A noise roused Kagome. The little wooden shifting creak from the main room made her sigh. Shippo had a new habit of testing his skills by sneaking into their stockpile of ramen and stealing what he could. Inuyasha barely shifted when she left the futon. He continued to doze on his side with one palm supporting his head and the other loosely holding Tetsusaiga. How can he sleep that way?
"Shippo..." she whispered. The house was quiet but she could definitely sense something. "Shippo?"
Shards of glass were on the floor. The bits belonged to one of the pictures shepherded from the modern era. She sighed at Shippo's clumsiness. The kit did like to hide on the shelves to try and surprise her for his training. Scaring a priestess earned him and his friends big points with the mentors. Kagome turned on a lamp so she could sweep the bits into the bin. She removed the picture from the broken frame. Inuyasha stared back over the heads and shoulders of her family gathered outside the shrine in his wedding attire.
There was a knock at the front. Inuyasha stomped past her to open the sliding door and hang his hands on the upper frame. Around his shoulders she could see an exhausted Miroku leaning against the door and rubbing at his face.
Poor guy! Having one new baby is hard. Twins must be rough!
"Miroku-sama?"
"Apologies for the late hour, friend. I need a second opinion. Sango swears she saw a spirit in the house. I laid another sutra on the door but – may I borrow Kagome-sama? The twins only slept an hour. I can barely think. Mushin shared some of his worst sake with Kaede. I don't trust the visitors with my girls' safety."
"Of course!"
Inuyasha checked outside while Kagome brought fresh supplies to Sango. The twins were crying. She applied a fresh sutra on the inside of the door and felt the magical barrier rise to expel any unfriendly spirits. Kagome rocked Kin'u while Sango soothed Gyokuto. Miroku was half-asleep against the wall. She heard Kohaku's voice outside and the low rumble of Inuyasha's reply.
"Miroku tried to sing to them but they hated those drums. The twins have been upset all day. Then that hand came through the wall. Miroku didn't believe me. He said I was tired! 'Nothing can cross my sutra.' Well it did! You would think one of these monks could sense a wandering spirit."
"Miroku sings? How sweet!"
Inuyasha was standing outside when she emerged. Sango and the girls were finally down. The full moon overhead was temporarily obscured by the heavy clouds drifting past. The village was quiet even if the lanterns still glowed. Kagome stretched with a heavy sigh to relieve the tension in her shoulders. It delayed her response to the giant shadow that passed overhead. Even Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as a cloud appeared darker.
A white shinidamachū sailed overhead. Kagome clambered onto Inuyasha's back. Nerves twisted her stomach but she stayed silent. The demon bypassed the shrine and Kikyo's ashes for the meadow. Inuyasha leapt higher. The lights in the branches of the Goshinboku were like a thousand Christmas lights drifting about in the air. Her husband cursed when the shinidamachū opened its maw.
"Oh no you don't!"
Kagome held on tightly when Inuyasha intercepted the demon before it could inhale any of the souls playing in the Goshinboku. Tetsusaiga bisected the creature's head from its body in a single strike that dropped its remains to the grass. Souls spilled out of the wound into the air while the body dissolved into energy. They drifted freely in the moonbeams. Kagome closed one eye when several moved past her shoulders. Inuyasha sheathed the Tetsusaiga. Hundreds of innocent souls surrounded the Goshinboku on this night of memories.
"Is this part of your human festival?"
"No, but it makes sense. The Tree holds all of our memories. What really matters from your life? People." Kagome linked arms with him. Souls were drifting down from the canopy to explore the meadow freely. The luminescent light glowed through the grass. Inuyasha flinched when several floated over their feet as they bobbed and weaved in the starlight.
"Who do you think they are?"
They sat on the grassy hill. Inuyasha huffed when he realized she was cold in the autumnal air. He shrugged out of the Robe for her sake. Kagome leaned against his side. The guy only made a sound when she accused him of being worried about protecting the lights. They both knew plenty of demons and spirits might spot the Tree and come charging to eat so many souls!
