A/N: ...I have class in the morning and it is almost 2 am as I'm writing these words...uuuuugh.

O/C24: With the golden dragon gone, the group arrives at The Island of The Oracle with no further interruptions. Their journey to the Oracle's cave is an easy one, a blessed recuperation time from the trials they faced, and they finally meet Eldred. Misaki and he go into the back of the cave to talk.

Seeing that they weren't going anywhere any time soon, Hiei sat down, leaning up against the wall of the cave and closing his eyes.

"What're you doing?" Kuwabara frowned.

"If you can't tell, they'll be catching up for a while. I prefer sitting to standing during long, boring conversations, idiot."

Kuwabara almost shot back with his own insult when he saw Kurama sitting cross-legged nearby, Yukina sitting too. Yusuke had wandered outside to the beach. Kuwabara grumbled something inaudible and followed his fellow human.

Kurama remained inside to listen in on the conversation Eldred and Misaki were having and Hiei planned on sleeping, leaving the Jagan awake to alert him of any change in the situation.

The words that passed between Eldred and Misaki were audible, echoing off the back of the cave and coming forward, but they were low and fast. With part of her powers regained, Misaki was able to converse in this fast-speak and she was thankful. Normal talking would have taken too long.

When Kurama realized she was only catching Eldred up on their journey, of which Kurama had been a part, he stood, asking Yukina if she'd like to go outside and stand in the breeze for a while. She did, smiling as she stood and walking out with him to join the two humans. At this rate, they would be done faster than Hiei thought.

"I didn't think he would ever leave." Misaki's eyes flickered over at Kurama's back as he retreated outside.

"He is intelligent, Ansatsusha." Eldred noted wisely.

"The vessel is much too intelligent if you ask me. He will get himself killed because of it."

"Youko Kurama wouldn't have it any other way." Eldred smiled a moment. "So, what did you truly come to talk to me about? I know what the trials the journey to the Isle consists of and I assumed you were merely waiting for him to leave."

Misaki fell silent, gathering her thoughts. "Have you heard news?"

"If you mean have I seen any of the recent events throughout the world, yes. I try to keep up." His eyebrows rose wryly above his blindfold.

"As you are commanded," she nodded approvingly, "More specifically, have you seen anything pertaining to me."

"You know as well as I do that the Oracle can see nothing when it pertains to you." He regarded her blindly, straining to look through that blindness. "You are avoiding the subject."

"I thought you couldn't see anything when it pertains to me." She said primly.

"I have long been in the practice, Ansatsusha. Tell me." Eldred reached out and formed his hand around her cheek, longing to see her face.

"I look the same as ever, wind-child." She placed her fingers over his, knowing his thoughts.

"It's been so long since I've seen you."

"And I you."

"I don't think any of us will ever get use to the longevity." He sighed unhappily, "It is the curse of our origins."

"So many people lost. All dead. There's so much pain."

"If you did not feel any, I would question your humanity, such as it is."

"I am no human."

He did not respond to the vehemence in her voice. She was more so than she thought, but he didn't push the subject.

"I wish it would end." Her eyes were closed, her hand still over his. There was a sudden aging to her face, as if it had become tired itself.

Eldred's fingers felt her face muscles contact in a dark frown and he brushed the tip of his thumb over her forehead. "It cannot. Not for you. We do not belong-"

"I do not belong." She corrected.

He ignored her and went on, "They live in a separate time, almost a separate dimension. Why do you do it to yourself." It was no question. They both knew why.

"What am I supposed to do?" She pulled away from his hand, her voice angry, "Lock myself away? Become a hermit? I tried that too, remember? It killed me more than being with them will." She gestured towards the fiery youkai at the entrance of the cave and the vessel, koorime and two humans outside it. Her suddenly flash of irritation was gone and the last words came out more quiet.

"Why Spirit Detectives, Arienai Ansatsusha?" He truly seemed puzzled, "I never believed you strong enough to fall in with their kind a second time."

"I am not strong enough. But it is where my path has fallen and you know as well as I that I do not choose no matter what I say."

"Again, I will attempt to sway you to say your mind: you're stalling."

Misaki's eyes looked far away as if she was privy to some vision only she could see. "There is a war coming, Eldred."

