you could hardly tell then been painted - it looked more like they were exact replica's of human faces. Everywhere she looked she was fascinated by something new and wonderful, so many exciting sights and sounds she'd never experienced before.

"Look! Demons do not exist! Souta if you don't stop trying to make me look stupid then-"

"I'm not trying to make you look stupid Kate! I'm telling you the truth, Izayoi isn't human!" Souta retorted valiantly. At the mention of her name Izayoi winced forcing herself to look back at the ensuring row taking place between her Uncle and the foreign woman. Kate's green eyes were flashing dangerously but tears were springing out of them as she glanced fearfully towards Izayoi who stared back bewilderedly through piercing amber ones. She didn't like being thrust into a room of strangers let alone to have them start an argument over her. Her mother had told her that in the future demons were thought to be fiction but Izayoi was starting to get more and more irritated by this 'Kate' woman.

"Kate-san, my uncle is telling the truth," Izayoi said tentatively, "I'm not exactly human. I'm a hanyóu like my father. Look." At this the hybrid shifted to her feet and in a serious of swift motions blurred around the room using her inhuman speed to prove a point before she resumed her kneeling position at the table. Unsurprisingly there was a small shriek from Kate who backed away as though Izayoi had just pointed an arrow at her.

"S-Souta?" Kate said in a small voice, "H-How is that possible? How the hell is that possible?"

"Dinner's ready! I have made some Yakisoba, I hope that's alright Izayoi-chan? Oh…Kate darling are you alright?" Mrs Higurashi paused from setting the table with steaming bowls of noodles and meat to glance at their other guest. Kate sniffled pathetically her green eyes never leaving Izayoi doubtfully as though the hanyóu might spring at her suddenly. For her own part Izayoi didn't know exactly how to respond to this sort of open prejudiced - of course she had experienced some level of diverse relations from other humans before throughout her childhood but Kate seemed to represent them all. As though her lack of humanity instantly justified unexplainable emotions of anger and fear any actions these might result in. She glared through her amber eyes before turning darkly towards her dinner. So far the future was definitely not living up to it's expectations.

"Uh…I was just trying to tell Kate about Izayoi's…well you know. Her not being human and all." Souta said nervously rubbing the back of his neck. The light dawned on Mrs Higurashi as she sat down giving the younger woman a sympathetic tap on the wrist before handing her a glass of water. Kate swallowed some desperately as her eyes roamed from the abundance of silvery hair to the dog ears atop the miko's head.

"How…what are you?" Kate stammered breathlessly.

"I'm a hanyoú," Izayoi repeatedly slowly afraid the woman was perhaps disabled in some way since she seemed incapable of processing such a simple piece of information. "My father was a hanyóu and my Grandfather was Inutaisho the Great Dog Demon. He fell in love with a mortal and then my father was born. My father met my mother who was incidentally from this time period. They fell in love and I'm the result." Izayoi finished indifferently as she picked up the chopsticks attempting to try some of the future food which smelt extremely good. How long ago had it been since she'd eaten? Six hundred years or twelve hours? Either way her stomach was growling.

"R-Right…how…but Kagome's travelling. You always said your sister was abroad on an archaeological exploration!" Kate snapped rounding on Souta. The younger brother of Kagome flushed guiltily as he swallowed apprehensively.

"How was I supposed to tell you my sister was six hundred years in the past? You would think I was nuts. I'm sorry Kate but what else was I supposed to do? Tell you the well in our shed used to open as a portal between the past and present? That my sister was a miko who fell in love with a hanyóu? There's no way you would have believed me!" Souta said pleadingly as an excuse. Kate glared furiously as she stood up exasperatedly.

"In eight months we're getting married! At what point were you going to tell me? When your sister never turned up at the wedding? At the altar? On the honeymoon? I thought we were being honest with each other, I tell you everything Souta - everything! This is impossible…it just doesn't make any sense! How the hell does she scientifically exist!" Kate yelled angrily. Souta winced and Izayoi cringed as a finger was jabbed in her direction. Her spirits sunk significantly - maybe she should have just stayed in the outhouse and not bothered announcing her return. A part of her expected prejudiced from strangers but not from her family let alone this foreign yellow haired woman who was clearly about to become her Aunt.

"Kate…please…my son never told you because we never thought Kagome was coming back," Mrs Higurashi said heavily as tears streamed down her cheeks. Izayoi glanced over at her Grandmother's whose voice wavered emotionally as she spoke. Even Kate paused in her assault on her betrothed looking pityingly at her future in-law. "My daughter hasn't visited in eleven years…the well sealed itself…I thought I was never going to see her again. My little girl…I knew she was living her life but day after day I missed her. Please, it's a miracle Izayoi is here. Please just let me have some time with my Granddaughter…"

"Come on Kate," Souta said determinedly, "We can talk about this somewhere else."

Kate seemed to nod vaguely in agreement permitting herself to be escorted from the room. Izayoi moved precariously towards her Grandmother feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She never truly knew how to deal with people who displayed their emotions so openly, it always made her feel personally responsible for them. Clumsily she placed a gentle hand on her grandmother's wrist as Higurashi Suzume tried to wipe the tears from her eyes with the corners of her sleeves.

"Tell me everything…do you have any brothers or sisters?" Suzume pressed urgently, "How is everyone? What happened to you? Why isn't Kagome with you?" Izayoi felt a mixture of annoyance and sympathy for the women in front of her. The teenager needed some sort of comfort and reassurance right now but she found herself having to support this stranger whom she had not spoken to for eleven years.

"There's just me," Izayoi said resting her head against her Grandmother's shoulder. "I mean…well we sort of took in Cho-chan. She's like a sister to me and she lives with us. Everybody is fine. Auntie Sango's given birth a few more times, there's seven children now but they say she'll probably have more. I…I don't know why I'm here…I'm scared obaasan." Izayoi confessed as tears burned in her eyes.

"Stay," Whispered Suzume placing a kiss on her granddaughters head, wrapping her arms around her. "For tonight."

"For tonight," Murmured Izayoi.

I haven't updated this one in ages but KitsunekoShojo's new picture of Izayoi helped to inspire me.

Kate is new though and a recent idea. I like it though because she basically symbolises to Izayoi all that is strange in the future. Kate is logical and firmly believes in science and technology while Izayoi is pretty much the opposite. They'll both sort of clash to begin with but it will change. I made Kate American because obviously Izayoi will never have seen anything of the western world and since blond is hardly a common hair colour in Asia she'll appear a bit odd to Izayoi.

Please R&R. Out of all the OC'S I've done Izayoi is my favourite.

Daydreamer!x