Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. However I own the plot of this story…and the poems!

AN: Sincere thanks to anyone who helped and reviewed! Sorry for taking so long posting this chapter. Read on…

These are the age of characters (or future characters) in my story (demons are immortal, written in human years):

Miroku (19)

Sango (17)

Kagome (17)

Sesshoumaru (22)

Kikyou (20)

Inuyasha (18)

Rin (14)


Chapter 9: Death Maiden

The gargoyle looks up at him, its grotesque face softened by the dying darkness, its stony body heavy against the floor of the palace. It sits there, for what seems to be eternity, still guarding the secrets within.

Sesshoumaru pushes the heavy door open. It used to be locked, but not anymore. The pungent smell of death fills his nose. It's dark in there. As soon as the door is open, a few dark brown rats with vicious red eyes let out a sharp squeaks and disappear down the palace.

The only light shining into the ancient room is from the door. A few wisp of dust swirl from the ground stirring the still air – it has been still for eight thousand years.

Sesshoumaru steps past the gargoyle then freezes dead in his tracks…

On the ground before him is the body of his father.

Immortality – the gift and curse of the demon kind. Their bodies do not decay, but stay the same…for eternity. Although their soul wanders into the Underworld, their body remains on earth still.

Father…he steps closer to the great youkai lying at his feet. His father, once the powerful lord of Western Lands…fallen.

Sesshoumaru glances at his father's remains. He did not see his father for eight millenniums but now…

He stands there still, for a few moments. Unmoved.

He does not feel sadness anymore; it's been so long. Sadness is not one of his emotions. And death – it seems nothing. He is almost death itself. His silver blade forever tinged with vermilion, his claws stained with blood that not even an entire ocean could cleanse away.

The once demon lord lies at his feet. They look almost as reflections, except his father's face is gentle, but his carved from ice. There is no blue moon lingering at the great demon's forehead. It the one thing that fades after death. His father's expression seems as if he is asleep, but without peace, only unrest. His once golden eyes forever sealed within its lids. His white yukata stained. Red. As if his mortal wound bleeds still. He is lying on his side, his sword across his chest, broken. He is gone. A long time ago, he is gone. Gone but with dignity.

Coward! Anger is rising from within, Sesshoumaru clutches his fists…because whoever murdered his father stabbed him in the back.

Clutched tight in the fist of the great demon, a black quill still has ink stained at its end. And underneath is an ancient scroll.

He picks it up in his claws:

[Two swords have been forged. Tenseiga: my eldest son shall wield. Tetssaiga: my younger son, Inuyasha, its rightful owner – ]

How could you, a sudden glitter of coldness flashes within Sesshoumaru's eyes. How could you betray my mother! And born a son with another! He never knew. He has a brother. Inuyasha.

The scroll continues:

[Only way to awaken the true power of the swords – ]

Then there is an ink spot burnt into the scroll, he never finished writing…

Sesshoumaru throws that scroll on the ground in pure disgust, you…betrayed my mother! Around him is darkness, except for the ray of dawning light from the open door. He then kicks the door wider open…

Now the small room is illuminated with light, dust is hanging everywhere in the air. Beside his father is the ancient oak table that two velvet covered objects once lie.

But now, he glances down…

The red velvet is nothing but a few tangled shreds.

And lying on the floor are two swords – or what's left of them. Shattered.

Tenseiga's dark violet handle still remains, but it loses its gleam light, the power as he remembers is almost blinding to the eyes.

He looks up expressionless, for so little emotion is left.

Against the back wall, there are skeletons. Nothing but piles of bones scattered about.

Servants…he knows. And he remembers, those servants were not treated as useless humans by his father. His father was kind.

He almost envies him for that. But then his mind speaks. Ha, kindness, it's all bullshit…Humans are just insignificant little specks, their life can be snuffed out in a split second…Gone and forgotten.

Then his claws dig into his hand drawing blood.

Because on the wall, smeared in blood the words:

KAIYA,

YOUR FAULT.

