Mind Game
Chapter 8: Mind Game

The sun was well above the horizon when Miroku came back in a one-horse carriage.

“Kagome-sama, Kikyo-sama, Ran-sama’s here!” Miroku shouted as his staff jingled. The horse neighed unhappily while a middle-aged woman jumped down from the carriage.

“Mama!” Kagome dropped the broom that she used to sweep and ran to hug her mother. Tears were already penetrating her eyes. “Kaede-baachan, she’s...”

Her mother nodded with a sad frown. “Dowager Eri sent me to pick up mother. The king insisted on having Kaede at the castle so they can hire the best doctors to heal here.”

“But... without Kaede-baachan here, who will take care of the miko duties?”

Ran shook her head. “She can’t handle them as of now anyway. You and Kikyo are more than experienced for the job. Besides, you’re the protector of the Tama now.” Ran smiled at her daughter with pride. “Now take me to where mother is.”

Kagome led her mother and the monk to Kaede’s hut.

“Where’s Kikyo?”

Kagome gulped. “Cousin... I haven’t seen her since I woke up this morning.”

Ran and Miroku both sighed. Inside the hut, Kaede was snoring peacefully. The three didn’t wake the old miko up, for they know that she would never leave her village at such an important time.

“Houshi-sama, please carry my mother to the carriage for me.” Ran requested politely with a small hint of control. Though she’s only a woman, she’s the counsel to King Sesshomaru and Dowager Eri’s sole companion. Miroku followed her instructions without complain.

Miroku didn’t grunt as Ran placed the sleeping Kaede onto his back. He stood up and started to walk toward the carriage. Souta’s little head popped out of the carriage window. “Miroku-niichan, over here!!”

Miroku smiled at the young boy. Suddenly, an orange ball shot past Miroku and landed on Souta’s head.

Miroku reached the carriage, a weak looking servant helped to lift Kaede onto a futon that was already in the carriage. Miroku inhaled deeply and said to the orange ball: “Shippo, get down from Souta-kun.”

“I’ll stop jumping on Souta when you stop touching women’s butts.” The orange kitsune youkai blew Miroku a rather loud raspberry. A purple vein appeared on Miroku’s temple, but before he had the chance to release his anger, a small hand tugged on his robe and he looked down.

“Rin-chan, what is it?” Miroku’s expression softened at the sight of the yawning little girl, the one he called Rin.

Rin lifted up a ragged doll in her hand and smiled at Souta. Miroku looked back and forth between the two children, finally he understood. “Sorry, Rin-chan, Souta-kun is going back, he can’t play with you today. Perhaps another time.”

Rin gave an unhappy grunt and ran away. Kagome’s mother approached Miroku. She saw Rin running away and asked the monk with concern. “The child still won’t speak?”

Miroku shook his head gravely. “I think perhaps she’s born with it. After all, when Kagome-sama found her nine years ago, she was just a baby.”

Shippo leaped from Souta’s head to Miroku’s. “Yup, and I brought her here. I still can’t believe her parents just left her like that, in a basket, floating on a river.”

Miroku grabbed Shippo’s tail and pulled him down from his head. “If you’re so smart, then would you mind telling us why you haven’t grown a single bit in the last nine years?”

Shippo blew him another raspberry. He struggled out of Miroku’s grasp and ran to spend as much time as he can with Souta.

Ran smiled appreciatively at Miroku. “Thank you for all your help, Houshi-sama. You have no idea how much you’ve helped us with your prescence.”

“Perhaps it’s destiny, Ran-sama.” Miroku smiled in a very suave fashion. But Ran knew him too well to fell for that smile. “When I passed by this village a few years ago, I felt as though I was meant to stay here and aid Kaede-sama. And you can be sure that I will continue to stay here and aid Kagome-sama.”

Ran saw that look in his eyes. “Of course, Houshi-sama, and thank you very much. But be warned, if you touch my daughter, you will not only be a monk, but also a eunuch.”

Miroku gulped at the warning, and Ran gave him one last advice before leaving. “Kagome has gone to find Kikyo. I hope you can keep an eye on the both of them. And Houshi-sama, I trust that you do not need me to tell you about inside dangers. The last thing we need right now is a war within ourselves.”

“With my experiences with women, Ran-sama, I can tell you now that I see the conflict between Kiyko-sama and Kagome-sama much more clearer than anyone else.” Miroku said somewhat proudly. “I shall do whatever possible, but I can’t guaranteed peace within Kikyo-sama’s heart.”

*****~~~~~*****

*Outside of Mura*

A legion of around 100 men and one hanyou were dressed fully for their attack. Their commander, a sleazy looking middle aged man, sat on a horse while everyone else was on horsebacks. The commander had his horse facing his rows of soldiers.

