Title: Snow of the Moon, Ice of the Sun

World: Inuyasha

Challenge: Dokuga Twisted Fairytale Challenge

Chapter Seven

Rating: M

The golden eyed female watched the little pet she had collected sleep away the night and as the night changed into day, most of the day as well. Poor thing, she must have tired herself out tremendously, running so far in such a short amount of time. Oh, she knew whose child she was, how could she not? It was there, bold as day, in the form of those rare eyes and that scent. But that scent, that sweet scent was marred by sorrow, as was the soul of the child. How could she have left the girl in the field when she could have helped her? And did her father not once ask her to protect his eldest when the time came so very long ago?

"Where…where am I…and why am I not a fox yet?" A sweet voice dragged down by sleep and pain broke her out of her thoughts. The ethereal lady turned to the black haired girl and smiled.

"You are in my palace, a moving castle that sleeps in the sky. There is nothing that night nor day can do to you here, for I am mistress of all in my domain and you, little vixen, are under my protection."

"Who are you?"

"This one is Ageha, but you, little vixen, may refer to me as Mother."

Kagome sat on the edge of the bed she had woken up in. Beams of sunlight came in from the window at her back, but black fur had yet to cover her, instead of fox ears she once more had Elvin ears and she had no claws. But that knowledge wasn't what held her in almost catatonic shock, it was what had happened the night before. She had never been driven to such depths of hatred and wrath before, becoming a mindless creature intent on destruction. It….frightened her. She had killed before, of course, but this was different, this was a willingness, a want, to kill and destroy. Then, she wondered about the beautiful Inu that had taken her in. Why? The female that was idly looking through the kimonos in the closet surely had to have some relation to the Western Lord for she had magenta stripes and a Prussian blue moon on her brow.

But…she felt safe with Ageha. A safety she had not felt since her father had disappeared.

Weeks passed as she stayed in the floating palace. She learned how to control her newfound abilities and her hate, as per the astute words of Ageha, "It is merely the matter of who is to be the master." And she was becoming the master, already she had earned an eighth tail. A feat that had brought a smile to her adoptive mother's face. There had been something within her that strove for the older female's approval, almost like a primal need.

Kagome sat at Ageha's feet while the much stronger Inu female stared at the mirror of water at her feet. She had yet to ask her mother what she saw in the mirror, for she had yet to look. With clawless hands, she tugged on the royal purple fabric of Ageha's robes.

"Mama…what is it that you see when you look in there?"

"The mirror shows many things, things that once were, things that are and some things, little one, that have yet to come to pass."

"How?"

"Appearances are deceiving, little warrior. Why don't you take a look?"

Kagome crawled forward on her hands and knees until her face was but a foot away from the enchanted water. Tentatively, she reached one hand out to the water and disturbed, watching as ripples spread out throughout the small pool. She waited until the water calmed and a leaned in closer. She saw her Pack traveling with the Lord of the West. Then, she saw herself, clad in leathers and drawing a bow while speaking angrily to another who was far out of view but who wore black boots. The following image was of her, dying, her lifeblood seeping onto pristine snow and darkness covering the land, Naraku winning. Another image swirled before her, that of a black throne inlaid with silver and gold and various precious jewels. She could not see who sat upon it for he was shrouded in shadow, all she could make out was long hair. But at the leather clad feet of the hidden stranger was a child with black curls and large blue eyes. Startled fully, she backed away from the pool and collided with the throne that Ageha sat upon.

"I know what it is you saw, for it is also in my mind, little warrior." One of Ageha's ivory hands settled itself on top of Kagome's head. From deep within her chest came a soothing sound that she used to calm down Kagome.

"I…I know that I'm going to die, that the Shikon no tama is going to take my life, but how has Naraku won? How!?" If it had been earlier, before Kagome came to Ageha, her eyes would have bled red and she would have lost control as she hissed those words.

"That is what will come to pass if all fails. If there is no one who can melt the ice that has now settled around your heart, you will die and Naraku will possess the Shikon no tama."

Kagome's shoulders slumped. As much as she wanted to stay here in the floating palace, where she was safe from all harm, she would have to leave and finish her duty. Even if she couldn't harm the spider hanyou, she could make it difficult for him to harm her Pack. She could find the remaining shards and hand them over to her Pack. Protect them from a distance. As she stood up to leave to continue honing her abilities, she turned to the silver haired female.

"Mama…was the little girl in that last vision…?"

"Hai, my little warrior, that was you." Ageha watched as Kagome left the throne room for one of the sparring rooms in confusion, sadness and fear lurking beneath her cold heart and sighed. What her mirror had shown her was that the Inu-tachi and her son were heading towards her palace. Their appearance would cause her little one pain and uncertainty. She had chosen her fate, believing that she was unworthy of being saved, unworthy of love and had prepared herself for death. So what was to come would shake the very foundations of her little warrior. "And your father, I am sure, is pained at what is happening to you, the more so since he can do very little to save you."