Back at it again with another update! Thanks as always for your reviews. I actually don't have much to say in this author's note, so let's just dive right into the new chapter!
Enjoy.
The oxen's hooves clip-clopped as the procession made its way along the path.
Kagome sat quite still, staring out of the carriage window. She felt queasy and numb. She'd been sitting for over an hour, and tried not to fidget too much. The Shikon no Tama was in her hands, in a silk pouch. They had determined that it would be safest carried by her, for her powers would keep it pure despite whatever they may face on the journey.
The temple wasn't too far, but the oxen drawing the carriage and other carts were not particularly speedy, although they employed a reasonable trot. It would be another few hours before they arrived. They had left around late morning, which would give them plenty of time to commune with the Holy Council.
Kaede sat opposite Kagome, a shawl over her shoulders. Her head had been bent in prayer the whole time. Outside, a few other carts were accompanying them. They carried a handful of villagers, for the Holy Council had required that they bring a few witnesses who could attest to the situation. Rikichi and another villager led the procession on horseback, so as to scout ahead and make sure that the path was clear of any dangers. They were taking the longer way, because they needed to avoid busier paths, otherwise, humans might catch wind of the Jewel being escorted somewhere. So they traveled through forests instead, which should be safe enough since it was still broad daylight. Any demons who were inclined to attack would only dare to do so if it were a lone human, or if the group was sparse or frail. Some them would likely be able to sense Kagome's immense spiritual aura.
Besides, they were not alone.
Kagome glanced out of the window again. Above them, leaping from branch to branch, treetop to treetop, was Inuyasha, moving at their pace while ensuring that the path was secure. His movements cast quick, fleeting shadows upon the carriage and the others.
For the Holy Council had summoned him, too. It was important that the demon they had been informed of make himself known to them, so that everyone would have a clear idea of just what they were dealing with.
They'd told Inuyasha he shouldn't travel too close to the rest of them, so that the Jewel would stay separated from his youki, hence why he wasn't in the carriage with them. He didn't protest, perhaps because he saw the logic in it, but more likely because he preferred traveling on foot anyway. Besides, they couldn't be sure that the villagers would even want him in their carts with them.
Unexpectedly, Inuyasha dropped down from the branches, landing next to the carriage by Kagome's window. He didn't need to run much to keep up. His face looked at Kagome's questioningly, and she could tell he was making sure that she felt all right. She managed to give him a smile. He nodded, jogging by them for a few seconds longer, then leaping back up onto the trees.
Watching him, Kagome thought back to the conversation they had with Kaede upon receiving the letter. It had been almost a week ago now.
"The Council wants us there no later than a week from today," Kaede said, her face drawn. "They do not appear to know many details as of yet. But I surmise that that is what they are hoping to discover. They want all relevant parties there. Yes, that includes ye, too, Inuyasha."
Kagome swallowed, and turned to Inuyasha, whose face was stony as he looked silently at Kaede. He sat cross-legged, his arms folded in his sleeves as they often were. Kagome was kneeling beside him, as both of them were facing Kaede while she explained the situation. Inuyasha's bandages were still fresh from Mistress Centipede's bite. Kagome could hardly believed that that whole incident had occurred merely hours ago.
"What do you think they'll ask us, Kaede baa-chan?" Kagome asked with trepidation.
Kaede sighed. "Ye can perhaps imagine their questions as well as I, Kagome. No doubt they shall show concern over the Jewel, and verify whether it is being maintained correctly. They will examine it for any impurities. I am certain that they will spend much of the time on Inuyasha, and whether anything needs to be done about him."
Kagome swallowed again. "You don't think they might actually order him to leave the village, do you?" she asked nervously.
"Tis a definite possibility, Kagome," said Kaede gravely.
Kagome pressed a head to her throbbing temples. She may very well have died today, and now this. "How are we supposed to prove that he doesn't need to leave?" she asked, despairingly.
"We cannot. They probably wish to gauge his threat level first, since the bandits either did not provide them with details, or they are too wise to put all of their trust into them. This is why the tone of their letter suggests that they wish to give us a chance before judging us prematurely. But I am afraid they only need to be in the presence of Inuyasha to have their worries confirmed."
Kagome winced, exasperated. She knew that was true. His youki was too strong.
She turned to Inuyasha, her face pale. "If you'd rather not go..." she said anxiously.
Inuyasha was already shaking his head. "Nah. Not like we can avoid it forever. If I don't go, that'll just prove to them that there's something to hide." Despite his words, he was looking down at his knees, frowning. It was clear he had reservations.
"Inuyasha is correct," Kaede said. "It cannot be helped. It was just a matter of time before they received word of this, anyhow. All we can do is present ourselves there. And, depending on how things proceed, we may just have to lay everything bare in total honesty."
Kagome couldn't help but find it a bit peculiar that she'd said it that way: after all, wouldn't they all have to be honest anyway? She didn't see any way out of that. And she could be wrong, but it seemed as though Kaede's gaze lingered on Inuyasha a little longer at the end of her sentence. Did she still not trust him then, Kagome thought in disappointment? She thought Inuyasha had done everything he could to prove that he was no threat to anyone in the village by now.
