InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Black as Night, White as Snow ❯ My Daughter's Obi ( Chapter 4 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Fay-of-Faerie 
The dwarves' past is told...or the bit about the curse, anyway. And...Kikyou strikes again! Muwaha! >>;;
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Classic / Adventure / Comedy / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.03.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 737 | Status: Completed
The dwarves' past is told...or the bit about the curse, anyway. And...Kikyou strikes again! Muwaha! >>;;
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Classic / Adventure / Comedy / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.03.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 737 | Status: Completed
In case some of you were wondering, no the dwarves in the original story didn’t have some curse laid on them or anything. I just needed some more stuff for my plot. If you can't picture them, think of everyone in their chibi forms and Shippou looking like he does normally.
There will be fluff in the next chapter! And the one after that, but I’m worried because this is my first actual fluff with meaning, but Ev thought it was good fluff...but the next chapter is going to be a completely really amazingly good chapter! Aren't I just modest? And don't you just love sarcasm?!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the story of Snow White.
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Black as Ebony, White as Snow
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--- Last Chapter ---
What was odd enough was that she was told that they had lived together for five years in this cottage and for that time they had to mine a type of jewel. Sango told her that their ‘debt’ would be paid off soon.
Kagome sighed as she peppered her eggs more to her taste.
Who had cursed these seven people, and why?
--- End of Last Chapter ---
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Chapter Four: My Daughter’s Obi
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“Wait one second!” Kagome held her hands up to pause the dwarves as they shuffled out the front door. “Where are you going again so early in the morning?”
Sango, being the most likely one to actually answer questions, stopped the rest of the group so she wouldn’t be left behind. “Kagome-chan, we’ll be back at dusk. We need to go to the Shikon no Tama mines. Take care of Kirara, would you?”
Kagome smiled lovingly down at the white and black cat that perched on her shoulder. “No problem. It’ll be a pleasure!”
Sango sighed. She really didn’t want Kirara wandering off and bringing home any more strays. “Good. We’ll see you soon.”
“Fine, goodbye!” Kagome chirped as she followed them out of the cottage to wave them off. She watched as the group slowly made their way over the uneven ground carrying their picks and axes. Kag laughed as Hojo tipped backwards from being top heavy. It took Naraku and Miroku to free him.
Just as the dwarves were almost out of sight from around the bend of the warn path, Miroku turned back to their guest. “Kagome-sama! Promise me something, would you?”
Kagome slowed her waving and called back, “Sure! What is it Miroku-sama?”
“There are many bandits and free roving demons in this forest. Don’t open the door for anyone!” Miroku yelled seriously.
“I understand. Don’t worry, we can handle ourselves. Even if Kirara can't transform to that –er- larger version of herself any more until your curse thingy is over. I’m pretty handy with a bow and arrow!” Kagome confided light-heartily.
“Good. You put my mind at ease, Lady Kagome.”
“Fare well!”
“Goodbye!” the seven cried as they finally made their way to work.
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“Oh dear! This place isn’t even fit for the dogs! They give pigs a bad name! Complete and utter slobs is what they-!” Kagome scolded as she brought a hand thoughtfully to her chin.
“Mew!”
“Oh, sorry Kirara,” Kagome apologized sheepishly. “I guess you do get the point. But how am I supposed to get this first wave of cleaning done? Even I as a maid will have problems.”
“Mew.”
“Thanks for your offer but there isn’t much you can do. No offense,” Kagome added hastily. “I should get started, this should take awhile to finish. But before I do that...” Kagome began to climb the stairs to the upper floor. It was one giant room and served as a single bedroom for the seven –now eight- of them. Dragging a few oversized trunks out, Kagome began to search through them. “Sango- chan said I’d be able to find some of her old kimonos in here!”
And the magenta-eyed dwarf was right. Near the bottom, under a molded baboon pelt and old fox skin, was a powder blue kimono and a deep blue obi to tie around her waist. “Perfect! It looks like it’ll fit,” Kagome waltzed around the room with the fabric held up against her form. “And not even the slightest bit moth eaten!”
“Mew.”
“Yes, I agree.” On second thought, Kagome reached back in and pulled out an apron that matched the obi. It only went down the second half of her front, but it should’ve been able to protect the kimono “No more excuses left now! Lets get started!” Kagome clapped her hands together and formed a serious expression as she pulled her long wavy hair back with a toggle. Marching down the stairs in true military style, the blue-eyed maiden muttered one last thing with real feeling:
“I hate cleaning.”
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“If you were true woodland creatures, you’d try to prove yourselves to the human race!” Kagome said conversationally to the birds perched on the self near her head and the foxes and rabbits lying on the window ledge. They were watching as she began on the mountain high pile of dirty dishes. “I know the perfect way to do that too,” Kag began slyly. “To prove that you animals here are the true leaders of the animal kingdom, you should help me out with this task!” A fawn and its mother cocked their heads at the ex-princess. “No, really! I mean, it’d really show your talent if you could wield a dust rag or wash the dishes.”
Of course the animals were having none of it.
“Mew!”
“Oh Kirara!” Kagome immediately defended herself. “I’m not trying to get out of the work! All I’m saying is that it’d raise your status if you could show your smarts by house cleaning!”
