Author's Notes

Alright everyone here it is my "Inuyasha" fanfiction! I'm so excited to finally have it up. Just before you start reading it you should please know that there are a few things that you, as the reader, need to know:

1. This story is set after Kagome returns to the Feudal Era to be married to Inuyasha.
2.Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Kilala, and Shippo will be seen a few times in this story but they are not considered main characters (I'm sorry about that but it's true).
3. I am NOT spelling Koga's name "Kouga" like the original Japanese. I'm all for the Japanese spelings but personally I think that "Kouga" looks sort of weird so I am sticking with the American way and leaving out the "u". I'm sorry if some of you do not agree with this but it's my story so deal.
4. Seen as this is based after Naraku is defeated, the demons and other antagonists of the story are all original so if you wish to use them yourselves please tell me because they are coprighted. Also I'm sorry if you do not like the characters I come up with. Again, however, it is my story so you'll have to deal.
5. This story was inspired by the show "Inuyasha" and the songs "Amrita" from the show "The Tsubasa Chronicles" and "Honoo no Tibora" from the show "Gundam SEED Destiny". I do not own any of these. This is simply a fanfiction written by a fan for all the other fans out there!

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope that you enjoy the story!

Crimson-Moon-Beams
a.k.a
Nikoru-chan

--

The Skies of Destiny

Prologue

Memory

Blood, so much blood. I…I can smell it. The smell is…suffocating. It burns my nostrils and makes me dizzy. But whose blood is it? Is it my blood, or their blood? I can't tell. No, wait. I can't remember. I can't remember what happened. Was I attacked, or did I attack someone else? I can't remember! Wait, footsteps. I can hear footsteps. They're my footsteps. I know that they are. But where is it that I'm going? I'm going…up…I think. I can't tell. The smell of blood is clouding my eyesight. I can hardly see anything any more.

Drip.

What was that noise?

Drip.

There it is again. That sound, where is it coming from?

Drip!

My arm, it's coming from my arm. But how can that be? Unless, the blood! The blood is coming from me! But, there's so much of it. It's falling down my arm. Wait. My arm. I…I can't move it. But why? Why can't I move it? Wait, it hurts. Pain. That's what I feel. It's pain that is clouding my senses. Pain and the smell of blood. Was I in a battle? But I don't fight unless…unless…unless what? Why do I fight? Again a fact I can't remember. Damn this memory of mine. Why can't I remember anything? Wait. I see something. I see, a smiling face. A warm smile that touches the edges of my heart. A kind voice that offers advice and wisdom. And a joyous laugh that could make even the saddest of people smile again.

But wait. Pain. All those things bring pain but not to my body. My heart, why does it ache so? Why do these things cause me to feel anguish?

Drip.

That sound again. But it's so faint this time.

Drip. Still faint, but it's not blood.

Drip. No, not blood. Tears. Tears are falling down my face. But why am I crying? Is it because of my…wounds? Is that why I'm crying? No, wounds would never make me cry. At least, wounds of the body wouldn't. Wounds of the heart, however… My heart aches, so tears fall. But why does it hurt? Those images. Why do they cause me pain? I should feel…happy to see those images. Unless, something bad happened. An accursed memory that plagues my very soul. One that I will never forget until the day I die. But what was the memory? But wait, do I really want to know? No, I don't think I do. Something is telling me that this memory can, and potentially will, destroy me. I can't let that happen though. Not now at least.

There's…something, something that I need to do. But what was it? Maybe if I dig deeper. I can see…a man with a wicked grin on his face. I can also see, a monster? No, not a monster, a demon attacking a village. And, I can see myself. At least, my self reborn. I also see an army. Its archers, are they aiming for the beast? No, not that beast. That beast is not their target. It's me, I'm the one they are aiming for. I see myself…running. Running as fast as my legs can carry me. My arm…it's mangled. It is bleeding terribly. I see…more people. They're following me. I am the mouse, and they are the hungry cats. I can not out run them. I have no chance of living if I do. So I…fight? Yes, I fight for my own survival. But there are so many and I am only one. But, I win. Yes, I believe I do win. But, I'm hurt. My wounds run deep and the apothecary's poison spreads quickly.

I'm in a forest. At least, I was. That is where the battle took place. After I won I left there. But where am I now? My senses are still clouded. I can barely see. But I feel…rocks, and hard earth beneath my feet. A mountain perhaps? The path I follow grows steeper yet I still walk it. My breathing is shallow, I can not hold this pace much longer. I should stop, but I can't. What if I missed one or two? In this state I can not hope to defeat them. Though they are human and I am…not? No I was human, but the days I spent enjoying life as I was are over. No, now I am something more. Something of greater value. I am a demon and though I am disregarded by humans I am strong and I can fight.

But not now. Now I must escape. Perhaps I can find shelter in the mountains. Yes mountains. Now they seem to hold the only comfort this cold world has to offer. I must find a cave or shelter of some creation. I need a…home? But I know no home. At least, not anymore. Did I have a home once before? I must have. A home where someone was always waiting for me to return. A home that welcomed me with open arms. A home that… No, I must not think about it. Again my heart aches at thoughts such as those. I must leave them in the back of my mind where they must remain. Unchecked and unwanted.

My legs, they grow tired. My body throbs and protests each step I take. I must go on. I must find somewhere I can call home again. I must find love once more, love of the heart. Do those things reside in the mountains? No, such things no longer exist. I have no home, and I feel no love. I feel…nothing. I am an empty shell from which no butterfly will emerge. I am empty, and shall remain so until my soul leaves this world.