In any case, she couldn't focus on that, or any one thing at a time now. All of her thoughts swarmed her head. With every passing minute, they grew closer to the Holy Council. She was nervous. What if they misjudged Inuyasha? What if they misjudgedher, and assumed she no longer valued her role as Shikon Miko just because of her friendship with him? Still, she was grateful that Inuyasha had agreed to come without hesitation. She tried to imagine how this might be making him feel. He would be the lone demon in a room full of powerful spiritual leaders. Together, they could likely purify him if they ended up determining that he was too great a threat. Still, Inuyasha had taken a chance, just to make it easier on her and Kaede. It was an undeniable leap of faith.
"Don't fret," Kaede said suddenly, jolting her from her thoughts. She was looking up now, directly at Kagome, her face placid. "It won't be anyone there whom ye don't already know."
Kagome nodded. She'd figured that much, but this didn't give her that much comfort, at least considering a few of the people she was dreading would be part of the Council today. Kaede had sent word of the day and time they planned on arriving, so they'd have had plenty of time to decide who would be greeting them today. Kagome tried to remind herself that these people were on her side. They had nothing to gain by making things more difficult for her.
They arrived on schedule, the carriage coming to a stop. Rikichi leapt off his horse and hurried to open Kaede and Kagome's doors.
"Are ye all right, child?" Kaede asked.
"Yes," Kagome said, trying to speak at her usual volume. "Where's Inuyasha?"
As though he'd timed it, Inuyasha landed a few feet behind them. Kagome noted that he was keeping a fair bit of distance, probably to avoid too much contact with the Jewel.
A couple of robed men stood at the temple. They clearly were waiting to escort them all. Their expressions upon seeing Inuyasha seemed wary, but unsurprised: no doubt they had been briefed on all of the details. They escorted Kagome and Kaede through towards the three-tiered pagoda that was the temple. The two of them crossed the sanmon gates, the villagers following behind them, Inuyasha bringing up the rear.
Kagome took a deep breath as she stepped inside.
She looked up to see red, white pillars, lanterns and totems, intricate paintings of lotus blossoms on the walls, other gold accents. Their own shrine back in the village had much of the same coloring, but just without the gold and more brown wooden surfaces and beams rather than paintings decorating the walls.
More importantly, the ceiling was very high. The temple was divided into two levels by several raised steps, creating a platform that loomed overhead. and Kagome took another breath as she stared up at it. It stood several meters higher than everyone who had just walked in. And, seated on the platform, kneeling behind tall, square wooden tables, steaming cups in hand, awaiting them, were four people draped in religious clothing and paraphernalia.
It was the Holy Council.
"Greetings, Kaede-sama. Greetings, Miko Kagome," called the woman who sat directly in the center. She set down her teacup. "I trust that you had a safe and smooth journey here." She was dark-haired, with straight, spiky bangs that framed her pale face, onyx brown eyes, and hair parted very sharply down the middle. She wore a white chihaya and a necklace of thick, crimson holy beads draped over her chest. Kagome had always found her lovely to look at, not least of all because she managed to be pretty so effortlessly.
Kagome cleared her throat of its cobwebs. "Hitomiko-sama," she said reverently. "Thank you for your gracious welcome."
Though generally austere, the priestess Hitomiko gave her a smile. She was a high-level miko like Kagome, but unlike Kagome, was considerably more experienced, being about seven years older. Most notably, she could conjure the strongest barrier of any known priestess, and due to her impressive spiritual powers, she had been one of the priestesses in contention to be the Shikon Miko. She had been passed over for Kagome instead because, despite Hitomiko's abilities and experience, she was not as skilled a combatant. Her kagura suzu were unsuited for long-range fighting, as they required her opponents' blood to do any damage. Once shedidmanage to get in contact with it, however, Kagome had heard that she could be lethal in a variety of chilling ways.
Morever, Hitomiko's experience was also a slight detriment: though she was still a young woman, the Council had determined that a younger and more energetic miko would be preferred, as her lifespan would likely be longer, and the Jewel would be protected for a greater length of time. It also gave the Council more time and more options to choose from whenever the next Shikon Miko had to be selected.
Kagome felt slightly guilty about this, as, only a year ago, she had felt certain that she would be passed over in favor of Hitomiko. Still, in just the few times that she'd met her, the older priestess didn't seem to begrudge her this. Kagome had heard rumors that Hitomiko herself was not particularly driven about the Jewel one way or another: her greater passion seemed to be in preserving her own village as well as using her wisdom to preside over Holy matters such as these.
"We feared something terrible must have befallen you on your journey," rang the voice of the woman seated on Hitomiko's left, her voice like windchimes. "You've shown up closer towards the end of your stated window of arrival. So it's good to see that no harm has come to you after all."
Kagome bowed her head slightly, in part to hide the expression on her face. "Apologies for worrying you, Tsubaki-sama." It wassolike her to deliver such passive-aggressive comments, Kagome thought. They weren't late whatsoever, no one could fault them as long as they'd arrived in their declared timeframe, and they were well within it. Tsubaki just had to throw in the fact that they hadn't arrived exactly at the beginning.
What did she want us to do, camp out here the night before so that she didn't have to be kept waiting?Kagome fumed. But she knew not to say anything.
Unlike Hitomiko, Tsubakididbear Kagome a grudge. She was one of the most renowned priestesses of the era, being particularly gifted in the way of spells. She could fight with her spear as well as any warrior on the battlefield, and her spiritual powers were immense. There were also murmurings, though Kagome knew nothing of how substantiated they were, that Tsubaki also had a way with curses. She was rumored to have dabbled in dark magic, though there was not a single witness to this, and no one would dare accuse her of something so baseless.
