InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Light in Guiding Darkness ❯ Haunted Past ( Chapter 12 )

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

Disclaimer: Fine, fine. Inuyasha doesn't belong to me. You guys sure know how to ruin a girl's high.Twelve: Haunted Past!walked through the gates first, her eyes wide and appreciative as she gazed at the city around her. Buildings of all sizes were on either side of her and the crowds of people walking around engulfed her in a human flood. "It's it beautiful Shippou? Shippou?" She looked behind her, unable to see him for the wall of people between her and the entrance gate.held back her panic and scanned the area for his aura, a sigh of relief escaping her lips when she felt his mild annoyance still by the gates. She followed it to him and grasped his hand, his claws tensing under the unknown sensation before he glared down at her. She smiled up at him in response and waited for him to recognize her scent before leading him onward.
"See Kagome," Shippou whined as she dragged him along. "I told you I hated this place. It's too crowded, the people stink and I don't want to be here."
"What's so bad about this place?" Kagome asked before spying a small fountain. She led him to it and pushed him onto a stone bench. She sat down beside him and looked around some more, her eyes eagerly absorbing the vendors, healers and other people swarming the streets. "I think it's wonderful. I've never seen so many people."
"Yeah well," Shippou began with a bored wave of his hand. "If you've seen one human you've seen them all."
"You can't say that about me," Kagome quipped as the scent of something yummy wafted past her nose. "I'm not exactly like other people. You said so yourself."
"Yeah, you're not," Shippou agreed, his eyes barely open as he raised a hand to cover his yawn. "You're nuts."
"I'd have to be to travel with you," Kagome said with a roll of her eyes. She stood up and walked toward the nearest vendor, leaving Shippou to fend for himself for a few moments. He followed her with his eyes lazily, another yawn escaping him as she bartered with a food vendor. She reached inside her pack for a tan cloth purse, dropped a few coins in the merchant's hand, grasped two brown wrapped items and bowed in thanks before returning to him.
"Here you go," Kagome said as she handed one of the brown wraps to him. "Eat up."
"Um..." Shippou turned the paper over curiously, then sniffed it. Whatever it was smelled sweet, but the brown paper around him smelled greasy. His stomach flipped almost instantly and he shoved it back to her. "I don't eat stuff like this Kagome," he told her when she gave him a questioning look.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" she asked as she stared at her lunch. "I think it's good."
"Ew," Shippou grimaced. "I don't. I didn't know humans ate paper."
"Huh? Oh." Kagome giggled, her hand covering her mouth as he scowled at her.
"What?!"
"I'm sorry Shippou," Kagome apologizes as she took his food away from him. "I forgot that you might not know what this is. You don't eat the paper, you eat what's inside." She ripped the brown paper apart, revealing two battered fried cylinders. Shippou sniffed these, finding these to be the sweet fruity smell he caught earlier. "Be careful with it," Kagome recommended as he took them from her and took a bite. "They can be hot."watched as he chewed thoughtfully, a bright smile appearing when he quickly gulped it down. "That was pretty good!" he exclaimed as he licked the tips of his fingers. "What was it?"
"Fried bananas," Kagome told him as she calmly ate her food. "I was told that they're originally from Thailand. Mama made them lots of times when I was a kid."
"Man, I guess you humans are useful for someth-"
"Excuse me?"and Shippou looked up quickly, a groan escaping Shippou's lips as a houshi bowed to them. "Yes?" Kagome said, unaware of her companion's anxiety.
"Forgive me for asking my dear, but is your friend dangerous?" he asked as he gestured to Shippou. Shippou growled in irritation but quickly stopped when Kagome placed her hand on his shoulder.
"No houshi-sama," she nodded. "Shippou wouldn't hurt anyone."houshi nodded back in acceptance and moved to walk away when he turned to her. He stared at her a moment, his near black eyes piercing into her own. Shippou growled again when Kagome tensed, but Kagome stood before he could say anything. "Is there something wrong houshi-sama?" she asked respectfully. Her power glowed blue at her fingertips, one hand held toward Shippou in a silent order to stay seated.
"Never have I seen eyes such as yours," the houshi said suddenly, his voice almost whimsical as he continued to look her over. "And never have I known a miko to dress like you."
