InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Learning from the Past ❯ There is no place like home ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything that has to do with Inuyasha, so please don't sue.

Chapter Two: There is no place like home

Landing softly on the dirt floor at the bottom of the well, Kagome looked up to see a clear blue sky above her. “Well, I'm finally back and getting no where fast just standing here in a well.” Grabbing the vines hanging down through the cracks in the well's side, she made her way to the top.

What greeted her at the top was one memory that she never forgot. The beauty of this era was always breath taking. Everything was alive with color and the air was free from the chemicals of the future. The trees lining the clearing were waving their velvet green leaves in the breeze and the meadow grass that was around the well was tickling her shins.

She loved this era, but hated it at the same time.

Slumping down next to the well, Kagome began to get apprehensive about this whole destiny thing. She knows that she must complete the quest of getting the jewel shards and to destroy Naraku. She knows that she must do this to save the people here but also to save the people in the future. She knows what must be done but why her. Blowing air out of her lungs ruffling her bangs, Kagome sat there looking at the meadow grass blowing back and forth with the breeze.

“Destiny”, was all that came out with her next breathe. Why couldn't she just forget? Why was she pulled down the well to begin with? Why her? She knew the answers to those stupid questions. She is the guardian of the Jewel of Four Souls. She is the only one that can protect it. She is the only one that can purify it. It was not only her destiny but her duty; the same duty that got her past life in trouble. But it wasn't just the duty, it was also him too.

But she couldn't forget about him, the way his breath would tickle her neck or the feel of his hands upon her skin. The way he would look at her with love and desire or the way he made her body feel like it has never felt before. He made her feel like she was the only thing in the world that he desired. The feelings of being wanted, needed, desired, and complete were the only things she had ever wanted from him.

But that all changed in the end. He became distant. He became cold. He became cruel. In the end she realized that she had been a replacement for what he truly wanted. That is when she became his whore. His play thing to tide him over, all for her.

Kikyo.

The tragic priestess that died protecting the Jewel of Four Souls. His first and only love. Her past self. Kagome shook her head at that thought. She should have known that after traveling with him for two years that she could never have his heart with Kikyo walking around like the living dead. Haunting him where ever he went and creeping into his every thought. Kagome should have known that she couldn't compete, but she loved him with all of her heart and soul. She still does even after all this time.

“Even if you still love him, you will never have him, Kagome. You need to move on like he did and complete this mission that you were destine for. It is not her destiny, it is yours Kagome. She had her chance and she chose her path. You still have a chance to right what was wronged.” Kagome said scolding herself with clenched fists. “Now get up and get moving.”

Standing and letting her Miko senses out of her in waves, Kagome checked the surrounding area for any kind of danger. Finding none, she picked up her backpack and began her trek to the village.

The forest was slowly re-taking the path from the well to the village back into its fold. `Seems like no one has been to the well in a very long time, I guess that no one had a reason to visit it. Gee, I wonder why' Kagome thought sarcastically to herself. Taking out her katana, Kagome made use of it to clear a better path for herself.

After a slow start through his forest, she finally made it to the rice fields outside of the village. The village women and some of the men were working in the fields as she pasted. Pretty soon she began to hear hushed whispers from them. She mentally flinched as they referred to her as Kikyo's reincarnation and that she has returned to protect the village. Nodding to them politely but not making eye contact, she continued to her destination.

Keade's hut.

She will let Keade tell them that she has not retuned to be their savior.

Standing outside of Keade's hut, Kagome let her powers flare for a second to see if the old woman has gone soft in her years. No sooner had she rained her powers in, Kaede swept the flap from the door way like a bat out of hell.

“Kagome?” said the old woman as she eyed Kagome with her good eye. “Ye have finally come back.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Yes, Keade, I have come back.” Stated Kagome. “I have come to complete what I had started years ago.” Keade moved aside in a silent gesture to let Kagome enter into the hut.

“Tea is made, would ye like me to prepare a cup for ye?” Keade said as she moved to the fire pit and slowly sat down.

Taking a seat across from Keade, Kagome replied “Yes, that would be wonderful. I have missed your tea, Keade. It has been along time since I've had tea as good as yours.”