Kagome raised her up again to see Tsubaki smiling down at her smugly.
She was a very striking woman. Her ebony hair, parted in the middle to reveal a smooth forehead with a shell beading decorating it, was very thick and long, pooling on the floor around her. She clearly took great pride in her looks, with good reason, for her turquoise eyes and flawless skin made her a sight to behold. She had painted her lips a dark red, which was becoming to her, considering her navy miko garb. She and Hitomiko could not have appeared more different sat next to each other thus. Still, as stunning as Tsubaki was, her looks did nothing to diminish Hitomiko's, as each was beautiful regardless of the other.
Looking at her silently, Kagome wondered why she had been chosen over Tsubaki to be the Shikon Miko. From what she knew, her own master, the elderly priest who was sitting to the right of her, had been part of the Holy Council that selected Kagome. Surely, it couldn'tjustbe because of the Dark Priestess rumors? Tsubaki was older than her as well, exactlyhowmuch older, Kagome never knew, but it was common knowledge that she was not as young as she looked.
In any case, if Kagome knew anything at all about how this gathering would unfold, it was that she would not find an ally in Tsubaki today.
"The important thing is that you've arrived, and we can begin our gathering as planned," the man seated to Hitomiko's right spoke up.
From his deep purple robes and the prayer beads in his hand, Kagome could tell right away that he was a Buddhist monk. He did look familiar: it took a moment to remember, but Kagome realized that he had been part of the Holy Escort who had accompanied her to the forest all those months ago. But hadn't he been accompanying someone else at the time...?
"Forgive my solitariness today," he said, reading her expression. "My master, the monk Mushin, was unable to appear today, due to being out of sorts from his... unfortunate drinking habits." He looked a little distasteful. "So I will be standing in for him as well as representing myself." Kagome noticed the empty spot next to him, the table vacant. She knew Mushin a bit better, since she had met him a few times. He was skilled in healing and protection, and had a wide range of abilities when it came to preventing demon attacks.
"Thank you... Miroku-sama," said Kagome, his name finally coming to her.
She had heard of this monk more so than knew him: he was a young man as well, looking to be older than Kagome by a few years or so. Since he was only in his early twenties, that made him the youngest person serving on the Council today. Kagome was a bit envious of this: out of all the holy personages in the room, she was the only one who had yet to serve at all. Kaede had served on quite a number of them herself, though as she'd aged and her powers diminished, she chose to relegate herself to duties of their own village, and supporting Kagome's training and guardianship of the Jewel. "Your time will come," she had assured Kagome once. "All ye need is a few more years under your belt, and ye will find yourself serving on that council more times than ye can keep track of."
Kagome knew that Miroku was said to be especially skilled at casting sutras as well as combat, which was unusual for a hoshi, as they tended not to be violent. He almost certainly abided by the Buddhist creed of doing no harm unless absolutely pushed to, but she wondered who could have trained him in these matters. She noticed his gold ringed shakujo by his side. It looked polished and especially pointy. He must have cause to use it quite often, she thought with a shudder. Still, his dark blue eyes were wide and looked kind. He had dark brown hair that was tied in a short, neat ponytail in the back.
"Let us begin," Hitomiko said. "We all know why we are gathered here. Priestess Kagome, you are rumored to have befriended a yokai, and have allowed him refuge in your village. In Kaede-sama's response to our summons, there was no indication that this story was false. Therefore, we have cause to believe that. Naturally, this brings the Holy Council great concern. We have convened to determine whether the Shikon no Tama should be stripped from your possession." Kagome's heart sank, but she said nothing. They had already surmised that this was one of the reasons why the Holy Council had summoned them. "Do you contradict anything of this rumor now?"
Kagome swallowed. "No, I don't." She wished her voice could have been louder; it was just so daunting to speak.
Tsubaki made an indignant sound. "How utterly outrageous!" she exclaimed. "A priestess, consorting withdemons? What on earth has our spiritual leadership come to!"
Anxious, Kagome cast her eyes around for Kaede. She stood a little ways off, still looking ashen, her forehead drawn and her breathing a bit heavy.
"I'm sorry," Kagome said suddenly, ashamed with herself for not having thought of this sooner. "But could Kaede baa-chan please sit down? It was a bumpy ride."
"Certainly," Miroku said, nodding at one of the attendants. A chair was hurriedly brought in for Kaede. He continued. "The matter of the yokai still stands, of course. Where is this yokai? Has he accompanied you today?"
"He chose to remain outside unless summoned," Kaede answered, now seated. "But he no doubt should be appearing now. His hearing is very sharp."
Just as she said, all eyes and heads turned to the entrance as Inuyasha made his way through the small crowd. He walked past everyone there until he was no further from the council than Kagome, though he stayed near the other side of the room. His arms still folded, he looked up at them silently.
A collective hush fell over the council as they stared. They exchanged glances as each other, looking stricken.
"My word," whispered Hitomiko. "This youki... his demonic aura vastly exceeds the ones we are used to."
"And a remarkable physical specimen, to boot," Tsubaki said, her glittering eyes narrowing as she took him in. "A demon of this strength could make chopped liver of any priestess with just his bare hands."
"I've never encountered the kind of demon who appears human myself," said Miroku evenly. "His aura is as great as I imagined, but somehow... I sense no killing intent."
