-Modern Day, New York, NY, United States of America-

Heart pounding. Dead...no, it couldn't be true. It wasn't supposed to be this way. They were supposed to be together. Forever.

"Kikyou..."

Sitting up in her bed, the young girl rubbed her forehead with her thin hands, scrubbing the cold sweat from her eyes. Her long, raven-black hair fell across her face, hiding it from the darkness as silent tears mixed with the small beads of presperation. Taking a deep, shaking breath, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and walked to her private bathroom. Pale moonlight, though tinted with the haze of the breaking dawn, made her milky skin seem to glow as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She looked at her eyes. Devil eyes.

"Kikyou..."

The girl trembled, and looked out into the night through the large window of the condo, soft words coming from her lips.

"What am I...?"

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-Modern Day, Devils Lake, ND, United States of America-

"O' Tunkasila Wakantanka

Ho naho tuwa mis tate el kin,

Niya tuwa ku wiconi makaowacaga kilyuha kin,

Naho mis. Mis cistila na hokesni.

Mis cin nita wasake na woksape.

Ayusta mis mani el hopa, na kagemita ista..."

Hanyewi breathed in the fresh air of morning, smiling to the small gathering of tribe members as the sun broke over the horizon. Ten of them, total, not including herself. The one who had chanted was her mother, and now the other members were watching Hanyewi, for they did not speak the Sioux language as well, and she was their translator.

"O, Great Spirit

Whose voice I hear in the winds,

And whose breath gives life to all the world,

Hear me.

I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom!"

The gathering smiled at her, nodding and murmuring amongst one another as Hanyewi and her mother finished the prayer, and four of the others began to beat the sacred drums, all of them singing wordlessly an ancient tune. It was to welcome the dawn, to ask for protection and guidance. Something Hanyewi knew she needed, and desperately.

"Onigumo...you fool..."

She frowned, trying to keep up with the chanting and drumming. She was half Rom, and half Dakota Sioux. Decendant of various gypsy mystics and Native American shamans...ever since she was young, she had felt the powers of that inside her. Her gaze fell upon her sioux mother...tall, willowy, with almond-shaped eyes and dark skin. Hanyewi had lighter skin, but with the same body frame...though instead of the light hazel of her mother, she eyes were nearly pitch black, like her hair.

"I will...always love you..."

Suddenly, she felt pain slice through her stomach, and she stood from the circle and ran into the house. The dim light of sunrise illuminated the bathroom as she hung her head over the toilet, her guts and throat burning. After a while, she saw the shadow of her mother at the door. The woman pulled her daughter's hair back, and sighed.

"Something is coming, young-ancient one."

Hanyewi lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. "I know, mama. It follows me like a demon."

Her mother helped her stand, and ran a cool cloth over Hanyewi's face. "One of the elders saw it. A cloud of wasps, coming this way. Are you sure that you know not what is haunting you?"

"...I have dreams," Hanyewi said quietly. "Where I am me. But I am not."

Yamni stared at her daughter for a long time, before speaking. "Lifetimes, beyond this one...You know that the shaman Itaka said, when you were born, that you were the young ancient one. That is why I call you such. Already, you are a healer here, with the people and children. Is this any surprise to you?"

Her mother was right. Hanyewi stood, looking at the ground. But these dreams...that man...why now?

Why not, asked her inner voice. Why, not Kikyou?

"Besides, it's nearly mid-August. School starts soon," her mother suddenly said, getting the serious academic look on her face. "You better figure yourself out before then, because I don't want to see you fail just from trying to find yourself."

Her mother then flashed a smile, and went back outside to the drummer circle. Hanyewi sighed deeply, then looked into the mirror. She nearly fainted, but looked closer at the mirror. For a moment, there had been a face...a pair of eyes, searching...rubbing her face, Hanyewi walked outside.

Why not, indeed.

A/N: Uh oh...a mystery! How much does Hanyewi really know? And who is that girl in NYC? -gasp- Review and find out!