My legs, they fail me. My body rejoices in the rest it is receiving. At the same time, however, it grieves at the misfortune I have brought it. I am mangled, and I am weak. I have no power left in me to move. No power left in me to grieve. I have fallen here, and here is where my resting place will be. I do not fear death, for death casts a long shadow that I can not escape. That fact will always remain true for all creatures that live on this earth. All creatures die. All creatures leave this world. And no one is exempt from that fact. Not even a demon such as myself. Demons may be immortal, but even they can not escape death if it calls for them, as it is calling me now.

My eyes grow weary. They close though I beg them to stay open. Death takes those that refuse to see it as it approaches. I do not refuse death, therefore, I wish to see it as it takes me. My eyes, however, will not heed my words. Not surprising, I suppose. My words fall on deaf ears. A mere whisper that wishes to be a shout but will not grow to such an extent. There is no power left in me. Death will soon deal the final blow, and as I lay on this mountain, I do welcome it with open arms.

What's this? Though my body has grown powerless my ears still seem to fight on. I hear…voices? Yes they are voices. Someone, no not jut one, many approach me. Their voices seem friendly, but are their hearts the same? I attempt to force my body to listen to me once more but in the time I have laid here my body has grown deaf and will listen no longer.

"Whoa, what's that?" It is a male's voice. It seems kind but also slightly clumsy and foolish.

"Dunno, should we check it out?" Another male's voice. This one is also kind, but is stronger than the voice before. This voice, however, is still just as foolish. I suppose the other male must have agreed for the footsteps become louder with each passing moment. Finally they stop and I know they are standing over me now.

"It's…a woman." The first voice concluded.

"And not just any woman, this girl is a wolf-demon." The second voice agreed. Oh yes, that's right. I'm a wolf-demon. If only I could speak I could thank these kind men for replacing a piece of lost memory. If only my body was still with me, I could smile to show my appreciation. No, wait, I do not smile. But why don't I? Something, in my past. It stopped me, from smiling. No, no more memories. My heart can't seem to take it. Its usual lively pace is but a slow meandering now. Yes, my heart can not take much more. I must also remember that I am an empty shell, and shells do not smile.

"What the hell are you two idiots doing?" A third voice? This one is angry and mean. However, this male also has a strong air of confidence about him. He believes in himself and has a leader's quality in him that the other two do not show.

"We found her like this. She's badly wounded." The first voice again. He sounded…worried. Hmm, worry. I have not seen or shown this emotion to anyone in a long time. To think someone would show it to me now of all times.

"Well is she dead?" The third voice demanded. I felt someone roll me over. If only my body were still with me I could cringe away, but now I can not, for my body has abandoned me.

"No, she's still breathing, but it's really shallow. I don't think she'll make it unless we get her some help." The first voice replied.

"Forget it. There's no point in bringing her with us if she's just going to die on the way there." The third voice said. If I could glare and curse I would. But I can not. My body is too tired.

"But I really think she has a chance to make it. Can't we just bring her with us?" The first voice asked again.

"Yeah, the den isn't that much further up the mountain anyway." The second voice agreed. Thank you, kind men, for your words.

"No this is just another waste of our time! You too can't just keep saving every creature that you come across now let's go!" The third voice commanded. Curse you, whoever it is that you are.

"But she's a wolf-demon we can't just leave her here!" The first voice argued.

"A…wolf-demon?" The third voice asked shocked. I suppose he hadn't seen me yet, whoever it is that he was.

"Yeah we should at least try to help her." The second voice continued. If there was ever a time I wanted to sigh it would be now. No, I need to convince them that I can make it. I am stronger than this! I have to make it or else my task shall never be complete! Please body I beg you, give me the power of speech! Though it will use the last of my strength I need this now!

"P…please…I…I won't…die. Just…take…me…home…" Take me home? What did I mean by that? I had no home, and these men wouldn't even know where to find my home anyway. But that was the last of my strength and if that did not convince them, then I would be left here to die.

"She…she spoke." The second voice said shock filling the air around him and the other male.

"You hear that! She spoke! If we can just get her up to the den we can save her!" The first voice said happily.

"Koga come on, you heard it too! We can still help her." The second voice said. There was a long pause. Was this "Koga" voice one or voice three? Either way I knew I would find out soon enough.

"Tch, fine then! Have it your way but Ginta, Hakkaku you have to carry home the rest of our supplies including what you already have." So, the third voice was Koga. He was the one who wanted to leave me here, but I suppose the fact that I'm wolf-demon changed his mind. Why, however, I can not tell. I heard voice one and voice two, Ginta and Hakkaku as I just learned, groan. They did not, however, complain. Suddenly I felt two strong arms go under my back and legs and lift me from the ground. I slowly looked up but all I could see was a blurred figure.

"K…Koga?" I asked.

"Oh, so you're not out for the count yet?" Koga asked. His voice, however, was soft this time. There was no hate in it, only a slight air of compassion.

"N…no. Not…yet." I replied. Trying to speak was becoming harder than before.

"Can you tell me your name?" Koga asked his voice still soft.

"M…Mayu." I replied my voice growing weaker. Mayu…was that my name? I was sure it was when I said it. Now, however, I wasn't so sure. Another name tried to replace Mayu, but it was so faint I could neither see nor hear it. Mayu, it seemed right so I chose to stay with it.

"Mayu." Koga whispered my name and stopped after he said it. It seemed as if he was taking in the simple knowledge of my name. As if he was observing the name, trying to get a greater meaning out of it. What he would gain from knowing my name I did not know. After a long pause he spoke again.

"Mayu, can you tell me what happened to you?" I thought about this. I was in a battle, and I was wounded. That was all I could truly remember. However, I could already feel it. My eyes began to fall, my voice was hoarse and would crack if I said too much. My body was beginning to give in and I knew that I couldn't say much more. I took a deep breath before answering. I slowly shook my head and the darkness overcame me as I spoke.

"I…don't…remember…"