Blood is trickling down his fingertips. There's no question who did this all. He feels no pain but only anger igniting as a spark of fire lit upon his black soul. Naraku! I swear, I will kill you! I will avenge my mother! His breaths are getting quicker as anger flows through his body. His own soul is chained, bound by the curse. It still burns, gnawing at him from inside. Whoever he loves will die.

He suddenly bends down and gathers the shattered pieces of the swords and carefully tucks them inside his black yukata.

Traitor, he then picks up the body of his father and stalks out of that secret cellar. Leaving the skeletons behind…leaving the reminiscence of his past behind.

His father's armor is broken at three places, his golden eyes closed, and will not open again. Sesshoumaru drifts down the ruins of the palace.

He passes the courtyard – once filled with lilac and wisteria trees blooming, now has nothing but barren soil and a few yellowing weeds. He once played there…as a child, and that is the same place where his father taught him how to fight.

In the center of the courtyard lies his favorite fountain. Carved out of pure white marble, water used to sprout out of the jaws of a feathered serpent. Now there is nothing but a dried well the white marble tainted, cracked by the scorching of the sun.

Only his footsteps are heard throughout the ruins of the palace.


Savagely he digs the earth with his bare claws. They are covered in blood, but he doesn't care. Around him is the royal graveyard where his ancestors lie. Far back from where he stands is the servants' burial ground. There are white bones scattered everywhere because so many have died. And people don't burying the dead anymore.

The Wasteland, once prosperous now is only left with nothing but decay. A ghostly mist hangs over the broken tombstones.

"Father, although you do not deserve to rest next to my mother, but I know that is her wish," His monotone voice rings out hollowly into the nothingness. That's when he looks at the face of his father for the last time, a face almost the mirror image of his own.

He does not grieve; he doesn't know what sorrow is, not anymore.

He leaves the Wasteland, not wanting to awaken the memories he so carefully put walls in his mind to keep away. His ghostly figure disappears down the muddy road, kicking a few rotting bones aside. He stalks away. Alone.

On the grave of his mother, a little white flower is blooming. Perhaps the very last flower in this entire realm.

A sudden thought corrodes slowly in his mind: My brotherInuyasha is it? He suddenly raises his razor sharp claws, it glitters red from the sunlight, I will kill you.


It's a dark place. Every living creature trapped here loses things. They forget, they change, they lose even themselves, and forgets their names. The same thing happens to all prisoner shut in this place.

All but one.

"Fucking idiot!" Inuyasha spits at the demon guard with a black spear, "Do you ever get sick of ripping flesh apart with that goddamned whip?"

With a sharp claw, the guard strips off his rough gray robes, "no."

The silver haired prisoner lets out a low growl. He stands but his arms and legs shackled in heavy chains, but that doesn't matter, he's used to it by now. His silvery hair flowing down his back dirt patched, and some bloodstains still are lingering. His bare chest is showing only skin and bones.

All the guard can see is a pair of golden eyes through a mask. Everyone wears a mask in this place, every servant, prisoner or soldier.

The dungeon is filthy, it reeks the odor of dried-up blood. A few masked guards stalk down the cold corridor carry the spears. Rows of cells with rusted iron bars stretch on endlessly. It's a prison. Or more precisely, more as hell than a prison. There are occasional grumbles and growls from the prisoners nearby. Most are shut down within the cells, they forget things, they forget how to speak, they forget even their own names…that's what happens if someone stays too long in here. Things change. People forget. Nothing is left in this prison, but sunken faces from starvation and blank eyes tinged with the look of insanity and helplessness.

This is the very bottom of Naraku's castle, where every single brick is jet black. The only light is the flickering candles at the holders on the wall once in a while.

He hates it, he hates the reeking smell of blood and piss. He hates every shackle bonding him to the earth. He hates every single inch of this place.

"The quicker you beg for mercy, the quicker this will end," the guard in front of him takes one of his arms and forces it into the lock at the wall. The wrist manacle high on the wall is designed just for what the guard is going to do next. Also, there is a gutter running from cell to cell. There is constantly water inside. Except it's not really water. Because it's red.