The bear cub cuddled on the counter at her elbow gave her a deadpan look.
“Fine! But don’t come crying to me when humans continue to use you when you could easily prove your worth by helping me.”
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Crashing backwards into the eighth wooden chair at the table, miraculously being the perfect size for a human, Kagome sighed. “Finally!” she announced. The house was spotless! Well, except for under and behind the furniture. Who ever really looked there anyway? Kagome gave the evil eye to all the animals that were gathered around her. “And I did it all without any help from any of you!”
A few of the rabbits had the grace to look sheepish.
“It would have gone a whole lot faster if a few of you had taken the time to dust the cabinets or wash the dishes,” the woman scolded.
Kirara rolled her eyes and huffed. “Mew,” she muttered.
“Well excuse me! I just thought,” Kagome said faintly, “What’s the use of being able to talk to animals if they don’t do anything for you?” Feeling the most unappreciated as they could handle, the animals slowly departed. “Goodbye! Come back soon!” Kag called sweetly after them. ‘Like that’ll ever happen,’ she scoffed.
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“So,” Kagome leaned on her elbow to peer around the kitchen table. “Tell me why you all are dwarves!”
Sango winced, but Miroku easily proposed: “We will if you tell us why you aren’t home, Lady Kagome!” It was a perfect plan! Kagome would never want to tell them and then they would never have to tell her their secret! Perfect with no problems, right? Too bad fate wasn’t on Miroku’s side that day. Like it ever was...
“Sure!” Kagome shrugged.
Naraku groaned. Reaching over he smacked the monk upside the head. “Look what you got us into! Its so embarrassing!” he hissed.
Kagura cackled. “Yeah right! Embarrassing for you maybe, but not really so much for the rest of us!”
Kagome cleared her throat to get their attention. “My stepsister is the Queen Kikyou of the Northern lands. She’s stripped me of my title. Every so often she tries to dispose of me with odd plans, like the monkey plan. Yesterday afternoon was her latest attempt. I’m here in hopes of waiting out her fit of anger so I can get back home where I can be a maid.” Kagome admitted simply while idly sipping her water.
“What title?”
“Monkeys?”
“The Queen?”
“Monkeys?”
“’Latest attempt’? How many were there?”
“MONKEYS?!”
Kagome’s nose twitched and then she sneezed. “Now that I, uh, have your attention.” Kagome sniffed. “I was a princess, I’m a maid now. Have been for...forever. Yes Kikyou is the queen, but we have different parents. And they were flying fez hat wearing monkeys.”
“Why fez hats?” Miroku asked his new question now that he’d gotten his first about the monkeys answered.
“-Er- because Kikyou despises straw hats?” Kagome suggested. “I don’t know. She is...” she trailed off, looking for the right word.
“Insane?” Sango seriously suggested. “No, really! Insane! Who’d try to murder her own siblings?”
“Kikyou’s not insane! She’s simply...different.” Kagome immediately defended her stoic sister. “She’s a bit on the odd side, but merely because she has different interests and ideas on how to solve problems. Insane is a strong word.”
Sango gave Kagome a slanted look. “If you say so,” she said slowly, clearly not agreeing.
“Anywho! Kikyou has fits of...jealousy and rage and anger...sometimes. We are all due some in our life times! She just has a few more than the average person.” Kagome rationalized. “I was hoping I’d only need to lie low for a night, but it looks like it’d be better if I took more time.”
“All right,” Sango sighed. “I guess it’s our turn,” she glared at the violet-eyed monk.
Naraku sneered unhappily, “Do we have to?”
“Truly. Houshi was the only one who promised, not us.” Kagura complained.
“Too bad, I promised.” Miroku gulped at all the glares directed at him.
“So?” Kagome egged them on.
“Have ye heard of thy Shikon no Tama?” Kaede asked of Kagome.
“Yes,” Kagome blinked blankly at them, wondering what the gem had to do with a curse that made seven people/demon/miko/things into dwarves. “Kikyou had a sphere made of the jewel. That’s why she made one attempt on my life, it was for wearing it. It's her favorite stone.”
“All right, than you’ve heard how rare it was and that there was only one place it could be found?” Sango took her turn with the weird questions.
“Uh huh, the mines in these forests. I heard it was depleted!” Kagome announced slowly.
“Wrong,” Naraku glowered. “That was a rumor sent around so no one else would use the mines. I found that out-.”
“-And hired us.” Kagura slipped in.
“’Hired’?” Kagome echoed.
“Yeah. Naraku needed Miroku, Kaede, and I to protect the camp from demons during the duration of the time of the mining process,” Sango hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously at Naraku.
Naraku chuckled nervously.
“We’re distant cousins and he promised me a share of the profits,” Kagura growled.
Miroku tilted his head in the direction of the human and the kitsune cub. “Hojo –er- had an accident. A rock fell on his head, but before that, he was a rock expert. Shippou volunteered to help out because he could fit into the smaller caverns.”
“Oh,” Kagome said. She had absolutely no idea where this was leading and what it had to do with them being ‘dwarves’. So Naraku was greedy and wanted to mine all the jewels and sell them to make lots of money. No one else knew there was any of the Shikon no Tama left so they could get all the stones out of the cave and only have to worry about low level demons hanging out in the forest, right? Ok...but how did the curse fit into this?
