InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets and Hidden Truth of Kagome ❯ A Strange Disturbance ( Chapter 25 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: AngelMiko 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.05.2004 | Updated On: 10.05.2004 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 501 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.05.2004 | Updated On: 10.05.2004 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 501 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: Yeh yeh, I know what you’re all saying. ‘But you said you were done with disclaimers’. (sighs) Well, here it goes. I don’t own INU & Co, just the ones you don’t recognise. STILL.
AN: Hey PPLZ, I’ve decided to start the round robin now and our first author will be Barbara_Marie. She’ll do the final chapter then we’ll start with the next author for the sequel. I’ll leave it with you B_M.
----------------------------------
A Strange Disturbance
After two days of passionate lovemaking, all returned to the castle. It was after all, the day of the ball. Inuyasha and Kikyou were at Sesshoumaru’s castle, having decided it was more protection for Kagome. It had taken quite some convincing by the two girls but eventually the guys had relented. However, they decided it would be safer if the two mikos were separated. The risk of an explosion from their combined powers was too great. So Inuyasha and Kikyou moved into the eastern wing, while Sesshoumaru and Kagome stayed at the western end. The two couples hardly saw each other as both barely left their rooms.
-----------------------------------
---At The Northern Castle---
The children ran happily through the gardens, laughing as they chased each other around. Rei and Yukka laughed as they watched the innocent fun they found in their games.
“I haven’t felt this content in ages, my love.” Yukka felt pride and joy at having his family around him once more. He smiled at Rei as he tightened his arm around her.
“Yes my friend, I agree with you completely.”
They turned and smiled at Inutaisho. Shortly behind him came Yuma, who giggled merrily as the children fell in a tangled heap on the floor.
“Oh isn’t this wonderful. I never would’ve imagined that we’d all be together like this again. And look at the way our family’s grown. Oh Rei, I’m so happy.”
Yuma stepped forward as she spoke to embrace her sister. They pulled back and they smiled warmly at one another. Rei opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a look of pain came to her face. The two men watched in shock as she and Yuma cried out in agony, doubling over and only just managing to keep each other upright. Their partners were at their sides instantly, gathering their mates to them protectively.
“Rei, love what’s wrong?”
The deep concern, etched in Yukka’s face was mirrored on Inutaisho’s. He brushed back a strand of hair from Yuma’s face as his eyes ran worriedly over her strained features. After his long separation from her, couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to her.
“Something is very wrong in the future. We must return as soon as possible. My love, could you please take us to the well?”
The men nodded in agreement and complied with the women’s wishes. As soon as they neared the clearing, Rei turned to Yukka with another request.
“Could you stay and wait for Kagome and Kikyou. I’ve contacted them and asked them to come here. They should be here soon. Just explain what’s happened.”
With that, the two women kissed their mates goodbye before turning to the well. Inutaisho stepped forward, just before Yuma could jump in. He grabbed her again and squeezed her tightly. Pulling back, he stared into her eyes.
“Be safe my love. I’ll be waiting until you return.”
Yuma smiled reassuringly at her mate, giving him one last kiss before disappearing into the blue light.
-----------------------------------
---Elsewhere---
In the middle of a vast plain of grasslands, two demons fought. On one side stood a winged demon in a white fighting kimono, adorned in gold and silver light bursts and covered with wings. Her hair was light blonde with white streaks and hung down to her ankles. Her eyes were a deep ocean blue. Upon her forehead sat the same symbol that was on her kimono. Her cheeks and wrists held three gold stripes. Her wings and her bushy tail were the same color as her hair.
Across from her stood another demon. This one had white hair and a fluffy tail both with blue streaks. Her eyes a deep crystal blue, appearing almost like ice but with the power to set hearts aflame. Two baby blue stripes appeared on both cheeks and a crimson crescent moon with a blood drop appearing from its tip, adorned her forehead. She was dressed in a sleeveless black halter top and a long black skirt that split on both sides, right up to the hip. Underneath it was a short pair of black leather shorts and on her back, her two swords nestled between her black wings, sitting crossed to form an X in the center.
