InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Chou Shoki I: Learning from Yesterday ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 1 )

CHAPTER 2

1191 A.D. ~ APRIL

I watched my father as he was given a small purplish pearl. It glowed with much beauty and it radiated with great power. I can't say that I remember what he was told, but I do remember him collapsing on his knees and crying. It would be one of the two times I would see him cry. I felt my own pain rising from within my heart, though I did not know why. Before a single tear could form in my eyes I saw this pearl pulsate in his hands before it raised itself in the air and come to settle between my hands. I felt it call to me and felt its immense power seer through my body before its light faded. Even at the tender age of four I knew that this was her soul calling out to me.

 

I knew she had died. She had told me several times when going on our morning rides that she felt her end coming soon.

 

FLASHBACK

 

“Kagome?” Her voice, although distant, would sweetly reach my ears.

 

“Hai, Okaa-san (mother)?” Kyo, Kirara and I would be trying to catch the few fireflies that were leaving with the first rays of the rising sun. Kirara was a small neko (cat) mononoke who my mother found on one of her travels around the land. Although Kirara was a mononoke, my mother saw no threat in her. The neko had been injured and was on the verge of death. My okaa-san healed her and from that day, they had been inseparable, fighting side by side.

 

“I will be leaving you soon and will not be coming back.” She turned to me and tried to smile.

 

In my innocence, I gave her the widest smile and raced to her side, hugging her as tightly as possible. “Can Kyo-nii-chan (brother) and I come with you? I love father but, I love you more.”

 

She gave a sincere laugh. She embraced me as tightly as my small body would allow. “I love you both very much. But where I go you cannot follow.”

 

Her gaze would sadden and she would look away again before saying, “Seek justice for the righteous. Bring hope to the faithless. Dedicate your life to your people and to protecting those who need it with the gifts that have been bestowed upon you.”

 

She paused again searching for words that my young mind could understand. “Promise me that you will never give your heart to a man that does not deserve it. And if by chance you should find a fortunate man that you both will fight for your love against all odds. Don't let my mistakes fall upon you, my beautiful hime (princess). Never give your heart away unless you are sure about his unfailing love for you, because in the end... that love is all that will save you. Promise me this and be brave for me.” The urgency of her statement would stun me.

 

I simply nodded, not knowing then that she was sealing my fate. She rose and began walking, leaving us alone in the garden. This would be one of the many times she would repeat this to me.

 

END OF FLASHBACK

 

My father's distraught gaze followed the pearl until he saw it fall in my hands. I thought I heard a faint gasp, although I'm not sure if it was from my father. He stood up and went to hug me. There was little time for me to investigate about this strange glass ball, when the cries and the smell of smoke reached me. Several guards came in and informed my father about intruders.

 

He called for Lana, my lady-in-waiting, and two of his most trusted guards. Picking me up, he thrusted me to Lana and commanded to them to take me to some monastery. He reached for a piece of parchment and wrote a message on it. Rolling the paper, he took off his ring and continued with his orders. Embracing me once more, he pushed us to the back of the palace.

 

I remember looking back as we escaped through the forest. The view of burning huts, the loud crashing of thunder and lightning and the flying arrows was something I never thought I would see as well as the heart-wrenching cries of the slaughtered villagers. What made me more scared was the fact that Kyo was not with my little party.

 

Lana's sobs were loud as she ran with me in her arms. I yelled at her to stop and go back for Kyo, but she would not listen. My cries were futile as I pulled and struggled for her to release me. So, seeing that I was not getting through her, I did the only thing my childish mind was sure would work.

 

I bit down on her ear.

 

She released me with a loud shriek. I fell hard, but the pain in my heart was bigger. I ran as fast as my little four-year old feet could take me. I made it as far as the temple gardens. What greeted me there was a most horrifying scene that would be forever engraved in my mind.

 

There, in the center of the garden, stood my injured father. To his left was a small child, bound, beaten and gagged. I didn't need to move any further to know it was my aniki (elder brother). My father was pressing his hand to his left ribcage as he reached with a trembling hand to give a bag to a man dressed in what I know now were ninja clothing. I cannot, for the life of me, remember many of the events that happened afterwards. But in two days following my mother's death and the attack on our city, my life would be thrown into a deeper, darker hole.

 

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