The Castle of Edo
Chapter 1
"What?!" Kagome shot upward to a sitting position in her bed, eyes large and stunned coming out of her dream. Beads of sweat coated her forehead. All she remembered of it now, in her conscious state, was a foreboding feeling. A premonition of sorts. She remembered seeing an object in the dark. And eyes, eyes as blue as the day lit sky…
She placed a hand upon her forehead, looking down towards her sheet covered lap. "What a dream…" she mused. The feeling of anxiety remained with her as she adjusted to consciousness.
Two and a half years. It had been two and a half years since her last moment in the Feudal Era. This wasn't her first dream that she tied to that time. Her eyes softened with sadness, waking to overwhelming memories of forsaken friends, lost love…her other life. She sighed. These dreams always made her home sick.
Somehow, Kagome had trudged through high school and graduated. And now, what? What to do with her life? There were limitless options. It was her own psyche that prevented her from pursuing any of them. How could her mind continue developing in the 21st century when her heart was left in the 1500s?
'I still miss it,' she thought, her eyes misting despite her practiced strength. 'I miss being there…'
"Kagome?"
Kagome's head snapped up. Her heart raced from surprise and she clutched her chest. She was so lost in thought she didn't hear the loud knocks on her door and the squeaking sound of it opening.
"Souta! You surprised me. What are you doing sneaking in people's rooms while they're sleeping?"
Souta scratched the back of his head. "Uh, I figured you would be awake. It's 10:00, after all."
"Really?" Kagome sputtered. She rarely slept in like this. She placed her palm on her forehead and shook her head. Where was her mind?
500 years in the past, duh.
Souta noticed her strange reaction and quickly changed subjects. As young as he was, even he was up to speed on Kagome's state of mind, even after all this time. "Uh…Hey! I forgot I wanted to ask you something. Um, uh…guess what?"
"What…" Kagome whispered.
"There's a special exhibit open today in town. I want you to go there with me."
Souta initially received no response. Kagome was having difficulty focusing, her mind still clouded by visions of the Sengoku Jedai and that mysterious dream. Souta walked up to Kagome, still in her bed, and grabbed her hand. "Kagome! Please, come with me." He paused, then smiled brightly. "By the way, I think you will particularly enjoy this exhibit."
Kagome looked up, her bangs shading her sad eyes. "Why?"
Souta beamed. "Because. There are artifacts from the Feudal Era."
Kagome smiled sadly at her brother. Sometimes he didn't have a clue, but he sure did care about her.
"Okay, Souta. Let's go."
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Saying the exhibit was crowded was like describing a child on Christmas morning as content. The show was taking place in a huge room in the convention center downtown and people were swarming around every booth, kiosk, and artifact.
Kagome went to the exhibit with Souta, her mother, and Grandpa. She was still feeling out of it, seeing the room, people, and objects in swirls of color. Souta was enthralled, pulling their mother's arm from booth to booth looking at the ancient artifacts. Souta made a split second decision to race to the other side of the large room, dragging their mother and grandfather, leaving Kagome behind. At this point, she hardly noticed. In her heart, she had been alone through the entire event.
Kagome scanned the area in front of her, locking her eyes on a peculiar mirror. While the crowded room seemed bland and distant, the mirror seemed to glow, a golden aura radiating around the circular object. Kagome couldn't help but walk towards it, brushing past several bystanders on her journey. For some reason, no one else was taking special notice of the mirror. There was plenty of room at the booth, perfect for Kagome getting a better look…
Then she felt it. A familiar presence. A demon!
She looked up and around. She couldn't locate its position. A chill from the feeling of being watched caused the hairs on her neck to stand. Someone was looking at her. Had the demon detected her as well?
That's when she saw them. Cobalt blue eyes staring into hers. Her heart began to pound, her stomach filling with butterflies. It was the demon, standing on the opposite side of the booth behind the mirror, watching her.