The pair faced each other, their hands glowing intensely. The demon in white glowed with a gold light while the other’s hand glowed red. All of a sudden, a strange tremor began beneath them. Both paused half way through their attacks, frowning. As they felt the tremor increase, they jumped back about twenty feet to land in a tree on the opposite side of the field.
“Hey Ai, I thought we agreed not to use our goddess powers for sparring today!” The demon in black looked at the other in a startled manner.
“We did Sakura. That wasn’t me.” Ai turned her head and looked at her friend in concern. “Something’s very wrong. I haven’t felt anything like this since Naraku was born.”
“What do you think it could be?” Sakura was worried now. If Ai was concerned then there was definitely something wrong.
“I’m not sure but it could mean serious trouble for Lady Kagome.”
As Ai finished speaking, the tremor stopped and a small pond appeared to the left of the tree that they stood in. They jumped down and looked into it, amazed at what they saw. The picture revealed was of Lady Rei and Lady Yuma appearing in the future through the well. What startled the pair the most was the young human they almost bumped into as they exited the well house.
-----------------------------------
---In The Future---
Rei and Yuma stopped short as they stared in surprise at the girl before them. Rei was first to recover from the shock, stepping forward with a frown.
“Arysha? What are you doing here? I thought you were in America with your father.”
Rei suddenly noticed the strained expression on her face. Her concern grew as she watched a sweat drop roll down the side of Arysha’s face. The girl’s legs seemed rather unsteady as she took a faltering step forward. Rei and Yuma exchanged a glance before stepping on either side of the girl to grab her arms supportively.
“Let’s get you inside then we can work out what the problem is.” Yuma felt as deeply concerned as her sister about their niece.
They led the girl inside and sat her at the kitchen table. Yuma made a pot of tea while Rei vanished upstairs, returning minutes later with a washbowl and cloth. She squeezed the cloth and wiped the sweat from Arysha’s face. After the girl had sipped some tea and seemed to visibly relax, Rei felt it fine to question her.
“Arysha, what’s happened? The last time I spoke to your father, you were all back in America. Does he know that you’re here?”
The girl looked down contritely, unable to meet her aunt’s eyes. “No auntie Rei, he doesn’t. I kinda left in a hurry.”
Rei and Yuma looked at each other, startled. Yuma turned back to Arysha, enquiring “What happened?”
With a sigh, Arysha lifted her eyes and slowly began to explain. “I had a fight with my step-mom.”
At this, a knowing glance was exchanged by the two sisters. A look of irritation passed over Rei’s face. Arysha was the daughter of her dead sister. After Reeka passed on, her mate could not stand living with all the memories of the past. He came to Rei with a request, that she help him go to the future. Seeing the demon’s obvious despair, Rei granted the wish and allowed him passage through the well with his daughter. After ten years he found love again. Unfortunately for poor Arysha, the union meant constant heartache. The woman was a human who seemed rather disapproving of all demonic activity. There were many a times when they would receive heartbreaking calls from the sobbing girl over one incident or another. More recently, the calls turned into visits from Arysha who was now old enough to travel on her own. She would often appear suddenly, surprising them all.
“What was it about this time?” Yuma sighed.
“The same thing as usual. My powers and my unsavory friends.” Arysha’s face fell at the thought. “I try so hard to contain them auntie, I really do. But it’s getting harder and harder all the time. I have moments when my concealment spell just won’t hold. That’s why I came here. Last time I chatted with Kags online, she mentioned that there was a store at your mall that sold certain a charm that might help me. So I thought that I’d come and get one. I don’t know what else to do.”
As she finished speaking, she broke out in a sweat again. Rei stood and walked to her side, once again retrieving the cloth to wipe her forehead.
“How long has this been happening Arysha?”
“Well, it started when I turned 15 but it’s gotten a lot worse in the last two years.”
“Well no wonder.” Yuma said in disgust. “If you’re forced to conceal your powers and your true form without ever releasing them, then of course you’d have trouble containing them.”
