I can't believe that I'm really going to attempt this... Well, my friend requested a fic, and here it is. Planning it with her was torture, since she could not make up her mind about anything. (I heart you~). Let me also note that if any names are stated where both the given name and the family name are said, the family name comes first. Here anyway. Enjoy.

Disclamer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any of its associations.

Prologue

The sun was shining ferociously, beaming down in every place imaginable, and eliminating most shadows, the only sources of relief. A boy—seeming to be in his late teens—lead a group containing four others, and a cat, down a winding dirt road. His long white hair clung to the sticky sweat that ran down his face, and the dog ears perched atop his head twitched every once in a while—whenever a new complaint about the heat was uttered. "We're out of water," another boy spoke as he pushed the wet black mass from his forehead. "Can't we stop now, Inuyasha?"

The white- haired boy twitched his ears again. "And just where do you propose we stop, Miroku?"

The black-haired boy, Miroku, looked around at his surroundings. All grassland, slowly drying up in the relentless sun with no other signs of life anywhere was all he saw. He sighed, "I see your point…." The group trekked on in silence, battling its way up a hill. The climb was steep and treacherous, further tiring the water-depraved travelers. They did not go unrewarded, for as they came to the top of the mound of earth, a small village could be seen in the not too far distance.

"Look, Inuyasha!" A girl with jet black hair squealed. "We'll be able to stop there, right?" Her green and white sailor fuku made her stand out among the others, all wearing kimonos and robes instead.

Inuyasha did not even look back towards her as he spoke. "What else would we do?"

The village was minuscule, but bustling with life nonetheless. The people were colorful, laughter and chatter could be heard everywhere, and the savory smells of someone's lunch wafted through the air. The group took a while to find release from the sun's killer heat and gather any supplies they would need before they reconvened, ready to set out once more. "It's a shame we have to leave so soon," the black-haired girl murmured. "The people here were so friendly and helpful, even towards you, Inuyasha."

"Get real, Kagome," he said to her. "We don't have the time to linger in every little village we stop in."

"I know, I just wished that more people would be this kind."

The group began to head out, passing through a surprisingly silent part of the town. In fact, in that particular area, shadows danced freely across dingy shack walls and seemed devoid of all people with the exception of a huddled figure clad in aubergine purple robes standing at the end of the path. Once close enough, the figure could be identified as a woman, and she reached a wrinkled, knobby hand out to grasp Kagome's shoulder. "Such a pretty girl," she creaked. "I can tell already that you have many men troubles." She grabbed the girl's hand and began to lead her the opposite way. "Come. Come inside my shop, and I'll tell you your fortune. You must want to know your fu—eh?"

Inuyasha had stepped in front of the old hag, blocking her way. "Sorry old lady, we don't have time for your games."

"Oh come on, Inuyasha," Kagome pouted. "It shouldn't be long, and she's eager to do it."

"I don't know, Kagome," a girl with dark brown hair, and warm chocolate eyes spoke. She leaned in closer to Kagome and whispered to her, "She seems a bit shady to me. I'm not sure if we can trust her."

"Oh, Sango, she's a harmless old lady." Kagome turned to Inuyasha. "Move out her way so that we can get this done quickly." He moved, reluctantly.

After going back a few steps, and venturing through a dark and dusty curtain-door into an even darker and dustier voodoo shop. The hunched woman led Kagome into a back room, and hurriedly pushed her down into a chair at a grimy table with an even grimier crystal ball sitting upon it. The woman sat at the opposite end, and the others stood crowded around Kagome. The only things that could be seen in the darkness were the red eyes of Sango's pet nekomata, Kirara.

Suddenly, the crystal ball began to glow, and the old woman herself seemed to be entranced by it. She stared deeply into the orb of light, as if she were looking for something. When she spoke, it sounded like the eerie croak of a frog in the middle of the night. "I can see that your quest is to rid our land of the new great evil that has come to settle amongst us. How very noble of you." After an exchange of indescribable glances, she continued. "But it seems that you are missing a crucial key to your journey. A girl, not of this world yet somehow descended from the great samurai Tsukuyomi Yoritomo, who takes his name from the moon god from which he descended. To spot her you must seek out the eyes that prove true that fact that she has been touched by the moon spirit. You must find her, or lose all hope in winning your battle."

A/N: What do you think so far? Oh no, I forgot to slip Shippo in here! Next chapter then. I had to make sure I fit in most of my friend's ideas, 'cause they were all pretty good. Now I have to start chapter one... -.-'