Jewel and a Priestess

Travelling merchants were always welcomed in the villages and their arrival at the farm was no exception. They were offered hospitality and security for a few days at a time so that all of Inuyasha's tenants would have the opportunity to come and see the wares the merchants had to sell. Whereas almost all villages and communities were self-sufficient for most things or could trade locally for others, the merchants carried items more luxurious or exotic than the norm. Fabrics, ceramics and spices were all eagerly awaited by the villagers who had saved up for many months in the hope that they might be able to buy something less mundane.

Sometimes too, messages were carried from one community to another and it was in amongst the usual gossip that news of the Shikon no Tama reached Inuyasha's ears. The merchants were laughing with some of the younger women who were looking at jewellery and saying that a jewel beyond price was being carefully guarded by a strong Miko in a village only a day's travel away. On listening in from a carefully chosen perch where he could oversee proceedings without alarming the merchants, Inuyasha learned the jewel was supposed to confer great power on the holder.

Over the next few days the merchants made a good profit; the people who lived and worked on Inuyasha's land were not poor, even if they were not rich and they had small amounts of spare money to spend. On the last night before they moved on, the men were sitting around a fire and drinking sake, relaxing and slightly inebriated when a young boy approached them. They were unsure of whether he was old enough to join them in their socialising as although he looked fifteen or so, he was obviously still a naïve child, probably the youngest of a large village family.

He was no labourer and judging by the long, carefully braided hair and still soft hands, his mama was almost certainly keeping her last baby at home with her; but there was a certain eagerness in his expression that required answering. In fact his violet eyes were intense and seemed to glow with an amber hue that reflected unnervingly in the fire. But his smile was ingenuous and any unease was quickly dispelled by his toothy grin and questions about any jewellery that the merchants might have; he wanted a present for his mama.

The merchants were good natured men and were mellowed by good trade and good sake; they could indulge the boy despite the lateness of the hour. But the lad seemed disappointed with the offerings and said he'd heard the women speak of a rare jewel the men had. They laughed gently telling him he was mistaken, the jewel was not for sale and they jokingly warned the boy that the jewel was closely guarded by a powerful Miko who would no doubt skin him alive should he try to steal it.

The merchants' tongues though were loosened by their drinking and Inuyasha soon learned exactly where the jewel was kept and how it was protected; and it seemed to him that a single human female should pose no problem for a strong hanyou. It had been worth coming out on the moonless night to find out such information. However it didn't take too long before one of the men started to get suspicious and thought the young lad a bit too interested, and caution reared its head causing him to say:

"Forget about the jewel child, it is not for you; go home to your mother where I expect she has a good supper waiting for you."

"Feh, I have already eaten…"

"Well your dog looks ready to escort you home, I can hear her grumbling from here; be off before she thinks we keep you against your will boy." The man did look a bit nervous, but Inuyasha knew when to give up and that Shinju was growling a warning at him for being out as a human; he hadn't realised that she had followed him and now he would probably get a nip as punishment when he got back to his hut. He would have a few words of his own about her disobedience too, he had told her to stay although he should have known she would track him to make sure he came to no harm.

Inuyasha brooded all night, nursing his bad mood with any fuel he could think of; all the insults and sneering looks he could remember burned brightly and strong, and the sore spot on his calf where Shinju had nipped him hard had bruised and it ached. Fancy having to be so weak that he had to rely on a dog for protection; especially one who was not talking to him at the moment, it was beyond humiliating. Perhaps if he was the keeper of the jewel though, it would grant him the strength and Shu…nobody would call him weak ever again.

At the moment however there was nothing Inuyasha could do; he wouldn't go against his word so therefore he applied himself to his schooling and to all intents and purposes it sufficed for a time to keep him occupied. But news later on that early summer reawakened the enthusiasm to make plans in his heart; the various commitments of Prince Kouga and some of the other now older boys meant that a good proportion of the class would be away at some time or another until the following spring. It had been decided that the whole class should be disbanded until then, with the boys spending the longer summer break that would reach past into the winter with their families.

The Tiger too was looking forward to the break; it would allow him to spend quality time with his own family who lived further away on the mainland. Before he left however he asked Inuyasha who alone remained, what he was going to do and the boy assured him that he would be going to the Palace after spending a few days on the farm, finishing up some of the chores. The Tiger was satisfied with his truthful answers and let Tsukuyomaru know that Inuyasha was at the moment without a guardian, although on his own property. The Bat Prince acknowledged without hesitation the fact that the tutor was passing the responsibility of the hanyou onto him, at least until the boy went back to his father's home.

Inuyasha was far from stupid and had a streak of cunning in him he didn't know he possessed; it was almost as if something else was telling him what to do and how to act. Without much qualm he soon had a deceitful plan put in action, although he went to his father unsure of whether or not his idea would work; but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Inu no Taishou was always pleased to see his children happy and Inuyasha's joyful face tugged at his heartstrings, it had been a while since the pup was this exuberant.

"You seem excited My Inuyasha Pup; what do you have planned for this extended holiday then?"

"Four or five of the boys have made plans to spend a week or so at each other's homes…would you let me go too?"

