Ivory fingers reached out for the steaming cup handed to him by a servant knelt before his velvet plush seating, gold and silver trimming the edges of his chair. Grasping the delicate china, he breathed in the pleasant aroma, his eyes closing briefly while inhaling the sweet scent. The tea was a relaxer, grounded down by the finest and rarest of herbs not easily found within the territory.
As he brought the steaming liquid to his lips, the contents dancing across his tongue divinely, slipping down his throat easily, he leaned back with a pleased sigh. It was a rich flavor of mint and licorice and dealt wonderfully against most ailments of the outside world. Content with his refreshment, he ushered the servant away with a wave of his hand, his crimson eyes shifting towards the entry way of his chamber.
"You've been standing there a while, why not come in and make yourself comfortable?" He asked, his eyes tracing the outline of the beautiful woman half concealed by the shadows of the room.
Gracing his eminence with a curt nod, her expression speaking irritation, she obliged. Stepping further into the room, he noted she was dressed in a fine pink and white kimono, the sleeves long enough to cover her porcelain skin and slender figure, her bare feet hidden beneath the garment's length. Raven black hair was held up into a high ponytail, the remainder of her long wavy strands braided around the base of her head, securing her interesting hairstyle.
Her slender body swayed, a decorative fan held in one hand, covering her face partially before standing before him. Two jaded earrings dangled from her small pointed ears, and although he couldn't see it, he knew her lips were painted red behind her fan.
"You're always greeting me with such a scowl," He remarked, finding her arrogance charming. "You may relax. I won't harm you, unless you give me a reason to, Kagura."
Crimson eyes narrowed. "Indeed…" She replied not trusting his sarcasm, and lowered her fan. Without another word, she gracefully sauntered closer to him, seating herself to his left while he continued sipping his tea.
An air of awkward silence fell between them, and while her gaze lingered on her lordship, his eyes closed and his expression unreadable, the woman took in his refined appearance. Dressed in a form fitted black and white Kimono, the length exceeding no further than his ankles and his sleeves rolled up at his elbows, she noted his long wavy raven locks laid messily over his shoulders and lower back.
"I trust you handled the affairs I entrusted to you?" He inquired.
"Rest assured. They've been handled accordingly, and without dispute, Naraku," She replied, somewhat irritated.
After making herself comfortable, Naraku's maid offered her a cup of freshy brewed tea, and accepting it, she breathed in the lovely scent. Unlike Naraku's, this tea was made from the leaves of a Sencha plant, and it held a milder sweetness, a taste she tolerated better than most.
The maid returned shortly after with a small tray in hand filled with an abundant of foods, most of which were more to Naraku's taste. This time, rather than accepting, she waved the maid and her tray away, content with the tea.
"Where is Kanna?"
"She is continuing the task you assigned to her since. As of late, the number of people she has brought in has greatly increased. At this rate, we'll reach more than the quota you originally planned."
A delightful hum fell from his lips, and pleased with the news, he leaned back within his chair. Things were going accordingly, and with that, less worries filled his thoughts. Sadly, his few moments of peacefulness were abruptly interrupted when the doors to his chamber flew open.
Kagura barely looked away from her steaming cup, hearing familiar sounds of feminine laughter resounding within the room and then the hurried steps of their slippered feet crossing the room.
Three beautiful women, dressed in silken and colorful kimonos, practically threw themselves upon him, their hands gliding upon his arms and legs in a fashion which made his skin crawl.
Containing a smirk behind her cup, Kagura watched the color drain from his face. If there was ever a day she could witness his disturbed expression, then this was it. It was delightful because Naraku certainly couldn't do away with their bothersome selves; in a way, it was more of a curse than a blessing.
"Come play with us, My Lord!"
"Yes, come play with us!"
Kagura squinted her gaze, watching with somewhat mild disgust, as their fingers glided upon his legs and arms, one straying from the others and in a downward fashion. To think such humans held an absurd affection for him disappointed her, but at the moment, his utter disbelief and embarrassment satisfied her.
