They ventured through the mountain pass, a secret entrance known only to Demon Slayers, hidden behind a thicket of moss and vines, the path sloping down into a dark cavern within the mountain. Despite it's dark depths, numerous eyes peering through darkness as the wagon jostled with each turn and bump, torches lit the way, the young woman seated in the front of the cart, Sango, leading them towards the hidden village.
Although Kagome and Yuuta expected a lengthy travel within the caverns, they were surprised when the lustrous stars of the night sky greeted them overhead, numerous thick trees encompassing their vision within the hour. Silence fell between them, a silence which left Yuuta on alert and Kagome slightly concerned; they couldn't see much of anything, the sounds of the forest morbidly quiet.
Each turn taken through the lofty forest continued for what seemed like half an hour before Sango suddenly pulled on the reins, the horse immediately pausing in its trek. From the back of the wagon, Kagome and Yuuta turned, noticing the Slayer retrieve a small horn from her pocket before pressing its flat end to her lips. A shrill sound emanated from the horn, a sound they were sure would alert her clan of their arrival.
Removing it from her mouth, Sango glanced over her shoulder, smiling softly at their curious and worrisome stares. "Well, we're here."
The moment she uttered those words, torches alit within the darkness, revealing two large towers hidden behind an exceedingly tall wooden wall at each corner, it's gate looming and menacing. The torches glowing embers revealed the wall's mighty structure, it's entirety spanning several hundred feet or more, and its height exceeding the normal standards of castle walls; in general, it was like a heavily guarded fortitude.
Two individuals, likely lookouts, peered out from the towers, and recognizing Sango immediately, they disappeared from view. Within moments, the gate slowly opened inward, the weight of it's immense height enough for two people to open.
Pleased by this, Sango ushered the horse forward, and as they passed through the gate, Sango and Yuuta were greeted by the settlement within, torches lit within every corner. There were few citizens present outside, their eyes staring in their direction, the remainder of the people probably asleep within their homes.
Feeling entirely ostracized and uncomfortable by their stares, Kagome leaned into Yuuta, her hand silently grasping his arm. There was distrust in their gazes, their whispers suddenly filling her ears, and she couldn't help but recall her first encounter with Kaede's Village, the first day in which she entered this world from the Goshinboku Tree; the people all but detested her, stoned her and resorted to name calling and physical abuse. Would this happen once more since she and Yuuta were strangers? As Kaede said months back, villages normally weren't accepting of outsiders; maybe Demon Slayer Village was similar in that sense.
Yuuta noticed Kagome's slight touch on his arm, her trembling shoulders, and how her eyes shifted warily towards the people and back towards her son cradled in her arms. "What is it?"
She shook her head; she didn't want to think about it, and she didn't want to worry Yuuta. "It's nothing. I guess I'm just a little nervous…"
As their eyes looked out across the settlement, they realized it was much larger than any village they'd seen, the huts a little larger than those in Hitomi Village, each hut aligned against the walls and almost connected together; what made these huts stand out were their entrances, the hide flaps were replaced with shoji-like doors, the outside appearance more decorative and less shabby. Various potted shrubbery, flower beds and large plants with rounded leaves adorned the sides of the huts. Even the roofs, which they were used to seeing secured with large stones, were crafted with bundles of thick straw, each fastened together with rope and pasted above the huts, which would not only provide warmth for each family, but also protection from the weather.
Everything seemed homey, and it held a more comfortable way of living than Kagome and Yuuta were used to seeing in these warring times. It seemed almost too comfortable for their liking, but it was obvious, despite being a secretive clan, they lived an almost luxurious life, protected by their walls from fierce demons.
The wagon eventually pulled up to a large structure on the far end of the settlement, surrounded by outside gardens, flowers and trees, a building which resembled a huge manor; it left Kagome and Yuuta staring in stupor; it was grand in appearance and also somewhat intimidating in the late evening. Torches blazed amidst the outside entrance, a pathway made of stone which greeted them.
Stepping off the wagon, Sango acknowledged two men stationed just outside the structure, their nods directed at her before observing the strangers stepping off the cart. Looking back, Sango smiled. "We're here. I do apologize for the rough detour through the mountain pass."
With Yuuta's help, Kagome stepped off the wagon, and at Sango's words, she nodded, her eyes staring past her toward the magnificence of the large house. It must have belonged to Sango and her family; they certainly lived in luxury. "Thank you."
The shoji door beyond the wooden staircase slid open suddenly, the figure of a young boy, dressed in a mid-thigh deep blue sleeve-less kimono shirt and black trousers stepped out, his short brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Upon noticing Sango's return, a bright smile filled his countenance and he fled down the steps towards her. "Sister!"
She turned at this, smiling just the same and embraced him. "I've been away for two days. It's good to be back."
Pulling away from her, his smile only widened. "I was beginning to wonder when you would return. Did everything go well?"
"Yes," She replied, turning suddenly before introducing their guests. "This is Yuuta and his wife Kagome. They are friends of father," She explained, easing her brother's immediate confusion upon noticing them. "They have traveled a long way, so please be kind to them."
"Yes, sister." Facing the two and their small sleeping child, her offered a short bow of his head to them, his smile easing Kagome and Yuuta's earlier thoughts. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Sango's brother, Kohaku."