"Don't let that fool you," Tsubaki said derisively. "Such creatures are skilled in deception."
"I'm compelled to agree," Hitomiko said heavily. "More than a few times, a yokai has disguised its way into my village's midst."
Kagome quickly glanced over at Inuyasha in dismay. To her surprised, he carried on looking at them stonily. He said nothing to defend himself, which was quite unlike him. Seeing him standing there gave her the strength to speak up.
"Actually, Hitomiko-sama," she said hurriedly. "That's not true. Inuyasha's been nothing but helpful ever since he showed up in our village. When I first saw him, I was in the middle of battle, and he slew an oni yokai right before my eyes. If he hadn't done that, I might not have made it."
"Inuyasha, is it?" said Miroku with interest. "So that's his name. Well then, Inuyasha, is what Kagome-sama says true?"
"Keh." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You heard her. What's she got to lie about?"
The Council murmured together again.
"It is true," Kagome said eagerly. "And that's not all. He's been useful to us time and time again. Those men who informed you about him were in cahoots with yokai. They kidnapped a child from our village to try and steal the Shikon no Tama from us. The only reason all of their plans were thwarted was because Inuyasha was there. He showed up in the nick of time and-"
"But Kagome-san, what motive could this yokai have for helping you?" Hitomiko cut her off. "Couldn't he be coveting the Shikon no Tama himself? Has he ever expressed any interest in it?"
Kagome swallowed again and looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "Yes," she admitted. "He has. But Hitomiko-sama, that was weeks, even months ago! Now, he's only ever helped us keep the Jewel safe-"
"My, my," Tsubaki said, a jubilant edge to her voice. "Do you hear her, Hitomiko? Taking up for a demon, when she knows full well that he's after the Jewel. In no time at all, she's already forgetting where her loyalties lie. Isthisour Shikon Miko?"
Kagome flushed. Embarrassed, she was lost for words.
"Hey, watch your mouth," Inuyasha snarled suddenly. "She's got more guts than any of you in this room. There's no one who can tell her otherwise. Morning, day and night, she breaks her back for these villagers. She's fought off hordes of demons, more than any of you could count. And she does it with a smile on her face, even when the people she's protectin' forget to be grateful."
Kagome flushed again, but this time for a different reason, and her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to stick up for her so soon.
"Remarkable," Miroku said, nodding at the others. "A demon of his caliber could have stolen the Jewel easily, considering how much Kagome-sama has lowered her guard around him. Try as I might, I can't see her doing so if she were not confident that he weren't a threat. And hearing how he has spoken up for her, seeing how he has not seized his chance to swipe the Jewel yet, it seems that that is indeed the case."
"As a matter of fact, Hoshi-dono," Kaede spoke up. "Neither Kagome nor I have lowered our guards. The demon Inuyasha has never roamed our village without at least one of us present. We have stayed vigilant at all times. But it is true that we could not have accomplished this without his compliance. Inuyasha even abides by staying out of our shrine so as to avoid potentially corrupting the Jewel with his youki."
"Speaking of the Jewel," Hitomiko said, "it's time we took a look at it. Kagome-san, please hand it over so that we may inspect its purity."
A lump in her throat, Kagome stepped forward, up to the platform, and handed the pouch to Hitomiko, who had stood up to receive her, and then walked back down to her spot.
Hitomiko took the small, round, pinkish pearl-like Jewel out of its pouch, laid it on a silk napkin on the table, and the four of them, including Tsubaki's master, hunched over it. Within seconds, gasps rang out from among them.
"This is extraordinary," Miroku said, sounding truly spellbound. "The purity coming from this Jewel... it's staggering."
"It's purer than when it was first handed off," Hitomiko said, stunned. "By far. The previous Shikon Miko's purification was nowhere near as thorough."
Tsubaki, her eyes narrowed and jaw set, said nothing. They all looked to her master for his comment, but aside from a satisfied nod, he said not a word.
Still looking somewhat bewildered, they all faced Kagome again.
"Kagome-sama, we would be hard-pressed to accuse you of not fulfilling your duties, considering the state of the Jewel as it stands," said Miroku. "It is most impressive..."
"Still, how can we be sure things won't go south eventually?" Tsubaki snapped. "It's clear as day that she's latched onto this demon more closely than is appropriate for a priestess. A miko must never allow distractions into her life, certainly not in the form of a yokai! Sooner or later, this will interfere with her duties. The Jewel's purity will start to wane, and once even a semi-powerful demon gets its hands on it, that spells the end for us!"
"You don't know that, Tsubaki-sama," Kagome protested. "I willneverlose sight of my duties. I knew what I was signing up for when I was entrusted the Jewel. Not once have I wavered."
"I beg leave to speak," Kaede said unexpectedly. "I wish to contribute what I have observed. I have noticed something rather illuminating about the Jewel. Kagome's spiritual powers have always been as potent as ye see now. But although she has always done a stellar job of purifying the Jewel, I, too, was concerned that her friendship with Inuyasha would derail her focus."
She paused, looking over at Kagome before she spoke again. "And so recently, I have been examining the Jewel after she purifies it. I feared that its purity would diminish over time. However... I noticed a strange pattern. Every time Kagome purified the Jewel after having spent time with Inuyasha... its purity was evengreater."
Gasps rang out all throughout the room this time.
