Antiquity's Destiny by Eliza B
The Mirror
Not sure if I need a "disclaimer" since there is one at the bottom of the page, but just in case: I do NOT own any characters from the Inuyasha franchise.
Home! Kagome couldn’t believe how lucky she was that she lived in a time where they had running water and all the other modern day amenities. She should know. Half of her time was spent 500 years in the past with none of the items she loved. Inuyasha had agreed to give her a week home. She had so much school work to catch up on. A week was generous but she deserved it. Kagome had been traveling back and forth through the well for over three years now helping her friends find the shards of the shattered jewel. Somehow, with a bit of luck, she made it through junior high and was coming upon her exiting exams for high school.
She walked past the mirror that had been in her family as long as she could remember. According to her mother and grandfather, it originated from the early part of the Muromachi period. Her grandfather said it had been in the family for hundreds of years. Kagome had been told that this mirror was rare, and like all the other items her grandfather owned, was full of magic. “Yeah, right. Magic my butt. If this thing is full of magic, then I’ve never missed a day of school in my whole life,” she thought. Unlike many of the other mirrors and relics of the time period, this mirror was rather large. The bulky ornate bronze mirror was fully the size of a small adult. She quickly checked her appearance as she headed out the door for school.
Any other day that Kagome looked in the mirror she would see herself staring back. Today was different. Looking into the mirror was like looking into another families’ home, a very elaborately decorated home. It was not much different than what she would expect on the other side of the well in a lord’s home. She gingerly reached out and tried to touch the mirror. Instead of coming into contact with the hard surface of the mirror as she expected, her fingers slipped past and seemed to be buried inside. Surprised, she attempted to pull back her hand. Instead of pulling free, she felt the air being knocked out of her as she was yanked closer to the mirror, elbow deep. As she continued to try and fight the invisible force that was pulling her inside the mirror, she tried to formulate a plan to escape.
Breaking the mirror was always an option. She could grab the chair right beside her with her free hand no problem. But what would happen to the half of her arm that was already on the other side? Would it crumble along with the mirror? Scratch that option, she liked her arm way too much to risk loosing it. Option two, brace herself against the mirror’s pull until her mother got home. Since her mother just left for groceries, it would be a long wait. The last option was a little frightening, but still worth mentioning. What would happen if she let the mirror pull her to the other side? Could it really be that bad? No, probably not. And where ever she ended up, she could always find her way back home, eventually. Even if it did take her back to the Sengoku period, she could always find the well and come right back.
As soon as she had made her choice, she was flung through the mirror and landed on her hands and knees in the middle of the small room. She braved a look around and spotted four people staring at her dumbfounded. The look plastered on her face didn’t look much different. Obviously, she was flung back in time. She could only hope that she was in the right time period to find Inuyasha or one of her other friends. The small room was obviously part of a much larger home. As far as Kagome could tell she was thrust into the heart of the emperor’s palace. Never had she seen such extravagance, even in the Sengoku lord’s homes.
Once her surroundings were taken in, Kagome thought now would be the time to find out exactly where she was and how she was supposed to get back home. As she began to speak the family said nothing. She didn’t really expect them to though. Kagome would admit that if she had seen someone thrown out of a mirror right into her living room, she would be very confused as well. What she took to be the grandmother stood and walked toward her. Kagome began speaking, “hello, my name’s Kagome. I’m obviously not from here…have you ever heard of Inuyasha’s Forest? Do you know how I can get there? This is really weird…stupid mirror. Me of all people! Why can’t this happen to someone else for a change.”
The grandmother stared confused at what had been said, but she understood that the girl’s name was Kagome. Suddenly a thought came to her, maybe she could get back home the same way she got here. Shoving her hand toward the mirror, she was horrified to find that it wouldn’t go through. Undoubtedly she was now stuck with a group of people who refused to communicate with her. The old lady grabbed Kagome by the arm and led her out of the house. They walked down a dusty dirt road.
