I have nothing to say… that's kind of weird. Wait yes I do! These when put on either side of a paragraph, mean a flashback or memory. By the way, all the towns used in this story are actual places. If you have any wish to know the current names of these places just contact me and I'll be glad to tell you.

Chapter 3: The Apple

"Thank you Praefectus, your help and your soldiers have greatly helped us destroy the native rebellion. Perhaps you would wish to stay here as a commanding high officer instead of returning to Rome?"

"INU-YASHA!"

The officer was stirred out of his thoughts by an apple hitting his head. Looking over he found two of his troops grinning and Miroku holding another apple at ready. They had stayed in Trimontium for just over a month, but now they were headed home to the great capitol, Rome. And he couldn't wait for the warm weather again. Now however they were in a small village between Lindum, and Londinium and the officer could almost feel something horrible hanging in the air. Even though Miroku smiled, it was obvious he felt something as well.

"Son, would you care to release that apple and let me buy it?"

Both officers viewed over the old lady who now stood before them. She was old… Extremely old. Her hair was grey silver and it flowed down her back in thick waves. Here eyes were a soft brown. She was hunched however there was still an air about her. Her smile was more alive then half the young people who were walk past her with their eyes lowered.

Miroku looked at the old hag and then at Inu-Yasha. This woman had just spoken in perfect high-class Latin. His arm began to lower and the woman's eyes lit up in delight.

"Wait a moment Miroku… I don't think she needs it that quite as badly as she seems to."

Miroku looked at his commander then back at the woman. Why was Inu-Yasha being so cruel? This woman might actually just know Latin from something in her past. Maybe.

"That's an order Miroku; you will not give her the apple." Smirking at the old woman Inu-Yasha turned and walked off down a street towards the blacksmiths.

Miroku looked at the old woman and sighed. "I'm sorry miss. I would give it to you, but an order from my superior is an order." Shaking his head Miroku took the street that Inu-Yasha had just turned down.

"Officer?"

He stopped and looked at the haggard woman. She smiled at him and her eyes twinkled with knowledge.

"I suggest you find your friend quickly. He's in a spot of trouble. People in this town don't think to highly of you Romans since Mona. A soldier alone is a sitting duck to the ravens… do you understand me?"

Miroku paused his thoughts for a moment. What could this mean…? And then it hit him. As all things seemed to do eventually. "SHIT!"

Kagome

There it played. She could hear it. The fiddles and drums of the Faerie folk called to her. The tunes called to her soul and the voices begged her to join. Hesitantly Kagome lifted herself from the floor and stared at the door. Kaede had warned her when she left not to leave the house at all until she returned. But they needed her; something was exciting them. Something they needed to share.

Without another thought Kagome rushed out through the door and followed the voices and the drums. They led her to a pond in a clearing not far from her hut. The high sun was clouded over and covered by trees. And there it ended. All the sounds stopped, even the birds held their breath. Giving a bow to the forest and placing her hands in the air she waited. Her eyes closed, her breathing fast.

And then it started again. Her feet moved with the beat that they had set. And behind her eyes, in her mind, she could see the shadow of him.

Inu-Yasha

Continuing down the street he watched the stalls and shops. Nothing here was of a value to him. Not even the glass works were interesting. This depressing little backwater country was nothing compared to the glory of Rome! Why had he been sent to this horrid place to begin with?

A beggar on the street stared at him longingly and held out a cup. The man had obviously never even though of cleanliness. It disgusted him that such a creature would even want his acknowledgement. Scowling the officer sneered at the man and kicked his hand away. An audible crack was the last he heard, along with the cries of the beggar man. "Worthless British scum. These Celts should just adopt a more civilized culture. Rome has no beggars."

A noise to the right distracted his thoughts and the officer gave pause. What was that? He thought. A shadow moved against the brick. Even though it was perfect daylight, this shadow still worried the officer. Inu-Yasha drew his sword and cautiously turned down the alleyway.

