Disclaimer: I own nothing. I do not own Inuyasha. I do not own anything, nor do I gain any monetary value from this fiction.

This is a Song-Poem sung by wizards in the Sword of Truth series. If you haven't noticed, I am influenced quite a bit by Goodkind's writings, and I value his work very much. He's like a hero to me. Just thought I'd share with you a rather disturbing poem…


The Stone of Tears: A Song-Poem by Wizards

The Screelings are loose and the Keeper may win.
His assassins have come to rip off your skin
Golden eyes will see you if you try to run.
The Screelings will get you and laugh like it's fun.

Walk away slow or they'll tear you apart,
and laugh all day long as they rip out your heart.
Golden eyes will see you if you try to stand still.
The Screelings will get you, for the Keeper they kill.

Hack 'em up, chop 'em up, cut 'em to bits,
or else they get you while laughing in fits.
If the Screelings don't get you the Keeper will try,
to reach out and touch you, your skin he will fry.

Your mind he will flail, your soul he will take.
You'll sleep with the dead, for life you forsake.
You'll die with the Keeper till the end of time.
He hates that you live, your life is the crime.

The Screelings might get you, it says so in text.
If Screelings don't get you the Keeper is next,
lest he who's born true can fight for life's bond.
And that one is marked; he's the pebble in the pond.

Chapter Quote: "Dance with me death, for I am ready." –Richard, Sword of Truth series.


Chapter Eleven: The Souls Who Haunt Us


Kagome watched from the balcony overlooking the gardens. Sesshoumaru and Shippo were down on the grass going over the various kata movements.

Kagome smiled softly as she again drifted her gaze to the tome on the table beside her. It was another tome depicting ancient nomadic Youkai tribes in various movements around ancient Pangaea, it had totally blown her mind that the Youkai had the skill of writing even then.

Distantly, she heard Sesshoumaru and Shippo call a halt to the practice and head back inside. She made a mental note to join them for lunch soon and hurried to finish the chapter.

She was abruptly broken from her studious reading by the sound of swiftly approaching wings. She looked up to see a small hawk Youkai land on the far side of the table, his dark amber eyes piercing her steadily.

He carried a note within his beak, and Kagome noticed he also had a purple ribbon around one ankle with the emblem of Lyterna emblazoned upon it.

A messenger hawk then.

The hawk hopped closer to her, wings held at half-mast as he recovered from the recoil of landing. Kagome took the proffered letter and opened it up to read.


Lady Kagome.

The Council of Lyterna requests your presence at your earliest convenience. Please report to the Central Council Tower."

-Justice Elder M'Writh Mneminth

-Justice Senior T'Ron Rememoir

-Justice Junior G'Tan Ramonth


She looked up as she finished reading, butterflies fluttering in her middle somewhere. Sure enough. It was just as Sesshoumaru had said; they wished to speak to her, and it hadn't even been four days since the Hearing with Ulquiorra. And their names, such odd names.

She stood up, and the hawk Youkai fluttered to her shoulder. She glanced at it from the corner of her eye, but it seemed content to just sit on her shoulder.

Kagome headed downstairs for Sesshoumaru's private study. Upon arriving, she could easily sense him within. She placed her hand upon the door and sent a pulse of her energy against it. His own aura flared up in response and Kagome entered the room. The hawk Youkai had perched on the banister outside in the hallway.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, I have been summoned."

His golden eyes flicked up to her face and he nodded his head, extending his hand.

Kagome stepped forward and handed over the slip of paper. His eyes scanned it quickly before handing it back.

"I shall accompany you to the Central Tower, then."

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru, but that cannot surely be necessary. It is only a short distance."

Kagome had been quickly getting tired of being constantly guarded, and followed, and remaining cooped up in this Tower.

He growled deep in his throat. "Is your memory so short that you have forgotten what transpired in the first week of our arrival?"

"No, Sesshoumaru-sama," Her eyes were afire, "It's been almost two weeks since that day, nothing has happened since. Despite having gone to the Market District on numerous occasions, and lounging in plain sight in the gardens. Nothing has happened, or have you missed that detail?"

She gritted her teeth, and met his molten gaze. He was still her Alpha, and such a blatant show of disrespect would surely drive him over the edge, but it was too late for her to flick off her anger.

"Then I say they are biding their time for the moment one of us forgets how dangerous our foe is." He growled, his eyes like yellow-orange coals.

"Damn it, Sesshoumaru, you're acting paranoid!" She hissed.

Abruptly, Sesshoumaru's aura roared up, and lashed her. Driving Kagome to her knees with his force. Her eyes went wide, and she gasped for breath as she fought to stay upright. She snarled back at him, her eyes flashing as her spine flexed as she coiled. She wanted to spring at him, to fight with him. Right there in the study. She didn't care if it made a royal mess.

