InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secrets of the Shinju (Part I): Sesshoumaru's Stolen Memories ❯ Words of a Holy Man ( Chapter 2 )
Chapter One
Words of a Holy Man
"It brings me pain to have to tell you this, but I see a dark ominous cloud hanging over this structure. As a man of the cloth I will perform an exorcism and remove any demon from this place." InuYasha rolled his eyes after hearing Miroku give the same line he always gave when he desired a nice place to sleep and a hot meal. The monk began to place spirit scrolls on the building, as the owner thanked him profusely.
"I will accept no payment for my deeds" the monk said with a believable amount of sincerity. Of course, as always the owner would not have that. They were all invited to eat with the family and sleep there for the night. InuYasha looked to Kagome, who seemed to be searching for something. She had led them to this village because she sensed a jewel shard. But when she got there, she was unable to find it.
Once the group was along in the building, he turned to Kagome. "Do you sense the jewel shard yet?" She gave him a troubled look. "I can sense it, but it's as if someone is hiding it from me." She stepped out of the building and looked around the village. The shard was defiantly here, she just couldn't figure out where. She began to walk slowly, studying everything. She could feel a strong aura coming from a small temple at the other end of the village. She slowly walked towards it and found herself hesitating to enter it. It was as though someone had intentionally put up a barrier that would make her want to retreat. This only made her press harder. She entered the temple and saw no one. She could now sense the jewel shard. She walked slowly towards the back of the temple. There was a narrow door there, and she lightly knocked. At first she thought no one would answer, and then the door suddenly creaked open. Before her an old man appeared. She could immediately sense his immense power, and stepped back. "Yes?" He eyed her closely.
"My name is Kagome; I have come here in search of something that I believe you have." The old man studied her face and seemed to delve into her very soul.
"My name is Seiji; I am what the villagers call their Holy Man. I am neither a monk nor priest; that is not my calling in this life." He watched her reaction, and then continued. "You, young priestess have come for a shard of the sacred Shikon Jewel." Kagome stood there and finally nodded her head.
"You have much power that you have not yet harnessed, young priestess. I can feel it radiating off of you. Yet it is obvious that you cannot control it. Come with me." He turned and entered the narrow door, and Kagome quickly followed. He walked to a desk and picked up a bronze box. Kagome could feel the shard, but also an intense power around the box. `He's got a spell around the shard, so that demons can't sense it.' "That's correct." Kagome jumped at the sound of his voice, for she had not spoken the words out loud. The man gave her a crooked smile and said "you need not speak out loud for me to hear you." She looked from him to the box. He slowly opened it and inside was a shard of the jewel. He then closed the box and looked at Kagome.
"Tonight you will remain at the village. Tomorrow you will come back here, and I will then give you the shard of the jewel. I have much to think about before then. It is important that you not leave the village until I have spoken with you again, priestess." With that he dismissed her and she walked from the temple.
She returned to InuYasha and the others not quite sure what had just taken place. She told Sango what had transpired with the old man and the two of them decided it would be best to stay another night. "There is no need to upset InuYasha; I wouldn't want him trying to harm the old man." Kagome told Sango. When they joined Miroku and InuYasha, they told them that the Holy Man had invited Kagome back the following day and would give her the jewel shard. The group was again invited to dinner, and asked to stay the night. Kagome had an odd dream that night. She could feel someone beside her, and he was familiar but she couldn't see him. She could tell his soul was being tormented, but found that there was nothing she could do to help him.
She awoke the next morning, with a feeling of failure. Someone had needed her and she couldn't help them. After being awake for a few moments, the feelings began go subside and she and Sango went for a bath. She then set off for the temple.
This time, Seiji was waiting for her, with a serious expression on his face. "Priestess, it is of the utmost importance that you heed the words I am about to say to you." He looked at her closely to be sure he had her full attention. When he was satisfied that she was listening to him he began again "Someone you are familiar with, will be coming to you. He is not an ally to you, yet he will need your assistance. It is important that you remain with him. Your priestess powers will be required in order to keep him safe. And keeping him safe is of the essence." He stared into her eyes listening to her thoughts. He could tell she was a person of great dignity. The true soul of a priestess lie within this mere child, and would guide her to do the right thing.
He then picked up the bronze box and handed it to her. He watched as she opened it and plucked out the jewel shard. It was instantly purified the moment she touched it. This truly impressed him. "Remember what I've told you today. You must remain with this person, no matter what." She shuddered slightly, and thanked Seiji. She quickly walked back to the others, remembering the feeling she had when she first woke that morning. `Could he have been telling the truth?'
They left the village and after traveling for a few days, Seiji's words had almost disappeared from her mind. Suddenly, InuYasha stopped dead in his tracks. He looked around slowly and it was obvious he recognized a familiar scent.
Moments later Sesshoumaru appeared before them. He stared at them blankly, making no move to attack. InuYasha quickly unsheathed the Tetsusaiga and walked towards his brother. Yet Sesshoumaru stood there unmoving. He appeared to be taking in the situation and trying to figure something out. Finally he said "Why is it you draw your sword? Do you have some wish to fight me?" InuYasha continued to advance slowly towards Sesshoumaru, while Kagome stood there watching. Something is wrong with him, his aura is not right. Sesshoumaru glanced at her and caught her eyes; there was no recognition in them. "InuYasha! Don't attack him, something's wrong!" Kagome ran towards the two brothers, and stood between them. She turned towards Sesshoumaru, who still stood there looking at her as though he were unable to place her.
"Sesshoumaru, what is wrong with you?" He watched her for a moment, and then replied "I can only assume that since you addressed me as Sesshoumaru, you know me and that is my name." She looked up at him `this can't be an act; he would never do something like this. He has no idea who we are or even who he is.' Quickly now, Seiji's words flooded her mind, and she suddenly recognized the presence she had felt in her dream. It had been Sesshoumaru. For some reason, unbeknownst to her, she was supposed to protect him.
She turned to InuYasha who had now lowered his Tetsusaiga. "He isn't kidding here InuYasha. Something happened to him, he has amnesia or something. I think we should return to the village. Seiji told me this was going to happen. He might know what is going on." InuYasha watched his older brother closely, clearly not liking the idea of traveling with him. "Please InuYasha, we should at least find out what has happened to cause this." Finally he sheathed his sword and grunted something to Kagome. She turned to Sesshoumaru and told him to follow along. Though he wasn't sure why, he didn't like the idea of her telling him what to do.