*TW: Child Abuse*
Climbing out of the well, I begin to sense the Sacred Jewel Shard. "If I follow the Jewel Shards, I'll find Kagome and the others." I think as I begin walking in the direction, I sense the Shards.
"I'm beginning to get a bad feeling. I'd better hurry," I state as I start running through the forest.
"Come to me!" A man's voice rings out, sending a chill down my spine. "This man's voice I've have a feeling I've heard it somewhere before..." I think as I pick up the pace, but then Kagome comes into view.
"Kagome!" Songo calls out, causing my eyes to widen as I see a man with what looks like tree arms heading straight towards her. "Good thing, I kept my sword with me!" I think as I draw my sword from its sheath.
"No, you don't!" I call out as Sacred Power engulfs my blade, and a blast of Sacred Power engulfs the guy's arm.
"H-how dare you!" The man bellowed, causing my body to pulsate. "Why is this man's voice so familiar to me?" I wonder as he then glares at me, while holding his arm.
"(Y/N), I thought-"
"We'll talk after we take care of this guy." I insist, while interrupting Kagome, and look back over at the man to see that he had a confused expression.
"You're voice, I know it..." The man trails off, causing my eyes to widen. "How does he know my voice as well?" I wonder as my body pulsates once more, while the sacred power surrounding my sword disappears.
"That woman is what I have been missing, but you also... You both are what I have desired!" The man proclaims as his arm begins to grow back. "Why does this man's voice have such an effect on me?" I wonder as I stare down at my shaking hands.
"I'll take you both!" The man hollers, causing me to look up and see his arm heading towards Kagome and me, but my body wouldn't move and continued to pulsate.
"(Y/N)!" Kagome and Songo chorus as I see I'm about to be caught.
"Hands off!" Inuyasha demands, while slicing off the man's tree arm, and the pieces dissipate.
"(Y/N), are you okay?" Kagome asks, but I looked back down at my hands.
"N-no, something's wrong," I answer as I stare down at my hands that were trembling. "Who is this man?!" I wonder, but then the sound of buzzing rings out, causing us all to look up to see Naraku's poisonous insects.
"Kagome, you and (Y/N) get out of here," Inuyasha instructs as he looks over at us.
"Right." Kagome nods as she grabs my hand. "That guy's an incarnation of Naraku... Could that be the reason he had an effect on me?" I wonder as I watch the insects begin forming the man a new arm.
"Come on." Kagome insists as she begins trying to drag me away, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the man.
"That's the last time you'll interfere." The man states as his arm turns back into a tree.
"Hold it!" The man demands. "Midoriko!" The same voice rings out in my head, causing my eyes to widen, but Inuyasha gets in front of him and points his sword at the man. "What the hell is happening?!" I wonder as Kagome continues to drag me away.
"What do you want with Kagome and (Y/N)?" Inuyasha asks, causing the man to narrow his eyes at him.
"Kagome and (Y/N)? You're mistaken. They are mine." Muso answers as he pushes Inuyasha back and onto the ground with his tree arm.
"Aah!" Kagome screams as the man's arms appear around us like a cage.
"They belong to me!" The man proclaims as his arms begin to entangle us, while my body starts to pulsate much faster than before, causing a bright light to engulf me.
"What the-" The man was interrupted as his arm began to disintegrate.
"(Y/N)?" Kagome questions as my body began to turn. "I'm not in control of my own body!" I think as my body continues to shine.
"Aoki, I never imagined we'd meet like this..." I trail off, but it was not my voice but Midoriko's.
"Aoki?" The man asks, causing him to then hold his head with a confused expression.
"I'm sorry." Midoriko apologizes, but then his arm regrows and heads straight towards me. However, the light diminishes, and I begin falling backwards.
"Damn you!" Inuyasha curses as he begins rushing towards the man, while wind swirls around his sword.
"I got you!" Kagome calls out as she catches me and lays my head on her lap. "Did Midoriko and that man have some kind of connection?" I wonder as I stare over at the man.
"You're going down!" Inuyasha shouts as he lands in front of Kagome and me.
"Windscar!" Inuyasha bellows as the blast of energy rushes towards the man.