"It's not something I do intentionally," Kagome blushed, her power calming as she brushed the front of her clothes. She couldn't blame him for being confused. She felt nervous as she stood there in her kimono-inspired dress, this one short-sleeved to accommodate for the humid weather. The lavender dress flowed over her curves to her ankles, with a split up the sides to her waist. A pair of white leggings protected her legs from overexposure, and a pair of black ankle boots and fingerless gloves completed the confusing picture.
"Yes, I know. Tell me, are you armed?"
"I am, but my friend here is not," Kagome said as he gestured to Shippou. Shippou yawned again, less interested in the conversation now than when it started as the houshi nodded.
"I see. Is this your first time here?"
"Hai houshi-sama it is. How did you know?"
"I could see you from there," he pointed toward the stairs of the nearest shrine. "You looked so innocent, so overjoyed and so confused that I had to meet you. What are you planning to do in our fair city?"
"I'm hoping to meet my sister here," Kagome answered. "But other than that, I'm not sure."
"You should stop by one of our blacksmiths," he said with a helpful smile. "We have some of the best in the world here. As a matter of fact, one comes to mind."
"Who?"
"I don't remember his name, but I do know that his shop is on the southern end of the city. Ah, but his last day of working his profession is today. Don't worry," he patted her head and Kagome couldn't help feeling like a child as Shippou snickered behind her.
"I'm sure he'll help a girl as pretty as you. He makes the best swords, but he may make a few arrows for you."
"Thank you houshi-sama," Kagome bowed, then motioned for Shippou to stand up. Shippou stood and bowed as well, though his scowl never left his face as he and Kagome stared off toward the southern end of the city.
"Oh Kagome!"turned, her confusion clearly written on her face as she stared back at the houshi. "How did you-"
"Look for the blacksmith with the crescent on his door. He's the one you're looking for."
"Ok but how did you-"A crowd walked in front of her, blocking her view of him for a few moments. When the way cleared he was gone with nothing to hint at where he disappeared to. "Wow, that guy was weird."
"How did he know your name?" Shippou asked as he and Kagome resumed walking. "Do you know him?"
"Nope," Kagome shook her head. "He may have heard you say it though. OK, he said to find the blacksmith with the crescent on the door. Why is that symbol so familiar?"
'Yeah, I feel that way too,' Shippou thought as he trailed along beside her. 'I feel like I should know it, but I don't. It's like a long distant memory...maybe it's something from my past. Then why do I feel so uneasy...' He thought about it for a while more, unaware that Kagome was steadily drifting away from him until the answer popped in his head. Angry violet-blue eyes glared up at him and the snarl of a neko youkai sounded in his ears.
"Shit! I forgot about that! Kagome!" He growled when he found her gone, his hands coming up to slide down his face before sniffing for her. "Kagome! We can't go to that blacksmith! He's nuts...oh gods," Shippou groaned as he lost her scent and found her aura. "He's going to skin me alive this time for sure...."glanced around the shop, mentally listing off the things he needed as he picked up a large canvas pack. He already decided to take with him the staff and small pack the houshi gave him, figuring that the holy man had a good reason go give him such odd items. He slowly lowered other things inside, wandering from corner one corner to another as he gathered up what he needed. He picked up his forging hammer.
"This was my father's," Miroku mused aloud. Kirara mewed sympathetically from his feet, a soft purr rumbling from her throat when he patted her head.
"I can't just leave it here. I might not make another weapon, but I can't let this rust away." He tied it securely to his belt with a swatch of cloth, tossed the box of flints beside it into the pack and left the shop, his head lowering the moment his feet crossed the threshold. He turned to lock the door and found his hand shaking at the lock.
"I can't do this," he whispered brokenly. His forehead rested against the door, his eyes closed and his breathing ragged. "I just can't. Dad built this place. He's touched every piece of wood, hammered in every nail. I was born here. Mother died here. I can't just leave it."
"He's so sad," Sango whispered as he attempted to gather himself. "I don't want this for him but the houshi was right. He's not supposed to stay here." She willed her hand to grasp his and hold it steady before guiding the keys to the lock. Miroku watched his hand in surprise as it moved of it's own accord to the door, the key sliding effortlessly into the lock before turning the tumbles inside it.
"Please don't be sad Miroku," Sango said as he stepped away from the door. "You can't see me and you can't hear me, but I'm not going to leave you. I'll be right here and I'll help you."
