Prologue: The Tragedy of a Miko

"That fog brings an ominous aura." A quiet, even voice spoke into the cool night air.

Another, more emotional voice, replied, "Is it demons?"

"It is evil …that much I can tell…"

Two figures stood on the top of a hill overlooking the vast mountain range along the horizon. Below them lay a village, nestled in the valley, where the mysterious gray mist loomed. The sky was dark with night, and a half moon created an eerie glow along the treetops.

The taller person was a woman with long, smooth black hair. She wore it pulled away from her face in a low ponytail. Her face shone like the moon itself. Her pale skin was outdone only by the white shirt she wore. She also wore billowing pants the color of blood. She wore the clothing of a priestess, a quiver of arrows across her back.

The smaller one was a little girl, skinny and meek. She had similar features with the older woman next to her, but her skin was darker, and her hair was more of an earthy brown than the jet black of the woman. She did not wear the robes of a shrine maiden, but a simple dress of blue and white. She had no quiver of arrows, but in her hands she clutched a bow.

"Are you worried, sister?" The young girl questioned, turning anxious eyes from the fog to her older sibling.

The older woman turned calm and calculating eyes to her young sister. She didn't answer, but turned slowly and walked away from the ill-omened scene. Her steps were light, and soon her form disappeared into the brush.

"Wait, sister! Kikyo!" The girl called out, but Kikyo didn't answer. Realizing she should follow, the girl took off quickly after her sister.

The mist rolled in over the hills, continuing through the trees, passing by streams and rivers. It seemed to move with conscious thought. It traveled slowly, deliberately. The village huts were drawing nearer and the mist ever closer. Soon, it filtered between the houses, creeping evilly in and out of the doors, leaving behind a feeling of caution. Nothing more.

A new evil was rising up from the mists. It would manifest itself, breaking apart the peace of the world. It would spread its malice across the lands. It was only a matter of time. It only needed a love to twist, a trust to taint. Then, Naraku would be ready.

OOO

She only pretended to sleep. She'd never spied on her sister before, but she couldn't help but look when she heard her sister leave their hut. She had to watch Kikyo leave through her right eye only, which still irritated her some. The left one was lost to an attacking demon.

After her sister was gone, Keade sat up on her mat.

She sighed softly, breathing in the early morning air. It was crisp and cold. She shivered as the chilling air bit at her lungs. A lump formed in her throat. Something wasn't right about that day. She had a seemingly pointless fear, but she took it as a warning, and swiftly stood up from her mat.

Keade walked over to her folded clothes. They lay by the dying fire, to keep them warm for when she dressed. Slipping off her sleeping robe, she dressed quickly into her short yellow kimono. Her fingers shook nervously. She couldn't shake the awful feeling in the back of her mind. She had to find Kikyo.

She exited the hut, her breathing heavy and fast. She knew where her sister was going.

Her sister was in love with a half-demon named Inuyasha. At first, she feared him and thought he was only after the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls. But when he saved her from a demon, and fought along side her and Kikyo to protect the village, she began to think more highly of him.

She knew where her sister went every morning and night. She went to meet with him. Keade usually blushed at the thought of her sister with a man, especially a man such as Inuyasha. In addition, her sister was a priestess, and was not supposed to consort with men, let alone demons. Still, she envied their love, and sometimes felt jealousy toward Inuyasha for stealing her sister's attention.

She didn't know where exactly to go, but she'd seen her sister leave to the east, and so she turned toward the rising sun, hoping no demons would attack her. It was still grey with night, a small red dot shimmering in the distant horizon. Demons still lurked at this time of day. She had to be careful.

Slipping between trees and brush, Keade quickened her pace. She felt the worry build inside her by the moment. She felt it in her heart, like a stabbing pain. Something was wrong. She reached a clearing, the sun breaking in between the grey mist. She blinked at the sudden light. For a second, she only saw the blinding morning sun, and then a sound broke across the silence of the day.

A loud booming erupted to the west. Birds cawed and flew from the trees, their wings flapping loudly and wildly. Keade jumped and whirled to face the village. A trail of smoke could be seen coming up over the trees. Her heart hammered in her chest. No! What's happening?

Without a second thought, Keade was running full force into the brush, not caring that the twigs slapped her exposed legs and face. She only thought of her sister, and of Inuyasha. Somehow, she knew that the explosion had to do with the two of them.

The village came into view as the trees began to disperse. A villager was running in the direction of the smoke. He looked like a farmer. Keade ran up to him and caught his arm.

"What's happening?" she asked, out of breath.

He gave her an odd look, and then recognized her as the priestesses' sister. "There's been a theft. Someone has taken the Sacred Jewel! They say it's a demon!"

Keade's eyes widened. Inuyasha…It can't be! Not wasting time to reply to the man, she sped off toward the smoke, her thoughts a jumble of fear. It can't be Inuyasha. He would never steal the jewel from Kikyo! Why would he betray her? She didn't have an answer. She had to find her sister. Kikyo would explain everything. She would make sense of this. Her sister was strong, and wise. She would know what to do.

Finding the steps leading up to the jewel's shrine, Keade ascended rapidly, her bare feet smacking against the smooth stone. She could feel her lungs burning in her chest, but a much stronger burning was taking root in her heart.

She'd felt this same thing as she watched the mist slowly roll in from the mountains that night with her sister. She'd sensed that evil presence in the air. Kikyo had felt it as well. Why had she turned away?

Keade reached the top and sprinted across the grounds. A small crowd was forming near the edge, by the forest. Keade's heart thumped loudly in her ears. She ran to them and, recognizing her, they parted. There, in the circle of villagers, was her sister, bloody and dying.

"Sister!"

She ran to Kikyo and kneeled down beside her. Kikyo was clutching her shoulder, a look of pain and anger etched onto her face. Keade's eyes widened in fear. Shehad never seen her sister like this. She looked so emotional!

Kikyo, without looking at her sister, spoke in her same, even tone.

"Keade, take the Sacred Jewel shard and burn it with my body. I will take it with me to the afterlife so that no demons will ever posses it…" She said this all in a clear, commanding voice, handing the jewel delicately over to Keade's trembling hands.

The proud priestess looked hard at her sister, and suddenly, that look was gone. Kikyo's form went limp, and her countenance smoothed into a look of peace and sleep. She fell to her side, lying in an ungracious heap on the cold stone ground.

Keade was shaking violently. "Sister…sister…"

She felt the pain burst from her heart, the fire that had been burning in her soul ever since that damned mist rolled across the hills!

"SISTER!"

AN: Okay, this is basically information we all already know, but told through Keade's eyes. In the next chapter, we'll see what happens after Kikyo's body is burned. Keade is to become the next priestess of her village…but will she be ready? Find out in Ch. 2! Oh yeah…read and review, please! Thnx!

&Niiroke&