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Chapter Text

Chapter One: Death and Discovery

Rated - M  (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)

Disclaimer:  I do not own Inuyasha.

o - o - o - o - o

Inuyasha's mother was ill. At least, that was what he thought was wrong. He was too young to understand it was something far worse than the colds or sniffles he'd seen others on the estate suffer through.

She had grown frail, her strength slipping away as though the cold of the season was draining it from her. At first, she would lose her breath quickly on their walks through the estate or into the woods to gather herbs. But now, even sitting up unaided was impossible. Inuyasha had tried to help her move, but though he was strong for his age, he was still small, his arms unable to bear her weight. All he could do was fetch the items she needed, running to her side at every whispered request.

Her family—a wealthy daimyo and landowner—avoided the rooms they shared, refusing to acknowledge her presence. The servants, what few remained, stayed well away when Inuyasha was near. The whispers of "hanyou," "half-breed," and "kasu" always followed him, no matter how much his mother tried to shield him from them. He heard them all the same. His ears—those unnatural white dog ears perched atop his head—picked up every muttered insult, every contemptuous word.

His mother, Izayoi, never called him those names. She would stroke his silver hair and tell him he was special, that he belonged with her. She would tell him stories about brave warriors and kind hearts, assuring him that he was none of the hateful things they said. But her words couldn't stop the stares or the rocks thrown when no one thought he was looking.

This morning, Izayoi was asleep, her breaths shallow and rasping. Her face, usually pale, glistened with sweat. Inuyasha touched her hand, feeling the chill of her skin. He knew what that meant—another day of pain. He needed to be quick before she woke. She had told him her suffering was worse when he wasn't near to protect her from the cruelty of her family and their servants.

The house was silent in the early morning darkness. It was the perfect time to slip away unnoticed. Grabbing a small basket, Inuyasha crept into the woods, his bare feet light and swift on the damp earth. He searched for the herbs she'd taught him to find—his tiny hands brushing aside leaves and roots as he worked. He hated these trips. Every moment away from her filled him with fear. What if she needed him? What if she…

No, he couldn't think about that. Not yet.

He returned within the hour, clutching the herbs tightly. The estate was still quiet, but the air inside their room felt heavier than before. Izayoi hadn't stirred. Her breaths were softer now, almost nonexistent. Inuyasha knelt beside her, carefully crushing the herbs to prepare the medicine. He whispered to her as he worked, telling her about the woods and how quickly he'd found the plants she needed.

When the draught was ready, he touched her hand again, shaking her gently. "Mama," he called softly. She didn't move. Her skin was colder than before. His small hands began to tremble.

His mother's breaths were shallow, her face glistening with sweat. Inuyasha glanced at her, his small hand hovering over hers, hesitant to disturb her sleep. She looked so peaceful in that moment, and yet he knew—deep down—that something was wrong.

"Mama?" he whispered, nudging her gently. Her hand was cold, startlingly so. He flinched, instinctively pulling his hand back before trying again, shaking her arm a little harder. "Mama, wake up."

She didn't stir.

A knot of panic began to form in his chest. "Mama, please." His voice cracked, trembling. He shook her harder, his small frame leaning against hers in desperation. But she remained still, her chest no longer rising or falling. The truth loomed over him like a shadow he couldn't escape. Wet warmth began to stream down his cheeks as the realization hit him—she was gone.

Desperately, he crawled onto the futon beside her, clutching her lifeless form. Maybe she was just cold, he thought. Maybe if he held her close, she'd warm up. He pressed his face into her chest and stayed there, waiting for her to move, to speak, to comfort him the way she always did. But the hours stretched on, and she remained silent.

Days passed, and still, he stayed by her side. Each morning, a voice would call out from the door—"Izayoi-sama"—but no one dared enter. Not until today. The door creaked open, and he heard the murmurs of her family and servants, their tones laced with disdain.

"Such a shame," one voice said.

"What about her bastard?" another asked.

"Probably the one who killed her," someone spat.

Inuyasha tightened his hold on his mother, fresh tears spilling down his face. He wanted to yell at them, to tell them they were wrong, but his voice wouldn't come.

The footsteps drew closer, and then a sharp jab prodded his back. He flinched, curling tighter against his mother. "Let go, you little cur. She's dead, no thanks to you," a servant snapped, their voice cold and venomous.

"Leave him," another voice said, though there was no kindness in the suggestion. "He'll let go eventually."

But Inuyasha didn't let go, even as the broomstick jabbed harder against his back. When prodding didn't work, the servant resorted to hitting him, the blows landing on his shoulders, his arms, anywhere they could reach. "Let go, you stupid little bastard!" they shouted, their voice rising in frustration.

Finally, a particularly harsh strike forced him to release his hold, and he stumbled back, shielding himself as the blows continued. He watched helplessly as his mother's body was taken from the room, his cries ignored as they carried her away.

The broomstick swatted at him again, herding him out of the house. "Off with you now," the servant ordered, shoving him toward the edge of the property.

"Wha—" he started, but the broomstick cracked against his head before he could finish.

"You heard me. Get out, you filthy dog!"

Inuyasha fell to the ground, stunned. He stared up at the servant, tears blurring his vision. "Please…" he whispered, but his plea was met with another swing of the broom.

"Go!"

He scrambled away, retreating to the edge of the estate. From there, he watched as his mother's burial began. He tried, time and time again, to approach the grave, to see her one last time, but each attempt was met with the same cruel treatment. The servants shooed him away, their voices mocking and cruel.

"Good riddance," one said.

"At least we're free of her shame now," another muttered, loud enough for him to hear.

"She should've left that mutt to die in the woods," someone else sneered.

Inuyasha didn't respond. He couldn't. All he could do was sit at a distance, his small body trembling with grief and exhaustion, as he watched the only person who had ever loved him buried with as little ceremony as possible. The family stood around the grave, cold and impassive, ignoring his cries.

He sobbed quietly, his tears soaking the dirt beneath him, his heart breaking under the weight of a world that had never wanted him.

They were free of her now. Free of the shame she had brought them. And Inuyasha was left alone, unwanted and unloved, in a world that seemed determined to crush him.

o - o - o - o - o

Nightfall brought a biting chill, but Inuyasha couldn't resist venturing onto the estate grounds, keeping to the shadows. He crept as close as he dared to his mother's grave. He had seen others lay flowers or trinkets for their loved ones, but he had nothing to offer. When they drove him away, it had been with nothing but the clothes on his back. He hadn't even thought to grab a keepsake; fear had made him clumsy and scattered.

As he lingered near the grave, a sharp pain struck his leg. He whipped around and saw the same servant from before, pelting him with rocks.

"I told you to stay gone, you little rabid cur!" the man growled.

Startled, Inuyasha jumped back, narrowly avoiding another stone. He scrambled out of range and fled into the woods.

It wasn't the last time. Each time he tried to visit his mother's grave, the servants caught him and chased him off. They knew he was lingering at the edge of the estate, and they had assigned the meanest among them to ensure he never stepped foot near the property again. After days of being run off, battling hunger that gnawed at him like a beast, he finally gave up.

But giving up left him with another problem: he had nowhere to go. His mother's home had been his entire world. He had never even been to the small village on the western edge of the estate. His mother had always kept him close, not out of shame but out of love and caution. She would often tell him he should be proud of who he was, but she never let him wander far, always keeping him within the safety of the property and surrounding woods. Now, without her, he would soon learn why.

Desperate, Inuyasha ventured into the village. The reception he received there was worse than the treatment from his mother's family. Villagers screamed at him, threw stones, or brandished weapons, as if he were some wild animal. His mother's relatives had likely warned them of his presence, ensuring the entire village viewed him with disdain.

The village, however hostile, was his best chance for survival. He didn't know how to hunt, but he was quick on his feet and managed to snatch scraps of food before anyone caught him. He hated the idea of stealing—it felt wrong—but as his stomach churned with hunger, he rationalized: I'm not a thief… no one will feed me now that Mother is gone. What choice do I have?

One day, as he was skulking around for something to eat, a voice called out.

"Psst."

Inuyasha froze, instinctively ready to bolt.

A low chuckle followed. "Hey there, hungry boy?"

Peeking from behind a barrel, Inuyasha saw a man crouched nearby, motioning him over. He recognized him—others in the village called him the Stranger. Despite living on the village's edge, the man was a mystery even to his neighbors.

Inuyasha didn't move, wary of the trap. He'd fallen for tricks like this before and been left bruised by cruel villagers.

The man stood, brushing off his knees. "Suit yourself. But I've got a nice pot of pottage, and I don't mind sharing." He turned and began walking away, leaving Inuyasha to ponder his words.

The boy's stomach growled at the thought of warm food. His nose twitched, catching the faint smell of something roasting. Slowly, he decided to follow, keeping his distance as the man headed to a modest home on the village's outskirts.

From the shadows, Inuyasha watched as the man prepared his meal, gutting fish and tending to the fire. The process took over an hour, and all the while, the savory scent of cooking food teased Inuyasha's senses. When the meal was ready, the man filled two bowls and set one aside.

Leaning out his open door, the man called out, "Still hungry? Changed your mind?"

Inuyasha hesitated, unsure if this was another trick. But hunger clawed at his insides, and the man's voice lacked the mocking tone he was used to. Slowly, he emerged from his hiding place.

"Good lad," the man said with a warm smile, waving him inside.

Inuyasha took a hesitant step forward, his muscles tensed to flee if needed. The man's home was simple but warm, and the bowl of steaming pottage tempted him closer. He reached for it, but the man's smile faded.

"You can eat," the man said, "but dogs eat on the floor."

Confused and humiliated, Inuyasha glanced at the man, then the bowl. Slowly, he placed it on the floor and crouched down, unsure what else to do. The man's smile returned. "That's right," he said, pleased.

Torn between pride and hunger, Inuyasha swallowed his shame and ate, the warmth of the food dulling the ache in his stomach. As he ate, the man crouched beside him and patted his head.

"Good boy," he said.

Inuyasha froze at the unfamiliar gesture. It wasn't mocking—it felt… kind. For the first time since his mother's death, someone smiled at him, and though it wasn't the same, it filled a tiny part of the emptiness inside him.

When the bowl was empty, Inuyasha looked up at the man, uncertain.

"What's your name, boy?" the man asked.

"Inuyasha," he mumbled.

The man raised an eyebrow. "I'll just call you Inu. It's easier."

The name felt wrong. His mother had always told him his father had chosen it for him, and it was special. But Inuyasha didn't argue. He didn't want to upset the man who had shown him unexpected kindness.

When Inuyasha moved to leave, the man stopped him.

"Where are you going, Inu? You can stay here if you want. I'm sure you'll be of use, being a half-breed and all."

The man scratched his chin, nodding as if he'd decided something important. "Yes, we'll get along just fine."

Inuyasha's heart lifted at the prospect of a home. He followed the man as he laid out a small pallet near the door.

"You'll sleep here," the man said, gesturing. Inuyasha obeyed.

"Sit."

He sat.

"Lie down."

He lay down.

"Good boy," the man said, patting his head again.

Inuyasha felt a strange warmth at the praise, even as he knew it was wrong. He looked up at the man and asked timidly, "What's your name?"

The man smiled. "You can call me Bosu."

As the man left him to sleep, Inuyasha curled up on the pallet, holding onto the fragile hope that he had finally found a place where he belonged.

o - o - o - o - o

Many years had passed, and life had flourished for the man who called himself "Bosu." He had finally found the edge he needed, and surprisingly, it had come in the form of a small hanyou child. Who would have thought?

Bosu first heard the tale while passing through a nearby province. It was the kind of gossip that carried weight, the sort that set tongues wagging across villages. The story told of a beautiful woman—none other than a daimyo's daughter—and how a powerful dog demon, a daiyokai, had seduced her. From this union, a half-breed child was born. Yet, as quickly as the demon had come, he disappeared, leaving the woman and her child behind.

Stories of demon attacks on commoners weren't unusual, and neither were accounts of royal indiscretions. But a daiyokai willingly lowering himself to consort with a mortal woman? That was scandalous. Nobility or not, humans and demons were like oil and water—existing side by side but never truly mixing. The tale was outrageous, implausible even, but too compelling for Bosu to ignore.

Curiosity piqued, Bosu packed his meager belongings and set off for the rumored town where this strange family lived. After several days of travel, he finally caught sight of the boy—and his mother. The woman was beautiful, just as the rumors claimed, though pale and frail, her steps weighed down by illness. She tried to mask her suffering for the sake of her child, but Bosu could see through it. He had seen that kind of sickness before. The woman was dying, and her time was short.

An idea began to take shape in his mind. Bosu bided his time, watching from the shadows, waiting for the moment when the child would be left vulnerable. It came sooner than expected. When the woman passed, the boy—shunned and mistreated by everyone aside from his mother—was easy prey. Gaining his trust was effortless.

In the beginning, Bosu showered the boy, whom he called "Inu," with kindness. He fed him, clothed him, and gave him a sense of belonging. But as the years passed and the boy's loyalty solidified, Bosu shifted his approach. Kindness gave way to control, and control became subjugation.

Early in their relationship, Bosu had sought out a priest to craft a special collar for the boy. "Every dog needs a leash," Bosu told himself. The priest obliged, creating an enchanted collar that could subjugate its wearer with a single incantation. Bosu placed it around Inu's neck one day, patting his head as he fastened it. "Good boy," he said with a smile. From that moment on, the collar became a cornerstone of Inu's training.

Over time, Bosu's power grew. Through cunning, manipulation, and the ruthless use of his "dog," Bosu became one of the most feared and respected men in the province. Whispers of his mysterious enforcer spread like wildfire. Rivals spoke in hushed tones of Bosu's "dog," claiming he unleashed it on anyone who crossed him. Yet no one had ever seen the creature with their own eyes. That was because Bosu left no witnesses.

And today was one such day—a day when Bosu would call upon his most prized tool to ensure his dominance remained unchallenged.

o - o - o - o - o

A young lord had recently been named daimyo of the province, inheriting lands where Bosu had quietly grown his syndicate into an empire. Bosu didn't officially own the land he occupied, but the locals treated him as a lord in his own right. Whether by fear or greed, they turned a blind eye to his transgressions and offered him tribute—food, gold, services—anything he demanded. Bosu was comfortable. He had no intention of leaving.

The new daimyo, however, had other plans. Young, naive, and arrogant, the lord sought to assert his claim. He announced plans to evict the locals and build a fortress on the very land Bosu had claimed for himself. Bosu had heard of the lord's ambitions through his network of spies and informants, and it became clear that the boy was foolish enough to believe that titles alone conferred power.

At first, the daimyo refused to meet with Bosu. "I do not negotiate with peasants," he had declared, dismissing Bosu as little more than a petty criminal. But after persistent warnings from his advisors, he relented, believing that a meeting would humble this upstart and cement his authority. Bosu, on the other hand, viewed the meeting as an opportunity to make a statement—a final, brutal statement.

The two men met on neutral ground, in a clearing just outside the town. The young lord arrived flanked by a small entourage of samurai and servants, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. It was meant to intimidate, but Bosu barely acknowledged the display. He sat calmly on a makeshift throne, flanked by two of his own men, his composure radiating quiet menace.

Bosu offered his terms, as he had before, in a tone that was both polite and dripping with condescension. "Leave the locals be. Take your fortress plans elsewhere. This land is spoken for, and its people are under my protection."

The young daimyo's lip curled in disdain. "Your protection?" he spat. "You're a criminal—a peasant pretending to be a lord. You will vacate this land by week's end, or I will remove you myself. Are you threatening me, peasant?"

Bosu sighed, the kind of sigh a weary parent might give an unruly child. "As I said before, I do not make idle threats."

The lord sneered, emboldened by the small army at his back. He gestured to his soldiers, clearly confident in their superiority. Bosu's lips curled into a smile.

"Very well," he said, leaning back in his seat. He whistled, a sharp, piercing note that cut through the tense air.

From the shadows of the surrounding trees, a figure emerged. He moved with the grace of a predator, his silver hair catching the light like a blade. Inu stepped silently to his master's side, his amber eyes cold and unfeeling, as though nothing in this world could faze him.

The young lord's bravado faltered. He stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the figure before him. "What—what is this? A demon?" he stammered, his voice cracking.

Bosu ignored the question, leaning forward to whisper something in Inu's ear. The hanyou gave a barely perceptible nod before turning his attention to the daimyo. He stepped forward with measured, deliberate strides, his expression betraying no emotion.

The samurai moved to intercept him, but Inu was faster—much faster. In an instant, he was among them, his claws a blur of motion. The first samurai fell, his throat torn open before he could even draw his sword. Another lunged, but Inu sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the man by the arm and snapping it as though it were a twig before finishing him with a single, brutal slash. Blood sprayed across the clearing as screams erupted, but the fight was over almost as quickly as it had begun.

The daimyo, now trembling, tried to flee, but Inu was upon him in an instant. He grabbed the young lord by the neck and lifted him off the ground as though he weighed nothing. The man choked and clawed at Inu's hand, but his struggles were futile. With a flick of his wrist, Inu threw him to the ground. The last thing the young lord saw was the flash of claws descending toward him.

When it was done, Inu returned to Bosu, blood dripping from his hands and staining his silver hair. He knelt before his master, head bowed in submission.

Bosu reached out and stroked Inu's blood-soaked head like a favored pet. "Good boy," he said with a smile.

The clearing was silent except for the faint rustle of the wind. Bosu rose from his seat, surveying the carnage with satisfaction. There would be no more questions about who controlled this land.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two

The Master and His Hound

Eighty years had passed since Inu had walked through the door that would forever change his life. What awaited him then was a leash, both literal and figurative, forged by the cunning hands of the man who called himself Bosu. And though the years had worn away the face of that first master, the leash had remained—unyielding, binding him to whoever claimed the mantle next.

Inu still lived in servitude, though the rules were the same only in principle. The faces, the voices, the hands holding his leash—they changed with the passage of time. His first master, the original Bosu, had kept Inu as his greatest secret weapon, using him sparingly to maintain his hold on power. That man had been clever, calculating, and brutal when necessary. Yet even his cunning couldn't halt the inevitability of age. After twenty years, Bosu passed on, leaving Inu behind.

But Inu was not freed. Instead, the title of "Bosu"—and the leash tethering Inu to servitude—was handed to one of the old man's most trusted followers. This succession became the pattern of Inu's life: each Bosu passing their "dog" to the next heir, a chain of masters stretching across decades. Twice, Inu's leash had been forcibly taken by rivals who killed their predecessors to seize power. Those two masters, though brutal, lacked the cunning of the original Bosu. Their reigns were brief, lasting less than a decade each before they, too, were swept away by death or betrayal.

Through it all, Inu endured. The collar, imbued with a subjugation spell by the monk who first crafted it, ensured his compliance. All it took was a whispered incantation, and Inu would be brought to his knees, no matter his strength or will. Over the years, he had learned that rebellion—whether through disobedience or even a stray thought—was not worth the consequences. The sting of the collar's magic had trained him thoroughly, and he had long since stopped questioning his role.

