Friday, June 17, 2005

Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 8*

In the feudal era, Naraku sits in a cave. He says, “With one exception, you are all here.” Around him are gathered his new henchmen. He continues, “There are eight members of Inuyasha’s company, the monk, the elder and younger demon slayers, my treacherous incarnation, a foxling, a flame-cat, that woman of his, and of course, the half-demon himself. As such, there are seven of you and myself.” A shadowy form says, “I only count six.” Naraku says, “As I have told you, the last of you is not yet finished. She will join the fight in good time.” Another says, “Others came before us. One of them betrayed you, the others failed. What makes you think we shall prevail? More importantly, how could you possibly trust us after Kagura’s insurrection?” A third one shouts, “ENOUGH! With you it is always thinking! Who cares what came before, just let me kill them and the past will no longer matter!” A fourth, a woman, says, “Hush dearest. Let him run his mouth all he wants to. Meanwhile, let’s put ours to better use.” As the two shadows pull together, yet another voice says, “Knock off you two. If you have to do that, do it in private.” The angry man asks, “What makes you think you can order me around?!?” Naraku says, “Because he can. Now, assuming you have nothing to add,” he says turning to the last figure, “All of you be silent. Each of you knows what is expected of you, you know what rewards will be earned should you succeed, and of course, what fate awaits those of you who fail. The first of you will move at nightfall. I think…you.” He points to the first speaker. “You know what to do. Take what you need and do not fail me.” The indicated shadow bows and says, “Yes, master Naraku.”
*The End*
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Thursday, June 16, 2005

Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 6*

Inuyasha is in Kagome’s family’s kitchen, looking somewhat embarrassed. Kagome’s mom is cooking and only occasionally sending a curious glance in his direction. However, Sota and grampa are both still staring openly at him. He wiggles his ears…or at least he tries to. His ears are in no position to be wiggled, seeing how they are on the wrong part of his head. Not to mention that they are the wrong shape and size. Never in his life has Inuyasha imagined that he might find himself embarrassed not to be a half-demon. Vulnerable yes, uncomfortable certainly, but to actually feel humiliated to be without his ears, claws, hair, and eyes, has never occurred to him. He is feeling so agitated that he’d like to crack his claws. Unfortunately, he no longer has claws and these fingers are of no help. Kagome has gone to her room to “study”, leaving him to fend for himself. He has finally decided to join her, as opposed to sitting there being a spectacle, when her mother calls, “Diner’s ready.” Kagome comes down promptly and the meal begins, however, the boy and the old man both seem more interested in him than their food. Suddenly, Kagome drops her fork. “Inuyasha,” she says, “I sense a shard of the sacred jewel, and it’s close.” He tells her, “Let it go. I can’t protect you so it’s best if we look for it tomorrow.” She says, standing up, “You don’t understand. I mean really close. I think it’s coming to us.” Inuyasha stands up as well. He grabs the Tetsusaiga which had been leaning against a wall. The two head out into the shrine. Kagome stops and turns toward the old well house. Inuyasha says, “It can’t be coming through the well. Only we can do that.” After he speaks, the door to the well house slides open and the outline of a figure appears in the shadows. “Show yourself!” Inuyasha calls. Seemingly obedient, Kikyo steps into the dim light coming from the street and the house. Unsure how to react, Inuyasha and Kagome wait for an explanation. The priestess says, “So this is when you lose your demonic powers, Inuyasha. You hid it from me for all of our time together, but you not only tell this girl, you come to stay with her when you are vulnerable.” She continues, her voice heavy with anger, “Tell me, will you come to live here when you are like this always? Or will she come to live with you? You clearly seem to have chosen between us, I am merely curious what you plan to do in your life without me.” Rage burns in her eyes. Inuyasha says, “Kikyo, it’s not like that. We aren’t…Kagome and I…I don’t love her more than I love you.” Kikyo asks, “If not, why do you not say that you love me more than you love her.” She pulls her bow off her shoulder. As she draws an arrow, she continues, “Your loyalties are clearly divided. Let me settle that for you.” She turns her bow on Kagome. Inuyasha thrusts his body between them. The priestess asks, “So, is that how it is?” She lowers her bow. “Child,” she says addressing Kagome, “I leave the completion and purification of the jewel to you. Inuyasha, I am going to hell now. This is your last chance to join me.” Kagome tries to step around Inuyasha, but he holds her back. “I’m sorry,” she says, “…sit.” She steps over him and walk over to Kikyo. The night is shattered by a resounding *smack*. Kagome has just slapped Kikyo and clearly the shrine maiden doesn’t know how to respond. Kagome says, “Don’t do this! You know he has mixed feelings; let him decide in his own time.” Enraged, Kikyo says, “You only say that because day by day you become dearer to him! Were the tables reversed, you would also try to force a decision.” Kagome says, “You’re wrong! I would let him make his own choice because I want him to be happy. You don’t belong here. Go back to the warring states era.” Kagome turns and walks back to Inuyasha. Kikyo once again draws her bow; only this time she makes no attempt to discuss matters. She fires at Kagome who is helping Inuyasha to his feet. Not having his back to her, Inuyasha sees the arrow and thrusts his arm across Kagome’s back. The projectile pierces the fur of the fire-rat and Inuyasha can hear his bones shattering. Drawing another arrow, Kikyo says, “Fine, then die with her!”
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Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 4*