Kagome freaked. She bolted, running, pushing arms and shouting "sorry" as she fled the room and escaped through a side door into the fresh air. She placed her hand above her heart, panting heavily.
"That couldn't have been who that looked exactly like. He's in the past. I've never seen him here before. It can't be! There are no demons here. I've, I've gotta take a walk or something…and I have to stop talking to myself."
Kagome began walking away from the building towards the adjacent city street. She came up to the crosswalk disoriented and failed to notice the orange, blinking man on the street light warning her to stay on her side of the street.
A sudden screech of breaks and blare of a car horn distracted her from her disorganized thoughts. Her head spun in slow motion towards the shrieking sounds. She gasped, inhaling a frightened breath while her body froze, much like a deer in headlights. She didn't scream. Sound failed her. She prepared for the impact, but suddenly felt air. She was flying. Had her soul left her body? Was she dead?
She opened her eyes. She was indeed flying, but she was certainly not dead. Perhaps she was dreaming, or unconscious, for she saw she was being held in the strong, muscular arms of a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.
A pulse ricocheted through her body.
This was him! The youkai! Butterflies invaded her stomach again. She felt the flush in her face, partly from the wind, partly from ogling the handsome superman whisking her away from danger. It was thrilling, finding this familiar foreigner in a world she was certain until today was devoid of demons.
They descended and landed in an unpopulated, although well-lit and harmless looking alley behind a business building. The stranger set her down carefully. Kagome studied him from behind, his back facing her. She noted more details about him. His strong, sexy arms were part of a strong, sexy body. His simple black t-shirt accentuated his muscular physique exceptionally. Casual denim trousers. Tanned skin. Jet black hair that flowed freely around him. Her knees buckled from exertion and she reached out to him, grabbing his arm for stability.
His hand immediately rose and clasped her hands holding his arm.
She paled. An image of a familiar youkai, a friend, flashed in her mind. And she knew who it was before he even turned his face. When he did, shockingly sky blue eyes stared into her chestnut ones.
"Kouga?" Kagome questioned. Promptly, she fainted.
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Kagome awoke slowly at first. She squinted as sunlight pierced her vision, unconscious blackness blinded by the glaring light. She had a headache and reached a hand to her forehead, moaning softly.
Another hand, a large one, touched the top of her head and began to smooth across her hair.
She heard shhhing sounds coming from someone. Then, putting her other hand down, she realized she was slightly elevated in someone's lap. Her eyes flashed open and once again, chestnut met sky. Feeling her proximity to Kouga, Kagome blushed furiously.
"How do you feel?" Kouga asked.
"Um…" Kagome stammered, the heated blush burning her cheeks, "kinda hot."
Kouga smirked. "Glad to know after all this time I still have that effect on you."
Kagome blushed harder (was that possible?), laughed softly and looked away. But she peeked back at him, meeting his intense gaze. His face looked slightly older than she remembered, slightly. He looked like a man in his late 20's.
"Kouga…is that really you?" Kagome almost whispered, still sitting in his lap, supported in his arms. Her eyes were scrutinizing. She lifted a hand and touched his cheek. He was real, alright. Vision and touch did not dissuade her. She was lost in thought, simply staring at him.
"Kagome…" Kouga breathed, raising his hand to cover hers resting on his cheek. He stared at her in disbelief, as if even touching her now he did not trust his senses. His eyes glimmered, a look of pain filling them. His chest rose and fell quickly. In an instant he moved her to a more sitting position and pressed her body to his in a fierce embrace.
Kagome was shocked at first, feeling the force of Kouga's unspoken emotions, but she wrapped her free arm around him and returned the hug in a comforting manner. Evidently, finding her was significant for him, too.
He shifted back a little, his face inches away from hers. He couldn't look her in the eyes for some reason. He studied the outline of her face. He placed his free hand in her hair, combing her long locks with his fingers. He made transient eye contact with her.
Kagome realized this was very emotional for him. What had he gone through these past 500 years? What was going on now?
