Youkai Academy

Chapter 23

Kagome lifted her gaze to meet Sesshomaru's piercing dark amber eyes. Even in this human form, he radiated beauty and grace. His skin glowed like moonlight while his black hair gleamed with a glossy hue.

He had been attending the festival every day, and as the last day approached, Kagome realized that he had been there for her all along—to offer support or maybe comfort, as they were the only ones to know what truly happened five hundred years ago.

"It's strange seeing you in that again," he remarked, his gaze lingering over her red hakama and white kosode.

Kagome couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious as she fiddled with the strands of red and white ribbons between her fingers. "Do I look that odd?"

Sesshomaru's fingers tenderly brushed her cheek, pushing a strand of hair back. His gaze was full of tenderness as he held her stare. "No," he said softly. "It just brings back memories."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat at the mention of memories. "Are they good ones?" she asked in a hushed tone.

A small, genuine smile appeared on Sesshomaru's lips, causing Kagome's cheeks to flush with color.

"K'gome-chan!"

Kagome turned with a smile and open arms. Mitsukuni immediately had his arms around her waist and head under her chin. Stepping back, the shorter teen was dressed in another tasteful kimono—this time, it was plum red and salmon-colored obi, with a mauve-colored haori. "Hello Mitsukuni-senpai!"

Behind him, with arms full of sweets procured from nearly every stall, was Takashi. He was dressed in a similar dark blue kimono with a gray haori. "Welcome back, Takashi-senpai," Kagome greeted softly.

"Who's your friend, K'gome-chan?" Mitsukuni asked sweetly, looking up at Sesshomaru with large eyes, clearly acting as cute as possible.

Sesshomaru raised his brow at the younger teen. Kagome felt Mitsukuni's arms tighten around her, his body suddenly tense against her.

Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru, wondering how she could answer because calling Sesshomaru anything other than her friend felt wrong, and even then, calling them friends seemed too loose of a term.

Sesshomaru's eyes turned gold, flashing with youki energy as if to warn Mitsukuni. He then looked at Kagome, that slight upturn of his lips back. "I will see you after your performance tonight."

Kagome nodded, swallowing nervously.

He then left, but not before flashing a threatening look to the teen who still held her tightly at the waist.

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru's figure faded into the crowd; Mitsukuni finally relaxed his grip on her, looking up curiously. "Who is he K'gome-chan!?"

Inhaling deeply, Kagome flashed Mitsukuni a tender smile as she affectionately ruffled his hair. "He's...an old friend," she said, deciding that was the simplest and most accurate way to describe the complex bond the two shared. "Very old," she added under her breath.

Mitsukuni nodded, stepping out of her arms as the others joined them.

Kagome took a moment to admire their exquisite kimonos and intricate designs. The twins wore mirrored kimonos with contrasting hues, Kaoru in monochrome with striking patterns. At the same time, Hikaru was clad in polychrome with muted patterns. Kyoya donned a darker-themed kimono in black and white with silver patterns. Still, as always, Tamaki stood out with his vibrant orange and red layers and blue floral patterns.

Tamaki threw his arms around Kagome, hugging her. "You look so cute, dressed up like a priestess!"

"I kinda have to," Kagome explained. "I am leading the event tonight."

"Oh, are you going to be telling the story of the destruction of the Shikon No Tama?" Kaoru asked, remembering that in the evening over the last two nights of the festival. On the first night of the festival, on the day of the Creator, there was a shadow puppetry place, reenacting the story of Midoriko and the creation of the Shikon no Tama. On the second night on the day of the Protector, there was a romanticized play of Romeo and Juliet about Inuyasha, Kikyo, and the Shikon No Tama.

"What are you doing?"

"A play of the final wish, I will be playing Priestess Kagome," Kagome explained, her stomach twisting into knots.

Haruhi joined them beaming with a smile. Kagome smiled back, happy that attention had quickly been pulled to the girl and away from the play.

Tamaki began to gush over the girl, who was also dressed in traditional Miko attire. "You look so cute!" The twins and Mitsukuni followed his lead and began showering Haruhi with compliments.

Tamaki's enthusiasm and Kaoru and Hikaru's playful jests offered her little respite from her contemplation. Amidst the laughter and light-hearted banter, Kagome wondered about the paradox of her situation. Here she was, surrounded by friends in a setting of merriment, but it didn't touch her.

As evening approached and the shadows lengthened, Kagome prepared herself for the performance. She could feel the Shikon No Tama against her skin, a constant reminder of the truth she carried. Tonight, she would play her part in a story that had shaped her destiny, weaving a narrative that was as much about concealing the truth as it was about celebrating a history that had never truly ended.

Kagome stepped onto the stage, her silhouette cast in stark relief against the backdrop of shadow and light; a hush fell over the crowd. Her heart raced with a tumult of emotions. She would tell a story tonight, but the truth would remain hers and Sesshomaru's to guard.

With a deep breath, she began.

Her voice, clear and poignant, began to weave the narrative of the final battle, each word a testament to the journey she had undertaken, a journey that had led her from the familiarity of her modern world into the heart of an ancient saga.

In the audience, her friends watched with rapt attention, unaware of the layers of truth beneath the surface of the story being told. And somewhere, in the shadows, she felt the presence of Sesshomaru, a silent sentinel in the unfolding drama of her life. His unseen gaze was a tether, anchoring her to the reality of their shared experiences, a bond forged in the crucible of time and trial.

The play, while reenacting a pivotal moment in her life, felt like a hollow echo of the actual events. Standing on a stage and narrating a version of the truth palatable for tales and legends was a peculiar kind of agony. It was a necessary deceit, for the true power and peril of the Shikon No Tama could decimate their world.

And then came the part she hated the most, the part that had caused the time-loop that had held Sesshomaru captive and what had ruined the timeline.

The light fell to her, and in one hand, she held a larger replica of the jewel. In the other, clenched under the fabric of her kosobe, was the real Shikon no Tama. She felt it pulse with anticipation, its power reaching out to her, trying to decipher her true desire and take advantage of the next words of the play.

She held the fake jewel up towards the light, her voice booming in the hushed silence. "I wish-"