Within The Temptation

by Elizabeth Vasser

Kagome is a humble miko in the Feudal Era. She is the protector of the Shikon no Tama, and desires nothing more than to get rid of it permanently. She comes across a hanyou who desires the jewel, but finds that she cannot kill him. But for what reason?

1. Chapter 1

Summary: Kagome is a humble miko in the Feudal Era, and guardian of the sacred Shikon no Tama. She protects it from all demons alike, but what happens when she falls for a half demon in pursuit of the jewel?

I apologize for those of you who got alerts that I had posted a new story and it was a bad link. That was due to posting before I was done with the editing, but this is the real deal. I've finished this story and now I just have to get it all posted up here. :)

This is my second story, and hopefully it will be well received. I'm taking a bit of a different turn, and instead of modern times, I'm putting this one back in the Feudal Era. KIKYO WILL NOT BE IN THIS STORY WHATSOEVER. For the purpose of this story, Kikyo does not exist. Sorry if you don't like it. If you don't, don't read it. For those who do like it, well, this story is just for you. It's pretty much how I think things would happen if Kikyo never existed and only Kagome did.

Chapter one

Silence fell over the vast wood.

Silence had fallen for some time, in fact. All was peaceful, and the leaves rustled as the wind whispered through the trees. Sunlight poured through the gaps in the branches, warm golden spots scattered about the ground and offering a friendly welcome.

There was one tree that stood out from the rest, however. It was in the center of the woods, larger and taller than the others. It gave off a spiritual vibe, as if it was full of the memories of the dead and the woods around it. There was a clearing around the large tree, which only made it seem even more significant than before.

I observed all of this with a calm mind, as I tucked my bow over my shoulders. It's almost strange, looking at this tree . . . and thinking that it does indeed hold all of my memories. Everything about who I am, where I've been, what I've done . . . it surrounds this tree. Ever since I can remember, this tree as been here.

"Kagome, I hope ye have not wandered far!" I heard the priestess Kaede call, almost my grandmother, for all intensive purposes. She wasn't my grandmother by blood, but I considered her such, for she had raised me ever since I was just very small.

"No, Lady Kaede, I'm right here." I replied softly, and she emerged a few seconds later from the trees, coming to my side. I examined her for a moment. Her gray hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she also wore the red and white robes of a miko, for she was a priestess, as I was training to be.

"Ye seem to come to this sacred tree a lot." Kaede commented when she reached me. "Ye are fifteen years old now, Kagome, and still if I cannot find ye, all I must do is come to this tree and I will find ye here."

"This tree and I have a lot of connection." I said simply, smiling a little.

"Well, there is no time for reminiscing right now. Ye still have lessons and chores to take care of. Come, Kagome." Kaede bade me, turning away and using her own bow as support as she walked towards the village. With one last glance at the tree, I followed after her.

The village was busy with activity, as usual, when we returned. Women carried baskets of vegetables or fruit upon their heads and waved to me with their free hands as I passed. I returned their waves and smiled at them all. The men were raking the fields and shoveling and working hard, and Kaede and I headed to our hut, to resume my lessons with my bow.

"Kagome! Kagome!"

I turned, seeing Rin, a nine year old girl who was orphaned like I was, racing toward me with a huge smile on her cute face. Her black hair bounced along behind her as she ran toward me, and she tackled my legs in a hug. "Are you done for today?" she asked me, looking up at me with her large brown eyes.

"Unfortunately no." I smiled at her. "I still have to finish my lessons and then I have some chores to take care of."

Rin pouted. "But Kagome, you promised you'd braid my hair with wildflowers that you picked around the sacred tree!"

"I know. And I will." I promised, once again. "As soon as I'm done. It won't take me long. Really. You believe me, don't you?"

"Yeah." Rin sighed. "I just don't wanna wait."

"Well, you're gonna have to." I teased her, ruffling her hair. "But you should get back to your own chores, Rin, before Sango gets mad at you." Rin heaved another heavy sigh before she ran back off toward her own hut.

"Kagome, come now!" Kaede called, and I turned and headed to the hut with her.