"Meow." Kirara jumped to Miroku's shoulder and nudged the side of his neck. "Meow."
"Yes my friend, I know," Miroku said as he moved his staff from his right hand to his left and scratched behind her ears. "I have to do this, even if I don't want to. I can't find peace if I don't."
"That's right," Sango agreed as he stepped away from the door. "There's so much out there. You have to see it all. You have to live for both of us."scratched at the palm of his right hand, his brow furrowing at the insistent itch that began after his visit to the temple. The mark in the middle of it had grown from a pinprick to the size of a thumbtack head. "I wonder if this will keep growing," he said to himself. He ran a nail along the outer edge of the mark before turning away from the door and taking a step forward. Miroku stopped almost instantly, his eyes widening into deep violet saucers as he stared ahead. His jaw slackened noticeably and the sack on his left shoulder slid down his arm to fall with a thump at his feet.watched as she walked through the outer gate, her brown eyes twinkling underneath the sweep of jet black bangs veiling her forehead. Chocolate became cinnamon and she turned to smile at him. Miroku's confusion grew as he walked up to her, his eyes trailing from the ponytail at the top of her head to her clothes. The blue in the exterminator's outfit became magenta and the white bow on her back became a colossal boomerang. Miroku rubbed his head hesitantly, remembering how accurate the young lady was with it...especially when she was angry or embarrassed.ran into him and he quickly caught her before she could fall away from him. She looked up and smiled at him, a light blush on her cheeks as she said something Miroku couldn't hear. He let go of her arms with a smile, and before she could say another word he whispered,
"Sango..."
'Kyoto at last,' she said to herself as she stepped through the city gates. She glanced into the crowd, ignoring the stares of passer-bys as she searched for Kagome. She brushed off her armor, the gray yukata that she once wore over it long gone.
"Where is she?" she whispered aloud. 'The old youkai said she'd be here but-oh no!" she moaned in aggravation. 'This place is huge?' she remembered. 'There's no telling where Kagome is in the middle of all this!' She sighed despondently, her shoulder sagging slightly as she resigned herself. 'I guess I'll have to look in every corner of the city.'pulled a compass from a small purse on her waist, stepped back and looked up at the top of the gate. 'Ok, this is the southern gate,' she said as she plunked the compass back into its hiding place and began walking. She ran into someone almost instantly, the force of the impact causing her to fall backward. The stranger she ran into caught her by grasping her upper arm. He held her until she was steady, then let her go when she smiled up at him.
"Thanks houshi-sama," she said with a slight bow when she spied the brass staff in his hand. "Sorry about running into you." He stood there and stared at her, that same eerie smile on his face as an unknown emotion swirled in his dark blue eyes. "Houshi-sama?" she said as she waved her hand in front of his face. She reached out to shake him when he whispered someone's name.
"No houshi-sama, you must have me confused for someone else," she said with a shake of her head. His eyes cleared almost instantly, though the smile never left his face as a two tailed neko youkai jumped on his shoulder.
"Forgive me," he said with a slight bow. "I...my behavior was inexcusable."
"It's alright houshi-sama," she waved off. "I'm not offended."
"I'm no houshi," he told her with another charming smile. She gave him a quick glance over, this time seeing past the staff to the leather boots, black loose pants, shirt and a dark purple jacket that fell at his hips. "I'm sorry to confuse you. My name is Miroku and I'm one of the local blacksmiths. Well..." he paused sadly. "I was one of the local blacksmiths. I quit today."
"Oh that's too bad," she said while untying her sword from her waist. "I really need my sword looked over. I nearly snapped it in half yesterday and now it has this large crack in the middle of the blade." She unsheathed it and held it up in the air, the nicked and chipped blade dull in the early morning sunlight.
"Let me see it," Miroku said as he gestured for the weapon. She handed it over and watched as he examined the blade, his head shaking in disapproval at the damage. "Come with me."
"No, that's ok," she began as he walked back to his door. "You said you quit and I'd hate to disturb you."
"Come on," he insisted as he unlocked the door and held it open for her. "I may as well since you're here. Trust me, everyone else here would make you pay more money for crappy work."
"And you won't?" she quipped with a cocked brow. Miroku shook his head. "Like I said, I quit today. I was the best here, and so I'm not going to charge you."
