Prologue

"Are you sure we can do it?", the young half-demon asked.

"Absolutely," the young girl answered. "The Shikon-no-Tama makes demons more powerful by enhancing their demon blood, so it should make your human blood dominant, if you wanted it to."

Presently, Inuyasha and Kikyo were sitting side by side, discussing their future together. Inuyasha had always wondered if there was a way to permanently suppress his demonic aura, like during the new moon. On the beach with Kikyo, he had voiced this. They were getting set to be married, and he had wondered if there was a way to become full human. As a child, he had been shunned by both demons and most humans, each hating the half that wasn't their kind. The last thing Inuyasha wanted for his children was a life as hard as his, and he would do anything to prevent it. That is where the legend of the Shikon-no-Tama, the Jewel of the Four Souls, had been mentioned. To fully awaken his human blood and to purge his demon side, such an end could be achieved.

"But it is just a legend, after all," Inuyasha sighed.

"All legend stems from truth," Kikyo retorted.

Smiling, Inuyasha wrapped his arm around Kikyo, pulling her closer. She rested her head on Inuyasha's chest, and they stayed like that until long after the sun had set.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Inuyasha woke with a start. That was the alarm warning the whole village of danger.

"PIRATES!!"

Inuyasha didn't need any further prompting. Bolting from his bed he paused only to put on his Fire Rat kimono and grab his keepsake from his father. Sword in hand he rushed out side. Pirates, both human and demon, were pillaging the village, setting fire to looted houses and businesses, and killing all resisters. Inuyasha's only thought was of Kikyo's safety, and he took off toward the direction of her house. He knew Kikyo was a master marksman, as long as she had a gun, be it pistol or rifle, she could take care of herself, just as Inuyasha's skills rested on blades.

Turning the final corner to Kikyo's street, he heard gunshots. He smiled when he saw her. She had her choice pistol and was defending her little sister. As soon as Kikyo saw Inuyasha, she ran to him. After embracing, Kikyo told her sister to go into their house and to stay there. Meanwhile Kikyo and Inuyasha ran to help the rest of the village.

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On the offending pirate's ship, the captain was consulting with his Third mate.

"Are you sure the he is here," the Captain asked. "We cannot afford to be wrong."

"Yes, Captain. I could hear his thoughts the moment we made landfall. We will find the Chosen One."

At that point, the captain gave a grin evil enough to put the Devil himself to shame.

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Deciding they could protect more people, Kikyo and Inuyasha split up. Transforming Tetsigia, Inuyasha killed pirate after pirate. All the demons were weak worm and snake yokia, and the humans were just that, human. The only thing that was threatening was the sheer number of pirates, no matter how many he killed, they just kept coming.

That same thought ran through Kikyo's mind at that moment, so she fought her way back to her house to check on her sister, Kiede. When she reached her house, or what was left of it, she almost collapsed.

"KIADEE!!!"

Kikyo ran in and hastily followed the trail of destruction that ultimately led to her sister, broken and bleeding. Among other things, she had a broken arm, and was out an eye.

"Who did this to you, what did they look like?!" Kikyo demanded.

"It…It was…him….Inuyasha."

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"INUYASHA!!!"

"Kikyo, thank goodness you're…."

Inuyasha stopped short as Kikyo raised her gun against him, tear stains lined her cheeks.

"Kikyo what are you.."

"It was you, you brought them here. You hurt my SISTER!!"

"What? Why would I bring pirates here, they took my mother, my father, everything and everyone I loved, for what reason would I bring them here."

"The Shikon-no-Tama. A little convenient that they came right after I told you about it, isn't it? Your going to use it to become full demon. You betrayed us. You sold us out to pirates."

"Where are you getting this?"

"Kiede. Thought you killed her, didn't you? She's tougher than you think. As you beat her you gloated about how you fooled every one. How you fooled me…"

"Kikyo…"

"I don't want to hear your lies, do you think I would believe you over my own sister?"

"I didn't do any of those things! You have to believe me!"

"SHUT UP!" Kikyo shouted as a new torrent of tears fell from her eyes. Her body posed to shoot, a posture Inuyasha saw countless times. It rang true to Inuyasha that staying and trying to talk some sense into Kikyo was no longer an option. If he was to live, he had to run.

Kikyo pulled the trigger before Inuyasha had taken one step, the bullet ripped into his shoulder. Inuyasha cried out once, and woke up.