Kagome's heart hammered in her chest.What?she thought incredulously, her head spinning. She'd had no idea.Is that really true? My powers... they're stronger when I'm with Inuyasha?She looked over at Inuyasha. Even he looked mystified.
"Settle down, settle down please, everyone," Hitomiko called out. "Kaede-sama, are you certain of this?"
"Aye. I would not have believed it myself. I have no doubt that Kagome would have purified the Jewel to this extent with or without Inuyasha's presence. But I cannot deny that he has something to do with bringing this about quicker than otherwise."
"Hah!" Tsubaki said, before anyone else could respond. "That only makes it more pathetic, not impressive. Not even a year into her tenure, and she needs help to perform her duties? The so-called Shikon Miko's had possession of the Jewel for a lesser amount of time than it takes a woman to carry a child, and already she's been summoned here for a hearing!"
Kagome gritted her teeth, the words piercing through her like a knife. She could sense Inuyasha bristle.
"Tsubaki." The gravelly voice of the elderly priest finally sounded from Tsubaki's right. "Do not forget. Kagome's reiryoku far outstrips your own in terms of purification. And your healing powers are also not on her level. That is why she was chosen over you. You are in the presence of the rightful Shikon Miko. Conduct yourself accordingly, and temper your tone at once."
Tsubaki stiffened, her face reddening until it was almost as dark as the color of her lips. A few painful moments of silence passed, before she finally said, "Yes, Master."
Miroku cleared his throat. "For centuries," he said, "the Shikon no Tama has been entrusted to miko for protection. We have studied it thoroughly for generations, and due to its genesis, we know that it responds particularly well to practitioners of the Shinto faith. As such, my horiki would not be nearly as effective as the purification of a miko's reiryoku. And yet, never has any of us seen reiryoku this potent. I can't see any good reason to wrest the Jewel from Kagome-sama's protection."
Kagome smiled at him gratefully.
"I am in agreement with Miroku-sama," Hitomiko said, and Tsubaki wore a very ugly look on her face. "But there remains the matter of the demon, Inuyasha. And whether he should be allowed to remain in the village."
"Respectfully, Hitomiko-sama," Kagome couldn't resist saying. "I believe we're better off with him than without."
"That's for us to decide now," Hitomiko responded. "Please have the witnesses you brought step forward. We will hear their testimonies now."
And so it began. One by one, the villagers came forth and spoke on Inuyasha's character. Most of them said things that put Kagome's mind at ease: they spoke of his helpfulness, they confirmed that he had never harmed anyone, that he had not attempted to steal the Jewel.
By and by, Juro-san stepped forward, and Kagome tensed up.
"Do you substantiate what your fellow villagers have attested to?" asked Miroku.
Juro cleared his throat. "The demon has indeed proven strong and useful. Yet he has continually been brash and uncouth. He presents himself in a rough manner, which frightens many of the villagers. Oftentimes, he's made threatening motions towards my son-"
"That's a lie," Kagome cut him off suddenly. "Tell the truth, Juro-san."
"Kagome-san," Hitomiko said warningly.
"No, Hitomiko-sama" Kagome said, undeterred. "I won't let anyone lie in this temple. Inuyasha has yet to threaten a single child of our village, and I can vouch for that."
"Kagome."
To her surprise, it was Inuyasha who had spoken this time. He was looking at her, a solemn look on his face, as though willing her to be quiet. Was he worried that she would get in trouble? Begrudgingly, Kagome obliged.
"Well then," Tsubaki said, mockery in her voice again. "Continue, Juro-san."
"The yokai Inuyasha's presence makes some of us uneasy that Kagome-sama is slipping in her devotion to the village. She has taken up for him against some of us, as you've just seen. And we grow uncomfortable with her growing closeness to him."
"You oughta be uncomfortable by your closeness to me right now, asshole," Inuyasha growled. "You were too scared to say all this shit ya wanted to say about Kagome back at the village, so you figure now's your time to shine, eh?"
"Now, Inuyasha, don't intimidate the witness," Miroku said. But, peculiarly, a glint of amusement shone in his eyes even as a frown appeared in his brow. "Does anyone else share Juro-san's concerns?" The rest of the villagers looked around uncertainly, as though trying to figure out who would be the least dangerous person in the room to upset.
Kagome felt furious. It grew harder for her to contain herself. What was it with people? Why were they so bent on getting rid of Inuyasha even if it meant lying? Didn't they see what she saw? Hadn't they seen every single thing he'd done to help, just as she had? What was it about them that made them so averse to him without reason?
"It seems they're too intimidated by him to speak even now," Tsubaki said dramatically. "That certainly doesn't bode well."
"No, that's not the case," Kagome said coldly. "They just don't know what to say. Because they know it would be a lie. They're just trying to figure out if it would be worth lying about someone who's done so much for them."
"Are you not concerned with the fears of your villagers, Kagome-sama?" asked Miroku.
"Of course, Miroku-sama, I'm just telling you that they have no reason to fear him at all," she said earnestly.
"The fact that he's a demon should be reason enough!"
"I'd have said the same thing not too long ago, Tsubaki-sama," Kagome snapped. "But not anymore. I'll take up for anyone who's in the right, demon or not. I don't fear someone who's been nothing but good to me."
"But Juro-san feels differently," Hitomiko said promptly. "Why is that, Juro-san? Do you no longer trust your miko-sama's judgement?"
"I acknowledge that Kagome-sama is wise and capable," said Juro, "but she would do well to be more vigilant, and take heed of our concerns. We cannot grow complacent for fear of what he could do to us."
