The Right Hand of Fate by darkmousey

Prologue and Chapter One

Summary: Nearly everyone is dead and the well is closed, trapping Kagome in the feudal era. Despite her blossoming powers, exponentially stronger now that she has both her complete soul and the Shikon no Tama, she does not have the long life she would need to see her family again. Myouga tells her of a legend stating that a powerful human claimed by a powerful youkai gains the longevity of the youkai. But what youkai would want a miko for a mate?

This is in response to the challenge posted by i.like.dots February 2007. I saw it and fell in love with the idea. I know it says "must be NC-17" but if I try to do a full, blown out lemon, the only thing I will succeed in doing is embarrass myself, Kagome, and Sesshoumaru. I will make it worthy of an R rating, though. If anyone likes writing lemons and would like to contribute to the story, let me know (see profile).

Prologue: Winter 1512

Kagome looked up to the dark sky, lightened only by the flurry of snowflakes fluttering down to the earth, before returning her gaze to the rough waters before her.

Too late. She was always too late.

Or perhaps not too late, but rather too hasty. She had known, even as she had made up her mind so late in autumn, even as the first frost began to show on the grass, that she would never be able to make it in time. But she had fooled herself, thinking that, perhaps, if she was lucky, she'd make it on time, or the waters wouldn't be so bad, and someone would be willing to take her across these waters so she could continue her journey to the Northern Lord.

No one would be willing to make the journey for a months, she knew. Even if she found someone willing, it would only mean risking the safety of both the boat and the lives of its passengers, and she wasn't about to put that guilt on her shoulders, should she live to do so.

Depressed, but not so much so as to lose sense of practicality, Kagome turned from the pier and faced the town around her. Judging by the weight of her coin purse, she had enough left to buy a couple nights at an inn, but after that she would need to find a way to support herself. Not that that'll be difficult, she thought to herself. It was a large town--it was a port, after all. There had to be some jobs available.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll start looking for a way to earn some money. That was tomorrow. Tonight, she wanted only warm food, a warm bed, and a warm blanket she could snuggle to chase away her dreams.

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Chapter One: Late summer 1512

The clearing was a familiar place to Kagome, in the last six years--and, indeed, all of her life she had felt the strength and protection of the great Goshinboku in its center. It was to this clearing she went when she was happy, or sad, or scared, or just felt like talking or yelling or...remembering. It was here that she met Inuyasha.

Kagome knelt before the seventh grave she had dug in the clearing surrounding the Goshinboku, head bowed in silent prayer as she inhaled the sweet burning incense.

Her companions in the quest for the Shikon shards had been buried here just over a year ago. Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kirara, even Kikyou...And now Kaede, her mentor, her only remaining family in this time, joined them.

And now she was alone, unable to pass through the well, unable to let the past--and future--go. The Shikon may have been complete, but her heart was torn.

At a stinging at her neck, she slapped at whatever pest had caused the sensation. She brought her hand down and smiled. Well, maybe not completely alone. She smiled as the flea in her hand re-inflated himself. "Myouga, it's good to see you again."

"Ah, yes, Kagome-sama, your blood is still as sweet as ever." He cleared his throat, becoming more solemn. "I have come to express my sympathy. I heard Kaede-sama passed on and I wish to offer my support to you as you take on her duties as successor."

Kagome shook her head. "I'm afraid your information was partially wrong this time, Myouga. Kaede trained another to take her place. She has been performing her duties as village miko since last fall."

"B-but...! Kagome-sama, you are the one most suited now that you--"

Seeing the baffled expression on his face, she shook her head, interrupting him. "I love this village. It feels like a second home to me; everyone knows each other and gets along most of the time; and, for the most part, they are accepting of me and whatever strange things and people I attract. But I can't help but wonder what ties me to the village now. It's like...a warm, beautiful painting I've stepped through and become a part of, but I haven't been there since the beginning, so there will always be some kind of dissonance." She paused, collecting her thoughts again. "The well broke even before we defeated Naraku, and no matter how many times we jumped in, no matter what we did or who we consulted, it wouldn't open again. Everyone is dead, and all I have left of them are my memories and their ashes. And now Kaede..." She sniffled, trying not to cry, not this moment. Inuyasha would tell her to be strong. "Before she left," she said more quietly, "she told me that she didn't want me to have any responsibilities to this village. She said she knew what I felt, that there's something more out there for me to do, and when it came time for me to do it, she didn't want me to feel like I had to stay for the sake of the villagers. So, she trained a young girl, Maiko. She was a good choice; she has some power, and enjoys the life of a miko." She gave an assuring smile. "I help her with daily chores, and other duties when she gets swamped. It's been working out well."

"But, Kagome-sama, don't the villagers prefer you? Now that the Shikon no Tama was absorbed into you, your powers have been fully unleashed! You are much more capable than any other miko."

A dark look came over Kagome. "They don't know."

"What? How could they not? You were the miko who defeated the evil Naraku."

"Yes," she agreed bitterly, "that is what all the rumors say. I am the miko who defeated Naraku, who supposedly became the living jewel, who supposedly is able to grant the desires of any who claim her, who supposedly lives in this region of Japan. The great Shikon Miko." She turned her head away. "I have heard so many rumors like these, with the truth of their foundation so twisted...Myouga, I want to be able to live as a normal person, a normal miko. Here, I have been able to mask my aura and 'prove' that I am not as great as these rumors make people believe I am, but, if some youkai or power-crazed human were to pick up on my level of power, and were to capture me..."

