After Kagome found out what her grandfather had claimed she had,
Kagome thought it best to avoid her friends for the rest of the day,
considering the embarrassment that would come when talking about the
'mysteries boils' that had 'appeared' on her... abdomen last month. She
spent her free time in the morning showing the note to the principle and
all of her teachers in hopes they had the work early instead.
Kagome spent her lunch and about half an hour after school in the
library. She had tried several times and failed to find a mention of
Genkai in any of the legends books, though she learned some facts that
helped in her history homework.
Sighing, Kagome let her eyes wonder across the various books on the
giant bookshelves before her. She saw the books on demons and magic that
she had read earlier, lazily thrown into the shelves again. Her gaze soon
fell on a section of the shelf that was dusty and looked as if no one had
looking in it for several years. Kagome stepped forward and read the
bindings on the dust-draped books one by one:
Mysteries of Artic Creatures
Fifteenth Century Nobility
Dragons, Demons, and Devils, oh My! *Kagome raises her left eyebrow*
Wish's of a Demon King
Kagome's gaze then fell on the last book. It was large and there
didn't seem to be any writing on it's ancient binding. This one didn't
seem to be touched in long enough that there were actually cobwebs hanging
from it's edges. Kagome pulled the book out, searching for a title, and
froze.
On the front cover, a detailed picture of the Shikon-no-Tama shown through
the grime.
Kagome gently pulled the book down fully from the shelf and walked
over to a table, setting it down gently. She pulled the old cover up and
started flipping past pages until another picture caught her gaze, this one
almost made her fall from her chair. Sesshomaru's cold, golden gaze seemed
locked on her from the page.
Kagome was now strangely aware that the pages were old, the cover
withered and weak. She was almost afraid that this new link to the past
would crumble in her hands. Scanning down the page she found that the
picture was from a tapestry found in a castle somewhere west of Tokyo.
There was speculations upon who he was and why exactly, his hair was white.
They just supposed the cat eyes were for theatrical effect.
The book said that they had found several scrolls in the abandoned
castle that they had documented in this book, claims of magic's and other
worlds in various languages. Some of the scrolls were in some strange
language that no one could decipher, they were copied in the back of this
book. Kagome scanned the pages and found mention of the Shikon-no-Tama,
tensaiga, and Sesshomaru's obsession with the tetsusgia.
Kagome, knowing about all of this, scanned through to the parts that
talked about other worlds. She gaped at the sight that she saw. What
appeared to be a giant demon with horns, a beard, and a strange hat stood
shouting in the back while what looked like a child in a blue suit and
similar hat as the giant stood in front, rubbing his temples...
The words below it soon took Kagome's interest though. Kagome read
the title several times, amazed she had found something that may match the
'Yuske's' description:
'WORLDS AND REALMS
Two worlds dominate existence. The world of the dead (also translated as
Spirit World) and the world of the living. A second real exists on the
world of the living. It is the home of the demons who fear sharing a world
with humans. It has been come to be known as Makai (AN: is that right???).
Very few humans know it exists, and few can find or enter a portal to that
realm. Between the two realms is a link, a third, much smaller realm. It
sits on several hundred square miles of forest that the average human
cannot see. Demons have battled over this area of land for centuries, but
they have yet to decide who is worthy of such a powerful position...'
"So Genkai must have gotten that space between the realms... but
where is that?" Kagome shouted the last part in frustration and was
immediately sent a glare and 'SHHH!' from the librarian. Kagome dropped
her head back to the text, scanning for a second and then stopping at one
of the authors/authoresses notes.
'The location of this supposed realm was not mentioned in this particular
scroll, though it is suggested that that fact may rest in one of the
scrolls left not yet deciphered in the back of this book. Along with...'
Kagome flipped to the back, seeing the dilemma easily from where she
sat at the table. Kagome briefly wondered if Sesshomaru had a sense of
humor and then brushed it away, looked over the symbols... or what looked
like roughly drawn animal foot-prints.
