InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Don't Promises Last Forever? ❯ Memories and Late Night Jogs ( Chapter 21 )

Memories and Late Night Jogs

"You know, Shippo, I think you're actually getting better!" Kagome stated. She had been at Kaede's for four days now. And the two of them averaged at least four hours of jogging. Daily.

"I -wheeze- think -pant- so -violent exhale- too -pant-!"

"You wanna try for an extra hour?" Kagome teased, stopping to jog in place so her friend could catch his breath.

"Ha ha. How about…not." Shippo replied, hands on his knees and doubled over from trying to catch his breath.

"Agh, fine. I'll train more with Kaede."

"Do that all you want. Just not on my watch!"

Kagome shoved Shippo playfully. "Come on, you lazy slowpoke. You can have my snack. We only have a half hour of jogging left." She then jogged off.

"That's another half hour of torture! But fine, I'll eat your snack!" he called after her, now running to catch up to her. When he did, they stayed at a steady pace for a few minutes, running through the forest behind Kaede's hut and training area.

"So, do you know exactly where we are…like what town we're in or anything?" Kagome asked, curiously. She wanted to know how to get back here.

"I've never left Kaede's side. And she's never left her home. So, no. And now that I think about it, out of all the people I've seen Kaede train, I've never actually met a really powerful miko, like you are. Most of the people that Kaede trains do not have like, a real power like you do, they simply learn how to make use of wards and stuff like that. I think your own power could act as the wards the other mikos learn. I mean, you scared me pretty bad on the first night. I felt like one wrong move and the gods were going to strike me dead, but slowly and painfully. It was terrifying."

They continued to jog on as Kagome contemplated this. "Shippo, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Do you think anyone would be interested in powers like I have? Or like, would want to use me to get to them?"

Shippo stopped abruptly, and appeared to be in truly deep thought. He sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

"Kagome, I think I have the answer to your question, but I'm unable to speak it. How well can you control your powers?" he asked, very seriously.

"Well enough that I don't think I can kill you…accidentally."

Shippo's eyes shot open at this. "That's comforting."

"Isn't it?"

"Well, Kaede says those mikos with a lot of power have the ability to see another person's memories. It allows them to aid in removing pain from people…as if they share their pain with another. It can occur if the other person allows it, or if the other person wants to see the miko's memories for some reason. I wanted to show you something, but not today. The seventh one, maybe. You should be able to focus yourself better at that point, unless Kaede trains you in it before then." He closed his eyes again, and laid back.

"Kagome, I think you're really cool. You've been so nice to me, like you've known me forever. Most people who come to study with Kaede don't pay any attention to me, like I'm not even there. But you're not like that."

As he was talking, he was staring at the clouds passing overhead. Kagome was in the same position.

"Well, you're a cool kid. And I love your tail! But seriously, some people are selfish and only think about themselves. But I've learned that people need others to lean on and depend on. No one can make it totally alone. My old teacher shared a bit of wisdom with me when I was younger. He said, `In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?' I nodded at him and then he whispered to me, `But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well.' I understood what he was saying then, and took it to heart. And I figured, the least I can do to ease the pain in the world is to be a good friend, ya know? Be one of those people that others can depend on." She turned to look at the boy.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Hey -" she pointed at a cloud passing overhead. "-what do you think that cloud looks like?"

"Hm…I see…a fish." He answered with finality in his tone.

"Really? I see a plane. But yeah, I can see where you get a fish."

"Mmm…" was Shippo's only response. He was too busy daydreaming.

"Shippo, we really should get going. Kaede will want to start my training for today. I have an extra hour and a half…arg." She said, playing the voice of reason. These training sessions totaling over eight hours a day was starting to wear on her.

"Mm…'kay." They both got up and decided to do a quick walk back to the hut.

~*~

"Kagome! Focus! If ye can just master this technique, then we can rest for today." Kaede's voice called. She was in a bit of a trance.

They were working on the memory-reading technique Shippo had mentioned earlier. Supposedly, not only was this good for healing, but it calmed the miko aura as well, once learned. It was a technique used to harness energy, as Kaede put it. But it was hard. Really hard. Kagome wondered what the next week and a half entailed if this was what Kaede called the `easy stuff.'

