JeniNeji's Note:

Here goes the second chapter of the story, and once again, thanks Chezka for beta reading this chapter, you were really fast editing this chapter. Thanks for putting the little time and energy you got in this story. I swear I'll get better so you won't have to edit too much.

DisClaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha

When the Past is the Future...

Chapter 2:

The discovery of the Four Souls

Naraku looked down at his surroundings, hating what his eyes looked upon. The puzzle of different pieces that was his body had been ruined. Many of them where on the ground, thankfully none had been damaged by Kagome's display of power. He had chosen his parts thoughtfully akin this time. There were no weak demons inhabiting his body, just the strongest ones. He closed his eyes, and with a pulse of magic, he pulled all the bodies once again inside of him. After several minutes where an immense force made it's way into him, he found himself able to breathe at ease again. His strength had returned.

He smirked as he opened and closed his fist. Once again he was feeling the strength and the magical powers residing in him. He turned his eyes to the side, where at least eight orbs were resting on the grass. His dear servants, his extensions... He kneeled next to them and one by one he pulled the hearts, the orbs, inside him as well. He looked at the last one for some seconds while the colorful orb resting in his hand shone freely in a rainbow of colors. After thinking of the strength it carried, he continued to walk in the racked town, the orb still in his hand.

She felt it, the desperate calling of one of her kind, of one in the brink of death. She could not help but run to her aid. She must not allow this, she needed to save her. Her kind had been hunted down now for at least a century. This had never happened before since the tales are told from mother to children. Still, this hunting down was truly worrisome. So very few remained... so few of them were born each decade and thus they were in the borderline, almost extinct.

Her heart was shrinking with each second. She wanted to help this one, she truly did. She didn't want to fail, for it would greatly pain her. So here she was, running madly around the town, trying to ignore the blood from the roofs of the wooden houses and the dismembered corpses around her. Also ignoring the sound of wood burning and the scent it carried. All of this was touching the deepest part of her mind, the one she had been trying to forget for twelve years, but wasn't able to.

"Don't stop, don't think, don't remember.. .don't..." she repeated in her mind once and again as she ran. Her sandals were splashing the blood on the ground. She kept trying to maintain her mind in the real world, holding it tight, suppressing it from roaming away in the past. She continued telling herself this phrase as if this was a magic enchantment that would preserve her sanity. The truth was that for her, this place ... was the world of her nightmares, her own personal hell.

She had been a child, perhaps no more than five years old when demons destroyed her village. Her village was burned down and all the people were slaughtered. She was miraculously saved. But she knew and everyone knew that the demons had been looking for her that night because she had been born a miko with great powers. Even when she knew that the villagers had chosen to die in order to protect her, she never recovered herself. She had always felt guilty for what took place in her hometown. This town was a replica of what her town had looked like the morning after. The only difference, the sun still shone on this one, while hers had been engulfed in darkness at the moment of the attack and the only light came from the fire of the human's torch that the demons had lighted.

She shook her head, to escape from those dreadful images and concentrated on the present. The powers of the miko in this town were so great that she could not help but be amazed. Even now, she could feel them vibrating with strength. However, the miko was using them recklessly. They were absorbing too much energy...

She continued to run to the origin of the pure waves. Something was beginning to nag her consciousness. There wasn't a single demon, none roaming the area. The miko in town had sent such a blast of power that it had been enough to purify almost all of the demons. Somehow, it gave her a feeling of wrongness in the bottom of her heart. This was a situation of unbalance in nature, a space without the interference of demonic auras. She suddenly wondered if life would continue on if one of the sides of it ceased to exist.

After a last turn, she finally reached the miko. The sight paralyzed her every cell, her thoughts instantly escaped from her. The miko was strange. The girl that was lying on the floor was nothing of what she had expected. The girl had long wavy hair, pale skin and beautiful features: long lashes, small lips and a well formed nose. Surely, she must be stunning when awake, but what was very odd was her clothing. She had something green covering her legs, very short, and a white hakama, also very short and tight. Her clothes were very odd indeed.

