The Prophecy

Chapter one - The Prophecy Revealed

Sesshoumaru stood in silent meditation on the moon. It shone brightly, in its crescent form that matched the mark on his brow. The mark of his pack, his family, and his heritage. He hated the nights with the crescent moon. For it reminded him of his past, and why he wandered alone, all of these years. It was a constant reminder of his weakness and failure. Yes, he especially loathed the nights of the crescent moon.

There was something else, though, on this night in particular, that kept him from delving too deeply into his memories of past pain. There was an electricity in the air, although faint now, it continued to pulse, but just enough to keep his senses on edge. There was something highly erratic and foreboding in this feeling, and he did not like it one bit. Looking around at Rin and Kohaku sleeping against AhUn, he awoke Jaken with a swift kick.

“Watch them. I am leaving.”

And with that, he took off to search out the source of the disturbance.

____

“How is Kagome doing?” Inuyasha asked nervously, pacing around the monk and the miko.

“Her fever is still incredibly high. And she’s still unconscious.” Miroku sighed, looking down at Kagome’s small form in her sleeping bag. She was drenched in sweat, and moaning softly in her sleep. Sango leaned over to change the wet cloth on Kagome’s forehead.

“Maybe I should take her back to the well, so she can find a healer from her own time.” said Inuyasha, continuing to pace around the passed out miko.

“Normally I would agree with you on that suggestion, but I do not think it wise to move her at this time. I think the journey back may do more damage than good. Inuyasha, how fast do you think you could make it to Kaede’s, and bring her back here?” Miroku said.

“We aren’t that far out, since we were on our way back to her village anyway. I can be back here within the hour, with my speed.” he replied.

Miroku was beginning to reply when Kagome suddenly arched her back in her sleep, and began to whimper softly, as if in pain. When Sango reached down to adjust the cloth that she had shaken off in her convulsions, her hand was met with a short burst of red electricity, jumping from Kagome’s body.

“Ouch!”

“What was that?” cried Inuyasha

“Her aura is sparking, and her powers seem to be increasing erratically. This cannot bode well. Something is happening to Kagome, Inuyasha, please go get Kaede as quickly as you can.” Miroku said forcefully.

“I’m on my way” the hanyou shouted over his back as he ran as fast as he could to Kaede’s village.
_______


Kagome was on fire. Every inch of her felt engulfed in the red and black flames that were burning through her unconscious mind, she felt as though she was being burned alive from the inside. She was awashed in pain, and could not wake up. “What is happening to me?” she wondered dimly in her mind. The flames continued to grow, and she wondered how long it would take before her body would explode, and put her out of her misery.

________

Inuyasha was flying through the treetops with Kaede on his back, trying desperately to get back to Kagome. “I’m so stupid, I should have let her go home when she asked. This is all my fault. I can’t even protect her!” He thought bitterly to himself.

“Inuyasha,” said Kaede, “I need to know what happened exactly when Kagome fell ill.”

Thinking back to just a few hours ago, he replied, “Well, we were walking back to the well so Kagome could go back to her family, before the final battle. She thought it might be the last time she would see them. I was carrying her on my back as usual, and I kept noticing that her body was becoming way to hot to the touch, but I kept going. Then all of a sudden her temperature shot up, and it felt like she was burning me. I looked back to ask her what was wrong, and I noticed that she had passed out cold. That was just a couple hours ago, we thought she had just gotten sick. But it’s much more than that.” he said.

“We laid her down on her bag, and she started whimpering, like she was in a lot of pain. Miroku had dug through her kit to see if there was anything in there that would help her, and Sango started putting cold cloths on her head. She seemed to settle down, so we decided to make camp and wait it out. All of a sudden, she started thrashing around in her sleep, and when Sango went to get the cloth from her head, it was like Kagome shot out a spark and burned her. That is when I left to get you.” he continued.

“She sparked? Are ye sure of this?” Kaede questioned.

“Yeah, like the demonic auras that I use, or and demon uses when they tap into their power, it was red, and it shot out and got Sango. It was almost like her powers were protecting her.”

“Could it be?” Kaede wondered silently, “Could it be that something dormant was awakening in her? I remember stories of the great miko with demonic powers, but how could Kagome come to possess it, without any of us picking up on it?”

“Do you know what’s wrong with her?” Inuyasha asked worriedly.

“I won’t know for certain until I see her. But let’s hope that it is just a simple fever, and not what I fear it may be.” she replied.