"You both belong to me. You two are mine!" The man proclaims as the blast engulfs him, as I feel my heart begin to ache.
"Why do you think he wanted to capture Kagome and (Y/N)?" Shippo questions standing next to Miroku.
"Well, Shippo, the only thing we know for sure is that he's one of Naraku's incarnations. The spider scar on his back proves that." Miroku points out as Kagome then looks down at me with a concerned expression.
"Can you stand up?" Kagome asks, causing me to let out a sigh.
"Yeah, I'm just a little worn out from using all that Spiritual Power..." I trail off as I slowly sit up, while Kagome begins helping me to my feet.
"Uh, I don't think there's any way he could have survived a direct blow from the Windscar. Still, I don't feel very safe." Kagome made known, and I nodded.
"No. He went down too easily." Inuyasha states.
"Inuyasha!" A voice rings out, causing us all to look over and see Lady Kaede making her way up the cliff.
"Kaede! What a relief!" Kagome calls out.
"What was all that commotion about?" Lady Kaede asks finally makes it over to us, but then looks over and sees me, causing her to let out a sigh.
"I'm glad to see you are back as well, (Y/N)." Lady Kaede adds, but before I could say anything, Inuyasha steps up.
"You're too late to be of any help," Inuyasha answers.
"Huh? What happened?" Lady Kaede questions, causing Inuyasha to fold his arms.
"Nothing. Just forget it. It's all over now. At least, I think it is." Inuyasha insists, while looking down at the ground. "No, I think this is far from over." I think as I look over to where the man was standing, while the wind begins to blow.
(To Naraku)
(Naraku's POV)
I was watching (Y/N) through Kanna's mirror with a confused expression. "Damn it, I got rid of Onigumo, but these sentiments still remain?! However, something strange happened between him and her... However, her voice and name that mortal spoke of have me concerned. No matter, I must first take care of another matter.
"Kanna, show me Kikyo," I instruct, causing the Mirror to glow.
(To Kikyo)
"Do you feel any better yet?" Kikyo asks as she walks over to a soldier while carrying a bucket of water.
"Yes, thanks to your care." The soldier answers.
"I'll change your poultice a little later on," Kikyo informs, but then another man rushes over to her.
"Lady Kikyo!" The man calls out.
"Hmm?" Kikyo sounds as he then leads her towards a boy, who was crying uncontrollably.
"Yes? What is it, Monk?" Kikyo asks, causing the boy to look up from his lap.
"There is no need to be afraid any longer," Kikyo assures, but the boy did not stop trembling.
"My Mentor, Master Muso, was killed, and his face was stolen-stolen!" The boy shouts.
"That's terrible. Who did it?" Kikyo questions, causing the boy to look up at her.
"It was a man who had no face at all, and on his back I saw the mark of a spider." The boy responds, causing Kikyo to narrow her eyes at him.
"A spider?" Kikyo asks, causing the boy to put his hand over his face.
"It was horrible-horrible!" The boy answers as he begins to cry again, causing Kikyo to look over at the man beside her.
"Take him inside to rest." Kikyo addresses, causing the man to nod, and Kikyo then walks away. The wind begins to blow as the sound of buzzing appears behind her.
(To Naraku)
I stare at the mirror that shows Kikyo walking through the forest. "I must find out what she knows, especially about that mortal," I think as I then see Kikyo stop in her tracks.
(To Kikyo)
"Naraku, you have good reason to be concerned about me. However, I think it's (Y/N) you should be more worried about. Do you know why? She's a reincarnation just like Kagome." Kikyo informs as she looks up with a malicious grin.
(To Naraku)
I stood up from where I was sitting and began to walk through the castle. "A reincarnation... Did Onigumo and whoever's reincarnation she is know each other?" I wonder as I walk down the stairs to Kagura, who was chained up.
"Kagura." My voice echoed through the darkness, causing Kagura to open her eyes.
"Naraku!" Kagura calls out.
"Do you wish to be freed?" I ask. "I need someone to keep an eye on my new incarnation, while I'm trying to get information out of Kikyo." I think as desperation begins to form on Kagura's expression.