She was lying near a pond with a shrine on the center. A pool of dried blood was under her right shoulder, her eyes were dull and lifeless yet they were of a crystalline color. Her eyes seemed to reflect her soul which was pouring away from her wounds and was being scattered carelessly to the wind. The unconscious miko had put on a barrier but it was using too much energy to maintain itself. Though it was strong -- she would give her credit for that, she was unable to maintain a barrier while unconscious – it was draining her life and at a high speed.

She now understood the waves she was feeling. The girl's soul was selflessly trying to purify the entire town, a task that would probably consume it entirely. This town was doomed, and no one would value her sacrifice. She would not allow such a waste. The girl's powers could be put to better use, to a place where they were most needed.

She took measured steps towards the unconscious girl, afraid she may awaken more dangerous and destructive powers that could affect humans. As she was getting closer, a sudden demonic aura stopped her. She scanned the area around her but saw nothing, until it was too late.

A few attacks came out of nowhere and she instinctively dodged them by jumping away. She concentrated even more but the essence of the power was a strange one. It felt wrong, false and empty. She took the sword out of its rightful place at her left hip, and engulfed it with her miko powers, the sharp blade flashing with a blue light. Instantly, the blade resonated with her soul, the sword awakening from its slumber and submitting at its master's will.

A shape descended from the trees, few feet away from her. It had the form of a young woman, but she knew right away she was not. She had short black hair in a ponytail that barely reached her shoulders and pink eyes, revealing her identity right away, a demoness.

The demoness turned her gaze to the unconscious miko, instantly recognizing her. She jerked her gaze away instantly as another presence made its way towards her. A young man, or better said, demon, jumped in front of the knocked miko, his red eyes searching for something in her.

Sword in hand, she decided to attack. The miko that had been know even in the Feudal Era for her impressive powers, the miko Midoriko locked eyes with her demoness target. She would not let harm come to the one who so courageously fought here and proudly won. She raised her right arm, instantly drawing the attention of both demons. She closed her eyes, as if feeling her surroundings, and let her arm fall with great speed and force. A blast of blue came from the sword, and went towards the demons. None of them moved because they didn't need not to. A purple blast from the dark-haired male demon instantly slowed the attack, white slashes of wind crashed against the blue force weakening it and finally a barrier stopped the blast when it reached them.

Midoriko gasped in surprise. Her attacks were strong, and yet, these demons so easily stopped it. She grasped the hilt of her sword harder this time, the situation angering her. This time, she took a deep breath and took an offensive position. Perhaps the blast was stopped, but she won't lose to demons. There was still so much more of her. She knew of some other ways to defeat them.

Naraku locked his red eyes on the young woman in front of him. She had long and silky black hair that reached to her thigh, brown eyes and creamy-looking skin. She wore long red pants that were being dragged as she walked and she had white hakama covered by an ancient armor. He smirked and glanced towards the demoness's pink eyes, a thought passing between them. Naraku's eyes brightened with bliss. How lucky he had been, how he thanked reaching Kagome before she crossed time.

"Midoriko, are you not?" Naraku asked, already knowing the answer to his question. The girl's eyes narrowing in suspicion were enough indication for him "The girl from which the Shikon no Tama was born..." he said to himself, absent-minded.

Naraku gave a smile to the demoness -- a frightening one – which delivered an order. "Kagura, don't let the miko interfere" he said and then added "Perhaps, that way I'll forgive your last betrayal." He turned his back to her and went to where his real interest lied in the grass. He reached Kagome, and was again assured that her powers were on the limit, yet a pink barrier prevented him from reaching her. How was that possible? Unless...