The sun has past its zenith in the sky over the slayers village. Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Kohaku and Kagura are all gathered around Miroku who is kneeling before a newly raised earthen mound. He finishes his prayer and stands. Kagura says, “Thank you, all of you.” Kohaku reaches out to place a hand on her arm. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. As the group breaks up, Sango says, “Kagura, I’d like to talk to you, alone.” The two walk off towards the edge of the village. When they are no longer in the hearing of the others, the slayer says, “Kagura, you should know that I’m not entirely comfortable with this situation.” Kagura nods and says, “I understand. My sister and I were both born of Naraku, the one who killed all of these people.” Sango stops and says, “No, that’s not what I meant. I’ll admit, I am concerned about that, but there’s more. I went along with this because Kohaku needed this; he needed it for you. He always was a gentle boy, and he’s come to care for you a great deal. Caring for a demon is dangerous. A child like Shippo or a demon who doesn’t seem to be more than a beast like Kirara is less threatening then a demon who looks human. People, in general, will not condone a friendship between a human and a demon who looks like a human. I don’t want Kohaku to be hurt for that.” Kagura says, “I know that, and so does he. The last thing I want is for him to go through that because of me. I’ve thought that it might be best if I left him.” “Don’t do that.” Sango says. “He’s still finding his feet after Naraku. If he felt that you had abandoned him, that could break his spirit.” “I know.” the demoness says. “But a mob could break more than that. I’m not leaving; but please, understand that I am aware of this and concerned.” Sango nods and the two head back to the others.
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Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 5*

Shippo, Kirara, Kohaku and Miroku have all gone into a house to respect the women’s privacy. Kohaku turns to the monk who is seated on the floor, “I’m not sure, but those two may need quite sometime.” Miroku says, “For either of them I would gladly wait. For both of them, I would wait forever.” “I wouldn’t know of such things.” the boy says, picking up his scythe from a table. The monk says, “Oh yes you would. At your age, to claim to know nothing is absurd. If you truly do not know, what exactly is your interest in Kagura? I hear that you bathe with the girls. I trust you to deny any impure thoughts you may have of for your sister, but that still leaves you in the presence of two lovely ladies. Kagome is spoken for, but surly you must have at least thought about Kagura. It is in the nature of any young man.” As he begins to absentmindedly toss his weapon from hand to hand, Kohaku says, “There are those who would say that having such thoughts about a demoness would be a sin.” Miroku says, “I tell you, as a servant of Buddha, that some women are worth sinning for.” The boy says, “You are a perverted monk.” Miroku says, “I know. If you’d like, I could give you lessons.” Kohaku swings the chain of his weapon and brings its ball crashing down on the monks head. Sango and Kagura enter the house in relatively good spirits. Sango asks, “So what have you been up to? Miroku? Miroku?!?” The monk has collapsed forward. Shippo runs up to him and thumps him on the head. Stating the obvious, the foxling says, “He passed out.”
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Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Just a reminder
My friend, the LadyLenaJade, is haveing a peotry contest. It ends friday.^^
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Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 2*