She tried to hold it back anyways, but it was like holding back the tide. Her restraint snapped, and she launched herself forward to grapple with him. He met her, anticipating her reaction this time. Youkai were physical beings, their impulses were carnal and visceral. Her teeth flashed up at him, as he held her just out of range, his own hands grasping her forearms as her hands wrapped over his forearms. Claw tips dug in to prick at their skin, and it became a battle of will and strategy. Being this close together had her wanting to lean toward him, which only made her Beast even angrier.

Kagome twisted, trying to throw him off balance, but instead he turned with her, and pressed her down to the ground. Red tinted his eyes as it did hers, while they maintained their little battle for dominance. Ever since he had directly challenged the dominance of the Alpha Beast within Kagome, the Beast had been rising up more swiftly almost every time he provoked her.

It was... invigorating, fighting for dominance of the pack.

He ended it again by turning Kagome's head to the side with his nose, and slipping his jaws over her throat again. He waited the several seconds for her to come back to him as the Beast sank down, causing all of Kagome's limbs to become slack and still. She trembled beneath him, and he released her throat soon after.

Sesshoumaru slipped his nose and ran it over her cheek, and Kagome drew a shaky breath as she struggled. Closer proximity to him made it even harder to breathe. He leaned down slightly so his mouth was by her ear.

"Do not be careless, Kagome." He growled softly, his voice was less biting than it had been. "Your carelessness in the past has gotten you in endless trouble, it has gotten you killed. Do not be careless with your life."

His words, spoken with such conviction, cut right through her argument and she was ashamed.

"Forgive this one, Sesshoumaru-sama." Her eyes stung as she said the words, but she was damned if she let them fall.

For a long moment, Sesshoumaru sat there, his weight keeping Kagome pinned to the ground and she was gasping as she caught her breath. "Why does this keep happening?" She asked, her eyes on him.

"You are drawn to me, Alpha to Alpha. Until this mark fades, your Beast will rise up to resist this every time."

With a moan, she dropped her arm over her eyes. "I wish it would stop. It's kind of annoying."

Sesshoumaru lifted himself off of her, and stood up. His hands reached out and pulled her up as well.


He led the way to the Tower; this time they were both fully outfitted in their battle regalia, Kagome had her glaive and wore her armor over the maroon robes and Sesshoumaru wore his own black and gray armor of bone over his own maroon robes with gold embroidery which denoted him as the Youkai Lord of the West.

Their eyes darted about as they kept watch about them. The messenger hawk floated lazily above them riding some obscure wind.

They arrived at the Tower without incident, the hawk Youkai fluttered off to join his fellows in the aerie, and Kagome was led into a side passage down a flight of twisting steps lit up by the oddly glowing spheres set in the wall brackets.

The young child who led her appeared even younger than Shippo did, smudges of ink were evident on the fingers of his right hand. His black hair was short, barely reaching past his sharply pointed ears. And his honey-brown eyes looked warm in his otherwise pale face.

Contrary to what Kagome would have thought, it was not damp or moldy this far below the Tower. At the end of the stairs, the child led her down a long hallway, Kagome felt a strange tingling on her skin and stopped in her tracks. Her brows furrowed, she looked closely at the walls.

"You won't see anything there. "

She looked at the child who spoke.

"You felt the shields, but you won't see anything."

"What makes you say that? Can everyone feel the shields?" She questioned.

"Because the spell-forms for the shields were not written there, Kagome-sama. I am among a small few who can still feel the shields."

"Spell-forms, like the true magic of old?"

"Yes, it is old magic. Old spells, old everything. None of us alive know how to reconstruct such spells so we just use them to shield things we want hidden."

"What would shields be for but to hide things we want hidden. I see, why are you telling me this?"

"Because my father thinks we can trust you. You won't let us down, will you Kagome?"

"I prefer to only make promises I can keep. Unless it goes against my morals, and my own duties to the West; I'll see what I can do to help you."

The child nodded. "Very good, my lady."

"What is your name?" Kagome asked.

"My name is Finlar, Kagome-sama."

"Finlar, what is that name from?"

Kagome kept wondering where these strange names kept coming from, like G'Tan and D'Kor, because they were certainly not Japanese.

"Nowhere in particular, Kagome-sama. Just here."

"But…it's not Japanese. How come your names are not based on the Japanese language?"

"We do not name ourselves on the Japanese traditions, Kagome-sama."

Kagome frowned as they continued their trek, "Why is that?"

"Because we are not Japanese. To name ourselves after a fashion of a nation we do not belong to is silly."

