InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Power of Ai ❯ I Gotta Go Home ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9

I gotta go home.

 

Two days after Kikyo's death and the mating of two unspoken lovers (hallelujah!) the group was still unaware of Naraku's whereabouts and were beginning to run out of rations and other supplies for their travels, and not only that tomorrow was Kagome's all prefecture competition. “Inuyasha since were not getting anywhere and I have important things to take care of tomorrow can be just take a break for a day or two, huh?” everyone stood back waiting for the hanyo to blow his ear covered top. “Ok. Just make sure you come back soon.” Everyone and I mean everyone did the classic anime drop to the floor in utter confusion. “Wha…what? Are you saying that you have no problems with letting me go home?” Kagome just scratched her head. “What do you wanna stay here then because I could change my mind?” “No! I was just wondering why you said okay so fast!” Inuyasha cleared his throat, “I remembered that in thirty days you had a contest for archery and you were really excited so I'm gonna let you go just make sure you're back tomorrow or the next day, nothing more!” Kagome knew in his own way he was saying that he would miss her, but she was going to miss him even more. She grabbed her backpack hopped on Kilala and went straight for home.

 

Present times…

 

Kagome just hopped on the modern side of the well she looked back at it hoping that Inuyasha would be right behind her but she knew better, once Inuyasha has his mind set on killing a loathed enemy it's going to be done especially if it's Naraku. “I'm home everyone!” grandpa was the first to see her, “Oh hello Kagome. Your friend Hojo stopped by to give you some ointment for your scabies. “Grandpa you told him WHAT!” he laughed and scratched the back of his head, “Yeah I told him you have scabies.” Kagome fumed “Grandpa that disease hardly even exists any more why couldn't you just tell him I had to go somewhere or something!” Grandpa ignored her and just walked down the hall into the family room. “Souta, where's mom?” Souta never once looked up from his “gameploy” , “She went to sign you up for the contest tomorrow and Yuka called about a song list for the dance she said that you need to give her at least 25 to 50.” Kagome groaned “This party is getting harder and harder to deal with, between having to study for finals, go back to the past to kill, demons and now do archery. I'm going to an early grave! I'm going out back to practice.”

 

She strung up her bow and sharpened her arrows to make the time move faster. When she was about to start aiming her mother was right behind her. “You look just like your father.” Kagome turned to her mother, “I don't know if you remember but for the New Year's ceremony he'd fire arrows in the air to ward off any evil that may strike our home, and you loved it so much. When he asked you why you did you'd always say because I can see you do magic. Grandfather always said that you have descended from a long line of priestess' and that he could tell that you had the gift. Your father believed it too, he said he always knew you were destined for great things and wasn't just saying it like any parent would, he really knew it. I just wish he could see it!” Saito began to sob and Kagome being careless forgot she had a very sharp arrow in her hand walked over to give her mother a hug and cut her arm. “Oh mother I'm so, so sorry. I'll get some bandages hold on!” She ran in the house to get the items, when she came back her mother was holding the flesh wound tightly to stop the bleeding. Kagome pulled her moms hand back and touched the wound to see how bad it was; her hand was still on it when she reached for the anti-bacterial gel when her hand began to glow and the wound closed up and the pain went away. “Kagome…h…how are you able to do that?” Kagome just shook her head, “I…I don't really know it…it just happens, but always seems to happen when someone I love is hurt or in danger. Before when it happened by accident I would always pass out but lately I've been fine, it's like my body is used to it or something.” Saito just nodded her head and gave Kagome encouragement to do her best and Kagome went about her practice.

 

“Kagome! It is 7 am you have to be at the school by 9.” Kagome reluctantly got up, “Yeah mom I'm coming. She grabbed her traditional clothing, placed it neatly in her garment bag and took a shower to get dressed. “Kagome, Kagome let's go its 8:15 we've got to hurry!” she ran for the stairs and snatched up her bow and arrows. They arrived with fifteen minutes to spare and had to make a mad dash to meet with her school representative. “Kagome Higurashi you've only got 5 minutes to change, you have to hurry up go!” Kagome ran to the ladies room to change, once done she ran to the arena. “Ok I'm ready!” the representative told her to stand by the school banner, to be ready for photos. The flashes from the bulb sent her to a dizzying confusion.

 

Kagome spotted her family and friends in the surprisingly large crowd. “Hey mom that isn't the regular traditional uniform she's supposed to wear isn't it?” Saito shook her head, “doesn't she look great in it!”

 

The announcer stepped out in traditional garb prepared to sing the folk song of the old Edo days. Someone from the crowd started singing with the announcer. Kagome gasped and screamed aloud, “Inuyasha! You're here!” she quickly quieted herself realizing her surroundings. She felt rejuvenated knowing that her lover was watching her. They went in order of the school names, “Next in the horseback round is Kagome Higurashi.” She bowed to both judges and the audience. Just as before she looked incredible while riding the horse, she was hoping that her favorite hanyo was watching. Also like before she hit the bull's eye. “She got it! Kagome Higurashi hit the mark! This is Kagome's first prefecture competition and she starts out with a bang!” the audience applauded and Kagome rode back to her schools waiting area where two more of her fellow students went to compete on horseback.

