Chapter 4

The Future Is Closer Than You Think.

Kagome looked out at the grove she was standing in, shocked beyond belief. At least a hundred mikos and monks surrounded her, all talking about what could possibly be going on. The amount of spiritual power cascading around the trees of the forest was nearly enough to make her sick so she could only imagine how a demon would feel.

I hope we are not too close to a demon's home. I would hate to keep it from leaving or returning when it just wants to mind its own business. Of course, that is if a demon could survive this much purifying energy around it.

A sickening thought entered her mind then and she pushed it away. There was no way this was the reason demons were gone in the future. She was sure that they had to be using a concealment spell because there wasn't anything that could kill off all demons…was there?

"It's hard to breathe." Yura whispered, bringing Kagome from her disturbing thoughts. She nodded slowly, noticing her shallowed breathing as well.

"It is because there are so many of us." Kagome informed, once again looking around at the horde of people.

"But spiritual powers can't hurt us. Why would it be affecting our breathing like this?" Yura argued.

"It may not be able to hurt us, but it can affect us. It's true we can't be killed by spiritual energy, however, our energy can be used to neutralize another's for a short amount of time." Kagome explained.

"I don't understand…"

"Okay…let's see, how should I explain this…Oh! Remember when you wanted to get some fresh honey for your mother, except you got impatient and, instead of getting it properly, you dived right in and ended up getting stung by the bees?" Kagome asked, noticing the glare she was getting from her companion at the reminder of such an event.

Shifting her bow and arrows on her back while chuckling, Kagome continued. "Bee stingers contain a small amount of poison. It does two things. One, it causes more pain than a stinger really should and two, it attracts all other bees so they know where their target is. When you returned to me, swollen and red, I created that paste from herbs and water and rubbed it all over your skin. When I did that, the pain subsided, but the welts stayed. The concoction I made neutralized the poison but still left the evidence. So, think of a bee's poison as your reiki and the opposing spiritual energy as the paste. The paste cancels out the poison, just as reiki can cancel reiki, however, even though the poison is no longer effective, the welts remain. Same with our powers. It may be neutralized, but we still have it, and once it regenerates itself, we will have full use of it again."

"I guess it's a good thing the bee's poison doesn't come back." Yura grumbled, shivering slightly at the memory. The sad thing was she never even got the honey she wanted.

"For you, very much so." Kagome confirmed, not even trying to hide her amusement to Yura's horror.

Before the annoyed miko could even say anything, Riku's voice could be heard over everyone else's, causing silence to echo around the grove they all stood in. Kagome noticed Miyu standing behind him, her eyes looking through the crowd until they met hers.

Brown met blue, and shivers flew down Kagome's spine as her reiki told her to flee and find safety. She had never had such a reaction since the days of Naraku, and she wasn't sure what to think feeling it now. After all, mikos and monks were supposed to help others, yet she did not feel safe here at all.

Kagome noticed immediately when Miyu whispered something to Riku and instantly, his smile spread into a predatory grin that had Kagome on edge in but just a moment.

"Lady Kagome, I ask that you and your companion join Miyu and I up here, please?" Riku asked, though his voice was full of command.

Kagome hesitated before her curiosity got the best of her. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she knew it wasn't good. Slowly, she nodded her head, then pushed past the staring crowd, Yura close behind her. She joined the two sketchy people standing on top of a fallen tree and realized for the first time just how many people were actually gathered there.

A hundred didn't cover it. It was more like two- or three-hundred. Beings of spiritual powers, of all ages, were now staring at her, making her uneasy. Suddenly, she wished she would have listened to her instincts and refused to join the monk.

Curiosity killed the cat…or Kagome, in this case. For now, I will act along, but the first chance I get, I am getting Yura and myself out of here.

"I thank all of you for joining my companions and I here on this beautiful day." Riku started, yelling out loud enough so all could hear him. "It is my hope that we continue to gain more followers in our quest and that we will continue to be successful in our endeavors."

"And what exactly is your goal?" A male voice yelled out, causing a few murmurs of agreement.

"Why, peace, of course. We simply wish for the world we live in to be safe for our hardworking men, women, and children. But I must ask you this: what is our number one cause of destruction?" Riku asked, a sick smile on his face the entire time.

"Poor land for farming?" A voice called out.

"Unhealthy birthing for our women?"

"Poor villages spreading disease?"

"Demons?"

