Author's Note: Hello, Everyone! This is my very first attempt at an anime fanfiction, so I hope I've done a good job in keeping you readers interested! Normally I'm quite very shy when it comes to writing, but since I'm a big fan of Inuyasha and various other animes, and I've been inspired by a close friend named StarDustShadow to start writing my own stories! I really hope you like the first chapter as much as I've had fun writing it!
Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale
The Ringenkai Plant
Chapter 1: The Past and the Present
It was around 7:00 AM in the morning as the bright yellow sun shone its fierce rays upon the city of Tokyo, and the usual commune littered the streets as hundreds of citizens rushed to their workplace destinations. Not soon after the break of day had arrived, the prominence of one specific household had appeared upon view to clash along with its peaceful surroundings. Only one specific flight of many a stair could lead to a familiar residence known as the Higurashi shrine. Inside the nearby house one flight up, a loud ringing of an alarm clock erupted into the sweet dewy air.
BRINGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Oh no!!! Not again! I'm gonna be SO late to school!," Kagome Higurashi yelled out in frustration upon shooting up from the comfort of her bed, the annoying constant blare of her alarm clock ringing through her small sensitive ears. Kagome uncaringly slammed her hand down on the snooze button, nearly damaging the device for nearly the umpteenth time in the past month. She hopped out of her bed and quickly rummaged through her dresser drawer, preparing herself to leave for school.
"And to think I have a HUGE math test today at that! It serves me right for spending a cram session late last night trying to remember the entire 42 chapters on trigonometry, physics, AND advanced algebra! What was I thinking!? I'm not a college party bozo who would even dare do these kinds of things!" Kagome huffed to herself, slipping out of her pajamas and into her usual green school uniform.
"That jerk Inuyasha! It was his fault for making me go late to bed last night! If only he hadn't decided to drag me along to search for the jewel shard hidden in that silly cave. I mean, not that I was grateful we've managed to recover the shard from a particularly nasty six headed, ten clawed, four legged demon, but STILL..... it interrupted my studying time." Kagome said as she properly lifted up her green skirt, making sure that it fit properly just before fixing her hair at the last minute. "There! Prim and proper as usual! Not too shabby looking for a girl who rushed through her morning wake up call!" Kagome smiled, her beautiful visage reflecting off of the glass mirror she had in the interior of her closet. She hurriedly bounced down the stairs and into the kitchen, where she was greeted by her family.
"Good morning, Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi said in a bright tone. "Would you like some breakfast?" she asked her daughter.
"Sorry, mom! Not right now, I barely even have time to brush my own teeth!" Kagome said as she ran into the nearby bathroom and proceeded to brush her teeth as fast as humanly possible. Her younger brother Sota Higurashi, peeked his small head through the slightly ajar door.
"Kagome, you know if you keep slipping up like this, you're bound to fail most of your classes and you'll be left back. You don't want something like that to happen, don't you?" asked a concerned Sota. Kagome stopped in mid-brush and narrowed her eyes, slowly turning to look at Sota.
"Listen, Sota, I KNOW what I'm risking here! Is it my fault that I'm not doing to well in balancing my school work AND traveling to the feudal era at the same time? Its not necessarily a cakewalk, you know." Kagome said incoherently with the toothbrush hanging from the side of her mouth.
"I don't mean it like that, Kagome. I just mean I can't help but be concerned as your brother. I know getting the jewel shards is important, but what good is it when you find yourself left back a good three years in Junior High School? I don't think the younger kids will take a liking to a much older upperclassman who's failed three years in a row. Big mistake, I'm telling you." Sota said, sighing.
In retaliation, Kagome threw a bar of soap at Sota's head in annoyance. It violently bopped off of Sota's cranium. "OW!!! Aw, what was THAT for!? I was only trying to help!" Sota asked, rubbing the large bump on his head.
"For your information, I am NOT old, and second, I am NOT going to be left back three years! Just you wait, Sota! You're not the one stuck with the role of going between two different worlds trying to make ends meet!" Kagome yelled at Sota.
"Of course, of course! Kagome, you have the right idea. Collecting the shards of the sacred Shikon jewel is very important. Just as important as improving your study habits, I might add." Grandpa Higurashi came in, shaking his head.
"Um, Grandpa? Can we talk about this later? I have a math test first period, and I really don't want to ----" Kagome was cut off by the wave of her grandfather's hand.
"Ah, ah, ah!!! There's already no need to fear! I've already taken the liberty of calling the school and reporting to them your new case of tuberculosis. You've been coughing several pints of blood for the past few weeks, and the school decided it be best to cancel the test for you until you recover from the hospital. Ain't I a hero!?" Grandpa laughed, a red and white sunburst appearing behind him.
