Disclaimer: No, I do not own anything related to Inuyasha. I just watch the anime. The characters of Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi

Chapter 6: Sakura

Mika strode quickly through the hallways in search of Sakura. "I hope Taro and Souta find someone soon. We need to fix this. Lets see, where would Sakura be now? It is still early morning, so she would be meditating." Mika suddenly stopped in front of a door and knocked. A small voice from inside greeted her and granted entrance. Mika stepped through the door and shut it behind her.

She walked into a large room almost empty of furniture. The only person in the room was kneeling on a mat in front of a small shrine. A lit candle burned in front of the figure. "Greetings, Sakura," Mika began, "I regret to interrupt your meditations, but a situation needing you has formed."

"And which of my services do you require?" asked Sakura, without turning around. "There are better healers, better priestesses, and I know you do not need me to fight."

"The Boss needs your knowledge, Sakura."

"So I am to be an encyclopedia again."

"Sakura, you are one of the oldest priestesses alive. You know more spells and curses than any other priestess alive."

"Those can be found in books and scrolls, Mika."

"Only if you know what to look for."

Sakura turned around to face Mika. "What do you mean?"

"A priestess was attacked two weeks ago and has been in a magical coma ever since. The Boss found out today."

"Mika, that's not possible. No curse could be performed without the priestess Officers being aware. Who was the victim?"

"The priestess attacked was Kagome Higurashi."

"How could that happen? Mika, you do need my knowledge, let's hope it is enough."

Souta stared at the remains of the cabinet in shock. "I have to break the spell?"

"Yes, kid." Taro replied. "Apparently the Registry finds you the only possible candidate. Now, I said earlier that Sakura could train you, so that means you have to meet her first. Let's go."

I have to break the spell. Souta remained staring at the broken cabinet. Taro sighed and pulled Souta out the door and down the hallway. He seemed to know where he was going, so Souta numbly followed. They passed many doors without stopping, but Taro walked to one and knocked. A voice from inside said to enter so Taro opened the door, pulled Souta inside, and shut the door behind them.

Mika looked up to see Taro and a dazed Souta enter the chamber. "Mouse," she called, "this is Sakura, our most knowledgeable priestess. Sakura, this is our newest recruit, Mouse, he was the one who alerted us to Kagome's situation."

Souta finally snapped out of his daze to respond. "You may call me Souta, I'm not used to having a codename yet." He smiled at the woman dressed in loose white robes, her long black hair flowing down her back.

Sakura smiled back and nodded. "Very well. Taro, Mika was telling me about the situation. It seems it may be a binding spell. You know a human must perform the ritual, have you found a candidate?"

Taro nodded. "The Registry seemed to have issues finding someone. Apparently, kid here is the one. The cabinet even blew up trying to find a second choice."

"That certainly is unprecedented." Sakura replied. "It seems Souta is the only possible choice. How much training have you had, Souta?"

"None."

Sakura seemed startled by this. "The Registry does not usually choose untrained personnel. It usually does not even consider them. Why are you so special, Souta?"

"Kagome is my sister."

Mika nodded. "It does make sense for a family member to try harder than a stranger."

Sakura seemed satisfied. "Yes, Souta is the best choice. But first we need to know what happened. Taro, you and Mika go to the well house and try to find any remnants of the spell. Perhaps it left a clue to its caster there. But do not let anyone see you." Mika and Taro left the room, leaving Souta alone with the priestess.

Sakura continued. "Now then, Souta, while they are gone, you are going to learn how to release your spiritual energy. We need to know your capabilities." She gestured at the candle beside her. "I want you to stare at this candle. Empty your mind of every thought, every emotion; the only things that exist are the flame and my voice. Picture the flame growing, it is becoming hotter and more out of control. The candle is being burned away and the flames will spread around the room unless you stop it. You need to put out the flames by surrounding them with yourself, cut off its oxygen with your energy."

Souta stared at the candle, the little flame began to grow in size until fire began licking at the ceiling and walls. He reached out to touch the blaze, but as soon as his hand met the fire, it was extinguished.

Souta woke from his trance to find the fire gone, the unburned room full of smoke, and the candle a melted heap of wax on the floor. "Oops," he turned to Sakura sheepishly, "sorry about that."

"No apology needed, Souta." Sakura replied serenely, "You had the blaze under control, if a bit larger than necessary."

"What happened in here?" Taro called from the doorway. "We weren't gone for that long. Why all the smoke?"

"It seems young Mouse has an affinity for fire, and a large energy potential. He could probably banish any binding spell as needed." Sakura replied; she waved her hand and all the smoke disappeared. "What did you find at the shrine?"

Mika answered, "There was a voice calling on the wind. It was not a human or demon voice, more like a combination of whispers. It called out to us proudly and recited the spell."

Spirits across time and space

Seal me in an empty place

Waiting for the perfect time

To wreak vengeance that is mine

A shiver went through Souta at the words; he asked, "What does that mean?"

Sakura looked startled by the wording of the spell, but answered. "Your sister and her friends made many enemies. The powerful demons they angered wished revenge upon her, for she was the one holding the group together. But she could not be attacked physically, due to her many companions, and she was very in touch with her thoughts and emotions; this means any mental attacks would not succeed. Not to mention the fact that Kagome was a powerful priestess in her own right. This spell was the product of every jealous thought, every urge for vengeance on the untouchable priestess. All these evil intentions banded together and waited to attack your sister when she was without the support of her friends. And it has succeeded, unless you stop it."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

Sakura looked around the room, gauging what needed to be done. "Mika, Taro, go update Boss. The council needs to know about these revelations. Souta, follow exactly what I say and you will be able to help Kagome."

Sakura began her lesson. "A binding spell is not very powerful on its own; it needs to stay in its host. Once you exorcise it from Kagome you will have to banish it to another plane of existence. Both spells are simple incantations, but require a great deal of energy. The binding spell will not leave Kagome or this plane willingly, so be careful, Souta. In order to remove the spell from Kagome, you need something of hers, a personal possession that carries some of her power."

Souta reached into his pocket and pulled out the Jewel. "Will this work?"

Sakura glanced at the Jewel then looked at Souta in shock. "Goodness, you walked into a demon lair carrying the Sacred Jewel. Does the Boss know about this?"

"I may have forgotten to mention it to him, but Mika and Taro know. That's how they found me."

"They are going to be in trouble when the Boss finds out. He does not like surprises. And yes, the Sacred Jewel will work to restore Kagome. That may be the most appropriate choice. Back to my instructions, after exorcising the binding spell, it will lash out and try to take back its host or a new one. You need to know a shield to protect yourself and Kagome. Do not worry, that is one of the easiest spells to form. Once the binding spell is out in the open, with no chance of escape, you recite a few lines and this nightmare is over."

Souta took in the information. "That's all? It seems a little too easy."

"Souta, the hardest part is that you need to do this on your own. If anyone is with you, they become another possible host. In addition, this exorcism should be performed at the site where Kagome was struck down. That means at the well house, and any demons in the shrine will alert your family. Mika, Taro, and I can only watch from across the street."

Souta froze at all the possible ways it could go wrong. "I do not want to do this alone. What if something happens?"

"Relax, Souta, you will do nothing wrong. Only you can do this; if something does happen, you can try again. Now then, let me teach you all the spells needed so you can practice."