Midoriko charged against the one named Kagura, stealing her attention, and began a one to one battle. She attacked horizontally with her sword but Kagura managed to avoid the hits. Tired of it Kagura elevated herself in the air to get away from the Midoriko's sword. At this, the miko once again threw a blast of energy against Kagura, who shrieked in fear and stopped floating, falling to the ground carelessly. Kagura stood up immediately, furious at her. This time, she will make sure to kill her, no more little games.

Their attention was however drawn to the demon next to the unconscious Kagome, as he let go of his locks and his aura took life and will. It was massive, and it kept expanding. Midoriko could not believe her eyes. She never believed that a demon was possessor such powers. The blackness of his soul surprised her the most, but what his aura was doing perplexed her even more. The black aura was spreading in the miko's unconscious barrier, trying to infiltrate it and taint her aura with his. The demon growled in pain and frustration, as the barrier hurt his aura but he still kept going. As each minute passed Naraku tried harder and more ferocious. Why was the demon doing it if it caused him such pain?

Another strong aura approached the town, and Midoriko's shoulder relaxed visibly. At last they had arrived. The thought of not having to deal with the demons in front of her alone was comforting, but now she was worried because the miko's powers could injure her companions in an outraged attack, as the one she felt a while ago.

A kick in her middle awoke her from her thoughts and a hard crash on her back against a tree reminded her to keep her guard always in battle, especially against demons. She opened her eyes and was speechless as they solely locked with Kagura's pink ones. The devilish smirk, going far too well with her face, matching perfectly with her kind, yet deep within, the miko could see something else in those pink eyes. Something she could see because she felt it, wanted it... She knew what it was like when that was lacking in one's life. Her eyes watered as she thought about these things, her eyes reddening with the unshed tears.

Kagura frowned, genuinely confused. She took some steps away from Midoriko because the look she was receiving was scaring her. It was as if the miko could see more than her eyes permitted, as if she could see her thoughts -- her broken heart and her soulless inside. She felt terrible, the miko's eyes made her remember that she was nothing, that she wasn't free like the wind, that her heart was a pearl in her master's hand. She was no one; she had no soul, just a rotten spirit trying to find its way, unable to give up. These thoughts were making her angry. Why was it that when she received such a compassionate and understanding face, she could only come to despise herself even more? Shouldn't she feel grateful or touched...?

Kagura grabbed the miko's armor and threw her far away from her. The miko fell to the floor without a sound.

Midoriko lifted her gaze and once again and found those pink eyes, now full of emotions and no longer cold and emotionless. Tears were threatening to fall from the demoness' eyes. Midoriko could not take away her eyes from the demoness. Tears was something that she -- as a miko-- had been taught long ago impossible in a demon. They had told her that they were all emotionless, but she was crying. The demoness was crying in front of her very brown eyes. Demons have feelings as well, but it was just harder for one to see them. Perhaps, it was a way of growing up, an air of superiority, yet, those emotions were there. Here was this demoness crumbling in front of her. She was right, demons were alive, and had a soul, they could distinguish between good and evil, and most important, make their own choices. They were not meant for evil. She hoped for her theory to be correct, or else, her kind will disappear.

"The Four Souls are real, I can do it" Midoriko stood, now full of hope, courage and strength. She will be able to change the souls. Her powers were not of brutal strength though, they were meant for change, for transformation. Nonetheless, there had always been something missing. Now, the demoness had made it clear for her.

Sourly, Kagura met the miko's eyes and took out both of her fans. She lifted her arms, each hand holding a deadly fan. Her pink eyes were figuring out a riddle, shifting with various emotions, each second was a torture to Kagura, until they were granted with a new emotion: resolve. A lone tear came down her left cheek and in that instant she brought both her hands together in front of her. The movement caused the wind that was cut in action to fly furiously against the miko in flashes of white.

