DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.
Author's note:
You're going to see a little more of Kikyou's backstory in this chapter so I'd just like to give you all a heads up.
Since I chose to keep the nations from the original Avatar: the Last Airbender in this story, I've kept their cultural mores and attitudes pretty much the same as they are in the original series. This means that there will be some characters who express some bigoted viewpoints and behaviours, including misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia (e.g. the Northern Water Tribe still hold some very conservative ideas about gender roles). I will add warnings to the Ao3 tags and the author's notes in the Prologue just in case anyone would prefer to be forewarned or avoid this kind of material.
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Chapter 9
Amaruq came for her at moonrise. Tsubaki was the first to whisper of his arrival. The whispers had grown to a clamour by the time he reached Master Lusa's tent. He stilled it with a single phrase.
"We're ready."
Only Tsubaki dared to break the silence. Only she had the nerve to challenge his judgement. Only she had the pride. She faced him down with a scowl.
"I'm going too."
"Your lessons are done for the day, Tsubaki." He didn't even look at her.
"I'm as good as she is," she insisted.Her lie was plain as daybreak.
His lips quirked at her boldness."You are twelve," he told her. "Time will teach you the value of the women's arts."
"She's twelve. And a girl."
"She is the Avatar," he replied.
There was no arguing with that.Her stare followed them all the way up the steps.
There were more stares waiting for her at the top. Her healer's parka stood out like a challenge. No woman ever set foot in the training grounds. Even Master Lusa was forbidden to cross the threshold.The laws of the North were hard and unyielding as ice.
Amaruq was not a hard man. Unlike the other Masters, he was not too old to bend with the winds of change. He had yet to grow grey with fear or have his face lined with disapproval. Even the highest of the Masters hadn't been able to block his path for long.
That didn't stop people from trading whispers as soon as they thought he was out of earshot. The Masters would hear of this. The Chiefs would hear of this. The Spirits themselves would hear of this.
Of course, Amaruq was bound to hear of this. Not that it would bother him. Few things did, least of all tradition. Amaruq did what few would dare to dream.
Her classmates awaited her in the central courtyard. Their training ground was marked by two long rows of frozen pillars. The ground itself was bare snow. That and their waterskins were all the aids they needed.
Amaruq kept a small class. Only half a dozen students had managed to meet his standards. Some were older than her. Some were even younger. All of them were boys.
Amaruq introduced her with a bow. "The Avatar will be joining us today. See you show her the same courtesy you would show any other student."
They returned the bow as one. Their eyes remained wary. They may have shared Tsubaki's curiosity but they hadn't half her spirit. None dared question their Master.
He took that as agreement. "Very well. We'll begin with our usual exercises."
She filed into line without a second glance at her classmates. A shadow flitted past the corner of her eye. One of the boys glanced after it. She kept her eyes and ears on Amaruq. This was no time for distractions.
They worked their way through a warm-up, some light stretching and a few basic techniques. It wasn't too different to one of Master Lusa's lessons. Perhaps that wasn't so surprising. There was a fine line between healing and harm, as Lusa was fond of saying. All waterbending techniques were the same at heart; two faces of the same moon.
The familiarity would have relaxed her if it hadn't been for the nagging itch at the back of her head. That suspicion of a stare dogging her steps. Her misgivings deepened as she glimpsed a flash of blue disappear behind one of the pillars.
Amaruq refocused her attention with a cough. "I trust we're all warmed up?"
The boys nodded. She followed suit. She kept her gaze on Amaruq, ignoring the glacial stare in the corner of her eye.
Amaruq returned the nod. "Very well. We'll continue our work on the water whip."
Her heart skipped. A water whip in her first lesson? That was a high hope, even for Amaruq.A muffled snicker came from behind the pillars.
Amaruq began with an example. He uncorked the water skin at his waist and drew out the water in a steady stream. He lowered his stance and pulled back his arm to lengthen it into a whip. He shifted his stance, took aim at the pillar and let it fly.
The whip smacked into the pillar inches from Tsubaki's face. She shrieked and scurried away in a flurry of furs. Amaruq didn't watch her go. He eyed the mark on the pillar with satisfaction.
"There's your target. See if you can meet it." His smirk widened a touch as he caught her eye. "I trust there will be no more distractions."
The students lined up to demonstrate their skills.Some came close, others far. One missed the pillar entirely. Amaruq quirked his head towards the far end of the training ground. The student excused himself with a mumble and went off to practise.