A couple of hours went by and after both the horseback and traditional archery rounds it was the final moving target round which was the hardest and something Kagome always had trouble with and now there were only two teams left. “Oh man I could have practiced a little more but what can I do?” try your best my koi. Kagome swore that she heard Inuyasha by her side.

 

It was now her turn she was told there were two sections to this final round. The first would be targets that were on a motorized pulley and she had to get the best of 5, the last was called surprise targets these targets were activated by springs and would pop up form any location near or far on the arena. She would be judged on execution, style and preparedness. Also the targets will be shooting foam arrows and you must dodge them to show evasiveness. “Ms. Higurashi I hope you're ready for this, we all pray that you bring the school this title, ok?” Kagome nodded her head and went to start the first half of the final round. Okay I can do this; I've been doing this for a few years now I should be an expert. Once again she bowed to signal her start, she waited to see if she could pinpoint where the target would come but she couldn't get a feeling on it. Then suddenly they popped up from nowhere, she fired arrow after arrow getting an amazing four out of five.

After waiting to for the final round to set up she once again bowed to her audience and judges. She knew this one would count greatly for her final score seeing that she'd have to dodge the on coming arrows from the targets. The first one popped up about 300 feet away the arrow came to her fast she shifted to the left changed her aim angle and let go of the arrow, and she hit one of the two target areas (one is on the head and the other is the stomach) the head. Immediately the next target pops up, she ran towards it and fires her arrow in close range, the crowd screams in excitement and surprise of this girl's skill. All of the following targets are eliminated in excellent fashion. About ten minutes pass for the judges to make a decision and the announcer comes up to the center of the field to reveal the decision, “The decision of the Tokyo prefecture archery committee has come to this…” he paused for effect, “…it's a tie!” the tie is between Kagome Higurashi and Chidori Ehime.

 

Kagome Higurashi hails from Chuyo Yamanate High School in the Azuba ward of Tokyo and Chidori Ehime is from Amano Fugushima High School; both archers came in first place in their schools field day competition. They will now face a sudden death match it will be a mix of the last round which consisted of moving targets and live fire surprise targets each contestant the number will be increased and the targets will be random, they each have a minute to clear 20 targets. Before we begin we will take a ten minute recess.”

 

Kagome went to go see her family. “Mom can you believe it Kagome, my clumsy sister in a tie breaker sudden death match in an archery contest can you believe it. Oh, here she comes. Kagome! You were great; I wish Inuyasha was here to see it.” (POV) so he isn't here maybe it was just me. I must really miss him. “Mom where did you get these ceremonial robes, this doesn't look like what I wore before.” Saito chuckled, “I know it was your fathers I made alterations to it so it could fit you but I hoped you'd like it.” Kagome smiled, “Oh mom I love it! It feels great! I'm honored to wear it; I hope I do him proud.” They called all audience members and remaining contestants to the seating and arena areas. The announcer was back in center, “Welcome back we will now begin the sudden death match, since Kagome Higurashi went in the last round she will go after the other contestant. Please cheer on Chidori Ehime!” Kagome sized up her challenger and made some assessments, “She looks good. Her form is practically flawless and I've just only gotten the hang of it a few years ago, I don't have a chance of winning.” My koi, I'm here with you. “Inuyasha…I'm going crazy without you.” The girl was doing pretty well until the final target which she missed and also she lost a point because at one time she dropped her bow for trying to dodge an arrow. “Next is Kagome Higurashi!” she went up to her starting area and waited for the targets to appear. The first one zipped across the line extremely fast she hit it on the mark. She hit target after target and dodged all arrows shot at her, when she got to the final target she realized that there were no more arrows in the quiver she walked away feeling defeated that was until she heard the last surprise target pop up, she closed her eyes and listened carefully for the release of the arrow never once turning toward the arrow. The snap of the trigger to release the arrow caught her attention, still she never turned around.

 

When she felt it near she turned grabbed it and her energy surged and formed an invisible arrow point she let go and fired blasting the target into pieces. The announcer ran from his post, “Oh my gods! Kagome Higurashi completely destroyed the target! We thought she ran out of arrows but in an upset she turns her luck around by using the arrow from the live fire target to retain her lead! If the judges don't vote in her favor than there is no justice!” I did it Inuyasha! I'll be with you soon. The schools took their place in winning order and then the individual winners went up. Kagome's school won 3rd place overall and now were the individual results, “…and second place is Chidori Ehime, and for the winner of the Tokyo prefecture archery competition is…who else but Kagome Higurashi!” cheers were loud and could be heard several blocks away. Flashing from cameras, blurred her vision, all her friends including Hojo ran to congratulate her. “Kagome this is your second contest, you are cool! Isn't she Eri?” asked Yumi. “Of course she is.” Hojo hugged her tightly, “Kagome I'm so proud you!” Kagome never forgot what happened between Hojo and her and it felt very uncomfortable to be around him still. “Thanks everybody but at the moment I have to go home and do a few things I wont be at school either I have been through a lot in the past few days so I wont be able to go to the school ceremony so I want Aiyumi to go to the ceremony in my honor since she'd on the team.” Everyone nodded in agreement and Kagome left with her family. “Hey mom before we go home can we pay a visit to the cemetery, I need to thank someone.”

