Mayumi

Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to the creators of Inuyasha!

So...yeah. I suddenly had an inkling to rewatch Inuyasha after over ten years. This is the result! Hope it's at least somewhat readable!

Reviews welcomed! (Actually, begged for).

I was sure this was a dream.

It felt like a dream as I stepped out of my new home at the family's shrine. Grandpa, Aunt Miyu, and my cousins were all still sleeping soundly in their rooms. I gripped the small knitted throw blanket tighter around my shoulders, the night air nipping at my skin. The wind picks up slightly, easily cutting through my pajamas.

Would I be able to feel the chill like this in a dream?

My green eyes looked upwards, a full moon illuminating the night sky and outshining the stars surrounding it. The drifting smell of incense filled my nose from the previous day. It was a scent I had quickly become used to after moving in with my relatives.

A pulse flows through the air, sending a warm sensation trickling down my spine.

Gasping I turn my gaze back downwards, eyes filled with uncertainty as I look directly ahead. It was the same pulse that I had felt only moments ago in my bed, the same one that had prompted me to wander outside. Stepping cautiously down the stairs my bare feet finally land on the pavement of the walkway below. They carry me away without a conscious thought, heading towards the one place that had captivated me since my arrival.

The Sacred Tree.

Chewing on my lower lip, and once again wondering at the vividness of this dream, I step over the barrier surrounding the large tree. I can feel the grass between my toes, wet with dew. What time was it? Was it early morning? I didn't know. Clenching at the blanket around my shoulders tightly with one hand I tilt my head back to observe the tree. It was thick with leaves, healthy, the bark rough all except for one place. I step closer and look at the smooth expanse with curiosity, the reason for it a mystery to me. Almost hypnotically my hand slowly reaches up, fingers gently running down the smooth expanse.

That same pulse, stronger than before, rushes over me. With a startled gasp I stumble backwards till the back of my knees hit the barrier. Losing my balance I topple over it and back onto the pavement of the walkway, elbows scraping painfully against the cement. Wincing I bring up one of them to look at, and see the blood trickling from a large scrape.

My heart starts to race.

This most certainly did not feel like a dream.

"Yua!" Kagome's lilting voice wakes me as I force back a groan, blinking blearily against the light pouring in from our bedroom window. "Come on, lazy bones, it's time to get up!" She exclaims, and I finally turn my head from the window to find her at the doorway, half her body hidden behind the sliding door. There is a large and pleasant smile on her face, not a baggy eye to be seen. "Breakfast is ready."

'Glad one of us had a good sleep.' I think to myself bitingly, though outwardly I smile. "Be there in a moment." Kagome nods, but a worried frown suddenly settles on her lips.

"You look like you had a rough night." She murmurs, her voice taking on that tone. The tone that people used after they knew you had been through something traumatic. I was so sick of hearing it but I hold back a snappish retort, knowing she wasn't doing it on purpose.

"Had a weird dream." I admit. It really had been a weird dream. Kagome's body straightened as she came to stand fully in the doorway, looking at me now with more concern.

"Was it about that night?" She asks softly, and I feel my stomach churn as I fight back the memory of it. Blinding lights, the sound of crunching metal…

"No." I state quickly, sitting up abruptly. I hold back a surprised hiss of pain as my back groans in protest. What the hell was that about? "I'll be out for breakfast once I change." Kagome frowns and nods before leaving, thankfully understanding that this conversation was over. I wince as I shift to stand, my joints screaming at me as I do. I had been sleeping on this futon for over a month, I shouldn't be getting sore now. I walk over to the closet Kagome and I now shared, grabbing a long sleeved shirt and jeans along with a clean pair of underwear. Hobbling over to the sliding door I shut it completely before changing. Getting into my underwear and jeans was no problem, but the moment I pulled the arms of my shirt over my elbows a sharp sting surprises me. I ignore it for a moment as I shove my shirt the rest of the way on, before gently pushing the sleeves up and turning my arms so I can look at my elbows.

'Holy shit!' I think to myself in shock as I see the angry red welts, some dried blood on the skin around them.

Last night hadn't been a dream after all.

Letting my arms fall limply to my sides I turn and stare out the window, mind racing. So that had all been real? From our window in the bedroom I can see The Sacred Tree, heart racing as I thought about that electric pulse I had felt.

'Maybe I had been half dreaming? Like sleepwalking?' I try to reason with myself, because how on earth could you explain a tree giving off energy like that?

"Yua!" Aunt Miyu calls, bringing me back to the present.