Now this seemed quite strange. Surely they were Japanese Youkai. Kagome leaned closer to him.

"If you are not Japanese, then what are you?"

She leaned back, feeling the beginnings of satisfaction at her question. He looked up at her as if stating the obvious.

"We are Youkai from the Four Greater Houses, our people came together to start something new. Upon taking vows not to ascend any of the thrones, they also forsook their surnames names, and changed the way they named their descendants." He drew himself up and lifted his chin. "We are a new bloodline, now."

Kagome regarded his answer speculatively. So they believed themselves to be a separate seperate while within a nation. Well, a nation that had yet to become a nation, she wondered idly how well that was going to turn out when the time came for the unification of all of Japan.

The young Youkai continued to lead her down the long corridor, when they reached an intersection, they turned left and stopped at the only door she had seen down here. Finlar turned to her, "They are waiting for you in here."

Kagome looked past him down the darkened corridor. In the darkness, something seemed to pull her towards it.

"What is down that way, Finlar?"

"Shields no one can get through. All who have tried perished."

Kagome felt her skin crawl. What a painful way to die.

"Go, my lady. They mustn't be kept waiting."

Kagome dipped her head in thanks, "Thank you Finlar, you were an excellent guide."

She turned and knocked on the door.

"Enter." She heard from within.

She twisted the lever and pushed.

Cool blue light flooded around the door as she pushed it open.

The three Justices from before were within, seated on cushions. The room was lit up with odd clear balls set on wall sconces. Kagome marveled at the glow they caused. She she came closer into the room, the balls lit up more brightly, and everyone in the room blinked at the brightness.

"Well, that is something I don't see everyday. She ought to stick around far longer."

A fourth cushion was placed at a slight distance from the other three for her to sit on.

Kagome smiled at the one who spoke uneasily, she bowed in respect after she came forward a few more steps.

"Rise, Kagome-sama. Here we are equals, you do not bare your neck to us."

"Ah, thank you Honored Sir. I am pleased to meet you outside of the Council Chamber."

"Please, sit. We shall talk." He gestured toward the cushion

Kagome did as she was bid to, and seated herself in the lotus position in front of them.

"How has your stay been in Lyterna, the City of Scholars?"

Kagome smiled, "It has been well, thank you."

The youngest Justice looked up at her askance, "What, no complaints about the assassination attempt?" the junior Justice piped up with a chuckle. The most elderly of the Justices shot him a reproving look.

"Forgive him, my lady, he has had a bit too much sake. Oh! Would you like some as well?" He quickly covered.

Kagome smiled softly, "No thank you, I don't drink."

"Oh of course, you are pupped; how remiss of me. I shall drink for you then." He poured more into his bowl and sipped gingerly.

Now the Justice in the middle of the other two smiled at her. "Well, since it is obvious you can't drink right now, what about some fruit juice? It is quite good."

Kagome perked up brightly, "What kind of juice?"

"Guava, with kiwi." Kagome's eyes lit up with pure joy.

"I would certainly enjoy some, thank you."

The Youkai nodded, his warm golden eyes twinkling. He beckoned to one of the servants seated off to the side. The servant stood up and brought forth a pitcher of the delicious juice.

A bowl was set before her and filled almost to the brim with the delightful juice. Kagome brought the bowl to her lips and smelled it, her eyes fluttering closed and her smile grew as she examined it's sweet smell.

She took a sip and forced herself to set it down afterwards and not guzzle the contents quickly.

"Now that we are settled, let us get down to the reasons we are gathered today."

Kagome straightened.

"Kagome-sama, we would like to charge you with the task of finding the Jewel Shards. We will, of course, give you special diplomatic immunity to allow you to travel as you see fit to collect the shards."

"I will accept this only if a condition of my own is met."

Now the Justices straightened, catching each other's eyes briefly. "And what is that, Kagome-sama?"

"I would like your permission to look through your libraries, and explore where possible this citadel."

"Done." Spoke the eldest of the Justices. The middle-aged Justice spoke up, "Wasn't that just the slightest bit hasty, M'Writh?"

"No, her request is reasonable enough." The elderly Justice responded casually.

"But M'Writh!"

"Enough. The Libraries are my domain, and you know it. Now settle." He said, with a stern glare upon T'Ron.

Kagome, seeing that everything appeared to have settled again, spoke up. "Thank you. Then I accept your request."

M'Writh looked profoundly relieved. "No, thank you Kagome-sama."

"Well, now that you have accepted, please take these Shards off our hands." T'Ron finished with a bow of the head.

Kagome's head swung up, 'Shards? I didn't feel any Shards here.' She thought, craning her head around.

