"Ah, this is great," Kagome sighed happily as she stretched out in the cool inviting waters that surrounded Yakurodokusen's home. The alcohol infused waterfall roared loudly close by with hundreds of jugs situated in perfect order at the base, just as they remembered it from the last time they were here to fix Hiraikotsu.
Inuyasha's robe draped off of his arm as he shielded his eyes from the sun and looked around. "I wonder where the old geezer's at anyway."
"Hm. I'm sure he has to be around here somewhere," Miroku chimed in looking at all the jugs.
"Who cares at this point," Sango smiled as she floated on her back near Kagome. "I could wait here like this all day."
Kagome knew her friend was just teasing, but she hoped that the sage would make an appearance sooner than later. On their trek here she explained her reasoning for wanting to come with them today, and they all agreed it was a smart decision even if it could be a dangerous process. She wasn't sure if she told Sesshomaru the truth that he would've let her come.
"Wake up you drunken old man!" Inuyasha yelled as he dumped out a jug full of alcohol.
"You again! I thought I got rid of you once already!" The sage said angrily as he hiccuped.
Sango and Kagome rolled their eyes and sighed before making their way to the waters edge. "Inuyasha!" They both yelled.
"Well now," Yakurodokusen's demeanor changed once he saw the girls, "You didn't mention you brought company."
"Watch it," Inuyasha growled as Miroku made a disgusted face.
"That would be my wife you're drooling over," Miroku warned.
The sage's large white bushy mustache fell as he frowned, "Can't an old man just admire the female body in peace?" Inuyasha's fist swiftly made contact with the sage's head and a large red welt quickly appeared. "Owwww!" He moaned while rubbing his wound.
"Consider that a friendly warning," Inuyasha huffed as he crossed his arms.
"If you think I'm helping your wife after that…" Yakurodokusen hissed.
Inuyasha's face turned as red as his robe of the fire rat. "N-No. Uh…" he began nervously scratching the back of his head.
Sensing the awkwardness, Miroku decided to handle it from here. "Yes, Kagome is the one who needs help. However her and Inuyasha are not married."
"Smart girl," Yakurodokusen winked at Kagome.
"But," Miroku continued, "She happens to be a very friendly companion of the Lord of the West."
Yakurodokusen's eyes grew wide and his matching bushy white eyebrows raised, "L-Lord of the West?" He stammered.
Miroku nodded with a smirk, "So if I were you, I would behave."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Yakurodokusen shivered, "I don't have a death wish today."
"So what, if she was with me you would still be hitting on her!?" Inuyasha asked angrily.
The sage narrowed his eyes, "I"m not afraid of you." Both men were raising a fist at each other and growling.
"If you don't mind…" Kagome interjected as she hopped out of the water. "I really need your help." Yakurodokusen pulled away from Inuyasha and looked over to her as she spoke. "I need immunity from a powerful daiyokai."
Kagome cringed as the sage's tongue quickly whirled all over her body trying to get a taste of the lingering poison within her. "Well now, it seems you've made an enemy of her Ladyship of the Skylands," the sage mumbled while playing with his long white beard.
"How- How did you know?" Miroku asked with amazement.
"I am the master of potions!" The sage reminded him with a finger pointed in the air. "Just because someone does not create poison within themselves doesn't mean I can't detect the skill and methods that are used. She is very talented," he said with another sweep over Kagome with his tongue.
Inuyasha was growing annoyed with the constant licking. "Can you help her or not?" He snapped.
The sage looked at him with a side eye, "Of course I can."
"Then. Do. It," Inuyasha said with gritted teeth.
"Very well," the sage sighed as he extended his limbs far into the field of jugs, expertly picking out two that were situated on opposite ends from each other. They landed with a thud on the grassy field where everyone was gathered. "Kagome," he stared intently at her as he gripped the lip of the jug he sat in front of her. "Just as Sango faced a trial when fixing Hiraikotsu, you too will have a trial you have to overcome." Kagome nodded. "However, your trial will have far greater consequences than just emerging immune or not against the Lady of the Skylands."