"Well boys would you look at whom we've just found."

Kagome

As she danced, the voices rang out by her. One in particular stood out amongst the common. It was her voice; it was of the Lady herself. Queen of Faerie, she who had no known name.

"Dance for me child. Or Dance for his life."

And so she did. She danced for the lady and the shadow man. The calling that came from him melted her. It gave her the ability to forget herself and dance with the wind. Her hair became untangled of the band that held it back tightly. Her hair whipped around her face and the wind created a float upon her dress.

Inu-Yasha

Nothing more was said other then an odd chuckling. And then came the pain. A sword had been shoved into his side. A second was soon sliced into his shoulder. He could feel his tendons breaking and hear the suck of his muscle and fat as it was cut open and bared.

They hid from him in cloaks of midnight black and held out their swords. Inu-Yasha bunched his muscles and forgot the pain for a moment. He drew his sword and quickly slashed at the closest attacker. A blood splatter to the wall was his victory, coupled with the sputtered scream of his victim. The gurgle called to him and the crimson liquid gave him a hunger. His amber eyes feasted on the cut flesh and only more death that hovered around the ally would fill him.

Turning his gaze to the man who had stepped forward, Inu-Yasha smiled and raised his sword. In a quick flash this one was down. The gapping wound across his chest drew forth a feral gleam in the officer's eye.

Miroku

Miroku ran through the streets. The gleam in the woman's eyes as she predicted his friends situation innerved him more then a little. Damn if these streets didn't all look the same. The swish of a clock drew his attention. Hoping that it was Inu-Yasha, Miroku quickly veered off down the side street. He stood for a moment trying to catch his breath. The heavy roman armour weighed him down and put an extra many pounds on his back.

This street looked the same as any other! Another swish of black fabric brought his attention forward. Someone was running! A streak of silver appeared under the cloak. Someone was running with a knife. For some reason, possibly the old woman's prediction, this didn't sit well with the young officer. Without anything more then a second though, Miroku was after the man in the black cloak.

For what felt like hours, the chase continued until finally the man stopped. He had turned into an ally way, gone in half way and stopped. The dagger dropped from his hand and clattered on an unlikely stone. Smoke from house chimneys floated over the ground creating a dread in the officer's heart. For a second, there was only a flash of silver, and then there was the man in the cloak impaled on a Roman spatha sword. "Inu-Yasha?"

Kagome

Her arm swept out in a thrusting style. To any passer bye she almost seemed to be wielding a weapon. And perhaps she was, or maybe she was even the weapon herself. Still, she graceful moved along the grass and twirled. Stopping for a moment the girl stared at the shadow man. His form had almost taken a full shape behind her eyes.

The ribbons of the faerie flew around and melded with her hair. Her nimble feet stepped and stopped, swooping back to behind the partner in an almost curtsy like stance. Her arms were flared out behind her and created a swirl of fabric as the long sleeves of her shirt floated around her.

"You dance as your mother… Lady of Ravens… so beautiful…"

The voice of the Queen floated around her. It coaxed her from her position and gave an even more cat-like step to her movements. The beating faded from the trees and the wind died down. Kagome settled back onto her feet and pondered the shape of the man who had been her minds shadow. "Thank you my Lady."

"You will meet him soon." A pair of lips touched her cheek and a reassuring hand was placed on her head. Security floated over her like a blanket. "You will meet him and you will get more of him then you will want. Just remember the world is waiting."

Miroku

What the hell happened? Lying around his officer, who was covered in massive amounts of blood, were five dead men. One man was still impaled by his mouth on the wall by a sword. Fresh blood also covered that man, draining down his mouth and eyes, but he had no time for that. His superior officer fell to his bloody knees and gasped for breath.

Running forward Miroku grabbed Inu-Yasha in his arms and tried to support the extra weight and armour. "Shit man, what did you do this time?"

