Which I am going to do...now...

-----------------

Inuyasha watched the young woman in Kaede's hut twist and turn on the straw mat. She had short, black hair and green eyes, and constantly mumbled in her sleep. Suddenly, she shot up.

Inuyasha instantly pulled Kagome out of the way of the woman's grasping hands.

Her eyes wide with insanity, the woman screamed. "Dokomo!" She yelled, throwing herself into a bow. "Dokomo! Mercy, I beg you! Do...no! No...no...no...no..."

She collapsed back onto the mat. "Kiyrau! Help! Sinokami! Help! Save me! Help! Taysuki! Help! Anyone-"

Her voice was cut off by ragged breathing. "Dokomo...Dokomo..." She said, the words being created only by her breath. "Mercy...mercy..."

Inuyasha released Kagome when he was sure that the woman had stopped her fit. "Kaede," he asked, slowly. "Does the name mean anything to you?"

The woman had stumbled into the village only a few hours ago. She was going insane then, too. Always talking about Dokomo, begging for mercy, but this was the first that she had mentioned the other three names.

"Dokomo..." Kaede said, rolling the name in her mouth like a child with a candy. "No...nothing. I suppose that I could consult with other priestess in the area-" She stopped. The woman had risen again.

"Are you alright?" Kagome whispered, backing away. The woman stood at full height, which seemed impossible, seeing as she was having a stroke five seconds ago.

She is no more. The words formed themselves in a hanging jaw that used to belong to the young woman.

Kagome visibly flinched at the voice, and Inuyasha grabbed her back again.

I am Dokomo. This woman was once...once a priestess of my order...

"Why is she dead?" Inuyasha demanded.

She deserted the Four Points...no one can leave when the Four do not wish it.

"Who...what are you?" Kagome asked, trying to free herself from Inuyasha.

I am Dokomo.
"You said that already!" Inuyasha said.

The voice laughed. Come find me then, hanyou Inuyasha. Come find me. The woman collapsed onto her knees in front of him reaching a hand whose fingers barely touched his skin.

Inuyasha forced down a cry. The hand was unbearably hot, then flashed below freezing in an instant.

Dokomo continued to laugh, and Inuyasha realized that it's voice was female. Come and find me...you have perfect Blood...Blood for the Breaking...Blood for the Destroying...

The woman's empty shell crumpled on the floor, then caught fire. Inuyasha let Kagome go only when the fire started, then snatched her back. A chorus of voices sang while the body burned. Their voices breaking through what seemed to be time itself.

Stranger, trod not on the Four Point Land,
'Ere only pain and suffering live.
Walk towards the South, or West may you hide,
And run from the North, or the East's tempation,
Lest be corrupted by the Destroyer's damnation.

Close thine eyes to the doors,
And love not the Four.

But if thy desires to be shamed,
Take the path of sakura to the river, Toyame.
From there, North you sail,
Via the boats presented by fire, wind, earth, and hail.

Run before ye are consumed,
This may be thy last chance,
To run from the
Waker, Rester, Creator, and Destroyer,
In their eternal dance.

Inuyasha let go of Kagome and met her eyes, and they silently made their decision. They would find Sango and Miroku, and travel through the sakura to take the boat, and destroy the Destroyer.