InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chosen ❯ Surprise Visit ( Chapter 3 )

DISCLAIMER: Do not own Inuyasha….waaah

~Surprise Visit~

Kagome gently laid Kikyo's lifeless body back on the pile of blankets. The light from the fire glinted off an object lying against the dead miko's neck. Kagome gingerly lifted the necklace from Kikyo's neck and studied the glittering jewel.

`So this is what my sister died for.' Kagome thought to herself. The jewel was hard and smooth, feeling cool to the touch. She closed her eyes and placed the jewel around her own neck. `For you, Kikyo.'

Kagome's eyes flew open and her hand automatically reached for her weapon as she spun around. To Kagome's surprise, a wide eyed young girl stood in the doorway holding a pot full of water. Upon seeing the strange girl dressed all in black, Maemi dropped the pot of water and screamed.

Kagome realized this must be the girl who stayed in the hut and quickly held up her hands, trying to silently tell the girl she meant no harm. Once the girl saw that Kagome didn't pose a threat, she cautiously entered the room, her eyes darting to where Kikyo lay.

"Lady Kikyo?" She called out. Kagome glanced to her sister's body then back to the girl. She shook her head, tears threatening to fall once more. The girl bowed her head and seemed to mouth a little prayer for the fallen miko.

"You must be Lady Kagome." The girl stated, stooping to pick up the pot. Kagome nodded her head. "Just plain Kagome will do. And you are?" She asked. The girl placed the pot in the corner and bowed her head. "I am Maemi."

Kagome gave the girl a small smile. "Pleased to meet you, Maemi." The girl smiled in return before turning her gaze to the priestess. Sadness settled over her petite features. "I'm sorry for your loss." She told Kagome. Kagome sighed and nodded her head. "She will be missed by many." Kagome said. She sat next to the fire and motioned for the girl to join her.

Once the girl was seated next to her, Kagome turned to her. "What do you know about the circumstances concerning my sister's death?" Maemi placed her hands in her lap and stared into the fire.

"From what Lady Kikyo told me, she was involved in a long battle with a demon named Naraku for many years. He was always plotting against Lady Kikyo in order to gain access to the Shikon jewel. He finally succeeded in getting the upper hand and somehow managed to poison Lady Kikyo's food. She fell ill, but not before realizing what Naraku had done and escaped here to the Middle lands in order to contact you." Maemi broke her gaze away from the fire and looked at Kagome. "What do you plan to do now, Kagome?" She asked. She quickly looked away and added, "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

Kagome couldn't help the smile that crept over her lips. Maemi was a sweet girl and her steadfast manners amused Kagome.

"Well, the first thing I plan to do is take care of Kikyo's body." She avoided looking in the direction where Kikyo lay for fear she would again become teary-eyed. "And then," She continued with determination clear in her voice, "I will carry out Kikyo's last wish. I will protect the Shikon jewel." Maemi looked at Kagome awe.

"You're going to become a priestess?" She asked. Kagome almost laughed out loud. Who would believe that she, a feared assassin known throughout the lands, was actually going to train to become a priestess? Kagome shook her head. "Not quite. I'm only going to play the part, which is what my sister wanted me to do." Maemi nodded her head in understanding.

"That sounds like a very difficult task, Kagome." The girl said. Kagome smirked. Didn't she know it.

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Sesshomaru looked at the land below him, both his eyes and ears alert. The wind blew through his white tresses, causing them to curl around his body. He could see the sun beginning to peak just over the hills.

A low growl escaped his throat. He'd been searching for the missing miko all night without any clues. It was as if she'd suddenly vanished into thin air. Sesshomaru directed the floating cloud towards the ground. It would due him better to start searching on foot.

Once he was on land, he sniffed the air. The unmistakable stench of human was all around him. He knew where he was. `The Middle lands.' He thought in disgust. The only section of land not claimed by demons because of the sacred blessing that had been placed over it by the very first miko. The blessing prevented demons from both claiming the land and claiming a human life.

