JeniNeji:

JeniNeji Comments:

Hola again!! Yes, another chapter. PEOPLE THIS TIME I POSTED TWO CHAPTERS, IF YOU ENTERED DIRECTLY HERE, GO BACK, READ THE ONE BEFORE. Just saying…

Well, this is really the first chapter I made up when this story came to my mind, so, everything comes from here. I hope you all like it. I really do. Thanks. Enjoy.

Thanks Chezka!! Again...

DisclaimER: I don't own Inu-Yasha, I don't own the characters, neither the readers…I just own my huge imagination…

When the Past is the Future

Chapter 7:

Chained in the Past and a New Beginning

The sun was setting, and he looked as his father fought in the distance along with Midoriko. It had been almost three days now since the demons began their attack. It was odd, considering that the demons got alongside their differences to attack town. He suspected the Jewel the miko was protecting was indeed interesting, if it made so many demons desire it so much. He wondered how was it that she had managed to protect it for so long, she didn't seem too skilled in battle. Perhaps, he had been there as well, but he didn't imagine himself protecting her, which was not like him, or maybe, he desired the Jewel for something.

He found his thoughts in the past hours always ending up with the miko he held in his arms in the morning. Why? He had asked himself that question many times, and he found out he had many events that needed to be clarified with the answer for that question. He allowed the miko to touch him, and he didn't push her away; he didn't feel discomfort with her closeness. Maybe it was the truth, perhaps he had befriended the miko in the future, or perhaps…he had developed feelings for her.

Impossible, he wouldn't fall for that. She was human, human, human, miko, miko, a miko…

The miko was getting to him, she was passing his barriers, the barriers only his father could pass. He was the most dangerous when he passed them, and he could do so much turmoil in his person that he hated him for it.

He directed his eyes to the barrier above, as he felt a strange sensation. The barrier flickered in color and then regained its original hue. He didn't put too much attention to it, and once again turned to the fight. The dragon and the tiger demon were no longer there he was enraged. He wanted to kill the tiger demon, but he ran off as soon as he destroyed the sword. Now, there was another dragon, but this one was normal. It carried less strength than the one before, and he wondered what was delaying his father so much. He could have killed them by now.

He saw as another hoard of demons approached from the sky, and he snarled. He seldom did it, but this was going too far. What was going on? Will the demons keep pursuing the Jewel forever? They should know best that the only thing they were going to find was their deaths. He despised that item already, it should be destroyed.

The sudden disappearance of the barrier alerted him of peril. He heard as the people in town screamed in confusion and fear. He began to track scents, and he found hers. He jumped from the gates of town and went to the miko. He found her under a tree, with her arms hugging her legs. It was a weak posture and he got mad at seeing her like that. He walked noisily to her and she quickly turned to him, probably feeling his aura.

He saw as tears fell from her blue eyes. He stopped for a moment, awaiting her to wake from whatever was on her mind. She dried her tears as fast as she could with her hands, and then stiffened when she saw a lowly demon fly into town. She gasped in surprise and immediately put her hand in her chest and closed her eyes. Seconds later, the barrier surrounded town again. She began to shiver in desperation and went to battle the demons that had managed to get in. However, he was faster and he ran past her and killed the ones that were near.

She remained frozen, her eyes clouded with her thoughts. He had to fight the urge to hit her head and demand her to concentrate. "Miko" he called, unforgiving.

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him; tears beginning to fall. "Midoriko…she…she's hurt" she cried painfully. Sesshomaru registered her words and finally understood his father's dilemma. "I'm going" he heard the miko stating, determined, and for a moment, he considered the weight of her words. Her mission was to remain in town; he didn't know how his father would take such disobedience. He was brought back to reality as she marched to the gates of the city with her bow and arrows. She was serious, and her aura flared with determination. He walked to the gates as well. He was already bored in this town; some battles will take away his anger…and some other disturbing thoughts.

People stared at her, uncertainty etched in their faces, and she felt her heart bleed in regret. She knew they were counting on her to protect them, but she needed to save Midoriko. She promised herself she would save her. "Don't worry, the demons are after me, they won't come here to harm you" she managed to tell the people there, able to not let them have a negative vision of her. She hid her eyes with her hair, and hurried her pace to go away as fast as she could.