Though he attempted to control his composure, he felt his body respond in ways he hadn't felt in years, and the very notion irritated him. These foolish women, unabashed of their ignorance to simply waltz right into his chamber and without permission certainly crossed a fine line, and yet, it was a line he couldn't end.
"I will join you later tonight. For now, I am with company," He replied, easing one of the ladies off his lap. With a wave of his hand, he sent them away, and they left somewhat despondently. A breath of relief fell from his lips upon their exit. "The things I must tolerate when it comes to that fool…"
Setting her tea down, Kagura mused. "Speaking of such a fool, I haven't seen him for the past few days. Is he being punished again?"
"I locked him away for a short time. During my absence, he made quite the mess. The fool thought it would be a wonderful idea to open the gates and invite all the common folk for a celebratory gathering of sorts," He replied, scowling in remembrance. "Last I checked, you were supposed to watch him, Kagura…"
She feigned ignorance, her eyes looking elsewhere within the dark chamber. "I am not that fool's babysitter. I had my own affairs to attend. Or did you forget? You did send me out on a mission the previous night," She recalled.
He scoffed, placing his teacup down rather loudly upon the counter. "If only he could be out of my life entirely. I regret having helped him long ago…"
'That's your problem, not mine,' Kagura thought bitterly.
Silence fell between them, each wrapped within their own musings. Though there was a sense of irritation between the two, they otherwise put up with each other.
A thought came to his lordship, and he shifted his crimson gaze to the wind witch beside him. "That reminds me. Kagura, I have another—" He suddenly paused, the air within the room stagnant and strange. The hairs upon his arms and neck alerted him something had arisen, something which contained a dark aura. "Do you feel that?"
Noticing his disturbing trancelike state, the Wind Sorcerous watched his expression curiously. What had gotten into him so suddenly? "What is it?" She asked, using her instincts to trace the source of his perplexing behavior. While concentrating, her eyes immediately widened, and she felt a sudden chill crawl up her back. What was this feeling? It felt almost ominous.
No sooner had she felt it, Naraku moved from his placement and towards the balcony near them, with Kagura following after. Once outside, the gray clouds overhead signifying an oncoming storm, they noticed a distant light South of them, its intensity so bright and chilling, it shot up through the skies in a pillar of dark energy.
Almost speechless, her crimson eyes wide with wonder, she watched the curious spectacle until it faded from sight. A few seconds after, she looked beside her, Naraku's visage purely reeking of excitement. "What … was that?"
"A power I have not felt in many years. To think it's returned to this world once more," He darkly replied, a sudden smirk gracing his countenance. "Kagura…"
"What is it?"
"I want you and Kanna to investigate the source of that power. Find out where it's located and return here quickly," He ordered. Without another word, he returned to his room, leaving her standing with piqued curiosity.
Find the source of that power? If she didn't know any better, it would seem Naraku was up to something. Whatever that energy was, it certainly wasn't human or demon. Whatever the case, if it meant she could leave this place for even a few days, she was grateful for the distraction.
The sun's rays drifted through an opened window, and stirring from an ominous and baffling dream, Kagome's cerulean eyes fluttered open. A terrifying image of a bird demon appeared within her thoughts, and with a sudden chill crawling up her back, Kagome sat up with a start. Clasping her chest fearfully, it took her a few moments to steady her quickened heartbeat before realizing her whereabouts.
A familiar hut presented itself before her, and recognizing the furnishings and familiar baskets of medicinal herbs lying in the corner of the small room, she breathed a sigh of relief. A throbbing pain lingered at the back of her head, the beginnings of a headache surfacing.
"My head is killing me…"
Footsteps entered the small hut, and without looking, Kagome knew it was the aged priestess. "Ye have awakened?" Her voice called from the doorway, a basket of herbs collected within her arms.
Watching as Kaede made herself comfortable across her futon, carefully setting the basket aside, Kagome turned toward her. "How long was I asleep?"
"An entire day. It is well past the afternoon, as we speak," Kaede replied.
An entire day? Kagome's eyes widened somewhat fearfully. "No one else was hurt, were they? What about Ume? Is she alright?"
