The Truth

Chapter Four

By: Lazuli

Inu Yasha sat stiffly on the low couch as Yuka chattered on how neat it was that this was the real Inu Yasha, and that her friend Kagome was the famous girl of the story. She seemed dead set on tracing Kagome’s family history.

“Yuka-chan…it’s not that important. Please, can’t we just let it go? Kikyo is a part of the past, but I don’t think it’s necessary to bother Jii-chan about this.”

Yuka grinned. “Your grandfather loves stuff like this. I know that he will be so happy to bring this out. Now…how old is this scroll here?”

Kagome’s head hung down, and she sighed. There was no getting out of this, it seemed. Now that Yuka knew about Inu Yasha…

“I wonder if you can bring him to school? Sensei would love that!”

Inu Yasha growled. “What do you think I am? I wouldn’t want to get displayed in your weird places. I’m a dog demon, woman! I am not some thing for you to stare at.”

“Kagome, did I hear right? You want to learn about our ancestors? It’s a proud moment for me…” Her grandfather wiped away tears of happiness as he carried in a box of scrolls from the ancestors of the shrine.

“Now, I can go back to the Sengoku Jidai period, when this was part of a village and there was a powerful Miko who lived there. She had great power, and protected a jewel called the Shikon no Tama. “

He glared at Kagome for a moment. “This was the same jewel I was trying to explain to you the day before your birthday, Kagome. Maybe if you had listened to me, you would have been more prepared. You wouldn’t have let a demon loose, and wouldn’t have broken that jewel.”

Kagome glared back at him. “I’m glad I released Inu Yasha. It was the best thing that I could have ever done. If I hadn’t released him, I would be dead right now, and many more people would have been dead.”

Inu Yasha was silent for all this. He wondered what would have happened if Kagome had listened to Kaede and never took out the seal arrow.

“Furthermore… “ Kagome bit her lip. I can’t tell them that I care so much for Inu Yasha that it hurts. That I don’t want to think about Kikyo at all, because of how much it hurts to see Inu Yasha in love with her.

“Never mind. Let’s just…learn about it. I already know a lot about the Sengoku Jidai. I know that Kikyo disgraced herself by falling for a hanyou, disrupting her miko powers.”

Inu Yasha looked insulted. “Disgraced herself, did she? Well, I’m sorry that I am so low on your list, Kagome.”

Kagome eyes focused on his. “You do not disgrace me. I don’t think like that. I…I care for you. I don’t care if I don’t have any powers at all, because I feel like they were borrowed from her. I hate her! I hate my ancestor Kikyo!”

Her grandfather looked only mildly displeased at being interrupted. He was used to it from Kagome. “As I was saying, Kagome…Kikyo was the miko at the time, but that line died out. Kikyo died at the age of seventeen, protecting the Shikon no Tama, and her sister, Kaede, took on the role of miko. Another family took over the shrine, though. Our family line descends from them.”

Kagome calmed down, and faced her grandfather again. Shippou and Yuka looked interested at the miniature soap opera playing.

“A powerful, worldly priestess took over the temple and the guardianship of the temple. She was rumored to be more powerful than Kikyo, and she took care of the jewel for centuries afterward, until she vanished.”

Kagome stared at her grandfather like he finally said something interesting. Inu Yasha looked curious too. Could it have been Kikyo reborn? She would live forever, unless the body of earth and bones were destroyed completely.

Her grandfather looked pleased with himself, as if he had been waiting a long time to drag out the next piece of news.

“Yes, and her companion throughout the centuries was a hanyou, called Inu Yasha. The priestess and the demon were quite close.”

Kagome closed her eyes to hide the tears. Who else could it be but Kikyo? It had to be her. Kagome herself couldn’t live for centuries. Inu Yasha certainly wouldn’t keep her around that long.
“I’ll…be right back…” Kagome walked quickly out of the room to the well shrine, tears burning in her eyes. Yuka looked startled, and then she saw the intense look on Inu Yasha’s face as well.