Kagome stamped her feet and ran up to her grandfather. "WHAT!?!? GRANDPA!!! Why do you keep making up all of this rare diseases nearly every week!? Keep doing this and I'm bound to catch a bout of cancer or smallpox or SOMETHING!" she huffed angrily.
"Smallpox? Hmm, that's a good idea! I'll save that excuse for next week. Cancer, I'll save for the week after." Grandpa said, his eyes closed as he nodded his head thoughtfully. Kagome could only stare back at him with a beady eyed expression, her left eyebrow twitching.
"Is he even listening to me anymore?" Kagome thought.
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Kagome sighed as she entered the school grounds, just barely five minutes from the main gate being closed. As most of the school's students hustled their way inside before the bell rang, Kagome was greeted by her group of girlfriends from her classes.
"Kagome! You're back! Did you finally receive that cure for the chicken pox that we've heard about?" one of her friends said excitedly.
"Kagome! I hope that pneumonia didn't get you too down this week, rumor has it that there's a new cute guy coming to our Science class today!" another friend chimed in.
"Kagome! I thought you had the mumps the other day! Geez, for a girl that gets so many sicknesses you sure recover quickly! I guess your grandfather whips up all sorts of herbal medicines!" another girl expressed.
"Things never change..." Kagome said, shaking her head. "Right now a date with Hojo sounds like the ONLY thing that could make me feel better. Well, at least I don't have to take the math test. That's one notion to look forward to. Thanks, Grandpa." she thought quietly, slowly smiling as she gazed up into the blue skies.
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"Goddamn it!" Inuyasha angrily tossed a fruit into the air and slashing it with a quick swipe of his claw. The fruit was neatly sliced into several smaller pieces as it landed in the dog demon's palm, where he then slowly ate each one. "We only had a few more jewel shards to collect near that last village we were at, and Kagome decides to run off and go study for her test or whatever again. Why can't she ever make up her mind what she wants to do? I tell ya, just thinking about it pisses me off." Inuyasha said, lying on his back perched upon the branch of a large tree in the middle of a big open field.
"You shouldn't get so angry, Inuyasha. I mean, its not the first time Kagome had to leave for her own time again. Its practically normal, and she necessarily can't stay here all the time, you know." Shippo said his little face peering up at the angry half-demon. Shippo was sitting up against the trunk of the tree, casually playing with a spinning top. "But I have to admit, even though it hasn't been very long, I miss her already. I can never seem to get used to her not being here, even if its for a day or two." the little fox boy said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Hmph!" Inuyasha shrugged, his eyes closed and arms folded. "Well, get used to it sooner or later. Because if this keeps up, it may get to the point where Kagome may just want to stay in her time for good." he lied out of anger.
"That's silly! How can you be such a jerk!? Remember what happened the LAST time you two got angry at each other? When that Kouga guy was injured during that last encounter we had in the mountains?" a narrow eyed Shippo shot back.
Inuyasha leapt down and grabbed Shippo, shaking him back and forth like a rag doll. "Hey! That's a totally different subject, okay? And the next time you even dare try to insinuate that every argument we have is my causing then you can count on me making you into a nice fur scarf when the winter time comes... and winter season is just around the corner..." Inuyasha said, fire appearing behind him as Shippo broke out of his grasp, a big sweat drop rolling down his head.
"Uh, forget it! I'm sorry! Forget I said anything!!! I don't wanna be turned into dead fur!" Shippo scurried behind the tree.
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Back in the present, school had finally let out, and most of the students were ready to go home. Kagome was just about to release her bike from near the gate when he heard a familiar voice call out to her from behind. "Kagome! Hey, Kagome!"
"What? Oh, Hojo! Hi!" Kagome stuttered, upon seeing Hojo run up with his usual cool and collected grin.
"Hi Kagome, I was looking for you all day. I didn't see you at lunch or gym today. Anyway, I'm glad I caught up with you. Ever since you caught malaria I've been worried an awful lot about you. Are you sure you be returning to school so soon after such a terrible ailment?" Hojo meaningfully asked.
Kagome stammered, unsure of how to respond. "Grandpa strikes again..." she thought.
"Um, no, its quite alright! I mean, I'm 100% all better now. You know how my genes are. No matter what I catch my body only gets stronger and immune to any type of sickness! Kagome laughed excusably. "But if its ONE thing I'll never be immune to is Inuyasha's whining..." she added in thought.