"That's not necessary," she argued as he lit the coals underneath a metal anvil. "I can pay you."
"Again, I quit today so I'm no longer in business." He laid the sword on the anvil and tisked at the blade, his head shaking in disapproval as he untied his hammer. "This is some substantial damage. It would be quicker to give you a new sword."
"I don't want a new sword," she said quickly. Her head lowered when he looked at her, his dark eyes curious at her persistence. "Isn't there some way you can save it?"
"I don't know," Miroku frowned as he looked at the damaged broadsword. "The blade itself is pretty messed up, and the edge is all nicked and dented. I'd be lucky to save the hilt."
"Please try," she insisted. "I know it sounds dumb, but that sword is the only thing I have left of my father. Are you sure there isn't a way?"
"Well...I could break the entire sword down, throw away the wooden hilt and use what's left of the original blade to make a hilt for the new sword."
"What else?" she asked as he began his work.
"Then I'll pour out the metal for another sword and wrap the new hilt around the new sword. I'll make sure it's tonged so the weapon will be stronger. Do you want the original leather strips around the hilt or would you like new ones?"
"The old ones would be great if you can, but new ones will be accepted," she told him, then winced when he struck the edge of her old sword. It broke in half instantly, and she felt as if her heart broke with it. "What about the sheath?"
"The sheath is made of a different material than the hilt, so I'm sure I can adjust it to fit. You'll have your sword back and here," he tossed her a small change purse. "There's a bakery/ deli across the street. Go get something to eat."
"I don't need anything," she told him, then blushed in embarrassment when her stomach loudly protested. "Alright, it has been a while since I last ate, but I'm sure I can manage."
"I haven't seen a change purse on you, so I don't think you have any money," Miroku reasoned, his eyes glued to his work as he struck the weapon once again. "Just go ahead and take it. You can pay me back some other time."stood by as he continued his work, a look of wonder on her normally set features. 'He's...so different,' she thought as the ringing of his hammer sang throughout the shop. 'Maybe there's hope for humanity after all.' "How long do you think it'll take?"stopped mid swing, his gaze thoughtful as he mentally calculated the time. "I'd say...all of today and tomorrow afternoon. After that I must be going."
"Alright then." She made herself comfortable in a chair by the doorway and sighed, the warm atmosphere and the blacksmith's gentle aura lulling her into a sense of security. 'I suppose a nap would be alright,' she decided as her eyes drifted closed. She shifted slightly, Miroku's purse jingling in her lap. 'I'll visit the bakery when I wake up.' She yawned and went to sleep, unaware of the gentle ministrations of the neko youkai as she draped a thin blanket over her lap and curled up at her feet.crouched down in the middle of the forest, his head down and his eyes closed as he moved to kneel behind a wide piece of white sheepskin. A single red dot was on the skin away from him, and Aragon concentrated as he rolled a crimson leather bag around in his right palm. He chanted something under his breath, his voice soft and whispery while the wind swirled around him. His left hand held the onyx pendant around his neck, the chain with the missing stone dangling from between his ring and pinky finger.
'At one time, I would have found this type of witchcraft to be blasphemous,' he bitterly said to himself while he continued chanting. 'But there are times when such things are needed. Let's hope it works Elizabeth.' Aragon opened his eyes, opened the bag, and poured eight stones in his right palm. One stone was red, another was blue and the rest were the same black as the amulet stones.cupped his hands around the stones and shook them from side to side once, twice, three times before opening them above the sheepskin. He waited until the stones finished rolling to open his eyes and glance at his work. Three of the black stones rolled out on the grass, and Aragon quickly swept them up and returned them to the leather pouch. The rest were lined up on the sheepskin, the blue stone on the edge nearest him, the red stone a little to the right of the red dot and the black stones in the middle curving to connect one to the other.
"One, two, three," Aragon counted the black stones aloud. He sat back and pondered the results, then gathered up the stones as he figured out what they meant. 'Three black stones...that's six miles away from here and to the northeast. What's six miles northeast of here...Ah ha!' He snapped his fingers, his hand zipping through the air as he gathered up the last stone.
