InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Second Chance At Love ❯ Time For A Change. Pt. 2 ( Chapter 27 )

Disclaimer: Still don't own Inu Yasha …

 

 

Chapter 27: Time For A Change. Pt. 2

 

 

Kagome turned around to look where she indicated. She blinked. Standing behind her, side by side, were four men. Each had the same face except for their hair and eyes were different and one wore glasses.

 

The first one wore white robes and hand deep brown eyes that shined behind a pair of thin glasses. There was knowledge in his gaze that she found more than a little daunting. Kagome thought the glasses were a bit premature, but shrugged it off. His long hair was pure white. The next one wore robes of a sky blue his long hair was a silver gray color and his eyes were a deep red. His eyes seemed to be deep, if not a little guarded. He seemed younger then the others yet older at the same time. The third one wore dark forest green and had eyes of a similar color yet much more rich in color. His eyes made her think of emeralds even as he gazed straight at her without blinking. His hair was ink black and pulled high in a ponytail. The last had eyes the color of the ocean and they twinkled merrily at her. His robes were tan and his hair was a dark rich brown tone that was braided and hanging over his shoulder to his waist. He was the only one who smiled at her.

 

Kagome turned to look at Midoriko, who now stood beside her, in wonder.

 

“Who-”

 

“They will tell you,” cut in Midoriko, knowing what she was going to ask. “I must go now. Good luck Higurashi Kagome.”

 

“Will I see you again?”

 

“I'm sure you will,” she smiled then gave a small laugh, “but, for where I'm going, hopefully not for a very long time, yes?”

 

“Yes,” smiled Kagome after a moment. She watched as the other priestess turned and left. She faded into the air as she walked back the way they'd come. Then Kagome turned and faced the men and gave them a thoughtful look.

 

“You're the Four Souls aren't you?” she didn't know how she knew that, it just seemed to make sense.

 

They nodded as one in confirmation.

 

“Very good priestess,” said the one with the glasses. “I am Kushimitama, Soul of Wisdom.”

 

“I am Nigimitama,” said the one with the twinkling, ocean blue eyes and huge smile. “Soul of Friendship.”

 

“Somehow I think I should have guessed that one,” she smiled.

 

“I'm the Soul of Courage,” she turned towards the emerald eyed one, “Aramitama I'm called.”

 

She stared at him for a moment as she got the feeling he didn't like her very much. After a moment she turned her head when the one with red eye and gray hair stepped forward. She already knew who he was though; he was the only one left.

 

“Sakimitama is my name,” he said evenly. “The-”

 

“Soul of Love,” she cut in and finished with a small smile.

 

He returned the gesture and nodded. “Would you like to see your friends?”

 

She blinked in surprise, but nodded yes as she stood stiff.

 

They all gestured for her to come forward. They parted in the middle to make room for her, two on each side, and waited for her to fill the empty spot. Kagome moved forward slowly then started slightly when the world around her changed to look like a huge room painted white. In the middle of the room was a small circular structure. As they lead her across the room to the structure, she realized it was a well. There was nothing else in the room but for the well, which was also white. Inside the well the water was as clear as a glass window and the well appeared to have no bottom.

 

Kushimitama leaned forward and placed an open palm along the water's surface. “Show me the others,” he intoned quietly.

 

Kagome stared in disbelief as the water rippled for a moment then as the surface cleared and the images of her friends came into view. They were all outside of the castle and seemed to be waiting; for what, she didn't know. She saw Sesshoumaru standing before a stone dais, not unlike the one she'd woken up on not too long ago, and stared at her body lying on it.

 

She really had died. Seeing her body brought the scary fact back to her with crystal clarity. Kagome couldn't stop the tears from running down her face as she watched the sadness in her friends faces.

 

****

 

He watched the girl as she sat on the ground beneath the tree. Her white head was bent, hiding her face from his view, as she stared down at her entwined fingers. He knew she wasn't sleep, but waiting. She always sat that way when she was waiting for him.

He slowly moved forward and sat gracefully down beside her. Quickly turning his back to her he lay backwards and let his head rest in her lap. Now that he could see her face he looked up into pale blue eyes. He preferred her true color eyes to the white or black of the void youkai she was half the time.

 

“You are going back?” she asked even as she gave a small smile in greeting. She'd heard him arrive.

 

“At night fall. Tonight is the full moon.”

 

“I know,” she nodded. “You know they will still be there.”

 

He blinked hazel eyes at her then. His features had returned to their true form as well, preferring to be natural when he was there. “You don't think they will leave?”

 

“No,” she shook her pale head as she ran a hand through his dark black strands. “They loved her very much. They will stay to, at the very least, know why you killed her. Did you?”

 

“Kill her?” he waited for her nod before continuing, “Do you think I killed her?”

 

“You did not tell me you were going to, so I do not believe you did.”

 

He nodded at that and looked away from her; unwilling to show his appreciation for her trust in him. “I didn't. One of them must have. I'm not sure how, but they did. Now they will pay for ruining my plans. There is no other Guardian and the jewel seems to have disappeared when she died.”

 

She nodded. Kanna lifted her gaze from his face and stared ahead of her as she automatically kept running her fingers through his hair. She knew how much he liked her to do that and had begun to do it so much that it was sometimes an unconscious move on her part.

 

“What? What are you thinking?” he asked. He could see the contemplative look on her face.

 

Kanna looked down into his hazel eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath and speaking. She wasn't positive her thoughts were accurate, but she would bet money, if she had any, that they were.

 

“I don't believe they killed her,” she said quietly. “I saw what happened. I saw their faces. They were more surprised then you were. They were sure you wanted her alive. I don't know how she died, but I do know none of them did it. They loved her and every one of them would give their lives for her, even the Taiyoukai, just as she would do the same for them.”

 

“Then what happened?”

 

“Like I said; I don't know,” she sighed. “The miko could have caused her death herself, though I doubt it.”

 

“Could you be wrong?” he knew she rarely was, but he had to ask. “Could one of them have done it?”