Myouga looked up to her troubled face before acquiescing. "I understand, Kagome-sama. There are such great things that you could do with your powers, but in your current situation..." he let the sentence fade. "I am sorry to have upset you in any way. As I said, I came to pay my respects, and now I must be going." He made to hop away.

"Wait!"

"Yes, Kagome-sama?"

She blinked away the tears that had not yet left her eyes and smiled, all forgiven. "It would be really, really nice if you could stay here tonight...or even longer. If you like."

He nodded and returned her smile. "I'd like that."

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It had been two weeks since Myouga had arrived at the village. He had been somewhat pleasantly surprised that Kagome had settled into her newest role in life. She and Maiko seemed to get along well and had a very easygoing relationship, but it wasn't anywhere near the deep connection shared by those in the shard-collecting group.

She had settled into a schedule. In the mornings, she would work in her private garden, then in the garden set aside for herbs. She would eat a quick lunch before heading out into the forest for--as it appeared to Myouga--whatever struck her fancy, be it water, herbs, rocks, or whatever else she could find that fit in her basket. These trips often ended with a trip to a nearby river or hot spring. Then she would arrive at the hut she shared with Maiko to make dinner. After that, she would spend her nights 'experimenting' with her day's finds, storing the mixtures in jars. Sometimes, if he concentrated on it, he could feel her intentionally weaving in some of her miko energy.

Some days, she would skip her afternoon scavenging to go into the village to barter. It was here he learned that those materials she had scavenged and mixed were actually tonics of sorts--simple remedies for small illnesses--a runny nose or a sore throat--and even luxury items--like soaps or food seasonings.

When he had congratulated her on her success, she had sheepishly confessed that the only reason she had even tried was because she had been running out of shampoo. Being able to barter and help people with her mixtures was just an added bonus.

But he knew that wasn't the only way Kagome helped the villagers. At this time of year, when all the men were out in the fields, injuries were abundant and she was called out a lot to help Maiko with her healing duties. Although Maiko had a gift for healing with her miko energy, Kagome's gift was much greater. And even though she did claim modestly that the injuries she healed weren't as bad as the villagers thought--that it was just a sprain not a break, that the cut really wasn't that deep--he knew the truth.

Knowing this made him wonder: if her power used for healing was this strong, what did that say about other, more destructive uses of it? He realized what kind of predicament she was in. And he never faulted anyone for lying low. For although he knew that, should she make herself--her power--known, she would attract strong allies, he also couldn't fault her for wanting to protect herself when her dearest, closest friends were gone.

He looked out the window. It was raining, but nowhere near the downpour earlier. Maiko had left the hut in the middle of dinner: a group of boys had been playing in the mud and one had fallen and supposedly broken something. Kagome finished cleaning everything up, leaving some of the stew to warm by the fire for the village's miko. Tonight, instead of making her brews, she seemed content to sit facing the hearth, with her arms around her knees. They sat like that for a while before she spoke to him.

"Myouga, even with the Shikon back inside me, and my power increased, do I still have the lifespan of a normal human?"

He thought for a while, wondering what had brought on this train of thought, scouring his brain for any facts or myths that might answer her question. "I think only if you were to wish on the jewel would your life extend beyond that of a mortal. The only other miko I can recall who matched your current strength is Midoriko but..."

"She was killed."

He nodded. Though he doubted he could see her, the silence was enough. They both knew the story.

"I've been thinking for a while now. The well is closed, and I'm human. My family on this side of the well is no longer with me, and I'm no longer with my family on the other side. I'll never see them again." Tears began to trail down her cheeks. "With all the wars, and the time between this time and then, there's no safe way to leave a message. I can't even give them that much. They deserve at least that much. They deserve to know that I lived, that I missed them!"

Myouga hopped to her shoulder, trying to comfort her, waiting for her to calm down. Then it struck him. "There is an old tale that my former lord, the Inu no Taisho, believed." He waited for her attention to focus on him. "Supposedly, if a human of great strength were to be mated to a youkai of great strength--a taiyoukai--the human would gain the strength, the longevity of the youkai."

Kagome sat, letting this all sink in before she sighed. "What youkai would want to mate a miko?" Before Myouga could jump in, she said, "No, let me rephrase that. What youkai would want to mate the Shikon Miko with no intention of forcing her to use her powers to create an empire?" The image of Sesshoumaru popped into her mind. He was the only taiyoukai she could recall. Powerful, yes. And he wanted to gain power and prestige on his own, not by cheating with a jewel or a miko. She snorted. He'd be more likely to kill me than mate me.

"There is one I believe who can help you."

"Who?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"The Lord of the North--he is already mated, but I think he would be honored, excited even, to help you." Myouga nodded to himself, very sure. "He's very...eccentric, but has good ties to most of the noble families, both human and youkai. He should be able to help you find a youkai with the characteristics you need."

For the first time, Kagome was truly interested. If this Lord of the North could help her, she could live long enough to see her family. If not... I'll be right back here again, no harm. Hopefully. If the worst that could happen is me failing, then...

"I'm in."

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Okay, that's it for now. I can't make any promises on updates; it'll just be as I have time. I'm gonna be going to Spain in less than a week, so don't expect anything til the end of the month. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed it. The next chapter will either have Sesshoumaru or the next part of Kagome's journey.