Chapter One
He caught her scent before he saw her, a glimpse of red and white in the trees. His breath caught in his throat and he strained his acute eyesight for a better look, but she was gone. Amber eyes darted from left to right, searching for her. Overhead, he saw her soul stealing demons flying through the air. His lips parted to a smile, revealing a set of white teeth and fangs. Brushing silver hair from his eyes, Inuyasha darted into the trees, following the demons. Kikyo was near, and he was going to find her.
He moved gracefully through the trees, darting in and out of the brush with an inhuman speed. This was to be expected because he was much more than a normal human. He was half demon, with a dog-demon father and a human mother. He looked human, aside from his fangs, cat-like ears, and sharp fingernails. Long silver hair flew behind him as he ran, hair that turned black once a month when his demon powers were drained and he became human for one night.
As he ran, he heard Kagome calling his name from far behind him. That's right, he'd left her alone. For a second he cursed himself at his stupidity, leaving Kagome alone to chase after Kikyo. But she was too far behind him to follow and there was no immediate danger nearby. She would be fine, he decided. 'Besides, Sango and Miroku should be returning soon. They'll protect her.' He thought. With a second it was decided, and he raced further into the forest after Kikyo.
Kagome, Sango, Miroku, even Shippo. His friends. Kagome was the reincarnated Kikyo from the modern ages, having fallen into a magical well that thrust her back to his time, infested with demons. In the short time he'd known her she grew from an awkward, stubborn girl to a powerful, stubborn woman. Despite everything they had gone through together she stayed by his side, and he admired her strength. She was the heart of their little group, the glue that held them together.
Sango was a demon hunter who watched as her possessed younger brother slaughtered her family. Naraku, an evil human who gave his body to demons to become stronger, had been pulling the strings to this tragedy, and many more. He then lead demons to Sango's village and slaughtered them while the strongest were away. Sango lost everyone, and teamed up with Inuyasha and his group to find and slay Naraku. Her younger brother, Kohaku, is still in Naraku's grip, controlled by a Sacred Jewel shard embedded in his back.
Miroku is a womanizing monk who is known to lie occasionally for a hot meal and roof to sleep under. Underneath his lewd exterior is a kind heart and loyal soul. He protects his friends despite any costs to himself. Though he prefers a peaceful solution to every problem, he is not against fighting to save those whom he loves. His weakness for pretty girls usually gets him into trouble, especially with Sango, who harbors hidden feelings for the monk. Miroku's family was damned by Naraku, each generation cursed with a wind tunnel in their palm. Once uncovered, the wind tunnel sucks anything and everything into a black abyss. There is no escape. Eventually, their wind tunnel swallows them. Miroku's only hope to avoid this fate is to find Naraku, and kill him.
Shippo is a young fox demon who relies on trickery and fox magic to fight. He isn't very strong, but he tries his hardest when his friends are in trouble. He first came across Inuyasha and Kagome while he was trying to seek revenge against the Thunder Brothers for killing his father. After tricking Inuyasha and getting Kagome kidnapped, Shippo tried to make amends and save them, only to be saved by Inuyasha. When the Thunder Brothers died, Shippo decided to go with Inuyasha and Kagome, having nowhere else to go. Though the path is a dangerous one, he is always there, doing what he can.
Inuyasha grinned, thinking of these people and the impact they'd had on his life. Before he met them, he was a half-demon who thought only of himself. Kagome opened his wounded heart and one by one his friends entered. Many other demons thought him weak, only being a half-demon who allied himself with mortals and kid demons. And he would have thought the same, once upon a time. But he would have been wrong. It was his friends that gave him his strength. And without them, he'd be nothing. But he'd never admit that, not to anyone.
A sniff of the air told him he was getting closer. Kikyo was nearby. Kikyo, a priestess tasked with guarding the Sacred Jewel, had been the first to open his heart. The Sacred Jewel was said to multiply the strength of a demon, making them unstoppable. Inuyasha planned to use the Jewel to make him a full demon, and very powerful. He tried many unsuccessful times to best Kikyo and steal the Jewel, but she was always better. It wasn't long until their rivalry became friendship, and friendship became love. Together, they were going to make a life with each other. Kikyo would use the Jewel to turn Inuyasha into a human, and it would dissolve. With no Jewel to protect, Kikyo would be free to live out the remainder of her life with Inuyasha in happiness.