“So,” Sango started slowly. “We came to the mines to search for the jewel.”
“And we were caught by thy powerful guardian of thy Shikon no Tama mines,” Kaede added.
“Midoriko.” Kagura hissed. The wind demoness said the protector's name like it was poison on her tongue, upset with what the woman had done to them all.
Miroku shrugged. “I don’t see what all your problems are. I don’t blame her! She was the keeper of the jewel and we were trespassing, it was only fair we got our punishment.”
“How?” Kagome asked.
“Well you see,” Naraku stated coldly. “Midoriko is no longer of this world, but her magic is. Very much so.”
Kagura sighed. “We were allowed to keep are powers and skills, but forced into these,” she looked down disgustedly, “bodies.”
“Oh I see,” Kagome muttered faintly.
“So,” Miroku said calmly and cheerfully. “Midoriko-sama assigned us to mine the Shikon no Tama for five years as punishment. In two weeks and five days, not counting today, we shall finally be free.”
“This cottage is close to the mining site so she allowed us to live here,” Sango muttered.
“Right. But I don’t see how this is so embarrassing!” Kagome said.
“Well,” Kagura turned and eyed her cousin darkly. “The reason we went through all this was for Naraku. Do you know why he insisted on this?”
Kagome shrugged. “Why?”
“Because he was convinced that there was only one Shikon no Tama and that it was all powerful or some such nonsense. He wanted to ‘corrupt’ it and use it to rule the world!” Kagura shouted, outraged. “I guess he didn’t get the memo that almost every female royalty on the planet had one! And even some nobles.”
“Well sorry if I was locked in a cave for ten years and missed out on the on goings of power!” Naraku spat.
“Good. You should be sorry. The only reason why I haven’t dismembered, disemboweled, and decapitated you in the slowest and most painful ways possible, yet, is because these five years wont add to our age.” Kagura growled menacingly.
Kagome winced. “Ewww! Gross! Bad mental image!”
Miroku groaned. “Kagura-“
“-sama!” Kagura slipped in.
“-We just ate!” Miroku finished while ignoring her addition to his statement.
“So?” Kagura retorted.
Kagome sweatdropped. “I think I’m going to just...go upstairs to sleep.”
“I’ll join you,” Sango grumbled.
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“So, that’s why you’re dwarves and why you live together?”
“Yep, and its also why I’m stuck mining a precious gem for a dead miko when I could be off with my brother slaying demons for cash.” Sango yawned.
“Hn. Goodnight Sango-chan,” Kagome muttered.
“Goodnight.”
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“Do not open the door for anyone!” Miroku repeated his warning from the day before.
“Of course Miroku-sama! Have fun working at the mine!” Kagome called cheerfully.
Sango shook her head sadly. “Never use the words ‘fun’ and ‘work’ in the same sentence again!”
“All right. Goodbye!”
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“Mmm,” Kagome murmured, as she was lost in a trance. “Yum!”
“Mew!” Kirara eagerly agreed.
Kagome smiled cheerfully as she rolled the dough out smoothly. Reaching over she grabbed a sharp knife. Slicing the apples, she accidentally nicked a finger. “Oops!” Sucking on the bleeding appendage, she folded the cut fruit into the dough and slit holes into the lumpy top. Walking over to the kitchen window, she opened the wooden shutters. Finally pulling her thumb out of her mouth, she leaned out and took in a deep breath of the fresh air. “My lovelies! I call upon thee. Please come to my aid!” Sitting back, Kagome waited.
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Inuyasha suddenly snapped awake.
“SHIT!” he cursed as his golden eyes opened only to close again a split second later. “The light! It burns! Why’d I get up? It’s not even noon yet!”
Suddenly a soft voice floated towards him; straining his ears he only heard the faint ending.
“...Come to my aid!”
‘A call for help? Did I really just hear that?’ Inu asked as he tried to hear more. ‘No. I don’t think so. That voice was too soft and...sweet...to be real. Like that singing. It was probably just the wind.’ “Yeah, the wind.” He murmured as he uncomfortably fell back into an uneasy sleep.
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“...Come to my aid!”
Gray eyes flashed with the slightest trace of excitement and malice. “Good. I didn’t get lost on the way.”
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Kagome giggled as the robin, blue jay, and golden finch swooped into the room. “Thank you, I could use your help!” The chattered and chirped back at her while fluttering near her head. Kagome giggled again as the tip of a blue wing brushed her ear. She was too ticklish for her own good. “Here. It’s my apple pie! I was wondering if you’d be so kind as to put on the finishing touches?” Kagome asked politely while leading them to the counter. The three birds cocked their heads at their maiden friend before eyeing the pie carefully. Flicking their gaze back and forth between Kagome and Kirara, they decided it wouldn’t be too much trouble. Kagome clapped her hands together as the three birds gently landed on the crust to place the slightest indentations of their claws. “Thank you, it looks...great!”
The birds simply flew out another window without a word.
“That was nice of them,” Kagome stated calmly.
Kirara grumpily watched the bird dinner flying away.
“We’ll go fishing later on,” Kagome promised as she moved to set the pie above the fire. It should finish baking around the time the others came home because of the low flame. “Perfect.”
