It was only mere minutes for Kagome to pull herself out of the embrace, but to the married couple it felt like eternities. As they held her, with a torrent of tears cascading down their faces, their lives with Kagome flashed before their eyes. It was like reliving the past all over again, remembering their cheerful, smiling, Kagome who never hesitated to display her kind heart and loving nature. Seeing her now, the torment in her dead eyes, the claw marks on her clay shoulder, the bitter coldness of her skin, they knew they lost their Kagome, but they were determined to bring her back.
"Kagome, tell us everything." Miroku said, standing and gaining back his calm face.
Sango grasped Kagome's hand, ignoring the cold. She knew she was needed for comfort and she would stay beside her friend for all eternity. It was the least she could do in repayment for all this wisp of a girl did for her. "Kagome, we want to help you so please… tell us."
Kagome nodded and reiterated the day she was resurrected to the couple again, but with newly added details. "His name… was Saigen… he's the one who had this witch named Neikan resurrect me."
Sakiko gasped, attracting the attention of her friends. She shook her head, telling them she thought she saw something. They were unconvinced, but they were more interested in Kagome's story. They let it slide, reverting their attentions back to Kagome. Kagome continued, her peripheral vision focused on Sakiko and the expressions that passed over her face. "He told me I will help him find the Shikon jewel no matter what."
"But he let you go?" Sango asked.
Kagome shook her head. "No, I'm bound to him."
Kisho was outraged. "Bound to him! What do you mean by that!"
"He has my heart… inside a ruby… when he needs me, he squeezes that and it's quite painful."
Kisho recalled back when Kagome crumbled to her knees and was screaming like she was being murdered. He knew the pain this Saigen bastard inflicted on her was more excruciating than she let on. Miroku intervened. "Has he called upon you at all lately?"
"Yes, just earlier today."
"What did he say?"
"He said he needed me… he found the general location of the jewel, but he needs me to spot it out." Kagome turned towards the well, feeling a pull. It wasn't just a coincidence those demons flew here. By the way they kept trying to barge inside the well, it's obvious there was something in there they wanted. "And I think I have an idea of where it is."
She walked over to the Bone Eater's well, seeing that it still looked the same to her. She peered into the opening of the well, peering through the murky darkness to see a glimpse of a pink light. The jewel was there, it had to be.
Somewhere, but not here. Kagome nodded in confidence. If the jewel doesn't exist in the present, then it must be in the future. It's the only world for it to escape to.
"Kagome, you think it's in your world?" Sango asked.
Kagome nodded. "It's possible. Why else would demons cause a rampage in large numbers to seek out the Bone Eater's well? And besides, I'm feeling that pull, that thing that tells me a shard of the jewel is near."
"Shard? You mean the jewel is in pieces now?"
"No, it feels whole."
Sango and Miroku were relieved they didn't have to spend another three years searching for fragments of the jewel. That adventure was disastrous enough, they didn't want to relive that again. Kisho remembered when Kagome told him a long time ago that she was a girl from modern times, but didn't have the slightest clue to her meaning and she refused to tell him more information. Seeing the well and how it was supposedly a linked portal to another time was absurd to him, but in the Feudal Era of demons, priestesses, and sorceress magic, it was possible.
After they sorted out that revelation, their attentions turned to Sakiko. Sakiko sighed as their interrogative gazes settled on her. She looked down, trying to keep her eyes trained to the ground, but found it difficult as the gazes continued to burn through her. She looked up, seeing that all of them, except Kagome and Sango, had approached closer to her.
"Are you a priestess Sakiko?" Kisho asked.
Sakiko nodded. "Half I guess you could say."
They all stared at her, expecting more and she caved, telling them the story of her birth parents and the struggles they faced in their love for one another…
Emerging from the shroud that concealed the entrance of the hut, Shina strapped her quiver of arrows to her back. The villagers halted their work as she walked North. She flashed them her infectious smile, her eyes sparkling and dancing with contagious delight. The men smiled back at her with warmth in their hearts, but the women looked away, their eyes holding the burden of distrust.
"There goes our priestess again." One of the women said.
"Is she even really a priestess? She harbors such affections for one of dirty blood, blood of demons."
"I heard she befriended Ami, that kitsune girl that stirred an uproar in our peaceful village."
