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Chapter Text

PART ONE

Prologue

The sun shined down between the treetops of the Inuyasha forest. The birds chirped and the small animals roamed about. It was a day like this that no one suspected that deep within, pinned to a tree by the woman he loved, slept a half-demon. Footsteps sounded, the light crunch of sandals pressing into the grass. A middle-aged woman made her way towards the tree, taking in the slumbering young man. He rested against the trunk of the tree, silver tresses flowing softly in the spring breeze. He was covered in vines as if the tree were trying to absorb him.

Stepping closer towards the tree, Kaede kept a hand on her bow. Every morning she made her rounds in the forest, looking for any lower demons who tried to cause harm to her village. And every morning, she checked for any change towards Inuyasha's progress. Nothing had changed within the last thirty-nine years since her sister's passing, and the old woman was starting to wonder if the demon would ever awaken.

So many years since she had last seen the demon in front of her, awake and defending her village. Close to forty years since he fell in love with her sister, made her feel more like a woman and not just a priestess sworn by duty. The priestess wondered, what brought him to the point of betrayal?

She may have been young, but even she could see they loved each other. She had seen how pained Kikyo had been to aim an arrow towards her lover. Her bleeding wound had not been what caused her grief. It had been the breaking of her heart.

"Lady Kaede!" cried a voice. Kaede turned towards the sound, seeing a young girl rushing towards her. Upon spotting the priestess, the girl stopped short and caught her breath. "Lady Kaede, I've found you," she huffed.

"Yuiko, what brings you so deep into the forest?"

Yuiko glanced up at her mentor through her eyelashes and then gave a sheepish smile. "I wanted to see where it is you go in the mornings. My mother...my mother told me of the demon who sleeps in these woods."

She cut her eyes up to the young man asleep at the base of the tree. He looked beautiful; it was almost hard to believe that he had slain their former priestess. Yuiko knew little of the woman known as Kikyou. She only visited her grave with her family out of respect for the dead. She also knew that Lady Kaede was her younger sister.

Kaede smiled at the young girl. "That's exceedingly kind of you, Yuiko. I thank ye, child."

"Is this him, milady?"

"Aye," answered the priestess. She turned her eye back on his sleeping form.

"Lady Kaede, why do you come here every morning? The spell placed on this demon feels powerful."

"Aye, it is. However, one can never be too careless, Yuiko. My sister may be gone, but we do not know how long this spell will hold," Kaede cautioned and then made one more glance at the young man before turning her back towards him.

"Come along child, we have some herbs to gather."

"Coming milady!" Yuiko called, turning on her heel to follow. She walked two steps before pausing and then turning back to the sleeping demon.

He was absolutely stunning, she thought. It was a shame he had almost destroyed their village. Yuiko wished that things had been different. Perhaps if they had, Lady Kaede wouldn't be so sad. She should pray on it. She raised her hands, pressing her palms together and then shutting her eyes. She offered up a prayer.

"Please atone for the wrongs you have done. I will pray for you and hope that a blessing comes for you, Inuyasha."

With the prayer finished, she opened her eyes and bowed her head to him before turning to run after Kaede. The wind blew through the forest, carrying the prayer to anyone who would listen.

Chapter Text

Chapter One: The Spirit

“Lady Kaede!” 

The older woman looked up from the herbs she had been bundling. Yuiko was rushing towards her, dragging someone behind her. As she squinted her good eye, the priestess noticed the woman was carrying something on her back. 

The child came closer and settled into a light jog before halting all together as they came within speaking range. Yuiko gripped the fence she had clambered onto and inhaled deeply. 

“Yuiko, whatever has gotten into you?” asked the older woman.

“Lady Kaede, this woman is a traveling exterminator!” the smile on the child’s face was bright as she craned her head towards their visitor. The woman couldn’t be older than her mid-twenties. Her hair was long, deep brown in color and her eyes just as brown. Freckles adorned her face and she smiled timidly at the priestess. 

“A pleasure to meet you,” she said, bowing in respect. 

“A demon slayer?” Kaede was puzzled. They rarely had any demons in the forest. Inuyasha’s presence oddly kept many demons at bay. 

“Yes milady,” grinned Yuiko. “She is looking for a job!” 

“Ah, no it isn’t that,” the woman shook her head. “I am looking for a place to stay for the night. My son and I have traveled far, and I am willing to do some chores so I can earn my stay.” 

Kaede blinked, a son? She looked at the straps on her shoulders and the woman noticed. She turned at an angle, showing the sleeping infant nestled in the swaddle. 

She frowned, “How old is he?”

“A year old,” answered the demon slayer with a soft smile. “Oh where are my manners? My name is Chiyako and this is my son, Kohaku.” 

“I am Kaede,” 

Yuiko, who was bouncing on her feet, leaned forward on the rail of the fence. “Please milady, can they stay?” 

Kaede smiled warmly at the child. She was obviously smitten with the slumbering child and Kaede could be displeased with herself if she let a mother and child wonder the night. 

