Paper Spirits by Shi

Koiuranai - ('Love Fortune Telling') - For Akina_Hana (aka. Sesshoumaru&Kagome4ever)

A/N:I would like to wish Akina_Hana a very happy birthday... this fiction was written especially for you! Thank you for all the support... and for being my mysterious star crossed twin! ; )

I would like to add a little piece of info on this particular fiction... the title is pretty self explanatory. This fiction is also not really meant to be out there to get awesome ratings on. If you like it, then go ahead! Tell me what you think, and feel free to rate and review! But, this story is a birthday present from me, to A.H. and I think in the end, her opinion on this is what really counts! ; )

Thank you so much!

Ai, Shizuka

She clutched tightly at the two opposite folds of her jacket... the zipper had been broken, and there was virtually no way to repair it.

The wind was blowing violently, and she had become lost, after she decided to take her chances, and disappear off to the hot springs for a quick bath. 'Inuyasha wouldn't mind...' she said to herself.

'I will be caught up with them simple! There is a shortcut there on that path... they won't even know I am gone!' Although she could hardly convince herself of the truth in all of this... it was worth a try.

She had been traveling on her bike for three days, only stopping at night to sleep.

She had sparse to eat lately... and what was available didn't exactly get a very high rating on her list of preferred foods. Mostly hare, or some scrawny rabbit that would dare to venture from out of the brush, Inuyasha would make quick work to slaughter.

It always ended up making her stomach churn, but... she kept silent. The less she complained, the more apt Inuyasha would be to consider stopping when needed. After all... there where always those circumstances...

The sky began to rumble, and she looked up... to her dismay, lightning began to illuminate the black sky, and rain began to fall at a slanted angle, where she was walking directly into it.

"My luck!" she whined to herself. Her decisions didn't always turn out to the best... she was beginning to notice this. She was not only soaked now, but also lost. Every thing looked the same in the dark, and the eerie woods did no help to console her.

Suddenly, as if the divine had mercy, a light of the faintest kind could be detected through the thickness of the trees.

She sighed, before breaking into a run. 'Now... as long as I do not trip on a root...' she thought miserably. With the way things had been going lately, it was not something that she would rule out... no, defiantly not with her luck. Nope.

She finally came up to where she could see the light in clear view... her heart sank. It was not the little group of friends that she so wanted to see... it was a small dilapidated straw thatched hut, with some wisps of silver smoke protruding from the small stone chimney that barely rose above the roof.

Kagome--her name was Kagome...

Had to suppress a small mocking smile... where she came from... the chimney would have to be a great deal higher from the roof than that one, and especially for a straw thatched hut such as this one.

If the interior was even remotely as was the exterior, than it would be near possible to live in such a place... this poked at her curiosity. What did the interior look like?

She walked cautiously up to the straw screen that blocked the entrance. Inside she could hear a strange, almost melodic gurgling sound, and the voice of a middle aged woman, chanting something that didn't make sense. Perhaps the resident of this place was from the continent? Perhaps they did not speak the native language... perhaps she should leave. Yes... leave. That was a very good idea.

She turned abruptly on her heel, only to be caught by the voice of the woman. Kagome paused in her tracks... 'Huh?' "I hear you out there Kagome. The fates have brought you here to me. Please enter. I bid you no harm. You are welcome in my humble dwelling as long as necessary. Enter girl."

Kagome was shaken a bit... from the woman addressing her, rather than from the on-pouring rain.

"H--how do you know my name?" Kagome carefully questioned. This was a rather odd thing... and besides, how had an old middle aged woman sense her presence?

The woman laughed almost in an eerie manor that made Kagome shiver slightly at the sound of it. 'Her voice is not familiar... I do not know her.' "Come child... I promise not to lay a finger upon you. Only the fates have called you to this place. And--for a very important purpose as well."

Kagome shrugged... it was no use getting pneumonia out here in the cold, and rain.

Besides... the woman seemed not to possess a threat... well, at least not anything that she herself could not deal with in some way.

She took a deep breath before proceeding once again to the straw screen... boldly pressing against it, she brushed it behind her back, taking in the sight of her surroundings, eyeing everything with scrutiny.

The hut inside was indeed nothing like it's dilapidated exterior... everything looked... rather pleasant and mystic.

Directly across the room from her was an middle aged woman, with black and grey stranded hair. She wore it up high, on a knot on her head, with a white tie securing it. She indeed was from here, and not from the continent... so those strange words...?

She took a gaze once more around the room, before coming once to her conclusion. "You are... a witch."

The woman smiled, coyly. "Indeed I am, of sorts. I am a fortune teller... of love."

Kagome's eyes widened slightly. Love, eh? well... whatever the circumstances there, it couldn't possibly be a positive one for her. Her love seemed to be the source of her biggest and most perplexing troubles. 'I love you, I love you not...' that seemed to be the motto every male lived with here in the feudal era... or, ahem... perhaps that was only the case with her love interest... Inuyasha.