When she walked out of the gates, she turned to see it closing behind her. She smiled sadly and bowed her head in apology to the town people. She closed her eyes and connected the barrier to the town itself, and smiled when it successfully remained unmoving.

She felt her heart skip a beat, then she ran to where she probably felt the battle, one mile and half away. She was tired, but worry was making her legs strong, and her mind set. She felt Sesshomaru nearby, running behind her, but he didn't seem at all affected by it. Him and his superior demonic abilities... sometimes nature wasn't fair.

After some minutes, she reached the battle camp. There was Inu no Taisho holding the hoard of demons. He looked almost like a god, he was still strong. His hair was a little messed up, however, as the silver strands floated in the fading light of the sunset, they sparkled as if they were alive making him look mystical. The blue mark on his left cheek made him ferocious, and many demons found their deaths. Many others were fleeing from the area, afraid for their lives. It was a good thing that demons were not so honorable in recognizing their weakness. These ones did.

She let her eyes wander the area around, searching for signs of Midoriko. An abrupt sound made her double her reflexes and she witnessed as Sesshomaru killed a flying demon that was approaching her. Their eyes met and his became more livid when he smirked. She ought to be irritated with that action, but she wasn't. Instead, she found herself smiling back at him. He quickly left her and went on killing all the demons around him. She couldn't prevent to stare as his figure parted from her side and kept killing demons, leaving her in her awe. He had not been like this in her time, today, he looked alive and determined, but not driven by responsibility, but for himself, his own goals and his own desires.

Kagome stood up, and concentrated on Midoriko's aura. But it was hard to locate her, seeing there were so many auras around that she couldn't point out hers. She walked around for some minutes, dodging the demons she could, and killing the ones that were too annoying. She found Midoriko after a while, resting in a formation of rocks with a barrier surrounding her. Kagome ran to her and stopped just before colliding with her barrier. She then began to call the resting miko, her hands and her voice trembling as she saw the pool of blood around her. There was so much that she feared she might have died already of blood loss.

Midoriko slowly opened her brown eyes and smiled "Kagome…you came" she said in a whisper so low that Kagome could barely hear it.

Kagome gulped her tears and came closer to Midoriko. "Midoriko, drop your barrier, I'm here, everything will be all right" Kagome said as softly as she could. She saw as Midoriko tensed visibly and her eyes shifted in thought, then she dropped her barrier. Kagome quickly placed her own barrier and tried to move Midoriko to a much comfortable position. The blood that poured at the movement made Kagome retch, but she resisted it. She placed her hands in Midoriko's abdomen, where the injury lied. Her armor was intact, but Kagome guessed that the back part of the armor looked terrible.

Kagome took a deep breath and brought her powers to her hands. She quickly opened her mind to let her powers flow smoothly and began to heal Midoriko's injury. Her mind began to wander to when Kaede and the twin priestesses tried to teach her to use her powers into healing. Neither of them could heal, her powers were not so strong, but they had all grown in the teachings of mikos. She had to say, they were though teachers, worst than those at her school. But, hard work pays off, she could heal. It had been one of the happiest times in her life, she knew that this power would be very useful, and she was hoping to save her friends from death.

Midoriko's movements brought a smile to her heart, and they locked eyes. Midoriko put her hand over Kagome's and sighed in contentment. Kagome was still aware of the demons roaming around them; they would have a good fight once Midoriko recovered. Kagome hurried the healing, there was something nagging in the back part of her mind, and she was beginning to have a bad feeling about it.

Midoriko stood when Kagome finished healing her wounds. She stretched her muscles, testing her strength once again. Kagome smiled as it seemed she did a great job, until Midoriko's face twitched in pain. Kagome hurried to hold her still, but Midoriko just smiled. "I'm just fine Kagome, it's just a little pain" she told her softly.

"But why? I don't understand" Kagome talked to herself frustrated.

"You healed me, I thought you couldn't" Midoriko said a little confused and grateful at the same time.