Within five minutes the two women arrived at the base of a mountain. Standing at the bottom, Kagome could see there was a temple of some sort at the very top. The old lady pushed her forward and Kagome began the hike to the top of the summit. Half way to the top she stopped to rest, noting that the old lady was apparently in much better shape than herself. As she looked down, she noticed what she assumed to be the father carrying the wrapped up mirror. Evidently the mirror was going to the same place she was. And hopefully whoever was at the top could help her sort out her problem.
They began walking again, this time at a swifter pace. The closer they got to the top, the more she could feel a calming presence wash over her. She wasn’t panicked anymore. Instead, she began to feel happy and carefree. By the time she was at the top, she realized what had happened. “Okay, apparently I hit my head trying to jump into the well-hence the delusion. I had to get surgery and they gave me laughing gas. That explains everything. I’ll wake up eventually.” As they rounded on the shrine, the doors opened to reveal a beautiful, what Kagome assumed to be, miko garbed in a billowing white chihaya accented with bright turquoise and hakama to match.
“Ah, you have finally arrived. I told the emperor that it would not be long. My name is Nobue, and yours?”
A little surprised by the admission Kagome stuttered in response, “ah, Kagome. What do you mean I ‘wouldn’t be long’?” She suddenly understood that her prior realization was indeed not true. She had, unfortunately not fallen in the well and hit her head. She had no such luck. She was again, thrust backwards in time to an unknown period, with no friends. As far as she could tell, no acquaintances either.
“The oracle showed me that you would be coming. It has long been the prophesy that a young miko would emerge from that mirror in a time of need. I assume that you would be her? If not, I’m not sure how you managed to materialize in the way you did.”
“Well, I’m sort of a miko, but I’m untrained. I learned to shoot my bow on my own. And what little I do know about plants and herbs, I was taught by Kaede,” Kagome admitted.
“That does not matter at this point. I will serve your teacher until time comes for you to venture out on your own. Not only will I teach you to use and control your purifying powers, but you must be trained as a warrior. I do not know what you will come up against, therefore it is best you are prepared in all possible manners,” conceded Nobue.
“I’m not sure I’m the one you’re looking for though. I don’t belong here. There’s another time that I am bound to. I have to get back! Everyone will worry if I’m not back in a week! There must be someway to get back through the mirror. You don’t understand, we’re on the verge of a major battle with Naraku!”
“Unfortunately that is a risk we have to take. Have you thought that this training may be of some help in the time you say you are bound to? As you said, you are facing a great evil in that time. Nevertheless, as you train, we will continue to look for a route back to your time. I believe the mirror will allow you to come and go as it sees fit once you have accepted that you are to become my student and that you will not abandon your duties. What is your decision? Will you stay and train, or set out on your way alone to find another way back home?”
“I really have no choice do I? I’m sure I can’t find my way on my own. I’ll stay as long as you promise to help me find a way home.”
“As I said, I will do my best. Why not come in and I’ll show you to your accommodations. We will be dinning shortly. I have already assembled your attire. What you currently wear is unacceptable for training. If what I have collected is unacceptable to you, you may choose to commission new clothing.”
Nobue lead Kagome into the shrine and down a long passageway stopping about halfway down. She opened the screen and lead Kagome into a sparsely decorated room. There was a futon, a small window, and a wardrobe, that no doubt held traditional miko garb like Nobue wore. Nobue turned to Kagome and with a bow left her alone in the room. Kagome opened the wardrobe. “Best to get started right away, or else I may never get back,” she mumbled to herself. Choosing a crisp clean white top and an intense red pair of hakama she changed out of her high school uniform.
Note: This is my first attempt at fanfiction. I've wrote original works, but nothing like this...so if it stinks, tell me :) but if it seems promising, I'd like to know that too. I'll also be revising some along the way because I'm not sure if this first chapter has turned out as well as it could have.
Eliza