Kagome's eyes grew wide. "Wha- What do you mean?" She questioned nervously as she looked into the jug of liquid hoping to catch a glimpse of what was to come. The water was so clear she could see straight through to the bottom.
"Do you accept?" The sage asked patiently.
Kagome looked up to her friends who were looking back at her, waiting to see what her decision would be. Sango and Miroku looked slightly concerned, but confident. Inuyasha looked the most nervous of all as he looked around and slightly bit his lip, but remained silent while she debated silently to herself. She took a deep calming breath, "I accept." Sango smiled at her.
"Your guide is waiting," Yakurodokusen gestured to the jug with a smile.
Catching one last glance at her friends, she jumped into the jug of liquid and quickly disappeared. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango all gripped the edge of the jug and peered in, but they were unable to see anything other than clear liquid. "Ugh," Sango groaned.
Inuyasha gripped the edge of the jug so tight as his brothers words echoed in his mind I am entrusting Kagome in your care. I expect that you will protect her with your life if it should come to that. "How am I supposed to protect something I can't see," he muttered. "Damn it. Damn it!" He pushed off of the jug and began pacing in the field.
"You can-" the sage began to offer.
"No, I can't!" Inuyasha finished Yakurodokusen's sentence. He already knew he was going to offer him alcohol from the other jug so he could peer in on Kagome, but he wouldn't be able to be a protector if he was drunk.
Miroku rested a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Sango or I will drink some so we can keep an eye on her," he reassured him.
"Thanks," Inuyasha said with a weak smile.
:::::
"What is this place?" Kagome asked as she walked the winding path through the trees. A faint glow from the setting sun kept the darkness at bay. The sky was a beautiful mixture of navy blue and orange with subtle hints of pink. The only noise was her feet against the dirt path that seemed to go on forever. It was so quiet and peaceful it was easy to get lost in her thoughts as she took in the forest that surrounded her. "Oh," she gasped when something in the path finally changed. Before her the path widened as if there was a clearing in the center of her journey, but a wall of trees and thick brush stopped her from advancing any further.
"Kagome," Kikyo's gentle voice sent a chill down her spine.
"Ki-Kikyo?!" Kagome breathed as she began looking for her in disbelief.
In the space between her and the wall of trees and brush, a mist formed and it radiated a soft warm glow, and an apparition of Kikyo finally formed in the center of it.
"Kagome," Kikyo said again with a smile.
Kagome's mouth hung open as a tear escaped and slid slowly down her face. Besides at her death, this was the most peaceful and happy she had ever seen Kikyo before. "Is it… is it really you?" Her voice squeaked as she asked.
"Kagome, it is time. You must follow a path," Kikyo ignored her question.
"Wh-" before Kagome could finish her question the wall of trees and brush began warping, bending, and stretching. Two new paths emerged but the brush in the middle stayed the same. To the left Sesshomaru stood in the middle of the path, and to the right Inuyasha stood in the center of his path. Both men had a serious yet relaxed looks on their faces.
"I… don't understand," Kagome looked between the two paths. The choice was obvious, wasn't it? Yakurodokusen's warning blared through her mind however, your trial will have far greater consequences than just emerging immune or not against the Lady of the Skylands.
"You must follow a path," Kikyo repeated, her smile still plastered on her face.
"In terms of… what? Exactly?" Kagome was silently pleading for more of an explanation than something as simple as 'follow a path'.
"The future," was all Kikyo's apparition would offer. "You must follow one."
"O…kay," Kagome again looked between the two paths. Neither Sesshomaru or Inuyasha spoke a word to her or changed their expressions. She took a few experimental steps toward Sesshomaru's path while staring at Inuyasha. The closer she got to Sesshomaru, the more transparent Inuyasha became. She backtracked until she was standing exactly where she was at the start of her trial and Inuyasha went back to normal. Locking eyes with Sesshomaru she took a few steps in Inuyasha's direction, and he too began turning translucent the closer she got to Inuyasha. Once she went back to the spot she started in Sesshomaru went back to normal. "Does one die if I choose the other?!" Kagome asked in horror.
"No," Kikyo reassured her. "You are merely determining the future."