"Coming!" I call back, turning away from the window as I roll my sleeves back down and make my way towards the kitchen area. Sōta and Kagome were both already sitting down and eating, while Grandpa sipped away at his morning tea. I go to my designated spot, slowly sitting down. Aunt Miyu, ever observant, makes note of it as she brings another omelette to the table.

"You look sore this morning, Yua." She comments with a concerned frown. "Was it the futon? We really should get you a proper bed."

"No, it's not that at all. I walked around the Shrine a lot yesterday, and it's probably the most exercise I've gotten in a while." I am surprised how convincing I actually did sound. It was half true, after all, I had been walking around the Shrine.

Last night apparently.

"Still, I will look into getting something ordered for you soon." Aunt Miyu replies firmly. "I'm sure we can find a way to make it work in Kagome's room." I frown a little, glancing towards my cousin. She tries to hide it, but I can tell she's not so hot on the idea of having more space in her room taken over by me. I can't blame her either, she didn't ask for me to move in here.

"No, no, it's fine. Don't go to the trouble. The futon is quite comfortable." I reply, a prang of hurt hitting me directly in the chest as it was once again blatantly obvious that I was imposing on them, no matter what they said otherwise.

'I don't belong here.' I can't help the self pitying thought. 'I don't belong anywhere now.'

"I sleep on a futon, and I find it quite comfortable." Grandpa spoke up with a tone of superiority from above the rim of his teacup. "It's traditional."

"It's traditionally uncomfortable." Sōta replied without hesitation, causing us all to burst out into laughter, other than Grandpa of course. I was once again struck with appreciation for Sōta's unknowingly good timing and humor.

I reach forth with my chopsticks, taking a piece of omelette and nearly groaning as the fluffy morsel melted in my mouth. Aunt Miyu sits down as well, helping herself, and for a few moments there is a nice silence around the room.

"I was also thinking you might like to join Kagome at school next semester." I freeze midway to sipping at my tea, eyes going wide in shock. To be honest I hadn't thought of returning to school, even with it being my last year before graduation. "We could talk to the school and see if they'll transfer your credits over so you can start where you left off and keep on track for graduation." She adds, smiling serenely. Clearly she was thinking that this was an idea I would be all for, but shamefully I was not. I was a good student, don't get me wrong, and I did enjoy my school with my friends. When I didn't answer right away, Aunt Miyu frowned. "It's still a month away, you can have time to think about it." She backtracked awkwardly, and I nodded silently while leaning in to take a sip of tea. Truth be told I knew I was being stubborn and pig headed about a very trivial thing, but in the back of my mind I couldn't help thinking that the more roots I put down here the more I'd have to come to accept that my life won't be the same.

Although, the reality is that my life hadn't been very good to begin with before the accident. 'So why am I so afraid for it to change for the better?' I think to myself in disbelief, a frown setting on my face. New school, new people, and no-one knew who I was or where I came from. I could be anyone I wanted to be now. I could be a better version of myself.

"I was thinking I could start showing Yua around the shrine some more, maybe give her some jobs to pass the time." Grandpa spoke up then, his gaze turning towards me with a knowing look. I felt relief instantly wash over me, nodding with a small smile.

"I would like that." I reply eagerly, Grandpa looking pleased.

"I'm glad to see that at least one of you children are interested in our family's legacy." He quipped, sending both Sōta and Kagome a look. Sōta rolled his eyes, but Kagome looked annoyed.

"Not all of us want to grow up stuck in the past, Grandpa." Kagome bit out in annoyance, standing from the table. She marches over to her backpack laying beside the front door, grabbing it and hefting it over her shoulder. "I'll see everyone after school." She mutters as a goodbye, sliding open the door with a little more force than necessary, before slamming it shut behind her. Aunt Miyu sighs, standing from her spot now as well.

"Sōta, it's about time we got you off to school as well." She ruffled his hair affectionately, Sōta lightly protesting as he gently smacks her hand away and stands as well. They both walk over to the front door together, Sōta grabbing his backpack as well.

"See you after school, cous!" He grins, waving at me. I wave back, nodding and smiling in return.

"I'll be here." I reply easily, watching as he and Aunt Miyu leave. I hold in a sigh, standing slowly and grabbing onto the tray that had once held our food for breakfast. I head for the sink, washing up the few dishes easily before setting them to the side to dry. Turn back towards Grandpa I lean my lower back against the counter and cross my arms. "So, what did you have planned for me?" I ask with a raised eyebrow. Grandpa grins a little, lifting his own eyebrow back at me.