 

“Of course. Any one of them has the ability,” she said off handedly. “And there is always the possibility I could be wrong. But tell me, if I were in danger and with all your considerable power and strength, you still knew there was a huge possibility I could be killed, would you kill me just so someone else couldn't? Same effect even if the cause is different.”

 

The Obake thought about that for a moment. Could he kill this woman? She'd been with him for so long. She was his one true friend and he loved her… as much as he knew how to love. No. He knew that no matter how much it would hurt to see someone kill her he could never be the one to take her life.

 

“No,” he answered in a whisper as he lightly touched the soft skin of her right cheek.

 

“Exactly. Neither could I were it you,” she said just as quietly. “That is how I know.”

He sighed as he shut his eyes then. He had to think and figure out what it all meant, so he could decide what his next move would be.

 

****

 

Kagome stared down at the image of Sesshoumaru and her friends. The Four Souls were on either side of her.

 

“You have fought along side them for a while now and, on many occasions, almost given your life for them. Willingly. It is very obvious, and we have no doubt, that you would die for them,” spoke Sakimitama from beside her on her right. The other three nodded their agreement. “But would you live for them?” He watched as her eyes flicked from one to the other of her friends as he waited for them to fall on the one they always seemed to come back to. He did not have to wait long. “Would you live for him?”

 

“Live for them?” she asked softly; a note of confusion in her voice. She did not understand the question. Of course she wanted to live.

 

“Living is not always easy child,” said Kushimitama from her other side. “There is more then one way of life and there is more to life then what you have previously known. Could you commit yourself to the unknown for all that you say you hold dear?”

 

“I thought death was the unknown?”

 

“A simple misconception; though understandable. Death is an ending of a life, but, depending on ones belief, it is not the end of life. For most it is an introduction to the next chapter in the book of Life. It is that chapter that is unknown. But… perhaps that is the beauty of it, yes?”

 

Kagome gave a non-committal shrug as she mulled that over. While she did not fear death, she'd learned to appreciate all the many ways it could be brought about. And that did produce fear in her. No one could say the Feudal Era was boring. Understanding all that, she still wasn't quite sure of what they were asking of her and she told them so.

 

“Perhaps it's not necessary.”

 

She turned to the one who spoke, Nigimitama, who stood just to her left between her and Kushimitama, and arched a questioning brow at that. How could understanding not be necessary?

 

“Do you need to understand to make a choice?” asked Aramitama from beside Sakimitama. “Are you not willing to face whatever consequences come about from that choice? If not, maybe you are not the right choice after all.”

 

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him as she turned her head in his direction. She looked into the bright emerald eyes of the Soul of Courage as she felt something like fear crawl down her spine. There was no challenge or disdain in his eyes; just open curiosity. Yet, she sensed that there was more to his question then simply what he said. He was looking intently at her and she had a feeling he was waiting for something; testing her.

 

Testing her?

 

Kagome stilled. She understood then. He was waiting to see if she would allow her anger and fear to rule her. She wouldn't. She hadn't done it before and she wasn't going to start now, but she was not going to give an answer to a half asked question. They would tell her, first, what it was they were not saying. What did they want from her? She was slowly learning that everyone wanted something from her.

 

“I am willing to face the consequences of my choices no matter what they are, but I will not be coerced into making a decision blindly. Tell me what you are asking of me.”

He stared back at her for a moment, eyes never leaving hers, before giving her a solid nod. He admired her confidence and self-possession. “Spoken with true courage.” He looked at the others then. “She will do well.”

 

Kagome looked from one Soul to the other as she tried to make sense of what was going on. After a moment she gave up and put the question to them.

 

“I will do well at what? What is he talking about?”

 

“He speaks of you, and your friends, and the situation you have found yourselves in,” responded Nigimitama quietly, “And the only solution for it.”

 

“What is the solution?”

 

“What it always has been, but you must decide it.”

 

She looked at Courage again before turning back to the view of her friends. Daybreak had arrived and she saw that with the sun's appearance the Obake had returned as well. She guessed he was an early riser.

 

“They can not win against him,” spoke Kushimitama quietly.

 

“Bu--”

 

“Yes,” he cut her off with a solemn look. “Your Taiyoukai is powerful, very much so, but even with the two swords at his command he does not hold enough to defeat the Obake. The inu brothers, if they were to work together and use what their father left to them as they were meant to be used they could deal him a great blow. He would suffer much damage, but even that I'm afraid, would not be enough to destroy him.”

 

“Can anything defeat him?”

 

“Yes. But that power no longer resides on Earth.”

 

Kagome blinked. What did he mean by that? Were they trying to tell her that Sesshoumaru was going to die? That her friends were going to die? How could that be? Couldn't the power of the Shikon no Tama help?

 

“Coul…” she trailed off as her left hand involuntarily tightened around the round object she'd been holding loosely in her fist. The Shikon no Tama. She blinked once then her eyes widened. Oh. No longer resides on Earth… With the jewel here in the After World with her there was no way for her friends to win. What had she done?

 

Kagome brought her hand up as she stared down at the round pink jewel in her hand. Why did it come with her? She held the only thing with enough power to defeat the Obake in the palm of her hand… and yet even if she were alive she still had no idea how to wield the full power of the small object.

 

“Can they not defeat him without this?” she asked hopefully.

 

“All things are possible,” replied Kushimitama.

 

Kagome waited. She could hear a `but' in there. She wasn't disappointed.

 

“But, it is not likely,” he continued.

 

“The jewel,” she began softly; eyes still trained on her palm. “It's…” she trailed of when another hand covered both her and the jewel. She raised her head to meet a pair of sparkling blue eyes.

 

“We are the Four Souls, the Shikon, not the jewel. And as we stand before you now,” he smiled kindly at her in a mixture of amusement and reassurance, “this” he squeezed the hand he was covering lightly, “no longer holds any power.”

 

She looked down at her covered hand. She could see faint rays op pink coming out from either side of their entwined hands. It still held its glow, even if it no longer held its power.