"Gee, that makes me feel so much better," Kagome groaned.
"You must follow a path," Kikyo repeated. "Or do you wish to stay where you are?"
Kagome looked around the small clearing searching for a clue or anything to help her understand. While her choice seemed obvious, Yakurodokusen's warning was not lost on her. She knew it couldn't be as simple as following Sesshomaru.
"Whose path will you choose?" Kikyo pressed further, still with a smile on her face. When Kagome didn't answer and continued looking around, she asked again "Or do you wish to stay where you are?"
"This is it? These are the only two paths I can choose?" Kagome again tried walking towards Sesshomaru's path, but Inuyasha slowly began to fade away. When she walked towards Inuyasha's path, the same happened to Sesshomaru. There was no difference between the two; if she walked towards one the other would begin to disappear.
::::::::
"What the hell is taking so long?" Inuyasha snarled as he looked into the clear liquid, knowing it was futile. It had been about two hours since she first jumped in.
"She's still stuck, Miroku slurred as he took another gulp of Yakurodokusen's alcohol.
"Stuck how," Inuyasha gripped his shoulders and shook him. "Does she need help? Does she need to be saved?"
"No, no" Miroku casually waved his hand. "Stuck making her choice. You can't always help her, Inuyasha," he hiccuped.
"To hell I can't!" Inuyasha growled.
"The monk has a point, you know," Yakurodokusen interjected. "Sometimes we need to follow our own path."
::::::::::::::
Defeated, Kagome sat on the ground and pressed her palms into her temples as she continued looking between the two paths before her. Other than Kikyo every so often, no one else spoke. The forest was quiet and still as she made her decision. What do I do she wondered whose path do I follow?
"You must follow a path," Kikyo repeated.
"I know," Kagome groaned as she stood to her feet. "I know I have to follow a path. I know. How do I know whose path to follow?!" She once again made her rounds to Sesshomaru's path, and then to Inuyasha's, but nothing changed. I want to follow Sesshomaru, but I don't want to affect Inuyasha either she reasoned logically.
"Or do you wish to stay where you are?" Kikyo asked again.
"No… I…can you please tell me something, anything, to help me understand what to do?" She begged Kikyo's apparition as she walked closer hoping for some guidance.
"Whose path do you wish to follow?" Kikyo asked.
"It's not that simple and you know it," Kagome argued, walking closer. "Please Kikyo, please tell me what I'm supposed to do."
"Follow whose path you wish to take," Kikyo answered with a smile.
"It's not that simple!" She cried out and fell to the ground. With her face hidden behind her hands, Kagome sobbed. Am I going to be stuck here forever, unable to make a choice? When her crying let up, Kagome rubbed her eyes and traced her under eye lids with her finger to remove any remaining tears. She looked to Sesshomaru, who was as opaque as could be. Turning to Inuyasha she also noticed he looked no different as she sat in the middle of the clearing. "Huh?" She quickly rose to her feet. Kikyo's apparition still stood in the center just a foot away from her, smiling.
"You must follow a path, Kagome" Kikyo urged her.
A sigh of relief washed over Kagome as a small smile lifted at the corners of her mouth. Happily, she walked through Kikyo's apparition where a feeling of peace and calm literally rained over her. When she emerged from the other side her skin was dewey and her hair was covered in a fine mist. Before her was a wall of brush, while Sesshomaru was still on the path to the left and Inuyasha the path to the right. Kagome reached her hand into the brush and pushed it aside. Thorns traced against her skin giving her paper cut like tears, sharp edges gently punctured her skin, insects crawled over her hand and some nibbled on her flesh, but another path was revealed. Looking over her shoulder as she pushed harder against the brush, Kagome could see Kikyo beaming at her.
"Sometimes, despite the discomfort and hard decisions, it's important to follow your own path," Kikyo's apparition slowly faded and the mist that surrounded her sparkled as it evaporated back into the air.
Kagome took a deep breath in and then released it slowly before continuing on the path.
Her path.
