The Tsukiyomi character inspired me, how she passed on powers to Kagome and was a ghostish being. I loved it.
Zachary followed the river to a small village, and the sight of it horrified him. "I really am in the past... fuck." He whispered. "I am going to stick out and end up in a pyre... fuck me." Turning, he almost kicked something, only to stop as he realized it was a grave. Kneeling, he saw it was exactly that, a grave. He saw that it had been defiled, hatefully so, and that angered him. "I am sorry, whoever you are." And he started to tidy up the grave.
He was so distracted, he did not notice the being that floated nearby. Literally so, in fact... "Do not follow me into death, little one."
He jumped, turning to see a woman with kind eyes looking at him, stunned as she was floating. "Are you a ghost, the one residing in this grave?"
"You can see me?" She gasped. "You can actually see me... wait, of course you can, your spiritual energy may be faint, but you traveled through the Tree of Ages, her filled with the Earth's majesty you still carry an echo of that power on you. Until it fades, even spirits are visible." She smiled at him. "Yes I am of this grave, I was killed here for being a witch, many moons ago for birthing a child, a half demon boy... " Her eyes glowed a soft green. "I know you are likely struggling to understand all this... You traveled from a different era... a world with weak magic, I can tell that when I look at you. I can see so in your heart."
He nodded. "Can you help me? I am going to die here... if magic exists, I am sure yokai of the past are here."
"There are, and worst than that. Mortals, I was killed by those very beings, for no crime greater than helping a child enter this world."
"Can you help me then... guide me..." He took a deep breath, and asked her his greatest desire. "Teach me magic, maybe? I want to live, if I am stuck in the past."
She frowned, then beamed. "My knowledge is not all knowing, but I can help you survive. I will pass onto you how to be a witch, a healer, a survivor. No one deserves the fate you may suffer otherwise. I cannot linger in this world, less I become a monster, the dead will never be happy in the world of the living. What I will do is pass onto you my knowledge, you must practice all I present you, turn yourself into a witch with the tools I give you." She pressed her hand to his chest, and he heard her mutter. "Mahō to shinwa no omoide dake o, watashi ga taenakereba naranai subete no naka ni tadayowa sete kudasai."
Green light the color of fireflies blossomed between them as memories unbidden flowed into his brain, sealing his fate forever as a witch. He flew back, as the magic she bore flew through him like a lightning bolt, knocking him into unconsciousness.
When he came too, he was stunned to find himself in a hut, naked from the waist up. A woman was stirring a pot of stew, she was old and missing teeth. Next to her was a massive being, with blue eyes and a topnot. It was not human, but looking at it, he could not feel any hate or fear, only warmth.
"Finally, you're awake." The woman said. "We found you in the forest, by the grave of the Old Witch." She looked at him, her eyes sharp and oddly focused. "You were dressed oddly, you are lucky the villagers did not find you, they would kill you, suspecting you are a kitsune."
He nodded. "I will keep that in mind... my name is Zachary. I thank you for saving me..." And he cringed, his mind flooding with knowledge that was so sharp he could barely focus, but one thing was clear. He needed to master the knowledge, knowing was a tiny part of the battle, learning and doing was the rest of it. Offering a smile, he asked. "I am a foreigner, I know little of this land, this place. Can you possibly, please, help me find my way? I was hoping to get healer training, what with all the wars in this land."
The giant being blinked, shocked. "You... you do not fear me?"
"You saved me, so not really."
The man smiled. "My name is Jinenji... but if you stay with us, you will likely be harmed. The villagers hate me, fear me... for being half demon."
He shrugged. "So be it, I would rather stay with a friend than someone that would attack an innocent being pointlessly, I can see your scars."
The woman beamed. "Friend! You would call my son a friend?"
"Why not, you both saved me, right?" She nodded. "So we are friends. Simple as that."
"Have it your way... we are herb farmers and herbalists. People come far and wide for our powerful herbal remedies, I would be happy to have you work with and for us."
"Thank you."
And with that, his time in the Past began on a better note than it started. He could only hope it he would survive it, all things considered.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika,