Chapter 6:
Making Preparations for the Journey
(Opening: Grip!)
The two following days to Gerardo and Gabriela's return were a bit stressful, as while they finally obtained the powers they had dreamt with for so long, they had realized they couldn't make use of them until they went back to Inuyasha's world, as it could be very problematic if the people in their world learned about them.
As soon as they returned, they spent a while with their mother, as she had been very worried about them…
(BGM: Nukumori no Kioku – Card Captor Sakura)
- "Mother… Mom!" – screamed Gerardo as soon as they saw their mother upon getting back to their world, and they both ran to hug her.
- "Mommy…!" – said Gabriela.
- "Gerar, Gaby… my dears…" – said their mother shedding tears of happiness as she hugged them back.
- "Mommy, we missed you a lot… We wanted to be with you again…" – said Gabriela a she sobbed.
- "You don't how much we've missed you…" – said Gerardo as he cried.
- "I've been very worried about you two, but I'm so glad to see you're safe and sound…" – said their mother, and they continued crying, embracing each other.
Once they calmed down, both siblings began telling her about their adventures in the other world.
- "And so, I somehow used magic to defeat Sesshomaru and save Gaby" – said Gerardo excitedly.
- "Yup, and then I healed him because we didn't want to see him die" – said Gabriela joining her hands.
- "You had quite a hard time, right? However, I'm very proud that you protected Gaby so much, Gerar. However, I have to say that I don't really like that you two got involved in something so dangerous" – said Mrs. Gallucci with a worried face.
- "Well, it's not like it could be helped" – said Gerardo.
- "And at least everything ended well, right?" – said Gabriela with a smile, which made the three of them laugh.
They then had to deal with the fact that their father had returned from his work, which meant having to endure a good scolding for their sudden disappearance. He did the best he could to endure it, as well as explain their exchange with Kagome and Inuyasha had been only a trial project that only lasted a couple of days.
However, the true problems began the Sunday, as he had still to explain to their parents that they needed to go back to that world, and that it was a life or death matter so no one else could handle. Luckily, neither of them had to go to school since they had returned during the Friday afternoon.
- "Agh… no matter how much I think about, I can't find a good way to explain this to my parents" – said Gerardo irritated as he looked at the roof of his room as he lied on his bed. He was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt and black pants.
- "Maybe I could help you with that" – said Kagome's voice seemingly from nowhere.
- "Kagome!?" – asked Gerardo as he sat up on the bed and began looking around in all directions – "How are you talking to me?" –
- "You should know it. Did you forget what we were given during the ceremony?" – asked Kagome with a teasing voice as she giggled.
Gerardo then looked at the Dragtemn he had on his wrist, which was lighting up intermittently, so he touched the screen, which showed he was receiving a holo-call from Kagome, and pushed the button to answer it. This made the intermittent lighting to stop and made a small holographic projection with Kagome's appearance appear over the crystal screen.
- "I'm feeling kinda stupid. We got told about the Dragtemns back then and I didn't even notice you were calling me" – said Gerardo smacking himself on the forehead.
- "Oh come on, don't be so harsh on yourself. Anyway, these devices are pretty handy!" – said Kagome with a smile.
- "Oh, have you figured out how they work in full?" – asked Gerardo impressed.
- "Yeah! I've been reading the manual they have in the menu, and I've learned about their communicator function, their teleporter and the best part, that you can store things in them! Now I won't have to carry my backpack all the time!" – said Kagome cheerfully.
- "I'm glad you've found it useful," – said Gerardo smiling, but his face then returned to a serious expression – "But do you really think they'll let me go just like that?" –
- "If you let me talk to them, I'm sure I can make them understand" – said Kagome – "Or is it that you don't trust me?" –
- "Well, I have no other choice if you put it that way" – said Gerardo with a smile – "Please help me with this, Kagome" –
He then left his room and walked the hallway that separated it from the master bedroom: it was time for his parents to know about the recent events and about his mission.