"Damnit." He muttered. If the priestess was here, he couldn't force her to come with him. She would have to come of her own free will, and Sesshomaru doubted she would come with him willingly.

Sesshomaru's head snapped up, his thoughts suddenly forgotten. He concentrated, wanting to make sure of what he suspected.

"Yes, there it is again." He muttered. He felt a slight pulse that could only mean one thing. "The Shikon jewel is near." Sesshomaru quickly took off, the pulse of the Shikon jewel pulling him closer.

************

Kagome stretched her arms over her head and looked around, slightly disoriented. When she spotted the sleeping form of Maemi, everything came flooding back to her. Kikyo was dead and Kagome was now in charge of the Shikon jewel. Her head ached from crying so much and she was exhausted, both mentally and physically.

`At least Kikyo's body is buried and her soul can find peace.' Kagome smiled at this thought. She rose to her feet and put her hands on her hips. Now was the beginning of the rest of her life.

Kagome quietly left the small hut and decided to take a morning walk. She needed the fresh air and a little alone time to think about what she would do next.

She fingered the jewel around her neck. `Our destinies are tied together, now.' She thought, not knowing whether to be happy or sad. Kikyo died because of the jewel, or rather because of a certain demon…

"Naraku." Kagome hissed. She knew of the demon that had killed Kikyo. She'd never had the pleasure of meeting him face to face, but she knew of his reputation. He was ruthless in his quest to become the ultimate demon.

Kagome knew that Naraku was strong, but she would succeed where Kikyo had failed.

`Kikyo never had the heart for killing, whether it was human or demon.'

Kagome knew that would always be Kikyo's downfall. Kagome, on the other hand, had been trained since she was a child to kill without mercy.

Her thoughts traveled back to the past, when she and Kikyo had been little girls. She remembered being separated from her sister when she was only 6 years old, Kagome going with their father and Kikyo remaining with their mother, also a priestess. Her father had been a legendary assassin, hired by a demon lord to kill the beautiful priestess who possessed the Shikon jewel. He disobeyed orders and fell in love with the priestess, but because of their vastly different ways of life, her mother and father decided that it would be best to each take a child and raise them as they wished.

Kikyo followed in their mother's footsteps, training to be a priestess, while Kagome learned the way of the assassin. Even though their father worked for whoever was in need of his services, Kagome refused to work for demons and humans who would hurt the innocent. Kagome learned that from her mother.

A sigh escaped her lips. Would she be able to carry on Kikyo's legacy? She didn't want to shame her sister's memory, but she wasn't sure that she would be able to carry on where the miko had left off.

Somewhere, a twig broke, breaking the serene silence of the woods. Kagome stopped dead in her tracks and looked around cautiously. Her hand automatically reached for her weapon, but she remembered that it was back in the hut. She was now dressed in her sister's miko clothing.

`Damn.' She didn't even have Kikyo's bow and arrows with her. Kagome listened for any other noises, but heard nothing. She wasn't stupid, however, and knew that someone was there. Quick as lighting, she gracefully climbed a nearby tree and stood on one of the branches, scanning the surrounding area. She was just about to convince herself that she was alone when she saw a flash of white.

`What the -"

Kagome's sentence went unfinished when she felt the branch she was standing upon tremble slightly. She gasped and spun around, losing her balance in the process. An arm snaked out and caught her around the waist. Kagome looked up into a pair of brilliant golden eyes.

"Lady Kikyo, we meet at last." A velvety, cold voice said. Kagome opened her mouth to speak, but found she had no words for the beautiful, yet somehow terrifying being before her.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western lands." Said the white-haired demon. He eyed the jewel around Kagome's neck. "And that," He said, "Belongs to me."

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A/N: Hmmm….now that I've started writing this story, I don't kno if I still want to make it a Kag/Inu pairing, but…..we'll see