"They attacked… side and shoulder…" Blood gurgled out of Inu-Yasha's mouth and flowed down his chin. It dripped onto the ground and softly mixed in with the dirt. "Miroku… bury me… in…"

"Don't even talk like that Yasha. I've seen you recover from greater wounds then this!" Heaving the other officer's body onto his shoulders Miroku began to turn.

"And every time I tell you to bury me in La Bella Roma."

"Shut up and save your breath. You know you're not going to Jupiter so quickly. Now learn to wear a lighter armour or lose some pounds." The chuckle that came from Inu-Yasha lifted Miroku's spirits. It had taken a while to get that laugh back.

"Do you need some help?"

Miroku turned around completely and stared open mouthed at the old crone who had asked for the apple. "Y-You!"

"Who did you expect… those two idiot guards you were with?"

"Well actually, yes kind off." Miroku sputtered at the look the woman was giving him. He felt like a child again, ignorant and stupid to the world. Her presence made him feel… small.

"Well don't expect them. They're back at your camp for the night. As are the rest of your troops. I'm the only one who can help you here. So I suggest you hand over that apple. Free of charge."

Miroku gawked for a moment. "An apple! You'd let him die over an apple?"

"If you haven't realised you're Roman. I would let any of you die without a second thought, other then I have a granddaughter to feed. So in fact if I heal him, I want enough money to feed us both for a year."

"That's disgusting. He could die without your help!" Miroku almost felt like snarling at the crone. Who was she to reject him? How dare she not willingly help them! "You old hag!"

"Everyone dies. It is the will of the Goddess. No one is different. However, for that creature I want something in return. He is already bitter, why let him live?" She crossed her arms and bowed her head. "The only reason I am offering now is because his future holds a purpose with my family."

Miroku felt his friend's body go limp. Oh Fuck! He's lost too much blood. Looking at the woman who was quietly standing in the alley entrance, Miroku frowned and grit his teeth. "You have a deal old woman. But if he dies, so do you."

"He won't die; At least not by my fault. And you may call me Lady Kaede. Now hurry. I have a cart over here that we can use to transport him to my hut. Hurry before he loses anymore blood."

Knowing the woman was right, Miroku followed at her heels. In the few moments it took to get his friend onto the cart Inu-Yasha had gone extremely pale. Obviously the daggers had to have some sort of poison on them. The horse pulled forward and the cart jerked. The roads had obviously never been well cared for and now every lurch made Miroku's teeth clatter together. He knew that the first project her would apply himself to after his friend was healed would be the up-keep of these roads.

The nag of a horse that was pulling the cart huffed and continued its pace. God a snail is faster then this! "Woman, you realise he is dying right?"

"Of course, I don't expect anyone who's lost that much blood to be on the verge of recovery young man."

"You're sense of humour needs some work Kaede." With that Miroku stayed silent. The cart continued to jerk and bounce. He noticed that they had left the town and now were on an old path leading into the forest. As the cartwheels creaked and groaned underneath them, Miroku felt that he would never mind a carried litter again. Even those were more comfortable then these bloody things. "Where are we going woman?"

Without answering she handed the officer a small canteen. "Make your friend drink this, he will need it to numb the pain."

"He's unconscious…"

"Just trust me boy. He'll need it." She turned back to the reins and signalled the horse to the left. Miroku had to duck as multiple tree branches attacked him.

Kagome

She came out of the trees from the clearing and looked at the hut she lived in. It was an adorable little place that her father had built. It was the same shape and style as any other Celtic forest hut but this one had a lower level. That was where her fathers room, and now hers was. It was a place to practice her magic without Kaede knowing. Kagome suspected that the woman still indeed knew but, as long as she didn't try anything dangerous, wouldn't stop it.

Off to the side of the hut was Etain's paddock. It stretched far back into the woods, which was why she couldn't see her horse now. One sharp whistle though and he would come flying to meet her. The sharp crack of a branch brought her attention back. "Kaede must be home."