"Whathas he done to us?" Kagome shouted. "He's done nothing wrong,nothing! I'm sick of constantly hearing about this. Yes, he's a demon, but he's also my friend! He's a friend to the village. He's put his life on the line, over and over again, just for us. Why should we punish him for something that he can't change? As a matter of fact, why does he automatically have to be the enemy just because he's a demon!"
"Kagome-san, yokai have always hunted and attacked humans," Hitomiko said gently. "It's the way it's been from the beginning. They are often many times stronger than us, are often immortal, and feed upon us more often than not. You know as well as anyone that anytime they enter our villages, it is with hostility."
"Maybe that's because they know what they'll find there," Kagome said slowly, her head lowered as her brain worked rapidly to put the pieces together. "They know they'll be swiftly met with violence. Humans hate demons too." It was surprising that she'd never considered this before, in all of her years, but in a way, it made perfect sense that she hadn't. Perhaps she needed to meet Inuyasha in order to realize it at last.
"Yokai and demons are natural enemies. I understand why it's had to be that way, why it might always be that way to an extent. But some generations ago, humans gained the upper hand in terms of numbers. We grew better at exterminating the ones who threatened us. Now there are far fewer of them out there. We have thriving towns and villages while they're relegated to forests, unless they're daiyokai or other powerful sorts. That's why people like those bandits can just stroll in and readily get a place to sleep, despite the evil intentions they hold! Because they know that the guardians of human villagers will always welcome humans and show demons no mercy. It won't matter what's in their hearts, because by the time we find out, it'll be too late. Demons and humans always have their guards up around each other, because no one's ever willing to take a chance and break the cycle."
"Kagome-san, are you truly suggesting that we stop protecting our villages from the likes of demons...?" Hitomiko began, her tone incredulous.
"No," Kagome said at once. "I'm not. Evil yokai will always exist, and for as long as the Jewel exists, I must protect it and my village from them. But that doesn't mean all demons are on the same side. If a yokai approaches us in friendship, if they bear us no ill-will, then I see no reason to not join arms with them. Just as I've done with Inuyasha. We've proven that it can be done, and we can set aside our differences and work together for common cause. We can learn from each other and grow stronger, not weaker."
Her eyes darted around to find Inuyasha, who stood quite still. His mouth had fallen half-open, and his beautiful golden eyes were wide as they gazed open her. His face mirrored everything she felt when he'd defended her both times in this temple. Kagome smiled at him tremulously. She wanted him to know how glad she was that he'd trusted her enough to come here today.
Hitomiko sat silently, watching her as though awestruck.
"Preposterous," Tsubaki spat, haughtily. "Adept though you may be at purifying the Jewel, what you have said gives us enough cause to take it from you all the same. Don't you agree, Miroku-sama?"
The monk had been sitting quietly with his eyes shut and brow furrowed, as though deep in thought. The minutes ticked by before he finally spoke.
"It is not unusual to see alliances formed between humans and demons," he said at last. "Demon slayers, taijiya, routinely have pets, steeds and familiars who aid them in their missions. They forge weapons from the body parts of demons, as these have proven very effective against their resilience. I myself have found the services of a certain tanuki very , we even know of humans and demons who have come together in love, and settled down as families."
For the strangest reason, Kagome was sure she'd seen Kaede's body give a slight twitch at his words.
"It may be unthinkable to allow the Shikon Miko to befriend a demon," he went on, "but really, considering the testimonials we've heard so far, the proof that the Jewel is no worse off for it, and Kagome-sama's own impassioned defense of him, perhaps an exception can be made."
Kagome's heart leapt.
"Especially considering Kagome-sama's excellent care of the Jewel thus far. She truly is a priestess of extraordinary ability. And, dare I say, quite a beauty, too," he said, his tone dropping and his eyes narrowing rather suggestively.
Inuyasha cleared his throat gruffly.
"But a miko's powers diminish through earthly attachment!" Tsubaki hissed. "Friendship and love of any sort make her weaker. We've always known this! Why risk it now?"
"On the contrary, Tsubaki-dono," Kaede said unexpectedly. "We have alwaysbelievedthis to be the case. And certainly, for many miko, it has held true. But just as all humans are different, all priestesses cannot be viewed the same. As Kagome has indicated, she may indeed be among the priestesses whose powers are enriched by her earthly bonds, rather than lost to them."
Kagome felt a rush of warmth to her chest as she looked at Kaede. She wanted to run over and embrace the old woman as she had done to her after Mistress Centipede's attack.
"I can see how this may be true," Hitomiko agreed, overriding any retort Tsubaki had. "However, if we are to allow him to stay amongst humans and the Jewel, we'll need a safeguard of sorts, just to ensure that we don't regret our decision. Kaede-sama, have you any ideas?"
Kaede cleared her throat, looking wary but also resigned. "There is one such option," she said slowly. "The Beads of Subjugation are an efficient way of keeping a demon's power in check. The caster need only utter a word to bring the demon to his knees. A necklace of the necessary beads is presently around Inuyasha's neck: ye can see that they are not currently enchanted. But for a priestess of Kagome's caliber, activating them would only be a matter of minutes. She could do it here and now, if Inuyasha were willing."
