Chapter Text
Deep within the Goshinboku Forest next to Midoriko’s village, the air was still and silent. Only the gentle rustling of the leaves and the quiet calls of the birds disturbed the tranquil space. It was actually a warm morning for the season. In a small, open clearing nestled deeper within the forest, were three women in the midst of their morning training. The two younger priestesses faced off against each other while the oldest one looked on. A small, cool breeze came through providing some semblance of comfort. The older woman was Midoriko. The High Priestess that watched over the land of Musashi. She had beauty that cannot be rivaled by any other. She had a kind yet battle-hardened visage. If provoked, she would release untold immense powers upon you. Midoriko sat at the far end of the clearing with her legs tucked under her as she observed her twin daughters with a critical eye.
The eldest sister had hair as straight as a pin and black as the darkest night. Her name was Kikyo , named after the Chinese Bellflower for her elegance and beauty. She stood more composed and less sweaty than her younger sister who was across from her in a defensive stance. Kagome was more noticeably worn-out than her sister. She was panting heavily and struggled to push her hair that had escaped from her long thick braid out of her sweaty face. Her eyes were her most intriguing facet since it was rare and unusual among the population of Musashi . A gift from her late father. They were an intense, dark blue like the ocean in the middle of a raging storm and were completely locked on to her opponent. This was so unlike her sister’s cool, rich brown eyes which stared right back at her with no emotion whatsoever. The aura’s emanating from these two was so overwhelming it was nearly suffocating. The creatures of the forest skittered away in fear just from the electricity radiating off of these two. Kikyo and Kagome were infamously known as the sun and moon priestesses based on their opposite auras. Kikyo was gentle and serene as the quiet moon, whereas, Kagome was as warm and passionate as the blazing sun. Twins, but clearly VERY different people.
For today’s training, Kikyo and Kagome were dressed in their combat gear. Kikyo wore a white fighting haori with red trimming and outfitted with a thick leather chest plate. The sleeves were shortened to allow for more movement. Kikyo’s hair was tied back in a low ponytail with a simple, white ribbon. Kagome was also dressed in a white haori but with blue trimming instead. Her chest plate was smaller just covering across her breasts that provided security and support (let’s just say Kagome was more “gifted” in that area compared to her sister. Probably the one area she can actually beat her sister in). The sleeves were also shortened for convenience. Instead of the traditional hakama worn by priestesses, Kagome wore a shorter-styled kimono skirt, that was also blue, along with what looked to be tight, black short pants underneath for modesty’s sake. Much to the disapproval of her mother, Kagome liked the short look for ease of movement and not be encumbered by the long, billowing hakama. Also, it was just way too hot for that anyway. To add a little bit of her own personal flair to her get-up, Kagome added a blue with a gold-trimmed obi around her waist.
In their hands, Kikyo and Kagome held deadly weapons which were unlike a priestess’s usual bow and arrow. Kikyo wielded a long bo staff. Strong and unyielding. Kagome held twin sais . Small yet deadly fast in the right hands.
Facing off against each other they waited patiently for the signal. One lone, leaf floated down to the ground. The instant the leaf touched the earth Midoriko swipes her hand down and yells out the call. “BEGIN!”
Kikyo and Kagome charged at each other with their weapons raised the moment they heard their mother’s commanding voice. Kikyo makes the first strike by swinging her bo staff down upon her sister’s head. Kagome quickly dashes to the side and spins around executing a round house kick towards Kikyo’s own head. Kikyo does a split avoiding her sister’s kick by an inch.
” Come on little sister, I know you can do much better than that.” Taunts Kikyo.
Kikyo slices her bo staff through the air sending a ball of pink reiki energy straight towards Kagome. Kagome swipes her hand across her face summoning a blue barrier to protect herself. The energies of the barrier and the ball clash. Kagome grits her teeth and digs her feet into the ground as she struggles to maintain her barrier until the ball finally disintegrates. She was so focused on maintaining her barrier, she did not notice that her elder sister was coming up behind her. Kikyo swings her bo staff again striking Kagome at the side of her abdomen. Kagome feels the wind get knocked out of her and is thrown to the side a few feet from Kikyo .
Midoriko frowns as she watches Kagome fall. “Kagome focus! Do not let yourself get distracted so easily by cheap tactics!”
Kagome grunts in pain holding her side knowing that a huge bruise would likely form in the morning. Kagome grabs at her fallen weapons gripping them in anger and frustration and rises to her feet shakily. She throws one of her sais charged with her blue reiki energy. Kikyo easily deflects the attack with her staff sending the sai flying and imbeding itself into a tree. The bark sizzles and burns from the strong power coming off the blade.
Kikyo smirks mockingly at her sister with one hand on her hip, “My, my, my is that a new trick of yours sister? How creative, but, not very useful in my opinion. Look you lost one of your weapons already.”
Kikyo once again charges at Kagome swinging her staff. Kagome grabs the bo staff with her free hand and wraps her arm around maneuvering the staff so that it twists Kikyo’s hand and arm in an awkward position. She pulls her sister close trapping her. Kagome thrusts her blade at Kikyo, but, Kikyo dodges by letting go of the staff and back flipping away from danger. Kagome was unrelentless, throwing wild punches and kicks left and right. Unfortunately, Kikyo manages to dodge every single one of them with ease. Managing to see a small opening in her sister’s form, Kagome grabs a hold of the front of Kikyo’s haori and throws her over her shoulder onto the ground hard. Kagome, while breathing heavily, smiles believing she has won at last against the unbeatable Kikyo. However, her elation is short lived. Kikyo manages to kick Kagome’s feet out from under her and pins her to the ground with Kikyo’s legs wrapped around her neck and stretching one of Kagome’s arms at an odd angle.