She took me around to the back of the hut where all the targets were set up, and handed me my quiver filled with arrows. I nocked one in my bow and aimed toward the target, aiming for the center. Kaede had a seat on the grass, beginning to shuck corn as I practiced.

I let the arrow go, and grinned proudly when I struck the center. "Good Kagome." Kaede praised without looking up. "Now, do it again."

I sighed. That woman is never pleased with anything that I accomplish. Oh well. I need the practice anyway. I thought glumly, as I aimed at the target a second time.

This was my life on a day to day basis. Training with the bow, performing chores, and visiting the sacred tree. I was also training to be a miko, and Kaede had finally allowed me to wear the white and red kimono of the priestess, to symbolize my status. She said I was not completely finished in my training, but that I had blossomed beautifully and gone far.

Kaede wasn't my real grandmother, however. I, like Rin, was orphaned. My parents had been dead for as long as I could remember, by a demon attack. Kaede had found me in a hut in the slaughtered village, hidden under a bunch of blankets, and crying. She had taken me under her wing and raised me ever since.

Now I was fifteen years old, and I had finally become old enough to take on the guardian duties of the Shikon no Tama, the jewel of four souls. The Shikon no Tama was a small, round pink jewel that had been in existence for a long time, and Kaede had told me it had originated from a priestess by the name of Midoriko, who had gave her life and in the process, created the jewel. I didn't know much history beyond that, but I was aware that the jewel was extremely powerful, and at the moment, purified. If it fell into the hands of a demon with evil intentions, the jewel would become tainted, and thus, it could be used for evil. The jewel multiplied the powers of a demon by a hundred fold, and it had the ability to make real their petty, grasping desires. Kaede had informed me that it could even do this for humans, which was a terrifying thought, because the lusts and greeds of demons were easy to peg, but for humans, it was unpredictable.

After I finished my chores, which consisted of washing laundry and hanging it up to dry, Kaede rose from her spot on the ground and said, "Now that ye are finished, it is time that I take ye to the shrine and show ye the Shikon no Tama. Come with me, Kagome." She turned and began to walk away, and curious, I followed along behind her.

I had never been allowed to enter the shrine before, so it was an entire other experience for me. In fact, no one but Kaede was allowed to enter the great shrine. Kaede had been the protector of the jewel up until now, where I would become the new protector. I was nervous at the thought, but also ready to take on my duty.

"Now Kagome," Kaede snapped me out of my thoughts as we walked, "there is something ye much remember about the jewel. When the word gets about that there is a new protector for the jewel, the demon activity is sure to pick up. The demons knew that they could not defeat me and obtain the jewel, so the activity was at a minimum. But now that ye are entrusted with the duty, the demons will come and try to take it from you. Ye must be prepared, for this is also a test of strength. And if ye prove yourself strong, and they are unable to take the jewel from ye, then the activity will die back down."

"I never really thought of that. Are you sure I'm strong enough to protect the jewel?" I asked.

"I have full faith in your abilities, Kagome. I am sure ye will do a fine job." Kaede replied simply.

I hope so. I haven't ever had to fight a demon before. What if I lose the jewel to a demon that comes here, to the village? It would be terrible. I thought worriedly, as we reached the shrine. Kaede led the way inside, and within, straight ahead of us, was a small altar, where the jewel was hanging on a little wooden post. The string of the necklace consisted of a bunch of white beads in the shape of spikes, and the jewel itself was glowing, emitting a strange pink light.

"Kagome, ye may touch it if ye wish. It would be best if ye kept the jewel on your person, actually. It would better serve to keep an eye on it, until ye feel ye can relax." Kaede instructed, and she stepped forward, and pulled the jewel off the post, before handing it to me.

The jewel was cool in my palm, and it was letting off a vibe of strong power. It almost felt alive in my hands, and my heart was pounding a little. "It's . . . strong. I can feel it."

"Indeed. Ye will get used to it. Now, Kagome, put that around your neck. Tonight, we shall all celebrate your coming of age. Hopefully there will be no demons to ruin your feast tonight." Kaede said, and guided me from the shrine.

"So Kagome, I heard that you're the new protector of the jewel."

I looked up at the voice, and upon seeing Sango approaching with Rin at her side, I smiled. Sango was sixteen, only a year older than me, and she had taken Rin under her care, since Kaede was already watching over me.

Sango was a demon slayer, but her entire village had been slain by a powerful demon, and she had barely survived. Kaede and I had discovered her, bleeding and wounded, heading towards our village on the side of the road. When she had recovered, she'd asked for Kaede's purification powers to pray over the village and set their souls to rest. We had helped her bury her villagers, and Sango had decided to live in our village and keep an eye over us all. She had only lived here maybe a year, before Rin had arrived. Sango herself had lived here about two years, and she was my best friend.

Sango, physically, was beautiful beyond compare. Her large brown eyes were framed with long lashes that curled and gave her an exotic look, and her face was delicate and forgiving, despite that she was a fearsome warrior. Her hair was a deep brown, and she always wore it pulled back low on her back. She wore a pink kimono, with a green skirt over the bottom, and she came and sat beside me, where I was already surrounded by food.

The villagers had come and congratulated my coming of age, and it was late in the evening. Everyone was eating and drinking and laughing, and it was a good time. Kaede was busy telling stories to the children of the village, and I was busy eating. Musicians from the village were busy playing music, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, I'm finally old enough now." I finally replied to Sango's comment.

"Well, I'm proud of you, Kagome." She hugged me, and I hugged her back. I laughed as Rin bounded up onto my lap, and cried, "Kagome! You still have to braid my hair with wildflowers-"

"Picked from around the sacred tree." I finished, laying a finger over her lips. "I've already thought of that. And, I plan on going and getting some of those flowers right now."

"Can I come with you?" Rin asked, excitedly.

"No, unfortunately. It's far too dangerous, Rin." Sango interrupted. "Now that Kagome has the jewel, the danger levels will increase for a little while."

"That's the same thing Kaede said." I sighed, and my hand instinctively went up to hold the jewel.

"Then it must be true. I'll accompany you to the forest, Kagome." Sango said, standing up. "Rin, go over to Kaede and tell her we'll be back shortly."

"Yes, mama." Rin sighed, standing up. Rin had taken to calling Sango 'mama' which was quite cute, since Sango was sort of her adopted mother in a way.

I stopped by mine and Kaede's hut to grab my bow and arrows, and met back up with Sango at the end of the village. She had her large boomerang made of demon bone, her Hiraikotsu, and when I reached her, she said, "Let's go. And keep a sharp eye out. There might be demons who have already heard of the new protector of the jewel."

We set out together, and it was quiet, for the most part. The trip to the tree was eventless, and when we reached the tree, I crouched down and began to pick the wildflowers around the base of the tree, as Sango kept watch.

"So Sango, do you ever miss travelling, and slaying demons?" I asked, as I picked flowers. I hadn't ever asked Sango much about her demon slaying, because I knew it might bright up painful memories of losing her family and village.

"A little, but I'm happy here." Sango replied, glancing over her shoulder at me. "I'm much better off protecting this village, since it has the jewel stored here. I feel much more at use."

I smiled at her. "Good. I'm glad you came here. You're my best friend."

Sango smiled back. "Well, hurry with your flowers Kagome. We don't want to tempt fate."

I nodded and hastened my picking. "Hey!" I protested, as my bow slipped off my shoulder and hit the ground. As I crawled over to pick it up, something caught the corner of my eye. I looked, and I saw something red, standing out against the trees. I couldn't see it clearly, and when I tried to lean closer, Sango said, "Are you finished Kagome? Rin is probably getting worried," I dismissed it and decided it was nothing. I grabbed my bow and gathered up the flowers, before I stood up, and headed back to the village with Sango.

"Kagome! Kagome, wake up! Ye must wake quickly!"

Someone was shaking me out of my sleep, and I moaned in protest, clutching tighter onto my pillow. "Don't . . . wanna . . ."

"Kagome, ye must wake up now! There is a demon!"

My eyes snapped open, and Kaede was the one who was shaking me, her face urgent. "A demon?" I demanded, fully awake now.

"Apparently word has gotten around faster than I thought. There is a demon approaching the village, and swiftly. Ye must slay it, and prove your strength. Here." Kaede handed my bow and quiver to me, and I quickly slid on both over my kimono, not bothering to take the time to get properly out of my bed clothes as I stood up and ran outside.

I could see the ominous cloud overhead, heading toward our village, and I knew it couldn't be good. I drew my bow, and nocked an arrow in the string, simply waiting for the demon to arrive. Kaede stood behind me with her bow, and I knew it was just in case I should fail. The villagers were peeking their heads out of their huts, obviously sensing the danger. I saw Sango and Rin looking out of their hut as well. Sango made eye contact with me, and she made a move as if to leave her hut, but I shook my head. She looked at me with confusion for a moment, before realization crossed her features, and I knew she understood that I had to do this. This was my task, and my task alone. It was be extremely shameful for me to have aid in this battle.

This is my first fight against a demon. I wonder if I can beat it. I . . . I know I have to try! I thought, determinedly, as I raised my bow in preparation.

There was a terrible roar, and then, I knew the demon was here. It emerged from the cloud, a giant centipede, it's hide a sick, orange yellowish color, and hissed at me, it's antennae waving menacingly in my direction. "You, priesstesss," it hissed, "Give me the sacred jewel!"

"Do not let it get close, Kagome!" Kaede called from behind me.

The centipede slithered toward me, and I aimed for its head, before I let loose. The arrow embedded itself into the centipede's head, and it roared in agony, whipping it's head back and forth as green blood fell to the ground in great pools. I felt my eyes widen when I saw the blood was making the ground smoke, and I realized that the centipede's blood was acidic.

"Don't get any closer!" I warned the centipede. "I'll kill you with the next shot if you do! Leave now and I won't have to kill you!"

Obviously, the centipede didn't want to heed my warning. It hissed and lunged towards me, a fearsome beast, and I grabbed the next arrow and quickly shot towards the centipede's mouth. The arrow ripped straight through it's head, and chunks of its upper half fell to the ground, still twitching.

"Ye have done it." Kaede praised, after the centipede finally lay still. "Ye have won your first battle with a demon."

"Wow. I thought . . . I thought I would have gotten hurt, being so clumsy." I laughed a little, feeling a little giddy from the high of winning the battle. "What are we going to do with it's remains? It's acidic, so it's too dangerous for us to touch."

"This is where I come in." Sango ran out from her hut, and she had her boomerang. "I can haul it to the Bone Eater's well, Lady Kaede, if you wish."

"That would be most kind. I will go prepare some food for you, Kagome. Ye may accompany Sango, if you wish. There is no need for you to train today. I think your training with the bow is finally complete."

"Huh?" My eyes widened. "Really? You mean it?" I couldn't help the excitement that laced my tone. "I thought I wasn't nearly ready!"

"I know ye seem to think that, but ye are ready. Your skills with the bow are nearly better than mine, Kagome. Ye are not a master archer, but that is what practice is for. Your training is done." Kaede nodded to me, and then headed to our hut.

I looked down at my bow. It seems like I've been training for so long. It's . . . weird to hear that I'm suddenly done. No more training. Am I really ready?

"Kagome, come help me haul this hide to the well!" Sango called, and I saw she had cut up the centipede's body and wrapped it up with rope.

Hauling that damned centipede was a task in itself. It was heavy, and we had to watch out for its blood, so it didn't burn through our clothes and skin, more importantly. We didn't talk, because we were too busy pulling the stupid demon bug.

Sango and I tossed its remains into the well, and watched as they mysteriously disappeared. "Well, that's that I suppose." I commented, as we threw the last of it within.

"We should head back to the village. I've got chores to take care of." Sango replied.

"You go ahead and head back. I think that I'm going to go visit the tree." I turned to her, and she raised her perfect eyebrows.

"Are you sure? Well, I can bring you some lunch later, if you want." she offered.

