--author's notes: So this and the last chapter came quick because I already had most of the stuff in the cave already typed out. I do that a lot. I have something typed that is so far ahead that it doesn't really matter for a long time. I hate it when I do that but it does help...eventually.

--Overview of last chapter: Once rid of the golden dragon and after Misaki goes back to retrieve Hiei, the gang continues to their destination: another stone island. Misaki has a rough landing as she changes back into human form and Hiei is awakened. They all begin to travel around the island to the other side. They reach a cave on the other side and meet Eldred The Oracle. The gang learns that Misaki is quite a bit older than she appears and then Misaki leads Eldred to the back of the cave so that they can talk.

Hiei went to sit down. He leaned up against the cave wall and closed his eyes.

"What're you doing?" Kuwabara asked.

"If you can't tell, they are going to be catching up on things and I expect that to take a while. I don't intend on standing up like a baka the whole time."

Kuwabara almost protested until he saw that Kurama was sitting, as was the quiet Yukina, and Yusuke had walked back outside to the beach. He grumbled something but stomped out of the cave.

Kurama remained inside as he hoped to catch something of the conversation between Eldred and Misaki. Hiei planned on taking a light nap.

After a few minutes, Kurama gave up and relaxed. The words passing between the pair, while audible, were completely jumbled. They were talking too fast back and forth for him to catch anything. At this rate, they would be done faster than Hiei thought.

"And so I don't know what to do."

"It seems like quite a predicament."

Misaki finished explaining what had happened the last few days. She and Eldred had long ago learned to talk rapidly and they were both quite adept at it.

"So you came to me because my fire-sister recommended it."

"I would take Coahtu's advice no matter what. She is the wisest of you."

"Of us."

Misaki shook her head, "I've never really considered myself truly one of you. You all were together from the beginning; I was merely an add-on later."

"Don't talk like that. It's this state you're in. It's messing with your mind."

Misaki didn't say anything more about it.

Eldred sighed, "Just once I wish I could see with my eyes. Have you really not changed at all?"

"Nope. I look the same as ever."

"I don't think any of us will get use to the longevity." He sighed, "It's the curse of our origins."

"We loose so many people. There's so much pain. I wish it would just end."

"But it can't. Not for you, not for me." Eldred put his hand to her cheek, "We don't belong with them. They live in a separate time, a separate dimension almost. Why do you do it to yourself?"

"And what am I supposed to do?" Misaki pulled away, "Lock myself away? Become a hermit? I tried that already, remember? It killed me more than being with them will." she gestured towards the three youkai near the cave entrance and the two humans outside.

"They'll die. They'll all die and leave you behind again. Your purpose goes on infinitely. Keeping the balance is what you're here for."

"I know my ending, Eldred."

He tried to peer through his blindfold at her, "What?"

"I have seen my ending. The end of my purpose. Haven't you searched? Looked for yours?"

Eldred shook his head, "You are so different from the rest of us. That must be why we can never fully claim you as our own. I have no desire to find the end of my purpose. I know that I will live my life out as long as my element exists."

Misaki reached up to his head and Eldred pulled back, "No. I can't. You can't."

"I can. I want to look into your eyes. I don't know when I'll see you again."

Eldred hesitated, but nodded and leaned forward. Misaki reached around the back of his head and untied the blindfold, holding it in her hands. Eldred's eyes slowly opened, pupils dilating to compensate for the new light. The milky white blindness that was the token of an oracle slowly slid off his eyes. He blinked once and his eyes cleared.

"Misaki." He saw her for the first time and reached over and hugged her. "My dearest sister." He spoke slowly, savoring those words. "I have missed you."

The wind picked up inside and outside of the cave.

"And I have missed you as well, my endearing winds." Eldred pulled away and held his arms out, eyes open to the ceiling as the wind swept in and ruffled his white robes. Eldred sighed and met Misaki's gaze. "I don't know how we stand it. Without our elements, we feel...different."

"It's because you are different when you're The Oracle. Your purpose is different. Your element would hamper your ability to 'see'."

"I know that, but it doesn't make it any easier." Eldred's chocolate brown eyes were sad. "You haven't changed at all," he smiled a little.

"I told you that."

"Alright. I've had my fun." His eyes began losing their color again and Misaki retied the blindfold over his eyes. He stood up. "Everyone should hear this."

They both walked back towards Hiei and Kurama. Yukina was standing and she held out a hand to Misaki. Misaki took it and walked to the entrance of the cave.

"Yusuke! Kuwabara!" Misaki called.

They trotted back from down the shores. The wind died down completely and Eldred's robes seemed to sigh sadly as they grew still.