To Inu, life was simple: he was a tool, wielded at his master's will. His masters fed him, sheltered him, and gave him purpose. As long as he obeyed, there was no pain, no ridicule, no uncertainty. Even the cruelest Bosu could be tolerated under such circumstances. Any complaints he might have once had were silenced long ago, both by the lash and by the slow erosion of his own spirit.

The current Bosu, however, was unlike the others. He was younger, more ambitious, and far more reckless. Where past masters had kept Inu hidden—a shadowy force whispered about in rumors but rarely seen—this Bosu reveled in the power Inu represented. He flaunted his "dog" on rare occasions, using him to intimidate rivals and secure his growing empire. Yet even this Bosu understood the value of discretion; while Inu's existence was not entirely a secret, he ensured that few lived to spread tales of what they had seen.

Bosu's empire was built on fear, plunder, and calculated brutality. His underlings pillaged villages and strongholds alike, bringing riches and resources to their master. But despite the throngs of followers who sang Bosu's praises, he trusted no one. No one except Inu, who knelt silently by his side, awaiting orders. Inu was the ultimate weapon—a living blade Bosu could unsheathe at a moment's notice. And Bosu intended to keep that weapon sharp and hidden until the moment it would make the greatest impact.

Inu's room was tucked away in the darkest corner of Bosu's fortress, far from prying eyes. Visitors and underlings were forbidden to see him, and Bosu often whispered warnings to his closest lieutenants: "No one lays eyes on my dog unless I will it. Those who do, do not live to speak of it." The few who dared to question why Bosu guarded Inu so jealously rarely asked twice.

One day, however, rumors began to circulate among Bosu's men. Inu, hidden away as always, overheard the whispers from the adjoining corridor. There was talk of an artifact—an object of immense power that could grant its bearer any desire. Some said it was a relic of the gods; others claimed it was the work of a powerful demon. Whatever the truth, the artifact had become a subject of fascination for Bosu.

"Anything I desire…" Bosu murmured to himself when the rumor was brought to his attention. His eyes gleamed with ambition. "Send the men to investigate. I want to know if it's real. And if it is, I'll have it."

Bosu's underlings scrambled to obey, but Inu remained silent, as he always did. He knelt in his chamber, his head bowed, listening to the muffled sounds of the fortress coming to life. He was not privy to the specifics of Bosu's schemes, but he didn't need to be. Whatever plans his master had, Inu knew his role would be the same as it had always been: a tool to be used when the time came, unleashed only when Bosu deemed it necessary.

Inu had no opinions on the artifact, no thoughts of what such power might mean for the world—or for himself. He had learned long ago that thoughts of freedom or change were pointless. He was bound, not just by the collar around his neck but by the years of subjugation that had shaped him. To question his place was to invite pain.

For now, he waited. The leash remained in Bosu's hands, and until it was pulled, Inu would remain still, silent, and obedient.

o - o - o - o - o

Weeks and months passed, and finally, one night, a man returned to deliver news to Bosu of the Shikon Jewel. "It is true!" the man exclaimed, his face alight with urgency. "A jewel of infinite power is held by a priestess for protection. It is said she does so to purify the jewel."

"Purify it?" Bosu questioned, scratching the stubble on his chin with intrigue. He leaned back, letting the weight of the words settle before prodding further. "What do ye mean, purify?"

"The jewel is supposed to grant a wish when it is pure. Any wish, I guess," the man replied, his voice lowering as though the weight of such power humbled him. "Apparently, some yōkai taijiya entrusted it into the priestess's care because demons are drawn to it, and only she has the power to purify it."

"Demons, ye say?" Bosu murmured, his brows furrowing. He drummed his fingers against the armrest of his chair, his expression unreadable as he mulled over the information. After a long pause, he leaned forward, his voice cutting through the silence. "Send for Onigumo."

"Yes, Bosu," the man responded, tapping his knuckles to his forehead in deference before hurrying off. Moments later, the messenger reappeared with another man in tow. This newcomer was younger, with dark brown eyes that gleamed with mischief and a smirk to match.

"Onigumo," Bosu said, his tone even. "I want ye to take a team of the boys and handle this priestess."

"Yes, Bosu. And the Shikon Jewel?" Onigumo asked, his smirk fading slightly as he sought clarification.

"What of it?" Bosu replied lazily, resting his chin in his hand, his gaze fixed on Onigumo with detached interest.

Onigumo hesitated, his brows knitting in confusion. "Bring it back, right? So we can wish for anything we want…?"

Bosu's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, the weight of his authority pressing down on the room. "Yer orders are to take care of the priestess and the jewel along with her," he said, his voice low but firm.

"But, Bosu," Onigumo pressed, his tone pleading, "think of what we… you could do with that kind of power!"

"Enough!" Bosu thundered, his voice reverberating through the room. He extended a hand, silencing the young bandit with a single gesture. "What use do I have for wishes, ne? Do I not have all I need? All the power? All the respect I could want?" His eyes bored into Onigumo, daring him to challenge his words. "I do not tolerate questions, and I will not tolerate competition if someone else gets their hands on that jewel."

With a dismissive wave, Bosu signaled for him to leave. "Now go."

Onigumo's jaw tightened as he bowed sharply. Without another word, he turned and left. Bosu watched him go, his expression unreadable, before motioning for the messenger to step forward. "See that it is done," he said softly.

The messenger knuckled his forehead again before exiting. As he rounded the exterior of the building, a shadow moved behind him. A hand clamped over his mouth, and he felt a sharp, precise pressure glide across his throat. His attempt to cry out emerged as a wet gurgle, his life spilling down his neck and soaking his kosode. He collapsed to his knees, clutching at his throat in vain before slumping to the ground, lifeless.

Onigumo crouched beside the body, ensuring the man was truly dead before dragging him into a nearby shed. He glanced around, his actions impulsive yet calculated, and disappeared into the night.

o - o - o - o - o

Bosu kept to his quarters, his infamous hound the subject of whispered tales. Everyone knew of Inu, but no one had ever seen him. Some said he was a white-haired dog as large as a wolf; others claimed he was no dog at all, but a man. Even Bosu's closest confidants had no idea. Whether Inu was man or beast mattered little—what mattered was the fear of Bosu unleashing him.

When no one else was around, Bosu would call Inu from his hidden rooms. Tonight was no exception. Bosu placed a dish of food at the foot of his chair, then sat back, gesturing for Inu to eat. The creature obeyed, devouring the meal with the urgency of a starving dog, gulping without chewing. As Inu ate, Bosu reached down, stroking his white hair like that of a beloved pet.

"Good boy," Bosu murmured.

Inu stopped suddenly, his head snapping up. His ears twitched, swiveling toward a faint sound only he could detect. He sniffed the air and rose to his feet, alert. "What is it, boy?" Bosu asked quietly, though he knew better than to expect a reply.

Inu darted to the far wall, pressing his ear against it. Whatever he heard confirmed his suspicions. Without warning, he leaped across the room, grabbing Bosu and hauling him up. Bosu let out a startled grunt as Inu carried him toward the hidden quarters, placing him securely behind his towering frame. Inu crouched, motionless, listening.

The hidden room was a sanctuary. Its location allowed Inu to monitor Bosu's living quarters undetected. He could hear every conversation, every shift of movement. His heightened senses could detect the subtlest hints of fear—or even the faint trace of poison. While the fear of Inu's existence deterred most, Bosu had learned to weaponize the hound's talents for the inevitable few who dared to challenge him. Inu was never allowed to leave his quarters unbidden unless Bosu's life was in immediate danger.

Muffled voices drifted from the main hall. Inu tilted his head, his sharp hearing discerning the conversation.

"Are you sure about this?" one voice asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure," another replied.

"This doesn't feel right, going against Bosu," a third voice whispered.

"Shhh!" someone hissed.

"The coward's run off with his dog," a familiar voice sneered. Inu's ears flattened, and Bosu stiffened.

"Onigumo," Bosu growled, venom dripping from his tone. "How could I have been so blind to his aspirations?" His words were more to himself than to Inu, for he never expected the hound to respond—and if Inu ever did, the consequences would be severe.

They listened as the mutinous voices continued.

"This doesn't feel right, Onigumo," one man said uneasily. "Bosu never did us wrong."

"You weren't saying that a minute ago," Onigumo snapped. "Bosu never did us wrong, huh? Keeping the Shikon Jewel all to himself? Hoarding that kind of power? He's selfish, that's what he is. Did you know he'd rather destroy the jewel than let us wish for everything our black hearts desire?"

Silence. Then, a hesitant voice muttered, "Still…"

"Do you want this payday or not?" Onigumo interrupted.

"I… suppose…"

"Good. If not, we'll cut you out—and that's more for us."

"What about the hound?" someone asked nervously.

"Yeah, Bosu's dog," another chimed in.

Onigumo laughed harshly. "You let me worry about that. Listen, have any of you ever seen the dog?"

The men glanced at one another. "Well… no," came the reluctant chorus.

"Exactly!" Onigumo roared. "Because the dog doesn't exist! It's just a trick to keep everyone scared. Well, I'm not scared anymore. Are you with me?"

A murmur of agreement grew into a triumphant cheer.

"Shut up, you idiots!" Onigumo snapped. The room quieted instantly. "We'll celebrate when it's done. First, we take out the priestess and grab the Shikon Jewel. With that, we'll wish for anything—everything. No one will stand in our way. Even if that damned dog were real, it wouldn't be able to stop us!"

The men cheered again, emboldened. "Can we celebrate now?" one asked.

"Fine. Celebrate all you want," Onigumo said with a wicked grin. "Get it out of your system."

From the hidden room, Bosu listened with a clenched jaw, his face twisted in rage. Inu crouched, his pale eyes gleaming with the anticipation of a predator waiting to strike.

The celebration lasted well into the late morning, but Bosu never slept. Inu sat silently in the corner of his tiny room, observing the scene. He could have easily dispatched all the men outside with a single swipe of his claws, but Bosu hadn't spoken since their earlier conversation had dwindled into silence. The older man seemed pensive, where Inu had expected anger—a rage he had witnessed countless times before. Not that it mattered to him. Bosu's thoughts were none of his concern.

By midday, the drunken revelers began to stir, gradually making their way out of Bosu's hall. Bosu remained seated, unmoving, until the last of them stumbled away. Only then did he rise—stooping under the low ceiling of Inu's cramped room—and signal for Inu to follow. "They all gone?" he asked gruffly.

Inu nodded. Without another word, Bosu gestured toward the door, indicating that Inu should lead the way. Cautiously, Inu stepped out, though he was certain the area was clear. Years of training had taught him not to question Bosu. Defiance brought punishment, and punishment was never mild.

When they reached the main hall, the sight stopped Bosu in his tracks. The room, once meticulously maintained, was now a wreckage of spilled drink, shattered dishes, and overturned furniture. Bosu surveyed the damage with a heavy sigh. "I should've seen the ambition in Onigumo," he muttered, his voice low. "That bastard was always too cunning, too conniving... I thought he might make a decent second." He bent down, picking up the fragmented remains of a ruined bowl, turning it over in his hand before hurling it against the floor. The shards scattered, punctuating his growing fury.

"Who the fuck do they think they're fucking with?!" Bosu roared, spittle flying from his mouth. His chest heaved as his voice echoed through the hall. "Have I not been good to them?! Generous, even?!"

For a moment, the hall fell silent, save for the buzzing of flies around the remnants of spilled food and drink. Then Bosu laughed—deep and unhinged, his mirth growing until he was breathless and sank onto the floor. Inu remained where he was, watching a fly land on the edge of a broken cup.

"Inu!" Bosu barked, snapping him from his thoughts. "Fetch me the gunpowder! If they want a fucking celebration, I'll give them one they'll never forget!"

Inu obeyed without question, retrieving the stash Bosu had ordered him to bury beneath the floor. Over the years, Bosu had amassed a hoard of valuables, hidden away in secret compartments that only Inu knew about. The gunpowder was stored in paper and bamboo wrappings to keep it dry, and Inu hated its acrid smell. Carefully, he dug out four small bags from beneath a false floor at the back of the house and laid them at Bosu's feet.

"Careful, you idiot!" Bosu snapped, snatching one of the bags. "This stuff's more delicate than you are!" Inu said nothing. He had lost his pride long ago, and Bosu's cutting words barely registered.

Under Bosu's direction, Inu placed the bags strategically around the ruined hall, tucking them out of direct sight. Bosu laid a thin trail of gunpowder from one of the bags to the base of a wall, dusting his hands with satisfaction once the work was done.

"Right," Bosu said, his tone lighter now. "Let's grab a bite to eat and wait for the boys to come crawling back. That cocky fool Onigumo doesn't have the brains or the balls to organize anything yet. Heh. I'll show him."

Bosu slapped Inu's head as he walked past. "Come, Inu," he said, chuckling to himself. But the promise of food was hollow. Inu followed silently as they moved outside the compound and into the treeline. Bosu climbed onto Inu's back, and with a leap, Inu settled them in the branches of a tall tree. As the sun began to set, Bosu stared intently at the compound below, while Inu's stomach growled faintly in protest. Bosu fed him sparingly, and tonight was no exception.

It wasn't long before men began trickling back to the compound, gathering around a bonfire to roast a wild boar—stolen, no doubt, since none of them were skilled hunters. Onigumo appeared, speaking quietly with a select few before retreating into the hall with them. Bosu's eyes narrowed, and he tapped Inu's head. Wordlessly, Inu leaped down from the tree and set Bosu on the ground just out of sight of the fire.

"Stay," Bosu ordered, his voice low. Inu crouched, watching as Bosu strode into the center of the group.

"Hello, boys," Bosu called, his tone deceptively calm. The men froze, some looking sheepish, others confused. "So, ye're not with me anymore?" he asked, placing a hand over his chest as if wounded. "Have I not treated ye well? Given ya everything you wanted? All I asked for was a little respect."

A few men exchanged guilty glances, while others stared blankly.

"Well," Bosu continued, a smile creeping onto his face, "ye have a choice. Come back into my fold... or share Onigumo's fate."

"Wh-what's Onigumo's fate?" one man stammered.

Bosu's grin widened. "How about I show ye?"

He walked over to the bonfire and plucked a burning branch, carrying it casually toward the hall. The men watched in tense silence as he knelt by the wall and laid the flame against the trail of gunpowder. "Anyone care to give yer old Bosu a hand?" he asked with a smirk.

Reluctantly, one man stepped forward and fanned the flame until it caught. The fire spread rapidly, licking up the wooden wall. As the flames consumed the structure, the men backed away, their expressions shifting from curiosity to horror.

The explosion came without warning, a deafening roar that sent a shockwave through the compound. Inu leaped away just in time, the force knocking him off balance as smoke and fire engulfed the hall. Screams echoed from inside, cut short by the flames. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, and Inu covered his nose, retreating further into the woods.

When the chaos subsided, Bosu's men stood in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the smoldering ruins. Bosu, unbothered, strode toward the wreckage and ordered his men to search for Onigumo. It didn't take long before a shout rang out.

"Bosu! Over here!"

Bosu approached, peering down at the charred, barely alive body of Onigumo. His face was half-melted, one eye lidless and burning with hate. Bosu sneered. "Serves ye right, fucker."

Onigumo's ruined lips twitched into a weak, defiant grin. Bosu's smile vanished. "Throw him out with the rest of the trash," he said coldly, turning away.

The men carried Onigumo's body to a nearby precipice and tossed him over the edge. The sound of his fall echoed in the night.

"If the fire didn't kill him," one man muttered, "the fall surely did."

Bosu spat on the ground, his voice grim. "Good riddance."

Chapter Text

Chapter Three

A Jewel For An Eye

Inu waited in the tree for days, feeling utterly desolate.

The world below carried on without him. The distant sounds of Bosu's men trudging through ash and ruin filtered up through the branches, but Inu remained perched like a ghost unwilling to descend. He wondered if Bosu would ever call for him—or if he had been abandoned entirely. His punishment surely wasn't simply being forgotten. No, Bosu was far too cruel, far too creative for something as mundane as that. Inu had lived under his shadow for years. He knew better than to hope for mercy.

The hunger began to hollow him. At first, his stomach growled like a caged beast, demanding to be fed. But after a few days, it quieted into a dull, aching void that settled into his very bones. His body grew weaker, and yet his mind could not detach itself from Bosu's inevitable retribution. Every moment was agony—not because he feared death, but because he feared survival. He feared Bosu's hands shaping his suffering into something unique and personal, as only Bosu could.

By the fifth day, Inu was reduced to little more than a shell, his head lolling against the rough bark of the tree as he waited, motionless. When Bosu finally came, Inu watched him approach with an eerie stillness. The man looked up at him in silence, his expression unreadable. For a fleeting second, Inu dared to think Bosu might allow him to stay in his perch, ignored but alive.

But then Bosu's voice cut through the quiet like the snap of a whip.

"Sit."

Inu fell like a stone, crashing into the dirt face-first. The unseen force of the subjugation left him sprawled and dazed, too weak to lift himself. The ground smelled of ash and damp rot, but Inu didn't move, his face pressed against the filth. He wouldn't dare rise without permission. He had learned that lesson long ago.

Bosu crouched beside him, his voice low and venomous. "Ye ever again pull a stunt like that, and I will kill ye. I'll grab that damn Shiko Jewel and wish myself a new hound—an obedient one! And ye'll be the one to fetch it for me. Got that, ye mongrel?"

Inu nodded feverishly, his forehead brushing the dirt. His heart thundered in his chest, but his body remained frozen in submission. Bosu stood with a grunt, dusting his knees off. "Get up," he barked.

Inu scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly as lightheadedness threatened to topple him. The ache in his stomach had become a gnawing void that dragged at his every step, every breath. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to hope Bosu might feed him. Just a scrap. Just enough to quiet the emptiness.

Bosu's hand moved to his pocket, and Inu's sharp nose caught the scent of dried meat before it even appeared. The aroma made his mouth water, and he fought the urge to lunge for it like the animal Bosu had always seen him as. The single strip of jerky was brandished like a prize, held high above Inu's head as though taunting him.

"You were bad, Inu," Bosu said coldly, dangling the meat just out of reach. "I shouldn't even feed ye this, but I need ye in tip-top shape."

Inu didn't move. He stayed low, his eyes fixed on the jerky, his body trembling with hunger. Bosu grinned and finally tossed the morsel to the ground. "Fetch," he said, his chin jutting forward in a lazy command.

Inu dove for it, snatching the jerky off the dirt without hesitation. He swallowed it whole, barely registering the taste—or the grit of soil that clung to it. The dirt didn't matter. The indignity didn't matter. Nothing mattered except the blessed sensation of something in his stomach, however fleeting.

When he finished, he crept back to Bosu on all fours, head lowered in absolute submission. He crouched before his master, waiting, trembling. Bosu patted his head like one might a dog, his calloused fingers rough against Inu's silver hair.

