So I know canonically Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation, but in the modern era compared to the feudal times, I wonder how Kagome's relation to Kikyo would be altered. So I thought, what if Kikyo was Kagome's great grandmother according to history? Not canon I just thought the idea would make a cute story.
If anyone has any suggestions or requests for future chapters I appreciate it
Kagome's grandfather stood reflectively by the sacred tree, a wistful expression on his face, adorning his priest robes while he admired the protective landmark on his family land. He was getting older, his son had passed away a decade ago, leaving his widow to raise their children. His eldest grandchild was fifteen, a senior in middle school soon to enter high school. Souta was nine years old, in another three years he would be attending middle school. He wouldn't be able to guard this temple as he had for so many years, leaving behind memories of watching his family grow. Kagome would be responsible for protecting it as she got older, Souta too, a precious inheritance that they would need to guard with their life. Previously having fallen on deaf ears and seen as a joke, disinterested in whatever he had to say. Their youth distracted by the media and other trendy things that seemed to gain their attention. He knew his grandson didn't have much interest in learning about it, but given Kagome's spiritual powers and journey's to the past, it would do her well to learn about her family history. He wanted them to be prepared, dangers came in many forms and given some had followed them to future, they needed to protect themselves. Spring had once again come to Tokyo, the trees bearing pink blossoms that fell upon the temple grounds, the lush green leaves dancing gently in the wind. This tree had protected their family for generations. Protecting Kagome's mother when she became pregnant twice, protecting his grandchildren from harm. This tree deserved their respect, love and admiration, it had done so much for their family. He heard footsteps approaching but he didn't avert his gaze, he knew who it would be.
"Hey Grandpa, whatcha up to?" Kagome asked curiously, she knew her grandpa was in his golden years, he suffered from bladder infections among other health conditions. Sometimes she worried he was going senile, he already had poor spiritual powers given how his seals never worked. Though he was capable of taking care of himself, sometimes he showed glimpses of his age, she had never seen him space out so much. For all she teased him, it came from a place of love, such as how she cried in his arms when she was trapped in the feudal era for the first time. Sometimes she worried of how much time she had left with him, how comfortable his quality of life would be. She wasn't overly fond of his random gifts of trinkets, such as pickled animal parts and other memorabilia he saw of value. Even if they were well intended. But she was learning a lot from him and had come to respect him the same way she did towards Kaede.
"Kagome, do you remember all the tales I told you about the sacred tree?" her grandpa asked her calmly, their family had been protectors of temples for generations, long before their family temple was forged. Over time this tree grew and protected the grounds it grew upon, the temple built nearby the tree after the passing of priests, monks and priestesses who lived before them. He informed her of these stories so she understood the importance, the connection they shared to it. This tree protected them and they had to do the same for it. Many tourists and visitors to the temple didn't truly understand its value but were intrigued by the stories that surrounded it. Happily buying shikon trinkets, good luck charms and more. But Kagome would need to explain this to her future children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. This tree would protect her children, it would protect Souta's children, after he was long gone he too would watch over this shrine and his descendants, making sure his family was safe.
Kagome hummed, nodding calmly, her grandpa had informed her of these tales ever since she was small, before meeting InuYasha and being transported to the feudal era she merely dismissed his stories as her grandpa going senile. But then she was a teenage girl, her priorities had been elsewhere so he couldn't blame her for being disinterested. They came across as stories that were the delusions of an old man. But after the things she had fought, seen and experienced in the past, she listened closely to her grandpa's wisdom. Kagome reflected, suddenly her brain clicked to some stories she was already told, her friends from the past had informed her of all the stories and tales that were prominent in their time. The first time she appeared in the village after mistress centipede attempted to kill her. When Kaede explained she was her late sisters reincarnation, the history of the shikon jewel, what led to Kagome being brought to the past. She couldn't help but wonder what blood ties she had to Kikyo and Kaede in the present, transcending through time and affecting the future. If anyone remembered them now, found them in history books. How did they fit into their family history, how did they fit into her life in the modern era? "Grandpa...I heard... In InuYasha's time, I've heard stories of priestesses and the Shikon jewel, the priestess who created it and those who guarded it after she passed" she pressed.