"I promise you, I won't try to run away again," Kagura assures as she turns to me, while smiling.
"Follow the one who calls himself Muso," I inform, causing her to put on a confused expression.
"Muso?" Kagura questions, while narrowing her eyes at me.
"Yes. He is your younger brother." I respond as I hold my hand out, causing Kagura to be released from her shackles and fall to the ground.
"Inform Inuyasha and his clan of Muso's whereabouts," I add as Kagura stands up with a bewildered expression.
"Do what?" Kagura asks as I chuckle.
"There's only one possible place that Muso could be headed for. Now go to Inuyasha and tell him where to find Muso, then stay near and keep watch over him." I answer with a grin.
(To (Y/N) )
( (Y/N)'s POV)
"Bye then," Inuyasha says as Kagome and I stand beside Lady Kaede.
"You sure you want us to go?" Kagome asks as I stare down at the ground.
"Yeah. You'd both better go back for the time being." Inuyasha answers. "My body was..." I think as I grab my arm.
"That's not like you at all. You're always getting into a snit when I hint about going home, Inuyasha." Kagome points out as I look up at them. "Out of my own control." I think beginning to strengthen the grip on my arm.
"I do not! Now, just get going, would ya?" Inuyasha requests with a serious expression.
"Well, if you're sure. I kind of did want to go back to see how I made out on my test." Kagome made known, but Songo gave me a worried expression.
"Are you alright, (Y/N)?" Songo's questions causing me to look over at her.
"Yeah, what happened when you were fighting Muso-"
"As I said before, I just used up my Sacred Power!" I bellow, while interrupting Shippo, causing me to hold my hand to my mouth. "I didn't mean to blow up, but even I don't know what happened... I mean, did Midoriko really take over my body?" I wonder as I stare down at the ground.
"Anyway, I think it would be wise for the both of you to lie low for a little while... At least until we know for sure what Naraku is up to." Miroku addresses as I sneak a peek up at them.
"He's right, especially if you used up all your Spiritual Power (Y/N)." Songo insists, and I nod.
"I have something I need to do, Kagome. Don't wait up for me." I instruct, causing them all to look over at me with a confused expression.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asks, but I turn away from them.
"I won't take long," I answer as I begin walking away. "I can't go back... Not until I find out what the hell is going on." I think as I clench my already made fists, while heading towards the forest.
"Come to the Sacred Tree..." Midoriko's voice rings through my head, causing me to scoff.
"I was already headed that way. You owe me some answers, Midoriko." I stated as I continued walking through the forest.
(To Kagome)
"Kaede, I wonder if I really should go home," Kagome states, while sitting on the well.
"I don't know just who this Muso is, but he tried to capture both ye and (Y/N), correct?" Kaede asks.
"Yeah, I'm more worried about (Y/N), since Muso's dead. I mean, he was destroyed by Inuyasha's Windscar." Kagome answers.
"Yes. It seems Inuyasha's being extra cautious." Kaede points out.
"You're right. Inuyasha has fought several of Naraku's incarnations, but he's never ever been this cautious before, and then there's (Y/N)." Kagome trails off.
"Yes, she seemed rather deep in thought after the battle with Muso earlier." Kaede made known, causing Kagome to nod.
"Ever since (Y/N) fell into Naraku's clutches, she's been different and won't tell me anything." Kagome declares.
"Naraku's devious. I have an uneasy feeling about this. I'd better go check on something." Kaede insists as she looks away from Kagome.
"Like what?" Kagome questions, while looking up at Kaede.
"You go on home now, Kagome. In the meantime, I'm going to look in the cave." Kaede responds, causing Kagome's eyes to widen.
"What cave? You mean..." Kagome trails off.
(To (Y/N) )
Standing in front of the Sacred Tree, I stared at it for a moment. "Something's telling me not to, as if warning me I don't want to know..." I think as I close my eyes.
"But, I have to know if this Aoki she mentioned and Muso are connected." I insist as I open my eyes, while walking up to the tree and placing my hand onto it. Suddenly, my hand goes through the tree, causing me to be sucked up into the tree, and everything goes black.
"Girl!" A man's voice rings out, causing me to tense up as a scene begins to unfold before my very eyes.
