Bound By Prophecy

Prologue:

Bound By Time

She sighed in defeat. There was just no way she could make up her missed assignments. Her teacher was understanding for the most part, with her 'illnesses' and all. Even with the extended due dates and collected notes from her fellow classmates— it was a fools hope to even try.

Besides, she knew deep down that her heart was in the feudal era. Her heart always stayed behind when she returned to her time.

At first, her heart only lingered there for her love of Inuyasha, but like everything with time... things change. She changed, as did her feelings for him. Her love was no longer the kind of love you’d feel for a lover but rather, a dear friend.

She first realized this around her second year on the quest to complete the Tama and defeat Naraku. She had been thrown into her depression over his devoted love for Kikyo for so long, it almost seemed like routine to cry over the situation. As she sat by the well reminiscing over the past, she realized he was the exact opposite of everything she had always wanted in love. She didn’t want to fight. She didn’t want to feel the insecurity. She didn’t want a lover that was afraid to hold her close.

No. She wanted someone who was strong, yet gentle. Someone who would talk with her for hours, then at times just sit in silence, content just to be close. She needed someone that could take all her passion and return it ten-fold. Someone to someday start a family with...

And what she wanted, was someone whom Inuyasha could never become—someone she could never ask him to be. He had already found love before she even came into the picture… sadly she just had to learn the hard way that you cant change loves masterpiece once fate has signed it.

Sure at first she still had some lingering thoughts of 'what could have been' had they ended up together, but as her third year on the quest came into view, not a single bit of sadness touched her heart again. She stood loyally at his side only as a friend; it made not only her but also the group more at ease and more focused on the mission at hand.

Suddenly as her teacher cleared his monotone voice, telling the class of the days history lesson topic. It was the name caught her off guard, bringing her back from her thoughts. A name she never thought she would hear in her own time...

"-ord Sesshoumaru. Today we will be learning about Japanese legends and tragedies that the legends were biased off of. It will be important to take notes. This will all be on your final exam."

Everyone in the class let out a heavy sigh as they pulled out their notebooks and pens.

Kagome’s hand didn't even move to write down the notes. She didn’t need to. The wheels in her mind were turning and working overtime. Every word being memorized instantly from her teachers words after hearing Sesshoumaru’s name.

The ‘Killing Perfection’ being the prime topic of the days lesson for young human teenage students. Oh how he would just love to learn of this. The whole campus would probably be chopped down.

"The legend says he was born with a god-like power. He ruled his land with an iron fist till the end of his days. Every neighboring kingdom feared and respected the young and powerful lord. He made the west coast of Japan, what was once divided tribes, united."

"Though he was indeed feared and not well liked, he held the most peaceful lands in all of Japan. His people were protected and prosperous. His lands were fertile and giving. Crime was rare and quickly taken care of by his loyal generals. He never taxed the villagers for their profit or farmland... only asking for small amounts of their rice and grain for his own personal kingdom."

"So yes... he was dangerous. Yes, he was powerful and feared. However, he was a fair ruler and did more than most realized."

Kagome’s jaw was ready to fall off her face. She couldn’t believe it. They were praising him?! That ruthless killing demon?!!

‘Did I trip into another dimension or something?’

"About a century ago, one of is servants journals were found, giving full account to his efforts and trials. You can see a copy in your textbook on page 173. We were lucky they updated these history books to share his legacy and the secrets it held. Be sure to read pages 150 through 190 in your book tonight. A two page essay is due in two days about why our Japan today needs this kind of influence that Sesshoumaru carried-"

Kagome felt it. Her was mind spinning. She opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out were incoherent sounds. Everyone in the class looked over to Kagome noticing her pale face and hooded eyes. Hojo spoke out before anyone else could question her.

"Mr. Tatsu-sama, I don’t think Kagome-chan looks well… should I take her to the—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kagome let her world go dark as she fell to the floor.

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The whole ‘school fainting thing’ gave Kagome the rest of her days off from the jewel shard search time to just relax and spend time with her family rather than spend most of it at school. Though Mrs. Higurashi was worried for Kagome’s episode in class, she was to say the least thrilled to spend the lost time with her daughter.

After an hour of begging, Kagome finally gave in and went shopping with her mom in one of the near by shopping malls. It was a nice quiet day, perfect for the 'mom and daughter' time she had needed. No battles. No demons. No worries... just a bit of over due human moments.

"Dear, it’s so nice out today. I’m so happy Inuyasha and the rest of your friends didn’t mind letting you come home for a few weeks. It’s been too long for a mother to bear!"

Kagome smiled at her mom.

"Oh momma, your always so cheesy!!! But I did miss you a whole lot. You know how I loose track of time there… everything just happens all at once and the quest for the Tama is so important, I just forget my own world sometimes."

Her mother stopped walking and faced her daughter. Grabbing her daughters hand gently, with tender care only a loving and giving mothers hands can have, Mrs. Higurashi then smiled a sad smile at her only daughter

"Just don’t forget me, sweetie. Every time you come back from your adventures in the past, I see you maturing more and more. I have wanted to pull you aside for so long now and tell you... but your time here is always so brief. I had been planning a girl’s day out like this since you came back. I wanted to give this to you..."

Mrs. Higurashi rummaged through her purse and pulled out a small wooden box with deep carvings in it. It looked centuries old, but well taken care of.

"Like everything with our family, there is a story behind it."