"What?" He had not seen any such thing. Though he had not been looking for such a thing either.

"A war. Bigger than any of us. Bigger than anything anyone has ever witnessed. It will consume everything. And we are powerless to stop it."

"We have not been told to stop it."

"And we will not be told. And there is no number designation high enough to count how many will die. No one will be prepared because no one knows. It will fall upon them like a black widow upon her lover." One of her hands clenched into an angry fist, "And because Elements are not allowed to interfere, some will fall."

"That would throw the world into chaos!" Eldred exclaimed, "We are those who keep it in balance! Even if one of us were to perish, the balance would be thrown off."

"The balance is off anyway, what with my existence." She smirked grimly, "Perhaps it would in fact rebalance it."

"Lies, Ansatsusha. Things would only become worse."

"I am weary, Eldred." And the look on her face proved it, she wilted as she said it, lacking the strength to even hold her head up.

He sighed, "Just once, I wish I could see you with my eyes. Who can say the next time we will meet?"

"I want to see your face unhindered." She came back to life briefly, reaching up and taking his blindfold off, ignoring Eldred's protests.

"You can't!"

"I am. I want to look into your eyes."

She sat with the strip of cloth in her hand, waiting.

For a moment, Eldred didn't open his eyes, his forehead wrinkling in the light hitting his face. Even when he opened them, the pupils contracted suddenly to compensate. The milky white blindness token of the Oracle slipped away from his irises, revealing the true chocolate brown color underneath.

"Dear sister," He said tenderly, reaching forward to hug Misaki, "I have long missed your face. I would say now that perhaps your banishment was for too long a time."

The wind picked up outside and swept into the cave, whirling around Eldred like a long-lost child.

"And I have missed you as well, my element." Eldred pulled away from her, reaching his arms out as if to hug the wind too. It curled around his body, brushing his robes and fluffing his white hair. Eldred sighed a contented sigh, "Without you I feel incomplete."

"But with it you cannot see."

"That doesn't make it any easier." He rested his gaze on her, drinking in her features. "You haven't changed at all."

"You didn't believe me?"

Eldred frowned, "Who knows what will come of you denying the world its Oracle."

"I will take that blame. And would take it again." She responded as he took the cloth from her hand to put back over his eyes which had just started to lose their color.

"The fire-sister spoke true, you may not get from me what you seek."
She had told him about the loss of her arm and as a result her power.

"I do not think those I travel with would agree, but I would say the journey was worth it whether or not we get what we need."

Eldred nodded and stood. The wind was gone and his robes sighed once as they grew still.

Kurama had seen that the conversation came to a close and gathered up the others, bustling them back into the cave. Misaki joined them, leaving Eldred by himself to the front of their group.

"You have passed through many trials and I commend you for making it this far with no losses. It is not often that happens."

"Don't interrupt," Misaki whispered, elbowing Yusuke in the ribs. The boy had opened his mouth but closed it, frowning at her as he rubbed his side.

"As reward for living through the tests, I will give you what I see. I cannot answer questions as visions are never stationary or focused but they will pertain to you in some form or another so I advise you to pay attention."

"So it's true. He might not give Misaki the words she wants to hear." Kurama glanced at her and she appeared tired to him, worn out.

Although he was wrapped in darkness, as Eldred closed his eyes he could see.

"A mortal's blood/a final queue/shift one way and go askew. Traveling takes/not a moment more/than seeking out/the dimension's door. You have not reached/your journey's end/your tasks goes on/to still defend." Images were shooting quickly over Eldred's gaze and while he spoke, it wasn't him saying the words. He slipped farther away from the cave around them within his mind's eye and his voice became more rhythmic.

"Face your fears/descend you must/into the sea/beneath earth's crust. A specter waits/the beat unsteady/horror waits/living levy. In good mood/you should be fine/but cannot wait another time. Terror deep within the chest/as far away as east from west." Eldred collapsed onto the floor and Kuwabara ran forward, Yusuke close behind.

"Let's go."

Kurama was astonished at the steel in Misaki's voice.

"You mean we're just going to leave him here?" Kuwabara protested.

"Yes." She turned and went out of the cave, but not before Kurama caught the cold look on her face.

"I assume he'll be fine." He followed her.