They set a box in front of her, it was covered with Youkai chains, the Youkai-form of Priest Sutras. M'Writh pressed a button on top of the lock. The chains fell away, revealing an inky-black box. Kagome felt something ominous about the box, and just looking at it caused gooseflesh to rise on her skin.

All light seemed to be drawn into the box, and the room appeared significantly darker as the light appeared to be devoured by the box's aura.

"What… What is that?" She asked, stunned.

"It's a very handy device. It devours auras, and hides them within its own. We only have a few like it." G'Tan replied, a smug tone could be traced in his voice.

"Creepy…" Kagome whispered, as she peered at the box.

Now that it was in front of her eyes, she could sense the faint presence of three or four Jewel Shards within. She tentatively reached out and drew the box closer, and lifted the lid to reveal the Shards sitting on a bed of silk.

Two were tainted a dark pink, almost red, with a malignant aura. The third Shard was relatively pure, appearing pale pink almost white. The fourth was only light pink.

Tenderly, she reached for them and the Justices held their breath, their eyes trained on Kagome's face. Behind her, she could sense the guards tense up, gripping their pikes cautiously.

The closer her fingers came to the Shards, the two heavily tainted Shards quivered and edged away from her. The pure Shard edged towards her hand while the neutral Shard remained inert.

Kagome resolutely grasped first one tainted Shard, then the other tainted Shard with her fingertips, the Shards flared wildly at first before succumbing to her will and settling to the pure white-pink that they should be. Her stomach gave a heavy lurch and she swallowed. A sudden cold sweat overcoming her. She glanced down at her drink. Perhaps she should take a sip? Would it help?

She then picked up the other two, the neutral pink flaring back white-pink.

"So you truly can purify the Shards. Amazing…" G'Tan whispered, his eyes were round.

The other two nodded in agreement, their eyes also wide in astonishment.

Kagome smiled at them as she drew out her leather pouch from around her neck. She opened it up and dropped the four Shards into the pouch, they clinked together and a soft hiss was heard as they fused with the rest of the Jewel. Kagome peered at the incomplete Jewel within, and made a few calculations from what she saw.

She looked up at the three Justices and smiled grimly. "Four more Shards, I think, then we can be rid of this thing."

"Indeed, we will be glad to see the last of it. Here is the scroll of diplomatic immunity you will need for your travels, and also the scroll charging you with the quest to collect the Shards. This should easily carry weight with anyone you come across who challenges your right to collect the Shards. As this is a grave task, a member of our organization shall accompany you on your journey to collect the Shards."

Kagome threw her head up, to look them in the eyes with her raptor gaze. She would have made Sesshoumaru proud with the look in her eye.

"Wait, a member of your 'organization'? What are we talking about here, T'Ron?" Kagome broke in, concern coloring her words.

"We shall be sending with you one of our most intelligent and gifted young scholars. It would be good practice for him. If his report of your journey is successful, he shall receive his true name and be allowed to grow his hair longer. He shall be made a fully-fledged Historian in his field of study."

"So I will have one more in my party whom I shall have to lookout for, another one I shall have to babysit?" Kagome ground out, not appreciating the burden placed upon her. "Sirs, with all due respect, the battles I shall be facing are not child's play. They will not be pleasant, or some walk in the park. It shall be extremely dangerous; he could get killed."

"Dearest Kagome-sama, we have faith in your battle prowess. Jageras are excellent guardians of their pack, and you shall be no different. Come now, he can handle himself well enough; he scored top marks in his combat training, and self-defense classes.

"His sense of strategy is impeccable. According to his pedigree, he is seventy-seven percent Inu-Youkai, the other part is mostly Kurohyou-Youkai. He would be an ideal match for you. Kurohyou are rather placid towards Inu-Youkai naturally."

Kagome narrowed her eyes and growled. If she had a tail, it would be twitching right now. Never mind that she was a dog. Kagome and the Justices argued back and forth for several minutes. However, it seemed no matter what she said, they would not give up ground. At the end of her wits, she stood up, with a snarl, she accepted; and they smiled like Cheshire cats.

She stood outside the room, panting through gritted teeth. Her knuckles stood white against her clenched fists as she fought to control her anger. As she calmed herself down, her eyes darted to the boy crouched on his knees, eyeing her cautiously.

"Let's go, Finlar." She snapped. Angry that these Justices were going to throw that boy out with her during an intensely dangerous quest. They were mad, all of them. Crazy to the last drop to just toss this boy out into the world like that.

He trotted after her doggedly as she retraced her steps flawlessly back the way she had come earlier.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and whirled on Finlar.

"Go to your room, you shall collect your things and meet me here. I will wait for you."

"Yes, my lady." The answer was quick, clear, and quiet.

"Do you have a weapon?"

