The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows over the village as Kagome sat by the river, her reflection rippling in the water. She remembered the day Kikyo had arrived vividly, as if it were just yesterday.
It was a warm afternoon when the villagers had gathered in the central square of the village, their faces alight with anticipation. Kagome, then just a young girl, had stood among them, curious about the commotion. She saw Kaede leading a serene and composed young girl into the village. Kikyo, with her calm demeanour and powerful presence, had captured everyone's attention from the moment she arrived.
"Kagome, come meet Kikyo." Kaede had called out, beckoning her forward.
Kagome had stepped forward, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had looked up at Kikyo, who had smiled kindly at her.
"It's nice to meet you, Kagome." Kikyo had said, her voice gentle and reassuring.
"Nice to meet you too, Kikyo!" Kagome had replied, feeling a strange sense of awe.
In the weeks that followed, Kagome had tried to learn from Kikyo, hoping to find her place alongside the revered Miko. But it soon became clear that the villagers' admiration for Kikyo overshadowed any attention they might have given to Kagome. Kikyo's prowess in healing, her skill in archery, and her unwavering dedication to her duties won the hearts of everyone in the village.
Kagome had watched as the villagers flocked to Kikyo, seeking her guidance and blessings. She had felt a pang of jealousy and sadness, her own efforts often going unnoticed. She had tried to keep up, to prove her worth, but the more she tried, the more it seemed the villagers compared her to Kikyo.
One evening, as Kagome sat by the river, she overheard a conversation between two villagers.
"Isn't Kikyo amazing? She's exactly what our village needed," one had said.
"Yes, she's so talented and kind. Kagome tries, but she'll never be like Kikyo," the other had replied.
The words had stung, and Kagome had felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had wanted to be recognized, to be valued for who she was, but it seemed like an impossible task with Kikyo around.
Startling awake, Kagome groaned. Her eyes stung from a night of tears. Self-pity, fear and restlessness joined hands in unity to ensure she had felt every bit of their intensity. Dreams of the past must have been their way to mock her resolve.
Not wanting to waste more time, she made haste so as not miss the day ahead. In record speed she made sure there was not a single trace of her left behind in that cage before trekking her way back towards the well.
The dense foliage of the ancient forest cast long shadows over Kagome as she emerged into a small clearing. The familiar landmarks seemed both alien and unchanged, a haunting reminder of the fluidity of time. The path, dappled with a mocking golden light of the morning sun, seemed almost magical, yet each step felt heavier than the last.
Kagome paused at the edge of the clearing, her eyes catching the sight of familiar rooftops peeking through the trees. A wave of apprehension washed over her. The village was just as she remembered, but to her, it no longer felt like home.
Her heart pounded with anxiety, a gnawing feeling of dread creeping into her thoughts. Returning to the village was not something she wanted, but rather something she had to do. The battles, the trials, and memories of the past weighed on her like a burden she couldn't shake off.
Thoughts of doubt plagued her mind. What if history would repeat itself? What if she could never find a way back to the future? What if she was meant to die here originally but had narrowly escaped by luck? Was Kami righting the wrong?
As she approached the village, she could feel the eyes of the villagers on her. Whispers and curious glances followed her every step. They were wary, their trust and admiration reserved for someone else—Kikyo, the revered priestess whose fame cast a long shadow over Kagome. With each step the hushed whisper followed along beside her. Some looked on with annoyance, others with disgust, and the children, well, their cheerful voices dropped to sneer as their parents scurried them away from her.
She found it bittersweet, however, that even though she had forgotten what she was like back then, her body still remembered. The Kagome before that travelled through time would force a smile to gain some sort of favour with her fellow villagers, even when her heart was not in it. These were her people, the ones she had trained rigorously alongside Kikyo to protect, but she felt like an outsider among them. More so now than before.
But Kagome swore to herself to never follow her past self's footsteps ever again. Even if Kami had sent her back to right a wrong, she was determined to never let history repeat itself.
Kagome stopped on her tracks when an elderly woman approached, her face that was usually etched with lines of wisdom and kindness, was now buried in worry. It was Kaede, the village elder, and Kagome's mentor in many ways.
"Kagome, ye have returned," Kaede said, her voice filled with a gentleness no one else in the village had shown her.
Holding back the urge to react too dramatically, Kagome clenched her fists tightly. "I have, Kaede," Kagome replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I did not mean to leave for so long."
