Kagome's Paths Ch 10

Kagome's Paths
By Kagehoshi
Ch10 An Understanding

AN* Yes that's right I've finally updated this story. I have had the WORST writers block ever, I haven't been able to write anything for any of my stories. It's been driving me insane. Everything I write is poo! T_T I still don't like this chapter, so at some point I'm going to go back and make this good, I SWEAR, but for now I'm pretty sure you guys are anxiously awaiting for a continuation of this story. Soooo here you go. Enjoy!
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She disliked the cold, intensely, and she was very very cold right now. Shivering in her soaking wet and torn uniform and walking through a dismally bleak empty gray field Kagome felt truly miserable. Rubbing her bare arms in a pathetic attempt to gain some molecule of warmth Kagome continued to move across the dreary landscape. Shivering as a slight breeze caressed her damp skin Kagome hugged herself tighter and crested the top of the latest hill she had been struggling up.  Her breath caught in her throat and she mentally gave a shout of joy as she spied what looked to be a crumbling city sitting in the valley below her. At least the walls would offer some protection from the icy winds and with any luck there would be something she could use to cover herself up or at least something she could burn for a fire, anything that could possibly offer a respite from this never ending cold. Kagome shivered again and sneezed loudly as another breeze ran its cold fingers across her damp flesh. The sneeze echoed throughout the craggy landscape causing Kagome to wince, that had been embarrassingly loud; thankfully there was no one around to hear that. Still shivering Kagome continued on her way towards the city.

A few miles away a creature awoke from a nap deep in its lair and opened its amber, cat-like eyes. Was that a sound? She slinked out of her warm nest and turned her head towards where she thought she had heard the noise come from. Catching a strange scent in the breeze she smiled and licked her lips, it had been millennia since she had last had fun with a human. She leaned back on her haunches and stretched, flexing her claws in glee; this was going to be exciting, hopefully this one would be more amusing than the last one.

Kagome was desperately trying to remember how to prevent hypothermia, as she was most fairly certain she was going to get it. After struggling over rocky sandy soil she had finally entered the collapsing remains of the city only to discover that there was absolutely nothing left except cold cruel rocks, and to make matters worse the wind whipped through the narrow streets at an even faster rate than it had outside of the city. Her uniform was still unpleasantly damp and in its tattered state offered little to no protection from the sharp winds that whistled through the rocky maze. Her only thought was to keep moving, because if she stopped then she was almost certain she wouldn't be able to start back up again. She soon found herself walking towards the remains of a large crumbling gateway, obviously the exit out from this sad skeletal city. Holding herself tightly Kagome grit her teeth and continued to move forward, all her concentration on taking one more step, just one more. So it was entirely understandable that the shadow that passed over her face and the sound of feathery wings went completely unnoticed by the freezing Priestess. However the presence of a large furry foot in her field of vision got her attention like nothing else. In fact that furry appendage got so much of her attention that the creature it was attached to was completely ignored for several seconds. When Kagome's brain thawed out enough to realize that there was probably something unfriendly attached to that paw, she immediately jumped back into a defensive position and prepared for a fight. What met Kagome's eyes was a creature straight out of ancient legend. With a serpent tail, the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the head and chest of a woman the Sphinx was truly a fearsome sight, and it was a sight that Kagome was not all that happy to see.

"Why hello little human, what brings you to this place?" the creature all but purred at her. Kagome swallowed and took an impulsive step back. The Sphinx rolled her red lips back from her fangs, in a grim approximation of a smile.

"N-nothing of any real importance." Kagome stuttered out. The Sphinx's grin widened and she stalked forward towards the frightened girl.

"It has been over 2,000 years since a human has come to my city, not since its great destruction by the Argead King."(1) The Sphinx sat on its haunches and gave Kagome a piercing curious look. "So I highly doubt your visit is 'Nothing of real importance'"

Kagome shook as the Sphinx continued to regard her curiously, and Kagome wasn't sure if it was from the cold, or from fear. The Sphinx's nose twitched and she slinked closer to Kagome.

"You smell different, human and yet… not."

Kagome gritted her teeth to keep them from chattering. "I'm human."

The Sphinx lay down on her haunches, crossed her paws and flicked her serpent tail nonchalantly.