“Yes it is. That pie looks beautiful, dear, did you prepare it yourself?” A creaky old voice commented.
Kagome whipped around on her feet to eye the new comer. A thin and frail woman stood at the kitchen door. It was the kind of wooden door that was cut in halfway down so there was technically two doors instead of one. The top half was open, revealing the old woman’s slightly bent over form. The bottom half of the door was still tightly shut. The elder woman had a ragged gray kimono on that matched her soft gray eyes that shown out from behind many layers of wrinkles.
“May I help you ma’am?” Kagome asked sweetly.
‘She always was too polite for her own good,’ the old hag thought darkly. “Yes, my dear. I have been traveling all morning and was hoping that the owner of this cottage would be so kind as to...refresh my thirst?”
“Oh, sure!” Kagome swung the bottom half of the door open, Miroku’s earlier warning instantly leaving her mind. “Sit here for a few minutes, ma’am, well I go to the well.” The woman nodded before sitting comfortably at the table. Kirara hissed and snarled at the new comer. “Kirara!” Kagome scolded. “Sorry,” she replied to the older female, “She isn’t a very trusting feline. Ignore her.”
“No problem, young maiden.”
“Thank you. Be back as soon as I can.” Kagome stated as she left the cottage. Making her way to the nearby well, Kagome’s thoughts reverted to the old woman. ‘Those eyes, they look so familiar,’ she thought as she hauled up the bucket at the bottom of the well. There was only an inch of the clear liquid and Kagome mentally noted to tell the dwarves that any future water would have to be coming from a spring. The well seemed to be awfully low on water, maybe even close to being completely dry.
Gliding into the kitchen, Kagome gently took down one of the cups, the one with no name that she’d been using. Smiling gently to the visitor, she poured the drink in. Looking up from her work, Kagome gasped. “Oh! What is that? It’s beautiful,” she breathed as she brought the glass over to where the old crone was pulling something from out of her wide sleeve.
The woman chuckled as she brought the cup to her cracked, worn, old lips. ‘This water is good, but I have yet to find one as well tasting as the one back home,’ she noted sadly. “Yes my dear. This obi was my daughter’s. She passed on a little while ago and I was hoping to find a pretty young maiden worthy of wearing it to do my daughter proud,” the old woman spoke. In her ancient, bony, wrinkled hand laid a strip of cloth. It seemed to be of the finest midnight blue silk. Preciously hand sewn were pictures of several flowers: violets, lily of the valley, daffodils, and several different colors of roses. The beautiful hand crafted fabric was the perfect width to rest around a young woman’s middle, over her kimono.
“Its beautiful,” Kagome repeated. “I’m so sorry to hear of your daughter. What a horrible thing to have to go through!” Kagome clapped a hand over her lips.
The woman laughed lightly. “She was pretty little thing! She lived well in this life and will be missed greatly.” The woman then seemed to turn her gaze to Kagome with more scrutiny. “She was about your size,” her old voice whispered. “I think,” she said slowly, “That this obi would fit you perfectly. It would go well with your kimono and beautiful blue eyes!”
“Oh, but I couldn’t” Kagome announced even as her slim hand reached forward for the fabric. It was almost as if her very being was being drawn toward it.
“I insist.” The old woman said gravely as she handed the cloth over. “Try it.”
Kagome smiled gratefully. “Thank you. I think I will.”
The maid then slowly undid the navy blue apron and obi around her kimono to attach the new obi. “It’s so soft and it fits great!” Kagome admired the fabric. Her thoughts seemed to have stopped to only spin around how beautiful it looked. Any others seemed to drift away. But then suddenly, it didn’t feel so great any more.
The fabric seemed to contract, but at first Kagome only believed she was imagining it. But the tightness began to get greater and spots danced before her eyes. “What...?” Kagome whispered, turning a startled gaze to the elder woman. “Wha?!” She tried again, more forcefully. Her breath was becoming harsher and the obi constricted painfully until Kagome could barely pull in any breaths at all. Her lungs were filled less and less and her numb fingers, no matter how much they struggled, couldn’t loosen it.
“Please...help!” She gasped to the old woman as she felt lightheaded and the dancing spots increased in number. Slowly her legs couldn’t hold her weight any longer and she slipped sideways to the floor. The last thing her eyes held was of the old hag slowly becoming taller and fuller. And younger, much younger. And the soft gray eyes became harder and sharper as the elder female slowly transformed into one younger.
“Kikyou,” Kagome’s dying breath whispered.
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“Kagome-chan?” Sango called as they stepped into the cottage through the front door.
Miroku took a deep breath. “Yummy! Something smells good!”
The others mirrored his actions and Shippou chirped, “Its apple pie! I can smell the fruit and the spices.”
“Kagome really shouldn’t have!” Sango said as she, along with the others, ran towards the back room.
“Kagome! It smells great!” Miroku announced as he pushed the door open.
But the young maiden wasn’t there.
With confused expressions, the dwarves, one by one, filed into the airy room. “Kagome?” Sango called.
And that’s when she saw the form on the ground.
“Oh dear no...” she gasped as she lifted a hand to her face. “KAGOME!”