 

“Ok Kagome, I understand.” They drove up to the cemetery and Kagome went up by herself. She poured sake ceremoniously onto the grave, she clapped her hands twice loudly to get the gods attention, “Hi father, I cant say how sorry I am for not visiting you for the past two years, but I hope what I'm about to tell you will make you proud of me. Today I won the prefecture archery competition. Mom told me yesterday that you used to do it when I was a kid; I honestly wish I could say I was doing it for you but I'm in love and I did it for someone in the past give or take 500 years. I hope I've made you proud of me, I sure hope he is. Well, goodbye daddy I miss you, keep watching over us.” She kissed her finger tips touched the grave and walked back to the car.

 

After a celebratory dinner Kagome purchased more supplies and food for everybody and hoped that she'd get to her friends in a couple of days. She hopped into the bone eaters well and almost forgot that it was almost nightfall she figured that she'd go to Kaede's hut and start her trek tomorrow. She arrived at the hut just before the sun rose in the sky, “Hello Kaede? Are you home?”

 

“Aye child. But why are ye here I thought ye would be in the south with Inuyasha?”

 

“I had a contest in my era in archery, and guess what…I won!” she squeaked with delight. Kaede hugged her, “I am very proud of you Kagome. You have excelled with time I am not surprised, you are the descendant of a powerful priestess.” Kagome got up angrily her temper changed drastically, “I am not your sister Kaede! I am me! I have improved it has nothing to do with Kikyo!” she sat back down and tried to calm herself. “Kagome it has nothing to do with my sister she walks the earth attempting to hold on to a life that doesn't exist any more. You and my sister are descendants of the great priestess Midoriko, it just so happens that you embody her power a lot more in your soul than my sister. She is you Kagome I can tell you are changing child. You will be the one to purify and unify the shikon no tama.” Kagome's eyes grew large, “You mean the Midoriko; the creator of the shikon jewel? There is no way I'm a descendant I'm just a high school student!”

 

Kagome's head began to hurt, “I…I need to lie down, ok? My head hurts, I need to sleep.” she found a place to sleep and tried to make sense of what she heard. She awoke to the smell of rice porridge. “Kagome it's just before dawn I think it best if ye eat now and start walking south so you get to Inuyasha in the next 3 days. I have something for you also…” Kaede handed Kagome a brand new set of bow and arrows sharpened brand new and hand crafted to perfection. “Kaede…this is…” Kaede interrupted her, “Child eat you have to be on your way soon. And you're welcome.” Kagome ate quickly, hugged Kaede and left. “I have to hurry. I hope Inuyasha won't be upset if I get there in a couple of days, late.” I'm coming you guys; I'll be there soon Inuyasha. She walked for 5 hours straight and covered some pretty good mileage. “I don't know how Inuyasha can walk for so long. I'm tired.” She whined she looked up and seen smoke, “Oh it's a village.” She walked into the village hoping she could find lodgings for the night and maybe some food to eat. She walked up to an elderly shop owner, “Excuse me ma'm what village is this?” the tiny woman placed her hand to her ear, “What? What did you say? What pillage is this? This is a safe town.” Kagome shook her head, “No, no miss that's not what I said. I asked what village is this.”

“Oh, this is Nagoya.” Kagome gasped, “Aw I'm in the southeast. Inuyasha's going to kill me!” Someone was right behind her, “Kagome you're back!” she turned around, “Inu…Koga! What are you doing here?” Koga grabbed Kagome's hand, “I went to get some food for me and my guys and I smelled you!” Kagome thought that it was pretty convenient to have run into Koga because since he had the sacred jewel shards in his legs he could get her to Inuyasha in no time. “Koga I need you to take me to Okayama.” “Sure my love I'll take you anywhere you want to go!” He picked her up in his arms and ran in a whirlwind of dust trailing.

 

Currently with Inuyasha

 

He is sitting up in a tree waiting to catch a scent of Kagome in the air hopping she was near. I knew I should have either went with her or waited with the old lady until she came back. I hope she's not in any trouble. Footsteps below caught his attention; it was the old lady he'd seen in the forest about a month ago. “What are you doin' all the way down here hag?” he said while leaping off the high branch. “You do remember me?” Inuyasha leaned against the tree, “How could I forget you put these strange words in my head I haven't been able to think straight for weeks! What did you do to me any way hag?” the old woman cleared her throat, “My name is Ushihara you flea bitten boy! I know the true battle for the fate of the world is near and you need to depend on you friends, family and even enemies to get through this battle, for this will not be an easy task. For the one you truly love's life will hang in the balance. You can no longer depend on your own fang you must go back to thy place of origin to discover true power and hope with the aforementioned associates before it's too late. These are the words of Ushihara…obey them and ye shall have happiness for a lifetime.” She walked a way and disappeared, Inuyasha just stood there confused and fascinated by this old lady's words he still had no idea what she meant, but secretly hoped the words would remain with him when the time came.