- "Dad, Mom!" – said Gerardo as he opened the door and went into the bedroom – "I have something important to tell you!" –
- "What is it, Gerardo?" – asked his father, who was lying on the bed alongside his wife watching TV.
As a way of replying, Gerardo showed him the Dragtemn with Kagome's holographic projection over it.
- "And what's this?" – asked his father as he looked at him confused.
- "Oh, nothing special. It's a friend from another dimension" – replied Gerardo as if it was as normal as talking through a cellphone.
- "My name is Higurashi Kagome," – said Kagome bowing slightly toward him – "Pleased to make your acquaintance" –
- "Is this some kind of new toy or recent technologic thingamajig?" – asked his father beginning to get annoyed about this, as he thought Gerardo was trying to play a prank on him, even though Gerardo never did that sort of things.
- "No," – replied Gerardo's mother as she looked at her husband – "That girl is real. I've met her while you were in your business trip and she's a very good friend of Gerardo. And while it sounds a bit strange, she is actually from another world" –
- "Wait a second… Kagome? Like the little girl that came here as an exchange student for our Gaby?" – asked Mr. Gallucci very weirded out about this, to which his wife replied by nodding her head. He then used to remote to shut down the TV and turned to face Gerardo again – "Well then, what is that important matter you need to discuss with us?" –
Gerardo then began explaining them, helped by Kagome, about everything that had taken place from the day they returned: about the dragon powers and about the mission he had to accomplish in the other world. When they finished, Mr. Gallucci had been left speechless and with the eyes the size of saucers.
- "Well, that's the gist of it… that's why I and Gaby must go to the other world as soon as we can…" – said Gerardo as he looked at the floor.
- "So you didn't go to Japan, but rather to another dimension…" – said Mr. Gallucci amazed. However, his expression went back to a serious one – "But what are you going to do about school?" –
- "Actually, I've got a solution for that" – said Kagome answering the question for Gerardo – "I can request at my school for them to let Gerardo study in it as an exchange student, and also do the same in the school where my little brother is for Gaby-chan. That way, they can continue studying while they're there" –
However, Kagome privately thought they wouldn't really have to worry about it because they were in the middle of the summer break over at her world.
- "And how will you help us with the chores here at home?" – asked his father.
- "I'll come back every now and then to talk with you both face to face and to help here. Besides, I'm going to be calling you every day through the Dragtemn" – said Gerardo extending the arm where he had the device so they knew what he was talking about – "As this watch has a communicator that can work through dimensions, and as if that wasn't enough, the gateway to the other world is located in the window of my room" –
- "I can't let you go there!" – said his father standing up from bed and going in front of his son – "It's too dangerous and you don't even have any weapon to defend yourself with! You have no experience in fighting or traveling either!" –
- "You'd be surprised if you knew that I've got a friend making me a sword in the world, that I'm not bad at all at fencing, and that this will help me a lot about the world too… and besides, I'm a Dragoon!" – said Gerardo very annoyed as he took out his Seirei Crystal from within his shirt. Before he had to obey the dispositions of his father, but now he had these powers, no one was going to get on the way of doing what he needed to do.
- "What's a Dragoon?" – asked her mother.
- "I used the term a little ago, while we were talking about everything that took place in the other world" – said Gerardo – "That's the name given to those that can use Seirei Magic and the power of the Dragon" –
- "If that's the case, I won't let you go until you show us these powers you're talking about" – said his father.
- "I'll comply with your wishes then…" – said Gerardo closing his eyes.
- "Gerardo…" – said Kagome a bit worried.
Gerardo then took out the Seirei Crystal from the holder around his neck and pressed a button on the Dragtemn that made its crystal screen open in half. He then placed the crystal inside of it, and then the elemental marks and dragon emblem appeared over him again…
- "What is this!?" – said Mr. Gallucci.
