A/N: So here's the long awaited sequel to 'Beneath the Boughs of Goshinboku' !! I hope I haven't taken too long... But just writing was making a 'one-shot' too long, so I decided that I'd baby up. So now it's in parts. Reviewing will get the next one! And the faster the better... but you all know that, right?
Just so you all know, this will be written in Kagome's point of view again. I think it's an interesting twist. Because I don't usually write in P.O.V's.
But I digress. On with Part One! Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything mentioned below. Sadly, that's the story of my life.
Summary: Sequel to Beneath the Boughs of Goshinboku Kagome has a primal fear of the dark, and soon finds herself in an interesting situation. However, things start to look up when she comes upon a giant beacon in the dark, in the form of a fluffy white dog.
Beacon in the Darkness
Part One
By ancient-relic
Sequel to Beneath the Boughs of Goshinboku
At some point or another in one's life, it is completely natural to fear the uncertain boundaries of the encompassing darkness that each night brings. As a child- the fear of monsters under your bed, or hiding beyond the door of your closet. Darkness brings out creatures from other realms, and in the minds of children, it is absolutely terrifying.
However, it is almost completely and totally ridiculous to find myself walking through an unknown forest in the middle of the night, with no more protection than whatever my own limbs could provide.
And something that both disturbed and frightened me, was that as I walked alone through the trees and shrubbery, was that I was completely shrouded in darkness. Living- or currently residing, anyhow- in a realm of demons, you'd think that I'd be more afraid of the things that might come out of the darkness, rather than the darkness itself.
Alas, no.
I, Kagome Higurashi, high school student from the future and whom was currently living in the past hunting a vicious demon and attempting to recreate a scared jewel that I shattered and inadvertently had enough power to let someone take over the world as we know it… Damn, what a long sentence.
You'd think, what with me being in high school, (albeit failing), that I'd be able to construct a proper sentence. And this all just goes to show you how even the most simplest of things can be forgotten… yup. I should really go home soon… I think I've got a Geometry test on Tuesday.
Sorry. Got off topic again… I'll recap. Fast forward this time, so keep up.
KagomeHigurashihighschoolerfuturebrokenjewelevildemonrecreatesacredjewelshattered, that inadvertently had enough power to let someone (most likely evil) take over and destroy the world as we know it…
Was afraid of the dark.
It was chance that Miroku was in a particular mood when we set up camp. It was ironic that it was the night of the new moon, and InuYasha was completely on edge. Shippo decidedly decided to join in with Miroku's antics, and not much later, a thoroughly pissed off hanyou-turned-human went storming off into the underbrush, walking into the unknown with a sword that wouldn't transform.
Heehee.
Almost unanimously, I was voted to retrieve our hanyou, to soak his head and bring him back to where everyone was waiting back at camp. I had done absolutely nothing- yet I had to pay the consequences.
Totally figures- that's feudal simpletons for you. Actually, future simpletons are just like that- the breed of 'simpleton' never really evolved. Which, of course, is totally pathetic.
And as so, I found myself doing something, again, to fix the rising tension within our little group- my temporary family.
It was easily past midnight, and I could tell that even without my watch working or the moon to attempt and fail to judge the time. I had hastily grabbed one of my two flashlights as I stalked out of camp after InuYasha.
As I walked through the foliage, I soon found myself far enough to decide that the light of the blazing fire in the darkness did nothing for me. Clicking to turn on my flashlight, I was both disappointed and amazed as it flickered bright for a moment, and dulled down to nothing as the batteries died.
Figures that something so completely retarded would happen to me as I took a chance on my stubborn hanyou whilst it was totally inconvenient for me. And what did I get for it? A dead flashlight, in the darkness of the forest. And I had no idea which way was out!
I grumbled under my breath as I stumbled about in the dark for a moment, using choice words that would make even InuYasha double-step. Tripping over a tree root, I caught myself by banging painfully into the tree that it belonged to.
"Genius… getting caught in the dark while searching for our f-" I mumbled, stopping as the eerie silence settled in around me.
Damn, it's quiet!