“Do you want to know the name of the priestess, Inu Yasha? I think the name will surprise you.”

Inu Yasha sighed. “Come out with it, old man.” He didn’t want to hear Kikyo for some odd reason.

“It’s Kagome.”

Yuka’s eyes opened wide. Kagome? Did that mean she was her own ancestor? Even that story was a little too hard to swallow.

Inu Yasha himself looked like he had swallowed something unpleasant, and her stared at the old man like he had grown an extra head. One that was fond of telling lies.

“Old man… what are you getting at? Are you saying that Kagome will be living for centuries guarding that jewel?”

Jii-chan nodded. “She will. It is very clear in here. She vanished around the time that our Kagome was born. Inu Yasha… do you think that our Kagome is the same one as in our scrolls and in the history books?”

Inu Yasha shook his head, confused. “I don’t know what to think, old man. All I know is that Kagome probably thinks that same thing that I did when you starting telling your story. I’ve gotta go talk to her.”

Inu Yasha dashed out of the house, leaving Yuka to wonder what had happened. She looked at Shippou who was leaning against her, snoring. She bumped him until he woke up, his eyes blinking at her sleepily.

“I want you to tell me just who this Kikyo is, and why she is such a problem for Inu Yasha and Kagome.” Shippou shrugged. “I could tell you if I wanted to, but it’s none of your business. You’re not part of it. Baka.”

He leapt off the couch and ran out the door where Inu Yasha had just left, not looking back at the room that the two humans were in.

“Well…Jii-chan… how are you tonight?”

Kagome leaned against the rim of the well, letting the tears pour down her face. Why was she acting like such a baka? Getting all upset over Inu Yasha like that. Knowing that she would never be able to be with Inu Yasha… the evil miko had probably found a way to steal Kagome’s soul again and stayed with Inu Yasha. She let the soul go so that Kagome could be reborn and free Inu Yasha…just so Kikyo’s life could be restarted… so that she would never die. It seemed like a never-ending nightmarish cycle.

“Oi. What are you crying about, wench?” Kagome whirled at the sound of Inu Yasha’s voice. She would recognize it anywhere. Her eyes focused on him, and the expression on his face. He looked frustrated, and a little shocked.

Probably about having all his dreams come true. She thought sourly. “Inu Yasha…what are you doing here? I just came out here for a quick breath of air. You know how Jii-chan is. I just needed some time away.”

Inu Yasha snorted. “I thought you were all eager to be with your family and friends; that you left us to be with them. Why the change of heart, Kagome?”

Kagome laughed, but it sounded even hollow to her own ears. Goodness knows what Inu Yasha heard in that laugh. Desperation, perhaps?

“It’s nothing, Inu Yasha. I’ll be back in a few minutes, then I can finish packing and we can go back to the Sengoku Jidai.”

She turned her back to him again, and waited until he left the room. She still felt his presence, and turned around again, surprised that he was right behind her.

“Oh! What? Do you want to go back that badly? Fine! Let’s go!” Kagome climbed on top of the well, preparing to jump, when Inu Yasha’s quiet voice stopped her.

“It wasn’t Kikyo, Kagome. It was…you… somehow you were able to live for centuries guarding the Shikon no Tama. I’m…glad that it’s you. Please, don’t run off, Kagome.”

Kagome stopped, and climbing down from the well, she smiled at him. “Are you really, Inu Yasha?” He nodded, surprised by the look in her eyes. She looked like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Feh. It’s about time that you two worked things out.”

Kagome and Inu Yasha both whirled at the sound of the familiar voice, their surprise clearly on their faces.

Bwahahahahaha…. That is the ending to this chapter, minna! Feedback is great, and always appreciated! Much thanks to all those who have emailed me before on this story, and all my other ones! You guys are the greatest! And no, FC…there is no wrinkly Kikyo in this one!!