Chapter 3
Kagome clamored to rein in her reiki, she was only on the fifth step, and she felt as if she were going to lose control. Each step sent a shockwave through her system, rippling along the surface of her reiki to the point she felt as if she were going to explode. A wild rush of excitement raced up and down her spine as if she had felt the presence of a jewel shard.
Taking another tentative step forward, Kagome allowed a small portion of her reiki to surface, but she held no control over the resurgence of her powers. They came bubbling up, spilling to the area around her. The grounds took on the glow of silver holy energy, a significant deviation from the pink hue her powers had been almost a year ago when they'd first emerged. Panting Kagome tried her best to reign in her power, but it continued to grow, pushing out across the entirety of the shrine, it glowed hotly, shimmering and coiling with a purpose that was foreign to her, but she revealed in the excitement that she surprisingly felt.
Months had gone by, and she had felt as if she were dying. Yet here, at this rundown shrine, Kagome felt as if she had been revived. It was both frightening and exciting. She gave up trying to suppress the desire of her spirit and allowed her reiki to come surging forward. Bathed in the bliss that came with her power, Kagome cried out with a teary laugh.
"Lord Mikaga?" A small disembodied voice asked hopefully on the breeze.
Another joined in with a joyous edge. "Welcome back home, Lord Mikage!"
Kagome paused, pushing her aura further until she found the source. Spirits? She also felt another, but they seemed to be cloaked; her only inkling that someone else was there was that it was the only spot in the immediate area that she felt nothing but felt everything around it.
"Lord Mikage!" The spirits exclaimed happily in unison. Red flames appeared in the darkness, illuminating the rest of the steps. She found herself quickening in her pace, and all hesitation and unease by the resurgence of her reiki were forgotten in her haste to hold onto that feeling as long as she could.
Making her way to the top, she was greeted by a small shrine and dozens of small spiritual red flames. Walking the few steps necessary, Kagome opened the doors to the main shrine house.
"Mikage? Is it truly you?" A third voice asked from the darkness of the shrine, a flicker of youki brushing up against her senses.
Her reiki came snapping back to her, her heart racing with excitement and just the smallest amount of fear. It had been so long since she'd felt the presence of a demon, and although she didn't fear them as a whole, there were plenty who hadn't been too kind to her.
"Where have you been?" The male demon continued, heat and irritation entering his soft tone. "I've waited quite some time for your return. Twenty years feels like an absolute eternity to me; how about you?"
Stepping through the shadows, Kagome gasped at the sight of the demon before her. He stood well over a foot taller than her, his slender frame dressed in a fine silk kimono that brighten with a mix of dark fabric and vibrant flowers that complemented his pale ivory skin tone. Dull silvery violet eyes peered at her through the darkness, glowing with anger and what seemed to be a relief. But what captured her attention most was the short silver-white hair and matching ears that gleamed in the low light as if they were dipped in moonlight.
A bang of longing rang out in her chest, a phantom image of her friend flashing quickly across her mind.
He then charged her, rage twisting his handsome face.
Kagome shrieked, pulling her reiki tight as she blocked herself with her arms in front of her face. Using her mind's eye, she imagined her reiki forming a dome of protection around her, not to harm but to protect. She briefly remembered Miroku's lessons, although back then, she hadn't been able to manage a barrier; in her haste to protect herself, Kagome tried and unknowingly succeed; if only for a couple seconds.
At her scream, the demon stopped mid-strike, his once angry features softening to confusion and even a flicker of sadness as they shared a wide-eyed stare.
"Damn," he straightened, his silvery hair falling into his eyes. "This is not Mikage,"
"What? That's impossible!" At the spirits decree, two spirits, or should she say shinigami's, appeared. They were small in size, both wearing masks.
The male-sounding one with the mask of a monkey flew up to her inquisitively. While the female sounding one flew up closer, brushing her bangs from her forehead. "Master Tomoe, as you can see, the mark of the land God is here on the forehead, exactly where it should be."
The boy piped up excitedly. "And I sense Mikage's spiritual energy!"
The youkai sighed tiredly. "And yet that does not make her him. Now, then, woman." He sat eyes calculating as he inspected the reiki dome surrounding her. "Tell me how you got here,"
Robotically she held up the crude map Mikage had written for her, his signature down at the bottom. "He sent me here, said this was to be my home,"
The youkai, Tomoe, narrowed his eyes. "What is your name, human?"
