Mirat, the Future For Us All, Humans and Demons Alike

Yuri rubbed lovingly at her sore stomach that had just so recently housed her child. She was exhausted, and she hurt all over. She had never experienced so much pain, nor expected it to be so tough to deal with. She had been surprised that Naraku had been there. He had been away for the most of the nine months. She remembered the shock she felt when he strode into the room, and stood there beside her, blank faced. He had placed his hand on her shoulder, tightening it when it seemed to hurt the most. This surprisingly seemed to help. But now it was over. There was no more excruciating pain. She had now had to focus on her child's life.

She shifted her head to see someone walk in, and scowled in disgust as she saw who held her child. She moved to sit up, but fell backwards with a groan.

"You need rest," said Kikyo defiantly. She placed the infant in Yuri's arms. Yuri smiled down at the tiny, sleeping part of her that filled her with such joy, She began to cry.

"What is it?" she asked.

"A boy," replied Kikyo almost fondly. She too smiled down at it, but as if catching herself, hurried out to the room; closing the door behind her.

Yuri watched her go, a little perplexed by the dead priestess' retreat. She was unsure of exactly what had just happened. Everything seemed different; everyone seemed different, including herself. She gave a sigh, and looked back down at her child with a sad smile.

It was a few moments later that a knock came at the door. After a moment, it creaked open slightly, and then fully to admit Naraku; that faintest traces of joy lingering in his eyes. He wasn't wearing his disguise, but some ceremonial samurai clothes consisting of a pair of wide, gray pants with strange embroidery, and a large white, black, and blood red over shirt tucked into his belt.

Striding over to the bed, he leaned down to peer over the young mother's shoulder at the little bundle that was his child. He smiled, not a cold smile filled with humor or superiority, but of what was the closest thing he could get to love. Yuri watched him in her surprise. In his eyes there glittered ambition and his plans for power and control. Regardless of this though, Yuri believed that there was some love in him.

"My son," he whispered in his glee. "What is his name?"

"I am not sure yet," she replied, thinking, screwing up her vision.

There came another knock at the wooden door, and straightening, Naraku's voice became commending again. Yuri frowned up at him. The smile had vanished from his lips, and hie eyes no longer twinkled. Those eyes were once again cold, and she gave a soft shudder.

"Come in!"

The door opened slowly, admitting a sullen-faced Sango. She had not yet noticed the woman lying in the sea of pillows and blankets. Instead, she closed the door behind her, turning around with a deep bow, and when she did look up, her eyes became wide, and her jaw dropped a little.

"W-What the!" She couldn't even say it. She had to take in a gulp of air before she turned to Naraku, expecting an explanation, but not willing to demand it from him.

"She has given birth to my son," he said simply. Sango's mouth widened, and she repeatedly tried to say something, whether it was to scold such an act or not was unclear, for she failed continuously. "Report!" he barked at her, making her jump a little.

"I've managed to delay them," she said weakly, taking in deep gulps of air. "If things go right, they'll be here in three underworld days…"

"I see," said Naraku slowly, nodding. "He will be five by then once he is brought to the alter…"

"How does that work?"

"Once brought to the alter, the being begins to age incredibly fast. I will allow him to age normally once he has reached the right age…"

Inuyasha approached the well, a little unsure of what exactly to make of what they were about to do. He stared down into its depths, remembering all the occasions in which he had come here. Some of which were to retrieve Kagome, others to just look at it, knowing that it led to a time where his love was reincarnated.

The others walked up behind him, also looking at the well. Having realized that they couldn't all go, unknowing what lay in wait for them, the group had debated and argued all morning on who should be the ones to go down into the land of the dead. Aerith turned to them.

"I can bring two others with me," she announced slowly. "So who's coming?"

"I am," said Sesshomaru after a moment, stepping forward.

"Me too," said Kagome.

"No!" snapped Inuyasha, stepping in her way. "It will be me, Sesshomaru and Aerith, and that's all. We don't know what will happen down there, so there is no point in risking so many people going. The rest of you will remain here." He turned to those who would be going down with him. "Let's go."

He approached Aerith a little awkwardly, and his eyes went wide as he noticed her beauty now more than ever, he shook his head, clearing it of these thoughts. Aerith smiled, and clasped his right hand in hers, and Sesshomaru's in the other. The Cursed Jewel Inuyasha held in a hidden pocket in his sleeve.

He looked uncertainly at Aerith, but she only smiled at him, and he smiled back, felling encouraged. He didn't know what was going on with him. Kikyo, Kagome, Aerith…he seemed to love them all, and yet he knew he couldn't.