What Miroku and Sango shared was mutual... this thing with Inuyasha... well, it was there... it was mind boggling. He would come to save her in an instant, and leave her for her incarnation even quicker. It was a helpless, lost cause. Perhaps one of those things never to be resolved... the thought of this desperate situation made her sigh, subconsciously.

The woman turned an appraising eye to her... "Do not fret, little one. Your love is not in vain. I can assure you, you will receive what your heart truly desires." A very promising thought indeed.

"What exactly do I have to... erm, I mean... what exactly are you here for to help with that?" She smiled once again, in such a mysterious way it set Kagome very much on edge... a few times, she had considered trying her luck at finding the correct path to the shortcut once again... but with each blast of lightning, her will power to attempt such a thing nearly faded completely.

The woman smiled.

"I shall show you your future, and help you succeed in seeing to it that it happens... correctly." Kagome cringed at the pause in her words... where there complications to this plan?

'I sure hope not...'

All was lost if this was indeed the case. Kagome hated taking risks... although her and her spontaneous nature usually took over the bit of willpower she had there as well. She would often act very spontaneously, doing highly idiotic things, for the overall good of others, and disregard for her own self.

"Ah... do not fear, child. Come next to me." She directed, gesturing with her hands. Kagome bit her lip, and walked towards where directed. Near the old woman was a shallow bowl that held silver like liquid substance. Kagome could not help but wonder what it might be.

The old woman smiled. "The contents of the dish are what will show you your future, my dear."

The old woman caught one of Kagome's hands, and singled out a finger. Kagome nearly panicked... 'What is she doing to me?!' The woman took a needle, and gave a prick to the finger, allowing one bead of blood to drip into the silver. Kagome winced... What was she doing?

The silver liquid began to swirl, and it became nearly all the shade of the single blood droplet. Kagome watched with wide eyes, as it turned from the blood red, to the finality of translucency.

Just as she was about to frown, from wonder at what the general purpose of this all was, a strange image appeared... strange indeed. It was rather difficult to make out at first, as the liquid had not yet settled, and was still highly active; still circulating in the shallow dish.

As the substance began to settle, Kagome took an intent look at the images that where projecting to her. The woman frowned. "You see him, there?" Kagome nodded...

"Yes, it's Inuyasha..."

"Yes. He is one you have been deceived upon. You believe to love him, but... you do not." Kagome snapped her neck around to glare angrily at the incredulous woman who would dare to inform her of her love. "I love Inuyasha! Do not speak otherwise to me, witch!"

The old woman smiled. "Ah... I could assume you would think in such a way. It is indeed to be expected from one so youthful as you."

Kagome scowled. "You are talking in circles!" The witch lowered her head, and silently laughed, her smile was impossible to miss. "Aa. You are indeed hasty. And perceptive as well."

She sobered almost instantly however; to Kagome's astonishment. "So, then you will understand that in two days time from now, the Priestess Kikyou will come to the half demon Inuyasha so that he may keep his word clean to his vow. He will be taken to Hell with her, you understand."

Kagome growled. "It's a lie! He will not!"

The woman shook her head sadly. "You mist listen to me, child. I say nothing that is untrue. What interest would I have in a lie?" Kagome felt her heart sink... 'She is right... she is nothing more than a fortune teller... predicting the ways of the future, and of love. She speaks the truth? But... how?"

A few tears fell from her eyes, as she hastened to wipe them away, not wanting a reddened face. That would not do at all...

"You are right... I am sure of it." She said sadly. It was plain her heart was broken. She had been scarred. It would take some time to heal, but... perhaps it was possible that it would not take long with a new love on the rise.

"Kagome... look into the depths." The woman instructed solemnly, hoping for the girl to find at least some bit of comfort, or consolation from what she would see in the potion of the futuristic pictures.

Kagome's eyes widened with terror... she could see it all too plainly. There she was walking contentedly beside Inuyasha's very own brother... oh joy.

'What is going to happen? Am I to be kidnapped?' The thought involved in how something so insane could come to be was rather painful to dwell upon. And... another question... how could she walk so contentedly next to HIM, and visa versa?

As if the witch could hear her thoughts, she lightly pressed on Kagome's shoulders, as she spoke; "All is well, girl. Do not worry your head over it. He shall choose you, as you will choose him. I am aware that it all sounds inconceivable, but you must have faith that all is indeed possible in the paths of the heart."

Kagome cringed.... 'She didn't just say that...' "I am really sorry to intrude upon you like this... it is now obvious that I have somehow messed you up mentally. Perhaps me being a priestess has somehow deterred something in your brain... forgive." And she slowly turned to tiptoe out the screen, before being once again pulled back by the old woman. "Kagome... you must understand, all is not as it seems on the surface. There is something deeper than all this. You must listen to what I have to say. It will in the end help the happiness of you, and the half demon... and your enemy shall fall at your hands."

Now that part truly held her attention.

"Alright... fine." She sighed, defeated. She would listen. At least try to, anyhow.

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INCOMPLETE!!

TBC...