His hand still held hers firmly against his cheek, needing her physical touch so he couldn't convince himself this was all a dream. Kagome tried to remove her hand, but his grip was solid.
"Kouga? How did you get here? You can't go through the well!" Her other hand flew to her mouth. "Oh wait! I've never told you about the well."
Kouga released her hand from his cheek, studying her face intently several moments before responding. Kagome felt like he was gauging his response. It was curious.
"Kagome, I live here. The last time I saw you was 500 years ago."
Kagome stared at him in shock, her mouth open but a response slow to follow. "Wha, what?! 500 years! How is that possible?! You look like 5 years older maybe than you did when I last saw you!"
Kouga smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm youkai. We age gracefully."
"You must!" Kagome responded. Kouga raised an eyebrow in amusement and Kagome put a hand over her mouth and blushed. "I mean, 500 years and you look great! I mean…" she turned into a tomato.
Kouga's smirk did reach his eyes this time. They seemed to twinkle. "Look all you want, Kagome. Now that I've found you, I'm not going anywhere."
Kagome was still in his lap, watching as he clasped both of her hands in his. She smiled. 500 years, huh? Some things didn't change. All that time and he was still Kouga.
Kouga stared at Kagome longingly. He could not contain his inner wolf another moment. With a flood of intimate memories and the relief of centuries of yearning for this reunion, he ravaged her lips with his own, tasting the aura his soul had lived without for too long.
Kagome was stunned, to say the least. Her hands escaped his grasp and flew up to his shoulders as she squirmed, pushing forcefully against him.
"Whoa! I understand you missed me, but that was…a lot. I'm sorry."
Kouga looked devastated. Kagome immediately felt guilty. His eyes reflected a lifetime of longing, pain, despair…it was heartbreaking.
He placed her gently on her feet and stood. He furrowed his brows, deeply deliberating as he tried to will the anguish from his eyes. Did she not remember?...
"Kagome..." Kouga asked carefully. "When was the last time you saw me, uh, back there?"
"Well…" she began, placing her forefinger to her chin and looking thoughtfully into the sky. "I haven't seen you for two and a half years, since the day you left…"
Kouga looked puzzled. The day he…left? What did she mean? When?...
His eyes widened slowly in realization. He knew. He knew exactly what she meant. Kami, that seemed like a lifetime ago. Or several.
Kagome studied Kouga as he brooded, noticing the change in his demeanor, like a clichéd light bulb turned on in his mind. His eyes widened and he seemed relieved, yet frustrated. He sighed and turned his face away from her. The heat from his kiss, however, stayed with her, lingering on her lips. Unexpected, but breathtaking. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch the tingling spot where his lips had touched hers.
Kouga was beginning to realize something. He felt he had been punched in the gut when she pushed him away, until he realized that she must not have experienced certain things, certain events, that he had. Yet…
He sighed. He knew, as excruciating as it would be, he had to meet Kagome where she was. He had to restrain himself. He had to…
Kouga turned his head back toward Kagome and smiled dashingly. "Well, Kagome, I'm not ready to end this reunion any time soon, so why don't I take you out somewhere?"
Kagome blushed, the butterflies attacking her stomach again. "Do you mean go out, like, on a date?"
Kouga smirked cockily, reminding Kagome of the Kouga she remembered from the past. "Yeah, that's exactly what I mean. I'm going to take you on a date."
Kagome decided to play hard to get. "I love how you stated that, rather than asking me if I wanted to go. I don't get a say in this?
Kouga walked up to her, each step increasing the heat rushing to her cheeks. He leaned down and gazed deeply into her eyes.
"Are you going to tell me you don't want to go out with me?"
Kagome was nervous. Kouga, the wolf demon she never bothered to notice her entire time in the Feudal Era, was making her feel like a child with her first crush. She swallowed and managed to reply. "Fine. I'll humor you. Where are you going to take me?"
"I'll take you places you've never imagined you could go before."