"Ye may relax," She soothed, stoking the fire to her right with a stick. "The rest of the villagers are fine. We lost a couple lives yesterday, less than I imagined we would," Noticing her words somewhat comforted the young woman, she went on. "Tell me, Kagome. Do ye remember what happened yesterday?"
Silence befell them, and musing briefly, Kagome thought back to the horrifying events regarding the bird demon. It fell upon them shortly after she and the other bandits returned to the village. A young woman, perhaps the same age as herself, was preyed upon by the disgusting creature, and though she wanted to rid her thoughts of the images presently replaying, she nodded. "I remember everything. Tsuki was attacked, and there was also a young man who was carried off by the demon. After that …" What happened after? Kagome couldn't recall.
Noticing her confused expression, Kaede went on. "Ye may not believe it, but ye managed to destroy the demon. Ye saved our village from the attack, and many lives were saved."
With widened eyes, Kagome stared incredulously at the old woman. She saved everyone? How on earth did she manage to destroy the demon? "To be perfectly honest, I can't seem to remember how…"
"It doesn't surprise me; after all, Kagome, ye fainted shortly after. Like I witnessed before ye disappearance in the Forest of Inuyasha, the same power within ye arose. The bird became nothing more than ash afterwards."
After her mentioning of this, Kagome faintly recalled the demon fly off with Ume, where it was shot down by Satouru. Ume recovered, thankfully, but the bird wasn't finished; it shot up from the currents of the river and towards Kagome, and after that, she remembered feeling something hot within her surface and then darkness.
"But how is that possible? How can I have powers?"
Despite Kagome's confusion, Kaede realized her assumptions regarding the girl fell true. The child did indeed possess powers similar to a priestess, however, although she admitted she'd never taken interest in such practices, her powers were beyond the extent any priestess could handle. Recalling a conversation, they shared previously, Kagome also admitted something rather interesting and questionable. Not only did Mistress Centipede arise from the dead and target the child, but so did the entire situation with the bandits and the bird demon; these two separate dilemmas surrounded one thing, the return of the Sacred Jewel.
"If my assumptions are correct, I believe ye may very well possess the Sacred Jewel, Kagome, despite ye beliefs," Kaede replied.
The Sacred Jewel, capable of granting any desired wish, whether pure or evil, existed as far back as the Heian Era, and was desired by both humans and demons. Kaede told her about the jewel, but it was supposedly destroyed fifty years ago by a tribe called Demon Slayers. Could it be possible it returned?
The old woman raised her hand, her finger pointed directly at her chest, and Kagome followed her eyes. "When ye powers surfaced yesterday, I faintly remember seeing something burning brightly from ye chest. An outline of a small round object. I believe the Sacred Jewel has manifested itself within ye."
It was inside her? If true, it certainly explained everything terrible which befell her and those around her. Still, how had it survived fifty years ago? "It was destroyed, right?"
Kaede nodded. "Indeed, it was. Perhaps we underestimated its powers long ago. Something which can grant any wish, any heartfelt desire, is truly terrifying. Although it should not exist, it has returned. Believe it or not, Kagome, I believe ye may very well be the vessel of this terrifying power. And yet … as worrisome as this is, from what I've witnessed, it may also be … a blessing in disguise…"
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. A vessel? How could something so terrible be a blessing?
The High Priestess nodded her head approvingly, as if agreeing with her own thoughts. "Although the Sacred Jewel houses incredible powers, it has not shown any maliciousness. Quite the contrary, it has instead protected you and those around you, Kagome."
Her words weren't false. Nothing terrible had befallen Kagome, except the situation surrounding Satouru, but when confronted by demons, the power manifested and protected her. "So, as long as its inside my body, it can be used for good?"
"Well yes and no," She replied. "Because ye possess such kindness and protectiveness, the jewel, I believe, acts according to ye desires. Should any ill befall ye, perhaps a change in ye heart, the jewel will likely become tainted with greed and will show itself with frightening means. However, … something unsettles me…"
"What is it?"
The old woman's eyes shifted to her wrist. "Do ye see that?"
Bemused by her words, the young girl glanced down, examining her wrist. To her surprise, she saw a beaded bracelet of blue and white rounded stones wrapped around her. "What's this?"