"Sure, that sounds wonderful. Go ahead and go back. I'll be there later." I answered, and Sango headed off. I looked down into the well one last time, thinking, The Bone Eater's well was made out of wood from the sacred tree, and it distorts time itself. All demon remains always disappear and decay when they're thrown down there. I wonder what's on the other side of the well? I don't have time to find out today, but . . . maybe someday. With that, I made my way to the sacred tree.

Once I reached it, I sat down in front of the tree, laying my bow and quiver down beside me on the grass. I simply stared up at the tree, losing myself in my thoughts. I wonder what it is about this tree that draws me to it. No one else is as fascinated with this tree as I am. I wonder if it's because I'm not like anyone else at the village.

I'm not an ordinary girl. Not as long as I have this jewel. I lifted the Shikon no Tama as I thought of it, simply staring at the smooth, pink surface. Kaede already told me this, once before. That when I took on this duty, I couldn't be an ordinary woman. I can't settle down and marry, or anything of the like, as long as the jewel is in existence. And to get rid of it . . . no one really knows the secret . . . but it must be completely, utterly purified. But how? How . . .

And do I want to be an ordinary woman? Does marriage or settling down and having children, do any of those things matter to me? I've never really thought of them, before, to be honest. I know that I've never seen any boy that I've wanted in that way. What if that's not even in my future? What if I'm destined to guard the jewel for the rest of my life, and never love anyone? And never be loved by anyone?

I knew I couldn't decide, at the moment, if that was a depressing thought or not. I'd never really thought of love and destiny before. I'd heard great legends and love stories passed down, and Kaede seemed quite fond of telling such stories. And they were wonderful indeed. But they seemed too good to be true.

I let the jewel drop back down, against my chest, and sighed. "It's so overbearing, having a duty like this . . ." I said softly, to myself.

Suddenly, I heard a soft rustling behind me, and I tensed. I knew I was being watched, and I reached, very surreptitiously, for my bow. I knew, if I hadn't been so deep in thought, I would have noticed earlier I was being spied on. I slipped an arrow into the string, and in a flash, I whipped around, aimed, and fired.

When I saw who I'd trapped, I paused, stunned. It was a boy, and I had pinned him to a tree by the sleeve of his red kimono with my arrow. He was glaring at me, a fierce look in his eye, and I knew he wasn't too happy about his predicament.

I drew out another arrow as he growled and began to lunge towards me, and pinned his other arm to the tree. I moved up to him, where he was pinned, to get a better look at him. When I got closer, I faltered in my steps when I could see him more clearly.

His hair was snow white with a silvery tinge, and very long. He was very handsome, but in a strange, otherworldly way, because he wasn't human. That, I could see. His eyes were a bright golden yellow, and his dark brows were currently in the form of a scowl. His fangs were bared at me, and I looked up, to see two white dog ears atop his head, currently laid back in anger. His fingernails were claws, and he was barefoot. He wore an entirely red kimono, with red hakama pants and a red obi belt.

"What the hell are you starin' at?" he finally demanded, and his voice was rough. "If you're gonna kill me, then get it over with, bitch!"

I was startled by his crudeness, but I glared back at him. I aimed another arrow at him, and he stared me down, glowering the entire time, obviously not about to back down. "Are you after the jewel?" I asked him.

"What do you think wench? Of course I am!"

All the more reason to kill him. I thought, but I couldn't let the arrow go. I hardened my expression, trying to do it, but my hand wouldn't release the arrow. As I looked at him, I realized that he wasn't fully demon. How could he be, looking as human as he did? Something about him was different from other demons. The centipede wasn't the first demon I'd ever seen, and I knew it wouldn't be the last. But I'd seen enough. And this boy, whoever he was . . . he was different.

Finally, I lowered the bow. "I'll spare you this time. But if you come back after the jewel, I won't hesitate next time. So leave, and don't come back." I warned him, and put my arrow back in my quiver before I turned, beginning to head away.

"Wait a minute! You're the new priestess, aren't you! You're supposed to kill me! Hey! Wait!" he shouted after me, but I kept walking. Why couldn't I kill him? Why couldn't I do it? What stopped me? I wouldn't let myself look back at him, and I forced myself to head back to the village.

What about him stilled my hand?

Well, here's the first chapter. Let me know what you think of their meeting!