"Will you ever get off my back about that Toad? The guy begged me to kill him!"
"Geez, are you still going to be stubborn? Princess Tsuyu still has her husband because of us!" Kagome tweaked his ear. "Nobunaga was kind and loyal and brave!"
"But it didn't get him the girl, did it?"
"Doing the right thing is its own reward! It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I wonder what happened to him?" Kagome stretched her legs out. The good aura surrounding the Tree was massive. A beautiful light drifted from the top all the way to the sky. She guessed that the lanterns and the festivals had made it easier to cross the border between this world and the next.
"Oh!" Kagome turned. The spirit did not react to her shock. Inuyasha moved faster to face the pale woman standing in the shadows. The shadows dimmed the color of her kimono but she recognized that face. The No-Mother had stolen her appearance to learn the location of his father's tomb. Inuyasha seemed equally entranced. Great love and sadness were displayed plainly on her face.
"Mother?"
"Inuyasha." The soft voice beckoned. "Has it been such a long time?" A pregnant silence filled the void between the pair. The princess seemed content to look at her son - with such big dark eyes! Inuyasha started and stopped a few times but he couldn't find the words. He gestured at her but no words accompanied the motion.
"Hi – I'm Kagome." She bowed deeply to show her respect.
"You are wearing the Robe." The princess smiled. "My Inuyasha would not share that easily. You must be someone special."
"We have a home together in the village nearby. We married in the spring. It's because of Kagome that I remembered the memory box, the one that used to sit on the shelf. I am sorry it took me so long to dig it up." The princess was less than concerned with his guilty confession. Kagome flushed under her appraisal. She stayed back when the princess began to walk idly with her son through the damp grass. Every glance was full of love and pride but there was also relief. Inuyasha hesitated but let her pale hand rest on his forearm. Instead of following the pair, Kagome sat on the edge of the Well. His ears were perked forward to catch every gentle word. The princess was not very old. Late twenties perhaps? She died young.
The wind brought her snippets of dialogue.
Inuyasha must have been a sweet little boy before his mother died. It was hard to picture a tiny, helpless Inuyasha racing around a castle of humans. Inuyasha quietly confirmed that he had no children but plenty of friends. Kagome kept her chin down to watch her feet. It wasn't hard to imagine little Kin'u with pale hair. The twins are adorable but they're a handful. He told his mother about their friends, human and demon and even half-demon. She was surprised to hear the inquiry about Sesshomaru.
"What about him?"
"Your father was concerned. He warned me that his son was obsessed with the Tetsusaiga. You must have learned about the pearl hidden in your eye."
"You knew about that?"
"Of course. Tetsusaiga was forged to be your heirloom. My love was determined you have it." There was no doubt in her voice, only love.
Kagome stayed on the lip of the Well when Inuyasha led her to the Tree. She didn't need to hear the words to know what he was saying. His mother wanted to hear about his life. Inuyasha had spent years alone before trying to steal the Jewel from Kikyo – he always skipped over that part. Naraku used his ability to change shape to trick Kikyo into betraying Inuyasha, spoiling the priestess' love. After sleeping for fifty years, he had awoken to make snide remarks about how silly she looked!
"Kagome?"
A man in gray trousers and a rumpled white dress shirt hesitated. Despite being a spirit, he rolled up the cuffs of his shirt in a habitual motion. The blue eyes stopped her breath. She left her perch. Despite having no true form, she embraced him. It was strange to feel arms with no weight hold her but he smelled like aftershave and soap.
"It was dangerous to open the ukihashi, Kagome! No matter the reward. You have to be careful. Not all the kami who dwell in Takamagahara are kind."
"Takamagahara, the realm of Heaven?"
"The bridge also leads to Yomi. I followed the others." Kagome stared up at the handsome face from family photos. His hands squeezed her shoulders. Inuyasha's voice broke the silence with another question for his mom. Dark eyebrows immediately clashed together when he recognized her husband.