If I am not chained, I'll rip them all into pieces, he curses and spits at the guard.

"What the hell is your problem?" The demon guard's eyes narrow from inside his black mask. On the cheek part of the mask, there is on red stripe going across.

Inuyasha only laughs, "you only have one red stripe, haha, you are only a little damned jail guard. Almost anyone in this fucking castle can order you around." He laughs as he curses the smell of old leather on his own mask. It's brown, made out of ox hide with three red stripes going across. All prisoners' leather masks are dark brown.

The three stripes – it just means to be kept in prison forever. The rule says – those three stripes are to be kept alive but not alive, breathing but heartbeats still. Torture. That's what it means in one word.

Twitching, the guard take out a whip from his black armor, its metal chains clicking as he does.

Inuyasha stands there and laughs, "Go ahead, that's all you can do."

Crack! The whip leaves a red mark at his chest. Inuyasha stands there, cursing his chains, not allowing him to move an inch or fight. He's used to it by now. He does not fear.

Swish! The red stained whip strikes down again. There's little spikes attached to the end of that whip. The blows come one by one. He can feel his own warm blood trickling down. Everyday, every single morning of his life, his blood trickles down to the floor of the dungeon…drip drip…

I hate you… Naraku! I will rip you apart! Blood is now streaming down the corner of his lips.

Between whips, the jail guard says, "still talking?"

Panting, Inuyasha replies, "Bastard! Go to hell!"

The guard replies with only laughter, "this," Swish, "is hell."

Every morning they make him bleed, but as a hanyou, every night the wounds heal…and the next morning…

"Idiot!" Inuyasha bites his lips, "you aren't allowed to kill me, see the three fucking stripes?"

The jail guard is really angry now, "You are dead."

Now footsteps are echoing down the hall, footsteps and the clicking of armors…

"You, are," Swish, there is a gash on his leather-bound mask. "So," whip, "fucking," whip, "dead!"

His vision is blurring… "Keh, you are pathetic," he coughs, "whipping your opponent when he's in chains." He splutters, some blood drips into the gutter that connects to cells. "Coward, why don't you fight!"

"Shut up!" The demon guard yells through his mask, as he fumbles through his pockets. Then he takes out a bag.

Shit…Inuyasha closes his eyes.

He knows what's in the bag: pure ocean salt. And no, the jail guards don't use it to cook.

Damnit! His vision is dimming as the guard smears handfuls of salt on his fresh wounds. Pain pulsates through his body every time his weary heart beats.

It seems forever when he regains his consciousness. He awakens to a few obscure rays coming into the tiny candle in the dungeon. That light is dimmed by the bricks of the dark castle wall, it illuminates his tiny prison. Where on the floor are a pile of straw where he sleeps on, a few spiders makes their comfortable death trap at the corners.

"Naraku! You bastard! Why don't you come out of your hellhole and fight me!" Inuyasha's voice echoes through the black dungeon. The guard's black mask floats in the air thick of scent of blood.

His wounds are stinging.

"You know, you still can't kill me, he doesn't allow it, you son of a –" He spits at the guard still standing in front of him, dark mask illuminated by the black candle dying at a corner. His own essence is flowing down his chest.

"Really?" the guard steps closer his hair reeks the stench of oil and hatred – it probably hasn't been washed for days.

He hates Naraku, no, hate isn't the right word. Naraku slaughtered his parents. I will avenge my family! And the slaves! Ever since Inuyasha's bound to this hell he made a vow…to set free the slaves. He witnesses how they are treated. He sees with his own eyes slaves getting their legs sawed off while the masked guards just stands aside laughing. He sees guards jamming pins through a little girl's fingers one by one, he can still hear her cries…It's wrong. Those aren't even the worst he has seen. He hates the powerlessness his chain holds him.

This, is Inuyasha.

The tormented soul. But he has a heart; Unhindered by this hell, untainted, but beat with its will.

