Back already with the newest chapter! My lovelies we are so very close to the end. The months of writers block are paying off, I'm so inspired and excited. So here's the next chapter. Thank you for your encouragement and support!
The crowd quieted in an instance. Who was this woman that some of the most powerful demons in the world would listen to? Kagome watched the woman carefully, through her hood. She was short and stocky. Her hair was a long, grey ponytail down her back. Her face was weathered and cracked, aged with time. Her right eye was covered by an eye patch. She was not beautiful. Just a plain old woman. But Kagome could feel an energy around her. She was powerful. Or she had once been. The woman pierced Kagome with her gaze, and Kagome quickly turned her eyes downward.
Kagome stood facing the woman, her right side to the audience. The older woman turned away from Kagome.
"We have a joyous occasion today. We have not had this ceremony in the last 50 years, since High Priestess Kikyo was alive. Today, is a day of celebration."
There were no cheers. Kagome was a little surprised, no one made a sound. But the older woman kept speaking, as if she wasn't expecting anything, as if she hadn't told a crowd to celebrate.
"Priestess State your name."
Kagome was startled, she wasn't expected to be addressed.
"Kagome," Her voice was barely above a mumble. The older woman looked at Kagome quickly, before her face relaxed in a smile.
"A little louder please," the woman urged her gently. Kagome felt embarrassed. Her throat felt dry and she cleared her throat quietly, wishing she had drank some water.
"My name is Kagome Higurashi."
"Kagome Higurashi, it is the High Priestess's duty to protect the weak from demons that pose a great threat to their way of life. Do you understand?"
Kagome nodded, before answering, "Yes."
"Kagome Higurashi, it is the High Priestess's duty to represent all humans in the demon world. You will speak for the best interest of humans. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Kagome understood but how could she alone represent a population of billions?
"Kagome Higurashi, it is the High Priestess's duty to do good in the world. To balance out the evil deeds done by expelling positive energy and bettering the world around them. Do you understand?"
"Yes," But how was she to cancel out all evil in the world?
"Kagome Higurashi, it is the High Priestess's duty to protect the Shikon No Tama. The most powerful weapon against evil. It is your duty not only to keep it safe but to keep it pure. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Kagome understood. But she had never heard of the Shikon No Tama. But now was not a time for questions.
"Kagome Higurashi, it is the High Priestess's duty to not only understand but to accept all of these things. This will become your life's mission, and with it will come great power and protection. You will have the opportunity and resources to rid this earthly plane of the biggest threats imaginable. You will be responsible for billions of lives. Do you accept?"
Kagome thought of a world without Naraku. She couldn't picture exactly how life for the world would change, but she knew the future, her future, would be a little brighter. She pictured a world without war. A world without hunger. A world where peace prevailed and happiness reigned. She wasn't sure she could make all of that happen, but she would try. Kagome thought of her mother. Kind and beautiful, dead. Her little brother, with the promise of new life, dead. She thought of the nights she spent hungry. The days she spent nursing bruises.
Kagome had been praying for a miracle all of her life, and here it was. She could finally be free of daily beatings and alienation. Of hunger and sleepless nights. Of a bruised body and broken psyche. Two little words is all it would take. And after this she would stop waiting for Naraku to kill her and she would take action.
She didn't hesitate.
"I accept."
The woman smiled at her, and gently touched her arm, turning Kagome's back to the crowd. The older woman came to stand in front of Kagome.
"Remove your robe."
Kagome followed instructions, undoing the button at the top of her robe and letting it slide down her slim shoulders. She felt naked as the cold air hit her skin. Exposed. Undressed in front of these strangers. But she let her robe fall away anyway.
"Unto you I bestow, the holy bow." The old woman lifted the bow gingerly off the table behind her and displayed it to Kagome on flat palms.
Kagome touched it gently before accepting with a bow. it was long, slender and fragile. The wood was a beautiful mahogany.