Narrowing her good eye, Kaede studied the young girl in front of her. Well not so much a girl any more. Kaede could not believe that the young woman before her was the same Kagome that she met for the first time four years ago. She has grown to be a beautiful young woman and yet her eyes don't hold the innocents that was once there. Keade hated to think this way, but the young woman that Kagome has become makes her look so much more like her dead sister, but yet so much different at the same time.

“Ye have improved your powers since the last I saw of you.” She said hoping to get some much needed information from the young woman.

“Yes, I have trained to become a true Miko from a shrine in my time. I have learned great things that I thought that I could never learn.” Kagome said blowing on her tea to cool it, but not looking at Keade.

“How is it that ye can conceal your power, I cannot feel it as we sit here? I know no such spell that can do that. It is like ye are just a regular woman and not a great Miko.” Again trying to get some answers, Keade asked the young woman.

Not wanting to answer her at this time, Kagome changed the subject to why she was here. “Has there been news of Naraku's whereabouts? I know that he still has not been destroyed. Even through the time slip, the jewel shards still call to me and tell me that he still has most of them.”

Surprised at Kagome's last comment, Keade searched her memory of any recollection that Kagome could do that before. The only memory came to mind is when Inuyasha made Kagome go back to her time and taking the jewel shards from her. She had said that she could feel the shards calling to her and that Inuyasha was in danger. Keade had never put two and two together that the jewel, whole or in pieces, could communicate to Kagome. Kagome did house the jewel for many years within her body after all.

“But how did ye get to this side of the well without a shard of the Jewel?” Keade asked as she looked to Kagome with her good eye. Said girl was not looking her way but staring into the fire pit.

Sighing to herself, Keade knew right then and there that Kagome was not going to answer her questions. “The others just left this morning on a rumor that a large amount of evil demonic energy that just appeared out of no where as been felt north of here. It has been slow moving for the group since there was no one here to sense the shards of the jewel. They have had to rely on rumors. It seems that Naraku has been in hiding for the last year or so.”

Mentally shocked but not showing it. “What about Kikyo? She should be able to sense the shards like me. After all I am her reincarnation, right?” Finally looking at Keade, she asks.

“Kikyo has never been able to sense the jewel shards like ye, Kagome. She is just a shell of what she was. Her resurrection has cost her much. Aye, ye maybe her reincarnation, but ye are also more than that. Ye are the protector of the jewel; I think that the jewel and ye are meant to be one.” Keade stated, not breaking eye contact with the young woman in front of her.

“One? So, you are saying that is the reason that I can sense the shards.” Kagome said more to herself than to Keade.

“Aye but not just for the fact that ye can sense the shards. Will ye be joining up with the others then?” Kagome flinched at that question. Keade saw Kagome's reaction but knowing better than to ask why. “They will need ye help in destroying Naraku.”

“I know what I must do, but I'm not sure if I will be joining up with them. That is something that I don't think that I could do and keep my mind on my task. There is so much that you do not know why I left, Keade, and I'm not willing to talk about it.” Breaking eye contact with the old woman, Kagome stood “I have gotten the information that I needed and now must be going. It was nice seeing you again and I am glad that time has been good with you.”

Watching as the young woman walk out of the hut, Keade whispered “May Kami watch over ye, Kagome, and help ye in the task at hand. But most of all learn to trust in ye-self.”

Kagome stopped in a clearing just off the road that she was traveling on. She had walked at a steady pace since leaving the village, only setting up camp at night. Since the sun was beginning to set in the West, she decided that is was no time like the present to stop for the day. After getting her small camp set up with a fire going, she decided to go hunt for dinner. `Hunt for dinner. If the others could see me now, they would probably all keel over with shock.' Kagome chuckled to herself after that thought then suddenly frowned. `He was right……I was pathetic and useless after all.'

Kagome shook her head from her thoughts of the past. “That is over and done with. Time to look ahead.” Smiling a soft smile to herself, she left her camp to go and catch dinner.

Catching a small rabbit and giving a prayer for its sacrifice, she settled down in front of the fire to begin preparing it.

While the rabbit meat was cooking, she thought about the last two days of travel and that she had made good time. She could sense with her Miko powers that she was not far from her old companions. Maybe at the pace that she was going, she could come upon them by mid-afternoon tomorrow.