- "Ist Garsse OschmeRe Iadlast Kiabze Pawatz Zosph, Phaph Myya Ical Zosph Phiaphz... Iadlast Pawatz! Dragoon!" – said Gerardo. Upon saying this, his Dragtemn separated from his wrist as the magical circle appeared at his feet,which formed a blue bubble around him. After a few seconds, the bubble burst, revealing him wearing armor identical to the one he wore during the battle with Sesshomaru, though the decoration in the breastplate was missing and there was a hole in its place. The dragtemn then floated and inserted itself in the hole, which closed up with a metal plate. The plate then shone in blue and a water droplet appeared over it, completing the transformation.
- "Saf sieral omedaites hydrast ika iaraelia sos zyola..." – said him concentrated, which made a little flow of water come out from his body, which he could control as if it was part of himself. After moving it around for a few seconds, he returned it to his body, leaving his parents surprised.
- "Well, is this demonstration enough for you, dad?" – asked Gerardo with a smug face.
- "I guess so… You can use magic and speak in a language I've never heard before, so I don't have any reason to stop you. I just want you to be very careful out there" – said Mr. Gallucci as he looked at his son impressed.
- "Very well… Ist Alttyaok, Pawatz Nyulasst!" – said Gerardo, which made him flash with a blue light. When it dimmed again, Gerardo was again wearing his normal clothes and the Dragtemn had reappeared on his wrist.
- "Whoa! That was impressive!" – said Kagome from Gerardo's Dragtemn. He then looked at his parents straight on the eye and smiled at them.
- "And you won't have any problems with me bringing Gaby with me, right? She has similar powers to mine, and I'll be taking care of her regardless" –
- "We know, and while we don't like the idea, I'm sure you both will be fine out there"- said his mother saddened – "Please, do the best you can for this world to be safe" –
- "However, there is only one condition we have to you going: bring your travel companions here so we can meet then before you depart" – said his father.
- "No problem, I'll take care of that" – said Kagome as her holographic projection disappeared from Gerardo's Dragtemn.
- "Looks like she cut the call. But okay: you'll meet them when it's time for us to go" – said Gerardo.
So they spent the rest of the day making preparations for Gerardo and Gabriela's departure. Kagome sent Gerardo a message saying that everyone would come for them next morning so their parents could meet their friends.
And thus, the next morning came…
- "Okay, we're ready…" – said Gerardo as closed up his backpack and put it inside his Dragtemn. For the occasion he was wearing the blue kimono the Dragons Gods had given him, as well as a couple of black shoes, so it would be easy for anyone in the Warring States Era to mistake him for a noble.
- "These clothes look pretty good on you, Gerar" – said Mrs. Gallucci as she entered the room and looked at his son from up to down.
- "Thanks, mom" – said Gerardo blushing.
- "And I see you're ready to get going…" – said her mother very saddened.
- "Yup! We are!" – said Gabriela entering the room, who herself was wearing the miko-like white and silver kimono, and was wearing tabi and zori on her feet. She had also finished packing some things into her Dragtemn.
- "Okay, I hope everything goes well…" – said Mrs. Gallucci.
- "Same for us… Now, we only have to wait until the others arrive for you to meet them…" – said Gerardo as he and Gabriela began getting sad, but this was interrupted because the window lit up and the purple portal appeared over it – "Looks like they're here!" –
There was a flash of white light, and Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippou appeared on the room.
- "So this is his Gerardo-kun's house?" – asked Sango as she looked around, surprised from all the things she had never seen before.
- "Yeah!" – said Kagome cheerfully – "We had been here before, but it feels better to come as a guest!" –
- "And it seems to be of around the same size as the house of a noble or village leader" – said Miroku as he looked around with interest.
- "Welcome to my humble abode" – said Gerardo as he stood in front of them and bowed.
- "Thank you, Gerardo-kun" – said Miroku as he softly hit the floor with his shakujou and made a gesture of thanks – "Oh, and who could this beautiful lady be?" –
Everyone present opened their eyes as much as they could from the shock, as they noticed Miroku was talking about Gerardo's mother. Inuyasha and Kagome also gasped when they heard him say that. Gerardo just stood in front of him and made the most threatening face he could.
- "She's my mother, and if you dare to do any of your perverted things here, there won't be any words to describe the suffering I'll deliver you" – said him in a voice that sounded like a roar.
Miroku just began laughing nervously, as Sango was also throwing him killer glares while the others were looking at him with displeased faces.
- "Okay, let's go to the living room, as we won't be able to go if I don't introduce you to my parents…" – said Gerardo as he led them out of the room.
After they finished the introductions in the living room…
- "So you're going to travel alongside a demon exterminator, a monk, a girl with powers and a boy with dog ears?" – asked his father with a serious face.
- "Yes, that's right…" – said Gerardo upon noticing the disapproval tone on his father's voice.
- "But well, they look like very nice and trustworthy people, so I hope you won't cause them much trouble" – said Mr. Gallucci.
- "Don't mind it. He isn't going to be a problem, rather, I'd say he's going to be a great help" – said Sango with a smile.
- "Okay, take care out there" – said his father hugging him – "And make sure to get yourself a girlfriend!" –
- "Hey, that last part wasn't necessary!" – said Gerardo blushing and dying from embarrassment. The others just laughed at this.
- "And you too, Gaby… Listen to your brother and be a good girl" – said Mrs. Gallucci to her daughter, who nodded with a smile.
- "Don't worry, we'll be okay" – said Gerardo as his eyes began filling with tears.
- "See you later, daddy, mommy…" – said Gabriela as she began sobbing. Everyone then went back to the room and raised their hands in direction to the window, which opened the portal. They crossed it, and as soon as they had arrived again at the clearing with the Bone Eater's Well in the Inuyasha world, the portal closed itself again. Both siblings wiped the tears off their eyes after all this.
- "If you wanna turn back, do it. We won't stop you" – said Inuyasha.
- "Forget it, we've already taken our decision, and we aren't changing it now!" – said Gerardo showing his determined face.
- "I guessed you'd say that… so here you go" – said Inuyasha as he gave to him a slender sword that was more or less Tenseiga's size sheathed in a scabbard that had several dragons drawn on it and had its name written on it in kanji (竜牙).
- "Is that… my sword?" – said Gerardo amazed as he unsheathed it. Everyone was amazed upon seeing it: its silver blade, which had the Elemental Seal engraved on its center, its gray ornamented hilt, which had a sapphire embedded on center, and ended in a dragon's head that held a sapphire sphere on its mouth.
- "Whoa, Totosai really outdid himself with this sword!" – said Gerardo impressed swinging it to check how it behaved on his hands: it felt light and resistant – "It even looks just like I imagined it'd be!" –
- "Totosai told me that when he put in the items the dragons gave you into the blade after he melted it, both the blade and the hilt began shining, and took that form" – said Inuyasha as he cautiously eyed it.
- "Well, I'd like to give it a test run alongside my powers in a battle… How about sparring a little?" – he asked Inuyasha.
- "Of course! I wanna check out your skills with that thing!" – said Inuyasha as they went a bit farther from the others.
- "Inuyasha's as excitable as ever, huh?" – said Kagome as she looked at them and smiled.
- "Hihi, but Gerar was also looking forward to that a lot too!" – said Gabriela giggling.
- "Let's just hope they won't be taking things too far" – said Sango as she looked at how they were taking battle stances.
- "Okay, I want you to come at me with everything you've got!" – said Gerardo as he pointed to Inuyasha with Ryuuga.
- "You asked for it!" – said Inuyasha unsheathing and transforming Tessaiga, to then take his battle stance. However, right before they began, Ryuuga's sheath began shining. Gerardo took it with his left hand, and it opened itself to the sides, taking the shape of a shield, which from down to up had the Elemental Seal, the Dragon Emblem and the Elemental Mark of Water drawn in gray over a blue background.
- "Hmm, Fuuinryuu wanted me to use it too…" – said Gerardo as he looked at the shield.
- "That's the name of that sheath… err, shield thingamajig?" – said Inuyasha a bit weirded out.