"It's nice to meet you, Kohaku. Thank you for having us," Kagome greeted elatedly.
Satisfied with their introductions, Sango glanced back at the house. "Is father still awake?" She asked her brother.
"Yes. I believe he is in his study at this time going over some paperwork. Do you want me to let him know he has visitors?"
"No need. I'll meet with him. Kohaku, if you will, would you kindly show our guests to the guest rooms? I'm sure they are exhausted from their travels."
"Of course!" He replied, watching as his sister disappeared into the manor before them. Turning to Yuuta and Kagome, Kohaku couldn't help but notice in the light of the torches behind him, how pretty the young woman's semblance appeared; she was unlike other women, somewhat foreign as he noticed her large blue eyes; it was faint, but even in the darkness, he noticed.
The whispers which resounded upon their unexpected visit, perturbed Kagome and Yuuta slightly, the villagers, who were dressed somewhat different than they, continuously watched and pointed at them, very few peeking outside their huts in curiosity.
Kohaku noticed this, and slightly sweat dropping, he offered an apologetic smile. "Please do not mind the others. We don't often get visitors from outside. They are just a bit wary, is all," He hoped his words would comfort their troubled thoughts. "If you will, follow me. We have plenty of rooms available, and if you need, I can have someone draw a bath."
Pleased by the boy's gentle hospitality, Kagome and Yuuta followed after, the hiking bag hefted over Yuuta's shoulder without a care. Unfortunately, Clover was left behind by the cart, hopefully she'd find shelter within a barn for the night. Crossing the wooden staircase, Kohaku guided them around the house on the outside terrace which encompassed the entirety of the manor.
Eventually, after passing a series of small ponds on the sides of the structure, bountiful flowerbeds and trees, they arrived before a large shoji screen door. Kohaku slid the door open, and both Yuuta and Kagome marveled at it's beautiful interior. Not only were the floors perfectly clean and polished, the color shining amidst the candle lights within, they noticed many detailed black and white paintings aligning the walls. There was a beautifully intricated low rising table in the middle of the floor, soft pale blue cushions at each end. There was also shelving within, lavish pottery and plants settled in the corners of the room and all in all, it seemed warm and comfortable within.
Stepping inside, Kagome and Yuuta made themselves comfortable. It seemed too large for just two people and the amount of space within seemed almost unbelievable; they were sure an army of twenty men could fit within the room.
Kohaku crossed the room and pointed towards another shoji screen door within. "You'll find your futons inside as well as a basket to lay your child. There's another building outside this room which you may use to relieve yourselves."
At this mentioning, Kagome's head swiveled around, her mouth gaped in surprise. Indoor plumbing? Were they joking? Did they seriously have indoor plumbing, even in this era? "Really?"
Sensing her excitement, Kohaku nodded. "Yes. Let me show you."
Exiting the large room, he beckoned Yuuta and Kagome behind him, and as they walked along the other side of the terrace, directly behind their room, they noticed an attachment to the structure. Seeing this filled Kagome with elation. This was perfect. Indoor plumbing. Kagome never thought she'd dream of a day where she didn't have to relieve herself in the forest.
Pleased their guests were satisfied with the living space, he couldn't help but feel his face warm upon noticing Kagome's smile. "I'm sure my sister will return with word from our father shortly. So, in the meantime, please relax and enjoy your stay. The maids will bring you food and refreshments soon. If you need anything, just ask."
With that said, Kohaku excused himself, disappearing around the side of the manor, leaving Kagome and Yuuta standing before the bathroom. As Yuuta returned back to the guest room, Kagome called out to him before handing him Shippo. "Can you hold him? I need to use the bathroom."
Yuuta blinked, accepting Shippo into his arms before nodding and turning on his sandaled feet, disappearing around the terrace until he was nowhere in sight.
Once he was gone, and satisfied there were no other occupants around, Kagome slid the door open to the small building and stepped inside. Unfortunately, her hopes to relieve herself in a fancy porcelain basin immediately deflated. Sitting in the center of the small space was a single copper chamber pot, it's smooth surface shining; it was no bigger than one of her mom's cooking pots back home.
"Seriously?" Her shoulders fell and a heavy sigh escaped her. There went her dreams for indoor plumbing. How in the world was she supposed to use this without falling on her butt and making a mess? Not only did she have to go number one, but nature was also calling at the backdoor; she'd been holding it for the remainder of the trip in the mountains. "Am I supposed to squat?" She was used to sitting and she was never a squatter.
Next to the chamber pot sat a stack of what looked like thin white rice paper, and as she knelt down beside it, she held a single sheet in her palm, touching its somewhat soft and rough texture. So, did this act as toilet paper in this era? Was this something the upper-class used to wipe themselves? Would it even sustain the weight without breaking?
"I could really go for some Charmin Ultra right about now…" Looking at the sheets, less was definitely not more in this era.
Now that she thought about it, where was she supposed to dispose of this rice paper? Surely not within the pot itself? It wasn't even that big, but thankfully, no odor emitted from inside; in fact, it was entirely empty. That was a relief; at least it was regularly emptied.
Kagome paused, her eyes squinting at the pot bemusedly. Was she supposed to empty the pot after using it? She wasn't sure. If so, then where would she empty it? Tossing it in the beautiful gardens outside was definitely not an option, and there didn't seem to be any waste bins around either. Maybe the maids regularly visited the room and took it away to clean? That was probably the case; maybe she was overthinking things.
