Chapter 4

Miroku kept staring at his left hand, his gaze fixated on the blue veins pulsing beneath his skin. We halted our journey to rest after the battle, and Miroku's discomfort was evident. His swollen palm and bent pinky finger drew concern from us all.

"How does it feel?" Sango gently held his hand, her touch contrasting with the many times his hands had been used for combat.

"It looks infected," Sango speculated, her brows furrowed in worry. "Could it be poison?" Shippo asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Perhaps it'll go away on its own," I suggested optimistically.

"We could amputate it..." Sango began, considering the options. "Cut off the pinky. It's completely dead and useless. Then, we'll need the Tessaiga--"

Miroku jerked his hand away abruptly. "Get off of me!" he yelled. "It'll never grow back," Sango continued, determination gleaming in her eyes. "So, we cut it off and use a piece of wood to fill the gap--"

"I will never allow it!" Miroku's voice cracked with emotion.

"And your other hand is still susceptible to damage, so we might have to remove that one too..." Sango contemplated aloud.

"Damn it..." Shippo muttered, his worry evident.

"Imani, what was that thing you did?" Inuyasha asked, his curiosity directed at me. "That red barrier..."

"I don't know," I replied, glancing at my own hands and noticing the red veins etched across my palms. "And I don't want to know."

"We should rest up before heading to Gaimu," Kagome suggested.

"They probably have a doctor or something..." Inuyasha added. "And," he turned to Sango, "you have your own blade."

"It's much too small and dull," Sango grumbled.

"Will he be able to make it to the village without his hand? It looks pretty poisoned," Shippo expressed his concern.

"It's fine!" Miroku retorted, though his tone betrayed his discomfort.

I checked my body and noticed a heart-shaped mark on my left shoulder. Veins and tiny streaks wrapped around it. Pulling up my sleeve, I joined the gang sitting in the grass.

A blue butterfly flew past in the middle of the night, waking me up. Soon, a cloud of them surrounded me. They were small, no bigger than my palm or Inuyasha's, but they swarmed around me, their presence comforting yet eerie.

Suddenly, one of them struck my face, and as I tried to swat it away, more butterflies wrapped around my arm, hoisting me off the ground.

"Help!" I cried out, struggling against the swarm. "Let me go! Kagome!" But the butterflies led me away from the campsite, their movements oddly soothing despite my panic.

Eventually, they released me, but my heart was pounding with confusion. That's when I saw it – a dead, naked body, its neck bleeding and torso bearing puncture wounds.

"Who is this?" I questioned.

"Kurau," a voice echoed. "I am Ketsueki no Ayashii Te." Suddenly, a mysterious woman materialized before me, her appearance unsettling.

"Do you know what you are?" she asked, her gaze piercing.

"A human being!" I yelled, taken aback.

"Incorrect, my granddaughter," she declared. "You were taken to Kao no Nai Machi. That is my home."

"Your home?" I echoed, my mind reeling.

"I am your ancestor," she continued. "It takes fifteen generations, and you are the fifteenth in line."

"I don't want to--"

"You need to kill Takahiro Kenshin Arimasa Nobuyuki Kamigawa. Find my head and kill the empress, Masayuki Kamigawa. Cut off her head and steal her body," she demanded.

"No," I protested.

"Do it! Take her blood and steal her body!" she commanded, her tone growing more forceful.

"Why?" I asked, my confusion mounting.

"Because I have three legs," she confessed, her expression sorrowful. "I can't walk." She extended her hand, conjuring a bright dark flame and offering it to me.

"No," I refused.

But before I could react, she lunged forward, striking me across the face. "You have the vampiric insignia," she growled, her anger palpable. "Do as I say!" She kicked me, her actions becoming more violent.

"Stop!" I pleaded, holding my stomach as pain shot through me. She tore off her hand, and it scurried toward me with two fingers. Even the dead body of the girl rose to its feet.

"Itadakimasu!" she chanted in a dark tone.

I woke up at the campsite, my heart still racing from the strange encounter I had with the mysterious woman and the dead body. As I sat up, I noticed a blue butterfly fluttering above my shoulder, covering the vampiric insignia. I stared at it in astonishment, wondering how it got there and what it meant.

"Imani, are you alright?" Kagome's voice broke through my thoughts.

I turned to see Kagome looking at me with concern. "I... I'm not sure," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. "I had the strangest dream..."

I hesitated to share the details of my encounter with the gang, unsure of how they would react. But then I remembered the urgency of our mission to Gaimu village and pushed the unsettling thoughts aside for now.

"I'm okay," I said, forcing a smile. "Let's continue on to Gaimu."

The others nodded in agreement, and we packed up our campsite before setting off once again on our journey. The blue butterfly remained perched on my shoulder, its presence a comforting reassurance as we ventured into the unknown.

