HISTORY LESSONS

Chapter 5- The Invitation


(Look who's updating gazillion chapters all in one day! Aren't you proud of me? Hehe I hope this makes up for the long wait.)

One Year Later

A now one-year older Kagome hummed to herself as she hung damp clothes on the laundry line.

‘Hn?’ She turned her gaze up towards the clear blue sky of a fine summer day. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes and stared intently at something only she could see. A light breeze caressed her body as the trees shook some of their leaves off. ‘I wonder…’ Shrugging off her suspicions for the moment, she picked up a basketful of vegetables she had picked that morning and walked back inside the hut.

Kikyo sat by the fire, struggling to stand with an armful of clean clothes Kagome had collected earlier.

“Oh, Kikyo. I’ll do it.”

The said person sat back down gratefully and sighed. “Thank you, Kagome,” she said and rubbed her well rounded stomach. Being nearly 6 months pregnant, Kikyo was grateful she could have someone like Kagome to depend on, especially when she couldn’t move the way she used to.

Kagome quickly put the clothes away and joined Kikyo by the fire, where she was tending to freshly-picked herbs, separating the green leaves, roots, and yellow blossoms.

“Kagome, the workers have informed that they are nearly finished.”

She snorted. “I kept saying it wasn’t necessary, but they wouldn’t listen!”

Kikyo smiled. “Patience, child. Kagome, I wonder if you sensed it as well?”

“Yes. What is it?”
“I cannot be sure what it wants, but hopefully it means us no harm. It could be just passing through.”

“Or it could want this,” Kagome held up the round, twinkling jewel hanging from a silver chain on her neck. Its outer brim was a light blue color, but its insides were as black as night. She could swear she saw something move inside it sometimes.

“Don’t worry, Kagome. You’re more than capable of protecting it, you know that.”

They walked outside together to spread out the leaves and roots in the sun to dry. Kagome was washing her hands when-

“Kagome-chan! Kagome-chan!”

She gasped. “Sango! Miroku! Kohaku!” Waving her arms, she ran over to greet them. Kirara landed and her boarders hopped off, only to be pulled in a tight hug by Kagome. “I missed you guys!”

“But we’ve been gone for only a week,” said Kohaku.

“Hold on one second,” said Kagome, and pulled out her digital camera from her pocket. She was wearing a beige knee length skirt and a navy blue tang top. “Say cheese.”

“What’s cheese?” all three asked at the same time.

Ch-Kahk

They blinked. “Kagome, what is that?” Miroku asked.

“It’s called a camera, from my time. I just got it as an early birthday present.”

“That’s right,” said Sango. “You’ll be turning seventeen soon, right?”
“Did you celebrate it early, Kagome?”

“Yeah. Honestly I wanted to spend it here. Now let’s go. I brought some chocolate cake. Shippo loves it.”

But before they could take two steps, they heard a disturbance up ahead.

“Get out of here before I slice you in half.”

“Is that Inu Yasha?” asked Miroku.

“Sounds like he’s fighting someone,” said Kagome.

“I have a business matter with Lady Kagome. Get out of the way, hanyou.” Kagome couldn’t recognize the voice of the person Inu Yasha was talking to, but judging by his aura it was the same demon that had flown over the village while she was washing clothes.

As the group neared the source of the heated argument, someone approached them. Kagome opened her mouth to say something but Inu Yasha jumped in front of her, a hand on Tetsaiga’s hilt.

“Feh. You’re really starting to piss me off.”

“Inu Yasha,” said Kagome.

“Nani!”

“Osuwari”

Inu Yasha hit the ground with a loud thud. “Kuso… What are you doing?” he demanded angrily.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Inu Yasha. Can’t you see that he doesn’t want to fight?”
“Keh. I wouldn’t want to fight me either.” He brushed dirt off his clothes and sulkily went to stand by Kikyo, who had come out of the hut at the noise.