With a hesitant sigh, she looked at the closed door behind her and back at the pot. It was now or never, so she might as well get this over with. Despite all this, she was thankful they had some form of indoor plumbing; at least she wouldn't have to travel through the entire village, go through the gates and find a bush to squat in. There was no way to hide her shame or bury it underneath leaves; once she was finished, she was sure someone would see it. The thought of Yuuta coming in and seeing a dirty pot filled her thoughts and she flushed in embarrassment.
Sighing, she lifted her pale blue kimono and positioned herself above the pot, bending herself at the knees slightly before staring intensely at the shoji door a few feet in front of her. Hopefully no one walked in on her like this, kimono hiked up and legs open. "I should be relieved, but why am I so tense?"
Sango stood outside the room of her father's study, her eyes staring at the letter grasped within her hand. After meeting with these people on the mountains, she couldn't help but wonder if father would provide them with the help they needed; it was obvious from the writing, the village suffered great loss, but besides that, her thoughts lingered on the young woman.
"Enter,"
Hearing her father's voice on the other side of the shoji door, Sango looked up and slid the door open, stepping inside before closing the door behind her. Moving in front of him, she knelt before him, offering him a respective bow.
"You returned early from your mission. How did it go?"
"It was a success. The demons were easily slain, father."
Pleased by her response, he lowered the scroll onto his desk and stared at his daughter kindly. The mission would have taken anyone else from their village a full four days to complete, but she managed in two, arriving just before the morning. He had hopes she would succeed far better than any other, and he was right. "Very good. I expected nothing less from you. For now, I'm sure you're exhausted from your endeavors, so we'll speak more of this in the morning, Sango."
"Thank you, father. But I have news that deserves your attention and it seems quite urgent."
Her words baffled him, but he nodded worryingly. Did something happen? Were there problems arising in their neighboring villages? Or spies? What urgent news desired their utmost attention? "Speak freely. What has happened?"
Regaining her standing, she approached his side and offered him a rolled-up sheet of parchment tied loosely with a piece of straw. As she knelt once more beside him, she watched as he loosened the straw and unraveled the letter, his eyes staring keenly upon every word. Almost immediately, he noticed the red seal at the bottom and looked at his daughter somewhat troubled. "Where did you get this?"
"I received this from a young couple who is now residing in our guest quarters."
"From Lady Kaede's Village?" He inquired, his mouth opened in surprise. It'd been years since he last communicated with the older woman, but to know she and her village were suffering such extremities left a bitter taste in his mouth. Had he known sooner of this, he would have acted without delay.
"Father?" She called, noticing his perturbed expression mingled with worry. She recognized the seal the moment she encountered Kagome and Yuuta up on the mountain. The seal had a faint resemblance to one of father's old letters he often received when communicating with particular villages across the Musashi Province. Despite the letter's urgency and need to speak with the leader of the Demon Slayers, she felt it was right bringing the couple here; perhaps her father knew them, and she was right.
"Are they still awake? Our guests?" He asked.
Sango nodded. "They are resting after their travels. I've already asked the maids to bring them food and refreshments."
"Very well. Once they've eaten, bring them to me. There is much to discuss tonight."
A relieved sigh escaped Kagome as she closed the shoji door and leaned against it. After what seemed like several minutes, she finally felt relief. If there was one thing she wished these people had for their indoor plumbing, it was definitely better rice paper; she swore she used several sheets in order to get the job done. Maybe they could upgrade to cloth instead? Then again, cloth in this era was highly valuable, depending on its material. Even shabby cloth would have been better than rice paper.
Secondly, she wished for Kami's sake, that there was some kind of lock or latch for the door; anyone could have walked in on her. If someone was using the bathroom, and indoors, she expected to feel an air of ease but instead, the entire ordeal was unfortunately tense.
Besides that, she was sure Yuuta had to use the chamber pot as well, but she was hesitant to step away from the small building. Kagome didn't feel comfortable with him seeing the dirtied pot.
The sound of soft footsteps resonated around her and expecting someone to appear around the terrace of the manor, she pulled away from the shoji, her face suddenly flushed as if she'd been caught guarding the building. However, no visible person appeared around the manor, and as she looked each way, it was quiet. She was sure she heard someone.
Again, she heard the noise of shuffling feet, coupled with the sound of floorboards creaking, a soft thud here and there, and she turned unexpectedly towards the door behind her. What? Was someone inside? How was that possible? There were no other doors within the bathroom, at least, none she noticed.
Pressing her ear up against the thin paper of the shoji screen door, she listened intently, hearing the sounds of something clinking onto the floor, the shuffling of two different footsteps and then the sounds of something sliding closed after. There was definitely someone inside, but as she waited an extra minute, she heard nothing. What was that?
Curious, she slowly slid the door open, peering inside. Expecting to smell the dirty pot, she instead smelled something sweet, and stepping inside, she realized there was a small clay bowl with incense burning within the room.