"Never disobey me again, Inu," Bosu said, his tone a dangerous whisper. "I'll kill ye if ye do."

Inu didn't respond. He didn't need to. There was no pride left in him to argue, no will left to rebel. He was hollow now—just a vessel waiting to be filled with whatever Bosu saw fit to pour into him. And yet, deep within the hollow space of his soul, there was nothing but silence. Not anger. Not defiance. Just desolation.

o - o - o - o - o

Over the next few months, Bosu sent another group of bandits to eliminate the priestess guarding the Shikon no Tama.

Rather than risk another coup by sending his best men, Bosu handpicked new recruits—fresh faces with no connections, no loyalties, and no knowledge of the jewel they were about to stumble into. He gave them vague, misleading instructions: attack the village, find the miko, kill her from a distance, and leave no witnesses. They were told nothing of the Shikon Jewel, only that the miko was a threat to their operations. Before dispatching them, Bosu interrogated each one to ensure their pliability. All five were skilled killers, but intelligence wasn't their strength. They followed orders without question, which was exactly the type of simplicity Bosu prized.

The group departed quietly, blending into the countryside as they made their way to the priestess's village. Their task was clear, if not overly simple: find the miko, kill her, and leave unseen. Bosu knew they would likely fail the last part of the plan, but it didn't matter. The true objective was to test the waters and avoid drawing attention to the Shikon Jewel. If the bandits died, it was of no consequence.

After a week passed with no word from the group, Bosu's temper flared. He became more volatile, pacing through his quarters and barking orders at no one in particular. The mission should have been straightforward—kill the miko and return. Even Bosu's most inept thug could have managed it by now. Frustration boiled over into every interaction, and those closest to him bore the brunt of it.

Inu, of course, was the easiest target.

On top of withholding food and sleep, Bosu made it a habit to subjugate Inu at random, asserting his dominance in the most degrading ways he could manage. He treated Inu like an animal, taunting and demeaning him, pushing him to the brink of exhaustion. But Bosu never inflicted physical harm. He knew better. Even as he held the leash, Bosu was keenly aware that Inu was something far greater than he could ever be. The power Inu possessed was intoxicating, but also dangerous—a fact Bosu never forgot.

Despite the cruelty, Inu endured. He had faced worse under Bosu's hand, and he would survive this, too. Time always moved forward, and with it, so would Bosu's whims.

Two days later, one of the bandits finally returned. He burst into Bosu's newly acquired house—a grand estate stolen from a neighboring lord after Bosu's last hideout was destroyed—covered in mud and bruises. The man looked as though he'd run the entire way from the priestess's village. Judging by his ragged appearance, Bosu suspected that was precisely what had happened.

Bosu's men ushered the bandit inside before being dismissed, leaving him alone with Bosu. The room grew cold with tension as Bosu glared at the panting man.

"Where are the others?" Bosu asked, his tone clipped.

"They...they were…they…" The bandit stammered, unable to get the words out.

Bosu's impatience was palpable. "They were what? Spit it out, will ye?!"

The bandit flinched and took a shaky breath. "They...they's dead. By-by-by the miko. We's thought she was justa shrine maiden, see? But-but…"

"But what?" Bosu snapped, his voice rising.

"But theys was killed by her. She took us out one by one wif her bow. Pretty sure the lil un with her helped."

Bosu leaned back, rubbing his chin as he processed the information. "Didn't think she'd put up much of a fight," he muttered to himself. "Guess that makes the path clear."

He waved a hand in dismissal, and the bandit bolted from the room, eager to escape Bosu's ire. Once the door slammed shut, Bosu let out a long sigh and tapped his foot against the floor.

"S'pose this will be one for you, Inu," he said absently.

At the sound of the signal, Inu stepped out from a separate room where he had been ordered to stay hidden. Bosu rarely allowed his men to see Inu, preferring to keep his "secret weapon" shrouded in mystery. The recent exposure to half the band had been unplanned, and Bosu briefly considered having Inu silence those who had seen him. But no, fear and respect worked better when laced with whispers of the unknown.

Bosu motioned for Inu to approach. "S'pose this warrants a meal and a full night's sleep for ye."

Inu's ears twitched at the mention of food and rest. He stood straighter, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in his weary eyes. Whatever task Bosu had planned, Inu didn't care. For now, there was the promise of relief, and that was all that mattered.

o - o - o - o - o

Bosu made the journey himself, though he had Inu's assistance, of course. They arrived at the village where the miko was said to live in good time. Bosu hadn't brought anyone else from the band this time—he didn't trust them not to muck it up. The only reason he'd come along was to hold the leash.

"Listen here, Inu," Bosu said as they crouched in the shadows of the forest outside the village. "Yer gonna kill that priestess. She ain't nothin' for ye—just some slip of a girl with a bow. Soon as it gets dark, ye go. And be quick about it; I don't fancy sittin' out here all night. Ye understand?"

Inu ducked his head in silent acknowledgment, his expression unreadable.

Earlier, while Inu remained hidden, Bosu had ventured into the village alone to gather information. The villagers, unaware of his ill intentions, had been more than forthcoming in their admiration for the miko. They'd practically laid out her entire routine—where she lived, what she ate, who she spoke to, and when she walked home. Armed with this intel, Bosu had chosen a spot by a bridge near the tree line where she was said to pass at the end of her day. It was a perfect location for an ambush and a hasty retreat.

Bosu had taken precautions to keep Inu out of sight. He'd even gone so far as to crop Inu's hair and put a cap over his ears, hoping to avoid drawing attention if anyone spotted him. Not that it mattered much—Inu had an air about him, something primal and otherworldly that no disguise could hide.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Bosu's patience paid off. The miko appeared on the path, walking with purpose yet radiating serenity.

"Damn shame," Bosu muttered as he watched her approach. "Sure is a good-lookin' one, that miko. Too bad for her, eh?" His tone was casual, dismissive, as if her beauty were merely an afterthought.

Inu, crouched nearby, caught her scent before she came into view. It was clean and fresh, like spring rain. When he finally laid eyes on her, he was struck by her presence. Her hands were clasped before her, as though in prayer, and her large, dark eyes gleamed with intelligence and a quiet sadness. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, impossibly soft-looking, tied simply at the nape of her neck. Around her throat hung a string of elegant beads, from which dangled a large, luminous jewel. She held it to her lips, murmuring silent prayers as she walked.

"Wipe the drool from yer chin, boy," Bosu hissed, snapping Inu out of his trance. Inu quickly ducked his head, averting his gaze to avoid Bosu's wrath.

"Now then," Bosu continued, "when I give the signal, ye take care o' her, neh?" He didn't wait for a response before stepping onto the path.

"Miss!" Bosu called, his voice dripping with feigned concern. "Pray, offer yer assistance. My companion lies injured beyond this bend. You're the priestess of this village, neh?"

The miko stopped and regarded him with calm curiosity. She tucked the jewel into her kosode and replied simply, "Lead the way."

Bosu's grin was as smug as it was sinister as he turned to lead her toward Inu's hiding place. "Just down this hill, m'lady," he said, his tone almost pleasant. As they walked, the miko asked polite questions about the supposed injury. Bosu answered vaguely, leading her to give her name.

"Kikyo," she supplied without hesitation.

When they neared the tree line, Bosu abruptly stopped, grabbing her hand with an oily smile. "My thanks to ye, Lady Kikyo," he said, his grip tightening.

She frowned, sensing something amiss, but before she could react, Bosu shouted, "Inu!"

At the sound of his name, Inu sprang from the ditch where he'd been crouching, claws bared and ready to strike. He moved with inhuman speed, a blur to mortal eyes. But as he lunged, pain flared in his side, and he was thrown off course, crashing into the dirt.

With a growl, Inu rose to his feet, yanking an arrow from his side and tossing it aside. He looked up and spotted a second miko—a much younger one—standing further up the path, her bow drawn and another arrow aimed straight at him.

His gaze shifted back to Bosu, who now knelt on the ground, arms raised in surrender. Kikyo stood over him, her bowstring taut, an arrow pointed directly at his throat.

"Be gone, demon, before I dispatch you to the hell from which you came!" Kikyo shouted, her voice steady and commanding. Despite her calm, she risked a glance at Inu, who felt a sharp pang of pressure to act and protect his master.

"Inu!" Bosu barked, anger lacing his tone.

Spurred by the order, Inu lunged toward Kikyo with blinding speed, knocking the bow from her grasp. The cap Bosu had used to conceal his identity fell free, revealing Inu's pointed ears and shaggy silver hair. Without hesitation, he extended his claws and yanked Bosu off the ground, then brushed past Kikyo to address the younger miko further up the path.

He released Bosu and darted toward the girl, pausing only to smear his bloodied hand across his claws. As he zigzagged to confuse her aim, she fired an arrow, but her inexperience showed—it missed him by a wide margin. Reaching for another arrow, she didn't anticipate Inu's next move. He flicked droplets of his blood toward her, aiming to maim her hand and prevent her from drawing her weapon. His aim, however, was imperfect, and some of the blood struck her face.

The girl screamed, clutching her eye as she collapsed to her knees in pain. Inu faltered, pity flickering in his chest at the unintended injury, but he forced himself to keep going.

When he turned back, Kikyo had already reclaimed her bow. Her next arrow gleamed with an unnatural, purifying light that radiated menace. She held the weapon steady, her aim locked on Inu's chest.

"Stay still, beast!" she commanded, her voice unwavering.

Inu stopped and regarded her for a long moment. This woman was unlike anyone he had ever encountered. She was far from the weak and helpless priestess Bosu had painted her to be. Her expression was a striking combination of confidence and sadness, an enigma that seemed to mirror his own burdens. For a brief instant, Inu felt a strange connection to her—a shared sense of being trapped in lives neither of them chose.

Kikyo seemed to sense it too, as she hesitated with the arrow poised to fly. "Why have you come?" she demanded, her eyes fierce with a mixture of authority and curiosity.

Inu opened his mouth to answer, to speak for himself for once, but the moment was shattered when Kikyo's expression twisted in pain. Her eyes widened, and a quiet grunt escaped her lips. Blood pooled at the corner of her mouth as the arrow in her hand lost its glow and clattered to the ground.

Behind her stood Bosu, his face twisted in triumph as he gripped her arm tightly to hold her upright. A dagger, slick with her blood, slipped from his grasp as he seized her other arm. Despite his age and softening frame, Bosu's hunger for power outweighed all else, and this woman now stood in his way.

"Inu!" he shouted, his voice ragged with fury. "Finish her now!"

Inu hesitated, his claws trembling at his sides. He had never been commanded to kill a woman before. In every power play he'd witnessed, women had always remained on the sidelines. The blood trickling from Kikyo's mouth glinted in the fading light, but her gaze was sharp and unyielding, filled with hatred—and something else he couldn't quite place. Betrayal?

She didn't struggle against Bosu's hold, though Inu suspected she could have. Still, he couldn't bring himself to strike.

"What are you waiting for, Inu?!" Bosu bellowed, spittle flying from his lips. "Do it now!"

Inu's hesitation cost him. Bosu's voice turned cold as he snarled, "Damn it, dog! Sit!"

The command dragged Inu to the ground, his face meeting the dirt with a painful thud. That familiar, suffocating force tightened around his neck, rendering him helpless. He could hear the scuffle behind him—Kikyo twisting free from Bosu's grip and reclaiming her bow.

The force holding Inu finally loosened, and he pushed himself up, crouching low to the ground. Bosu was already unconscious, his face bloodied from where Kikyo had used her bow as a bludgeon. Her swift movements betrayed no sign of her earlier injury as she grabbed an arrow and drew it taut.

Inu ignored her, instinct driving him to Bosu's side. Without orders, he didn't know what to do. He crouched protectively by Bosu, waiting for his master to wake.

"You poor, pitiful creature," Kikyo murmured, her voice soft with disdain. "There's no way you're a yokai. Even the weakest yokai would have more pride than to debase itself like this." She took a slow, deliberate breath. "Perhaps I should put you out of your misery."

"Sis-Sister!" a voice called out from the path.

Kikyo didn't lower her bow, but she risked a glance toward the young miko. Kaede was limping toward them, her eye covered by one hand.

"Sister! Why are you waiting? Kill them! They've come for the Shikon no Tama!" Kaede cried, her voice trembling with desperation. She clutched her own bow in her free hand, though her injury rendered her aim questionable.

Kikyo's expression tightened as she studied her younger sister. "Kaede, go back to the village. I can handle this."

"But, sister… Kikyo… why haven't you dispatched them yet? What are you waiting for?"

Kaede pointed a shaky finger at Inu and Bosu. "It's just an old man and his pet yokai! To think someone could tame a yokai…"

"It's not a yokai," Kikyo corrected sharply. "He's a hanyo. Half-demon, half-human."

Kaede's brow furrowed in confusion. "Whatever he is, we cannot let him take the Jewel. We have to protect it!"

"Do you presume to tell me I am incapable of doing my duty, little sister?" Kikyo snapped.

Kaede faltered. "N-no, sister… but you're hurt!" she pointed out, her voice rising in alarm. Blood soaked through Kikyo's garments, staining them crimson.

"It seems I am," Kikyo said calmly, as though her injury were a mere inconvenience. Her sharp gaze shifted back to Inu.

"You're called Inu, then?" she asked, lowering her bow slightly. Her earlier sense of urgency seemed to ebb as she observed him more closely. At the sound of his name, his ears twitched slightly.

"Inu?" she repeated.

Still, he wouldn't meet her eyes.

Kikyo drew a breath, her resolve hardening. "Such a pity," she said, raising her bow once more. "To kill a creature bound so completely by another's will. But I cannot allow the Jewel to fall into the wrong hands."

The arrow gleamed again as she pulled it taut, ready to fire. Before she could release it, Bosu stirred, his voice slurred but firm. "Ssstopp her…"

Inu's ears perked at the command. Obediently, he leaped at Kikyo, snapping her bow in two and scattering her arrows. He knocked her to the ground and planted a foot on her chest to pin her. Though she struggled, she was no match for his strength.

"Sister!" Kaede cried, her voice breaking with panic as she fumbled with her bow.

Bosu groaned as he staggered to his feet, wiping dirt from his face. He scanned the ground until his gaze fell on Kikyo, crumpled and vulnerable. A wicked grin spread across his face as he approached. Without hesitation, he drove a sharp kick into her side. Kikyo gasped, clutching at her ribs, her pain evident.

"Stupid miko bitch," Bosu spat, delivering another kick, each strike fueled by malice. "Was gonna give ye a quick death, but now it seems ye'll have to suffer for it." He crouched down, yanking the Shikon Jewel from its hiding place within her kosode. His hand lingered far lower than necessary, and Kikyo's eyes blazed with fury and disgust.

"Hnh," Bosu sneered, leering at her. "Never got this kind o' attention as a miko, did ye? I bet ye like it." He straightened, pulling the Jewel free from its necklace, and held it aloft, examining it with casual disdain.

"Doesn't look like much," he muttered.

"You will never achieve what you seek!" Kikyo hissed, her voice trembling with both anger and resolve. "The Jewel will never grant your wish without being purified!"

"Stupid girl," Bosu scoffed, tossing the necklace aside. "What makes ye think I'd want to use this? I've no use for such trinkets." He turned the Jewel over in his palm and then nodded toward Inu. "I'm just here to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

"You fool! You cannot destroy the Jewel!" Kikyo snapped, trying to push herself up.

Bosu chuckled darkly. "Forgive me, lady, but ye seem to be the one sprawled in the dirt while I hold all the cards. Who's the fool here?" He retrieved his discarded dagger and knelt beside her, pressing the blade to her throat. "Ye can take the Jewel with ye—to the grave."

"NO!" Kaede's scream shattered the tension. The younger girl stumbled forward, blood streaming from the horrific wound that had claimed her eye. She held her bow tightly, an arrow already nocked and drawn. "Get away from her!" she shouted as she loosed the arrow.

It missed Bosu by mere inches, but the sudden attack forced him to step back. He growled in frustration, his composure slipping. "When will these women learn their place?"

Kaede ignored him, closing the distance quickly while nocking another arrow. Her aim remained steady, even as blood trickled down her face.

"Inu, stop that brat!" Bosu roared.

The half-demon sprang into motion, darting toward Kaede. Anticipating this, she pivoted, throwing her bow toward Kikyo instead. The elder miko scrambled to grab it, her movements swift despite her injuries. She clutched the weapon and staggered a few steps away, putting distance between herself and Bosu.

Inu tackled Kaede to the ground, his large frame pinning her. He hesitated, unwilling to harm her further, but Kaede didn't stay down. She squirmed free, lunging toward Kikyo to protect her.

Bosu's patience finally snapped. "Useless dog!" he bellowed. "I'll kill ye myself after this!" His face twisted with fury as he clutched the Jewel tightly. "Inu! Get us outta here!"

Inu's head jerked toward his master's voice, and he immediately obeyed. Abandoning his fight with Kaede, he bounded over, grabbed Bosu, and leaped toward the forest. As they soared through the air, an arrow whistled through the darkness and buried itself in Inu's thigh.

The half-demon grunted as they landed, swatting at the shaft of the arrow. Another hissed through the trees, striking his chest with brutal force. The impact drove Inu back into a towering tree, pinning him in place. He clawed at the arrow, but his strength ebbed as a strange lethargy overtook him. His limbs grew heavy, and his vision blurred. He barely registered Bosu trembling beside him.

"Drop it!" Kikyo's voice rang out, commanding and unyielding. She had her bow drawn, an arrow aimed directly at Bosu.

The man froze, panic flickering across his face. With trembling hands, he let the Jewel fall to the ground. Then, without a word, he turned and fled into the shadows.

Kaede ran to Kikyo's side, glancing at the motionless half-demon pinned to the tree. "Sister! Are you letting him escape?"

"He is powerless without his pet," Kikyo replied, her voice weary. She approached the tree, her gaze fixed on Inu. Gently, she placed a hand on the arrow embedded in his chest. "I seal you to this tree, demon," she said, her tone firm.

Then, softer, as though speaking only to him, she whispered, "Perhaps in another life, Inu…"

Kaede watched, wide-eyed, as Inu's body stilled. His expression softened, as if he were in peaceful slumber. "Is he dead?" she asked hesitantly, stepping closer.

When Kikyo didn't answer, Kaede turned to find her sister on the ground, her breathing shallow. "Kikyo!" she cried, rushing to her side.

"The old… man…" Kikyo whispered weakly.

Kaede pressed her hands to the wound near Kikyo's back, desperate to stop the bleeding. "Don't talk like that! You're going to be fine!"

"It's… okay, Kaede," Kikyo murmured. "At least the village will be safe now… No more demons. No more bandits."

"But the Jewel—" Kaede choked out. "I thought it couldn't be destroyed!"

"Burn it," Kikyo said, her voice faint. "Send it to the next world with me." She grasped her sister's hands and pulled them to her chest. "Be strong… little sister."

