Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all the wonderful characters of Inu-yasha. I'm just here to play.
Nisou – priestess
Hanyou – I came across this word during my many hours of reading and it has been used to describe a half demon. I have decided to make it derogatory in nature for my own purposes.
The Beginning And The End
Chapter 1
The Last Straw
Kagome stomped through the woods heading back to Musashi and the well that would take her back home. She was through putting up with Inu-yasha's bullshit. He had yelled at her for the last time. She was sick and tired of arguing with that chauvinistic, rude, hotheaded half-demon.
"Arrrghhhh!"
She threw her hands up in the air in a frustrated gesture as she stomped down the main road that would lead her back home. It was becoming dark and Kagome was still pretty far away from Musashi. She hadn't realized how far away they had traveled in the past week. She should have asked Kirara for a ride. Kagome contemplated stopping for the night and making camp, but she just wanted to get home. So she kept a steady pace, determined to reach the well before morning. The road led into the forest and Kagome hesitated. Even though it was a main road, traveling within the forest at night was always dangerous. She could backtrack to the village she passed a few miles back, make camp outside the forest, or keep going. As she stood there trying to decide what to do, the argument that had started her on this journey played back in her head.
They were facing a particularly dangerous demon and Kagome had stepped in to distract it when Inu-yasha had fallen from a particularly nasty energy slash from the demon's claws. She had tagged the demon with two arrows and weakened it, but it sent another slash attack at her and she barely escaped in time. But the distraction had allowed Inu-yasha the time he needed to recover and come up from behind and slay the demon. When he came over to Kagome, she thought he might help her up, but instead he started yelling at her.
"What are you trying to do, get yourself killed! I had everything under control!"
"Oh yeah, I could see that getting knocked on your ass was working out real well for ya!" Kagome stood up and winced at the pain in her shoulder.
"You try fighting a demon that strong by yourself! See how well you do! Oh wait a minute! You did, and ended up on your ass!" Kagome and Inu-yasha glared at each other, both bodies tense. "So why don't you just save yourself the trouble and stick to your job, huh?"
Kagome had become so furious her body was shaking even with her fists clenched at her sides, "And what job would that be Inu-yasha?"
"You tell us where the jewel shards are and hold onto them after Sango, Miroku and I fight to collect them. You heal, cook and handle the supplies. It's not complicated. Quit fooling yourself that you're capable of anything else."
"You arrogant…." Kagome almost let her anger silence her it was so strong, but she found her voice, "…Hanyou! I have been putting up with your shit for three years! I'm sick and tired of healing your wounds and cooking your food and trailing around behind you like some groupie. I am the priestess of the Mushashi realm and the Sunshine Shrine. And if you don't--"
Inu-yasha crossed his arms over his chest and adopted an arrogant stance, his voice malicious, "You'll never be a full priestess. You weren't born of this time. You don't have the same spiritual connection that Kikyo had."
In one swift motion Kagome drew an arrow and aimed it at Inu-yasha. "If you want to test my abilities just stand in front of that tree and I'll prove it. Kikyo isn't the only one who wants you dead right now!"
Inu-yasha took a challenging step toward Kagome, "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!" Kagome let the arrow go and it flew at Inu-yasha just grazing his cheek, leaving a small trail of blood. "That was a warning. Next time I won't miss."
"You bitch!" Inu-yasha drew the Tetsusaiga and stood ready to use it.
"Miroku, no!"
Sango yelled as the monk came between them. He'd never seen it this bad and he was truly worried that they would kill each other. Inu-yasha may be underestimating Kagome's worth, but Miroku knew the full extent of her power. In the last three years she had grown quite powerful. Not just in using her spirit energy, but her marksmanship had improved tremendously and she trained with Sango learning the slayer techniques and how to use the Hiraikotsu. Not to mention that the physical demands of their life had toughened her up.
"Please you two. Calm down before somebody gets hurt." Miroku turned to face Inu-yasha, "Inu-yasha, please sheath Tetsusaiga. You know it won't work against Kagome anyway. She's human." Then he faced Kagome, "Please lower your bow Kagome. You know better than to listen to what Inu-yasha says. He's being irrational and doesn't mean it."
Kagome began to lower her bow as Inu-yasha began to sheath his sword. Miroku and Sango visibly relaxed as the two backed down. They remained staring at each other for awhile, their anger almost tangible. Finally the silence was broken by Kagome.
"I'm leaving." She walked over and slung her bag over her shoulder. She turned to Miroku and Sango before walking off, "I don't know when I'll be back and if you want to continue to find jewel shards without me, that's fine." Her eyes softened as she continued, "I'm sorry. Please try and understand." Miroku and Sango nodded and watched Kagome walk away.
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Now here she stood the anger fresh as she remembered the day's events. She took a deep breath and headed into the forest. She had been walking for quite awhile and figured the forest had to give way soon when she heard a suspicious noise. She immediately had her bow in hand, arrow at the ready. She heard the noise again, but this time, the source revealed itself. Four bandits came out of the trees blocking her way. Kagome stopped and pulled her arrow, ready to fire.
"What do you want?"
"Whatever you've got girl."
All four advanced on Kagome and she fired her arrow at the bandit in the middle. It buried itself in his shoulder, but only slowed him down. She pulled another arrow and fired again, the bandits now running at her. She had time to fire the arrow at the same bandit and it pierced his stomach, dropping him to the ground. She then used the bow as a staff, fighting the three remaining bandits. But they managed to overwhelm her and two of them held her while the third rifled through her bag.
"Get out of there you cretins!"
Kagome continued to struggle until the fourth bandit, staggering and clutching his gut approached her. He raised his fist and slammed it into Kagome's temple. Her body went limp from the blow and she saw stars. The bandits left her there on the ground and began dividing up the contents of her bag.
"Is this all you have girl?" The bandits turned to Kagome, but she was staggering over the hill, using her bow as a walking stick. "Get her you idiots!" The large injured bandit ordered his fellow thieves after Kagome and he packed the bag up and slowly followed after them.
Kagome looked back and saw the three in pursuit. She took a deep breath and began to run as best she could through the darkening woods, looking behind her every now and then to see how close her attackers were. The dizziness was beginning to take over when she felt the bolo wrap around her ankles and bring her crashing to the ground. She tried to put her arms out to brace the fall, but it happened too quickly and she hit the ground hard. Her head suffered the worst of the impact and her vision was now blurry at best. She tried to get up but couldn't get her mind to control her limbs. She thought she heard the bandits approach, laughing at her now prone body. She tried speaking but her mouth wouldn't work either. She saw distorted faces hovering over her but she was unable to do anything. Then she saw a flash of white and the faces disappeared. She tried moving her head to see what happened but the movement caused a blinding pain and she fell into unconsciousness.
To be continued…..
