[Disclaimer: Inu Yasha is not mine. Nope. Well.... Nope, thought I had it there.]

What It Takes To Be Whole

Chapter 3: The Black Priestess

"How do you know so much?" Kagome inquired. Human Inu Yasha looked into her eyes. His black hair flowed elegantly around his face like the embrace of lovers. His eyes were a sharpness in the midst of his gentle good looks.

"I felt it," he whispered to her. "I felt the jewel touch me, and for a brief moment, I had power," Even if it wasn't the truth, it flowed so tenderly from his mouth, Kagome would have accepted anything that he said. "I knew what it tried to do, but I didn't.." he hesitated. "I didn't want to be killed so easily. Before the Jewel could kill me, I took its power and made myself another entity," Kagome could understand the pain, but when she looked over at Demon Inu Yasha, he was unsympathetic. He was angry.

"You mean you're the one who is responsible for this?!!" he yelled. "You should've died you bastard!"

"What did you call me?!" he fired back. Kagome stepped between the two.

"Stop it!" she yelled. "You're the same person!" Honestly, Kagome did not know what to do. What could she possibly do or say to this? She knew someone was going to die, and was there no way of solving this simply.

"What do you suppose we do, Kagome?" Demon Inu Yasha asked furiously. She wished that she had an answer.

"Let's go see Kaede," she suggested. "It's the only thing I can think of,"

"Hmph," the two Inu Yasha grunted at this option, but didn't object. So began a short yet tedious journey to Kikyo's sister.

***

The moon was setting, the air filled with the burning scent of fire and wood. Kaede sat with a stern look on her face, fixated on the wild blaze that danced in before her.

"The Youkai and the Ningen, the halves to the same Hanyou," Kaede spoke swiftly and reverently.

"What?" Kagome asked in confusion. The two Inu Yashas sat around the same flame, listening intently to Kaede's every word.

"A Youkai is a demon," she answered. "Inu Yasha, your purple markings are a sign of your father's heritage, your demonic power and manipulation over the weaker," His eyes showed Kaede that he understood, and now that he could not grasp Tetsusaiga, it was proof that her words were true. "A Ningen, is a human. Your black hair and human ears represent your mother, and her devotion to love and harmony," Kagome had rarely seen Inu Yasha's Ningen personality, but she had seen it. She had fallen in love with his compassion, his hidden honesty and sincerity.

"I don't care what we are," Youkai stated violently. "How do I stay like this?" Inu Yasha's arrogance was a bred characteristic of the Youkai.

"Kaede," spoke Ningen. "I felt the power of the jewel touch me. It was horrific," Kaede nodded. She knew that the Jewel of Shikon had massive destructive powers. How Ningen survived its encounter was still unknown to her.

"Something must have kept you alive," she said. "I have never in my lifetime heard of such a rarity,"

"Does that mean you have NO IDEA of what we should do?!" screamed Youkai fiercely. "Psh, it figures a worn out priestess like you would say something like that,"

"If you do not want my help, you can leave," Youkai was faced with very little option. He stayed seated and sulked in annoyance. Kaede returned her gaze to the prancing flames. Kagome sighed. Her options were growing thinner, and with the Youkai's ignorance corrupting his judgement, both Ningen and he would die before tomorrow's nightfall.

"Please, Kaede," Kagome pleaded. "Is there not anything you can do?" She was desperate for her help, and her insistence only hurt Kaede more when she had nothing to offer.

"There isn't anything more I can do," she said sorrowfully. "But I can give you more time," Kagome looked into her eyes, a renewed passion growing in her soul.

"How? Tell me how," she begged. Kaede held out the Jewel, which Ningen had given her earlier. She dropped it in the flame, and they turned cold and blackened with dark energy.

"Oh!" gasped Kagome. The Inu Yashas could also not help but be amused by the fiery transformation. Kaede walked over to the edge of the hut, and gently touched the door. Quietly humming, a cold wind blew through the hut, and the flames returned to their original scarlet beauty. She turned and face the group, and began to speak.

"This place has been blessed," she said quietly. "As long as one of either Youkai, or Ningen stay here with the gem in that fire, the other can travel and survive for 5 days," Youkai was the first to jump up.

"Then why didn't you do that in the first place?!!!" his anger was misplaced but contagious.

"Inu Yasha!" Kagome shouted at him. He turned around to face her. A small pause followed.

"Sit boy," she said. After he had plummeted to the floor she realized that only the Youkai still had the beads around his neck.

'They must only affect the Youkai,' thought Kagome. Ningen had spoken very little, and she recognized Inu Yasha's sensitive side in him.

"Kaede," said Ningen peacefully. He hadn't said much, and he had been absorbing every word Kaede spoke. "Even with 5 days, there is nothing we can do?"

"There is nothing I can do," she said. "But maybe if you can get the help of the Black Priestess, then you may have a chance,"

"The Black Priestess?" asked Kagome.

"Yes, a rival priestess of Kikyo's," she said. "Because of that, there is little chance she will be willing to lend you her powers," Kagome looked at Ningen.

"There is no choice," Ningen said. "If there is any chance that we can co-exist, then we must search her out," Kaede knew that he would say that. Either each of them can live for 5 days outside this hut and return exhausted of life, or they can take their chances and seek the Black Priestess. Youkai groaned and picked himself off the ground, obviously irritated from Kagome's command.

"Just tell me where the Priestess is," he mutters. "Now,"

"There are only rumours," Kaede responded. "But she is said to reside somewhere in the North Ashuran Mountains,"

"What?!" yelled Youkai. "You don't even know where she is?" Kagome sighed. It seemed as if he'd never learn. "Ugh let's just get this over with and GO,"

"Hey, what says you get to go?" Ningen asked. "What says I can't go?"

"Because I'm stronger,"

"But I have Tetsusaiga!"

"So WHAT?!"

"STOP IT!" shouted Kagome. "Until you too can settle it, I'm going alone, and I'm also going to bed," She walked out of the hut storming. The night was still young, hopefully with the rising of the sun, their problems will have eased slightly more.

To Be Continued

Thanx for reading the third chapter. Please review, and I'll make sure to update soon. Thanx again!