To Hold Your Soul by Phirst

I Dream of Nightmares

Author's note- So, I finally got around to typing this first chapter up for my first full length chapter story. The stuff below that is italicized is part of Kagome's dreams. Mostly this whole first chapter is just a dream. I'm unsure how fast or often I'll be updating this. I don't want to be too hasty, so there may be long stretches without updates. Anyways, onto the story. Hope you enjoy!

Update- I took this down so I could fix some errors on it and had planned on reposting it, but I went on a unexpected hiatus before I got around to it. It's now reposted and has a new chapter, yay!

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For what seemed like weeks of travel Midoriko finally entered the village she had been sent out to aid. In reality it had only taken her a few days to reach the place, but time always seemed to pull faster when lives were in the balance. There was an oppressive hush to the village and its occupants as she traversed the dirt road in search of the lords home. Weeks had been spent by the villagers in utter terror as one demon continually attacked, only taking one victim in the dark of night. The demon had managed to kill a few of the demon slayers sent in before her, but they had finally conceded and appealed for help from her. She was the only one who could purify a demon. She was the secret weapon.

"Finally! You have arrived Midoriko-sama!"

An elderly old man wobbled up to her from the grandest looking home within the village. His eyes were shadowed with the same fear as the rest of the villagers, but upon alighting on her there was a spark ignited in his old eyes. She saw hope within.

"I came as soon as I could, Shinrai-sama. Tell me of your demon."

"Yes, yes. Perhaps you would like to eat and rest first? You have just completed a long trip to reach us here. If you would like I could tell you of the fiend while you eat."

"I would be grateful for some food, but I can rest after I have dealt with the demon."

The old lord bobbed his head up and down before turning and walking back to his home.

"I'm afraid we do not have much. The merchants have decided to stay clear of our village since word of the demon spread. It is a blessing that our reserves were so high."

Midoriko followed after. Each step revealed the damage done to the village. The small homes seemed to sag under the weight of terror in the air.

"I am sure whatever you can provide shall be fine. I do not require much." She paused for a moment. "Do you have any injured that I can attend?"

"The demon is a precise killer. He leaves no one injured. Each night he takes one of us from our bed. We have tried to kill it, as well as the demon slayers that came to help us before you, but he has left no survivors from the attacks put upon him. We live in fear of being the next victim each night. The sinister beast plays with us."

They entered the home of Shinrai in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The elderly lord walked down a long hall before a young boy opened a plain shoji screen into the dinning area. The same boy took Midoriko's traveling supplies before disappearing down the hall to place them somewhere. Midoriko followed Shinrai into the room, taking a seat as soon as he was comfortable. Once seated a middle aged woman entered with a tray filled with a stew of some type and a cup of cool water. Midoriko whispered her thanks as the woman bowed and left the room.

"Do you know what demon it is that attacks your village?"

A tired sigh escaped the old man's lips as he looked up at Midoriko. "He is a dragon. The slayers informed me that he is one of the greater demons, though they believe him to be a young, but unusually powerful one."

"I see. Is there a certain time he seems to attack?"

"It is always in the middle of the night when we are all huddled in our beds asleep."

"Then I shall ready my equipment and wait for him to come tonight."

"Thank you, Midoriko-sama. I shall leave you to your preparations. A room has been prepared for you. One of the servants shall show you when you are ready."

Midoriko nodded in acknowledgment. Shinrai stood from the low table, his old bones creaking all the way. She watched as he hobbled over to the shoji screen. As soon as he had left Midoriko began planning and taking a mental inventory of all her possessions. She would bring her bow and arrows, but she had a feeling she would relay heavily upon her katana. She took deep, calming breaths to help center her. It would be a long night and she would need all her strength to get through it 

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Kagome tossed restlessly in her sleep. It had been almost three years now since the first odd dream had come to her. It had started a few months after the jewel had been destroyed and she had been sent back to her own time for good. In the beginning they came infrequently, most times with a couple months between one unsettling dream and the next, but as of late they had been tormenting her each night. None of the dreams ever featured her nor anyone she had ever known. They didn't even feel like dreams to her. They felt like old memories, ones long forgotten but suddenly remembered. She had quite the imagination, but these dreams had far to real a texture to be a simple product of the mind.

Most were harmless. Many of them involved training to be a miko. Training that Kagome had never received. In a couple dreams she had glimpsed the face of her dream self. It was never her own face. A serious face always looked back at her with solemn brown eyes and unsmiling lips. Occasionally she felt something akin to recognition, but as soon as she thought she figured out who she was playing in these dreams the name slipped from her. Each time someone said the name of the woman in her dreams it faded out of hearing, fuzzy and indistinct. There was something familiar about the woman, but Kagome just couldn't pinpoint what was so familiar or keep a hold of her discoveries.