 

“What of the jewel then?” for some reason she felt sad at the thought the jewel was going to disappear forever. It didn't seem fair. Her eyes stayed on their hands, but she jumped slightly when she saw a blue glow coming from between their hands… and it wasn't coming from her. The heat coming from the glow was warm, but not unpleasant.

 

If she had been conscious the first time, she might have remembered that that wasn't the first time she'd encountered such a glow. But, as it happens, she did not recall the first incident that had resulted in her death.

 

Kagome watched as the glow receded within their hands again. When Nigimitama removed his hand she realized a lovely tan leather strap had been attached to the jewel. She could see etchings engraved into the strap of the Japanese characters for friend, courage, wisdom, love and guardian.

 

Nigimitama picked the jewel up by its newly made strand and held it at eye level. “Merely a beautiful trinket: nothing more, nothing less.” He spread the strap out and placed it over her head to let it hang around her neck.

 

Kagome obligingly moved her long hair out of the way to allow the newly made necklace to lie unhindered against her skin.

 

“What am I to do with a useless Shikon no Tama?” she asked with an arched brow.

 

“Oh, well no one said it was useless,” said Kushimitama with a twinkle in his deep chocolate eyes. “And you wear it, of course. It looks lovely on you, by the way.”

 

“Thank you,” replied Kagome giving him an uncertain look.

 

“So, have you decided priestess?” asked Aramitama, bringing everyone back to the true reason for the meeting taking place.

 

“How?” she said to him with a defiant look. “You still haven't explained to me what it is.”

 

He looked at her as she crossed her arms over her chest and waited. She refused to back down on this. They would tell her what was going on. She wasn't having anymore surprises.

 

“Perhaps she is right,” said Sakimitama as he watched the young miko stand up to Aramitama. “She needs to know what will happen. It is only right. Her answer is too important for her not to understand both the benefits and the consequences.”

 

“Maybe…” began Kushimitama before shaking his head and starting again. “You are right Sakimitama. She can not make a true decision without knowing what she would be choosing.”

 

That settled, the Four Souls all nodded at one another then drew Kagome away from the looking hole at her feet. They did not want her decision to be persuaded by what was happening with her friends below.

 

“Come child, and we shall explain all.”

 

****

 

The sun was setting.

 

They all watched quietly as the light of day slowly receded and the night sky began to dominate. The moon was already up and they all knew it was just a matter of time before the bakemono would show up. They were all waiting for just that. Not knowing what to expect they knew it was best to have the fight outside.

 

Sesshoumaru had other reasons for having the fight outside. He would not be hindered by walls.

 

No one was surprised when the bakemono showed back up the moment the sun was completely out of sight and night was only lit by the light of the full moon. None of them worried about that though, the bake wasn't the only one who enjoyed the moonlight. He still looked like Sesshoumaru.

 

“I see you stayed,” he said as he noted none of them had left. His Kanna had been right about that at least. He was intent on finding out just what else she may be right about.

 

“Ever the observant one, aren't you?” said Inuyasha as he folded his arms across his chest.

 

“You will die this night,” spoke Sesshoumaru from the back. He was still standing near the platform that held Kagome. “Why did you kill the miko?”

 

The Obake did not take well to threats, but he would indulge the taiyoukai for now; they both were after the same thing anyway.

 

“I did not kill the priestess. Despite how she annoyed me I needed her alive.” He stopped a moment to let his words sink in, “which means one of you is behind her death.”

 

Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku all exchanged looks with a growing horror in them. They didn't bother to bandy it around that one of them might have killed Kagome; there was no way that was possible. And they'd all seen the rage that Sesshoumaru had barely gotten control of for it to be him. Which, to their knowledge, left only two people and if the bakemono was claiming to not have done it… If they were inclined to believe him, and truthfully, they could think of no reason for him to lie to them, then that left… Kagome.

 

Sango had already asked herself the question earlier if she could believe Kagome would do such a thing, and she still had no answer. While she didn't believe Kagome would take her own life, she could see the girl not putting up much of a fight and allowing her own death if she thought she was protecting her friends. Which, really, only mounted to the same conclusion. The priestess was dead.

 

“You don't think…” began Miroku with a thoughtful expression before shaking his head roughly as if to rid himself of the notion forcefully. “No. Lady Kagome would not do such a thing. “

 

“OF COURSE NOT!” yelled Inuyasha. “HE'S LIEING!”

 

Feh! He knew Kagome better then anyone there. Wasn't he the one who'd known her longer? She was his best friend! Kagome was many things: head-strong, hard headed, affectionate, kind, optimistic, stubborn, loyal, smart, always willing to smile, compassionate, temperamental… He could go on, but the kind of person Kagome was wasn't the point. The point was the kind of person she wasn't; and she wasn't a person who committed suicide. Yes, she would allow herself to be captured; she would even lose in a battle and give up the shards or a fully restored Shikon jewel if it meant she'd be protecting her friends or any innocent life. It was annoying, but you couldn't tell Kagome no if she was trying to protect someone; she wouldn't hear it.

 

“Why?”

 

Inuyasha came back to the present problem when his attention was drawn to the taijiya when she spoke. “Why what?”

 

“What reason does he have to lie?” she asked. “If he killed Kagome why couldn't he just say that? He doesn't fear us.”

 

“Since when do you need a reason to lie?” he asked incredulously. “I've done it without any reason plenty of times!”

 

Miroku and Sango just stared at him.

 

“What?” asked Inuyasha as he looked back and forth between them. They just shook there heads in answer. “Feh!”

 

“I don't care what you do or don't believe,” cut in the Obake firmly. “One of you destroyed my chances of getting what I want, so now I will take away what you want.”

 

“Correct me if I'm wrong,” drawled Miroku, leaning on his staff calmly, “but haven't you done that already?”

 

He leveled a look of pure contempt on the monk. He would not repeat himself, if they chose not to believe him that was their problem.. They would soon find out he wasn't joking. Then the one who had robbed him would confess or take the consequences.

 

Sesshoumaru had not spoken since he'd asked the first question. He'd heard the Obake's answers and he was wondering if the demon was telling the truth. If not, just what would he gain from lying?

