I don’t own anything Inuyasha.
...
"That old idiot has gone too far!"
Kagome broke out of her daydream just in time to hear her mother's response. "Oh, how rude! Don't speak like that about…"
"Well!" the old man argued back, "It serves him right! Every time I see that elder Hojo he's ranting about how 'old his family is' and what 'truly valuable artifacts' he keeps locked away! The Higurashi shrine is a well known and ancient place that has been around since the Feudal Ages! I've grown tired of that man using his old clan name as leverage!"
A newly teenage Sota slurped up noodles, earning an appreciative look from his mother, and said, "Leave it alone, Ojii-san. Who cares what he says?"
The old man smiled and gestured wildly at his youngest grandchild while proudly claiming, "Here is a Higurashi that knows our worth!"
"Actually, I think both of you old men peddle junk."
"Sota! We already have one rude man at this table, I will not tolerate two." Mother Higurashi picked up her tea and inhaled deeply before taking a calming sip.
Kagome blinked a couple times at her grandfather's gapped open mouth and tears in his eyes. "Ojii-san, what's the matter?"
With a softer expression, the old man turned towards his granddaughter. "Haven't you been listening?"
She apologized with a guilty shrug.
He huffed, but explained as she idly picked at her meal. "Ever since that incident with that Sou'unga sword, your friend Hojo's grandfather runs his mouth about the false relics of the Higurashi shrine. Now, he has made it a habit of showing off his family's prized heirlooms to spite us! It's disgraceful."
"As is your reaction to it," Mama said behind closed eyes.
Pointedly ignoring the jab, Grandpa started to shake his finger at nobody. "But this year, I will have him beat!"
Sighing, Kagome indulged him. "With what?"
He grunted as he procured a surprise item from under the table, then finally smiled as he set a carved stone bowl with matching top in the center of the family's lunch. Her grandfather began to tell a likely untrue story about its origin, but she didn't hear. Kagome had recognized it immediately, even though she's only seen it a couple times.
It was hard to forget the old lady that chased Inuyasha around trying to purify him with the salt contained inside.
"This!" Ojii-san claimed, "belonged to a powerful demon fighter!"
Kagome fought the urge to wince.
The old man, unaware of Kagome's connection, continued "She would bless the salt inside with her mighty spiritual powers and rid villages of troublesome youkai."
Her shoulders dropped. 'That woman couldn't rid a village of rats…' she thought.
"Clearly, this is rich with power and history! I can sense it!" The eldest Higurashi beamed, Mother hummed with a serene smile on her kind face, and Sota reached for his sister's neglected soup. Kagome tried to think of a kind way to let her grandfather down. He seemed to be extra excited about this artifact. Maybe it was because of the odd duel between the two aging men, but she guessed it was because somewhere, deep down, her grandfather just wanted what was best for his family.
"So child," he prodded her. "What do you think?"
Kagome couldn't tell him what she thought. Really, all she could only hope for was that Hojo's grandfather was as weird as hers.
'Oh,' a thought came to her. 'Hojo!'
"I know, Ojii-san," she offered with a radiant smile. "Why don't I go to Hojo-san's and see what his grandfather has. He has been asking me over for weeks, so it wouldn't be uninvited," Kagome winked, "or suspicious."
"Ha!" All eyes rounded with shock as the head of the house triumphantly stood up faster than any thought was possible. "She might not be school smart, but our Kagome knows how to battle!"
Kagome pursed her lips, not knowing whether to feel complimented… or insulted.
.
An hour later after she had tried on five different dresses that her grandfather didn't approve of, Kagome had slid the door quickly and slammed it on her way out. The last outfit and his comment that it, "Made her calves look big" replayed continually in her head as she stormed down the street towards Hojo's home.
Stupid salt bowl… Stupid dress… Stupid feud…
Kagome fumed and barely registered the laughter and smell of freshly cut grass as she passed by a city park. The lack of buildings made the noon sun shine brighter in her eyes, so when a small girl screamed she was momentarily blinded and couldn't see what the problem was.