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All right. If anyone asks ‘Is Kagome really dead?’ I think I’ll scream! Come now people! Well the fact whether she’s dead or not can be argued (because you never know) I still have two more ways to kill her off! Plus Inuyasha hasn’t met our little maiden yet!
Anywho, the obi tightening on its own took the place of the first item the wicked queen used to kill Snow White. It was the strings on a bodice that tightened and cut off the ability to breathe.
Ja ne!
There will be fluff in the next chapter! And the one after that, but I’m worried because this is my first actual fluff with meaning, but Ev thought it was good fluff...but the next chapter is going to be a completely really amazingly good chapter! Aren't I just modest? And don't you just love sarcasm?!
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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the story of Snow White.
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Black as Ebony, White as Snow
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--- Last Chapter ---
What was odd enough was that she was told that they had lived together for five years in this cottage and for that time they had to mine a type of jewel. Sango told her that their ‘debt’ would be paid off soon.
Kagome sighed as she peppered her eggs more to her taste.
Who had cursed these seven people, and why?
--- End of Last Chapter ---
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Chapter Four: My Daughter’s Obi
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“Wait one second!” Kagome held her hands up to pause the dwarves as they shuffled out the front door. “Where are you going again so early in the morning?”
Sango, being the most likely one to actually answer questions, stopped the rest of the group so she wouldn’t be left behind. “Kagome-chan, we’ll be back at dusk. We need to go to the Shikon no Tama mines. Take care of Kirara, would you?”
Kagome smiled lovingly down at the white and black cat that perched on her shoulder. “No problem. It’ll be a pleasure!”
Sango sighed. She really didn’t want Kirara wandering off and bringing home any more strays. “Good. We’ll see you soon.”
“Fine, goodbye!” Kagome chirped as she followed them out of the cottage to wave them off. She watched as the group slowly made their way over the uneven ground carrying their picks and axes. Kag laughed as Hojo tipped backwards from being top heavy. It took Naraku and Miroku to free him.
Just as the dwarves were almost out of sight from around the bend of the warn path, Miroku turned back to their guest. “Kagome-sama! Promise me something, would you?”
Kagome slowed her waving and called back, “Sure! What is it Miroku-sama?”
“There are many bandits and free roving demons in this forest. Don’t open the door for anyone!” Miroku yelled seriously.
“I understand. Don’t worry, we can handle ourselves. Even if Kirara can't transform to that –er- larger version of herself any more until your curse thingy is over. I’m pretty handy with a bow and arrow!” Kagome confided light-heartily.
“Good. You put my mind at ease, Lady Kagome.”
“Fare well!”
“Goodbye!” the seven cried as they finally made their way to work.
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“Oh dear! This place isn’t even fit for the dogs! They give pigs a bad name! Complete and utter slobs is what they-!” Kagome scolded as she brought a hand thoughtfully to her chin.
“Mew!”
“Oh, sorry Kirara,” Kagome apologized sheepishly. “I guess you do get the point. But how am I supposed to get this first wave of cleaning done? Even I as a maid will have problems.”
“Mew.”
“Thanks for your offer but there isn’t much you can do. No offense,” Kagome added hastily. “I should get started, this should take awhile to finish. But before I do that...” Kagome began to climb the stairs to the upper floor. It was one giant room and served as a single bedroom for the seven –now eight- of them. Dragging a few oversized trunks out, Kagome began to search through them. “Sango- chan said I’d be able to find some of her old kimonos in here!”
And the magenta-eyed dwarf was right. Near the bottom, under a molded baboon pelt and old fox skin, was a powder blue kimono and a deep blue obi to tie around her waist. “Perfect! It looks like it’ll fit,” Kagome waltzed around the room with the fabric held up against her form. “And not even the slightest bit moth eaten!”
“Mew.”
“Yes, I agree.” On second thought, Kagome reached back in and pulled out an apron that matched the obi. It only went down the second half of her front, but it should’ve been able to protect the kimono “No more excuses left now! Lets get started!” Kagome clapped her hands together and formed a serious expression as she pulled her long wavy hair back with a toggle. Marching down the stairs in true military style, the blue-eyed maiden muttered one last thing with real feeling:
“I hate cleaning.”
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“If you were true woodland creatures, you’d try to prove yourselves to the human race!” Kagome said conversationally to the birds perched on the self near her head and the foxes and rabbits lying on the window ledge. They were watching as she began on the mountain high pile of dirty dishes. “I know the perfect way to do that too,” Kag began slyly. “To prove that you animals here are the true leaders of the animal kingdom, you should help me out with this task!” A fawn and its mother cocked their heads at the ex-princess. “No, really! I mean, it’d really show your talent if you could wield a dust rag or wash the dishes.”
Of course the animals were having none of it.
“Mew!”
“Oh Kirara!” Kagome immediately defended herself. “I’m not trying to get out of the work! All I’m saying is that it’d raise your status if you could show your smarts by house cleaning!”
The bear cub cuddled on the counter at her elbow gave her a deadpan look.
“Fine! But don’t come crying to me when humans continue to use you when you could easily prove your worth by helping me.”
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Crashing backwards into the eighth wooden chair at the table, miraculously being the perfect size for a human, Kagome sighed. “Finally!” she announced. The house was spotless! Well, except for under and behind the furniture. Who ever really looked there anyway? Kagome gave the evil eye to all the animals that were gathered around her. “And I did it all without any help from any of you!”
