Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters. It's sad but the truth hurts.
Chapter 8- Kaede's Premonition
Inuyasha stepped across the cool wooden floor, into the front room. A thin stretch of light flickered from a dwindling candle, and Lady Kaede was situated in the sickly glow. Her back hunched protectively over the table, and thick scratching noises of a quill against scrolls, escaped around her. 'What is she doing at this hour?' The Hanyou asked himself. "Lady Kaede?" He called out loud, but there was no answer. A gust of chilled wind snaked into the hut and extinguished the candle, but the scratching sound continued.
Getting worried, Inuyasha reached for the priestess's shoulder to grab her attention, but before his hand made contact, she whipped around so spontaneously that it caused him to stumble backwards.
"HE WILL LEAVE BY THE FOURTH NIGHT FALL!" Lady Kaede hissed as instantly as she turned around. "YOU MUST TAKE YE CHANCES AND LEAVE FIRST THING THIS MORNING OR YOU'LL LOSE HIS TRACK!" As though her own life had fled with her warning, Kaede fell limp, but Inuyasha caught her before she hit the floor.
"Kaede are you ok?!" The Hanyou cried out in alarm.
"What happened?!" Kagome skidded into the room, haunted by the raspy sound of Kaede's booming voice. In a frenzy, Miroku and Sango tumbled in just as Kagome went around to relight the candle.
"I don't know what happened. She was writing something down when I came out here. At first I thought it was some last minute letter, but then her candle went out and she didn't even flinch. Well, not until she whirled around and began to shout. Did you guys hear what she said?" Inuyasha lifted his wide eyes from Lady Kaede to the others.
"Yes, we did," Miroku confirmed and Kagome backed him up with a nod of her head. "It was most peculiar. It sounded to me like she was having a vision, or a premonition as some would call it. I've seen it happen before to more than just priestess, but never from Kaede."
"Who do you think she was talking about?" Sango asked while wringing her hands out of worry.
"I think we all have an idea, but we can't be sure until we ask Lady Kaede," Everyone understood Kagome's undertone hint towards Naraku, and bobbed their heads forwards in unison. "Maybe we should heed her warning, and begin to pack just until she wakes up." The statement could have almost been a question by the way the words crinkled Kagome's face.
"No, no that's not necessary," Miroku guaranteed in a voice of sincerity. "In every case I've seen this happen, she should be waking up in 3... 2..." Sooner than the monk could finish dwindling down in numbers, the priestess awoke feeling a hundred years older than she already was. Everyone's face, including Miroku's, dropped in dismay. "I missed my mark, but I never miss my mark. They always wake up on one. Kaede what is wrong with you?" The monk turned his blame onto the priestess, who stretched out her legs to release some of the strain.
"We'll worry about that later when it is life threatening!" Sango proved once again she had a higher understanding of morals, and with a single swift yank, she jerked the monk forwards to where he was needed to help heave Lady Kaede to her feet. He grudgingly accepted the task, but continued a static of mumbling to himself.
"Oh, thank you boys. I've learned my lesson about trying to complete things at night. I'll fall asleep on the floor again, and my back just can't take it like before. So I'm going to go rest, and begin breakfast when the sun finishes coming up," She said full heartily, but there was plenty of struggle in her waddle towards her room.
"Wait Kaede, don't you remember what happened at all?" The total confusion weighted the Hanyou's head to a sideways tilt.
"Don't fret about it Inuyasha. She won't remember; that's why they always write it down, or tell it to other people." Miroku's words of enlightenment caused Lady Kaede to stray coldly from her movement. She made quick steps towards the monk, and jabbed him rudely in the chest with her finger.
"Do not make jokes about old age, for it will happen to you one day too." The priestess ground her finger against his bone with every pressing word. Miroku lightly swatted her finger away and pulled back defensively.
"Ouch, please Kaede!" He murmured as he rubbed his new burse.
"Oh my, I'm sorry Miroku," the priestess rubbed the back of her neck like she was embarrassed. "I am afraid I lost myself there for a second. I suppose I could really use some sleep."
"No, I understand Lady Kaede. Slight grouchiness is a temporary side effect from having a premonition." The monk twisted his strand of words around his fingers, and glanced up at the priestess.
"Premonition? I had a vision?" Kaede's voice dropped so low that she was practically mouthing her speech.
"Yes, and you almost gave us a heart attack." Kagome wrapped her arm around Kaede, and cupped her hand over her own heart with a relived sigh.
"I am sorry, but what did I say?" the priestess asked amused by the thought.
