Fourth Time's the Charm

Kagome's fifteenth birthday started like any other day—ordinary, predictable, and completely unremarkable. She woke up feeling exactly the same, despite technically being another year older. No sudden revelations, no mystical awakenings, and certainly no dramatic changes in her life. If anything, the most she could expect was a handful of "Happy Birthday" greetings from her friends before another routine school day.

"I'm leaving!" she called, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she stepped outside.

The crisp autumn air greeted her, cool against her skin but not quite cold enough to warrant a sweater. The trees remained stubbornly green, resisting the fiery transformation of fall, and the morning sky stretched cloudless above her. It was a promising day, bright and cheerful, the kind of day that made the world feel peaceful and unshaken.

As she made her way toward school, she caught sight of her younger brother, Souta, peeking out from the entrance of the old shrine. His head barely emerged from the shadowed doorway before he called out to her.

"Kagome!"

She paused mid-step, raising a brow. "Souta? What are you doing in the shrine? You know you're not supposed to play in there."

"It's Buyo," he pouted, glancing back into the darkness. "He ran down there, and now he won't come out."

Kagome sighed, stepping toward the entrance. "Then go get him."

Souta wrinkled his nose. "It's really dark down there…"

Of course it was. The shrine was old, the kind of place that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Kagome hesitated at the threshold, peering inside. The air inside was cooler, dust swirling in the faint golden beams spilling through the open door.

A scratching noise echoed from below.

Souta flinched. "Did you hear that?"

Kagome smirked. "Probably just Buyo."

"Still," he muttered, shifting uneasily. "Maybe you should check…"

"Seriously?" she groaned, rolling her eyes. "Fine. But if it's just the cat, you owe me."

She stepped inside, descending the first few steps toward the sealed well—the Bone Eater's Well, if she remembered correctly. A small shiver ran down her spine at the name, but she shook it off. It was just a well. An old, dried-up well with a creepy name. Nothing more.

Just as she reached the edge, a voice suddenly called her name.

"Kagome!"

She jumped, nearly losing her footing, before spinning toward the entrance.

Eri stood just outside, grinning as she leaned through the open doorway. "Geez, you're jumpy."

Kagome pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling. "Eri! You scared me half to death."

Eri waved her off. "Well, maybe don't go creeping around spooky shrines first thing in the morning." She gestured impatiently. "Come on, we're going to be late."

"But Buyo—" Souta started, but Kagome was already stepping back into the sunlight.

"He'll find his way out," she reassured him. "Just leave the door open a little."

Souta huffed but didn't argue as Kagome hurried off with Eri.

"Happy birthday, by the way," Eri said, nudging her playfully. "I was waiting for you, but when you didn't show, I figured I'd check to make sure you weren't playing hooky."

Kagome laughed. "Me? What could I possibly have to do that's better than school?"

Eri smirked. "Oh, I don't know—maybe avoiding the surprise Ayumi and Yuka set up?"

Kagome gasped, feigning innocence. "Surprise? What surprise?"

Eri chuckled. "Just act surprised when you see them, okay?"

Both girls giggled as they quickened their pace, the morning sun warming their backs. If Kagome had known what awaited her beyond this perfectly normal day, she might have clung to it just a little longer.

o - o - o - o - o

Kagome had always felt a strange pull toward the shrine. Not often, and never in any way she could explain, but every now and then, something would bring her there.

One year, it had been Jii-chan. "Kagome, I think I left something in the shrine. Be a dear and fetch it for me!" Another time, a brutal rainstorm had battered the structure, hailstones the size of golf balls denting the wooden beams. She'd been sent to check the damage. And then there was the night her friends, fueled by one too many of Jii-chan's ghost stories, dared each other to take a peek inside.

Yet, each time, she had been thwarted—coincidences, distractions, interruptions. And she had never minded. Bone Eater's Well was a name that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, a whisper of something forgotten yet instinctively feared. Jii-chan's ramblings about its history had long blurred together, but the one thing that stuck with her was a deep, unshakable feeling: she was better off staying away.

But now, at eighteen, her world was changing. High school was behind her, college on the horizon. A new city, a new life. She told herself she was excited—she was excited—but beneath it all, something gnawed at her. A feeling she couldn't name.

The day before she was set to leave home for good, Kagome found herself wandering the shrine grounds. The nostalgia settled over her like a warm blanket as she traced familiar paths, fingers trailing along the aged wood of the buildings. Jii-chan's voice echoed in her mind, always starting his stories the same way—"Its history begins with..."—yet, frustratingly, she could never recall what came after.

