Disclaimer: No, I don't own Inuyasha. I don't own the anime where I got this idea from either. They all belong to their respected owners and I hope like anything that no one decides to sue.
1000
Part One: The Myth
She jerked up sharply, her math homework forgotten as brown eyes focused on the television screen. She'd heard it-somehow-through the haze of formulas, fractions, and equations and had latched onto it like a vice.
"Souta, rewind it. Go back a bit."
"Girl, please," Souta, all of fifteen years old and decidedly taller than his older sibling (even sitting on the floor as they were now). "This is a DVD player. You can't rewind a DVD." He shook his head in disapproval and picked the remote control off of the nearby coffee table. "Way too much time in the Feudal Era," he mumbled under his breath.
"Well go back then," Kagome growled and reached for a couch pillow. She watched it bounce off his head with a satisfying thump and grinned at his shout of protest. "DVDs do that, don't they? Hurry up and go back."
"Fine, fine," Souta grumbled and did as she asked. He stopped at her signal and frowned, wondering what it was about the anime that caught her attention. He supposed that it made some sense, seeing as how it was about four guys that were traveling across the country. He didn't understand exactly what was going on plot wise but he knew that one of the four guys was a gun toting monk, something that earned the anime series a A+ in his book. He shrugged, then turned when a soft "hn" came from his older sister.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked when Kagome slapped her book closed and jumped to her feet. "Where ya goin'?"
"Where's Oji-san?" Kagome asked as she began to leave the living room. "Never mind. I bet he's somewhere near the shrine house."
"What's going on?" Souta asked and sat up. He frowned when she opened the front door, leaving him to stew in his curiosity. "Hn," he shrugged and turned back to the tv. "That girl is so weird."
()
"So. . .?"
The old man blinked, the afternoon sun blinding him momentarily, and turned to stare up at the shadowy figure beside him. "So. . .what?"
"Have you been listening to a thing I've said?" Kagome demanded and angrily stamped her foot. Her patience was normally infinite with the old man but today, today seemed to have brought the answer to a problem that continued to eat away at her since the beginning of her times in the Feudal Era. How long had she wanted, how long had she wished for a way. . . How many nights, sleepless and weary, afraid that her friends would die-or leave her behind-before an answer came. To have a hint of it, even from somewhere as absurd as an anime show Souta liked, excited her to the point of nearly insufferable anticipation.
"Hush child. I heard you." He frowned at her impatience and waited until the Kagome he knew bubbled back to the surface. She sighed suddenly, an apologetic smile gracing her angelic features as she sat down on the bench nearest them and waited. She watched as he continued to think, his wrinkled brow furrowed deeper as he mentally flipped through the endless files in his mind's eye. She groaned when he stuck a finger in his ear, the thin tuffs of hair that protruded from his ear canal disappearing with the insertion of the digit. Kagome bowed her head, closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of nose with her index finger and thumb.
'Don't get angry. Don't get angry,' she chanted to herself while her reading glasses bobbed precariously on their perch. 'By Kami the little old dude drives me nuts sometimes.'
"Ah yes, I remember it now," he finally sang out. Kagome leapt up, her eyes shimmering in excitement as she waited for him to finish. "There is a legend, but I barely remember it. I don't know if it's true or not either, but if you want to look there's a book that has the story inside."
"What book?" Kagome nearly begged. "And where is it?"
"It's in the hallway at the house, I believe," Oji-san mused as he leaned against his broomstick. "It's inside that collective storybook. The one you used to read to Souta when you were children."
"Right. . ." Kagome sang to herself. She dashed back to the house, gratefully unaware as Oji-san removed his finger from his ear, gave it a studying glance, then sniffed it intently before wiping it on the side of his unhakamas and continuing with his work.
()
She'd found the book and read the entire contents as if it were water for the parched. Inside were legends, some of dragons, some of court magicians, and some entirely too fantastic to be possible, even in the magic drenched past of the era beyond the well. She read over the story when she found it, wondering to herself why the familiar fable never crossed her mind, and tucked the book under her arm. She left her glasses on a nearby table, ran from the house and threw open the well house door. It wasn't long until the bright blue lights surrounded her and the darkness that hovered over the future side of the well faded to bright, beautiful sunshine.
Kagome used the vines to climb out, then sat on the lip of the well and gazed upward. A gentle breeze fluttered by and she took a deep breath, her racing heart calming and her thoughts arranging themselves almost instantly. She glanced around and sighed, relieved when no screaming hanyou came barreling through the trees toward her. She was a week and a half early, and was without the ramen she promised, so for once she was happy to be by herself. She stood up and quickly made her way down the hill, her focus solely on the little village at the base of the steep hill. She ran pass numerous fields, taking a moment to wave hello to the farmers nearby, and entered the village itself.