"Ok. Here." She placed the old miko's hands on her own temples, and put her hands over the soft back of Kaede's hands. "Ready?" Kagome asked, a little bit shakily. She was tired, and was hurting a lot from the strain of the exercise.

"When ye are." Kaede replied, confidently.

Kagome allowed her energy to flow from her body, as she chose the memory she wanted to share with Kaede.

And eerie glow started to surround the pair, and Kagome focused as she replayed a memory of her and Sota and her mother all together in her mind. Without her stepfather. She brought it all the way to the very tips of her consciousness, reliving it.

It wasn't really anything special to the average person, but to Kagome, it was certainly precious. Her and Sota were playing on a mini-playground in one of Kagome's older homes, and she and her brother were trying to find a good place to hide while their mother counted. They were playing tag/hide-and-go-seek with their mom. While reliving this memory, she felt this feeling of pure happiness, like she had felt when she was younger while she was playing, not worrying about anything except whether or not she'd be the next person `it'.

She saw her mom come closer, closer, closer, before shouting `Aha! Found you!' and tagging Kagome, who hadn't been able to escape. They came out together, laughing merrily, while Sota came from behind and jumped on Kagome's back, knocking both of them to the ground. It ended with her mom hugging her and her brother tightly with a big smile on her face, before leaving to go hide and wait for Kagome to finish counting and come get her.

Kagome removed her hands from her mentor's, who, in turn removed them from her temples. She regarded the young girl with compassion, saying, "Wow, Kagome. Ye really were happy back then."

Kagome realized she had been crying a bit when she sniffled before answering. "Yeah. I miss the old days. Things were so much simpler…and easier, on all of us…"

Kaede looked at her softly. "Well, ye've got this down, it seems. Ye were able to share a pretty significant memory with me, while ye also experienced emotion, which can clog up yer abilities. May I suggest ye share that memory with Shippo as well, if ye'd like. I'm sure he'd appreciate it. For now, meditate a bit. Allow yer mind and spirit to relax. They've been through a lot." She smiled sympathetically.

"Ok. And thank you Kaede." She gave the lady a heart-warming hug before she got up to leave.

Kaede returned the embrace, albeit a bit shocked. "Don't mention it, dear. It's been a while since I've had the privilege of teaching someone as skilled as you."

"Thanks." And with that, Kaede left Kagome to her meditation.

~*~

Later that evening, around midnight, Kagome decided she wanted to go for a short run. She wanted to think. Kagome had shared her memory with Shippo, who appreciated it as much as Kaede had said he would, (which was a really freaking lot) if not more. Shippo had said he was really happy to see her so content with her life, because he had never seen her like that in the few days he knew her.

He also shared with her a memory of his own, him with his parents as a really young kit, maybe only five or six. He told her that he had lost his parents when he was younger. When he wanted to show her this memory, she had taught him the method he needed to use to access it, and before he could guess he found himself reliving it for her, and she found herself smiling at it uncontrollably. She had felt the happiness and hope in the boy as she watched the `memory' unfold itself.

But now, she needed to think. About something. What it was, she didn't really know. But alone time was definitely in order.

As she jogged lightly through the forest, she had allowed herself to relax, enjoying the sounds of the crickets or the silent fluttering of bats overhead. It was calming.

She was so wrapped up in the feeling of serenity the forest gave her that she didn't notice the wind picking up, or even the elegant woman that had miraculously materialized in front of her.

"Oof!" Kagome ran right into the woman, stumbling backwards and then falling on her butt.

"Ah, Kagome. So we finally meet." She said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here? And how do you know who I am?!?" Kagome demanded, quickly getting to her feet and taking a defensive stance.

The woman was, much to Kagome's demise, quite pretty, although she did have an evil feeling about her. Her bright magenta eyes and shining black hair pulled into an elegant bun, along with the traditional kimono she as wearing made her seem very superior.

"I am Kagura. I have been sent here. And I just…do." Kagura stated clearly. She then looked down to brush some invisible dirt off her kimono. "I have come back for you, Kagome. Now, will you be coming quietly, or shall you be making this difficult?"