“Men, this is out finest hour! We shall be the first of Naraku-sama’s troops to penetrate Mura! And we will, at all cost, surround Kira by nightfall!” He smiled rather gruesomely. “Mura is a small village, I want to see it fall before noon! Kill the young and the old! Slay their youkai children! Leave no one alive!! And, as a celebration, I will look over any misconduct...”

The men roared and cheered. The last sentence was the reason for their happiness. Behind all of them, one silver haired hanyou growled. Whenever the commander said that, it usually meant that there will be a mass body count by the end of the day, not to mention the number of women who will be raped and killed.

“MOVE IN!!!” With that one last command, all hell broke loose.

Inuyasha whispered to the woman next to him. “Sango, don’t come into the village until nightfall, this is going to get nasty.”

Before Inuyasha left, Sango tugged on his sleeve. She pleaded him desperately. “Please, Inuyasha, save as many women from their wrath as you can.”

Inuyasha didn’t look at her and he didn’t answer. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to. But he really couldn’t. Kouga trained him to become a cold-blooded killer, with no compassion for any race or gender. And as long as he wants to maintain his place in the military, he has to keep that façade up. He’s watched women being raped, children burnt to death, and old men and women being stabbed numerous times. But every time, he couldn’t do a thing about it.

Inuyasha trailed the troop as slowly as possible. He didn’t want to kill, and he has to do anything he can to prevent that. The only person that he wants to kill, and must kill, is that Sesshomaru, the son of the youkai that killed his entire family and caused him to lose his memory... or so Naraku says.

Inuyasha reached into his robe and touched his jade pendant. For some reason, that piece of jewelry always kept him at peace. He wanted to find someone who recognize it, it was the clue to his past.

For now, there’s no helping it. He must kill... mustn’t he? The red gem in the center of his pendant glimmered scarlet.

*****~~~~~*****

“Cousin, where are you going?!” Kagome ran behind Kikyo, trying to keep up. “Why are you leaving Mura? It’s dangerous. Our neighboring village is already tken over, remember? We only have the forest to protect us. You can’t leave here!”

Kikyo let a growl escape her throat. Kagome had found her thinking on a boulder on the outskirts of the village. Kikyo attempted to run away, but Kagome insisted on following.

“Cousin! Kikyo!” Kagome is finally getting angry. She circled around Kikyo and planted her feet firmly on the ground in front of a stunned Kikyo. Kagome rarely got angry, she never had a reason to. “You’re not taking another step!”

Kikyo regained her posture shortly and replied in her usual calm manner. “If I want to leave, you can’t stop me.”

“No, but I will try! Don’t you understand how dangerous it is to leave the village? You’ll worry everyone!”

“I highly doubt that.” Kikyo answered in her most bitter tone.

Kagome shivered at the tone of her cousin’s voice. “Kikyo-chan, what’s wrong? You’re acting so weird these days. Are you worried about the war? I understand that, but...”

Kagome didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence, for Kikyo had already begun to sob loudly with her arms around Kagome.

“Cousin!” Kagome had never seen such an emotional outbreak from Kikyo, it frightened her. For something to make Kikyo weep so sadly, it must be serious.

Kikyo’s words came in broken fragments. Kagome could barely make anything out of it. But after some careful listening and interpreting, Kagome understood.

“I don’t want to be here to see you die!” Kikyo’s first sentence immediately capture Kagome’s attention. “You’re supposed to purify the Tama, but just look at what it’s done to Baasan. You’ll be drained of your energy as well. And if the war continues, I know you’ll be stubborn enough to make a wish on the Tama, even if it’s not completely purified. I don’t want you to end up like King Taisho! Kagome-chan, you’re like a sister to me, I don’t want to see you die!!”

Surprise isn’t enough to describe Kagome’s surprise. She thought Kikyo was mad because she didn’t get to become the head miko. But she was really worried about her wellbeing? It didn’t take long for tears to come out of Kagome’s eyes as well.

“It’s my responsibility, Kikyo-chan, I’m willing to make a wish if it’s needed. It doesn’t matter if I have to die, Uncle Taisho did it, and I will too if I have to. I’m sorry to make you cry, and I know it’s not fair to you, but...but...”

Kikyo suddenly withdrew from Kagome. “Kagome-chan, give me the jewel.” She was still crying, her face full of concern and a look of determination.

“Cousin! No, I won’t let you sacrifice yourself!” Kagome’s hand instinctively went over to where the Tama hung from her neck. “It’s my fate, and I’m willing to face it.”

Kikyo’s tears didn’t stop. “No, Kagome-chan, no. Your fate is to become head miko and queen. Your fate is to protect this village and this country for as long as you live. Your fate is not to waste your life on a wish. That’s my fate...”

Kagome stared at her cousin in disbelief. ‘Kikyo... she’s sacrificing herself so I may live?!’ “No! Cousin, I can’t let you do that!”

