Disclaimer: Most, if not, all of the content in the following fanfiction is made up. This fanfiction's purpose is to provide an "unknown" chapter on of the Inuyasha saga that happens somewhere after episode 126, where Naraku escapes with a new body and Inuyasha rescues Kagome from his incarnation, Hakudoshi. It includes characters from the series as well as introduces some other. In the end, its purpose is not to affect the true storyline of the Inuyasha saga in any way. It's meant to create a new storyline, but it doesn't change anything about what happens in the series later on.

I grew up in the forest just beyond a village. I'm the last of my kind, or at least my tribe. The rest were killed by the humans from the village because rumors spread that if the tigers got a hold of the Shikon jewel, the village would crumble and everyone would fall victim to them. Of course, I am different from the rest; I'm a half-demon and most of the time, I look like human girl with a pale face and black stripes on my cheeks. I usually hid my tiger stripes so I would blend in.

The day that the humans killed the members of my tribe, I was so small that I couldn't be seen, even with my white fur in the nighttime. I felt lost and alone, not knowing what would become of me. I ran away from my home to seek sanctuary somewhere. The full moon also rose, which was the day I lost my demon-like nature. I ran to the forest east of the village, not knowing what I'd find, but I knew I had to make a home for myself. I got lost along the way when I saw a glowing, pink light. I followed it to a large tree with pale bark. I gasped as I saw someone had been pinned to the tree. I approached him, thinking that he'd spring to life at any moment. I asked, "Hello? Can you hear me?" He didn't budge, only his hair moved as it blew in the wind. A root came up from the ground and I jumped onto it as it took me closer to him. I placed a hand on his chest, feeling his heart subtly beat. I looked up at him as he seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

I then looked at the arrow in his chest that pinned him to the tree. It shone pink; that was the pink light I had seen. It was like it was calling me to him. I kept my ear to his chest for another minute or so to listen to the lull of his heart. The only thing that left me clueless was the fact he wasn't breathing. The pink light shone and flickered in a circle around him. I realized that he had been sealed that tree. As a cloud darkened the moon, I temporarily reverted back to normal, whatever that normal is. I was the princess of the tribe, but it was unusual. My mother was the leader before me and my father was human, very unusual. I never even met my father, but that's all right. After what happened, I wasn't as liable to trust humans since they didn't trust us. I grew up learning that humans and demons could live together peacefully, but thanks to the Shikon jewel, that's impossible.

I decided that it was getting really dark and I couldn't stay too much longer. I just stood there, my ear pressed against his heart. I sighed, "I wish that you were alive just so maybe you could help me… I'm so lost and alone." I looked up one last time before continuing listening. I shed a tear, "Why'd they have to do that to you? What could you have possibly done so someone would seal you to a tree? Humans are just so unfair and even cruel at times." I wrapped my fingers around the silver locks of his hair as I listened to his heart. "I wish you were alive."

I continued to return to that spot every night to visit the mysterious demon that was sealed to the sacred tree. Although he couldn't speak or even look at me, just being beside him and listening to his heart was reassuring enough through those lonely years. I whispered one night, ten years later, "I wish you were alive. Right now, though, after visiting you for 10 years now, I wish you could tell me your name, so I can thank you for helping me through these lonely years."

"Inuyasha…" A kindly, curious voice called from behind me. I gasped when I realized that I was being watched. I turned around and saw a middle-aged priestess with an eye patch. I felt a chill run all over me. "What are ye doing in the Forest of Inuyasha, child?"

"What?" I gasped as I backed away. She drifted closer to me and my fear of humans kicked in. I jumped off the root as it sunk back into the ground, as if it knew I wanted to escape. I backed away in fear, but for some reason, the priestess hushed me. "Calm down, child. I'm not going to hurt you." I looked up as the full moon was covered by another cloud. Her expression changed, "a tiger demon?"

