DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.

Author's notes: Sorry about this being a week late. I had a migraine last weekend and this chapter needed a lot of editing.


Chapter 14

The night was a whirlwind. Her eyes sought answers. They found only chaos. Her ears were full of screams. Her lungs were choked with ashes. The shattered tree and the bleeding moon were the only constants.

The chaos stilled in a heartbeat. A lone figure emerged from the darkness. His face was a mask of shadows. They shifted as he took a step towards the light.

"So here we are." His mouth twisted into a smirk.

His voice was both strange and familiar. The memory of her vision sent a shudder through her spine. His name refused to come to her. Yet there could be no doubt. This man was no stranger.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Her mind screamed at her to run. Her feet refused to listen. His smirk widened, showing a glint of teeth. He took another step forwards. His gaze held her like a snare.

"Avatar."

Kagome.

Another voice broke through her panic. One that was all too familiar. A shiver shot through her. Would she never stop haunting her?

The man gave a chuckle. "Surely you have something to say for yourself?" He watched her with cruel amusement.

Kagome. The voice came from the tree. It was soft but sure.

She stayed motionless. What else could she do?

You can. You must.

Her eyes searched for an exit. There was only smoke and ash. There was no escaping that stare. He waited in terrible expectation.

Kagome.

She swallowed a scream. What did she want? What could she do? Why did she-

The man gave another chuckle. She set her teeth and forced out a word.

"Why?"

The voice cut in before he could answer.

We need you. For all its calmness, it was almost like a plea. Almost like a prayer.

She gathered her nerves and took a step towards the tree.


Kagome woke with a start and a gasp. Her dream vanished like mist. She was back in darkness in an all-too-familiar bed. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. A dim figure approached from the gloom.

"Is that you Meri-"

A torrent of water burst from the darkness. She scrambled out of bed and hit the floor. The torrent froze into ice.

She stared up in shock. "Meriwa?"

The girl made no reply. Kagome squinted closer and made out a less familiar face. One she'd last glimpsed in the infirmary.

"Umi?"

Umi raised her hands. Icicles glinted on her fingertips. She took aim with a steady gaze.

"Wait-"

Umi let the darts fly. Kagome threw herself aside. One grazed her face as she fell. She clutched her cheek in shock.

"Umi... "

Another salvo sprang to Umi's fingertips. Kagome backed away and bumped into the bedside table. Her cup toppled over and smashed on the floor. Cold tea seeped into her sleeve. Umi drew back her arms.

"Stop it!"

She whipped out her arm and flung the tea into Umi's face. That bought her a bare second. She rolled to her feet and scurried for the doorway.

Water crashed after her. Her feet were clumsy with sleep. The ice caught her before she even reached the window. She hit the floor with a yell.

"No!"

She raised her head to glimpse Umi standing over her. She wielded a water whip in one hand. The other glinted with frozen darts. Her eyes were as cold and blank as the walls.

"Umi, stop-"

A blast of water knocked Umi off her feet.

The girl hit the wall without a sound. The torrent froze into ice. She was pinned before she could draw another breath.

"Avatar!"

Kagome glanced up at her rescuer. Meriwa stood in the doorway, wearing a bedrobe and a look of pure panic. Her braids hung half-loose around her shoulders. She clutched a lantern in one hand. She held out the other, as if to keep Umi at bay.

"Are... are you alright?"

"Y-yeah." She drew in a grateful breath.

"Here." Meriwa melted the ice creeper with a sweep of her hand. She set down the lantern and streamed the water into the uncorked skin at her waist.

"Thanks."

Kagome stumbled to her feet with a shiver. She shot a quick glance over her shoulder at Umi. She hadn't moved a muscle. That sent another shiver through her.

"What in the world-"

"Avatar!"

Miroku skidded into the room. A beefy warrior tore through the curtain after him. He brandished his club with a glare. Two others followed him with upraised spears. Meriwa scurried aside. They took in the scene with open mouths.

"Avatar! Are you hurt?"

"I- I'm okay. Meriwa saved me."

Meriwa flushed. "I couldn't sleep. And then I heard you-"

"What in the name of-"

"No idea. She just attacked me out of nowhere."

