A/N: Welcome to Chapter 3! Can I just express how awesome I think you are for coming this far? It's amazing to think that anybody would take their time to read this far. Thank you! I feel the need to apologize since the story has followed pretty closely to the anime for these last few chapters. Just keep pushing through, I promise it'll start branching off more! If you have anything to say, please leave a review! I love hearing thoughts and opinions; constructive criticism is more than welcome!
Disclaimer: I do not own any character or idea belonging to the Inuyasha or Pokemon franchises.
Before anybody could react, the centipede demon constricted Kagome and Inuyasha to the Goshinboku and gobbled up the Shikon Jewel. My heart raced as I watched the severed arms attach to their rightful spots. The demon shed its skin to reveal a more horrifying form.
"What are we going to do, my Lady? There's no way we can defeat this demon now…" I stated solemnly.
"You could fight, Miamei." A voice spoke from throughout the meadow.
Surprised, I looked around to see who had just talked, but everybody was still concerned with the situation at hand and not even paying any mind to me. Figuring the voice had been a simple figment of my imagination, I too turned my attention to the tree. I saw Kagome reaching for the arrow that kept Inuyasha pinned to the trunk. Was she really going to pull it out?
"Nay, child! If you remove that arrow, Inuyasha will be free to destroy us all!" Kaede yelled at the girl.
Ignoring the words of the priestess, Kagome grasped the arrow. A pink light erupted from the wooden shaft before the arrow completely dissolved into thin air. With the arrow now gone, Kikyo's spell was broken and Inuyasha was freed.
Demonic energy could be seen pulsing from the half-breed as Inuyasha's powers returned to him. He chuckled to himself before laughing maniacally at the centipede monster. Within moments, Inuyasha had ripped the demon apart into many pieces that now littered the grass of the meadow.
"Quick, we must find the Sacred Jewel before Mistress Centipede regenerates." Kaede announced, searching among the many body parts.
Kagome pointed at a specific piece and Kaede moved to retrieve the small jewel, causing the body of the demon to dissolve, leaving behind skeletal remains. Seeing that the danger was now gone, I sighed with relief before hopping off of my horse.
"How did this get into my body?" Kagome asked, now holding the Shikon Jewel in her hand. "Why would I have a something that is so sought after by demons?"
"Exactly. It's not like you're capable of using it or anything." Inuyasha spoke, crushing a bone with his foot.
I tensed at the sight of the moving half-demon. He was more dangerous than the centipede.
"Be a good girl and hand over the Jewel." The silver-haired boy demanded.
"Don't do it, Kagome. He'll only destroy us in the end." Kaede countered.
Inuyasha frowned. "It looks like I'll just have to take it by force." He stated, cracking his knuckles and preparing to lunge at Kaede and Kagome.
"No!" I shouted.
My body moved on its own accord. I found myself jumping through the air to get between my elder and my friend in an attempt to protect them from attacking half-demon. Claws slashed down my back, tearing through the skin. Immediately, blood soaked my clothing and I could feel my life drain from me.
"Miamei!" Both Kaede and Kagome shouted, villagers gasped in shock.
I collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Never had I suffered from an injury so severe, let alone thrown myself in front of hostile demon before.
"Foolish girl. A weakling like you didn't stand a chance against me. You shouldn't have tried to be so heroic by jumping in like that." Inuyasha spat, standing over me.
I… I need to stop him before he hurts anybody else… But… I'm too weak… There's no way I can defeat Inuyasha…
"It's time to wake up, Miamei."
That voice… It's the same one as earlier… I recognized, shifting my eyes towards the Goshinboku. The bark was glowing with aura as it had done before, walking from the tree in my direction was the same personage. They knelt on the ground beside me.
"Innocent people will be injured if you do not wake up, Miamei." The man spoke softly; it seemed nobody else in the meadow could see or hear him aside from myself. Time appeared to slow itself as our conversation continued.
But… How can I save everybody… I'm just one person…
"Have faith in yourself. You are not alone, child."
Then… Then grant me the strength I need to protect those closest to me. Provide to me the power I'll need to protect this land.
"Do you accept your fate, Miamei?"
Yes! Break the seal on my heart and soul so that I can claim my title as an HDP!
"Then as the creator of this seal, I release thee, Miamei. Go and change the fate of this world with your own."
Without a moment's hesitation, the ethereal man reached out and tapped two fingers to my forehead. A wave of energy spread from the single spot, followed by another and then another. Although strength was returning to my limbs, my vision began to fade. Was I too late? I pondered, as my eyes blacked out.