I nodded, still shaking all over. "How long have you been in the Forest of Inuyasha?" Despite my shaking, I was able to tell her. "I didn't know what to do. I was only a kid when everyone in my tribe was killed by humans. I still fear them to this day, which is why I only come out of hiding at night. I didn't know where to run, so I ended up here. My forest was west of the village, so I went east to get away from everything. I saw a pink light come from here and that drew me to him."

"I am Kaede, the village priestess. So, do ye lose your powers on the night of the full moon?" I nodded. "Come with me, you'll give you a nice warm meal so you'll sleep more soundly tonight."

I nodded again and followed her back to her little hut. It was good have to nice warm food again; I've been living on whatever I could find, mostly dead stuff, though. After finishing it, I curled up into a ball, feeling a wave of loneliness wash over me.

"So," Kaede broke the silence, "have ye visited Inuyasha every night for the past 10 years?" I nodded, still a little shaken. I sighed, "I don't know what drew me to him, but when I pressed my ear against his chest, in order to hear the beating of his heart, I felt a lot better. I felt stronger because of it. I don't understand it myself, so I don't blame you if you think that sounds crazy."

"So, his heart has been beating for the past 10 years?" I nodded. "That's unusual, seeing as he was sealed to that tree, meaning that he was killed by my sister, Kikyo."

I saw the peaceful look on his face in my mind as I lay curled up. "He wasn't really that much trouble, was he?"

"Well, he was one of the demons after the Shikon jewel, which my sister was guarding. In the end, he got a hold of it, but Kikyo shot him with a spell-binding arrow. She was also mortally wounded, leading her to die soon after. The jewel had since then been gone as it was burned with her body." The picture in my mind didn't waver. "I just don't believe he could be that kind of person…"

"Well, demons covet the jewel so they can become stronger. In Inuyasha's case, he wanted to become a full demon."

"Full demon? You mean he's only half, like me?" I looked away, continuing to wonder on.

"He was quite a handful, though. I doubt that he'd need the jewel because he is a pretty powerful half-demon all on his own. He's just one of the greatest of the great, but was never given credit because he's half-human.

"I never once was ashamed of being half-human, but seeing things as they are, I don't want to trust them. They believed my tribe to be the one coveting the jewel and destroy the village. I wouldn't want to destroy this village; it's nice and peaceful here. I just wish that demons and humans wouldn't have to fight."

"Well, we all wish that, but I'm afraid things aren't that simple." I got up off the ground, knowing what I had to do.

"Child, where are ye off to?" I sighed sadly as I looked back, "Lady Kaede, I know what I must do. While my tribe had been killed, other tiger tribes might still be out there. I need to find them, if any are left from what the humans have done."

"It would be best to leave while it is dark out."

"Well, I think it's better if I wait around until the beginning of the lunar cycle again. It'll be really dark and I'll have my full powers." I looked down, "but I can't prolong my stay. I'll leave tomorrow morning where I'll blend in with the bright light. I just want to say goodbye to Inuyasha before I leave."

"I understand. I wish ye luck." I looked back, "My name is Chihiro, Lady Kaede, I hope ye will remember that." She nodded before I took off. As I walked back to the forest, the moon visible, I sighed, knowing this would be hard to do. I got to the Sacred Tree as Inuyasha hung there, his silver hair blowing in the wind. I stepped on the root one last time and embraced him. I pressed my ear to his heart as it beat slowly, but subtly. I shed tears, but more than even the night where my tribe was destroyed. "Inuyasha, I'm going to miss this so much. Thank you so much for getting me through these past 10 years. Now, I think I can borrow a little of your strength so I can begin my journey. I never thought it possible for me to be able to get back on my own two feet, so I thank you for that." Before I departed, I whispered as I listened to the calming lull of his heart. "I wish you were alive, Inuyasha. I wish from the bottom of my heart that you were alive, so I could tell you how much being next to you has meant to me. I promise that I'll come back when I find my roots." The root took me up closer to his face. I stroked his cheek with teary eyes and I kissed it before I jumped off. "I wish you could awaken someday, Inuyasha, so I can properly thank you for everything."