"Those are Subjugation Beads, which will serve to protect ye. Because the Sacred Jewel exists within ye, many demons will sense its return, and the result of what transpired yesterday will undoubtedly reoccur. I placed these beads upon you, and ye must never take it off. Do ye understand?"
Kagome nodded. "So long as I continue wearing this, demons will not sense the jewel or attack, right?"
Kaede nodded. "Correct. However, it is quite a dilemma. Born with the Sacred Jewel within ye, ye will no doubt face many burdens in ye life. But…" Although there was certainly more the High Priestess wished to discuss with the child, she decided to end their conversation there. "It's nothing. Since ye are awake, the villagers are outside awaiting ye presence. Perhaps ye should listen to their words."
Bemused by this, Kagome lifted herself from the futon and carried herself across the room towards the exit. Yet before pushing aside the flap, Kaede called out to her.
"Keep everything we've discussed between us, child, lest ye bring great fear to the world…"
Understanding, Kagome nodded and exited the hut, the sun almost blinding upon her exit. To her astonishment, and quite unexpectedly, Kagome found herself staring at the villagers, each knelt upon the ground, their heads lowered in a fashion which greatly confused her. In all honesty, Kagome expected some sort of verbal attack and accusing fingers, but not this.
Why were they bowing? What on earth had gotten into them?
A young man, seemingly in his twenties, noticed Kagome's sudden presence before them, and lifted his face from the dirt, his hands planted firmly upon his knees. "Forgive us!" He called out, raising the heads of everyone else knelt beside him. "For what we have done and said, we ask for your forgiveness!"
"Forgive us, priestess!" They cried.
Kagome blinked. Forgive?
Among the crowd, Kagome recognized a few familiar faces. Mayoko and her husband Daisuke were knelt near the front of the crowd, Kosuke and Aiko near the rear, and then there was Naomi near the middle; their faces were all downturned. There were no signs of Satouru and his friends, not that she really cared, but the majority of the people were all gathered before her, asking for forgiveness. Far in the rear, Kagome made out the familiar faces of the bandits, including Yuuta; they were curiously looking over at her with obvious wonder, but they were too afraid to say anything. Lastly, there was Ume, a bright young child whose father was bed-ridden due to severe burns from the fire not too long ago, her large brown eyes staring wondrously at her near the front.
To her surprise, Daisuke lifted his face, his sorrowful eyes staring back at her. "When you were first brought to the village, I treated you terribly!" He recalled how he firmly grasped the back of her kimono collar long ago and forced her face into the soil at his feet, aggravated she didn't follow the customs of the village. "For that, I am deeply sorry."
"I'm sorry too!" A woman called out. "I spoke dishonesty about you to several women in the village! I called you names, such as a witch, a temptress of our men. I don't deserve your forgiveness! I'm sorry, priestess!"
Naomi's head perked up as well. "When High Priestess Kaede asked me to trade shifts with you that one day, I instead followed the orders of the others to avoid you. I also did nothing to help you when you were being attacked in the rice fields. I'm not the kind of person to handle such situations easily, and I felt awfully intimidated during those times. I'm very sorry!"
There was a strained expression upon Kosuke's face, and although he wished to voice his own thoughts, he found it difficult to do so. His face reddened shamefully, and he kept his head lowered, his hands fisted.
"You don't have to apologize," Kagome voiced. "Really, I mean, I was a stranger to all of you from the beginning. At first, I might have held some resentment towards all of you, but I realize now you were only trying to protect yourselves. If anything, I should be the one to apologize, after all I was ignorant to all of you. I'm sorry."
"That's not true!" Someone voiced.
"We should have treated you better! Despite what we did to you!" Another said.
Kagome shook her head. "That's not true. High Priestess Kaede told me something. You've all been burdened with dilemmas revolving around spies, traitors and also those superior to you, not to mention thievery. How could any of you have known if I was trustworthy in the beginning? I mean, it's understandable you were wary and cautious. If I were in the same boat, I'm sure I wouldn't have been so trustworthy of me either…"
Hearing her words and the fact she understood their feelings, they felt an even greater need to apologize. Although they treated her terribly from the beginning, it didn't mean they weren't thankful for her endeavors within the village. This young woman also risked her life to save the women who had gotten kidnapped by the bandits, and by an extraordinary means, quelled the frightful demon from its onslaught towards them yesterday.