She pointed towards Umi. She didn't even lift her head in response.

"She attacked you?" The first warrior gaped at Umi.

"You dare-" One of the others strode forwards with an outstretched spear. His lankiness was a good match for his weapon. Miroku held out his arm to stop him.

"Wait."

The tall warrior turned on him with a glare. One look at Miroku's eyes was enough to still his tongue.

"Don't go any closer."

The first warrior shot him a frown. "But she-"

"I said no closer." His voice was tight as a fist.

The spearman snorted. "And who do you think you-"

Umi's eyes shot open. Darkness sprang from her fingertips.

"Miroku!"

He sprang back at Kagome's warning. The spearman was left gaping. The tendrils took him down in a blink. He didn't even have time to turn his head.

"Wha-"

Umi flexed her fingers into talons. They took down the club wielder before he could draw breath. Miroku shoved the remaining warrior behind him.

"Stay back!"

The talons shot forwards. Miroku whirled them both aside. The talons grazed past his face.

"Run!"

"But-"

Kagome's voice was cut off by a crack. The ice burst into fragments. Umi shot forwards, brandishing her claws.

Miroku shoved the warrior away with one hand. He shot a blast of air from the other. Umi slammed back into the wall.

"Run, Avatar!"

Her feet refused to move. Umi staggered back upright. Her eyes were frozen voids. How could she leave anyone alone with this?

"I'm not-"

Umi whipped out her talons. Meriwa yanked her aside. They shot past her face without a sound.

Miroku let out a strangled curse. He sent another gust towards Umi. She swept herself aside on a wave. Her claws sprang for this throat. He dodged them by a finger.

"Go! Now!" His voice was raw with panic.

"But-"

"Forget me." He spun away from another blow. "Get Master Kaede." He ducked a swipe. "Master Hitomiko. Someone-"

He sprang aside on instinct. Another set of talons shot past his face. The remaining warrior stared in shock.

The club wielder lurched to his feet. The talons whipped back to his hand.

"What the-"

"I'll handle this." Meriwa pushed past Kagome and reached for her waterskin. Her hand was shaking. "You run."

"Run?" Kagome stared at her. Her eyes were deadly serious. "Meriwa, you can't-"

"Just go." She drew out a water whip and brandished it at their attacker. Her whole body was trembling now. "Please!"

"Meriwa-"

Meriwa shoved her aside. "Run, Ava-"

A flurry of water whips burst through the doorway. Her opponent was yanked straight off his feet.

Meriwa stood frozen. Kagome did likewise. Even their attackers turned their eyes on the newcomer.

"M-Master Amaruq?"

Amaruq made no reply. He flung the man away. Umi whirled aside with a hiss. He crashed straight into the wall. Amaruq threw out a wave and sealed him in a block of ice.

Miroku shot him a bewildered stare. "You-"

"You'll kill him!" Kagome protested.

"He's been possessed." Amaruq didn't spare them a glance. "He's already dead."

"That's-"

Amaruq flung another water whip towards Umi. She dodged it and came straight for his throat. He swept her aside.

She smashed into the wall and rolled away from another wave. She came up in a crouch. Right in front of Kagome.

"Avatar!"

Meriwa's water whip was a breath too late. Kagome could only duck. Another whip sailed over her head and yanked Umi back. Her talons grazed past her cheek.

"Enough."

Hitomiko stood framed in the light, clad in a fur robe and matching slippers. Her expression was enough to wipe the smile from anyone's face. She clenched her fingers, freezing the tether in place.

"Master-"

"Explain later."

Amaruq gave her a nod. Umi screeched in fury. Shadowy tendrils lashed from her body. Her tether shattered. She dropped to the floor and scrambled to her feet.

"Look out!"

Kagome stamped down instinctively. An ice creeper shot towards Umi's leg. She was pinned for half a moment.

That was all Hitomiko needed. She cast a water whip around Umi before she could break free. Another stamp ensnared her in ice.

Hitomiko wove her arms in a circle, entwining Umi in tendrils of water. Umi froze in shock. Hitomiko didn't break her flow. She waved her hands in an intricate dance, sending a warm glow through the tendrils. Umi's eyes slid shut.

