Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from InuYasha

Strange Interlude

Chapter 15

!#$Jennifer%&()

Blackness. An echoing vast of emptiness. The void was full of nothing, so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Falling through the darkness I began to drown in its emptiness, suffocating in the void.

There was no sound, nothing to see; I couldn't feel heat or cold nor could I breathe. I was drowning in the silence of the dark. Suspended and dizzy, I floated through the nothingness. Until...

Until I saw a small glow of light and a pale human-shaped hand lash out in front of me. The hand shone brightly like rays from a full moon. My eyes squinted in the sudden brightness, but I could see the hand reaching for me. I was then filled with the sudden urge to grasp that hand. It was as if my life depended on at least touching its angelic grace.

I saw my own hand reach for the glowing one. My own hand. Not the short, stubby five-year-old hand, but my own eighteen year-old one. I glanced down at my body, and it, too, was my own. I was back to normal. I was no longer that tiny girl, but my own self. But...my new body won't mean a thing if I were to die here.

With renewed confidence, I looked back to the outstretched, clawed hand. Its aura shone with such brilliance that it intensified the darkness of the realm. As the seconds passed, I strained my arm out farther to try and touch the hand. I was suffocating, and the light-wrapped hand was the only that might be able to save me.

With the rest of my waning strength I lunged out and finally touched the hand. When our fingertips touched, my empty body was filled with light. From this small amount of contact, the hand of light reached out and fully took mine. Our fingers entwined and my icy, numb body was suddenly warmed by the hand's comforting flesh. The light and warmth of the pale long-fingered hand lit my body and my vision became clearer. I could almost see to whom the saving hand belonged.

Through the dark, I could almost see the piercing eyes, the impossibly long hair, the red, facial stripes, and the fur cloak. I knew this man in the flowing red and white robes, but from where? As my mind tried to wrap itself around the name, I began to feel extremely dizzy and light-headed. I felt as if I were about to faint. My vision blurred and my fingers and body fell numb. No matter how hard I tried to breathe, I always found that there was no air. Even the immense warmth emanating from the saving hand could not stop the growing cold of the darkness.

My eyelids drooped and my fingers began to slip. My brain buzzed from the lack of oxygen. My insides felt like they were about to burst out into the emptiness. The excruciating pain of asphyxiation was taking hold of my mind—I could think of nothing else. My head was swirling, there was a huge lump in the back of my throat. I felt like screaming, but I couldn't. I was dying and all the while my grip on the gentle hand slackened more and more. It was not long before our fingers separated completely.

After that, any hope left was gone. I was now free falling in the darkness, the once bright, angelic, hand now fading away like my vision.

"Goodbye," I mouthed, since I had no air to speak.

Then, as if the entire cosmos had been ripped open, a deep whisper echoed through the void, "No."

My vision cleared and I saw the hand rush out for me once more. It shot toward me and snatched a hold of my wrist. But the man's grip did nothing to stop me from falling, and although his familiar light and warmth returned to my hollow body, I was still without air and was ready to pass out.

"No," he repeated, violently yanking on my limp and lifeless wrist, trying to drag me out of the darkness. The hand moved faster and faster, pulling me higher and higher. The world of darkness rushed all around me, but I couldn't see a thing. My lungs ached and my head was heavy, but there was a something strange about the new light that seemed to outpour from the tightly grasping hand. It was hurried, it was rushed, but what was more was that it seemed to be taking in the darkness of the void, and spreading light out into it.

The void's new light was collecting itself in front of us, forming a swirling glowing hole.

{A light at the end of the tunnel? Then I am dead.}

"No," the voice replied, softer than before.

Pulling even faster, we arrived at the Great Light and I was engulfed in its whiteness. My entire body reveled in this new rapture as my lungs filled with delicious oxygen. In this light I was suspended in joy, and after regaining my breath, for the first time I gazed fully upon my savior. Like an angel, he stood, blinding me with his brilliance.

"You must live," he spoke, embracing me with only one arm. He leaned down and whispered again in my ear, "You must live."

"Nn," I responded in agreement, "I will...Sesshomaru."

!#$%&()

In the darkness of an empty room sat a man so evil that the mere mention of his name would send shudders down the backs of all those nearby. Also in that room was the still body of a five-year-old girl. In the dark silence the vile half-demon stared at this small corpse awaiting its revival.

