Pandora's Box

Prologue

A tiny itch, turned into a sneeze and then a sniff. 'I hope I'm not coming down with something.' she thought absently, her thoughts wandering idly. She sighed silently watching the curtain of rainfall beyond the mouth of the cave. It was a rare quiet moment between them, both soothing and contemplative, unlike the ones born of fatigue, stress, or tension they were privy to on their journey. The rain had forced them to take cover and she was glad of it. Them could rest for a bit even if it did mean getting soaked a bit.

Inuyasha sat back towards the small fire, keeping watch, keeping them safe. She knew without looking that his eyes were scanning the horizon, alert and cautious. Miroku sat closer to the warmth of the flame. At first glance one would think him asleep, but brows showed deep concentration and his stiff posture told he was in fact awake and meditating. Looking as peaceful and tranquil as the atmosphere around them. Sango sat opposite her, across the flame. The sound her rag, back and forth, back and forth on Hiraikotsu mingled with pitter-patter of rain and the echo of gripping water deeper in the cave.

'Everything was so peaceful she wished the moment would last forever. Just her friend and quiet, peaceful-

"Kagome, could you tell me a story, please. Pretty please!" She looked down to see big green eyes gazing up pleadingly at her, ' So much for peace and quiet,' she sighed. "Pretty, pretty, pretty please!" Why had she ever taught him that expression? He always used it against her along with those cute eyes. She was going to spoil him rotten. She caved, "alright," and his bushy little tail wiggled in excitement. She laughed despite herself; he was just too cute!

"Okay Shippo, let me think...I don't know of any offhand-

"Tell me one that different, one from a far away land or something!" The baby kitsune requested.

"Yes, perhaps with a beautiful lady as well." She looked to see Miroku had ended his meditation. She smiled at the monk and at the way Sango rolled her eyes while she worked.

"One with a moral would be nice," said the demon slayer, more a shot at the monk's lecherousness then a request.

"Well...umm...." 'I don't know if this has a real moral to it but I guess it could work, "Alright, I got one." She blushed a little as everyone focused on her intently; even Inuyasha turned his ears her way.

"Okay, well...There are many different peoples in the world. Each having their own unique beliefs. In a land far to the west, they have story about the very first Man and Woman, just as we do.

They say the gods created man, gave him fire, and clothes and a house and food." Was that how it went? Probably not. Ah well, it wasn't as if they could tell if she stretched it a bit," The gods gave all that he needed. But the man was lonely." How'd it go next? "To cure his loneliness the God gave to him a beautiful woman to become his wife and life long companion. The woman carried a small box with her-

"What was in it?" Shippo asked, surprisingly his only outburst so far.

"Patience, can't tell you just yet, it'll spoil the story. So anyway, in return for companionship and happiness the gods asked that the couple never open the box or be punished. Small request. They put it away, and it was forgotten." She paused to lick her dry lips and noticed her audience in rapt attention. 'Jiisan would love to have someone pay this much attention to one of his tales.' "The couple lived happily for a long time, they had everything they could ever want, in their own private paradise. I'm sure she'd born him many children." she winked at the monk, "But,"

"But?"

"But one day the woman came across the box while cleaning. Some say she'd forgotten all about the box and the god's warnings, other say the couple had had a fight and she did it to spite him. But most say it was mere curiosity that got the better of her."

"What was in it?" Shippo asked eyes wide.

"Death," she answered flatly earning a gasp or two, but she continued, "death, pain, pestilence, violence, disease and suffering and all manner of evil escaped into the world. The woman tried to close it, but it was too late. The woman wept for she knew she'd done a terrible thing. As she when she looked up she saw there was one last thing. One very last very important thing.

"And what was that?" this time it was Inuyasha who asked. She looked into his iridescent golden eyes and smiled.

"Hope."

The Palace of Eternal Night

In the darkness the Old Hag laughed, a sound more a kin dried leaves and dead husks then anything. Her designs were really commence. She would finally rid the world of that wretch's nauseating existence. The Old Hag broke the ancient lock in one swift swipe, ripping it chains and all from the cellar door. And this would do it! The Old Hag cackled, flinging open the door, laughing manically as a thousand horrors, thousand nightmares, flew up, up, up and out into the world. Oh but this, this was just the appetizer to wet the buds in preparation for the main course, the dark cloud to mark the storm. To get rid of...nuisances...as well as distract their energies. With the destruction of the impudent little moon bitch and that disgusting hell spawn of hers nothing, nothing, would stop her.

Soon. Very soon, the earth and the heavens would be hers to control, hers to command! A horrible glee swell within the Old Hag's blackened heart, she couldn't wait to she feel their warm blood dripping from their lifeless bodies!

The horrible old witch stopped laughing.

One last creature crawled from the depths of darkness. All shriveled up and pale as snow it let out pitiable cried, it's too large eye pleading and hopefully as it grabbed hold of her bony leg to itself out.

"Eck! Wretch useless thing!" The Old Hag shrieked, shaking it off.

It moaned pleadingly.

"Stupid creature!" she cried, spittle flying from her foul mouth, "Shall I relieve you of your misery?" Her mouth twisted into a gnarled smile, "I think, I shall!" She crowed as she beat the life laughing at it pain, cackling with glee. She killed it dead, envisioning her enemies in its place. Finishing with the deed with a kick it to its side she hobbled off refreshed and invigorated.

Disclaimer: The characters and Inuyasha and its logo are a registered trademark of Viz Video and Manga. All rights reserved. The author makes no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to these chapters or this documentation. The author shall not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the interpretation or analysis of this story….

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