Kagome had watched Kaede intently. She had no issues with her revealing this: Kaede had been asked a question, and all she'd done was answer truthfully. From the corner of her eye, she could see Inuyasha reach up and touch the beads, looking stricken. He'd more or less known what they were for after Kagome told him, but he hadn't known the details until this moment, or just how much of an impact this would have on his autonomy.
Hitomiko and Miroku were nodding at each other. "Yes, that ought to suffice," Miroku said approvingly. "What say you, Inuyasha? Would you be willing to go through with such a measure?"
Inuyasha's eyes met Kagome's. Looking into them, her heart pounding, Kagome said not a word. Whatever was to happen next, she wanted to make sure that any decision Inuyasha made was his alone. She was determined not to influence him in any way. She could see the hard, blazing look in his face as he considered this. She thought of how effortlessly Inuyasha could leap and run, how important it was for him to be unfettered in his movements. She knew he was loathe to this idea.
"If it'll make things easier on Kagome, then I've got no problem," he said at last, tearing his eyes away.
Kagome could have wept. Smiles and sounds of approval came from the Council, save Tsubaki. A smatter of conversation broke out among the people gathered as well, and it was clear that they approved of this, too. It was as though they were ready to close the matter. This was what Kagome had been waiting for.
She strode over to where Inuyasha stood and stepped in front of him, glaring up at the Holy Council.
"ButIdo," she said, her voice hard. "Why should he be bound to rules that we would not bind human strangers to? Especially when he's already done far more for us than they ever could! It isn't right. Why is his freedom any less valuable than ours? I trust Inuyasha. I trust him with my life. I won't let anybody kick him out of our village, and I won't let anybody bind him!"
Pin-drop silence filled the room. She could sense amazement from all of the onlookers, all of them except Kaede. Kaede sat where she was, looking unperturbed and unsurprised, as though she'd expected this outcome all along.
"Well," Miroku said at last, blinking in awe. "You certainly have a loyal friend there, Inuyasha. I would feel very fortunate if I were you."
Kagome wished she could see the look on Inuyasha's face. She wished she could see whether he wanted to speak. But she didn't want to turn around just yet. Faintly, she could feel his breathing on the back of neck. It was almost as though he was barely taking in any air.
Hitomiko sighed, rubbing her temples. "The Holy Council will need to deliberate," she said heavily. "Kaede-sama, we would like to invite you to join us to shed more light on the situation. We will keep the Jewel overnight to examine it further and send it back with you come sunrise. Kagome-san, you may return to your village, as it cannot be left unprotected at night."
Kagome nodded uncertainly. She glanced at Kaede, who gave her a reassuring nod as she rose from her seat. Kagome felt a twinge of gratitude as she watched her walk up to the platform. Kaede had done a lot to support her today. Remembering her early misgivings when Inuyasha first showed up, and how they didn't sound too different from the Council's, she reminded herself to thank her properly later.
"Thank you, Hitomiko-sama. Miroku-sama. Kannushi-sama... Tsubaki-sama. I will await your judgement," Kagome said, stepping forward and kneeling into a deep, reverent bow.
"You pled your case well, Kagome-san," said Hitomiko as the Holy Council got to their feet, Tsubaki now appearing nothing but surly. "And it seems erroneous to place the Shikon no Tama anywhere out of your care. As the yokai Inuyasha's friend, however, we cannot expect you to be impartial. Until we arrive at a conclusion, he may be permitted to continue helping you protect the Jewel."
Kagome bowed her head again, trembling as she tried to hide her elation.
"Still," Miroku said, as Kagome stood up. "This has been a most enlightening day." He descended the steps from the platform, shakujo in hand, stopping when he reached Inuyasha. "Your aura is very, very interesting," he murmured, peering at the demon with his knuckles covering his mouth. "Powerful youki, no doubt, but almost tempered, in a way. Strangely, it doesn't seem to lack what most yokai's auras do."
To Kagome's surprise, Inuyasha didn't move, and met the monk's stare quite calmly.
"Will you join us, Miroku-sama?" called Hitomiko.
Miroku nodded, still peering at Inuyasha curiously. "Fare thee well, Kagome-sama," Miroku said good-naturedly. "I trust this is not the last time we'll meet."
Kagome smiled and bowed her head at him, relieved that the hoshi had been on the Council today.
Everyone prepared to leave, offering words of gratitude. Kagome watched as Inuyasha turned and walked towards the temple's opening, probably to lead the party home.
"Wait, Inuyasha," Kagome called suddenly. Everyone stopped in place to listen. "I'll need to get back sooner than the rest. Won't you give me a ride?"
The collective murmur that sounded throughout the room meant nothing to her. Only Inuyasha's face, stark and speechless with surprise as he stared at her, his eyes wide, clearly telling her how much this meant to him, mattered at all. Kagome smiled at him knowingly, hoping he knew now that she didn't care what anyone thought. That she'd meant every word.
Night had fallen.
The procession had fallen behind.
Inuyasha and Kagome were far ahead of them as he ran towards the village, carrying her on his back. As they traveled, for the first time, Kagome thought of everything that had been on her mind for the past several weeks.
[A/N: Inuyasha OST 1: Kagome and Inuyasha plays: From 00:00 to the 2:00 minute mark.]
She thought of Inuyasha. Of the things he had said, the things he had done. She thought of how warm he felt as she rested on his back, how firm his shoulders were as she gripped them, how good he smelled, how glossy and smooth his hair looked as it flowed in the breeze, how he was able to run so quickly while making sure not to jostle her at all.
