The Merry and the Miffed by Stella Mira

Blessed Light!

December 2013 Challenge: Lights

Word Count: 450

"It's magic!" Shippō exclaimed after Kagome had finished decorating Kaede's hut with the help of a miffed hanyō and activated the lights, bathing everything in bright shades of blue and green and red. Awed bewilderment danced in his emerald depths as he took a hesitant step forward to poke at them lightly.

"It's future magic that's called 'batteries', Shippō-chan," the miko explained, laughing with amusement at his shy antics.

"This is truly amazing, Kagome-sama. How can there be light without fire?" Miroku asked as he inspected them, cobalt eyes wide in disbelief and curiosity.

"A very clever man named Benjamin Franklin conducted lightning experiments that led to the discovery of electricity. It's pure science, Miroku-san," Kagome elaborated with a pleased smile, congratulating herself for her ingenious idea.

"This 'electricity' you speak of can produce light that never fades? It is astounding!" the monk remarked, thoroughly impressed.

"It will eventually die when the batteries run out of energy, but I have brought spares, so no worries," Kagome chirped happily. Before she could continue, however, a large crowd of people gathered in a tight-knit circle around her, falling to their knees in reverence.

"A miracle has happened!"

"It's an omen from the gods!"

"Kagome-sama is Amaterasu-ōmikami in disguise!"

Hallowed praises susurrated as the villagers regarded Kagome with fanatic wonder.

"Pfft… if she is the Goddess of the Sun then I'm Izanagi," Inuyasha snorted at their ridiculous assumptions.

"The mere idea of you being our esteemed progenitor offends me, my friend. Have a care when you mention our deities," Miroku chastised him half-jokingly half seriously.

"Says the lecher who asks every woman he meets to bear his child," Sango muttered bitterly when his gaze strayed towards the young village girls.

"I assure you my intentions are pure, Sango!" the monk claimed, wrenching his gaze away from the young women.

"Save it for the village girls, monk!" Sango hissed, voice dripping with venom, focusing on the distressed miko instead.

"Can you please stop bowing to me? I'm really just a normal human," Kagome pleaded for them to raise their heads, flabbergasted.

"Praise our Goddess!" they chanted piously.

"We beg of you, Amaterasu-sama, please bring light to our homes as well!" the village chief implored her, causing a new wave of bows from the crowd.

"I'm no goddess, so please don't kneel. I can decorate your houses with Christmas lights, but it'll only last for a few weeks at best," the miko tried to reason with them, but her explanations fell on deaf ears.

"Thank you, kind Goddess! Blessed be thy name!" the villagers erupted in delighted cheers.

"Like I said –" Kagome made one last effort to clear their misunderstanding, but it was futile.