InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in Guiding Darkness ❯ A Dream is a Wish and the Slayer's New Clothes ( Chapter 10 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own it and I'm paying for a computer again so please please don't sue!Ten: A Dream is a Wish and The Slayer's New Clothes!woke slowly, her mind still fogged and slow from her slumber. Cinnamon eyes opened stiffly, her eyelids screaming out in ill use as she rubbed her eyes with her fisted hands and stared at her surroundings. She rested on a cot in the middle of simple room, with a bamboo curtain over the doorway shielding her from the rest of the house.sat up and stretched, wincing as she did so while she listened to the faint sound of humming from somewhere in the house. The white blanket was itchy against her skin, and she was just realizing how much of her skin was exposed to it when the bamboo curtain was shoved aside and an old man stepped into the room.are you feeling?" he asked, his voice strained but welcomed in the silence. He sat a wooden bowl filled with a steaming liquid in her reach, his dull blue eyes gazing at her expectantly. "Well child? Can you speak?"is my armor?" she demanded while holding the blanket to her. "Why am I naked? Who undressed me?"child, I assure you that I didn't," the old man chuckled with a gap-toothed smile. "My wife, who's in the next room mind you, undressed you after I carried you here. How on earth you managed to become trapped inside an oni's skeleton is beyond me."Dear gods, just how long have I been out?' "How long-"not entirely certain," the old man answered. "The skeleton was bleached when we found you, and we've taken care of you for the past two weeks."good,' she thought as she tightly wrapped the blanket around her and swung her legs over the cot. 'Kagome's in danger, and I'm here. I've got to get out of here.' She attempted to stand and cried out in pain, her muscles still weakened and abused from her scrimmage with the oni.now young lady," the old man scolded as he helped her lie back on the cot. "You're still a little stiff, but you should be all right in a couple of days."don't have a couple of days," she argued as she once again tried to leave the bed. She winced when a particular injury on her back protested angrily. "I must get out of here," she told him as the old man unfolded a blanket that previously lay at the foot of the cot and draped it over her. "Where are my clothes? Where's my armor-"armor was ruined," the old man interrupted with a sigh. "Whatever it was you were battling somehow managed to melt through it, and the happi you wore underneath."I'm basically clothesless." She groaned miserably. The old man nodded as his wife entered the room. "We would be more than happy to lend you some clothing until you reached the next town."is the nearest town?" she asked as she sat up again and leaned against the bamboo wall behind her. The old man looked to his wife, who thought a moment before giving her an apologetic smile.two weeks from here."that's just perfect," she groaned miserably. "There's no way I would survive the trek there without armor."why were you wearing armor dear?" the old woman asked as her husband excused himself. "Surely one as pretty as you has no need of something so barbaric."a slayer," she explained, her eyes hard as she shoved an onyx strand away from them. "Don't you know what a slayer is?"I do dear. My grandmother was a vampire slayer. I take it you are the same."nodded. "I am. Please forgive whatever intrusion I've set upon yo-"the old man interrupted as he returned, this time with a slate gray bundle under his arms. "We're glad to have you. It's not often we get visitors around here, even if they are unconscious during most of their stay. Here." He sat the bundle in her lap, bowed to her gratitude and quit the room once again.unwrapped the package gingerly, then with added enthusiasm when she spied the contents. She pulled free a yukata, the same gray as the package's wrapping, with a darker gray sash at the waist. She quickly shrugged it on, then stood so she could adjust the fit and tie the sash comfortably. "I don't know how to thank the both of you," she finally said when the old woman turned around. "I owe the both of you so much."don't have to repay us," the old woman said with a wave of dismissal. "But I do understand why you would need armor now. What's your name?"looked away at this, her hands tightly fisted in the collar of her yukata. "I...cannot tell you," she replied softy. "I don't mean to be rude."dear, you're not rude," the old woman assured her. "I understand. Those that know your name and your occupation would be in danger wouldn't they?" The old woman smiled at her nod, then reached up and opened the curtains. Sunlight flooded the room, and she blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted.you said something about armor," the old woman continued as she padded around the room. "I still have my grandmother's armor, and I believe you could wear it."would be most honored to," she said as she picked up a piece of cloth on the floor and handed it to the old woman. The old woman smiled and received it. "I'm sure you would be, but you have to earn the armor. There is something we need from you."then." The woman sat down and rubbed her knees, her thumbs making deep circles in the fabric of her kimono. "My husband and I moved here a few years ago. The vampires constantly hunted our old village, swiftly turning us or using the ones they chose not to 'bless' as cattle. We came here to escape all that and found the little piece of farmland that you're on now.why would you live so far away from other people?" she asked as she sat down on the bed on the other side of the old woman. "Surely it gets lonely here."does, but we manage all the same," the old woman responded with a sigh. "A rouge low-level youkai began stalking our farmlands some weeks prior to finding you. It comes at random, but it always leaves destruction in it's wake. There are many mornings where we awake to find cows and chickens slaughtered, crops upturned and our storehouse in shambles. We tire of fixing things, and traveling to the nearest town for new livestock."you want me to get rid of it? "she asked, then sighed when the old woman nodded. "But I can't. I don't know where my weapon is-"you mean that over there?" the old woman asked, pointing to a nearby corner of the room. She turned toward it and found her chain sickle, it cleaned and ready for use.that's one thing, but I still don't have any armor and-"would lend you my grandmother's uniform for the task, and we don't expect you to do anything today. As a matter of fact, not for the next three days. You should be good as new at the end of the week. What do you say dear? We would handle it ourselves, but-"we are far too old to attempt something so dangerous," the old man said as he returned to the room. "I see you're dressed. Good."you help us?" the old woman asked as her husband sat on a stool beside her. "We would give you the armor as payment."thought over it a moment, a tendril of her hair lightly twirling around her index finger. "I don't see why not," she finally said with a nod. "After all, you've been so kind to me...and I do need the armor."would you like to start?" the old man asked.three days," she responded, then winced when she leaned over. "I think that's how long it will take for the soreness to go away."old man nodded in acceptance. "Then we will wait until then."trailed along behind the jovial little miko, his thoughts seemingly hundreds of miles away. 'This one is quite strange,' he thought as Kagome reached up to touch the early blossom on one of the nearby tree branches. 'You'd think that, with her being what she is and me being what I am, that she would scared of me. But we've traveled together for a week and a half, and she hasn't shown the slightest bit of hesitation with sharing her food with me.'on Shippou," Kagome called from somewhere up ahead. "We're almost out of the forest! We're getting closer to Kyoto with every step!"I don't want to go to Kyoto!" Shippou whined miserably. "Can't we go somewhere else? What's so special about Kyoto?" He folded his arms over his chest with a 'hm!', his mood throughly soured. Kagome stopped mid skip, the ends of her mint green fighter's kimono swirling around her ankles and wrists as she waited for him.don't know," she admitted with an apologetic smile. "But I know something's there. Someone's waiting on me."me," he quipped snidely. "Kyoto stinks."I've never been."how do you know that we're going the right way?" Shippou asked. Kagome shrugged and smiled back. "Because the closer we get, the louder you complain."frowned instantly, and Kagome laughed again before walking along beside him. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, watching as the green bits of ribbon fluttered from the pigtails on either side of her head. She looked like a little kid to him, and he couldn't help the little snicker that escaped him.what's so funny?" Kagome asked while stifling a yawn behind her hand.nothing...just that you're doing it wrong."stopped and turned around, her dual colored eyes narrowed and accusing as he grinned. "What am I doing wrong?"whole traveling bit," he answered as he idly walked around her. "You're doing well by covering our scent-"did you know that-"get to that later. But like I said, you're doing good, but a youkai or vampire could still track you."crossed her arms and took a deep breath, the ends of her hair adornments shimmering gently against her shoulders. "How is that?"yawned lazily, then began to pick at a bit of dirt underneath