 

“I think there's been enough talking,” the Obake said with a menacing smile as his silver eyes began to glow with an eerie light. The wind began to pick up and swirl around them. Kirara immediately transformed and stepped in front of both Sango and Miroku to block them from the wind's effect. Inuyasha grimaced and brought an arm up to shield his eyes. Sesshoumaru stood straight and tall, his gaze trained on the bakemono was unwavering.

 

The Obake grinned maliciously as he made the winds pick up speed to cause distraction. He could still sense the inu brothers. Their minds were still trained on him, but the two humans… They were just where he wanted them. He knew the large neko youkai could sense his focus was on them and she was trying her best to shield her mistress and the monk from his influence, but her efforts were for naught. For what he was doing he didn't need to have eye contact. The full moon enhanced his powers to a certain extent and he could sense that both the monk and the taijiya weren't guarding there minds or thoughts very well. He would get the other two in due time.

 

Sango was trying desperately to keep her footing with the wind blowing so hard. She knew the bake was causing all the wind, but she couldn't do anything about it. The slightest movement and she would wobble and blow and almost fall on her knees. Kirara was trying her best to help her, but the wind was coming from all sides and no matter how hard the neko tried she couldn't be everywhere at once. Sango was thankful she'd decided to change into her exterminator garb, because with the speed of the wind her kimono would have had her on her butt a long time ago.

 

Miroku was trying his hardest to keep on his feet as well. He had a feeling it wasn't a good idea to take his focus off of the demon, but knew he had no choice he couldn't keep his ground while dealing with the dangerous winds and keep an eye on the bakemono as well. It was taking all he had just to keep his staff from blowing away in the harsh wind that he couldn't even concentrate long enough to make a barrier. He hoped Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha was fairing a lot better them him and Sango.

 

Suddenly both Miroku and Sango felt their world tilt for a moment then their minds began to swim. Miroku thought his head felt remarkably like it did that one time he and Hachi had gotten intoxicated drinking three jugs of sake by themselves. That dizzy double vision was upon him again, but for the life of him he couldn't recall drinking anything. He had thought he was about to engage in a battle. Sango was feeling the same effect, but the feeling was very new for her and was causing her stomach to roll. She tried to grab on to Kirara, but all of a sudden there were two of them and since she knew she only had one Kirara she knew one was a fake, but which one?

 

Sango took a step forward and stumbled, dropping Hiraikotsu with a thump at her feet. Not realizing she'd dropped the heavy weapon she immediately tripped over it when she tried to continue moving and went crashing down on top of it. She blinked up into the face of Kirara. Familiar red and black eyes were the last thing she saw before her world faded around her.

 

Miroku, seeing Sango go down, tried to move towards her, but the sudden movement was apparently too much too soon, because his world went black before his body had a chance to hit the ground.

 

Sesshoumaru saw the taijiya and monk go down and moved closer to the neko youkai. His presence immediately calmed her panicking.

 

“What did you do to them?” he asked evenly, not bothering to raise his voice.

 

“Just a dream, my lord,” answered the Obake, hearing him perfectly from his distance away from the taiyoukai. The sinister look in his eyes contradicted the ease in his words.

 

 

****

 

“Do you recall how it felt when you purified the jewel down below?” asked Aramitama.

“Yes,” she nodded. “It felt like it usually does; me sending out the cleansing power and the jewel drawing its true self from that.” She frowned in thought as recollection came back to her, “Except this time I felt something coming from the jewel… something other then the usual warm feeling of thanks that I get from it… or you.”

 

"Do you know what that 'something else' was?"

 

"It was strong, but disappeared too fast for me to figure out what it was."

Aramitama nodded as he studied her.

 

"Maybe it would be better to explain to her the 'whys' before we tell her what is being asked of her," suggested Nigimitama. "She has never failed us before and she was chosen for a reason. It is only fair that she understand why this has come about."

 

"Yes," said Kushimitama with a thoughtful look as he stroked his beard, an action he was prone to do when deep in thought, "I agree that for her to make a wise choice it is necessary for her to understand all that it entails."

 

"Agreed," said Sakimitama. Understanding that they did not have much time to explain, he turned to Kagome and quickly began to explain, "That 'something else' you felt when you were purifying the jewel was us. We were transferring ourselves into you, but the process did not go as it should have."

 

"What do you mean?" asked Kagome as she looked from one Soul to another before coming back to Love. "What happened?"

 

"You died."

 

 

****

 

 

Sango slowly opened her eyes then blinked to clear her vision. Her head felt a bit light she noticed and wondered if she'd passed out from all the wind that had been blowing. It was a bit strange to imagine she'd passed out from wind, but she'd never felt or seen wind blow as hard and fast as it had been blowing a moment ago. Or however long ago it was, she thought, as she had no idea how long she'd been out. She did know that whatever length of time it was, it was long enough for the strange wind storm to have stopped.

 

Matter fact, everything seemed to have stopped.

 

Sango realized that not only did she no longer hear the wind she couldn't sense the Obake or her friends. Where was Kirara? She gingerly sat up, taking care not to move her head too fast, and took a slow look around her. Sango swallowed and tried not to panic as she didn't recognize anything in her immediate vision. Where was the Keep? And where was everyone?

 

She knew that Miroku would never leave her behind, and no matter how much Inuyasha grumbled, he wouldn't just leave her passed out on the ground either. Not even bothering to entertain those possibilities, Sango moved to a standing position. After gaining her feet she slowly knelt to gather Hiraikotsu from the ground where it had lain beside her and slung it over her shoulder. Sango was sure Miroku and Inuyasha hadn't left her there, because she was sure she didn't know where `there' was.

 

All she could see around her was trees and grass. She looked to be in some forest, but she wasn't too far inside it, because when she peered through the trees to the left she could just see the outline of a structure. After a moment she decided to walk in that direction.

 

Moving carefully, Sango quietly made her way towards the structure. As she drew closer and was able to get a better look at the building she stopped as recognition dawned on her.

 

Sango stared in disbelief.