“Yes Yuma, you’re right.” Rei looked down at her niece. “If you don’t release them you could become very sick. I think it’s best while you’re here that you drop the concealment. We’ll set up a barrier to alert us of anyone’s presence so you don’t have to worry that you’ll get caught.”
Arysha smiled at her aunt’s in relief. “Thank you, so much auntie Rei, aunt Yuma.”
She closed her eyes, whispering the words that altered her appearance. Before them now sat a stunningly beautiful Inu demon. She had hair of cherry black that sat in ringlets to halfway down her back. Her eyes were a warm mahogany brown with flames of red fanning out from around the irises and were ringed with thick black curly lashes. Her lips were full and sensual. Her forehead held the crest of her father’s demon warlock clan. It was a silver circular amulet of intricate design with a large pink teardrop in its center. On her cheeks and wrists were one pink and one silver stripe. Her claws were a shiny silver that sparkled in the light. When the transformation was complete, Arysha smiled happily at her aunts.
Rei opened her mouth to speak but closed it again as she heard the door open behind her. They all turned to see Kagome walking through, followed by Aya, Sango and Kikyou. Kag’s face lit up when she saw her cousin sitting at the table. With a cry of joy Arysha stood and the two girls ran into each other’s arms, laughing as they hugged one another.
“Ry, what are you doing here?”
“Well, if you don’t mind cuz, I’d like to take you up on that offer to take me to the charm shop.”
Kagome’s face fell. “Oh, it’s happened again, hasn’t it?”
Arysha nodded, looking serious for a moment. “I had another surge of power and I damaged my step-mom’s new washing machine.”
Kagome could just imagine Jill’s face when that happened. She didn’t like the woman very much and felt resentful towards her for constantly upsetting Arysha. If there was anything she could do to make her cousin’s life easier then she was more than willing to do so. She turned to Aya, Kikyou and Sango, introducing the curious girls to Arysha and quickly explaining the situation. Aya knew Ry already and with a warm smile, she embraced the cousin she hadn’t seen for so long. They all agreed that it was best to leave for the mall straight away. With her powers constantly threatening to surface, Arysha would need the charm immediately.
-----------------------------------
---At The Mall---
The girls walked quickly through the crowd of people. Arysha was once more concealed but they all worried at how long she could hold the spell. Just as they stepped off the escalator on the level of the charm shop, a waving boy called out to Kagome. She groaned inwardly as she smiled and waved back at Hojo. As much as she liked the boy, she didn’t have time for this.
“Kagome, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“I’ve been very busy lately Hojo. How are you?”
Kagome proceeded to introduce him to her cousin and sisters. After the introduction was made, Arysha told the girls to stay and chat while she went to the shop.
“I know what I have to get. I’ll be fine, honestly.”
With a smile, she left the others who all decided to have a milkshake while they chatted with Kagome’s old school friend. She entered the charm shop, smiling at the wonderful scents that filled the air. This was definitely a demon’s delight. She headed toward the back of the shop, spying the particular charm she sought. She lifted it from the hook, feeling its power instantly. She smiled to herself and turned to pay at the counter when a strange surge of power called her. She stopped dead and turned her head in the direction of its source. At the back of the store, a bright jewel pulsed intensely.
“Well now, it seems that the jewel has picked its master.” The rough voice of shopkeeper startled her, bringing her out of the strange daze that she’d fallen into.
“What? Sorry?” She looked at him in confusion.
“I’ve had that thing for a very, very long time. And this is the first time it’s ever called to someone. That means that you must be the true owner.”
Arysha frowned and busied herself, looking through her bag for her credit card. “I don’t know what you’re about.”
The man gave a harsh laugh as he took the card from her, watching her closely as he spoke. “Sure you don’t. Nobody ever knows what I’m talkin about.”
Arysha hurriedly paid for the charm and left the shop. She found her group sitting in the food court, still deep in conversation with the boy. She turned around, deciding to make one more purchase before returning.
