A/N: Well, this will be my first "epic" fanfic. Or should I say... my only fanfic with more than one chapter lol but I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think so I know whether this is a lost cause. Arigatou!

The Prophet
By: Ranichan

A tired band of warriors stumbled aimlessly among the foliage, seeking out a shard of the fabled jewel of four souls.
"Can we stop now?" Shippou groused childishly from his perch on Kagome's shoulder.
"How many times do I gotta tell ya!? We ain't stoppin' until we find that shard Kagome sensed earlier." Inuyasha growled back restlessly.
"Kagome!!" Shippou whined, cowering against her cheek.
"Inuyasha..." Kagome warned. She was too tired to argue. She turned her head warily toward him and as she did, she spotted a shock of electric blue race across the path. "Who... or what was that!?" she pondered, forgetting her fatigue. Inuyasha hadn't noticed it, or he at least showed no signs of acknowledging its presence. She twisted her head slightly once more and spotted a woman. She looked young but Kagome noticed something amiss in her eyes. "I've seen that woman somewhere... but... where?" She searched her memory as a war was being waged around her.
"Why you little!" Inuyasha growled as he lunged for the throat of the fox.
"I got it!" Kagome gasped as realization washed over her. She stopped in her tracks as Inuyasha fell just short of his prey and landed on the ground. "Inuyasha, what are you doing down there? I guess you're ready to set up camp, ne?"
Inuyasha grumbled into the ground as his companions set up camp laboriously.
As Kagome laid down her bed roll, she began to think, "I have seen that woman before. In the beginning of my journey before Inuyasha and I first entered Kaede's hut, I saw that woman exit the hut. That was before I found out that my mission in life was to protect the jewel and at that moment to seek out the shards and Inuyasha's job to fight for them. And now, this woman is following us.... Is she trouble? Could she be a demon? No, Inuyasha would definitely have noticed. I must... know... who... she is..." she thought as she drifted into a much needed slumber.
The Next Morning
"Wake up, we have to find that shard." Inuyasha instructed as he dropped nimbly from the branch he had spent the night on.
"Inuyasha, the shard is gone, It must have been Kouga or something, can we go back to Kaede's? I don't feel any more shards." Kagome yawned as she packed up her bed gear.
Inuyasha eyeballed her suspiciously but his stomach roared and he realized that their rations were low. "I could use some more top ramen..." he reasoned as he gave in.
Back At The Hut
The group idly moseyed around the village as Kagome eagerly sat in Kaede's hut.
"Calm yourself, child." Kaede chuckled softly as Kagome hovered over her, monitoring her every move. "What do ye need of me?"
"Kaede, do you remember the first time we were in your hut after the jewel was shattered?" Kagome questioned.
"In my old age, my memory be not what it used to but... aye, I recall." Kaede answered, settling herself across from the curious youth, tea in hand.
"There was a woman who left your hut before we came in... who was she? Umm... she wore bright robes with long, dark hair and...." Kagome began before she was interrupted by Kaede's acknowledging nod.
"Aye, child, I know who ye speak of." Kaede answered as she sipped at her tea.
"Well... I saw her following us earlier and Inuyasha didn't even notice her. I think she may have been following us for a while. Who is she?" Kagome explained in an excited jumble.
"Well, of course Inuyasha didn't feel her. She has been a part of him since birth; she has grown to be a part of him. I'm sure he sensed something while growing but he has gotten used to her. Why do ye think he can't sense the flea servant? Aye, she be the one who revealed your destiny." At the puzzled look on Kagome's face, Kaede continued. "She told me that Inuyasha and ye were the ones capable to retrieve the jewel safely. True, ye have the Sight and Inuyasha, the strength, but how did I know you'd work together? How do ye think I knew Inuyasha wouldn't run off with the completed Shikon no Tama? An old lady like me would not be so foolish, lest I be reassured of his loyalty. She, the woman who has followed you both since birth, who revealed your fate to me... she... is the Prophet..." Kaede sighed searching into the eyes of the young woman before her.
To Be Continued....
A/N: For those of you who actually read these things... these characters don't belong to me except the prophet, she is mine, mine I tell you! But let me know what you think and whether I should continue. I already started the continuation but want to know if I should post it. Let me know! Oh and the next few chapters will be much better! haha!

Ja ne!