Little had I known just how drastically my body was changing at the time. The gashes on my back seemed to magically seal shut, as if the injury had never occurred in the first place. Through locks of hair atop my head poked a pair of triangular ears, similar to those found on the half-demon Inuyasha.
Though I was currently blind, I could feel the changes happening. In the black nothingness of my vision, colors appeared and danced before my eyes before transforming into humanoid shapes. Various shades and hues represented each person, and even the trees and plants of the forest appeared. I was able to witness the world in a new way.
Still collapsed on the ground, I identified Inuyasha as an angry red being facing off against a shimmering silver personage and a playful yellow one - who I assumed to be Lady Kaede and Kagome respectively. Ignoring the aches within my bones, I found the strength to stand back on my own two feet again. My newly grown ears that had replaced my original human ones picked up on the shocked whisperings of the villagers escorting Lady Kaede.
"Miamei!" Kagome exclaimed happily, though I could hear the distress lacing her voice.
"You're still able to stand? What a surprise." Inuyasha stated, turning back around to face me. He appeared to falter for a second when his eyes met me. "I hadn't realized you were secretly a demon. Since when did these villagers start keeping a demon around to protect them?
"It doesn't really matter to me. Demon or not, I will take you down!" The half-demon growled before leaping into the air to attack.
Following instincts that I had been unaware of having, I leaped into the air as well. A clawed hand stretched out for me once more, only to miss as I smoothly shifted away. With the motion of one quick swipe of my hand, I sent Inuyasha crashing to the ground before landing lightly before the group of villagers.
Dazed by the sudden counter, Inuyasha lay stunned in the lush grass of the meadow. Kaede moved swiftly and tossed a string of beads around his neck. "Now, Kagome! Say the words!" The elderly woman cried out.
Firmly and with much confidence, Kagome shouted out a word of command. "Sit!" She yelled, activating the beads around Inuyasha's neck.
The beads glowed with a faint purple light before driving Inuyasha further into the ground. Unimpressed and angered even further with the women's tricks, Inuyasha growled and tried to stand back up.
"Again, Kagome." Kaede demanded.
"Sit!" The young girl ordered, causing the beads to glow again, casting Inuyasha face first into the dirt.
Frustrated with the new situation thrust upon him, Inuyasha growled and clawed at the accessory, only to receive a shock from the enchanted necklace. "What kind of curse have you laid upon me, you hags?" He growled.
"One to keep you from acting out. Now settle yourself, lest we must slay you." Kaede explained.
Seeing that they were now out of danger, the village priestess turned to look at me. The colors representing each person began to fade and my normal vision returned to normal. I glanced down to notice the birthmark around my wrist was glowing with a pulsing pink light which dissipated after a few seconds. As I returned my attention to the villagers, my guardian had stepped forward. Kagome ran out from the group to hug me tightly. Though we had just me hours before, I already felt a close attachment to the girl.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Miamei! I don't know what I would have done if you died saving me!" She cried out, pulling away to get a better look at me. "What happened? You've changed."
"It appears our young heroine has finally gained access to her prophesied power." Kaede observed before turning back around to face her fellow villagers. "Before us this eve stands our hero, our protector, our HDP. Long live Miamei!"
"Long live Miamei!" The villagers shouted before bending their knees and lowering their heads in a humble bow.
I gulped. I'd known about the respect I was supposed to have, but this would definitely take some getting used to. After a moment of silence, the villagers stood and got back to work. They bound Inuyasha's hands and dragged him back to our small home. With nowhere else to toss the half-demon and Kagome being the one with the precious command, Kaede ended up accepting the responsibility of watching over the vengeful boy. With Kagome and now Inuyasha staying in our hut, things were sure to get interesting from that night on.
When I awoke at dawn, Kagome and Inuyasha were still snoozing away, as was Lady Kaede. The events of the previous day must have worn the already tired priestess. Slipping out of my futon, I managed to sneak out of the hut without awakening any of my bedmates. The village was as peaceful as ever in the slow movement of morning.
I wandered along the familiar dirt roads as the cold winter air nipped at the tips of my new ears. After a while of aimless walking, I found myself standing at the top of the hill that sloped down towards the river - the same river that I had been found floating down as an infant in a basket all those years ago. How had I ended up here? Where did I come from?
Ignoring the questions that had popped up in my mind, I turned my back on my origin to take in the atmosphere of the still waking village. One by one, villagers shuffled out of their huts to begin their day. Some walked towards the town center to begin setting up their shops while others started the long trek out to the fields to tend to crops. Even after the events of last night, life continued on like it normally did; that is, except for one thing.
