Authoress' Notes: I've been bad. I really wanted to write this chapter so I neglected to revise the older chapters once again. I gave in to the itch and did this! But now that I've fed my plot bunnies, I can return to revamp mode for the remaining older chapters! Enjoy and thanks for your patience!
His or Her Arrival
Its Name is Freesia
The temperature was gradually dropping more and more as winter approached. Still, Ren stepped out into the night air. Inside of the Asakura residence, Jun and Sango were wrapping up their visit by exchanging pleasantries. With how much teasing he received from HoroHoro and Bankotsu, Ren was more than ready to take his leave for the night.
Bason loyally followed after him, his voice concerned as he asked, "Is something troubling you, Bocchama?" Even though he acted as nothing but Ren's tool and slave for so long, the spirit still took the time to watch over and get to know his lord. Bason could easily sense when the Tao's emotions deviated from his normal state. All of the scion's highs and all of his lows—Bason knew them all.
"It's nothing," Ren replied quickly. "I just need a break from those idiots."
He was still not used to the ridiculous level of noise and liveliness that came with dining with so many others. Being the Tao heir meant that he attended many balls, luncheons, and dinners with his clan, family allies, and potential enemies alike. It was not that he was never involved in large social events. But it was here in Tokyo that he attended and engaged in an event as a person—his own person, and not as the Tao scion.
The Tao scion—his friends made him feel like so much more. And it all began with the priestess who couldn't go ten minutes without sending his heart aflutter.
'Kagome…' Was it truly okay for him to love her the way that he did? He had committed so many atrocities—so many horrible things that he was sure would repulse her if she knew. There was a light in her that burned brightly and attracted so many people to her. He was no exception to that attraction. But why would a light choose to settle for someone so vile when she had options like Yoh and Bankotsu?
Ren leaned against the cement, privacy gate. His hands clenched into fists as he recalled his father's words during their last conversation.
[ "Ren...it's come to my attention that you've set your eyes on a priestess, a rather powerful one from what I've been told." ]
At the time, Ren cursed himself for being so careless and letting his guard down. Of course his father was keeping a close eye on them at all times. He would be surprised if his father did not know everything about Kagome and his other friends by now. He tried to play it off, scoffing and rolling his eyes at his father's words with a cool, "What's your point? Kagome has nothing to do with my mission."
[ "The moment that you and your sister took her into your care, she became a subject of our observation. Do not play the fool with me, son. She's more than involved by now." ]
Ren's face must have betrayed him because when his father's dark chuckle resounded.
[ "Such a frightening expression. Do not fret. I think she's a fine specimen. You've chosen a superior candidate for breeding." ]
Had they not been over three-thousand kilometers apart, Ren may have lost control and made him eat those words… Or at least, he would have tried. The thought of the power difference between him and his father was infuriating. 'How am I supposed to protect her if I—' He did not notice how his teeth ground against each other.
"Hey, Ren?" Kagome's voice brought him back to reality. Not a second later, the girl emerged from the yard and was standing in front of him. She leaned forward and tilted her head down for a better look at his face.
"...what?" He hissed back, unintentionally speaking with the anger that he felt towards his father. Ren stopped glaring at the ground and lifted his head to face the girl.
Kagome's concerned expression instantly transformed into a peeved one. She glared at Ren as her tone became heated, "What's with that tone?! I'm just worried about you!"
"Yeah, well—don't bother," was his dismissive response as his arms rose to cross over his chest. He adopted a usual posture to thwart the perceptive priestess' gaze. "I'm fine."
"Uh-huh…" Her tone was sarcastic, unconvinced as she took in his appearance. Ren wore a cool expression and he looked the way that he usually did. Kagome's eyes squinted, suspicion overtaking her when she noted how his hands were trembling.
When the girl raised a glower at him, Ren met her gaze with his own glare. "What is it now?" He asked. Without allowing her a chance to answer, he added a follow-up, "Shouldn't you be rescuing Yoh from Jakotsu?"
Kagome then sighed softly, her shoulders slumping a bit. Ren was caught off guard when her exasperated expression turned into a smile. His breath lost in his throat when her soft hand reached for one of his, and pulled it away from his chest. She raised the hand to his eye level, showing him the involuntary movements. "Your hands are shaking," She told him.
The fact that she noticed such a small detail—it made his heart forget its normal rhythm.
The incessant thumping caused Ren to snatch his hand away. His cheeks were on fire for the umpteenth time that night. "It's…only because it's so cold out here!" He sputtered out while turning his head away.
"Hmmm?" Kagome hummed while leaning closer to look at his face. "That's the answer that you wanna go with?" She questioned. Ren felt more blood rushing to his face from the close proximity with the girl. Her skeptical expression was too cute to be legal.
Ren huffed, feeling humiliated when he spotted Bason. His spirit had created a distance between them in order to spectate the exchange without interfering. The armor-clad warrior gave his partner a thumbs-up from behind a tree. "Just drop it already," the boy huffed.
"Fine, if you don't want to talk about it then I won't force you," Kagome conceded while settling for leaning against the gate next to him. With her hands cupped behind her back, her left elbow ended up poking Ren in his side.
"Like you could," He scoffed. A smirk spread across his face when he felt Kagome twitch, surely irked by the arrogant response.
"Hmph, I'm pretty sure I could get you to do anything that I want you to do," The priestess challenged, her tone unexpectedly haughty.
This time it was Ren's turn to throw Kagome a skeptical look. In theory, she wasn't wrong. He would do anything for her. But there was no way that she realized that. "Oh, yeah?" He raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure?"
Kagome turned a playful smile to him while raising her pointer finger, "I know your secret and I'm not afraid to spill it, chi-bi-kun~"
Ren was quick to reach for the soft flesh of her cheek and pull it in punishment, "Looks like I'll have to shut you up then." It was then that he finally noticed the hand that she kept behind her back since she came outside. In the darkness, he could not make out the object but her fingers were definitely wrapped around it tightly.
The Tao released the priestess from her punishment, but not without asking with a raised brow, "Just what are you up to?"
Kagome scowled at him as she rubbed her slightly reddened cheek. "Nothing, I just wanted to give you something," She answered as she finally raised her hidden hand. To Ren's surprise, it was a simple cellophane bag of cookies. "They're for you," her tone was so casual that it was sweet. The Tao was silent, his face unreadable as he took the bag from her hands. "I hope you like them~ I baked them myself," The priestess said, her face beaming with pride.
Ren's face then became deadpanned, "Okay. What do you want?"
"Hey!" Kagome scoffed indignantly, half turning to glare at the boy. Her hands formed small fists as she protested, "Tao Ren, what is that supposed to mean?!"
"Kidding," his amused smirk did not fade even when the girl pushed his shoulder.
"Anyway," Kagome was quick to get back on topic. "It's not much, but...I wanted to say 'thank you'," She explained. "Back when I was fighting Koga-kun—"
Ren openly grimaced, "Koga-kun?" The Tao's stare was half disgusted, half incredulous.
"Oh, shut up," The priestess hissed while lightly back-handing his shoulder. She lightly cleared her throat, "Back when I was fighting Koga-kun, you saw it, right…? How I...blanked out? It's like my mind completely disconnected from my body."
"...I saw," Ren's voice was lower than normal. His tone strained to sound calm. But thinking about the way Koga treated her during that fight was enough to make his blood boil beneath his skin. He took the quietest deep breath that he could manage. The last thing that he needed was for the priestess to worry about him again.