Kagome blinked. "Incense? This wasn't here before…"
Even the chamber pot, which had been dirtied moments before, was suddenly clean, it's interior and exterior sparkling amidst the candlelight. There was not a speck of filth seen within, and she backed away in surprise. It was definitely clear someone came in, removed the pot and replaced it with another, with the
Kagome's face flushed a dark scarlet. All this time, the maids must have been watching and listening, hidden behind the walls of a secret door. Realization struck her, and remember what she knew from history, there were usually hidden passageways which allowed maids to come in and clean the quarters without being seen in the halls; then again, that wasn't necessarily Japanese history. In her case, the walls really did have ears.
Deciding to leave the room, she closed the door behind her and returned across the terrace to the guest bedroom where Yuuta was likely still waiting. As she entered within, she saw him sitting with Shippo before the low rising table, the futons already laid out for the two of them. The wrappings which had concealed Shippo the entirety of the day, were finally removed, his small ears and tails twitching as he playfully cooed at Yuuta's hand which rested above his belly.
Yuuta noticed her perturbed expression upon entering, his eyes following her form as she seated herself across from him. "Did something happen?"
"No. they have an interesting bathroom," She explained.
Despite her air of awkwardness, the doors suddenly slid open, revealing two young maid servants, dressed in long pale pink kimono's, their hair pulled back into low ponytails, the lengths of their black hair falling to their hips. In each hand, they held flat wooden trays, an assortment of delicious smelling food wafting towards them.
The maids paid Shippo no mind, setting the delicious food upon the table gently and without making any noise. Once it was placed before both Yuuta and Kagome, they offered a respective bow to each person and exited the room.
Kagome and Yuuta marveled at the food; it was more exquisite then they imagined. There was steamed rice, a large ration of beef cooked to perfection sitting amidst the steamed vegetables, there was also baked bread and two, pickled plums and radishes. Their drinks consisted of water and sake, the alcohol being something Kagome was never used to drinking. Set off to the side, there was also two small bowls filled with fresh milk, milk they assumed they brought for Shippo. All in all, the feast looked delicious, and as they delved in, they didn't realize how hungry they'd been the entire day.
After feeding Shippo and filling their empty stomachs, they sighed in contentment. They were being treated far better than they first imagined. Perhaps, this meeting with the leader of this clan wouldn't be so bad as they first thought. As they thought this, there was a sudden knock upon the outside door, their heads turning curious when they noticed the figure of a person on the other side.
"Come in," Kagome replied, turning away from the low rising table.
The door slid open, revealing a familiar face. It was Sango, still dressed in her black attire, a one-piece suit, with violet dyed leather arm guards, leg guards with tabi footwear. A violet sash was wrapped around her petite waist, knotted at the side where the remainder of the sash fell loosely against her upper thigh. There was a golden emblem stitched into the cloth, a small image which displayed a beautifully intricated butterfly.
A ninjato was secured within her sash at her hip, a short sword often seen in Feudal Japan, and was commonly used by a clan of ninjas, or at least that's what Kagome learned in her history books. Was it possible the Demon Slayers derived from ninjas? Upon closer inspection of Sango's outfit, it did seem likely, but it was still uncertain.
As for her hood and scarf which concealed her face from view earlier, they were both loosened around her, revealing long chestnut brown hair, pulled high into a ponytail behind her, her lengths falling against her mid back. Her caramel brown eyes sparkled as she looked upon them, her small lips which were surprisingly painted in light pink color, her complexion slightly darker than their own. Over all, she was a very beautiful woman, this they could not deny.
"If you will, my father is ready to speak with the two of you," Her soft voice replied.
Realizing Shippo was entirely unconcealed before Sango, Kagome quickly reached for the blanket to shroud his demon characteristics, but upon hearing Sango's voice call out, she paused, looking back in confusion.
"It's fine. You do not need to hide him from us. We already know," She replied, smiling still. "In fact, if you could, bring him with us," She replied before stepping outside onto the terrace.
Gathering Shippo in her arms and with Yuuta following close beside her, they exited the room and followed behind Sango, her height slightly taller than Kagome by a few inches. As their footsteps resounded within the late evening, the settlement beyond the manor quiet, they eventually arrived before a shoji screen door, a room which housed Sango's father, the leader of the Demon Slayer Clan.
Without even knocking, she slid the door open, beckoning Kagome and Yuuta within. As they stepped inside, the room well-lit with candle light, intricate paintings aligned the wall, shrubbery at every corner, and in truth, it was no different than their guest bedrooms. They were immediately frozen in place, the sight of his intimidating stare watching them.
The lord was seated upon plush cushions, dressed in simple blue attire, with matching hakamas, a maroon sleeveless haori overtop his shirt and tied at the middle, its length no longer than his hips. A slight beard accentuated his sharp jawline, a well-groomed mustache above his lips with black hair held in a high topknot, a few strays fanning above his thick brows.
For a brief moment, no words were voiced as he scrutinized them, his intimidating stare transfixed upon the small baby cradled in Kagome's arms. Similar to Yuuta, he was a man of great height with broad shoulders, though there were no signs of battle wounds, but his dark eyes were fixed with a fierceness which could frighten many.
Closing the door behind her, Sango took her place on her father's left, her hands placed upon her knees as she regarded Kagome and Yuuta, her stare less intimidating.
"So…" His voice drawled somewhat loudly, causing Kagome to stiffen slightly from her place on the floor. "You've arrived from Kaede's Village?"
Yuuta nodded. "Indeed, milord."