Kagome surveyed the youkai standing before her. He was no doubt some sort of a bird youkai, although she wasn’t sure exactly what. His black, spiky hair was tipped with silver, and his eyes were orange-yellow. The feathers on his black and silvery wing were razor sharp, and the wing itself, though folded on his back, arched up above his head before angling down, the tips almost touching the ground. He was a tall youkai, with sharp clawed hands, and deadly talons formed his bird-like, shoeless feet. A white flag stamped with a blue crescent moon- the mark of a messenger from a taiyoukai- was tied on his right bicep.

“Calm down, Inu Yasha,” said Sango. “He’s only a messenger. My people know these things. You must be from someone important. Only the noble ones use messengers.”

Shippo bounded towards Kagome and climbed onto her shoulder. “That’s what I told Inu-baka, Kagome.”
“Urusai, runt. He smells like he works for my brother.”

“Sesshou… maru?” Kagome asked.

“Hai. Are you priestess Kagome, the one who helped destroy Naraku, descendent of Midoriko, the miko of Shikon no Tama?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You can’t have the jewel, so leave,” Inu Yasha interrupted. Kagome threw him an annoyed look.

“This,” the messenger drew out a scroll of paper from his sleeve, “is for you.”

Kagome took it and eyed it curiously. It was sealed with a crescent moon. “Arigato gozaimasu. Might I know your name?”

He blinked. “My name?”
“Yes” Kagome smiled.

“I am only a servant under Sesshoumaru-sama’s bidding, milady. But if you will have it, my name is Avian.”

“Ok, Avian. Will you take a few steps back for me?”

He looked uncertain but did as Kagome asked.

“Good. Right there, now say cheese!”
“Cheese?”

There was another beeping sound as Kagome took a picture of him. “Thanks.”

“If you’re done, you can get back to your filthy nest,” Inu Yasha growled. Avian bowed before taking flight.

“Mou, Inu Yasha, what’s with you?”

“I don’t trust any of them, including my good-for-nothing brother. They probably all want the jewel.”

“It’s no longer any of your concern, Inu Yasha! Midoriko entrusted me with this task, and I plan to follow through! So stop acting like a sick puppy whenever there’s a youkai around!”

The two sent death glares at each other while the others, shaking their head, walked away. They might act like a pair of cat and dog, but over time they had grown to consider each other as sister and brother. Kagome admittedly had a hard time getting over Inu Yasha, and she wasn’t sure if she was completely over him yet, but she valued their friendship more than anything. Inu Yasha had also grown even more protective and fond of Kagome, although now he had a mate to look after. Kagome huffed and marched off, running to catch up with her friends.

A while later the group could be found eating delicious birthday cake around the fire of what used to be Kaede’s hut, for her time had come and she had passed away. It was sorrowful for everyone, but Kaede had lived a long and content life and she died peacefully.

“What does the letter say, Kagome?” asked Miroku. He had finally stopped calling her Kagome-sama at her insistence.

“Huh? Oh, I forgot.” She pulled the roll of parchment from her pocket and broke the seal.

It was addressed to:

Higurashi Kagome, successor of the great miko Midoriko, guardian, protectorate, and priestess of the Shikon no Tama.

You are hear by invited to the celebration of the first year passing since the destruction of Naraku, to be taken place at sunset 7 days from the morrow, at the Castle of the West. As a guest of honor your presence is required.

It was signed, Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands, Son of late Inu no Tashio.

Kagome’s jaw hit the floor.

She gasped, and when the others asked what was wrong, her mouth opened and closed like a gold fish but no words came out. Inu Yasha took the paper and read it out loud.

“What a piece of garbage,” he said, and made to throw it in the fire but Kagome snatched it away.

“What am I going to wear? Sango, you’ve got to help me, I don’t know anything about how youkai do these things,” Kagome pleaded.

“WHAT! YOU’RE GOING! ARE YOU CRAZY?” Inu Yasha exploded.

“I don’t have anything to wear!” Kagome whined.

Inu Yasha punched the floor. “You’re not going, Kagome.”

“Why not? I’m invited as the guest of honor.”

“He’s my brother!”
“He won’t eat me!”

They bickered back and forth until finally Kagome stood up and announced that she was going for a dip in the hot spring. Sango and Kikyo offered to come, so she quickly walked to her room and gathered her things. As she folded everything in her towel she caught sight of the framed photographs on her chest. There were more than a dozen of them, of Kagome’s friends at Sengoku Jidai and her family from the future.