- "Yeah, but don't mind it. Anyway, I'm ready now. Let's begin!" – said Gerardo as he drew a circle with his sword and held it over his shoulder with both hands – "Watsa ya, dragyuu raga torowas tastsaks ika... Dragon Wave!" -
He then stabbed the center of the circle with the sword, launching several dragon head-shaped waves at Inuyasha.
- "Whoa!" – said Inuyasha as he jumped to the side to avoid the waves – "Not bad, but let's see you deal with this! Kaze no Kizu!" –
- "I'll show you! Watsa ya, hydrast xyaza cezet paewat ika, yst hakisa tastsaks ika..." – he moved the hand where he was carrying Fuuiryuu over his sword as if he was applying something to it, and he then swung it in a way contrary to how Inuyasha had done it to use the Kaze no Kizu – "…Water's Scar!" -
He launched an energy wave identical to the Kaze no Kizu, just that it was blue in color instead of gold. When both energies clashed, they coiled into each other and scattered into the wind, vanishing as if they had never existed.
- "Looks like they nulled each other out" – said Gerardo upon seeing this.
- "You can't be serious… you can also use the Kaze no Kizu with your sword?" – asked Inuyasha surprised.
- "Nope. Mine is the "Water's Scar" and it's created from the energy I focus into the blade of my sword" – explained Gerardo in a calm way – "On the other hand, your Kaze no Kizu is made when you cut the rift that gets created in the wind when your energy clashes with the opponent's, right?" -
- "Yeah, but they look so similar… anyway, let's continue fighting!" – said Inuyasha as he ran to Gerardo and tried to slash him, but Gerardo blocked him with his shield.
- "Now it's my turn!" – said him as he tried to slash Inuyasha, who avoided it. Both continued exchanging attacks for a while, until Inuyasha covered Tessaiga in diamond…
- "Kongosouha!" – he screamed as he sung his sword to launch a volley of diamonds.
- "Ochis meya, vacras sos aeria paf viartra… Quickslash!" – Gerardo ran as fast as he could, slashing the air with his sword. Before Inuyasha noticed, Gerardo was right behind him, and the diamonds he threw him were suspended into the air. A few seconds later, they trembled slightly and fell to the ground.
– "What did you do!?" – asked Inuyasha divided between surprise and irritation.
- "I just ran at a great speed and struck your diamond lances in the process with my sword…" – he said shrugging – "Well, we better finish this already… Ist Altyyaok, ah... Leiya Iadlast, Clyezet Pawatz Ical, Oli HalkeiZa Myallade Ical" -
- "What the hell are you doing?" – asked Inuyasha confused, as Gerardo had turned Fuuiryuu into a sheath again and put away Ryuuga – "Singing at a time like this?" -
As Gerardo continued singing, he raised his right hand, as if he was ordering something to rise up, which created a large water pillar in front of him. He moved his hands as if he was opening and closing something, creating a large wall of water. He then made a movement that seemed as if he was pushing the wall, which formed a great wave that was about to crash into Inuyasha.
- "I'll admit you surprised me with that song, but you made a large mistake!" – said Inuyasha with a mocking expression on his face as he raised his sword – "Bakuryuuha!" –
The wave coiled itself into a hurricane and went back to Gerardo. He was a bit shocked from this, but immediately he stuck Ryuuga still in its sheath into the ground as he made a gesture with his hand.
- "Ochis meya... oh, lay paewat dat dragyuu... ah, lay rillal dea dragyuu, Fuuiryuu... protasec sos biosat, yst biosat dat sos felanso pears ika. Dragon Barrier!" -
This created a circular blue barrier around Gerardo that had the Dragon Emblem drawn in gray over it, which the Bakuryuuha couldn't pierce through.
- "No way… was that Ryuura's Jiryuu Fuuin!?" – said Inuyasha with his mouth left open in surprise.
- "You're wrong. This is the Dragon Barrier, and while it isn't as strong as Ryuura's skill, at the least it lets me survive attacks of the Bakuryuuha's level…" – said Gerardo sighing in relief, but when he saw how his barrier was, he added: - "And it was a good thing that your attack didn't last longer or was more powerful, as my barrier wouldn't have been able to withstand it…" –
It couldn't be any less accurate, as the barrier now had a large crack in the place where the Bakuryuuha struck it, and it extended through the rest of the translucent dome.