"Well, some time ago, there were some humans that treated me pretty badly," Kagome stated, but she chose not to dwell on the topic. She knew of Ren's limited patience when it came to ordinary humans. "Koga-kun reminded me of that. When I came to Tokyo, I chose to start over and ignore my past. But it looks like running away was only avoiding the problem. The smallest trigger dragged me back." She then fell silent for a moment.
Ren was unsure of what face he was making. He wanted to be his usual self and listen to her calmly. But his recollection of how she reacted to the word "monster" told that she was put through hell. It was unforgivable...
"But…" Kagome's voice was suddenly in a whisper. It was so soft that it took him by surprise. The burning beneath his skin instantly cooled down and was replaced with a familiar tingle.
Ren felt nothing but vulnerability when the priestess' arms snaked around his frame. Had it been anyone but Kagome embracing him, he would have easily pushed them away. But it was because this was Kagome that he could not. Her head rested on his shoulder. "But, I heard a voice call out to me. He called me out for getting caught up in the past, but also…"
The girl's hold on him became firmer, and consequently, more addicting, "He reminded me that I'm not alone anymore. He pulled me out of the dark and brought me somewhere beautiful... That voice…"
Ren's heart almost stopped.
"...it was you," Kagome stated. No questions, just certainty and a gentleness that Ren could not fathom being reserved for him. "So thank you." Just as suddenly as the moment began, it ended. The priestess pulled away, taking her warmth and even more of his heart with her.
"Tch," The Tao's nonchalant tone downplayed the flips in his stomach. "You don't have to thank me for something like that. It's what I'm here fo—" Kagome's surprised expression made him flinch and realize his slipup. "I-I mean…!" The blood rushed to Ren's face.
It was then that he spotted Jun and Sango spying out behind a tree with Bason. Jun hid a cat-like smile behind her hand while Sango rubbed her chin, looking rather impressed. Ren stiffened, his face flowing deep red from embarrassment. 'T-Those morons…!'
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Ren knew that he was clinging to false hope and delusions, but his mind could not stop repeating the moment that he slipped up. The way that Kagome's surprised expression melted into a tender smile was stuck in his mind. He solemnly stared out at the blurs of the city, the colors distorted by the dark tint of the window. Even with the magnificent glow of the moon above, all he could see was Kagome's face beaming at him.
[ "That voice...it was you. So thank you." ]
It was then that he was reminded of the bag of cookies that he was unconsciously gripping tightly. He steadied the bag in his lap and stared down at the gift. Leave it to Kagome to go out of her way to tie a bow with a ribbon rather than just settle for a twist-tie. Still, the gesture made the Tao crack a smile. He pinched two fingers at the end of the ribbon and gingerly pulled it until it unraveled. While enchanted by the allure of Kagome's gift, Ren was blind to the pairs of eyes that watched him intently from the other rows of seats.
The Tao plucked a cookie and held it up for studying. It was circular and golden-brown in color. The middle of the confection concaved into a depression that was filled with a sticky, deep red substance. Without hesitation, Ren bit it in half. It was crumbly but soft, the cookie itself was buttery and salty, but complemented by the sweet, stickiness of the strawberry jam center. The second bite was just as perfectly balanced.
Ren was going for a second cookie when his older sister's voice made him remember that he was not alone. "Oh, dear me~" Her faux surprise and delicacy were obvious. "He's going for seconds already?"
Sango leaned close to her older cousin and whispered aloud, "I guess love will do that to you." The young women shared teasing chuckles at Ren's expense as his heated glare was undermined by his red cheeks.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
A few days passed since Bankotsu and his brothers transferred to Shinra Academy. As expected, her school life was no longer the relaxing one that she shared with Yoh, Manta, and Anna. Both Bankotsu and Jakotsu were amongst the most outspoken people that she knew. It was admirable, but it caused the usual problems when it came to other bull-headed individuals. When Tobinari stopped Kagome in the hallway during lunch break, Bankotsu was quick to intercept the interaction.
A simple, laidback, "Oi, Kagome-chan," from spiky-haired, blond teen got her caught as she left the classroom. "Can I have a minute?" He asked her as he stopped leaning against the wall.
"Oh, Tobinari-senpai," The girl greeted, immediately recognizing the upperclassman. "Of course. What's up?" She asked, unaware of how Manta and Yoh's draw dropped when they entered the hall and recognized who she was speaking to.
Bankotsu's eyebrow raised at their reactions. "Yo, who's that guy?" He questioned.
Hearts appeared in Jakotsu's eyes as he cupped his hands, "Yes~ I must know~!"
"T-that's an upperclassman, Tobinari!" Manta answered with a shaky finger. "He used to be a delinquent who beat people up until Yoh-kun defeated him with the spirit of his boxing master!"
Yoh scratched the back of his head as he admitted, "Yeah, I forgot all about him." He grinned shamelessly when Manta sputtered a 'How could you forget someone who pummeled your face into oblivion?!' in the background.
"I'm going to box in a professional tournament so…" Tobinari reached into his bag and pulled out three slips of paper. "I want you to come watch me, you can even bring your—"
Bankotsu casually walked towards the pair and slunk his arm around Kagome's shoulder. A large grin appeared on his face, "Yeah, don't bother, buddy. If you want a date with Kagome, you'll have to get in line."
"Eh? Ban-kun, you don't have to be so mean about it. And don't go deciding things for me!" Kagome chastised as Bankotsu led her towards their lockers. She looked over her shoulder at Tobinari, who looked dumbfounded. She mouthed an apology to the older teen, but proceeded about her day.
Jakotsu also got into spats with Anna over Yoh often. Whenever Anna expressed disgust over his open fawning over the Asakura, Jakotsu would counter with something along the lines of "Oho? And just what are you to my Yoh-chan~?"
Kagome found it curious but unnerving how Anna never answered the question. She used to boast about being Yoh's intended whenever the opportunity arose. But with the new additions to the household and the frequent visits from others, she never found a good opportunity to talk to the itako privately.
It was nearing the end of the first week of schooling with Bankotsu and Jakotsu again. Under normal circumstances, Kagome would have been studying or preparing for the next day at 9:00 P.M. on a school night, but tonight was not a normal one. The time of her third preliminary match of the Shaman Fights in Tokyo was approaching.
After giving Yoh a disadvantage against Faust VIII by making a graveyard their match venue, Kagome thought that the Great Spirit was a mysterious entity. But after arriving at the location of her third match, the priestess could not help but question the Spirit's sanity. "I never would have guessed that my first visit to Chingo-do would be for a Shaman Fight," Kagome stated as she and her friends looked and poked around the small temple.
"Chingo-do," Manta chimed as he opened his encyclopedia and read the entry. "A shrine dedicated to tanuki. For this reason, it is often called Otanuki-sama. It is said that praying here protects one from fire, theft, and helps in the recovery of lost possessions." He closed his book and paled when he met a tanuki statue face-to-face. "These things are kinda creepy…"
"I don't know, Manta-san," Pirika smiled as she patted another statue on the head. "I think they're kinda cute~ Like the Koropokkuru~"
"I agree with Manty!" Jakotsu pouted before looking at Yoh with sparkling eyes that made the brunette gulp. "This place gives me the chills! Yoh-chan, won't you protect me?!" He then dove for Yoh, his arms stretched out wide to wrap him within another hug.
Yoh sighed in relief when Anna promptly snatched Jakotsu away, glaring at him sternly. "After what I saw you can do, the only scary creature here is you," the blond girl stated.
Kagome sweatdropped when she heard Jakotsu's cry of, "What?! How dare you say such things about beautiful, dainty me?! This is why I despise women!" Mixing Anna with Bankotsu and Jakotsu seemed to be a recipe for squabbling, which always ended in Anna's favor as she was not afraid to inflict pain upon anyone who got on her nerves.
