This popped into my head at…11…12…1:00 in the morning while I was trying to go to sleep. Stupid brain that wouldn't shut off when it was supposed to. Well, this is my first draft, so it will probably be replaced with a slightly better version a little later lol.
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"Inuyashaaaa…"
The silver haired hanyou froze, his ranting immediately forgotten. He was in for it now.
"Sit boy!"
Shippo snickered as a new Inuyasha-shaped crater formed in the unforgiving ground. He'd never learn. Do NOT insult Kagome or her cooking, which Shippo thought was great by the way, thank you very much. Shippo was just about to get comfortable and watch the show when he noticed something flashing out of the corner of his eye.
His attention drawn to the mysterious object, Shippo scurried over to the riverside and picked up a small gem-looking stone. It was midnight black, with blue and red flames sparkling beneath the surface. It was really pretty.
"Kagome! Kagome!"
Kagome instinctively held out her arms and caught the young kitsune, Inuyasha forgotten as her attention focused on his big green puppy eyes.
"Look what I found! Isn't it pretty?"
Kagome sat down and Shippo perched on her shoulder so she could inspect the stone.
"It's beautiful Shippo. Where'd you find it?"
"By the river."
Kagome glanced at the rushing waters then back at the gem, turning it over slowly, mesmerized by the dancing colors. She paused when she noticed a small silver chain barely attached.
"Whatever this is, it looks like it belongs to someone. They'll probably want it back."
Kagome glanced up when she heard a small crunch to see Miroku standing a few feet away, gaping at the stone in her hands.
"Kagome-sama, may I see that stone?"
Startled at the nervousness in his voice, she quickly passed it to him. He, in turn, inspected it in rather the same manner she had, turning it over and staring into its depths. He sighed and sat down.
"Just as I thought. Kagome-sama, this is a Tear Stone."
Upon seeing the blank expressions on the faces of his companions, Miroku settled down for a long conversation.
"There is a race of demons known as the Koorime, or ice maidens. They reside on a floating island over northern Japan. They are extremely isolationist and exist separate from the workings of others, be they demon or human. The Koorime are all female…"
Miroku didn't notice the others rolling their eyes.
"…and do not trust any man."
Miroku paused when he heard barely suppressed giggles from both Sango and Kagome.
"Have I said something amusing, ladies?"
Sango was the first to contain her laughter.
"If this race is as cut off from everyone as you say they are, how do you know all this houshi?"
"Yeah, seriously Miroku. Did you find this floating island, climb on board, and ask every single female there to bear your child, giving them even more reason to stay isolated? Hmm?"
Miroku placed a hand over his heart and grimaced, an innocent expression on his face.
"Why Kagome-sama! I am hurt that you would think that of me!"
Kagome and Sango exchanged a knowing look, grinned and looked back at him. Miroku waved his hands in front of him wildly.
"No, fair maidens, no! It was my grandfather who gathered this information when he went to the island to seek treatment for the curse Naraku set upon him!"
That immediately got everyone's attention, including Inuyasha who had been ignoring the monk until then.
"The Koorime are said to have amazing healing abilities, able to bring back a soul from the brink of death."
Miroku cleared his throat.
"Well, back to the subject at hand. These stones are created by the tears of the Koorime. Whenever a maiden cries, her tears crystallize into these highly valued Tear Stones. Because of this, very few ever venture from the island for fear that they will be captured and abused for these gems."
"That's horrible!"
Kagome stood up and began to pace. Shippo watched from the ground.
"How could anyone do that just for a gem, no matter how valuable it is?!"
Turning around so fast her hair whipped, Kagome stood with her hands on her hips, eyes determined.
"Well, then I guess we'll just have to find whoever cried this and give it back to them!"
"No way! We are not going to take time off of the shard hunt just to go return some stupid bauble that someone was careless enough to lose! No way!"
"Inuyashaaa…SIT!"
BAM!
"Miroku, where's this floating island supposed to be?"
Amused by the display of power, Miroku pointed upriver. He stood up and dusted off his robe, quickly followed by Sango, Shippo and Kilala.
"Shall we go then?"
"Yeah! Come on Inuyasha! You're holding us up!"
Grumbling about inconsiderate wenches, annoying monks, and stupid baubles, Inuyasha dug himself out of his now familiar crater and quickly caught up to the disappearing group ahead.
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"Inuyasha…SIT!"
"Kagome-sama, Inuyasha does have a point. We have been searching for almost a week and have yet to find anyone we believe the Tear Stone belongs to nor have we found the Koorime's Island. Perhaps it is time to accept we are not meant to find either one."
"Miroku's right Kagome. We really should go back to looking for the shards."
Kagome sighed. Her head was hung and her bangs covered the small tears in her eyes.
"I know Sango. It's just…I was really hoping…huh?"
"Kagome?"
"It's…glowing…"
Kagome held up the tear stone which was indeed glowing a gentle pink. Kagome started for a moment and reached for the shards. They were glowing too.
They began to pulse, slowly but with increasing speed. After a final blinding flash, there was nothing and there was silence.
"We should go this way."
Kagome pointed away from the river, in the opposite direction they had been going.
"Are you sure Kagome-sama?"
"Yes Miroku. I don't know how, but I'm sure we should go that way."
"Well, let us depart then."
"Come on Inuyasha! You're holding us up!"
Grumbling about inconsiderate wenches, annoying monks, and stupid glowing baubles, Inuyasha dug himself out of his now familiar crater and quickly caught up to the disappearing group ahead.
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Well, this turned out a lot shorter than I originally thought it would but I guess that's OK since this is really just a prologue. I just couldn't resist torturing Inuyasha in this since I haven't really been able to do it on any of my other fics yet. Oh! I actually do know what I'm going to do in the next chapter…I just haven't written it yet!