Midoriko's eyes widened in horror, she put on a barrier of blue light in front of her, hoping the energy she was able to gather in the given time had been enough to protect her from the attack. She closed her eyes tightly. She felt the waves of demonic energy nearing. Awful sounds issued as the blades of wind collided with her barrier, the sounds reminding her of her previous battles when her sword found another and howled in those screeching sounds that she had come to despise. Though she knew better, these were no swords, these were deadly attacks that could not pass her barrier, or she would die, undoubtedly. It didn't matter this was not her specialty. Now, it needed to be, she needed to be strong. Or die trying.

Midoriko saw images of her journeys. She saw as many of her companions died, how many of her friends had left her in the brink of death glad for her safety; hoping she would be able to accomplish what fate had in store for her.

She had been considered weak by many, stupid by others, a hypocrite by her masters and her fellow kind, and even a nuisance by some. But those were things that did not matter to her anymore. Those were opinions of foolish people based on tradition and not smart-wise thinking. Although there was one thing that she wouldn't allow to herself. She wouldn't allow fear to cage her, to trap her in its labyrinths. She will not fail, never again, and she will do everything in her powers to save the world that needed her. Yes, she will save those fools who had called such names, fools who would be given a second chance by Heaven to do it right this time and gain access to the life of absolute happiness. She will have to leaved the future to people like her masters, persons filled with prejudices and hatred and to hope that it could all turn for the best. She will live and die to show them that they had been mistaken.

As courage filled her --more determined than any other time she could recall -- she opened her eyes. It was amazing. The mixture of colors as white wind crashed against her blue barrier, how the explosion shone with many sparkles falling to the ground, as innocently as snow. The attack subsided and the barrier dispersed after a few seconds, everything was calm again.

The sound of a gasp called for Midoriko's immediate attention to the girl. The demonic aura was getting past the girl's barrier. Her fingers had unconsciously tensed, trying to grasp the grass underneath her, her back slightly arching in nuisance at the intrusion. Her body was convulsing with the force of the demon. The demon's eyes had become a bright red and a smirk had been carved on Naraku's face, but his aura was making way into the girl's soul.

Naraku was drowned in delight; he could feel like this for eternity. Oh how good it felt... He was beyond pleased with his new body and the marvels it could do. Being tested to the extreme had been a handful, first with Inu-Yasha's group -- that had gone very well -- then with Kagome's outburst and now this, his powers against the very same Jewel he had been desiring for so long. The Shikon no Tama was not as invincible as it seemed. Nevertheless, it was him, he could not think too less of the Jewel. After all, the Jewel had been crafted by a human, a woman, what could have been expected?

A woman's scream pierced several sensitive ears of the newcomers, and worry was instantly sketched in their faces. They hurried their pace towards the miko that traveled with them. When they reached their destination, they were surprised with almost everything. From demons to humans, everyone in the group was stunned at the scene.

Midoriko was standing up, her sword in hand with the usual blue glow that accompanied it whenever it was in use. A demoness, no, a half-demoness, floating near Midoriko was looking away, at the same direction as the mentioned miko.

They curiously looked at the same direction. The two full dog youkais, and the Demons Exterminators with them. They saw another demon's aura breaking through a barrier that was protecting someone, a girl; a triumphant laugh that escaped the demon, but it was soon shut and gurgled sounds replaced it, accompanied by blood coming out of his mouth. They were able to follow upon the events that had happened in that single second since they were further away of the place.

The second when the barrier had succumbed to the demon's aura, a fire cat demon came out of the unconscious body form and had bitten the demon in the neck, thus stopping his laughter and the pouring of blood. The moment the demon took notice of the attack he had received, a purple poison spread from his wound and the cat demon quickly let go of the Naraku's neck, and stood protectively over the girl.

The demon brought his hand to his neck to inspect the damage of the attack. After making sure it was nothing serious, he turned back to the cat demon with eyes gleaming with untold secrets. He licked the blood from his lips and smirked.

"Have you come here to avenge your master cat? Seems like killing your body was not enough to get rid of your obsessing interference. Or perhaps, you have come here to amend and save the miko instead?" Naraku said in a sick tone, full of pleasure.