Everyone goes insane in this place. Everyone but him.

Footsteps. It sounds like 3 people. Click, click, the armors.

"I'll kill you today!" Whip.

"Fool," a voice rings out in the corridor…

A form emerges out of the darkness at the door of Inuyasha's open cell, a three-eyed crow is standing on his shoulder

Whip.

"You don't remember the rules do you?" that frosty voice has an edge to it.

Whip.

Without turning around the guard with the black mask dismisses that voice, "shut up!"

Inuyasha only smirks.

Then warm red splatters all over him. The smell of blood thickens the air.

And it's not his blood.

Then he finds the guard's head on the ground. Thud, the body falls into the red puddle.

"This, is what happens to disobedience," the icy voice reverberates down the hall, the crow on his shoulder lets out a hellish shriek and flutters down to the corpse leaving the demon under the black hood. With pure disgust, Inuyasha watches it peck at the body with hungry desire.

Raw hatred fills his soul – "Naraku," he utters the name of the demon standing before him, "Why don't you just kill me, you can't, can you?"

A beetle crawls across the dungeon floor, Naraku laughs and steps forward. The beetle is gone with a crunch. The black clad figure in front of him laughs once more, "Your life is like this insect," He steps closer to the chained prisoner, "It's that easy."

"Then why don't you?"

A sick smile creeps upon Naraku's face, "Death, it's a beautiful thing. It just is more intriguing when you beg for it. And I shall happily grant your wish."

"You sick bas—"

The 3-eyed crow continuously nibbles at the dead body on the ground, its black beak now red. The beak is more like that of a deadly falcon -- a deadly hook that pecks at the flesh, until there is only white bones left. Its beady little eyes glitter with pleasure.

"Come here," Naraku gestures to one of the guards behind him, his pale white face shining out of darkness. He is the only one in the entire castle that wears no mask at all, his cold gray eyes glittering from underneath the hood. "We need a change of mask here." His lips curl upward.

"Yes, my Lord," the masked guard behind him immediately knows what he means. There is a savage grin behind his mask with two stripes – a soldier – he turns without a sound.

Inuyasha's wounds are burning, that salt makes it worse, sweat mingled with blood trickles down his bare chest. But he is not showing any sign of pain. He knows – he knows what kind of mask Naraku is going to change for him. The White mask.

The mask of death is coming.


She learns to be quiet, she learns to keep out of sight as she makes her way down to the dark dungeon. The only light comes from a black candle flickering around the corner.

Her old beige mask has only one red stripe – the lowest of slaves. The only light comes from a black candle dying around the corner.

Her beige mask and dull gray robes makes her disappear. Plain and lifeless. Yet it's her eyes that are full of life. A deep shade of red, not the same shade as the evil Lord's three-eyed crow. But deep red as in maple leaves in autumn.

The bucket is heavy in her hand.

In the other hand she carries an old mop, its end tainted brown. She doesn't even want to know what it is stained with.

Her name is Rin. That's the only bit of her past she remembers. She practically spent her entire life being a lowly servant at this castle. Torture, death threats, they don't scare her anymore.

I hope Kaede feels better soon…She is worried about her guardian as she walks down the spiral stairs to the dungeon – the pit of hell. It is Kaede's job each morning to mop the floor of the dungeon. But the old woman is getting frail.
Kaede, Please be alright, Rin prays. Kaede taught her everything, how to avoid the guards, how to talk to the superiors. She hates it, but she knows she has to obey.

This is the once place in the castle that makes her feel the coldest of all. She passes barred cells soundlessly. These cells contains saws with bloody teeth, manacles, spikes…only her footsteps echoes down the hall.

"Well, here's your new mask…Inuyasha." an icy voice cuts through the thick air.

The hanyou curses, "Coward, Naraku, you are about to kill someone in chains!"

"You asked for death, I grant your wish.' Then the crow croaks, full from feasting on the dead.