At the opposite end of the shrine, Jun and Sango were reading the historical posts about the shrine's origins and purpose. HoroHoro and Ryu accompanied the girls. They were participating in the experience, stealing glances at Sango, and exchanging glares that made sparks fly.
Bankotsu, who had been trailing behind Kagome everywhere she went, raised an eyebrow when he spotted Ren walking towards them from his peripheral. The Tao's cheeks were burning as he marched robotically towards the priestess. 'Just what are you up to?' He wondered when the golden-eyed boy stopped just short of Kagome.
The girl stopped bending over to admire the detailed craftsmanship of a statue. She blinked and asked casually, "Hey, Ren. What's up?" She blinked again when he raised a fist to her, in its grip was a familiar red ribbon.
"A-about the cookies…" Ren began, his voice came out as a shaky whisper. Kagome nodded, indicating that she was listening. He now had the girl's undivided attention—something that he craved but feared all the same. He felt like he could not trust his voice or face. Thanks to his sister and cousin, he worked up the nerve to approach her after mulling over it for days.
But now that Ren was face-to-face with Kagome, he was about to lose it all.
"Oh," Kagome smiled, recognizing the ribbon. She held cupped hands below his fist, and allowed the freed strip of fabric to gently fall into her grasp. "Did you like them?" She asked as the Tao's arm fell back to his side.
Now was his chance. Ren could prove to himself that he could make her smile. His pursed, trembling lips opened—.
Suddenly, the night air shifted as a new presence seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Kagome gasped as she turned around. Across the courtyard, a mysterious figure shrouded in the darkness of the night sat cross-legged in front of a statue of Jizo. "Good evening to you all," a young man's voice greeted them as he picked himself off the ground.
The figure stepped out of the shadows and into the light of the moon, revealing a handsome young man with a head of raven hair and dark, stormy eyes. To everyone's surprise, he was dressed in traditional purple and black Buddhist monk robes complete with a wooden staff in hand. Manta cracked a twitching smile to break the sudden tension in the air, "Actually, it's early morning so your greeting should have been—"
The monk looked at the small teen and blinked, his voice bewildered as he said, "Ah, I didn't expect to meet a Koropokkuru here in Tokyo."
Manta's jaw dropped as he turned into stone. The stunned teen's reaction made the monk smirk, cluing that he intentionally teased him.
"There, there, Manta-san…" Pirika said in a comforting tone as she and Kororo patted his shoulders and head.
Kagome eyed the stranger as he casually strolled over to her. His body language was relaxed and passive, as if he were approaching a long-time friend. "You must be Takinawa Miroku-san," the priestess said when he stopped in front of her, the golden hoops of staff jingling as he did so.
"Indeed, I am," the monk confirmed. Ren and Bankotsu did not miss the supposed monk's appreciative gazes at Kagome's generous proportions. Her curves were accentuated by her qipao, but made no difference in their eyes. "And you must be Higurashi Kagome-sama," he said before bowing his head respectfully.
"Kagome…" the girl blinked. "Sama…?"
Her questioning gaze made Miroku realize his slip of the tongue. "Ah, forgive me," He scratched the back of his head and gave her an embarrassed smile. "I could sense your great spiritual power and assumed you to be a holy person like myself."
Truthfully, the monk was used to referring to the girl in a respectful way long before they had met. Upon learning the identity of the person that caught Hao's eye, Miroku immediately took to dubbing her as such.
Kagome nodded affirmatively, seeming to have accepted his lie.
Suddenly, she found herself shoulder to shoulder with Ren. "Hey…" He whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. "Don't let your guard down around this guy," he warned her.
Miroku smirked, having overheard the Tao. The monk then stepped forward. In one swift movement, he pulled Kagome away from Ren and pulled her close to his side. When her eyes rose to question him, he smiled amicably, "Well, we still have a couple of minutes before the fight so why don't we get to know each other better? Let's go chat by Jizo-sama over there."
Bankotsu's eyes narrowed as Miroku began to lead Kagome away. "Can't trust that guy."
"Agreed," Ren concurred as they watched the backs of the priestess and monk.
Not a moment later, Miroku justified their suspicions. The arm around Kagome's shoulder went on the move. His hand slid down her arm to her waist before resting on the girl's rump. "I must say, Kagome-sama, you are quite fit," He stated nonchalantly while beaming at the girl's mortified face as she released a shocked shriek.
Before the monk could even blink, the peace of the small shrine exploded as they were surrounded by the other teens. Jun, Sango, and Pirika were giving him outraged, disapproving glares. Miroku smiled sheepishly, sweating profusely as he raised his hands defensively, "F-forgive me. I only meant to pay Kagome-sama a compliment," he swallowed a lump in his throat as the tips of Ren's kwandao and Bankotsu's Banryuu pressed against his jugular.
"You're disgusting," Ren spat out venomously, adding more pressure and drawing a thin line of blood. "If you think you can just—"
"If I don't get to grope my Kagome, then no one does!" Bankotsu shouted over the Tao.
HoroHoro shook his head while looking up at Ryu, "Not even you would stoop that low."
Ryu gave deep, slow nods of agreement as he said, "Yes, not even I would sto—." He then paused as he realized the implications.
"Here's an idea," Ren proposed without retracting his weapon. "If this guy dies right now, then Kagome wins the Shaman Fight, right?" He looked over his shoulder, unsurprised that the priestess was being consoled in Yoh's arm, her face teary-eyed face in his chest. The Asakura rubbed her back in one hand and pointed his sword at Miroku with the other.
The Asakura nodded in agreement, "Kagome's been through enough tonight."
Miroku stiffened when Ren's and Bankotsu's sharp glares pierced through him. The simultaneous chime of his and Kagome's oracle bells was his saving grace. The monk's smile was still nervous as he reasoned, "Hear that? If you hurt me now, then Kagome-sama will lose her Shaman Fight."
Ren looked irritated, but he lowered his weapon regardless. "I don't like it as much as you do, but do it for Kagome's sake," Bankotsu told him as he ushered Ren and the other stragglers away from the scene.
"I won't go easy on you after that stunt!" Kagome warned as she and Miroku watched each other. Despite the nervous vibes that he was emitting moments before the match began, the monk suddenly took on a serious persona. His eyes became sharper and more focused. The priestess thought to herself, 'His staff is probably his weapon. I didn't feel anything hidden beneath his robes earlier, but I can't rule out that possibility.'
"Honestly, I have mixed feelings on fighting a lady," Miroku replied as he banged the bottom of his staff on the ground. Its bangles jingled as they bounced in response. Kagome's eyes widened when two demonic presences appeared in response. In pops of smoke, they appeared floating at Miroku's sides. One was a heavy-set tanuki demon in an outdated Japanese outfit. The other was the fox demon whose presence confused everyone.
"Shippo-chan?!" Kagome asked, she then looked back at Miroku as she pieced things together. "If you two are together, then that means—!" The priestess noticed the shame and hesitance on Shippo's face.
"Ahhh, so this is the girl he was talking about," The tanuki said while lifting a paw to his mouth.
"Enough talk," Miroku interrupted as he held his staff out horizontally. "Hachi, Shippo—into the staff!" The spirits nodded in unison. Hachi's form turned into bright yellow energy that shot into the apex of the staff while Shippo turned into green energy and entered the opposite end.
Kagome drew the sword at her hip, "Sesshomaru, into Tenseiga!"
'Ah, the Tenseiga…' Miroku took note of the otherworldly aura being emitted from the sword. 'One stroke of its divine powers will be enough to banish both Shippo and Hachi to hell.'