"Yes, my-"

"Just call me Kagome, damn it!" She snapped irritably.

"Yes, Kagome-sama."

"Just Kagome." She ground out, her eyes glittering.

"Yes, Kagome-sa…" She raised her head threateningly, her eyes glimmering.

"Get packing." She said quietly. As his swiftly-tapping feet faded into the distance, Kagome sighed.

She shouldn't take her ire out on the boy. He had not asked for this. Her eye twitched as she amended the thought. It had better have been a decision of the Justices to toss a boy into her small pack, no sane child should have asked for such a dangerous assignment.

It was those damn Justices that assigned him to her.

She would try her best to make sure he came to no harm.

Ten minutes later, approaching light foot-falls announced Finlar's return.

She threw an apologetic look his way, a silent apology which he might not understand. His sleek black hair framed his face and the golden eyes so reminiscent of Sesshoumaru.

He was dressed in a red-gold silk haori, with dark-brown hakamas, and a tan under-haori which he had tucked into his hakamas. He wore black boots which were laced tightly against his ankles.

A long daito was tied across his back with a red cord. As long as the blade was, he wasn't that much taller so Kagome couldn't really envision him actually using it.

"Did you say goodbye to your father? You may not get a chance later. My business here in Lyterna is mostly finished, so my brother and I may be leaving sooner than you think."

"Yes, I have said goodbye to my family, Kagome-sa…Kagome. We said goodbye this morning, when I was chosen."

"Good then. We shall go, my brother awaits us outside."

They continued into the late afternoon sun, Sesshoumaru stood waiting. The tall silver-haired Lord raised an eyebrow at the young boy beside her, but said nothing.

When they arrived back at the Western tower, Shippo was there lounging in the family room and reading more of the tomes. This was a common sight, as recently Shippo hardly ever without some kind of document close at hand. Finlar dropped his stuff by the door, and servants came to remove it to the guest bedroom across from Shippo. Finlar and Shippo quickly became involved with a game of chess near the brazier, and Kagome had little time to figure and wonder about how they managed to get a chess board over here.

Kagome drifted off to her room, she was not one to drink and all of the days' excitement made her feel extremely tired.


Darkness had already fallen, and suddenly there was the soft sound of young voices pricking her ears, and she moved to investigate. Kagome swung her head into the family room to see the boys still playing chess.

"…And that is check mate, my friend."

"Oh really? How is this?" There was a click as a piece was set firmly onto the stone board.

"How did you see that? Damn it!"

"And now I've won, do you yield?"

There was a short silence, "Yes… I'm tired."

One of the figures yawned sleepily. "Me too."

"It's time to rest for the night." She said, smiling.

"Bedtime already?" Shippo asked, his eyes wide and innocent looking.

"Yes." Kagome said firmly, long used to his antics.

"Okay… Come with me, Finlar, you can sleep in my bed with me."

Finlar followed behind Shippo without looking back. Kagome headed off to her room.

"Goodnight, Kagome!" They called from the stairway.

She smiled softly as she slipped into her room and shut the door.

Later that evening, Sesshoumaru again entered her room once again. He lay near her on the bed, but not too close. Never too close. He carefully ran his fingertips over her exposed arm, tracing the stripes on her wrists with curiosity which she didn't understand. He had his own wrist stripes adorning his arms, so she didn't see why it was so fascinating.

However, the movements of his fingers lulled her to sleep.


He was gone in the morning after she woke up again, her son kicking out in her belly. She growled softly, rolling over to settle the child. It never worked.

Kagome spent the next two days perusing the Central Tower Library, always with the company of Finlar and M'Writh. The books and scrolls there were nothing like what she had found in the Library in the Western or Eastern Towers.

These books were obscure in their meanings, and many appeared blank to most eyes. But even though they appeared blank, the servants and scribes understood the reason why; the supposedly blank books were books bound with magic for those with magic, and no one else. They were inscribed by powerful Youkai-Mages in the past, and they were not meant to be read by any who didn't have the power.

Kagome found few books of instruction, or any histories. What she found disturbed and fascinated her on many levels. The books she found in plenty were not histories or manuscripts; these were books of prophecy. The further she read into them, the more disquieted she became.

The first several books she found were several thousand years old, they were perfectly preserved; the magic protecting them from unwanted eyes also protected them from aging as well. They foretold of events that happened several millennia after they were written. And also things that had seemingly not yet happened. It told of Inutaishou being betrayed by Ryuukotsusei. Of Naraku's rise to power, and even his downfall. It spoke of her, the girl born from the Earth to answer to the Earth.

