Author's Note: Hey everyone! Its Martel this time. Sorry for taking so long. I just finished writing a very long story, and I still have to start the 'sequel'. Thus I have been very busy, and it has taken me a while to start this. Anyway, hope you enjoy what's to come.

Disclaimer: Martel doesn't own anything. Nor does Rose. Would they be writing this if they DID own anything?

Kagome sat on a rather large, grey rock, her back facing the forest. The water of the small river seemed to sparkle as though diamonds glittered and floated atop its smooth surface. Nothing broke the surface, but the glint of the fish beneath it still penetrated through the glossy surface of the water.

Kagome grunted with annoyance as she continued to sharpen the end of the stick to a clean point. It had to be a clean point. Neither she nor Sango wanted to be eating their fish and find a sliver of wood in it. She smiled grimly to herself at that thought. It was almost ready anyway. Just a bit more…

" Done," she said aloud to herself. " Perfect." She pocketed the knife again. She shouldered the stick and walked down to the water's edge, peering into its depths. It wasn't very deep, and the current was not very fast. Carefully avoiding the moss-covered rocks on the riverbed, Kagome stepped into the water. It was very cold, and she winced slightly, not expecting that. After a moment, she took a few more steps, and finally stood still when the water reached the middle of her calves.

After trying to spear three fish, she finally caught one. She became terribly wet with all the splashing in the water, and nearly dropped it due to is slippery scales, and thus quickly dropped it in her bag. She smiled to herself, and then went on to spear two more.

" I was beginning to think you weren't going to come back," Sango said as Kagome stumbled back into their camp and hour and a half later. " I thought you may have drowned or been attacked by a demon and I'd have to come and save you."

She grinned jokingly, and took a fish from Kagome. She stuck it on her own sharpened stick, and held it out over their fire to cook.

" You'd have heard if I'd been attacked," Kagome snorted, holding her own fish over the fire.

" I suppose so."

" The water is very cold for this time of year," Kagome said in a low voice. " I'm not sure why, but it should be warm, not freezing cold."

" It was cold?" Sango repeated, " You are right. That is odd for this time of year…what could have caused that, I wonder…"

" The effects of some demonic or other evil magic, no doubt," Kagome muttered, turning her fish to roast its other side.

" Perhaps, and perhaps not," Sango said, " You must remember that there are many magic users and such peoples in this world of ours, who are not demons. It could be anybody's magical influence."

" Yes…but whosever's," Kagome said, unperturbed, " They must be powerful to cause such an influence…and I can't but help think it isn't good."

" You are probably right," Sango agreed, examining her fish, and then deciding to cook it more.

There was silence for a few minutes. The only sounds were the sizzling fish, and the occasional caw of a bird. Kagome ate her fish without much enthusiasm. She felt uneasy in this strange area, and wanted to leave it as soon as they could. She tossed the bones of her fish away.

" I'm tired," Kagome announced to Sango, " So I guess I'll sleep now. You take first watch, okay?"

She nodded. " Right. Get some rest. Its been a long day."

Kagome nodded, and crawled under her blanket, falling asleep quickly, and easily.

Fire. So much fire. Why was there so much fire? And blood, oh so much blood! Kagome covered her ears, trying to muffle the screams echoing through the corridors of the palace. It had to be a palace. Tapestries burned on the wall, vases lay smashed on the floor.

She ran blindly through the corridors, search for something -someone- but who -or what? She didn't know, she couldn't find what she was searching for. She sent out a wordless call, but all that she heard were more screams.

Beams of wood from the ceiling fell in front of her, burning madly. She saw soldiers fall to vile magic, and to swords of enemies. She stared around herself, horrified. If only she could find the leader of this demonic force, and destroy him.

She wasn't sure why this place meant so much to her. It just did. She wanted to get some sort of revenge on the demonic force, and their leader, who destroyed it. She ran, more confidently, toward the Celestial Courtyard.

It too was burning. The once beautiful hedges, trees, flowers, ivy, and birds that had adorned the Courtyard were gone, smoking and stinking. Even the Fountain, The Celestial Fountain, was broken and its life-giving sacred water flowing out onto the stones of the Courtyard. Horror filled Kagome's entire being. How could they do this? How could they desecrate the Celestial Courtyard like this?

A figure stood in front of her. He seemed uninterested in the flames, or the sacred water. He seemed uninterested in the entire Courtyard. Despite the light the fire provided, Kagome could not see his features with distinction. He was taller than she, and she instinctively knew he was older than she, if only by a few years. She could only see his eyes clearly.

" How…could you?" she whispered in an anger-filled voice. " How could you destroy what I so love?"

He stared at her. " Because I had to."

" You didn't have to…why should you? What have we ever done to you? Why hurt us in such a way?"

" Because I had to."

Kagome felt tears fall down her cheeks, but she felt anything but sorrow. Hate filled her entire self, and she prepared for battle. She would fight him, and she would win. It was the least she could do for this place she so loved.

He laughed quietly. " You cannot defeat me."

She ran. She gave no thought to how her actions might decide hers -and his- fates. She merely wanted to hurt this leader so he could feel the pain that this entire palace had felt.

He caught her wrist just as she reached him. He held it tight, and pulled her forward, till their noses were within inches of each other. Still, she could see no distinct features, save for his eyes.

" You cannot defeat me girl," he snarled, " Do not even try. I would hate to have to kill you too."

" Let me go!" Kagome cried, hate twisting her face. " How would you hate to kill me as well, when you have already killed all my family and friends? Surely one such as you would not care. How could one such as you ever understand my feelings, my pain, for what you have done?"

" You have no idea what I can, and cannot, feel or understand little girl."

You have no idea…

Kagome sat up, gasping for breath. Sweat fell down her face, her eyes wide with terror.

" Kagome! Oh good, you're okay! Shhh now, calm down, it was just a dream."

A dream…yes, that's all it was. She looked up at Sango, who's face was twisted with worry. Yes. That dream. It was reoccurring. She'd been having it for as long as she could remember yet…she could not understand it. She didn't know why that palace was so important to her, nor why the people there were so important to her.

And that man…who was he? Other than the leader of the enemy force, who was he? His glowing emerald eyes stuck out in her mind. She could not forget them, no matter how hard she tried. They haunted her, just as that dream did.

" Yes…" she said quietly, " You are right, Sango. It was just a dream…nothing more."

Right?

I am so sorry! I truly didn't mean to take so long. I've been way busy lately, so I didn't have a lot of time to finish anything, much less this. So I hope you enjoyed it. Again, I'm sorry I took so long. Hopefully Rose-chan won't take nearly as long as I did.

Reviewer Responses

Mia-Moviephone: Thanks. We're really glad you're enjoying it. Sorry I took so long x.x