Her turn came both too slow and too soon. Her classmates watched with ill-hidden anticipation. She was pinned under the weight of their expectations.
She tore her eyes away from them and focused on the pillar. She reached for her waterskin. Her fingers were clumsy under their stares. She set her jaw and pulled the cork free.
The water came to her slowly, as if sensing her nerves. She caught another snicker. Tsubaki peeped out at her from behind another pillar. Her stare was the sharpest of all.
Only she had the nerve. Her jaw tightened. Her fingers twitched with temptation. More water gushed from the skin.
Amaruq's brows creased. She relaxed her fingers. This was no time for distractions. The water came obediently to her hand.
She set her gaze on the pillar. The mark stood out as a challenge. She accepted it with a nod. She would show them what the Avatar was capable of.
She released her breath, lowered her stance and raised her hand. She swirled the water around her, shaping it into a tendril. She drew back her hand and raised her stance. Tsubaki's eyes narrowed in contempt.
She flicked out her arm and let the whip fly.
It hit the pillar with a crack. Tsubaki ducked for cover. Her classmates couldn't contain their gasps.
"No way!"
The spray cleared to reveal another mark just below Amaruq's. This one was deeper, rougher, wilder. Even so, it was there.
Amaruq regarded it with satisfaction."As expected of the Avatar." He bowed his head to her.
She returned the bow with only a faint flush on her cheeks. The other students gaped at her in awe. Tsubaki was nowhere in sight.
Amaruq watched them with a hint of amusement. He regained their attention with a cough.
"See you continue your practice. You have much to learn." He didn't hide his smile. "I believe you've earned your place, Kikyou."
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Kagome woke with a gasp. She lay frozen as her mind fumbled to grasp her surroundings. Movement faded to stillness. Voices faded to silence. Cold faded to warmth. The dream faded to memory. She was herself again.
She sat up with a groan. She'd have to ask Kaede for a sleeping draught. She'd had better nights on the boat. She pulled on her robe and slippers and padded over to the mirror.
Meriwa had left her a basin of water over a low blubber lamp, a selection of cosmetics, a washcloth and a comb. She scooped up some water with both hands and flung it into her face. It didn't do much for her looks or mood. She wiped herself off with a sigh.
"It was just a dream," she muttered.
Her reflection said otherwise. It'd take far more than a splash of water to wipe the wariness from her eyes. Face paint wasn't going to hide the doubts that shadowed them. Tension was etched in every line of her body. Anyone could see she was haunted.
She put down the cloth with a frown. Was that really true? Her eyes strayed to the window. The Goshinboku stood in silence. The moon peered at her from between its branches. As if it was watching her. She shook the thought away with a shudder and reached for the comb.
Yet there was no denying it. Kikyou had been haunting her since she first set eyes on that tree.
The memory came back to her uninvited. Kikyou's memory. Why would she show her such a thing? To teach her? Warn her? Taunt her? Her cheeks burned at the memory of her last lesson. She was no Kikyou, all right.
Her reflection caught her eye again. There was something accusing in that glimpse. Something that prickled her with irritation. She put down her comb and faced her reflection with a stare. Enough beating around the bush. She'd get to the point.
"What do you want, Kikyou?"
"Avatar?"
Miroku's voice startled her out of her thoughts. She glanced over her shoulder and found him and Meriwa waiting in the doorway. Meriwa's hands were empty for once. Her face was even more confused than Kagome's feelings.
She smoothed her frown into a smile. "Oh. Hey, guys."
"Good evening, Avatar." Meriwa's reply was a little less stiff today.
Miroku cast a concerned eye over her dishevelled face. "Are you well?"
"I'm... better. Thanks."
Meriwa's concern deepened. "If you'd prefer us to leave-"
"Ah, no, no. You can stay. If you want." Being alone with her thoughts was more than she could bear right now.
"Very well. I won't take much of your time, Avatar." Miroku entered the room with a bow. Meriwa remained in the doorway.
Kagome's smile wilted a little. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh, there's no need to worry, Avatar," he replied. "I merely wish to share a message from your mother."
"Mama? Don't tell me the guards won't let-"
"She's free to visit as she pleases," he reassured her. "She's just been occupied with the preparations."
"Preparations?"
"She'd like to know if you'd be up to having some visitors."
"Visitors?"
"Just some friends and family. For tea" he explained. "Of course, if you're not-"
"No, no. I mean no, I'd love to see them!" she added as Meriwa gave a start. "Thanks for telling me."