"Unto you I bestow the beads of subjugation," The woman held a small pouch made of an old weathered leather. Kagome lifted it from her palm. Sango stepped forward and took the holy items out Kagome's hands.
The woman removed a necklace from her neck. Careful not to tangle it in her long hair.
"Unto you I bestow the Shikon No Tama. This jewel has been in my possession, under heavy guard. I have spent the last 50 years of my life trying to mask the strength of the Shikon No Tama. I am happy to pass the burden on to you. Do you accept?"
"I accept."
The woman didn't hand it to her this time, instead she held it firmly in her hand. Kagome was confused, unsure if she was supposed to reach out and take it from her. The old woman began chanting under her breath. Kagome could feel the shift in the air. It felt different than the energy Kagome created on her own. This was old, a mystic magic, an energy that dated back many centuries, she could tell. It was strong and pure. Kagome watched the old woman closely. She opened her eyes and her palms. The woman's eyes glowed white. And Kagome felt the urge to back up. But the eyes she felt on her back kept her in place. She cou;dn't screw this up. The jewel slowly lifted out of the woman's hands and high into the air. It moved through the air slowly and hovered over Kagome. Kagome stared up at it, high in the air, but it didn't move. Kagome looked at the old woman worriedly, but her eyes were white, her mouth preoccupied with the words she mumbled under her breath. Time stretched on. But nothing changed. There must be something she was supposed to do.
She opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it, she didn't know what to say. She could feel a tug at the back of her mind. She knew what to do, but she couldn't remember. Kagome closed her eyes and concentrated, trying hard to forget about all of the eyes boring in to her back.
She tried to recall the memory. She was supposed to say something.
I accept you.
Kagome opened her mouth to speak before she her mind even processed the thought.
"I accept you,"
Her voice was not her own. It was deeper, colder.
Into my body.
What?
"Into my body."
That was her voice, but she spoke unintentionally. What did that mean?
Her body froze, and her eyes snapped open wide. She watched in horror as the jewel began to fall. She wanted to catch it. She couldn't let it break. But she couldn't move.
It fell straight on to Kagome's chest. And she felt it enter her body.
It was a foreign, painful feeling. Kagome wanted to scream but her voice cut out, and she stood there unmoving as her body began to absorb the energy she felt earlier. It seared her veins and her head was pounding in time with her heart.
Images flashed in her mind, too fast for her to interpret, as if someone was flipping through a picture book. By the time her mind had latched on to one image, hundreds more had flashed in her mind. Kagome felt as if her head would split in two. Her screams were locked inside of her, bouncing off the chaos in her mind.
And then nothing. It stopped abruptly.
Kagome could move again. And she found the old woman looking at her, her face creased with a hard worry wrinkle on her forehead.
The images and pain felt like a distant memory and Kagome nodded gently that she was alright.
The woman smiled before stepping beside Kagome.
"Turn and show your face."
Kagome turned slowly to face the crowd.
"Bow to the new High Priestess."
The demons present removed their hoods.
Kagome looked at their faces. Some smiled, other's looked as if they couldn't possibly be more bored. Sitting in the front row was Sesshomaru. And slowly like a tidal wave, knocking them down one by one they bowed, bending at the waist. Sesshomaru remained standing.
Their eyes connected and Kagome stood up straighter. She could feel power coursing through her. Rin ran up to Kagome and hugged her around her waist.
"You looked so cool!" Rin was gushing, her hair pin straight and shiny, Kagome had not seen the girl without a halo of dark wild hair. Kagome smiled down at her and put a hand on her head gently.
"Thanks, Rin."
Sango came up beside Kagome and handed her her holy items.
"Thanks," Kagome breathed smiling at Sango.
She was overwhelmed to say the least. She had a rash of feelings over taking her. Everything felt, sounded, even looked different to her. The demonic presence that was almost too strong for her before, felt unbearable. The air was too thick with their energy. But Kagome smiled through it, leaning a little on Rin for support.
