ASHES OF A DREAM

A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. There's a bit of OCC and A/U, but I don't think there's a lot. To note, Naruku has only two jewel shards in his possession and you'll discover where they reside. Naruku's heart isn't the ball his baby form carries, you'll discover what is. Kikyo hasn't been brought back as of yet. But if so, I'd most likely note it. And no worries, this will be a Kagome x Iunyasha, trust me, and you can. Answers to any reveiws will be posted on the next chapter and in my profile. Love Does Conquer All

"To Love is to hate...and to hate is to love...to live...is overrated." -Videl Briefs.

Chapter One: From the Ashes

The sun had just set and the evenling breeze felt heavenly, at least to those who took the time to notice. Kagura stood before the large tree, the Time Tree to be exact. She plucked the jewel shard from behind her fan.

"Place this beneath the tree and call forth the dormainted spirit." Naruku showed her the jewel shard in his right hand.

"I do not understand. You'll be bringing back that dead priestess. Why?"

"It is not meant for you to understand but let's just say there's some unfinished business to attend to."

"She'll remember what her last moments were in this life and will go after Inuyasha. And eventually you. Is that your plan?"

"No, that would be far too easy. The details aren't important to you, Kargua. Just complete this task."

She stepped closer. "Naruku, will I win what I most desire?"

"Pactience." He smirked and whatever he held behind his back, he squeezed it. Kagura gasped for air and fell to her knees. Bastard,she thought and was only able to see partly. He still holds my heart...without it...I can't... Her thoughts stopped, she barely had enough strength to countine them.

The jewel shard in his other hand was tossed to her. "Do not fail me, Kagura. For there will be no second chances."

Bastard. Kagura grunted and tossed the shard beneath the tree. She stood there silently and stared at the shard. Next, she took the small pounch in her hand and sprinkled a large mass of ashes around the tree. She began to utter a chant. The winds began to pick up and the sky grew dark. Thunder was heard in the distance and a low moan came from the tree. Suddenly a bright light came forth blinding the woman for a mere second.

She heard Narku's deep voice from above,"It is done."


"Ramen?" Inuyasha began to search through Kagome's bag, ignoring Kagome's protests. "Ramen? Ramen? Ramen?" he gasped suddenly. "You didn't bring any?" he looked both upset and a bit ticked off.

"I did. I brought six and you down them all in six minutes."

"Feh. I was hungry." He pointed to the empty cups. "You humans call that food? It's merely a snack not made for a growing demon like myself."

Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Huh?" She looked up and saw the clouds beginning to darken. "What's going on?"

"It's the rain season. It should pass over in a while." Miroku murumered and nibbled on a rice cake.

Kagome frowned. As if sensing danger, the birds were fleeing as were the animals. The aroua coming from the forest from which the clouds were centering was dark and deep down it frightened her. What was going on?

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and sensed her uneasiness. Kagome...


The clouds are growing darker. This energy coming from this tree is intense. I never felt such darkness before. I fear, can this darkness even surpass that of Naruku's? Kagura thought.

"Hum..."Kagrua watched, looking a bit bored by the events. She noticed the priestess body was taking form from the ashes.

Naruku, you best free me. I grow tired of these tedious tasks. Why bring back this woman? What is your agenda?

Kikyo opened her eyes. T-This place... "I am...alive?"

Kagura scoffed. "You wish." She narrowed her eyes, This feeling won't leave me. She possesses a great darkness.

"And I am here..." Among the living, but why? She looked at the sky. The clouds were paling and the dark arura began to disperies.

I have done what you've asked of me. Kagura turned to leave, "Do as Naruku wishes unless you want to return to the ashes from which you came. But then...I honestly don't care what you do."

Kikyo watched the woman leave. She frowned. Naruku brought me back? Kikyo clenched her fists. That bastard. I will kill him, I swear it.

"Kikyo. Swearing such a thing that you know deep down that you cannot achieve. And such dark thoughts. No wonder you were banished to Hell."

He can hear my thoughts? The prietess narrowed her eyes. "Naruku." She spat.

He appeared before her in his newest form and grinned at her. "The dead priestess has risen."

"Why am I here Naruku? I have choosen to die all those years ago, yet you've brought me back. If you were looking for graitude, I fear you shall not have it. But now I see, your plan has brought me an intresting advantage." She chuckled lightly. "For now I have the chance to kill you."

"Cocky, aren't we? Been plotting this for so long, Kikyo? You must be marveled by the world you now see before you. How much has changed? How long has it been? Ten, twenty...?"

"Fifty." She scrowled.

"You were cold then and you are colder in death." He merely inclined his head and Kanna appeared. She murumered a few words and images formed in the mirror.

--

"Inuyasha!" Kagome giggled. "You're going to wet everything up!"

Inuyasha pretended he was annoyed. "Feh."

--

"And I like it...being here with you." Kagome hugged Inuyasha.

"Me too..." Inuyasha held her close to him.

--

"Hold me, Kagome...just a bit longer..." Inuyasha pleaded and Kagome complied.

--

"We always wanted to be together." Kagome had said and kissed Inuyasha.