"Adults will be at the homes will they not…of course? But it is a long time without contact…I am not sure if that is such a good idea…"

"There will be contact Papa…after each week, everyone is going home for a couple of days before going to the next place…it will only be for a week at a time."

"When will your week be then My Son?"

"I don't get one because they live here a lot of the time."

"Well I suppose that makes sense…very well, it will do you good to widen your horizons. You may go." Inu no Taishou was secretly very pleased, it would be the first time his hanyou son had been invited to visit with others. Inuyasha though couldn't wait to get out of his father's presence; nothing he'd said was a lie, but it was deliberately misleading and he felt terrible deceiving his father.

It was true that Inuyasha had overheard the boys' plans just as he'd related; but he had not been included and suddenly he felt great anger when he considered that the stupid dignitaries of his friends' families looked down on his status just because he wasn't pure youkai. He was a darnn sight stronger than his rabbit friend, not to mention the foxes. The anger burned away the guilt, and if he succeeded in claiming the jewel, facing his father's inevitable wrath and probable punishment would be worth it; the new voice of his brain assured him.

Inuyasha had prepared well for this first trip to the Shikon village; he arrived in time for the new moon night when he would look human if he was seen. He hadn't forgotten the warnings about how powerful the Miko who protected the jewel was and that she had no tolerance for youkai who wanted the gem. But no matter how prepared he felt he was, nothing had warned him about the Miko herself; Kikyou was not his imagined old lady whose powers had progressed through age and maturity, long years of learning and honing her skills.

For the first time in his young life, Inuyasha was subject to strange feelings deep in his chest and a sudden fire in his belly as he saw Kikyou for the first time. The fact that the boy was in effect a mid-adolescent human at the time probably added to his discomposure at seeing the girl. She was lovely; serene, and yet at the same time the ability to laugh joyously was evident around her mouth. He estimated that she was a couple of years older than him, relatively speaking; she was assured and poised, she reminded him of his mother and sister and yet at the same time he felt completely differently about this female than the others.

Inuyasha watched the girl all evening and quite late into the night, he found out where the Shikon jewel was kept and that was all. The youth was quite taken with the girl, who also had a younger sibling to look after; Kaede reminded him of Cho in her manner and he was shocked to remember how long had passed since his little sister had been a child and around to play with him. But by sunrise the following morning, reality hit Inuyasha hard as the scents of the day surrounded him.

The lovely girl couldn't bathe herself enough daily to get rid of the lingering odours of youkai blood that Inuyasha could pick up. As a hanyou he knew that he too was in danger of being purified, and over the coming days, he saw just how dangerous the girl was. There were many youkai who came seeking the jewel, Kikyou had to be prepared to fight at all times and she was a formidable foe. It was easy for her to feel the new youki that seemed to be haunting her and soon she called for the hanyou to make his intentions known. Inuyasha cautiously revealed his face to her and so began a new understanding.

The early scornful start of their friendship blossomed and continued to do so even though they didn't have much actual time together; Kikyou was always busy with her Miko duties and Inuyasha had to make sure he returned home to the Palace every now and then. But right from the start, Kikyou was under a misapprehension regarding Inuyasha and the boy had not found a way to correct her assumptions of him. She presumed that as a hanyou, Inuyasha was unwanted and alone and in doing so she also presumed that he wanted to wish to become full youkai by using the jewel.

This was the first time that Inuyasha realised that the jewel could grant a wish and the idea took hold of his mind very quickly. If he could become full youkai he would be just like the rest of his family and no one else would dare to look down on him ever again. The voice he heard in his head was encouraging; he would no longer be the weaker of his siblings, and he would no longer cause his parents' shame. The inner voice seemed strange to Inuyasha; he heard it without thinking anymore and it was saying things that he'd never thought even in his darkest moments. For instance he knew his parents had never been ashamed of what he was; he also knew despite what the voice said, he was very important to Shu.

By now Inuyasha's original four weeks had lengthened to include a few days away from the Palace in each week after he told his father he was dividing his time between family and his farm. He knew he was digging a very big hole for himself for when Inu no Taishou found out he was being dishonest, but the small voice justified his deceit, saying that it would be worth the trouble he would be in when found out.

After several weeks of developing friendship Kikyou broached a solution to the making of a wish, she knew the young hanyou had developed tender feelings towards her; he had given her a precious gift as a token. She too found herself caring for him in a way she had never cared for anyone before and she was sick in her heart at the slaughter she had to make to keep the jewel pure. But if Inuyasha were to wish on the gem and became completely human, he and Kikyou could live together in harmony and the jewel would cause no further problems for anyone. Inuyasha thought the idea of turning human was ridiculous and said so, but Kikyou was adamant; she wouldn't let him use the jewel to become youkai.

She reasoned that it would be impossible for them to be together if he was full youkai or remained hanyou, the mate of either would never be a normal woman in the eyes of any, and would not be welcome anywhere. Inuyasha thought she was being a bit selfish, he liked her very much; but he certainly wasn't prepared to give up his youkai strength for anyone and he went to the hill overlooking the village to think. It was peaceful for the moment, with the wind in his hair and in the quiet the voice he'd now grown accustomed to hearing started to reason with him once more.

