Tesse: okay people, this chapter is one of the reasons why the story's rated PG13. lots of blood and gore and I'm very sorry about that.

Hero: but it's still a good chapter.

Tesse: and no, I do not own Inuyasha

Inuyasha: Heritage

Chapter 5: Kayori's Greatest Fear

Kayori awoke abruptly in bed, a few drops of sweat rolled down her brow. She panted as if she had been running, fear flooded her every emotion.

She pulled back the sheets and stumbled out of bed. She walked slowly into the bathroom and looked herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, fear and confusion obvious on her features.

"What's wrong with me?" she wandered aloud. 'Someone's trying to scare you,' she answered to her own question.

"Naraku?!" she said sending a shiver down her spine. "It's impossible!"

A sudden serge of energy ran through her body and a flash of images raced in front of her eyes. With that she fell away from the sink and her consciousness faded.

In her dream...

A woman was desperately trying to protect the infant in her arms but a demon had different plans. He slashed the woman's back, killing both of them. An old man tried to get away, but he was stopped by the blade of a demon's sword run through him.

All around her men, women, and children were being slaughtered. She tried to help them but she couldn't move. All she could do was look on hopelessly as people died, houses went up in flames, and demons gleefully covered themselves in human blood.

"STOP IT!" she yelled with tears running down her face as she watched a pair of children having their lives cut short by yet another ruthless demon.

"Kayori," a calm yet venomous voice echoed around her. A man came into her vision dressed as a white baboon. He stepped forward and the images of the killing faded into darkness. She was surrounded by black and all she could see was the man.

"Who are you?!" Kayori demanded.

"You know who I am, Kayori," he said calmly. "I am the base of all your fear."

"SHUT UP! I'm not afraid of you!" she yelled.

"All I need is you, Kayori," he said and raised his hand. Suddenly Kayori felt an unbearable pain in her chest, and she awoke with a start.

Her head was crammed uncomfortably next to the bathtub and one of her feet was wedged into the tiny space between the sink and toilet. Her neck was ached from the strain put on it. The sun shined down on her brightly, making her eyes hurt.

She moaned and attempted to roll over but couldn't.

"Kayori-chan are you in there?" her grandmother said through the door. Kayori forgot she was in the tiny bathroom, and her head unfortunately got acquainted with the bathroom counter as she leapt up.

"Oww! God DAMN it all!" Ms. Higarashi heard her granddaughter's curse through the door.

"Kayori! Watch your mouth!" The elderly woman yelled back.

"Sorry grandma," Kayori said as she came out of the bathroom nursing a large lump on her head and looking paler than ever.

"Oh my! What happened?" she put her hand on Kayori's forehead, taking her tempeiture.

"I'm fine," Kayori said, waving her grandmothers hand away. "Just a really bad dream."

"Oh and Kayori, I washed your uniform," Ms. Higarashi said brandishing a clean and pressed uniform. Kayori groaned, 'Why me?'

"And Breakfast is waiting for you downstairs!" she said happily, shoving the dress into Kayori's arms and hurrying back down stairs.

Kayori looked down at the bundle in her arms and looked even more solemn.

After she had pulled on the little green skirt and a white blouse she headed down stairs looking like she was marching to her doom (or at least she thought she was).

"Here you go dear, eat up," Ms. Higarashi said enthusiastically as she placed a heaping plate of food under her nose. But Kayori shoved it away not feeling very hungry.

"I'm late, I better leave now. Good bye grandma, love you." She lightly pecked her grandmother on the cheek and grabbed her lilac colored jacket and her backpack and promptly head out the door.

As she passed the well house she heard a shriek come to her sensitive ears. She threw open the door and prepared herself for an attack. But it never came; in fact the well house was empty. She cautiously peered down Bone-Eaters well, remembering the dream she had last night.

Out of the darkness a slimy tentacle reached up and wrapped itself around Kayori's neck. Before she could react it was already pulling her down.

"Give it to me!" it hissed but Kayori couldn't see who was speaking.

"Let go! You BASTARD!"

"Give me the tetsuaiga now!" it hissed even louder and tightened it's grip on her throat. Kayori gasped for breath as white dots began to appear in front of her eyes.

Then Kayori's feet landed softly on the ground and the creature let go.

"Give me the tetsuaiga!" Kayori still couldn't see who her attacker was. Yet she prepared herself for another attack.

"Who the hell are you?!" she demanded.

"The tetsuaiga?!"

"Forget it! If you want it your going to have to go through me!"

"Give it!" It swung one of its tentacles at her but she dodged and leapt out of the well and stood awaiting her opponent. He climbed out of the well after her. He was easily one of the most disgusting things she had ever seen.

She smirked, "IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" she yelled and slashed out with her claws. The demon was cut up into big piles of goop that began setting off the smell of rotten eggs. She covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve to protect her sensitive nose from the odor.

Kayori looked around, the familiar setting of the feudal era surrounded her. 'Something isn't right,' she thought. The dream she had earlier popped up in her head. Her eyes widen at the thought that the village was hers.

She took off running as fast as she could. As neared the village, the smell of smoke and blood began to waft around her. Tears came to her eyes as she reached the village. Dead bodies and burning house lay all around her. Running as fast as she could she finally reached her destination. Her home.

The hut had collapsed and pieces of it were still on fire. She dropped to her knees and sobbed. Tears fear to the blood stained ground and before long had formed a small puddle. But they were quick hushed as a tattered old hand rose above the ruble. Kayori jumped up and ran to it, throwing aside the debris.

"Keade!"

"Oh my dear child you should not be here!" the old woman croaked.

"Keade, what happened?" Kayori asked urgently, gently lifting the miko's head onto her lap.

"Naraku, he and his demon followers attacked, he took your parents," Keade said gasping for breath after few words.

Kayori's face turned even paler and tears began to flow yet again. Half of her wanted to hear the rest but the other half of her feared it.

"He took you parents along with Miroku and Sango, I never found Shippo or Ryku," Keade continued, "He is hunting you Kayori! You must take the tetsuaiga and run!" Keade gripped Kayori's shoulder, the old woman stared fiercely up at her.

"I'm not going to run away!" Kayori said equally as fierce. "People need me here!"

Keade's eyes looked sad and her grip on Kayori's shoulder lessened. "You are so much like your father in so many ways," with that final statement, Keade died.

Tesse: [wipes tears from her eyes] that was kind of sad

Hero: [sobbing] and this won't be the last character that Tesse kills off.

Tesse: Don't give my whole story away

Hero: [blows nose] sorry. Review or we won't write any more!