'Sesshomaru, shall we test the waters with this guy?' Kagome thought to her spirit as she got into an offensive stance. 'Shippo-chan and the tanuki aren't as powerful as you.'
'A frontal assault from the start? Very well, priestess,' the demon lord responded.
'That's right,' Kagome told herself as she shot at the monk and made a wide-swing at him. Miroku smirked and effortlessly leaned back to evade the blade. He responded with a thrust of his staff's tip at the girl's ribs. She too dodged it. 'As long as Sesshomaru is with me, there is nothing to fear.'
Meanwhile, Kagome's vast supporters observed the match from the far edges of the shrine. Pirika shot a fist into the air when Tenseiga met Miroku's staff. "Yeah, get him, Kagome-neechan!"
Bankotsu snuck at a peek down at the girl and cracked a smile.
Jun smiled from behind her hand and said, "Our Kagome will make quick work of that pervert with Tenseiga." Her smile then became more cruel as she muttered, "It'll serve him right for violating her chastity."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Sango stated. While she was impressed at the speed and precision behind Kagome's attacks, she knew that the match would not be so simple. Kagome was not faltering, but something was off. She unleashed a flurry of swings at Miroku, who continued smirking confidently as he parried each one.
White hot energy exploded each time the sword and staff met.
"What do you mean by that?" Pirika blinked. She felt left out. Only she and Manta did not sport serious expressions on their faces. She looked back at Kagome and Miroku. The monk stopped a downward slash from Tenseiga but was sent skidding backwards. With no traction from his sandals, he struggled to keep his footing.
Kagome's eyes narrowed before she charged Miroku. The monk was not worried though. He simply rotated his staff and greeted her attack with the glowing green end. As he expected, the priestess grunted and redirected her assault to his chest.
The girl's reaction proved an unspoken hypothesis correct. Miroku's gamble paid off.
The blade slashed him directly across the torso, but he felt no pain nor lacerations.
The monk smirked at the window of opportunity.
Kagome felt a frightening crunch when Miroku's staff collided with the bottom of her chin. Her eyes widened. Her coppery blood saturated her mouth as she bit her tongue.
"Kagome-chan!" Manta called out as the girl staggered backward. The confidence that he once felt was instantly replaced with concern. The priestess fell to her butt and Miroku quickly followed up. He swung the yellow-end of his staff at the girl.
She raised a glowing Tenseiga in response. The monk expertly twirled the staff in his hand mid-swing. With the green-glowing end approaching, Kagome changed tactics and rolled out of the way.
Bankotsu sighed deeply before facepalming. "My Kagome might be too big-hearted for the Shaman Fights," He pointed out, his face in a usual state of worry. "People like this Miroku guy will just keep taking advantage of her."
"Ban-san, what do you mean by that?" Pirika asked. "No one is telling me anything."
"Hmph, it's because of the fox child," Ren stated bluntly. "The monk knows that Kagome has a soft spot for him so he's been using him as a shield."
You nodded and elaborated, "The tanuki is the offense and the fox is the defense, or rather a scapegoat. If Kagome even raises Tenseiga, he uses Shippo to throw her off."
Manta's eyes widened in realization, thinking back to how many perfect attacks were forced to a halt. "With the power of Tenseiga, Kagome-chan should win easily in theory...but as long as Miroku-san uses Shippo-chan against her—"
"—she cannot unleash its true power," Amidamaru concluded.
"T-That bow of hers!" Pirika suddenly shouted. "She can use that bow of hers! If she uses it...then she won't have to worry about hurting Shippo-chan, right?!"
"...the trick would be to create enough distance to draw it out," Anna whispered.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Unbeknownst to Kagome and her friends, the Shaman Fight was not only being observed by an administrator, but Hao and Opacho as well. The pair found a sufficient vantage point in the top branches of a towering tree. "Hao-sama," the child said from his side. "Will Shippo be alright? Kagome-sama has that powerful weapon."
Hao found himself smiling at the question. He placed a hand on the girl's head then gave it a few pats. "You needn't worry about him," He reassured her. "Kagome seems especially fond of Shippo so I'm sure he'll be fine."
Kagome was back on her feet, deflecting Miroku's attacks with the hilt of her sword. She appeared understandably agitated by her circumstances. Hao sat cross-legged on a thick branch. He propped up an elbow as his eyes gladly took in the girl's every move. "More importantly, I want to see how far Miroku can push her limits." He then plucked a single, dry leave from the bare branches. He whispered a message to the leaf and then willed the wind to carry it away.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
[ "Miroku, it's about time to make things interesting." ]
Hao's voice whispered to the monk as a stray, autumn leave blew by. "Right," Miroku murmured with a subtle nod that only Kagome picked up on. "Kagome-sama, forgive me but I'm bored of this game," he told the girl.
'Priestess, patch your bleeding heart or this fight will drag out,' Sesshomaru said from within Tenseiga. As he expected, his partner shook her head negatively.
"I know that I can beat him…" She whispered. "But...Shippo-chan might get caught in the crossfire. And I couldn't bear that," the girl admitted.
'If you refuse to use Tenseiga properly then you must rely on your natural gifts,' he then advised.
"Understood," Kagome responded. The moment that Miroku closed his eyes to concentrate, she took the opportunity to sheathe Tenseiga. "Take heed: Crescent!" She commanded. Her golden bow answered her call and appeared in her outstretched hand. She leaped back as far as she could and drew back her hand.
"Finally!" Pirika cheered, "She can use her bow and win!" The Usui was smiling from ear to ear as a shining blue arrow appeared in Kagome's hand.
"What the—?!" HoroHoro gaped the burst of blue energy that Kagome released. The light illuminated the surrounding area like the tail of a comet. "When did Kagome-chan become so powerful?!" He questioned while looking at Yoh.
The question broke Yoh's solemn expression. The Asakura's lips became a smile as he answered, "Kagome has always been strong. She's only just discovered it for herself."
"Says the first one to fly to her rescue if she scrapes a knee," Anna remarked sharply, making Yoh twitch and HoroHoro and Ryu snicker.
Meanwhile, Kagome's arrow flew bright and true.
'What the…?' she thought, feeling bewildered when the monk stood perfectly still. Instead of making a move to evade the arrow, he faced it head-on. A faint smirk was on his face. Just before the energy could reach him, Miroku extended his arm, pointing the tip of his staff outward.
"Kazaana!" He called out as a black hole appeared between the energy and himself.
Many sets of eyes widened as the arrow was absorbed into the hole. A second later, the hole disappeared, leaving Kagome stunned and Miroku confident. "You see, Kagome-chan, I'm no ordinary monk," he told the girl.
"I could tell from the moment that you summoned two demons to aid you," Kagome responded. "That technique of yours though...it's still unreal," she admitted. This was the first time that the priestess felt concerned about the outcome of the match.
"It must come as a shock to you all," Miroku said as he looked at the stunned and concerned faces of Kagome's companions. "I assume that most people would fear such a powerful attack…" He then jingled his staff and continued speaking, "However, my Kazaana has the ability to absorb any Furyoku, including your sacred energy."
"Oh yeah? Let's see about that!" Kagome challenged while quickly firing another blast at the monk, this one larger and faster than the last. The sheer power behind it blew everyone's hair in its wake.
"Foolish," Miroku muttered before extending his staff once again. "Kazaana!" He shouted, willing the black hole to appear. "Hmph, is this amusing enough for you, Hao-sama?" he whispered to his master as Kagome's energy was absorbed into the raging void.