his claws. "See, youkai do need their sense of smell, but the vampire hanyou that's tracking you didn't find you by scent. He tracked you. Everything that moves on the forest floor leaves its sign."so?"one..." Shippou walked around a bit, his ears twitching as the leaves crunched underneath his feet. "You still have leaves on the ground. The springtime weather hasn't done anything with it yet. It won't make a difference in the spring because you'll leave footprints in the earth. You could walk by a branch and snap it, or leave a thread of clothing or a strand of hair. It's not hard to track someone, especially when they don't know where to hide."Shippou," Kagome replied with a sigh. "I'll play along. Just where am I supposed to hide? And have you forgotten that I'm trying to get somewhere?"course not," he replied smugly then pointed up. Kagome followed his suggestion curiously, not fully understanding why he would be pointing at tree limbs unless-no," Kagome began with a shake of her head. "I'm not staying in the trees."I'm not saying to stay in the trees," Shippou argued. "What I mean is that it'll be easier to go about undetected if we could travel through them.just how are we supposed to do that?" Kagome yelled back. "Jump from branch to branch or something?"grinned. "Exactly."Kagome flung up her hands in frustration and stomped away, muttering to herself about insane youkai and their screwy senses of humor as Shippou ran to catch up with her.Kagome! I'm serious!"I'm not youkai!" Kagome argued back. "There's no way I can jump from tree to tree like that!"you can! Look, just stop a second, will ya?" Kagome obliged with a huff, her temper starting to flare as he began to explain. "Look, just give me a chance to explain."listening," Kagome grunted irritably, then frowned even more when Raphael started laughing. 'It's not funny,' she scolded him. He continued to laugh though, and soon she found herself smiling with him. Shippou took her smile as a good thing, cleared his throat and continued. "OK, you're a miko right?"time I checked."frowned in annoyance, then shrugged and continued. "Miko are the closest humans to Nature, so that gives them a power that's beyond other humans. See, you're ki is kinda like a youki."not possible," Kagome argued. "Miko ki and youki are different."yeah, in function they're different but it's really the same thing. Youki and ki are spiritual energies. The thing is that we use it in totally different ways. Miko are taught to use it only in arrows, and only for purification and healing purposes. Youkai are taught that ki can be used for lots of things, including flight."can fly?" Kagome asked, her eyes round awestruck. "Wow Shippou, that's amazing! I didn't know you could-"Shippou blushed, scratched the back of his head and gave her a sheepish smile. "I can't fly. But I can do something like it," he said to her disappointment. "Youkai are taught at an early age that there's a spiritual energy in everything, including clothes."Kagome questioned, a single hand going to fist in the front of her kimono. "How so?"simple really," Shippou assured her. "All you have to do is reach for the spirt that lives in your clothes and wake it up. Once you do it'll keep up with normal wear and tear, keep the clothes clean and reshape itself to anything you wish."Kagome breathed with a gentle smile. "Midoriko-sempai never said anything about that."miko normally don't practice it," Shippou said with another shrug. "They think it's against their religion to practice something that youkai use. Do you still want to know more?" Shippou watched her for an answer and found her with her eyes closed, her brow creased in thought as she concentrated. She began to glow a soft pearl blue, her aura glowing around her. Shippou stepped back when her clothes began to glow, the forest green material beginning to glow as well before a split appeared in the right side. It snaked up her leg, the fabric giving way to an unseen force before stopping at her upper thigh.opened her eyes with a sigh, then looked down, clapped her hands and grinned. "I did it...I think."I think you did," Shippou said with a nod. "Good going. Jeez, it took me a few days to learn to do that."can I say?" Kagome smiled back. "I'm just smarter than you, that's all."Well then Miss Smarty Skirt, why don't you try this?" Shippou lowered himself into a low crouch, his hands balanced out at his sides before springing up and into the tree limbs above. Kagome watched as he flew up and finally land on a branch ten feet above.He jumped from his landing branch to another, then a lower one before landing beside her. "Now that's not hard either. Close your eyes and think about the ki you used to wake up your clothes. Now take that ki and shove it toward your feet, particularly the pads of them." Shippou stood by