"You have had many trials behind you. And you have many left before you will reach your goal." Eldred addressed them all. "As reward for your passing the tests of valor set before, I am required to give you what I see."

"Don't interrupt," Misaki whispered, elbowing Yusuke in the ribs. He had opened his mouth, but he closed it, rubbing his side.

"I cannot answer questions you have, as my visions are never stationary nor are they focused."

'So we took a gamble coming here,' Kurama thought, 'He might not give Misaki what she wants at all.' He looked over at her. She almost seemed eager for his words. 'Maybe she knows something we don't. It wouldn't be the first time.'

"I think that's enough of the formalities. It's all required," Eldred sighed and shrugged. He relaxed and behind the blindfold, he closed his eyes. Though he was wrapped in darkness while his eyes were open, as he closed them, he was able to see.

"A mortal's blood, a final queue, shift one way, all goes askew. If thou be brave, not faint of heart, then hear my words, your journey start." Images passed quickly in front of Eldred's eyes and he spoke, though it wasn't him speaking. He slipped farther away and his voice took on more rhythm.

"The ocean I see, a mighty rage, descend you must, to find the sage. Deep within earth's mighty core, a specter waits, foul deeds in store. Ears do not hear, a legion of voices, soiled clothes of blood, to many choices. Search for this one, deep of the chest, as far away as east from west. Where deep within, the pulse of the world, beats slow and strong, its mercies unfurled. Find your fears...face them twice...no escape..." Eldred began swaying unsteadily, "Though it would be nice." He collapsed and Misaki ran forward, holding his head up. "I never was very good at rhyming," as his eyes closed, a weak smile stayed on his lips. He relaxed in Misaki's arms.

She carefully laid his head down on the floor and stood up, her mind racing behind her emerald eyes. "Alright. Let's go. We're done here."

"You mean you're just going to leave him there?" Kuwabara exclaimed.

"He's not dead, baka. 'Seeing' takes a lot out of someone. And it isn't measure by spirit energy so any of you wouldn't have gotten half as far as he did. From what I understand, he's been doing this for at least ten years straight, so he should be good at it." Misaki walked out of the cave, "I finally got to where I could do fifty lines but that took a lot more time than he's been at it," she mumbled.

"Wait, where are we going?" Yusuke ran after her.

"Weren't you listening at all?"

"Well yeah but—"

"He told us exactly were we needed to go."

"And where is that?" Hiei asked, stopping and crossing his arms.

"We don't have time to stop!" Misaki grabbed his wrist and pulled him after her, "It'll take long enough to get there as it is!"

"You haven't said where we're going yet." Kurama trotted after her.

Misaki sighed, still moving at a rapid pace. " 'Deep within earth's mighty core' doesn't spell it out for you?"

"Whoa whoa whoa! We're going where now?" Yusuke's eyes widened.

"The center of the earth, numbskull!"

"Sounds like a wild goose chase to me." Hiei pulled himself out of Misaki's grasp, but he kept running.

"It could be. That's what makes it so exciting, right?" Misaki didn't make it sound exciting however.

Some time later, they stopped for the night, building a campfire on the ground. Everyone gathered around it, munching on food Eldred gave to them.

"It is odd that these beaches are not sandy," Kurama noted.

"Sand wouldn't be practical I guess. I never really thought about it before." Misaki said.

"So is no one else concerned about this middle of the earth thing?" Yusuke asked.

"What's the problem?"

"Weeell, isn't the center of the earth supposed to be like molten lava or something?"

"Or something," Misaki snorted.

"How would you know Urameshi? You always fall asleep in science class."

"Shut up Kuwabara!"

"Just how far away is the 'center of the earth'." Yukina asked.

"It's as far away as the east is from the west."

"East from the west?! That's like impossible!" Yusuke exclaimed.

Misaki shook her head, "No matter how far east you walk, west is always a step behind you."

Yusuke ran a hand over his hair, "Now you're starting to sound like the oracle thingy."

"My brain hurts," Kuwabara was rubbing his one of his temples and his eyes was closed, giving his face a grimace.

Misaki chuckled mirthlessly, "I used to be an oracle myself so I should be able to sound like one. Actually after that episode, I sounded like an oracle for years after that. It isn't a job any intelligent being volunteers for."

"And somehow I'm not surprised to hear you say you were an oracle," Kurama said dryly.

"Don't even get me started on that."

"You were an oracle? That's such an honorable job. Can I be one too?" Kuwabara took Misaki's hands in his own.

"Honorable? Ha! Tell that too Cassandra." Misaki jerked her hands away.

"Cassandra?" Yusuke asked.