"Have you ever used a bow before?"

I blink in silent shock as Grandpa hands me an old fashioned bow, my fingers clasping around the leather grip. I was instantly aware of how long the bow was, having gotten used to seeing much shorter bows in movies and t.v. shows. This bow was almost the entire length of my body, coming up just inches short. I take in the detail, feeling along the smooth laminated bamboo with the fingers of my other hand. It was beautiful in it's simple design, unscratched all except for an inscription made along the inside curve on the longer upper half of the bow.

"It says 'may your aim be true.'" Grandpa speaks up from beside me, having obviously caught what I was looking at. I swallow lightly, still mystified enough not to snort at the cheesy phrase.

"This thing is huge, Grandpa." I state, frowning a little then in confusion. "What is it so big?"

"This is a form of bow called the Sanbonhigo." Grandpa explains, clasping his hands behind his back. "It was first created back during the The Sengoku jidai, the warring period, during the 15th to 17th century. It was made so that the warriors could use it from multiple positions. Kneeling, horseback, even up in the very trees. It was the ultimate weapon of choice for the refined soldier." I instantly imagine a warrior in feudal Japan using this thing, thinking about how cumbersome it must have been. Refined wasn't what came to my mind when I looked at this thing.

"Why are you giving this to me?" I ask softly then, looking from the bow towards Grandpa in confusion. He gives me a sad smile.

"It belonged to your Grandfather on your Father's side, and his Father before him, all the way back to when it was first created hundreds of years ago." Grandpa explained, and I felt my chest seize up. I dreaded what I knew Grandpa was going to say next. "It's rightfully yours." I shake my head, even before he finishes the sentence, and forcefully hand him the bow back. He looked at me shocked.

"No, it's not." I reply firmly, doing my best to control my temper. I knew he meant well. "I don't want anything from him." I spat out. Grandpa frowned, sympathy in his gaze.

"I know your Father wasn't always the best man-"

"No, he wasn't." I cut off angrily, glaring now at the piece of wood in Grandpa's hands. "And my Mother was an idiot not to see it too." Grandpa's eyes hardened then at the slight against his own daughter.

"Watch yourself, Yua. That's no way to talk about your parents." Grandpa warned me. My hands clench into fists, shaking as I swallow back another biting remark.

'What parents? She was so wrapped up in him, and he was so wrapped up in himself that I never even landed on their radars. Except when I did something to piss Dad off.' I think bitterly. An awkward silence falls between us, before Grandpa lets out a large sigh.

"If you choose to change your mind, this will be in that building over there, along with the arrows you'd need." Grandpa states, nodding towards a structure in the distance. "I'll keep the target here for you as well." He adds, and I glance towards the old-fashioned hay target, the circles still brightly colored from the outside inwards. "Why don't you go and weed out the gardens on the East end of the property?" He suggests, thankfully giving me an out. I nod silently and turn, leaving Grandpa to put the bow back where it belonged.

Out of my sight and out of my mind.

"Mayumi! Mayumi, you need to run!" His voice is so familiar, gravelly in tone…and desperate. "Leave me!" My heart aches horribly at this, breaking. I stand alone in the dark, unable to see anything, not even my own hands as I raise them towards my face.

"NO! MAYUMI!"

Suddenly there is a blinding purple light in front of me, illuminating my surroundings. I see trees, lots of trees. My body moves on it's own, my mind racing to try and catch up as my hand gasps something behind me. It's rough bark. Looking up from where I am standing I can see a familiar smooth patch on the front of the tree trunk I was standing under.

"It's The Scared Tree." I murmur to myself in wonder.

"MAYUMI!" The male voice calls out again, but as I look around I don't see anyone. Where was he? Where was that voice coming from?

Why was he calling me Mayumi?

"If you stand with him, you die with him!" A disembodied female voice joins in, echoing through the forest. I feel a sense of fear rush through me, the sound of the voice sending a chilling tingle down my back. Suddenly the purple light gets brighter, and with wide eyes I notice an arrow in the center of the light heading straight for me. The disembodied male voice shouts out in pure terror and rage, before suddenly everything goes silent. All I can hear is the wind passing through the feathers on the arrow as it whizzes through the air.

And the dull thud as it hits me directly in the chest.

My eyes widen as I look down at the wood shaft now protruding from me in shock. There was no pain as I start to fall backwards, becoming weightless.

