Chapter 18
One thing that always amazed Kagome was how quickly she adapted to new and ever-changing environments. She had already established a routine in her two weeks at the shrine.
Rising before the break of dawn, Kagome reveled in the quiet moments when the crickets were still, and the birds had not yet begun to sing. During these peaceful moments, Mei would quietly pray, hushed hymns filling the stillness.
These moments of serenity became Kagome's favorite time of the day.
Although several individuals lived at the shrine full-time, it was just Kagome and Mei who woke up to this serene pre-dawn routine. This early rise provided Kagome with a space of time that allowed her to concentrate and focus on the intensive training that lay ahead.
After 30 minutes of peaceful meditation, Kagome would assist Mei with breakfast.
Rei was the next to wake up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and flashing a bright smile as she helped set the table. Shortly after, Nobuko would make her entrance, looking impeccable with glowing skin, glossy hair, and a touch of shimmering pink on her lips and eyelids. Being an idol, Nobuko maintained a strict diet, which Kagome was happy to cater to by preparing a breakfast of rolled egg, a small bowl of rice, and whole cucumber with a hint of lemon. Nobuko always greeted Kagome with a cheerful voice, but ever since Kagome started making her a separate breakfast, the Tall Idol would warmly embrace Kagome from behind and rest her chin on her shoulder as she finished her meal.
Kagome relished these little interactions and looked forward to the feeling of routine in the ever-chaotic shrine. It gave her a sense of stability that she could count on. Mei would wrap up her hymns, and Nobuko would disentangle herself from Kagome to settle down at the table, thanking Kagome profusely as she served breakfast. Rei's animated chatter filled the morning air as Mei listened, amused, often chiming in with witty comments.
Once breakfast was done, they would go about their own tasks and chores for the day.
But for Kagome, that's when her training would begin. Her reiryoku and juryoku powers rose up; they swirled around each other within her core, Each energy seemingly wanting to consume the other.
The training grounds often echoed with her grunts and the distinct hissing sounds of her powers clashing and creating shockwaves that distorted the surrounding air. Despite this daunting sight, there was something graceful, almost dance-like, in how she practiced, both energies beautifully spiraling and flaring under her command.
In her right hand, she gathered her reiryoku, and in her left, she gathered her juryoku. The energies were opposites and yet mirror images. Whatever she could do with her reiryoku, she could do with her juryoku and vice versa. And yet, when she tried using them together, it felt like her soul and body were at war.
When Kagome was little, her family would often remind her of the old stories about duality, stories of yin and yang, light and darkness, sun and moon. Reiryoku represented spiritual energy, life-giving, and nurturing. It could be soft as a lullaby or mighty like a summer storm, resonating within her soul like the harmonious song of the universe. Its counterpart, juryoku, was an energy similar to gravity: grounding and inescapable. It kept her connected to reality, a tether to the world beneath her feet.
The opposing natures of these energies were what made mastering them so challenging, Kagome knew. Despite their conflict, she also knew that there was potential for them to coexist harmoniously. They had to. It was the essence of the old stories; balance could only exist through duality, creation and destruction, growth and decay. It was a part of the world and the universe, and it was a part of her.
Despite the trials and tribulations, Kagome was determined. It wasn't just about the raw power the two energies could generate but the discipline required to manage them and wield them effectively in battle. They were both an integral part of her and mastering their balance could determine the outcome of the struggle between good and evil that lay ahead.
Every day, under the watchful eyes of Mei, Kagome trained to balance the dual forces within her. She would spend hours in focused meditation, drawing in deep, grounding breaths and connecting with the powerful flow of reiryoku and juryoku.
Curse spirits were another form of demonic spirits, each differing in strength based on the potency of said emotions that birthed them. Sorcerers use those same negative emotions, honing them into weapons against curse spirits.
Though reiryoku is effective against curses, it requires more reiryoku per spirit compared to demons of a similar power level. It's why sorcerers are so crucial in the fight against curses and why it was so important that she learned to harness both so it wouldn't continue to take a toll on her.