With a giant gasp and a bursting forth of re-consciousness, the child's eyes flashed open as her chest lurched forward. The demon Naraku's eyes widened eagerly. The girl's spasmodic body settled back to the bed and her soulless eyes closed.

Naraku chuckled, {No more than thirty minutes from now, my dream will be a reality.}

He spoke to the once-again limp body, "Little maiden, can you hear me?"

!#$Jennifer%&()

My world was dark again. I had been thrown from my white angel's embrace back into the darkness. Had I died after all? No...I was still breathing and I could feel the weight of my body under me. I tried to see if I could move my fingers, my arms, or my legs, but I found that I couldn't even open my eyes.

But...I could hear a voice. The voice was calling for me, but it was not the deep, smooth voice of my guardian angel, this voice was cold and uncaring. Although I could hear this man's voice, I could not distinguish any words that were spoken. It was disgusting to listen to, but as the voice continued to sound through my head, it became louder and I found myself inevitably drawn to it.

The louder the voice got, the more attune my senses became, until I could finally understand the man's words.

"Little maiden, can you hear me?"

I strained my senses and although I was still unable to open my eyes, I knew what was in the room. I could fell the futon under my body and the foul soul kneeling beside it. I dared not answer him, for I did not know what he would do.

"I know you can hear me," he said. "Say something."

I searched myself and sought to speak, but I could find no way to use my mouth. The man seemed to realize my plight and spoke, "Your body may not move, but you can still speak. In this state, your thoughts are as loud as words."

Wh-what do you mean? What's going on? Why can't I move my body?

"The body you inhabit is no longer your own. It is asleep and as the parasitic consciousness you have no control over that body's functions," he said quite coolly.

 What do you mean? 'Parasitic consciousness' then...then...that other person is the real me?

"Yes, the mind that matches your current body is the true you. You, right now, are a parasite of the littler you, but don't worry, this is only temporary."

But why am I here in the first place? Why am I in this little body? What are you planning to do? Are you some weird pedophile?

He ignored my last statement, "Ah, you see. It is all part of the Great Prophecy. I need you, and in order for you to do as you're told, the age-reversal spell is wholly necessary."

Age reversal magic?

"Yes, by reverting you to your former self, your mind as well as your body became small and immature. The spell will wear off, and as it does you will 'grow up', so to speak, and your new matured mind will be shaped around what I have taught it, making you my pawn," he said maniacally with a tinge of glee in his voice.

Then...then why am I—I mean—my mind stuck in this body?

"Something happened during the setting of the spell. Your will was too strong to be totally controlled, causing the resurgence of your former consciousness. And so I set the final curse: ripping the soul away from your body."

Here he paused as if to add drama.

Clearly annoyed with my commentary, he continued, "It is already too late, I have set the spell and nothing can be done to un-set it. Before long you will be dead—unable to think or breathe—in fact you will no longer exist. There is quite a time lapse between then and now, which explains your present state of being. You are now nothing but a parasite to this human, and a parasite must be exterminated.

"But do not worry because that worm of a soul of yours will soon slither away from you and all will be better. And when that happens, your body will become no more than a shell of your former self and, like a puppet, will obey my every command, my eager tool."

Hearing him talk only wanted to make me laugh. This guy was high on similes and metaphors-- that was for sure. But...I couldn't help but feel frightened all the same. According to him, I'm...I'm going to die.

"You are afraid...as well you should be. Your sarcasm and humor will do nothing for you here—I know your thoughts."

Then answer the question that I have been asking myself this entire time! Why am I here? Why go to all this trouble over a stupid human?

"You have use here in this place and era. It was no accident that you came to pass into this world.

"Long ago there was an old Chinese oracle, infamous for her visions coming true, who prophesized that a human would come and bring onto this earth the World's King. A human with such a power as that is truly something to be desired. So, every power-seeking demon sought for the human from whose womb the domination of the Earth would come, and that year procured an unusually high number of hanyou births.

"In fact," he continued, "it was that year that Sesshomaru's half- brother InuYasha was born. Perhaps you've heard of him?"

InuYasha...InuYasha was born because of some prophecy? Wait. The prophet. A human. And the domination of the earth...

 "Surely, you've connected the pieces by now. That girl the oracle prophesized of is you."

But...that's impossible. How would you know something like that?

"Ah, you see. This is why so many of hanyou blood were born. Because every demon of prominent birth or otherwise went out and fucked every human wench they could find, all in hopes that she'd be the "special one" and should she be impregnated, pass on their genes to the prophesized ruler of the world.