Kagura pulled out her fan, and opened it, waving it once, making a gust of wind rush past both of them.

"Bitch! What do you want from me?"

"Me? I just do what I'm told. However…"

Kagome's life power surged around her in an effort to protect her, although Kagome wasn't sure how much it would do. She had only started learning how to use her bow and arrow, but then, she hadn't brought them with her. Who would have thought she was going to be attacked while running through a secluded forest at midnight? It seemed this was her only option.

"However, you seem to be in great want with my master. So, I shall be taking you to him. Come quietly, and I promise your friend Sango won't be harmed." Kagura threatened, grinning wickedly.

Even though Kagome had no proof, she could tell this bitch wasn't kidding. However, her own safety was at stake. Thinking quickly, she replied. "Fine, Kagura, I will do as you say." Her spirit backed down enough that Kagura could approach her, but not completely.

"And I'd take that barrier down, if I were you. Naraku doesn't like resistance, although, with you, I would be surprised as to what he'd do with you." She said, pulling out a feather from her hair.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Kagome asked, skeptical. She really wasn't paying any attention to the woman, but needed to get out of there. Fast.

"Nothing. Now get on." Kagura demanded.

Kagome hesitated. "No." she stated, and then deftly turned and ran. Kagura's voice echoed behind her.

"You really do make things hard."

As Kagome ran, two men jumped out from the bushes. She ground to a halt and tried to find another way out, but seeing there was no other path, she quickly turned right and started off into the underbrush.

"Get her!" Kagura's voice boomed, obviously annoyed that the two oafs that were in her command were of no help whatsoever.

Kagome's mind was racing, trying to think of the best way out of this. She couldn't go back to the hut. She wanted Kaede and Shippo out of danger. Most especially Shippo.

She had no clue where she actually was, either, so she couldn't break for it either. She had only one option left, it seemed.

Run until she couldn't run anymore.

`I can do this,' she thought, breaking through bushes and branches. She was getting cut all over the place, but she didn't care. She hard them not far behind her. And they seemed to be getting closer. `Running and…just breathe. Just like training. Push yourself as far as you can. And then just a bit further……' She kept repeating this to herself, trying to keep herself from slipping and dooming herself to a horrible fate. Not that she knew what it was, but still.

She saw a relatively low branch hanging as she ran, so she grabbed for it and whipped herself up around it. And started climbing as quietly as possible.

Once she thought she was high enough, she took a quiet, deep breath and started to think. Underneath her, she could hear her pursuers pass underneath her, buying her some peace. For the moment, at least.

`You know, a few weeks ago, my life was actually normal. I don't get it. What is it with me and trouble?'she asked herself.

She heard a rustling of leaves behind her. She looked around worriedly, but then saw a blur of silver pass her. She watched as it went forward for about three more yards, then stop and back up.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked as he came to her.

"SHHH!!!" She jumped on him and covered his mouth.

"What is it?" he asked, whispering.

"This bitch, Kagura, came to me while I went for a jog and wanted me to see this guy, Naraku. I ran for it, but these guys chased me, which is why I'm up here."

"Aha! Hiten! She's up here! I hear her!" A voice called.

"Nice. And she said she could be our reward." A second voice sounded.

"I found her. I get first. And she looked even better than Rin." The first one said, greed and want edging his voice.

Inuyasha looked at the frightened Kagome, and then to the pair of climbing men. A low growl sounded from deep in his chest.

"Get on my back!" Inuyasha whispered harshly.

She nodded, and did. He raced off.

Once they got out of the forest, Inuyasha spoke. "You're staying with me tonight. You'll go back tomorrow. You've got some explaining to do. And I think it's time you met Sesshomaru."

She gasped. She knew that name. He was Lord of the Western Lands. Surely he wasn't still around?! And related to Inuyasha? How could that be?!? She didn't think everything as far as the demon world that Sango had spent so much time learning about could be still around. How she had thought wrong. `Oh, this bites.' She thought. `Hard.'

She snuggled into Inuyasha's back, enjoying being so close to him and thankful for the ride, basking in the comfort that was soon to be torn from her.