InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Thousand Little Deaths ❯ For Now ( Chapter 2 )

AN/ I've decided to make this into a series of interconnected one-shots. They are all single moments in time of the same story. They are all related and take place in the same universe. They might not be completely in order, but they are all part of the same plot. Just to make that clear. Thank you.

 

Suggested Listening: Elvis Presley's “Blue Moon”

 

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A Thousand Little Deaths

For Now

 

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Kagome hummed lightly to herself as she searched the surrounding trees for a splash of bright magenta that would indicate the presence of the exalted reishi. There was a busy trading village just north that paid a high bounty for these “mushrooms of immortality.” And right now she and her apprentice, a young girl named Akika, desperately needed the money.

 

The miko had come across a frightened little human girl while passing through a village desecrated by a band of human thieves. Her family had been slaughtered; she'd been the only survivor in the little farming community.

 

Kagome had befriended many humans over her unnaturally long lifetime, and had seen all of them bloom, wither, and perish before her. Sango, Miroku, their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. Every one of them. But not her.

 

She was trapped in one moment in time for all eternity. Her skin would never wrinkle, her eyes would never fail her, her muscles would stay fit and firm, her mind sharp and her reflexes quick. Her body was at the peak of its physical condition and would stay that way… forever.

 

Eleven years ago, knowing she'd suffer again the pain of watching yet another companion grow old and die before her, she'd taken in the little girl called Akika.

 

She'd been weak and entirely dependent on her for a long while, as all humans were. She'd been quiet and polite, but had not come out of the shell of trauma the thieves had helped build when they slew her parents and brothers that night.

 

But with a little coaxing, she'd emerged back into the world and taken on the responsibilities of an apprentice miko. She'd learned to read, to make and cast ofuda, to pull her innate spiritual powers to the surface to form barriers, to wield the bow with accuracy, and to make simple medicines from wild herbs.

 

She had grown and bloomed into a beautiful young woman.

 

Kagome looked to her right. A few meters away, she could see the form of her companion, dressed in red miko's garb, searching through the greenery for these illusive reishi. She smiled as the girl caught her foot on a low-lying root and nearly tripped. She reminded Kagome of her younger self sometimes with her clumsy tendencies.

 

“Are you alright, Ka-chan?” She always used the nickname when she was in a good mood. And today was a beautiful day.

 

The girl nodded as she reached down to readjust her sandal. “Yes, Kagome-sama,” she recited politely. She laughed sheepishly. “I'm such a klutz.” It was a word she'd picked up from the miko in their travels. Kagome had a lot of strange words, in fact.

 

The older miko smiled indulgently and began to weave her way through the trees to her. “Let's stop for lunch, okay? I'm getting hungry.”

 

Kagome watched as a smile brightened her pretty face and her dark eyes lit upon her. The girl nodded enthusiastically and began looking for firewood.

 

Later that night, Kagome watched across the fire as Akika painted neat kanji onto the small pieces of paper she used for ofuda. The characters came with practiced ease and flowed down the paper in black rivulets. Her penmanship was remarkable.

 

Standing, the miko walked around the fire to kneel beside her. Looking up from the paper, the younger girl caught Kagome's azure eyes with her own russet orbs. Her face was deceptively kind and very pretty with high cheeks and small, plump cherry lips. It was the same constant, unaltering face she had looked to for guidance and comfort for most of her childhood. Her mentor and caregiver's lack of aging and miraculous healing abilities which she had witnessed first-hand on numerous occasions throughout the years had led to many questions on her part. Questions which largely went unanswered.

 

Akika knew that the miko was not entirely human, as many believed her to be. And she knew that for some reason, youkai were attracted to her in droves. Several times weekly they faced youkai seeking out the Miko of the Shikon no Tama; bloodthirsty, power-hungry, mad creatures they were. But they were fodder for a powerful priestess like Kagome.

 

Sometimes, Akika thought she could recall her grandmother telling her when she was very young about a legendary miko who guarded a precious jewel that would grant immeasurable power to those with darkness in their heart. It was said that the woman could purify a youkai's soul out of existence with a wave of her hand. Sometimes, Akika thought Kagome might be that legendary woman.

 

Heat rose to her cheeks as the miko raised her hand to tuck a stray lock of dark auburn hair behind her ear and smiled gently at her.

 

“Have I told you how proud I am of you, Ka-chan?” Kagome whispered softly. Her eyes shined with pride and warmed the younger girl as the fire crackling softly in the center of the clearing could not.

 

Akika's cheeks darkened as she averted her eyes in embarrassment. Even so, a smile lifted her rosy lips. “I am what I am today because of your guidance, Kagome-sama. I would never have been able to be anything more than a poor farmer's daughter if you hadn't found me.”

 

Tears rose to Kagome's eyes as she wrapped her arms around the girl's thin shoulders and held her tightly to herself. Just this once, she could hold on a little longer. Soon, in a few years perhaps, Akika would begin a slow decline, a gradual descent into death as all humans did. And Kagome would leave before that happened. She always did.

 

But for now, she could hold Akika. And she could be content.