“And just what do you fear it may be?” he barked.

“I fear some dormant power may be awakening in Kagome. Something very powerful, indeed. I just hope if this is true, that she has the strength to control, lest it control her.”

Inuyasha’s mouth went dry, and a very, very bad feeling settled into the pit of his stomach. He did not like this at all.

_________

“Kaede, over here, please hurry!” Miroku yelled.

Kaede saw the small slip of a girl, laying on top of her bag, writhing and thrashing wildly. Sango and Miroku were attempting to keep her from hurting herself in her movements, but were getting sparked and burned in the process. The air was crackling with energy, and the wind she was generating from her aura was blowing her hair almost straight up in the air. Kaede drew closer and could feel the erratic energy that was radiating off of her. Her worst fears were confirmed, something was coming awake inside of Kagome.
________


Sesshoumaru circled high above the encampment, observing. It seemed that the source of the erratic power he had been feeling was coming from the miko that traveled with the wretched half brother. I didn’t know the little miko had so much power in her, he mused silently. But still, any youkai within a ten mile radius would be aware of the power, and that will certainly attract the attention of that filthy half breed Naraku.

And I cannot let Inuyasha be killed by Naraku, he is mine to kill, he thought as he descended to the ground.

He silently wished he had not pushed Tokijin past its limits, and broken it during his battle with Moryomaru. I will just have to kill him with my bare hands, he thought.
___________

“Dammit, this is just what we need.” Inuyasha yelled. “Everyone, protect Kagome!” as he ran off into the middle of the clearing they were camped next to, drawing Tessaiga out and bracing into his battle stance.

“What is it Inuyasha?” Sango cried, reaching for her weapon, and starting to follow him, hoping that Naraku had not decided to choose this particular time to make himself known to the group.

“Sesshoumaru.” Inuyasha said flatly.

“What? Why would he be here?”

“I don’t know. Keep your eyes open, though”

A scream of pain suddenly rang through the clearing, and everyone turned to see Kagome’s aura shoot out all around her body, flinging Miroku and Kaede away with its force.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha yelled as he raced toward her, desperately trying to reach her and protect her. I can’t loose her now! Please don’t let this be happening! I can’t loose them both! He had gotten to within ten feet of her when he ran headlong into the swirling mass of energy surrounding her. He felt like he had gotten kicked in the stomach, and found himself several yards away.

He looked up to see his best friend a full three feet off of the ground, standing straight up, her arms thrown out to the side of her body. Her head was thrown back, mouth open in a silent scream, and her hair whipping around her face frantically.

“Kaede, what is happening to her?!” he screamed.

“Her powers are awakening, little brother, or are you blind as well as ignorant” a cool voice said from behind him.

“Dammit Sesshoumaru, I don’t have time for your shit right now, so get the fuck out of here!” he yelled.

“I think not. The miko has been sending out waves of power for miles, and will no doubt attract Naraku to this area. And I cannot have Naraku killing you before I have a chance to lay claim to it myself.”

Before Inuyasha could respond, a pulse radiated through the air, coming from the small miko. Her aura seemed to calm slightly, and then another pulse shot out. The aura around her calmed again.

______

Kagome felt the presence. It had grown stronger with each passing minute, her body fighting against it, sensing danger, and now the presence was here. She felt it carefully brush against her aura. It was a curious, yet guarded touch, as though someone was trying to see into her, to see what was happening to her. But when it made contact, the flames in her mind finally exploded and calmed, leaving her a vision of the sacred jewel. She then heard the woman’s voice begin to speak.
_____

Sesshoumaru watched intently as the young miko began to open her eyes, her body still trapped in the vortex of her aura whipping around her. He could not suppress the look of shock on his face when he noticed that her eyes were red, the color of blood. Thankfully, he mused, no one was looking at him to see his shock. Then she began to speak in a voice definitely not her own, it was something otherwordly, and the hair on the back of his neck raised up involuntarily.

“The battle of youkai and miko within the jewel grows dire, the tides are turning. The outcast youkai prince and the miko not of this world must combine their powers, for only together will they have the strength to overcome. They must work as one to defeat those in hate, lest hell be unleashed upon the earth for all of eternity if they fail. Unleash the dragon of hell to destroy the hell that walks the face of the earth, or else death will come to all.”

And with that, Kagome’s aura began to shine in a white brillance, forcing all to shield their eyes. Then is faded away slowly, and died down completely.

She dropped unconscious to the ground.
_______________