Chapter thirteen is up now. Enjoy everyone.

Disclaimer:… whatever

"Where you successful Kagura?" asked Naraku.

Kagura nodded, "I released the insect just as you instructed" she said.

Naraku nodded and said "Were you seen?"

Kagura shook her head. "No" she said, "they don't suspect a thing. May I ask though, what did that bug do?"

Naraku grinned wickedly before saying "It carried a special toxin I designed for this occasion". At that point Maraku stood up and beckoned Kanna, who had been standing in the corner, over to him. Her mirror flickered for a second before displaying an image of an area just outside the castle. "If all goes as planned" he said, "we will be having a guest soon. Wait for her here Kagura. Regardless of who it is she is not to be harmed".

Kagura nodded and left. She had a feeling that she knew what Naraku had planned. And if she played her card's right she could turn it to her advantage.

888

"So where did you say this old coot lives, Miroku?" asked Inu-Yasha.

Miroku pointed to a dense copse of trees up ahead. "There is a cave in there" he said, "that is where he lives".

"About time" grumbled Inu-Yasha.

Kagome ignored this exchange. The bite on her neck was itchy and she was trying to avoid scratching it in case she hurt herself with her claws. She also had a lot to think about as well. Not the least of which was this strange thought that kept swimming around in her mind. She couldn't really put her finger on what it wanted her to do but she thought better of mentioning it to the others. She would tell them eventually though, after she had it sorted out. There was also the issue of her family. She didn't know how she would be able to go home. Actually it probably wasn't her family that would be the problem. It was her life back home. There was no way she could hide what had happened to her from the world. Oh well she thought I suppose ill have to cross that bridge when I get to it.

The group had arrived at the cave anyway and there was no time to think about those things right now. Kagome wrinkled her nose at the smell coming from the cave. Along with her other senses Kagome's sense of smell had recently become much better. The sheer number of smells was disorienting and she had to constantly resist the urge to sniff the air. That wasn't really a problem now though because the stink wanted to make her retch. The cave stunk of human excrement. Whoever this man was he didn't think too much about not going to the bathroom outside of the cave.

"Are you okay Kagome?" asked Sango, "you look like you're going to be sick".

"I'm fine" said Kagome covering up her nose, "The cave just stinks is all".

"Come" said Miroku beckoning to the group. They followed him into the cave. The same old man that Sesshoumaru had talked to a while ago was waiting there for them.

"Welcome, welcome" he said, "expecting you I have been".

"Greetings wise one" said Miroku bowing slightly.

"Ah Miroku" said the old man, his eye sparkling, "I was wondering when I would see you again. Still getting slapped by all the ladies I see".

"Perceptive old codger" muttered Inu-Yasha. The others tried hard not to laugh.

"Um yes" said Miroku scratching his face, "anyway, we are here in regards to our friend here". Miroku indicated Kagome who stepped foreword.

"Ah yes the Miko girl" said the old man sauntering foreword a bit, "quite a disturbing transformation. No way to reverse it unfortunately. But help I may be able to. Let me see your hand young lady".

"Okay" said kagome extending her hand tentatively.

The old man examined it and nodded. "Interesting" he said, "Interesting indeed, great things lie in your future young one, both great and terrible".

"What do you mean?" asked Kagome getting more then a little nervous.

"Great things will be done in your future girl" said the old man, "much suffering is to come. Future is clouded, many outcomes possible. Take comfort in that the terrible things may not be your fault. A great battle lies at the end of your journey young one, both within and without. This journey will be both crowded and lonely. None of you will emerge totally unchanged by this".

"Great" snorted Inu-Yasha, "more bloody riddles".

The man regarded Inu-Yasha. "Such an attitude will only make things worse" he said, "Learn to think thing's through more you must or all will end in disaster. You are not untouched by the transformation young hanyou. You where there when it began, so will you be there at the end. It must be this way or all will be lost".

Needless to say Inu-Yasha looked shocked. What could he possibly have to do with Kagome's transformation? It was happening to her not him.

"And the dreams" said the old man. That got everyone's attention, especially Inu-Yasha and Kagome's. "Yes the dreams" he said, "Pay attention to them you must. Hold the key to an uncertain future they do".

"How can a dream tell us about the future?" asked Sango.

The old man's eye sparkled again. "Dream's are the key to our deepest secrets and darkest fears" he said, "and greatest hopes as well. Dreams can tell you more about yourself then anything else in this world. Dreams also become premonitions should enough power be added. Do not underestimate the messages a dream can send. Or the connections it can forge".

The old man turned to head back into the cave then but Kagome stopped him. "Wait" she said, "isn't there anything you can do to help?"

The old man turned back and shook his head. "Helped all I can I have" he said, "one more thing that may be of interest though. Your powers as a Miko may become greatly diminished".

"Diminished?" asked Kagome, "what do you mean?"

The man shook his head and said "I do not know. I am merely a guide, only here to help get you started on your way. You must walk the path for yourself".

Then the old man really did leave. "We should go" said Miroku.

