His breath was raspy, shallow.

Kagewaki…

He closed his eyes tightly

'Go away. Please go away…'

So young to die. I could give you the chance to live forever.

"B egone from me!

He spoke aloud this time, his voice wheezing with the disease that consumed his lungs.

Kagewaki…

"Just tell me what you want and stop tormenting me!"

His voice sounded almost hallow as he tried to raise it above his usual whisper. He fell

into a fit of coughing.

"Who are you?"

I have many names, give me yours and you shall become immortal.

The young lord curled up on his futon, a thin steam of blood running from his mouth to his

chin.

"What must I do?"

The young lord struggled to sit upright. He leaned against the wall then, tilting his face

upward. It was then that he saw the man. Or was it a man? Perhaps it was simply a

shadow, a wraith from a time passed.

"Who are you?!"

The young lord kneeled over suddenly as another fit of coughing took over his body. He

seemed like some jerking puppet on a string. The man-shaped shadow neared the young

lord. It whispered hoarsly.

"Choose me Kagewaki, for I am your salvation."

It was then that Hitomi Kagewaki became Naraku.