Chapter Six
When all hope is lost

"Do you want some more pancakes, sis?" Souta asked kindly at the breakfast table. Kagome looked up from staring out into space and looked at the plate of pancakes in her little brother's hands. Actually, he wasn't so little now. Souta looked like a young man, with the growth spurt he had at age fifteen made the young twenty-year-old look very tall and gangly.

"Thank you Souta. I'd love some," Kagome forced a smile and took the plate from her brother. He had grown into such a handsome young man, studying at Tokyo University to become a doctor. He came by the family shrine often, to help out his lonely old mother and when his older dazed sister came to visit, with or without her daughter Akima.

"By the way Kagome, have you seen Akima around here lately?" Souta asked chewing on an omelet.

"Neither have I darling. Last time I saw her was yesterday afternoon, I believe. Right before your first of three naps." Mrs. Higurashi said. Kagome's brown eyes lit up as if remembering something of utter importance.

"The well."

Souta and her mother looked at her in shock. Kagome rarely talked anymore, and when she did it was usually something very small and weak you could barely hear. But now that it concerned her daughter, Kagome seemed more aware and awake than she had in years.

"How do you know?" Mrs. Higurashi asked quietly.

"It's just a feeling, but I'm pretty sure of it. She went down the well. Akima was wearing the Jewel Shards that I gave her. Mom, she can be in grave danger in the Fedual Era with all those demons lurking around. She may be a half-demon but she still has a lot to learn about fighting. I have to go save her!"

Kagome started to rise from the table, but Souta grabbed her arm firmly.

"Sister, do you really think you're in the position to fight demons? You're almost thirty years old and you haven't been there in fourteen years. Besides, you don't have any Jewel Shards or arrows or anything and----"

"You're wrong. I carry around a Jewel Shard with me, just in case of emergencies like this. The arrows that I left here are in the Weaponry Shed. Please let me go Souta, I need to save…..my…..daughter!"

There was such a fire burning in Kagome's eyes, as if her spirit was awakening. Souta let go of her hand obediently, realizing Kagome's goal. She looked at her mother, as the old woman let out a soft smile and grasped her hand in a handshake.

"Bring her home safely."

Kagome nodded. And with that, she ran out of the house to retrieve her weapons.

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She woke up in a dark room on a lovely futon made of fine silk. The window was closed, but she could see that it was night. She couldn't have slept that long; could she?

"I see you have awakened, young half-breed."

Akima turned to the doorway to see Kaguya, the woman that kidnapped her. Akima immediately went on the defense. This woman was defiantly not an ally.

"What the hell do you want, you bitch? Where is this place, take me home!"

"I'm afraid that I cannot do that, Akima. You see, we still have……needs for you," Kaguya said patiently. "My Master has asked me to retrieve you as soon as you awakened. We require your presence at the initial ceremony."

"Ceremony?"

"Yes, young one. The ceremony that takes place on the night of the full moon of the month. Come and follow me, Master awaits our presence."

Reluctlently, Akima got out of the futon and followed Kaguya. The long hall that they walked looked very medieval, with portraits of lords and ladies; the only light the torches burning on the walls and in Kaguya's hand. Akima wasn't stupid enough to talk, for this was enemy territory, and if she wasn't careful her death would be near. The best plan was to play along like she was obedient and take orders like a good girl. At the first sign of escape, she would run away to the well and go back home to her mother and life.

"Do you like this castle?" Kaguya asked randomly, crushing Akima's thoughts.

"Let me ask you a question. Why does your scent reek of graveyard soil and death?" Akima asked, a faint smirk playing on her lips. Kaguya showed no emotion as they continued to walk down the long, creepy corridor.

"All of your questions will be answered by my Master very shortly."

"Your master or whatever he is sure seems like a typical bad guy. Why can't he just come to get me himself? Why use some wench like you for his evil bidding?"

"Hold your tongue, whelp. You have no idea of the kind of power my Master possesses. You will surely change your ideas about him when you see him in that room there." She pointed to the door at the end of the hall. "Be fore warned half-breed. Do not make the mistake of underestimating my Lord. He will not hesitate to take your life."

"Why haven't you?"

"My Lord wishes to keep you alive for the………deeds we have set for you to complete. Now go, he is waiting."

Akima opened the large door and entered a grand hall with a long table full of fancy tableware and a beautiful centerpiece. There was a golden throne with swordsmen standing guard all around. They looked at Akima suspiciously, as she resisted the urge to run away from them all.

"You may rise, young one," Kaguya said. She had gone from behind Akima at the door to next to the man at the throne. Creepy with a capital C.

"So you are the half-breed that Kaguya has told so much about me. Yes, you will do just fine for our cause. My name is Lord Tamagachi and I am the lord of this castle. And you are….?"

"Akima."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Please, stand in the middle of that circle there."

She did so obediently. The man at the throne rose from his seat and began to walk down to the girl. He looked suspiciously similar to Shiori the bat demon's father, dressed in fine battle clothes. He stood in front of Akima, drawing his sword from the sheath.

He chanted some ancient spell words and the circle began to glow a bright blue. Akima's mind was telling her to run, but she knew she had to stay. The man seemed unphased by the light and continued the ceremony. Kaguya looked at Akima in an unpleasant look of jealousy.

"Now Akima, close your eyes and state your answer." Lord Tamagachi took his sword and quickly sliced Akima's wrist. The blood trickled down her arm and on the sword as he smiled and placed the tip of the sword on her neck.

"It is better that you brush upon this blade with fear in your heart than exiting this circle with distrust in your soul. Do you pledge your loyalty to the Tamagachi Clan, with this blood vow?" He asked. Akima looked into his cold grey eyes without blinking.

"Yes."

The circle became fierce and her hair whipped around her. Lord Tamagachi stepped out of the circle as everyone watched Akima transform. Her hair began to shrink in length, making it very short and turning white. Her hazel eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, a navy crescent moon tattoo appearing on her forehead. Her nails began to grow until they were claws; sharper and dangerous than Inuyasha's, and her teeth began to grow until they formed dangerous fangs. The blue light died down, and Akima stepped out of the circle totally transformed.

"The ceremony is complete. You are now the new warrior of the Tamagachi Clan. Kaguya will become your new mentor and will train you to use your new powers wisely. But for now, you will feast with the rest of us!"

Everyone cheered as Akima sat down as the Guest of Honor. Tomorrow was training, and she still had a long way to go.

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"Inuyasha, don't you think you're overreacting?" Sango asked logically.

"No, I am not. If it was your daughter out there in the forest, then I don't think you'd want me to be lecturing at you, wouldcha?" he hissed.

"Come on Inuyasha and listen to Sango a minute. Don't you think there's a truth to her words?" Miroku asked, coming out of the hut they call a home.

"Not you too Monk. Why don't you go purify something and let me be?"

"Geez, someone's getting near his 'time of the month'," Miroku said sarcastically. Inuyasha growled at them both and swore so loudly that the napping Kensuke into a crying fit for his mother. Sango slapped the half-demon upside the head before walking back into the hut to care for her youngest child.

"Dammit, what's her problem?" Inuyasha said gruffly, nursing his wounds. Miroku sighed helplessly and sat down next to his best friend.

"Inuyasha?"

"Huh?"

"Do you see that person coming toward the village?"

Inuyasha jumped up and immediately ran toward the figure approaching. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who it was. That long black hair, those brown eyes, it was all the same. Even in jeans and a floopy green sweater, it was all the same.

"Ka-Kagome?"

"Long time no see, Inuyasha," she smiled. "I have a long story to tell you."

To Be Continued…….