 

There was no way she could be by that castle. It had to just be a coincidence that this place looked exactly like the castle of the young lord Kagewaki. They had been too far away from that place for this castle to be the same as the one from memory. Sango had vowed she would never go back there and the others knew how she felt about it. Why would someone bring her there?

 

Sango was trying everything to deny what her eyes were telling her when the front door of the castle slid open and out walked Lord Kagewaki. She took an involuntary step back as she kept a wary eye on the lord. A part of her brain knew none of this could be possible since Naraku was dead and there was no telling when the real Lord Kagewaki had died, but rational thought wasn`t with her at the moment. All that kept going through her mind was that this was the man that had not only killed her family, but destroyed every living soul in her village as well.

 

“Welcome,” called out the lord in greeting.

 

She just stared at him. Not willing to take her eyes off him, but not willing to go any closer either. The hairs on the back of her neck were beginning to stand. While everything looked harmless enough, something just didn't feel right. Sango couldn't put her feeling on exactly what was making her uneasy but, her instincts were telling her to stay on her guard… or better yet, leave. And Sango would have done just that, and left, if it didn't mean she'd have to turn her back on the lord… and walking backwards was out of the question.

 

“Will you not join us?” offered the lord with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Sango shook her head. It was rude of her, but she didn't think it was the time to be pleasant.

 

“That's too bad,” he answered as someone moved out from behind him. “I thought you and my other guest might enjoy each other's company.”

 

Sango stared in horror as the person standing beside him stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

 

“Kohaku…” she breathed. Sango shook her head in rejection of the sight. “No… this isn't possible.” It had to be a trick, she was sure of it. Kohaku was recuperating at Kaede's . There was no way he could be standing in front of her now. It just couldn't be!

 

Sango took a small step forward as she tried to examine the boy. She looked him up and down from top to bottom. When she came to his face she saw the same vacant look he'd had when Naraku had been controlling him and she nearly broke down on the spot. She'd worked so hard to get him back and they'd even talked Sesshoumaru into using his sword on her brother—well actually Rin had—and now they were trying to take him away from her again!

 

“In fact, all of my guests are happy to see you taijiya.”

 

Sango was jerked out of her thoughts by the sound of the lord's voice speaking. It took her a moment to put together what he'd said, but once she did she gave him a confused look. She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant by that when she felt a feeling of dread go down her spine. She sensed the aura of a few demons and immediately spun around. She was stunned speechless.

 

And she was surrounded.

 

There had to be over two hundred youkai staring at her and none of them looked particularly happy to see her. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw her brother had begun swinging his kusarigama around in a circle by it's chain. The blade was making the swooshing sound she was familiar with hearing when he was about to aim and release the weapon at someone.

 

Just as she'd finished the thought the blade came flying towards her. Sango jumped nimbly out the way and saw out of the corner of her eye the other demons, all different, come surging towards her. She swiftly released Hiraikotsu as she pulled her katana from her side and began slashing any demon that got too close. She spun around gracefully and plunged the tip of her sword in the stomach of one demon before whipping it out and killing another demon in front of her with a broad swipe. She heard the familiar swooshing sound coming from her left and flipped straight up in the air. She knew he had thrown the weight side of the chain and used it to her advantage by landing lightly on it and using the momentum given by it return to shoot her higher in the air to catch Hiraikotsu on its return flight to release it in another direction.

 

She landed in a crouched position, quickly putting on her gas mask, she stood and re-sheathed her katana and pulled out two daggers from within her sleeves. In a series of quick turns, ducks, jumps and spins she dispatched another bunch of demons while doing her best to keep her distance from Kohaku who seemed to be doing his best to pursue her. She noticed he was so intent on killing her that he was also killing some of the youkai when either the weight at one end of his kusarigama or the sickle hit one of them and not her; which was happening far too often for her brother's level of skill using the weapon.

For a moment Sango let herself believe that he was trying to secretly help her, until she realized that the empty look was still on his face and that he just didn't care what else he hit as long as he hit her. Sango blinked the tears and sweat from her eyes and continued fighting…

 

oooo

 

While Sango was fighting in her own strange world, Miroku was waking up in his.

 

Miroku sat up gingerly with a groan as he tried to orient himself. He guessed he must have drunk a lot if he was feeling this bad, when he opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a large open field and nothing was around him for as far as the eye could see, but grass. Gradually he began to remember the wind storm and the dizzying feeling he'd felt in his head. He remembered seeing Sango fall to the ground unconscious and when he'd tried to go help her he'd blacked out.

 

The next thing he'd known, he was laid out in the middle of the field he was currently sitting in.

 

Miroku stood to his feet then picked up his staff as he looked around. He had no idea how he got here, but he had no doubt that the Obake had something to do with it. Deciding that standing around doing nothing wasn't going to answer any questions, he choose a direction and began to walk north.

 

He'd been walking for a while when he heard buzzing noise coming from above and behind him. Miroku turned to look, but could see nothing. As the sound became louder he realized that something was flying his way. Shading his eyes with his hands he stared into the bright blue sky and waited.

 

He didn't have to wait long for the tale-tale outline of one of Naraku's saimyosho to come into view. Miroku stiffened for a moment, but relaxed as he remembered there was only one of them and sighed audibly. His thanks were short lived though, because there was a whole hoard of the insects coming fast behind the first. Miroku did the only thing he could do then; he turned around and ran.

 

Miroku was running as fast as he could, but he could see nowhere he could go to get away from them. Seeing there was nothing for him to do but to face them head on, he turned around and slamming the base of his shakujou into the ground and using an o-fuda, he quickly raised a shield around him.

 

Miroku still needed to figure out what to do. Though the shield would keep the bugs out, it would not hold forever. He had to get out of there.

 

Miroku looked around again in a fruitless hope that perhaps the scenery had changed or maybe he had missed something the first time around. He stopped when he saw the figure dressed in a baboon pelt and stared…

 

“Tell me, my son, how long that force field of yours will hold do you think?” asked the figure dressed in the heavy fur.

 

Miroku stiffened at his words. He knew perfectly well that shield wasn't going to hold for long, but that wasn't what had caused him to stop. That thing had called him son while at the same time enjoying the fact the insects were waiting for him to come out from inside the shield.