"You –" Inuyasha cannot find a word strong enough to curse him, "let me out of the chains, and fight me like a warrior! Naraku, I assure you, I will avenge my father!"

The demon lord ignores him, "Jaken," he calls the three eyed crow, "It's time."

"Naraku!" Inuyasha's wounds are no longer painful, his soul is on fire.

"Tomorrow at dawn, it's time…"

The guard the rips off Inuyasha's old brown mask.

Baring his teeth as they bang his head hard against the dark dungeon wall, they force a white mask on him. Everyone in this castle knows what that means.

"Oh no…Inuyasha!" Rin whispers in the dark cold air…

Naraku lowers his hood as the crow flutters onto his shoulder once more, its beak red. "Oh, clean up the mess will you?" He commands a guard, tipping his chin in the direction of the dead guard with the bloody whip in his hand. "Not a nice sight, don't you agree?" The guard's body is going to be thrown into the river surrounding the castle.

He leaves smiling as he lowers his hood, "Goodbye…Inuyasha, you and your father will meet the same…sticky end."

Rin continues moping the dungeon floor. The broom stained red. Cautiously she makes sure all of the guards are gone and runs towards the cell where Inuyasha is. It must be…the white mask! Inuyasha, what I'm I going to do?

Naraku's footsteps are diminished, Rin drops the bucket on the cold ground, water splashes over the rotted edge but she doesn't care.

"Inuyasha, onii-chan!" She clutches the bars.

The silver haired hanyou looks up, "Rin," his chest is rising and falling rapidly as he leans against the dungeon walls. "Go…away…and don't come tomorrow…I d-don't want you to see this." Wait, did she just call me brother? That makes him remember, it reminds him of his family. Now he has none left. Rin isn't actually his sister, but after all they've been through together, she seems like it.

"No!" Rin's hands are painful as she clutches the rusted bars so hard, she falls down her knees – she has seen it, Inuyasha in a white mask.

"Rin…take care of the others…" His lips curl up, slightly. Not a smile but he is making her promise.

"There has to be a way!" She screams, releasing all her anger, all her hatred.

Inuyasha smiles weakly, there is still blood trailing from his lips. "You've gotten stronger you know." His bare back is numb against the cold wall, sharp straws stabs him in the back, he cannot move even an inch. The salt on his wounds only makes it worse.

"But you are like my brother!" Rin finally looks at him, "my only family left!"

His golden eyes meet her lively dark red ones, although her jet-black hair is dulled by dirt and her rags shabby, those eyes are full of life like autumn leaves dancing in the wind. "Thank you," he smiles, it hurts to even smile but he forces himself, "I love you Rin."

That's a strange thing for him to say. He doesn't know what love is, but deep down he knows he cares about her. As a little sister, as a companion to survive in this eternal darkness. They couldn't have survived without each other. Her presence is a thread of light, perhaps the only thing keeping him from forgetting. Forgetting like every other prisoner trapped in this hell.

Rin turns around and takes the bucket to the edge of the cell. Soundlessly she rips off a small corner of her robe at the arm. "Inuyasha, come here."

Pain, I can't move, but I have to…tomorrow I may not see her ever again. Anger is burning within him once more, Naraku! Then his pain takes over.

His anger is the only thing fueling him to move on. I can't just go, there is a price that must be paid!

Silently Rin dips the rough fabric into the bucket, and runs it over Inuyasha's wounds, her hand reaching through the bars. She can almost feel his pain.

The rough fabric runs over his wounds jabbing him painfully. But it's a different kind of pain, clean and sharp, he leans against the cold bars.

"T-thank you," He says.

"Shh, say no more," Rin keeps on going holding her tears. I will not shed my tears, that only means defeat! And I must be strong…But…Before she realizes it, hot tears already cloud her vision.

"Take off your mask Rin," Inuyasha's weak voice whispers.