"Aw, well, that's great to hear, actually. The reason why I say that is because I was wondering if you'd like to go out to that new drama movie they're showing down in Shinjuku tonight. I've been hearing its pretty good. And then maybe we could go for burgers and shakes." Hojo suggested.
"Sounds tempting..." Kagome uttered under her breath. "I mean, its not that Hojo is practically the hottest and most sought after guy in the whole school, and its not that I'd be the most lucky one to even get any attention from him, and its not that I wouldn't like to go out with him... its just that..." Kagome's thoughts trailed off. She blushed in embarrassment, unsure of how to respond.
"Um, Hojo? As much as I'd like to go out for sure... I don't think I'll be able to." Kagome said. "What!? Oh no, is it because you're still feeling sick? Is it the pneumonia? Or are you feeling a little queasy?" Hojo's eyes widened.
"Um..... THAT'S IT! I mean, um..." Kagome switched her tone and hunched over her bike, her eyes almost closed. "Yeah, I think I've spent too much time on the school grounds... its making me... um, motion sick. I'd better get home and gets lots of rest. I'm so sorry to break our date!" Kagome said, hopping onto her bike and releasing the chain to the rack.
As Kagome slowly biked out of the front yard, Hojo came out and waved to her as she left. "Oh, its okay, Kagome! Its no problem at all! Your getting better is much more important! I wouldn't want you to feel any worse!" he called back.
Kagome shook her head as she raced down the street. "Wow, if its any guy that's unfettered by total false rejection, its him. That's one merit you can't break..." she said, disappearing from view over the hill. The sun began to set over the horizon of the land ahead, marking the beginning of the evening.
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Later that night, Kagome walked back to the Higurashi shrine, just soon after finishing all of her homework. Opening the big wooden doors and walking into the area where she was all too familiar - the ancient well which had dragged her into a completely different era where she overcame time - the Bone Eater's Well.
"Am I ready to go back?" Kagome placed her warm hand on the cold stone ledge, her gaze fixated on the ladder that was attached for easier entering into the well. Her other hand clutched the top of her left breast, where she felt her heart trembling underneath. "I could never truly understand why I always experience this strange feeling whenever I come in close quarters of the well. As many times as I've been through here, transporting from the present to feudal times, I can never adjust to this strange aura that drapes itself over me like a cold curtain. I keep expecting another foul creature to come out and grab me and pull me into a new world, like the future or something." she said quietly.
Outside of the shrine, the moon appeared in the cloudless sky in its prime - full to its entirety. Its luminous invisible shadow covered the Higurashi shrine, its pure rays of light providing better view upon the grounds without fear. A harsh wind blew by, rattling against the open door. However, Kagome didn't even notice the noise, because she was already climbing down into the well. As soon as both of her feet touched the hard soil at the bottom, an odd kaleidoscope like light enveloped Kagome, its unexplained mystical forces breaking down the pale mossy stones upon her view and every particle and matter reassembling themselves as she suddenly found herself in the exact same well, but a different location. Kagome shook her head, quickly recovering from the trip as she climbed up to the top of the well.
She took a deep breath of the fresh evening air, her brown eyes drinking in the beautiful orange sky that stood still and never appearing to be moving even the slightest bit. "I'm back in the feudal era. Sooner than I expected, no doubt. Even though I thought I was ready to stay in the present for at least a few more days, I'm beginning to realize how this place almost seems like... a second home to me. And not to mention, all of my friends here seem like a second family to me." Kagome said, dusting off her dress.
She sat down on the cool grass and laid back against the edge of the well, hiking up one leg and wrapping her arms around it. "But let's face it... I know the reason why I came back so soon. Because even though I've might have argued with him just a little before I left a day ago, I already miss Inuyasha. Its getting more difficult for me to stay in the present without thinking about him for a mere five minutes straight. Without Inuyasha around me... everything seems so foreign. Another land and another lifestyle doesn't mix for me." Kagome said with a hint of frustration.
She stood up and began to walk toward to the nearest village where old Kaede lived, and she knew she was bound to pass by the exact same spot where she first met Inuyasha, bound to a tree by a sacred arrow.
And that same spot she eventually breached upon. Instead of just walking past it in ignorance, Kagome stood before it, staring at the area of the old tree. A wind bustled by, blowing her hair to the side. Kagome sighed, a small twinkle in her eyes dancing like a ballerina on stage.
"It was here where I first met Inuyasha. This old tree.... his body was pinned up like a doll. Who would have thought that 50 years ago, and 50 years later a half-demon like him and an young school girl like me, would even dare cross paths?" Kagome said.