"Dad, it's ok! That's Inuyasha." She had no choice but to follow when he led her by the hand across the meadow. His body language had changed. In the protection of a ring of trees a barrier flared to life. Purifying light flared in her face to no effect. She watched as he drew a symbol in the air with his fingers and blew. Reiki washed over her skin to no effect. "Dad, I am not under a spell!"
"You removed the kagome. What were you thinking?"
"My powers were misbehaving! I removed the mark to protect my friends."
"I cast the kagome to protect you! It is an ancient masque to hide your powers from the worst of foes. How could you be so rash? Tell the truth: did you free Inuyasha from his cursed slumber?" Kagome crossed her arms defiantly; she didn't like his tone. He ran a hand over his face. "You have always been fascinated by that demon. He killed a priestess!"
"Um, no. I freed Inuyasha and together we stopped Kikyo's real killer and stopped the Jewel!"
It took some time to explain about the Well's magic and recant how she had fallen through on her fifteenth birthday. His nose wrinkled when she described balancing school and demon slaying – yes, with Mama's permission! His jaw softened when she talked about how Inuyasha had saved them from the Noh mask.
"Your brother's name is Souta?"
"Souta just enrolled in middle school. He pesters Inuyasha about everything."
"Traveling through the portal in the Well must have weakened the kagome and revived your powers. More than a few creatures crawled through that well before it was sealed. The sutra should have lasted longer than ten years unless Father removed them. The family gift skipped his generation but he could have broken the seal. Breaking the blood seal weakens the shrine's other defenses." Dad crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. "Once the barrier around the shrine falls, demons will seek you out – not that you are still a little girl – but your mother is helpless."
"But Dad - the Jewel is gone! Why would they come?"
"Because of the kudan, the cow woman. She traveled to the shrine before you were born and died on the steps; there is a story about the fate of the Jinja-hime who was and would-be. I did not understand her warning when I was alive. You are in danger, Kagome."
"She warned you about the Jewel?" Kagome touched the fabric covering her scar. Shrine Princess?
"The kudan prophesied that many demons would seek your life. The kagome hid your powers and the Jewel from their sight. No little girl should have to save her friends from a demon preying on the ki of young children. You deserved to sleep in your own bed without spirits invading your closet. I'm sorry, Kagome. Your skin, your heart, your spirit – each one of those demons wanted to harvest a different piece of my little Kagome for a meal or some gruesome potion. Can you be so sure this Inuyasha is not biding his time for your true powers to awaken? The worst of them wear human forms to deceive their victims."
"Inuyasha isn't trying to con me! The kami blessed our marriage on the mountain!"
They both sensed the youki moving through the forest. Kagome turned to greet her brother-in-law but her father pulled her behind a tree. In silence they watched Sesshomaru drift towards the Goshinboku to indulge his curiosity about the glowing spirits. Her father's barrier hid them from the taiyoukai's notice but he did pause. Cautious gold eyes glared in their direction. The pale ear listened for any disturbance but there was none. Dad glared at the dog demon with the enormous aura.
"He must be attracted to the souls. We must stop it, Kagome. Have you had much training?"
"Sesshomaru does not eat souls! That is Inuyasha's brother. I bet he came to see the Tree. We're allies!" Sesshomaru was known to investigate strange magic for the chance to battle powerful foes. The older brother liked particularly difficult battles and strange oddities. As far as Kagome could tell, he never slept. It made him an ideal guardian for the village when they were away. The jealous dog demon cared for very little but he loved Rin. She broke through the barrier before her dad could object. Sesshomaru was watching the lights from the shadows. He didn't react to her sudden presence. There was a sudden blue flare of magic that lit the Tree from beneath.
"Kagome - " A cold hand gripped her elbow.