Kagome remained on her feet as each and every demon came to greet her. Some shaking her hand enthusiastically. Others doing it as a mere formality, as enthused about her position as Sesshomaru.
A necessity.
And as long as she was their ally, and they didn't force her hand, they would co exist. Hell, maybe they would even thrive.
Even if they could only barely conceal their distaste for her.
The last person to shake her hand was someone familiar. She couldn't place him but his name instantly came to mind.
"Kouga!"
He grinned at her, and ignored her out stretched hand, opting for a hug.
She smiled back, she didn't know him. Not really, but it was so nice to see a familiar face. Someone who didn't see her just as the High Priestess.
The pizza shop... what was it called?
"I'm surprised to see you here," Kagome said.
"I bet you didn't expect to see the pizza guy here."
Bangin' Pizza.
"So, is Bangin' Pizza catering or..." Kagome trailed off, smiling.
He laughed, rolling his eyes.
"Where's dog boy?"
Kagome's smile faltered, she looked around briefly.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him," Kagome said, her eyebrows knitting together, "You know what? I'll be right back, let me look for him."
Kagome dislodged herself from Rin.
The room was starting to empty out, all the demons leaving to another part of the ballroom, but Kagome couldn't find him. She walked back down the aisle, lifting her dress slightly, keeping the hem from under her feet. She hesitated at the door, before looking around the room one last time.
He's not in here.
She pushed the doors open and walked into the hall. The doors closed behind her and Kagome took a deep breath. Though a door didn't block out the demonic energy, it dulled it enough that she could breathe. She began walking back up the winding hallway. She made it back to the living room. She looked around briefly. But the room was shrouded in darkness. The only light spilling in from the hallway she just left, but it wasn't enough to light the massive room. Kagome attempted to look for the light switch. She felt around in the dark, unable to see her own hand feeling along the wall. Her fingers brushed a soft fabric and she quickly retracted her hand with a small gasp.
"Who's there?"
There was no answer but she could feel them in the room with her.
She began to back up, inching back the way she came, her mind set on running.
Kagome gasped as she felt strong arms on her shoulders, pushing her and pinning her to the wall. Kagome began to struggle. Silver hair caught the light, and amber eyes peered back at her. She relaxed, and stopped struggling.
"I was looking for you, Kouga is here, he wanted to speak to you," Kagome smiled easily at Inuyasha.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her. Kagome was on fire as she returned his kiss without hesitation. She thought about pulling him closer, wrapping her hands in his hair and clutching the back of his shirt as she let his kiss take her from her body. She decided against it, and clutched her dress in her greedy hands instead.
This kiss was different than the last one. This one was rough, unbridled and dangerous. Kagome wasn't comfortable. She tried to pull back, but the wall trapped her head in place.
Kagome was trapped in a kiss she was afraid would destroy her.
"Kagome?"
Kagome's eyes snapped open.
Inuyasha?
She shoved the man off of her. Sesshomaru stepped backward, but not releasing his hold on her shoulders. Kagome looked to see a man she didn't recognize standing by in the light of the hallway. His hair was long and black, blending into the dark suit he wore. His eyes were a dark blue and so painfully familiar, she stared into them. Transfixed by their widened stare.
"Inuyasha?"
The man turned away, heading back down the hall.
Kagome made a move to follow him, but was trapped by Sesshomaru's hands.
Kagome turned on him, her face flushed with anger and humiliation.
"You are such a bastard, let me go."
Sesshomaru let her go with a small smile, "Don't take your anger out on me, High Priestess. You enjoyed it."
Kagome stared at him, her blush deepening.
I didn't enjoy it. I thought it was Inuyasha. It was a mistake. An accident. I did not enjoy it.
"I did not enjoy it," She said, her eyes welling with tears.
But she did. Whether or not she thought she was kissing Inuyasha, she enjoyed it.
"No matter. You better hurry up and follow him, he's quite vulnerable tonight."
Kagome turned away from Sesshomaru quickly, and followed him down the hall.