She reached the shrine door and pulled it open, the old hinges groaning in protest. A musty breath of air greeted her, thick with dust and time. Wrinkling her nose, she prepared to shut it again—

A blur of fur darted past her legs.

"Buyo, no!" Kagome groaned. The fat tabby slipped through the opening with surprising agility, his tail flicking in triumph. "Why are you always getting into this place?" she called after him.

A muffled mrow echoed from inside.

With a resigned sigh, she stepped forward, peering into the gloom. Buyo's glowing eyes blinked at her from near the sealed well.

"You little—" Kagome huffed, stepping onto the first stair.

A sound froze her in place.

Shhhkk… shhhkkk…

She straightened, every muscle in her body going rigid.

"Here, kitty, kitty," she coaxed, her voice softer now, more cautious. "Come on, Buyo. I'll give you a nice can of food. You'd like that, right?"

Another step down.

The darkness at the bottom of the shrine seemed deeper, heavier than it should. The air was thick, stagnant.

Shhhkkk…

Another step.

Something on the ground caught her eye—sticks? No. Her stomach twisted. Bones.

Her breath came quicker now. "Buyo?" she whispered.

Silence.

And then—

"Meow!"

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin as the cat suddenly leapt onto the edge of the well, his tail twitching. She exhaled sharply, hand over her racing heart.

"Seriously, Buyo? You're gonna give me a heart attack!" She reached for him, lifting his warm, squirming body into her arms. "Come on, let's get out of here—"

A creak.

A low, groaning krrrkkk from the well's lid.

Buyo hissed and wriggled violently, scratching at her arms until she dropped him. The cat bolted up the stairs, vanishing in an instant.

An icy dread slid down Kagome's spine.

She turned.

The well was shifting.

Her breath caught as the lid cracked open, ever so slightly.

Run.

Every instinct screamed at her, but she couldn't move. Her legs were stone. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

The lid burst apart.

Something surged out, a blur of pale limbs and slithering movement. Before she could scream, hands—so many hands—wrapped around her arms, her waist, her legs. The grip was impossibly strong, yanking her backward.

"AHHH!"

She twisted, kicking wildly, but the thing only pulled her closer.

And then she saw it.

A face—almost human, but wrong. Its lips stretched into a sickening smile, and its eyes, black as a starless void, locked onto her.

"I feel it," it rasped, voice slithering into her ears. "My body… is returning…"

Kagome shuddered as something wet and warm slid over her neck. A grotesquely long tongue dragged across her skin, leaving a slick trail of saliva.

A scream tore from her throat. "Oh my God—GET OFF OF ME!"

She thrashed, but the creature only grinned wider.

And then, with one final wrench, it pulled her into the well—into the darkness below.

She wrenched her arm free from the creature's grasp and reached for its face, desperate to shove it away. A sudden, searing light built up beneath her palms, erupting in a brilliant flash that blasted the creature backward. It disintegrated before her eyes, leaving nothing but scattered remnants. With a heavy thud, she landed at the bottom of the well.

"Ooomph," she grunted, wincing at the impact.

A rasping voice echoed in the darkness, distant yet chillingly close. "The Jewel... I shall have it..."

Kagome's breath hitched. Her gaze darted around, taking in the grotesque remains of the creature littered around her. Any lingering hope that this was just a dream quickly shattered. The pieces twitched, shifting unnaturally, and she wasted no time. Summoning every ounce of energy, she scrambled to her feet and climbed the well's rough walls, desperate to escape.

As she crested the top, a wave of disorientation hit her. It was bright—far too bright for the dim confines of the shrine. Sunlight streamed freely, yet she didn't recall anything beyond the well's lid being destroyed. Something was wrong.

Climbing out, she took in her surroundings. The landscape was unfamiliar—lush, green, and overgrown in a way that sent a ripple of unease through her. Panic threatened to rise until her gaze landed on something unmistakably familiar: the Goshinboku tree.

Relief flooded her, but it was short-lived. She sprinted toward the tree, half-convinced that she had inhaled too much dust and mold from the shrine, hallucinating the entire experience. However, her hope dissolved when she rounded the massive trunk and stumbled upon a sight that made her heart pound.

A man was pinned against the tree, his body held fast by thick, gnarled vines. An arrow protruded from his chest, but despite this, he looked strangely at peace, as if merely asleep. His silver hair shimmered in the dappled sunlight, an unnatural contrast to his surroundings. Yet, what caught her attention most were his ears—perched atop his head like those of a dog. Were they real?

