Disclaimer: I do not own any of the wonderful InuYasha characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, nor do I own any of the Greek gods listed within this story.
The Oracle
As Tenshi bathed, she thought about her visit to the oracle planned for the next morning. "Ares is up to something and I intend to find out what. The Caretaker is strong, but she cares too much. She could never take a life even if it meant saving millions." She dried, dressed, and brushed her hair before heading towards dinner. "I must protect the Caretaker at all costs, and if that means killing the War god, so be it."
.
Tenshi met Pegasus at dawn at the base of Mount Olympus. He was a magnificent white steed with a flowing white mane and large white feathered wings. "Greetings, Pegasus. Arigato for finding this mortal worthy of your presence." She bowed to the powerful stallion. Pegasus tossed his head in acknowledgement. She leapt onto his back, feeling his powerful muscles under her legs bunch as he prepared to take off. Air rushed by Tenshi's face, whipping her hair around wildly. The trip that would have taken half a day walking took Pegasus less than an hour. Tenshi enjoyed the feel of the wind as she watched the scenery fly by. Pegasus began his descent, and landed gently on the ground outside of a small marble temple at the base of a mountain. "Thank you, noble steed. Will you wait for me?" Tenshi asked as she dismounted. Pegasus tossed his head in an affirmative manner and moved off to graze. Tenshi headed towards the entrance of the temple, knowing the knowledge she sought was held by the powerful seer within.
"Enter, Tenshi. I have been waiting for you." The melodious voice of the temple's oracle met her as she entered the main room of the temple. "You know my name and have been waiting for me. You must also know the knowledge that I seek." Tenshi responded as she moved towards the oracle. The oracle moved out of the shadows, revealing a young wisp of a girl with milky white eyes. Her long blond hair was plaited and fell down her back to her waist. She wore a Grecian style sleeveless blue gown adorned with silver cording. "I may be blind, but I can still see into your heart." She motioned to a table and chairs where tea and sweet cakes were waiting. "Please, sit and have some tea with me." Tenshi sat down as her hostess served tea. "Arigato for your hospitality, oracle" Tenshi responded in a very un-Tenshi-like way. The girl giggled. "So unlike you, warrior from the future. Please do not act out of character on my account." Tenshi raised one eyebrow at the girl's words. "How does she know?" "Don't forget, I am the oracle and I know everything." The girl replied to her unspoken question. They sat and drank their tea in a comfortable silence.
"Now, warrior, I know you seek to see the future so you may help your other half save all of existence." The oracle rose and moved over to a large mirror. "This mirror will show you the most likely path should the course of time remain unaltered." She waived a hand over the mirror and hazy images began to form. Tenshi watched carefully as the images rolled by, memorizing every detail. Soon the mirror went black again. "So this is the way the world will end?" Tenshi asked. "If you and your counterpart cannot correct the flow of time, yes. The world will be destroyed- past, present, and future." Tenshi thought carefully before speaking again. "How can we alter the path and set time back on its' correct path?" she questioned. "I cannot tell you the answer, Tenshi. However, I can provide the key necessary for you and your counterpart to unlock the answers together." The oracle placed a small, leather bound book in Tenshi's hands. "You must seek your counterpart and decipher the riddles within this tome. If the two of you are able to solve the riddles, the world will be saved. If you cannot, the world will end." The oracle walked back to the mirror. "Before you go, I wish to share one more vision with you." She waved her hand and the mirror began to swirl. "The events you are about to see have already occurred in your counterpart's time. You must bide your time and allow the betrayer to reveal himself to the others. To reveal his betrayal will mean the end of your journey before it has even begun." She stepped back to reveal the past to Tenshi…
There was a winding path in a small forest. The Caretaker was storming down it, not paying attention to her surroundings. She did not notice a cloaked figure silently observing her. As the Caretaker passed, the figure disappeared in a flash of blue.
There was a large room inside of a dilapidated castle. A tall, toned man with long black hair and red eyes was torturing a small woman with similar red eyes and dark hair in a bun. A cloaked figure appeared in the middle of the room, allowing the woman to flee. The man's red eyes glowed with rage as he roared "Insolent intruder! You will pay with your life!" A purple haze started to fill the room, and was gone just as quickly with a wave of the cloaked figure's hand. "Whoa there! Didn't mean to ruin your playtime." The cloaked figure moved closer. "I came here to strike a deal with you, Naraku". Naraku's red eyes glittered dangerously as he tossed his long black hair to one side. "Why should I listen?" he demanded. "Because you and I are after the same thing. We both want to destroy the world by filling it with war and strife." Naraku's eyes narrowed. The cloaked figure continued. "I know a certain Miko is trying to get the Shikon no Tama from you. I also know said Miko is currently being trained by Greek gods to defeat you and restore the flow of time to its' intended course." The cloaked figure paused to let Naraku digest this information. "And how can you help me?" He growled at the figure. "I know her weaknesses. I also happen to know how to turn those weaknesses against her and her allies so they cannot succeed. If they do not succeed, the flow of time will remain as it is, on a collision course filled with mayhem and destruction." Naraku considered the cloaked stranger with cold, calculating eyes. "Continue". The figure slowly walked around the room. "I have seen the future. If the Miko does not succeed, you will take over all of Japan, and eventually the entire world. The lands will be ravaged by war, famine, pestilence- three of my favorite things" the cloaked figure chuckled. "Interesting" Naraku pondered over this stranger's information. "I do not like having partners. They tend to become a liability. However, in your case, I will make an exception on one condition" He glared at the cloaked figure as if daring him to refuse. "And that is?" the figure prompted. "When you finish with the Miko, I want what's left." He grinned maliciously, thinking of the many plans he had for the Miko. "Agreed. So we have a deal?" The figure asked. "Yes, we have a deal. Now reveal yourself so I know who my partner is." Naraku demanded. The cloaked figure put down the hood, revealing tanned skin, shoulder length curly black hair, and a black beard & mustache. His dark brown eyes glittered with excitement as he swept into a bow and introduced himself. "I am Ares, Greek god of war. And you my friend will go down in history as the most bloodthirsty, badass bastard of a warlord this world has ever seen or will ever see again." The god and the hanyou both grinned evilly. "Now, sit back and enjoy the show as I destroy the Miko and her allies. I'll let you know when it's your turn to have fun with the Miko." In a flash of blue lightning, Ares was gone.
The mirror went blank again. "So I am right in my suspicions as far as Ares is concerned." Tenshi turned to the oracle. "Arigato, Oracle. I will work with the Caretaker to solve the riddles. I will not reveal Ares' betrayal. However, I will be keeping a close watch over his activities until I return to the feudal era." Tenshi bowed respectfully. "Though you cannot reveal Ares' betrayal to the other gods, you would do well to seek assistance from some of them in your endeavor to solve the riddles." The oracle walked her to the entrance. "Athena and Aphrodite can assist you with communicating with the caretaker. Hephaestus may also be able to help, though I am afraid the poor god is quite smitten with you and may end up causing more problems than he helps solve." Once again the oracle's melodious laugh filled the room. "I will seek the assistance you have suggested, oracle." Tenshi turned back as she was about to leave. "I am in your debt, Oracle. Should you ever need my service, send a message through Athena and I will come immediately." She bowed to the oracle again. "Arigato, Tenshi. I will remember your offer, and I will pray to Athena and the other gods I never have need of your services." The oracle turned and went back into the temple. Tenshi mounted Pegasus and headed back to Mount Olympus to request the assistance she would need in the very near future.