50 years ago... in the feudal era...
Inuyasha dashed through the forest, his teeth clenched with fervor and his tenacity raging with an untouchable fire. His yellow eyes were glazed with only one intention - and that single mission was laying right under his nose, sitting inside a shrine sparkling with ancient energies unfathomable to man. Inuyasha was after the sacred Shikon Jewel of the Four Souls. And nothing was going to stop him from obtaining it.
"That sacred jewel is mine!" Inuyasha said, taking a bountiful long leap out of the forest and into the air. The village was just in view a few feet ahead below him, his eyes fixated on the shrine where the Shikon Jewel was being kept. But that wasn't the only thing he had to worry about, as the folk inhabiting the village pointing up in fear at the dog demon had begun to assemble in defense of their land.
"Its Inuyasha! Inuyasha has come!" one of the men shouted into air, holding a spear.
"He's come to the take the jewel!" another reported.
"Quick, gather together! We need to stop him! Find the high priestess and hurry!" a pitchfork wielding villager exasperated.
But they were far too slow, as Inuyasha landed directly into the entrance of the village, zooming past the weaklings that stood in his way with amazing speed. Knocking the fools aside, Inuyasha took another big leap and busted through the roof of the shrine nearby, debris crashing to the ground behind him. Inuyasha wiped his face in defiance, pleasantly smirking to himself upon discovering his sought after treasure - the sacred Shikon Jewel.
"Heh, there it is." Inuyasha said, stepping ever so closer to the shining jewel, its unknown elements sending out forms of purple, white, and pinkish light every which way. The surface of the jewel shone with a heavy ambience, only to be snatched up in an instant by a clawed hand.
"Oh no, we're too late! He has the jewel!" a large group of villagers announced their arrival through the front doors of the shrine, catching their last glimpse of Inuyasha just before the half demon exited the same way he came, but not before knocking down a fire lit lantern and slashing the entire roof with a single swipe of his hand, causing the entire structure to explode and crash down upon the villagers, killing them in a huge dust cloud.
Inuyasha, with the jewel safely in his hand, began to dash back out of the village, already reaching the open arms of the forest. He was almost there, believing he was finally going to get what he truly desired from the jewel. But before he could even think of what that desire was...
A beautiful woman with long black haired tied up in a ponytail and dressed in red and white priestess clothing held up her bow and arrow, her brown eyes reflecting the image of an escaping Inuyasha several feet ahead. "DIE, INUYASHA!" the woman said angrily, readying her arrow and shooting it with the grace of a swan. The arrow was encased with a sacred holy light, shooting through the air like a star in the middle of the night, its escaping target turning around just in time to see it heading straight for him...
"Wh... what!?" Inuyasha stuttered, his body spinning around 180 degrees as he felt a powerful voice directly behind him, with his chance at freedom previously in front him - and his only chance of making his truest wish, still being clutched in his hand. Inuyasha was pelted by the sudden sacred arrow directly just to the left of his heart, the blade of the long ranged weapon burying itself deep into the flesh of the half demon.
Inuyasha was forcefully slammed into a single tree, the arrow now punctured deep into his body in a sole connection between his living self and the tree behind him. Inuyasha tried to move, but he couldn't, as he felt the arrow holding him place, a force with such high caliber that even he himself could not withstand. The chained portion of the Shikon Jewel dangled from his fingers, and his demonic eyes slowly rose up to see his attacker... his belief of truth and fiction clashing together in a nasty mental battle as he couldn't believe who he had saw standing on a ridge at the entrance of the village. "K... Kikyo?!"
"No... Why!? Why did she do this to me? I thought she trusted me!?" was Inuyasha's last thought, as he felt his consciousness slowly begin to fade into nothingness, and the last image recorded in his eyes was the injured Kikyo walking towards him, her eyes flooded with a cold and distinct attitude.
Kikyo wanted Inuyasha to die for his betrayal. Why did she entrust him to using the Shikon Jewel? In turn, she risked a chance of him slaying her when she was vulnerable. And to say the least, that same very conception happened to her just a few hours earlier when she was in the fields, just before she was attacked from behind. She couldn't believe her own two eyes as she witnessed Inuyasha looking down on her collapsed bloodied body.
Kikyo tried to speak. She wanted to ask what caused her lover, or should she say, former lover, to decide upon this selfish act? Was the importance of the Shikon jewel that much important to warrant the death of Kikyo for Inuyasha's own selfish demeanor? Didn't he love and respect her wishes? Didn't he respect himself for what he thought he truly wanted in his heart?
