Captivated by LadyDaniTar

Untouched

This is a beautiful and extraordinary tale by myself and JulyTheLily!
We hope you enjoy not only the writing but the amazing artwork found throughout the chapters. Future posting dates will be every Monday and Thursday.
Check out this link to JulysTumblr for other artwork and commission info!

The blistering sun hung over a dusty market town nestled in the vast expanse of northern China that would one day be part of the Gobi Desert. Kagome trudged onward, each breath scorching her lungs as if she were trapped within a kiln. She adjusted the wide-brimmed hat on her head, its sheer veil falling gently around her face, concealing the delicate features that betrayed her foreign origins and shielding her from the relentless gaze of both sun and strangers. Her sapphire-blue eyes and lighter complexion, uncommon in this land, drew unwanted attention as she moved through the crowded streets with practiced caution.

Decades earlier, peace had seemed within her grasp after she completed the Shikon Jewel and made her wish. But the quiet life she dreamed of had vanished abruptly when the Bone Eater’s Well sealed shut, cutting off her return home and leaving her stranded permanently in an era she'd once believed was temporary. 

Memories of those days clung to her like the scent of rain on old earth—haunting, bittersweet, and impossible to forget. Inuyasha had stayed faithfully by her side, their bond slowly settling into something softer—a sibling-like closeness. Around them life moved on. Sango and Miroku married and their children grew tall. The world kept turning, carving years into familiar faces.

But time, relentless and impartial, left Kagome untouched.

While the villagers aged—skin creasing like dried parchment—she remained the same. Forever twenty-one. Her reflection never wavered, though the eyes staring back at her grew heavier with each passing year. The Shikon Jewel may have granted her immortality, but not peace. What once felt like a miracle began to feel like a curse—a lonely, unbreakable cage.

After some time, Kaede passed quietly in her sleep, leaving Kagome to step into the role of village priestess. She healed, she guided, she smiled for every new generation that she helped welcome into the world.

But inside, something stirred—an ache that no ritual or remedy could soothe. A longing for the unknown. For movement. For meaning beyond duty and endless seasons.

Eventually, that quiet hunger pushed her past the borders of Japan and into the waiting arms of distant lands. Chasing a purpose that might finally be of her own making.

A sudden shove jolted Kagome from her thoughts as she navigated toward a nearby stall to refill her waterskin. Instinctively her grip tightened around the concealed pouch of coins beneath her cloak. Survival had taught her vigilance; she knew the harsh realities of poverty, having both seen and, in darker moments, participated in pickpocketing. Fortunately, recent work as a laborer during the past harvest season had provided enough wage to keep her away from desperation—for now.

After refilling her waterskin, Kagome hurriedly slipped away from the oppressive crowds, stepping into the clearer air beyond the bustling marketplace. She drank deeply, savoring the cool water as it eased the burning in her throat. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she froze mid-motion, her ears catching the echo of an excited proclamation drifting through the streets.

Curiosity sparked within her, drawing her attention toward the rising commotion. A large group had begun to gather around a lavishly decorated caravan, flanked by colorful tents fluttering gently in the warm breeze. Kagome initially planned to ignore the spectacle—it appeared to be just another traveling troupe hawking exotic trinkets she had no use for—until a vividly embroidered tapestry unfurled, capturing her gaze and stealing her breath.

"Witness The Fearsome Great Dog Demon!" the bold, provocative letters boasted above a disturbingly detailed image. Her pulse spiked as she stared at the twisted figure depicted. Long, flowing silver-white hair, crescent moon starkly etched upon a furrowed  brow, crimson stripes marking each cheek, oversized fangs bared, and blood-red eyes glaring fiercely from behind chains.

The day’s heat was forgotten as an icy chill raced down her spine, her heart lurching as recognition hit like a sandstorm.

Compelled forward, Kagome pushed deeper into the throng, straining her ears to catch fragments of whispered conversations. They wove a grim narrative of ruthless demon hunters and unscrupulous traders capturing powerful creatures from distant lands and turning them into spectacles for profit. She had to see for herself—to confirm if Sesshoumaru truly was here in this monstrous sideshow.