"Kaede-baa-chan!" Kagome called out as she entered the elderly miko's hut. "Kaede, are you still-Oh! I'm sorry," she said, her voice softer than when she came in as she finally noticed the little old woman crouched in a nearby corner. She sat in front of her herb collection, a basket in her lap and an herb in her hands as she stared at her young protégée.
"Kagome child, what is it?" she asked as she set the basket aside and struggled to her feet. "What ails you so? What chases you?"
"I'm so sorry Kaede," Kagome replied, her hand clamped over her lips as she calmed herself and the old miko. "I was just in such a rush and I wanted to see you so badly. Where's Inuyasha and the others?"
"They are not here," Kaede said with a light sigh. "Inuyasha disappeared not moments after you left for home, and Sango, Shippou and Miroku traveled to a nearby village for supplies."
"Oh. Ok." 'So they're all gone,' Kagome said to herself as she sat down on the dusty wooden floor. 'Inuyasha's part worries me, but. . .maybe. . .' "Kaede, I have to ask you something."
"By all means child, ask," Kaede replied with a warm smile. "What has your aura in such turmoil?"
"There's something I heard back home," Kagome began to explain. "Something that. . .If I were to believe it, would be entirely too fantastic. I mean, could it be possible?"
"Could what be possible my child?" Kaede sat down and listened as Kagome began her tale, nodding every so often, and sighed when Kagome finished. "And your oji-san, does he believe it to be true?"
"I think so," Kagome shrugged. "But it's doubtful. I didn't remember hearing about the story until recently. Okaa-san used to read the story to Souta and I at bedtime."
"Well, my dear, I must say," Kaede began and shifted her weight off of her feet. "Of all the legends to remember that one brings a sense of nostalgia to this old miko's heart."
"What do you mean?"
"When my dear sister, Kikyou, and I were children, the village was protected by the another miko and a pair of traveling houshi, men much like Miroku-san. . .except for that wandering hand of his." Kaede tisked in disgust. "The pair were brothers and were incredibly gifted in the spiritual arts. Their sutras were the most powerful in all of the eastern region and their looks. . ." Kaede sighed wistfully. "Well, they were not exactly hard to look at either."
Kagome stilled, her eyes round with surprise as a phrase from her time slipped so effortlessly from the old miko's lips.
"Ah, but that is the past," Kaede said after a few moments of daydreaming. "And you wish to know the rest of the story. It has a tragic end, my dear."
"What is it?" Kagome pleaded. "I have to know."
"One of the brothers was killed, unfortunately," Kaede replied with a heavy sigh. "He was the older, more powerful, of the pair and was off by himself in Inuyasha's Forest. He was ambushed by a group of neko youkai and his brother was too late to save him. The poor dear was guilt ridden. He believed it to be his fault and wished to be more powerful to prevent it from happening again. It was then that he heard of the myth you speak of, only he believed it to be fact as well.
"He set off not too long afterward, leaving the village to the head miko and my sister, who was just beginning to grow within her spiritual powers. We heard much about him after that, tales of a great ningen warrior who's power seemed to grow with every battle, and we rejoiced and waited for him to return. Time passed, yet the houshi never did. We figured him to be dead, and the myth little more than that."
"But you think differently?" Kagome guessed and pressed on when Kaede sighed. "Why? What happened?"
Kaede turned to the fire, the orange and gold flames reflecting in her one good eye and frowned. "Back then I was told that it was a child's folly, my imagination at play. Now I believe it to be a dream that simply won't let me alone."
"What was it?" Kagome gently asked and noticed the old woman's regret. "Tell me what it was. I'll believe you."
Kaede seemed to think it over, then nodded and began her story. Kagome listened, her hand pressed firmly to her lips when she finally understood what exactly it was that happened to Kaede so many years ago. It all seemed too magnificent, too wondrous to be true despite knowing that Kaede's honor prevented her from telling a lie.
"Listen well child," Kaede finally said once her story was over. "If you choose to walk this path, know that you will have to walk it -alone-. There can be none to help you, none to support you. You must gain this on your own, no matter the cost. The way is dangerous and for a fledgling like yourself-"
"I don't know if I'll do it," Kagome assured her with a gentle pat on her shoulder. "It's just something I thought I would ask you about." She hugged Kaede and left the hut, unaware of Kaede's knowing stare as Kagome trudged up the hill to the well.
"Child, you know not of what lies ahead," she whispered to the emptiness around her.
(-)
Kagome sat, mahogany brown orbs fixed to the heavens above as the stars winked at her from below. The grassy clearing was empty of all life save hers and this emptiness reflected what she felt in her heart. How many times would she come out of battle unscathed while her friends were pocked with battle scars? Sango's beautiful arms, Miroku's strong back, even Inuyasha couldn't escape the marks that left their macabre offering on their skin, marks that were there because she couldn't protect herself.