"There it is, folks!" Riku yelled at the last, clear suggestion. "Demons. Yokai trash are our number one destruction. They kill our cattle, rape our women, and destroy our homes, all for the sick pleasure of saying they did it!"

Kagome was internally panicking, even if she didn't show it. The more and more Riku spoke, the more she realized what he was doing. He was creating an army…to kill yokai. If he succeeded, all demons would perish.

Her earlier fears were justified and she hated it. Sure, there were demons that did all that he claimed, but humans did as well. No one should be judged by what they are, for no one could control their birth. For now though, she would continue to play along.

"Together, we can kill all demons and rid ourselves of these parasites once and for all. We can build our army, call in more troops, and go to war against these filthy vermin!" Riku encouraged.

The sound of cheering rang out around them, causing Kagome's stomach to churn in sickening dismay. She never could understand how judgmental everyone could be of a species that they really didn't know.

Yura behind her was along the same lines. She had a secret that she kept from all, and her secret was very much in danger. She had wanted to tell her master but feared what she would say, for what she has done was considered blasphemy to most.

She wanted, more than anything, to be a miko, but hearing the way this monk spoke of killing off innocent creatures was making her second-guess that. This wasn't what she had wanted at all, and the way Lady Kagome was standing, quietly observing, her face impassive, made Yura feel that maybe she was alone.

"I know that quite a few of you felt the powerful aura enter this grove the moment she arrived. I tell you now that her aura is subdued, not even fully released! Lady Kagome will be our greatest asset, our secret weapon! The Shikon Miko!" Riku yelled, shocking everyone into silence, including Kagome.

That was one of her greatest secrets and she had no idea how Riku found out. To admit that she was the Shikon Miko would be admitting how old she truly was. Sure, she demanded respect on how strong her reiki was, but she kept most of it hidden.

The Shikon Miko was the same equivalent as a lord or high lady, and Kagome wanted no part of that. So, the moment all before her fell to their knees, she inwardly groaned, seriously thinking of killing Riku then and there.

"Is it true?" Yura whispered, remembering all of the stories she had heard about the missing legend that saved the world long ago.

"It is true. I am the Shikon Miko, destroyer of the Shikon no Tama and evil hanyou, Naraku." Kagome confirmed, loud enough for all to hear. Her secret was out, and she could no longer hide from it.

"I have brought a gift for you, Lady Kagome." Riku started, his voice taking on a darker tone. "You see, a few days ago, we captured ourselves a spying demon. I give you the honor of killing him. With his remains, we will declare war on the yokai infestation we have, and we will destroy them all!"

At his words, a thunderous roar of applause rolled though the spectators, causing a few birds to flee the trees above them, while all stood from their knees. Kagome was horrified as Riku motioned for the demon to be brought forth. At first, all you could see was tangled hair that, at one point, had to have been the most beautiful of silver. His arms and legs were shackled with reiki infused chains, and it was clear to see the agonizing burn marks on his wrists and ankles.

The fact that the demon was still alive, surrounded by the purifying energy that he was, spoke of just how strong he was. But it wasn't until he looked up that Kagome gasped. Gold-and-red tinted eyes met blue. Two nearly-jagged magenta stripes adorned each cheek and a blue crescent moon sat atop his forehead, opposite of what she was used to.

At first glance, she had thought the yokai to be Sesshomaru, but taking a closer look, she realized he was too young. He looked as if he was sixteen or seventeen in human years. The parentage of this child was no mistake. This was the Heir to the West, Sesshomaru's son.

"Lady Kagome." Yura whispered, almost pleading. Kagome's eyes met hers, and Yura knew in that instant that she wasn't alone. With a nod, Yura approached the shackled demon, acting as if she was going to hold him still for the final kill.

Kagome concentrated on her reiki, more then than she had in a while. In a matter of seconds, she did two things simultaneously. First, she eradicated a powerful barrier around Yura and the young yokai, causing his eyes to widen with shock. Then, she released her aura to its full potential, showing everybody exactly who the Shikon Miko was.

The power of her aura slammed into everyone, knocking them off their feet and unconscious immediately, and she used that moment to run, Yura and the demon following her. As they ran, she pulled away the reiki from the chains holding him, and he broke away immediately.

She jumped slightly as he lifted his head and howled loudly, calling someone. She could only hope that it was his father. He would be the only thing that could really get them out of there fast enough.

