Chapter 13

The Soul Gatherers, a Priestess, and a Hidden Power

Serena walked into the forest where the well was but didn't go to the well. Instead she went to the Sacred Tree. Kilala rode on her shoulder as they approached it. On the face of the tree was what looked like a scar. Kagome told her that Inuyasha was pinned to the tree from fifty years by a priestess named Kikyo.

She felt sorry for Inuyasha. To be pinned to a tree for fifty years by the one person you love so much is horrible. We're kindred spirits, he and I. She put her hand on trees' scar. We've both been hurt by the ones we love. There's no escaping that kind of pain that forever resides in your heart.

Suddenly Kilala started growling at something. "What is it Kilala?" she asked as she watched the fur on the cat's back stand on end.

She turned around and saw what looked like long, floating, white snakes with crab-like legs. From what Kagome told her, these were Kikyo's Soul Gatherers.

The snakes came at her and wrapped around her body tightly. Before one snake could cover her mouth, she told Kilala to hurry back to the village and get help. Kilala ran away and transformed into her larger form to get to the village faster.

Between the trees came Kikyo, the undead priestess.

"Inuyasha." Kikyo approached Serena slowly. "You will come with me to the underworld where we belong."

Her monotone voice was eerie and haunting. Serena noticed that Kikyo had Kagome's face. But Kikyos' eyes looked like they were full of sadness and death.

Kikyo suddenly stopped walked when she was only five feet away. Even though she had seen him on the night of the new moon a few times, the person who was in front of her wasn't Inuyasha. She realized that the person she thought was Inuyasha had light green eyes and was definitely not a boy.

"You're not Inuyasha." she said in a haunting angry voice. "Who are you?" She pointed at the snake that was covering Serena's mouth to move away.

When the snake was gone, she said, "I'm Serena Higurashi, Kagomes' older sister."

"You're my reincarnations' sister?" she stepped closer to her and gazed at the purple jewel. "I came here because I felt a dead soul around here."

"Do I look dead to you?" Serena didn't like the way Kikyo was staring at her necklace with a hunger in her eyes.

"No. But this jewel has a trapped portion of a powerful soul." Kikyo reached out her hand to grab the jewel. "A soul that I must have."

Serena had just about enough of this. She wanted these snakes to release her. She wanted Kikyo gone and away from her jewel. Deep inside, she felt an odd power that was unlike her demon powers. And strangely enough it came from her jewel. Somehow it was telling her to protect it with her life.

The power was growing more powerful inside her as she managed to get her right hand free. She placed her hand on Kikyo's face and said, "KEEP YOUR UNDEAD HANDS OF MY JEWEL!" A powerful blast of red spiritual energy came out her hand and sent Kikyo flying across the clearing. When she landed on the ground, the soul gatherers finally released her.

Kikyo looked at her and Serena saw what looked like a burned handprint on her face. Serena looked at her hand and saw it was glowing a dark red color. But what she didn't see was that Kikyo had gotten up and was now pointing an arrow at her. "I WILL have that soul."

Serena looked up in time to see and arrow flying straight at her. She quickly pulled out the Tensaiga out of the sheath on her back and held it front of her. The sword pulsed once and set up a barrier around her seconds before the arrow could hit her. The arrow disintegrated when it hit the barrier.

"Forget it Kikyo!" Serena held the Tensaiga down at side. "This jewel belongs to me and me alone. So get lost!"

From behind her, Sango, Miroku, and Sesshomaru appeared from the trees. Kilala was next to Sango and was growling at Kikyo viciously. Sango had a hand on her Hiraikotsu which was on her back. Miroku hand his left hand on the sacred beads on his right arm. And Sesshomaru had the Tokejin out and ready to attack.

When Kikyo realized she was outnumbered, she said "Very well then. You can keep that trapped soul for now." Her snakes wrapped around body and lifted her slowly into the air. When she completely disappeared into the sky, Serena collapsed and had to use Tensaiga to hold her up. Her spiritual powers took more out of her then she thought.

"Lady Serena! Are you alright?" The monk, demon slayer and demon lord quickly approached her.

"What was that priestess doing here?" asked Sesshomaru as he put the Tokejin away he knelt by her side. She was panting heavily.

"She said she wanted some soul that's trapped inside my jewel." The jewel was glowing slightly and she saw that her hands were barely glowing now.

"Why are your hands glowing?" Miroku helped her stand up.

"I think I might have priestess powers like my sister." The glowing finally faded from her hands and she put the Tensaiga back in its sheath.

"How were you about to use the Tensaiga without your demon powers?" asked Sesshomaru.

"I think my priestess powers are what made it work." She said looking at her hand. How else could I have summoned that barrier to protect me from that arrow?

"Come on. Let's get you back to the village." Said Sango, as she got on Kilala. Serena nodded and got on Kilala as well.

The boys stayed behind and watched the large cat demon fly into the air and back to the village.

"What is it about that jewel that makes Naraku and that priestess go after her?" Sesshomaru asked when Kilala was out of sight.

"From what Myoga told us, that is the Jewel of Inutaisho. Your father had some of his blood and some of your blood forged into a jewel to protect Izaiuwai from harm. Lord Inutaisho never had the chance to give it to her so it was sealed in a box until Serena found it." Miroku looked at the Scared Tree.

Sesshomaru also looked at the tree and said, "Father never mentioned that he took some of my blood."

"I'm beginning to think that your father had Myoga get your blood so you wouldn't notice.

Sesshomaru stared at the scar on the tree and thought, That would explain why she can use my attacks so well.

"Whatever his reason was, if Kikyo and Naraku are after we must protect Serena at all costs." Said Miroku as they faced each other.

"Agreed." Replied the demon lord.

They both walked back to the village and watched over Serena for the rest of the night.