"But...all were unsuccessful. Too little information was given, and none born bore the Mark of Prophecy. Time passed, and the Prophecy was abandoned. Besides, at that time the Shikon Jewel had come back into circulation and the demons decided that it would be better to pursue what could actually be sought and achieved."

But you still haven't explained why that involves me!

"Your fall into this time was no accident. You ARE the girl of prophecy and the son you bear will rule this world!"

What? What!? This is ludicrous! There's no way that I'm—Was he insane? Had he lost what little mind he had?

"Watch what you say," he warned. "I can still hear you and I do hold your life in my hands. I can end your miserable existence any time I wish!"

!#$Flashback%&()

"I...don't understand...is it because I set you free that you can't kill me?" Jennifer stammered, her vision and voice fading from loss of blood.

Sesshomaru scoffed in contempt, "Hmmp! I can dispose of you any time I wish...." He stood and looked away.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" spoke the weakening human, "may I be so bold as to ask you a question?"

This got his attention. He looked down upon the worthless child. She continued:

"If you could've killed me then why didn't you?"

!#$EndFlashback%&()

A sudden realization dawned on me.

But you won't kill me. You can't. You think that I'm that girl, so...so you'll keep me for the sole purpose of fulfilling this Prophecy in your name and blood, no matter how bothersome I am...and that means...Sesshomaru too.

"Ah yes, that narcissistic spawn of the great dog demon. How annoying he was! He beat me to you by miscalculation on my part. That sly dog! I knew he was after the spoils of the famed Prophecy but I did not know he had found you.

"He's been hiding you, but he was careless. Sesshomaru revealed your location to me when he took you to that last battle with InuYasha. I had long suspected that he had been keeping you when I visited his empty tomb. I am fortunate that he has not yet left his mark."

But could Sesshomaru really be that cold hearted? Is that really all I am to him? Just some girl of prophecy to impregnate? At least I'd be with Sesshomaru...But! Naraku has me now and that's who'd force himself on me.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!

Gross! Mental spasm! Erasing thought now! Must preserve mental cleanliness!

"Get over yourself."

Naraku was suddenly serious. All emotion had drained from his being.

Was he honestly so upset by my reaction? But who really cares? It is just Naraku!

"Enough! It's time now. Your soul is about to be scraped clean!"

Panicking, I prepared for the worse. I no longer wished for protection from my guardian angel, for I knew he was a fraud.

It was more sudden and unexpected than I thought it would ever be. Like successive strikes of lightning, horrifying pain engulfed my entire being. Even the body I could not control jolted in the pain. My voice suddenly came back to me and let loose a scream that shook the entire room. The inside of my head burned and itched with the explosion of one thousand nuclear warheads.

This was it. There was no tunnel, but I certainly was dying. I was being split in two. I had no choice—I couldn't hold on. My mind was slipping—I couldn't help it. I—

The room fell quiet and Naraku ginned, "Finally, we're getting somewhere."

!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()!#$%&()

A/N: Aw...finally finished. That one took a really long time to type. But I had fun with it. Hope you all did too. And a quick note. If you aven't guessed by now: Italics are thoughts, !#$WHOEVER%&() are perspective switches, and/or changes in time and/or space. Damn QuickEdit won't allow plus signs......or asterisks....

Q&A:

Dork In Training: You asked, 'So what? Are you like the atomic bomb of the Feudal era, or something?' My answer: YES! YES I AM! MWHAHAHAHAHAHA! Well this chapter gives the real answer. But we aren't sure 'why' yet. Personally I think of my self as someone similar to the Wing Goddess in the Escaflowne™ movie. I have the power to either destroy or benefit the Feudal Era depending on how I'm used. (Gosh, that sounds so wrong!)

Resume A/N: Hmm...that's all the questions...How about a...

Random Shoutout!

I've decided that after every chapter I'll give a Random Shoutout! to one of my reviewers. Yes, it will be random, but there may be some method behind who gets a shout-out. For example the person with the longest review might get a shout-out for this chapter...or maybe the reviewer that sounds the most like a valley girl in their review. It's gonna be random, but if you want your name featured in bright lights at the end of the chapter and maybe even an advertisement for one of your stories, then the only way to win would be to review!

Yay! Reviewing! Doesn't that sound like fun? Try it out. It's free! And I enjoy criticism!

Thank you very much and see you next time!

End A/N.