“No arguments, Kagome! You have a fiancé, you have a mother and a brother. You have a job and you have your destiny to fulfill. You must live on. If you have the jewel, sooner or later you’ll be forced to use it, and do know how many people will weep for you, as I am right now? But I don’t have a fiancé, I don’t have my parents. I don’t have a future. My destiny is to take your place, please... at least let me have that.”

Kagome grasped the jewel as tightly as possible. She shook her head vigorously and muttered “no” continuously. But as Kikyo reached for the jewel, she felt her energy drained from her. She couldn’t hold on to the jewel, and before she knew it, Kikyo was holding it in her hands and she was being pushed back toward the village.

“Go back, Kagome, they need you more than me!” With the Tama humming in the center of her palm, Kikyo seemed to have floated away, further and further, until she was completely out of sight. And Kagome ended up somehow, in the center of the village, face wet, and without the Shikon no Tama.

*****~~~~~*****

“Everything good to go?” The commander looked up from his horse. A cloud of feather floated above him, Kagura sat on the feather cloud, grinning mischievously.

“They no longer have the Tama. Our pretty miko-chan fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.” Kagura turned her head and saw Inuyasha far behind. “Is the hanyou alright? He looks uneasy. Is Kouga sure that he won’t regain his memory?”

The commander nodded. “Are you wearing an invisibility spell?”

Kagura smiled and grunted. “How long will it take for you to reach Mura?”

“If we hurry, we can get through this forest in 20 twenty minutes.”

“Go faster. If that Kagome girl realized that she’s been tricked and warns someone, the whole plan will fall apart.” With that, Kagura left to report to Naraku.

*****~~~~~*****

Kagome walked back to Kaede’s hut in a daze. ‘What just happened? Kikyo... she’s risking her own life to save mine? Why did I let her? It’s not her responsibility. It’s mine. Why did I...’

“Kagome-sama?”

Kagome’s head snapped up and saw Miroku in front of her, with Shippo sitting on his head and one arm carrying Rin. Rin hugged her doll close to her heart and flashed Kagome one of her brightest smiles. Kagome smiled back rather grimly.

“Kagome, where did you go?” Shippo leaped into Kagome’s arms and padded her face softly.

Kagome didn’t look at Shippo. Instead, she approached Miroku. “Miroku, I was talking with Kikyo. And she was acting really weird. She told me that she didn’t want me to get hurt, and so she took my jewel and said that she’s sacrificing herself so I may live. I don’t know what to do... I rather die myself than let Kikyo...”

Kagome was tearing again, her eyes were so fogged up that she didn’t notice the sudden horror on Miroku’s face.

“Miroku, what’s wrong?” Shippo, however, was much more perceptive.

Miroku set Rin gently onto the ground. Then, he grasped Kagome’s shoulders fiercely and began to shake her. “Kagome-sama, what did you just say?! Kikyo has the Shikon no Tama?! Where did she go with it?”

Kagome sniffed a few times before answering. “I don’t know. I don’t even know how it happened. She took the jewel and went, I think, towards other side of the forest. I think she went to fight Naraku’s men by herself. Kikyo’s in danger, Miroku-sama, we have to help her.”

Miroku let go of Kagome, his own shoulders slumped. His voice was reduced to a mere whisper. “Kagome-sama, you may not have noticed, but the reason that Kaede-sama chose you over Kaede was because Kikyo carried years of pent up hatred within her, her heart is not pure. The reason why you didn’t know what happened was because she probably put a spell on you. We’re the ones in danger, Kagome-sama, not Kikyo.”

Kagome was speechless. Shippo noticed the tension in the air and knew better than to speak.

A shot of adrenaline surged through Miroku’s veins. He picked up Rin again and thrusted the girl into Kagome’s arms. “Run, Kagome-sama, run with the kids to Kira. Get inside the city gates and tell them to close it. Warn Sesshomaru-sama and Dowager Eri. I will round up the villagers and lead them to Kira through the underground ducts we dug last year. Mura is lost. The only thing we can do is retreat. Hurry, run, we have no time!”

Miroku gave Kagome one last push before he ran to complete his own errands. Kagome’s mind was still a puff of cloud. But she knew better than to stand there. Kagome hugged Rin close to her chest and ran into the hut to get their stuff.

“Shippo-chan, get Rin-chan clothes and your magic tricks, hurry up, we have no time.” Kagome set Rin down to the ground and started to run around the hut like a crazed woman, but her mind never stopped berating her.

‘Kikyo, she lied to me. She hated me. Miroku-sama’s has never been wrong before. She took the jewel, only to give to the enemy. Why didn’t I see it? Her words, “my destiny is to take your place”, of course... to take my place, something that was rightfully hers. Kikyo wants it back... And now, because of my own incompetence, I’ve put the entire village in danger.’