He leaned back, his head canted slightly as he unraveled the letter upon the table before him, his eyes staring blankly upon the parchment. "You traveled all the way out here to meet with me, a lord of a terrifying clan. You must be really brave or perhaps very foolish."
An air of silence fell between them, the tension so thick, Kagome wasn't sure if she could find her voice. It was frightening. Never before had she ever acquainted herself with someone of higher power than Lady Kaede, someone who could easily erase her existence with a lift of a finger.
The leader continued. "To think you managed to get this far into my settlement, and by my daughter's assistance. I'm surprised. I don't often meet with outsiders or demons for that matter," He began, his arms suddenly crossed as he narrowed his eyes at Kagome. "You must certainly be foolish to think I would offer my assistance to you, a person I've only just met. Tell me, why do you harbor this demon?"
Gulping, Kagome lifted her head, her eyes staring warily at the lord. "I made a promise. I promised Shippo's mother that I would raise him as my own and that I would protect him with my life," She answered softly but loud enough in which he could hear her.
Her words surprised him, and hear he thought she simply took pity on the creature out in the wilderness. "How interesting… Your name is Kagome, correct?"
She nodded. Was he accepting this? He wasn't planning to harm Shippo, was he? Then again, if he were, he would have likely done it sooner. As her eyes shifted warily towards Sango, she saw that she remained indifferent to the conversation, her eyes watching her and Yuuta closely and somewhat relaxed.
"Tell me then, Kagome, do you know anything about raising a demon?" He questioned, but when he received nothing but a slight shake of her head, he continued. "In fact, do you know what makes up a demon?"
Why was he asking her that? What makes up a demon? Before she transversed into the Feudal Era, she never believed in their existence. To her, they were nothing but mythological beings only found in fictional books. However, after spending almost three months in this Era, she realized they were more than just myths. "They are … terrifying creatures capable of destroying an entire village. They harness terrifying powers…" Maybe that wasn't the correct way to define them, but she honestly didn't know anything more about them.
From her answer, he nodded. "And what are those powers called?"
There was a name for such? Kagome froze, trying to understand his meaning, but she failed trying to find an answer. "I … don't know…"
"A demon is something we also refer to as a yokai, and they can be anything ranging from objects, apparitions and even physical creatures," Sango suddenly interrupted, answering for Kagome, much to her appreciation. "As to their powers, we typically refer to a demon's energy as its yoki, and for all demons, it varies. You see, throughout a demon's lifespan, its yoki remains constant, depending on the species that is, but in certain cases, can easily increase during certain circumstances."
"Certain circumstances?" Kagome asked.
Sango nodded. "In most cases, their yoki feeds off the malevolent desires we humans often carry in our hearts. It's that evil which greatly increases their own energy and the results often lead to great massacres. Other instances we've have witnessed in our daily travels were of demons consuming those who hold spiritual powers, such as priests, priestesses and monks," She replied, immediately surprising Kagome. "The child you carry within your arms, Kagome, is no different than any other demon. This is what my father is trying to explain."
Kagome's cerulean eyes fell upon the child lying awake in her arms. Shippo wasn't like that. He was a baby, incapable of harming anyone. She was sure, with the right guidance in life, he would live a fruitful life, devoted to helping others, not harming them. "Shippo won't hurt anyone. He's just a baby."
"And that right there, my dear, is something which will endanger not only your life, but that of your village," The lord answered, his voice cold and threatening. "The child might seem innocent now, but once it's grown, it will no doubt stir up a great deal of trouble. Maybe not in your lifetime, but certainly in the years to follow."
Kaede said these people could help her care for Shippo, but after hearing his comments, it seemed he was unlikely to do so; there was an aggressiveness about him, an anger towards all demons, it seemed. Even if Shippo was the same species of these terrifying creatures, it didn't mean he'd grow up in the same way. "Lady Kaede said you could help me, but so far, you're only labeling my child like all other demons. Shippo isn't like that. He's just a baby," She replied, her voice rising each second. "If you aren't going to help us, then just say it and don't waste our time. Because if you try to lay a hand on him, I won't hesitate to protect him."
The young woman's threat surprised everyone, even Yuuta who was nervously sweat dropping beside her, his eyes staring hesitantly between the lord and Kagome.
Unexpectedly, the lord's eyes softened and he threw his head back with laughter, his entire body trembling by the force. He really didn't expect the child to come right out and reveal her fiery temperament, but she certainly did amuse him. "That right there is the spirt of a mother, one who fight head to toe to protect her child," He laughed, throwing Yuuta and Kagome off.
Sango sighed, shaking her head at her father. "Father, you should be ashamed of yourself. Look how scared they were."
"I was only having a little fun, Sango," He answered, his laughs receding as he smiled kindly at Kagome. "Forgive me, but the moment was too perfect. I couldn't help myself. Do not worry, you are both safe here and I will not harm your child; I assure you."
Thankful it was nothing but a harmless little prank, Kagome sighed in relief. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she would have done had he continued, but there was a chance she might have walked out on him and Sango.
"Now, with regards to your letter, I can clearly see your village is facing great troubles. When it comes to supplying your village with needed food, that will not be a problem. We will be able to give you enough to last you a few months," He answered, his eyes skimming through the letter once more.