Kikyo looks down at her sister with a stoic face. “You should not let your guard down so easily. A foolish judgement on your part dear sister. Above all else make sure your enemy is either completely incapacitated or better yet, dead.”
Kagome growls in anger and tries to heave her sister off of her. Kikyo tightens her leg around Kagome’s neck and twists her arm more making Kagome cry out in pain.
” You allowed your emotions to get the best of your during battle sister! A mistake that can cost you your life in battle. Demons won’t hesitate to use that to their advantage. If I had been a demon you would be dead by now. Remember that sister.” Kikyo gets up let go of Kagome. Kagome rolls over holding her shoulder in pain.
“Winner, Kikyo” Midoriko declared as she walks up to her two daughters.
Kikyo bows towards her mother while Kagome is still lying on the ground hurt not only physically, but emotionally by her sister’s harsh words. Kagome notices a hand reach down toward her and reluctantly grabs it thanking Kikyo for helping her up.
“Well done Kikyo you have made me proud once again. Kagome you have to keep practicing. You made way too many careless errors again today.”
Kagome doesn’t say anything, but, bows her head in deference at both her mother and sister before walking away towards the village.
Midoriko looks on sadly towards Kagome’s retreating figure before reaching out and putting her hand on her shoulder gently. “Please do not be too hard on yourself my dear. You still did very well today. And besides, your elder sister carries a much heavier burden than you do for she will inherit the title of HIgh Priestess of Musashi once I am gone from this world. Your sister and I are only harsh on you because we want you to be careful.” Kagome doesn’t say anything in return because she can hear the slight disappointment in her mother’s voice. Again. Kagome bows to her mother and heads out deeper into the forest instead. Midoriko looks on with a sad frown. Kikyo places a hand on her mother’s back gently before walking off as well. Midoriko turns her head towards the vast, blue sky above her as if all her answers could be answered there.
“My love, I wish you were still here with us. You would know what to do.” Midoriko sighs heavily before following after Kikyo .
Kagome continued to walk deeper into the forest with a heavy heart and no destination in mind. Kagome knew the ways around the forest like the back of her own hand. While deep in thought, Kagome notices that her feet managed to carry her all the way to the base of the ancient Goshinboku tree. Kagome’s mother had told her and her sister that this tree was ancient and sacred. It carried its own unique powers and stretched high above the forest canopy. It was her favorite place to hide away from all of the disappointed looks. Kagome had always felt since she was a small girl, that the tree would try to comfort her during all her sad times. Like the time they found out her father was tragically killed before coming back home from war. Kagome remembered crying herself to sleep that day and waking up feeling protected by the old tree. Ever since then, she would come to this place to escape. This was her secret place.
Kagome kneels before the tree, bowing her head and putting her hands up and meditates allowing the tree’s mystical aura to flow over her own and soothe her muddled mind and soul. All too soon, however, Kagome’s thoughts began to her invade her mind.
“Why can’t I be more like Kikyo ! I lost again. I always lose every time I spar with Kikyo . Why do I even bother trying?! Mother was disappointed again. Oh, how I hate that look in mother’s eyes every time she sees me fail. It hurts so deeply. I’m nothing like my sister. She is perfect. Kikyo is so beautiful and graceful. Unlike me, a bumbling klutz of a girl who can barely control her powers. I am always second best. I can never hope to catch up to her.”
Kagome’s depressing thoughts conjure up a memory of an incident that happened in the village not too long ago.
In Midoriko’s Village a few days prior...
It was another peacefully morning as Kagome walks through the streets of her village greeting everyone who passed by with a bright smile on her face, while also offering blessings to anyone who asked for it. These tasks were required as part of her duties as a priestess-in-training. Kagome walks by two elder women from the village. One was carrying a sleeping baby on her back, who Kagome had helped deliver a few months ago, another one of her many responsibilities. Kagome smiled and waved and the two women greeted her politely in return. As she walked away, Kagome could hear the two women whispering about her.
“ Ahhh , so that is Lady Kagome. The youngest of the twins,” the one village woman with short brown hair carrying a basket of vegetables whispered to her companion.
“As I thought, she does not have the same grace and poise as our Lady Kikyo . While she was helping to deliver my daughter’s baby last week, she had the audacity to say that she had forgotten an important herb and just kept rambling and apologizing for forgetfulness before running all the way back to her home to get the medicine! I thank merciful Buddha that my precious granddaughter survived that night. That girl is absolutely careless!” The baby on her back started to fuss and the brown-haired woman started to shush and console her granddaughter. “She will never measure up to Lady Kikyo. Lady Kikyo would never make that mistake” She hissed.
Her friend shushes her friend quickly, “be quiet you old fool! She may hear you and we will end up being punished for disrespecting a daughter of the High Priestess Midoriko . Or worse yet what if she curses us!” The two women walk away returning to their homes. Unbeknownst to them, Kagome continues to walk slowly with her head down and her bands covering her face hiding the tears. She had clearly heard everything those women said about her.
Under the Goshinboku Tree
Kagome clenches her fist and bites the bottom of her lip almost drawing blood as she tries to regain control of her emotions while recalling that painful memory. She knows that the villagers all talk about her. She KNOWS that she will never be good enough to fill Kikyo’s or her mother’s shoes. She will only just be a second-rate copy. Tears prickled the corner of Kagome’s eyes and she wipes her across them in frustration.
“Father, I wish you were here. I miss you so much” sobbed Kagome.
All of a sudden, a loud rustle in the trees disrupts Kagome’s heartful plea. Out of pure instinct, Kagome quickly snaps to attention flaring out her aura in a wide area trying to sense for an intruder. A mere few seconds later, a small blip in her mind goes off. She was not alone.
TO BE CONTINUED