"Kyoto! That's where the little miko is headed...or she's already there!" He began rolling up the sheepskin, then stopped when a dark aura flared somewhere in the dense forest. Aragon tensed and looked behind him, green emeralds scouring the tree trunks for the person attached to the aura. He stiffened suddenly, grabbed the sheepskin and launched himself into the tree tops above.landed on a sturdy branch and crouched down as something crashed into the clearing below. Aragon gawked in surprise, the jaded immortal thunderstruck by the human below him. He was tall, thin and completely naked...except for the layers of dirt and grease covering him from head to toe. His hair was matted down his back with branches and leaves embedded inside. Blood dribbled from a deep gash on his arm, but he seemed unaffected as he sniffed about the area.
'What is he?' Aragon wondered as the human made a short howling noise. Others like him quickly ran into the clearing, each one in as bad a disarray as the first. 'Werewolves,' Aragon quickly realized as they continued to sniff below him. 'They must have gone mad some time ago. That's why they're roaming in packs.'of the humans howled again, this one long and mournful as he pointed toward the north. He ran in that direction and the others quickly followed suit. Aragon shifted on the branch, moving his legs to swing underneath him as he leaned back against the trunk. 'The hunting call,' Aragon thought as a slender clawed finger tapped his chin. 'I've never heard it from so close. It was...haunting. I feel for whatever prey they're in search of.'was then he realized a mistake in his observations of the wolves...
'He wasn't pointing north...'stood, his eyes fading to a crystal blue as he flew off the branch and into the sky above.
'He was pointing northeast...toward the miko...'
"What did you say this was again?" she inquired as she held up the strange concoction. The baker shrugged and pointed to the butcher. "Ask him little lady," he grunted, the returned to kneading his dough. She frowned at his rudeness and turned to the butcher.
"What's this?"
"Oh, it's simple really," the butcher began. "You take some meat, lettuce and butter and slap it between two slices of bread. The Westerners call it a 'sandwich'."
"Sand witch huh?" she muttered before thanking the man and leaving the shop. "Sounds like something that should be exterminated. Oh well." She crossed the street to Miroku's shop and leaned on the crescent carved in the door. She looked down when Kirara came out of the open window, the little kitten sized youkai sitting at her feet and gazing at her food.
"Alright," she relented as she pulled a piece of duck meat free and tossed it to her. "But it's only because I can't resist a cute face."mewed in thanks and quickly set about devouring her offering as the slayer turned to the sky above. 'It's nearly nightfall,' she sighed before taking a bite out of her sandwich. 'Yet there's still no sign of Kagome. Where is she-'growled suddenly, the fur on her back standing on end as she glared to her right. She attempted to back away when bright orange flames surged around Kirara in a blazing funnel cloud but met solid unforgiving wood instead. The much larger neko stood in front of her, it's elongated fangs bared in a snarl as she continued to growl ahead of her. The slayer looked ahead to a couple arguing inear them. The man...'No, youkai,' she realized when his auburn tail angrily flicked in her line of vision; stood well above the small female with him. Anger radiated off them both in tangible waves, the white of the youkai's eyes nearly pink as the girl shook her finger at him.
'Maybe I should help her,' she decided as she and Kirara slowly walked toward the group. The girl and the youkai stiffened immediately, the youkai sweating bullets when Kirara roared and charged toward him.
"Wait Kirara!" the slayer shouted, but it was too late. The neko pounced on the youkai and the two struggled as the young woman attempted to help her friend. "Kirara no!"woman spun around and glared, her hands on her hips as she yelled "Don't you have any control over your...you're..." Her eyes misted over and the young woman began to jump in place, her hands clasped together in front of her chest and her loose hair springing around her.slayer dropped her bow in surprise, Kirara and the youkai forgotten as she gazed at the one face she struggled toward for the past five months. "K-kagome?"
"Kaede? Oh thank the gods, it is you!" They embraced each other immediately, their tearful and joyous reunion startling the two combatants out of their quarrel. Kirara retreated to Kaede's side, the male youkai's tail wrapped around Kagome's waist and the two stared each other down as the sisters reunited.
"I was so worried about you," Kaede whispered as Kagome clung to her uniform. "You have no idea how long I've looked for you."
"I've been looking for you too," Kagome admitted with a sniff. "I think I've been all over Japan."
"So have I little sister, so have I. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect our village."looked up, tears already streaming down her cheeks as she choked back a sob. "I wasn't there either."