'Okay, so that's just a waste of Furyoku,' She confirmed with a scowl. 'There has to be some way to get through that technique… Think, Kagome!' She yelled out mentally. Her eyes darted between Miroku's body parts and weapon, searching for a hint about his weakness.
The priestess did not have a poker face, her internal distress was displayed openly. Miroku wondered what it was that Hao liked about the girl so much. Sure, she promised to grow into quite the beauty, but Hao was easily just as striking. The monk could also sense the great power within the girl, but his master was in no need of such a powerful partner. Miroku then mentally kicked himself when he realized that Hao could probably hear his doubts.
'Kagome-sama, show me what makes you stand out so much,' Miroku thought to the girl. He began twirling his staff in one hand and announced, "Kagome-sama, there's one more thing that you should know about my Kazaana…"
The staff's rotations accelerated until it reached a speed where the motions blended into each other, resembling the blur of an electric fan's spinning blades. "...no way..." Kagome whispered to herself as she recognized the blue energy that gathered in front of the staff. "That's my…" A blue orb the size of a baseball floated in front of the monk.
"Once it absorbs Furyoku," Miroku continued before shooting a ray of energy at the girl. "It becomes my own to use!"
Kagome screamed before sidestepping the energy. Her head naturally followed the path of the energy. "You guys!" She called out as it raced towards the spectators. Even with the shamans getting into defensive positions, the girl quickly willed a barrier to shield them.
Pirika and Manta flinched instinctively. The blunette girl covered her ears as the blond boy covered his eyes. They breathed heavy sighs when the energy dissipated upon colliding with the barrier.
The priestess then glared at the monk and called out, "You're really starting to get on my nerves, ya know!" It was almost comical how she shook her tiny fists across the way.
"I'm flattered that you still have some patience left for me," Miroku answered before firing a series of blue beams at the girl. 'Let's see how you handle multiple attacks at once.'
Kagome grunted at the barrage of energy rocketing towards her. She raised the Crescent and fired multiple arrows back at once. The streaks of light met in miniature explosions. 'Sesshomaru, what should I do?!' She asked of the spirit.
'Use the Tenseiga to claim victory,' Was his simple answer that she anticipated.
'You know that I can't do that…!' She thought to her partner. Kagome almost sighed in relief when Miroku ran out of his reserve of absorbed energy. She looked at the staff, it still glowed at each end. 'Actually...I have a plan. Let's just hope that I can pull off the timing.'
The priestess smiled at Sesshomaru's answer, 'You can.'
"Another sacred arrow?" Miroku raised an eyebrow when the priestess lifted her bow once again. This time, Kagome appeared more steady and focused. 'What makes this one any different?' he wondered as the priestess created another blue arrow. 'No matter… The Kazaana will not fail.'
Suddenly, the priestess spun around. She faced the opposite direction as she fired the arrow. Collective gasps resounded as the energy shot towards the spectators.
A barrier quickly appeared in front of them. The beam bounced off the barrier back at Kagome, propelling the girl forward as she quickly drew Tenseiga. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaa!" She cried as she shot towards Miroku, her sword glowing with its heavenly aura. "Moonlight Slash!" A calculated swing of the blade slashed through the glowing yellow top of Miroku's staff.
"She did it!" Manta and Pirika cheered in unison, the girl wrapped her arms around Bankotsu's waist.
"Not quite," Bankotsu quickly corrected them, his eyes never leaving the fight.
Kagome felt her blood run cold when Miroku's staff disappeared with a puff of smoke. The weapon was replaced with a log that fell to the ground. She could feel the monk's triumphant smirk. 'Dammit…!' She cursed moments before she felt the tip of the staff jab her in the back.
The girl found herself paralyzed as the Kazaana appeared. To her surprise, she was not sucked inside of the void. Instead, she was left frozen in place as she felt her energy leaving her body at a frightening speed. "Did I fail to mention that I can take the Furyoku directly from your body as well?" The monk asked.
"It can't be!" Manta panicked from the sideline. He fiercely tugged at his hair as he screamed, "Kagome-chan can't lose to that perverted monk!"
"I don't want to think that way, but…" A bead of sweat ran down Ryu's forehead. "How can anyone beat a technique like that one? It's insanely powerful."
"...Kagome will win," Yoh suddenly spoke up. He gave the surprised faces a relaxed, reassuring smile. "It's easy to worry when it looks like there's no hope," He explained in a calm voice. "But Kagome...she's grown so much. Even when you don't see any hope for her, remember that Kagome's true strength comes from within…" Anna's teeth clenched at his words, her hands becoming tight fists at her sides. "She is hope itself."
The brunette then looked at Ren and Bankotsu, both smirked and nodded wordlessly.
Meanwhile, Miroku wore a sadistic, satisfied smile as he drained Kagome of her Furyoku. 'I'll admit, it's taking a lot longer than it ever has. But there's no way that she has much left.' The girl collapsed to her knees, gasping for air as she could finally breathe again. 'There it is… This fight is mine,' the monk thought as he allowed the Kazaana to disappear.
Using the technique repeatedly was taxing on his own Furyoku.
'Priestess, we cannot lose this fight,' came Sesshomaru's voice. 'End this quickly.'
Kagome panted and nodded. She looked up at Miroku's calm face. It was obvious that he no longer counted her as a threat, if he ever did. Hachi's end of Miroku's staff was aimed at her face, stopping just shy of her nose. "Kagome-sama, it was fun, but I'm afraid that this match has already been decided," the monk stated.
"You're right…" She replied. The monk's eyes widened when the girl suddenly grabbed his staff. Her small hand grasped Hachi's end. Kagome gave him a strained smile before informing him, "You just placed a demon in front of a priestess."
In that moment, Miroku realized his own arrogance, and cursed himself for it.
The priestess gripped the tip and unleashed an influx of pure energy into the staff. Sparkling blue energy crackled like lightning as a pained cry resounded from within. Not a second later, the tanuki demon fled the staff. He fell to his knees, burying his face respectfully into the ground. "P-please forgive me, Kagome-sama!"
Shippo quickly followed his example and fled the staff. He gulped, feeling frightened of being within close proximity of the priestess' powers. The monk's eyebrow twitched at the tanuki's groveling. He stepped on the back of his head and chastised, "I know that we lost but have some pride, would you?"
Kagome shook her head. The monk gaped when the girl picked herself off the ground and dusted herself off. 'What on Earth?! How does she have enough energy to move like that?!' He wondered silently. Miroku's lips tightened. He was sure that he drained enough Furyoku to have exhausted at least three average shamans.
The priestess smiled as she heard a chorus of her name from across the shrine. She turned to her friends and nodded at them, feeling proud to have won a second Shaman Fight.
"You fought well, Kagome-sama," Miroku told her, giving the priestess a half-smirk and slight dip of his head. The girl gave him a courteous mark as he began walking away. With his back to the girl, he casually stated, "Hao-sama will surely be pleased."
The monk did not expect the priestess to quickly close the distance between them and be upon him within a matter of seconds. He was spun around to face her.
"So you are working with Hao!" Kagome's voice became pitchier with a surge of emotions that she tried to keep at bay. Asakura Hao—there were so many things that she wanted to ask him, but he always ended up leaving her with more questions than answers. And their encounters always ended with the priestess having a sour taste in her mouth. "Where is he?! What is he planning?!" She demanded.
Had it not been Hao's intended who roughly sunk her fingers into his robes to pull him down to her level, Miroku would have found the scenario titillating. But now was not the time for such thoughts, Kagome looked ready to rough him up for answers. And her friends followed her lead and stood not far behind her, many of them readied with weapons to back her up.