-----------------------------------
---Back At The Shrine---
There was lots of laughter coming from inside the house as the present members of the family sat chatting over lunch. Sota decided that a house full of women was just too much for him and closed himself up in his room. After the meal was finished and cleared away, the women sat sipping their tea. Sango and Kikyou asked Kagome if she could show them the family photo album before they returned to the feudal era to prepare for the ball. Arysha excused herself, stating that she’d seen that thing more times than she could count. She was going to sit in the garden and read. She went to the lounge room, leaving the ladies cooing over the photos of Kags and herself as babies. She paused by the coffee table to pick up the book that she purchased at the mall. She walked outside and headed straight for the God Tree, feeling such relief to finally release her true form. She stood beside the tree a minute, deep in thought.
Suddenly, the earth shook violently beneath her. With a startled cry, Arysha tried desperately to reach for the God Tree for support. Unfortunately, the force of the tremor intensified, sending her hurtling back. A brilliant white light surrounded her and the tree as a deathly silence filled the air.
Inside the house, all conversation ceased as they felt the tremor begin. A sudden loud scream filled the air, causing a shiver to run down everyone’s spine.
“Arysha!!”
Kagome tried desperately to stand but found herself struggling as the tremor became worse. With halting progress, she made her way to the door, grabbing furniture and doors for support. At last, the shaking stopped, suddenly dying away and leaving the deathly silence in its wake. Everybody rose and rushed outside. Kagome reached her cousin’s side first.
“Arysha? Arysha, can you hear me?”
A sense of dread filled her as she lifted her cousin’s head from the ground. Her heart tightened painfully at the sight of the blood that seeped from her nose and the corner of her mouth. The stench of internal bleeding rose from her form. Her breathing was shallow and her heart slowed to a frighteningly slow pace. Closing her eyes, Kags tried to heal Arysha. After several minutes, she sat back helplessly and turned to her mother with frantic eyes.
“Mom, she’s dying. And I can’t do anything to stop it.”
Kikyou stepped forward. “What if we all combine our powers and try?”
They all nodded in agreement and shut their eyes, summoning their healing energies and sending them into the injured girl. They stopped after realizing that their efforts were useless. Yuma took charge, stepping forward decisively as she spoke.
“Come, lets pick her up. We must return with her to the Feudal Era. The only hope she has now is Tensaiga.”
“Of course” Kagome looked at her aunt gratefully. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Just as the girls were about to lift Arysha from the ground, they heard a noise coming from the well house. They all turned to see Inuyasha and Miroku emerge.
“We were worried. We all felt the shift in the Feudal Era. What’s happened?”
Both men stopped short as they saw the figure lying still on the ground. Kagome quickly explained to them what happened, stressing the urgency of returning to the past. They both nodded and Inuyasha bent down to pick up the injured girl. Without further delay, the young ones headed for the well, while Yuma and Rei returned to the house to contact Arysha’s father.
-----------------------------------
---Elsewhere---
The two beautiful demons stood looking on with anxious expressions.
“What do think caused that Ai?” Sakura turned to Aigalad Maisie. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“I have. A very long time ago.” Ai sighed as apprehension filled her. “I had no idea it’s source still existed. It was supposed to be destroyed hundreds of years ago. I don’t understand this at all.”
“What do you mean Ai?” Sakura looked at her mentor in confusion.
Ai straightened, looking at her gravely. She was far more worried than she let on. She didn’t want to worry the girl overly. Sakura had been training with her for a year now and still required more work on her special powers. She already suffered enough frustration at the fact that her favored skill constantly gave her trouble. This would only make her feel more pressure to produce results and she didn’t need that right now. Ai decided that she would only tell Sakura what was necessary for now. When the right time came, she would reveal all to her. Besides, she needed to find out if her hunch was correct. There was something that didn’t seem right about this whole business. She turned to her protégé and explained.
“I don’t know for sure what’s happened yet. I need to make some enquiries first but in the meantime, we really have to leave. I’ll explain what I know as we fly. The sooner I find out what’s going on, the better.”