There was only one way to find out.

Gripping the vines for support, she climbed closer. The man's face was striking, and despite the oddity of his ears, there was something else about him that set him apart. Unable to resist, she reached out and lightly touched one. Velvety soft and warm.

Real.

A sudden wave of embarrassment crashed over her. What was she doing, touching a stranger's ears? She hastily withdrew her hand, but before she could move away, a pair of golden eyes snapped open and locked onto hers.

"Ai!" she shrieked, losing her grip and tumbling back onto the ground with a graceless thud.

Mortified, she scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt off her clothing. Above her, the silver-haired man remained motionless, watching her with an unreadable expression. He didn't move—perhaps he couldn't.

"Hey," she called hesitantly. "Are you stuck up there?"

He continued to stare, offering no response. It was only then that she noticed the arrow again, lodged deep in his chest. Her eyes widened in alarm.

"Oh my gosh! There's an arrow in your chest! Are you okay?"

Still, he remained silent, though his gaze briefly flickered down to the arrow. He could move his head, but nothing else.

"Should I try to pull it out?" she offered.

No response.

"Okay then," she muttered, steeling herself. "Let's get this out and go from there."

Bracing herself, she grasped the arrow and pulled. But instead of meeting resistance, the arrow vanished in an instant. Both she and the silver-haired man blinked in surprise.

"Whoa!" she gasped, stumbling back yet again. "Damn."

She rubbed her sore backside as she looked up. The man had collapsed to the ground, landing in an animalistic crouch. His posture, the tension in his limbs—it was unmistakably predatory. His ears twitched, his nose lifted slightly as he sniffed the air.

Then, without a word, he sprang to his feet and bolted.

"You're welcome!" Kagome shouted after him, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "The nerve of that guy…"

She sighed, brushing herself off. "Oh well, better get used to it. The profession I'm going into is a thankless one anyway."

"There!" a voice suddenly called from the direction she had come.

Kagome spun around, her stomach dropping as she saw it—the creature from before, launching toward her with renewed fury.

"Oh my gosh!" she cried, turning on her heel and sprinting away. She had gotten a better look this time—the thing's upper half was that of a woman, albeit one with six arms. But below the waist, it was something else entirely—a monstrous centipede, its many legs propelling it forward with terrifying speed.

As she ran, projectiles whizzed past her, striking the creature behind her. The beast shrieked in pain. "AIEEE. You cannot stop me. I shall have it!"

Figures stood ahead, weapons drawn, their eyes locked on her. As she drew closer, she heard their hurried whispers.

"It's a girl!" one murmured in surprise.

"She must be a demon, coming from the woods!" another reasoned.

Gasping for breath, Kagome reached them, barely managing to sputter, "What is that thing?!"

The group parted, allowing an elderly woman to step forward. She looked hardened, her face marked by age and experience. An eyepatch covered her left eye, adding to her intimidating presence. Kagome's first thought was that she resembled an old pirate.

The woman raised a bow, her expression sharp and unreadable. "You, girl! Where did you come from?"

Kagome raised her hands in defense, "Uh, my name is Kagome and I came from Tokyo?" she said in an unsure tone.

The old woman lowered the bow she seemed to double use as a walking staff. "Hmm," the woman speculated. "You bear a striking resemblance to her..."

"To...to whom?" Kagome asked, her hands still raised. Feeling foolish, she lowered them.

"Kaede-sama!" one of the assembled people called. "Nothing is working! The demon comes!"

"Stand back, child!" the old woman yelled.

"Give it to me! The Shikon no Tama is MIIINNNEEEE! I shall take it from you!" the creature hissed as it propelled forward in Kagome's direction.

The old woman, Kaede, looked at Kagome in confusion, "The Jewel? You have it?" she asked harshly.

Kagome jumped back, "What? No! I don't know what it wants from me... Lookout!"

The centipede demon catapulted towards her and leveled into Kagome, sending her flying. "Aiiieee!" Kagome hollered. The centipede demon grabbed at her arms and pulled her up. The tongue rolled out of its mouth and whipped around in a snake-like fashion. "Ewwwewwweww!" she shrieked. The centipede demon held Kagome still and scanned her body frantically before settling on Kagome's side. Sharp, jagged teeth appeared as the demon unhinged its jaw and opened its maw. Before Kagome had time to register what was happening, the demon bit into her side, causing her to black out momentarily in pain as a chunk of her flesh was rent from her.