"Where am I?" I ask as the inside of a shrine appears around me, but then I look over to see a little girl with blackish-blue hair pass me.
"M-Master?" The girl stutters, but she is then struck across the face.
"Stop stuttering and tell me where the hell you've been?!" The man dressed in Monk attire exclaims.
"You bastard!" I shout as I rush over to the girl, but I was unable to touch her, and it was as if I wasn't even there. The little girl, who had tears forming in her brown eyes, looked over at him, holding her face that had a birthmark on her forehead. "I've seen that mark before..." I think as my eyes widen.
"I- I-I was practicing as you ordered-"
"Don't talk back, and didn't I tell you to bow whenever you talk to me?!" The Monk exclaims once more, while interrupting her, causing the small girl to quickly bow on the ground to him.
"F-forgive me, Master." The girl pleads, causing the Monk to scoff.
"Have you mastered the weapon I assigned you?" The Monk asks, glaring down at her.
"A-almost-" The girl was kicked in the stomach, causing me to look over to see her holding her stomach.
"Midoriko, you had to deal with a monster like this?" I ask as I glare over at the Monk.
"I only took you in because I sensed you had potential, but you're pathetic... Stay out of my sight till you've mastered the bow and arrow!" The Monk demands, causing me to scoff as he walks out of the Shrine.
"D-drinking again..." Little Midoriko trails off as she slowly gets up and makes it to her feet, while wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I b-better go train." Little Midoriko stutters as she sluggishly walks out of the Shrine.
"She was expected to train even after being beaten, like that?" I ask as everything goes black.
"All this must be-" I was interrupted when a forest began to come into view.
"Ow." Someone's voice rings out, causing me to look over to see little Midoriko staring down at her bloodied finger while holding her bow. As I look over at the tree she was shooting the arrows at, I see most of them were on the tree.
"I wouldn't have been able to do anything like this at her age..." I trail off, but then several sounds ring out.
"Ah!" Someone screams out in pain, causing little Midoriko to turn and quickly rush towards where the sound came from, as I follow after her.
"What is happening?!" I exclaim as I then see little Midoriko bend down, causing me to rush over and see a human boy with black hair about her age, but he was covered in blood.
"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO, LITTLE BOY?!" A monstrous voice rings out, causing little Midoriko to tense up as she then looks up to see a giant Demon.
"THERE YOU ARE. OH HOW NICE YOU LEAD ME RIGHT TO A SCRUMPTIOUS LOOKING GIRL!" The Demon proclaims, causing her to look down at the little boy and then clench the bow in her hand.
"D-did you..." Little Midoriko trails off, causing the monster to turn its head at her.
"DID I WHAT?!" The Demon exclaims, causing little Midoriko to glare up at it.
"You hurt this boy, didn't you?" Little Midoriko asks, causing the Demon to start laughing.
"She didn't stutter that time..." I trail off as I see her grab an arrow out of her quiver without trembling.
"YES, I DID, AND YOU'RE NEXT!" The demon bellows as he goes to bring down his giant claws towards her, while light begins to shine from her body, and she begins aiming the arrow at it.
"Wow, she was able to use Sacred Power at such an age?" I question with a surprised expression.
"You'll pay!" Little Midoriko screams as she lets go of the arrow.
"AAAAHHHH!" The Demon screeches as it disintegrates, causing Little Midoriko's eyes to widen.
"I-I did it." Little Midoriko stutters as she then looks over at the boy, who was still unconscious, and quickly rushes over to him.
"You'll be okay, I promise," Midoriko assures as she gets him on her back and starts running, but before I could run after her, the scene begins to change.
"So I'm seeing my past-selves memories..." I trail off as a small hut comes into view, and I go in to see little Midoriko dressing the boy's wounds.
"Y-you sustained so many wounds... How d-did you manage to get away?" Little Midoriko questions as she stares at the unconscious boy, but then lets out a yawn.
"Well, h-his life is out of danger a-and it's almost sundown. I guess I m-might as well sleep." Little Midoriko responds as she lays a blanket over the boy and then walks over to her Tatami mat and lies down. Suddenly, the time of day changes to morning as if I skipped time, causing me to look over and see the boy get up from where he was lying, but he looked different than before.