Kagome laughed. "What a line. Have you rehearsed that for 500 years?"
"Nope." Kouga replied matter-of-factly. "I just act arrogantly in front of you because you make me feel the need to impress you."
Kagome smiled softly. That was the most honest he had ever been with her. She could get used to this older, more mature version of Kouga.
"Okay. Let's go. I'm starved!"
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
"So you said that demons must move around in order to avoid suspicion. And that's why you hadn't found me before?" Kagome questioned.
"Yes…" he said, careful to conceal unnecessary details. "That's correct. I was living in Canada. It's actually a perfect place for wolf demons. One of my jobs is being entrusted the care of all remaining wolf demons. There are leaders for all demon species who ensure their safety and that their needs are met."
"That's so interesting," Kagome gushed through a mouthful of fried rice. She was practically shoveling the warm food into her mouth with her chopsticks while staring, fully mentally engaged in her conversation with Kouga about the underground world of present day demons.
He stared back at her in awe. She was so inquisitive. Had he forgotten that? No, he mentally reprimanded. He painfully remembered every little detail.
"Is it?" He smirked. "You know, you may choke or get a stomach ache if you don't detract from demon tales a little bit to focus on your eating."
"Huh?" Kagome squeaked. She looked at her bowl, nearly devoured, and blushed. "Well it's just so interesting!" She insisted, lifting her outstretched hands in a show of importance. "Demons are in the world again! I thought they only existed in the Feudal Era and now I find out they have been under my nose here this whole time. But how do they conceal themselves in a human world?"
Kouga glanced from side to side, ensuring that no onlookers had taken an interest in their private conversation. "With this," he said while surreptitiously sliding a small amulet up and out of his t-shirt. Kagome stared with wonder at the small gleaming white fang, hanging from a simple chain. With her eyes transfixed, she began to see a soft blue glow emanating from the fang. Her eyes widened and her mouth drew into a quiet, "oh."
"Kouga, it's beautiful. Do all youkai have one?"
"Yes," he stated. "All youkai are fitted with a special amulet that contains their youki from human sight. Well," he smirked, looking in Kagome's eyes, "ordinary humans. Not mikos, of course."
Kagome smiled. "And I'm thankful for that."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, eating and enjoying one another's company. Kagome was lost in thought. So many questions and things to consider. Kagome glanced at Kouga and noticed his brooding expression. He was apparently lost in thought too.
She frowned. "Kouga? What are you thinking about?"
Kouga frowned. He looked away when he responded to her. "I…it's, your scent."
"My scent?" Kagome frowned.
"Yeah. It's…" he closed he eyes and forced a painful smile. "You. It's wildflowers in the summer. It's…innocent and pure," he added, and trailed off as if he had more that he didn't want to say.
Kagome frowned. She didn't know how to respond. His response was…peculiar.
"The last time I saw you was 500 years ago." Kouga added, reading Kagome's facial expression. "And it sounds like when I saw you last hasn't happened for you yet."
Kagome's eyes widened at that. The last time he saw her, 500 years in the past, had not yet occurred for her? His past was her yet to be? That was difficult to wrap her mind around.
"Honestly, that gives me a headache. The past is the present and your past is my future and, oh…" she sighed, putting a hand to her forehead and wincing. She needed to let this thought go for now.
"Well let's not give you a headache," Kouga sighed. He stared at Kagome intently. He was starting to understand things better. Her scent, her reactions to him, her characteristics overall indicative of her nature with him, in the beginning…
"Why do you look at me like that?"
"Hmm?" Kouga wondered. It was his turn to blush, embarrassed from being caught daydreaming rather than gawking at the beautiful female before him.
"You look at me so…I don't know. Intensely. Is this a product of aging?" she grinned.
He smiled softly. "Perhaps so. Was I not so intense in the past?"
Kagome giggled. "Oh, you were intense in your own right in the Feudal Era. Quite passionate about your feelings for me." She smiled brightly at him. "But you know what?"