Kaede held her sister until her last breath. Silent tears streamed down her face, her heart heavy with grief. Finally, she stood, her gaze drifting to the sealed hanyo in the Goshinboku tree. She resolved to follow Kikyo's wishes.

As the funeral pyre burned, consuming both Kikyo's body and the Shikon Jewel, Kaede looked up at the sacred tree. The hanyo seemed to slumber peacefully, as if bearing silent witness to the flames. It was a fitting farewell for the sister she who had endured so much for so little.

Chapter Text

Kagome's fifteenth birthday started like any other day—ordinary, predictable, and completely unremarkable. She woke up feeling exactly the same, despite technically being another year older. No sudden revelations, no mystical awakenings, and certainly no dramatic changes in her life. If anything, the most she could expect was a handful of "Happy Birthday" greetings from her friends before another routine school day.

"I'm leaving!" she called, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she stepped outside.

The crisp autumn air greeted her, cool against her skin but not quite cold enough to warrant a sweater. The trees remained stubbornly green, resisting the fiery transformation of fall, and the morning sky stretched cloudless above her. It was a promising day, bright and cheerful, the kind of day that made the world feel peaceful and unshaken.

As she made her way toward school, she caught sight of her younger brother, Souta, peeking out from the entrance of the old shrine. His head barely emerged from the shadowed doorway before he called out to her.

"Kagome!"

She paused mid-step, raising a brow. "Souta? What are you doing in the shrine? You know you're not supposed to play in there."

"It's Buyo," he pouted, glancing back into the darkness. "He ran down there, and now he won't come out."

Kagome sighed, stepping toward the entrance. "Then go get him."

Souta wrinkled his nose. "It's really dark down there…"

Of course it was. The shrine was old, the kind of place that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Kagome hesitated at the threshold, peering inside. The air inside was cooler, dust swirling in the faint golden beams spilling through the open door.

A scratching noise echoed from below.

Souta flinched. "Did you hear that?"

Kagome smirked. "Probably just Buyo."

"Still," he muttered, shifting uneasily. "Maybe you should check…"

"Seriously?" she groaned, rolling her eyes. "Fine. But if it's just the cat, you owe me."

She stepped inside, descending the first few steps toward the sealed well—the Bone Eater's Well, if she remembered correctly. A small shiver ran down her spine at the name, but she shook it off. It was just a well. An old, dried-up well with a creepy name. Nothing more.

Just as she reached the edge, a voice suddenly called her name.

"Kagome!"

She jumped, nearly losing her footing, before spinning toward the entrance.

Eri stood just outside, grinning as she leaned through the open doorway. "Geez, you're jumpy."

Kagome pressed a hand to her chest, exhaling. "Eri! You scared me half to death."

Eri waved her off. "Well, maybe don't go creeping around spooky shrines first thing in the morning." She gestured impatiently. "Come on, we're going to be late."

"But Buyo—" Souta started, but Kagome was already stepping back into the sunlight.

"He'll find his way out," she reassured him. "Just leave the door open a little."

Souta huffed but didn't argue as Kagome hurried off with Eri.

"Happy birthday, by the way," Eri said, nudging her playfully. "I was waiting for you, but when you didn't show, I figured I'd check to make sure you weren't playing hooky."

Kagome laughed. "Me? What could I possibly have to do that's better than school?"

Eri smirked. "Oh, I don't know—maybe avoiding the surprise Ayumi and Yuka set up?"

Kagome gasped, feigning innocence. "Surprise? What surprise?"

Eri chuckled. "Just act surprised when you see them, okay?"

Both girls giggled as they quickened their pace, the morning sun warming their backs. If Kagome had known what awaited her beyond this perfectly normal day, she might have clung to it just a little longer.

o - o - o - o - o

Kagome had always felt a strange pull toward the shrine. Not often, and never in any way she could explain, but every now and then, something would bring her there.

One year, it had been Jii-chan. "Kagome, I think I left something in the shrine. Be a dear and fetch it for me!" Another time, a brutal rainstorm had battered the structure, hailstones the size of golf balls denting the wooden beams. She'd been sent to check the damage. And then there was the night her friends, fueled by one too many of Jii-chan's ghost stories, dared each other to take a peek inside.

Yet, each time, she had been thwarted—coincidences, distractions, interruptions. And she had never minded. Bone Eater's Well was a name that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, a whisper of something forgotten yet instinctively feared. Jii-chan's ramblings about its history had long blurred together, but the one thing that stuck with her was a deep, unshakable feeling: she was better off staying away.

But now, at eighteen, her world was changing. High school was behind her, college on the horizon. A new city, a new life. She told herself she was excited—she was excited—but beneath it all, something gnawed at her. A feeling she couldn't name.

The day before she was set to leave home for good, Kagome found herself wandering the shrine grounds. The nostalgia settled over her like a warm blanket as she traced familiar paths, fingers trailing along the aged wood of the buildings. Jii-chan's voice echoed in her mind, always starting his stories the same way—"Its history begins with..."—yet, frustratingly, she could never recall what came after.

She reached the shrine door and pulled it open, the old hinges groaning in protest. A musty breath of air greeted her, thick with dust and time. Wrinkling her nose, she prepared to shut it again—

A blur of fur darted past her legs.

"Buyo, no!" Kagome groaned. The fat tabby slipped through the opening with surprising agility, his tail flicking in triumph. "Why are you always getting into this place?" she called after him.

A muffled mrow echoed from inside.

With a resigned sigh, she stepped forward, peering into the gloom. Buyo's glowing eyes blinked at her from near the sealed well.

"You little—" Kagome huffed, stepping onto the first stair.

A sound froze her in place.

Shhhkk… shhhkkk…

She straightened, every muscle in her body going rigid.

"Here, kitty, kitty," she coaxed, her voice softer now, more cautious. "Come on, Buyo. I'll give you a nice can of food. You'd like that, right?"

Another step down.

The darkness at the bottom of the shrine seemed deeper, heavier than it should. The air was thick, stagnant.

Shhhkkk…

Another step.

Something on the ground caught her eye—sticks? No. Her stomach twisted. Bones.

Her breath came quicker now. "Buyo?" she whispered.

Silence.

And then—

"Meow!"

Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin as the cat suddenly leapt onto the edge of the well, his tail twitching. She exhaled sharply, hand over her racing heart.

"Seriously, Buyo? You're gonna give me a heart attack!" She reached for him, lifting his warm, squirming body into her arms. "Come on, let's get out of here—"

A creak.

A low, groaning krrrkkk from the well's lid.

Buyo hissed and wriggled violently, scratching at her arms until she dropped him. The cat bolted up the stairs, vanishing in an instant.

An icy dread slid down Kagome's spine.

She turned.

The well was shifting.

Her breath caught as the lid cracked open, ever so slightly.

Run.

Every instinct screamed at her, but she couldn't move. Her legs were stone. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

The lid burst apart.

Something surged out, a blur of pale limbs and slithering movement. Before she could scream, hands—so many hands—wrapped around her arms, her waist, her legs. The grip was impossibly strong, yanking her backward.

"AHHH!"

She twisted, kicking wildly, but the thing only pulled her closer.

And then she saw it.

A face—almost human, but wrong. Its lips stretched into a sickening smile, and its eyes, black as a starless void, locked onto her.

"I feel it," it rasped, voice slithering into her ears. "My body… is returning…"

Kagome shuddered as something wet and warm slid over her neck. A grotesquely long tongue dragged across her skin, leaving a slick trail of saliva.

A scream tore from her throat. "Oh my God—GET OFF OF ME!"

She thrashed, but the creature only grinned wider.

And then, with one final wrench, it pulled her into the well—into the darkness below.

She wrenched her arm free from the creature's grasp and reached for its face, desperate to shove it away. A sudden, searing light built up beneath her palms, erupting in a brilliant flash that blasted the creature backward. It disintegrated before her eyes, leaving nothing but scattered remnants. With a heavy thud, she landed at the bottom of the well.

"Ooomph," she grunted, wincing at the impact.

A rasping voice echoed in the darkness, distant yet chillingly close. "The Jewel... I shall have it..."

Kagome's breath hitched. Her gaze darted around, taking in the grotesque remains of the creature littered around her. Any lingering hope that this was just a dream quickly shattered. The pieces twitched, shifting unnaturally, and she wasted no time. Summoning every ounce of energy, she scrambled to her feet and climbed the well's rough walls, desperate to escape.

As she crested the top, a wave of disorientation hit her. It was bright—far too bright for the dim confines of the shrine. Sunlight streamed freely, yet she didn't recall anything beyond the well's lid being destroyed. Something was wrong.

Climbing out, she took in her surroundings. The landscape was unfamiliar—lush, green, and overgrown in a way that sent a ripple of unease through her. Panic threatened to rise until her gaze landed on something unmistakably familiar: the Goshinboku tree.

Relief flooded her, but it was short-lived. She sprinted toward the tree, half-convinced that she had inhaled too much dust and mold from the shrine, hallucinating the entire experience. However, her hope dissolved when she rounded the massive trunk and stumbled upon a sight that made her heart pound.

A man was pinned against the tree, his body held fast by thick, gnarled vines. An arrow protruded from his chest, but despite this, he looked strangely at peace, as if merely asleep. His silver hair shimmered in the dappled sunlight, an unnatural contrast to his surroundings. Yet, what caught her attention most were his ears—perched atop his head like those of a dog. Were they real?

There was only one way to find out.

Gripping the vines for support, she climbed closer. The man's face was striking, and despite the oddity of his ears, there was something else about him that set him apart. Unable to resist, she reached out and lightly touched one. Velvety soft and warm.

Real.

A sudden wave of embarrassment crashed over her. What was she doing, touching a stranger's ears? She hastily withdrew her hand, but before she could move away, a pair of golden eyes snapped open and locked onto hers.

"Ai!" she shrieked, losing her grip and tumbling back onto the ground with a graceless thud.

Mortified, she scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt off her clothing. Above her, the silver-haired man remained motionless, watching her with an unreadable expression. He didn't move—perhaps he couldn't.

"Hey," she called hesitantly. "Are you stuck up there?"

He continued to stare, offering no response. It was only then that she noticed the arrow again, lodged deep in his chest. Her eyes widened in alarm.

"Oh my gosh! There's an arrow in your chest! Are you okay?"

Still, he remained silent, though his gaze briefly flickered down to the arrow. He could move his head, but nothing else.

"Should I try to pull it out?" she offered.

No response.

"Okay then," she muttered, steeling herself. "Let's get this out and go from there."

Bracing herself, she grasped the arrow and pulled. But instead of meeting resistance, the arrow vanished in an instant. Both she and the silver-haired man blinked in surprise.

"Whoa!" she gasped, stumbling back yet again. "Damn."

She rubbed her sore backside as she looked up. The man had collapsed to the ground, landing in an animalistic crouch. His posture, the tension in his limbs—it was unmistakably predatory. His ears twitched, his nose lifted slightly as he sniffed the air.

Then, without a word, he sprang to his feet and bolted.

"You're welcome!" Kagome shouted after him, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "The nerve of that guy…"

She sighed, brushing herself off. "Oh well, better get used to it. The profession I'm going into is a thankless one anyway."

"There!" a voice suddenly called from the direction she had come.

Kagome spun around, her stomach dropping as she saw it—the creature from before, launching toward her with renewed fury.

"Oh my gosh!" she cried, turning on her heel and sprinting away. She had gotten a better look this time—the thing's upper half was that of a woman, albeit one with six arms. But below the waist, it was something else entirely—a monstrous centipede, its many legs propelling it forward with terrifying speed.

As she ran, projectiles whizzed past her, striking the creature behind her. The beast shrieked in pain. "AIEEE. You cannot stop me. I shall have it!"

Figures stood ahead, weapons drawn, their eyes locked on her. As she drew closer, she heard their hurried whispers.

"It's a girl!" one murmured in surprise.

"She must be a demon, coming from the woods!" another reasoned.

Gasping for breath, Kagome reached them, barely managing to sputter, "What is that thing?!"

The group parted, allowing an elderly woman to step forward. She looked hardened, her face marked by age and experience. An eyepatch covered her left eye, adding to her intimidating presence. Kagome's first thought was that she resembled an old pirate.

The woman raised a bow, her expression sharp and unreadable. "You, girl! Where did you come from?"

Kagome raised her hands in defense, "Uh, my name is Kagome and I came from Tokyo?" she said in an unsure tone.

The old woman lowered the bow she seemed to double use as a walking staff. "Hmm," the woman speculated. "You bear a striking resemblance to her..."

"To...to whom?" Kagome asked, her hands still raised. Feeling foolish, she lowered them.

"Kaede-sama!" one of the assembled people called. "Nothing is working! The demon comes!"

"Stand back, child!" the old woman yelled.

"Give it to me! The Shikon no Tama is MIIINNNEEEE! I shall take it from you!" the creature hissed as it propelled forward in Kagome's direction.

The old woman, Kaede, looked at Kagome in confusion, "The Jewel? You have it?" she asked harshly.

Kagome jumped back, "What? No! I don't know what it wants from me... Lookout!"

The centipede demon catapulted towards her and leveled into Kagome, sending her flying. "Aiiieee!" Kagome hollered. The centipede demon grabbed at her arms and pulled her up. The tongue rolled out of its mouth and whipped around in a snake-like fashion. "Ewwwewwweww!" she shrieked. The centipede demon held Kagome still and scanned her body frantically before settling on Kagome's side. Sharp, jagged teeth appeared as the demon unhinged its jaw and opened its maw. Before Kagome had time to register what was happening, the demon bit into her side, causing her to black out momentarily in pain as a chunk of her flesh was rent from her.

White-hot agony ripped through her body. Her vision flickered as her mind struggled to process the pain, her limbs going numb for a terrifying moment. It was as if her body had momentarily shut down to avoid the unbearable sensation. When she came to, it was just in time to feel herself being tossed aside like a discarded rag doll.

The demon casually threw Kagome aside, having removed what it sought. A round orb dropped to the ground in front of her.

"It cannot be!" Kaede gasped. The people accompanying her remarked among themselves over the queer jewel that had flown from Kagome's body.

Kagome gasped for breath, clutching her wounded side. Blood seeped between her fingers, warm and sticky, but she barely had time to register it. A dull throb replaced the sharpness, her body pushing itself into survival mode. She could feel the demonic creature coming towards her. It helped that the thing kept yelling for the Shikon Jewel as it plunged for her, giving Kagome the indication that she needed to roll over and throw her hands out in front of her. She wasn't sure what good throwing her hands out would do, but the power that pooled into her hands and blasted the centipede into nothingness was helpful.

Kagome panted on the ground and shook her hands in shock, "What in the world?" She hadn't had the opportunity to let everything that had happened sink in before she was pulled to her feet by one of the men who had battled the creature.

"Quick! Take the pieces back to the dry well and throw them in before it has a chance to reform!" the old woman instructed. People hurried to obey, picking up the scattered pieces and running them toward the well.

Kagome felt a dull throb in her side, her adrenaline still pumping and preventing her from feeling most of the pain she knew she would endure later. The old woman approached her and pointed at the Goshinboku tree. "What have you done?" she asked accusatorily.

"Wha-what do you mean?" Kagome asked, unsure of the implication.

"There was a demon sealed to that tree by my sister over 50 years ago," Kaede explained.

Kagome gulped, "A demon you say? He looked harmless enough."

"So you did release him then?" she asked again.

"I'm sorry," Kagome responded.

"Hnnnnh," the old woman grunted. "Come with me," she said. She bent over and laboriously retrieved the Shikon no Tama from the ground before Kagome's feet.

Together they walked out of the forest and towards a village.

Kagome marveled at the sight. 'It's like out of a history book!'

The woman brought her to her little house, pulling the woven reed door up so they could enter. She ushered Kagome in with a wave, "My name is Kaede. I am the village miko."

Kagome entered the small one-room home and supplied her name, "Pleased to meet you. I am Kagome, from the Higurashi Shrine."

"Come child. Let's get that wound treated," Kaede said and went over to prepare a fire in the middle of the room.

Kagome sat down next to the fire and allowed herself to relax a bit. As she relaxed, her adrenaline waned, and she began to feel the throbbing pain from her side and various other places she hadn't realized she'd taken injury.

"So you say you are a shrine maiden? That helps explain your spiritual powers," Kaede began while she prepared medicinal herbs.

Kagome felt unsure, "Uh, I wouldn't say that exactly. I'm going to school to become a doctor."

"Doc-tor?" Kaede paused, trying the word out. "I am unfamiliar with that term," she concluded.

"I suppose it would be like what you are doing now. Healing," Kagome supplied. She watched, fascinated, as Kaede expertly ground up some dried herbs and added liquids, continuing to mash them together.

"Hmm," Kaede said thoughtfully.

"You said that I resembled someone?" Kagome asked.

Kaede paused again, placing down her pestle and mortar bowl. She came over to Kagome and placed her hands on her face, looking deeply into her eyes. Kagome nearly blushed being judged so. "Yes, you greatly resemble my older sister, Kikyo," Kaede told her. She dropped her hands and went back to grinding the medicinal concoction.

Kagome looked around to see if Kaede shared this domicile with another person, "Is...is she around?"

"No." Kaede said firmly. "She died. Killed during a skirmish over the Shikon no Tama with the demon you released today."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Kagome said sadly.

Kaede regarded her solemnly over her mortar bowl. "How could you, child?" She must not have expected an answer and turned back to the task. Once she finished mixing the salve, she had Kagome lift her shirt so that she could treat the open wound.

As Kaede worked, she hesitated. "This is no small task, child. You have already shown immense power, but power alone is not enough. Protecting the Jewel is a dangerous burden."

Kagome hesitated, staring at the Jewel. "I... I don't know if I'm ready for this." She swallowed hard. "What if I fail?"

Kaede placed a hand over hers, her expression solemn but firm. "None of us are ready when fate calls upon us. But you have a choice now. Will you run, or will you rise?"

Kagome exhaled shakily, then clenched her hand around the Jewel. "I understand. I will protect it. Tell me what I need to do."

Chapter Text

The miko business was tough stuff, Kagome often thought to herself. It was grueling, selfless work that demanded her time and wherewithal to focus on. Kaede told her that being a priestess could not be learned overnight or in a handful of days or even months. She said that she and her sister had started their training as children and that if Kagome were to even become half the miko that Kikyo had been, she would have to pour all of her determination into it.

Kagome began to detest the comparison of herself to Kikyo. However, it was difficult to hate someone who seemed to have such a pure heart and ultimately ended up giving her life protecting others. Still, it wasn't necessarily the best motivation tactic for her, but she could not bring herself to tell Kaede.

Village life in itself was challenging. It was early to rise, and many, many chores needed to be completed. Kagome never realized all the amenities she had taken for granted back home. Electricity, running water, transportation, indoor plumbing! To top it all off, she had to fit into her training regimen. Her days were packed full, and she often fell asleep before her head hit the proverbial pillow, seeing as how those had not been invented yet. Yet, she could not find cause to complain. As much as she missed home and its luxuries, something was fulfilling about being here and dedicating her life to protecting the Shikon no Tama.