"Dad, this is Sesshomaru! Inuyasha's big brother. Is he still talking to his mom?" The familiarity seemed to annoy her brother-in-law but she ignored his scolding stare. Kagome peered out into the darkness. Inuyasha was totally fixated on the princess in the layers of pink silk kimono. The princess' spirit moved gracefully but Inuyasha was a bundle of nervous energy. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "Did you know Inuyasha's mother? She's really beautiful."
"Izayoi."
"Is that her name? Pretty! She seems nice." Kagome clapped her hands together. "Are you looking for someone?"
The Soul Piper drifted over the field with a group of spirits in tow. It ignored them completely. Children's laughter replaced the peaceful silence. Kagome still remembered the angry little girl pulling pranks in the park. It was the first time she had encountered a demon in her own world. A demon born from the souls of dead children; it plays with them until they are ready to go to Heaven or Hell. Even her dad seem distracted by the helpful spirit. The No-Mother sacrificed herself to save Inuyasha after she took his mother's form. And he says there are no good demons! What's the difference between a demon and a kami anyway? Intent? Sesshomaru used to be a pretty bad guy but now I trust him. Mostly.
Sesshomaru's interest was piqued by the reiki dancing on her hands. She closed her fists but her powers were already flaring.
"Sorry, Sesshomaru. I am not threatening you. It's just – hey!" A huge, pale hand closed around her wrist. The kimono protected her from his strength but not his judgment. Any direct attention from the taiyoukai was enough to send butterflies to her stomach. Her powers reacted to her nerves. Sesshomaru's eyes darkened to red. Kagome was close enough to see the markings on his face break jagged and grow.
Dizziness overwhelmed her when a vision of a proper castle buried in snow filled her vision. Two human women were stopped at the gates. The first lowered her hood to reveal her identity – Izayoi. The baby crying in her arms put the guards on edge. The second woman was not a woman at all but a female fox in disguise. Feelings of contempt and disgust were aimed at the vulnerable human princess. Izayoi was brought into the castle gates with her guardian and the doors closed.
Reiki poured out of her fingertips reflexively. Sesshomaru was powerful! She could feel him resisting the urge to transform in reaction to her power, her opposite force. Why wouldn't he let go? Maybe he can't, Kagome! Sesshomaru was flexing considerable power in their battle.
"Sesshomaru, let go!" Kagome commanded. Her arm trembled. Inuyasha always recoiled when her powers flared. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in response to her human command. Maybe he just liked pain? It was impossible to rein in her powers while they were trying to defend her.
"Release her!" Kagome watched the remains of characters dissipate on Sesshomaru's shoulder, a spell of banishment, without a flinch. She wiggled her fingers but it was no good. Her dad was quickly chanting another sutra designed to contain the taiyoukai. The terrifying blood red eyes made it unclear if he could hear her. What if he lashes out like Inuyasha? He could kill me! When his skin began to tear at the corners of his mouth, her free hand stretched out in fear. Reiki cut through the shoulder of his armor. Kagome yelled when she felt her wrist break. Sesshomaru was pushed back across the flattened grass where he sank to his knees.
"Kagome!"
Sesshomaru's transformation had definitely stopped. There was no need for her protective hanyou to growl at his brother for breaking her damn wrist! It was hard to argue with him when there was clear bruising on her skin. Inuyasha even yelled at her dad for letting it happen. Kagome noted the red burns on Sesshomaru's upturned palm. There was a familiar limp to his shoulder.
His arm - it's broken!
Kagome resisted the urge to help him. If she tried to offer him human assistance, he would take offense. The throbbing from her wrist helped distract her. Sesshomaru is a big bad demon - he will be fine in a few days. My wrist will be healing for weeks! How am I going to study for my tests? I write with that hand!
Sesshomaru glared at her with impressive gravitas for someone with a shattered limb. It was hard to concentrate on the husband in her face yelling at her. How is this my fault? The anger in his face lessened when she puffed out her bottom lip for a proper pout.