- "Well, I think it's enough…" – said Gerardo gasping as he dismissed the barrier and put his sheathed sword into his obi.
- "Yeah, you're right" – said Inuyasha as he returned Tessaiga to its katana form and sheathed it – "This was tiring…" –
- "Well, I hope I was a decent opponent to you. At the least I think I could give you some workout if we fought for real" – said Gerardo as they walked back to the others.
- "Yeah, you weren't bad at all…" – said Inuyasha smiling – "I never thought you'd have abilities like these" –
- "I guess that means we're friends now, huh?" – said Gerardo.
- "Well, I think so…" – said Inuyasha crossing his arms.
- "Come on, that isn't bad for us at all, now that we're gonna be traveling together a lot… But I wonder… what were the others doing while we trained?" –
When they went back, they saw Gabriela manipulating a line of light with her hands, but upon noticing they had returned, she let it vanish and ran to them.
- "Hey, welcome back!" – said her with a smile.
- "Oh, Gaby. What were you going? Practicing your Seirei magic?" – asked Gerardo a bit surprised.
- "Yup, I wanted to try 'em out!" – said Gabriela cheerfully – "Though I didn't get to transform…" -
- "I also took the time to practice a bit of archery," – said Kagome pointing to a nearby tree: it had a few arrows stuck on it, though some of them seemed to be made of white wood - "Hehe, as you see, Gaby-chan also tried practicing with me" –
- "I see. So how well did it go?" – asked Gerardo with interest on how well they were handling their bows.
- "Well, I managed to get most of them stuck on the tree,"- said Kagome – "On the other hand, Gaby-chan got around half of her own arrows in it, while the others…" –
She pointed to the sides of the tree, and on closer look, they noticed there were several white arrows lying around on the ground.
- "Yeah, I need more practice" – said Gabriela as she patted the bow she had on her back.
- "Anyway, you got off to a good start" – said Kagome smiling at her – "As you both know, I wasn't really good with the bow when I first began traveling with Inuyasha" –
- "Yeah, but you've improved a lot" – said Inuyasha with a smile – "Otherwise, you'd continue being a burden in battle"-
Kagome sighed: - "I know it's true, but it hurts a little…" –
- "Anyway, let's get going. We should make some progress traveling before it gets late" – said Sango as she walked to them. The others nodded in response and began walking.
After a few hours, in which Gerardo and Gabriela were delighted with the sights of the countryside and the purer air, the sun began setting, and they decided it was time to set up camp and rest for the night, which they need near the shore of a lake surrounded by trees. Once they finished getting everything ready and were sitting around a bonfire…
- "This is the first time I've slept outdoors" – said Gerardo as he looked up at the sky filled with stars – "I really like the forests and mountains, as well as looking at a starry sky, and since I live in a city, I don't get many chances to do so" –
- "Are stars so hard to see where you live, Gerardo-kun?" – asked Miroku with curiosity.
- "Yes, and it's the same in my era" – said Kagome – "There are so many sources of light in the cities where we live that they eclipse out the stars. The sight we have right now is only possible in our time in places that are too far away from the cities" –
- "I see… I know you've got a very advanced technology in your time from the things we saw at your house and the ones Kagome brings every now and then" – said Sango – "But it feels pretty sad to not be able to see the stars like we can…" –
- "We know. The sky's so pretty like this" – said Gabriela in a dreamy tone.
- "Oh by the way, Gaby… I'd like to give you this…" – said Shippou as he handed to her a flower crown.
- "Shippou's at it again?" – whispered Sango at Miroku.
- "It seems he's always waiting for a good chance to do it" – he replied back.
- "Hehe, calm down…" – told Kagome to Gerardo upon seeing the murderous aura that was seeping out from him.
- "I'm sorry, Shippou. It really makes me happy, but you're not my type, so I can't accept your proposal" – said Gabriela giggling, which made Gerardo sigh in relief.