"Leave" a rough voice brought Naraku's attention to the group that just arrived.

It was an order that was directed to Naraku, a high threat behind the command. Naraku's smirk faded away as he tried to recall anything about the pair of demons in front of the group. He instantly recognized one of them, but the other was a complete mystery. He also noted the presence of several Demon Exterminators.

The sound of Midoriko's sword being carefully sheathed gave him the impression that these demons were not ones to fool around with. He looked at Kagura, who was lost in daydreams.

The fire cat youkai was dragging Kagome away from him, and growling threats at the same time. Naraku's eyes narrowed in anger. He wanted the Shikon no Tama, he wouldn't leave without it. Every single event that had taken place a minute ago, changed his plans greatly and he could no help but feel irritated.

Kagura was stunned for seeing him here. He looked so young, but he still carried that air, that scent. She knew him too well to not notice. Slowly and without her consent, her floating subsided and her foot found the grass below. She remembered how free she felt when he was near, she knew he could free her, he was strong. Though his will was so difficult, it was so hard to talk to him. Sesshomaru...

An angry yell awoke her from her wandering mind. It was then when she noticed she had been slowly walking towards Sesshomaru. She looked at her foot in awe, then at him with her mouth hanging open. He was looking at her through narrowed eyes, with anger and some confusion. She jumped away from him when she felt the gaze of the others on her.

Naraku looked at her with despise, grabbing the collar of her kimono and pulling her close to him. "Do you dare betray me again, Kagura?" he said at her slowly, his words full of hatred.

She winced in fear and closed her eyes in an attempt to erase his red eyes from her gaze. "No, I'm sorry, please forgive me master, I...It'll never happen again..."

He let go of her abruptly and she fell like a pile to the ground, her fans had fallen to her sides. She lifted her gaze to Naraku as he walked away from her and towards Sesshomaru.

Naraku began to walk towards them and looked at them fearless. His red eyes locked in Sesshomaru's golden ones instantly finding the iciness he knew to be expected in them. He permitted his gaze to roam over the humans in the group. Just one had the black outfit that he associated with Demon Exterminators, yet the others had over-sized weapons that were undoubtedly made of demon parts. He could tell he had witnessed the beginning of them, the first Exterminators. He then directed his gaze to whom he felt was the leader of the group.

He was tall and strong. His aura let out energy and fierceness. He had silvery white hair in a low ponytail and golden eyes. He had no scars in his body, and he carried two swords with him. He also wore an ancient armor, a bit similar to Midoriko's. He stopped his curiosity and locked eyes with him.

"The miko is mine" Naraku said menacingly, gathering energy in case of trouble.

"Not anymore, she's mine now. Leave, I will not repeat myself" the leader said fiercely but with an unbelievable control that would not put him as disrespectful.

Naraku's eyes shifted to a more relaxed look. The leader's eyes narrowed dangerously. But Naraku ventured anyway. "The miko will bring your downfall, she will taint your blood" he said, assured and confident. "In a night many moons away from today" Naraku said between a chuckled.

"You are making my patience wear thin. Leave!!" the leader said, growling in annoyance and anger. His hand came to rest on one of his swords.

Naraku laughed and began pacing backwards "Your son, having feelings for a low human miko, how disgraceful" he mocked as he walked even farther apart from the group.. He kept walking backwards, laughing uncontrollably.

This was enough. Inu no Taisho took Tetsusaiga out of its sheath in a swift motion, taken to perfection for its prolonged use and a blast of energy came from the sword's brusque movement, the attack fully manageable in the hand of its rightful master, going towards Naraku.

Naraku's smile instantly faded and a barrier was put around him. When the attack collided, the barrier vanished as if it had been made of air, hitting straight at Naraku, its three slashes becoming one at the very last moment, and sent him flying.