There was Miroku and Sango, Inu Yasha and Kikyo, Shippo, Kirara, and even herself, all looking very happy with bright smiles on their faces.

There was one with Kagome sitting Inu Yasha with an angry, red face, another one with Inu Yasha stuffing his face with ramen, Sango and Kohaku on Kirara, and more including Miroku holding a blushing Sango’s hand, Shippo and Rin playing together with Jaken watching them, and Inu Yasha and Kikyo on their wedding day…

She picked up an 8” X 11” picture, framed in silver. It was one of Sesshoumaru in all his glory. Kagome wasn’t sure how he’d feel about having a picture taken, so all of them were rather sneakily aimed when she thought he wasn’t looking, the result being that none of the pictures had him looking at Kagome. This particular one was taken from a lower angle. He was sitting underneath a cherry tree, the windy day blowing sakura blossoms through the air. His hair and clothes were also lightly swaying. He was looking far off at something in the distance, the usual emotionless look on his face.

The only other picture out for display that Sesshoumaru was in was a slightly smaller group one, with an annoyed frown on his face. He looked scary and intimidating. ‘He always looks either angry or uncaring,’ Kagome thought. The group was standing in front of the magnificent, ancient tree, the Goshinboku. It had been taken almost right before the battle with Naraku. Unlike the photos taken after it, everyone looked strained, somehow. What a difference a single person could make in so many people’s lives…

‘Sesshoumaru, I wonder what you’re really thinking?’

Reminding herself that the others were waiting, Kagome hastily put the picture down and joined Kikyo and Sango, the latter who warned a certain monk about what she would do if he dared peek on them, although they need not worry, for Inu Yasha would never let any man so much as look at his pregnant wife.

The three women strolled along (slowly for Kikyo’s sake), talking as if they had always been the best of friends.

Kagome asked Sango on how the exorcism went. She suddenly smiled mischievously. “So, Sango. Did he pop the question yet?”

Sango blushed. “No. Besides, why should he ask me?”

“Because he likes you, and you like him.”

“I do not.”

“Just admit it. I’ve seen you two dance around each other for years. I know you love him, and he loves you too. I’m sure of it. It’s really obvious, even Inu Yasha knows.”

“But why should he ask me? He can probably get any girl he wants. And he’s always going around asking women to bear his child or touching them or-”

“You know he hasn’t ever since Naraku died.”

“That’s true…But Kagome, what if he doesn’t…?”

“He will,” Kikyo assured Sango. “Seeing as I have more experience with a man than you two, there are some things that I notice, that may seem insignificant to you.” Here she gestured with her hands to her loin area, and Kagome burst out laughing while Sango turned even redder.

Wiping tears of laugher from her eyes, Kagome had to once again marvel at how teenager-like Kikyo could act like sometimes. Then again, as she constantly reminded herself, Kikyo had been barely any older than Kagome when the responsibility of the cursed jewel was thrust upon her. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to believe it was her beloved who killed her, and to be forced to him with her own hands. It was so sad; Kagome sometimes shed tears thinking about it. Inu Yasha and Kikyo made Romeo and Juliet look like a very fortunate couple with a happy, fairytale ending. But even though it hurt to let Inu Yasha go, Kagome knew they both deserved this. She was truly happy for both of them. It was how things should be, to marry the one they love, and to have children with the one they love, and to live with that person forever. Kagome hoped with all her heart that they would never have to be so cruelly parted again.

Of course, the relationship between Inu Yasha and Kikyo and Kagome was rocky at first. After she wished for Kikyo’s life and for them to be together again, Kikyo had felt so guilty that she couldn’t enjoy her second chance at life to the full extent. But thanks to Kagome’s continued encouragements, friendliness, and sincerity that there was nothing to forgive, the couple had settled down, but not without forcing Kagome to accept their gratitude and repayment; Inu Yasha even asked her to live with them, along with Sango, Miroku, and Kikyo, just like the old times.

