Nine years ago, January of 2007, a friend and I started an Inuyasha RP on an online forum. We never expected our story to last as long as it did, but for four years our characters integrated with the Inuyasha cast and went on countless adventures and created their own unique universe in the Inuyasha story. Those are some of my best memories of my high school days. Last Spring I was re-reading over my archived documents, and I realized that after how far this story had gotten it still had no resolution. It just didn't seem right that after all the work our characters and the original cast with through they still hadn't managed to defeat Naraku and find their own ending.

So I decided to take up the task of giving them proper closure.

This project, much like the RP it originated from, turned out much bigger than I had ever anticipated. As it currently stands, this fic is roughly over 76,000 words and it's still a ways from being completed. I'd been emailing it to friends who've showed interest in reading it, but for simplicity's sake I finally decided that maybe I should post it online so they can have easier access to it. As this story makes its online debut, I am aware that a lot of you will not be familiar with the OCs in this story, but I feel like I've done my best to show their character and how they fit into the IY universe as they appear. In any case, writing about this varied cast alongside the familiar faces we all know and love has brought me a lot of joy, and I hope that you readers can find some enjoyment out of this as well.

I'd like to say a big thank you to my friend who's been on this journey with me for nine whole years; without you the RP, these original characters, and this story would never exist. Your constant enthusiasm and encouragement have given me the motivation too make as far as I have. I'd also like to thank my other friends who have taken the time to help me read and edit my work.

I will try to make regular updates as I begin the process of converting one massive document into multiple chapters, and I am always happy to answer any questions that anyone might have. As always, creative criticism is appreciated, and I thank you for giving your time to read a piece of work I've dedicated a lot of time and energy into writing.

Now, without further dallying, let the story commence!

Tsuneo…Hisae…

Kaida glanced at the two stone statues that stood before her, the roar of the crowd echoing in her ears. While it could be said that the stone carvings of the ancient heroes of the village strongly resembled Naoe and herself, they were actually in fact near identical copies of their two students: Ronuku and Kohana.

Hisae, the younger sister. Quick with a sword, this proud and fiery girl had loved her village so much that she sacrificed everything for it, even to the point of spurning her youkai lover. Kaida gave the statue a long stare; this was hers and Kohana's shared past. The Lady of Yasashiko had no doubt that she would sacrifice just as much for her husband and his land, and she wondered if her student thought of Sesshomaru and their hanyou child.

Tsuneo, the older brother. Strong and courageous, he never stopped fighting to protect the village he loved so much, even at the cost of his life. Naoe and Ronuku's shared past, Kaida knew that that same courage lived on in the two men, and as far as her vassal was concerned she knew that Naoe would lay down his life at the service of his lord. Ronuku, perhaps, would do the same for his pregnant wife Sango.

Seiko-sama, the blind priestess of the village, told them the story of their sacred guardians: The siblings Tsuneo and Hisae were the protectors of the village throughout their entire lives, the village meant everything to them. In an effort to protect it from an oncoming demon army, something not even Hisae's lover could have prevented, the two siblings went to the village temple and performed a sacred ritual to unite their fighting spirits down to the very depths of their souls. The bond between their souls granted them immense power, and they were able to go out and fight the onslaught.

Because their hearts beat in unison for the same purpose, the safety of the village, they were able to harness their power that appeared with a brilliant white light, and destroyed thousands of the demons. For days the battle raged, but not a single demon could get through the united strength of the siblings. Eventually the King of these demons appeared and mocked their power: the two were mere mortals, one day they would eventually die. The demons could outlive them, and the moment they perished the demons would rush in and slaughter the village.

The siblings came up with a plan, they would cast their bond on the village itself and erect a barrier to protect it until the end of time. This act, however, was too much for their mortal bodies to withstand. At the cost of both of their lives, they managed to erect a barrier that kept all of the demons out, but kept the entire village in. The barrier was absolutely impenetrable, and for the next eight hundred years the village became isolated and forgotten.

Until we arrived, Kaida mused. The four of them must be the distant reincarnations of Tsuneo and Hisae; that was the only way they could have stumbled through the barrier. Despite the awe of the situation, the Lady couldn't help but feel annoyed.

We separated Ronuku and Kohana from the group so they would learn to fight on their own without relying on their powers, not find that they could learn to rely on them even more. Even so, Kaida could not ignore the depth of the situation. The bond of the siblings existed between her and Naoe, but somehow it waited to manifest itself only between Ronuku and Kohana. These two probably held the key to harnessing its full potential.

Were such a power to be used against Naraku…

Kaida glanced at Naoe. The samurai gave her a look that said he shared her misgivings, but it seemed he had resigned himself to the situation.

"Lady Kaida, given all of this it would be a waste to not let them learn from this village." He said quietly.

"I suppose you're right," she sighed. She turned and looked at the blind priestess straight in the eye.

"Seiko-sama, I'd like you to teach our pupils about the powers of their past."