"You interest me little human, and that is saying a great deal. How are you called among your kind?"

"Ka-kagome," Her shivering had become more violent, "My name is Kagome."

"Kagome." The Sphinx all but purred out the name, "My name has been lost to time, but you may call me Phix if you are so inclined."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Phix-san." The reply was automatic, only long ingrained good manners causing the words to tumble out.

"Perhaps." Phix replied, smiling "And perhaps not. You have wandered into my territory and must therefore solve my riddle to pass."

"A riddle?" Kagome asked confused.

"Yes a riddle. That is generally what happens in these situations, though usually it is a male who comes seeking glory." Kagome made a sound of annoyance in the back of her throat and Phix's smile grew wider. "But in this case I am glad it was you. I do hope you won't make me eat you." Kagome's head shot up in alarm.

"Eat me?" The cold was all but forgotten now.

"Only if you don't get the riddle right." Phix explained, "I am sorry but that's just how things are done here, it's nothing personal. If it's any consolation I will be very sorry to have to do it."

"That makes me feel so much better." Kagome muttered sarcastically, "Alright, what's the riddle." Best to just get this over with, right or wrong at least she'd get away from this place and hopefully away from the cold.

Phix blinked once then recited:

Screaming, soaring, seeking sky
Flowers of fire, flying high
Eastern art, from ancient time
Name me now, and solve this rhyme

Kagome thought hard, shivering in the cold air, Kagome tried to think. Something about that riddle sounded familiar. Something someone had said a long time ago. She politely asked Phix to repeat the rhyme and the Sphinx complied, resting comfortably on her haunches. Flowers of fire? Shippo's smiling face suddenly rose in her mind, and Kagome blinked away the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. One time for Tanabata she had brought a surprise for everybody through the well. She remembered Shippo had been totally enthralled and called them fire flowers.

"Fireworks." Kagome whispered. Phix looked up from inspecting her paw, and narrowed her eyes at Kagome.

"What was that?"

"Fireworks." Kagome said, "That's the answer isn't it?" Phix rose to her feet and stood directly in front of Kagome her amber colored eyes boring directly into Kagome's sapphire ones. Kagome resisted the urge to back away and despite the biting cold, began to sweat nervously. They stayed locked liked this for what seemed like forever to Kagome, but was in fact only a few minutes, and the Phix sat down and smiled softly.

"You have answered correctly, you may pass."

Kagome let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Then squared her shoulders and looked Phix directly in the eye.

"Thank you very much. I'm trying to reach the castle at the center of the Labyrinth could you please point the way?"

Phix blinked then arched one eyebrow in surprise.

"Why would you choose to go to the goblin king's castle? That is no place for a human."

"I have to go, he has something of mine..."

"Ah, a Wisher are you? I had wondered what a human was doing in this place." Phix turned around and began to walk away, "Once they have given their answer I have no further interest in adventurers." Kagome scowled and opened her mouth for a fiery retort but Phix beat her to it, "However, if you go off in that direction," the serpent tale waved off to the left, "I of course would not care one way or another." The sphinx pause a second and looked over her shoulder, "I will of course thank you for this break in the monotony of my life and wish you the best of luck in your quest."

The warmth of gratitude filled Kagome's chest and she smiled warmly at Phix.

"Domo arigatou gozaimasu Phix-san" Kagome bowed politely, "I am most grateful for your consideration." Kagome then hurried off towards where Phix had pointed. Phix watched her go until the human girl had crested the hill and gone out of sight. Turning to go back to her own lair Phix's gaze was caught by a flash of color. Swinging around fully to look at the strange object Phix reared back in shock. 'Impossible! This was impossible! The Great King had salted the earth when he had destroyed the city, for over 5000 years the lands around this place had been barren of all life, so how? How could this be here?' Phix jerked her head back in the direction the human girl had left. 'The girl? Could it be?' Phix began to laugh, long and hard she laughed until tears poured down her face and could no longer stand on her paws. Growing innocently nearby, directly upon the spot Kagome had been standing was a small green plant, a single spark of life in an otherwise dead land.

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(1) If someone can tell me this King's name and the name of the city they get a free sneak peak of future chapters.