"Don't worry!" a young boy yelled back. "I'll get it!"
As her eyes adjusted Kagome saw a flash of red streaked towards a raven haired child in a green sundress. They were relatively close to her, so she could see a decent sized spider crawling along the edge of the girl's sandbox. The boy in red waved a big stick at the spider several times before finally hitting it, then stood proud at his accomplishment. A tug at her heart followed as the girl wrapped her arms around his legs, offering him praise and admiration.
'That's just… not fair.'
She quickly walked away. The jewel was gone, but so were her friends. Inuyasha came for her inside the Shikon and returned her safely back home, just to be sent back himself. Afterwards, the Well had refused her. She knew this is how it should have been. Her duty was done, her fate fulfilled, and things should be back to normal.
Except she was not normal… far from it. It was unfair that just because the well wouldn't let her back that she had to live as if she never went. A familiar sting invaded her eyes and she tried concentrating on holding back the tears. She was so enveloped with the memories and emotions of the past that she hadn't realized she was already standing at Hojo's front door.
"Higurashi-san?" Hojo’s smile had already faded at the sight of her sadness. "Are you okay?"
Kagome looked up at the cherub face of her long time friend and saw his genuine concern in his bright, brown eyes. …I'm lonely… she thought. "I'm fine!" she replied.
He led her inside, shaking his head slightly. "You look weak. You shouldn't have walked all this way in your condition." Touching the small of her back in a bold way that he developed along with his confidence, he guided his pale friend over to their front room and gestured for her to sit. "Are you sure you are okay, Higurashi-san?"
Kagome nodded and smiled her most brilliant, fake smile she could muster.
"Hmmm… I know!" The shine in his eyes that had most girls swooning in junior high returned. It seemed he really enjoyed being able to help and heal; something Kagome could relate with completely. "My mom has this great salt bath for your feet! It should do wonders for decreasing the swelling in your calves!"
Her brow furrowed.
.
Irritation returned the color to Kagome's face and, after a reluctant foot bath, her and Hojo and were finally sitting at a table, two cups of tea between them.
"I'm glad you could finally make it. I really appreciate you risking yourself to come here on my invite." His cheeks turned a light rose color and he fidgeted with his hands, all that boldness from a short while ago melting away. "Even though you weren't feeling all that well, you still came." A smile as hopeful as the ones she used to give Inuyasha graced his handsome face and made Kagome feel guilty. It wasn't like her to use someone's emotions against them.
A memory of Kouga flashed through her mind.
Okay, maybe it was a little like herself, but Hojo didn't deserve this.
"Actually," she started, "I'm here about our grandfathers."
Disappointment flashed for only a moment in his eyes before amusement overtook it. "Ah! Yes, that mess." He leaned closer, smirking, and whispered, "I'm calling it the Defunct Feudal Find Feud."
Many of his qualities remained from when they were younger, but this sneaky, snarky side was completely new, and she couldn't help but giggle. When he wasn't trying to win her heart he was very enjoyable company.
He kept his smile and asked, "You were sent to see what my grandfather has this year?"
Kagome, suddenly embarrassed, stared intently at her steaming tea and nodded. When her host laughed and patted her shoulder she suddenly felt so much younger than him.
"Come on, it's in the back room. But honestly, I don't think it's much."
She smiled. 'Well,' she thought. 'Maybe Ojii-san will get a break this year.'
Kagome stood in the doorway of the back room as Hojo went to claim the highly anticipated item. He returned to her field of vision holding a small, silk wrapped object. Watching him unwrap it carefully, Kagome started to wonder if it would be like the salt bowl, something she recognized but was innoculous. She often went to museums hoping to see something that would remind her of her travels, but always left disappointed. It was sad to think that she never left her own mark in the past. Sure, she helped vanquish the Shikon no Tama, but that was exactly the point; it was gone. And so was she, and everyone else, and everything else that tied her to that time.
