InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Sage ❯ Embracing the Past ( Chapter 23 )

~*~*~*~*~*~Edited version~*~*~*~*~*~

 

A/N: Hey everyone!!! Thankies for the reviews they really help put me in the writing mood!!!

 

A/N: Now on with the chapter!! *hands out popcorn*

 

Chapter Twenty-Three

Embracing the Past

 

Kagome held on tightly to the Shikon no Tama. It was warm and filled her with a sense of ease. She had never felt anything quiet like it before. To think that the Tama had been within her the whole time was a little hard for her to swallow but it was true. Now she was the guardian of the Tama and it was her duty to make sure that nothing happened to it.

 

Inuyasha was trying his best to make sure that Mystic couldn't see her but in order for Kagome to make sure that Mystic didn't get at the Tama she was going to need to see. Kagome slightly pushed Inuyasha so that he had no choice but to turn. Kagome gasped at what she saw. There was Sorano in the armor from her vision. She looked like some ancient goddess that was worshipped in a temple. Mystic was dressed in a trench coat and his face was hard to make out.

 

Sesshomaru and the others moved a little closer to Kagome as a wave of youki flowed off of Sorano. She was serious. Kagome had only ever really seen Sorano battle seriously when it was against her old guardian. But those times the two of them would move so quickly that Kagome couldn't see them. But something was different this time. Kagome could see her youki. It was outlining her whole body. Every little move that Sorano made her youki would flow out in that direction.

 

“Sorano is amazing,” Kagome glanced at Miroku who was climbing over the wooden fence. Never once did Miroku take his eyes off the stand off as he did this.

 

Kagome nodded, “She is the Protector of the Higurashi Family. Her memories have been returned to her. She is more powerful now then she ever was. Sorano has been protecting my family since the beginning.”

 

Sesshomaru edged his way closer to Kagome while keeping a watchful eye on Sorano, “What does that mean? I know that she said she was your Protector but what does that mean? Why would she devote her life to protecting a family of ningen?”

 

Inuyasha glared at Sesshomaru, “Some people think that it is a good idea to protect those who are not able to do it themselves. Unlike you Sesshomaru Sorano cares for the well being of ningens and their families. How the hell she ended up with you is still beyond me.”

 

Sesshomaru growled at Inuyasha but didn't comment. Those two really need to learn to get along. But Inuyasha does make a good point. Why did Sorano end up being with Sesshomaru? After all the youkai, hanyou and ningens that went after her she went for the only youkai that doesn't show any emotions.

 

“Sorano I know that you think that you will be able to protect the Shikon no Tama and the last Higurashi but you are wrong. Times are different now and the power of the light is weakened in this era. The sun no longer shows its face with the same power that it once did. The towns are no longer lit with fire for light. Face it Sorano the power of the light youkai is dead in this era.”

 

Sorano laughed as she shook her head, “That is what you think. There will always be a balance between light and dark no matter what era one is in. Though one can not see the light that does not mean that it is not there.”

 

Mystic laughed as he stared at Sorano. Kagome could feel the evil radiating off of Mystic and yet his youki was off. It was different then any other youkai that she had been around. Kagome could feel the life force of Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and Sorano but the life force of Mystic wasn't there. It was as if he was dead or he could hide his powers very well.

 

Suddenly Mystic shot forward and charged at Sorano. At the last second Sorano moved to the side and brought her fist down towards Mystic. Mystic turned and skidded out of the way as Sorano leapt forward, claws raised, and charged at Mystic. Suddenly Mystic's arm changed into a tentacle and shot at Sorano. Sorano leaned to the side as the tentacle barely missed her arm. She landed and watched with mixed amusement as Mystic rose into the air and started to change.

 

“Kami-sama… what kind of youkai is he?” Kagome looked at Miroku and then back at Mystic. Kagome had been thinking the same thing. Tentacles burst forth from under his trench coat and charged at Sorano. Sorano flipped, dodged, and rolled out of the way of the many tentacles that came at her. There were so many.

 

“Miko what are you sensing from Mystic!” Kagome jumped as Sorano yelled out to her as she dodged another attack.

 

Kagome gave her head a shake and stared at Mystic. The only part of him that looked like the youkai that he was was his head and some of his torso. The rest of him was earth brown thick tentacles that didn't seem to stop. Sorano raised her hands as she leapt once again out of the way of a wave of tentacles. Sorano's hands started to glow a rich golden hue as she gathered her youki into her raised hands. Mystic edged Sorano closer to the well house and just as three large tentacles came flying at Sorano she unleashed the controlled youki in her hands. Arrow like streaks of youki shot from Sorano and ripped through the tentacles that were trying to grab at her.