Then she soon chided herself for making good time. She didn't know if she wanted to see them so soon. Well, not so much Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kilala, but she didn't know if she was ready to see him and her. Kagome knew that she was with the group. Keade said as much when she was talking about the jewel shards.

“Damn it, Kagome, stop thinking on the past that you can't change and start thinking of the future that you can.” Scolding herself while taking her meal off the fire. “You will be no better than her if you keep dwelling on the past for gods' sake.” Deciding not to talk to herself any more and getting down to business of eating her much needed dinner, Kagome downed the rabbit meat and some instant rice in record time.

Yawning and stretching after she awoke before sun rise. Kagome thought that sleeping out under the stars in this era was the best thing besides sleeping in her own bed. She felt that the stars watched over her as she slept, keeping her out of harms way. That they were her own personal little guardians put there just for her safety alone.

With a new resolve and a meager meal of left over dinner for breakfast, she doused the fire and cleaned up her small camp site. Making sure she left no trace of herself she again began her trek in the direction of her old companions.

As the morning waned on nothing much happened to Kagome as she pushed forward to her destination. Just a few minor demons giving their usual request for her to hand over the jewel shards that she has or wanting to eat her for a morning snack. Like she was a helpless female alone in the wilderness, she showed them. Never breaking a sweat, taking them out was just a quick exercise for her.

She found herself getting closer to them as the sun shined upon her from over head indicating that it was mid-day. Coming to a top of a hill that looked down on a meadow, she heard the distinct sound of a fight and of course a lot of swearing from a certain hanyou.

Thanking the gods that she was down wind of the fight, she took in the scene before her. She didn't want him to know that she was there....yet. Miroku was lying on the ground and looking hurt pretty bad. Sango was at his side trying to help him. Shippo was trying to protect them with his fox fire from the attacking poisonous insects that were Naraku's trademark. But as far as she could tell Naraku wasn't there.

It seemed to her that this was another attempt on Naraku's part to use his shards to obtain the shards that Inuyasha's group carries. The demon in question stood in an attack stance fifty feet from where Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were. He, Kagome guessed on its gender, was good sized and looked to be part lizard. The demons body was covered in scales that gleamed in the sun light and was putting up a pretty good fight.

Front and center was Inuyasha, to Kagome he looked like he was trying to slash at the demon with Tessaiga but wasn't doing any good. Swearing up a storm, Inuyasha was not backing down. She guessed that he couldn't use one of the swords attacks because he might hit the others. At lease he still cared for them. Kagome's eyes soften for a moment while she studied Inuyasha fighting the demon. He was still as beautiful as she remembered. As she watched, she felt the familiar pain that she suppressed so long ago resurface once again in her heart. Gods, she still loved him.

Suppressing that feeling again deep down inside of her, Kagome looked for Kikyo. `Where in the hell is Kikyo? Shouldn't she be helping with the fight?' Kagome thought as she scanned the area. Then Kagome found her, she was standing away from the fight and the others. She wasn't doing a thing but just standing there. No bow drawn to help Inuyasha or to defend herself. Not even helping Sango with Miroku's injuries.

“What a self centered bitch.” Kagome seethed through her teeth as she drew out her katana. She will end this battle and obtain the tainted jewel shard from the demon since no one else seems competent enough.

Just as she was about to leave her spot on the hill, Kagome heard Inuyasha asking Kikyo where the shard was. Stopping herself to hear Kikyo's answer, Kagome waited. “It is in its neck, Inuyasha.” Kikyo stated. `What a lie.' thought Kagome as she resumed her descent to fight. `Stupid bitch can't even tell him the truth that she can't sense the shards. It's in the demon's forehead you idiot.'

Walking past the dead priestess, Kagome charged her katana with her Miko powers and attacked just as Inuyasha dodged a swipe from the demon. The demon not expecting the attack, howled in pain but instantly silenced itself as Kagome's katana sliced the top of its head off. The body of the demon just stood there like it was never hit. Then as gravity started to take its toll on the lifeless body, Kagome grabbed the jewel shard as it started to fall with the ashed remains of the demon's head that held it captive.