"We're actually not sure what it was about, because we haven't read what you were writing yet," Sango confessed. "It's still sitting on the table." Lady Kaede turned and grabbed at the parchment greedily.
"This is exciting; I've never done something like this!" Everyone gathered closely as she read out loud.
"In a journey three days time you will walk swim and climb
to a castle among a meadow over caste by a mountain's shadow.
Follow the sun's first position to find the castle on your mission
Inside, the demon, Naraku, resides.
He will not stay inside the walls..."
"That's where it ends. There is just a sharp line of ink leading off the paper." Lady Kaede's eyes fell into a disappointed slant.
"Actually, that's not where it ends," Inuyasha stepped forward. "When I disturbed you, you told me that he, Naraku, would leave by the forth night fall, and we should leave by morning or we would lose his track. Then you just kind of fell over." The Hanyou made a wilting motion with a limp hand.
"Well, what are you all still waiting for? Quickly everyone pack; the sun will be up soon!" The priestess shooed everyone, and started ripping through ingredients while muttering something about traveling meals.
"But Lady Kaede..." Kagome addressed the frantic priestess nervously.
"Huh?" Kaede popped up from a bag of flour that had already lightly dusted her forehead with a white powder.
"What if this is a trap?" Kagome shifted her weight back to her heels, "What happens then?"
"The spirits would not lie child," the priestess informed her. "Now everyone run along and attend to their last minute preparations."
"But Lady Kaede," Miroku stepped in. "Kagome has a point. I am sure the spirits were telling the truth, but that still doesn't mean Naraku isn't expecting us."
"If we stay here we will lose his track for a good time, and that could be more dangerous." Sango observed.
"Yes and if we can't find him to kill him, then I may be stuck here forever." Kagome agreed.
"We wouldn't want that now would we?" Inuyasha whispered sarcastically in a low grumble.
"Oops, I didn't mean it that way. I..."
"I'm sorry you two, but we don't have time right now," Kaede interrupted "So it's settled. You all will leave today, and if you think of any more objections, we'll discuss them AFTER you pack." Everyone silently headed back towards the rooms they were occupying before the priestess creepy wake up call.
Kagome shoved a few stray socks into the extra pockets of her yellow bag. "I'm really sorry Inuyasha," She began to apologize after taking notice of the Hanyou's fidgety movement in the corner. "I didn't mean I want to leave ya'll here. It's just that my..."
"Your mom is worried sick. Yeah yeah, I know." He spoke into his lap. Kagome smiled sweetly, and abandoned her bulky bag for a moment to join him on the floor.
"I'm glad you understand," She sighed contently, and rested her head against the red material cloaking his shoulder. "Hey," she poked Inuyasha playfully in the ribs. "Don't you have some packing to do yourself?"
"Feh, I don't carry much more than the Tetsusaiga with me." He shrugged.
"What's the Tetsusaiga?" She asked sitting up.
"It's my sword," He grinned, and patted the sword's sheath attached to his waist.
"Oh, well we better be joining the others again. Lady Kaede seems really excited about her lead on Naraku, and I'm not sure she'll wait for us." Kagome laughed to herself before fetching her yellow bag. "C'mon," She waved for the lazy Hanyou to get up, and he followed her out.
The morning sun was already washing the night's grime away from the wooden floor when Kagome set her bag down next to the hut's exit. "Are Sango and Miroku ready yet?" She asked.
"Yes, they are outside," Lady Kaede sank back in a chair in utter frustration. "The sun has already begun the day without us, and the food, I am making, will not be done in time. I can not send you out without something in your pockets."
"You don't have to worry about that," Kagome thought for a moment. "I have plenty of food, which never goes bad, in my backpack."
"Oh, you are wonderful child!" The priestess embraced Kagome in a bear hug, before pushing her out the door along with Inuyasha. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Would you mind watching Buyo for me while we are gone? I'm not sure where he is right now, but Shippo will probably keep him occupied...speaking of Shippo, do you know where he is? I would like to say good bye to him before we leave." Kagome glanced over Lady Kaede's shoulder, hoping to see the little fox demon inside the hut.
"The little one probably tired himself out, and fell asleep somewhere. I'll let him know you said good bye." The priestess hugged everyone a few more times before turning them out on their journey with wishes of luck.
A/N: Thanks to-
Avey- Sorry I'm writing as fast as I can. I had a huge Bio test this week, so I was slowed down.
ilovecaptainjacks- Haha, I hope so.
PS.: Please review!