"Wait, is he-"
"Bandages... Where am I?" The boy asks as he then gets up and looks over, allowing me to see his red eyes along with his pointy ears.
"He's a Half-Demon!" I proclaim with wide eyes as he then walks over to see little Midoriko.
"Did she-"
"Oh, a-are you awake?" Little Midoriko asks as she begins to rub her eyes, causing the boy to quickly place his claws against her throat.
"Why did you save me?!" The boy exclaims, causing Little Midoriko to freeze.
"Y-you were injured..." Little Midoriko trails off, causing the boy to scoff as he pulls his hand away from her and turns away.
"So naïve." The boy states as Midoriko stands up with a curious expression.
"A-are you a Half-Demon?" Little Midoriko questions, causing the boy to glare over at her.
"I'll kill you." The threatens, but then a loud thud sounds rings out causing little Midoriko to turn white.
"H-hide." Little Midoriko stutters, causing the boy to put on a confused expression, but before he could ask, a man's voice rings out.
"It's that bastard again." I declare as I glare over at the door
"Girl!" The Monk calls out, causing Little Midoriko to quickly hide the boy under one of the floorboards.
"How dare you not come out when called!" The Monk shouts as he walks in to see her sitting up in her bed.
"M-master, please forgive-"
"Shut up!" The Monk demands, while interrupting her as he kicks her off the Tatami mat, which makes little Midoriko quickly bow on the ground.
"A Villager states you killed a Demon with you're bow, is it true?" The Monk asks, while narrowing his eyes at her.
"I-it's true, Master." Little Midoriko answers, but she doesn't rise from the ground.
"So, it must be true you saved a boy as well... Where is he?!" The Monk exclaims as he grabs Little Midoriko by the collar of her Kimono.
"H-he isn't here-"
"You brat!" The Monk bellows as he throws her against the wall and begins looking around the little hut. Finally, he stops letting out a sigh and quickly turns to Midoriko, who was still bowing on the floor.
"Don't you dare get a big head, it was probably just a fluke!" The Monk proclaims as he then walks out of the hut with an annoyed expression.
"What a complete jackass..." I trail off as little Midoriko gets up with a sigh.
"Y-you can come out now." Little Midoriko stutters as she walks over and pulls up the floorboard to see the boy with an angry expression.
"Why didn't you fight back?!" The boy exclaims as he gets out of the hole and glares at her, but she then sighs.
"I'd o-only make it worse." Little Midoriko informs as she places the floorboard back, while the boy scoffs.
"Human or Damon's... I can't tell which one is worse." The boy insists as he then walks out of the hut.
"H-he must think I'm pathetic, t-too..." Little Midoriko trails off, and everything goes black.
(To Kikyo)
Walking through the forest once again, buzzing begins to sound out, causing Kikyo to look over to see Naraku's poison Insects come up to her, but then fly up.
"Naraku!" Kikyo calls out as her eyes slightly widen.
(Naraku's POV)
"I came here to see you in person." I insist as I walk out from behind a tree.
"What do you want?" Kikyo asks.
"I needed to test my new power," I answer, causing Kikyo to glare at me.
"I've told you before, A Half-Demon who harbors Onigumo's heart has absolutely no power to kill me." Kikyo counters, causing me to smirk.
"You speak the truth, Kikyo. Indeed, if I still had Onigumo's heart. I wouldn't be able to lay a hand on you, would I?" I question as I walk up to Kikyo.
"Even though your body is mere artifice," I add as I glare at her.
"You wretch." Kikyo jibes.
"I knew you weren't real, and yet I was still unable to reach out and strike you." I point as I grab her neck and begin to squeeze.
"You... A woman made of nothing but clay and bones!" I proclaim as I let go of her.
"Now, tell me everything you know of that mortal named (Y/N)!" I demand, causing Kikyo to draw a bow from her quiver, but before I could do anything, my hand began pulsating. "Damn it!" I think as a demon hand appears, causing me to clench my hand into a fist, making it turn back to normal. "I'm running out of time..." I think as I turn away from Kikyo with an annoyed expression.