Hojo did not notice the sad look on her face as he got to the last silk layer. "We don't know if it was broken, or never completed, or just a weird thing someone made, but the hilt is beautifully crafted."
A cold pang of fear stabbed her heart."...Hilt?'"
Kagome choked on her breath and her eyes threatened to pop out once Hojo revealed the item. Oh yes, she has come across this before. More specifically, it had run across her back as the last incarnation of Naraku sliced her with a non-existent blade. This was the reason she was trapped alone in darkness with the Shikon no Tama.
She was looking at the bladeless sword of Byakuya the Illusion Demon that had once trapped Meidou's power within its invisible length.
"Higurashi-san?"
She gave Hojo no response.
His free hand shook her shoulder. "Kagome?"
Stuck in her daydream, she barely heard the unease in his voice and his weak attempt to hide it. "Wow, your grandfather must have a really crappy artifact."
She didn't respond, only rose her shocked eyes back to his.
"It's harmless!" he tried to comfort her. "Look…"
She gasped and lunged forward to try and stop him, but Hojo already had a hold on the grip. "See?" To emphasize his point he waved the hand still holding the silk over where the blade should be, showing that truly nothing was there. The intricate designs on the sword's base seemed stagnant. The red jewel at its end reflected sunlight, but that was the only sign of life it gave.
Kagome's breathing slowed as soon as she let go of her anxiety. Of course it was harmless. Nothing of magic or power survived to this age. Everything was myths and legends; even her own story was lost to the ages. Seeing the sword intact, in her era, and powerless should have been a relief, but it just hurt more. It was gone. It was all truly gone.
"Here," Hojo offered. "I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you held it."
But here, in front of her, was real, tangible proof that it had even happened at all. Her heartbeat calmed and she felt curious.
Setting the sword back on the silk, he offered it to Kagome. She reassured herself with a smile, reached out, and lightly touched the etchings on the sword used only once.
Nothing happened. No spark, no evil aura, not even static electricity. She sighed, thinking herself silly, and fully gripped onto it.
Nothing visually changed at first, but both teenagers felt the room get dark. An ominous wind quickly built up, whipping at Kagome's hair and lashing painfully across her face. Something deep and dark stirred in her belly, and with each passing moment she felt it grow.
Kagome tried to let go of the cursed hilt, but it was too late.
The gusts built up and tossed random items around the room. A dark purple glow started emanating from the sword and her fingers burned. Hojo nobly tried to the pull the relic from her strangely strong grasp, but it was in vain.
"Hojo-kun!" she cried out, her voice carrying another deeper one with it- one that plagued her nightmares. "Back away!"
He caught her gaze, but didn't comply until Kagome started fighting the evil back, glowing a brilliant pink as her reiki coated her body. The feeling in her stomach clenched down, twisting her innards and she felt a familiar aura releasing from the handle. It took all her will power to remain standing against the painful internal battle that was trying to take her over.
That's when Kagome realized the evil presence inside the relic was trying to possess her.
Hojo tripped on the discarded silk and fell back with a harsh thud. Kagome's jet black hair was flying around her face, the dress ripping in random places, and her face was… changing. The glow around her felt pure, there was no other way he could describe it, but what was happening to her was exactly the opposite. Everything bright and shining about Kagome, even how he felt when he looked at her, was becoming tainted.
It was so loud, the booming bursts and crashed of wind almost deafening him, but he could still hear her scream. It was not what he expected. It had a weight to it, like she had faced unfathomable horror before.
It was a battle cry.
Bolts of purple light began shooting out from the hilt, burning the room wherever it hit.
"Hojo!” she called out. “Run!"
He had no time to react. A ray of evil intent shot out and burned straight through his thigh, bone and all, and he screamed in pain.