"I know that, it was all the rage a time ago. She defended the kitsune too, saying she lived a harsh life and needs only sympathy to change her ways. I'll admit though that she's done a decent work taming that wild animal, Ami doesn't attack us anymore."
"You have to keep in mind though that there may have been some bargaining. Lady Shina has probably sacrificed our people to keep Ami away. Or perhaps, she is turning on the demon's side. Did you hear how she blessed the marriage between that kitsune girl and the handsome samurai?"
"Aye. Perhaps she is a demon."
Unbeknownst to the two women, Shina overheard their conversation. Her smile vanished, left with a flame of anger. She could not see what her villagers feared. There hadn't been any attacks and neither were any of the people missing let alone sacrificed. Prejudice, such a childish thing. If they worry too much about the coldness on the outside of the person, then they will miss out on the warmth of the inside.
She closed her eyes, allowing this world to vanish if only for one blissful second. When she regained her sight, she was relieved to hear no chattering and see no distrustful glares. The calm rippling of the river soothed her and she laid down her bow and arrows. She rolled up her red hakamas and stepped in the water, letting the coolness engulf her ankles and below.
"Never seen a priestess who lets herself go."
Disappointed that her moment of serenity ended, she spoke without facing the intruder. "It is a hard life for a woman not to indulge in the pleasantries of being alive."
"I suppose."
She heard the man groan, and her nature of caring for the wounded compelled her to turn around. He looked like a regular human man except for glowing silver eyes, long blue hair, and elf ears. As she approached him, she could see his talons drenched in blood. His side was severely wounded, bubbling with some kind of acid that was dissolving him from inside out.
"What happened to you?"
"Why would you care?" He asked her with a suspicious glare.
"If I knew what was wrong with you, I could heal you."
The demon scoffed. "Yeah right, I ain't falling for some damn priestess's traps. I bet you only want to make me suffer more."
"I do not."
"Thought priestesses are supposed to hate demons?"
"I'm different. I believe in whoever has life, is a creature created by the gods for the purpose to live his life on Earth. I will not be so villainous as to kill a living being simply because their blood is different from mine."
"I still don't trust you."
She raised her hands in surrender and moved away from her weapons, rooting the demon to the spot. His eyes searched for any sign of sabotage, but then she stopped in front of him and bowed her head in a submissive manner. When she looked up, she found him standing directly in front of her, his silver eyes split in icy glares, but she dared not to move from her place.
Shina noticed him relaxing, and a minute later, he collapsed to the ground in agony. His hand clutched his side, oozing with blood, acid dribbling down his white kimono.
"It doesn't matter." He groaned. "Go ahead priestess, end my suffering."
He fell into unconsciousness, and when he awoke again, he found himself feeling much better. He tilted his head to the side to see his side wrapped carefully in bandages and the burning ache was gone. He then noted that his pristine haori was taken off and soaked in the river by the same intervening priestess.
"You saved me?"
"You could say I put an end to your suffering." She giggled, and the demon found the voice very beautiful to hear. "Call me Shina."
He looked puzzled. "Ok, Shina."
She stared at him, expectantly. "Well? What's your name?"
"It's Katashi."
"Katashi huh? I'll keep that name in my memory."
Katashi slowly stood up, smirking. "Don't bother, you ain't seeing me around again."
He looked at her, and was surprised to see her face devoid of any mirth, but actually disappointment. "You really don't trust me huh? After I saved your life?"
He scoffed again. "Don't go getting a big ego now. You healed my pain yes, but you did nothing to save my life. No one can, nor do they give a damn about it."
"I do."
He glared at her. "You've done enough pries- I mean Shina. Go back to your village before you are caught with a demon."
Katashi briskly walked away, but he heard Shina's plea. "Don't let this be the last time I see you."
Shina carried the fear that she would never see Katashi again. He was quite a striking young male and there was a tangible sadness that she just wanted to whisk away. The next morning, she went down by the river, in hopes of seeing him, but he never did show up. Three days later, she gave up on the hope of seeing the demon, until the fourth day. She was so eager to ease the tensions of the day by sitting down next to the river, that she had completely forgotten to take her bow and arrows.