"Inuyasha... why..." she could only breathe out, as the large bloody wound across the entire right side of her body began to worsen, forming a bigger pool of red to drench the clothing of what was once white. Blood splashed down onto the grass beneath her, with Kikyo's top appearing to be a sea of crimson liquid. Kikyo reached out to Inuyasha in hopes that he wasn't doing what she thought was all just a nightmare. She begged for it to end, but it seemed to drag on as if it were real.
"Fool!" Inuyasha stomped on Kikyo's outstretched hand. "Do you really think I wanted to use the jewel to become a normal human?" Inuyasha said coldly. "What do you take me for? I only want to become more powerful than I ever was! A full fledged demon is the only path I'm taking!" Inuyasha said.
Kikyo blinked at least three times, with Inuyasha mysteriously disappearing from the fields. Kikyo could only crawl a few inches before she realized that this was really happening. The blood that flowed from her aching wounds left a trench of red behind her, as she mustered up the last amount of strength that was within her body. Kikyo, to her own surprise, somehow stood up on her legs and quickly hobbled out of the fields, heading back towards the village where she lived. "The jewel... I should have known... the jewel only corrupts the needs of user if unless he has a pure heart enough to fight against those kinds of black desires... I... I have to stop him before its too late." Kikyo groaned, the burning image of seeing Inuyasha dead on the ground instilled in her mind. "He has betrayed me... used me like was a puppet until he decided to strike me down when the time was right... What is this I'm feeling!? Possible hatred!?"
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"This is just a misunderstanding! I thought you wanted me to use the jewel..."
"You must die for your betrayal, Inuyasha! The jewel isn't for you to use!"
"No... Kikyo... listen to me..."
Little Kaede stood next to her older sister, watching her take the Shikon Jewel from an unconscious Inuyasha's hand. Only a few seconds after that action, the villagers ran up to Kikyo from behind, their faces all wrought with concern from their priestess. "Lady Kikyo! Are you alright!?" a man asked.
"She's injured! Someone get some medicine for the priestess!" another man ordered. Kikyo held the jewel in her grasp, crashing to her knees directly in front of Kaede.
"Sister! No!" Kaede said, holding Kikyo's arm in trying to support her.
"There's... no need. My injuries are too severe..." Kikyo said with tired eyes, what was once her pure lovely skin had now turned into a ghostly pale of color, the blood nearly turning half of her top and hakama dark red. "I'm going to die... but please, as my last request... I wish for my body to be cremated along with the jewel... This same jewel shall never fall into another humans hands, be it that their contact with this sacred item will only be the beginning of their end." Kikyo said, just before falling to her right and onto the soft grass, the last of her lifeforce exiting her body. Kikyo was now dead, her lifeless corpse lay before the shocked villagers. Kaede tried to hold her tears back, but it was nigh impossible at this point.
"SISTER!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!" Kaede cried out, holding Kikyo's head in her little arms.....
That was 50 years ago... I can never seem to get such a sad story out of my mind...
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Kagome still stood there in front of the tree, touching the area where Inuyasha's body had previously been for five decades. Even though they were both led under complete misunderstand, Kagome knew the truth, and so did Inuyasha and Kikyo. Neither of them had betrayed each other to begin with. It was all the cause of one evil man, who had gone by the name of Naraku. Naraku had disguised himself as both Inuyasha and Kikyo, tricking them into turning against each other out of Naraku's disgusting wants for the Shikon Jewel.
Kagome backed away and sighed. She turned around and headed off to the village. At least she was now back into this era, where her major purpose was to help Inuyasha and her friends find the rest of the jewel shards before Naraku does. And getting all the shards was a mighty task at hand. But at the same time, all of the fighting she has done alongside her friends has also caused her to grow more closer to Inuyasha as time went on, and before she realized it, there was strong possibility that they both may have fallen in love with each other - even though she wouldn't be so fast to admit it, nor would Inuyasha himself.
"No way. He's too chock full of pride to do anything like that. But I do wonder... is he still in love with Kikyo? How does he feel towards me? Well... I guess deep down I know the answer. But I refuse to believe it until I get a realistic example to answer my questions." Kagome said, the sunset sky becoming darker and making way for the stars to appear. The village appeared some feet away, and Kaede's house was lit.
"But either way... I'll be happy to see Inuyasha. Surviving through a single day without him is like me trying to ace a test without studying for it." Kagome said, entering the village. "But at least I'm back." she smiled to herself, eagerly awaiting to see her favorite dog demon as she reached the front of old Kaede's house.
The End of Chapter 1.