Some days, it felt like trying to force two opposing magnets together, but she never lost her determination. In every conflict between her soul and body, Kagome chose not to surrender but to find harmony amidst chaos.
And though it was often an uphill battle, there were brief moments when Kagome managed to combine reiryoku and juryoku. Times when spiritual and gravitational energy twined together like strands of DNA, two halves of a whole.
When it happened, the sensation was electric and euphoric, coursing through every fiber of her being.
Though these moments were fleeting, Kagome knew it was worth every struggle and challenge. Because in those rare moments, she found herself touching something extraordinary. A transcendent force that belonged neither to reiryoku nor to juryoku but a harmonious convergence of the two, pulsing with all the possibilities of the universe.
But then there were times it felt impossible. On days she would falter, falling to her knees with her energy drained and body trembling, she'd grit her teeth and tell herself that it was simply another step towards growth. The energy surrounding her might have been disruptive, but deep within her, a steady calm remained. Kagome held onto that calm, focusing on it amidst the chaos until she regained her footing.
Eventually, as the days passed, the duels between her body and soul became less aggressive. Gradually, the strain of merging the conflicting energies became less draining. It was as though both energies were finally beginning to understand that they were part of a larger, unified entity – Kagome herself.
And yet, deep down, she felt as if something were missing, that she was missing what would finally be able to link the energies together- forever.
" Ka-go-me!~ " Nobuko sang.
Kagome slowed in her usual warmup routine. It usually consisted of stretching, then general martial arts warmups, and finally, she would try using her arrows and paper shinigami, all while using both reiryoku and juryoku. So far, she hadn't succeeded in any of her attacks landed with a mix of both energies; one always seemed to take over.
"Yes Nobuko-san?" Kagome panted, turning to see the idol bouncing over to her.
"Stop with the formalities!" Nobuko pouted! "We're friends, silly!"
Kagome chuckled, her hands resting on her thigh, trying to keep herself standing while her legs trembled.
"Are you okay?" Nobuko placed a hand on Kagome's back, her other cradling her elbow. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Kagome smiled. "I'm fine."
Nobuko looked at her skeptically before shaking her head. "Well, how about taking a break? I have a meet and greet coming up, and I want you with me!" She smiled. "It'll be perfect!"
"As long as it's okay with Mei, I'd be happy to go with you!"
Nobuko pulled her into a tight hug. "I already asked; now let's get you ready! We'll be gone for a week."
~o.O~O.o~
Peering through the pink curtains, Kagome's eyes scanned the crowded room. As a member of Nobuko's entourage, she found herself relegated to the back, surrounded by the assistants and hangers-on of other idols. Dozens of booths stretched out before her, each manned by a famous face.
Kagome had never been to a meet and greet or a convention, so this was all new to her. And it was fun.
Whenever Nobuko had a moment to spare between meeting her adoring fans as the popular Tall Idol Takada-Chan, she would turn to Kagome and chat animatedly, swapping stories and secrets in a way that made Kagome feel like a normal person again. It had been so long since she had experienced that feeling, and she cherished it all the more for its rarity.
Grabbing some water, Nobuko nudged Kagome. "Hey, isn't that guy wearing your school's uniform?"
Kagome's attention was immediately drawn to the tall young man standing in line, who was approximately the same height as Satoru Gojo. He possessed a solid, muscular build, relatively tan skin, black eyes, and black hair styled into a top-knot bun. The most noticeable feature was the scar running down the left side of his face. He donned a typical black navy school uniform jacket, martial arts pants, and slippers. But it was the gold button that gave it away.
"Yeah, but I've never met him before," Kagome admitted.
Nobuko smiled coyly. "Well, when you go back, can you be sure to get his number for me?" Blush colored her cheeks.
Kagome nodded with a laugh. "I promise."
wolfYLady: Here is the latest chapter. Hope to have everyone back together in the next couple of chapters, with Yuji and Kagome being the first to reconnect.
Let me know what you think.
Until next time!
