Part 4

Deception

I was back at Koga's cave and saw him sitting with his tribe and wolves. "This is it, we search for her starting now. When you find Jesse, bring her to me. I don't care if it's dead or alive, but alive would be better because then I could put her out of her own misery!" The tribe all jumped up and ran out of the cave. Koga grinned, "The Shikon Crystal will soon be mine...." I turned and I saw Fushichou appear next to him. "So?" Koga asked him, not moving.

"She heads north and has a large lead on the pack, but she rests for now. If the tribe is quick they might be able to come near to her."

Koga nodded, "You and I shall go, the two of us together should be good enough to make it to her before she awakes...."

My eyes widened, "No....."

There was a flash and I was back at Kerena's camp. Yuukei surveyed the ground and sighed, "She hasn't been here for awhile, but her scent is stronger from the north.....she's mine......"

Sesshomaru nodded, "Let us go then." I went to say something but was standing by the well. Kirara and Tanbun jumped out of the well as Kirara transformed into her real form, a large cat-like demon. She looked around as Tanbun jumped on her back and she flew into the air. They hovered there for a few seconds, then turned and headed north towards me as well.

Back in my own era I saw Hikari and Seiun with all of our parents. "She must be caught and punished for what she has done," Seiun stated.

Hikari nodded, "Don't worry, with Sesshomaru, Yuukei, Tanbun, and Kirara on her trail, we'll have Tetsusaiga and the Shikon Jewel back in no time."

My mother sighed, "She might have already been killed another demon after the sword and jewel."

"Don't worry about her Kagome, she's fine, if she's a half-breed then she'll be okay....until we get ahold of her, that is." They all laughed as I returned to the clearing I was in.

I sat up and gasped for breath, "Was just a dream.....or was it real?"

"You already know the answer to that, Jesse. They are all after your Crystal and Hikage Tetsusaiga, now that you have transformed them, with those two weapons a demon would be unstoppable. They could take over the Feudal Japan era along with yours in no time at all...."

"They're all against me? They want to kill me? Yes....they are after them, they're jealous of the power I possess. They wish to obtain it for their own welfare....just like Kerena and her tribe."

"Exactly...." the voice said quietly. I stood up and felt a new power inside of me. I welcomed it into myself and concentrated on what I had to do, destroy those who opposed me. I transformed into my dog-like form and ran off into the distance.

I came upon a village not to far from the well I first used to enter the Feudal Era through. I ran into the village and began to attack the people of the village. "Lady Kaede, it's a demon!" I growled and ran towards her at full speed. She held up a rosary necklace and said a few words. I turned into my human form and the crystal glowed brightly. The rosary beads repelled off me and returned to the priestess.

"Your pathetic anti-demon chants won't work on me, I possess the Shikon Crystal."

"What does ye mean, Shikon Crystal, demon? Ye mean the Shikon Jewel?!"

"Hell no!" I retaliated, "The Shikon Crystal is a much more powerful stone created by my powers fusing with the jewel....now enough talk, this is it! You're all done for!" I unsheathed the tetsusaiga and it transformed into its true form. I smirked, "You messed with the wrong dog demon!" I ran at the priestess, ready to kill.

"STOP IT JESSE! THEY'RE NOT THE ONES WHO WISH TO POSSESS THE CRYSTAL!" I stopped and glared at the small kitsune standing in front of the priestess.

"BACK OFF SHIPPO! THIS ISN'T ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

"NO, BUT IT BECOMES OURS WHEN YOU THREATEN OUR FRIENDS!"

"WHOMEVER TOLD YOU THAT WE'RE YOUR ENEMIES WAS LYING! DON'T LISTEN TO THEM, JESSE!" Tanbun exclaimed appearing with Kirara.

I turned and ran at them, "You two are the first ones on my list!"

"Listen to me, Jesse, we're not the ones you're after!" he said quieter, "We're on your side!" I lunged at him but was reflected by another sword.

"Tensaiga!" I yelled looking around, "Yuukei, where are you hiding?!"

"I'm not hiding, Cuz, I'm right here," he said appearing in front of me and grabbing the tensaiga.

"Don't Cuz me! You're all in on it together, all of you!" Sesshomaru appeared behind me and grabbed me. I dropped the tetsusaiga and Yuukei retrieved it as Tanbun pulled the crystal off my neck. I screamed and bit Sesshomaru on the hand, in which he released me. I turned and glared at them all, "YOU ARE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!" I began to change into my dog demon form again but stopped when I saw another vision.

"NO, FUSHICHOU!" Koga yelled running and jumping in front of Fushichou.

"KOGA!"

"AH!!!"

"NO!!!!" Fushichou howled as Koga dropped to the ground, killed by me, "JESSE, WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU KILLED KOGA!!!"

As I stared at Koga's lifeless image and it began to change. I watched as everything around us changed to the night of Kaminari's death, and Koga's body became Kaminari's. "No...it can't be....I didn't kill him....."

"Didn't you?! He was protecting you from the demons that night....it's your fault he's dead.....you killed him, Jesse. If you weren't so weak he might still be alive, but no, you're just a pathetic little dog demon who runs away with her tail between her legs!"

I screamed and dropped to the ground, "I DO NOT! I DON'T RUN FROM ANYTHING! I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH.....!!!" Everyone got quiet and watched me. "I-I just can't be....." I sobbed, "Kaminari, I didn't--I swear, it's not my fault, please......oh, Kaminari, why can't you be here with me?"

"But I am, Jesse, maybe not in person, but I am here with you and I always will be. I protected you that night because I knew of the powers that laid dormant inside you, all you needed to release them was to be pushed over the edge. That night you saved Fushichou and Koga's tribe, your powers were released. Sure, you're not at your full potential yet, but you'll get there. Jesse, you can't let those images get to you, the evil which has plagued the Feudal Japan era, is causing those images....causing demons of all types to go insane......you can't fall victim to them, you're not that weak! Stand up and be strong! Make me proud, Nobara!"

I sat on the ground for about ten minutes before I got the strength and the courage to stand. I kept my head bowed as I spoke to my comrades, "Take the crystal and sword back to my parents, but leave me be. I belong in this world....." And with that I disappeared into the night, hoping to get as far away from all demons, animals, or humans that I may try to hurt. Finally I came to a spot where I couldn't sense anyone or anything's presence so I stopped there for the night. I laid back and stared up at the cloudless sky, "I can't believe it, after all this time, Kaminari is still watching over me." I wiped my eyes and smiled, "But I guess I knew he was all along, he was always there for me before, so why would his passing stop him?" I started to doze off when I felt a familiar presence. I sat up and concentrated on it, trying to figure out who it might be.