Other lines told her of other things, though it was impossible to tell of the timeline. Different happenings all around Japan, and surrounding continents. Mainly China, Mongolia, and Korea. She recognized some of them, others she wasn't too sure of. History wasn't her strong suit, after all.

As she read through the different lines of the book in her hands, one passage in particular caught her attention and she paused. "'White blade'?" She whispered under her breath as she read it again.

"Of all that is left, but a single one born of the magic to bring forth reality will remain alive when the Chimes' threat is ended. Therefore comes the deeper darkness of the dead. Should the forces of forfeit be loosed, the world will be shadowed yet by darker lust through what has been rent. Salvation's hope, then, will be as slim as the white blade of the one born true. For there to be a chance at life's breath, the Key to the Heavens must be allowed to sing free."

She sat back after reading that one, furrowing her brows. A single one born of the magic to bring forth reality when the Chime's threat is ended. Who could that be? Dare she possibly think it could be her? Born of the magic, she was not born of this magic was she? What are the Chimes? From how it was spelled, there was more than one. How did her father used to describe souls? As musical entities, each with its own tone and sound. Would a chime be another word for a soul? What on earth could the white blade be?

For some reason, her thoughts strayed to Sesshoumaru's sword, Tensaiga, and it's sudden and keen interest in her. But that was silly, that sword was not white, and she had never seen it ever do anything like turning white. It's soul pulsed blue.

Thoughts came back to her of talking to her mother, asking for the origin of her name.

"Well, Kagome. When you were born, and I held you in my arms, a light shone from you. It took the shape of a design, a rune, and that shape is called a 'Kagome.' The design is a particularly beautiful one, and your father approved of the name for you. He was so speculative, now that I think on it… Such an ageless look entered his eyes."

Perhaps she was born of the magic. Perhaps they meant of another, it would be foolish to think it might be her, when it might not be.

What was the Chimes, what could they be about? She reflexively grasped the Jewel hanging from her neck. She found herself doing that often as she worked out something difficult. She searched the book for more references to the Chimes, but found little in that book.

Finally, she turned to M'Writh. "M'Writh, have you ever heard of the Chimes?"

M'Writh looked up at her slowly from the scroll he was reading. His whole body spoke of caution. "The Chimes. You mean, the Four Chimes? Where did you learn that?"

Kagome gestured to the book, "The book…had written something about them, but not much else. What is it?"

M'Writh grunted, his brows furrowed as he sat up straighter. "Well, there is a story that is told, about The Four Chimes. "

Kagome's eyes lit up, finally something!

"I would like to hear that tale, M'Writh, if you would." She replied, settling herself across from him at the table.

"Well, the tale tells of four Chimes known as Tarasi, Vantrosi, Raechani, and Nasi. Now, the Chimes are a terribly cruel bunch. Needlessly sadistic, and mischievous, they are Underworld creatures. Born of the Sentry himself. They bear hatred for those living, especially pregnant females, and children, and find the most gruesome ways to kill their victims. They devour all magic, by simply being existing.

"Respectively they are queens of their elements; being fire, water, air, and spirit. Histories tell of a Youkai-Mage who summoned the Chimes into this world, and they devoured him, and dragged his soul back to the Underworld. None ever dared to try and summon them again, no reason to do so. Though there are some beings who wish to drag the entire world of Life into the Underworld, and they are known as Children of the Dark. They serve the Keeper, the Nameless One, and he grants them powerful magic in order to fulfill his wish; to end the World of Life. He craves life, all life."

"Children of the Dark… They don't sound friendly at all, M'Writh."

"Indeed." He gave her a long hard look, "They are some of the most callous denizens in this world. We believe the construct you defeated, Naraku, was an agent of the Keeper."

He cleared his throat and took a bite of his slice of buttered bread. "Legend has it at the height of the Revolt of the Lamials against the Youkai Archon and his Duarchs the leader of the revolt, Midoriko, unleashed the—"

Kagome broke in, alarm coloring her tone, "wait, did you say Midoriko, as in the Warrior-Priestess Midoriko?"

M'Writh furrowed his brows at having been interrupted.

"Yes, the same. The 'Oh-So Glorious' Miko and Champion of the Humans, Warrior-Priestess Shayol Midoriko. Now quit interrupting, it ruins the flow of the story. Ah-ah! Save your questions!"

He held up his hand, demanding silence. Kagome pouted, but held her silence.

"Now where was I? Oh yes, so Midoriko unleashed the Four Chimes into the World of Life, the fool girl was so confident in her power, she set no boundaries to the Chimes and they ravaged the lands. The Four Chimes wrecked true and absolute havoc and chaos for a year or more; they completely absorbed all magic thrown at them. They were unstoppable.

"They killed humans and youkai alike."

