First ever Tiger's curse and Inuyasha crossover, yay for me! I was re-reading Tiger's curse when I noticed the abrupt lack of crossover fanfiction. This is probably the first time I have felt consumed, with the desire to write. I can only hope I do the characters and stories justice. All comments and feedback is appreciated. I will try to update once a week or so, I unlike others am not a natural writer. This is also my first long story.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, and The Tiger's curse series belongs to Colleen Houck. Please don't sue me; you won't get any money anyways.
A Tiger's Priestess
Prologue
Feudal Era, Japan
I leaned against the Goshinboku and slid down until I was sitting. As I waited I pulled out my grandmother's bamboo flute, I received it for my 16th birthday. Mama had thought I was responsible enough to take it with me to the past.
The final battle with Naraku had ended just a week ago. I now help the complete and pure Jewel in my pocket. Through my dreams Midoriko-sama trained my priestess powers, and during the day Sango-chan taught me combat.
Upon the completion of my training Midoriko-sama presented me with a sword called Himiko. Himiko was a beautiful katana, a blued blade, with a black and white hilt.
Surprisingly Sesshoumaru had joined in the battle, and it was through our combined efforts that Naraku was defeated. Kouga had finally seen the light after Ayame had taken a hit for him, and have entered a romantic relationship. Shippou was planning to leave with Sesshoumaru to train. Even Miroku and pulled his act together and proposed to Sango-chan.
As for Inuyasha and I, well I had decided to finally tell him my feelings. If he rejected them then that was it, and I would move on. I could not bear the tension between us anymore; the last few weeks had been especially bad: Inuyasha almost seemed to be avoiding me. I knew I would probably be rejected, but I couldn't bring myself to regret my feelings. I played a light, happy song as I waited for him to come.
"You still have that beat up old thing?" Inuyasha said as he stepped out from the shadows.
"Of course I do, it's a memento of my late grandmother." I replied standing up. I then turned away to gather my thoughts and spoke "This past year has been really fun hasn't it? Many things happened both good and bad. I know it might not be the best time to say this but, you know what Inuyasha? I really lov-"
Suddenly I felt something piece between my shoulder blades. Looking down I saw Tessaiga emerging from my chest. Inuyasha caught me as I fell and cradled me to his chest.
"How could you, Inuyasha?" I managed to choke out feeling all strength leave my body.
"Don't ya worry Kikyo we'lll be together again soon. I have both a body and ya soul to fill it."
"Why Inuyasha? Aren't you my friend?
"Do you really think that I liked you? You're just a second rate reincarnation, worthless, pathetic, and useless! You could never be like Her." The look on his face was so cruel and twisted I almost didn't recognize him.
"But you looked like her." He continued softly as he began to stoke my face. "And She was perfect, beautiful and strong. I can't live without her, I can't. And now I don't hav to. I thought at first that maybe you could be like her. But ya aren't, YOU can never be like her."
As he leaned down he said "Now bitch I will take what is mine." I felt him search my pockets.
No. I tried to speak but I couldn't utter the words. It must never be used for a selfish wish! NOOOOO!
Prologue Two
India, 1678
The prisoner stood with his hands tied in front of him, tired, beaten, and filthy but with a proud back befitting his royal Indian heritage. His captor, Lokesh, looked on haughtily from lavishly carved, gilded throne. Tall, white pillars stood like sentinels around the room. Not a whisper of a jungle breeze moved across the sheer draperies. All the prisoner could hear was the steady clinking of Lokesh's jeweled rings against the side of the golden chair. Lokesh looked down, eyes narrowed into contemptuous, triumphant slits.
The prisoner was the prince of an Indian kingdom called Mujulaain. Technically, his current title was Prince and High Protector of the Mujulaain Empire, but he still proffered to think of himself as just his father's son.
That Lokesh, the raja of a small neighboring kingdom called Bhreenam, had managed to kidnap the prince was not as shocking as who was sitting beside Lokesh: Yesubai, the raja's daughter and the prisoner's fiancée, and the prince's younger brother, Kishan. The captive studied all three of them but only Lokesh returned his determined gaze. Beneath his shirt, the price's stone amulet lay cool against his skin while anger surged through his body.
The prisoner spoke first, struggling to keep the betrayal out of his voice, "Why have you-my-soon-to-be-father-treated me with such . . . Inhospitality?"
Nonchalant, Lokesh affixed a deliberate smile on his face." My dear prince, you have something I desire."
