Twisted Accusations

Chapter Three

The streets were busy, people going about their normal business. Kagome sighed in relief when she began to walk around going unnoticed. After finding that the well refused to let her pass plans needed to be made. She had still yet to think of one! The only belongings she had were what was in her bag, plus the blade that nice man had left her. Her bow was also on her back, there was no way she'd be leaving without it. If her memory served her right, wearing a sword had been outlawed sometime back. So, her latest present was wrapped and placed inside her bag.

One plan kept returning to her mind. Let's find the nice man and return the blade in the same manner it had been recieved. Granted there was no way for her to know whom he had been or if he was still alive. The blade did have a set of initials engraved near the hilt but that wouldn't really help her. Two days of walking around aimlessly had gotten her nowhere.

She'd been hanging around the city hoping for some clues as to why she'd been brought back to this place. Her stomach growled reminding her it had been a while since she'd last eaten. She didn't have anything of value to sell for food. What she did have couldn't be sold, except the blade. For some reason she wanted to keep it.

What kind of era was this when teenage boys ran around killing people like it was nothing. That guy couldn't have been no more than fourteen or fifteen. He spoke of killing her like she was nothing more than a bug.

Several children ran past her making her smile. She really didn't have many options to chose from. If the well wouldn't allow her through she'd need to find a place to stay for a few days. Being with the group it had been easy to find a place for the night. Miroku usually lied for them but it worked. The idea came to her, she was a miko. More than likely in this era she'd still be considered a holy person, someone they would respect. Now, she just needed to find a place to change into the clothes that she didn't care for.

The woods ended up being her personal bathroom for the next ten minutes. No one came by as she quickly took off the borrowed kimono and slipped on the outfit. That done she slipped back on the hateful shoes, she already missed hers. Going back to that place wasn't an option for her though.

As soon as she walked back into town, she noticed a difference in the way people looked at her. The older folks bowed their heads as she passed. 'Alright, way to go Kagome.' She smiled but kept walking, trying to figure out on how to get a place to stay.

Her answer came in the package of a small bald man. Everyone stopped to gawk as he went to his knees in front of her. "Praise be to Buddha, I can't believe my eyes. Is it really you? Have you come to us in our time of need? Please you must return with me to Kyoto."

"Keh," She almost turned around and started running. Not the kind of attention she was going for here. "Who are you?"

"Forgive me, my lady. I am but a simple houshi. I'm from the Temple of Prayer, located on the outskirts of Kyoto. If you would do the honor of returning with me, Great One."

'Great One? What the hell was he smoking?' Kagome sighed at the crowd he was begining to draw. He was almost kissing her feet, "Please get up, you are causing people to stare."

"Please forgive me, Lady Kagome." He began to stand up.

"Hey, how the hell do you know my name?" Time to officially freak out or run.

"Come with me and I will explain everything." He waved to her, giving her no choice but to follow. The crowd parted for them, as he leaned to pick up his package.

Yahiko watched them walk away, stunned at what he'd just seen. That had to be the same girl from the other day. Why had the holy man acted that way towards an ordinary girl? What was a Great One? He turned to make his way back to the dojo to deliver the rice and news of what he'd just seen.

"Okay, spit it out since we are out of town." Kagome stopped in her tracks not going anywhere with the strange houshi until he explained himself.

"I apologize for causing a scene back there. I overreacted upon seeing you walking once again amongst us." He sat down in the grass and patted the seat beside him. "Here have an apple while I explain. I am from a long line of houshi, as are most of us at the temple. It has been centuries since we've seen a miko. A holy woman is indeed rare these days. There are many tales and beliefs that have been handed down through generations. You are one of them, you and the jewel that you now carry. In our records room we have an etching of your likeness, many scrolls that speak of your great deeds. The Guardian of The Shikon Jewel, also the miko that had the power to travel in time. Everyone will be thrilled that you have decided to grace us with your presence."

"Okay, guess that explains a few things." She took a bite of the apple, thankful for the food. "I'm not going to be lynched am I?"

He looked hurt by the question, "Surely you jest! Your visit is an honor."

She frowned at him, who had written about her? The only houshi she had known that well was Miroku. Had he been the one to write about her? If she ever got back there she was going to choke him. Then again if they thought she was someone special, maybe they would give her a place to stay until she could figure out how to get the well to work again. "So how long till we get to Kyoto?"

"Walking it will take some time, just imagine all the people we can help on the way." He clasped his hands together in excitement. "My powers are very little but yours, they are beyond belief."

For a few minutes she was afraid the old man would fall over of a heart attack. "Great so I guess we should get going. No time like the present." She stood up still munching on the fruit. Atleast she wouldn't have to resort to stealing to feed herself.

Yahiko raced back to the dojo, trying not to spill the rice. Kenshin and Kaoru were standing outside speaking to Saitoh, about the strange girl no doubt. No body had ever turned up, so it appeared no one had died. They were all confused on the wound she had inflicted on the man's hand as well. He said it had felt like being burned yet there had been no flame.

"Kenshin," He was out of breath when he got to them. "The girl... town... left..some houshi took her."

"Calm down Yahiko before you try to speak." Kaoru scolded him and he wheezed.

"Shut up, I saw her in town. She was walking and a houshi seemed to recognize her, knew her name." He took a deep breath finally, his blood pounding in his ears.

"Is that all?" Saitoh wanted to know all the details before he went in search for her.

"No, she was dressed funny. He also bowed down in front of her, calling her Great One. Not sure what he meant by that but he also knew her name which seemed to suprise the girl. He said something about her heading back to the temple that's in Kyoto. It was her though, not many girls look like her." He grinned when he saw Kaoru's glare. "I think they were going on foot too, so you might be able to catch them."

"Thank you Yahiko, I take it you are going after her Saitoh." Kenshin looked at the other man and smiled. "I will go with you, I think the girl might be in danger. If she truelly can't remember what happened I find it strange that someone would show up in town looking for her. I think we should go just to be sure."

"I'll go with him." Sano came walking out arms thrown behind his head. "Kind of boring around here anyways. That way you can stay with your family."

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