A few of the rabbits had the grace to look sheepish.
“It would have gone a whole lot faster if a few of you had taken the time to dust the cabinets or wash the dishes,” the woman scolded.
Kirara rolled her eyes and huffed. “Mew,” she muttered.
“Well excuse me! I just thought,” Kagome said faintly, “What’s the use of being able to talk to animals if they don’t do anything for you?” Feeling the most unappreciated as they could handle, the animals slowly departed. “Goodbye! Come back soon!” Kag called sweetly after them. ‘Like that’ll ever happen,’ she scoffed.
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“So,” Kagome leaned on her elbow to peer around the kitchen table. “Tell me why you all are dwarves!”
Sango winced, but Miroku easily proposed: “We will if you tell us why you aren’t home, Lady Kagome!” It was a perfect plan! Kagome would never want to tell them and then they would never have to tell her their secret! Perfect with no problems, right? Too bad fate wasn’t on Miroku’s side that day. Like it ever was...
“Sure!” Kagome shrugged.
Naraku groaned. Reaching over he smacked the monk upside the head. “Look what you got us into! Its so embarrassing!” he hissed.
Kagura cackled. “Yeah right! Embarrassing for you maybe, but not really so much for the rest of us!”
Kagome cleared her throat to get their attention. “My stepsister is the Queen Kikyou of the Northern lands. She’s stripped me of my title. Every so often she tries to dispose of me with odd plans, like the monkey plan. Yesterday afternoon was her latest attempt. I’m here in hopes of waiting out her fit of anger so I can get back home where I can be a maid.” Kagome admitted simply while idly sipping her water.
“What title?”
“Monkeys?”
“The Queen?”
“Monkeys?”
“’Latest attempt’? How many were there?”
“MONKEYS?!”
Kagome’s nose twitched and then she sneezed. “Now that I, uh, have your attention.” Kagome sniffed. “I was a princess, I’m a maid now. Have been for...forever. Yes Kikyou is the queen, but we have different parents. And they were flying fez hat wearing monkeys.”
“Why fez hats?” Miroku asked his new question now that he’d gotten his first about the monkeys answered.
“-Er- because Kikyou despises straw hats?” Kagome suggested. “I don’t know. She is...” she trailed off, looking for the right word.
“Insane?” Sango seriously suggested. “No, really! Insane! Who’d try to murder her own siblings?”
“Kikyou’s not insane! She’s simply...different.” Kagome immediately defended her stoic sister. “She’s a bit on the odd side, but merely because she has different interests and ideas on how to solve problems. Insane is a strong word.”
Sango gave Kagome a slanted look. “If you say so,” she said slowly, clearly not agreeing.
“Anywho! Kikyou has fits of...jealousy and rage and anger...sometimes. We are all due some in our life times! She just has a few more than the average person.” Kagome rationalized. “I was hoping I’d only need to lie low for a night, but it looks like it’d be better if I took more time.”
“All right,” Sango sighed. “I guess it’s our turn,” she glared at the violet-eyed monk.
Naraku sneered unhappily, “Do we have to?”
“Truly. Houshi was the only one who promised, not us.” Kagura complained.
“Too bad, I promised.” Miroku gulped at all the glares directed at him.
“So?” Kagome egged them on.
“Have ye heard of thy Shikon no Tama?” Kaede asked of Kagome.
“Yes,” Kagome blinked blankly at them, wondering what the gem had to do with a curse that made seven people/demon/miko/things into dwarves. “Kikyou had a sphere made of the jewel. That’s why she made one attempt on my life, it was for wearing it. It's her favorite stone.”
“All right, than you’ve heard how rare it was and that there was only one place it could be found?” Sango took her turn with the weird questions.
“Uh huh, the mines in these forests. I heard it was depleted!” Kagome announced slowly.
“Wrong,” Naraku glowered. “That was a rumor sent around so no one else would use the mines. I found that out-.”
“-And hired us.” Kagura slipped in.
“’Hired’?” Kagome echoed.
“Yeah. Naraku needed Miroku, Kaede, and I to protect the camp from demons during the duration of the time of the mining process,” Sango hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously at Naraku.
Naraku chuckled nervously.
“We’re distant cousins and he promised me a share of the profits,” Kagura growled.
Miroku tilted his head in the direction of the human and the kitsune cub. “Hojo –er- had an accident. A rock fell on his head, but before that, he was a rock expert. Shippou volunteered to help out because he could fit into the smaller caverns.”
“Oh,” Kagome said. She had absolutely no idea where this was leading and what it had to do with them being ‘dwarves’. So Naraku was greedy and wanted to mine all the jewels and sell them to make lots of money. No one else knew there was any of the Shikon no Tama left so they could get all the stones out of the cave and only have to worry about low level demons hanging out in the forest, right? Ok...but how did the curse fit into this?
“So,” Sango started slowly. “We came to the mines to search for the jewel.”
“And we were caught by thy powerful guardian of thy Shikon no Tama mines,” Kaede added.
“Midoriko.” Kagura hissed. The wind demoness said the protector's name like it was poison on her tongue, upset with what the woman had done to them all.