Kagome could only stare. "What is she-"

"Spirit bending." Meriwa's voice was an awed whisper. "I thought only... "

Her voice trailed off as Hitomiko raised her hands. Umi was enveloped in golden light. Her mouth opened. Something small and glowing emerged with a curious chitter.

"She calmed it," Meriwa breathed.

Kagome's stare widened. Compared to the nightmare she'd faced less than a week ago this was almost... cute. Even if it was still a little too bug-like for her taste. She clapped a hand to her mouth.

Hitomiko lowered her hands, as if to soothe the creature. The light and water dispersed. Umi slumped to the floor. The spirit chirped. It bowed its head in thanks as it drifted away in motes of golden light.

Hitomiko bowed in return. Umi lay cold and unmoving. She gave her a regretful glance before she turned away.

Amaruq still had his hands full with the possessed warriors. He kept them snared in his own set of tendrils. Darkness thrashed around them as they struggled to break free.

"The others."

Amaruq shook his head. He kept his eyes on the pinned warriors. "I'll deal with them."

"Not alone." Her jaw set hard.

"We don't have time-"

"No. We don't." She held up her hand. "The two of us will be-"

"Shit!"

A scream came from the corridor. The masters' heads whipped towards the sound. Aput staggered into the room, clutching an unconscious Akitoki over his shoulder. He took in the scene with a horrified stare.

"No... "

"Aput!" Kagome rushed to his side before Meriwa could grab her. "What happened? Is Akitoki-"

"The spirits. They're-" Aput swallowed. "Takeshi, he-" His voice choked with a sob.

"No... " Meriwa could only stare.

Hitomiko shook her head. "No. The Goshinboku. The temple. This shouldn't-"

Her voice was cut off by another scream.

A lone warrior staggered into view, clutching the stump of his severed arm. Tendrils of darkness were already leaking from the wound. His eyes grew blank as he turned his gaze on Kagome.

"Run!" Aput shoved her behind him.

Miroku leapt over their heads with a yell. He slammed his staff down and unleashed a gust of air. The warrior was knocked flying.

A crack splintered through the air. She glanced back and caught a ripple of darkness. Meriwa yanked her aside. A set of talons shot past her face. They claimed another warrior.

"Avatar!"

Miroku spun past them to engage the spearman. He swept him aside with another gust.

"Go!"

Hitomiko spread her arms wide. The far wall cracked open. Kagome shivered as night broke into the room. She shot her a bewildered glance.

"Go where?"

"Go with Miroku." Hitomiko cast her a brief look. "We'll hold them off."

"But-"

"There's no time." She turned her eyes back to the fallen warrior. He was already staggering to his feet. She readied twin water whips with a grim stare.

"But what about-"

"We'll hold them off." Amaruq fell in beside Hitomiko. His gaze was as steady as hers. "Take her to Kaede."

"Kaede?" Kagome shook her head.

Meriwa tugged at her arm."Avatar. Please."

Her feet stuck fast. "I'm not leaving you-"

Miroku barrelled into her. They hurtled out into the night. She didn't have time to scream.

The ground rushed towards them at a dizzying rate. She flung out her hand with a gasp. The snow below them churned into powder. She gritted her teeth and prayed for a soft landing.

A sudden updraft tore them away from the ground. She gave a strangled shriek. She grabbed at his sleeve like a lost child.

"Hold on." Miroku's voice was near as strained as her breath.

Kagome peered upwards through a veil of whipping hair. She glimpsed the outline of a kite-like contraption through the strands. Somehow, it kept the two of them airborne.

"Wha-?"

"Just hold tight."

She wasn't going to argue with that. She clung to his arm and gulped in a breath. The glider dipped a touch. "You-"

"Talk later." He propelled them upwards with another gust. "Need air."

She gave him a frown. It was lost in the darkness. "But where-"

"Only one place." Miroku kept his eyes on the sky.

"What place?"

"Only safe place." Miroku sucked in another breath. "The Oasis."


Constructive criticism is very welcome!

I update once a month.