"If that makes you feel better about leaving him." She shrugged one shoulder up and down.

" 'Seeing' takes a lot out of someone." Kurama noted.

"I could never get half as many verses as he just did." Misaki grumbled quietly.

"Wait, where are we going?" Yusuke trotted out.

"Weren't you listening at all?" Misaki shook her head, jogging to head back around to the beach where they arrived.

"Well yeah but—"

"Then, it should be obvious."

Hiei appeared in front of her and she skidded to a stop, his eyes glaring.

" 'Descend you must/into the sea/beneath earth's crust' doesn't spell it out for you?" she asked wryly, raising an eyebrow.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're going where now?" Yusuke exclaimed.

Misaki skirted Hiei and started to jog off again.

"Isn't it kind of hot in the center of the earth?" Kuwabara pointed out. "Won't we burn or something?"

"Very good Kuwabara. But burning is the least of our worries." Misaki scowled.

The others were running in her wake.

"How so?"

"Just hope that we catch Him in a good mood."

Kuwabara tripped as he considered what she said, " 'Him?' Wait, who?" He ran to catch up with the group.

She wouldn't answer any of their questions; she seemed to be on autopilot.

Misaki did slow when she remembered Yukina and that the girl probably didn't ever run like that unless it was necessary.

They stopped when it got dark, making camp again as well as a fire. Misaki pulled food out for them, stuff she grabbed on the way out of the cave. It was there in case anyone actually ever made it to the Oracle and was perpetually fresh.

"It is odd that these beaches are not sandy." Kurama said, "With the water beating against the rock, it would at least show signs of wear and tear."
"But this is the Island of the Oracle. You rode in the minds of giant birds to get here. I think normal rules would not apply." Misaki continued passing the food around until it was distributed.

"True."

"So, is no one else concerned about this whole beneath the earth thing?" Yusuke wanted to know. "You know, molten lava and temperatures we can't withstand or something?"

"Speak for yourself." Hiei responded.

"Or something." Misaki snorted, shaking her head.

Kuwabara spoke up, "How would you know, Urameshi? You always fall asleep in science class. In the off chance that you're even there."

"Shut up, Kuwabara!"

"How far beneath the earth will we have to go?" Yukina said in between munching.

"As far away as the east is from the west." Misaki shrugged.

Yusuke looked confused. "East from the west? That makes no sense!"

"No matter how far east you walk, west is only one step behind you."

"Now you're starting to sound like the oracle thingy."

"That made my brain hurt." Kuwabara rubbed his forehead.

Misaki gave a merciless laugh, "I ought to be able to sound like an oracle. Who do you think had that job before Eldred? I was talking in rhyme for weeks afterwards. It isn't a job intelligent beings volunteer for."

"You were an oracle? That is such an honorable job! Helping out those in need! Can I be an oracle?" Kuwabara rushed over to her with stars in his eyes, grabbing her hands.

"Honorable? Tell that to Cassandra." Misaki jerked her hands away.

"Cassandra?" Yusuke frowned.

"There is a Greek myth that the god Apollo fell in love with a human female named Cassandra and gave her the gift of foresight, the ability to see into the future. She refused to be with him and though he could not recall a gift once given, he cursed it, saying that she would foresee all of the horrible events of the future but no one would ever believe her."

"Thank you, Mister Almanac." Misaki said.

"You're welcome." Kurama replied curtly.

"So what's all that mean?" Yusuke asked.

Misaki whacked him upside the back of the head.

"Ow!" He rubbed it, "What was that for?"

"Being stupid."

Hiei chuckled once, checking himself and staring into the fire emotionlessly again.

"You might want to get some sleep." She told them, "We'll easily get back where we landed tomorrow."

"Do we get to fly again?" Kuwabara eagerly wanted to know. The other three who had also flown looked at her expectantly.

"No. One way trip."

"Oh." His face fell.

After more back and forth banter, they settled down for sleep on the hard rock, Misaki keeping watch.

She wasn't comforted by the stars overhead or the sea lapping up onto the shore. The smell of memories was heavy on the air, ones she'd just as well forget, mixed in with the salt. Concentrating on not thinking, she barely caught the steady beat of sleeping hearts and wasn't troubled by unwelcome thoughts.