After a few moments studying the pictures, Kagome realized what they
were. Each of the foot-prints was a different direction, distance, or/and
number. The dog prints seemed to equal an X in roman numerals (Kagome
wondered if that was a sign of superiority for a moment), and a dog print
facing to the left of the page seemed to mean ten something's West,
probably miles considering how fast dog demons could go... then she noticed
the claws, if only one of the, toes, so to speak, had a claw, then it was
miles, two, were kilometers and three or four seemed to be something like
'to the closest shoreline'. That's why they couldn't decipher it! It's
not a language it's maps!
Kagome found about fifteen minutes later that certain map in the back
were matched by scrolls in the front of the book with a unique sign, the
one she was looking for happened to be an eight ended star with a circle of
a different white in the center. Kagome started to translate what she
could on paper when...
RING!!!
The bell rang... Kagome shut the book, papers inside, and scuttled
to the librarian.
"Mrs. Hilary," Harry's American mother actually, "um... do you think
I could buy this book? I know it's not the schools policy to sell books
and all, but no one seemed interested in it but me and so I kinda thought
that I could... I only have ten dollars and..."
Mrs. Hilary grabbed the book from her hands at that point, searching the
binding. She didn't seem to find whatever she was looking for and handed
it back to Kagome.
"Keep it, I only keep the one's that are marked yearly, this book
doesn't even seem to have been marked for several years," Mrs. Hilary waved
her away and went back to typing on the computer, "You better get to
class," she murmured without turning around. Kagome suddenly remembered,
and turned around to scurry off to class. Stuffing the giant book in her
already stuffed backpack on her way.
The rest of the day was like a blur to Kagome. She couldn't focus in
any of her class's and instead, her thoughts drifted to the book in her
backpack. It had talked all about Inu Yasha and the rest of theirs quest
for the jewel of four souls. So this book must have been written after
they finished to jewel but before all of the demons disappeared from earth.
Well, obviously not all if she had met two on some school's roof two years
ago, but... where were all the rest? Kagome had never sensed another demon
in this world before that. Well, maybe the odd lizard demon roaming a
gutter somewhere or a small humanoid rat demon.... but nothing nearly as
powerful as the two she had met on the roof. And those one's consulted
with humans.
Which brought up another point. The humans had been nearly as
powerful as the demons. Was that a product of that 'Genkai's' training?
Or were they in some way powerful in magical arts like miko's? Were they
some type of, non-religious priests from this time frame? But they hadn't
used scrolls or incantations... Maybe they just had strengths unique to
this world... er... modern species of human, like her.
Kagome looked down at her feet and rubbed her temples. I should stop
thinking, I'm only confusing myself. But Kagome's mind once again turned
to the book, and she wondered who had written it, obviously not Sesshomaru,
he would never call his liking for the tetsusgia an obsession, it wasn't
noble enough a word for him. And he'd never have made a point of
describing the Shikon-no-Tama... in fact, he had never seemed interested in
it at all except a shard to get his hand's on (no pun intended) the
tetsusgia.
And who would have the knowledge to write this kind of book but an
educated... that means Inu Yasha couldn't have written it (Kagome snorts
and smiles dryly)... person, probably a demon or one of some demon blood
because most humans wouldn't know these things. They'd have to have been
there after when Kagome was there, because it speaks of the jewel being
finished...
Kagome stopped walking home and her eyes widened slightly.
No, it didn't say finished. It had said 'the Shikon-no-Tama's
existence had ended'. Did that mean it hadn't ever been finished? But how
could it's 'existence end' without someone purifying it? Was it destroyed
somehow? Maybe... No. Maybe nothing... I will finish the jewel and purify
it. Besides, there's no other way it's existence could end...
Kagome squirmed and continued walking. There'd be enough time to
think when she finally translated the map and had started for the forest.
That was when she'd start questioning, only then. Besides, she'd have
plenty of time to study the book. But she'd have to avoid the pieces that
explained what would happen. She could change the entire timeline if she
knew what would happen, and then... aw screw it she'd read it anyway! She
wasn't going to pass up the chance to save one of her friends!
Lost in thought, Kagome didn't realize she was on a collision course
until she bumped into the person in front of her. This collision, caused
Kagome to fall back on her butt. She noted wryly that the person she
bumped into only wavered a little, and then caught himself.