Kikyo taught her everything she wanted to know about becoming a fully qualified priestess, and Kagome was overwhelmed at first. It was nothing she could have learned in the future, and with Kikyo being one of the smartest and most powerful miko to have lived, there was little she didn’t know. She learned about the properties and uses of medicinal herbs and how to use her spiritual powers, not to mention sharpening her archery skills to perfection.

By the time she finished her training, which, to everyone’s surprise, took a short amount of time, Kagome possessed a great amount of power, and more importantly held complete control over them. It was during this period of time that it became clear what Midoriko’s ‘gift’ was. When she had breathed upon Kagome, it seemed that she had bestowed upon Kagome some of her own talents and strengths. But nobody could exactly be sure how far it extended, since she had a knack for surprises and tended to suddenly develop unmatched skills every now and then.

Sango taught her hand-to-hand combat and some weaponry, including sword fighting. Miroku even showed her how to perform some of his nifty tricks. She even learned a little bit of martial arts from her time to better defend herself. However, despite all her friends’ help, there were some things that they could not teach her. Even Kikyo, though strong, was no where near Kagome’s level of power.

Other than being able to use her miko powers to heal, purify, and attack and defend, she had mastered the arts of archery and the katana. Kagome also learned the different properties of herbs and plants that could be used as medicine as well as poison. She developed her sixth sense and abilities as an empath, and now could read other people’s thoughts (but she absolutely refused to use that certain ability) and look into their feelings or dreams, in addition to controlling her aura so that she could hide or change it if she needed to. And, when she needed it, help or warning came from Midoriko herself (although that only happened once so far. She had appeared in her dream to teach her how to lift a curse tormenting an entire town to the south). Although Kagome only met Midoriko once or twice, she decided she liked her immensely. She also received visions and dreams, seldom of the future, some of the present, and sometimes of the past. All in all, Kagome was very strong.


Kagome could still remember that fateful day. After Naraku perished, the sky had turned blue once more, his illusionary castle disappeared, and the trees and earth around them sprang to life again. They had gone home, drunk with euphoria, and the village had celebrated for 7 days.

“What about you?” Sango’s voice brought her back to reality. They had arrived at the onsen.

“What about me? I’m moving on.”

They stripped their clothing and settled down, the hot water soothing their muscles.

“I think what she meant,” said Kikyo, “was what about you and Sesshoumaru-sama.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh come on, Kagome,” said Sango. “You’re the only one out of all of us that got an invitation to his party! And you’re his guest of honor.”

“That’s only because I helped with Naraku and all-”

“And,” Sango told Kikyo, “he asked her in the first place to join forces. He even lets her call him egotistical.”

“He does not! I’m lucky he didn’t slice my head off when I did!”

Kikyo looked at her slyly. “I think he likes you.”

“He’s definitely interested,” Sango put in.

“Mr. High and Mighty will never notice a human like me. He said I’m an annoying, worthless human,” said Kagome

“Don’t you at least think he’s good looking?”
“Well… he is pretty sexy, and hot…”

“He’s a gorgeous killing machine,” Sango stretched her arms as Kikyo nodded.

“Nuh-uh, he’s not like that. He only kills if he has a reason to.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Hey…” Kagome lowered her voice, “I wonder what that fluffy thing on his shoulder is?”

“May be it’s his tail,” giggled Sango.

“I think so too,” agreed Kikyo.

“No, I don’t think it is.”

“Sure, Kagome,” Sango winked. “You would know, since you stare at his butt long enough to see there’s nothing attached.”

“Hey!” said Kagome indignantly, but couldn’t help blushing, because he did indeed have a nice behind. “It’s only because it looks different when he’s in his true form… I don’t stare at his butt…”

But her girlfriends weren’t listening. They were whispering to each other, and giggling while throwing Kagome sly glances.

“Yamete!” She splashed water on both of them. “The day he likes a mortal like will be the day-” here Kagome grasped Sango’s hands in a very Miroku-like way, and said, “You bear Miro-kun’s child!” The air was soon full of splashing water and laughter of the maidens.

It felt so good to be able to have fun without a worry for their lives nagging at the back of their heads. They needed to relax, live their life to the fullest. 'I wonder what Sesshoumaru's doing right now...'