A sudden rustle in the trees sent my head whipping around, with my pathetic human ears straining to hear whatever it was that made that sound. Further study proved it to be the wind. Kagome, you are an idiot! Congratulations. You win a new battery for your flashlight!
I wish. Kagome darling, you had really ought to stop that nasty habit of talking to yourself.
Thanks. I know that.
Slowly and totally un-surely, I tripped and stumbled my way through the darkness of the trees, looking up through the few gaps in the foliage to see no moon, and the faint twinkling of stars.
Great.
Noises that were logically the sounds of 'the forest settling' echoed as the trees creaked and swayed in the wind, with the eerie rustling of the bushes and the actual leaves that encompassed most of the wildlife around me.
Shivering, I rubbed my arms vigorously, even though I wasn't cold. It was mostly, I think, to get rid of that icky-creepy feeling that was sending those tell-tale shivers down my spine.
But it was no time to stand still, because if my deepest- but not darkest- fears were true, I'd be an easier target for those hungry night-prowling demons when I was standing still.
Minutes passed, as I made my way through the woods. Then went hours, and as I stopped and looked around at my surroundings, a dreadful feeling planted itself in the pit of my stomach. Everything looks the same…
Looking down to my wrist-watch, I pressed the convenient little button that made the face light up. Damn! I'd only been walking for five minutes. Goddamn watch!
Flinging my arms about wildly and stupidly in my anger, I whacked my wrist against a tree that was closer than it appeared. And, I cracked my watch, effectively breaking my handy-dandy glow-in-the-dark feature.
"Friggin tree! Put up a warning sign, damn it all!" I roared, but my little voice merely echoed back to me, the trees around me not letting it through.
A sudden tremor ripped through the earth, causing me to trip and fall, practically ramming my head into the very same tree that I had broken my watch on. And then, with my head spinning, I kicked it out of anger.
Which, was a completely stupid move. However, stupid is never an issue when you're raving mad. It only comes back to haunt you when you actually have a throbbing appendage as proof of whatever stupid thing that you've just done. In this case, it was my foot, throbbing in pain beneath the custom-made boots that I was wearing, curtsey of Sango. Sandals were just not my style.
The tremor stopped shortly after it started, but it was followed by an eerie, mournful howl, that rattled my brain about in my head. It was so loud, that I figured whoever caused it was either some kind of banshee-demon, or they were not too far away.
If it was a wolf, then maybe Koga wasn't far away! He'd get me out of the forest, no problem! Rushing off towards the sound, I think that I tripped at least three more times on those fast moving trees, and protruding roots.
Slowing down to a walk seemed to be in my best health interest, so I cautiously made my way around the trees that I had been previously running into.
Though I couldn't see anything, I could feel something, like I was approaching a wall. There was power radiating off it in waves, and I knew that just beyond the wall of power, was my ticket out of these blasted woods.
As I reached the invisible blockade, I stretched an arm out, to test if there was something physical there. However, my hand went right past where the wall was, with nothing more than a blotted red glow around where my wrist was breaching the power.
It didn't hurt at all, but I could feel my miko powers tingling inside me, just like when a jewel shard made itself present. Whatever.
Slipping through the power felt like silk brushing across my skin in a soft whisper, just like when I went through a barrier. So that's what it is! A barrier! I felt the sensation run along my body, and I felt it through my clothes. That's one helluva barrier!
Inching closer towards my goal, you have to understand how shocked I was when I came upon a clearing, that had a big, white, glowing, fluffy thing in the very center of it, the fur blowing in the wind as it rose and fell with a steady rhythm.
"What the hell?" I said aloud, slapping my hand to my mouth an instant later, realizing that whatever this was, it was a demon. However, it didn't move, didn't twitch, didn't rumble with any kind of threat, or do anything at all.
And after drawing that conclusion, I deposited all rational and sane thoughts, and inched towards it.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Okay. So this right there is the first Part of Beacon in the Darkness. It's probably going to end up being four of five parts long, at the most.
Hope you liked it! Review, and tell me what's going through your mind right about now. You know I love to hear what you all have to say.
So reviewers, I'm expecting a lot from you... don't let me down.
Until next time,
ancient-relic