Kikyo walks through a forest, deep in thought. Suddenly, she stops. “Naraku,” she says, “You seem diminished.” The demon emerges from the shadows behind her. “You’ve seemed better off yourself.” She turns to face him. She asks, “Why are you here? Have you found a way to kill me?” He snickers, “No, but after what I witnessed last night, I find myself wondering if you would prefer that I had.” She glowers at him. He continues, “So your rival, who is also your reincarnation, is under the protection of Midoriko’s kitten. For that matter, she is a most well guarded young woman. The monk, now two demon slayers, one of my own incarnations, and, of course, a certain half-breed all stand ready to join the cat in her defense. In a way, she is both their strongest and their weakest fighter. Her powers, your powers actually, are formidable, but she does not fully understand how to use them. As such, the others feel naturally defensive of her, as they do of that foxling she carries with her.” The priestess asks, “Do you have a point?” He says, “There is only one place where the two-tail cannot protect her. In fact, when she is there, she often lacks even Inuyasha’s protection. I am of course referring to that strange era she comes from. The one she reaches through the bone-eater’s well.” Kikyo says, “But only she and Inuyasha can travel to that time. You cannot hurt her there, so she does not need protection.” Naraku grins, “I cannot follow her, but you could. Do you think that it was a coincidence that a time portal happened to form to connect the priestess’s soul, carrying within it the sacred jewel, and the one she loved? No, the portal clearly exists to allow your soul to be with him. As such you should have no problem passing through, with the right help.” He pulls the partial jewel from his robes. He raises it to his lips and bites into it. He spits out a shard and tosses it to Kikyo: she catches it. “Consider it a loan.” he says. “If you do not wish to, you are under no obligation to pursue her. Do as you will, but know that she awaits you on the other side.” Naraku fades into the shadows as Kikyo considers the jewel shard.
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Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 3*

Sango goes a reasonable distance from the others and turns to her brother. She says, “Kohaku, are you sure you are ready to see the village as it is now? Everyone is dead, there is nothing there for you now. I think you should take more time, let your wounds heal before you go there.” He says, “Sister, I have seen death. After seeing an entire village dead by my hand, I can stomach seeing my home destroyed by another.” Sango says, “We took father’s remains home, and those of the other slayers who came with us to Naraku’s castle.” He says, “All the more reason why I have to go. I have to face them. I have to try to apologize. I’ve been thinking about this and I have to do it now. I can’t put it off any longer.” She nods; her face shows concern, but cannot hide the fact that her heart swells with pride. Kohaku says, “There’s another thing; I told Kagura I’d ask you about it. I want to offer her a place to put her sister’s remains to rest. I want to have a grave for Kanna in our village.” The joy around the edges of Sango’s face dulls. She doesn’t say anything, but her silence is answer enough. He says, “She has no home. She doesn’t have anyone, so I want her to know that she’s welcome among us. Unless, she is welcome, isn’t she? Sister, she saved me, twice. Once she gave her life for me. Do you mean to tell me that you still don’t trust her?” Sango says, “Brother, it’s not that. It’s just that she…both of them are…were…and Naraku…I just…” Kohaku says, “Kagura isn’t Naraku, neither was Kanna. Sango please, this is important to me. If I deserve to be forgiven for what I did when Naraku was controlling me, then so does she.” She stops in thought for many seconds. Finally, she looks at him, “Alright, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this, but you can offer it to her.” A certain smile crosses her lips, “But you owe me one, little-brother.” He answers her smile with one of his own, “Well then, big-sister, which one do you want time alone with; the monk or Inuyasha?” Sango blushes, but her smile endures. She reaches out and draws him into an embrace. “If I wasn’t so happy to have you back,” she says, “I’d make you regret that, little-brother.” With an arm around each other, the siblings head back toward the others.
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Monday, June 13, 2005