Sakura nodded her head, her face serious as she wondered what had Ai so worried. She trusted her mentor and would leave it up to her to tell her when she thought fit. She quietly followed Ai into the sky and they disappeared like two birds on the horizon.
AN: Hey PPLZ, I’ve decided to start the round robin now and our first author will be Barbara_Marie. She’ll do the final chapter then we’ll start with the next author for the sequel. I’ll leave it with you B_M.
----------------------------------
A Strange Disturbance
After two days of passionate lovemaking, all returned to the castle. It was after all, the day of the ball. Inuyasha and Kikyou were at Sesshoumaru’s castle, having decided it was more protection for Kagome. It had taken quite some convincing by the two girls but eventually the guys had relented. However, they decided it would be safer if the two mikos were separated. The risk of an explosion from their combined powers was too great. So Inuyasha and Kikyou moved into the eastern wing, while Sesshoumaru and Kagome stayed at the western end. The two couples hardly saw each other as both barely left their rooms.
-----------------------------------
---At The Northern Castle---
The children ran happily through the gardens, laughing as they chased each other around. Rei and Yukka laughed as they watched the innocent fun they found in their games.
“I haven’t felt this content in ages, my love.” Yukka felt pride and joy at having his family around him once more. He smiled at Rei as he tightened his arm around her.
“Yes my friend, I agree with you completely.”
They turned and smiled at Inutaisho. Shortly behind him came Yuma, who giggled merrily as the children fell in a tangled heap on the floor.
“Oh isn’t this wonderful. I never would’ve imagined that we’d all be together like this again. And look at the way our family’s grown. Oh Rei, I’m so happy.”
Yuma stepped forward as she spoke to embrace her sister. They pulled back and they smiled warmly at one another. Rei opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a look of pain came to her face. The two men watched in shock as she and Yuma cried out in agony, doubling over and only just managing to keep each other upright. Their partners were at their sides instantly, gathering their mates to them protectively.
“Rei, love what’s wrong?”
The deep concern, etched in Yukka’s face was mirrored on Inutaisho’s. He brushed back a strand of hair from Yuma’s face as his eyes ran worriedly over her strained features. After his long separation from her, couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to her.
“Something is very wrong in the future. We must return as soon as possible. My love, could you please take us to the well?”
The men nodded in agreement and complied with the women’s wishes. As soon as they neared the clearing, Rei turned to Yukka with another request.
“Could you stay and wait for Kagome and Kikyou. I’ve contacted them and asked them to come here. They should be here soon. Just explain what’s happened.”
With that, the two women kissed their mates goodbye before turning to the well. Inutaisho stepped forward, just before Yuma could jump in. He grabbed her again and squeezed her tightly. Pulling back, he stared into her eyes.
“Be safe my love. I’ll be waiting until you return.”
Yuma smiled reassuringly at her mate, giving him one last kiss before disappearing into the blue light.
-----------------------------------
---Elsewhere---
In the middle of a vast plain of grasslands, two demons fought. On one side stood a winged demon in a white fighting kimono, adorned in gold and silver light bursts and covered with wings. Her hair was light blonde with white streaks and hung down to her ankles. Her eyes were a deep ocean blue. Upon her forehead sat the same symbol that was on her kimono. Her cheeks and wrists held three gold stripes. Her wings and her bushy tail were the same color as her hair.
Across from her stood another demon. This one had white hair and a fluffy tail both with blue streaks. Her eyes a deep crystal blue, appearing almost like ice but with the power to set hearts aflame. Two baby blue stripes appeared on both cheeks and a crimson crescent moon with a blood drop appearing from its tip, adorned her forehead. She was dressed in a sleeveless black halter top and a long black skirt that split on both sides, right up to the hip. Underneath it was a short pair of black leather shorts and on her back, her two swords nestled between her black wings, sitting crossed to form an X in the center.