Kagome smiled. "I can heal, but not myself... long story" Kagome said sadly.

Midoriko nodded her head, and touched Kagome on the shoulder. "Thank you" she said and took her sword from the floor, to return to battle.

Kagome however was feeling dizzy and weak. She fell to her knees with her hand holding her forehead. Midoriko turned confused and tried to help her fellow miko to her feet, but Kagome wouldn't allow it. "I'm not feeling well, let me rest for a while, I'll be fine. I'm going to raise a barrier now" Kagome said and instantly raised a barrier. Midoriko frowned, her face showed hurt as she was pushed away from Kagome, but nodded in understanding.

As Midoriko raced to battle, Kagome found that with their distance a gap began to form in her heart – a void within her heart – an empty chasm that grew larger as Midoriko moved farther away from her. A freezing shiver raced up her spine. Trying to focus on the sensation at the tips of her fingers, she realized that she couldn't even feel her fingers. Panic began to rise in her stomach and she desperately tried to remain calm. The demons around her were hitting her barrier tenaciously, and she feared for her life as her powers were quickly diminishing. She hardly believed she could scream for help.

She tried to stand up, but it was futile. What's happening to me? Kagome thought with tears forming in her eyes out of frustration. She once again tried to stand, use her arms to level herself up, but again, it didn't help. She directed her eyes above her when she saw an ogre with a maze up high. Time stopped for her in that instant as the ogre's maze fell down and hit her barrier. She closed her eyes. Seconds later, she opened them, and she found the ogre looking at her with hatred. Her pink barrier still surrounded her, it held the impact. Her back was starting to hurt, being reclined to a rock was not the best thing, and her hands were now covered with Midoriko's blood from the grass.

The ogre once again hit her barrier, then again and again. Tired of the ogre's insistence and afraid that in one occasion the barrier didn't hold longer, she took one of her arrows in her bow and directed it at the ogre. The ogre flinched for an instant, recognizing the threat the arrow presented, but didn't walk away. Kagome called upon her miko powers to fuel the arrow, and she waited as the energy gathered around it. She waited and waited, but the arrow didn't seem to get the energy she desired. Angry with the situation, she let go of the arrow, and it flew to the ogre, making a big hole in its stomach. The ogre cried in pain and fell to the floor convulsing. She let go of a worried breath and relaxed against the uncomfortable rock. However, a sound of something moving made her open her eyes again, and she stared with wide eyes as the ogre once again stood up, still with a hole on its stomach, and covered in blood.

She couldn't believe her eyes, her arrow had failed. The panic that came to her was so high, that when she saw as the ogre took its maze once again and attempted to hit her barrier, she remained still. Kagome screamed her lungs out when she looked over her to find that her barrier was no longer there. The ogre howled in victory and Kagome covered her head with her arms, trying to make herself as little as she could, shrink herself, to avoid the hit. Strangled sounds, and another sound of relief made her open her eyes once again.

"Kagome, are you all right?" asked a masculine voice. Kagome looked at her rescuer with a blank expression, but softened and began to cry once she noticed Inu no Taisho's face.

"I can't move, there's something wrong with me, I… I am scared" she finished in tears, hating them herself because they made her feel weak; but unable to stop this feeling that was surging in her. Inu no Taisho smiled sadly, and took her in his arms and squeezed her softly, making a sound near her ear that she had never before heard, but soothing nonetheless.

Seconds later, she managed to stop her tears and her erratic heart, and looked into Inu no Taisho's face. "I'm sorry" she said embarrassed "Where's Midoriko?" she asked worriedly.

"She's fine, kicking some demons ass. Nothing to worry about" he said with a smirk in his face, making him look very young, just a little older than Inu-Yasha. He did look very young, considering that he was Sesshomaru's father; they could easily pass as brothers.

"Can you move now?" he asked her concerned.

Kagome nodded and he put her on the ground, careful to not let her fall. Kagome grabbed his armor, and slowly put her foot in the ground, she managed to stand, but seconds later she fell to the floor once again. Inu no Taisho took her before she fell, and put her in the ground. He took Tetsusaiga out of its sheath and let a Wind Scar fly from it, the demons were coming towards them. Soon enough, Sesshomaru was in the surroundings, killing the demons that dared to approach, and Midoriko too came near as well. Kirara and Sora were battling another hoard of demon some meters away.