as she concentrated, watching the blue glow flow from her limbs to her boots, the soles glowing with the same soft ki.right, next you think about the jump itself. Imagine there are springs on the bottoms of shoes and that they're wound up nice and tight. Now crouch down and balance yourself..." He nodded when she did as he instructed, Kagome's eyes still closed as she balanced herself the same way Shippou demonstrated. "Good. Not bad. Now open your eyes and focus on a branch."eyes opened sleepily, dark lashes fanning against her cheek before looking up.go for the branch....now !"jumped up, becoming nothing more than a green streak as she streaked through the air toward the branch. "Make sure it's a strong on Kagome!" Shippou yelled up before she landed. She hovered a little above her selected destination, then stepped down, her long white sleeves fluttering above her in the passing wind. "How was that Shippou?" she called down to the astonished youkai.was great Kagome!" he yelled back. "Now try to jump to the next tree."nodded and concentrated, then jumped to the nearest branch on another tree. "Hey," she said as she jumped to another branch. "How do I get down from here?"simple really," Shippou yawned. "All you have to do is focus your ki, think about the ground then-"looked up just as Kagome slipped on a patch of moss, her feet flying out from underneath her and launching her from the tree. Shippou scrambled toward where he thought she would land, his arms outstretched and waiting for her to land into them. She didn't scream on the way down, though she did look as if to pass out any minute. Shippou blinked when she stopped in mid air, levitating inches from his face. Shippou stepped aside as she floated down, her arms wrapped around something he couldn't see. Kagome stepped down gingerly, then smiled and hugged what looked to be thin air.you!" she chirped happily, then released her unseen savior and turned to Shippou. "Come on Shippou, let's go!"what the hell was that?" Shippou asked as Kagome skipped ahead of him. "And I thought we were traveling through the trees? Just what's going on Kagome?!"how in the world did I allow myself to be talked into this,' she asked before giving a deep sigh and leaning back against the tree trunk. She stuck to her agreement with the old couple and the three days were up. True to form she felt better, almost as good as new. She's spent the entire night out here, cooped up in a tree that provided the best view of the farmyard and forest surrounding her. Now it was the wee hours of the morning, and she yawned in boredom before sitting down on the branch below her.looked down at the armor, her head shaking in mild disapproval before sighing again. 'I guess I shouldn't complain,' she thought as she searched the darkness below her. 'They were kind enough to give me this, so I should be honorable enough to accept it without complaint.'be told, she'd never seen armor like this before. It felt more like a normal set of clothes, with a black pair of pants with a matching shirt and a pair of calf-length boots. The metal plates on her shoulders, elbows, knees and stomach were covered in strong blue fabric and their were small blue disks sewn into the back of the fingerless gloves. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, held up only by a single wisp of blue ribbon.I don't understand is,' she began as she turned away from the tiny farmhouse to the forest behind her. 'who in their right mind would make armor that doesn't protect your chest? It's just not right.' She stopped at a rustling below, her ears intent and her mind focused as the first roll of thunder sounded across the sky.my luck,' she bemoaned, a hand outstretched to catch a few droplets. 'To sit here in the rain and this youkai not show up.' Something rustled below her again, this time a little closer than the previous one. She tensed instantly, her body tight as she balanced on the thick tree limb and watched.lone wolf youkai lumbered from the forest's protection, it's yellow eyes rimmed in red as he sniffed about beneath her. He gave a low, deep growl, one true to his predator nature, his ears twitching sporatically at the sound of bleeting sheep inside the barn. He was larger than a mortal wolf, his black and silver coat drenched throughly. He shook himself off, millions of tiny droplets flying from his fur in a shower barely visible in the sparse moonlight. His attempt to dry off was futile and soon forgotten as he stalked toward the farm and the barn ahead.clouds parted above her, the light of the full moon shimmering down on the wolf's coat and skin to reveal two puncture wounds in the side of it's neck. 