Landing gracefully on her feet, Kagome turned to Inuyasha “If you can't fight, get out of the way for others who can.” She then proceeded to walk up to the dead priestess, Kikyo, leaving Inuyasha frozen in shock. Kikyo just stood there and smirked. “So my reincarnation has returned to beg for a place within the group. You're pathetic to think that we would let a weak, little girl like you back.”

Kagome let her have her little speech before calling the five shards in Kikyo's possession to her. Kagome felt no resistance from the shards, they obeyed her request and seemed to be happy as they left the possession of the dead Miko. As the shards floated to Kagome, she noticed that the shards were not purified but still tainted with evil. `So, the dead bitch can't purify them either.' Once the shards came into contact with Kagome's hand, they were instantly purified.

Kagome gave her own smirk to the dead priestess when she heard the gasp come from Kikyo's lips “Correction, you are the pathetic one. You have no right to try and protect the shards. Your obligation to the jewel died along with you fifty-four years ago.” Kagome then placed the shards with the one that she had kept into the leather pouch hanging around her neck.

Turning toward the others, Kagome walked away from Inuyasha and Kikyo's shocked forms “I also know your little secret, Kikyo.”

“Kagome?” was all she heard come from Inuyasha who was still in shock at the appearance of Kagome.

Hearing a shriek of excitement and frantic yell of “Kagome!!” Sango looked up from the wounded Monk to see a vision that she never thought she'd see again. There stood Kagome with a fur ball firmly attached to her stomach. Sango shook her head to clear the mirage from her mind, but it wouldn't go away. Kagome was still standing there, but this time she was setting the fur ball, known as Shippo, down.

“Yes, Shippo, it is me. I'm very happy to see you too, but I must help Sango with Miroku's wounds.” Kagome said to the still clinging kit as she tried to make her way over to Sango.

“Oh, okay. ButIhavemissedyousomuchandIjustwanttomakesurethatyouarereal!” Shippo stated so fast that even Sango had a hard time registering what he had said.

“Kagome, is that really you?” finally coming out of her dazed, Sango rose to her feet. “Have you returned to us after all this time?”

“I have returned, but first I must help Miroku before we have a reunion, okay?” Kagome kneeled down beside the Monk “I think that I can heal these wounds, so he can rest and regain what blood that he has lost.”

Sango watched as Kagome placed her hands upon Miroku's chest wounds and closed her eyes. A faint blue light began to form around Kagome's hands, then the light started to get brighter and brighter. Soon Sango had to shield her eyes from the light, but not for long. In a flash the light was gone and a groan was heard from the Monk. Sango looked down at the wounds that were suppose to be there but they had vanished.

“How? How did you do that, Kagome?” Sango asked with a look of amazement on her face as she knelt down to inspect the wounds that were not there anymore.

Coming up next to Sango, Shippo also looked for the wounds “Wow, where did they go?”

“I've learned a few tricks in my own time since I've been gone. I think that he should be okay now. All he needs is sometime to rest.” Rising to her feet with a smile on her face, Kagome said.

In an instant Sango was on her feet hugging her sister/best friend like she would vanish in thin air. She couldn't believe that Kagome was here. Sango felt the last two years of pain for loosing her sister/best friend rise up into her throat at once. Choking back a sob of grief and happiness, Sango released her friend from her embrace and looked at the girl in front of her. `Oh my, this is not a girl. She has grown into a young woman.'

“Kagome, you have grown up. Look at you. You are beautiful. We will have to keep that Monk away from you when he gets better.” Sango said kicking the said Monk gently in the leg.

“Oh, stop, Sango, you are too kind. I don't look that much different. You all recognized me just fine.” Blushing a little at Sango's comment. `I know that I have changed, but did I change that much?' The sound of sniffling brought Kagome back to her surroundings.

Looking down, she found a small kitsune dragging a small foot across the ground waiting to be noticed.

“Come here, Shippo.” Barely getting the words out of her mouth, Kagome found the kitsune in her arms. His arms tightly around her neck with a death grip hugging her. “Hey, you have to let me breath, Shippo-chan, or else I won't be here much longer.”

Laughing, Sango let the moment between the two soak into her mind forming a memory, when like the saying says `all good things must come to an end' growling was heard.

“Give Kiyko back the shards, you stupid wench!” Inuyasha growled out from behind Kagome. “Who the hell do you think you are? Give them back!”