Her mistake nearly sacrificed her life. She detected a demonic aura, but before she could elude the danger, he found her first. She was staring into the malevolent eyes of a hundred foot long snake demon. His jaw parted to expose his fangs, diving down to nick her in the shoulder as she turned and ran. Shina held her bleeding shoulder, investigating the wound, but in her haste she tripped.
She clenched her eyes shut, awaiting the jaws of death as the demon plummeted at her. Suddenly, she felt a pair of strong arms grab her around the waist and hauled her away from danger. Shina was pleased to see it was Katashi, and the snake demon laid twitching on the ground.
"I didn't think I was ever going to see you again." Shina said.
"I smelled your scent mixed with blood, thought I repay my debt." Katashi said.
Shina noted the smile on his face, making him appear brighter than the sun. In turn, she giggled and stood, rushing over to throw her arms around his neck. He tensed, blushing heavily, but never returned the sentiment. For a week, they met by the river to talk, their escapades from the cruelties of life. Everyday was the same for Katashi, but Shina's feelings stirred into something deeper than just infatuation.
Shina came to the river, only to see an angry Katashi kicking at the ground and muttering a stream of obscenities. She rushed to him, embracing him from behind.
"Katashi? What's wrong?"
"Being with you."
A pang of hurt jabbed her in the heart, but she refused to give up on him. She continued to hold him and he remained uptight. "What do you mean?"
"This is wrong! Everything we have together is wrong! Just what are we Shina! Friends?"
"I think we are."
"Well, it's wrong!"
"It's been like this for quite some time, why now are you making it into an issue?"
"It's been an issue! I was just dumb enough to not recognize it, or keep denying it." He turned around, grasping both her wrists and holding her away from him. "You're a priestess damn it! You should be condemning me to the fiery pits of hell! I'm a demon, I should want to tear you to shreds but I don't. You confuse the hell out of me woman!"
She smiled, despite the rage in his beautiful eyes. "So what? Why not defy the laws, if it means our happiness."
"Happiness! You call this happiness!"
"I'm a priestess Katashi, I am supposed to live life as though I am but an empty shell! I am expected to be perfect, conditioned to make no mistakes, and never am I allowed to be a woman. Never in my life had I ever felt satisfied, ever felt fervent enough to wake up in the morning, until I met you. Being with you, I can be myself and that makes me truly happy."
His anger seemed to quell, but his grip around her wrists were tight. "You're happy being with me?"
Shina nodded, a smile gracing her features. "I take it though, that the feelings are not mutual."
"Stop putting words in my mouth, let me speak for my mind." Katashi sighed, dropping her wrists. "I am… at peace… when I'm with… you."
Shina stepped forward, and meticulously draped her arms around the demon's neck. He laid his head on her shoulder, his own arms snaking around her petite waist. He felt her hand slide through his hair, trace the contours of his elf ear, and caress his cheek. When he pulled away, Shina tilted her head and captured Katashi's lips with hers.
He was stunned and she took it that he didn't want it. Dejectedly, she pulled away, but then Katashi wrapped his arms tighter around her and pulled her back into the kiss. Shina awkwardly tilted her head to the side, this experience very new and very frightening for her. Katashi sensed her uneasiness and tried to coax her by stroking her long, wavy hair. When she didn't loosen up, he let her go. Shina looked at the ground, her face flushed a deep scarlet. She looked up, hoping to see the same affect on him that he did to her, but was shocked to see his angry face.
"Why did you kiss me Shina?"
"Was I not supposed to?"
He sighed. "I shouldn't have let it continue."
"Is it because you are a demon and I'm a human?"
"No, I don't give a damn about that anymore."
"Then, why are you-"
"Because I have a mate, Kasumi." His words gnawed at her and she turned away so her tears could still be concealed. Katashi smelt them though, and came up to hug her from behind. "It was a marriage pact to produce offspring of our kind. I don't love her and I know she doesn't love me, but she made me promise to remain faithful to her and she will do the same for me."
"I see."
"But I think… I love-"
"That's enough. Don't say the words if we can't act on them."
"Kasumi has sensed you on me, so she knows I have a human friend. She doesn't like it though, but she said she'll try to tolerate it. That's why… I think we should remain friends."
Shina concurred, and for a while, they upheld that promise. However, as more time came to pass, and the touching became too frequent, those feelings never did evaporate, but rather intensified. One night, they couldn't suppress the urge and by the river, they indulged in their fantasies. The next morning, Shina found herself naked and Katashi's haori covering her.