 

“Kagome!”

 

“H..Hai!” Kagome torn her eyes away from what Sorano was doing and concentrated on Mystic. His hind tentacles were what were keeping him balanced as he tried to push Sorano back. A flash of light near where his heart was caught her attention. The more Kagome stared at it the more she saw. It looked like a strange wooden craved doll but Mystic was moving his tentacles around too much for Kagome to really see what it was. “Sorano aim for his heart! It's his weak spot!”

 

Mystic turned his malicious red-eyed glare at Kagome as she yelled out what she believed the only way to destroy him was. Sorano flipped over Mystic and back tracked to the other side of the shrine grounds. She was putting as much distance between her and Mystic. Sorano raised her right hand into the air and suddenly the earth gave an almighty quake. Kagome shrieked as she fell into Inuyasha and Sango fell right into Miroku.

 

Sorano closed her eyes and started to chant something. Kagome could only see her mouth moving as her whole body lit up with the intensity of the sun. Golden flecks of youki swirled off of Sorano as the ground shook again. Kagome looked at Sesshomaru and saw that he was smiling softly to himself. He must know something that we don't. How could he know what Sorano is doing? I have never even see this kind of attack before.

 

Mystic made to move forward but suddenly Sorano opened her eyes and everyone, save Sesshomaru, gasped. Her eyes were glowing so brightly that she lit up the area around her. When Sorano spoke her voice sounded so far away as if they were hearing the echo of it, “I told you Mystic that even if you can't see the light it is there. All of the earth's life forms need light to survive as well as darkness. I will show you this power now!”

 

Sorano thrust her hand down and instantly the earth ripped open and roots from Goshinboku flew out of the ground. Inuyasha held Kagome tighter as the roots shot forward and attacked Mystic. Mystic tried to block with his own tentacles but the roots of the God Tree were to strong and broke through his tentacles like twigs. The roots shot forward and wrapped themselves around Mystic. Mystic's eyes bulged as he realized that he couldn't move and his breathing was coming in great short panicked breaths.

 

Sorano smirked at Mystic as she leapt forward and ran along one of the roots of Goshinboku. She followed the root as it encircled Mystic's body. No matter how much he tried he couldn't seem to brake free from the roots. Sorano leapt forward and with lightning reflexes she jabbed her hand straight into Mystic's chest. Sorano cocked her head as she watched the horrified expression on his face as she slowly pulled her hand free.

 

“You will learn to stay away from the Higurashi family. I will always be around to stop the likes of you.” Sorano grasped onto the strange wooden doll as she flipped over and landed gracefully on the ground. Mystic didn't even scream out as his body changed into dust and floated away on the gently breeze. The roots of Goshinboku slowly settled themselves back into the ground. The earth covered over a little but some major work was still going to be needed.

 

Sorano walked away from the battlefield and never once looked back. Without even stopping Sorano leapt over the little fence and stopped before Kagome. Inuyasha gently released Kagome as Sorano held out the wooden doll to Kagome.

 

“Can it be?” Kagome reached forward and gently took the doll from Sorano.

 

“I believe it is. The Mystic that we are looking for was never here. This doll acted as a puppet for the one that is behind all of this. I am guessing that who ever made that doll didn't want to fight any one of us. What other reason can you think of that would cause someone to us a puppet?”

 

Kagome nodded at Sorano, “Yes but it makes you wonder who else is involved in all of this. I don't think that Mystic's puppet master is the only one behind all of this. And now that the Shikon no Tama is back all the youkai are going to be coming out of the wood work.”

 

Inuyasha wrapped his arm around Kagome as they both looked at the doll. “I agree with Kagome on this. It would be too simple if it were just the puppet master. All powerful youkai have others that do their dirty work. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more like him out there.”

 

Kagome glanced up at Sesshomaru as he joined the conversation, “Well Sesshomaru there really isn't anything that we can do tonight. I don't really feel like going into the United Alliance and writing up all this paper work. I need to embrace my past in order to move forward. I think that there is still some food in the storehouse and the house is still fully furnished. I think it would be best if we all stayed here for the night. The purifying power that I released earlier is still within the air and when we decide to go to sleep I will place a kekkai over the grounds.”

 

Sango stretched and yawned, “Yeah last thing I want right now is to deal with the United Alliance. Kagome do you think that the phone is still hooked up?”

 

Kagome shrugged her shoulders, “I'm not to sure. Why?”

 

“Well one of us needs to call Rin. She would kill is if we left her hanging at the Alliance while we relaxed. I'm going to go and see what I can find.”