Her days were never dull. Kagome often had to learn on the fly. Kikyo had the luxury of being tasked with protecting the Jewel well after she had begun her priestess training. Kagome had the mantle thrust upon her, and it was sink or swim. She chose to swim.

Within her first week of official miko training, a lesser yōkai began wreaking havoc on the village and the surrounding area. Despite being classified as "lesser," the yōkai was cunning. It had lied in wait, biding its time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Thankfully, it was a little too ambitious and had an intellect rivaled only by garden tools. The cunning patience only got the yōkai as far as the end of Kagome's spiritual arrow. It wasn't an impressive shot, noted Kaede, but it got the job done. After that day, Kaede doubled Kagome's training in archery.

The villagers were a blessing. After Kagome had vanquished the evil yōkai, they began to bring her offerings. She was thankful for this since she often felt a burden to the village. They assured her it was not the case while keeping a respectful distance. However, Kagome did not feel reassured. She had come to the village with nothing and could offer nothing besides protection from an affliction she was responsible for bringing upon them in the first place. In addition, Kagome was diligent in learning healing techniques from Kaede to augment her priestess position. Coupled with the knowledge she had brought back from her time, she finally began to feel she could contribute something more to the village she now resided in.

Weeks passed, and Kagome missed home terribly. Once, she tried to sneak out to the well to see if she could slip through and let her family know she was okay. She planned to wait until night had fallen and the village had finally quieted into slumber. She successfully slipped out of Kaede's house, where she now resided, unnoticed, and made her way towards the well. When Kagome got close, she began to hear a rustle from the trees. She stopped and assessed her surroundings, listening and feeling for anything amiss. A gentle wind blew a cool night breeze through her hair, and she tried to listen closely, blocking out the sounds of nature. The frequent attacks for the Shikon Jewel were enough to keep her on edge, and now she was alone at night, away from the safety the village afforded her.

She heard the rustle again and quickly drew her bow, nocking an arrow and pointing it in the direction of the sound. "Show yourself or I will shoot!" Kagome called.

She saw a flash of white, and Kagome instantly recalled the strange man from the Goshinboku tree. Occasionally, she wondered what had become of him. Besides what Kagome had already been told, Kaede did not know much of him aside from a story about a dog and its master.

The tree rustled once more, bringing Kagome back to the present, and a small figure, trotting forward tentatively, appeared. "A child?" Kagome questioned aloud, voicing her confusion. "Where did you come from?"

It dawned on Kagome that the child was no ordinary human. He sported a bushy tail, pointed ears, and tiny padded feet. Aside from his obvious attributes, Kagome was hesitant to point her weapon in the direction of this small and painfully cute mononoke child. As he drew closer, he had a look of lost terror in his slanted, green eyes.

"Please help me, miko-sama," the young boy called to her with a wavering voice. He stopped just outside of her reach and pouted.

"What's the matter, little guy? Are you hurt? Are you lost?" Kagome asked, shouldering her weapon. She did not feel any threat coming from this young yōkai, and all the others she had met so far had a distinct evil that seemed to radiate from them like a black aura.

"I-I-I dunno," he blubbered on the edge of tears. His lower lip was extended and quivering almost exaggeratedly.

Kagome felt her heart swell for this little guy. This was the Feudal Era, after all. There was always news coming to the village of war, pillaging, and other atrocities occurring all over the provinces. She stepped closer to the little yōkai and knelt down in front of him.

"Hey there, it's okay now," Kagome said in a reassuring tone.

The boy's head was lowered, and he raised his hand towards her as if he was expecting her to take him into her arms. She tried to duck her head to look at the boy's face and noticed his tears were fake, and he did not have a pout but a mischievous grin on his little face. Kagome's brow knit in confusion, and as realization dawned on her, it was too late. The child reached out and snatched the Shikon Jewel, yanking it from the throng around her neck, and took off into the woods.

Kagome felt a surge of anger at having been duped by such an obvious trick, "Get back here you little #! &*$," she yelled and bounded off in hot pursuit of the small thief.

She darted into the woods, hot on the trail of the young yōkai thief. Thankfully, the bright moon provided her enough light to keep on his trail. He was quick, but she was determined. Kagome followed him for a few yards, and when it became apparent that he wasn't losing her, he stopped and turned to face her. Even in the darkness, His green eyes flashed, and a smirk formed.

"Stupid girl," he shouted at her. Then he held up the Shikon Jewel in a taunting manner between his thumb and forefinger.

Kagome grimaced and quickly scanned the area. He seemed misguided but relatively innocent, despite his actions. She didn't want to shoot him...yet. She spied a loose stone, reached down, and snagged it up, trying to formulate a plan.

"It wasn't too hard to trick ya," the boy taunted. "Or maybe you're just dumb for a human."

Kagome menacingly raised her hand, "Give it back, or so help me!"

The boy flashed a smile, "We've been watching you. You're soft and I knew you wouldn't be hard to trick," he repeated with childlike sincerity.

"We?" Kagome questioned. "What kind of yōkai are you supposed to be kid? A little shit demon?"

The boy frowned, "I'm a Kitsune!" he yelled defensively.

"That explains a lot." She kept her hand raised and watched the kitsune's every move. She recalled from stories that kitsune were mischievous by nature.

He brought both of his little hands down onto clenched fists by his sides, "No, it doesn't!" in a flash of white smoke, another identical kitsune appeared several feet away, and then another, and another, until there were nearly a dozen kitsune crowding around her, trying to disorient her.

"What do you think you are doing kid?" she demanded.

"Hehehe," the Kistune cackled in unison.

Kagome sighed and looked around at all of the kitsune surrounding her. Which was the original, she wondered. The clones began to dance around her oddly, in some ploy to keep her from discovering the true kitsune. Focusing, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She prayed her training held true. Finally, her eyes popped open, and she threw the stone toward one of the kitsune. It lobbed him in the head, and he cried out and clutched at his head in pain.

"Owiee!"

He had been trying to distract her and run off with the jewel she rationed out. Once the stone had connected with his skull, the other illusions disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Serves you right, stealing from people. Especially us dumb humans," Kagome chided him while she grabbed the Shikon Jewel that the kitsune had dropped. She deftly tucked the small orb into a hidden pocket sewn inside her kosode.

The kitsune rubbed at his head and looked up at her, unsure what to make of this situation.

"What's your name?" Kagome asked. She rubbed at his small head in a soothing gesture.

The small child looked around in confused panic, "Uh...uh, Ship-po?"

"Shippo, huh? Well, Shippo, didn't your parents teach you it's not right to steal?" Kagome looked around to see what the kitsune was searching for. He had said 'we,' so she deduced he wasn't alone, or rather there was an accomplice, just not around. But why would they send this kid out alone at night? They must have underestimated her, or perhaps they overestimated their plan.

Shippo puffed up, instantly forgetting his pain, "My parents are dead, okay?!"

"Oh," Kagome said sadly. "I'm sorry Shippo. I didn't know. What happened? Is that why you're out here alone?"

"Mama died when I was little and my papa was killed by a big, evil yōkai." he really did have tears in his eyes now; Kagome was sure of it. He deflated like a balloon and fell back to looking uncertain.

"That's horrible! Is that why you were trying to steal the Shikon Jewel?"

Shippo looked at Kagome as if she had said the dumbest thing ever, "Well, yeah. It's supposed to make me stronger so I can have my revenge!"

Kagome took to soothing his head again, "Awe, little guy, it doesn't work like that."

Shippo looked up at her with a perplexed expression, "Huh? Whadya mean? It's supposed to make you stronger; that's what he told me…"

"Who is this 'he'? Is he the one who told you to steal the Shikon Jewel?" Kagome asked. "Are you alone?" she took another quick look around and, seeing no one, returned her attention to the kitsune.

Shippo hesitated, and Kagome could see the wheels turning. So he wasn't alone.

"Uh..." he hesitated, eyes darting away as if ashamed. "Well, I..."

Kagome barely had time to process his flustered demeanor before she felt a hand lightly grip her bottom. Her eyes nearly bulged from her head, a gasp catching in her throat. Just as she whirled to confront the molester, warm breath ghosted against her neck, sending a shiver up her spine.

"He's with me, beautiful lady," a deep voice murmured in her ear.

A shriek burst from Kagome as she spun, her fist connecting hard with the offender's face. The impact sent the man staggering back, clutching his jaw.

"What the hell?" he yelped, rubbing his sore cheek, eyes flashing with genuine offense.

"You! You perverted bastard! Who are you?!" Kagome barked, jabbing a trembling finger at him.

"You hit me," he muttered, still nursing his face as if bewildered by the attack.

Moonlight bathed the scene in silver, illuminating his features. He was taller than her, his dark hair tied in a ponytail, and his eyes—deep and intelligent—held a mix of amusement and confusion. He was handsome, she begrudgingly admitted, but that hardly made up for his wandering hands.

"Damn right, I hit you! You're lucky I don't shoot you!" She swiftly pulled an arrow from her quiver, nocking it with practiced ease.

He stepped back, hands raised in surrender. "Whoa, whoa. No need for that, miko-sama."

"Give me one good reason not to! If you're here to steal the Shikon Jewel—" She pulled the string taut, aiming directly at his chest. Her eyes flicked to the rosary wrapped around his right hand. Odd.

"I mean you no harm, miss," he assured smoothly. "I am but a humble priest seeking to rid the world of the Jewel of Four Souls."

Kagome scoffed. "You? A monk? And your grand plan to 'rid the world' of the Jewel involves stealing it?"

The so-called monk lowered his hands, turning away from her with infuriating nonchalance. He strode toward a nearby tree and retrieved something—proof he had been waiting for her.

"No, lady, I merely sought to liberate you from the burdensome task of protecting an object that endangers you and your village. A beauty like yourself deserves better."

Kagome's deadpan stare remained fixed on him as she lowered her bow—just enough to aim at his feet. She loosed an arrow without hesitation.

The monk yelped, leaping back as the projectile buried itself inches from his sandal. "Really?!"

"Oops. It slipped," Kagome said flatly, drawing another arrow.

"My name is Miroku," he introduced hastily, regaining his composure. "And as I said, I am a humble monk. I heard an inept miko was guarding the newly reappeared Shikon Jewel, so I took it upon myself to offer assistance."

Kagome lowered her bow, watching him stiffen, wary of another shot. "Inept, huh? That why you enlisted a child to do your dirty work?"

Miroku sighed. "I do apologize for the deceit, miss. I merely thought it easier to retrieve the Jewel while you were alone."

Kagome exhaled sharply, turning on her heel. "Come on, Shippo."

The young kitsune scampered up beside her, blinking. "Me?"

She smiled down at him. "You're better off coming with me."

"Okay!" he chirped happily.

Miroku scratched his head as he watched them walk away. Had he just been brushed off? And lost his tagalong in the process? His confusion only deepened when he heard Shippo ask, "Kagome, what's a pervert?"

o - o - o - o - o

The next day, Miroku strolled into the village, effortlessly charming the locals. Kagome chuckled when she heard the reason for his warm welcome: "Help the miko guard the Shikon Jewel," he had told them. So, he was staying, at least for now.

Shippo vouched for him, recounting how Miroku had found him alone after his father had been killed by yōkai. The monk had come to the area seeking to exorcise the creatures, but they had long since moved on. So, instead, he had done what he did best—claimed victory, spun a convincing tale, and pocketed a small fortune from the local lords, distributing most of it to the needy.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at Shippo's unwavering endorsement of the monk. He seemed decent—sometimes. When he wasn't flirting with village girls, he was surprisingly competent, even helping Kagome with her spiritual training. His power was immense, but something about it felt… restrained. Like he had access to only a fraction of it. When she questioned him, he always changed the subject.

"Why do you avoid telling me the truth, Miroku?" she asked one evening.

A breeze stirred, making the rings on his staff chime softly. He stared into the distance, avoiding her gaze. "I don't want to burden you with more trouble."

Kagome smirked. "Really? You don't want to burden me? You already brought me a kitsune child, and I constantly have to chase girls away from you."

Miroku glanced at Shippo, who was helping Kaede with some chore. "He seems to have taken quite a liking to you," he mused. "When I continue my journey, he will likely be best suited to stay here."

Kagome wasn't surprised. "So, you're leaving?"

Miroku met her eyes. "Yes."

"Well, aside from our first meeting, I'm happy to have met you," she admitted with a small smile. They shared a quiet laugh, but his expression soon turned serious.

"Whatever you do, don't let the Shikon Jewel fall into the wrong hands."

"I wouldn't plan on it."

Before she could ask when he planned to leave, Shippo bounded over, buzzing with excitement. "Did you hear?"

"Hear what?" Kagome asked.

Shippo pointed toward a group of villagers gathered around Kaede. "Those men—something freaked them out in the forest."

Kagome and Miroku exchanged glances before heading over.

"I dinnae know what it was," one man said nervously.

"Had to be a yōkai! It was strange!" another exclaimed.

"Couldn't have been," a third interjected. "It didn't attack."

Miroku frowned. "Not all yōkai are violent. Take our young kitsune here."

The men turned to Shippo as if noticing him for the first time, their gazes skeptical.

"Well, this one was a full-grown man," the first villager said. "Silver hair. Dog ears."

Kagome's breath hitched.

"Yeah," another man confirmed. "As soon as we saw him, he took off."

Dog ears. Silver hair.

Her heart pounded. She knew exactly who they had seen.

Inu...

The name Kaede had given her. The one she had thought about every single day since arriving in this era. The boy pinned to the tree. The enigma wrapped in mystery. And now... he was awake.

o - o - o - o - o

The village men had gone to trade with another village to the west, so Kagome retraced their path. They would not have strayed too far from the main road where it was safest, and so that was the way she went.

She had been gone an hour and was preparing to turn back. She didn't want to venture too far from the village while carrying the Shikon Jewel—it was too much of a risk. If word spread of its presence, she could be putting these people in danger. At times, she considered taking it far away from innocent lives altogether, but she knew she wasn't ready for that yet. She still needed guidance, time to grasp the full extent of her spiritual powers. Once she felt more in control, she could leave, distance herself from her new companions, and perhaps find a way to eliminate the Jewel once and for all.

A pang of longing gripped her chest as she thought of home—her real home. But no matter how much she wished to return to her family, the burden placed upon her kept her here. Until she fulfilled her duty, the well might as well be sealed.

Kagome sighed and looked around. It was time to head back. She couldn't be gone too long, or the others would come searching for her. She was surprised anyone had let her go this far alone. Usually, someone insisted on accompanying her, as if she were still as defenseless as when she first arrived in this era. Maybe they were beginning to trust her abilities. The thought made her feel both reassured and uneasy.

No sign of anything unusual. She was beginning to think the villagers had imagined things. She had made it a quarter of the way back when a flash of red caught the corner of her eye. Kagome halted, turning slowly, scanning the trees. Nothing.

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Now I'm the one seeing things? She had thought the villagers were being overly jumpy, yet here she was, doing the same thing. Rolling her shoulders, she kept walking—until a deep rumble overhead made her pause.

Thunder.

Her brows knit together. The sky had been clear just moments ago.

Another crack boomed, louder this time, and Kagome instinctively looked up.

That was when she saw it.

A face—elongated and grotesquely twisted—peering down at her with a wicked grin.

A yōkai.

Her breath hitched. Damn it.

Chapter Text

Kagome barely had a second to react before a deep, rumbling chuckle filled the air. The yokai loomed above her, perched atop a swirling thundercloud, his grotesque features twisted into a wide grin. He was huge, monstrous, with a bulbous head, sparse strands of hair sticking out at odd angles, and gleaming yellow eyes that glowed with amusement.

"Well, well," he crooned, licking his lips. "What luck! I came looking for the Shikon Jewel, and I find a lovely little human carrying it for me!" His grin widened, sharp teeth glinting in the dimming light. Then he let out an earsplitting squeal of delight. "Ooooiieeee! Brother will be so jealous!"

Kagome wasted no time. In one swift, practiced motion, she drew an arrow, nocked it, and pulled back the string. "Yeah, I don't think so!" she snapped, releasing the shot. The arrow streaked through the air, glowing with spiritual energy, its path true—

Until the yokai inhaled deeply and exhaled a jet of fire.

Flames roared forward, incinerating everything in their path, including her arrow. Kagome barely had time to register what was happening before instinct took over. She threw herself to the side, hitting the ground hard on her knees and elbows, rolling just past the inferno's reach. The heat seared the edge of her robes, leaving behind the acrid scent of burnt fabric.

She scrambled back to her feet, heart pounding. This yokai was stronger than any she had faced alone. Worse, he knew it. Floating effortlessly above, he let out another cruel laugh.

"Pathetic," he sneered. "You should know better than to challenge Manten of the Thunder Clan!"

Kagome gritted her teeth. She couldn't risk leading him back to the village. But she also wasn't about to just hand over the Jewel. She needed time—time to think, time to strategize.

"What makes you think I'm alone?" she bluffed, lifting her chin defiantly.

Manten narrowed his beady eyes. "Do you take me for a fool? I watched you come out here alone!"

"That was the idea, genius!" she shot back. "Make you think I was alone so we could catch you off guard!"

He scratched at his oversized head, clearly processing her words a little too slowly. "Hnnn. If that's true, then where are they?"

She jabbed a finger toward the dense woods just off the path. "Lying in wait. But they won't come out just because you yell for them. You have to go in and find them."

Manten hesitated, glancing at the trees. His fingers drummed against his arm as if weighing his options.

"They're really strong," Kagome added, playing up the warning.

That did it. Manten's greedy expression twisted into determination. "Very well! You wait here, girl. I shall crush these so-called warriors and return for my prize! Brother will not believe my good fortune!" He rubbed his hands together and, with a crackle of thunder, propelled himself toward the woods.

As soon as he disappeared into the trees, Kagome turned and bolted in the opposite direction. Thank goodness that idiot fell for it! She didn't know how much time she had before he realized he'd been tricked, but if she could get enough distance, she might be able to take him by surprise.

She had barely made it a few hundred yards before the sky split with another thunderclap—this time filled with fury.

Manten had figured it out.

Cursing under her breath, Kagome ducked into a small clearing and slid behind a thick bush. She needed to calm her breathing, slow her heartbeat. She pressed her back against the tree trunk, bow raised, an arrow nocked. If she could get the right shot… if she just had a second to aim—

The thunder grew louder.

Closer.

Then—nothing.

Her grip tightened on her bow. Why had he stopped?

A bone-shaking boom erupted behind her.

Her stomach dropped. Cold dread coiled around her spine. He found me.

She turned just as the fire shot toward her. There was no time to react—no time to run. But just as the flames reached her, she felt something—a rush of movement, a flash of red.

Then, suddenly, she was weightless.

A strange sensation, considering she was about to die.

o - o - o - o - o

On the edge of consciousness, Kagome could feel something leaning over her. The sensation of being watched was perturbing, especially with her eyes closed. She jolted awake, thrusting a fist toward the unknown presence she felt. Her eyes bulged, and a gasp escaped her lips while she came to.