"Ye have been through much, child. It is natural to feel this way, to want time away." Kaede reassured her, placing a comforting hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"I don't know if I can do this," Kagome confessed. Though in hindsight, there was a sense of truth in that statement alone. Kaede, however, would never know in that moment how far that truth had run.
"Ye are stronger than ye realize. Take it one step at a time," Kaede advised, her voice steady and calming.
Kagome nodded, taking a deep breath. She had faced countless challenges, but now, standing before the one person who had always shown her unconditional love, she knew she had to muster the courage to embrace her past and find her place once more.
"I must ask, child," Kaede began, though she looked unsure on how to speak her next words. "What are ye wearing?"
Looking down at her attire, Kagome gasped. Somehow amid the morning rush and anxiety of returning to the village that despised her, Kagome had forgotten to make herself more presentable with what little she had.
Not waiting for an answer, Kaede quickly rushed her into their hut, away from prying eyes.
By the time the sky was burnt orange, Kagome had done enough reconnaissance to figure out exactly where in the past she had landed. With Kaede's stern warnings to not wander off again, she found herself back at the well, sitting on the ledge staring down into the darkness.
Her mind raced as she pieced together the fragments of information she gathered and matched them with what memories she could remember. Kikyo was currently visiting another village. When she learnt of Kikyo's absence, like a lightbulb lighting up above her head, she knew exactly why this memory was so triggering.
A spokesman from another village had travelled recklessly, cutting down a three-weeks travel in half, when a plague broke out in their settlement. Hearing of Kikyo's prowess, they desperately sought her out. At the time, Kagome, brimming with jealousy, had left the village in a huff.
That explained why there was search for her when she returned to the past.
Taking everything into consideration, this pointed to one conclusion - she had been sent far back in time before Inuyasha had even met Kikyo.
Thinking back to the villagers' mistrust and scorn when she asked about Kikyo's whereabouts, her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. It no longer mattered to her what the villagers thought. She had a mission, a purpose that transcended their preferences. Her family had been killed by a demon with red eyes, and she was determined to find out who it was and why it had happened.
She took a deep breath, her resolve strengthening. If she had been sent back to this specific time, it meant she had the opportunity to gather information and perhaps even prevent future tragedies. She needed to find the red-eyed demon, and the first step was to understand the events leading up to its attack.
Not wanting to throw Kaede into any further distress, she made her way back to Kaede's hut. Though she had no one to turn to for further support, she knew Kaede had enough knowledge to at least point her in the right direction on where to find whispers of a red-eyed demon.
The hunt was on.
The forest was silent, save for the soft rustling of leaves underfoot. Sesshomaru, with his characteristic stoicism, led the way, followed closely by Jaken and Rin. They had returned to the cave where they had sheltered not too long ago, driven by Rin's need to retrieve Sesshomau's kimono, which she had inadvertently left behind when she decided to play a prank on Jaken.
Rin, usually full of boundless energy, was unusually quiet, her eyes fixed on the ground. She had been the one to realize her mistake and had pleaded with Sesshomaru to return for the kimono. Sesshomaru, though he had not shown it, had agreed.
"Lord Sesshomaru, we are almost there," Jaken squeaked, struggling to keep up with his master's long strides.
Sesshomaru did not respond, his gaze unwavering as the cave came into view. He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the dim interior for the familiar sight of his kimono.
But it was gone.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed slightly, a subtle shift that betrayed his displeasure.
"The kimono is not here," he said, his voice as cold and precise as ever.
Rin looked up, her eyes wide with worry. "I'm sorry, Lord Sesshomaru. I was sure I left it here."
Jaken, ever the sycophant, hastened to defend his master. "It must have been taken, my lord! No one would dare leave it undisturbed."
Sesshomaru turned, his golden eyes piercing through the shadows of the cave. Though he did not think out loud, he wondered who would dare take what belongs to him. Spreading his aura out to search every nook and crevice of the cave, he was taken a back when he felt nothing. The cave was wiped clean of any sense or residual of the thief.
Rin stepped forward, her small frame determined. "I'll help you find it, Lord Sesshomaru. I'll make it right."
Sesshomaru regarded her for a moment, his expression inscrutable. "We will find it, Rin. The kimono is but a symbol, yet it holds significance. We shall see who has taken it and why."
With that, Sesshomaru turned and exited the cave, his presence commanding and unyielding. Jaken and Rin followed, their determination mirroring that of their master. The search for the kimono had begun, and Sesshomaru would not rest until it was found.
As they moved through the forest, Rin couldn't shake the feeling that this journey was about more than just a piece of clothing.
It was now a hunt.
And with that we have chapter 3! Please review! :)