Kagome took her bow and quiver off the wall and tied it around her back. She then went through Kaede’s herb cabinet and stuffed some used herbs into her robe. Shippo had his saddle bag stuffed with necessities.

“Shippo-chan, ready?” Shippo leaped onto her head and grunted. Kagome ran for the door and picked Rin up. Suddenly Rin started to cry. Kagome didn’t bother to silence her. Time was running short. Kagome ran toward the direction of Kira. As she looked back toward the village, she saw Miroku gathering up every single one of the villagers. Everyone was panicking. It was an all out war that’s hitting way too close to home.

***

Kagome’s patience was running low as Rin wouldn’t stop her sobbing. To reach the capital city, it required a good half-an-hour of walking. But when they were small, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had shown her a shortcut through a rose bush that led to the city gates much faster. Kagome ran like crazy, in the process, her miko garb was scratched to shreds.

“Open the gates!! It is I, miko Kagome of Mura!” Kagome panted heavily. Rin was still sobbing loudly in her arms. Shippo seemed to want to say something but Kagome was too distracted to hear. A youkai soldier looked down from the top of the stone edifice. He recognized the miko immediately and let out a commander to open the gate.

Several soldiers, youkai and human, rushed out immediate to greet the battered miko. The questions and concern overwhelmed Kagome.

“Mura is under the attack. We lost the jewel. Kikyo... betrayed us. Miroku-sama is gathering the villagers. They will come through the underground ducts, so keep the ducts open. We don’t know when the enemy will be here. But I must warn Sesshomaru-sama!” Kagome didn’t know what took over her. She had never been so commanding before. Was it there all along? The soldiers obeyed with looks of horror on their faces. One of them went to get a carriage to take Kagome to the castle immediately. It was then that Kagome finally had a chance to breathe.

“Kagome...” Shippo patted the girl’s head, “Rin-chan is still crying.”

Kagome set Rin down on the ground and she plopped on the grass herself. The youkai soldiers stayed away from her, for they feared her powers. The human ones had enough sense to not approach her at such a time.

Kagome looked into Rin’s eyes and pleaded. “Rin-chan, please, stop crying. I... Oh no...”

Kagome stood up in a hurry. She grabbed Rin’s hand and Shippo’s collar and ran to a soldier. “Please when the carriage gets here, take these two children to Sesshomaru-sama and tell him what I told you. I have to go back!”

The soldier blocked her way. “It’s too dangerous, Kagome-sama. Why must you go back when you’re finally safe?”

Kagome pointed to Rin. “Rin-chan left her doll at the hut. She will never stop crying without it, she’s had it ever since we found her with Shippo nine years ago. I have to go back to the hut and get it.”

The soldier made to efforts to move. “I can’t allow you to do that, Kagome-sama. It’s much too dangerous. I can’t take the responsibility if you get hurt.”

Kagome began to fume. She shoved the man in front of her and let out all her rage. “If it’s your responsibility, then you should take it! And don’t talk to me about responsibility! I have more responsibility than anyone in this entire country! And so, as your head miko and future queen, I command you to open the gates and let me out.”

Kagome was out of Kira in a matter of seconds. She took the same route from before and darted back toward the village. Her miko robe was no longer in one piece.

When Kagome reached the village, everyone else was gone. Miroku probably already led them to the underground ducts. And this, did not please the men in armor at all.

Kagome hid behind a tree and covered her mouth so the men there wouldn’t hear her heavy breathing. There must be at least a hundred men there. They all carried swords and spears. One of them, the one on a horse, shouted fiercely, and Kagome heard him loud and clear.

“Go, search the village! They must be here somewhere. Kill every person you see! Slaughter their animals. And burn this worthless village to the ground! I want to see it in flames!”

Kagome shivered involuntarily as some men approached her direction. ‘I don’t want to die yet. How did they get here so soon?’

The men plumaged through the village. One hut after another lighted up in flames. The cackling of domestic animals were replacements of the cries of a dying man. A few men entered Kaede’s hut, but thankfully, they exited without burning down anything. As more and more soldiers moved toward the other side of the village, Kagome managed to gather up her courage and darted toward the opening of Kaede’s humble home.

Rin’s ragged doll lied on the ground as expected. Kagome picked it up and ran out without a second thought. But as soon as she stuck out her head, she bumped into something hard and stumbled backwards and fell onto the ground.

“Hey, I’ve found one.”

Kagome looked up and gulped. Standing over her were four of the enemy soldiers. One of them held the neck of a dead chicken in his hand. They other three carried swords, ready to kill.

Kagome squeezed her eyes tight. She didn’t dare scream.

‘This is the end...’

Date Started: August 20, 2003
Date Finished: November 2, 2003
Word Count: 3673

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