Chapter 10 Closing In
Wei's patience was being tested to their utmost limits as he toured the shrine with the elder Higurashi who was droning on ceaselessly about his young granddaughter. Apparently she had become enamored with a man she met more than half a year ago and the elder Higurashi disapproved of the match. In fact, he could not help but express his disapproval to complete strangers such as Wei who would just as soon kill them all.
"-ah youth today. If only it would listen to wisdom from its elders. You know when I was that age..."
Wei grasped his hands tightly behind his back to prevent them from crushing the old man's windpipe. "Excuse me, while your granddaughter should undoubtedly listen to your sage advice, I was wondering if you would indulge me in discussing this shrine's history and the legends associated with it."
The old man tensed in annoyance but Wei really didn't care, he was close to snapping. "Yes, I didn't mean to prattle on so.. Well I suppose the most important legend of this shrine is that of the Shikon no Tama. It was said to possess incredible power, enough to change the world to suit a youkai's wish if it was used that way." That instantly caught Wei's attention as a possible reason for all the magical energy in the area.
"According to lore, the jewel was sought after by many, but none were able to claim it as its guardian, a powerful priestess named Kikyou slew almost all that tried to steal it. The tale is a tragedy however, as the priestess fell in love with a hanyou named Inuyasha..."
Wei listened as the tale spun out in a series of convoluted adventures, love triangles, and disasters. Apparently a strange reincarnation of Kikyou, a priestess from another world was born with the Shikon no Tama inside her and had traveled between the worlds using its powers or that of its fragments.
When Wei heard "worlds" though, he suspected it was actually "times." That would explain much of the ambiguity of the legend in relation to this 'strange priestess' and her origin; not to mention what I have been sensing for a while now. If so then someone from this shrine is my key to traveling through time and to match the story it would have to be a woman...
Puzzles pieces suddenly fell into place within Wei's mind. The ripple I felt earlier today...The absent granddaughter...her boyfriend that she met nearly a year ago, roughly the same time I sensed the disruption...her grandfather's disapproval of the man, no not a man ...something else...the creature she's been consorting with...could this be it? Yes...I think so...
By now the old man had finished his tour of the grounds and was standing in front of a gargantuan tree. "And this, young man, is this the Goshinboku that supposedly had Inuyasha pinned to it for 50 years."
Something else occurred to Wei as he the old man fell silent to allow a proper examination of this arboreal giant. The only thing the old man had ignored, which seemed suspicious because of his garrulous nature, was a building which must have seen a lot of use judging by the path that had been worn in the grass leading to it.
Wei pointed at it and asked "If you don't mind telling me, what is in that building over there."
There was a brief, almost imperceptible hesitation, before an answer came. "That building? It is just a well house, nothing too special."
The smile that curled Wei's lips raised the hairs on the elder Higurashi's neck. For some reason it brought to mind the way a serpent might smile as it prepared to strike its prey. "It must have something special about it if it has a house protecting it."
An acute feeling of anxiety came over Higurashi as the sinister lines of Wei's smile etched themselves permanently in his mind. "Thank you for your time and trouble on my behalf. I can tell you honestly that I have found your tour most informative and I deeply appreciate the significance of this shrine. Have a pleasant day."
With those oddly disturbing words, Wei turned and began to make his way to the exit of the shrine.