"What?" he smiled warmly, basking in her beautifully innocent scent he had not smelled in centuries.
"I think, if I met you again back then, I might just give in and go for it with you," she winked.
He smiled wickedly. "I know I'll end up satisfying you."
Kagome blushed fiercely. What was with all the innuendos?
She glanced at her watch. "Oh man, the time! I need to get home for dinner. I kinda bailed on my family at the exhibit and I need to let them know I'm okay, not to mention fill them in on today!"
Kouga nodded. "Ok, Kagome."
Kagome looked down in thought, thinking how nice their date had been and not quite wanting it to be over. She looked up excitedly and asked, "what if you come with me? Kouga, will you come home with me and meet my mom? Oh, I know she will just love you! She is fascinated by demons too. And I want her to meet you. Please say yes?" she pleaded.
He laughed and smiled, "Of course. I'm honored to meet your mother."
"That's great!" Kagome beamed as she reached for his hand and clasped it in both of hers.
They both looked at their hands and the role reversal that had occurred. Then their eyes met and they laughed heartily together.
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Kagome stopped on the sidewalk at the base of the Shrine stairs, pointing to the top. "That's my shrine."
Kouga smiled fully, looking up the staircase and back at Kagome. "You living in a shrine is perfect."
Kagome shrugged her shoulders and smiled in return. "Well," she began, reaching for the handrail, "shall we go up?"
Kouga grinned mischievously before swiftly picking her up in his arms bridal style. "We shall!" he called. He soared up the staircase in a single bound, landing gracefully at the top. Kagome was clutching his shoulders for dear life. It was the second time in one day she was soaring through the air with him. The feeling exhilarated her and brought her back to the past.
Kouga gently set Kagome on her feet, his face lingering near hers for a moment, blue eyes staring into hazel ones. He slowly rose back up from bending to place her on the ground.
Kagome's breath hitched in her throat. What the heck was going on with her? She never responded to Kouga like this in the past. But then again, she had never had the opportunity to. She had always been with Inuyasha when Kouga came to see her and her focus had always been keeping them in line.
Inuyasha…thinking of him, even for a split second, made her heart clench, her lungs refuse to breathe. She he had found Kouga. He miraculously survived 500 years. But could Inuyasha have?… She forced the thought aside. She would ask Kouga about him later, but now…
"DEMON!"
Kagome placed a hand on her forehead in aggravation. "I forgot to tell you…"
"What the…?" Kouga began, looking up towards the old man running at him flailing his arms.
"My Grandpa freaks when he senses youkai."
"Be gone, demon!" shouted Kagome's grandfather, throwing fake sutras at Kouga.
Kouga frowned, but, knowing the sutras were harmless and this was Kagome's grandfather, refrained from saying anything nasty to the old man.
"Grandpa! Stop! This is Kouga, he's one of my friends from the Feudal Era!"
"Oh?" Grandpa inquired. He stopped in front of Kouga, scowling with hands on his hips. "Kagome," he said gruffly, "the well closed though."
Kagome sighed. "Yes, Grandpa. But he's from now. He's been able to conceal himself and he's been alive this whole time."
Grandpa was still silently sizing up Kouga when Kagome's mother threw open the front door.
"Kagome, is everything alright?" Ms. Higurashi called calmly. She noticed Kouga, who had also noticed her noticing him, and she walked out to meet the couple.
"Kagome, who is your friend?" Ms. Higurashi smiled politely towards Kouga.
"Mom, this is Kouga. He's one of my demon friends from the Feudal Era. He's a wolf demon."
Ms. Higurashi smiled brighter. "Kouga, it's a pleasure to meet you." She extended her hand and Kouga took it, shaking her hand gently and smiling.
"You too Ms. Higurashi," Kouga replied politely.
Kagome stared at Kouga. She had never told him her last name before…
"I think I remember Kagome talking about you, Kouga."
"Oh, really?" Kouga smirked, glancing at Kagome.