M'Writh paused to sip his water. Kagome was pale, as the thought of such terrible beings performing such ghastly acts played through her mind. To think it had been the spirit of that woman who had guided her and her companions in their journey.

"Later, an elderly Lamial with the help of a Mage-Youkai was said to have uncovered the insidious plot and trapped the Chimes inside a cave, where he later lured Midoriko in as well. There, he enticed the Chimes to attack Midoriko. The Four Chimes were trapped by this man in bodies resembling the elements they commanded, appearing as strange youkai in beast form, so it was easy for the man to trick Midoriko into attacking the Chimes.

"There in that cave, Midoriko and the Chimes battled, and as the Chimes fought to consume the one who enslaved them, the man bound the Chimes and Midoriko together… Compressing and binding them within. The resulting entity…the result was the Jewel of Four Chimes, or as we would call it, the Jewel of Four Souls."

Kagome clutched the Jewel tightly in her fist. Her new knowledge of what the Jewel was unnerved her. She had always known it was a terrible thing, filled with four unbelievably cruel and sadistic souls… but this was sickening. It completely shook her.

"M'Writh, if it is the Jewel of Four Chimes, where is Midoriko?"

"Hmm…She was consumed by the Chimes, body and soul. It is said Tarasi, the embodiment of fire carries her image. It is also said that her blood gave the Jewel its pink hue, and as the Jewel becomes more and more tainted, the more of Midoriko's blood is spilled in their eternal conflict. As the Jewel remains pure, all four Chimes are at peace."

"So the madness that youkai experience, that all beings experience, is power borrowed from the Chimes, because they want to be released onto the world?" Kagome said, her mind numb as the implications set in.

"The Chimes absorb magic. They are still hurting the world now!" Kagome said in a shocked whisper, as she held up the pouch containing the Jewel.

"As long as this Jewel remains in existence, the Chimes will be free on the world." She turned fearful eyes upon M'Writh, "Do you believe this is so, M'Writh?"

The elderly Justice looked pensive for some time. "It is entirely possible that this is so. Entirely possible, but that would mean that the Jewel doesn't contain the Four Chimes, it only limits their influence in the world."

Kagome nodded, then paused as a thought struck her.

"M'Writh, what was the name of the Lamial man who trapped Midoriko with the Chimes?"

"Oh, I believe his name was Ishamael, he was"

Again he was interrupted by Kagome, "Ishamael the Deceiver? That Ishamael?"

"Yes, Kagome-sama, that Ishamael."

"I read about him in the Youkai history Sesshoumaru gave to me, I had no idea he was involved with Midoriko."

"It goes deeper than that. Midoriko and Ishamael were father and daughter."

Kagome's head shot up, "what the hell?" she hissed.

M'Writh nodded his head sadly.

"It is a sad story, she was his oldest daughter. After he realized what his daughter had become, what she had done and her role in the revolt, he also found out that she had unleashed the Chimes and controlled them. He set out to stop her, and in the end, the only way to stop her was to feed her to the Underworld beings she had enslaved."

"That is horrible…" Kagome whispered, a hand covering her mouth, "His own daughter…that is so sad, what kind of father would kill his own daughter?"

"A man faced with the horrible truth that his sweet and unassuming daughter was a genocidal monster who had unleashed evil in its purest form upon the world." He said gruffly.

Kagome thought she was going to be sick. The past specter of Midoriko, her guide during her human days with Inuyasha, was the true monster of the past, the true orchestrator of ruin across the Japan and the world.

"Kagome? What's wrong? You look as if you have seen a ghost." M'Writh stated, "did my story affect you so much?"

Kagome turned her head toward him slowly, dazed. She stood up and began setting the books back into neat stacks on the table. In her rush, she failed to notice when a small, thin book fell into her side pocket as she carried the heavy books in her arms and set them hurriedly onto the table.

"I'm sorry, M'Writh, I can't explain, but I have to go right now! Your story was wonderful, and thank you!"

"But what is the matter, what is it? You didn't know that was what the Jewel was?" M'Writh asked, bewildered. Finlar, at seeing Kagome rushing about, put up his own traveling scroll he was working on and hurriedly packed up.

By the time Kagome was out the door, Finlar was at her heels like a personal shadow.

"Kagome-sama, what is going on!" Finlar asked urgently as they trotted doggedly through the halls, flash-stepping was strictly forbidden inside the Central Tower.

"Haven't I told you to stop calling me that, Finlar?" She growled.

"Yes, but that's not the point right now, my lady. What is the matter? What happened back there?"

"What do you mean? Nothing happened." Kagome replied, distantly.

As soon as they passed the threshold of the Western Door that led to the Western Tower, Kagome and Finlar flitted in a whirl of wind. Leaves scattered in their wake as they flash-stepped across the broad lawn back to the Western Tower.