"Thank you so much!" She beamed. This was great.
"It also seems like a few huts were destroyed during a fire and demon attack," He suddenly replied before looking solemnly at the two. "First thing in the morning, I will ask for volunteers among my people to travel with you and your husband back to the village and help with repairs. I'm sorry your entire village has faced so many hardships these past couple months. We'll also check your fields while there, since it seems the recent harvests have been poor."
"Father, you have yet to introduce yourself."
He sweat dropped suddenly. Because of his earlier distraction teasing Kagome and Yuuta, he almost forgot to introduce himself. "Ah yes. Forgive me. My name is Shako. It's a pleasure to meet both of you," He replied kindly, receiving their nods after. "Now on to your son. As you said before, you adopted the child. In this letter, it says the mother was on her deathbed and you risked your life to deliver the child into this world, regardless of your people's warnings."
"You truly possess a kind heart, Kagome. Not many would have done such a thing," Sango replied shortly after.
Shako continued. "You've come here to request information on how to raise Shippo. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with that at all; although we may be a clan of Demon Slayers, our expertise remains solely on eliminating them, not raising them," He replied. "But, seeing as how you've had the child for a short time, you seem to be raising him well."
"Mainly we've relied on feeding him goat's milk," Yuuta replied.
Sango smiled at this. "Raising Shippo shouldn't be any different to raising a human, at least starting off. I can honestly tell you, through my travels across the provinces, I have seen a few half demons raised no differently than humans."
"Half demons?" Kagome blinked. "So, we won't have to worry about feeding him raw meat until he gets older?"
From her words, Shako laughed. "That's a misjudgment among humans. Not all demons eat raw meat, at least not the ones we've encountered."
"I see…" So, it didn't matter then? In that case, as soon as Shippo was older, he could probably eat regular human food without a problem. "So, you've come across half demons? I've heard of half demons before, but I never asked about them..."
Sango nodded. "When a human or demon, regardless of gender, copulate, they have children who are a mix of both species. In some ways, there are half demons who will look scarcely similar to humans and at times, it might be difficult to discern at all. Often enough, you can easily notice a difference in their characteristics. For instances, some may have tails, different variations of ears or marks upon their bodies. Even their eyes might appear a different color as well as their hair, however not all half demons favor humans; there are those with more animalistic appearances, most not pleasing to the eyes."
"So, they come out as ugly children?" Yuuta asked, raising eyebrows from the father and a nod from Sango.
"Well, in simpler terms, yes," Sango sweat dropped.
Shako laughed once more at Yuuta's response. "Such a blunt response, but not entirely wrong. Now, if you would be so kind, I would like to hold your child," He asked, lifting his hand towards Kagome's general direction.
Despite the fear of handing her child to the leader earlier, she felt more relaxed than before. With a nod, she passed Shippo over to him, the father carefully cradling the child against his chest, his smile widening as the baby's green eyes locked with his. "This is the first I've held a demon child on my lap. Not very intimidating at all. He looks to be a Red Kitsune."
"He has a habit of pulling anything in sight," Kagome laughed, watching as the child made small noises in the lord's arms.
"He's no different than how Sango and Kohaku were when they were both babies. Nothing but a bunch of babbling and drool on the side."
"Father, be careful to hold the child's head properly," Sango chided.
"I know how to hold a child. I've held you and your brother plenty of times," He replied back with a laugh. Turning back to Kagome, he continued. "Now I have been informed that the Shikon Jewel has resurfaced and within you, Kagome. Is that true?"
Yuuta blinked. Shikon Jewel? Within Kagome's body? What was he talking about? This was a first hearing such information. Then again, now that he thought about, he remembered his first encounter with the girl. The reason he and his men attacked the village in the first place was to find a jewel which was rumored to hold incredible powers. Was it possible the lord was referring to the same jewel? "What does he mean by that? Is this the same jewel…"
Looking at Yuuta, Kagome nodded. That's right; Kaede told her not to reveal anything of the Shikon Jewel to anyone, so not even Yuuta knew of it. Were anyone to find out about it, it would surely bring about great problems. Somehow, she felt a bit bad keeping this a secret. Since they journeyed all this way, he deserved to know. "Yes. The very jewel that bird demon was after."
Yuuta accepted this answer. He didn't fully understand why it was inside her body, but now that he was somewhere on the same page, he didn't say anything more. He was sure he'd receive answers to his questions very soon in regards to the jewel.
"You see, I was born with this jewel inside me. If I had to point out exactly where in my body, I'd say the middle of my chest, probably; that's where Kaede saw it when my powers first emerged…"
Yuuta nodded slightly. "Wait. If this jewel truly does house incredible powers, could it be possible the powers which emerged from you weren't your own but the jewel's?"
Kagome paused. That was a good question, something she hadn't thought much about since that day. Supposedly, according to Lady Kaede, there was priestess blood flowing through her veins, blood which derived from her grandfather's side of the family. "Well, my grandfather is a priest, but anything regarding the jewel and why it's inside me, I am not certain," She replied, looking back at the lord and Sango. "I wanted to ask you about the jewel. Lady Kaede told me your clan was responsible for destroying it fifty years ago."