"You're welcome." He took his leave with another bow.
As elusive as ever. At least Meriwa was more dependable. She was already surveying Kagome with an appraising eye.
"Shall I fetch you a change of clothes, Avatar?"
"Ah, it's okay. My own stuff is fine." She waved away Meriwa's worries. "They won't mind."
"If you say so, Avatar. When shall I send for them?"
"You can go now if you like. I'll only be a few minutes."
Meriwa excused herself with a bow. "Thank you, Avatar."
"Thanks." Kagome returned the bow as she backed out of the door. She turned back to the mirror and busied herself with her hair. She avoided her reflection's eyes.
Her hair didn't take half as long as she'd hoped. Best find another distraction. Something to wear would be a start. She put down the comb and made her way over to the trunk.
She opened the trunk and peered at its contents. Her training outfit lay neatly folded and pressed for her. Meriwa must have done it while she was sleeping. Her own clothes lay next to it. She took both sets of clothes from the trunk and laid them out on the bed.
The comparison didn't do her own clothes many favours. Her training outfit was the smartest thing she had, at any rate. She picked up the tunic and held it up to the light.
A flicker of movement caught her eye. She glanced over her shoulder and glimpsed a child draped in blue, wide-eyed beneath the light of a full moon.
She dropped the tunic in shock. Her reflection stared back at her. Whatever she'd glimpsed was gone. She was herself again.
She shook her head. This was getting ridiculous. She grabbed the tunic and stuffed it back into the trunk. The rest of the outfit followed suit. She slammed down the lid and brushed her bangs from her eyes. Her own clothes would be fine, patched and worn as they were.
She'd go as herself or not at all.
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"Kagome!"
Her friends burst through the doorway as soon as they spied her face. They barrelled towards her like a tsunami and engulfed her in a group hug. She was drenched in a tide of relief.
"Kagome! I missed you so much!"
"Are you okay?"
"Are you really the-"
"Not so hasty, girls. She still needs to rest."
Grandpa shuffled through the doorway to her rescue, accompanied by a pair of highly bemused guards. His expression hovered between relief and dismay.
"Ah, I'm fine, Grandpa. Really." Kagome wriggled her hand free to give him a wave.
Grandpa was unconvinced. "Now, now, she's not been well, remember." He tugged at the back of Yuka's parka. "You could show a little more courtesy in front of the Av-"
"Kagome!" Souta popped his head round the doorway. He rushed past Grandpa and buried himself in their hug. "Are you-"
"I'm okay, Souta." She reached out to ruffle his hair.
"Hey!" He ducked away. "I didn't miss you that much." His cheeks said otherwise.
She giggled in reply. "Guess you're okay too, huh?"
"Yeah. Guess so." He lifted his head to catch her eyes. "So what's all this stuff about-"
"Oh, haven't you heard, Souta? Kagome's the Avatar!" Ayumi beamed down at him.
"A-Ayumi!" Kagome protested.
Yuka gave her a frown. "Well? It's true, isn't it?"
"Indeed, if the Masters are not mistaken." Grandpa's voice had assumed an all-too-familiar tone.
"I - maybe we should sit down," Kagome began.
"Did I not say that the spirits-"
"Good evening, everybody."
Mama's interruption didn't come a moment too soon. She stood in the doorway with a tray of tea and her usual smile. It didn't disguise the circles under her eyes.
"Mama!"
Her friends parted their hug. Mama handed the tray to one of the guards and met Kagome with a hug of her own.
"Thanks so much for arranging this!" Kagome pulled Grandpa in for good measure and embraced them both. "You wouldn't believe how bored-"
"Bored? But you're the Avatar, right?" Ayumi's face was utterly bewildered.
Kagome held back a sigh. Of course there was no way she was getting out of another round of explanations. Where did she even start?
"I see we've all got a lot to catch up on," said Mama. "Perhaps we could do with a sit down and some tea first?"
Kagome gave her a grateful nod. "Sounds like a plan."
She withdrew from the hug and followed her over to the table. The guard set down the tray. Meriwa had already laid their places and provided them with skins and cushions. She gave Grandpa the first pick and settled down beside him.
Her friends were only too happy to join them. Souta was a little more hesitant. Kagome shuffled across to make space for him.