The door banged open, announcing their arrival as Kagome raced through and down the hall to Sesshoumaru's study. She didn't wait for him to form a reply as she pulsed her energy through to unlock the door and entered.

Sesshoumaru was calmly reading, as if she had not just barged in. He had his side facing her as he read through a scroll.

"Sesshoumaru, something big is happening, and I think I know what it is!" Kagome said in a rush.

Sesshoumaru paused in the middle of reading through the report that had just arrived from Lysia, and signed by both Tobiume and Malik.

"Explain this 'something,' then. What is going on?"

"This is something that goes back thousands of years, and is still going on today. The reason there are no Youkai in my time!"

"Pray, tell me then what it is?"

"The Four Chimes!" Kagome said exuberantly, as if that explained everything.

"Those were sealed away millennia ago, within…I see, the Jewel." Sesshoumaru blinked, as the legend ran through his mind, "I see, please go on."

"Through the ages, because the Jewel remained in this world, the Chimes were never truly banished. They have always been in the world of life from the moment of their creation into this world, their influence on the world never ceased. It was only dampened because they had been sealed within the ball, the Jewel of Four Souls, or as it really is, the Jewel of Four Chimes.

"The Chimes are beings of the Underworld, they devour all magic and life. They are what is killing the world." Her eyes blazed triumphantly. "When I complete this Jewel, I shall bring about its true destruction, and cast it into oblivion."

Sesshoumaru, for once in his life, was speechless; never had he imagined that the inimical beings, so truly evil and devious could still have been in existence all this time. To learn that they had never been truly banished by Ishamael, with the help of one of the last Mage-Youkai in existence was disturbing.

"But Sesshoumaru, remember who Midoriko was in that story?" His eyes shot over to hers, as she regained his attention and broke through his thoughts. He already knew the answer, had suspected it, but if she was going to say it, then it made it a very real possibility that it was...

"Who?"

"The leader in the revolt of the Lamials, she was also the one who unleashed the Chimes upon the world. I think she made some kind of contract with them, in order to enslave them, and they would help her overthrow the Youkai, in return for their help, they were allowed to run freely across the world."

Kagome's hand covered her mouth again, and her eyes squeezed shut.

"Oh Sesshoumaru, I think I'm going to be sick. Sesshoumaru, that last battle with Naraku, I think we were set up. I think we had fallen into a trap, and never knew it. M'Writh told me that Midoriko had been consumed by the Chime Tarasi, soul and all."

"What about it?"

"Sesshoumaru, recall the strange ghostly lady who would appear at times and give us advice?"

Sesshoumaru tilted his head in thought before nodding once.

"I don't think that was really Midoriko." She whispered. He blinked once, then his eyes widened almost imperceptibly.


Kagome looked up at him, her eyes full of horror.

"Sesshoumaru, those Chimes are very close to escaping, I can feel them. With the Jewel incomplete, the seal that contains them is very weak."

"So it is not the Lamials that is draining the world of magic; it is the Chimes, and has been all along." Sesshoumaru whispered, his face neutral. The fact was that the world was in even greater peril than before, and none had ever made the connection.

"Amaterasu, save us." He whispered. So shocked was he, he called out to his ancestress, the Sun God. He even felt the urge to complete a Devotion, to seek the peace that it always instilled in him as a boy.

He turned away from her to look out the window, the sun was shining on the late spring day. Birds sang and youkai were laughing and going about their business as usual. There were even a few young youkai running about, laughing and scampering through the lawns. Everything looked so peaceful.

The world was balancing on the edge of a knife. They were running out of time.

"Kagome," Sesshoumaru said, turning around to face her. His mind was made up, nothing could waver his decision now. Kagome lifted her head and looked him in the eyes; a silent invitation for him to continue, a look of awe in her eyes that he had called her by name.

"Do all that you think is necessary."

Kagome swallowed, taken aback by his words.

"Of…Of course, Sesshoumaru."

He walked towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Don't ever hesitate, and trust in your instincts; they've been right so far. Just…" Here he sighed, "Just don't be careless."

Kagome blushed, "I won't, you have my word."

"Right now, the world is at stake; your first priority should be reclaiming the rest of the shards, after Hikaru is returned you must devote every waking moment on finding and collecting the rest of the Shards. The Jewel must be destroyed. Do you understand?"

Kagome looked slightly puzzled, "Of course I do, Sesshoumaru, that has always been my goal."


Chapter Fini. Move down to that button in the middle and click it to leave a note for me; write whatever you like. Love it, hate it, whatnot. Just stop griping at me. And then! Go read Chapter Eleven!