"Although there were a lot of words exchanged between some of us, some of which I'm not proud of and I'm sure many of you aren't either, I will forgive it. I hope, now that this has happened, we can all see each other in a different light," She replied, somewhat thankful she was receiving their confessions and sincere apologies.
"Thank you, priestess!" A chorus of thanks resounded within the village, and Kagome smiled.
"But please, you don't need to remain on your knees. I'm just an ordinary girl, like all of you," She explained, but they refused to move.
"From what we have witnessed yesterday, that is surely not the case," An older man exclaimed, the heads of others nodding. "You protected this village from that demon with your powers. You must surely be a priestess sent to save us!"
Really, that wasn't the case. At least, that's what she thought. While she was whisked into the past by a mysterious means and through her tree no less, she thought of herself as a normal girl. Then again, the conversation between her and Kaede and what happened since her time in this world was beginning to change that thought. "Well…"
Aiko's head popped up, her smile wide and her eyes glistening with compassion. "When we were captured, we surely thought we would meet a terrible fate. But your bravery surpassed that of any person we'd ever known. You held fast to your own beliefs and saved all of us, not just once, but twice. Despite the ridicule and abuse you received, you continued helping us, caring for us. We might not have noticed at first, but we see it now. Thank you for coming into our lives, Kagome."
Naomi spoke up once more. "When the demon flew off with the child, we were certain she'd meet her imminent end, but you ran off to save her, despite the dangers. Then you jumped into the river and saved her from the currents, and not only that, you breathed life into her!" She replied, her hand held to her chest happily. "How you managed it, we were deeply moved. Your powers are truly amazing Kagome. Thank you!"
Everyone agreed.
"Wherever it is you came from, we are forever grateful and in your debt, priestess! Please, continue to protect us!"
Continue to protect them? After receiving their forgiveness and hers in return, they wanted her to stay with them in their village. Although she didn't have a complete grasp over the Sacred Jewel within her, she really wasn't sure how she could continue to protect these people. More than anything, Kagome simply wanted to return home, a place she knew she belonged. This wasn't her time period, and in any case, it didn't feel right.
Caught within an unpredicted situation, Kagome wasn't sure what to do. The villagers were still upon their knees, their heads once more lowered into the soil, and their voices calling for her continued protection.
The flap behind Kagome was pushed aside and High Priestess Kaede emerged from her hut, taking her place beside the young girl. "Kagome has no doubt been a great help to our village. I am also thankful to her as well. However, I do believe she is a bit uncomfortable with the situation…"
Hearing her words, the villagers shared glances curiously, their eyes falling onto the young girl with worry. They hadn't meant to make her feel awkward, and they were about to apologize for their rudeness when Kaede raised a hand.
"Uncomfortable because this is the first her powers have surfaced," She explained. Though the truth was somewhat stretched a bit, she planned to keep Kagome's origins secret; it was better this way than having everyone find out and cause an unneeded uproar. "The bloodline of priests and priestesses seems to flow within her from her grandfather's side. She admitted this earlier to me while we were conversating."
Understanding grew within the crowd, and the people smiled elatedly towards the young girl. Since this was in fact the first her powers manifested, it wasn't surprising she felt strangely. They hadn't meant to press her with pleads to stay and protect them, and they realized they should have understood the situation much more.
"Then this is surely a joyous occasion!" Someone replied. "A priestess has been born and within our village! Does this not seem like fate?"
The others agreed, and there were a few dubious faces within the crowd.
"It is by no means a gift from Kami," A woman replied. "But, we should not burden her with such. After all that's happened, we should acknowledge her feelings with such a situation."
"I agree!"
"We should let her decide what she wants to do!"
Kaede agreed with their words, her old eyes shifting towards the girl beside her whose face was a mixture of confusion and self-doubt. "Ye need not feel so awkward, child. Ye may relax. For now, I think it's best we move on from this and take care of the village."