The pair faced each other, their hands glowing intensely. The demon in white glowed with a gold light while the other’s hand glowed red. All of a sudden, a strange tremor began beneath them. Both paused half way through their attacks, frowning. As they felt the tremor increase, they jumped back about twenty feet to land in a tree on the opposite side of the field.
“Hey Ai, I thought we agreed not to use our goddess powers for sparring today!” The demon in black looked at the other in a startled manner.
“We did Sakura. That wasn’t me.” Ai turned her head and looked at her friend in concern. “Something’s very wrong. I haven’t felt anything like this since Naraku was born.”
“What do you think it could be?” Sakura was worried now. If Ai was concerned then there was definitely something wrong.
“I’m not sure but it could mean serious trouble for Lady Kagome.”
As Ai finished speaking, the tremor stopped and a small pond appeared to the left of the tree that they stood in. They jumped down and looked into it, amazed at what they saw. The picture revealed was of Lady Rei and Lady Yuma appearing in the future through the well. What startled the pair the most was the young human they almost bumped into as they exited the well house.
-----------------------------------
---In The Future---
Rei and Yuma stopped short as they stared in surprise at the girl before them. Rei was first to recover from the shock, stepping forward with a frown.
“Arysha? What are you doing here? I thought you were in America with your father.”
Rei suddenly noticed the strained expression on her face. Her concern grew as she watched a sweat drop roll down the side of Arysha’s face. The girl’s legs seemed rather unsteady as she took a faltering step forward. Rei and Yuma exchanged a glance before stepping on either side of the girl to grab her arms supportively.
“Let’s get you inside then we can work out what the problem is.” Yuma felt as deeply concerned as her sister about their niece.
They led the girl inside and sat her at the kitchen table. Yuma made a pot of tea while Rei vanished upstairs, returning minutes later with a washbowl and cloth. She squeezed the cloth and wiped the sweat from Arysha’s face. After the girl had sipped some tea and seemed to visibly relax, Rei felt it fine to question her.
“Arysha, what’s happened? The last time I spoke to your father, you were all back in America. Does he know that you’re here?”
The girl looked down contritely, unable to meet her aunt’s eyes. “No auntie Rei, he doesn’t. I kinda left in a hurry.”
Rei and Yuma looked at each other, startled. Yuma turned back to Arysha, enquiring “What happened?”
With a sigh, Arysha lifted her eyes and slowly began to explain. “I had a fight with my step-mom.”
At this, a knowing glance was exchanged by the two sisters. A look of irritation passed over Rei’s face. Arysha was the daughter of her dead sister. After Reeka passed on, her mate could not stand living with all the memories of the past. He came to Rei with a request, that she help him go to the future. Seeing the demon’s obvious despair, Rei granted the wish and allowed him passage through the well with his daughter. After ten years he found love again. Unfortunately for poor Arysha, the union meant constant heartache. The woman was a human who seemed rather disapproving of all demonic activity. There were many a times when they would receive heartbreaking calls from the sobbing girl over one incident or another. More recently, the calls turned into visits from Arysha who was now old enough to travel on her own. She would often appear suddenly, surprising them all.
“What was it about this time?” Yuma sighed.
“The same thing as usual. My powers and my unsavory friends.” Arysha’s face fell at the thought. “I try so hard to contain them auntie, I really do. But it’s getting harder and harder all the time. I have moments when my concealment spell just won’t hold. That’s why I came here. Last time I chatted with Kags online, she mentioned that there was a store at your mall that sold certain a charm that might help me. So I thought that I’d come and get one. I don’t know what else to do.”
As she finished speaking, she broke out in a sweat again. Rei stood and walked to her side, once again retrieving the cloth to wipe her forehead.
“How long has this been happening Arysha?”
“Well, it started when I turned 15 but it’s gotten a lot worse in the last two years.”
“Well no wonder.” Yuma said in disgust. “If you’re forced to conceal your powers and your true form without ever releasing them, then of course you’d have trouble containing them.”
“Yes Yuma, you’re right.” Rei looked down at her niece. “If you don’t release them you could become very sick. I think it’s best while you’re here that you drop the concealment. We’ll set up a barrier to alert us of anyone’s presence so you don’t have to worry that you’ll get caught.”