"Oi! Watch where your going you little punk!" Kagome growled, and
then smiled. She still remembered some of the things that people did in a
fight. Kagome threw her leg across the floor, catching the boys unguarded
ankle... and flipping him onto the ground. Without looking up, Kagome
began to refill her backpack, which had spilled it's contents upon hitting
the floor. Putting mock cheerfulness into her form, Kagome smiled widely,
still not looking up.
"Oh I'm sorry! I can just be so clumsy sometimes!" Grabbing her
backpack and pulling herself up, Kagome came face to face with the boy she
had just bumped into. Her fake smile vanished, and her jaw dropped, "You!"
Kagome only barely realized it was her that had said the word and
continued to stare at the boy in front of her.
He, in turn, scowled, "What's the matter with you, you got a staring
problem?" Kagome, though now irritated by his rudeness, realized he
wouldn't recognize her, and put on another fake (yet much more realistic)
smile.
"I'm sorry, I just wasn't paying attention," Kagome said, hoping he
wouldn't see through her.
"You better make sure it doesn't happen again," the boy brushed past
her and began walking down the hall. Kagome spun around.
"What's your problem Yuske!?" Kagome, realizing a second to late
that she had made a mistake, turned slightly pale. Yuske slowly turned,
looking at her suspiciously. Kagome spun around again, walking a little
faster down the sidewalk. Unfortunately for her, Yuske was faster, and
jumped in front of her, pointed an accusing finger at her.
"How do you know my name?" Yuske then added as an afterthought, "I
haven't been at this school long enough to get a reputation..." Kagome
chuckled nervously.
"Umm... well... see, it's a long story and... well..." Kagome
decided to bet on the fact that, though he was smarter then that orange-
haired idiot he had traveled with years before, he wasn't quite as smart as
her, so she'd play off his pride, "Well, your reputation is pretty... er...
popular, among the guys at school so... yeah." Kagome darted past his side
and began walking/running down the sidewalk. If she was right, it would
take him a while to realize that even the guys didn't know any reputations,
and he'd come after her. Unless she was lucky and the guys at her school
did know...
"Oi!" Kagome wasn't lucky. And Kagome wasn't stupid, she knew
there'd be problems if she had to explain why she'd spied, it would lead to
'how can you sense demons' and then the questions on her miko powers and
the well. She wasn't willing to answer any of those questions. So Kagome
did what any sensible seventeen (almost eighteen) year old girl with a
secret would do...
She ran.
Kagome darted around the corner and sped down the sidewalk. She
couldn't lead him to the well, so she'd have to hide. And her backpack was
slowing her down, so she'd have to drop it off somewhere soon. Yuki's
house! That was close by here! And then she could get it and the book
back later. Spinning around the corner, Kagome jerked the backpack off her
shoulders. She was vaguely aware of the angry shouts of Yuske drawing
nearer. Trying to ignore that, Kagome threw the backpack unceremoniously
onto Yuki's lawn.
She was quicker now, but was she quick enough to avoid him. Kagome
could already feel her knee's beginning to weaken, and she had a strange
feeling that Yuske was just waiting for her to tire. She had to find
someplace to hide... quick...
~*~*~*~* Yuske's Point of view *~*~*~*~
Shit! This girl is fast! Well, faster then most anybody I know...
not including me, Hei, Kurama, and... well, no she was faster then Kuwabara
for the most part... Staying hot on her heals, Yuske saw her flip her
backpack into somebody's lawn, and then take off again. Why was she
running? Was she just scared of Yuske or did she have something to hide?
He sped up a little and watched her glance around nervously. The
girl didn't seem to know this neighborhood well. Yuske smirked. This was
where he'd lived until a couple of weeks ago. He knew he could find his
was around, but could she? He doubted it. And this girl was pissing him
off with all this running. He didn't want to get tired quick by going at
it full speed, so he kept to hers. She'd slow down eventually.
Yuske's angry scowl turned once again into a smirk when the girl
darted into the forest. Hei and Kurama were in there somewhere. Of
course, they wouldn't interfere unless he could find them... and then only
if he had a good excuse. Which he didn't. Yuske cursed under his breath
and darted into the tree's, only to see Hei holding the girl in the air by
her neck. Yuske stood there, awed, as one thought circled in his mind...
So... I guess they know each other...