Vaguely, she realized that her hand throbbed and brought it to her face to examine it closely. It finally dawned on her that her fist had connected with someone. Likely a skull from the smarting her knuckles felt. But when she took a preemptive look around, she saw nothing.

'So, I'm not dead?' was her first thought. Her limbs were all still intact. Nothing had been burnt off, and she felt no pain. 'Did someone rescue me?' she tried to recall. Then her eyes widened once again as panic set upon her. The Jewel! She reached to her chest and could feel its presence nestled between her breasts, its peculiar aura granting her comfort. 'Thank goodness no one had taken it.' As her sense of dread settled, she noticed her bow next to her. 'That made it, too. Good.' She wrapped her hand around the grip and held it firmly.

In the distance, Kagome could hear more peals of thunder. She sat upright and looked around. That yokai was somewhere out there, probably looking for her. But where was her savior? She had not rescued herself, had she? A sudden emergence of new powers seemed unlikely.

The sky had grown dark with clouds, but it was still light enough for Kagome to take note of her surroundings. Another section of the woods off of the road she had been traveling, Kagome suspected. It did not seem out of the ordinary; dead leaves, ferns, and other foliage trees, both old and new, and moss-covered rocks. However, the foliage surrounding her looked like something or someone had been occupying this space. It had a somewhat lived-in feel to it. The small area was rather occluded from view, surrounded by natural flora; ferns and a fallen tree marked the perimeter.

Her study of the area became distracted when lightning flashed across the sky, and the boom of thunder followed shortly after, sounding much closer than just a moment ago. So, Manten was close to finding her, probably incensed by her escape. It was time for her to make her exit now. She stood up, brushing her skirts absently, contemplating the best method to deal with the yokai pursuing her. Another bolt of lightning flashed, and at that moment, a man in red dropped from a tree and landed in front of her in a crouch. Kagome gasped and took a step back.

Rather than a man poised before her, though, was something else. It was the yokai from the Goshinboku tree with golden eyes and silver hair. The dog ears on top of his head stood alert, betraying his heritage. Kaede had told Kagome that the most powerful yokai could take human form, but those of lesser or mixed blood retained more obvious features that belied what they truly were. Kaede had also told her that this was a hanyo, a mixing of human and yokai. Hanyo were considered the lowest of the low, having no place with either Mononoke or humans.

The hanyo before Kagome eyed her curiously. If she'd had any sense, she would feel frightened, but he did not seem threatening, and while he hadn't uttered a word, his eyes exuded quiet intelligence. She, in turn, regarded him, bemused to see a nice little lump above his left eye.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the crack of thunder stole her words, causing the hanyo to jump into action. He jumped into a tree and perched on a branch surveying the area. The yokai Manten was close now, practically upon them. His thundercloud sped into view, its rider bellowing with fury as he spotted his elusive prey.

As Manten approached, Kagome's rescuer launched himself at the yokai, knocking him off his aerial perch. The pair thudded to the ground, where the hanyo punched Manten's massive head. Honestly, Kagome would have been concerned had he missed.

"Owie!" Manten squealed, gripping a large lump on his large head. "Who the hell are you?!" he demanded of the hanyo. When he did not receive an answer, he deduced, "This is your strong companion, eh? A half-blood? I will crush his bones and turn his flesh into jelly. Then I will take you and the Shikon Jewel. How fun this shall be!"

Kagome was sure she heard the Hanyo growl menacingly, just like a dog would when provoked. She'd be willing to bet if he'd had a hackle, it would have been raised as well. He glared wordlessly at Manten, standing his ground. "Heeheehee," Manten shrieked with glee. He took a deep breath and released his thunder-fire breath, demolishing all within its path. All but the hanyo, who deftly jumped out of the way, landing neatly behind Manten in a crouch.

"Dammit! Stay still, pest!" Manten demanded. He turned to face his adversary, "Rats are always scurrying when they know their end is near." A grin grotesquely split the yokai's face, "Die with honor, hanyo! It's the only honorable thing to happen in your miserable life. A shame your bitch of a mother did not have the mercy to strangle you straight from the womb."

Even Kagome winced at Manten's words. No one should speak about another's mother that way. It was clear the contempt that Yokai felt for Hanyos in his words. As much as Manten's words bothered Kagome, they incited a quiet rage within the hanyo. His golden eyes widened in fury as the insult hit home. His upper lip lifted in a snarl, and a roar erupted.

Manten only chuckled, amused he had said something to elicit such a reaction. Usually, he was not good with words, and his brother often told him what an idiot he was. Defeating this puny enemy was a demonstration of not only his power but his intelligence as well. With the smile still plastered to his face, jagged teeth exposed, he puffed up his chest for one final expulsion of his fire breath. This tactic seemed to work well enough, and he knew that his yokai speed was greater than a hanyo, so without a second thought, he expelled the thunderous fire toward where the hanyo crouched.

Kagome watched from a safe distance as the hanyo jumped over the assault just as easily as he had a moment ago. She wondered why Manten would attempt the same attack a second time when the result would be the same. 'He really is an idiot,' she thought. The Hanyo must have made the same observation. Rather than land behind Manten and await his next move, the Hanyo reacted quickly, coming directly behind the Yokai. He plunged his clawed hand into Manten's chest in one nimble motion.

Manten's bulbous eyes bulged from their sockets in shock and pain. He clutched at his chest in a feeble attempt to soothe the pain he must have felt from within and gasped while bloody spittle seeped from the corners of his mouth. Clawing with one hand, he made a desperate try with his other arm to grab his opponent. The hanyo stepped aside, removing his hold from Manten's chest cavity. He did not leave empty-handed. His taloned fingers clutched the still-beating heart of his foe. It was hideous to behold; purple, bloody, and grotesquely large.

Manten took one last ragged breath and turned his head to watch the hanyo squeeze his heart until it burst into fleshy pieces. Manten's eyes glazed over, and as he fell to his knees, the words, "Avenge me brother!" escaped his lips before he collapsed.

Kagome could not believe what she had just witnessed. She was trying to decide whether she should thank the hanyo or break into a sprint. As he battled Manten, his eyes could only be described as dead and unfeeling. Dead may not be the right word for it. Blank seemed to be a better description. There was no joy, sorrow, anger, or fear –just nothing. What creature kills so callously, she wondered. But she couldn't help but feel intrigued as she regarded him now. Once Manten collapsed, he seemed to also collapse into himself, becoming a muted version of what he was.

Tentatively, she walked towards him, carefully avoiding the bits and pieces of Manten that remained, and he watched her do so warily as if expecting some form of punishment. He was crouched down on all fours, and his ears were laid flat. "Um...thank you for saving me," she said. He did not respond but turned his gaze away as though he were ashamed or afraid to look at her.

"Okay," she said aloud, wondering why he was acting so apprehensive, which was a big turnaround from his behavior just moments ago. "My name is Kagome," she said, extending her hand down to him in a greeting, "Nice to meet you ."

He shuffled backward at her gesture. "Wait! I won't hurt you!" she called. "In fact, I think I should be more afraid of you than you seem to be of me right now."

Slowly she lowered herself into a crouch, mirroring him, and ambled towards him. This time he did not retreat but regarded her with intense curiosity as if he had never seen anyone come to his level before. Once she was close enough to reach out and touch him, she stopped. "I'm Kagome. What's your name?"

His brow knit together in confusion, and his golden eyes turned back to her. She smiled warmly, hoping he would see that she was genuine. Hesitating for a moment, he blinked and opened his mouth, searching for his name. "Inu…" he said finally.

"Inu?" Kagome repeated. She felt a pang of pity that someone would be cruel enough to name him for a dog.

He shook his head, "Inu...Yasha."

She felt her smile deepen, "Inuyasha," she repeated, trying it out. "That's a lovely name."

In an attempt not to startle him again, she reached her hand out to him but did not break his gaze. He quickly looked down at the gesture and then back up at her. He didn't seem to understand what she was doing but grabbed her extended palm with his own. Just as slowly as she had come near him, she rose up, bringing him with her until they were both standing, though he was a head taller than her. He was just as mysterious, if not more, from the first time she met him. His golden eyes were entrancing as she stared into them, and she mused over how nice his face looked, coupled with the silver hair and those eyes. Even his unusual ears did nothing to offset his distinguishing features.

Suddenly she felt her face grow hot once she realized she was still holding Inuyasha's hand and mulling over how attractive she thought he was. Kagome immediately snatched her hand away and rubbed it nervously. "We should be getting back," she told him. Turning on her heel, she took a few steps forward and looked to see if he followed. "Come on," she said when she realized he had not. This time, she simply continued, not waiting again but listening for the sound of footsteps. She was satisfied to hear them come up behind her and maintain a steady pace as she led the way back to the village.

They arrived back to the village in short order. Kagome figured she had been gone only a few hours and was quietly surprised to see Miroku had begun to put together a rescue detail.

"I like to think I can take care of myself!" she teased.

Miroku spun around to see her safe and sound but gaped once he saw Inuyasha behind her. Before he could react, Kagome put up a cautioning hand, "It's okay. This is Inuyasha. He's the reason I took so long."

The monk seemed to bite back a desire to exorcize the demon who was escorted into the village. "Lady Kagome, I thought it was your prerogative to keep demons out of the village, not bring them in?" The few villagers he had assembled shuffled nervously, feeling well-deserved anxiety at seeing yet another yokai broach their village border.

Kagome rolled her eyes, "He saved me from a yokai who was searching for the Shikon Jewel. I was fortunate that he was around."

"And you said you could take care of yourself," Miroku grumbled.

"I said I like to think I can," she retorted with a sniff. Changing the subject, she continued, "I imagine Inuyasha, here, is the one these fellows saw on their way back."

Miroku crossed his arms and eyed Inuyasha skeptically. He seemed skeptical that bringing Inuyasha to the village was the best idea. "Hmmpfh," he grunted with disdain.

Shippo picked this moment to bound over and leap onto Miroku's shoulder. "Who's this weirdo, Kagome?" Shippo asked.

Kagome glanced back at Inuyasha, but his expression remained blank, taking no heed of the child's words. "His name is Inuyasha, Shippo." She paused a moment before adding, "Be nice." Shippo eyed him dubiously, not sure what to make of the newcomer.

If Kagome were honest with herself, she was a bit apprehensive about Kaede's learning of Inuyasha's arrival.

Kagome had been correct to feel apprehension. Kaede had yet to take Inuyasha's arrival well at all. Kagome hadn't expected her to give Inuyasha a warm welcome. Still, Kaede had been unusually cold to the point where she extended her icy behavior toward Kagome, at least at first. Eventually, Kaede lowered her wall and tolerated Inuyasha's presence. This may have been attributed to Inuyasha's quiet subservient disposition. Once Kaede deemed him not to be a threat, she opened up again, and Kagome's training resumed with increased intensity.

o - o - o - o - o

Another month passed, and Kagome felt her homesickness with overwhelming intensity. Her family must have thought her dead, and she felt crushed. She was putting them through agony while she was indeed alive and well. She knew the time had come for her to make a trip back...if she could.

Kagome was still determining if a trip back through the well was possible, but she had to try. The thought of returning home and bringing trouble back with her was frightening. She had decided the village would have plenty of protection while she was away, especially with Kaede, Miroku, Shippo, and even Inuyasha to watch over things. She had promised to protect those around her from the power she had released into the world, which extended to whatever period she was in; the past or her future. Ultimately, she felt confident enough in her new abilities to return home for a short time and not bring any harm to her family.

Miroku had decided to stay a little longer once Inuyasha had arrived. Like Kaede, Miroku was slow to trust the hanyo's presence and postponed his trip until he was confident there would be no murdering spree. He seemed to distrust Mononoke, much like everyone else in this time, but Miroku warmed to Inuyasha much quicker than Kaede had. He felt compelled to take Inuyasha under his wing and bring him out of his shell. Shippo demonstrated to the monk that not all Mononoke were bad.

Kagome approached Miroku on the morning she planned to return home. She hoped he would be receptive to her request today and ran her fingers through her hair with apprehension. Miroku did not know where she came from, not really.

"Miroku, I have a favor to ask of you," she began.

"Anything for you Lady Kagome," he replied, leaning close in his flirtatious manner.

She laughed inwardly at his antics but rolled her eyes and sighed, "I'm being serious, Miroku."

Still smiling, he awaited her request, "Okay then, Lady, what's this request?"

"I...I want to return home," she began and then hurried to add, "just for a bit."

Miroku considered her request, "I suppose I was incorrect in my assumption that this was your village of birth."

Kagome watched as Inuyasha approached with Shippo bounding alongside. Those two had formed somewhat of a brotherly bond, albeit the sibling relationship mirrored more of a love-hate relationship that bordered closer to tolerance and disdain than anything. Still, the young kitsune found someone he could relate to and look up to, while Inuyasha could get a better sense of his yokai side through Shippo.

Looking back to Miroku, Kagome breathed, "Well, it is true I have lived in this area my whole life, but I haven't been born yet. My home is in a different time...in the future."

Miroku laughed, "You jest, miko."

She stared at him stoically. "I'd like you all to accompany me to the Bone Eater's Well, just in case."

"What's at the well Kagome?" Shippo asked after he launched onto Miroku's shoulder.

"Apparently Kagome is returning to her home, young Shippo," Miroku answered. Shippo wilted visibly, "Wait... you're leaving?!" he pouted with tears welling in his eyes.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at Miroku and turned her attention to Shippo, who began to sniffle convincingly, "It's not like that. I'm coming back. It'll only be for a little while."

"Y-y-you promise?" he blubbered.

"I promise," she assured him, smiling once the child shed his sad facade for a grin. There is no better time than now. She motioned with her hand, "Shall we?"

Shippo jumped from his perch and dashed down the path toward the well. "Last one is a rotten egg!" he called. Kagome's reassurance must have satiated the child.

Miroku nodded at Kagome and followed after Shippo, leaving her and Inuyasha to bring up the rear. She fell into step beside Inuyasha, who remained quiet, his hands tucked inside his sleeves. Kagome glanced at him quickly, noting how his silver hair had grown from the shaggy mop she had first encountered him with. Now it fell past his chin, and she couldn't help but think the new length added something she couldn't put her finger on. "So, will you be alright here with Miroku and Shippo while I'm gone?" she asked, hoping to break the silence.

He turned his head to reply, "Yes."

Kagome pressed her lips together. Inuyasha was still markedly reticent even after his time spent at the village. Initially, she thought that his vocabulary rivaled a parrot, with him only able to repeat words without understanding what they meant. That first impression couldn't have been further from the truth. While he did not speak unless spoken to, he was observant and thoughtful. Uncharacteristic for someone she incorrectly perceived as the intellect of a house pet.

"I don't plan on being gone long. I...um...hope it's not too much to ask you help keep an eye on things?" Kagome started. Inuyasha eyed her questioningly. "What I mean to say is, you handled the thunder demon and I thought that maybe if anything were to happen while I was gone you could handle that as well."

Inuyasha did not respond straight away as though he were considering his words. "What about you, Kagome?" he asked, finally.

"Me?" she countered. "I'll be fine. There's nothing like you or Shippo or even that thunder yokai where I am from." At least, she hoped there wasn't, but she did not want to worry him by putting her fears to words. When she glanced back over at him, she could have sworn he was eying her doubtfully before he turned to look ahead.

They came upon the well that sat in the open, looking unremarkable in its simplicity. Shippo and Miroku waited by its side as she and Inuyasha approached. Kagome's theory was that the well was a time portal, but she needed to find out if it was a one or two-way portal. Now was her opportunity to test the theory out. She had brought nothing with her beside her bow, arrows, and, of course, the Shikon Jewel. Whether she would pass through or not, she did not need anything more.

"If this works, I will see you guys soon. If not, I will only have a sore rear to show for it."

"I'm still not certain I follow Lady Kagome," Miroku said. "This seems like folly."

Kagome laughed out loud. Miroku looked at her inquisitively, "What's so amusing?"

She chuckled, "It's just funny to me that you have no problem with the existence of magic, spiritual power, demons, and the like but you have a hard time with time travel." She swung her legs over the side of the well, not wanting to wait much longer.

Miroku was puzzled, "Those are the reality. What you propose is improbable."

"But not impossible," she added.

"What's to get Miroku?" Shippo challenged, confident in Kagome's words. "You're holding her up!"

The kitsune's outburst allowed for a moment of levity in the situation. Smiling, Kagome waved, "I'll be back as soon as I can. Take care of the village and Kaede while I'm gone."

"You can count on us!" Shippo hollered enthusiastically.

"Bye, Shippo." She nodded in their direction, "Miroku….Inuyasha," she said before pushing off and down into the well. As she fell, she prayed she passed through to prevent herself from looking a fool. Her wish granted, she felt herself passing through time. At least, she assumed that's what the feeling meant. Gravity reversed once she neared the bottom, and she had an odd squeezing sensation for an instant. Above her was darkness, and the air smelled like damp, old wood. Kagome smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She was home, and her family was near. Climbing out of the well, she lifted herself over the side and did all but sprint to her family's house. She could almost hear their voices from the kitchen and threw open the door to gasps of astonishment, "Kagome!"

Chapter Text

He was unsure how much time had passed since Kagome had left. Inuyasha had spent so much time not keeping track of time that this new concept of days, weeks, and months were foreign. Previously, He had no use for time; otherwise, he would have allowed himself to fall into a depression that may have resulted in insanity decades ago. Now things were different. He woke up with a desire to live rather than exist.

It all began the moment he woke from his long, dreamless slumber. He vaguely recalled being put to sleep by that priestess he was supposed to kill, but instead, he found himself disobeying Boss and getting pinned to a tree. While he was lost in the dark, the aroma of honeysuckle permeated around him, reminding him of something warm and inviting. The last thing he remembered was looking at the priestess and thinking of how pleasant she smelled, like fresh rain, clean, pure, and renewed. Now, it was a different smell that brought him back.

His eyes opened, and he thought his nose was playing tricks on him. Here was the face of the priestess who, in her anger, had fired the sacred arrow into his chest. She did not smell the same, but as his eyes adjusted to the light, he noticed subtle differences. The eyes of the woman before him were different. It was not just the color of her eyes, pools of deep blue that he had only ever seen on his mother's favorite yukata, but alive with curiosity and hope.

In contrast, the priestess' eyes appeared ringed with sadness and heavy with the burden she must harbor. Inuyasha felt the woman touch his ears, seeing her reach her arms over his head to do so, and allowed him to study her face. Momentarily she realized that he was staring at her and shrieked before falling to the ground. Some part of him wanted to jump down to her, though the concept of helping a stranger was foreign to him; he could not move.

