InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ THE MIRROR OF SOULS ❯ CHAPTER 2 THE LIGHT ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Sesshoumaru's youkai senses are being bombarded with bewildering energy signatures as he and his ward further moved where the light is leading them. The daiyoukai couldn’t fathom what is causing this confusing power. It is like positive and negative energy/miko and youkai power has merged and is now giving off that strange throb. It scrapes at his senses like two sharp-edged swords grating at each other.

There was a gap between the trees where the focus of their objective lay. A few of the young trees were reduced to kindling as if a great force slammed into them creating a fairly deep crater. The smell of burning wood was also apparent but no evidence of fire. The strength of the power became stronger as he and his ward approached. He saw a barrier pulsing with pink and violet glow, the colors appear to be trying to merge and diverge and the rainbow of color would vibrate.

Rin was following closely behind her father but trying to sneak a peek from his left side. She immediately fell back and covered her eyes from the harsh light emitting from somewhere on the forest floor. She almost collided with Sesshoumaru's back when he suddenly stopped in surprise his breath inhaling with a hiss.

"My Lord, what is it?"  Rin edged around Sesshoumaru's back, her katana at a ready. Rin knows Sesshoumaru can move at a speed of light even with Rin's fast reflexes but she wants to be ready nonetheless. She held her katana in her right hand and her left hand trying to shield her eyes from the glare. Her vision improved a little and now she can make out a little bit of what her father was looking at barely 10 feet away from them.

As her visibility improved she too couldn't help but make the same hissing breath as her daiyoukai parent for the sight that beheld both of them truly astounded them both.

"What in seven hells…?"  Rin whispered.


Kagome Higurashi is never coming back to Egypt. She never thought this kind of extreme heat can exist on earth.  

"Can't take the heat, huh, Higurashi?" Kagome turned to look at her mentor Professor Phillips.

"How can people function in this climate?"  Kagome plucked at her t-shirt to fan herself.

"You've only been here for 2 days. It usually takes time to get used to this heat." Professor Phillips' eyes crinkled in amusement at his student.

"That's easy for you to say, Professor, you were practically an Egyptian." Kagome smirked at her teacher.

The older man chuckled. True, he was born and raised in Egypt from American parents. His parents were Egyptologists so he grew up playing in museums. Other kids would have been bored in this kind of life but he has surprisingly good parents considering in American slang they are called "geeks" or "nerds" with their head buried in ancient artifacts.

"Just drink lots of water and you'll be fine." The professor carefully lifted a pottery he has been patiently unearthing on their archeological dig.

Kagome reached out with a specimen tray to carefully receive the pottery from her mentor and placed the tray on the ground.  She took some photos and measurements of the artifact and made the proper entry on their log to catalog the item. Another assistant will then examine the artifact to determine if chemicals are need to be sprayed on the item to protect it from the elements.

She leaned back on her haunches to survey the dig site.

"Yeah, you told me it's gonna be hot. But this is a furnace!"  The professor and some students chuckled and nodded.

"This isn't something that you learn from books, Higurashi." The heavily accented voice came from one of the Italian exchange student Elena.

"Well, sunset is coming soon and then it will become cooler." Another student said. Heads nodded in agreement.

"And the village elder has invited us for tonight's Opet festival so we better finish early so we can join the feast."  Professor Phillips said all the while running his brush over another artifact embedded in the red soil.

"Opet festival?" Kagome raised her Nikon to take a shot at another item and cataloging the artifact.

"Yeah, it's an ancient celebration that this village still honor. It used to be very elaborate with processions of priests and great big barges but the village is small so they re-enact this on a smaller scale these days." Professor looked up and turned towards the river where the small village lays. He could see some of the villagers making last minute touches on the boats to be used for the evening's procession.

"I've heard of this festival. It's also called the Festival of the Hidden Chamber, right professor?" Kagome turned toward the older man.

"That's correct, Kagome. I'm glad you know of this." Professor Phillips tilted his head to glance at his apprentice.

"Well, my grandfather is our resident festival expert at the shrine and he even knows some of the archaic festivals all around the world." Kagome smiled at her teacher.

"Ah yes, you grew up at a shrine in Japan if I remember." Phillips used his brush to gesture at her.

"Yeah. Grandfather would bore us to death about 'festival this and festival that' I was just amazed that I remember some of the things he drones about."  Everyone chuckled but they continued to sift through the layer of history underneath them.

"So, are you a Shrine maiden then? A priestess?"  Professor Phillips looked at her.

"No, hardly!" Suddenly, Kagome wanted to steer the talk away from her.

"Well, if your family are caretakers of the shrine the children are usually the successors to continue the tradition. And that means all the knowledge and practices are also passed down to the eldest child and in this case it's you, Kagome." The teacher nodded in finality.

Kagome suddenly felt cold. "The eldest?"

"Yes, I have also studied Japanese shrines and history. I think I have the book with me out there." The professor again gestured with his brush at one of the RV's parked near the dig site. "Speaking about a break, why don't we all stop for a while and you help me find that book, eh?"

"Great idea professor! Hey guys, break time!" Elena shouted. Everyone stood up and stretched their cramped muscles. Some headed for the makeshift kitchen tent and some went to their RV's to check email or to "heed the call of mother nature."

Kagome was still thinking about what her teacher told her about being a shrine maiden as she followed Professor Phillips to his RV.


Her mind went back seven years ago about her unbelievable adventure when she was 15 years old. It has been 3 years since the well in the shrine closed when the fight with Naraku came to an end. She can't believe it has been 3 years.

When the Shikon no Tama was finally whole and has been reabsorbed in her body she was involuntary yanked back to the present time and her access to the well has been blocked. No amount of crying or attempt to jump back in the well was successful. She wanted to properly say goodbye to her friends…and to Inuyasha, but the well was like a rude host who threw her out of the party and told her to stay out! Stupid well!  