As she walked she could see a stone sitting in the middle of the path, and when she approached it a small white bowl was centered perfectly on top. "Not another test," Kagome whined. She took the small white bowl into her hands and was waiting for her next instruction, but Kikyo didn't come back. After one deep inhale of the dark liquid that was inside the bowl it was obvious to her it was Yakurodokusen's potion. She immediately thought back to when she saw Miroku collapse after drinking his potion for the miasma coursing throughout his body, even if she didn't know that's what it was at the time.
Although the sage's potions are effective, they can also be painful with no guarantee of survival. Kagome hesitated with the bowl at her lips; her hands shook as she tipped the bowl slightly to encourage the liquid closer to the edge. Once the liquid touched her lips she quickly put the bowl back down on the stone and panicked. "I can't do this alone," she whispered, and slowly turned her head to the left. Through the thick trees that lined her path, she could see a large figure standing in the distance looking at her, watching her. She immediately recognized the armor and mokomoko trailing off of his shoulder, and her heart skipped a beat. Excitedly turning to the right she could see another figure deep in the trees wearing a red robe. She bravely put the bowl to her lips and let more of the liquid in. Just because I'm following my own path doesn't mean there won't be people there for me. Watching over me. Protecting me. Helping me. Kagome wiped her mouth on her forearm and grimaced at the bitter aftertaste the potion left.
:::::::::::::::
"Woooo Kagome," Miroku hiccuped as he took another swig of alcohol that Yakurodokusen offered.
"Oh thank goodness," Sango sighed. The break from the kids and day to day life wasn't as relaxing when you're waiting to see the outcome of a friends important journey.
"What. What!" Inuyasha again shook Miroku's shoulder's. "What's happening you drunk!"
"Kagome figured it out," Miroku raised his cup into the air. "She took her own path."
Inuyasha gave him a look. "What the hell does that mean" he prodded.
:::::::::::::::::::
Kagome's body felt like it was on fire; not from fever, but it felt like her insides were getting warmer and warmer as the potion made it's way through her body. Sweat beaded on her forehead despite the temperate not changing wherever she was, and sweat would randomly drip down her back. How much longer do I have in here she wondered. In her peripheral vision she noticed that both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha seemed more defined compared to when they were at the stone. With every step they seemed to get closer and closer to her, with only a small line of trees separating the trio. As much as she wanted to call out to them, she knew she wouldn't get a response. After walking a few more feet they were even clearer now, with only one tree to the left and one tree to the right separating them before another clearing. Kagome stopped between the trees and the others followed suit on their respective paths. When Kagome passed through the imaginary threshold, both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha joined her.
The three had previously been walking together but alone on their own separate paths. Now as they all walked together they were united on one path. Sesshomaru on the left, Kagome in the middle, and Inuyasha on the right. "Huh," Kagome wondered out loud as she looked between the two brothers on either side of her. The path continued on, but the further they walked the brighter the light ahead of them became.
:::::::::::::::::::
"What. Is. Happening," Inuyasha shook Miroku's shoulders.
"I. Can't. See. When. You're. Shaking. Me," Miroku's head wobbled back and forth. The world around him was spinning in more ways than one.
"Tell-" Inuyasha stopped mid shake when the liquid in the jug began spilling over the sides.
Kagome emerged coughing and drenched. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she apologized while wringing her hair out.
Inuyasha released Miroku's shoulders and he went tumbling to the ground. "Cheers!" He lifted his cup into the air and went to take another sip before Sango intercepted it. "I think that's more than enough for you today," she warned.
"Are you alright?" Inuyasha asked seriously as he inspected her quickly. "What happened?"
"I'm alright," she began fanning herself with her hand. Her body temperature continued to climb despite completing Yakurodokusen's trial.
Inuyasha raised a hand to her forehead. "You're burning up," he mumbled.
"No really, I'm okay…" her vision immediately panned over to the cool waters her and Sango enjoyed earlier.
"It is a side effect of the poison you drank," Yakurodokusen offered.
Inuyasha's head snapped to the sage. "You gave her poison?" He asked with a snarl.
"Now now, calm yourself," the sage rolled his eyes and walked over to Kagome. She cringed as he once again licked her up and down. A smile grew on Yakurodokusen's face. "Ah. I see it's working favorably. I do recommend going into the water though, to keep your temperature down as it continues working its way through your body."