She called up to him, and her voice was melodic and strange. How long had he been asleep, he wondered. Where was Boss? The woman stood up and climbed up to him, breaking him from his thoughts. He heard her ask about the arrow and glanced down at it with his eyes and back at her. He watched as she wrapped her hand around the wooden shaft, ready to pull. Instead, it disappeared, and they both fell to the ground. He landed smoothly and watched as she picked herself up off the ground. He felt...rigid but free. He heard the woman's voice again and saw her approach. Instinctually, he shuffled back and briefly wondered why he was reacting this way toward her. When he pulled away, her face was confused, and a trace of hurt. Why would she look that way? No one cared about him.

That look on her face is what kept him in the area after he had run off. Fear of Boss is what prompted him to run in the first place. He feared punishment and being alone...but he was alone now, and Boss was not here to punish him, so he stayed in the woods...until he saw her again. After that moment, everything changed. He didn't realize at the time how his whole world had shifted.

When Kagome dropped into the well, he could sense that she had left. Shippo had jumped down to confirm that she was indeed gone. "She's gone!" he exclaimed as if he hadn't believed she would go. Miroku only scratched his head and muttered to himself. The trio returned to the village in silence. On their trek back, Inuyasha wondered what Kagome's home was. She had spoken to him about her home several times. She made it sound peaceful and loving, much different than how things were now. His life had always been tumultuous, whereas hers was calm and predictable even. So much different...just as Kagome was different.

Inuyasha did not have much experience with women, which was an excellent way to say none outside of his mother and the female servants who lived on his mother's estate. The servants were all cruel, but his mother was always gentle and kind. He hadn't thought of her in so long. While he was practically a slave, he had shoved the memory of his mother deep down into the recesses of his memory until he could no longer recall how she even looked. Kagome had unlocked those memories with her patience and gentle words.

A few days had passed since Kagome had left. Inuyasha's time had been occupied with assisting Miroku with several village duties. Many of these duties included checking or helping female villagers with mundane tasks. Inuyasha didn't understand Miroku's constant need to solicit smiles and attention from the women. The monk tried hard to inaugurate Inuyasha into his ways but had little success.

"So basically what you're saying is that you've never felt a woman's touch?" the monk asked, wide-eyed at the revelation. When Inuyasha did not respond, Miroku gave him a conspiratorial look, "Oh, my inexperienced friend, this we must fix."

Inuyasha did not understand what Miroku meant, but he soon found out. Miroku attempted to have Inuyasha converse with some of the lovelier village maidens. Still, the women were too timid to speak to him in that fashion, him being a hanyo. That and Inuyasha was not comfortable talking to people any more than necessary. The villagers were not openly hostile to him, but he could sense from their standoffishness. They weren't entirely comfortable having a half-breed in their midst, either.

After Inuyasha failed to speak to the more gentle sex, he became frustrated with Miroku's unabashed forwardness. He was tired of Miroku pushing him to do all these things that he was uncomfortable with, and he was sure the villagers did not appreciate it much either. Dealing with these new emotions was also foreign to him, and he did not know how to deal with them, so he would often brood in silence. Shippo must have sensed Inuyasha's mood one day after Inuyasha had tried and failed to follow Miroku's instructions on talking to a girl. The kitsune, who split his time between Kaede and Miroku, jumped to Inuyasha's shoulder, "Just tell him to stick it in his ear."

Inuyasha looked over at the Kitsune, wide-eyed at the suggestion, "It's what my papa used to say when people were getting on his nerves. I've heard people say other things, too, like, 'Go away, leave me alone, go to hell, fuck off,' stuff like that. You don't have to do anything you don't want to." Shippo nodded sagely.

Inuyasha regarded him for a moment and nodded. "Okay," he said before the kitsune dashed off again, leaving him alone with Miroku. This notion of speaking his mind would take some getting used to, but Shippo assured him it was perfectly reasonable to do so. He turned and watched as Miroku shamelessly flirted with one of the girls who Inuyasha had failed to speak to, pondering on Shippo's advice.

Days passed, and Inuyasha felt he was getting the hang of this "speak his mind" bit. It took a couple of days for his patience to wear thin, but Miroku prodded a little too much. The monk had taken it upon himself to introduce Inuyasha to the world, and his approach was a tad heavy-handed, not to mention somewhat misogynistic.

Today, Miroku had led Inuyasha over to the stream that bordered the village. Several village women and younger girls labored with laundry by the stream's edge. Miroku smiled as if he had just come upon elusive prey. "Alright, Inuyasha, now take a look at this beauty," he gestured to one of the women closest to them, "Take a moment to appreciate her subtle beauty. The way the light hits her hair, allowing it to glisten, and her kind eyes. I've seen that one eyeing you. You should go and speak to her," Miroku instructed. Inuyasha glanced at the girl in reference. He'd also seen her looking at him, but it was not in the alluring manner Miroku presented. When he saw it, he knew fear, and this girl exuded it in abundance. "No," Inuyasha said shortly, crossing his arms into his sleeves.

The girl peeked over at the pair, aware that she was being watched, and withdrew into herself. Her shoulders were hunched over, and she began to wring out an article of clothing more than necessary.

Miroku gave Inuyasha a cross look, "What do you mean 'no'?"

"I don't wanna," Inuyasha shrugged. He studiously avoided Miroku's gaze.

"Come on Inuyasha. Just walk over there and say hello," Miroku urged.

Inuyasha had enough. He turned and leveled his gaze at the monk, arms still crossed, "I said no, monk. I don't have to have a reason, so FUCK OFF!" Turning on his heel, Inuyasha growled and jumped into the distance, leaving Miroku to ponder what had just transpired. The monk scratched his and shrugged before walking down to the water's edge.

More time passed, with Miroku avoiding Inuyasha for several days before finally overcoming his aversion. Inuyasha had sat down to a meal with Shippo one evening when Miroku arrived and joined them. "I've been wondering when Lady Kagome will return," he paused, "Or if she will return at all."

Shippo stopped from gobbling down his meal, his mouth still stuffed, "She said she would!" he exclaimed. His tiny face looked offended that Miroku would even suggest that Kagome would abandon them.

"Think about it. She has no reason to return if she has truly traveled to another time, as inconceivable as that is," Miroku explained.

Inuyasha did not look up but merely grunted before taking another bite. He had worried about the same thing. Kagome had left him to "look after things," and he intended to, but he still felt drawn to her warm presence and was disheartened that she had not yet returned.

"I cannot wait any longer," Miroku continued. "I'm afraid it is time for me to move on."

Shippo's unchewed food fell from his gaping mouth, "What do you mean?" "You're leaving again?" He padded across to Miroku.

Miroku looked solemn for a moment, withdrawing into himself for a second before clearing his throat. "Yes, I must carry on to complete my journey."

"What is your journey exactly?" Inuyasha asked. "Since you've been here, all I've ever seen you do is chase accost women."

Miroku chuckled, "My intentions are nothing but pure." That revelation caused Shippo to snicker. Even Inuyasha had to suppress an urge to pique an eyebrow. "That doesn't explain what you're doing here. There are plenty of girls in the world, so protecting their integrity can't be why you're here or why you've stayed," Inuyasha said.

"Yes, I understand why you would question my quest. I have not been exactly forthcoming regarding my true intentions," Miroku sighed.

Shippo nodded, "It's obvious that it has something to do with your hand." He pointed at the monk's wrapped hand. "Plus you're always staring at it when you think no one is looking. Do you have warts or something?"

A shocked look passed over Miroku's face, and Inuyasha did snort in amusement. "Warts?!" Miroku exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's okay if you do," Shippo assured. "My Papa always told me that humans are covered in warts. I'm surprised that I haven't seen any humans with warts until now."

"I can assure you that it is not warts," he said with a shudder as if it were beneath him to carry such a disfigurement.

"Then what is it?" Inuyasha asked out of curiosity.

"It's a curse. One that has been passed down paternally from generation to generation. If I cannot remove the curse," Miroku took a deep breath, steadying himself, "I am destined to be swallowed up by it."

Shippo had crossed back over to put more food into his mouth, "Swawowed?" he asked, his mouth full of food. He gulped, "By what?"

Inuyasha picked at his food slowly and deliberately. While it was uncharacteristic of Shippo, he did not attempt to press Miroku any further for information. Miroku held his covered hand to his face and took a deep breath but said no more, obviously lamenting his predicament.

The small hearth fire in the room crackled and provided a break to the silence permeating the small dwelling. Inuyasha stared into the flames, contemplating everything. Had he really expected Kagome to come back? What was so important about her return? He assumed that she would be gone for good once she left, taking the Shikon Jewel with her. Now that it was gone, there was no reason for him to stay, just as there was no reason for Miroku to stay.

"I suppose you could come with me," Miroku suggested.

Inuyasha, pulled from his thoughts, regarded the monk. "Nah, I'll stay."

"Hmm," was all Miroku replied.

Shippo jumped up and exclaimed proudly, "Inuyasha and me promised Kagome we would stay at the village and protect it!"

Miroku chuckled, "I think I understand." He gave a knowing look to Inuyasha. "I shall depart in the morning then. I wish you well, Inuyasha." The monk stood up and dusted off his robes before leaving the dwelling.

Shippo rolled his eyes, "He's not gonna leave."

"And what makes you think that?" Inuyasha questioned. Shippo had been rescued by Miroku and traveled together for a time, but they were not close. No, Shippo had formed more of a bond with Kagome, but she was not here either, leaving Inuyasha as a surrogate.

"He's always blustering on about leaving but he never does. He's waiting for Kagome to come back," Shippo answered. He crossed his arms beneath his chest, imitating Inuyasha.

Shippo had turned out to be correct because Miroku had not left the next day. Nor the day after, nor the day after that. Perhaps he was waiting for Kagome to return with the Jewel, though Inuyasha was not sure why.

The people of the village continued to avoid

Inuyasha. At least until the yokai came. Lesser yokai began to assail the town in increasing numbers, which was odd given that the Shikon Jewel was not there. Inuyasha dispatched each menace quickly, and the villagers began to warm up to his presence, calling him their savior. Their behavior towards him was entirely unexpected and made him uneasy. In all of the long years of his life, people had always shunned him, used him, or abused him. No one ever accepted him. It was not until he'd met Kagome that he began to let down his guard and feel like something more than a nuisance or a tool. She was the real reason that he stayed. Though, that was no secret.

It had been nearly a month since Kagome had left. Miroku was convinced she would not return now and had begun courting a young woman in the village. Shippo had taken to following Inuyasha around, which Inuyasha found annoying. He'd found solitude to be comfortable, and Shippo found loneliness unbearable. There was no middle ground, and that was how Kaede came upon them one morning, bickering.

"Inuyasha!" she huffed, out of breath from running to find him. "Hurry! Mononoke ambushed the east side of the village."

Inuyasha jumped up, throwing Shippo off the side, who had been pulling at his ears during an argument. "Where's Miroku?"

"I could not find the Hoshi," Kaede responded.

Inuyasha nodded and leaped into the air to cover more ground, leaving Kaede and Shippo behind.

He sailed over the small huts and houses of the village and could see a small horde of lesser yokai assaulting people by the riverside. The men from the village had poured out to hold off the assault with pitchforks, slings, and the odd bow, but their successes were few. As he landed, he could see one young woman being molested by a demon, its forked tongue wrapped around her wrist and its maw open to devour her. Before he could intervene, he heard a yell. "Umi!"

Inuyasha's head swiveled towards the sound, and he saw Miroku sprinting in his direction with his staff in hand. Inuyasha looked back at the woman, and it dawned on him that this was the girl Miroku had been courting. Shippo told him that Miroku began their courtship by asking her to bear his children, and when she did not respond by slapping him, they began to see each other. Inuyasha had never met the girl, but she was dangerously close to losing her life to the yokai. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if Miroku would thank him or resent him for intervening when it was possible that the Monk could save her. He remembered from his time with Boss how the gang would hate to be one-upped and have their pride damaged. The outcome was never right. But Miroku was not part of that world. Inuyasha finally resolved to step in and made to destroy the demon but stopped when he felt a pull at his clothing and his footing.

Inuyasha's head whipped over to see Miroku remove the charm from his covered right hand, and his eyes widened at the vortex that pulled everything in its path inside of the tiny black hole. The sound was deafening, and Inuyasha froze to see the horde of yokai being sucked into that hole. Miroku's face contorted into anger, and he casually moved his aim to suck in every last one of the marauding demons. The demon holding the girl Umi had stopped attempting to eat her but did not release its grip. Miroku saved that demon for last and expertly positioned the vortex to pull the demon within. In seconds the demon's snakelike body was pulled up off the ground and into the tunnel. However, it still had its forked tongue wrapped around Umis wrist, and she was also pulled up. Miroku noticed this a second too late and moved to cover his hand. The deafening roar silenced, leaving Inuyasha's ears ringing, and the remaining villagers began to pick themselves up from the ground. Most had gone to their knees once Miroku's weapon had been revealed.

Miroku stared at the ground, his mouth agape. Instead of Umi, was nothing more than the sandal from her foot. Miroku had unintentionally sucked her up into his tunnel. The monk sunk to his knees at the realization.

Inuyasha jumped over to where Miroku sat motionlessly. His hands balled into fists at his knees, and he did not look up at Inuyasha's approach. "I killed her," he said matter of factly.

"It was an accident," Inuyasha consoled. Loss was not new to him, so he could not easily empathize. He really could think of nothing to say.

"My curse assures that I shall die alone and with no one to carry on my name," he lamented angrily.

At this time, Kaede hurried to the scene with Shippo at her side. "What has happened?" she asked.

"The Mononoke are destroyed," Miroku said quietly.

Inuyasha looked over at the old woman and shrugged, unsure of what he had seen. Shippo had the sense to keep quiet but looked at Miroku worriedly.

Kaede observed the area, noting that there was no trace of yokai. She rested her gaze on Miroku, who sat white-knuckle on the ground. "Let us retire to my home and discuss the matter."

o - o - o - o - o

They walked in silence to Kaede's hut. Once they got closer, Inuyasha detected a familiar scent, causing him to run ahead of the group. The sudare was rolled up, and Inuyasha stopped in front of the small house, peering into the doorway.

Inside, Kagome stood up, still dressed in her strange garb. "Hey guys, sorry it took me so long. I had to wrap some things up and I..." she trailed off, sensing the mood. "What's going on?"

The rest of the group also stopped once they realized what had stopped Inuyasha in his tracks. Shippo bounded forward with glee and launched himself into Kagome's arms. "Kagome! You're back!"

"Yeah, I'm back. I said I would, didn't I?"

"Why are your clothes so weird?" the kitsune asked, taking in her strange attire. "Is what people wear in your village?"

Kagome put Shippo down and giggled half-heartedly, "I suppose it is a little strange." She had returned wearing a sweater and denim jeans which had yet to be invented. She looked around at the group standing before her...something had happened. She instantly gravitated to Miroku's pained expression. "Miroku?"

The monk said nothing but walked in and knelt, looking at nothing and no one. Kagome's brow furrowed, and she looked to Kaede for answers. The old woman closed her eyes and nodded. "That is what we've come to discuss, Kagome." Kaede gestured for Inuyasha to enter her home and followed him in. Once everyone was seated, Kaede brewed a pot of soothing tea and finally sat while the water was heated.

Kagome was having trouble with the silence. "Will someone please tell me what's happening? Miroku is acting as if someone died."

Miroku's eyes widened at the words, and Kagome could see a twitch in his cheek. "That's exactly what happened," he supplied.

"What? How?" Kagome asked. She looked over at Inuyasha, whose eyes rested on Miroku but not his face, his clenched fists.

His voice cracked when he spoke, "My curse...the Kazaana. It is a wind tunnel that is going to swallow me up if I do not break the curse."

"What curse is this, Hoshi?" Kaede inquired. She had risen to pass cups out to those who wanted them.

"One that has been passed down from my grandfather. He was a very powerful monk that battled against the demon Naraku for many years. This particular demon could shift-change into different forms, whether that be an unsuspecting old woman, to an innocent child. They would waylay each other with my grandfather prevailing the victor, but never being able to finish the bastard off before Naraku would slink off to lick at his wounds. The last time that Naraku and my grandfather came upon each other, Naraku came in the form of a beautiful young woman." Miroku took a cup of proffered tea from Kaede and took a sip. "My grandfather, ever the lady's man, was taken aback by the woman's beauty."

Shippo had sidled up to Inuyasha and whispered, "He means his grandfather was a lecher." Inuyasha absently flicked Shippo in the head, urging the kitsune to keep quiet.

Miroku continued, "He was unable to attack the woman and she, actually being Naraku, pierced his hand in his hesitance, inflicting the Kazaana curse upon him and all future males within his line to bear the curse until they are eventually consumed by it."

"I still don't understand," Kagome interjected. "You said that someone died?"

"Umi…" Miroku said.

"Who's Umi?" Kagome asked.

Kaede shook her head, "Ah, child. I am sorry for your loss."

"It's my fault. I killed her," Miroku said with another break of his voice. "I didn't know her that well, but...I…"

"Did you love her?" Kagome asked. She still was not quite sure what had happened, but judging from Miroku's reaction, it impacted him significantly.

"No...but I cared for her in a small way. I had not had the opportunity to...I may never have the opportunity to…"

"How do you break the curse?" Inuyasha interrupted.

"I have to find Naraku and kill him. Only then will the curse be broken," Miroku said. "I don't know if I will make it until then. So, my only alternative is to assure that my line lives on through my heir."

"So, you've given up on looking for Naraku? Is that what you are saying?" Kagome asked.

Miroku shot her a defensive look, "I have no choice. Naraku has been dormant since my grandfather received the Kazaana. I've spent my entire life searching for him and have not even heard a rumor of him."

"Quit yer bellyaching and go find him then," Inuyasha said matter-of-factly. Everyone turned to look at Inuyasha quizzically.

Miroku looked annoyed. "You make it sound so easy. It is not your life in the balance."

"It is easy," Inuyasha emphasized, "Kagome is back, and she has the Shikon Jewel with her. That's supposed to draw yokai, ain't it? Well, let's use that to draw this Naraku and kill him."

Shippo put a hand to his head in a thoughtful gesture, "That doesn't sound like that bad of an idea. Coming from Mr. Talkative." Inuyasha growled his annoyance at the kitsune and raised a fist until he saw Kagome looking at him with questioning eyes. He quickly put his fist down, hoping not to offend her. Kagome did find Inuyasha's behavior curious. He was not the same from when she departed, and he seemed to be coming out of his shell, though he was a little rough around the edges than she would have hoped.

"Inuyasha does have a point, Hoshi," Kaede said. All turned to the woman as she settled into a sitting position. "The Shikon Jewel being present in this age is unfavorable, but with Kagome here to act as the purifier and Inuyasha to protect her, I grant that Inuyasha's suggestion - that evil will flock here - may likely come to pass."

Miroku placed a hand on his chin, "It would make more sense for the Jewel to stay in the same place. Lure Naraku here and then end him."

"I agree. Staying put places us in the most advantageous position. If we leave then we will be on anyone else's terms but our own. Not knowing exactly what this Naraku is capable of is our key issue," Kagome said.

"Shape-shifting is naturally one of his capabilities. He is cautious and will not risk himself for something he does not deem a sure thing," Miroku supplied.