Kagura looked stunned as his barrier faded, and as he fell away. When his back reached the ground, a splash of blood escaped him, making a grotesque spot in the grass under him. He sat down abruptly out of fear of another attack, but as he saw there was none, he began to fall back, until he used his elbows for support. He was now bleeding profusely, from his mouth, his middle, aching all over.

Kagura ran towards Naraku and hold him to sit, trying to ease him. She looked horrified, as her master, one of the strongest fighters and magicians she ever knew fell so easily in the hands of the demon. She turned to look at the demon and it shocked her to see that he was looking straight at her.

He turned his gaze to his sword, and sheathed it again. He began to walk in her direction and she quickly took the feather adorning her hair in her hand. He stopped, with one hand holding the sheath, preparing for an attack... none came...

"That's what will happen to those who dare to turn against the great Inu no Taisho or his family. Beware, next time, no one will survive" he said, deadly serious.

Kagura could not hold her anger anymore and she bit her lip in frustration, drawing blood from it. She then assumed her position and turned the feather in its expanded size and jumped in it, drawing Naraku with her. She lifted both of them and left the town, searching for shelter in order to save her master. If she did not, they would both die.

She did not left without a last peek to that demon who incited so many things deep within her, that made her feel alive even for the briefness of moments, still the one who appeared when she closed her eyes.

They stared as the demons departed from the site. Once they had left, Midoriko ran towards the fallen miko in her aid. The fire cat demon stepped aside without so much as a growl, as if he knew her, as if he knew her intentions were indeed good.

The fallen miko was in a bad state. She had lost too much blood and her energy levels were low, Midoriko as a fellow miko could see that easily. Inu no Taisho came close as well, his eyes wandered over the girl's form curiously. He sniffed the air and looked at Midoriko alarmed.

"She's in bad state; her heart-beat is too low. If she's not taken care of, she will die" He came close to her and carefully took her in his arms. Suddenly his eyes widened with recognition, and he turned his gaze towards his son, who was approaching him.

Sesshomaru instantly felt his father's discomfort. He had been traveling with him for many years now to not notice something like this. His eyes narrowed in confusion, but he kept on, intending to find out.

"What concerns you, my Lord?" he said respectfully as his role demanded, he directed himself as a soldier, not as a son. It was the law of demons, at least from one in his position.

Inu no Taisho faced him, still with the unconscious girl in his arms.

Now, for the first time Sesshomaru was able to see her. His eyes remained in her for some moments, measuring her worth. Her features, her size, her hair, her aura, everything he could take from her. Yet, his investigation was interrupted when Inu no Taisho cleared his throat, something he seldom did. Sesshomaru raised his golden eyes to meet those of his father's, and he saw an emotion he did not recognize.

Inu no Taisho saw it in his son. He didn't know how he should feel, what to say or do. The only thing that came to him was resignation. There was not much he could do. He closed his eyes, unable to maintain eye contact with his son much longer, and walked pass him towards the Exterminators, in hope of a good rest... The very exact instant that his shoulder and that of his son met, he told him four words that destroyed the base of his life beliefs...

"She carries your scent"

After some seconds -- where Sesshomaru remained shocked as the words sank in -- he turned to see the silhouette of his father, as he walked away towards the sunset.

How? That was the only think that occupy Sesshomaru's mind. He had never met her before. Did the half-demon tell the truth? By no means could he either know the future, even less, have a miko spelled with his scent. It could be remotely possible with some sort of magic…perhaps…

I will find out about this. That was the promise he made to himself that moment, the second when the sun disappeared in the horizon and the darkness of the night was born.

Still, her image insisted in torturing his thoughts. It created a question that would define his being and his future.

Could he love a human... a woman? Worst, a miko?

To be Continue...

JeniNeji Comments:

Hi, that's the second chapter. I hope you found it to your liking. A special thanks to those who were kind enough to leave a review. Being honest, I was very anxious and nervous when I posted it. Those reviews took a great weight out of my system. So, I really really really, but seriously, I really mean it, Thank You.