Sango watched as Shippo trembled in Kagome's arms, but the look on Kagome's face was priceless. Kagome was smirking like a kid playing a prank on an older sibling. Without looking at the fuming Hanyou, she spoke “So, you finally got your tongue back, Inuyasha.”

“Keh, you heard me. Give Kikyo the shards back or you will be sorry!” the fuming hanyou said as he came up behind her.

Kagome handed Shippo over to Sango and slowly faced Inuyasha “Like I told Kikyo. The shards are my responsibility not hers. I am the Protector of the Jewel of Four Souls and it is my responsibility to complete the jewel at what ever cost.”

Sango could tell by the look on Inuyasha's face that he was not going to back down “Like I said before, you are nothing but a weak, defenseless, little girl. You can't protect the shards like Kikyo or I can. So, give them up.”

Smiling a scary smile that could freeze the Nine Hells, Kagome walked up to Inuyasha. Inuyasha just stood there smirking like he was king waiting for Kagome to give him the shards. Sango watched as Kagome placed her right hand flat against Inuyasha's chest. “Don't get too cocky, Inuyasha, but your right I can't protect the shards like you or Kikyo.” Just then a flash of blue light forced its way out of Kagome's hand and knocked Inuyasha a good ten feet from her.

“I can protect them better.” Turning from him, Kagome once again took Shippo into her arms. She then looked at Sango and smiled a true smile. “Watch yourself, Inuyasha, anger me and I will purify your ass straight to one of the Nine Hells without your precious Kikyo.”

Sango couldn't believe her ears. Kagome just stood her ground with the rash, arrogant, self-centered hanyou. She watched Inuyasha get up fuming at Kagome; she thought he was going to attack her from behind. But as soon as that thought crossed her mind, said hanyou turned tail and jumped off into the tree line without the dead priestess.

Kikyo stood there for a second with her stoic face looking at Kagome. Then she slowly turned to the direction that Inuyasha took of to and walked gracefully away. She stopped at the forest edge and glanced in Kagome's direction once again, “Don't think this is the end of this. I will have those shards in my possession again.” With that said, Kikyo disappeared into the forest.

“Kagome, are you alright?” Turning her eyes back to her friend. “You know what, Sango? I'm right as rain. I can't believe that I just did that, but it felt....it felt exhilarating!” Kagome said, twirling Shippo high above her head.

Stopping as suddenly as she started, Kagome look at her then at Shippo with sad eyes “I'm so sorry, you guys, for leaving like I did. And I'm also sorry for staying away for so long. I just had to leave when I did and get some things straightened out for myself”

“We don't know why you left, but we understand. Once Inuyasha brought Kikyo back to the village and you didn't return. We understood.” Sango said as she walked up to Kagome for another hug. Just then there was another groan from the Monk.

“Oh, I guess that we should take care of him. Kilala do you mind carrying the Monk until we find a good place to camp?” Meowing a soft reply at Sango's request, Kilala transformed into her super sized self and waited for the weight of the Monk to be placed upon her back.

Kagome gave Kilala an appreciative scratch behind her ears “Thank you, Kilala.” Then the two women maneuvered themselves to pick up the Monk and get him on the fire cat's back. Once that task was finished, Shippo placed himself at the base of Kilala's neck to make sure the Monk didn't fall off.

“Where too?” Kagome asked Sango “I heard that you were heading to the north on a rumor about Naraku.”

“That is all that Inuyasha would tell us. He has been very secretive since you left in giving us information. I guess that we should still head that way anyway.” She said to Kagome as they began to walk to the north.

“Why did you and Miroku stay with him, if he was acting so untrustworthy?” Looking toward the sky, so not to make eye contact with her.

Sango sighed looking out over the meadow “I guess that we knew that we could not defeat Naraku with out him. We knew that he still wanted revenge on Naraku, so we felt that we could still trust him on that.”

Shrugging her shoulders, Kagome looked at her again “I guess that was a good enough reason as any. The goal of defeating Naraku is on all of our shoulders.”

“You know that he will follow us.” Sango said looking ahead once again. “He will want to get the shards or the completed Jewel from you.”

“I expect him too.” Was all Kagome said as they continued their search for a suitable place to let the Monk rest.

Please review