Would it really be so bad to become human? Surely full human was better than hanyou in the same way full youkai was better? In fact it might be the best solution: he already owned a large and growing estate, if he were fully human more people would come to occupy the area and add to his prosperity. He would become Lord and Landowner in the manner of his own father and be higher ranked than Sesshoumaru who would never be Lord of the West until his father passed away. That thought brought a smirk to his face as he imagined Shu fuming as he knelt on a cushion lower down than Inuyasha and their father.

Inuyasha would have a beautiful wife and children, perhaps eventually an army at his beck and call, his father would have to consult him on serious matters and his opinion would carry great weight. He would be influential in the jurisdiction of the land, making laws that his people would be forced to abide. Under the rosy glow of this new idea, Inuyasha went back to meet Kikyou and told her that he thought it was a good idea to use the jewel to be human, but he would give it some more thought over the next few days. Once Kikyou had retired for the evening and Kaede had said goodnight to Shinju giving her a last cracker, Inuyasha and Shinju walked to the forest and then took off for home in the West.

Inuyasha thought hard on the journey home, sometimes talking aloud as if reasoning with the voice in his head. Now it was inferring that he could still wish to be full youkai once he'd got the jewel in his hand, regardless of Kikyou; but his soliloquizing alarmed his listener. She had often been disturbed by her young master's jaunts, she too could feel the pull of the jewel and felt threatened by it and now she was sure of the danger to her Inuyasha Pup. When they reached the Palace and Inuyasha had gone to his rooms, Shinju apologised to him in her head before going to disclose his plans to his father.

Shinju didn't know that Inuyasha had kept secret his comings and goings from his Papa or that he had actively lied and when she had finished telling of her concerns and answering his questions, Inu no Taishou was absolutely furious. Sesshoumaru attended his father immediately on feeling the spike of angry youki that flashed through the Palace, as did Susumu; the friends reached the General at the same time and saw Shinju in abject submission on the floor. Just as quickly as it had risen, the youki abated and Inu no Taishou was calm enough to ask Shinju to repeat her story. The youkai bitch did so, quietly, but with certainty in her words and was then dismissed under orders not to repeat what she knew, or to alert Inuyasha that she had spoken with his father.

Inu no Taishou asked Sesshoumaru to ascertain what facts he could, by going to the village and speaking with the Miko, but not to risk her arrows and to report back immediately. Then Susumu was asked for all the information that was known about this jewel. The kitsune thought hard, his mind going back over the years to assess any information he had.

"The Shikon no Tama is said to be able to give great power to the one who holds it; I would think it capable as Shinju has suggested of being able to confer a wish, but it is said to be tricky and self-aware."

"It sounds as if it were created by Kitsune?"

"No Sire, it is unique and formed from the heart of a Priestess, Midoriko; it is said to contain warring youkai and the priestess herself."

"I have heard of this Midoriko, so it is that jewel; but that happened many moons ago for humans."

"It has now come into the care of a Priestess named Kikyou, who is extremely powerful and is able to keep the jewel purified; but it has been causing her to be a target for many who wish to have this jewel."

"Including it would seem my idiot son; I need to know how he found out about this and why he has been so determined to be dishonest about everything…"

"Sire, it would seem that the jewel is sentient…from what Shinju has said and Inuyasha is not experienced with such magic…"

"You think it speaks with him…is influencing him in some way?"

"It is possible…some of the things he is supposed to have said or thought do not sit completely true with the boy's character."

"You are correct Susu, and I will question him. Would you fetch him immediately please, even if he has already retired?" Inu no Taishou sighed and opened the drawer in his desk to bring out the leather strap he kept there. Susumu flinched when he saw it and Inu no Taishou gave him a wry grin.

"Memories Susu?"

"Yes Sire, of course I remember…but please I beg clemency for Inuyasha, he is still such a pup."

"I know My Son's age and makeup well Susu; if you feel the need to run interference you would do well to remind Sesshoumaru of it when he returns." Inu no Taishou said firmly and Susumu heard the warning and after bowing low, he went to fetch Inuyasha. The boy was in bed but not asleep, he too had felt the youki of his father and wondered, but had known better than to interrupt. He hadn't for one moment thought it concerned him; but when Susumu came in and insisted that Inuyasha accompany him not even giving him time to dress, he started to feel afraid.

It was not Inu no Taishou's way to prolong interviews or to make the one being interviewed even more apprehensive, purely for the sake of doing so; he had no need to resort to such petty techniques that merely served to fluster, unnerve and subdue. Especially when Inuyasha's reaction to seeing his stern and angry face, and the strap that was clearly displayed, was exactly what he'd been hoping for. Inuyasha's eyes widened and he shook his head subconsciously; his heart rate rose and he definitely whimpered. None of these were the actions of a pup that had chosen to be defiant and was now challenging his position in the family. Not that it would have been wrong of Inuyasha to want to do that, but if lying and cheating was his way of doing so, it would have left much to be desired.

The whimper reached the father's heart and he assured his son that he would listen to all Inuyasha had to say before reaching judgement and that if any punishment was merited it would not be dealt out in anger.