The servants took that as their cue. They filed into the room and set down their offerings on the table. There were stewed sea prunes, seaweed noodles, steamed dumplings, roasted fish, an entire arctic hen, several varieties of tea, a teapot full of hot water and a cauldron of five-flavour soup. Souta's awe grew with every fresh dish.
Kagome gaped at the feast before her. Tea on Goshinboku Island was clearly quite the affair. This spread was enough for an entire village.
"Um, we're having tea, right?" she asked.
"Well, Master Kaede thought we might like to have dinner together too," said Mama.
"I didn't know she cooked." Souta still couldn't take his eyes from the food.
"Actually, this came from Amka. You know, at the inn?" Yuka explained. "She wanted to make it up to you."
"Make it up?" Kagome's appetite sank. If anything, she should be the one making it up to Amka.
"Hey, no worries," Yuka reassured her. "Master Kaede must've decided it was less bother to just humour her."
Less bother for Kaede, perhaps. Still, there was no sense in letting good food go to waste. She ladled some noodles into her bowl and added a little fish.
"Is that all you're having?" Souta asked with his mouth full. He'd already heaped his own bowl to overflowing.
Her friends' and family's concerned looks sent her reaching for a dumpling. The looks didn't let up. She added another dumpling, some sea prunes and a slice of hen. She still couldn't face the soup.
That kept them satisfied until their own bowls were empty. Hers was still half full. The servants took the empty dishes away. She offered her friends and family another round of cloudberry tea in the hope of settling her stomach.
"So." Yuka set down her cup. "About this Avatar business."
"Well." Kagome took a gulp of tea to buy herself a moment. It only gave her a hiccup. "It's... kind of complicated, I guess."
"I guess so," said Eri. She couldn't keep the curiosity from her eyes.
Ayumi was a little more direct. "So you can waterbend now, right? And you saw a spirit? And you and Akitoki-"
"Well... "
Kagome turned to Mama for support. She gave her a nod and a smile.
She let out her breath. "Let's just start at the beginning, shall we?"
She launched into a quick recap of the last few days' events. Between her friends' endless questions and Mama's gentle prompting, she filled them in on all the important details. At least the ones she could share without much trouble. It was best not to give them too much grist for the rumour mill.
By the time she finished her throat was dry and her stomach was almost steady again. Mama poured her a cup of tea while she helped herself to another dumpling.
"Wow... " There was genuine awe in Yuka's voice. "That's... that's a lot, all right."
"It sure is," she agreed.
"Still, being a waterbender's pretty awesome, right?" asked Ayumi.
"It's... well, that's kind of a lot too," she admitted.
Souta considered her with a long look. "Do... do you think you could show-"
"Uh, maybe later." She had a vision of an exploding teapot. She dispelled it with a sigh. "I'm still getting the hang of it."
"Oh. Okay then."
Ayumi swallowed her disappointment and reached for another ladle of sea prunes. Just as well. It would be best to leave the guest room in one piece.
Kagome turned to Grandpa in hope of switching the conversation to another track. "So, has there been any more news from the port?"
"Well, there's been plenty of rumours. Mostly hogwash, of course."
"I see." She hid her smile behind a bite of dumpling.
"Though I did hear something interesting this morning," he continued. "They say there was a fight on board one of the Earth Kingdom ferries a couple of nights ago. They reckon it was a stowaway who caused it."
"A stowaway?"
"That's what the sailor they took in for questioning said. Of course, they never caught the man. And they say the old fellow never did talk much sense."
She turned her giggle into a cough. Mama gave her a gentle nudge with her foot. Souta avoided Grandpa's eyes. Her friends busied themselves with their tea.
"Still," Grandpa continued, "It'd explain a few things about that thief."
"You think it was him?" Kagome put down her dumpling. "How can you be so sure?"
"One of the crew is still in the infirmary. Keeps jabbering something about gold eyes. You don't see many of those around these parts." He took a sip of tea. "Of course, he did take quite a crack to the head."
"Hmmm." Kagome considered his news with another bite. Maybe he was onto something for once. Perhaps Master Hitomiko would know more about this sailor. "Did he mention any other stowaways?"
"No, no they say there was just the one man. Still, you can't be too careful." Grandpa put down his cup and reached into his tunic. "That reminds me."
He drew out a small pouch and offered it to Kagome. "It seems the spirits are growing more restless. Especially now there's word of the Avatar's return. These should ward them away."
"Uh, thanks."
Kagome accepted the pouch with a faint wince. No need to ask what was inside. At least it kind of worked? She stashed the pouch in her bag before the stench could seep too far into her hands.