And what did she have to show for her efforts in the Feudal Era? Scraped knees from her attempts to catch herself when she dove out of the way of her friends daring do, and hurt feelings when Inuyasha called her for what she really was.
"A coward, useless and weak," she mournfully whispered to the midnight breeze.
Kagome sighed, heavy eyelids drifting shut only to blink open at the sound of rustling nearby, and drooped in relief when Miroku emerged from the brush. He limped toward her unsteadily, his staff used more like a cane as he struggled to cross the field toward her. Kagome jumped up from her place on a rock in the center of the clearing and helped him to sit, her hands holding his offered arm as he lowered himself and gazed toward the sky.
"My thanks Kagome-sama," he sighed heavily and adjusted his robes. "What great fortune it is to have someone as beautiful as yourself tend to me."
"Yeah right," Kagome countered with a roll of her eyes, but laughed and smiled all the same. "What are you doing out here, huh?" she asked as she sat down beside him. "Sango will have a fit if the wound on your thigh opens up."
Miroku smiled mischievously, a sure sign of trouble in Kagome's book, and patted her shoulder affectionately. "You appeared to need the company more."
Kagome huffed miserably and shook her head. "No, what I need is to get stronger. Or else I'll never be a match for Kikyou."
"Of what use do you have to become a match for Kikyou-sama?" Miroku wondered aloud. "Of what I've observed, the two of you are vastly different."
"That's not what I meant, Miroku. I just want to become stronger, more useful. You guys get hurt all the time because of me and it's not exactly fair. I want to pull my own weight sometimes."
"But you do," Miroku assured her with a gentle smile. "Though you may not think so, I happen to think you're very brave. There isn't any danger you wouldn't put yourself in for those you care for and your anger is quite fearful."
"Yeah right," Kagome huffed despondently. "If you happen to be a chipmunk. There isn't a man alive that fears me."
"My dear, you may not be feared but you are loved, both by those around you and those that come to know you." Miroku replied back. "Think of Jininji, of Hojo-sama-"
"Please don't mention Hojo-sama," Kagome begged with a raised hand. "And that's not what I meant."
"Maybe so, but it proves that some people aren't meant to be feared." Miroku rose stiffly, a pained grimace marking his clean-shaven features as he waited to adjust. "You are and Kikyou was the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama, yet the both of you-as different as you are-are highly respected, so much so that I haven't had to use my 'exorcism' techniques in months." He smiled when she laughed, the happy spark returning to her eyes and aura. She hugged him gently, mindful of his many bruises, and gave him a brotherly kiss on his cheek.
"Thanks Miroku," Kagome said and patted his back. "But I don't exactly feel better."
"Well, one cannot say that I didn't try," Miroku shrugged helplessly. "Even so, try not to take everything Inuyasha says to heart. We both know that he can be an unthinking brute sometimes, but he really doesn't mean it." He turned and began to walk away when Kagome shouted his name.
"I was wondering," she began nervously. "What if. . .per say. . .I have a way to get stronger."
"You do?" Miroku asked and turned fully toward her. "Why Kagome-sama, that would be divine. What way would this be?"
"It would take a while," she offered instead of answering. "I'm not sure how long, but I know it would be a pretty long time."
"Well that would be fine," Miroku nodded back. "If you think you can do it then by all means go for it. I'm sure Sango-sama and the others would feel the same and would be more than happy to help. Now, if you'll excuse me." He ambled toward camp, the end of his staff digging shallow holes into the soft earth beneath his feet. He glanced over his shoulder once he reached the end of the clearing and smiled.
"Don't be long. Dinner should be ready soon and if we don't hurry Inuyasha will eat it all."
Kagome laughed, nodded and ran to catch up, her arm linking with his once she reached his side. "Well come on then," she giggled as they picked their way through the forest. "Let's go save our dinner."
(End Chapter)
SF: I'm Baaaaaaaackk! Muhahahahaha!
Inu-chan: Crack is whack, as the bird would say.
Miroku: Is it just me, or has she gotten weirder since she got married?
Shippou: Think it will get any worse?
(Men of the Inu cast think it over, then shudder)
Kagome: I think she's happy. You guys should lay off.
Inu-chan: She's too happy. And what's with this thing? (picks up a teddy bear wearing army dress uniform)
Sango: Uh oh. . .
ZAP!!
SF: (snatching bear from Inu's charred body) Hands off my man dog boy!
Inu-chan :cough
SF: (petting bear) It's ok baby. Did he hurt you? Aw, poor baby.
Kagome: (while SF cuddles teddy) SF cant have her actual husband on stage wish you could've seen her face when she typed that so she has a teddy bear to represent him.
Silver: And it's driving us nuts.
Sango: That too.