"Ow," she whined. Her wrist was turning purple and throbbing. Inuyasha was gentle when he supported her elbow and forearm to examine her injury. Kagome winced when he gently prodded her skin – a simple fracture. At least he didn't crush my hand!
"It will get worse if you don't take care of it! C'mon. Let's get out of this field. I should kill you, bastard! What the hell are you playing at?"
Kagome glared back at the taiyoukai when he summoned enough energy to heal the state of his arm until it was stiff rather than useless. He smugly raised an eyebrow in her direction when he tested his hand. It must be a trait they both inherited from their father. Kouga shattered Inuyasha's arm and it only took him a few days to heal. The taiyoukai narrowed his eyes when a ball of light expanded into the spirit of Inuyasha's mother. The gentle princess acknowledged him with a polite bow. She tuned out of Inuyasha's natural hovering. There was pressure in her forehead giving her a wicked headache. She winced when the throbbing fell into rhythm with her wrist.
Oh great, just what I needed!
"Oh, Inuyasha..." the princess sighed.
The flare of demon energy made her groan. Without her intent, reiki flowed down over her forearm. She could feel the magic in her bones like a flush of heat flowing to the end of her fingertips. It was disconcerting to feel the break set itself right while her bruises lightened and faded. The magic protected her from the pain associated but not the gross sensation. The flash of light interrupted Inuyasha's barking threats.
"Ugh, gross!" She gagged.
"Shit," someone cursed. They both watched her dad's spirit scrub his face.
"That girl is no common priestess," Sesshomaru rose. "What is she?" Kagome tested her wrists' rotation gently. The reiki still lingered in her arteries but it was fading. Inuyasha danced around her looking for anymore patterns while Sesshomaru faced down her father's steely eyes. It was a battle she recognized – he was considering fighting!
"Sesshomaru figured it out on his own, Dad. Answer him! What am I?" The hint of sunrise on the horizon made her pulse double. The lights in the Goshinboku were already beginning their ascent to Heaven and the next world. Inuyasha visibly panicked when he noticed his mother's sad smile. Inuyasha needs a chance to say goodbye to his mother! He loves her.
"Kagome, the kudan – she prophesied that my first-born would have the power to wield powerful creation magic. When you were a child, your power was raw but unhindered, and the Jewel in your side attracted demons to the shrine. Sometimes I think the spirits were born because you owned the object. You have a natural link to the spiritual energy of things. I am sorry for blinding you, Kagome, but it was necessary. Does my father still maintain the artifacts?"
"In the shed? But that is just a bunch of useless junk!"
"Most of the treasures of the Higurashi Shrine were moved to protect you, all of you. It's in the old records. Kagome. You will have to use kotodama to open the lock," her dad stepped forward. "I am sorry our time was cut short. I wanted to be there to help you and your brother. I love you, Kagome."
"I love you, too." Her throat swelled. She noted that Izayoi had similarly stepped to Inuyasha for her final words.
"Will you give your mother a message? Tell her Sasuke is sorry for our last fight. Tell her..." The spirit paused to judge the sky. "We should have had more sunrises."
"Sesshomaru, wait!" Inuyasha interjected. The taiyoukai paused at the edge of the forest. Kagome was glad when his warm, calloused hand clasped hers. The physical link helped ease the burden of the meadow's peaceful aura being replaced with an early one. He's gone! "Why did you hurt Kagome? Don't think I've forgotten!"
"Harmony and disharmony." The bored voice answered. "That girl does not need your protection."
Inuyasha scowled when Sesshomaru slipped into the forest. She gripped his shirt to keep him. The last thing they needed was another fight in the meadow! A battle between the brothers might even destroy the Well and how would she bring her father's message home then? Larks and sparrows and other birds were emerging to catch their early morning breakfast. Kagome let Inuyasha confirm for himself that her wrist was healed whole but she promised to consult Sango anyway. No one could recognize broken bones like a slayer.
"C'mon, Inuyasha. Let's get some breakfast."