They both know that it is fatal to do that, because if they are seen execution is the only outcome. But she doesn't care. Slowly she raises her right hand over her face and with a sharp jerk, a piece of beige leather falls. Damn mask…

Inuyasha only smiles. She envies him, he can still smile even now. Unsure of herself without the feeling of that leather mask. She feels…exposed and vulnerable…but at same time almost as if she's free…Inuyasha, Thank you...

It's the morning, but that doesn't matter. Because down in the prison no light ever comes. It's a place of the everlasting night. A rat squeaks by, its greedy red little eyes dance in the darkness.

Dawn, I hope you'll never be here, Rin grasps her fist, tight…A single drop of tear falls onto the dungeon floor.

"Rin," his gentle voice breaks the deadly silence, "don't cry…"


A gray cloud passes over the sky. Through forests he treads through as ghost. His white is boa floating around him. There's no other emotion within him only anger.

Father, you are a traitor, he narrows his eyes. A squirrel peaks its head out of the branch of a nearby tree. But at the sight of the tall demon, the black-clad one that brings coldness with him, it hides back into the hole on the trunk.

And Naraku, your days are numbered. He clutches his fist. An image of his mother's face stirs in his mind. And it won't go away. He remembers the piercing sapphire eyes, and her hair, the same shade of silver as his own…The last person who loved him…But…Shut up. He knows where his mind is going…

The sky is a strange color of gray, it seems wrong. The air is filthy. He walks on. A gush of wind spreads through the forest showing the underside of leaves. Aspen trees are everywhere. The road stretches on, endless against the rustling leaves. Ahead is a gentle slope. A pond sits still in the opening somewhere a frog croaks followed by a splash. Reeds and willow branches are swaying in the wind.

Suddenly a scent takes over, neither human, nor demon…he turns his sharp golden eyes. Beside the pond is a large rock covered with moss, and someone is sitting by it.

The figure looks like a woman, her yukata is shabby, white tinged with yellow from age and several patches. Her hood is covering her face with a few golden locks flying in the gentle wind.

Oh…another filthy homeless, he walks on. She does not move as she sees him approaching her. Strange…People usually cower in fear and flee when the deadly assassin approaches.

He is only three feet from her.

"Help me, kind traveler," her voice rains upon him, a strange voice, as if singing a sad song…

How dare she even ask…He looks down, pathetic…

But something catches his eyes, when she looks up at him, her eyes – they are a pair of sapphire orbs. Her faded white hood covers a part of her beautiful pale features, her young face has a tinge of tiredness. But through the sapphire eyes is a silver glitter.

She is blind.

"Fool, I don't know why you would wander alone in such a place," he says with his monotone voice.

"Please," her voice pleads once more…

I should just leave her here to die…only the strong survives…help, there's no such thing…and kindness is a waste. He begins to leave.

Then he reaches into the pocket of his yukata as his cold fingertips touch upon a velvet sac. Coins, that's what rest inside. He doesn't need money, any one of his assassination missions gives enough to last him a long time. He hates gold. It makes humans and demons alike change. It makes them plunge into cowardice, into treachery, into traitors and fools that will slaughter for more.

He drops the bag on the floor beside her, with the coins clicking together inside.

"Take you money back," she says as he walks away.

Fool, he ignores her and walks on.

"Whomever his heart moves for shall perish,

as he shall always be alone, his fate sealed." She recites, as if knowing it off by heart.

Sesshoumaru freezes in his tracks. His golden eyes on fire, he turns with his claws raised. She knows. It's the curse. The very curse bestowed upon him by Naraku. The curse that killed his own mother – whoever he loves will die. And she knows it.

He has the look upon his face, the same look every time he is about to kill.

"You have a heart," she continues, "find it."

Slowly he walks toward the blind girl, her hood still hiding her face. "What are you?" Her scent is strange.

She is unmoved by the menace standing before her. There's no fear in those blank sapphire eyes. None. Somehow she has power, there's something in her words. Another dark gray cloud hangs overhead; it's going to rain soon. His shadow casts over her white robes, as death, and she's staring into its eyes.