 

“You are not my father,” he gritted out. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew that Naraku, or whoever was under that skin, was not his father.

 

“Aww houshi, it hurts that you don't want me,” said the figure with mocking remorse.

Miroku crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow then. “You are not my father.”

 

“Are you sure about that houshi,” asked the baboon with a small chuckle.

 

Miroku opened his mouth to answer him, but had to stop and pause. After a moment he shut his mouth and looked away. No, he wasn't sure and that pissed him off badly. And how did this… whoever he was… known about it, anyway?

 

“Oh, look! Others have come to play,” exclaimed the Naraku before him, bringing Miroku out of his thoughts and back to the situation around him. Miroku stared in surprise at the sheer volume of youkai in front and, to his dismay, behind him as well. Miroku sighed to himself as he had a sudden feeling that he had somehow been set up. He didn't know how he'd been moved or where Sango and the others were, but he hoped they were doing a lot better then he was at the moment.

 

And to make things worse, his force field was not about to hold for much longer.

 

“How about we even up the odds a bit, huh?” asked the baboon rhetorically. “You're family after all.”

 

The next thing Miroku knew, he was feeling a sharp pain in the palm of his right hand and shooting up his arm. He dropped to his knees cradling the offended appendage to his chest and biting his lip to keep from crying out. The sudden onslaught of pain caused him to lose his concentration on maintaining the force field and it soon collapsed around him, leaving him open to attack. Just as suddenly, the pain receded and he was able to breathe again.

 

“What did you do?” he gritted out after taking a few breaths as he leveled a narrowed look on the youkai.

 

“What? Don't you like my gift?” he asked with unholy glee. “Young people today… no appreciation.”

 

Miroku could hear the laughter in his voice, but could only guess at the grin that, he was sure, was on the baboon's face. He looked down at his hand while he called the youkai every name under the sun in his mind. Realizing for the first time that his hand had been covered up with a dark cloth and prayer beads, Miroku stared as his mind went on auto pilot over what the sight of the cloth and beads meant.

 

The kazaana.

 

His wind tunnel was back. Now he understood what the baboon meant about `evening the odds'. He could easily take on all those demons with the tunnel, but the saimyosho… they were a different matter. And then there was the curse… Was he still destined to be swallowed by his own wind tunnel? He wasn't sure if he was the one with the better part of the deal.

 

Miroku looked up and noticed none of the youkai surrounding him had moved. His shield had been down for a few moments yet none of them had attacked him. He looked at the Naraku look-alike, and figured that none of them attacked because the youkai was still there. After all, if he was supposed to be like Naraku, then actually engaging in a fight would be too much! Naraku always had others do his dirty work.

 

“No, don't thank me,” said the demon with a smile in his voice. “I know you like it.”

 

“Thank you? You think I'm going to thank you?” asked Miroku in disbelief. The baboon had finally gone crazy.

 

The youkai just looked at him for a moment before turning and walking away. Miroku could hear him muttering about the youth having no respect for their elders as he was leaving. The image would have been comical if his departure didn't prove to be the signal for the others to attack.

 

Quickly moving out of the way of a swinging axe, he used his staff to block the blow while he threw an o-fuda at three more demons coming from his right, paralyzing them. Using his staff he swept the feet out from under the demon with the axe making him drop the weapon. He spun his staff in a rapid circle above his head and brought it down to his side to counter an attack from a rat demon coming from that direction. Seeing that they couldn't defeat him one on one or even two on one, the demon's banded together and a group of them surged forward to attack the houshi.

 

Miroku was trying not to use the wind tunnel, because he didn't trust it, but he knew he couldn't take on all of the demons by himself if they were going to, literally, jump him. Un-wrapping the beads from around his wrist, he removed the cloth from his palm and held his hand out and used the other hand to brace his wrist. He found the sensation of sucking demons into the void a little strange after how long it had been since he'd done anything of the kind, but he was happy to see the number of youkai dwindling.

 

He slowly began to sweat when he saw one saimyosho get sucked into the void. His skin started to feel a bit tense when three more went into the void, and when another two was sucked in he could feel his skin become clammy as his stomach began to feel a little uncertain. When four more went into the kazaana his heartbeat sped up and his vision began to blur. He stumbled and fell to his knees as he began to feel heat flashes and he was sure he could hear his blood pumping through his body.

 

As quickly as he could, he covered the wind tunnel, securing the beads around his wrist, then fell on all fours as he tried to get air into his lungs. He knew he shouldn't have used the tunnel, but it really had come in handy. What else could reduce a hundred demons down to ten in a matter of moments? `Besides the Tetsusaiga, that is.' With the last of his strength he gathered his staff to him and placed an o-fuda for protection against evil on the ground beside him. It would only be able to hold back minor demons, but it would have to do. Then he fell on to his side as he fell unconscious for the second time in a less amount of days.

 

oooo

 

Inuyasha's ears flickered when he heard Sango whisper her brother's name. That one word led him to believe the bakemono that his friends were only dreaming, but the moment he smelt the tears he began to wonder just what she was dreaming.

 

The wind had stopped not long after the monk had fallen and Sesshoumaru had moved closer to the front. Inuyasha's nose twitched when he smelt heavy sweating and his ears flickered once more when he started to hear the sound of a heartbeat speeding up. He looked around in search of the sound knowing it couldn't be Sesshoumaru or himself. He also knew it wasn't Kirara because she was still standing protectively over Sango. He followed the sound and was shocked when his eyes fell on the houshi.

 

He quickly knelt and turned Miroku over to face him. His face was covered in sweat and his breathing was so erratic he was nearly gasping for breaths. Inuyasha could smell the stench of poison on him and wondered how it was possible. All the Obake had done was conjuring a little wind… a lot of wind.

 

But, where did the poison come from?

 

“His hand.”

 

Inuyasha looked up at his brother when he spoke, but the taiyoukai's back was to him. He arched a brow at the lord's back, but turned back to his friend instead of voicing his question. Giving a silent shrug, he picked up Miroku's left hand, but finding nothing out of the ordinary, he went to grab his other hand on the far side of his body.