A curious expression formed on her grandfathers face, he imagined Kagome had been educated on all forms of things from her travels to the past. InuYasha being a half demon born in the warring states, the cruelty, dangers and tragedy of growing up with that kind of life. The poverty, the crime and more, all things that were considered history to them. How modest it must have made her, humbled by the privilege she grew up with. The dangers she faced must have been frightening, but she couldn't avoid her responsibility. As a priestess it would be her responsibility to ensure the safety of others and fight against corruption and wickedness. But Kagome had never been this invested in their family history before now, perhaps she had blossomed a newfound interest in learning. Passing her knowledge onto future generations, wondering what secrets she had discovered that she didn't tell them. But she deserved to know of their family line, regardless of how gruesome or sad it may be, he sighed wearily. "Many centuries ago, before the Higurashi line was prominent, our predecessors began with Midoriko, a priestess of immense spiritual power. She lived among the samurai, it's believed she worked for emperors and other royalty of the era. Protecting castles from demons who plagued the area" he explained. Midoriko was believed to be the strongest priestess who had ever lived, nobody had come close to the power she held. She was highly regarded and respected as an individual.
Kagome hummed, she knew Midoriko had lived way before herself or Kikyo had ever been born, she had been a legacy of Sango's village, creating the shikon jewel and protecting the village. From what she could tell she had been very beautiful, at least from seeing her crystallised corpse in the cave. However, she lost the battle to demons and her soul forged the shikon jewel. She was the strongest priestess to have ever existed, but many had come close to earning a reputation of their own, such as Kikyo, Hitomiko, Tsubaki Miroku and his grandfather, then herself. Midoriko had earned her reputation and it was hard for anyone to live up to that kind of standard, such as how she now lived up to Kikyo's reputation. But she was learning, she was bound to make mistakes, her decisions and personality drastically differed from Kikyo, as it did every priestess that came before her. But she could learn from them, as well as the wisdom they left behind.
"...However, despite her potent power, she was still but a human girl. All humans no matter their supernatural abilities as a priestess etc, have a weakness. She fell prey to an enemy too strong for her to overcome. She sacrificed her life to protect humanity, to put an end to demons" her grandpa explained. No matter how powerful a priestess, if she suffered some form of grief, mental health or unbalance that affected her powers, she would become significantly weaker. Thus her powers against a demon would be less effective and ensure her demise. He feared the same may occur to Kagome, she had her whole life ahead of her and even her powers didn't make her immortal. Once her destiny with the jewel was over, she would never need to return to that world and could live out her days in the world she was born into. She could forget the past as though it was but a dream.
"And thus created the jewel" Kagome reflected, Midoriko's soul was born as the jewel, depending on who the owner was it could either remain balanced and pure. Tainted but capable of being purified if the wielder healed themselves or the jewel. Or corrupting the jewel completely with their evil and bringing out the worst of its powers. Its powers being truly formiddable. She now had the fragments of the jewel which she and Kikyo had forged into a nearly whole gem, but she had to guard it with her life. Ensuring it would never fall into the wrong hands again.
"Midoriko never married, traditions of the time period demanded that a priestess devote her life to the temple and nothing more. But she perhaps had a family. Those siblings had children, which led to our family line" her grandpa smiled. She was never able to form relationships due to being devoted to her cause, fighting until her last breath. Many priestesses were orphans, some were sent by their families to become shrine maidens, those that were related to them continuing their lineage.