White-hot agony ripped through her body. Her vision flickered as her mind struggled to process the pain, her limbs going numb for a terrifying moment. It was as if her body had momentarily shut down to avoid the unbearable sensation. When she came to, it was just in time to feel herself being tossed aside like a discarded rag doll.

The demon casually threw Kagome aside, having removed what it sought. A round orb dropped to the ground in front of her.

"It cannot be!" Kaede gasped. The people accompanying her remarked among themselves over the queer jewel that had flown from Kagome's body.

Kagome gasped for breath, clutching her wounded side. Blood seeped between her fingers, warm and sticky, but she barely had time to register it. A dull throb replaced the sharpness, her body pushing itself into survival mode. She could feel the demonic creature coming towards her. It helped that the thing kept yelling for the Shikon Jewel as it plunged for her, giving Kagome the indication that she needed to roll over and throw her hands out in front of her. She wasn't sure what good throwing her hands out would do, but the power that pooled into her hands and blasted the centipede into nothingness was helpful.

Kagome panted on the ground and shook her hands in shock, "What in the world?" She hadn't had the opportunity to let everything that had happened sink in before she was pulled to her feet by one of the men who had battled the creature.

"Quick! Take the pieces back to the dry well and throw them in before it has a chance to reform!" the old woman instructed. People hurried to obey, picking up the scattered pieces and running them toward the well.

Kagome felt a dull throb in her side, her adrenaline still pumping and preventing her from feeling most of the pain she knew she would endure later. The old woman approached her and pointed at the Goshinboku tree. "What have you done?" she asked accusatorily.

"Wha-what do you mean?" Kagome asked, unsure of the implication.

"There was a demon sealed to that tree by my sister over 50 years ago," Kaede explained.

Kagome gulped, "A demon you say? He looked harmless enough."

"So you did release him then?" she asked again.

"I'm sorry," Kagome responded.

"Hnnnnh," the old woman grunted. "Come with me," she said. She bent over and laboriously retrieved the Shikon no Tama from the ground before Kagome's feet.

Together they walked out of the forest and towards a village.

Kagome marveled at the sight. 'It's like out of a history book!'

The woman brought her to her little house, pulling the woven reed door up so they could enter. She ushered Kagome in with a wave, "My name is Kaede. I am the village miko."

Kagome entered the small one-room home and supplied her name, "Pleased to meet you. I am Kagome, from the Higurashi Shrine."

"Come child. Let's get that wound treated," Kaede said and went over to prepare a fire in the middle of the room.

Kagome sat down next to the fire and allowed herself to relax a bit. As she relaxed, her adrenaline waned, and she began to feel the throbbing pain from her side and various other places she hadn't realized she'd taken injury.

"So you say you are a shrine maiden? That helps explain your spiritual powers," Kaede began while she prepared medicinal herbs.

Kagome felt unsure, "Uh, I wouldn't say that exactly. I'm going to school to become a doctor."

"Doc-tor?" Kaede paused, trying the word out. "I am unfamiliar with that term," she concluded.

"I suppose it would be like what you are doing now. Healing," Kagome supplied. She watched, fascinated, as Kaede expertly ground up some dried herbs and added liquids, continuing to mash them together.

"Hmm," Kaede said thoughtfully.

"You said that I resembled someone?" Kagome asked.

Kaede paused again, placing down her pestle and mortar bowl. She came over to Kagome and placed her hands on her face, looking deeply into her eyes. Kagome nearly blushed being judged so. "Yes, you greatly resemble my older sister, Kikyo," Kaede told her. She dropped her hands and went back to grinding the medicinal concoction.

Kagome looked around to see if Kaede shared this domicile with another person, "Is...is she around?"

"No." Kaede said firmly. "She died. Killed during a skirmish over the Shikon no Tama with the demon you released today."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Kagome said sadly.

Kaede regarded her solemnly over her mortar bowl. "How could you, child?" She must not have expected an answer and turned back to the task. Once she finished mixing the salve, she had Kagome lift her shirt so that she could treat the open wound.

As Kaede worked, she hesitated. "This is no small task, child. You have already shown immense power, but power alone is not enough. Protecting the Jewel is a dangerous burden."

Kagome hesitated, staring at the Jewel. "I... I don't know if I'm ready for this." She swallowed hard. "What if I fail?"

Kaede placed a hand over hers, her expression solemn but firm. "None of us are ready when fate calls upon us. But you have a choice now. Will you run, or will you rise?"

Kagome exhaled shakily, then clenched her hand around the Jewel. "I understand. I will protect it. Tell me what I need to do."