 

He stopped when he saw the cloth and beads.

 

Last he remembered, Miroku had stopped wearing the covering on his hand when the curse and the wind tunnel had been lifted the moment Naraku died. So, why… Could the wind tunnel have returned? Inuyasha shook his head as if to deny the evidence of his thoughts. He leaned forwards again, wanting to be certain, to remove the beads from the monk's wrist when he was stopped by his brother's voice again.

 

“Don't,” spoke Sesshoumaru, never turning around. Unlike Inuyasha he'd seen the monk endure the pain of—what he could only assume was—the kazaana reforming on his palm and had even seen a glimpse of the infamous hole before the cloth and beads had appeared and covered it up. He had no idea what was going on with the monk and taijiya, but he knew that they were not in an ordinary sleep… and whatever it was had become very dangerous. “You will release the wind tunnel if you remove that cloth Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he brought his hand quickly away. That was close! He turned to look at the bakemono then.

 

“Wh—”

 

“AHHHH!!”

 

Inuyasha swung his head around towards the sound of the scream and stared as Sango's back arched of the ground. He watched in fascination as a long gash appeared along her left side. Kirara whined as she nuzzled her mistress's face.

 

“What are you doing to them?!” he growled out at the bake.

 

“I told you,” he grinned, “it's merely a dream.”

 

****

 

“I died?” she looked at them in confusion. “Well, yeah. That's how I'm here.”

 

“Yes,” said Kushimitama in agreement, “but, you shouldn't be.”

 

“I shouldn't…” she trailed off as her brain kick started. “You mean you killed me?” she asked in astonishment. She was too shocked to even be angry.

 

“It was not the effect we were going for, mind you, but yes we are at fault. We should have known of the possibility, but in our haste we did not take your situation into consideration. We do apologize.”

 

Kagome blinked at him.

 

“You apologize?” she said in wonder, her eyes huge. She watched them all nod at her and in that moment her wonder changed to irritation as her eyes went from a bright blue to nearly black. “YOU APOLOGIZE!?! YOU KILLED ME!! AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS 'WE APOLOGIZE!?!'

 

They all stood in shock at the shrew in front of them. They'd known the young miko had a temper, but they'd never imagined being on the wrong side of it. The girl was scary as her hair crackled with her life energy where it spilled wildly around her face.

 

“Don't just stand there!” she said after taking a breath. “It's your problem, fix it!”

 

“That is why we are here priestess,” said Nigimitama calmly. “Do not worry my dear. One way or another, you will get your life back.”

 

“Yes,” agreed Aramitama with a nod, “only, its up to you how that return will be.”

 

“Meaning?”

 

“Simple. Do you return as you left or as something more?” he replied.

 

“Will you just tell her Kushimitama, so she can decide, “said Sakimitama with a grave look on his face. “Matters below are getting worse. We do not have time to draw this out any longer.”

 

Kushimitama sighed. He had hoped to be able to explain everything to her, but it seemed she would have to learn some things on her own. But, she would not be alone, if she learned how to contact them through the bond she would always find one of them there to answer any questions she might have.

 

“You, Higurashi Kagome, have been chosen as the Hogosha. What that means is that the power of the Shikon no tama will no longer reside in that jewel around your neck, but within you. You, and only you, will have access to that power. In essence, you plus us four will be one soul. You will have access to the full power, the True Power, of the Shikon.”

 

Kagome stared as she thought about that. She took a deep breath and asked the question she wanted to know. “Can it be undone? I mean, if I was to use this power to save my friends could I give it back to you afterwards?”

 

“No,” answered Sakimitama truthfully. “Once done it cannot be undone”

 

“Unless a new Guardian is chosen,” piped in Nigimitama.

 

Kagome's face brightened for a moment, but fell again when Love spoke again.

 

“True,” he agreed, “but that has never happened before and there is no guarantee it will.”

 

“How many Guardians have there been before me?” asked Kagome curiously.

 

“None,” said Aramitama, watching her closely. He had taken the longest to agree she was right, but now that he had given his support of her he wanted to make sure she was ready for it. “You are the first.”

 

Kagome swallowed and nodded.

 

“Understand Kagome, this change comes with great power. You will be, literally, one of the most powerful creatures alive. It will not be easy. You will have to work hard to hold on to your humanity and not let the power control you. That is what happened with the Obake below. Now, he barely remembers who he once was and has already forgotten his name among other things. The same could easily happen to you if you are not careful should you decide to do this.”

 

Kagome felt a spasm of fear creep down her spine. She could hear Midoriko's words about corruption and power echoing in her mind. Could she do this? Could she handle having so much power at her fingertips? She wasn't sure and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out.

 

“The risk is high,” said Nigimitama, blue eyes smiling, “but we knew you could handle it. That is why we chose you. There is goodness in you that is not found in many people. You can handle this Kagome.”

 

“And if I refuse?” she asked quietly, looking down at her hands as they gripped one another tightly. Her knuckles were white from the strength of her hold. “What happens to me then?”

 

“You died because we were trying to merge with your soul, but you only had little more then half your soul to help us. While that would have held two of us, it would not have held all four. We must be together for this to work,” explained Wisdom with his hands clasped behind his back. “This was our fault since we knew about Kikyo, but had not taken her actions into account. Therefore, we had already decided that no matter what your decision you will be returned to your life and your friends.”

 

“Only to probably die and perhaps take my friends with me,” she said softly. “As you said, we can't beat the Obake.”

 

“Not with skill alone, no” answered Aramitama. “But, there are other ways. You already know that his heart is not truly evil, maybe defeating him with weapons is not the way to go.”

“But, you can't guarantee that we will all walk away from this if I don't do what you ask.”

“No,” he agreed. “We can't see the future, but Kushimitama could give you his opinion

on the situation. He is not usually wrong.”

 

Kagome shook her head to deny the offer. She didn't know what to do. She desperately

wanted to help her friends, but what if, even with the power of the shikon, she still couldn't do it? What if the Four Souls had chosen wrong and she wasn't the right person for this? She could never give it back and then she'd be stuck with a something she should have never had.