--

"He's in a new world, has a new life and a new love. It seems in your absenece the half-breed has completely forgotten you, Kikyo. What a shame." Though he said it in his usual cold manner, there was amusement in his dark eyes.

You find pleasure in this? Kikyo felt anger surface and it boiled her blood. My recarnation has--no! I will not fall for his bait. Not this time.

Not wanting these scenes that now would haught her, irk her to no end, get the best of her, Kikyo repiled in an equally cold tone, "Naruku, You're tricks are getting stale."

"Foolish mortal. These before you are no illusions I assure you. I speak the truth."

"Inuyasha has fallen in love with your recarnation." Kanna added as the images faded from her mirror. "Inuyasha has forgotten you. The woman who betrayed his trust and never loved the demon. But where you lacked, he found in another, your recarnation. How easily you've proven the line between love and hate. How easily was it seen the lack of trust you had that he's found in another. Pity."

"Kikyo, you were a worthy adversary up until the bittersweet end. Your lack of trust and your desire to die, to leave all your responsiblities behind, was your downfall. What a shame." He held out both hands and a ball formed into his palms, the same color as the Shikon Jewel, but larger and more defined. "But I will give you another chance. I will rid you of your recarnation and give you your second chance. A second chance to redeem yourself, priestess."

What? "The idea is tempting Naruku," She narrowed her eyes. "But I'd be foolish to work with the likes of you."

Indeed you would be. He merely chuckled,"You seem to sure of yourself. Have it your way, Kikyo."

"Do you take me as a fool, Naruku?"

"Kikyo. Kikyo. Kikyo. I am doing this out of the goodness of my heart."

"What goodness?"

"Humm...perharps it would have been best for all if you'd been ashes to begin with." He rose and stood a few feet from her and tossed the small orb onto the ground. "You desire this to be granted. You cannot fool me Kikyo. Your heart still holds a fifty year old grudge. You still desire to kill Inuyasha, don't you? Yet you wish to go back fifty years. how pathetic."

"Do not speak as if you knew me."

"Perharps, I knew you better than you knew yourself, priestress." He smirked. "But be warned, even I, Naruku, don't have the power over time." His feet left the ground as he began to vanish into a black mist.

Kikyo watched him go.What has Naruku planned? He wouldn't have brought me back if he didn't have a sick-minded plan up his sleeves. After he was gone she noticed the glowing ball remained nestled in the grass before her. She reached out towards it but drew her hand away.

No. I-I musn't. It's tainted.

She frowned.

Perharps...

Her brown eyes never left the sparkling ball that laid in the grass.


"Dammit."

Inuyasha scrowled. Where's that stupid fox. Stealing my ramen, will he? I'm kill him!

He sniffed at the air again and scrowled even more.

He's probaly eating it already, dammit!

A purple light drew his attention, "Huh?" He saw a familiar figure hidding in the shadows. Then it vanished.

"K-Kikyo?" Inuyasha frowned. But...she died fifty years ago.

"Inuyasha..." She called to him but he could not see her. "Follow my voice...follow me, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's golden eyes paled and he face went blank. His mind shut down and his face ashened. Unwillingly, his body moved without his constent.

"Follow." He said in a zombie-like tone, walking deeper into the woods and closer to the purple light.


"Inuyasha? Where are you?" Kagome called.

Inuyasha's not answering our calls. Kagome frowned.

They'd been looking for him for hours. She'd even went back to her time just to grab another handful of Ramen just for him and returned to find him gone!

"His scent just died out right here." Shippou sighed in defeat. It's almost as if he flew right off the face of the Earth.

His disapperance must have something to do with that bizzare weather eariler. Kagome clutched Inuyasha's sword close to her. It seemed he had dropped it right where his scent had stopped. Inuyasha never leaves his sword behind! That things went practically everywhere with him.

"We must stop for the night." Miroku looked up at the sky. "The sun is setting. We'll have barely enough light to make it back to the village."

Sango nodded.

Kagome wanted to protest so badly and wanted to say she had her flashlight but she knew the dangers that lurked at night. And besides, she could barely see straight with all this negative vibes she was getting.

Kagome countined to stare into the dark forest. Something was drawing her to it, but she reframed. What is this feeling? It's painful. Kagome thought. I can sense Inuyasha, but I-I can sense something else too. Kagome narrowed her eyes. Something's not right here. I just know it.

Kagome gasped, feeling someone tap her on her shoulder, and turned around. Sango smiled in a reassuring manner. "We must go now, Kagome. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll return. I promise, we shall return at first light. Inuyasha will be able to survive the night." For both their sakes, I hope. "And you'd be able to sense if he's in any danger."

Kagome nodded. Her friends began to head towards the village,but Kagome followed at a slower pace. But I do sense danger, Sango. And Inuyasha's in the thick of it. She casted on last look at the forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of Inuyasha but she didn't. Be safe.


Where am I...? Inuyasha wandered.

Where ever he was there was nothing but darkness. He couldn't move his body so he was left to only letting the current take him. Memories began to flood through him and some were beginning to blur as if someone was purposely doing so. But the events fifty years ago were becoming more and more powerful as if they were begin forced back into him.

...K-Kagome...

Next Time: Between Reality & Fantasy