 

Miroku followed after Sango as they climbed over the fence and headed towards the house. Kagome turned towards Inuyasha, “Would you like to come with me to see what we can find to eat?”

 

At that moment Inuyasha's stomach growled and he smirked, “I thinks that a clear sign.”

 

Kagome giggled as she grasped Inuyasha's hand and led him towards the storehouse. Kagome stopped as she turned around. “Sorano? Sesshomaru? Are you two coming?”

 

Sorano grasped Sesshomaru's arm, “Go on without me. I have something I need to take care of first.” Sesshomaru gave Sorano a quizzical look but nodded none the less and followed after Kagome and Inuyasha. Kagome glanced over her shoulder and watched as Sorano walked off in the direction of the well house. I wonder what she's up too?

 

***

 

Sorano watched at Sesshomaru walked off with Kagome and Inuyasha. The minute they started walking away Sorano turned on her heel and headed to towards the well house; all though the well house wasn't her destination. Sorano steered to the right and walked down a narrow path that ran along side the well house. As she walked the trees that decorated the shrine grounds started to thicken. She was entering into the most wooded area of the shrine.

 

Sorano raised a low laying branch out of her way and walked onto a stone stepping path that veered further to the right as she rounded the far end of the well house. She had walked this path many times in her old life. She knew what was at the end of the path and didn't look forward to what lay ahead of her. She had last been here the day that she was killed in the past. The Elder of the Higurashi family had fallen ill and his life was finally extinguished that morning. They had all dressed and gathered in the Higurashi gravesite to pay their last respects to the Elder.

 

Sorano walked through the tall rounded boulders that marked the entrance and was immediately greeted by the soft sorrowful songs of the evening sky lark. The setting sun washed the site in warm golds, reds, and oranges as Sorano walked silently through the worn gravestones as she walked to the very end of the gravesite. A pond was set off to the left and soft splashing of the koi added a surreal feeling to the area.

 

At the end of the site was a small creek with a small rounded bridge that led to the newly expanded portion of the gravesite. Sorano walked quietly as she walked over the bridge and entered to gravesite that was not there when she was protecting the Higurashi. The sky larks followed Sorano as she walked through the rows of the Higurashi family. Ever so often she would stop and say a little pray for the ones that she had protected until her return to the light realm.

 

A shiver ran up Sorano's spine as she stopped in front of three freshly made tombstones. Sorano slowly walked towards them and the area fell silent as they felt her guilt and sorrow at the loss of these three people. Sorano knelt before the middle tombstone and bowed lowly, “Seiko-sama I am here to pay my respects and to offer my most serene apologies. If I had remembered who I was I could have been there for you and your family. I was always meant to protect you and I failed you.”

 

Sorano felt the hot tears running down her face as she gently placed her hand over Higurashi Seiko's kanji engraved name. The marble was cool to the touch. Sorano looked at the other two tombstones through blurred vision. The tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to speak once again, “Souta if I had been here you wouldn't have had your life cut so short. I would have protected you like you were my own brother. I let you down and I know nothing I say or do will ever change that. But I ask your forgiveness anyways and hope that you can find it in your soul to grant me that.”

 

Sorano brushed at her tears as she turned and looked at the beautiful marble head stone of Higurashi Hiroko. “Hiroko-sama please forgive me for not knowing my own duty. Every time I came past the shrine I felt that I was needed here but I never came. It wasn't until it was too late that I finally made it to the shrine. Gomen-nasi.” Sorano bowed low to Hiroko's tombstone.

 

Time went by and the sun started to set. Sorano stared blindly at the tombstones of the Higurashi that she failed to protect. She would never again fail. She would die before she let another Higurashi die. They were needed in the world and it was the duty of the light youkai to see to it that the Higurashi family survived.

 

Sorano slowly stood as she watched the last rays of the sun set and the last song of the sky lark faded into the nothingness of the looming night. Sorano wiped her eyes as she looked one last time at the three tombstones, “I know that I failed you and I can never bring you all back. But I swear to you on this day that I will never let anything happen to Kagome. The Oath of the Light will be upheld and I will personally see to it. You have my word as Princess of the Light. I will not fail you again.”

 

Sorano bowed and said a short pray before she turned around and started to walk from the gravesite. Sorano looked up and gasped, “Sesshomaru…”

 

***

 

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru watched Kagome sort through the many boxes of the storehouse. Inuyasha had tried to help Kagome but all the damn dust was making him sneeze and Sesshomaru wasn't fairing any better; so Kagome told the both of them to wait by the door while she looked for something that they could all eat.

 

It wasn't long before Kagome had completely vanished from sight as she climbed through the many boxes that lined the floor to ceiling of the storehouse. Even now and then Kagome would open a box and look through the contents before she carefully closed the box and moved on.