 

“How long will I be changed?”

 

They could sense her coming around to their thinking, but they still told her the truth even though they knew she wouldn't like it.

 

“For as long as its need,” said Kushimitama then with a sigh he added, “Forever.”

 

Forever… That was all she heard.

 

“Your life span will extend to accommodate the power. You will be immortal.”

Kagome looked up then, eyes wide. “I won't be able to die.”

“

No. You can die, but not by old age or any normal means. Most poisons will not affect you and those that do will only make you sick. If you choose to do this today, you will forever look as you do now, though with the jewels power you will have the ability to change your appearance for disguise purposes.”

 

Kagome blinked.

 

“How can I die? Could I be killed?”

 

“So far, we know of no way,” shrugged Aramitama. “Should you decide to pass the jewel on to a successor you will lose the powers. Depending on how long you have already lived with the power inside you will determine how long your continued life span will be.”

 

“I can pass it on?”

 

“Not alone, but yes the power can be passed to another,” said Kushimitama with a nod. “If who you chose is not to our liking then the power remains with you.”

 

Kagome thought about this as she began to walk away from them back in the direction she'd come from. When she came to the well she looked in and saw that both Miroku and Sango were unconscious and Kirara was hovering over the taijiya's head. Both Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were facing the bakemono, side by side, with the other two behind them on the ground. The Obake was grinning. Things didn't look good.

Sakimitama knew how things looked below. He had felt the pain of the monk and taijiya. He knew the miko needed to choose and she needed to choose now. He gave the final push.

 

“Are you foolish, miko?” he asked placing hand under her chin and lifting her eyes to his.

 

Kagome looked into his crimson eyes and remembered a similar pair in a face that had asked her the same question.

 

“Are you foolish, too? Because only those foolish enough to try can win…”

 

Lord Takashi Sano, she thought as she remembered his parting words. She blinked and came back to the present when she realized Love was speaking again.

 

“Some say love is a fool's emotion. You once said you loved them enough to die for them. But, I ask again, do you love them enough to live for them? Do you love him enough to change your entire world for him?” He stared at her as he watched her eyes water. “You must choose. Now.”

 

Kagome's eye flickered from his to the three behind him and back to his again as the tears ran down her cheeks to fall from her chin. She knew her answer and nodded.

 

“Yes,” she said softly, almost in a whisper, as the tears flowed freely. “I love him. I love them. Do it… and may Kami-sama help me.”

 

Sakimitama kissed her cheek softly then pulled back. His eyes began to glow like red fire as he started the transformation. “Hold to your love, priestess and you shall never go wrong.”

 

Nigimitama walked forward and placed a kiss on her right cheek, opposite of where Love had placed his. “Remember. You control your dreams, no one else can. No matter how strong the outside force is, your dreams belong to you.” His eyes glowed bright then.

 

“I had doubts about you at first,” said Aramitama as he walked forward. Sakimitama moved over to give him the spot in front of her. “But I know your heart is true. You hold strength of courage unmatched by any other. Trust in it.” He kissed her softly on the mouth as his eyes began to glow like the green street lights in her own time

 

Last come Wisdom. He moved to stand before her, his eyes were already glowing making the brown look like pure gold. “Never forget why you made this choice, my lady. Hold it and it will guide your path in the darkest of times.” He gently kissed her forehead.

 

Kagome watched as their bodies faded and nothing was left but, green, gold, blue and red eyes. Slowly they glowed brighter and began to dance and swirl around her in streaks of color. Then one by one, a tiny colored orb disappeared into her body through her chest. With every color that went through her, Kagome's own eyes flashed with the color until they were all inside her. A sharp piercing pain lanced through her body for a moment before flooding her with intense heat. Kami-sama was her last thought before she blacked out.

 

oooo

 

Down below three pair of eyes watched in fascination as the miko's body pulsed with different colors coming from her chest. They all watched as her body lifted slowly in the air and began to glow brighter, but they all had to avert their eyes when the same heat and bright light became too much for them to watch. They waited a few moments after the light had gone before turning back around.

 

All three froze at what they saw standing before them.

 

A woman dressed in dark blue skin tight pants that were partially covered by a long, hot pink skirt that hung long in the front and back, but was split on both sides up to the top of her hips revealing the pants beneath. She had small ankle boots of a dark material on her feet and her upper body was covered with a dark blue halter top the color of the pants. The halter was covered by the top of the hot pink skirt that was crossed over it self and wrapped around her neck. A pink jewel that looked an awful lot like the shikon no tama sat close around her throat. Her hair hung full and loose to her waist in thick waves. Hot pink streaks were laced through the dark tresses.

 

Inuyasha was sure he'd never seen her before. She was beautiful, but… where was Kagome? He looked into her blue eyes and opened his mouth to ask about his friend when his golden eyes widened in recognition and shock.

 

“Kagome?” he breathed in awe.

 

Her eyes flickered to Sesshoumaru's before coming back to Inuyasha's shocked face. She could see nothing in the taiyoukai's face or eyes. For the first time in a long time she was uncertain about his reaction to her being back.

 

“Hello Inuyasha.”

 

 

 

 

oOo

 

 

The Four Souls: Are from the Shinto philosophy of Naobi; Aramitama = Courage, Sakimitama = Love, Nigimitama = Friendship, and Kushimitama = Wisdom. When all are united within one soul, they form a powerful balance which can be used for good or evil.

 

Kusarigama: “chain-blade” The name of Kohaku's weapon of choice. It is a chain with a weight at one end and a sickle ( a sharp, curved blade) at the other. Very good for doing damage from a distance or for hindering your opponent long enough to strike a blow with the blade side of the weapon.

 

Saimyosho: Naraku's poisonous, flying insects. They are deadly if too much of the poison gets in your system and you don't get the cure for it in time. He also uses them to spy.

 

Dokkaso: Sesshoumaru's light whip that extends from his fingers. Ability to cut through almost any surface no matter how thick or strong.

 

Hogosha: Guardian