'It's a vampire,' she realized as she moved her hands to her scythe. She thought twice of it when the wolf's ears twitched again, this time in her direction in the tree behind him. She slowly drew her hand away, choosing instead to release the short bow from her back. She nocked it deftly, her wet fingers steady and sure as she readied an arrow from the makeshift quiver on her back. The wolf sniffed again, assuring himself of his surroundings before slowly padding toward the barn. She watched as he moved, his paws graceful and sure as he made his way across the previously destroyed fledgling crops.swear,' she mumbled to herself as the sun began to rise. 'When was the last time I shot an arrow? Kagome is so much better at this sort of thing.' She closed her left eye, her sight instantly sharpening to a sniper like perfection. The wolf stopped as if sensing her presence and looked around, his glassy eyes focusing in her direction before a snarl loosed from his bared teeth. She blinked and fired without another thought, watching as the arrow sliced through the air and into the wolf's right eye.howled in agony, it's head bowed as it desperately tried to paw the painful shaft out. She nocked and fired again, this one managing to sink into the wolf's exposed side. It howled again, it's fangs bared horridly as the sun finally appeared on the horizon. It's scream was deafening, the pain it was suffering as the sun set it's furry coat on fire slicing through the early morning air. She winced and closed her eyes in sympathy, a silent prayer for the creature's immortal soul leaving her lips as the wolf finally exploded. Gray ash fluttered to the ground below, and she climbed down from the tree and inspected the remains.it all she found a single tooth, which she tucked deep inside her shirt for her collection. "I'll make Kagome a necklace once I've gathered enough," she whispered to herself as she crossed the field to the farmhouse. She yawned tiredly, too tired to notice the eerie quiet around her. She opened the door to the farmhouse kitchen and found it empty.she called into the silence. "Is anyone here?" She frowned thoughtfully and began her search, looking from one room to another before finding herself back in the empty kitchen. "Just what's going on?" she wondered aloud. "Where is everyone?"you look troubled."whirled around swiftly, her velvet brown eyes frightened as the old man stood behind her. The sun shone brightly through the man's wispy image, and he smiled again when she took an unsteady step backward. "Please, don't be that way," he coaxed as he approached her. She backed away all the same, a calm part of her in the back of her mind realizing the irony of the situation.will not harm you."don't understand," she finally stammered out when he stopped before her. "What-no, who are you? What's going on?"old man sighed and lowered his head. "There is much we haven't told you young Slayer." His image shimmered before her, then disappeared before reappearing again in a bright flash of light. The old man was replaced with someone that looked to be a little like her father, with gentle black eyes, iridescent violet hair and a red rose in the middle of his forehead.wife and I once ruled one of the Four Territories," he began as she stepped closer to him. She reached out to touch the rose and gasped when her fingers passed through him. "But we retired from our duties and left our son in charge. We came here, to this quiet piece of farmland, and began a new life. Unfortunately for us, it was short-lived.turned the wolves in the mountains and they attacked us. We could not rest until they were destroyed, and you killed the last one. We are grateful."wait a moment," she called out as he began to disappear. "What's going to happen to you and your wife?"shall go where all creatures must go sooner or later," he said with a sad smile. "But you've done well young one. Keep the armor, and the yukata in the next room. They are yours. Rest well and continue your journey."stood by as he disappeared, his last words whispered on the dusty air around her before completely vanishing.awaits you..."stood at the edge of the shrine stairs, his heart beating faster than it should for such a simple visit. Kirara gave him a questioning mew, which he answered with an absent, but loving pat on her furry little head before ascending the stairway to the shrine ahead. The feeling of dread just wouldn't leave him, the feeling weighing down on him as if to stop him as he made his way up the stairs. He could see the tiny lights that illuminated the temple inside, his nervousness growing by leaps and bounds despite his steady pace. Sango watched from below, her head tilted to the side as Kirara mewed in concern.will be fine," Sango assured the jittery feline. "You'll see Kirara. He'll be fine." Kirara mewed in understanding and watched as Miroku disappeared inside the temple.ventured deeper into the shrine, taking the time to nod respectfully to the monks that passed by him. He stopped in the threshold of a room at the end of a long passageway and bowed respectfully to the houshi sitting in the middle of the room.me for intruding," Miroku began. "But I'm troubled by something, and I need answers."will do my best to help," the houshi responded kindly. He motioned for Miroku to sit down, waiting patiently for the blacksmith to comfortably arrange his heavy apron before addressing his request. "Please, what is the problem?"houshi-san," Miroku sighed heavily. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, pulled free the elastic holding it back and fiddled with it. "I don't know what to think of them and I'm afraid that something may be happening to me."did they first start?"years ago," Miroku recounted with a nod. "Yes, that's right. It was when my father passed and left me the shop."see." The houshi fell silent for a moment, his right hand stroking his chin before looking at Miroku again. "What are the dreams about?"it's just me, by myself, wandering the countryside," Miroku replied. "Then, there are others."What others?"fell quiet once again, mentally recounting each dream before responding. "Sometimes there's a hanyou with me, an inu hanyou with white hair and a red gi and a woman-"woman Miroku-san?" the houshi interrupted, his eyebrows raised skeptically. "Surely you jest?"not kidding," Miroku said with a shake of his head. "Normally, when all three of us are together, we're camping in the woods. There's always someone watching us from the shadows but I never see more than the figure's hair or clothes."sure all of this is most disturbing," the houshi said as he began to search the room around him. "I'm sure a few prayers to -"not listening!" Miroku exploded, his balled fist slamming on the wooden floor below him. "This isn't just some kind of fantasy! I'm a houshi just like you in these dreams, with a void in my right hand! Every night this woman dies in my arms, murdered by the inu hanyou that I'm sure at one time I thought was my best friend! I don't know what to do any more."quieted, his head lowered as the houshi stared back at him in shock. "I don't know what to do anymore. This woman, she haunts me in my sleep. I...love her, loved her, but how can I when she doesn't exist?"allow me to see your hand."raised his right hand, palm facing up while the houshi probed his hand.long have you had this scar?"blinked, then looked up and into his hand, his blue eyes rounding at the coin-shaped mark in the center of his hand. "I-I don't know."see. The woman in your dreams...she's an exterminator isn't she?"Miroku nodded dumbly. "How did you know?"is reason for your unrest," the houshi said as he stood up and walked to the other side of the room. Miroku observed him intently, watching as the houshi began filling up a leather knapsack. "You are remembering a past life."why?" Miroku wondered aloud. "Why now? I've never had these dreams before. What's going on, and who is this woman that means so much to me?"sure you'll learn that in time. Here." He handed Miroku the knapsack, the reached for a bronze staff and handed it to him as well. "These will serve you well houshi-sama."no houshi," Miroku said with a shake of his head. "I'm just a blacksmith."you're not. You never were. For you to remember this life means that whatever it was that ended your old life is going to resurface into this one. You're needed for a holy duty that will lead you far away from here."I can't leave Kyoto," Miroku argued as the houshi escorted him out of the room. "This is where my business is. This is where home is."home is no longer here. You are meant for something more than hammering metal and shoeing horses."Miroku turned toward the houshi, the sunlight flowing into the shrine's entrance warming his back despite the sudden chill running through him. "How do you know? How will I know when to start?"houshi sighed in frustration, his hand coming to rest on Miroku's shoulder like a guiding father. "I know because you know and you will know when to leave when the time comes."buts houshi-sama. You must prepare. The book in the knapsack will help you learn about your spiritual power, how to use ofudas and that sort of thing. Be cautious and be ready young one. There are many things that await you and many paths that you will travel." The houshi stood by as Miroku descended the shrine stairs, a two tailed feline making purchase on his left shoulder before finally disappearing into the crowd.the gods protect that one," the houshi whispered as he returned to the shrine. "There are many hardships ahead of him. It's a good thing I included the rosary as well."on: A Light in Guiding Darknessdifference...plays detective...begins Phase One of her plan...Sesshoumaru learns more about the barrier surrounding himEleven: Change Isn't Always for the Good