"What about Kikyo?" Kagome asked abruptly, Kikyo was another respected priestess, the villagers still regarding her highly. She had been very precious to them and her death still effected the village fifty years later. How did Kikyo fit into all this? She knew she carried the same soul. She was Kikyo's reincarnation fifty years later. She had only ever heard second hand stories of Kikyo from people who knew her, and even after meeting Kikyo herself she had experienced a sadder version of the late priestess. A bitter and vengeful ghost who was ripped from the afterlife against her will, seeking revenge on those who scorned her. Wishing she had known the kind, empathetic and gentle natured woman she had been when she was alive. InuYasha had loved her with nothing but sincerity and pure love, your first love was always someone you could never forget. He regretted never being able to protect her or prevent her death. Had Kikyo never perished they could have shared a life together, meaning she would never exist.
Her grandfather's previous confusion formed once again, he wondered how Kagome knew that name. Who had told her all these stories? Educated her on things he had tried to so many times before? Kikyo was yet another tragic priestess. "Kikyo is our direct descendent, your great, great grandmother Kagome. She was a priestess who guarded the jewel after being named its protector at seventeen. It is known that she had a sister, who possibly had children. A year later on her eighteenth birthday she would perish at the hands of a demon, taking the jewel with her. It's said that her younger sister took over as village priestess shortly after her sister's passing" he pressed. Kikyo had been a prominent figure respected by many, she was said to have been very beautiful which led to a man making a deal with a demon in order to possess her devotion. Instead this man became corrupt and instead killed Kikyo, the very woman he desired for himself. Thus falling prey to the power of the jewel and losing his wish.
Kagome was rather taken aback, this was a lot to take in, this was the story that was twisted into time. InuYasha was kept a secret by Kaede and other remaining villagers, merely warned as "InuYasha's woods" a scary tale to keep villagers from entering. Kikyo's relationship with InuYasha faded into time, her supposed death at his hands became a dirty secret. Kaede had indeed taken over for her sister despite being a young girl, but her powers were not nearly as powerful as her older sisters. She knew she was the reborn incarnation of Kikyo's soul, the jewel projecting her desire for a normal life. Her love for InuYasha causing her to appear in the modern world, if Kikyo had never perished, Kagome may never have been born. Thinking of a life where she never existed, where she was never born with the jewel inside of her. Souta may have been an only child or another sibling, she never would have fallen into the feudal era. So Midoriko was the first priestess, the predecessor that Sango respected and worshipped, guarding her village and home region until her passing, the demon slayers who followed after telling her story to future generations. The woman who was regarded the strongest to ever exist, the woman who started the war over the jewel unintentionally. Trapped within the jewel for eternity to battle against demons. Kikyo was the descendent of Midoriko, the next priestess born with spiritual power which she wielded with expertise with minimal or no previous training, innately powerful and formiddable. The priestess who had fallen in love with InuYasha and even considered abandoning her powers to become an ordinary woman and live by his side. Kagome was reincarnated from her, but born in the modern era and demons though unseen weren't as prominent as they were in history. She would guard the temple, exorcising ghosts, spirits and the likes, all while living an ordinary life. But in the modern era, history would describe her as her grandmother, despite them being the same person. History was truly a funny thing. She would have to discuss this with Kaede when she eventually returned to continue their travels together. She was always more than happy to answer her questions, though she felt guilty at Kaede having to relive her childhood trauma. "I gotta go grandpa, I have a study group and I don't wanna be late. Don't stay out here too long, you'll get sick in this cold weather" she warned, but she had to admit, she had enjoyed his history lesson more than usual.
Her grandfather observed Kagome as she hurried inside to gather her belongings, still confused as to what had instigated Kagome's sudden curiosity. Kagome was changing so much these days it was hard to keep up with her hobbies and interests. Wondering where it had come from so abruptly, it was so unlike Kagome to ask such things of wondered if there were some history books packaged away somewhere he could ask Kagome's mother to find. Or perhaps look up some books she could find in the library. Since Kagome had a sudden interest in their family history.