There were some that caused Kagome to wake screaming. Great battles full of feral demons. These were always the ones that felt the most real to Kagome. She could smell the reek of blood and stench of death. Could feel the sweat and injuries upon her skin and under her clothes. Was even able to taste her own fear and desperation in the air. She heard each strangled scream and terrifying snarl from the monsters surrounding her.

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Midoriko unsheathed her katana as her bow lay out of reach a few feet from her current position. The dragon was proving to be quite the formidable foe, especially in his true form. He was immense, though he still moved with lightning fast speed. Her eyes narrowed as the demon's lips pulled up into a misshapen smirk upon his scaly face.

"You think to stop me, the Great Meikaosu, human filth? You are no match, woman."

Midoriko remained silent, watching for a shift in her foe's stance, sword ready to strike. The dragon was well armored with all his interlocking scales. She had identified all his weak spots, but the demon was careful to leave none open for exploitation. Her best chance for a lethal blow would leave her wide open to injury. If she only had someone to help distract the beast she might have a fighting chance. Maybe it was time for her to look into a companion to help her in these situations.

Suddenly Midoriko's aura flared, cocooning her in a protective barrier of spiritual power as she was pushed back by a powerful wind swirling heavily between her and Meikaosu. She shielded her eyes as dust and other debris were thrown up. As the wind dissipated she found a tall male standing before her, slightly turned in her direction. At first he looked human, but closer inspection revealed pointed ears and claws. His skin was sun kissed and each cheek was marked with a thick blue slash. She recognized him as a daiyoukai and if she remembered the forehead markings correctly, he was of the Northern daiyoukai's with his four pointed star.

Seemingly gray eyes slanted towards her before being directed to Meikaosu. “You are no longer necessary here, mortal. Leave this area before I dispose of you as well."

Midoriko would have snorted in derision if she had less training. Instead she stood her ground, sword gleaming and chin lifted. This was her duty. To rid the world of demon filth that destroyed and killed. She was not about to listen to the very creature she was sworn to destroy.

"Brother! I see they have finally sent someone out to control me. Father must be very displeased to have sent you."

“Silence. Father has decided he no longer finds it necessary to keep you around. You wish not to conform to his rules and instead waste your time killing not only humans but you have recently strayed to killing others of the daiyoukais. Father wishes not to start a war with the other lands, but you push the lords in that direction. I am here to insure you no longer cause our great sire any more problems." His voice was crisp and deep while his face was frigid and uncaring. "You should have listened to father."

Midoriko watched as wind swirled around the brother of Meikaosu before large spikes of navy colored light shot forth towards Meikaosu. A large boom sounded as the energy crashed into and around Meikaosu. The power of the strike was immense to Midoriko, who had yet to encounter a daiyoukai in battle. Her powers surged in reaction as the demonic energies clashed around her. Again she found gray eyes looking at her before his attention was diverted.

A sinister chuckle erupted from the cloud of dust and ash where Meikaosu had stood.

"Junseimaru, I am disappointed. You seem to have become weaker since I left. It'll be a shame that fathers favored son shall meet his end to the outcast son. I shall enjoy this."

Junseimaru looked unfazed at his brother's perfectly uninjured form.

Meikaosu lunged forward, jaw open wide as if to eat his unmoving brother. Teeth snapped together, but Junseimaru moved just before, hovering over the top of his brother. With a powerful surge Junseimaru aimed for the weak point where the spine met the base of the skull. There was a small gap between tough scales that would allow one to sever the spine, thus ending the demon's life. Just as he was in close enough to deliver the blow spikes erupted from his brothers spine. He veered to the right, dodging the spikes but unable to dodge his brother's razor sharp tail. He slammed painfully into the ground before he was back up and standing outside of striking range. Junseimaru felt as the poison on the tip of Meikaosu's tail enter his blood stream, quickly moving through his veins. Luckily he need not worry since the same poison could be produced by him.

"Like my new trick, brother? Not expecting it from your weak brother, were you? I've learned much since leaving and grown stronger. After I kill you I plan on returning to father and taking the thrown from him. I will finally get what I deserve. I will finally be rid of your shadow."

"You are a fool."

