A/N: For those of you that are new here and have not read The Lost Chapters where Airi was first introduced into the world of Inuyasha, welcome. If you have read the Lost Chapters, the first few chapters recount her story from right before she met Inuyasha and the gang. I hope you enjoy accompanying Airi on her journeys, it's my first story with an OC. I really appreciate all your support and reading reviews and it gives me a drive to keep writing. So without further ado...happy reading.

I do not own InuYasha or the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi.

A Beauty from the Ashes

PROLOGUE:

The sky was beginning to brighten over the remains of what had once been a peaceful village. It was a well hidden village nestled between two vast forests. Its location had afforded its residents refuge from the war, until it fell victim to a strong group of ruthless bandits, led by the notorious Commander Shuu. The villagers had swiftly fled their homes to escape the brutality and violence that was sure to follow. And with the village deserted, the bandits had converted it into their main base. But now, it laid in ruins.

During the night, a fire had blazed so ferocious that only shreds of debris and ash covered the area. The sun crept ever closer to the horizon, but its rays were blocked by the thick, dense smoke that lingered eerily over the land. If it wasn't for a midnight rainfall, the surrounding trees would've succumbed to the greedy flames, as well.

Now the sun began to peek over the horizon, painting orange and pink streaks across the sky. And as it did, a shadow rose from the ashes. The ominous, smoky atmosphere would've tricked anyone into thinking that the human-like form was a demon, but in reality, it was a teenage girl.

The girl's long legs seemed to stretch up from the ground and her emerald green eyes scanned the area around her, as she recalled the events from the night before.

Images of Tsuyoshi, the only man she had ever loved, flashed in her mind. His lifeless face lay in the dirt, the pool of blood growing larger underneath him. And her name, Airi, the last word to leave his lips, as the light left his eyes.

But then came the loud chortles of laughter from Commander Shuu, "You think you can escape me, you stupid whore! I own you! You're only still alive so I have a place to stick my cock in at night!" His booming voice echoed in her head.

He was a foul man, who had received Airi in exchange for peace from a small, defenseless village. The village leaders themselves had actually seeked him out to propose their offer. Initially, he had outright refused, already set on burning every village in that area to the ground. But they pleaded and pleaded with him to just meet the girl and perhaps he would reconsider their generous offer. For the villagers were well-informed about his sadistic behavior. Reluctantly, he finally agreed, but in the end it was Airi's fiery personality that had won him over. She fought against her chains, spit in his face even and had refused to be a bargaining tool. And that, was Airi's mistake. For in his eyes, he didn't see a wife, but a girl that needed to be broken and he was up to the challenge. And over the next three years of her life, he had enjoyed humiliating her and making her life a living hell. But Airi was stronger and more resilient than he had expected and although she had grown to be more compliant, she was by no means tame. And the moment Commander Shuu cut down the one shining light in her life, she had gone into a blind rage.

It was true that Tsuyoshi was also a bandit, who was tasked with guarding her. But Tsuyoshi had slowly fallen in love with her over the past few months and she reciprocated those feelings. Together, they had planned on escaping to start a new life.

Now that dream was dead, but she made sure to avenge his death. Without a second thought, she had picked up one of Tsuyoshi's axes and sliced open Commander Shuu's gut. Her unhinged laughter rang through the night, giving even small demons a reason to cower in fear. Commander Shuu's dumbfounded look as he fell didn't bring her any relief, however. And in her lack of sanity, she set the encampment on fire, without a care for her own life. She assumed the other bandits had fled once she set the fire, for she received no retribution for her actions. But she didn't care either way. Her sole target was Commander Shuu and she made sure he went to hell.

Now Airi stood amongst the ruins of the camp that had been her personal prison. She glanced down at herself; the luxurious, silk kimonos she was forced to wear were reduced to mere singed rags. They hung from her body like an accessory; her breasts bared and the skirts and sleeves completely burned off. She scowled at the irony. It was as if the commander was trying to get in the last laugh. Outraged by this thought, she ripped off what was left of them and tossed them aside, coughing violently from the disturbed ashes that rose up around her. Decidedly, she bent down and pulled two large heavy things from the ground and flitted into the woods: naked, covered in ashes and with two large axes slung over her right shoulder, leaving behind the devastation she had never expected to survive.