"Yes…" Ms. Higurashi placed a finger on her chin in contemplation and then raised it up in the air. "I know! You were the handsome, cocky demon who would visit spur of the moment and make declarations of love and adoration toward my daughter."
Kouga folded his arms and smirked towards Kagome. "Handsome, huh?"
Kagome blushed furiously. "Yes…I mean, you heard that I had mentioned cocky too, right?"
Kouga was beaming internally. So even during that period, when he felt he was invisible to her, she had noticed him even in some small way.
"Kouga, would you please stay for dinner? I have sushi, onigiri, and miso ready on the table."
Kouga smiled politely again. "Thanks, Ms. Higurashi. I would love to."
Kouga followed Kagome into her home for the first time to eat dinner with her family. It would not be the last.
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
"Sorry about Souta." Kagome frowned as she and Kouga began sauntering around the shrine grounds.
Dinner had been nice. Lots of conversation about what everyone had been up to. No seriousness, just chit chat and funny stories and laughter. Kagome had learned that Ginta and Hakkaku were still alive and quite close to Kouga, in the city in fact. She would have to meet them soon…
"It's okay, Kagome. I can imagine he would be curious. It's not like humans have tails."
Kagome giggled. "Well, it was really nice and generous of you to remove your amulet so he could see yours."
"And pull it," Kouga countered, but he chuckled softly. It would take a lot more force to actually physically hurt him.
Kagome stopped walking and Kouga, noticing her halt, stopped too.
"This is it…" Kagome trailed. "The well house."
Kouga looked at the tattered structure. The faded, sunwashed wooden walls. The shabby shingled roof. The splintering door.
"So this is how you would travel to the Feudal Era?"
Kagome was slow to respond. "Yes," she replied wistfully.
Kouga turned to her, studying her face. She was…sad.
"Kagome…" Kouga began.
"I was torn from there, thrust back here so forcefully and suddenly. I tried to go back, but the door to the past was locked. I tried many times and I could never find a way to open the door. I tried using my spiritual energy. Nothing worked…"
Kouga watched as she opened up to him. It was painful for her. It was painful for him to watch her in pain.
Kouga reached his hand toward her. "Kagome…"
Kagome stepped forward towards the door. "Do you want to see inside? I've never been able to budge the door open, but maybe with your strength…"
SLAM!
"You…could open…what used to be the door." Kagome finished, stunned. One punch, bam! What used to be the swollen shut wooden well house door was nonexistent, shards of wood scattered all around.
"Thanks?" Kagome said with a stunned look.
"Anytime," Kouga smirked, stepping past her to look inside.
It was dark, the scent of chronic dampness filling the structure. Kagome gestured with her hand for him to step inside and he obliged. She followed closely behind. They studied the vine covered walls, the cricket chirps from the corners, the musty odor. Then Kagome slowly descended the short staircase to the actual well. She was on autopilot. She peered over the edge, looking into a black abyss. She could see nothing in the darkness of a room with no windows at nighttime. Kouga watched her looking longingly into her old passageway to the past.
"Kagome…" he began.
Something blinked at the bottom of the well. Kagome's heart raced. What was that?
"Wait, Kouga. I think I saw something."
Kouga narrowed his eyes. It couldn't be…could it?
Kagome stared into the well, seeing nothing but blackness. Until she saw another twinkle. A little blue spark that would have been nothing had she blinked when it appeared.
Kouga stepped toward Kagome, his hand nearly on her shoulder.
"Kagome, what…"
But as he was speaking to her the twinkle erupted into a blinding beam of blue light that burst from the well floor up towards the roof, burning Kagome's eyes. Kagome felt her body tumble, falling down the rabbit hole, weightlessness beginning to engulf her.
She faintly heard Kouga screaming her name. She turned to look back at him, his face filled with fear. He heard her call to him in a dream like voice that was growing distant and haunting.
"Wait for me, Kouga! I'll be back!" she hollered. 'I hope…' she thought.