As on their arriving journey, they started off again after everyone awoke, most of them enjoying the nice weather and pleasant walk.

Yusuke led the way, they were merely going back around the island, and Misaki dropped back by herself, absently fingering the dagger Drake gave to her.

Not paying particular attention, Misaki sliced open one of her thumbs, sticking in her mouth and frowning at the blackened blade. Part of it instantly stained red.

Abruptly, Kurama stopped, his head shifting slightly as his eyes looked to either side of him. Hiei caught something on the air as well, his own eyes darting about them.

"Get between us, Yukina." Kurama asked of her. Yusuke was still in front and Kuwabara stepped behind her so she was shielded by their bodies.

"We're being followed." Hiei finally said darkly.

"I can't see anything, but I can feel it. Powerful." Kuwabara almost shivered.

"Get down!" Misaki and Kurama shouted at the same time. Misaki dove forward and pushed Kuwabara to the side where he hit the ground.

The others reacted just as fast, Hiei pulling Yukina out of the way, Kurama and Yusuke both ducking.

Something big whooshed over their heads and Misaki felt her hair rustling wildly in the sudden wind. She glanced up, wincing, to see a flash of gold rise above them and turn around to make another dive.

The golden dragon roared angrily, tattered wings and grayish scales still ominous and filling the sky over them.

Everyone who hadn't dodged the last time, dodged this time as the dragon swooped closer this time, nearly raking the still face-down Kuwabara with its claws.

"To the sea!" Misaki yelled above the rush of the wings.

They were near the point where the birds landed them and they dashed for the waves that lashed at the rocks.

The dragon bellowed and an arc of flames lit up the air in warning.

"Keep running!"

Kuwabara had scrambled to his feet and ran after the others, Misaki stopping to look back.

Having not truly expected their dodge, the dragon was attempting to compensate for its over-flight but its turn was too wide to be quick. That gave them a little more time.

Yusuke skidded to a halt as he reached the water, small waves lapping at his shoes.

"What now?"

Something began pulsing around her waist and Misaki grabbed for the dagger hidden there. She ran forward and jabbed the blade into the rock just past the water's edge. It sank easily into the stone, much to her surprise and she lost her grip as her fingers whacked into the cross-shaped guard.

The earth beneath them rumbled and the sea started to churn, parting just behind the dagger in a dark, bottomless circle.

"Go!" Misaki ordered, pushing Yusuke, who was nearest to her, into the yawning hole. He lost his balance as she shoved him and fell inside.

Kuwabara took one look at the dragon, who had finished its turn and was headed straight for them, and looked at the hole and decided that his odds were better in the hole. Misaki grabbed Yukina's arm and propelled her in after him. The look Hiei gave her was murderous.

"We don't have time for you to question me!"

She was behind both him and Kurama, herding them towards the hole. Kurama made it.

The dragon was hurtling for Hiei and Misaki and neither had time to move forward before the dragon engulfed them both in flames. Misaki did have time to place herself between Hiei and the fire, protecting her head with her arms.

They were almost knocked over by the force of the fiery breath, Misaki ramming into Hiei before planting her feet.

The flames resided as the dragon plunged over them again, only licks of flame left that were quickly dying as it rose into the sky.

"I'm a fire youkai." Hiei spat, shrugging her away from where she was braced up against him.

She gave him a blank look. He wouldn't have been hurt even if she hadn't been there.

"Is your clothing a fire youkai too? Or would you have preferred that I let it burn off?"

Hiei didn't answer, following after the others.

Misaki's back arched in pain as the dragon slashed its claws across her from shoulder to waist and she drew blood from her lip and tongue as she clamped her mouth shut to keep from crying out. Adrenaline blocked the pain, rushing through her body as Misaki yanked the dagger from the ground, bracing the hilt with one palm as she held it. She jabbed upwards and felt the sharp tip sinking into flesh. Steaming bits of acid-blood dripped onto her shoulders, burning holes in the hitatare she wore.

A screech ripped from the dragon's mouth as it wheeled away, staggering through the air over the dark forest and plummeting into the awaiting trees.

The hole before her was starting to close, but Misaki hadn't noticed. A hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed her arm, pulling her through.

-lotsm