The mystery man's voice keeps calling out Mayumi's name in sorrow, the sound echoing in the darkness as I fall for what feels like an eternity.

I wake with a start, jumping as my stomach catches up from that feeling of falling. I look towards Kagome's bed, silently hoping I hadn't woken her. She simply snorts in her sleep, turning over and stilling once more. Sighing quietly in relief, I turn my head the opposite way to look out the window. The golden rays of dawn were just barely starting to peak through, I notice with a frown. It was early still, but I knew after that dream I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.

That dream.

I close my eyes for a moment, searching deep within my memory to hear that voice again. That rough, entirely male voice. I feel warmth spread through me as I think about it, his voice calling out another's name echoing in my head. Mayumi…why would I have dreams about a man and woman I had never met? I open my eyes, mind racing. It had been so vivid, though.

I get up quietly, carefully digging through the closest for clothes and changing. I make my way carefully through the house so as not to wake anyone, and slip on my shoes. As I step outside the crisp morning air takes my breath away, my jeans and t-shirt being just enough to keep me somewhat comfortable.

There. I can see it in the distance again. The Sacred Tree had been in my dream.

I swallow thickly, stepping down and walking on the pathway towards it. The birds were just beginning to wake, chirping serenely to welcome the day. I always loved this time in the morning, the calm before the storm so to speak. It was rare now that I got time to myself living at the Shrine, so I enjoyed these moments while they lasted. Walking up to the tree I stop at the barrier this time, watching it silently.

'This tree is so old. It has no doubt seen so many things come and pass.' I muse to myself wistfully, a little surprised at the depth of my thoughts. I frown then, my eyes drawn towards the building that Grandpa had said he left the bow in. 'The arrow in my dream…it had all seemed so real.' I hesitate for a moment, before slowly making my way over to the building. I grab the sliding door, sliding it open with some difficulty. It was obvious that nobody really entered this place often, as the door stuck slightly when I moved it. Walking in the rising sun gave some light, enough to show an old wooden staircase leading down to what looked like an old, dried up well. The mouth of it was covered by boards, three leaves wrapped in paper sitting on top. I knew it was a ward of some kind because of Grandpa, but I couldn't tell what for. The whole inside of the building itself looked old and hardly cared for. I grab onto the nearby railing, not trusting the stairs completely, and carefully make my way down. The wood creaks under my weight, but which being as heavy as I am I'm not surprised. In fact, I'm more surprised that it didn't break under me as I reach the safety of solid ground.

'Wait, why did I come down here?' I think to myself suddenly, my eyes widening then as I realized I had climbed down to the well with no real purpose. 'Well…now that I'm here…' I mentally shrug stepping up closer to the well's edge. I reach out, touching the old wood.

"MAYUMI!"

I scream before I can stop myself, quickly back-peddling away from the edge. My heels get caught on the bottom step of the stairs, causing me to fall hard on my ass. I wince, my tailbone bashing painfully against the edge of the step above the one I had landed on.

"What the hell was that?!" I ask myself shakily, the voice echoing in my head. 'It had been that same voice from my dream.' I take a shuddering breath, looking upwards then towards the wooden walkway above, wondering if someone was playing tricks on me. My eyes land on an chest against the right wall, the bow Grandpa had tried to give me yesterday laying over top of it. I get up quickly, racing up the stairs and away from the well.

"I'll never do that again." I mutter to myself, giving one last glance over my shoulder at the plank covered well, before grabbing my bow from the chest. I held it with one hand, opening the chest with the other, eyes widening as I not only saw arrows inside, but a leather quiver and what looked to me some sort of armor.

"I thought I heard you out here." Grandpa's voice spoke up suddenly from the doorway, and I jumped, heart racing.

'SERIOUSLY?!' I scream inwardly, sick of being startled.

"Are you ready to learn?" He asks, effectively ignoring the scathing look I knew I was unintentionally giving him. I hesitate, looking from Grandpa towards the bow in my hand. Was I really going to let my Dad take another thing from me?

"Yeah, I'm ready." I answer then firmly, looking back towards Grandpa. "Teach me."

Okay, so I know this chapter was kind of short, but I promise you that the next is legitimately twice the length of this one! Also...I have actually completed this story, and simply have to upload and edit on doc manager when I go to post :) (my grammar can be awful at times, so I hope to catch most of my errors through editing), so be assured there won't be any cliffhanging! That being said, however, I would like to see reviews to know if what I am posting is worth continuing to do so. SO:

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T.O.T.