The monk gave her a nervously innocent smile while holding up hands in surrender, "Calm yourself, Kagome-sama. I am a mere peon, Hao-sama doesn't tell someone like m—"
"I don't believe you," Kagome hissed. Miroku dropped his frightened act when he felt a strange power emanate from the girl in front of him. "You know something, don't you?" Her blue-gray eye flickered like the sparking flame of a lighter. As her eyes began to glow a brilliant golden color, Miroku felt himself slipping away. "Tell me…" Her voice was mesmerizing.
"I know of Hao-sama's plans for this world, and you," Miroku answered back. The spectators looked confused but still guarded when the monk's entire demeanor changed. His expression was blank with widened but dulled eyes. He was suddenly monotone, almost robotic. "Hao-sama—"
The glow in Kagome's eyes and Miroku's eyes simultaneously returned to normal as a familiar voice suddenly spoke, "My, my~ Kagome, if you want me so badly, then all you have to do is call on me."
The priestess and monk blinked when they came to reality. Kagome released Miroku, causing him to stumble backward before righting himself. He straightened his robes then took a few steps back as Hao stepped forward, taking his spot in front of Kagome.
Meanwhile, Jakotsu was fanning himself at the sight of the mysterious boy whose face was identical to Yoh's. "That one right there! He's like a wild version of my Yoh-chan~!" He blinked when suddenly Yoh, Bankotsu, and Ren dashed by him. Jakotsu's hair and skirt were blown out of place by the violent gust of wind that trailed behind them.
"Asakura Hao!" "Hao!" "Get away from her!" Ren, Yoh, and Bankotsu shouted respectively as they charged their target.
To Kagome, it happened in slow motion. The three shamans had their weapons positioned, cornering Hao from the left, right, and behind. But instead of appearing worried, Hao's gregarious smile never faded. "How small..." He did not even bother to face them as they unleashed their glowing weapons.
Instead, a convex-shaped shield of flames caught their attacks. The three cursed as they were held in place by the barrier, unable to break their weapons free. "Dammit! ...why is he so strong?!" Bankotsu growled as he tried to yank Banryuu away from the force that held it firmly in place.
"K-Kagome…" Yoh grunted as he refused to give up on Harusame. "G-Get away from him!"
Kagome was silent, her mouth ajar as she witnessed what could have not been reality. Asakura Hao singlehandedly had three of the strongest shamans that she knew immobilized.
Ren glared at her from Hao's right, he growled, "What are you waiting for, idiot?! Fall back!"
Kagome snapped back to reality. She shook her head and glared at Hao, "Let them go!"
Hao closed his eyes and conceded, "As you wish."
The flames roared and flared, sending the three shamans flying across the shrine in different directions. "Ban-san!" Pirika cried out as his back skidded across the ground.
The battle cries of three more voices made Hao chuckle. "How small…" he whispered as an invisible force prevented Sango's searing Hiraikotsu from bludgeoning him from above. A barrage of icicles dissolved into steam just shy of the shaman.
Ryu grunted when his barrage of ghostly snakes was absorbed into thin air. "This guy is even stronger than the last one…!"
Sango nodded as her weapon did not return to her, "We've got to get Kagome-chan and Kirara out of there, but there's no safe way to approach him without knowing the source of his power."
"The source of his power is irrelevant," Anna stated from her spot near Pirika and Jun. "The fact is that there is only one person whose power rivals his. And that person is…" her eyes narrowed as she watched the priestess. "Higurashi...Kagome."
Hao spoke loud enough for all within the vicinity to hear. His sanguine overtone did not mask the venom dripping behind his words. "I understand that you all are concerned for Kagome's wellbeing. But don't fret," Hao raised a gloved hand and brushed his fingertips against the priestess' cheek. "I'd never harm my Shaman Queen."
The shaman only chuckled when Kagome's hand shot up like a viper, slapping his away with a sharp sting. "Hao, if you hurt my friends, I'll never forgive you," The girl warned, her glare intense.
"Why, Kagome, you wound me," Hao smiled as his hand lightly clutched his chest. "I only came here because you wanted me to," he stated. It was even a delight for the splendid creature before him to glower at him. "So, what is it that you want from me?"
Kagome's body stayed rigged, on alert as she bluntly stated, "Shippo-chan. I want Shippo-chan." The sound of his name coming from the priestess' mouth made the fox child timidly peer at her from behind Miroku's shoulder.
"My apologies, Kagome-sama," Miroku spoke up from behind his master. "But this spirit is a gif— The monk was silenced by a hand signal from Hao.
"Oh? And why are you so interested in such a weak spirit?" Hao questioned in a curious tone as he nodded to the demon lord next to Kagome. "You have a top tier spirit on your side, after all."
"Shippo-chan," Kagome made eye contact with the child. "You're not happy with them, right?" Forest green eyes widened at the question. "I could feel it, you didn't want to fight me either," the priestess said.
Ren bit back a pained groan as he finally pushed himself off of the ground. He spotted Kagome standing in the same spot as before. "What is that idiot doing…?!" He whispered harshly through clenched teeth.
Similarly, Yoh and Bankotsu slowly picked themselves off the ground, using their blades as support. "Kagome…" Yoh whispered as he watched the girl from afar. His steps were staggered but he willed himself to limp towards the pair.
Kagome extended her hand in the fox's direction, "If you want, you can join me."
Shippo was silent as his eyes glossed over. The soft, kind look on the girl's face became the spitting image of his Kagome. In his eyes, Kagome flickered between her qipao and a green and white sailor uniform. Behind her, he could see Sango in her kimono, an older Miroku, and—. He raised his tiny hand reaching for the girl. 'Kagome…' Only his mind could speak out as his voice was lost in the moment.
Hao's voice cut through the mirage. "Ahhhh, I see…" The shaman looked over his shoulder at Miroku. "You heard the lady. If you'd prefer to be Kagome's spirit, then you're welcome to leave." The way Shippo trembled beneath his gaze made him smirk. "No need to be frightened. There will be no repercussions, it's a request from my Queen after all."
'H-He says that but…' Shippo saw what frightening acts Hao was capable of. 'Still...Kagome is calling to me!' The little demon hopped off of Miroku's shoulder. His float to Kagome's side was slow and deliberate as he cautiously eyed Hao along the way. The child passed Kagome. He only felt safe behind the safety of Sesshomaru's leg.
The demon stood several meters behind his partner, silently watching Hao and trying to scope out the source of the immense power that loomed in the air as an unspoken warning.
"You see?" Hao asked as he felt the slow approach of Yoh, Ren, and Bankotsu. "I'm a reasonable person. So, how about you return the favor and grant me a request?" Kagome took a step back after he took a step towards her. Her hand hovered the hilt of her sword.
"It depends on what it is," Kagome eyed him like a hawk, watching for the smallest sign of aggression. He took another step forward, but his face remained fixed with a smile.
Hao ignored the threats and warnings thrown at him from the three approaching shamans. Instead, he continued engaging the priestess, "It's simple. There's something that I'd like to show you." He lifted his arm and extended his hand towards Kagome. "All you have to do is come with me, Kagome."
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he raised his arm to reveal his claws. His knuckles cracked. The demon lord's dash was blurred in a streak of whites and blues.
"You…" His voice lowered with a snarl as his attack was intercepted by a larger, clawed-hand. His cold, golden eyes did not hide his pure detestation for the glowing red spirit that separated him from Kagome. He was not intimidated by the figure that towered above three meters. "Stand aside." He swiped his other hand at the spirit's neck, only to be deflected once again.
"Sesshomaru!" She called his name, concern overcame her being when Sesshomaru and the red spirit took to the skies. 'That spirit of his...it isn't normal!'
