InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 16

Love Thy Enemy

 

Once again, as with Inuyasha, numerous flashbacks here to fill in the gaps in Kagome's character history. But otherwise, this chapter is a bit shorter. All the same, enjoy!

 

Chapter 16

 

Twilight covered the training grounds moments before dawn. The shadows cast by the racks of bows, weapons and benches cast an aura of gloom over the area. In the center of the training ground, hands straight at her sides, Kagome held her eyes closed. On the horizon, the sun rose over the hills. As the sun washed over her face, Kagome spun and opened her eyes, and lifted her hands into the air.

 

With practiced ease and steady breaths, Kagome punch, swept, jabbed and kicked the air, the movements of the Goju-ryu kata executing one after the other. The form-fitting leotard she was wearing allowed her to follow the moves easily.

 

“Visualize the movements. Remain calm,” Kagome recited in her mind, closely her eyes as she continued the kata. “It is as father taught me, keep your wits about and don't panic, no matter how intense the battle.”

 

“It's way too cold to be training out there,” Tsubaki muttered, watching Kagome from a balcony in the barracks. “Does she want to get sick?”

 

“Let her be,” Kikyo ordered from the desk. Tsubaki turned from the balcony in Kikyo's office as the senior miko read over a piece of paperwork. “Kagome does that from time to time. It helps her focus before a mission.”

 

“And does she have a mission?” Tsubaki asked.

 

“No, but all the same,” Kikyo explained. “She shoulders a greater burden than you realize, Tsubaki. Do not be so quick to judge her. Kagome has the blood of a warrior in her veins.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Lady Itoshi, a pleasure.”

 

Kikyo looked up at the handsome, clean-cut man lifted her mother's hand to his lips. The military dinner party was in full-swing, an orchestra playing in the corner and people dancing on the ballroom floor. Kikyo hadn't wanted to come, but her mother had insisted.

 

“Likewise sir,” Naomi Itoshi smiled, drawing her hand back. “Congratulations on the promotion, Lieutenant Higurashi. Excuse me, Captain Higurashi, I meant.”

 

“Naomi, I've warned you about this before, haven't I? Regardless of rank, I am, and shall always be, Ichiro to you.”

 

“Of course, my apologies,” Naomi bowed as Ichiro crossed his arms and smiled. He looked down at Kikyo.

 

“And who is this?” Ichiro asked.

 

“I believe you know of her, Ichiro,” Naomi said, smiling down at Kikyo. “My daughter, Kikyo.”

 

“Ah, you're Kikyo,” Ichiro nodded, kneeling down. “Your mother tells me you're already putting up barriers and enchanting arrows. Not bad for a kid.”

 

“Well, I can do this,” Kikyo said shyly, holding out a hand. Ichiro watched as a light pink aura appeared shimmering over Kikyo's palm.

 

“We all somewhere, kid,” Ichiro chuckled. “Seriously, that's pretty good for someone your age, most miko can't even access their powers until they hit puberty. Nice work.”

 

“She hopes to join the forces, someday,” Naomi said, patting Kikyo on the head. “With skills showing at this age, she'll likely become one of the top mikos in her squadron.”

 

Ichiro's face clouded, and he looked around.

 

“Naomi, come with me please. I have to speak to you,” he whispered, gesturing to the doors to the hall. Naomi nodded.

 

“Kikyo, honey, go to our table okay?” she said. Kikyo nodded and walked towards the table she and her mother were sitting at. She turned back as Ichiro led Naomi out of the ballroom. Kikyo carefully snuck after the two adults and followed them out of the room. The two slipped into a sitting room, shutting the door behind them. Kikyo crept up to the door and pressed her eye to the keyhole.

 

“Ichiro, what is it?” Naomi asked, concerned.

 

“I need your help,” Ichiro confessed, sitting down in a chair next to a large coffee table. Naomi sat on the sofa on the other side of the table. “I had my daughter tested today.”

 

“Kagome? What were the results?” Naomi asked, leaning forward.

 

“She scored a seven-point-five,” Ichiro sighed, looking at the floor.

 

“That's excellent! Kikyo scored an eight-point-two,” Naomi smiled. “Your daughter will make a fine miko, Ichiro.” Outside, Kikyo tried to figure out what they meant. Her mother had taken her to some sort of special clinic a few months ago. There had been a lot of questions, tests like in school, doctors and other people there, needles. All she really understood was that at the end of it all, the people told her mother she scored an `eight-point-two'. Naomi explained that this meant in time, Kikyo would be a powerful miko.

 

“I know, that is what concerns me,” Ichiro said fiercely. “I am not like you, Naomi. You are a tactician and a researcher. I am a soldier. It is easy for you to wish your daughter to follow the path you took. I wish I could say the same.”

 

“Is that what bothers you? Kagome will seek to follow you and join the miko army?” Naomi asked.

 

“It is easy now, Naomi. I see action two or three times a year, simple rebellions and guerrilla squadrons in far-off countries. But you've heard the rumors. They say within ten years, we could be on the edge of another miko-youkai war. Dealing with humans with guns is one thing, Naomi, but the youkai? What if Kagome joins the miko army and she is thrown into war with them?”

 

“So, it is true, then,” Naomi sighed, thinking silently.

 

“Naomi, you know me. I am proud and honored to protect the helpless and the innocent from oppressors and murderers. But I would not wish the same things I have seen and done on Kagome. She is a child, she's no place on a battlefield!”

 

“And when she is a young woman?”