There was something she'd begun to realize about Inuyasha, about herself. Maybe it had taken her being asked about, having to talk about it, to fully understand. But it was that regardless of what happened with the Jewel, she was not willing to lose Inuyasha from her life. Their bond was something she needed for as long as possible. Because Inuyasha was more than just a friend who would come and go.
He'd saved her life. He went out of his way to make her tasks easier. He protected her and the kids from bandits. He saved Sota. He helped restore her to her family. He'd risked his life for her, jumping between her and Mistress Centipede, choosing to get injured for her sake. He'd trusted her enough to make the journey to the Holy Council with her, all to be by her side and support her, despite knowing that he had no allies there at all.
He had even consented to them activating the Beads of Subjugation. She knew someone as free-roaming as him could only have hated the idea of being constrained. But for Kagome, he was willing to risk it. He trusted her enough to not abuse the power she would have wielded over him.
Kagome's eyes misted over. What had she done to deserve such devotion, care, and protection? How was he even real? Could she ever repay him? He didn't even ask for anything in return.
Inuyasha.
Ba-dump.
He was good.
Ba-dump.
He was kind.
Ba-dump.
He was the one who was always there. She'd been feeling alone for so long. But he'd been there for her from the very first day. He never turned his back on her. He listened to all of her stories, cared about what she had to say, defended her anytime anyone had said a word against her, he made her laugh, he made her smile, he was brave, he was strong, his face took her breath away. He was rude, crass, "brash", rough around the edges, obnoxious. But his heart was golden.
Ba-dump.Ba-dump.Ba-dump.
Deliberately, carefully, with warmth filling her heart, Kagome slipped her arms around his neck as he glided through the grass. She closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.
In what felt like no time at all, they reached the village.
A half moon shone over the shrine roof. Inuyasha leapt nimbly up to the shrine, finally coming to a stop outside. He crouched down so that Kagome could climb off, then straightened up.
Kagome faced him.
She realized she had never seen him in the dark like this before. He'd always made sure to leave by nightfall, and they had been indoors when they'd stayed the night with her family. It was also her first time seeing him in moonlight of any kind. His silver hair gleamed and his golden eyes glowed. Half of his face was cast lightly in shadow, but the other half was bright and bold. She thought she wanted to see him like this more often.
He seemed to want to tell her something. Kagome waited. They'd barely said a word to each other all day, she realized. What did he want to say now? Thank you? It would be nice to be on the receiving end of gratitude again for a change, considering how much he'd done for her. She felt like she was finally beginning to give back lately. But he didn't need to thank her, Kagome thought. She hadn't done anything today that she didn't want to do.
Inuyasha stepped forward. Then he stopped. To her surprise, he lowered his eyes, seeming downcast somehow. Had he been uncomfortable with the way she'd held him? She wanted to ask what was wrong, but he looked up again before she could. She saw him swallow a bit. Then, he nodded to her in acknowledgement, and turned and leapt off the wooden steps, bounding away out of sight as he'd always done.
Kagome sighed.
Well, that's that, she thought.
It was all right. She wouldn't have changed anything about what she'd done today. She knew that Inuyasha appreciated it. He just didn't know how to put it in words. She'd come to learn this about him, which made her happy. Even though she hadn't wanted him to leave so soon, she wasn't upset. He would come back tomorrow. She knew that.
Turning her back to where he'd stood, Kagome looked up at the moon. It really was pretty tonight. It was split right down the middle, and the visible half was a bright alabaster white. It emitted soft, glowing rays, illuminating the village. The weather was nice. It was mildly warm, but with gentle breezes every now and then. Kagome wondered if she should stay out a little longer. It was too pleasant to go inside right away. She shut her eyes, her face still upturned, and let the breezes gently rush by her. It was so quiet. It wasn't that late, but everyone must have already retired. She wasn't complaining. The silence made this even better.
As she stood, the wind carried the sense of a familiar presence. She was no longer alone.
Kagome opened her eyes and turned her head.
It was him again.
Inuyasha stood several yards away. He must have returned only seconds ago. He was watching her.
Kagome smiled, welcome lighting up her eyes. Inuyasha continued to stand silently. The seconds ticked by. Then, he began to walk towards her, taking slow, deliberate steps.
As he approached, Kagome's smile never left her face. She turned her body towards him, watching as he drew near. He stopped short when he was within reach of her.
Kagome gazed up at Inuyasha and saw that he was looking at her in a way that suggested that this was the first time he had ever truly seen her. As though he were seeing her wholly, for everything she was. There was a hard, blazing look in his face again, but this time it was calmer. His eyes were still intense, but warmer and less anxious. A strange sort of yearning was in them. Kagome continued to smile. She was glad he'd come back. She waited, hopefully, for whatever he'd come to say.
Slowly, his head bent down. His eyes never left hers. His uncertainty melted away as she made no move to withdraw from him. Instead, he watched as, almost imperceptibly, her head tilted up towards him just the slightest bit.
Inuyasha leaned forward, took her cheek in his hand, and kissed her.
With a joyful sigh, Kagome fell into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. She shut her eyes as she was enveloped to his chest, one hand on the small of her back, the other cradling the back of her head, fingers in her hair, and kissed him back with her full heart.
They stood there together, swaying slightly as they kissed, holding each other tight while basking in the half-moonlight.
Don't forget to review, my dears :333