As we traveled, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered from my encounter with the mysterious woman. I knew that whatever lay ahead in Gaimu village, we would need to be prepared for anything.

A feeling of suspense and dread permeated the atmosphere. The village appeared tranquil and serene. "Now we have to ask about Miko." said Shippo.

[Mission: Ask 12 people about Miko the psychic.]

Birds are chirping in the distance. The settlement was ornamented with traditional Japanese architecture, including wooden homes with beautiful carvings and tiled roofs that glistened in the sun.

I began to breathe heavy and the blue betterfly started to flap it's wings. "Ask around." said Kagome. I didn't hop we would stay long. We meet a small store as soon as we walk in the small village. There is an argument inside. "I gave you two pieces of silver, That's like..." this woman shouted. "A piece of gold!"

"You are poor! Muddy the village is on edge!" yelled the store clerk. "You are giving me three pieces of rice for a coat!"

"I am cold!"

"Then die!"

"Hard times..." said Miroku. I looked at myself and looked at Kagome. "What are wearing?" I ask. Maybe I'm nervous. "My school uniform."

"How can I dress like Sango?" I inquired, feeling a bit self-conscious about my request.

"Dress like me? Oh, you want a change of clothes so you can fit in," she replied with a chuckle.

"Let's ask the clerk," suggested Shippo.

I hesitated, feeling a surge of nerves. "Ask for me... I'm... nervous," I finally managed to say, hoping someone else would take the lead.

"Ah, nervousness is merely a sign of anticipation for the unknown. But fear not, my dear, for with Sango's impeccable fashion sense, you'll be turning heads in no time."

Sango rolled her eyes, "What did you tell her that for?"

"What's the definition of a compliment?" he jested but remained serious. Miroku walked to the store. The sign was in japanese so I couldn't even see it.

"I want a coat!" yelled the woman.

"The coat is equal to 12 gold bars and you have three pieces of rice!" he argued. "Then take my shoes!" they went back and forth. Miroku stepped forward and simply asked the clerk. "Good evening, do you have any woman's clothing?"

"No!" said the clerk. "Go to Ochiba. She runs Yume no Kimono-ya." The man points in the direction of the store. I hiss loudly at Miroku. "Oh, do you know Miko?"

"You mean Nagai Mine." said the woman. Sango crossed her arms, "This might be difficult. Kaede said her name changes."

"Why did she choose to worry about her looks now?" said Inuyasha. He stared at me, "You're fine."

"Whatever..." I mumbled.

"Inuyasha, you don't understand how a girl feels." told Kagome. "Why haven't you changed?" he grimaced.

"I want shoes!" screamed the woman.

"We don't have shoes!" he screamed back.

"We don't have shoes! This is the general store!"

We moved on to go ask the owner of Yume no Kimono-ya. The shop was well done. Despite its modest surroundings, this business arises elegance and class. The outside, however weather-beaten, has a newly painted sign embellished with lovely lettering.

"I think this is Yume no Kimono-ya." said Sango. "It even has a puppy." said Shippo. 

"That's a demon." corrected Inuyasha. 

"Short sounds good," I replied, adjusting my black pants. Glancing at the butterfly insignia on my shoulder, I wondered about the significance of its presence.

Standing outside the village shop, I fidgeted with the hem of my jacket, feeling self-conscious and out of place amidst the colorful display of kimonos. Miroku and Sango stood beside me, their encouraging words barely registering over the pounding of my heart.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door, the soft chime of bells announcing our arrival. The shopkeeper, Ochiba Miyuki, greeted us with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she welcomed us into her domain of fashion.

I couldn't help but feel intimidated by Ochiba's enthusiasm for the elaborate fabrics and intricate designs that adorned the walls of her shop. My meek demeanor contrasted sharply with her vibrant energy, and I found myself shrinking further into the background as she began to show us various options.

I hesitated, unsure of what to choose amidst the sea of colors and patterns. Ochiba, sensing my hesitation, gently encouraged me to explore the possibilities, her passion for fashion evident in every gesture and expression.

With her guidance, I timidly tried on several kimonos, each one feeling foreign and unfamiliar against my skin. But as I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't deny the beauty of the traditional garments, nor the genuine excitement in Ochiba's eyes as she watched me transform before her.

Finally, I found one that caught my eye—a simple yet elegant blue kimono adorned with delicate cherry blossom patterns. Its shorter length felt more comfortable and less overwhelming, a subtle nod to my timid nature.

As Ochiba busied herself with styling my hair in a traditional fashion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her patience and understanding. Despite my initial reservations, her infectious enthusiasm had sparked a newfound appreciation for the rich culture and traditions of the village.

As I stood before the mirror, dressed in my beautiful new kimono with my hair elegantly styled, I felt a glimmer of confidence stir within me. With Ochiba's guidance, I had taken a small step out of my comfort zone and embraced the beauty of self-expression through fashion.