"There is a Greek myth that the god Apollo fell in love with Cassandra and gave her the gift of foresight, the ability to see into the future. But she refused him and though he could not recall his gift, he cursed it, saying that she would foresee all of the horrible events of the future but no one would believe her." Kurama provided.

"Thank you Mister Almanac."

"You're welcome." Kurama knew she must have been feeling better in order to say that.

"Wow. So what's that mean?" Yusuke asked.

Misaki hit the back of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Being ignorant." she told him.

Hiei chuckled softly.

"You all might as well get some sleep. We'll get back to where we landed tomorrow."

"Do we get to fly again?" Kuwabara was eager. The three others who had gotten to fly looked at her for an answer.

Misaki shook her head, "I'm afraid not. One way trip, you know."

"Oh." Yusuke's face fell.

Everyone settled down to sleep.

Misaki stayed up, as usual, keeping watch.

It was comforting for her as the others lay sleeping to look at the stars twinkling over the ocean. She could hear the sea lapping up onto the shore, smell the salt on the air and a hint of memories she'd rather forget. Her heightened senses had returned to her. She listened closely and caught the slow and steady beating of five sleeping hearts. It was faint, but it was there. And it was comforting.

As before, once everyone awoke, they started off again, most of them enjoying the nice weather and the pleasant walk.

Since they knew where they were going, Misaki dropped back by herself, fingering Drake's dagger absently.

She didn't pay attention and she sliced open part of her finger. She stuck the finger in her mouth and looked at the blackened blade. Part of it instantly stained red.

Misaki stopped and looked around cautiously. Something was following them. She started walking again so that she didn't alert the others. They didn't seem to notice.

She glanced left and right as she walked but didn't see anything. She knew they were being watched.

Her body tensed as she heard a noise behind her. She dove forward and took Yukina down—as Yukina was only a few feet in front of her— shielding Yukina's body.

The others ducked as something whooshed over their heads and Misaki felt her hair rustle in the sudden wind. She looked up and saw a flash of gold rise above them and turn around to make another strike.

The golden dragon roared angrily. Its wings were tattered and its scales were grey around the edges.

Misaki pulled Yukina to her feet and pulled her aside, everyone dodging either left or right as the dragon swooped through them all.

"Go!" Misaki yelled.

They began running in the direction of where the birds landed.

The dragon bellowed and shot an arc of flames into the air as a warning.

"Keep running!" Misaki shouted at Kuwabara and Yusuke who were in the front of the pack.

Misaki allowed one glance behind her to see that the dragon was forced to recover from its dive as it hadn't compensated for their dodging its attack. That gave them a little more time.

Yusuke skidded to a halt as he somehow recognized the area. Kuwabara was close behind him.

"What now?!" He asked, talking above the dragon's beating wings.

The short sword of Drake's began to pulse and Misaki grabbed it. She ran forward, close to the water and jabbed the blade into the ground. She had enough strength to force it deep in the stone.

The earth beneath them rumbled and the sea began to churn. The waters started to part in a circle before the dagger.

"Hurry!" Misaki motioned at the hole.

Kuwabara took one look at the dragon, then the hole and decided his odds were better in the hole. He and Yusuke clambered down, then Misaki shoved Yukina in after them.

The dragon hurtled for them again. It opened its mouth and Misaki could hear it pulling in air and then she heard the tell-tale sound of fire coming from within.

"Duck!" Misaki commanded. She put a hand on Hiei and Kurama's backs, forcing them down. She placed herself in between them and the oncoming dragon.

They were almost knocked over by the force of the dragon's fiery breath. It spread over Misaki's back, but neither Hiei or Kurama were touched.

As the fire began to reside, Misaki gave them a small pushed towards the hole.

Kurama was surprised. Misaki didn't even seem to flinch and she had just gotten flamed.

Misaki caught his look, "The kimono, now go!"

Kurama nodded and disappeared into the hole.

"I'm a fire youkai." Hiei said bluntly.

Misaki had forgotten. The dragon flames would not have hurt him even if he had gotten hit. She nodded and Hiei jumped down.

Misaki's back arched in pain as the dragon slashed down her back. She could feel three wounds from her shoulder to her waist begin bleeding. She bit her lip and jerked the dagger from the ground, holding the hilt in one hand and putting the palm of the other hand underneath. She jabbed upward and felt the dagger sink into flesh. Steaming bits of acid blood dripped onto her shoulders, burning holes in the kimono.

The dragon screeched in pain and wheeled away from Misaki. It staggered through the air over the dark forest where it plummeted into the awaiting trees.

Misaki realized that the hole was shrinking in front of her. A hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed her arm, pulling her through.

--

Wow look, a decent stopping spot! And it's just about the right length too! w00tn3ss!

-Lotsm