Kagome felt her eyes heavy, and her mind was blank, staring at the contrast of her hands compared with the ground. Inu no Taisho calling her name awoke her from the haze, and she watched as his eyes signaled worry. Kagome smiled. "I don't think I can be of help much longer" she said sadly, and turned her eyes to Midoriko, who seemed quite exhausted as well. She concentrated on her, and she saw that her wound was bleeding once again. A pull from the Shikon no Tama in her chest made her rise her flags of danger. She saw as the demons continued on their efforts to reach her.

She felt it again, the Jewel shifting due to the powers of the auras around it. She felt her heart getting very cold. There were more tainted auras than pure ones, and it was then when she realized what had happened. She was feeling the same way, as when she felt when she was fighting Naraku in the shrine. Her body wouldn't respond to her, and her miko powers didn't respond either. She was exhausted, and right now, her powers were not enough to purify the Jewel.

The Jewel began to taint, and she searched within her for the last of her purification powers and sent them into the task. Her body began to glow, sending sparks of miko energy. Inu no Taisho gave a step back to prevent the sparks from reaching him. The Jewel was tainting her body, and her miko blood and spirit were fighting it. It was impossible for her to carry the whole Jewel inside of her if it was tainted with malice. Her heart began to ache and burn and she found no other option but this one. Kagome gave a painful scream, and took the Shikon Jewel out of her chest. The once pink Jewel was now changing color, from pink to purple to black, then to pink again.

Inu no Taisho stared at the Jewel with interest, that single piece was able to lure all these demons, and had such incredible magic that could grant any wish. He looked as the miko breathed heavily. It seemed like the Jewel was hurting her and she was forced to take it out. The demons in the area howled and roared, all delighted with the turn of events, and their pitiful desires rousing to the very peak, when they saw the object they all desired right in front of them.

Inu no Taisho and Sesshomaru were attacked with all the strength those demons could muster. They hardly managed to kill the demons that tried to advance. Sesshomaru, tired of everything, let his instincts flow over him and take control of his being. Soon enough, his face began to change in shape and form, and slowly he began to transform in his beast form. He barked menacingly to the demons in his surroundings, but they didn't back down and kept on their assault. Sesshomaru, full of rage for the disobedience, began to kill every single demon that reached his offensive area, killing hundreds in a matter of seconds. He barked over some groups, his poisonous saliva the last thing they saw before falling to Hell. He stomped over many others and killed many others by freeing some of his poisonous breath.

Inu no Taisho watched as his son fought the demons. Sure enough that he will hold, he turned to the panting Kagome who was aided by Midoriko. When he reached her, Kagome quickly raised her eyes to his. "I can't, I can't purify the Jewel anymore" she said desperate "It cannot fall in the hands of those who would use it..." Her eyes were wide in panic and her mouth opened and closed as if she was talking but no sounds came. "If I fail, it will be the end, the Jewel can bring this Era to its end, what do I do? What…?" she stopped mid sentence and lowered her eyes in thought for a moment.

Both Midoriko and Inu no Taisho watched with confusion as she seemed to ponder on an option, and they were both unprepared for the option she came up with. "Burn me. Burn my body with the Jewel inside me. That's what Kikyo did to protect it" she said determined, her eyes fully aware of her decision and completely accepting it.

Inu no Taisho however barked in anger. "You have gone mad, I will not allow such a stupid thing to happen".

"It's the only way, please understand Lord Inu no Taisho, I am a miko, and I cannot allow this to happen" she said pleadingly with tears on her eyes.

"That's what they teach you, that mikos should sacrifice themselves for their kind, but I don't believe that. And no, you will not do such a reckless thing" he said stubbornly.

Kagome's anger rose and her eyes turned hard and unforgiving "You don't understand, you have not seen the ending of these events. But I have, and I prefer to die than let them repeat themselves. Naraku is here, he knows how to explode exploit the Jewel to infinite end with malice, and who is gonna stop him? You? You can't purify the Jewel. You can do nothing to stop it from tainting. Who's going to protect it?" She yelled, with the energy that remained in her, the rage she had quickly disappeared as the weakness she felt before returned, and she fell once again to the ground.