 

“My stance will remain the same. I go to battle and risk my life for others, but I cannot and will not expect the same of Kagome.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Hmph, well, seems like her old man didn't get his wish,” Tsubaki snorted. “Whatever happened to him anyway?”

 

“The last I heard, he was killed in combat, a bomb planted on a transport ship,” Kikyo said, finishing up her paperwork. “Kagome was informed of his passing shortly after joining our forces.”

 

“Ouch. How'd she take it?”

 

“Well enough, I suppose. She was distraught, of course. But come to think of it, I don't…” Kikyo frowned as she thought. “I've never really seen her cry about it…strange.”

 

“Maybe there weren't as close as father and daughter ought to be?” Tsubaki said.

 

“Oh no, they loved each other. Just, if what my mother tells me is true, they never quite saw eye to eye.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“So what if he's a hanyou, I like him and I'm moving in with him!” Kagome shouted. Ichiro groaned and rubbed his temples, sitting on the sofa in the living room of their apartment.

 

“I'm happy you found someone, Kagome, but a hanyou, of all beings? Especially in this time? Really, I had thought you smarter than that,” he lectured. “Do you even realize what you're getting into?”

 

“I knew you weren't perfect dad, but I never figured you'd react like this,” Kagome said, disgusted.

 

“I have nothing against youkai or hanyou, you know that!” Ichiro protested, standing up from the sofa. “But Kagome, please understand. War is brewing again, within a year's time we could be facing a war between youkai and miko like the Sengoku Jidai! Do you remember studying that, I know you do. Do you want to be with someone like that in such a time?”

 

“That's my decision to make,” Kagome snapped, crossing her arms. “Dad, I'm going to be with Inuyasha. You can't stop that.”

 

“And what if he joins the youkai forces during the war? Do you have any idea what could happen to you, to him?”

 

“He won't join the youkai, he hates them. He's said so himself.”

 

“And what if you join the miko, the same will happen! Kagome, pursuing a relationship with Inuyasha will ultimately ostracize you from the miko, and you know in a war you could never be accepted by the youkai. And the humans, you know what a relationship like this will look like. Do you want to be an outcast from all three sects of society? And for what, a summer fling, puppy love?”

 

“Is that what you think this is?” Kagome asked darkly, narrowing her eyes.

 

“Kagome, I know you care for him. But you're still young, you don't understand love fully yet. True love, when you find it, is worth sacrificing everything for. But you're about to sacrifice so much for little more than a crush.”

 

“So I can't pursue a relationship then? How about I just do what you did, join the army, kill a bunch of youkai and meet someone there?”

 

“You know that's exactly the opposite of what happened!” Ichiro roared. Kagome had crossed the line, now. She hadn't known her mother, but Ichiro had made sure Kagome knew the woman was virtuous and gentle.

 

“Is it? Admit it, you want me to join up the army, take part in the war and kill youkai, just like she did, just like you did!” Kagome said. Ichiro's face fell.

 

“Kill youkai…is that what you think I do? What your mother did?” he whispered.

 

“Isn't it?”

 

“Kagome…” Ichiro sat down and closed his eyes. “It hasn't always been easy raising you alone. But I have always done my best to raise you to have morals, respect, dignity and honor. Never before today have I questioned my success, but now…I never thought to hear such a thing coming from you.” Ichiro stood up. “Go, then, Kagome. Pursue the path you wish to take, I'll not stand in your way.”

 

“Fine,” Kagome nodded, grabbing her coat from the back of her chair and stepping towards the door.

 

“Kagome,” Ichiro called, looking over his shoulder. Kagome stilled at the half-opened door. “Your mother and I fought side by side in battle many times, defending each other. Yes, we killed youkai. But it was never about killing, ever. And I'm sorry you think so. There are reasons to fight, Kagome, beyond duty and honor. There are greater values worth protecting. Sometimes, it's not about the greater good, the grand scheme of things. Sometimes, fighting is so much more personal then that. Some day, I hope you learn that for yourself.”

 

“Whatever,” Kagome muttered.

 

“Some fights for honor. Some fight for duty. Some fight for glory,” Ichiro recited, turning to look at his daughter. “When the time comes, Kagome, what will you fight for?”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“I never did figure out what he meant by that,” Kagome thought, continuing the kata. “Greater values? We're fighting a war as old as the miko bloodline itself, what cause could be greater than that?”

 

Kagome finished the movements, and stilled, her heart pounding in her chest. Her father was the textbook military man, but while he was strict and stern to his comrades, she knew he showed her a gentle and warm side she imagined only her mother had seen before her. She had never questioned her father about why he fought the wars and battles he fought.

 

“Come to think of it, I never did pay much attention to miko legends,” Kagome lowered her head. “Why are we fighting anyway? Just to exterminate the youkai? Aren't miko supposed to be generous and caring? What about these strange youkai that keep popping up?”

 

“Maybe dad was right,” Kagome whispered, closing her eyes. “What am I fighting for anyway?” above her, Tsubaki turned from the balcony.

 

“I've been thinking,” she said, walking to Kikyo's desk.

 

“Well that's disturbing,” Kikyo muttered dryly.

 

“I'm serious. I think it's time we tell Kagome about the Order.”

 

“What?” Kikyo said, looking up.

 

“If she's going to keep fighting them, it's only fair she know what they are,” Tsubaki insisted. “Kikyo, you know I'm right. We can't hide this from her and keep expecting her to risk her life for reasons she doesn't fully understand.” Kikyo thought for a moment.

 

“Alright,” she said finally. “When she comes in, go get her. We'll tell her together.”