Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do own any characters that I made up.

Kiniro Sakura

Chapter Twenty-Six: Destiny

~Dream Sequence~

An adult-like Sakura looked back at the burning village as she ran across the field. The transparent Sakura watched herself run, wondering why she was running. Suddenly she jumped when a voice spoke inside her head.

"Sakura, this is what will happen in the future if you do not defeat Naraku. He will enslave you and wipe your memories away. You must defeat him or give up the power to someone else. What do you chose?"

Sakura's eyes widened as she surveyed the scene before her.

"What will happen if I chose to fulfill my destiny?" She asked the voice quietly.

"If you chose to defeat Naraku, you will become the Goddess of Power and will have to defeat many more enemies that will come to try and take your place as Goddess. There are a few catches to this though. The main one that we Gods and Goddesses are concerned about is you giving up your love for Lord Sesshoumaru." The voice spoke after a few minutes of silence. Sakura's eyes started to glaze over with sadness but brightened when she thought of the second option.

"What if I chose to give this power to someone else?" She asked quickly.

"If you chose to give this power to another, you and the person you have chosen will have to be in a ceremony of sorts and you must transfer the power to that person. However, the person that you transfer it to must be a miko with extraordinary power, like that Kagome girl you travel with. She would be the perfect example."

"Will she have to give up her love-life and friends?"

"That depends on what happens. If she manages to defeat Naraku on her own, she will be able to live as a mortal with her lover and friends. And before you ask, you cannot do this because you are the one the power was intended to go to. She will still be the protector of the Shikon no Tama, but can live a normal life. I was once the protector of the Shikon and I am getting old and losing my powers. It is your job to fulfill the job given to you, by either choice. Witch do you chose?" Sakura closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

"Can I tell you in one days time? I need some time to think about this..." She asked and looked up at the cloud-filled night sky. The voice did not answer her but instead a figure loomed before her. She closed her eyes from the bright light and gasped when she opened them. Floating in front of her was a beautiful woman with long, white hair. She had warm blue eyes, but they had hidden wisdom, strength, and a deep sadness within them. Sakura did not question the sadness but waited for the woman to speak.

"I am Atalanta, Goddess of Power. I sometimes reside in the Shikon, I believe I have talked to you before, when you and Suzuran were trying to steal the Shikon. I will grant you your wish and will visit you again in one days time. Be prepared to give me your answer. I will be watching over you and protecting you. Farewell." The figure slowly faded away and Sakura reawakened to the living world.

~End of Dream Sequence~

Sakura gave a short cry and sat up, drenched in sweat. She sat with wide eyes, shaking slightly. She sighed and closed her eyes as warm arms embraced her from behind. She leaned back into Sesshoumaru's chest and reopened her eyes only to stare at curious golden orbs that stared back at her.

"Did you have another bad dream?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly while stroking her hair.

"Not really. I was visited by the Goddess of Power, Atalanta. She showed me what would happen in the future if I did not defeat Naraku. She gave me two choices, fulfill my destiny and forever live in sadness without you, or chose another to carry the power and defeat Naraku. I want to stay with you, but I don't want to give all of this power to a young girl like Kagome. I know that Kagome has more than enough power to defeat Naraku, but it will just be a burden of sadness to her. What should I do Fluffy-chan?" She whispered as tears started making their way down her face. Sesshoumaru lifted her chin up with his hands and wiped away her tears.

"Do what your heart tells you to do, little one." He said and gently kissed her forehead. Sakura looked up at him and smiled slightly but it soon turned into a frown.

"Sesshoumaru, me and the girls where talking today and I was wondering, um, if you, er, never mind." Sakura said and looked away, a blush tinting her cheeks. She gasped slightly when she felt Sesshoumaru nuzzle her neck.
"You were wondering if I would chose you as my mate?" He asked her as he trailed butterfly kisses along her neckline.

"How'd you know?"

"I have excellent hearing and you females were pretty loud. I'm sure the others heard it as well." He said with a chuckle. Sakura nodded and closed her eyes as Sesshoumaru kissed her full on the lips. When the two broke for air, a cough was heard. Sakura and Sesshoumaru looked into the eyes of a smirking Suzuran and Sakura blushed a deep red.

"Would you two try to quiet down a little? Or at least find somewhere else to pronounce your love to each other?" She said mischievously. If possible, Sakura's blush deepened and glared at Suzuran.

"Suzuran, I wish you would stop eavesdropping. And spying. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were watching because you wanted to fantasize that you would do this with Kouga-kun, right?" Sakura smirked as Suzuran blushed and looked away.

"I-I don't know what y-your talking a-about. I do not like Kouga-chan in that way." Suzuran covered her mouth and Sakura's smirk got bigger.

"So it's -chan now? When did you become so close to Kouga-kun?" She asked with a smile. Suzuran glared at her and left to go lay down under a tree, witch was, unsurprisingly, close to where Kouga was sleeping. Sakura giggled slightly and looked at Sesshoumaru with a yawn.

"I think that Suzuran and Kouga would make the perfect couple, don't you think so Fluffy-chan?" Sakura asked as she laid her head onto Sesshoumaru's shoulder and closed her eyes. Sesshoumaru kissed her once more before leaning back against the tree with Sakura in his lap.

"I think that they would be good for each other, especially their attitudes. Ashiteru, Sakura." Sesshoumaru whispered and closed his eyes as well.

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Okay, okay. This chapter was mostly filled with fluff and information but it is important to the fic. I'm sorry if Sesshoumaru is OOC but it's so hard to do a romance with a hot bishounen that doesn't show any emotions!*Cough* Er, next chapter should be out soon. Ja and please review! Animechick8