- "Whaaa!? I've failed agaiiiin!" – cried Shippou as he ran to Kagome's side.
- "Hahaha, looks like she got you before you even made the first move!" – said Sango laughing.
- "Keh, no girl would ever fall for that if they knew what Shippou's like" – said Inuyasha with an evil smile.
- "Come on, don't be so mean to him" – said Kagome as she tried to calm the crying Shippou.
- "Waaah! Kagome'd really love me if she was little again!" – screamed Shippou.
- "Looks like he completely forgot about how badly she shot him down…" – said Miroku with an incredulous face.
- "Yeah. And in fact, part of me is still angry at how he treated Inuyasha, but I can't continue dwelling on that all the time. So sorry Shippou, I guess I can only be like a big sister to you" – said Kagome with a smile. This made Shippou fall silent from the shock.
- "Hehe, that's the most epic way to get rejected I've ever seen!" – said Gerardo laughing.
- "Yeah, and not only once, but twice in a row!" – said Inuyasha laughing.
- "Shippou will have to learn to better understand the girls. Otherwise, his failures will continue piling up one over other" – said Miroku amused at this.
- "Then you should strive to be a better role model for him, don't you think, Houshi-sama?" – said Sango eyeing him with suspicion.
- "Though I feel a bit sorry for him…" – said Kagome as she patted Shippou on the head, who was still as if he was petrified.
After the laughter died down and Shippou had recovered, they began preparing dinner.
- "What do you say about relaxing a bit while we wait for dinner to be ready?" – said him as he pushed a couple of buttons in his Dragtemn, and then, a song began playing from it.
- "That song is…!" – said Kagome recognizing its melody, which also caught the attention of all the others
- "Isn't that one of the songs that were heard in the other world when Kagome appeared on that box?" – asked Inuyasha.
- "Yes, you both recognized it from the episodes you watched, I see. It's titled Toki wo Koete – Kagome, and as you can guess, it's your theme song" – said Gerardo with a smile. They then continued listening to the song until it ended.
- "I couldn't really listen to it well when we watched the tapes, but I really liked it. It's so beautiful…" – said Kagome a bit embarrassed.
- "It really fits you, Kagome" – said Sango with a smile - "Though I also wonder if we also have songs with our names, and how they sound like" –
- "The music is so peculiar though… I've never heard such rhythms or instruments before…" – said Miroku thoughtfully.
- "It's making me sleepy…" – said Shippou drowsily.
- "We better hurry up with dinner then" – said Gerardo – "So what are you making?" –
- "We prepared some roasted fish, so if you like, go ahead" – said Sango as she gave them a stick with a roasted fish on its end.
After a while, they had finished eating and were getting ready to sleep, but none noticed that a strange figure was observing at them.
- "Well, I'm getting out one more song before we go to sleep…" – said Gerardo yawning as he made the Dragtemn play it.
- "Ah, that song is…!" – said Gabriela excitedly.
- "Hmm, I don't recognize it… maybe it wasn't in any of the episodes we watched…" – said Kagome deep in thought.
- "But I wonder… is it a theme song for anyone?" – asked Sango.
- "Yes, it is. However… err… it's titled Hiun no Miko…" – said Gerardo a bit lost for words when it came to explaining who it was for.
- "It's Kikyou's theme!" – said Gabriela with a smile, which made Gerardo's face go from a normal color to a deathly pale in question of seconds.
- "Kikyou's?" – asked Inuyasha surprised to then look at the ground saddened – "I see…"'
- "Inuyasha…" – said Kagome saddened too.
- "Ugh, Gaby… why you had to say it?" – said Gerardo a bit scared – "I was still trying to find a way to break it out to them. Now we're gonna have them fighting…" –
- "Well, it's your fault for choosing it" – said Gabriela pouting.
- "I chose it because it's relaxing, despite its sadness…" – said him grinding his teeth.
- "Anyway, we better go to sleep. We'll have a long day tomorrow…" – said Sango, which Gerardo was greatly thankful to her for.