Homecoming: Blood in the Darkness
*episode 1*

The group departs the inn early the next morning. Despite yesterday’s failure to eradicate Naraku, they seem in good sprits. However, Miroku has a sneaking suspicion that there is something the others are not telling him. Finally, unable to continue the cruel hoax, Sango borrow Kagome’s pocket mirror and hands it to the monk. After stopping at a stream to allow the monk to reclaim some of his dignity, the group continues. A little after lunch, Kagura says, “Inuyasha, tonight will be the night of the new moon.” Kagome says, “That’s right, you know about that.” Kagura continues, “The chances of Naraku actually seeking us out so soon after our last encounter seems farfetched, but still, I don’t think we should let our guard down.” “You don’t have to tell me that.” Inuyasha says. “I been dealing with this all my life.” Kohaku says, “I’m sorry, I missed something. What’s so special about the night of the new moon?” Attempting to redeem his image by acting as the voice of knowledge, Miroku says, “At certain times, all half-demons lose their demonic powers and become only human. For Inuyasha, this time is once a month when the moon is dark. From sunset to sunrise he is vulnerable. If his enemies learned this, they would come after him at this time and destroy him.” Kohaku asks, “Shouldn’t you go somewhere to hide?” “Where?” Inuyasha asks. “Anywhere I go there’ll be demons. Lately I’ve been relying more on these guys to watch my back.” They continue walking. Kohaku stops and asks, “What about Kagome’s home?” The entire party stops and turns to look at him. He continues, “You said that only you and Kagome can go there, and that there aren’t many demons there. Why don’t you hide there?” Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku all stare at him slack-jawed. Finally, Kagome says, “It’s so simple. How come I never thought of that?” Sango says, “We wouldn’t have to spend the whole night worrying.” “Incredible,” Miroku says, “from the mouths of babes.” Inuyasha is, for once, speechless. Kagura says, “If that is going to be, the rest of us will have some time to kill. Sango, I believe Kohaku had expressed interest in going home.” Sango looks uneasy. “Sister,” Kohaku says, “We have to talk, alone.” The two head away from the group. Inuyasha turns to Kagome. “You ok with this? There are at least some demons in your world, and if they come after me your family could get hurt.” he says. Kagome tells him, “I’ll keep my bow handy. I’ll have some explaining to do, but everything will be ok.” He nods, “If you’re sure, we should go now.” He turns to the monk and says, “We’ll meet you tomorrow in Keade’s village, unless to go to the slayer’s village, in which case we’ll meet you there. Either way, try’n stay put.” Kagome nods and the two depart. As they head off into the distance, Miroku turns to Kagura. He is about to say something, undoubtedly the wrong thing, when Kagura raises her fan menacingly. Remembering his past transgressions, the monk almost jumps back, and walks away sighing.
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Sunday, June 12, 2005

All This Time: The Jewel Watcher
*episode 6*

Then Naraku came. In one night, I saw centuries of memories go up in flames. I not only witnessed the death of friends, I saw the end of lineages which had been dear to me. As this one fell so too did his great-great-grand mother, a kind woman and a loving mother. That one fell, sweeping aside her fathers who I had known for hundreds of years. When the children died, they took with them the names of those who had fought beside me, died beside me, cared about me, and carried me in times of need. They were all slaughtered and I had little hope for those who had been lured away. I fought and fought until every demon was dead, and then I found four more. I would have killed them too, at that moment I truly could have done so, were it not for a certain annoying parasite who managed to survive by clinging to me.