Seeing him hurt, Kagome panicked, and lost the fight. Her reiki fell into herself and the evil aura took over with a enveloping, rolling crash. Her scalp felt on fire as her hair grew rapidly, the dark ebony locks pooling at her ankles. The sound of lightning cracked through the air and her hands balled in fists. Her aching fingertips burned as claws finally broke through. The steady dripping of her own blood on the floor served as a strange, welcomed distraction from the overbearing chaos around her.
Another loud crack and a strong pulse of energy beat from Kagome before spreading rapidly across the room, knocking Hojo flat to the ground before steamrolling out of his house, passed his neighborhood, and on throughout Tokyo…
Her blood was boiling and she felt the pain grab onto her heart. Everything went dark. Kagome didn't pass out, she was just gone.
She was floating in the dark. Alone.
Again…
But this time, no one was coming to get her.
Her form wasn’t real, but she screamed and pulled at her hair until her throat was raw.
.
Groaning, Hojo lifted himself up enough to see Kagome, or Kagome's body, standing over him with the sword still tight in her grip. A blade that looked like a beautiful night sky now curved out from the hilt. Not taking his eyes off her, he blindly grabbed the silk and wrapped his leg tight to slow the blood loss. He had to bite down on his lip to keep from screaming in pain and attracting the attention of whatever had Kagome. Her hair floated as if submerged in water, claws had torn through where unpainted nails used to be, and the eyes that were once a sparkling blue now were a malevolent red. They turned towards him, and the possessed sword slashed through the thick air to stop only a few centimeters from his face.
A thick chuckle rumbled from his possessed friend. The voice was deep, smooth, and made his skin crawl. Hojo tried scooting back, but the laughing stopped and those red eyes pinned him down. "Human… where am I?"
"Wha-?"
The long, ebony tresses stopped floating and twirled around themselves in a dozen, tentacle like limbs. A few tight ropes of hair coiled then lifted her off the ground. One shot at Hojo's injured leg, wrapping itself around the crudely dressed wound, and picked him up so he was dangling upside down.
"Useless human! I asked you where am I!" She snarled at him and Hojo felt queasy from the deadly promise in her eyes.
As if pleading, he looked at his lifelong friend and yelled "Kagome! Are you still there? Kagome?"
Her crimson eyes widened. "The miko?"
When Hojo did not stop calling out for the priestess, the hair whipped and threw him towards a wall. The melodic sound of glass shattering as he crashed through a window followed, and the demon search for a reflection to confirm what he expected.
His eyes caught a mirror and he let out another chuckle. It was her… the miko who defeated him ages ago- the one that should have been locked in the jewel with him for eternity.
Internally, Kagome was concentrating on gaining her body back, and in a small glimpse of clairvoyance, she was able to see herself in the mirror as the being that possessed her stared at their reflection. She saw the eyes and confirmed what she expected.
'No No No NO NO NO! NNNOOOOO!''
Naraku… he was back.
She fell on her knees against the ground that was not there and wept until she felt she would split in two.
.
High in the skies, over land that was once ruled by youkai, in a floating castle that is unseen by all, something slept. The massive pulse of energy from Kagome’s possession beat against the walls of the castle and entered without destroying a thing.
Inside, the ornate halls were dark in an unnatural stillness that encased the castle, but the pulse that traveled throughout disturbed curtains and shook delicate rice paper screens. It broke the spell and stillness, then continued on to find its target.
The grandest hall of the castle was also the quietest. At the head of the room, a blanket of silver hung over an understated throne. The thick beat of demonic energy traveled through the room and hit the silver shroud, stirring it into individual hairs and blowing it apart to reveal a crescent moon on a darkened face. In response, an aftershock of energy coming from the castle itself filled the dead space with life and beneath the shadows of the silver-haired demon's brow two dangerous, golden eyes shot open for the first time in three centuries.
A growl that rolled like thunder shook the castle walls and had millions of humans below look up to the skies.
…