Since that night, both were too anxious to go by the river, knowing they had crossed the line of safety. Then, Shina felt nauseous in the morning and vomited quite often and she confined herself near the river to think. She was worried that she could be pregnant with a demon's baby, such an immoral crime that she feared all three of them would be executed.
"Shina! I thought I smelled you!"
"Katashi." She whispered, her voice strained from the threat of crying. "I think I'm-"
He held up a hand, his face sorrowful. "I know love, you're pregnant. I could sense it. I'm so sorry."
She stood, embracing him. "What'll we do? I have a duty to uphold and so do you to Kasumi."
Katashi sighed. "There's only one way Shina, and that's to kill the baby before anyone finds out."
"No! No, I will not kill our child!"
"We have to or all of us will die! This is some serious crap we got ourselves into!"
"I'm not killing our child. Maybe we could give him away to someone."
"The child will be half demon Shina! He is not going to have a happy life. The only way to save all of us, is to kill it."
They bickered on the issue more, but in the end, Shina concluded that he was right. Shina hardly walked around during her pregnancy since her belly was swelling. On the ninth month, she vanished without a word to her villagers and stayed with her best friend, the kitsune, Ami and her samurai husband.
"I can't do it Ami. Katashi says I should kill it, but-"
"Let us take care of it Shina. We love to care for a child."
Shina kept her and Ami's agreement a secret from Katashi. When she finally gave birth, Ami was the one that named the beautiful half demon baby girl, Sakiko. Shina stayed a few more weeks to nurture her daughter then left with a doting kiss on the baby's cheek, promising her that she would return.
Unfortunately, Kastashi's mate, Kasumi, found out about her husband's love child and sought for revenge. That amounted up to the villagers finding out and fear controlled them. They seized their priestess Shina, cursing her into hell for the deed she had done with a demon. Katashi was there, wishing he could save her, but had to watch her demise as the villagers executed her. Katashi went to search for his daughter, but was also seized by his wife's chief father and even he suffered the consequences of conceiving a half demon.
"For a long time, I believed Ami and Daichi were my biological parents. Ami, though she told my mother that she would care for me, really was a wreck when I lived with her. She didn't know anything about taking care of a child since she spent her life being one until she met Daichi. Daichi was her rock, he knew everything about caring for a baby being a big brother and everything. When Daichi passed, Ami broke down and told me the story about my real parents and how they were killed. After that, I just couldn't stay anymore, and I left. Ami didn't stop me."
Sakiko finished, expelling a whoosh of air to contain her boiling emotions. Sango, Miroku, and their children offered their sympathies to her, which she kindly acquiesced. Kisho would've also, but seeing Kagome and how her suspicious eyes dwelled on the female half demon, he strayed to her side.
"Is there something wrong Kagome?" He asked.
Kagome didn't acknowledge him. She only spared the well a momentarily glance before walking out of the woods. Everyone else soon followed suit behind her, returning back to the demon slayer village. Keiko and Amaya were waiting for all of them at the entrance. Keiko fled to Hiroshi's arms, who lifted her up and spun her with large gusto, compelling her to squeal in delight. Amaya bowed to her parents and elder sister before leaving them all alone.
"Keiko, we will be leaving shortly." Sakiko said suddenly, her eyes catching Kagome's gaze. "Just get ready."
"Ok Mother." Keiko said.
Kagome noticed Sakiko's expecting stare and knew she wanted a private talk. Kagome excused herself to the others and separated from them to follow Sakiko into a more quiet clearing, just on the outskirts of the demon slayer village. Sakiko plucked a leaf from the tree, beginning to shred it.
"Kagome, are you sure, the demon who resurrected you was named Saigen?" Sakiko asked finally.
Kagome nodded. "Yeah, that's the name he told me."
"And you are going to pursue him?"
"Of course."
Sakiko growled, now firmly crushing the innocent leaf in her hand. "But why! For resurrecting you? For bringing you back to life? You want to kill him for that!"
"My business is my own, it's not to be shared with you. But I must ask, why do you care?"
Sakiko chomped down on her bottom lip, tears beginning to brew in her gorgeous orbs. "He's my son."