This chappie is dedicated to kyasarinyume07, my wonderful beta-reader. A big hug and thanks to you:)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha—it is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. I don't own Heart of Kandrakar—its from W.I.T.C.H. and I don't know where that came from. Somewhere in Italy
I own everything else.
Kaede looked at each person.
Kirara meowed.
Kaede stroked her head. "We'll just have to wait. Something more powerful than we can imagine is going on. We can only hope that Kagome and them will take it alright."
Chapter 4- Meetings and Explanations
---Kagome's POV---
"Uhhh…" Kagome groaned as she sat up. "I really need to warn Shippo not to do that anymore."
She noticed her surroundings. She was in a beautiful chamber with high arching ceilings and intricate patterns on the walls. Everything was made out of a polished white stone and gave off a faint magical sheen. Where am I? (Yes. For everyone who has read WITCH, she's in Kandrakar.)
"Ah, Kagome. I see that you have awaken."
Kagome spun around.
"M-M-Midoriko?"
Midoriko stood with a small smile on her face. "Yes, I am Midoriko. Why do you seem so surprised, Kagome?"
"B-but you're…" Kagome spluttered.
"I am dead, but not entirely. I was granted leave by the Council of Elders, so I could help you."
"Help me?"
"Yes. Kagome, you are a miko born with both the Shikon no Tama and the Heart of Kandrakar under your protection. There has not been such a miko since from the time I walked the earth."
"You were a Guardian?"
"Yes. I once held the position you now hold." Midoriko's face now became grave. "Kagome, your job is a dangerous and serious one. It is both a blessing and a burden to be chosen by the Heart. Not many people can take the pressure of knowing that maybe the world's fate is in their hands. I had to walk with that burden because I accepted that it was my destiny." She paused. "Kagome, do you know why the Heart chose you?"
"No…"
"The Heart will only chose a miko who is brave and pure of heart and soul. Their heart must not hold any taint of hatred or else the Heart will reject them and seek elsewhere."
Kagome stared at the floor, trying to take in all she had heard so far.
Midoriko smiled kindly and knelt down by Kagome. She placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder. "Kagome, do not worry. Use your gifts and you will be very happy."
Kagome looked up and smiled.
"That's more like it. Come now, I must teach you of your powers."
The scene around them blurred and Kagome found herself in an open meadow with targets at one end. She looked at Midoriko in confusion.
"Kagome, pay close attention to what I have to say and what I will teach you."
She nodded.
"Sit down and relax." When Kagome had complied, Midoriko continued. "Locate the Heart again as you have already done."
Over the next period of time, Midoriko taught Kagome how to control the power of both the Shikon no Tama and the Heart of Kandrakar. Kagome learned that the Shikon boosted her miko powers while the Heart boosted both her elemental and miko powers. She learned how to put power into her arrows to purify youkai. Kagome knew how to do that before, but since her power was mostly activated by emotions, she hadn't been able to fully control them. Kagome learned that her bow was made from a sacred tree grown in Kandrakar, and that it would magnify her power so that a single spark would purify several youkai. Her aim was now very accurate. Kagome was taught how to attack with different forms of her element and how to purify youkai without her arrows. While training, Kagome learned that she had a knack for putting up barriers and shields, whether they were purifying or elemental. Midoriko had been quite pleased with this skill. She also learned that she was telepathic, meaning she could hear the thoughts of her friends who were also Guardians. Transforming with the Heart was now a reflex that she could do without thinking. She also learned that since her element was the result of the other four combining, she could absorb small attacks of those elements, which explained Kagura's wind blades. Lastly, Midoriko told her of untapped powers, ones that she would not be able to help with, ones that Kagome had to learn on her own.
"Remember Kagome, that I will be watching over you. If you ever need help, just touch the symbol on your forehead and I will be with you."
With that, a white light flashed and Kagome felt darkness overtake consciousness.
---Sango's Vision---
Sango groaned and sat up. She took stock of her surroundings. She was sitting on the banks of a vast blue lake. Where am I?
As if on cue, a cyclone shot out of the lake's surface. When the water died down, a woman stepped out of the water. She wore a beautiful cerulean kimono with a white obi. Her long brown hair fell freely, and her piercing sapphire eyes seemed to see through you.
"Who are you?" Sango asked.
"I am Namika, past Guardian of Water. I was what you are now."
"What are you doing here? And why am I here?"
"I was granted leave by the Council of Elders in Kandrakar. I am here to help you learn to control your powers." She paused. "Sango, you hold the power of the element water, unbreakable and uncontainable. You, together with your friends may hold the fate of the world in your hands."