Arysha smiled at her aunt’s in relief. “Thank you, so much auntie Rei, aunt Yuma.”
She closed her eyes, whispering the words that altered her appearance. Before them now sat a stunningly beautiful Inu demon. She had hair of cherry black that sat in ringlets to halfway down her back. Her eyes were a warm mahogany brown with flames of red fanning out from around the irises and were ringed with thick black curly lashes. Her lips were full and sensual. Her forehead held the crest of her father’s demon warlock clan. It was a silver circular amulet of intricate design with a large pink teardrop in its center. On her cheeks and wrists were one pink and one silver stripe. Her claws were a shiny silver that sparkled in the light. When the transformation was complete, Arysha smiled happily at her aunts.
Rei opened her mouth to speak but closed it again as she heard the door open behind her. They all turned to see Kagome walking through, followed by Aya, Sango and Kikyou. Kag’s face lit up when she saw her cousin sitting at the table. With a cry of joy Arysha stood and the two girls ran into each other’s arms, laughing as they hugged one another.
“Ry, what are you doing here?”
“Well, if you don’t mind cuz, I’d like to take you up on that offer to take me to the charm shop.”
Kagome’s face fell. “Oh, it’s happened again, hasn’t it?”
Arysha nodded, looking serious for a moment. “I had another surge of power and I damaged my step-mom’s new washing machine.”
Kagome could just imagine Jill’s face when that happened. She didn’t like the woman very much and felt resentful towards her for constantly upsetting Arysha. If there was anything she could do to make her cousin’s life easier then she was more than willing to do so. She turned to Aya, Kikyou and Sango, introducing the curious girls to Arysha and quickly explaining the situation. Aya knew Ry already and with a warm smile, she embraced the cousin she hadn’t seen for so long. They all agreed that it was best to leave for the mall straight away. With her powers constantly threatening to surface, Arysha would need the charm immediately.
-----------------------------------
---At The Mall---
The girls walked quickly through the crowd of people. Arysha was once more concealed but they all worried at how long she could hold the spell. Just as they stepped off the escalator on the level of the charm shop, a waving boy called out to Kagome. She groaned inwardly as she smiled and waved back at Hojo. As much as she liked the boy, she didn’t have time for this.
“Kagome, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you.”
“I’ve been very busy lately Hojo. How are you?”
Kagome proceeded to introduce him to her cousin and sisters. After the introduction was made, Arysha told the girls to stay and chat while she went to the shop.
“I know what I have to get. I’ll be fine, honestly.”
With a smile, she left the others who all decided to have a milkshake while they chatted with Kagome’s old school friend. She entered the charm shop, smiling at the wonderful scents that filled the air. This was definitely a demon’s delight. She headed toward the back of the shop, spying the particular charm she sought. She lifted it from the hook, feeling its power instantly. She smiled to herself and turned to pay at the counter when a strange surge of power called her. She stopped dead and turned her head in the direction of its source. At the back of the store, a bright jewel pulsed intensely.
“Well now, it seems that the jewel has picked its master.” The rough voice of shopkeeper startled her, bringing her out of the strange daze that she’d fallen into.
“What? Sorry?” She looked at him in confusion.
“I’ve had that thing for a very, very long time. And this is the first time it’s ever called to someone. That means that you must be the true owner.”
Arysha frowned and busied herself, looking through her bag for her credit card. “I don’t know what you’re about.”
The man gave a harsh laugh as he took the card from her, watching her closely as he spoke. “Sure you don’t. Nobody ever knows what I’m talkin about.”
Arysha hurriedly paid for the charm and left the shop. She found her group sitting in the food court, still deep in conversation with the boy. She turned around, deciding to make one more purchase before returning.