Hao's amused chuckle reclaimed her attention. "You needn't worry about him," the shaman said calmly. "Spirit of Fire is just playing. I think he likes your Sesshomaru. I guarantee that no harm will befall any of your friends. Just accompany me."
He took another step towards the priestess, silently relishing in how she did not retreat in response.
A sense of dread crept down Yoh's spine as the hairs on the back of his neck raised. The color drained from his face when he saw Kagome move her hand away from Tenseiga's hilt. It slowly lifted. "Kagome…" He whispered as he limped closer to them. The sounds of Ren's and Bankotsu's screams and shouts were deafened by the bass of his own heartbeat.
Somehow, this scene looked familiar.
The déjà vu was surreal, like reliving a nightmare.
When Kagome placed her hand inside of Hao's, he immediately pulled her flush against him. The shaman smirked directly at Yoh from over Kagome's shoulder. The pair then disappeared in a burst of flames just before Ren could reach them. The tip of the Tao's finger almost brushed against Kagome's arm. His jaw clenched as his fingers grabbed onto nothing but empty air.
"Dammit… Kagome…" Ren seethed beneath his breath. "You idiot…" He glowered at his trembling palm, inwardly cursing himself for not being fast enough.
Bankotsu stabbed Banryuu into the ground, easily breaking a slit into the cement. 'Shit… She was right. The timelines don't always match up. Nothing like this ever happened before.'
'Looks like now's my chance,' Miroku thought to himself as he hunched over to make himself smaller. He began to tip-toe away from the scene, only to intercepted by Sango and Jun. Each Tao girl stood in his way, their arms crossed over their chests as they glowered at the monk.
"And just where do you think you're going, monk?" Sango questioned, her dark glare more made Miroku offer sweat.
"You seem like a talkative man, why not stay with us for a while?" Jun's scarily sweet voice sent chills down Miroku's spine. He gave her crooked smile and began to back away, only to blink when his back bumped into a rock-hard surface.
Miroku dared to peer over his shoulder, only to find the cold, stony face of Li Bailong staring down at him. He swallowed a lump in his throat as the kyonshi's cold, firm hand grasped his shoulder and gave it a bone-crunching squeeze.
Meanwhile, HoroHoro, and Ryu rushed over to "Yoh, you alright, buddy?" The blunette asked, drawing more attention to the teen, who looked stunned at what just happened. Not a second later, the Asakura collapsed to his knees, overtaken by an overwhelming feeling of nausea. One hand clutched his stomach while the other slapped over his mouth. His body trembled uncontrollably.
"Yoh-kun!" Manta called as he, Anna, and Pirika arrived at his side. "What's wrong?!"
Between his state of shock and holding back his vomit, Yoh was unable to answer. He could not shake the terrible feeling that he had. When he saw Hao's triumphant smirk, Yoh felt that Kagome was going somewhere far away—somewhere out of his reach.
A dark place where she couldn't return from.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The dark colors of the sleeping city smudged like streaks of paint as they soared through the sky. The rushing wind whipped their hair. Kagome buried her face into Hao's cloak, her eyes shut tight as she clung to him. The haste of their glide gave her a primal fright—a fear of plunging to her death. She was on a rollercoaster ride with only Hao's arms as her safety harness.
The seconds or minutes that flew by were immeasurable. While her eyes squeezed tight, Kagome could only feel the air that they tore through. It was strange. The chilly autumn air gave way to a more pleasant, warmer flow. The pitch black of her eyelids was suddenly illuminated.
A moment later, they landed with an unexpected gentleness and grace. "Huh…?" Kagome tentatively peeked one eye open. Its twin immediately joined to take in the sights.
They were standing in a land that Kagome knew not to be Japan. The sun was in the sky. The temperature was mild. To the north, south, and west, they were surrounded by platinum-colored sand. Onyx rock formations jutted from the sand and glistened like silver. Shady oases of exotic trees with long, skinny leaves haphazardly littered the area for as far as she could see.
To the east was a breath-taking oceanic scene. The shallows were crisp and clean cerulean in color. The gentle waves rolled inwards, foaming a pristine white before reaching the shore. The air was saline and moist, but refreshingly pure. A passing breeze caressed their hair before continuing along its way.
Kagome shook her head, mentally telling herself not to get lost in the scenery. She was here on business. She looked up at the face of Hao, only to feel off-put at how he was already smiling down at her. "My, my~ You were holding on to me so tightly. We haven't even held hands yet."
It was then that Kagome looked at her hands. Her fingers were still curled around Hao's cloak. The girl looked mortified before she promptly released her grip and stepped away, but those actions only seemed to entertain Hao further. "Don't get any funny ideas, pal!" She warned, despite her flushed cheeks. "I loathe you!"
"Hmm?" With a knowing smirk, Hao gripped his chin while staring the priestess down. The girl reciprocated his stare with an intense one of her own. "Alright," he closed his eyes while reaching for the buttons on his cloak. "Let's get to it," he said casually while removing the article and allowing it to fall to the sandy ground.
"W-What do you think you're doing?!" Kagome shrieked, her cheeks bright red as her arms crossed over her chest protectively. She scuttled backward like a frightened crab, never taking her enlarged eyes off the Asakura. "I don't know what type of girl you take me for, but—!"
The perturbed priestess felt humiliated when Hao merely answered, "I was feeling a bit overdressed for the weather." His eyes then trailed down her body, sending a shiver down her spine. "You might find it more comfortable to follow my example," he noted at the pants beneath her qipao.
Kagome's face and voice deadpanned, "Pass. I'll be keeping my pants on around you. Thanks."
"What a shame~" The shaman sighed while continuing to look entertained. "Well, shall we go?" He then turned to face north and began a slow, but steady pace. Kagome quietly followed behind him, content to stare at his back from a safe distance.
Their trek across the secluded beach was oddly peaceful and uneventful. For a while, neither spoke a word, nor did they cross paths with anyone who could. There was only the occasional kiss of the wind and the disarming crashing of waves. Eventually, Kagome found herself looking out at the sea as they walked.
The priestess had to remind herself that she was here on business, not for pleasure. If she were with her friends, she would have long abandoned her shoes and ran towards the cool, blue waters. If she were with her friends, she would have the choice to unwind in the shade or have fun splashing around. But no...she was with Asakura Hao. It was just her and Hao at—.
It then dawned upon the girl that she still did not know where she was or where their final destination was. "H-hey…!" Kagome hated how nervous her voice came out. It was infuriating to think that Hao would hear it and find it amusing. The brunette walking several paces ahead did not stop, nor did he answer her verbally.
Kagome's patience for Hao was low. Once he allowed five seconds to go by without acknowledging her call, she was already fed up. "Hell-o?" I'm talking to you!" She snapped indignantly.
Again, the shaman did not respond to her voice. Kagome's teeth grounded as she growled at his cold-shoulder. She increased her pace, her stomps picking up sand into her shoes as she went. When he was within reach, the priestess slapped a hand on the brunette's bare shoulder, "Hao!" She forced him into a half-turn that halted their procession.
"That's me~" The Asakura responded jovially, his eyes were twinkling mischievously.
Kagome's eye twitched upon realizing that she played right into his hands. She ignored her misstep. "I want to know where we are, and where we're going!" She demanded as her hands settled on her hips.
"South Africa," He beamed. He then looked towards the shore and continued, "A secret spot that we can call our own, untouched by human hands." Had it been Yoh smiling so prettily for her way that this shaman did, Kagome surely would have melted on the spot.