"Nothing you could want can justify this. Are our kingdoms not to be joined? Everything I have has been at your disposal. You needed only to ask. Why have you done this?"
Lokesh rubbed his jaw as his eyes glittered. "Plans change. It seems that your brother would like to take my daughter for his bride. He has promised me certain remunerations if I help him achieve that goal."
The Prince turned his attention to Yesubai, who, with cheeks aflame, assumed a demure, submissive pose with her head bowed. His arranged marriage to Yesubai was supposed to have ushered in an era of peace between the two kingdoms. He had been away for the last four months overseeing military operations on the far side of the empire and had left his brother to watch over the kingdom.
I Guess Kishan was watching a little bit more than just the kingdom. The prisoner strode fearlessly forward, faced Lokesh, and called out. "You have fooled us all. You are like a coiled cobra that has been hiding in his basket, waiting for the moment to strike."
He widened his glance to include his brother and fiancée. "Don't you see? Your actions have freed the viper, and we are bitten. His poison now runs through our blood, destroying everything."
Lokesh laughed disdainfully and spoke, "If you agree to surrender your piece of the Damon Amulet, I might be persuaded to allow you to live.
"To live? I thought we were bartering for my bride."
"I'm afraid your rights as a betrothed husband have been usurped. Perhaps I haven't been clear. Your brother will have Yesubai."
The prisoner clenched his jaw, and said simply "My father's armies would destroy you if you killed me."
Lokesh laughed. "He certainly would not destroy Kishan's new family. We will simply placate your dear father and tell him that you were the victim of an unfortunate accident."
He stroked his short, stippled beard and then clarified, "Of course, you understand, that even should I allow you to live, I will rule both kingdoms." Lokesh smiled. "If you defy me I will forcibly remove your piece of the amulet."
Kishan leaned toward Lokesh and protested stiffly, "I thought we had an arrangement. I only brought my brother to you because you swore that you would not kill him! You were to take the amulet. That's all."
Lokesh shot out his hand as quickly as a snake and grabbed Kishan's wrist. "You should have learned by now that I take whatever I want. If you would prefer the view from where your brother is standing, I would be happy to accommodate you."
Kishan shifted in his chair but kept silent.
Lokesh continued "No? Very well, I have now amended our former arrangement. Your brother will be killed if he does not comply with my wishes, and you will never marry my daughter unless you hand over your piece of the amulet to me as well. This private arrangement of ours can be easily revoked, and I can have Yesubai married to a different man-a man of my choosing. Perhaps an old sultan would cool her blood. If you want to remain close to Yesubai, you will learn to be submissive."
Lokesh squeezed Kishan's wrist until it cracked loudly. Kishan didn't react at all.
Flexing his fingers and slowly rolling his wrist, Kishan sat back, raised a hand to touch the engraved amulet piece hidden underneath his own shirt, and made eye contact with his brother. An unspoken message passed between them.
The brother would deal with each other later, but Lokesh's actions meant war, and the needs of the kingdom were a priority for both.
Obsession pumped up Lokesh's neck, throbbed at his temple, and settled behind his black, serpentine eyes. Those same eyes dissected the prisoner's face, probing, assenting for weakness. Angered to the point of action, Lokesh jumped to his feet, "So be it!"
Lokesh pulled a shiny knife with a jeweled hilt from his robe and roughly yanked up the sleeve of the prisoner's now filthy, once white Jodhpuri coat. The ropes twisted on his wrists and he grunted in pain as Lokesh drew the knife across his arm. The cut was deep enough that the blood welled up. Spilled over the edge, and dripped onto the tiled floor.
Lokesh tore a wooden talisman from around his neck and placed it beneath the prisoner's arm. Blood dripped from the knife onto the charm, and the engraved symbol glowed a fiery red before pulsating an unnatural white light.
The light shot toward the prince with groping fingers that pierced his chest and clawed it's way through his body. Though strong, he wasn't prepared for the pain. The captive screamed as his body suddenly became inflamed with a prickly heat and he fell to the floor.
He reached out with his hands to brace himself, but he managed only to scratch feebly on the cold, white tile of the floor. The prince watched helplessly as both Yesubai and his brother attacked Lokesh, who shoved both back viciously. Yesubai fell to the ground, hitting her head hard on the dias. The prince was aware that his brother was near, overtaken by grief as the life drained from Yesubai's limp body. Then he was aware of nothing except the pain.
AN, reposted 8/25/14