Kagome's eyes narrowed in turn. She had always hated when people, youkai, had referred to her by her species as if that was the CenterPoint of her identity. She was more than human, more than her gender; she was a miko, some had even called her a hero, and more importantly, she had a name. "My name is Kagome Higurashi, youkai," she ended fiercely, a growl tailing her command.
A single elegant silver brow rose, amusement clouding his eyes, but he looked mostly annoyed as he overlooked the small parchment again. "It is true," he started in a bemoaning tone. "This is his stupid handwriting," he finished with a hiss.
Violet eyes regarded her harshly as the two spirits hovered close to her; even if she could not see their faces due to their masks, she could practically feel their happiness. They reminded her of children but held herself back from taking the spirits into arms. Their happiness and yearning almost overwhelming; if not for the angry youkai in front of her, Kagome undoubtedly would have cuddled them.
"That man," Tomoe hissed from behind his fan. "Is the land god of these lands," Kagome froze, her eyes meeting his in surprise. "This is his shrine. To be given his position as the master here is the same as being given his status as Land God,"
'A land god?' Kagome looked on in a daze, confused and yet intrigued. Was that the strange feeling she'd gotten from the man? And was he the reason for the reawakening of her powers?
Beside her, the spirits danced about gleefully, throwing confetti and talking quickly.
"What a joyous event!" The girl spirit cried cheered.
"The land God has returned to the shrine!" The boy spirit exclaimed happily. "We must prepare a feast!"
Kagome looked between them in confusion; everything was moving so quickly.
They then, in a puff of smoke, had a small feast for her. "Please enjoy Lady Kagome!" The smell tickled her nose, encouraging a growl of hunger to sound from her stomach. She hadn't eaten since this morning, and it did look delicious.
"She's to be the land god?" Tomoe's voice broke through the spirit's excitement, bringing with it an ominous air to the room. He grabbed her chin, roughly turning her towards him. His violet eyes were hardened and brimming with a mix of emotions, anger being the most prominent. "What can a dirty human possibly do? Clean the shrine? Count the offerings? No, I do not want her here!" He spat at her, anger flashing heatedly in his eyes as he pushed her away.
A growl rumbled in her chest, her own anger rising at his rude dismissal of her. "Excuse me, but shouldn't I be the one saying 'no' here?" She asked in a mix of sarcasm and anger. Because truth be told, she didn't want to leave, whatever was happening, Kagome just wanted to hold onto that feeling of being alive."I didn't ask to become a land god; I hadn't a clue what it meant when he told me to come here! And I definitely don't deserve your horrible attitude! Whatever your feelings for Mikage might be, I don't deserve your hate, I didn't do anything wrong!" She snapped, and a part of her enjoyed the widening of his eyes, showing his surprise.
"Please don't leave Lady Kagome," the monkey masked spirit cried.
The other cried out just as panicked and sad. "We are very happy to have you here!"
Tomoe looked away, hiding half his face with his fan. He looked sad, lost almost. And for a second, Kagome almost felt sorry- keyword being almost because then he was back to being a pompous jerk. "If you plan to let that woman stay, I'll leave," smoke and fire filled the room. The flames snickering in different shades of blue, the sight had a pang of longing fill her heart at the similarity to her small kitsune.
"Master Tomoe!" The two spirits cried.
"I'm Mikage's familiar. I'm not going to serve some child of a woman," Tomoe hissed, his form fading as he shot a dark look in her direction. "You can ask some stray to take my place instead," he then was gone along with the smoke and fire.
Kagome blinked before looking at the sad-looking spirits. "Do you mind if I at least stay the night?" She asked tentatively and a little unsure. She hadn't accepted anything yet, and she still needed to talk to her mother. And yet Kagome felt lighter than she had in months; there was no sadness in her heart, only a mild ache; in fact, she felt rather relaxed and even comfortable despite her foreign surroundings.
The spirits dropped into a low bow, an excited tone in their voices. "It's our pleasure, Lady Kagome!"
She smiled gently at the two. "So what are your names Will-o'-the-Wisp Children?" Kagome asked softly, having finally pieced together what the small spirits were.
The monkey masked one jumped up, a finger pointing at his mask as he answered excitedly. "I am Kotetsu!"
Next was the maiden masked wearer. "And I am Onikiri, mi' lady!"
Kagome smiled. "It's a pleasure to met you," perhaps this would be a nice start, a way to heal from her past without feeling trapped by it, and these spirits would make good company, even the fox might if he could reframe from insulting her.
She allowed them to show her around, the two spirits talking quickly and with excitement before leading her to a room that had a simple futon.
It was there that she had the best sleep she'd had in months.
wolfYLady: I hope you all enjoyed it.