"But Kagome-"
"Who's this?" the youkai interrupted. "And why do you two smell alike?"shook her head and turned to him, her arm still around Kaede's waist as she introduced the two. "Kaede this is Shippou, my friend. Shippou this is Kaede, my older sister."
"So you're the one she's been yammering on about," Shippou said as he bowed in greeting. "It's nice to finally put a face to a name."
"He's been helping me," Kagome told Kaede when she reached for her bow. "He's been with me nearly the whole time."
"Oh." Kaede returned her bow to her back and bowed. "Thank you for protecting my sister."
"Ha, it was nothing," Shippou replied with a light blush. "She feeds me, you know? So I don't mind."
"Well I thank you anyway. Come, there's somewhere we can talk." Kaede led Kagome to Miroku's front door and opened it, allowing Kirara to enter first before going in herself. "Miroku-san? Are you here?" The ringing from earlier had stopped, and he was no longer at his post behind the anvil. "Miroku-san? Are you alright?"gasped when the blacksmith jumped from behind a set of nearby barrels swinging his staff madly toward herself and Shippou. "Come back for more eh?" Miroku shouted as he closed the distance between himself and the kitsune. Shippou immediately unwrapped his tail from Kagome's waist and used it to shove her aside before preparing for the oncoming blow. "This should teach you!" He raised it to bring it down on Shippou's head. Shippou flinched, already sure he felt the pain when Kagome stepped in front of him. She raised her hand, her eyes glowing momentarily before Miroku stopped in mid air.
"What's this?" he demanded as he struggled to return to Earth. "What kind of sorcery is this?"
"Miroku, what are you doing?" Kaede asked as she glared up at him. "Why are you attacking my sister?"
"I'm not! I'm trying to get him!" He pointed at Shippou, who's eyes were currently glued to Kagome as she held her hand in place. "That thief has been in my shop once before! He's stolen a sword from me!"
"It was a piece of shit!" Shippou countered before he could think. "What kind of smith are you anyway? That sword broke in half before I could make my first strike!" Miroku stopped struggling and laughed while Kagome and Kaede whirled on Shippou.
"You stole a sword ?!" Kagome demanded as she and Kaede glared at him. Shippou backed away, his hands held up defensively. Though the two had different features, they shared the same facial structure and the glare they shot back at him was felt twice over as he attempted to calm them.'s laughter wasn't helping in the slightest.
"Come on," Shippou began as he reached for the door. "Don't be mad you guys. I was just gonna borrow the sword! I wasn't going to take it!" He scowled when Miroku laughed harder. "Shut up you crummy smith!" he hollered as he shook a fist at him. "I wouldn't have this problem if you had made a better sword!"
"That's what happens when you take what doesn't belong to you," Miroku said with disapproval. "And you broke it? Oh no! That was the first sword I ever forged! I was saving that as a keepsake!"
"WHAT?!!! I can't believe you!!"
"I'm so sorry sir," Kagome said, turning away from Shippou to Miroku. She lowered her hand and Miroku gently floated to the floor. "I'll be more than happy to pay for anything he's taken."
"There's no need," Miroku replied as he grasped her hand in his. "I'm sure we can come to some arrangement. Would you mind doing me a favor?"
"What's that?" Kagome asked as Shippou growled behind her.
"Will you bear my child?"blinked, too shocked to respond. She yelped when Shippou jerked her backward then covered her mouth in surprise when a pot, sitting on a rafter overhead, landed on Miroku's head. Water splashed everywhere, drenching the blacksmith with the frigid liquid as Kaede and Shippou laughed. Kagome stared into the rafters above...a woman dressed like her sister laughed as well.
"That wasn't very nice," she told her as the others continued to laugh. The woman stopped, looked around and pointed to herself.
"Are you talking to me?" she asked Kagome. Kagome nodded. "Yes I'm talking to you! You could have hurt him!"and Kaede stopped laughing, but Shippou continued as the two humans stared at Kagome. "What's wrong with her?" Miroku asked as Kaede checked the rafters overhead.
"Don't you guys see her?" Kagome asked as she pointed in the woman's direction. "Kaede, you have to see her! She's dressed just like you!"
"I don't see her Kagome," Kaede said with a shake of her head. "There's nothing there to see. Are you alright?"