 

“Why is it again that I am here?”

 

Inuyasha looked at Sesshomaru through the corner of his eye, “You are here because your potential mate wanted to be alone.”

 

Sesshomaru turned and looked out the door at the coming night sky, “I do not see the importance of me being here to stand and watch as your miko looks through pointless boxes.” Sesshomaru didn't say another word as he walked through the door and followed Sorano's scent.

 

Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru walked towards the well house and vanished from sight. Good you bastard get lost. I don't have a clue what Sorano sees in you but to each their own. Now Kagome on the other hand… Inuyasha smirked as he started to look through the boxes closest to him. After about the third box Inuyasha found what he was looking for. A white triangular handkerchief was just what he needed. Inuyasha tied it around his face making sure to cover his nose as he slowly made his way after Kagome.

 

Inuyasha quietly walked through the narrow path that Kagome had made and followed it until he found her standing in front of a large box. Her back was to him and he was about to tackle her when he saw her raise her hand to her face and wipe at her eyes. Inuyasha walked closer and wrapped his arms around Kagome and pulled her close.

 

“Kagome?”

 

Kagome leaned into Inuyasha as she held something tightly to her chest. Inuyasha waited until Kagome was ready to speak as they stood in each other's arms. Inuyasha didn't mind the fact that his facial make shift mask was slipping away or the fact that he was getting really hungry. He could sense Kagome's distress and in turn it was making him feel distressed.

 

“Inuyasha do you remember your mother?”

 

Inuyasha was taken back by her odd question but answered truthfully, “A little. I can remember her holding me like I am holding you. We would sit like this for hours as we waited for father to come home.”

 

Kagome wiped at her eye, “Do you mind if I ask how she died?”

 

Inuyasha's back stiffened slightly, “I…”

 

Kagome turned and looked up at Inuyasha, “I remember my mother. And Souta and Jii-chan. I still have dreams about the good times that we had. She was always smiling and telling me that I could be anything that I wanted to be. She said that I would know what path to take when I hit the fork in my life. I miss her so much…”

 

Inuyasha pulled Kagome close as she tried to hold back the tears that once again threatened to fall. She was trying so hard to put on a brave face for Inuyasha. He did remember his mother and he remembered the day that she died. But what Kagome was going through was a whole different thing. Her family was a very important shrine family in Japan and one day they were all killed. She was the only one left.

 

“My mother got sick. No one knew what had happened. Father didn't want me to be around mother because she had caught a ningen illness and he feared that since I was a hanyou that I would get it too. I had to stay away from her and I had to watch her die from across the room.”

 

Kagome wrapped her arms around Inuyasha and held him tightly, “We are more a like then we think ne?” Kagome slowly pulled away and showed Inuyasha what she was holding close to her heart. It was a picture in a plain wooden frame. The picture was of, he was guessing, her family. The tall thin shorthaired women must have been Kagome's mother. She had Kagome's smile and bright brown eyes. A short balding man in Shinto robes had to be Kagome's grandfather and the small boy bouncing a soccer ball was obviously Kagome's little brother.

 

Inuyasha looked at the picture for a while before he looked up at Kagome. Fresh tears were running down her face. Inuyasha raised his hand and wiped away the tears with the pad of his thumb. “I will not tell you not to cry Kagome. You have been through a lot. My mother told me before she died that we will never truly be without the ones we love as long as we remember them and let them live in our hearts.”

 

Kagome smiled and nodded, “Your mother was a very smart lady Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha smirked, “Yeah I know.”

 

Kagome wiped the remaining tears from her eyes as she tucked the picture into her miko robes. “Well I think I solved our food problem.”

 

Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow at Kagome, “Huh?”

 

Kagome turned around and reached into the box that she had been looking through before. When she turned around she was holding a large box of… “Ramen noodles?!”

 

Kagome nodded, “Souta loved the stuff but I was always out and never really wanted to try something that only took three minutes to make. Mama always had to buy such large amounts of it because Souta would eat it all the time and at anytime of the day or night.”

 

Inuyasha grabbed the box and laughed, “Now he sounds like my kind of guy!”

 

Kagome laughed as she continued to look through the boxes for anything else that could be made instantly and the rest of them could eat. Inuyasha smiled as he watched Kagome going through the boxes; nodding and smiling at her whenever she would find something that she thought was important. How long the two of the stayed in the storehouse was unknown to Inuyasha. But what he did know was that Kagome was finally starting to embrace your past.

 

***

 

A/N: Thankies again for the wonderful reviews you all rock!!! Huggles Tal ^_^