Silence fell over them, Inu no Taisho and Kagome still defied one another with their eyes. He couldn't believe how she had dared to defy him as she did. She was bold, he had to give her credit for that, and he had to say that his son's taste in women was interesting to say at least. Still, he pondered if she had this guts because she was courageous or she was merely disrespectful. Even when his eyes remained in the miko sitting on the ground, he expanded his senses to the battle behind him. His son was holding out nicely, but his aura was tight. He guessed that his son had heard everything. He expected so, after all, while transformed, his senses were sharper. He wondered what he thought about it, but stopped short after, he was so stubborn that he wouldn't speak a word.

Midoriko standing up brought his attention to her, his eyes leaving Kagome at last. "I can do it" Midoriko said with strength.

Both Inu no Taisho and Kagome blinked in confusion, but quickly understood her words. Kagome opened her mouth to complain, but was stopped by Midoriko. "You said that he couldn't purify it, but I can, and that was proven some days ago. I can protect the Jewel," she repeated. "At least until you regain your energy again".

Inu no Taisho looked at Kagome with acceptance in his eyes and Kagome was left in confusion. They Jewel had been born form Midoriko, how was she going to give it to her? Did Midoriko have another Jewel in her and perhaps they will merge and from a more powerful one? Maybe Midoriko never created the Jewel and this was meant to happen?

Kagome couldn't think straight anymore, she didn't understand this. She was uncertain of the future, she could no longer visualize the course of events. But, the only thing she was certain of was that she wanted Midoriko to live. Kagome didn't want her to perish in battle, and the Jewel would certainly make her stronger. Plus, if she sustained any injury, she would not feel the pain. It was an ace in favor of Midoriko. Things would probably get better in battle with Midoriko holding the Jewel.

Closing her eyes in defeat, Kagome sighed and raised her face with a smile. "Ok. That seems like an option" she said smiling. "But, beware Midoriko, don't let your desires crave for the Jewel. If you do, you will taint it, ok?" she said while extending her hand with the Jewel to Midoriko.

Midoriko smiled, she exchanged a look with Inu no Taisho and he nodded his head in support. "I won't, Kagome" she said and took the Jewel in her hand.

Kagome breathed with more ease in that precise moment, the moment when Midoriko took the imprisoning Jewel from her hand. She felt as her worries faded and her soul could rest peacefully. She closed her eyes in bliss, she felt as light as the wind. Memories of her childhood began to pass through her mind, and she subtly wondered will would they appear in such a moment; but still, she enjoyed them. Desperate yelling and callings made her way in her memories, but she easily ignored them. She didn't want to get away from this comforting place.

Midoriko cried in relief. She had been scared beyond comparison. When she took the Jewel, it glowed immensely in her hands and she felt as if the item belonged to her. The shifting in color had stopped immediately and it began to glow in a faded pink, almost transparent. But it had not been the thing that had almost crushed her nerves.

Kagome began to burn in her own miko powers, and the flare reached almost five feet out of her. Inu no Taisho had to retreat to evade being purified to the core. She desperately called Kagome's name, but she didn't respond. Scared for Kagome more than herself, she ventured to hold the miko. Unbelievably, the miko powers also burned her, and she feared that an enemy was doing this rather than Kagome. "Kagome!! Wake up!!" she cried in panic, but still to no avail, the flare continued to surround her.

She watched horrified as Kagome's time began to reverse. Every ten seconds, she found before her a different Kagome, a younger one. She then understood, that the very same Jewel that Kagome protected, was the one that allowed her to remain in a time such like this one; a time far more ancient, even before she was born. Seeing as the powers of the one such as her were pure, they wouldn't allow her to live in a time that was not hers. Midoriko looked at Kagome once again, and she found a little girl of six or seven.