But Naraku had other plans. Using trickery, he attacked them both separately, disguised as the other. Camouflaged as Inuyasha, Naraku attacked Kikyo and told her he would never settle for being just human, and he'd been playing her. He mortally wounded her, and left her to die. As Kikyo, Naraku lured Inuyasha into the woods then attacked him, convincing him that their time spent together was all a ploy to lower his guard and kill him. Each believing that the other had betrayed them, they fought. Inuyasha attacked her village and as he made his escape Kikyo shot him with a magical arrow, binding him to a tree for all eternity.
Kikyo died from her wounds shortly after, and ordered her younger sister, Kaede, to burn her body with the Sacred Jewel. Fifty years later in the Modern Era, Kikyo's soul was reincarnated into Kagome's body, along with the Sacred Jewel. While visiting an old well, a demon that sensed the Jewel's presence attacked and pulled her in. She was transported to the Feudal Era, where she came across Inuyasha and freed him. Shortly after, a demon stole the Jewel, and in an attempt to retrieve it, Kagome shattered the Jewel. With the help of Kagome, who can sense and see the shards, Inuyasha set out to retrieve the shards and make the Jewel whole again so he could become a full-fledged demon.
It would turn out to be more difficult than he originally expected, with many dangers in their path. But each trial made them stronger, and their bonds deeper. They continue to hunt Naraku, determined to put an end to his wicked ways and avenge their loved ones. Though Inuyasha fought his hardest, Naraku always had a plan and continuously escaped.
A powerful demon ogre sorceress named Urasue resurrected Kikyo's body from the bones and dirt of her grave, baking it into a clay-made body. Stealing her soul from Kagome, she managed to fully resurrect a vengeful Kikyo, bent on finishing off Inuyasha for his betrayal. Though he managed to show her the truth, that they had both been betrayed, she wasn't quick to forgive. Kagome managed to get most of her soul back, but Kikyo escaped.
Though she turned most of her hatred towards Naraku for killing her and ruining her chances at a happy life with Inuyasha, she remains bitter at her circumstances. Neither living nor dead, but the walking dead. She bears a grudge against Kagome, as she can see her feelings for Inuyasha and his feelings for her. She fears Kagome is replacing her, and jealousy isn't an easy emotion to live with. She plans now for her death, and for Inuyasha to die with her and follow her to hell.
'I owe her as much.' He thought as he moved through the trees. He saw her, and slowed his pace. He came to a clearing, and there she was. She turned her head to look at him, her brown eyes catching his gaze. She wore her traditional outfit, with her long dark hair tied loosely with a white ribbon. That familiar tortured expression on her face made him stop in his tracks.
"Inuyasha." Kikyo said, shifting to face him better. Inuyasha didn't move, he just watched her with amber eyes. "You've kept me waiting." She finished. Surprised flickered across Inuyasha's face.
"You have been waiting for me?" He asked, crossing his arms. She nodded ever so slightly. "Sorry." He said quickly. Kikyo watched him for a moment, then began slowly closing the gap between them. A slight gasp escaped Inuyasha's lips at she grew closer.
"The time is fast approaching." Kikyo whispered, a smile playing on her lips. Inuyasha watched as she approached him, uncrossing his arms and relaxing his stance. He didn't have to be on guard when she was near.
"The time for what?" He asked, slightly confused. A flicker of amusement crossed her features. She was directly in front of him now, her cold hand on his cheek. Her brown eyes held his in a locked stare.
"Our death." She whispered quietly, leaning up towards him. But Inuyasha glanced back the way he came, and Kikyo felt the stab of jealousy in her heart. He was thinking of that girl, the reincarnation of herself. 'Kagome…' Kikyo hissed inwardly.
"O-Our death?" Inuyasha repeated, taking a step back. Kikyo's eyes narrowed on him for a second, then she smiled. But her smile hid the rage boiling her soul. She turned away from him slightly.
"Do you not remember? Your life belongs to me. We'll live together forever…in death." She said, turning to gauge his reaction. But his back was to her now, taking in her words.
'She wants me to die with her. I owe her that much, after she followed me in death so many years ago. But what of Kagome? Who will protect her when I'm gone?' Inuyasha thought, staring into the darkness that was the forest. Some distance away he could picture Kagome sitting with Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kirara, their demon cat companion. Kagome would be worrying about him. That put a smile on his lips.
Then everything went black.