"What's wrong, Naraku? Were you here to get answers out of me or simply kill me?" Kikyo asks, causing me to glance back at her.
"Don't sound so self-assured. It was not out of fear that I decided to spare you. Consider yourself lucky. I will kill you." I answer as I then look back in front and begin walking away. "Onigumo is not yet completely severed from me." I think as I stare at my hand, but then make a fist.
"There's one more thing I need to make certain of, even if I didn't get any information from Kikyo..." I trail off as I pull out a purple flower that begins to glow.
(To (Y/N) )
((Y/N)'s POV)
"I wonder if that little boy is Aoki?" I question as the front of a shrine comes into view.
"Please, Monk, save our Village!" I hear numerous voices chorus as they begin to appear in front of the temperamental Monk, while pre-teenage Midoriko was right beside him with a bit of an uncomfortable expression.
"Don't worry, good people, I promise to save your Village." The Monk promises, causing the people to cheer as he walks away, while pre-teen Midoriko follows after him. However, once they enter the Shrine, he turns towards her with a serious expression.
"Master?" Pre-teen Midoriko asks with no emotion on her face.
"I'll leave saving them to you. Think of it as a test..." The Monk trails off with a grin, causing me to scoff.
"This man is terrible," I remark as Pre-teen Midoriko then bows.
"I won't let you down." Pre-teen Midoriko stays there for a moment.
"Then go!" The Monk demands, causing her to stand up straight, walking away. I follow after her, and we arrive at her hut.
"H-He expects me to take care o-of all those Demons?!" Pre-teen Midoriko exclaims as she begins to tremble, while grabbing her quiver.
"Can I r-really do this?" Pre-teen Midoriko questions with a worried expression, but everything goes black.
"That Monk doesn't expect her to make out of this alive, does he?" I ask as I grit my teeth, but a field comes into view with Pre-teen Midoriko in the middle, taking out as many as she can with just her arrows.
"This is... The last of them." Pre-teen Midoriko breathes as she draws another arrow from her quiver and shoots it towards the three demons coming towards her, causing all three of them to disintegrate.
"FOOLISH PREISTESS!" A Demonic voice rings out, causing Midoriko to look over to see a giant Ox Demon, who wielded a giant mallet, glaring down at her. Quickly, Pre-teen Midoriko reaches back for another arrow as he begins to bring down his giant mallet upon her
"Damn it!" Pre-teen Midoriko curses as there were no more in her quiver, causing her to shut her eyes, readying for the impact, but a loud thud rings out.
"Open your eyes, moron!" A familiar voice rings out, causing Pre-teen Midoriko to open her eyes to see a teenage boy with red eyes, black hair in a ponytail, and pointy ears standing a foot in front of her, while also in front of the slain Ox Demon behind him.
"That voice..." I trail off with wide eyes as I stare at the teenage boy.
"W-wait, are you-" Pre-teen Midoriko was interrupted when the teenage boy placed his fist slightly on her head.
"You really know how to get yourself into the stupidest situations, you know that pip-squeak?" The boy's questions caused a pouty expression to overcome Pre-teen Midoriko's face as she slapped his fist off her head.
"My name is Midoriko, not pip-squeak, Elf-boy." Pre-teen Midoriko responds as she crosses her arms.
"I'll kill you." The boy threatens, causing Pre-teen Midoriko to chuckle.
"Then tell me you're name and I won't call you Elf-boy." Pre-teen Midoriko points out causing the boy to turn away form her.
"Aoki and don't you forget it!" Aoki demands, but then darkness begins to creep in around me.
"So he really was Aoki..." I trail off as water begins to illuminate the darkness like last time I was in the Sacred Tree.
"That's all I can show you for now." Midoriko's voice rings out causing me to look over and see her standing a foot away from me.
"All you can show me?!" I exclaims, but she remains silent.
"Fine, then who is the person I'm supposed to change the fate of. You can at least tell me that!" I proclaim, but she shake her head slightly and begins walking towards me.
"You know enough for now... Also, you're Spiritual Power will no longer run out as it once did." Midoriko informs as she then pushes me backwards causing my vision to go black once more.