Namika taught Sango how to control and manipulate water to her will. She learned how to form cyclones, call rainstorms, and fight with the essence of water, represented by a glowing blue energy. Sango found out that since she was Guardian of the water, she held control over all the creatures that lived in it and she could summon them at will, and command them. She also learned that Hiraikotsu's attacks were now aqua-based. When flung, it now sends slashes of water at the enemy. There were also more attacks, but like Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga, she had to learn them herself. Namika told Sango of untapped powers hidden within her. The only problem was that Namika could not help with them, so Sango was on her own there.
"Go now. I will be watching over you. If you are ever in trouble and need help, just touch the water drop symbol on your forehead, and I will be with you."
A blinding white light flashed and Sango's mind went blank.
---Inuyasha's Vision---
"Damn it. Where am I?" Inuyasha growled as he leapt to his feet.
He was standing in the middle of a burning plain. Flames licked his feet and arms but did not harm him.
A giant ball of fire was speeding towards him. It stopped a few feet away, and the flames parted as a man stepped out from the fire. He had flaming red hair and cool brown eyes. He wore something that looked very similar to Inuyasha's fire rat robe except that his was a snowy white. He carried a black sheathed katana.
"Who are you? And what am I doing here?" Inuyasha barked.
"I am Masato, past Guardian of Fire. I was granted leave by the Council of Elders in Kandrakar in order to train you in your powers."
"What powers? If you're referring to my hanyou abilities, I'm perfectly well trained in them."
"No Inuyasha, it's not your hanyou abilities, it's the power of the element of fire."
"Fire?"
"Yes fire." Masato held up a hand. Immediately, a burst of flames formed in his palm.
"What? How'd you do that?"
Masato grinned. "Once I'm done training you, you'll know that, and more."
Masato taught Inuyasha to call upon the element fire and shape it into different attacks. In no time at all, Inuyasha had mastered how to launch fireballs and jets of fire from his hand, probably because he was so excited about his new powers. He also could form twisting spirals of fire and surround enemies with walls of flames. Masato instructed him on the use of his new form of Tetsusaiga. He told Inuyasha that the new form of Tetsusaiga would only unleash elemental attacks. It was useful when the enemy was throwing out physical attacks or happened to be linked to fire, but for now, Masato told Inuyasha to stay with using Tetsusaiga in its usual form. Masato told him that when Inuyasha had trained with Tetsusaiga and his elemental powers to the extent, he would be able to combine his powers, strengthening the Kaze no Kizu, the Bakuryuuha, and Tetsusaiga's other attacks.
"You learn quick Inuyasha, but there are things I cannot help you with. You possess untapped powers greater than I ever could imagine. I can only hope that when the day comes and that power is unleashed, that you will be able to handle it. I cannot help, but I will observe you. If you ever need help concerning your powers, touch the symbol on your forehead and I will appear."
A bright light flashed and Inuyasha blacked out.
--- Shippo's Vision---
Shippo sat up quickly, his head spinning. "Urgh…maybe I shouldn't play around with those katanas…wait a minute, where am I?"
Shippo surveyed his surroundings. He was sitting in a large clearing in the middle of a dense forest. A green whirlwind (similar to Ayame's) appeared in front of him. When the wind cleared, it revealed a woman. She wore a light green kimono with a darker obi. She had emerald eyes and her long blonde hair rippled like water.
"Shippo."
"Where am I? Who are you? What are you doing here? Why am I here?" Shippo blurted.
"My name is Haruna, past Guardian of the Earth. I was given permission to leave Kandrakar in order to help in training your powers."
"W-what powers?"
Haruna smiled softly. "Surely you must have noticed the change in your appearance and the fact that you now hold a pair of twin katanas."
"Urm…ya…"
"That's because you hold the powers of the earth, and are one of the Guardians of the Heart. I am here to help you contain and control your powers."
Haruna began her instruction with explaining Shippo's new appearance. She told him that his katanas were powerful, rivaling Tetsusaiga, Tenseiga, and Tokijin. But since Shippo was still very young, the power would not be unleashed. At her words, the katanas glowed green and shrunk down into tantos. The katanas had been too big for Shippo to wield efficiently, but now that they were both tantos, Shippo could wield one of them at a time. The one with the green handle was called Koujou, while the one with the reddish-orange handle was named Yajuu.