"Your beloved will die in your arms once more…the everlasting night approaches…closer, as a deadly falcon encircling down upon its prey, closer, closer, and closer…" Her blank eyes show no expression, her patched hood falls a little.

She is mad, I cannot kill her, I cannot kill one so weak, I do not kill the helpless…then he turns. The last thing he sees is a tiny golden star underneath her left eye.

He walks away.


Five days, the girl with dark visions sits beside that moss-covered rock. She grows a little tired every day. She is falling weak, but she knows she must wait. The bearer of the sapphire stone, the power hasn't been awoken. For one cannot fall unless another rises. She must wait.


I don't even know where the hell I'm going, Kagome walks deeper into a forest, following a muddy road that seems to stretch on forever. Rows of aspen trees with newly sown leaves shudder with the warm wind of the spring. There's something wrong in the wind. Kagome shivers as she tugs her pale green yukata tighter against herself.

At her chest is the sapphire rose, despite its coldness, somehow it makes her feel safe. Walking down a gentle slope a pond appears before her eyes. Several willow trees are around the edge, and a field of reeds.

Before her eyes is a large rock, green moss and lichen covers almost all its surface. A figure beside the rock coughs as golden hair spills over a patched hood.

She needs help…Kagome fastens her pace. The willow branches and reeds make sounds as they dance in the wind. "Are you alright?" She looks down at the girl

"Hurry, there isn't time…" The song voice replies.

"What?" She gazes at the girl sitting beside the moss-coated rocks. Her face is young and beautiful, a pair of tired sapphire eyes look up at her with a fragile expression of relief perhaps. A tinge of silver shines through her eyes. She must be…blind.

"Kagome," the girl calls out her name.

"How do you –?" Suddenly there is a slight warmth at the place where the sapphire rose rests.

"Hurry, no time left…the sapphire stone…" The song voice urges, large blank eyes gaze at her with a pleading expression, her hand is outstretched.

She looks weak…Somehow there is a sincerity in her voice, somewhat pleading for her to listen. Kagome bends down and takes the sapphire rose by the chain it is fastened on. "This you mean?"

"Yes," the tip of the girl's finger touches the glowing stone, as if she knows where it is, as if she can see… "You must…you have to find him again."

The blue shimmer grows almost blinding to the eyes, Kagome can feel its warmth. Does she mean…him? The wound on her heart rips just a little more, it's eating her from inside.

"No time, I've been waiting." She coughs. "You possess the strength that you never knew…"

"Who are you?"

"Just listen – " her palm closes over the sapphire glow, piercing rays shines through. "All my powers I place in this stone…my time is almost drained but another must rise."

"What do you mean?"

"To the death realm you must tread," She clutches the stone tight within her palm, "Death Maiden, Kagome – It's your destiny." She struggles to speak. Clearly it's draining all her remaining life away. "The world is falling, can you see it? Can you smell the thick blood in the air? There is darkness…buried deep, hidden even from darkness itself." Then she coughs again, but this time, it's blood.

"You are hurt…" Kagome bends down and places a hand on the girl's shoulder. It's just the way she is. Kindness, so little of it is left in this world.

"That doesn't matter," She takes several quick and raspy breath, her plain white robes are wrinkles. "Every soul has a purpose, and mine is to show you this…Your true powers…" She releases the sapphire rose, still hanging from Kagome's neck.

She doesn't understand. Death Maiden? The girl in front of her coughs again, drip drip, more blood falls onto the rock.

Her eyes are closing. Suddenly she falls backwards. Kagome breaks her fall by putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Death maiden," the girl struggles to speak, "that is the power you must discover yourself. But –" She coughs, some blood drips onto Kagome's hand. "Listen to me, and remember every word the fate of the world may be in your hands, Kagome:

The aged time crumbles and falls.

The dawn of another begins its calls.

Death Maiden treads the realm of the forgotten,

Black Ice pierced by the flames of the forbidden.

True Leader of the North, kindles the crown,

The Dark Priest casts the ancient spell.

A night without a moon

Solstar far from dawn –

the final battle begun.