As I strolled by people I'd known for years at this point - people that had once looked down at me and shunned me - they all lowered their heads as if to bow to me. Not a single soul ignored my presence and took a moment to show their respects. Unsure of how to react to this sudden onslaught, I politely bowed back before briskly walking away. Uncomfortable with the change in the way I was treated, I decided to return to Kaede's hut.
"Ah, we were wondering when you would return, child." My elder commented upon my arrival inside her hut. She sat by the firepit with a boiling pot of rice while Kagome busied herself with rolling up the futons. Inuyasha was silently sitting in the corner, his face showed he still wasn't happy with his situation. "You must hurry and eat, for there is much to do today." Kaede stated, scooping some rice into a wooden bowl before handing it to me.
"What do you need me to do? Gather more herbs? Run around the village to check on how yesterday's patients are faring?" I questioned, breaking an egg over my rice before mixing it all together.
"None of those are as important as what I will be having you do." She replied, serving up bowls to our guests.
"What's more important than taking care of the ill?"
"The elders of the village are gathering together at the temple to discuss events that they deem most crucial. You, Miamei, have been invited to sit in. Rather, you have been ordered to sit in." Kaede explained.
"Why must I sit in on a meeting specifically for the elders? I've never been required to do so." I retorted, more shocked than anything.
"You gained access to your powers last evening, did you not? As our only protection against the true evils poisoning this land, it is dire that you participate and even help design the plans for our village. Do you understand, child?"
I hung my head slightly. "Yes, I understand completely."
"What would you like me to do, Lady Kaede? Would you like me to fill in for you and Miamei today? I don't know much about healing, but I can identify herbs if you show them to me first." Kagome cut in, optimism thick in her young voice.
"Nay, your only duty is to make sure that half-demon doesn't stir up any trouble." Kaede ordered, glancing over at the still pouting Inuyasha.
"As if I could stir up trouble with this stupid piece of jewelry around my neck." The silver-haired boy grumbled.
I laughed lightly, earning a dark glare from the half-demon. "Just you wait," Inuyasha began, his golden eyes digging into me. "You may have grown up with these villagers, but in all honesty, they're terrified of you. They'll tie you down and lock you in a cage before you know it. You're no different than I am, demon."
"Miamei's the best demon I've ever met. There's no reason for her to be locked up like an animal." Kagome snapped at the half-demon in my defense. "You on the other hand…"
"Why I ought to-" Inuyasha growled.
"Sit!"
A loud thud sounded through the hut as the magic necklace around Inuyasha's neck sent him to the ground. I flinched at the thought of how painful that must have been, only to turn to face Kaede. "The elders won't choose to imprison me, will they?" I asked.
"I assure you, child, that would be the last thing they decide upon. All of them may be secretly concerned about the power you contain becoming uncontrollable, but that is no reason to cast you into a cage." Kaede explained. "Your destiny is too great to keep you idle within a dungeon. The only way we'll know what they want to do is to attend this meeting. Now, eat up. We are expected to be to the temple soon."
I nodded, bringing another bite of rice to my mouth. 'They're terrified of you… You're no different than I am, demon.' Am I really such a monster? I thought, Inuyasha's words echoing inside my head. Did I make the wrong choice by accepting my fate? Will I be shunned for who I am?
As we finished up breakfast, Kagome offered to clean up for us. While she gathered up the dishes, Inuyasha went to go lay down in his corner. Apparently, Kagome was going to take the boy for a walk around the village while Kaede and I were busy. Seeing that everything would be fine in our household, my elder and I gathered a couple of things together before making our way out of the hut.
Outside, I brought my attention to the temple that loomed above us, situated on the hill behind Kaede's hut. The beautiful work of architecture had always been a pleasure to admire throughout my childhood, but now held a more ominous atmosphere to it. I had never been more terrified of the building.
"Remember, these are your elders, Miamei. Be respectful and don't speak out of turn." Kaede stated firmly as we began our trek up the many stone stairs.
"Yes, Lady Kaede." I replied.
"Always address them with the correct title."
"I understand."
"And, Miamei…" Kaede's pace slowed before she came to a stop.
I, too, stopped my ascent and stood a few steps ahead of my elder. I turned to face Kaede; she had a stern expression. "Lady Kaede?" I asked when she didn't continue. "Is something the matter?"
"Miamei, no matter the outcome of this meeting, whether it is good or bad, I want you to remember just how much I care about you. I'll only support whichever option I feel is best for you." She explained.
It took me a moment to realize exactly what the shrine maiden had meant. When it finally dawned on me, I couldn't prevent the smile from showing on my face. "Of course. Thank you, Milady."
Kaede returned my smile with her own before she continued the climb towards the temple. "Now, hustle, child. We must make haste. It would be unfortunate and dishonorable if we were to be late."