"Then let's make sure this is a sure thing," Inuyasha said.

Chapter Text

The rest of the evening was spent planning and strategizing. The plan was simple on its face: stay put and let Naraku come to them. Miroku had decided to resume his travels to spread the rumor to draw Naraku out sooner. Shippo, though reluctant, felt he should embark with the monk to assist in his journey and hasten the rumors. Kagome was still determining that part of the plan, as neither she nor Inuyasha had any idea of what the demon Naraku looked like nor what to expect. However, Miroku was adamant that his departure was necessary.

"Naraku is cruel and calculating. He will likely use whatever he contrives as your weakness to beguile and entreat you, and finally, once your defenses are down, he will strike where you are most vulnerable." Miroku advised as he shouldered a small pack and knelt to retrieve his staff.

Kagome grimaced, looking over to Inuyasha, whose eyes were on her. She felt warmth creep into her cheeks under his intense gaze and shifted her back to Miroku. "I...I wish you'd both stay, but I understand why you feel it is best to go. Though I am uncertain how you plan to return in an instant if Naraku is successfully lured here."

"Lady, I am confident in your abilities and also in the fact that while Naraku is power hungry, he is also vengeful. He will want me to witness his triumph and my demise." Miroku gripped his staff tightly.

Shippo jumped to his shoulder, always looking to offer a moment of levity, "Don't worry, I'll keep the lecher in line, and we'll be back lickity split if we get a whiff of Naraku." Miroku sighed and brought the top of his staff back to knock the kitsune in the head. Shippo grimaced and rubbed at the spot on his head, "Hey!"

Kagome brought a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. "Shippo, I almost hope you don't know what a lecher is, but I appreciate the gesture."

Still rubbing at a lump forming on his head, he looked at Miroku through the slits of his eyes, "Well, you guys say that about him enough."

Miroku sighed and pushed Shippo off his perch with his free hand. "We shall return in a fortnight. Good luck Lady Kagome….and you Inuyasha."

Inuyasha nodded, his arms crossed. He seemed quite stoic today, but given the circumstances, Kagome could understand why. He had been quiet the night before as well.

The pair left rather unceremoniously, waved off by Kaede, Kagome, Inuyasha, and some of the villagers. Once their figures had receded into the distance, the departing entourage left to go about their ways. Kagome turned to Inuyasha and tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder, "I suppose we should carry one as usual?" and offered a small smile.

Just as she had suggested, life did carry on as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary happened for the first few weeks. Miroku and Shippo had returned and departed again, all as planned. A few minor demons had shown up, drawn to the Shikon Jewel's power, but Inuyasha had dealt with them promptly before even Kagome could sense their presence. Kagome was astounded by his ability to deal with every threat so efficiently. At first, witnessing his cold, almost animalistic approach was disconcerting. However, Kagome realized that not all demons were like the few she met in the Feudal Era. These minor demons were driven by a single-minded desire to possess the Jewel's power. They slew and devoured anything in their path to attain it.

The second time a yokai broached the outer edge of the village, Kagome had been conversing with Kaede on an ailment that had befallen one of the village children with Inuyasha leaned against the side of a house and pretending not to hear every word shared. She broke off the conversation, nearly feeling the tension emanating from Inuyasha. From the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Inuyasha's ears swivel on his head, and his arms dropped to his side. Turning her head, she saw his eyes focused off in the distance, and in an instant, he jumped up, vaulting high and over many houses at a time. That's when Kagome felt it, the faint dark aura of yokai. It was different than the aura that Inuyasha gave off. His yoki was wholesome and light, whereas the other yokai, outside of Shippo, had seemed tainted and sickly.

Kagome had rushed off to follow after Inuyasha. She wasn't quite sure why; it was not as if he needed her help, but she felt compelled to at least be present and assist if she could. It was her responsibility now to protect the village. After several minutes, she arrived outside of the village on the perimeter of the forest line, and she could see the red of Inuyasha's haori flash by as he ran to continue his assault on the threat. Once he'd settled for a moment, Kagome caught a look of his face. It seemed emotionless and distant.

The yokai had come together in a mass of writhing bodies, scales, disproportionate limbs, disembodied heads, and amorphous figures. There was already a trail of bodies that Inuyasha had slain lying in fleshy heaps from where he had reaved through them in a blast of yoki focused in his clawed hands. Kagome came to a halt, having gotten close enough to smell the stink from the lumps of flesh lying at her feet. She stepped back, not realizing how close she had come to stepping in the goo. 'Gross,' she thought to herself before looking up to see a gaping maw with jagged teeth careening toward her. With a gasp, Kagome reached her back for her bow, only to find herself grasping at air. The blood drained from her face, realizing that she had forgotten to grab it and headed toward danger with nothing to protect herself.

The yokai made a gurgling sound as it broke away from the rest of the mass of yokai, "SHIKKKKONNN." Kagome gasped and tried to think quickly, "STOP!" she yelled, stretching her hands out in front of her. 'It worked once before with the centipede yokai…' her thoughts trailed off.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha called in alarm. Kagome's head snapped up and over. Inuyasha's eyes widened with concern, and he rushed towards the yokai, claws extended. With a savage snarl, he ripped through the creature, rending flesh from bone and sending bits and pieces flying. Kagome gasped again, this time in surprise as fleshy bits and dark blood had been sprayed on her. She looked down at her haori to assess the damage, bringing her hands up to wipe away what she could. "Disgusting!" she yelled, angry and embarrassed. Inuyasha smirked at her. He brought a clawed hand to her face and gently flecked a glob of flesh from her nose. When she flinched, he gave a low chuckle.

Bemused, Kagome crossed her arms, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Inuyasha let his smirk drop, and they both turned to regard the swarm of yokai that lingered several yards away. Clearly, the mass of yokai hesitated to attack, and Kagome was sure a couple had already fled after the initial onslaught. Inuyasha did not wait for their hesitation to diminish before he lunged toward the group of yokai and continued to make short work of the remainder.

It was short work; indeed, it had only taken moments. Once he'd finished, Inuyasha expertly flicked his blood-soaked claws and looked to Kagome, his face stoic again. Kagome still felt her cheeks flaming red with shame over her earlier mess. It had nothing to do with Inuyasha looking at her or how close he had been. She couldn't figure out if he was cold and unfeeling or had just been so abused that he did not know how to act. His concern when she was in danger was intriguing, to say the least. He flashed a small smile without realizing that she was staring at him. Quickly, she turned on her heel and stalked off, leaving him to wonder what had happened.

"Kagome," Inuyasha called to her. He ran to catch up with her. "Where are you going? The village is in the other direction?"

Without stopping, her cheeks still red, she huffed, "I'm not going back there with all of this gunk all over me." She gestured to her hair and clothes, though nothing would wash the dark matter from her clothing. "There's a stream not far from here where I can clean off a bit. Follow me if you'd like, but once I go in you'd better not peep!"

Inuyasha's step faltered, "Peep?" he asked, almost too innocently.

Kagome looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Yeah, you know...look at me while I'm not dressed. It's indecent," she said matter-of-factly. He did not respond but followed her in silence until she reached the stream. She looked left, then right, ensuring that the area she had chosen was isolated and nothing or no one was around. She wasn't sure why anyone would be around outside the village, but old habits die hard. Growing up in a metropolis teeming with people, even in a vaguely remote area of that metropolis where her family's shrine was seldom visited by outsiders, prompted her to always have a subconscious feeling that someone was nearby. Here, in the Feudal Era, it was much more open and quiet.

The area she had stopped at offered a shallow opening to the stream bed. Secluded by trees and other flora on either side, the spot was optimal for her bathing. The current was pushing along lazily here, and Kagome walked up to the edge, daring to kneel and test the temperature of the water. She gasped, 'Cold!' Why that would surprise her, she did not know and shook the thought from her mind. Scanning the area some more, she spotted a nice

"Okay, I'm going to go in. You can wait over there behind those bushes and stay there," Kagome instructed, pointing to a copse of bushes further down the stream bed. Inuyasha nodded his understanding and walked several yards until he'd reached the area and a safe distance away. Satisfied that he could not easily see her once she disrobed, Kagome removed the soiled, smelling clothes. She turned her head to check that Inuyasha's back was turned, but he had disappeared into the bushes and trees. With a slight grimace, she took a tentative step into the water. The cold shocked her senses, sending gooseflesh running up and down her arms, legs, and spine. 'All at once then!' she decided, taking several steps back and hurrying into the water.

She stopped and began washing in the middle of the stream, where the water came up to her waist. The water was freezing cold and, on its own, did little to remove the gore from her hair and skin, but she did the best she could. Once she felt clean enough, she moved to exit the stream but pulled up short, nearly forgetting that Inuyasha was out there. She looked down to where she had instructed him to wait but saw no sign of him. Hesitant to leave the obscurity of the water, she strained to catch sight of his red suikan, but to no avail.

"Inu...yasha?" she called, almost too softly. He seemed to have a heightened sense of hearing, but she doubted he would have heard her nearly inaudible call over the sound of the running water. "Inuyasha?" she called louder this time. Still nothing, no response, no sounds of him moving through the bushes, no sight of him. "Inuyasha!" she yelled, panic filling her. Why wasn't he answering her? It was unlike him to disappear and leave her unattended like this. Had another yokai come upon him and caught him unaware?

"Inuyasha!" she nearly screamed, stepping out of the water towards the stream's edge.

With a crash, and a splash, Inuyasha appeared, jumping into the water in a battle stance. He had that hard, determined look on his face while he scanned the area for any threats. Kagome gaped at him, startled by his dramatic entrance. His gaze turned to her after he found nothing amiss. For a moment, he stared, his mouth open a little, and his ears turned towards her. At that moment, she remembered and screamed, attempting to cover herself with her hands. "INUYASHA!" she yelled in a rage. "I told you not to look!"

Confusion swept over his features, his brows coming together. "But," he started before Kagome continued. "Turn around, dammit!" she yelled, her cheeks flaming red. Once he turned, still in the water, Kagome darted to grab her clothes, only now to find them completely soaked. Inuyasha's arrival caused a wave of water to drench them. She cursed herself for leaving them so close to the water's edge. With a groan, she turned and found Inuyasha's back still turned towards her. "Inuyasha…"

He began to turn towards her voice. "Don't turn around!" she said speedily before the motion was complete. He stopped moving, hands slack at his sides. "Can I...borrow your suikan?" she hesitated before adding, "my own clothes are soaked."

Without a response, he quickly removed his outer jacket, holding the red suikan in an outstretched hand. Kagome trudged through the water and grabbed the proffered garment with a grumble of thanks before slipping it on and tying the excess around her waist. Thankfully the garment extended past her thighs, resting as modestly as possible mid-thigh. Once she felt decent, she began her verbal assault.

"I told you not to look!" she yelled, nearly furious, with her hand clenched at her sides. Inuyasha still stood with his back facing her and standing knee-deep in the water. "Turn around when I'm yelling at you!"

He turned as she commanded, the confusion wiped from his face, replaced by a nearly blank expression. Kagome felt taken aback. He looked withdrawn...distant...and shamed. She gulped down her fury. Instead, she tried a different direction, "Why didn't you answer when I called out for you?"

"You told me to stay," he answered matter-of-factly. She groaned, "Yes, but only so you wouldn't see me naked Inuyasha! You still could have answered."

"I didn't know I was supposed to. And when you screamed, I thought something had happened and came." He finally strode to the bank and out of the water. "I don't understand why it upsets you to be naked around others," he stated. He faced her fully, looking down at her with his amber eyes. "You look fine without clothes," he told her.

Kagome felt her jaw go slack, and the flame that had been in her cheeks spread out. First, in anger, which moved to embarrassment, it finally turned into something else that she couldn't put her finger on. Rather than berate him more for something he clearly did not understand, she sighed. "I...You... It's not proper for a man to see a woman without clothing. At least not until they are married," she explained.

Inuyasha seemed to be working it out, and Kagome turned on her heel, kneeling to grab her clothes. "Let's just get back." Wordlessly, he followed.

o - o - o - o - o

After that day, Kagome tried to avoid Inuyasha but was unsuccessful. She was angry at him for many reasons, but none that she could voice aloud and some that she didn't quite understand. His child-like understanding of things, as annoying as it could be at times, was not his fault after all. Whatever had happened to him before he'd become pinned to the Goshinboku tree had prevented him from learning integral things about the world. Humans had many intricacies that even competent individuals had a difficult time grasping. Kagome only wished that Inuyasha would open up about his past, but he was very tight-lipped, usually ignoring the question or giving her a blank stare. If only Inuyasha would not stare at her so much. "Stop it," she said out loud one day.

"Stop what?" he asked, his ears swiveling towards her slightly. He was crouched down - nearly on all fours - a few feet from where she worked in a small garden, doing her best to recall which green tendrils were weeds and the shoots from the plant she was cultivating. With a frustrated sigh, she threw down the gardening tool in her hand. "Nothing," she grumbled. Kagome could not admit that she worried he might be thinking about seeing her unclothed, bare to his probing eyes... and all that he had said was that she looked fine!

As if reading her thoughts, he turned his gaze towards the village, away from her. "Are you still angry about the river?" he asked unabashedly. Turning away from him, she grabbed the small spade and began stabbing the soil, murdering the weeds. She hoped they were weeds. "Yes!" she blurted out, then changed her mind, "No." Her mind was reeling over something as stupid as a man seeing her naked, and it had not fazed him in the slightest. "I'm fine. Just fine."

She stabbed at the burgeoning green tendrils some more for good measure, focusing on the task at hand. She heard a small chuckle from behind her and whipped around, spade in hand, perhaps to throw it at his head, even though she doubted it would do any good.

"You don't seem fine," Inuyasha replied. He stood, took a few steps towards her, and peered down at the small garden. "You stabbed the shoot a lot. I don't know much about growing things, but killing them doesn't seem correct," he observed.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm fine," she assured him, lowering the spade but gripping it tightly. He looked prone to say more but was cut off by the toll of a bell in the distance. They both became alert at the sound, signaling a warning, and Kagome quickly rose to her feet. Bells had been installed around the village perimeter, at the suggestion of Kaede, so that if anyone unusual - or anything unusual - appeared, Inuyasha and Kagome could be quickly notified and deal with the issue. The bell tolled in the northwest, opposite where they were positioned now. With his speed, Kagome knew that Inuyasha could reach the signal in moments, if not seconds, but it would take her much longer to get there. Their eyes met, and Inuyasha knelt, "Get on my back. I can get us both there quicker." He gestured to her with a clawed hand.

She'd never ridden on anyone's back, not to mention a hanyo who could leap incredible distances, making it seem like he could fly. She hesitated for a moment, grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows, and rushed over to climb on his back. Inuyasha tucked his arms under her knees while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Kagome was unsure she was ready for this and dipped her head into the corner of Inuyasha's neck. His silver-cropped hair had grown longer over the past months, now beginning to brush his shoulders. With her head buried in the crook of his neck, she could feel the soft warmth emanating from his body. She inhaled deeply, preparing herself for flight but instead found Inuyasha's scent pleasant. Many earthy aromas, wood, grass, and even the slightest bit of mint spiraled through her senses. And before she could fully register, she felt the stomach-dropping sensation of gravity pushing against them once Inuyasha vaulted into the air, followed by the wind blowing through her hair. The only way she could describe it would be like riding some crazy rollercoaster, except on a roller coaster; there was always the added feeling of security knowing you were strapped down. As they glided through the air, Kagome risked a peek. Looking down, she could see the tiny doll-sized village houses beneath them. It was nearly as exhilarating as riding a roller coaster, she thought to herself. She looked ahead and could clearly see the bell stand and, next to it, a villager waiting as he spotted the pair soaring through the sky.

Within a moment, the flight was over, and Inuyasha knelt to allow Kagome off his back. It had only been a moment, but her knees still wobbled. Inuyasha pointed to the wood line, bringing Kagome back to reality. She followed to where he pointed and saw a man kneeling among the grass, watching...waiting. Upon closer examination, Kagome could see that the man did not look like a man but a baboon.

The villager who had sounded the alarm ran up to them. The man panted, though he had only run a few paces towards them. "Thank goodness you've come. I... it's over there," he told them with a shaky voice, pointing with an equally trembling hand toward the creature Inuyasha had already pointed out. Kagome looked to see the figure still perched beyond the boundary of the village. Inuyasha had not taken his eyes off the figure, and Kagome could have sworn that he was emitting a low, rumbling growl. "What happened?" Kagome asked the villager. The man shook his head, "Well, nothing. That thing has been sighted at different sections of the village all morning, never moving any closer. No one sees it move, so it has to be an angry spirit!"

Inuyasha stood, saying nothing, and Kagome looked up at him before soothing the villager. "Okay, thank you for sounding the alarm. We will take care of it if there is a threat. Go back to your home and protect your family," she told him. The villager ran a hand through sweaty hair and trotted back towards the sanctity of the village, where he was met by a gathering crowd of onlookers, some armed with primitive weapons, ready to fight off a threat should there be one. However, they had no reason to call to arms as heavily as they had since Kagome had brought the Shikon no Tama back into existence. Kaede's village had yet to grow used to having a powerful protector such as Inuyasha.

Kagome moved towards the man, but Inuyasha put a hand out to stop her. When she looked up at him in confusion, he merely shook his head and gestured for her to stay behind him. He approached the ominous figure slowly, feeling out the situation with caution. Kagome followed close behind, not yet drawing her bow. She did not want to appear threatening to this individual without knowing the reason he or she lingered. They stopped several feet away, and Kagome moved to stand beside Inuyasha; this time, he made no attempt to stop her. Kaede was usually the one to lead these types of discussions, but she had yet to arrive. "Who are you? And why have you come?" Kagome asked.

The figure did not move save for the head, which turned in her direction. The man, or spirit, or whatever it may be, was wearing a baboon's skin draped over his body. Despite the intentional head turn, the stillness was eerie and sent shivers down Kagome's spine. The creature did not answer.

"Is there something we can help you with?" Kagome tried.

"Yes," a quiet voice said from beneath the fur.

"What can we help you with?" she asked, annoyed at the pretentious behavior. Inuyasha still said nothing and remained poised to jump should that become necessary.

"Inu," the man said with finality. His head that of the robed creature, turned towards Inuyasha. "Inu…" he said quietly.

Kagome looked up to see if there was a spark of recognition or anything from Inuyasha beside her. His face remained unmoved, though she could feel him tense next to her.

The creature stood and took a few tentative steps forward. Inuyasha's claws were prone and ready. Human hands reached out from under the fur to move to the hood, pulling it away to reveal his face. The man that stood before them, garbed in a robe of baboon skin, was old, grizzled, and wore a smirk on his face. "Inu," the man said again.

Inuyasha's eyes widened, the breath stolen from him. "Who is that Inuyasha?" Kagome asked. "He seems to know you."

"Know me he does, girl," the old man said in a condescending tone. "Come to me, Inu. Bosu beckons ye."