Once the group was outside the copse of trees again Inu-Yasha snorted. "Well that was a big waste of time" he said.

"I don't know about that" said Kagome.

"What do you mean?" asked Shippo.

"Nothing you need to worry about" she said, "I just have more to think about now is all".

888

"Lord Sesshoumaru" shouted Jaken.

"What is it Jaken?" asked Sesshoumaru.

The imp ran up to Sesshoumaru and held something up to him. It was the nest Naraku's special insect had been in. "It looks to be one of Naraku's insect nests my lord" said the imp.

Sesshoumaru took the nest and examined it. It was smaller then the one Naraku had given Sesshoumaru when he first met him. Sesshoumaru sniffed it and frowned. It smelled a bit different then the other one as well. He didn't know what it meant but if Naraku was involved it couldn't be good.

888

The group had settled in for the night once again and it was clear to everyone as they settled down to sleep that what the old man had said had shaken Kagome to her core. If her Miko powers where really diminishing how would they purify the jewel? For that matter what kind of power would it be replaced by?

888

Kagome's dream

Kagome was standing back in the endless green field again next to the huge black crystal. The undercurrent of demonic energy was much stronger now though and instead of just the area around the crystal being twisted massive splotches of land was corrupted now. Those sections looked to be surrounded by barriers though.

"Disturbing isn't it" said a voice next to Kagome. She didn't turn this time knowing it was the strange man wrapped in smoke.

"What happened here?" she asked.

"I don't know" admitted the man, "all I know is becoming a demon shouldn't change a person this much unless they become an evil demon".

"What about the barriers?" asked Kagome finally turning toward the man.

"I would imagine you erected them" he said, "to prevent the corruption from spreading too far. But where the new corruption came from I can't say".

"What do you mean by that?" asked Kagome.

"I don't know" said the man shaking his head, "it just sort of appeared here a little while ago".

"That's not good" said Kagome. Then something occurred to her and she said "wait, a little while ago? Aren't you a dream?"

The man nodded and said "to an extent. I can't say any more then that right now". The man then turned and looked Kagome in the eye. "Whatever has caused this you must resist it" he said, "for both our sakes".

"How could what happens to me effect you if your just a dream?" asked Kagome.

"I can't tell you that" said the man turning away again. Then he turned back and determination burned in his eyes. "Whatever you do Kagome do not give in to it. if you do both of us may be doomed". The man looked around then and said, "I have to go now but ill be back to speak to you again later. Remember whatever you do don't give in".

As the man said this the endless fields swirled and disappeared to be replaced by a hallway in what looked to be a castle. Kagome could see that a room was open near the end and she headed toward it. She didn't really want to but something compelled her to go. She paused in the doorway and looked around. The room was fairly small but in one corner there was a man. He was sitting with his face in the shadows so she didn't know who it was.

"Welcome Kagome" he said, "I've been expecting you".

"I can't say I'm surprised" said Kagome crossing her arms, "I've been expected a lot lately".

The man laughed and said, "Yes. I imagine that would be quite irritating. But that is not why you are here".

"Then why am I here?" asked Kagome.

"Because" said the figure, "I want to tell you what you are supposed to do".

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" said Kagome, her voice filled with acid. The man leaned foreword and Kagome gasped. "Naraku" she snarled instinctively reaching for her bow. It wasn't there though.

"Who else would it be?" asked Naraku grinning wickedly. Kagome just snarled and got ready to use her claws instead. "Come now girl" said Naraku, "you can't do anything to me here. It's just a dream remember".

"It would make me feel better though" said Kagome taking a step closer.

"Then by all means" said Naraku spreading his arms so Kagome would have a clear shot, "attack me. Free the beast growing inside you".

Realizing this was what Naraku wanted all along Kagome backed off. "No" she said, "I'm not like that".

"Are you sure?" said Naraku. He stood up and walked over to Kagome. "You can't hold it back forever dear girl. Soon you will give in, and then you will come to me willingly".

Kagome shuddered when Naraku paced around behind her and put his hand's on her shoulders. "Don't touch me" she hissed.

"Why not?" purred Naraku.

"I said back off" screamed Kagome. She spun and slammed her claws into Naraku's chest impaling him oh her arm. Her eyes began to glow red and filled with hatred.

"That's more like it girl" hissed Naraku, "give in. you will soon be mine".

Naraku's Body and the castle began to dissolve but his chill laughter still echoed in the dark.

888

The real world

Kagome jerked awake when she heard Inu-Yasha yelling at someone. "There is no way you can have her" he was saying.

"You don't have a choice in the matter Inu-Yasha. You have no idea the danger the girl represents now". Kagome sprung to her feet upon hearing that chill emotionless voice.

"I don't care Sesshoumaru" snarled Inu-Yasha, "you'll have to go through me to get to her".

"So be it" said Sesshoumaru drawing tokijin.

Author's notes

Well here is chapter thirteen. Hope everyone liked it. chapter fourteen should be up tomorrow with some answers to questions I'm sure you all have at this point.