Sango grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the water. "Come on!" She giggled as they jumped in holding hands.
A few feet away, Inuyasha was propped up by his elbows on the grass while Miroku laid flat on his back staring up at the sky. Yakurodokusen sat cross legged next to Miroku laughing every so often at the drunk monk. They sat in silence mostly and watched the girls lazily float in the water and talk. "So," Yakurodokusen broke the silence, "Why aren't you and Kagome together?"
"Why the hell do you care?" Inuyasha asked gloomily as he stared straight ahead.
The sage shrugged. "Maybe I'm just a nosy old man."
Inuyasha blew the bangs from his face. "I- I don't know. I just had this nagging feeling she was meant for something more than just being my wife."
"Ah," the sage nodded. "Fate spoke directly to you, then."
"Hmph, " Inuyasha grunted.
"Everyone comes into our lives for a reason, Inuyasha," Yakurodokusen began, "Whether it's for the reason we originally thought is a different story. Fate does not make mistakes."
Inuyasha's eyes quickly shifted to the sky the moment his brothers scent slowly infiltrated the air. Out of instinct he rested his hand on Tessaiga's hilt, but he didn't grip it. The sage stretched his arms towards the field of jugs to hide but Inuyasha gripped his wrist and held him in place, "Oh no you don't."
With a quick burst of wind Sesshomaru and Ginto appeared in the field. Miroku awoke and tried as hard as he could to keep his eyelids open. "Hey, you're back!" Miroku slurred as he laid back down in the grass.
Sesshomaru gave the drunk monk a disgusted look before turning to Inuyasha. "It was either him or me. That's the only way we could keep an eye on Kagome," Inuyasha said defensively.
The scent of poison mixed inside of Kagome's body caused him to raise an eyebrow at his brother. "You allowed her to ingest poison?" Sesshomaru asked calmly.
"That would be his doing," Inuyasha gestured to the sage whose wrist he still gripped.
"Heh," Yakurodokusen shrugged. He didn't bother explaining his methods to another expert of poison.
"Hn." Sesshomaru looked over to Kagome who still hadn't noticed his arrival. "Kagome."
At the sound of his voice saying her name goosebumps slowly traveled up her arms and a tingle went down her back. "Coming!" She yelled cheerfully over her shoulder. Before she went back to him, she gave Sango a hug. "Thank you," she whispered.
After putting on her sun dried clothes, she was back at Sesshomaru's side ready to go back to the castle with him. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha locked eyes with Sesshomaru giving the faintest nod, barely noticeable, to Inuyasha. "Bye everyone!" Kagome called as they took off into the evening sky.
"Did Sesshomaru just give you a nod or is everything still spinning?" Miroku asked as he pushed the palms of his hands into his forehead.
:::::::::::::;
The warm evening breeze blew through Kagome's hair as they soared high in the orange tinted sky. Birds began to seek shelter while the bats stretched their wings and prepared to fly into the night sky searching for food. "Did you find what you were searching for?" Sesshomaru asked as he gripped her tighter to his body.
Kagome looked over her shoulder and down to where her friends still stood looking up at her, but they were almost microscopic. "Yeah," she answered with a smile as she nuzzled her face into mokomoko.
Author's Note:
*Yura of the hair's voice* Oh my oh me did I actually publish a chapter on time?
Why, hello friends!
I actually kept on writing after I published the last chapter since the spark was there and I didn't want to lose it, despite dying to get into my next book.
What did we think of this chapter? My original plan was to have both this chapter and the last chapter happening at the same time, but I ultimately decided it would be better as two separate ones. I also just love introducing OG characters in some way or another, no matter how small. Yakurodokusen is from episode 12 of The Final Act if anyone wanted to go back and watch the episode. I did before writing this to refresh my memory a little bit.
Also, if you're into Yashahime, volume 5 of the manga comes out on July 9th! I would do anything to have an anime remake that follows the manga, the storyline is so much clearer and actually makes sense.
Anyways, I am off to get back into the depths of my book. Happy reading!
Until next time :)