She despised herself in that moment. There was nothing she could do to help her, and she had been the one to cause such an event. Kagome had saved her and she had repaid her by killing her. She took the now four year-old girl and hugged her tightly. She felt the Jewel in her hand pulsing, but she didn't pay attention; her grief now was so immense she didn't care about the item that had caused it.

Minutes later, she cried to the ground. But this time, they were not tears of hatred or grief; they were tears of happiness and relief as she held a baby that could be no one else but Kagome close to her. The baby girl slept soundly in her arms. She had very short black hair, and her little hands were the same color as Kagome's. She kissed the baby like a hundred times by now, grateful that her friend didn't die. She turned for a moment, tears still blurring her vision to the Jewel in her hand. It was transparent, and it no longer pulsed. For an instant, the demonic energy around her stopped, and she wondered the cause of it.

Inu no Taisho came upon her and rested his big clawed hand in her shoulder. She turned to him with a smile on her face. Inu no Taisho also smiled, happy for her. He looked at the baby girl in Midoriko's lap and considered her one of the most adorable human babies he had ever seen.

Soon Sesshomaru appeared behind them, no longer transformed. He had several slashes in his hands and a lone gash in his left cheek. His clothes were dirty and stained with blood, but his hair seemed clean enough. His eyes showed he was angry but at the same time confused. He knew that because he was his father, probably he wouldn't notice otherwise. Sesshomaru walked to Midoriko and stared at the baby in her chest. His eyebrows frowned in confusion "What is the meaning of this?" he asked harshly. "Reverse it" ordered Sesshomaru in a high tone of voice and Inu no Taisho stared at his son in disbelief. His son never did that, but he could see the frustration his eyes reflected. "Reverse it, did you not hear me? I have things to discuss with the Miko." repeated Sesshomaru, no longer restraining his voice or his movements, looking out of control.

Sesshomaru sighed and once again tried to control himself, seeing that he was being illogical, his father's stare proving it. "What …what are you going to do with her?" he asked resigned.

His father smirked and took on a deep breath full of pride. "What else? It means that I have a new daughter" he said with a smile that covered his entire face.

Sesshomaru turned in question and was irate. "You must be joking" he said forgetting all about formalities and his position as a soldier once again. This was now a personal matter.

"Nah ah" he shook his head, knowing that Sesshomaru would be annoyed. "She's beautiful, I want her, and that's final." He looked with amusement as his son fumed in anger and turned his back on him. Those were the rare occasions that made him witness such lovely reactions and he took them to his entertainment every single time he could.

In Naraku's hideout, the white tiger demon returned from his mission. He carried Sesshomaru's Dragon Sword in his right hand, and his face was emotionless. But underneath, he was feeling terrible. His dragon had perished, he had not been careful enough, he shouldn't have been so confident. It had all been his fault.

"Unno, what a pleasant surprise" said Naraku's voice taunting him. Unno searched between the mass of demons until he spotted Naraku and his servant demoness at his side. He walked towards them, and jumped from one corner of the cave to the other to close the distance that separated them. His emotions veiled behind a straight face.

Naraku smirked "Did you reduce Sesshomaru's strength as you said?" asked Naraku.

Unno twitched his eyes in anger and threw the sword at Naraku's feet. "I destroyed his sword, he's only left with his claws" he announced bitterly. Naraku looked from the sword to Unno and to the sword again, inspecting it carefully.

"It seems you had your losses as well" commented Naraku, and Unno's face became savage with hatred.

"I did. And now, I want to end our deal and be gone" said Unno with hatred in his voice. Naraku closed his eyes and smiled, pleased with the sound of the demon's voice, full of hatred.

"Yes, now, mention your price" said Naraku with boredom.

Unno let a smirk appear in his face, and pointed his finger near Naraku. "I want …her" he said casually and with an amused voice.

Naraku's aura flared full of wrath, he had to stop it from killing this demon right away. "What?" he asked with disbelief.

"Yes, I want the Wind Sorceress"

To Be Continue...

JeniNeji:

Well, what do you think??

I really really want to know!!

I hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope to post soon, but I wont promise, I don't want to die if something happens…cry.. and besides, I'm on finals in the Uni..so I'll have to study..

Thanks for the reviews!!