Kagome remembered stubbing her toe on the wooden boards as she furiously kicked at the well ranting and yelling for it let her go back. The racket drew her family to the well house and found her sobbing at its base.


"Excuse the mess, my dear. Good help is hard to find these days." Kagome was wrenched back to the present at the professor's voice. She saw him grabbing pieces of clothing and tossing them at the back of the RV where it joined the fate of other pieces of clothing. The place was crammed with books, artifacts of various shapes and sizes, digging equipments, and blueprints stacked on every surface.

Kagome smirked at her teacher's words. "I'd say."  She turned around to look closely at the various artifacts in their boxes on the floor and one item caught her attention.

"What the hell….!" She sucked in her breath with a hissing sound.


Every youkai of every nature or form has his or her own youki signature. The energy signature only varies according to the strength of the youkai. A strong youkai can demand respect from low-level youkai's. It also assists in the ascension of power and status in the youkai society. A strong youkai is considered worthy of respect or leadership.

The leaders from the four cardinal lands; East, West, North and South were ruled by four of the strongest youkais in the land. No one dares challenge their rule.

But of the four cardinal rulers no one is as strong as Sesshoumaru, The Lord of the West.

In the Council of the Four Cardinals Sesshoumaru was the head by default due his strength and tactical genius…and another fact is that his ruthlessness was and is legendary. The other three youkai leaders turn to him for guidance. No decision was meted out unless with his express approval. His displeasure will be meted out in pain and a lot of decapitation.

It is this fact that the powerful youkai has been taken aback by the power emitting from the barrier in front of him. More so, since the power has been merged and even his youkai cannot fathom this puzzle.

Sesshoumaru approached the swirling obstacle, he can feel the youkai in it reach out to him and in the same action the holy power repel him. It was like someone is pushing and pulling him at the same time thereby shaking him. It was irritating.

They are now directly in front of the barrier. Once more he flared his youki to the barrier to try to assess what kind of youkai is trapped within. He already knows the being inside is as strong as he is, probably more due to the holy power it was fused with.

Nothing.

"I need answers. I need them now." Sesshoumaru's thoughts demanded. His mind is already racing in leaps and bounds on how this will impact his kingdom. His kingdom is already besieged with additional problems. He and his general have been kept busy quelling the low-level youkai attacks. Although he relish the excitement of battle he is also mindful of how it will affect his lands and the people.

"We need answers for this mystery, father." Rin echoed his thoughts.

"Hn." Once more, his suspicion that his daughter might have mind reading capabilities surfaced. "Rin, send word at the fortress. I want the Houshin summoned."

There's only one houshin her father is talking about: Miroku, the violet-eyed monk and friend of her father's half brother.

"I'll have Miroku come here." Sesshoumaru sighed. He told himself that he must get used to Rin's uncanny ability to predict, assume and voice out what her father is thinking. At least he didn’t have to saddle himself with idiotic lackeys who tend to bumble left and right. Having Rin echo his thoughts into action helps lower the body count. Sesshoumaru allowed himself a small smirk. We can't have everything.

Knowing his demand will be meted out meticulously by his daughter Sesshoumaru tried to peer in the thick blanket of the barrier.


"Order the men to put some distance from the barrier. If they feel its still affecting them have them to move further away but they must stay, do you understand me?" Jiro ordered his second-in-command.

"Hai, commander!" The bird youkai hastened off to inform his own battalion.

"Commander, what is happening? Report!" Jiro turned to see Rin running out from the copse of trees.

"General, it seems the barrier is affecting the men around it. Since you and Sesshoumaru-sama entered the forest many of the men developed burns along their arms, face and body."

Rin gasped. "That sounds like they are being purified…!"

Jiro nodded. "Hai! I ordered the men to move farther away from this area until they cannot feel the effects of the barrier.

"Good thinking, commander." Jiro nodded his acknowledgment. "I need you to fetch a monk named Miroku. He lives in a village near the Goshinboku, do you know of the place?"

"Yes, I do, captain."

"Tell him that Sesshoumaru-sama also needs to see the taiji-ya named Sango. Bring them both here. Make haste."  Jiro bowed deeply and was gone in a flash.



Sesshoumaru was still standing in front of the barrier when Rin returned.

"Father, the men guarding the perimeter were being purified by this thing. We told the men to move far away."  Rin too stood in front of the barrier but decided to face her father instead as the light from it made her eyes water.

"Hn." Her father has that intrigued look upon his face.

"Father, are you not affected by the holy power?"

"It is negligible."

"Father, whatever you do, I advice you not to touch it." Rin's voice warned him.

How in the world did this child know what I was about to do? Even before I decided on that course of action? Sesshoumaru couldn’t tell if he should be incensed with his daughter's protective warning; does she think her father is so weak that I must be protected? Who is the parent here?

"I must."

"Chichiue…" Rin sounded like a parent telling their child 'you'll-be-hurt-if-you-don't-listen' tone.

"Rin, stand behind me." Later, he must have a talk with his daughter about parent-child role and obedience. Captain or no, juvenile or adult - a child is a child.

He slowly lifted his left hand, he let it hover a hands breadth at the barrier at once static crackled from the sphere. Sesshoumaru didn’t remove his hand as a current of energy leapt to his hand. It was as if the energy that was repelling him before was trying to get to know him. It moved along his outstretched palms like a caress. What a strange sensation, he thought.

"Are you all right, father?"

"Hn. It is trying to get to know me."

"What?! What do you mean get to know…"

She didn’t get to finish her sentence as the barrier suddenly flared and engulfed them both.