Just as she expected, an arrow shot past her, grazing her arm, and she hissed in pain. She was surprised when an arm went around her waist and she was lifted into the sky. The yokai she rescued was attempting to carry both her and Yura, but she knew he was weakened from his ordeal and wouldn't get very far.

Doing what she could, she poured some of her reiki into him, giving him energy to carry on. His golden eyes met hers and she could see the shock and wonderment in his gaze, and she smiled warmly at him, letting him know that he truly was safe with her.

He lasted about an hour before he finally had to land. He found a small cave and made sure it was safe to enter before he led the two females in. He sat against the wall the same way his sire did, and Kagome couldn't help but smirk at that thought.

"What is your name?" Kagome asked softly.

"Daichi." The boy answered, licking the wounds on his wrists.

"'Grand first son.' I assume Sesshomaru named you. It seems like something he would pick." Kagome smirked, hiding the tiny pang in her heart she felt.

She knew if she ever met Sesshomaru's son, it would hurt, and she wasn't wrong. She could only think of how it would feel to meet his mate, which she was sure was going to happen now…sooner than later.

"You know my father?" Daichi questioned, more surprise in his eyes.

"Yes. I'm sure you heard about me being the Shikon Miko. The destroyer of the Jewel of Four Souls and Naraku?" Kagome started, pausing only long enough to wait on the boy to nod. "Well, your father helped with that, along with others, most who are no longer with us. I'm surprised Jaken hasn't spoken of it. He loves to use any chance he has to brag about Sesshomaru, after all."

"That sounds like Jaken. However, it's a known rule that Dad refuses to speak about his past to anyone. He's hiding something. We're just not sure what." Daichi confirmed, leaning back against the wall and rubbing his wrists.

"Yura, take the water skin you carry and pour it over his wounds. Demons normally heal quickly, however, purifying wounds are not so quick. They kill the youki in a demon and that makes it hard for them to heal." Kagome ordered softly. Yura nodded immediately and set to work.

"You two are mikos, yet you saved a yokai and even continue to help him. Why?" He asked, watching as Yura poured the cooling liquid over his burnt skin. It helped with the pain. Of course, the pain made him think of the miko who had also been injured. It was then that he realized he couldn't even smell the blood on her. Was it possible that she could heal herself?

She couldn't. In fact, she was in pain. That arrow did more damage than she was letting on, but other things were more important. For now, she would continue to hide her scent until they were in a safer place for her own healing. She could last a bit more. Daichi needed help immediately.

"You're innocent. There was no reason to take your life just because you are a yokai. You see, I judge a person by their actions and story, not by their birth." Kagome answered finally as Yura went to sit down against the wall of the cave.

"You're weird." Daichi stated, making Kagome laugh slightly.

"The miko has always been a peculiar female, my heir. It is one reason she draws me so." A deep baritone voice rang out.

"Sesshomaru, it has been a long time." She replied, looking up to meet all-too-familiar golden eyes.

-sSs-

Cliffy! Daichi and Yura will play a big part in the story. Yura's secret will come out eventually, and I'm sure that many of you have already guessed it. lol. Yes, Kagome will meet Sesshomaru's mate, and I believe a few of you will be surprised at her character. It will be a bit before she comes in though. Some of you may dislike the fact that he has a mate, but I can tell you now, that will not last. Eventually, he will take Kagome as his mate, but it will take some time. I hope you all enjoy.

Attention: I need someone who is good at making riddles and doesn't mind learning about the story before it is written. I love solving riddles but writing them is an entirely different thing. So, if you are interested in helping me, send me a message and we can discuss this problem. If multiple people send me messages, I will use the ones I like best. Credit will also be given where credit is due. Thank you.

Shout outs:

Wren210: I'm glad that people can start to see that I have veered away from her story. Although I was never copying it in the first place. Lol. Kagome is and always be powerful, but there will be more to her in this story, it will just take a while to figure it out.

Pikanet128: Thank you for your review. I stay ahead to make sure I have something to post at least weekly and it gives me time to go over a chapter repeatedly before even sending it to my beta. I refuse to send her anything unless I have five chapters already written. It is a new system but it is working great. I agree with you as well when it comes to plagiarism. I have read many stories that are similar, and not once have I ever accused anyone of copying another's work. There is just too many people writing stories, for a similar one not to be posted.

Redrake323: I'm glad you are enjoying my story so far. Thank you for the review.

I do not own InuYasha.