After Shippo had danced around, waving his tantos in the air, Haruna instructed him in using some of his new powers. Shippo learned how to attack with a glowing green energy, which represented the essence of the Earth. He learned how to call upon different plants and he mastered how to shoot long tangling vines at enemies. He could cover those vines in poison, acid, or his own foxfire. Shippo also learned how to feel the pulse of the Earth and sense life around him. This meant that when he placed his palm on the ground, he could sense what creatures and plants were living in that area. Shippo also discovered that since he was Guardian of the Earth, the creatures that lived closely connected to or in the Earth were now under his command. He could summon them at will. Haruna told him that his katanas (now tantos) each had different techniques. She suggested he ask Inuyasha for help with the tantos since she herself had never used a weapon before. Shippo scoffed yet he knew she was right. He wouldn't be able to use Koujou and Yajuu by himself.
"Shippo. You are a quick learner, yet hidden somewhere within you are powers I cannot help you with. They are beyond my control and beyond even my imagination. I can only guide you. If you ever need help, touch the symbol on your forehead and I will appear."
A white light flashed and Shippo's mind went black.
---Miroku's Vision---
Miroku put a hand on his aching head, as he stood up wobbly. He glanced around at his surroundings. Where is this place?
He was standing ankle high in tall grass that stretched as far as he could see in any direction. Gusts of wind blew fiercely, catching the feathers in his staff. A tornado came blowing across the plain, stopping a few feet away from him. A lady stepped out.
She wore a stunning silver silk kimono with a gray obi. Patterns of white feathers twirled their way up the front of it. Her raven tresses fluttered in the wind and in her hand she held an exquisite silver fan edged with white.
"Miroku."
Miroku bowed low. "Whom do I have the honor of meeting?"
The lady's midnight eyes sparkled. "I was told you were polite, and yet…" She smacked away Miroku's hand, which had been edging towards her rear. "…possess some unfavorable behavior."
Miroku sweat dropped.
The lady chuckled. "I am Shizuyo, past Guardian of the Air."
Miroku stared at her, mouth gaping as if he wanted to say something.
"And yes, that is what you are now."
"So if I may ask, Lady Shizuyo, what are you doing here?"
"I am here to help you with your newfound powers. You need to learn to use them."
Shizuyo trained Miroku in shaping his element to his will and attacking enemies with it. He was soon able to call up gusts of strong wind and summon tornadoes and hurricanes. His staff now became almost like Tetsusaiga, Hiraikotsu, Koujou, and Yajuu. Miroku learned its most basic attack, where he was able to fire off blades of wind, similar to Kagura's Fuji no Mai. Miroku also had fun with his newfound ability- flying. Since he controlled the air, he was able to defy gravity and fly in the air. Shizuyo told him that with practice, he could become faster than Kirara.
"Miroku, you have untapped powers, things that I cannot even possibly imagine. They are beyond my power. I will guide you, but it is you yourself who has to tame that power. If you ever need help, touch the symbol on your forehead, and I will come to you."
With those grave parting words, a white light flashed and Miroku felt himself drift back into the realm of the living.
Kaede and Kirara were waiting patiently in the hut. Suddenly, the weapons began to pulse, each glowing a different color. Their aura swept over the hut and as each of the weapons pulsed, their owner returned to consciousness.
"Argh…" Kagome groaned, holding her head. As she looked around, her friends were also sitting up, each with a major headache.
"Well that was...interesting." Miroku commented lightly.
"You guys met the past Guardians too?" Sango asked. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"It seems we're really the new Guardians of the Heart, huh?" Shippo said.
"Ya...it seems so..." Kagome mumbled.
Kaede walked over to the gang. "I think you all will need training with those new powers. Some villages close to here have been complaining about youkai attacks. Why don't you five go to exterminate them? It will give you practice."
Inuyasha stood up. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Whew. I finally finished this chapter. It took me a looong time. What do you guys think? I explained their powers, now it's up to them to control it.Once again, a BIG HUG and THANKS to kyasarinyume07 for beta reading. Read her story, Protector. It's really good.
I tried to name the Guardians according to their element but its kinda hard. Here's the meanings:
Namika: a variation of Nami, meaning "wave"
Masato: meaning "commander" (I know, this has nothing to do with fire)
Haruna: meaning "springtime child"
Shizuyo: a variation of Shizu, meaning "silent" (hmm…apparently Japanese parents don't name their children after the wind or air…)
Koujou (one of Shippo's twin katanas/tantos): meaning "plant"
Yajuu (the other katana/tanto): meaning "beast"
Ja ne
kibou hope