Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Summary: Inuyasha is presented with a one-time opportunity – to become a full demon. With his childhood years, not to mention the first ever reason for hunting down the Shikon Jewel in mind, his choice seems apparent – a no-brainer. But there's a catch. Becoming a demon will mean giving up the life he knows now. In fact, only he will remember his life as a hanyou, while others will now only know him as Inuyasha the youkai. Is he willing to give everything and everyone up?
Chapter One
"Inuyasha! Are you listening to me!"
The silver-haired hanyou in question said nothing, continuing to doze off.
"Inuyasha! I'm talking to you, ya know!"
He scoffed: "What is it wench? Can't you see I'm trying to rest?"
Kagome's balled her fists, an angry pout forming on her face. "Don't call me that, dog-boy."
"Keh. I can call you whatever I want wench."
Kagome growled. "Sit boy!"
Inuyasha, who had once been resting peacefully with his back against a tree trunk, arms folded across his chest, now found himself face down in the dirt. He hopped up and glared at Kagome, who was now taking on the role of innocence
"What you do that for wench!" he yelled.
"Do what, pray tell, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked coyly.
"You just sat me! What gives!"
"I did. Really? I don't recall saying the word sit–" Plop! Inuyasha found himself on the ground again. "–at least, not on purpose. I mean, I've tried not to say sit–" Bam! He was digging a deeper hole. "–as much as I used to. In fact, I don't think I said sit at all. Hmmm, sit, sit, sit. Well I'm sorry if I said it. I didn't mean to–"
"That's enough!" Inuyasha roared from his three foot deep hole.
Kagome smirked, obviously proud of herself. Inuyasha stood up and brushed off loose soil particles of his clothing. "Keh. Whatever." He murmured to himself. "What did you want anyway wench?"
The satisfied look on Kagome's face instantly disappeared. "What did you just call me?"
Inuyasha sighed in defeat. "What did you call me for Ka-go-may." He said, dragging out her name.
Her face became bright again. "Oh nothing important!" she said cheerfully. "I just wanted to see if you were asleep or not."
Inuyasha stared at the young girl, and his eye twitched, as rage began turning inside him. "You sat me all those times just because–"
"Hang on." Kagome said suddenly.
She turned away from him, missing the fact that Inuyasha was getting ready to throttle her. Instead, she peered intently into the thick wood. Inuyasha noticed that he was being ignored, but felt his anger quell when he saw the look on Kagome's face.
"What is it Kagome?" he asked, his tone now somber.
"I sense something…jewel shards…." Then she gasped. "Lots of them!"
"Naraku?" he asked.
"No, no…just a lot of jewel shards."
"Which way?" Kagome nodded northeast. "Alright then, let's go."
"Wait, what about Miroku and Sango, and Shippo?" The three of them had gone to Miss Kaede's hut in order to obtain more supplies for their trip.
"We'll meet them back here. Now let's go."
Inuyasha's tone carried too much finality for her to argue. So she hopped on his back and they dashed into the forest.
---
"Which way now Kagome?"
"Just keep going this way. The feeling is getting stronger."
Inuyasha continued to run. For him it felt like he was going nowhere, and even possibly getting a bit lost. But Kagome seemed sure of herself, and if anything, he could track one of their fellow comrades scents in a second to get back to them. Right now, his primary concern was jewel shards.
"Stop!" Kagome said suddenly.
Inuyasha came to a screeching halt, and let Kagome down. Looking around, all he saw was trees and grass. No sign of life anywhere.
"You sure it's right here?"
"Positive." Kagome said with a nod. "Just hang on a sec."
Inuyasha watched Kagome as she ventured around the small clearing, methodically touching trees. Then she gasped, and doubled back, in what Inuyasha took as fear. Instantly he was at her side.
"It's coming! Over there!" she cried, pointing with a trembling finger.
Inuyasha didn't have to be told twice. He could smell a demon of incredible power heading their way. Not to mention, if the heavy footsteps and dangerous roars were meant to bring on a sense of foreboding, it sure as hell was working.
"Listen to me Kagome." Inuyasha said in low voice. "You stay behind me okay."
Kagome nodded, then whispered: "Inuyasha, I sense about seven or eight shards. Will you be okay?"
Seven or eight? Damn that's a lot, he thought. Removing his Tessaiga from the sheath, he prepared himself for whatever was coming this way.
Then suddenly, it became still. No more footsteps. No more growling. No nothing.
"What happened?" Kagome asked hurriedly.
"Relax Kagome, I've got your back. Come on, let's get out of here before it comes back."
"Not yet you won't."
The voice was husky and crackling, but distinctly female. An old female appeared in the clearing. Her skin appeared leathery due to age, and her eyes were clouded over with blindness. Seeing that there was no longer a threat, Inuyasha sheathed his sword, but kept on his guard. He still didn't know what this hag was capable of.