"They can't see me," the woman told Kagome as she jumped from the rafters. "I'm surprised you can. They can't hear me either, so don't alarm them. I'm just so happy! I haven't been talked to in so long. Will you talk to me later? It can be after everyone else is asleep. Blink once if you want to."smiled and blinked as instructed, her smile widening as the woman cheered around Miroku. "Um...sorry you guys," Kagome apologized sheepishly. "I thought I saw something, but nothing's there now."
"It isn't that same guy you normally talk to is it?" Shippou asked. Kagome motioned for him to be quiet as Kaede turned to him. "What guy?"
"I don't know," Shippou shrugged. "It's something that she talks to sometimes. He's the one that told her to come to Kyoto."
"Is this true Kagome?" she asked as she turned to her younger sister. Kagome nodded, then jumped when Miroku hooked a single finger underneath her chin and turned her toward him.
"Were you born this way?" he asked as he stared into her eyes. Kagome shook her head as Kaede walked around to see.
"Yes she was. Kagome was born with blue eye-what happened to your eye?" she asked as she pointed to her face. Kagome shrugged. "I don't know exactly. It was never explained to me."
"You've been Touched."Kagome and Shippou turned to him, startled by the finality in his voice as he opened a sack near the door. "What was that Miroku-san?" Kaede asked while he pulled free a book and opened it.
"Please, sit down," he said as he gestured to the floor. He waited until they did as he suggested, then sat down in the middle of them and sat the book down. "I wondered why the houshi gave me this. Here on this page they explain everything about the Touched. It's a special name given to people who are given a sacred mission by the gods."
"I've heard that," Kagome said as Kaede and Shippou looked on. "But what is it?"flipped through a few pages, then stopped and pointed to a paragraph. "It says here that when you're Touched one of your eyes changes. Its so that Heaven can tell you apart from other humans." Miroku read a little more as the others ingested the information. "Oh, here it says that there's one every three hundred years. The last one was in a country called India, or something like that. Her eyes weren't nearly as drastic a change as yours."
"Oh."
"How long has it been like this?" Kaede asked. "Did it happen after the village was destroyed?"
"No," Kagome answered. "It happened before. That's what I wasn't in the village when it was destroyed."
"I don't understand," Kaede admitted. "What happened? Why weren't you there?"stood outside the shop hours later, his arms folded over his chest as he watched the sun begin it's trip toward the horizon. He sniffed absently and frowned when the scent of salt assaulted his nose. 'I'm nearly drowning in the stuff,' he thought, his ears twitching at the faint sobs coming from the shop.never would have guessed what happened to Kagome's village, nor of her strength as she told him and the others around her what happened. He'd never known another person who suffered so badly, yet managed to stay as happy and cheerful as she was around him.turned when the door opened and stepped to the side as Kaede walked into the cool evening air. "Kagome's calmed down," she told him as she too stared into the horizon. "She's pretty shaken up."
"Your sister is..." Shippou shook his head, finding himself at a loss for words.
"She's something else, I know. I never would have guessed that she'd take up exterminating. She always thought that it was wrong, or icky. She's so different. It's like she doesn't need me anymore." Kaede sighed, her eyes closing as she hung her head. "I can't blame her though. I wasn't there when she needed me."
"Don't feel sorry for yourself," Shippou interrupted. "Look, I don't know anything about it, but I do know that all Kagome's been able to talk about is you. She looks up to you and she wanted to find you. If she didn't at least want you around, do you think she would have gone though so much trouble?"
"You're right," Kaede smirked. "You're positively right."
"I know it," Shippou replied. He watched the sun until it finally disappeared from the sky, leaving behind beautiful golds, blues and violets behind. "What's with the smith? Is he coming with us?"nodded. "Are you?"
"Hell, I've got nothin' better to do. Why not?"
"Good. Kagome will be glad to hear it." Kaede turned back to the shop door, opened it, and paused in the doorway. "We won't be able to leave until tomorrow. Is that alright?"
"Fine by me," Shippou nodded, then turned back to the sky as it slowly darkened. 'We wouldn't stand a chance outside of the city anyway,' he thought as the fur on his tail bristled. 'There's something coming and to be out after dark would be suicide.'Chapter)raided by werewolves...protects his interest...gang starts for the west once again...chapter: Chapter Thirteen: Aragon Switches Sides!