Miroku shrugged. “I don’t see what all your problems are. I don’t blame her! She was the keeper of the jewel and we were trespassing, it was only fair we got our punishment.”
“How?” Kagome asked.
“Well you see,” Naraku stated coldly. “Midoriko is no longer of this world, but her magic is. Very much so.”
Kagura sighed. “We were allowed to keep are powers and skills, but forced into these,” she looked down disgustedly, “bodies.”
“Oh I see,” Kagome muttered faintly.
“So,” Miroku said calmly and cheerfully. “Midoriko-sama assigned us to mine the Shikon no Tama for five years as punishment. In two weeks and five days, not counting today, we shall finally be free.”
“This cottage is close to the mining site so she allowed us to live here,” Sango muttered.
“Right. But I don’t see how this is so embarrassing!” Kagome said.
“Well,” Kagura turned and eyed her cousin darkly. “The reason we went through all this was for Naraku. Do you know why he insisted on this?”
Kagome shrugged. “Why?”
“Because he was convinced that there was only one Shikon no Tama and that it was all powerful or some such nonsense. He wanted to ‘corrupt’ it and use it to rule the world!” Kagura shouted, outraged. “I guess he didn’t get the memo that almost every female royalty on the planet had one! And even some nobles.”
“Well sorry if I was locked in a cave for ten years and missed out on the on goings of power!” Naraku spat.
“Good. You should be sorry. The only reason why I haven’t dismembered, disemboweled, and decapitated you in the slowest and most painful ways possible, yet, is because these five years wont add to our age.” Kagura growled menacingly.
Kagome winced. “Ewww! Gross! Bad mental image!”
Miroku groaned. “Kagura-“
“-sama!” Kagura slipped in.
“-We just ate!” Miroku finished while ignoring her addition to his statement.
“So?” Kagura retorted.
Kagome sweatdropped. “I think I’m going to just...go upstairs to sleep.”
“I’ll join you,” Sango grumbled.
.
---
.
“So, that’s why you’re dwarves and why you live together?”
“Yep, and its also why I’m stuck mining a precious gem for a dead miko when I could be off with my brother slaying demons for cash.” Sango yawned.
“Hn. Goodnight Sango-chan,” Kagome muttered.
“Goodnight.”
.
---
.
“Do not open the door for anyone!” Miroku repeated his warning from the day before.
“Of course Miroku-sama! Have fun working at the mine!” Kagome called cheerfully.
Sango shook her head sadly. “Never use the words ‘fun’ and ‘work’ in the same sentence again!”
“All right. Goodbye!”
.
---
.
“Mmm,” Kagome murmured, as she was lost in a trance. “Yum!”
“Mew!” Kirara eagerly agreed.
Kagome smiled cheerfully as she rolled the dough out smoothly. Reaching over she grabbed a sharp knife. Slicing the apples, she accidentally nicked a finger. “Oops!” Sucking on the bleeding appendage, she folded the cut fruit into the dough and slit holes into the lumpy top. Walking over to the kitchen window, she opened the wooden shutters. Finally pulling her thumb out of her mouth, she leaned out and took in a deep breath of the fresh air. “My lovelies! I call upon thee. Please come to my aid!” Sitting back, Kagome waited.
.
Inuyasha suddenly snapped awake.
“SHIT!” he cursed as his golden eyes opened only to close again a split second later. “The light! It burns! Why’d I get up? It’s not even noon yet!”
Suddenly a soft voice floated towards him; straining his ears he only heard the faint ending.
“...Come to my aid!”
‘A call for help? Did I really just hear that?’ Inu asked as he tried to hear more. ‘No. I don’t think so. That voice was too soft and...sweet...to be real. Like that singing. It was probably just the wind.’ “Yeah, the wind.” He murmured as he uncomfortably fell back into an uneasy sleep.
.
“...Come to my aid!”
Gray eyes flashed with the slightest trace of excitement and malice. “Good. I didn’t get lost on the way.”
.
Kagome giggled as the robin, blue jay, and golden finch swooped into the room. “Thank you, I could use your help!” The chattered and chirped back at her while fluttering near her head. Kagome giggled again as the tip of a blue wing brushed her ear. She was too ticklish for her own good. “Here. It’s my apple pie! I was wondering if you’d be so kind as to put on the finishing touches?” Kagome asked politely while leading them to the counter. The three birds cocked their heads at their maiden friend before eyeing the pie carefully. Flicking their gaze back and forth between Kagome and Kirara, they decided it wouldn’t be too much trouble. Kagome clapped her hands together as the three birds gently landed on the crust to place the slightest indentations of their claws. “Thank you, it looks...great!”
The birds simply flew out another window without a word.
“That was nice of them,” Kagome stated calmly.
Kirara grumpily watched the bird dinner flying away.
“We’ll go fishing later on,” Kagome promised as she moved to set the pie above the fire. It should finish baking around the time the others came home because of the low flame. “Perfect.”
“Yes it is. That pie looks beautiful, dear, did you prepare it yourself?” A creaky old voice commented.
Kagome whipped around on her feet to eye the new comer. A thin and frail woman stood at the kitchen door. It was the kind of wooden door that was cut in halfway down so there was technically two doors instead of one. The top half was open, revealing the old woman’s slightly bent over form. The bottom half of the door was still tightly shut. The elder woman had a ragged gray kimono on that matched her soft gray eyes that shown out from behind many layers of wrinkles.