Grandpa watched with approval. "These are especially potent. See you keep them on you at all times."
Wonderful. Kagome pushed her bag as far under the table as possible. At least it'd keep the pickpockets at bay.
"It's a shame I didn't think to make some for young Akitoki," he continued. "If I'd had any idea... " He shook his head with downcast eyes.
The chatter stilled. Her friends gave her sympathetic looks. Kagome swallowed. Guilt nibbled at her insides.
Souta spoke for her. "How's he doing?"
"The healers say he's stable. That's as much as they can hope for, for now," Mama answered. She reached under the table to squeeze Kagome's arm. "It wasn't your fault, Kagome."
"I... " She couldn't quite get the words past the lump in her throat. "Thanks, Mama," she managed.
"We tried to see him but they won't let any visitors in," said Eri. "He still needs to rest."
That was probably for the best. She had no stomach to face him now, at any rate. She reached for another topic. "And the thief?"
"Rotting in the ice," Grandpa sniffed. "He got off lightly, if you ask me. The Council's never been in such an uproar."
Yuka nodded. "The Chief sure wasn't too happy. Not that I blame him," she added in a hurry.
"Oh, he was far from the only one," said Grandpa. "If the Northerners had had their way he'd be fishing bait by now."
Kagome almost choked on her tea. She swallowed it with a gasp. "But they have to give him a trial, right? If they execute a Fire Nation prisoner-"
"Oh, there'll be a trial, no doubt. Master Kaede made sure of that. But it won't last long. The evidence speaks for itself."
"I guess so." For all his crimes, the thought of his life hanging in the balance didn't do much to steady her stomach. She pushed her cup away.
"Of course, they aren't best pleased about being overruled," Grandpa continued. "Especially when it comes to the Avatar."
Kagome stifled a groan. "Don't tell me they're still-"
"Well... " Yuka shifted in her seat. She gave way under Kagome's stare. "Well, they're not too happy with Master Hitomiko either."
"Hitomiko? But Kaede asked her to teach me."
"Kaede approved, yes," Grandpa nodded. "As for the other Masters-"
"Amaruq?" His smirk flickered before her eyes. She bit back her annoyance. "It's not like he can-"
"It's not just Amaruq, Kagome." Mama reached over and laid her hand atop hers. "The Northern Masters think the Avatar should be their responsibility."
"They think you need a more seasoned teacher," Grandpa explained. "And Kikyou was from the North and all."
"But I'm not Kikyou!" she protested. "I'm not even from the North. And they're not even sure I'm the Avatar. What gives them the right to-"
"They don't have the right," said Grandpa. "But they may have the vote. The Council will decide at the next meeting."
The next meeting. That was less than four days away. Her face and stomach fell. "Don't I get a say in all this?"
"Master Kaede said she'd make sure you have the chance to speak to the Council before the vote," Mama reassured her. Her smile was a little tight.
"And do I get a vote?" she demanded.
"I'm afraid you're not quite old enough yet, Kagome." Grandpa shook his head. "I always said that Amaruq was a-"
"I'm sure the Chief will put in a vote for Kagome." Mama cast him a warning glance and quirked her head towards the guards.
So that gave her Kaede, the Chief and possibly Hitomiko? Against how many Northerners? She swallowed her rising panic.
Souta couldn't hold his in any longer. "But what happens if we-"
"We stay together." Mama's voice was firm as stone.
"But what about the shrine? And the village? You can't follow me to the North Pole." Even Mama couldn't be that optimistic.
"We may not have to." Mama squeezed her hand. "Kaede's doing everything she can, Kagome. We'll find a way. I promise."
"And if we don't?"
"Don't worry, Kagome. We're not going anywhere."
Ayumi laid her hand on top of Mama's. Eri did the same.
"Not without a fight, we're not," Yuka agreed. "Metaphorically speaking, of course," she added to soothe the guards' frowns.
"I'm sure Chief Hojo will put in a good word for you with the other Southerners," said Grandpa. "Some of the Northerners too. They're not all like-"
"I'm staying too," Souta added in a hurry. He added his hand to her friends'.
Kagome stared at the semicircle of warm faces before her. Gratitude and guilt warred in her heart. Everyone was trying so hard for her sake. How could she turn them away?
"Thanks, guys. I won't let you down," she promised.
What other choice did she have?
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Constructive criticism is very welcome!
I update once a month.