All This Time: The Jewel Watcher
*episode 7*

It took me some time to realize that the woman among them was the one I had been waiting for. I was so happy when Sango returned alive that I remained blinded until that night when Kagome nearly slew Naraku in his castle. As I lay dieing from Naraku’s toxins, I realized that my Sango had found her priestess and that no matter what they would find the jewel and allow my old friend to find victory, and through that, peace. I was prepared to die then. Not that I wanted to die, but I knew that my task was complete. I received an extension on my life, and I have used it standing beside two remarkable young women, both so like, and yet so unlike my dear Midoriko.

All This Time: The Jewel Watcher
*episode 8*

So I came to stand beside an inn on a summer’s night, knowing that the priestess had found what she was looking for. Then I saw her, the pitiful shade of the one who had been. Not dead, but also not alive, Kikyo still wandered the world. I saw her intention in her eyes before she realized it herself. She was so intent on the couple on the roof, that I easily circled behind her and called for her attention. I found that, when not otherwise distracted, dying had in fact only served to heighten her powers of perception. She could almost hear my thoughts when I told her that I could not allow her to act. Kagome may have been a strange one, but she and Sango shared a deep bond. If there was hope to purify the jewel, it laid in their collaboration. I evoked Midoriko’s name as an ultimate challenge. To defy my mistress would have been the same as Kikyo declaring her allegiance to the darkness within the jewel. I hoped that she would find peace, but not if it prevented the purification of the jewel.
*The End*
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Saturday, June 11, 2005

All This Time: The Jewel Watcher
*episode 4*

As the centuries past, the jewel was found and lost several times. As the generations rolled by, I kept watch, hoping that another with powers and sprit like Midoriko would be born into the village. In time, I began to doubt if such a person would come to be. I began to suspect that it might have to be an alliance of sorts which would be able to hold and cleanse the jewel. It was at this time that I began to examine the priestess I encountered while traveling with the demon slayers. I had known several slayers who could, together with the right priestess, be able to fill my old friend’s shoes. Sadly, when I found the priestess, none of them were alive. Her name was Kikyo and she had unusually strong powers of purification. However, she was not my old friend. Her body, while functional and well kept, did not fit well in armor. Also, she was missing something, I was not sure what it was at the time, but without it she would not be complete. This woman was more aware of sprits then most priestesses I have met. She saw through my pretense of being a dumb loyal beast in a single glance. I accepted the decision that the jewel should go with Kikyo, despite the fact that I knew that she would fail. The jewel would be lost and the slayers would find it once again. I would stay with the village and watch for a promising youngster. If one had already been born, Kikyo might have been able to endure long enough for her partner to be ready. If not, at least a priestess’s soul existed which could purify the jewel. Perhaps her next life would happen to coincide with the life of a fitting protector. When word reached the village that the jewel had been destroyed, it was met with disbelief. Eventually though, the humans accepted it. I on the other hand knew that, for as long as Midoriko still guarded the cave, the jewel still existed.

All This Time: The Jewel Watcher
*episode 5*

Two generations later, she was born. From her birth, I knew that this was the one. I knew that she would be the slayer who guarded the priestess who purified the sacred jewel. There was something in her first scream which told me that she was the best of their kind, and that her opponents would come to fear her before their inevitable demise. I knew that this was fate, so I abandoned my quest to find the priestess. When the time was right, she would find us. I dedicated myself to Sango and she thrived. She became versed in both weapons and tactics. By the time she was 12, she was training against grown men. She chose the Hiraikotsan, a weapon no one had mastered in a hundred years. She and I learned to fight as one. She was my kitten, my precious one. In a few years, I would have taken her to begin the search for her priestess and the jewel.
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