"We have to make a circle," she said with a nod towards Sesshomaru, and then to Inuyasha. The half demon eyes Sesshomaru's free hand warily. Sesshomaru scowled beneath his breath.

"How'd you get your arm back?" said Inuyasha in disgust.

"I used my sword to recover my old arm," he replied calmly. "And then used it to repair the separation. Handy at times…"

"Whatever," snapped Inuyasha, looking away from his brother for a moment. He reluctantly edged his hand out, Sesshomaru grabbing it in his firm grip. "Now what?" Aerith closed her eyes as she spoke.

"Open to us, the gateway to hell. Let us pass through, through this well. Land of the Spirits, Land of the Dead. Where our friends and family dwell, whose secrets have gone unsaid."

There was a glow that surrounded them, blinding them. She slowly opened her eyes, and Inuyasha felt his pulse quicken. What was this he was feeling? He had never felt this way before. He suddenly felt sad and happy at the same time. And then something flashed before his eyes.

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha!" His head snapped up, and he was back at the well. He looked at her. She seemed fine, though a little worried. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he said, nodding. Was he? Would she be?

"Alright," she said slowly. "Sorry about that. That little thing was just for fun. It wasn't really an incantation for going down there. I was trying to lighten the mood. Sorry, I think I did the opposite…"

"It's fine," he said with a little frown. She continued to stare at him before turning to both of them.

"Down there you will see things and hear tings that will make you furious, and even provoke you to stay. But no matter what, do not listen to them! And do not attack them. We must be back here, in the overworld, in seven days. Alright, get ready…"

She let go of their hands, and Inuyasha and Sesshomaru quickly did so too. Turning to the well, the light surrounding them, and a strong wind picking up, they looked at one another, and Aerith nodded at him. Inuyasha withdrew the Cursed Jewel from his sleeves, and threw it in. There was no sound of it colliding with the bottom, but it seemed to twinkle up at Inuyasha as it disappeared. Together, they leaped into the well, and what awaited them there.

It was two days later when they reached the tiny village, exhausted and hungry. Inuyasha stared in disbelief at how many humans and demons there were. Neither was he able to believe that they even were coexisting is peace.

"What the hell," he whispered, gazing around him in awe. They seemed…happy…

"In this world," said Aerith slowly, not looking at either of them. "Where you come from, and who you are, doesn't matter. Here, you are all the same."

"Apparently so," added Sesshomaru, studying the passing inhabitants. His eyebrows rose a little.

"What is it?" asked Aerith, going to stand beside him to look also. Her large eyes even wider.

"Shippo!"

Inuyasha looked to the kitsune, and saw him come to and abrupt stop. He stared at them, head tilted to the side for a moment, before trotting over to them. He stopped as he approached them, and stared up in his own amazement.

"Who are you? How do you know who I am? I have never seen you before…"

"You don't know us?" said Inuyasha in surprise.

"The freshly dead can't remember," said Sesshomaru quietly, looking around him at the people.

"How do you know?" snapped Inuyasha, turning to him angrily. Ignoring the half brothers, Aerith crouched down and looked Shippo in the eyes.

"Shippo, have you see a demon girl that looks like him?" she asked, gesturing to Sesshomaru. Shippo tilted his head and squinted his eyes. He suddenly became excited, nodding his head furiously.

"Yeah! A young girl did come through here, but that was a long time ago…"

"How long?" asked Inuyasha.

"Five years, almost six."

"What?" snapped Inuyasha in his amazement.

"Naraku must have sped up time here," said Aerith ,standing. "I have heard about demons who were able to do that. Where is she, Shippo?" He pointed to a large house that was set on a hill in the back of the village.

"She lives there." He ran towards it, and up that stair; the others following.

At the top, Shippo was about to open the door, when it opened, and someone darted out. Whoever it was, short and small, ran right past the kitsune, and straight into Sesshomaru, having glanced back at the door. Sesshomaru looked down in surprise, his expression changing little.

It was a young boy, no older than five; silver mushroom-cut hair with two black locks in the front on either side of his face. He wore a pair of samurai pants that reached his knees in a jet-black color with a loose, yellow shirt with a black stripe around the middle. His large, yellow eyes stared up at him. Pointed ears poked out through his hair, and beneath his bangs was a blue, crescent moon. Getting to his feet clumsily, he continued to stare up at Sesshomaru.

"Do you live here?" asked Aerith almost too sweetly. The boy looked at her, and for the first time, blinked.

"Uh, yeah," he replied in a light, cheery voice, though there was depth to it. "Who are all of you?"

"We're friends," she replied, smiling warmly at him. "I am Aerith, and that is Inuyasha, and his brother, Sesshomaru. What is your name?"

"They call me Mirai. Well, everyone but me father, that is..."

FIN