Chapter 1: The Mercy of a Priestess

ZIL: Hello every one of my lovely readers! I decided to focus on my rewrites to edit and review them all so all of you who have been patiently waiting for years for the updates I'm sorry. My style changed so much and reading over my old writings made me cringe. I hope you enjoy this updated journey with me.

Chapter One- The Mercy of a Priestess

A battle raged on between the Shichinintai and the Inutachi. The only two standing upon the sidelines were a young kitsune child and a wounded young girl with the powers of a priestess. The young priestess was a beautiful but overshadowed young girl of 17 years who though powerful as she was...wasn't the most efficient fighter. Her talents lay with finding the jewel shards of the Shikon Jewel. Or so others told her but, her true strength was the kindness and purity of her heart.

The young kitsune was an orphaned demon child named Shippo. He first met the merciful priestess when his father and clan had been slain by the thunder brothers at the beginning of the journeys of Inuyasha and Kagome. The Thunder Brothers at the time had been a notorious duo that used several jewel shards to terrorize the countryside. Shippo wanting revenge for his clan had tried to take the jewel shards that the priestess and half-demon had first gathered to try and over power the brothers. Kagome being the kind girl she was known to be offered their aid much to Inuyasha's dismay. After the brother's had been defeated Kagome adopted him into their mismatched family as her son. Enough of that though now on to the battle.

Bankotsu and Inuyasha clashed over and over, grappling with their matched strength of his Banryu versus the Tessaiga of Inuyasha's fang. Their power was evenly matched as they tried to force the other to back off. Their teeth grinding as they traded sarcastic taunts throughout their clash the sounds of their swords clanging and screeching against the other blade's sharp edges.

Bankotsu was handsome but arrogant and somewhat naive to match. He was the youngest of his band of mercenaries but, was able to contain them all with his own power. A true warrior not to be reckoned with. The half-demon Inuyasha though crude and cocky was a loyal and good friend to his team. Although his brash battle style tended to get him and his comrades into some unnecessary trouble.

The monk, Miroku cursed with the wind tunnel faced off against the multi-personality warrior known as Suikotsu. He was separated into two halves, the doctor who tried his best to save lives and care for the orphaned and the mercenary who wanted nothing but the taste of blood on his claws. He was designated by his green markings and a look of a hunting tiger in his eyes. His strength and agility was unmatched amongst his team.

Sango, the demon slayer was focused on fighting against the demon tank Ginkotsu along with his fire-breathing brother Renkotsu. Her story was a sad one that she was cruelly reminded of over and over again as their enemy Naraku constantly set her brother against her on the battlefield. She was desperate to save him no matter what the cost. Renkotsu blew flames from his mouth after drinking from his gourd before sighing in frustration at the slayer for dodging his attack once again. He jumped from the tank chagrin at the woman as she dodged both fire and Ginkotsu's multiple projectiles.

Kilala roared in pain as she endured a final swipe of Jakotsu's blade before plummeting to the ground. Just as Jakotsu was about to make the killing strike Inuyasha forced Bankotsu away from him and unleashed the Wind Scar towards the feminine man. The battles stopped as the band members cried out to their comrade.

In desperation Bankotsu yelled out, "Jak move! Move now!" His eyes filled with tears as he saw the blaze of energy approach his frozen comrade.

Kagome gasped in horror as she saw the looks upon the manipulated band members faces. In a last and sad attempt she ran and pushed Jakotsu as hard as she could with her meager strength. The last sight she saw before her eyes was the shocked look of the gay mercenary before pain riddled her system and her world went black.

Jakotsu could only mutter, "Why? Why did she save me?" his unharmed body crashing to the ground as the young girl was decimated by the blast before his very eyes. Both groups watched in horror as the beloved priestess was taken to the afterlife by the power of Inuyasha's blade. The Shichinintai fell to their knees and Bankotsu wept silently for his relief that his brother lived; he also wept aloud praying for the selfless priestess who had spared his brother's life and had lost her own in the process.

"May the Miko be reborn...into a new and a bountiful life, one that will lead her to a peaceful existence," He kept his head bowed as his prayer was carried to the heavens and to the ears of the Kami.

Jakotsu remained frozen on the ground with tears in his normally spiteful gaze. He remained mute at the sight of the scars in the earth the blood of the innocent girl who spared him. He trembled as he heard the cries of her friends and the other woman blaming Inuyasha for being so careless.

"Inuyasha you swore to protect her with your life! How could you take the chance and kill Kagome-chan she was innocent!" Sango growled out furious with the half demon.

Inuyasha moved to retreat and yelled back, "It doesn't matter we can ask Kikyo to help us collect the jewel shards."

Miroku was furious, "Inuyasha! Kagome wasn't just a shard detector she was our friend. I will never welcome that false priestess into our camp." His violet eyes filled with unreleased tears as he followed the scars to the broken body of the young girl. He moved to retrieve her and whimpered, "She was innocent…Kagome-sama hated no one and deserved more than this. Have you no shame for the pain her mother and brother will suffer at her passing? Have you no regrets!"

Inuyasha didn't wish to answer and fumed before putting his sword away and taking off with no response. His face contorted in pain as he killed the first person to ever completely accept him for being a half-demon.

Bankotsu moved to kneel next to Jakotsu, who watched the dead form in the Monk's arms jostle lightly from the sudden movement her limbs lifeless. He shook his brother's shoulder, "Jak? Come on snap out of it!"

"I will kill him big brother…or I will die trying," Jakotsu's voice had taken a dark growl like quality that Bankotsu hadn't heard before. Ban moved in front of his brother and looked struck by the rage pooling in his brother's gaze. "Kill him? Kill who Jak?" He waited for the dark eyes to return his gaze, "I will kill both the disgusting half breeds…Inuyasha will pay for her death. Naraku…will pay for painting a target on her back. I will kill them both,"

Suikotsu moved and placed a hand on his shoulder firmly stating what all the brothers were thinking, "We will help you Jakotsu…her sacrifice would not be in vain."

Silent and to himself Jakotsu swore to the Kami, 'I will avenge her in this life and should I fail I will stop at nothing to repay her for her sacrifice. I will never despise a woman without reason from here going forward…this is my solemn oath.'

Miroku and Sango gathered their group watching the Band and Sango asked, "Should we leave them?" Shippo and Kilala sniffling in her arms as she trembled her gaze moved to the hand tightening on her friend's remains. Miroku sighed, "No we offer them the chance to see her off and find a way to return her to her kin…since Inuyasha has fled rather than faced the truth."

The Kami who had lost faith in the souls of the resurrected mercenaries smiled at the prayer and vow made by the brothers and decided to grant Bankotsu's wish. In the next life she would be reincarnated into the present world merely hours after the funeral for Kagome Higurashi. There, they decided, the she would be fated to meet Jakotsu's soul once again and together face their pasts while overcoming their present troubles and finding a blessed bond...in each other.