Chapter Four: Tell me

"What-?"

I turn around, to look at Kaede, to see her watching me wearily.

"So you've noticed?"

I nod dumbly, eyes wide.

"I expect you want to know why he's there… why he's still in great condition even though he's dead." Kaede's voice is rough, and her face is expression has twisted into a frown.

"Tell me." I plead, surprised at the desperateness, in my voice, the loneliness in my heart…

"First… I think I should explain in length the mission of this school." She states, casting a superior look my way, "I believe you will be attending this school in September?"

"I… yes." I find myself saying, while wondering what the heck my friends are going to think.

"Good. Now please have a seat, Kagome… for this could take a while…"

I sit down on one of the god tree's roots, feeling strangely numb and just plain out of place.

"This school's founder was a priestess from the Sengoku era, named, Midoriko. She was intelligent and brave, and knew that demons and humans could not continue to coexist the way they did, forever. So, Shinto's, but, the lifestyles of demons, their slayers, monks, and spirits, as to sustain their way of life, and to be able to help those in need.

One of these young priestesses was a diligent worker – committed to her lifework and saving villages from demons.

But that was just the problem.

She had always been a cool, responsible woman… but her responsibility was to keep the demons from devouring humans, and her loyalty was with the villagers… so naturally, her enemies were the demons. To top that off, she was the one, that Midoriko had entrusted with the Shikon no Tama, at her untimely death, so the demons came after that too.

Anyhow… there was an evil demon that lurked in the mountains, which went under the name, of Onigumo. He was in reality, a half-demon that was comprised of many demons, in one body… his form was that of a human, but many of his traits were spider like.

Anyhow… This demon, not only wanted the jewel- he wanted the priestess who wanted the jewel… so he devised a plan to ensnare them both when… there were some complications.

A half-demon, whose name was lost in history, wanted to become a full demon… he thought that it was the only way for him to be able to succeed in life… so he begun… uhh… stalking the priestess who guarded the jewel. However – she knew he was following… but he never attacked… and eventually – don't ask me how! – they fell in love. The priestess, wanted to use the Shikon no tama to make the half demon human, so that they could get married, and because she believed it would be the right wish to make the darn jewel disappear. But, on the day they had agreed on, she was attacked by him, and he proceeded to the grounds of the school, attacked the villagers, grabbed the jewel, then headed for the hills… when she shot him to this very tree."

I glance at the tree in amazement.

"This is not the half demon from the story." Kaede puts in quickly, "Anyhow, the priestess died after that, and so this story was passed down from the priestess's younger sister. Although… there is one thing that is very odd… once someone is sealed to this tree… they cannot be freed… unless it is by the one that sealed them…. And somehow… the original half demon… disappeared 500 years ago…."

She took a deep breath.

"BUT… there is a sort of… spell that has been passed down through the generations –

Every, once in a while… a priestess of the jewel's guardian's line, will fall in love with a hanyou- and something life changing will follow. … that is why this school is still here. From the tale, you can tell that… well… communications and relationships between humans and demons can get a little… out of hand. So this school is here to train the younger generations self restraint… and to hold no grudges…. Ya see… we don't like having to deal with fights in the middle of Tokyo…"

"But what about him?" I ask, jerking a finger at Inuyasha's pale, motionless figure.

Kaede's eye gets a dull look in it.

"Well… He…. It was a similar situation to the other story. He fell in love with a priestess… but the priestess wasn't quite sure if she loved him… they were dating for a little while and then…"

There was a crash in the bushes, and I clasped my bag, (which I hadn't realized I'd had on me the whole time), to my side.

Then… out of the darkness… erupted the most terrifying thing I'd ever seen… bizarre too.

.