Mrs. Higurashi looked around and realized that they were still standing at the edge of the sidewalk, though the quiet area had not been very busy, she motioned for her daughter to follow her to a small cafe.

After they both got seated and received their drinks, she continued;

"All the women in our family in the past have possessed a special sense or power. Your great grandmother was said to be one of the most gifted physics of her time. She had predicted that I would have a daughter named Kagome and that she would wield great power that would alter time itself. Your grandmother gave me your great-grandmothers letter the day after you were born and your birth certificate was signed. I didn’t understand her words until the day your fell into the well three years ago."

Kagome looked at her mother in shock.

"What else did she say about me in the letter mother?"

Kagome’s mother looked down and smiled.

"Mother? What else did she say?"

Mrs. Higurashi kept her sad smile on.

"Just to support and love you darling."

There had only been one time she had seen that look on her mothers face… that same sad look. Kagome had asked where her father was and her mother had said he was just on an extended business trip. A few years later Kagome found out her father had died in a car crash, and to protect her young daughter from the news, Mrs. Higurashi lied. And in some way she was not telling Kagome the whole truth again.

Seeing her daughter analyzing her, Mrs. Higurashi slid the carved wooden box towards Kagome.

"Open it Kagome"

Suddenly Kagome was filled with mixed emotions. Fear, curiosity, shock, and the list went on. Her hands traced the carvings softly.

On the lid, there was a large tree, a sun and moon on either side. As she opened the box and unfolded the silk fabric, she gasped. There, before her was the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen. Shaped like a silver coin, there were two people, male and female standing on opposite of each other. A sun was above the female, and a moon above the male. The same tree stood behind them in the center and a diamond shaped crystal was embedded into the base with small dashed lines leading from the crystal to both the moon and the sun.

Kagome let out her air for the shock. Never had she seen a necklace that looked like so much effort and time had been put into it.

Flipping it around, she saw the same moon and sun combined. The sun’s flames circled around the moon and in the center the other half of the diamond shaped crystal was shown. There was a small carving at the bottom that said something, but Kagome couldn’t make it out.

Kagome looked back to her mother in both astonishment and question.

"What does this mean?"

Mrs. Higurashi shrugged her shoulders.

"In the letter, she said you would find out the meaning when the time came. Last year you were away for your 17th birthday, and now that your 18th is tomorrow, I thought it was only fitting to give it to you."

Kagome got up and hugged her mom tightly. The sadness was still in her mothers face as her daughter held her tightly.

The rest of the day Kagome and her mother used to catch up on Kagome’s adventures and laugh about old times. Though it was a day filled with many different emotions, the only one Kagome could think of by the end of that day was love for her mother. Though they had always been close, she realized even more now that she was in truth the luckiest daughter to have a mother like her. She just couldn’t imagine her life without her mother kind laughter and loving warmth.

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After her small party, Kagome said her goodbyes to her grandpa and brother. She looked all over the shrine for her mother but couldn’t find her. As soon as she went into the kitchen to grab her yellow backpack, her mother was there, holding it for her fully packed, with a few other bags.

Kagome looked at her mom in question, but quickly forgot about it as soon as her mother told her that she wanted to walk her out to the well.

As soon as they both were by the wells edge, Mrs. Higurashi threw Kagome’s bags into the well and hugged her daughter tightly. Whispering into her ear;

"Be sure to be safe... always remember that I am there for you in spirit. You are a brave and mature young lady with a big future ahead of you. I know you have the right mind on your shoulders and will follow the path that the Gods have placed for you."

Kagome squinted from the tight hug. Her mother had never acted this way before... something was wrong.

"Momma what ar-"

But as always, Mrs. Higurashi was two steps ahead of her.

"Shhh, please give me this chance to speak, or my heart will break."

Kagome silently obeyed, not daring to even think of opening her mouth.

"If I could have done anything differently, I wouldn’t have. You and your brother are my proudest moment in life. I wouldn’t change you for the world. But… before I let you go back there... I must know if you have any regrets."

Kagome shook her head slowly; still trying to figure out what in the hell was going on with her mother’s sudden change in attitude.

"Good. Then always remember my love for you. Always remember the good times, and never allow yourself any regrets. Be strong, be loyal, and be true. Think back on be from time to time and remember all that I have taught you."

Kagome could feel the tears from her mother slide down her cheeks as tears of her own uncontrollably fell from her own eyes. There was something she was not getting here and her mind was set on overload from the questions plaguing her mind.

Mrs. Higurashi released her daughter from her embrace and kissed her on the cheek, skillfully slipping something in Kagome’s jacket pocket.

“Momm-“

Before Kagome could finish, Mrs. Higurashi pushed Kagome into the well. As she watched the blue light engulf her and her bags, Mrs. Higurashi chanted the words to seal off the well forever.
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Quote: "Time is as cruel as it is always changing. It is up to you how you spend your time and life so that when one looks back… one does not see misfortune and missed opportunity but rather, gain and satisfaction in ones lifetime so that others may gain from your bounty." –AT

A/N: I realize that many were expecting to have the fic jump right into the juicy sess/kag love affair… but I realize that most of the fics I have written and attempted to write had one major flaw… I DIVE IN TOO QUICK A LOOSE INTEREST. Anywho, trying to fix that and actually get and fic of mine well thought out and down in words. I promise sensual goodness to come in the future!!! Reviews welcomed and appreciated.

-amandachan696
(aka: Luna-chan)