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---Back At The Shrine---
There was lots of laughter coming from inside the house as the present members of the family sat chatting over lunch. Sota decided that a house full of women was just too much for him and closed himself up in his room. After the meal was finished and cleared away, the women sat sipping their tea. Sango and Kikyou asked Kagome if she could show them the family photo album before they returned to the feudal era to prepare for the ball. Arysha excused herself, stating that she’d seen that thing more times than she could count. She was going to sit in the garden and read. She went to the lounge room, leaving the ladies cooing over the photos of Kags and herself as babies. She paused by the coffee table to pick up the book that she purchased at the mall. She walked outside and headed straight for the God Tree, feeling such relief to finally release her true form. She stood beside the tree a minute, deep in thought.
Suddenly, the earth shook violently beneath her. With a startled cry, Arysha tried desperately to reach for the God Tree for support. Unfortunately, the force of the tremor intensified, sending her hurtling back. A brilliant white light surrounded her and the tree as a deathly silence filled the air.
Inside the house, all conversation ceased as they felt the tremor begin. A sudden loud scream filled the air, causing a shiver to run down everyone’s spine.
“Arysha!!”
Kagome tried desperately to stand but found herself struggling as the tremor became worse. With halting progress, she made her way to the door, grabbing furniture and doors for support. At last, the shaking stopped, suddenly dying away and leaving the deathly silence in its wake. Everybody rose and rushed outside. Kagome reached her cousin’s side first.
“Arysha? Arysha, can you hear me?”
A sense of dread filled her as she lifted her cousin’s head from the ground. Her heart tightened painfully at the sight of the blood that seeped from her nose and the corner of her mouth. The stench of internal bleeding rose from her form. Her breathing was shallow and her heart slowed to a frighteningly slow pace. Closing her eyes, Kags tried to heal Arysha. After several minutes, she sat back helplessly and turned to her mother with frantic eyes.
“Mom, she’s dying. And I can’t do anything to stop it.”
Kikyou stepped forward. “What if we all combine our powers and try?”
They all nodded in agreement and shut their eyes, summoning their healing energies and sending them into the injured girl. They stopped after realizing that their efforts were useless. Yuma took charge, stepping forward decisively as she spoke.
“Come, lets pick her up. We must return with her to the Feudal Era. The only hope she has now is Tensaiga.”
“Of course” Kagome looked at her aunt gratefully. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Just as the girls were about to lift Arysha from the ground, they heard a noise coming from the well house. They all turned to see Inuyasha and Miroku emerge.
“We were worried. We all felt the shift in the Feudal Era. What’s happened?”
Both men stopped short as they saw the figure lying still on the ground. Kagome quickly explained to them what happened, stressing the urgency of returning to the past. They both nodded and Inuyasha bent down to pick up the injured girl. Without further delay, the young ones headed for the well, while Yuma and Rei returned to the house to contact Arysha’s father.
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---Elsewhere---
The two beautiful demons stood looking on with anxious expressions.
“What do think caused that Ai?” Sakura turned to Aigalad Maisie. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“I have. A very long time ago.” Ai sighed as apprehension filled her. “I had no idea it’s source still existed. It was supposed to be destroyed hundreds of years ago. I don’t understand this at all.”
“What do you mean Ai?” Sakura looked at her mentor in confusion.
Ai straightened, looking at her gravely. She was far more worried than she let on. She didn’t want to worry the girl overly. Sakura had been training with her for a year now and still required more work on her special powers. She already suffered enough frustration at the fact that her favored skill constantly gave her trouble. This would only make her feel more pressure to produce results and she didn’t need that right now. Ai decided that she would only tell Sakura what was necessary for now. When the right time came, she would reveal all to her. Besides, she needed to find out if her hunch was correct. There was something that didn’t seem right about this whole business. She turned to her protégé and explained.
“I don’t know for sure what’s happened yet. I need to make some enquiries first but in the meantime, we really have to leave. I’ll explain what I know as we fly. The sooner I find out what’s going on, the better.”
Sakura nodded her head, her face serious as she wondered what had Ai so worried. She trusted her mentor and would leave it up to her to tell her when she thought fit. She quietly followed Ai into the sky and they disappeared like two birds on the horizon.