Gerardo and Gabriela began going to their sleeping bag while Kagome did the same thing with her own, but before they all had finished getting ready to sleep, Gabriela felt a partially human presence, but it was filled with sadness and hatred. This made her begin shivering.
- "Everyone… there's someone here!" – said her at the border of tears as she got out her bow and readied an arrow. The others prepared their weapons at the direction Gabriela was aiming. However, the next moment the owner of the presence entered everyone's vision range, and they saw it was…
- "Kikyou! What are you doing in this place!?" – asked Gerardo as he pointed at her with his sword.
- "Who are you? How do you know my name?" – asked Kikyou in a distrustful tone as she aimed at him with an arrow she had in her bow.
- "Kikyou... It's a surprise to see you here…" – said Inuyasha with a very soft voice, while Kagome looked away from them.
- "Inuyasha… I see you've made new friends…" – said Kikyou with an inexpressive voice.
- "Kikyou-sama… why are you here…?" – asked Gabriela to the dead miko, which caught her attention.
- "Hmm, both this child and that boy have very strange presences…" – said Kikyou as she put away her weapons, which the others also did. She then focused her attention on the siblings and the rest of the group – "And everyone in your group is now wearing some strange artifacts…" –
They immediately understood Kikyou was talking about the powers Gerardo and Gabriela could use, as well as the Dragtemns they all were carrying.
- "Kikyou, please answer her question. Why are you here right now?" – asked Inuyasha.
- "I've come to warn you that Naraku has a new scheme in preparation… he has found a new form to increase his powers…" – said Kikyou while she looked through the corner of her eyes to the rest of Inuyasha's group, all of which were paying close attention to each of her words.
- "What do you mean by that?" – asked Miroku.
- "That he learned about an accursed jewel that can increase his powers beyond the limits of the Shikon Pearl, and that can't be purified…" – said Kikyou, but when Gerardo heard these words, his face paled instantly. The others also tensed from this.
- "No…! Naraku must have learned about the Crystal of Shadows!" – said Gerardo grabbing his head while Gabriela held on him scared.
- "So that is the name of that jewel? However, that isn't important right now… I've also found out that he is planning to use Kagome: using her powers in a certain way, he can darken that accursed jewel, and he in turn can use it to stain the Shikon Pearl with even more evil… if he manages to do so… nothing in this world will be able to stop him…" – said Kikyou as she looked at Inuyasha and the others with horror.
- "But how!? Kagome's role is purifying the Pearl, and she will never yield to Naraku's will!" – said Sango.
- "And anyway, why aren't you being targeted? You and Kagome have the same powers, Kikyou, so I would think they would be after you too" – said Miroku with suspicion.
- "They haven't targeted me because my soul is now stained, so my purification powers can't be distorted in the way Kagome's can, as well as Naraku still fearing and being unable to kill me. However, I don't know the specifics of how they will plan to use Kagome's powers for this, but don't lower your guard under any circumstances…" – said Kikyou as she turned away – "Inuyasha… that song I heard a while ago was quite beautiful… but nothing has any meaning to me now…" –
She then disappeared deep into the trees.
- "Why do you think she came to warn us about all this?" – said Gerardo while he walked with Gabriela to their sleeping bag and both settled inside it, as the others also prepared to sleep. The relaxed environment that had been reigning while they were dining and listening to the music had been replaced by an atmosphere of anxiety and anguish: their faces were all filled with worry and fear.
- "I don't know… I can only say that now that Naraku has learned about the Crystal of Shadows, things are going to get much harder… that is quite a disturbing thought" – said Miroku as he leaned against a tree.
- "Not to mention what she said about Naraku wanting to use me to darken the Crystal and stain the Pearl even further…" – said Kagome from her sleeping back.
- "But I won't let him get close to you! I'll die before that happens!" – said Inuyasha determined as he rolled a hand into a fist and he sat beside Kagome to sleep.
They continued being worried by a while, but in the end sleep won them over and they fell asleep.
(End of Chapter)
(Ending: No More Words - Ayumi Hamasaki)
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