Kagome's eyes immediately fell to the necklace around the woman's neck. Resting, plain as day, were eight jewel shards. Not wanting to make a scene of what she had just discovered, she grabbed Inuyasha's hand and squeezed it gently. When he looked at her, she nodded to her neck. Inuyasha took in the necklace, but said nothing out loud about it. The woman continued.
"A hanyou…and a miko, is it?" The two said nothing. "What, am I dealing with two mutes?"
"You tell us who you are first old hag." Inuyasha said, instantly offended by her statement.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome hissed.
The woman smiled. "So hanyou, is that your mate? Figures, a little half-breed like you would take a miko for your mate. They pity everyone, do they not?"
Inuyasha snarled, but Kagome squeezed his hand again, trying to get him to calm down. The woman stepped closer to them. Surprisingly her footing was sure.
"Poor little half-breed. Maybe you didn't have a choice. Maybe the other youkai weren't about to take a half-breed for a mate."
Inuyasha spoke, his tone threatening. "You call me half-breed one more time and I'll–"
Suddenly, the dangerous growls from before emitted from the thick forest around them. The woman laughed: an evil sounding cackle.
"Watch it half-breed. My little princess is a real demon, not a little imitation like you are, and will instantly tear you to shreds."
"Please Inuyasha." Kagome said soothingly into his ear as she felt him tensing again. "Calm down." Then she said to the woman: "I'm Kagome. And this is Inuyasha."
The woman smiled again. "Oh so you're a pup, huh half-breed."
"Please don't call him that." Kagome said in the most respectful tone she could muster. Impoliteness would get them nowhere. And it was obvious this woman had control over…whatever was out there. There would be no safe journey out of here if they were on her bad side.
"And what are you going to do about it? I can tell you barely know a thing about your powers, little miko. What is it? You have your little half-breed fight your battles for you?"
"It's not his fault he's a hanyou!" Kagome yelled, feeling irritated herself. This woman was being hurtful for no reason.
"No, but it's his fault that he chooses to stay that way."
Inuyasha and Kagome exchanged a curious look before turning back to the lady. "What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked.
The lady smiled again. "I mean what I say. I don't understand why a half-breed would choose to stay that way, when he or she could become a full fledged demon."
"I would need the completed Shikon Jewel, would I?"
"No, not necessarily."
"What? But how else–"
"We have our ways." She said, letting her voice trail and building the hanyou's curiosity even further.
"How!" he demanded. "Who are you?"
"Ryoko Mujin." She said. She gave them a humble bow. "At your service."
"Nice to meet you Ryoko." Kagome said, trying to revert back to being polite.
"What's this you're saying about turning me into a demon without using the Jewel." Inuyasha asked, getting straight to the point."
"I didn't say anything about you in particular. I just don't understand your kind."
"Skip the riddles why don't ya?" Inuyasha said, becoming impatient.
"Very well. It wouldn't take much. I'd just whip up a little something, perform a ritual, and you'd wake up a demon."
"It can't be that simple."
"I'm a kuro miko. I can do whatever I want."
"There's a catch then."
"Of course there's a catch." Ryoko said. "If you call it one. Being a demon would mean taking on a demon life. Your life as a hanyou would cease to exist, and therefore you would lose everything you have now."
"Including the people I know?"
"Let me put it this way half-breed. Everyone will be back, but they won't know you like they know you now. Only you'll remember this past life."
Inuyasha was quiet for a moment, then he asked in a low voice: "What would I have to do for you to do this for me?"
Kagome gasped, unable to believe what she had just heard. But she was ignored as Ryoko responded: "Absolutely nothing. I love helping out pathetic half-breeds like yourself. Just come to me and tell me when you're ready."
Inuyasha took a step towards her but Kagome quickly latched onto his arm. "Of course, he would have to think this all over." She said in a rush.
"Of course." Ryoko said with a smirk.
"Kagome, what are you–"
"May we go?" Kagome asked her, cutting Inuyasha off. "Is it safe to leave?"
"But of course. My princess won't harm you, unless I ask her too."
Immediately Kagome proceeded to drag Inuyasha away from the clearing, heading blindly into the forest. Ryoko called out to them: "Any time you're ready half-breed!"
Author's Note: My first chapter to my first fic. I personally don't like how it ends, but hey: I think the chapters get better as we go along. If you like it, read on and review along the way. If you don't like, please don't bother with a flame. Constructive criticism is welcome: that I can appreciate. But if you're going to fall off the handle nonsensically, talking about "this story sux ass" or "my grandmother writes better than you": just stop here, don't read on, and click on another story. Because I really dont have time for the foolishness.
See you in Chapter 2!!
Love 3