“May I help you ma’am?” Kagome asked sweetly.
‘She always was too polite for her own good,’ the old hag thought darkly. “Yes, my dear. I have been traveling all morning and was hoping that the owner of this cottage would be so kind as to...refresh my thirst?”
“Oh, sure!” Kagome swung the bottom half of the door open, Miroku’s earlier warning instantly leaving her mind. “Sit here for a few minutes, ma’am, well I go to the well.” The woman nodded before sitting comfortably at the table. Kirara hissed and snarled at the new comer. “Kirara!” Kagome scolded. “Sorry,” she replied to the older female, “She isn’t a very trusting feline. Ignore her.”
“No problem, young maiden.”
“Thank you. Be back as soon as I can.” Kagome stated as she left the cottage. Making her way to the nearby well, Kagome’s thoughts reverted to the old woman. ‘Those eyes, they look so familiar,’ she thought as she hauled up the bucket at the bottom of the well. There was only an inch of the clear liquid and Kagome mentally noted to tell the dwarves that any future water would have to be coming from a spring. The well seemed to be awfully low on water, maybe even close to being completely dry.
Gliding into the kitchen, Kagome gently took down one of the cups, the one with no name that she’d been using. Smiling gently to the visitor, she poured the drink in. Looking up from her work, Kagome gasped. “Oh! What is that? It’s beautiful,” she breathed as she brought the glass over to where the old crone was pulling something from out of her wide sleeve.
The woman chuckled as she brought the cup to her cracked, worn, old lips. ‘This water is good, but I have yet to find one as well tasting as the one back home,’ she noted sadly. “Yes my dear. This obi was my daughter’s. She passed on a little while ago and I was hoping to find a pretty young maiden worthy of wearing it to do my daughter proud,” the old woman spoke. In her ancient, bony, wrinkled hand laid a strip of cloth. It seemed to be of the finest midnight blue silk. Preciously hand sewn were pictures of several flowers: violets, lily of the valley, daffodils, and several different colors of roses. The beautiful hand crafted fabric was the perfect width to rest around a young woman’s middle, over her kimono.
“Its beautiful,” Kagome repeated. “I’m so sorry to hear of your daughter. What a horrible thing to have to go through!” Kagome clapped a hand over her lips.
The woman laughed lightly. “She was pretty little thing! She lived well in this life and will be missed greatly.” The woman then seemed to turn her gaze to Kagome with more scrutiny. “She was about your size,” her old voice whispered. “I think,” she said slowly, “That this obi would fit you perfectly. It would go well with your kimono and beautiful blue eyes!”
“Oh, but I couldn’t” Kagome announced even as her slim hand reached forward for the fabric. It was almost as if her very being was being drawn toward it.
“I insist.” The old woman said gravely as she handed the cloth over. “Try it.”
Kagome smiled gratefully. “Thank you. I think I will.”
The maid then slowly undid the navy blue apron and obi around her kimono to attach the new obi. “It’s so soft and it fits great!” Kagome admired the fabric. Her thoughts seemed to have stopped to only spin around how beautiful it looked. Any others seemed to drift away. But then suddenly, it didn’t feel so great any more.
The fabric seemed to contract, but at first Kagome only believed she was imagining it. But the tightness began to get greater and spots danced before her eyes. “What...?” Kagome whispered, turning a startled gaze to the elder woman. “Wha?!” She tried again, more forcefully. Her breath was becoming harsher and the obi constricted painfully until Kagome could barely pull in any breaths at all. Her lungs were filled less and less and her numb fingers, no matter how much they struggled, couldn’t loosen it.
“Please...help!” She gasped to the old woman as she felt lightheaded and the dancing spots increased in number. Slowly her legs couldn’t hold her weight any longer and she slipped sideways to the floor. The last thing her eyes held was of the old hag slowly becoming taller and fuller. And younger, much younger. And the soft gray eyes became harder and sharper as the elder female slowly transformed into one younger.
“Kikyou,” Kagome’s dying breath whispered.
.
---
.
“Kagome-chan?” Sango called as they stepped into the cottage through the front door.
Miroku took a deep breath. “Yummy! Something smells good!”
The others mirrored his actions and Shippou chirped, “Its apple pie! I can smell the fruit and the spices.”
“Kagome really shouldn’t have!” Sango said as she, along with the others, ran towards the back room.
“Kagome! It smells great!” Miroku announced as he pushed the door open.
But the young maiden wasn’t there.
With confused expressions, the dwarves, one by one, filed into the airy room. “Kagome?” Sango called.
And that’s when she saw the form on the ground.
“Oh dear no...” she gasped as she lifted a hand to her face. “KAGOME!”
.
.
.
All right. If anyone asks ‘Is Kagome really dead?’ I think I’ll scream! Come now people! Well the fact whether she’s dead or not can be argued (because you never know) I still have two more ways to kill her off! Plus Inuyasha hasn’t met our little maiden yet!
Anywho, the obi tightening on its own took the place of the first item the wicked queen used to kill Snow White. It was the strings on a bodice that tightened and cut off the ability to breathe.
Ja ne!