"And you would be correct. My father found the jewel after defeating a terrifying demon. Mistress Centipede. Back then, the jewel was discolored and tainted, and so he called upon a well-known priestess to purify the jewel. Once the evil within was quelled, my father destroyed the jewel. It was thought the jewel would never resurface again, but apparently, we were wrong to think so," He replied, puzzled by this mysterious event.
"If you don't mind me asking. How was the jewel created? There must be a reason why it has so much power, right?" Kagome asked.
Hearing Kagome's question, Sango reached for a small beige tome beside her; it was thin in weight, it's spine held together by thin black string at each end, a style normally seen in ancient times. "The origins of the jewel began roughly around 580 years ago in the Heian Era. In that time of warring chaos, the world was plunged into darkness; it was an age which mankind struggled for power against these creatures and many never thought we'd surpass it," Sango explained, handing Kagome the open book.
Glancing over the fine penmanship, the text clearly written with brush and ink, Kagome noticed a particular date at the beginning of the page followed after by the name Midoriko. "Priestess Midoriko?"
Priestess Midoriko
Heian Era: 890-910
Sango nodded. "Amidst the chaos, a woman appeared. Her name was Midoriko and many spoke of her great spiritual powers; you see, she was rumored to be a powerful priestess who fought theses beasts single handedly and without remorse. Back then, some believe she was the only priestess with such incredible powers to have existed, and she was both loved and feared by many, even her own people."
Kagome blinked. This was certainly news to her. So, the Shikon Jewel originated as far back as the Heian Era? But, what did it have to do with this priestess? "Are you saying she created the jewel? Something which houses both good and evil?"
"Indeed, but not because she wanted to. She was attacked one day by hundreds of demons. The battle lasted seven days and nights. It's said she used the last of her energy to pull the soul of a very powerful demon from its body and merged it with her own, the result expelling both hers and the demons' soul from her body entirely. In the end, she gave her life to stop the battle and saved many."
"She forced her own soul out of her body? Wasn't there any other way to avoid that?" Kagome asked, her eyes widening.
"I'm afraid not. The demon was so powerful, even she couldn't muster the strength to destroy it physically. If I had to guess, and I might be wrong, it's possible the demon had a regenerative ability, something which was impossible to fight against at the time. In her last efforts, the Sacred Jewel was born, and housed within are the souls of Midoriko and the demons. A creation of both good and evil."
"So, in the wrong hands, this jewel could threaten humanity?" Yuuta asked, his arms crossed as he mused over this information.
"Indeed. Unfortunately, I cannot explain why it is the jewel manifested after the battle, but I believe Midoriko's efforts were slightly in vain. The battle might have stopped centuries ago, but the feud between demons and humans still thrive in this age, just not as tremendous," Sango answered. "There are books which tell of this legendary priestess, and we even have records dating back to her place of birth."
"That's incredible. I feel kind of bad for her though. I'm sure she didn't enjoy fighting demons. She probably didn't have much to live for besides battling," Kagome replied despondently, imagining the cruel life this woman must have endured.
Shako's eyes fell upon the blue and white beads entwined around Kagome's wrist, the same beads which Shippo also wore. "Now that you know the origins of the jewel, Kaede mentioned your powers only recently surfaced during a terrible ordeal with a bird demon. The subjugation beads you wear are currently subduing your powers."
"Yes. I'm not sure if it's technically spiritual powers or the jewels though…"
"So, I assume this is the first it's ever happened?" Shako inquired, once more receiving a nod from Kagome. In the young woman's case, it could likely be either or. Then again, there was also the possibility her spiritual bloodline mingled with the jewel. "This is rather interesting, but it leaves me with a very disturbing feeling. Since the jewel has returned to this world, it doesn't bode well for anyone, not even yourself…"
"Father?" Sango's gaze fell upon Shako, her father's eyes closed as if in deep concentration. It was obvious he was troubled, especially since her grandfather supposedly destroyed the jewel. She didn't blame him; how did it return and in the body of this young girl? Her caramel eyes swept over Kagome. "If you don't mind me asking, have you always lived in Kaede's Village?"
That was a question Kagome was not expecting. Well, she certainly couldn't reveal the truth; Kaede might have believed her, but she wasn't sure if the slayers would so easily understand her time travel capabilities. "Well, to answer that, no…"
Shako raised a brow. "Is that so? Where does your village reside?"
"Can I be completely honest?" When she received their nods, she continued. "It wasn't until I came to Kaede's Village that I didn't know what a demon was. All my life, I've been sheltered. Grandfather and mother were very strict, and I've never seen a demon before or realized their existence until I arrived to Lady Kaede's Village," She somewhat lied, hoping they wouldn't press her for more information.
They merely blinked at her words. Never knew the existence of demons until recently? How was that possible? They weren't dealing with an ordinary woman, that much was certain, and judging by her hesitance to reveal anything further, there were secrets involved regarding her homeland.
"Since you mentioned your grandfather was a priest, you must live on a shrine," Shako mused. "You've lived a secluded life since the moment you were born; your family truly did their utmost to protect you, Kagome."
Kagome nodded. "You see, I never took part in priestess training. In fact, I didn't see a point in it, nor did I realize I had priestess blood in my veins. I only recently found out during that demon attack a couple months back."
"I'm curious…" Shako began. "Could it be possible the jewel has awakened your spiritual abilities?"