After their previous encounters, Kagome was more than wary of Hao. Everything about him was enigmatic. Everything from his inscrutable attraction for her to the powerful aura that followed him was puzzling. There was also the darkness that he hid by a playful but secretive smile.
No. She could not let her guard down around this one, not when he effortlessly made her feel conflicted and confused. The priestess' brain told her that Hao was dangerous and not to trust him.
But there was also a small part of herself that she hated—a part that whispered that he was not her enemy.
That budding inkling began when she consumed the mysterious tonic. Ever since consuming the drink, Kagome felt a tiny yet momentous shift in her being. It was like a part of her that was lying dormant had been roused from a life-long slumber. It was this part of her that made her both fearless and foolish. It was this part of her that made her both suspicious and curious about him.
Kagome wanted to know the truth about Hao.
"And the second question?" The girl asked, her brow quirking.
"It's not much further," He assured her before continuing his leisurely. "I can feel it."
Kagome's eye twitched at the last statement, "What do you mean 'you can feel it'?!" The girl glared and lowly groaned at his back before catching up to him, "Do you even know where we're going?!"
Hao peered down at the priestess' face. She still wore the usual vexed expression that she reserved just for him. His lips curved upward, subtly. Kagome's curved downward in response. Even when she wasn't angry, her face never relaxed from being deadpanned or suspicious.
But Hao was fine with that. It was pleasing that he elicited such intense emotions from the girl.
They continued their quiet walk across the beach in silence. He could sense that she had questions for him, but was holding back. Whether it was because of the calming atmosphere or her uneasiness, he was unsure.
At times Hao would look down at Kagome's face and notice the priestess ogling the shore longingly. The way her eyes shimmered like the oceanic horizon under the sun was incredibly endearing. The fourth time that he caught the girl's eyes straying made him chuckle. She flinched the moment that he broke the silence. "You can go play in the water if you'd like. I honestly don't mind."
As he expected, Kagome looked astonished then outraged at his suggestion. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She muttered with a huff in her voice. The priestess forced herself to look ahead.
Understandably, Kagome was still guarded and on edge around Hao.
But despite all of her bluster and huffs, the priestess continued to walk at his side, not falling back or straying away. And that was more than enough for him.
It wasn't long before they veered to the east, their stroll becoming closer to the shore. The once hot, grainy sand darkened with the cool moisture of the water. Kagome found her feet sinking ever so slightly with each step that she took. Her shoes left distinct indentations as she went.
Finally, they arrived at a shallow patch of grass along the seaside. While gesturing towards the greenery with one hand, Hao announced, "We're here."
"This is it?" Kagome whispered. She crossed into the grass and proceeded to trail behind the brunette. She expected the trek to be longer, hence, her spacing out and smacking face-first into Hao's back. The priestess scowled and looked away when he turned a smirk over his shoulder. "Well, what's so special about this place anyway?"
"See for yourself," Was his simple answer. The girl huffed, seemingly fed up with him. She took a spot beside him once again before gasping softly at the sight before her.
Curious blue eyes were greeted by a stretch of flowers. Their blossoms began as funnels but delicately bloomed outward like bells and trumpets. They came in whites, pinks, purples, reds, oranges, yellows, and blues. Their colors were dispersed across the green grass like a kaleidoscope of petals. The flowers gifted her a welcoming, sweet fragrance.
"Why…" Kagome looked at Hao quizzically. For once, he did not act like she was a source of entertainment. There was no amused smile, no smirk, not even the slightest chuckle. "...did you bring me here?"
She was answered with a question.
"Why do you think…?" The shaman reached down and plucked a red flower. He lifted the double petals to his nose and inhaled the aroma.
It was at this moment that Hao could experience the senses lost to him in the dream that he had several nights ago.
Hao knew that he would not reach his true objective for bringing Kagome to this place. He would not be able to perfectly recreate the dream.
In that dream...Kagome was different. She was older, wearing traditional Shinto priestess garbs. Even when seated amongst a magnificent myriad of hues, the priestess' beauty was all that he could see. In the field of blooms, she was the centerpiece that caught his eye.
She selected a single flower and extracted it by the stem. The young woman in his dreams was smiling as she looked up at him. She offered her harvest to him. Its petals were stained red, yellow, and orange: a picturesque gradient of warm colors. Her head tilted to the side as she asked, "Hao, tell me something… Do you know the name of this flower?"
He did.
Just as he reached down to accept the gift, he awoke with the dawn. He awoke with a feeling of wanting; he wanted to replicate the dream in which he felt something more than hatred and anger.
Now here he was, days later, with the girl whose gesture moved something within him.
"Well…" Kagome pulled some hair behind her ear as she bent over to admire a flower with blue and pink petals. She hated how her blood ran to her cheeks as she thought to herself, 'Because you're trying to win me over.' The embarrassment that she felt only increased when she heard the Asakura whisper,
"So beautiful…"
Kagome aimed a glare at Hao, feeling annoyed at his nerve. Before she could open her mouth to shoot back a sarcastic reply, the shaman next to her opened his eyes and lowered the flower from his face. His smile was so serene and unassuming. "Don't you agree?"
The blood rushed to Kagome's face as she was overcome with embarrassment for her false assumption. "R-Right!" Her voice came out unintentionally shrill. "The flowers...!" She quickly added, trying to clarify and recover from her disgrace.
The girl felt herself frowning at the sound of Hao's tittering. She closed her eyes and lifted her nose higher while huffing. The saucy act left her unguarded and unprepared for the light brush of Hao's finger against her cheek. It felt like the kiss of a butterfly, a sweet touch that left her skin buzzing. "And so are you," he told her, unabashed and smooth. Her eyes snapped open, ready to warn him not to cross boundaries.
But when Kagome's head turned to look at Hao, she was met with his red flower. The bomb inside of her was defused by its velvety, crimson petals. "Tell me something, Kagome," the shaman said, without lowering his arm. "Do you know the name of this flower?"
Having studied a vast number of plants during her priestess training, Kagome nodded. The shaman's face suddenly became approving as he nodded to her. She was speechless for a moment. She looked from the burning crimson flower offered to her then back up to the shaman.
"I do…" The girl answered. Once again, she did not know what to make of the enigma known as Hao. What she learned about this flower ran through her mind.
It was a flower that bloomed in spring, commonly used in perfumes, bouquets, and weddings. White meant purity and innocence. Pink represented motherly love. Yellow symbolized happiness, friendship, or renewal. Red promised one's passion. And multiple-colored bouquets embodied friendship or said "I'm thinking of you".
Once again, an elusive part of her made Kagome's hand rise from her side. Her fingers brushed against Hao's as she reached for the offering. They quickly retracted, as if burned by his skin.
The priestess forced the hand to her chest and covered it with her other. She squeezed the hand, trying to keep it under control. A whirlwind of emotion and thoughts ran through Kagome's mind as she stared at Hao, who did not withdraw his hand.
So there she was, standing amidst a field of the flower that meant trust.
Kagome found herself answering the question in a hushed voice, "Its name is freesia."
Authoress' Notes: Okay. Fight scenes are obviously my weakness but I tried. I tried. I hope that it didn't put anyone to sleep. Hopefully to the sprinkles of RenxKag and HaoxKag will carry me to victory here! Also, I feel fortunate that the time and seasonal difference between Japan and Africa matched up perfectly for my purposes! Phew!
Now that this chapter is out, I will return to revamping the old chapters for your reading pleasure! So, it might be a long while before I update with a new chapter!
For now, let me know any of the following:
What you think of the story so far
Your plot predictions
Your favorite Kagome ship and why~
Who is best boy and why?
Who is best girl and why?