Chained Soul breaks through the bonds,

Angel falls to the bowels of hell.

In tears, ancient wrongs are right,

In blood, the final price is paid.

Kagome listens, letting every word engrave in her mind, "who are you?"

With her last strength, the blind maiden says, "I'm the Seer, blind yet I can see, present, future and the past..."

Then a few wet golden locks from her sweat falls over her face. Her sapphire eyes close for one last time.

"Wait!" Kagome shakes her. But there is no reply. The fate of the world may be in your hands? None of it makes any sense. Again, questions. But there is no answer.

Suddenly blue light rains down from the sky. Kagome withdraws and shields her eyes with a hand. Blue shadows emerges from the sky.

What are they…They look like blue serpents with wings. Kagome looks up, the Seer still lies in her arm, but still.

The five serpents spiral downward upon the earth and the leader cries, "Mistress! You promised!" A single drop of crystal tear falls onto the ground. A wisp of wind sends weeds in the pond behind them flying.

They can speak…Kagome's hand falls onto the ground behind her, a little afraid.

Then she watches as the winged serpents wrap around the body of the Seer and flies into the sky. Higher and higher until they disappear into a single star of light...


Coming up Next:

The world is falling, can you see it? Can you smell the thick blood in the air? There is darkness…buried deep, hidden even from darkness itself.

What will happen to Inuyasha and Rin? Is this the end? And who is Kagome? Her true identity stays hidden even from herself.

Look forward to the next chapter: Fire in the Sky


Clarification: This is how the masks at Naraku's castle work:

Every group wears a different color, also across the mask are painted red stripes, the hierarchy depends on how many stripes there are, the more stripes the higher (it can go up to 3). Prisoners wear dark brown leather masks, soldiers wear black and servants, beige, and executioners red. White mask means death, to be executed next dawn. Got it?

The relationship between Inuyasha and Rin, (I hope I made it pretty clear) is sort of like brother and sisters. They aren't actually related. They were trapped in Naraku's castle and they helped each other…I will reveal how they met in later chapters.


Author's Note: The next chapter will be posted sometimes after my last exam: June 17…Apologies for the delay in this chapter, it was so hard to write, I find it incredibly dark, but that is essential to the plot...Every line of the poem belongs to me but the last one…-, it belongs to L. J. Smith (my all time favorite author)…anyways certain themes of this story are based on her series (the soulmate principle): Nightworld. Anyway, the plot is mine!


Replies on Reviews:

Ks-Starshine: Thank you for the review…I like Miroku so much better when he's not perverted -

Kittymui: Thanks for the advice and the reviews! I really appreciate it. With description, I tried to make it detailed yet not slow the pacing of the story too much. I thought parts of this story goes really slowly, like nothing's happening…Anyways hope you like this chapter, I know it's really dark…

Hinoiri Fighter: more description?! I'll keep that in mind, thanks. This chapter is so dark, it was hard writing it, sniff poor Inuyasha.

Syrinxsong: Well, thanks for the review, ya the last chapter was a bit of a bridge preparing for this one.

CometsChaos: Thanks a lot for the review, it's very encouraging!!

tina, Blue Demon Dragon, sessylover, Sessh's BabyGrl, JOvanNa: Thanks!

Nyszbabigrl: just to tell you now, I always lie about the next chapter title, usually after writing a chapter, something else jumps at me…anyways thank for reading.

Eric3D2B: I thought it's flame #2, haha, I thought at least this person has guts to make it signed…but it wasn't a flame, thank you for reading! -

Inu101112: Thanks for the review. Hope you like this chapter.

Inusgal: ya, that was my plan in the beginning, thanks for reading.

x…GuardianOfTheNight...x

p.s Please let me know what you think, feel free to give me some suggestions, it'll be greatly appreciated!

Also: I'm not going to answer most of the questions about Inuyasha simply because I planned his role and I hope it'll be a surprise…

Some poems I wrote are at my "homepage" (see my bio), it's on fictrionpress, if you are interested.