There wasn't a definite answer to that, at least, none that Kagome knew. Was it possible it was both? "Is there a way to remove it? The jewel?"
Sango mused. "Doing so might be life threatening…"
"We can determine that, but first, are you willing to remove the beads from your wrist?" Shako asked.
Kagome's eyes widened at his question, her eyes shifting towards the blue and white beads hesitantly. That wouldn't be a good idea. "I was told never to take it off, otherwise swarms of demons would sense the jewel. Also…" Her gaze fell upon Shippo cradled against the lord's chest, his small little hands touching the fabric of his attire. "I don't want to risk putting Shippo in danger. I might accidentally purify him."
"I don't believe you would hurt your own child, Kagome. A priestess only uses their powers to protect others. You are in no danger here, so your powers shouldn't react negatively," Sango replied, hoping to reassure her.
Noticing Kagome's discomfort, Yuuta turned his attention to her. "What if I leave the room with Shippo? Would that make you more comfortable?"
"Yes, it would. Thank you Yuuta."
With that decided, he regained his standing and approached the lord, receiving Shippo easily enough before lowering his head respectively to lord Shako and Sango. Backing away, he slid open the shoji door and exited the room to stand out on the terrace outside.
Sango smiled and nodded reassuringly. Now that Shippo was out of the room, she was sure Kagome would feel a bit calmer. "Will this be fine? If you don't want to…"
"No. I mean, we came all the way here." Taking a deep breath, she placed her fingers onto the beads, the soft and rough surfaces chilling her suddenly. No, this was no time to panic. Maybe it would only be a quick removal without any problems. With this thought in mind, she slipped the beads off her wrist, settling them down beside her knees. For a moment, she held her breath, a heavy silence suddenly falling within the room.
Nothing happened.
Relieved, Kagome released a heavy sigh. Thank god nothing happened. Yet, as she sat there, she suddenly noticed Shako stand up and move around the room past her, approaching a shelf before gathering a collection of herbs and vials. She watched him for a few minutes, tossing the herbs into a clay bowl before pressing it down into a fine powder, emptying the few vials of strange liquids within.
After mixing the ingredients together, he sat down directly in front of her, a lot closer than she was used to and placed the bowl onto the floor at his side. Shako beckoned his daughter closer to Kagome. "Sango, if you will, slather this mixture onto Kagome's chest. We will see first hand the location of the jewel."
Kagome grew hesitant at Sango's approach and the strange mixture seated before her. She remained still, eyes watching as the woman pulled slightly on Kagome's upper kimono, lowering it until her shoulders were bare, but not exposing it any further than that. "Can I ask what that is?"
As Sango dipped her fingers into the sticky substance, slathering the dark green liquid onto her chest, a pungent smell soon followed after, enough to wrinkle Kagome's nose. "We often use this to locate certain demonic auras."
"Demonic? Is the jewel tainted?" She asked.
"It's only tainted in a sense if it were used improperly. But because you were born with the jewel inside you, we have no idea," Sango replied. By doing this, the concoction would reveal the jewel and they'd know whether or not it was tainted or pure. "Father, I've done as you've asked."
Shako nodded appreciatively, his eyes locking onto Kagome. "Kagome, we are going to need you to concentrate. By doing so, we should be able to easily locate the jewel. Normally, the demons we've used this concoction on, their auras were still quite lively, but right now, Kagome, we do not sense any aura coming from you."
Concentrate? Kagome didn't know how to really do that besides closing her eyes. "Alright. I'll try." As she sat there, on her knees, her eyes closed, a sudden burning sensation spread across her chest, the feeling only subtle and tingling. Perhaps it was the strange salve working its magic? "Is it supposed to burn?"
They didn't answer, their gazes transfixed on the spherical shape of the Sacred Jewel appearing on the left side of her chest, the color emitting from the salve a dim pink in color.
"That's the jewel…" Sango breathed.
"The jewel is not placed within the middle of your chest, Kagome, but directly above your heart. One thing is certain, there is absolutely no way I can remove it without risking your life," Shako replied dismally. "This jewel is your lifeline, Kagome."
Kagome's eyes flashed open at this. What? It couldn't be removed? So, she really had to live her entire life with it stuck inside her. Well, that certainly wasn't good news, and with it inside her, it would only complicate her time in this Era.
From this disheartening news, her shoulders dropped, her entire countenance displeased. Yet, as her emotions fell, the tingling she felt was replaced by a cooling sensation, one which sent shivers down her spine. Unexpectedly, her vision blurred and hexagonal shapes suddenly appeared, the outer corners of her eyes darkening. There was a numbing feeling overcoming her senses, she felt it. Why was this happening?
"Kagome, are you alright?" Shako asked, noticing the young woman's face pale suddenly, her eyes staring at nothing in particular.
The sight of the jewel's pink aura darkened with each passing second, the spot upon Kagome's chest growing rapidly. Both Sango and her father were surprised by this, the visage of the jewel becoming much larger and blacker.
What was this feeling? She felt disoriented and dizzy, as if she were on the verge of passing out. Was it the jewel? For some reason, even as Sango and Shako called out to her, she couldn't hear them properly; it was as if she were submerged in water, their voices only heard above the waves.
Realizing Kagome was on the verge of falling unconscious, Sango worryingly looked to her father beside her. "Father, the jewel has turned black!"