“I have room in my hut,” the priestess said. “And you do not need to do any chores, Your services to humanity are enough, Chiyako.” 

Chiyako beamed at the woman. “Thank you so much!” she cried and bent down into another bow. Kaede chuckled at the woman. She was a lovely young woman. 

:::

The wind blew through the Inuyasha forest, one of the few sounds that could be heard. Chiyako hummed as she walked through the trees. It was sunset and soon the moon would hang high in the sky. 

She had come out to clear her thoughts. Kohaku had been sleeping for a good portion of the day and she had left him with Kaede, trusting the priestess for now. She had wanted to scope the area and also think. 

Kohaku had been fussy for the earlier parts of the day until they had come close to the village, settling down for a nap. She shouldn’t have brought him on this journey with her but Hiroshi and Sango had been off on a training exercise and some of their other exterminators had gone off on a mission or were enjoying the downtime with their families. She hadn’t wanted to disturb that peace so she gathered what she could, swaddled her son and took off for her own mission. 

The innkeeper who had summoned them had been kind enough to keep Kohaku away from the poisonous fumes as she worked. A rat demon who had been causing nothing but trouble. It was an easy mission and one she had managed with little fuss. 

They had traveled on the main road for two days before coming across Kaede’s village. Meaning she had been gone close to four days now. Hiroshi was worried sick, though she trusted her husband was keeping to their rule: they only came looking for the other if neither showed up after five days. She only needed to rest for the night (at least for a few hours) and then they would be on their way. 

Chiyako walked as she thought about her husband and daughter. They had been on her mind all day, as well as her son. 

It was as if she wouldn’t see them again. 

She shook her head as she walked deeper into the forest. Her eyes moved overhead to the soft hues of pink and orange. The sun was setting now and soon she would need to head back in the direction of the house. 

“...go back, Milord.” 

She paused at the sound of a voice. She turned towards the sound coming in the direction of a large tree trunk. Settling behind a tree, Chiyako peered out to see who had spoken. 

A small green imp stood with his back to her. In his hand was a two headed staff and he stood not too far off from another figure. This one was beautiful, hair long and while as the moon. He stood tall as he stared out at the tree. 

Chiyako followed his gaze and watched as a young man slept, held to the tree by various branches and thick vines. Like the man before her, his hair was just as white though his hair texture was shaggier. He slept peacefully as the world moved on, the only thing out of place was the arrow in his chest. 

Demons, this deep in the forest?

“Milord, we have nothing to fear,” said the imp. “The mutt still sleeps.” 

“Silence,” said the demon, his voice while soft was commanding. Chiyako watched as he turned towards her hiding place, eyes bright and golden as if noticing her. “Now we leave Jaken. I have seen all that I need to.”

The imp gave a nod, “Yes Milord!” he cried as the other demon began to float and then ascend towards the sky. Chiyako blinked as she stared up at him. 

Strange, she mused as she came out from her hiding spot. 

Her eyes moved towards the sleeping young man. He couldn’t be much older than fifteen years, she thought as she stepped closer. He really did look peaceful, she noticed as she took in his appearance. The same silver hair as the other man, though she did take notice of the pair of dog ears atop his head. 

Her eyes moved to land on the arrow in his chest. 

How long had he been sleeping, she wondered? Chiyako hummed and settled down into a crouch as she looked up at him. 

Who had done this to him?

Why was a demon hidden so deep in the woods? Chiyako pondered a lot of things as she stared up at him. 

“Odd, isn't it?”

She blinked and turned her gaze to the voice. A yelp left her throat as she started up at a figure she had known of her entire life. 

Midoriko smiled down at her descendant, a soft chuckle leaving her as Chiyako moved to settle into a bow. How adorable she thought as she watched the woman try and speak. 

But was one to say to a spirit? 

“M-m-milady Midoriko!” cried the demon slayer after several tries to find her voice. 

“It’s alright,” said the spirit as she stared down at her descendant and then back towards the slumbering demon, watching as his hair turned from white to black and his ears became replaced by human ones. The look on her face was somber as she looked back down at Chiyako who had watched the change, a look of shock on her face. “Chiyako, do not be afraid.” 

Chiyako watched as Midoriko walked up to the sleeping demon – or was he a human? – and then rested her hand on the arrow. She gave the arrow a soft squeeze. It busted before the demon slayer’s eyes into an array of spiritual energy. Midoriko smiled and then cradled the demon’s face softly, watching as he began to stir. 

“Chiyako, this demon before you,”

“Yes?”

“Keep him safe,” advised Midoriko as she drew the demon into an embrace, whispering something into his head and then smiled at her descendant. “I know you can do this.” 

“Lady Midoriko–” 

“Keep him safe,” she said one last time before fading from sight.  

Chiyako stared at the spot where the specter once stood before letting her eyes settle on the waking demon. He seemed to groan, eyelids fluttering as he looked up at the woman before him.