With a flick of his hand outward a large sickle shaped burst of emerald green energy emerged from Junseimaru and headed straight for the exposed part of Meikaosu's neck. As the attack closed in on its target a raging wind diverted the attack, sending it back towards the caster. Junseimaru evaded his own attack as a deep frown appeared on his face. He had severely underestimated his brother. Meikaosu had grown greatly in skill and power since last seen. Finally he drew his sword. Obviously his brother had decided not to go quietly into the after life. The sword blazed to life with his yoki, thrumming in anticipation of a kill.

Darting forward Junseimaru got under his brothers defense, aiming for the throat. Meikaosu jerked back, avoiding having his throat slit, but was not quick enough to completely dodge the attack. A great roar of outrage erupted from Meikaosu as his large clawed foreleg pinned Junseimaru to the ground. While the cut on Meikaosu's neck was not deep enough to cause major blood loss it still bleed freely. Junseimaru had managed to inject some of his yoki into the cut, temporarily disabling his brothers healing capabilities. Junseimaru looked up at his brother from his pinned spot with flat eyes.

Midoriko watched as Meikaosu opened his jaw wide and started ripping his claws into his brother. She finally saw an opening as the dragon was distracted with trying to kill the pinned Junseimaru. She rushed straight for the dragon in his preoccupied state with sword blazing a deep pink from the purity she pushed into it. With a great thrust underneath the fleshy part of Meikaosu's neck, where his brother had managed to nick him, Midoriko pushed the katana straight up and into his skull. The dragon's scream cut off as purifying energy took over. She felt a faint sting as she attempted to move away from the thrashing demon. Meikaosu was slowly engulfed in pink light before exploding into glittering ash.

As the adrenaline in her system left, Midoriko felt a burning sting in her side slowly start spreading. She pressed her hand to her side, bringing it back with blood and a strange blue substance. She felt as her limbs grew heavy and then her sight started spotting. She knew exactly what happened. That faint sting had been Meikaosu's tail injecting her with his poison. Calling forth her healing powers she tried to contain and purify the poison in her system, but the more energy she put into healing the faster the poison took over. Finally her legs gave. She crashed to the ground and her sight started to fade in and out. Junseimaru appeared above her with a dispassionate look upon his face.

"You should have left, mortal."

She felt a tug on the collar of her clothing.

"My life debt is repaid after this."

Darkness started creeping over her. Just before it completely took over she felt something cut into the skin just above her heart before warm pressure was placed over it. If she could have screamed then, she would have. Every nerve ending suddenly felt on fire.

"Foolish mortal."

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Rough shaking finally woke Kagome from her nightmare. She could feel every muscle tensed in her body as if all her nerves were still on fire. Her sheets stuck to her as she shifted and great puffs of breath left her in quick succession.

"Another dream?"

Kagome looked up into the alert face of her younger brother. There were signs of worry etched into his young face. Signs that shouldn't be there. A sudden wave of guilt washed over her as she looked down. Her dreams were starting to effect more than just her. Innumerable times she was woken from her dreams with an anxious face hovering over her.

"Yes." She sighed as she wiped her forehead free of sweat. "They keep getting worse. More and more of them are battles. They're so intense I feel like it's me that went through all this, but I know it's not. I don't even recognize any of the areas, and the clothing is older. It doesn't make sense. It's like someone else's memories are imprinted in my mind."

"Do you think it could have something to do with the jewel?"

"No. The jewel was destroyed nearly three years ago. I destroyed it myself when I wished it out of existence. It's no longer here to cause havoc."

Kagome was silent for a moment as she reflected on everything. She dropped her face into her hands.

"I think I'm finally losing it, Souta." She felt her bed shift as Souta sat next to her, draping an arm around her hunched shoulders. "Sometimes I get this weird feeling. It's like there's something else inside me. It's almost like the jewel, but it seems to have a sentience all it's own. I don't know what to do. I can't handle anymore of these nightmares."

"We'll find a way to help you sis. We can do some research and see if we can find something that might get rid of the dreams."

Kagome smiled at her brother. He was growing up so fast. "Thank you Souta." She watched as he yawned. It was two in the morning. "Go back to bed. I'm going to try and get some shut eye. Maybe the dreams are done for the night."

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning. Good night 'Gome."

She shifted back down and pulled the covers up. Troubled blue eyes stared at the ceiling as she listened to the quiet click of her door closing. For a few moments she contemplated sleeping, but decided she couldn't submit to her nocturnal terrors. Pulling a small black book from beneath her pillow she extracted a pencil and opened to a random page. Slowly she started sketching out the lines of a feminine face. One she saw reflected back to her from within her dreams.

"Who are you?" she asked to the rough outline as she continued to drag her pencil over the paper.