Chapter Two:

Kagome was just a girl from middleschool! She shouldn't be in feudal Japan, she shouldn't have been in the middle of a forest, and she certainly shouldn't have been running from her life to escape a bloodthirsty half demon. He roared, his eyes blood red and filled with mindless rage. Kagome tripped over a piece of Mistress Centipedes skeleton, and landed on the ground just as the boy passed over her, his claws nearly slicing her in half in the process. As he landed, he turned to look at her with a crazed expression as he bounded towards her on his hands and feet.

The sound of bowstrings twanged through the night as a series of arrows were unleashed. Yet to no avail, for the shafts were knocked aside, and in return Inuyasha tore down two trees, sending them falling down onto the men who scattered beneath the fall. Inuyasha landed on one of the stumps and roared skywards.

It was terrifying to watch, for he no longer seemed to have any humanity within him. Kaede was reaching into her clothes for something as the men looked to her in fear. 'Lady Kaede, me thinks perhaps we might have chanced the Centipede.'

'Somehow I knew that it would eventually come to this.' reflected Kaede as she removed a bead necklace from her robes.

Kagome in the meantime was trying to put as much distance between herself and the monstrous half demon chasing after her. He was gaining swiftly, leaping from tree to tree, his claws reaving a mighty pit in the ground beneath her feet as she staggered to the ground. The jewel fell out of her hands as she looked up, and saw four massive claw shaped trenches from his attack. She gasped despite herself.

The beast descended, a psychotic smile on its face. Suddenly there was a flaring of white light, and a necklace set itself around Inuyasha's neck. He shuddered, and paused as he tore at the necklace.

'Quickly child!' cried Kaede 'The word of subjugation!'

'What word?!' cried Kagome.

'It matters not!' said Kaede 'Your word has power to hold his spirit!'

'A word to hold his spirit…' said Kagome, before seeing the dog ears.

The beast rushed at her.

'Sit boy!' she cried, thinking of the first word that came to mind.

Mid leap, the beast was pulled down and slammed straight down into the ground, leaving a dent in the grass where he landed. Suddenly he arose, eyes bleary, the madness leaving his gaze. 'What the… how did this thing get on my neck again?'

'I'm sorry Inuyasha,' said Kaede 'but even you lack the power to remove it.'

'I know that, you old hag!' snapped Inuyasha. 'Now could someone please explain to me what the hell is going on?!'


The next day, as the villagers busied themselves repairing their home from Mistress Centipedes rampage, Kaede tended to Kagome's wounds. She proved a skilled healer, and her efforts saw Kagome feeling better almost at once. Kagome tried to think of something to say. 'I notice you are rebuilding the houses wrecked by Mistress Centipede. What a pain.'

'Pain, yes.' said Kaede 'And just beginning. Now that the sacred Shikon No Tama is back among us, far worse than Mistress Centipede will come to claim it.'

'Worse than yesterday?' asked Kagome.

'And not just demons,' said Kaede 'there are humans whose hearts are more evil still. And only the jewel has power to make real their petty, grasping ambitions.'

'Shut yer mouth, old hag.' snapped Inuyasha 'You didn't know them, so you can stop with the pointed commentary.'

Kagome blinked in surprise. What was he talking about? Inuyasha didn't seem in a mood to discuss the matter at all. 'Speaking of petty, what are you still doing here?'

'Waiting for an explanation,' snapped Inuyasha.

'With the beads around his neck his threat is diminished.' said Kaede 'It is perhaps the only way we can allow him so close to the jewel.'

'The jewel?' asked Inuyasha 'I don't want the damn thing! I saw what happened to the last person who made a wish on it. And I'm sick of having some dried up witch I just met talk like she knows me!'

'So ye don't remember,' said Kaede 'I thought as much. I am younger sister to Kikyo, she that bound ye to the tree. Kaede.'

'You are Kaede?' asked Inuyasha, staring at her. 'What is the meaning of this?'

'Fifty years have passed,' said Kaede 'and I have grown old.'

'Where is Kikyo!' snapped Inuyasha 'I want answers now!'

Kaede began to feed more logs into the fire. 'Kikyo is dead. It was on the same day that she shot ye with the arrow.'

'What…' said Inuyasha, standing up. 'Thats… thats impossible… I… I'd just agreed to become human. I was at peace! What happened! Why don't I remember anything!'

'I can't tell you,' said Kaede 'but I'm afraid it gets even more complicated than it is already. I now know that Kagome is the reincarnation of my sister.' Kagome looked up, blinking. 'And it isn't just because ye resemble her. The jewel of four souls was in your body. That alone is proof enough.

It is up to ye now, child. To take over its protection.'

Inuyasha scoffed and departed without a word.


Later as she walked throughout the village, the jewel around her neck, Kagome looked at the little gem oddly. 'Me? Protecting this? Who am I kidding?'

'She's the reincarnation of whom?' asked a villager.

'You gotta admit, there is something otherworldly about her.' said another.

'They are saying that girl there is really Kikyo.'

'Thats Kikyo-sama for those who respect her!' snapped an older man.

'Me? I knew it was lady Kikyo all along.'

'Kikyo-sama has come back, just as she left!'

And people began bowing to her, and offering her tribute in food. This day just got weirder and weirder. 'I gotta get out of here!' cried Kagome, before running away.

Atop the boughs of a great tree, she found Inuyasha perched and looking out over the landscape. He was looking distantly upon the scenic surroundings. 'She died… and I don't even remember it…' he murmured.

Kagome threw a fruit at him, which went flying through the air, only to be snatched by him. He glanced back in irritation.

'Hey!' called Kagome 'Don't you want to eat?!'

'Not really,' said Inuyasha as he looked at her. 'out of curiosity where did you get all this stuff?'

'The villagers gave it to me.' said Kagome 'Why not come down from there and help me eat it?'

Reluctantly Inuyasha leaped down, and they sat against the back of the tree, eating together. Inuyasha looked at her with distant, suspicious eyes and Kagome found herself wondering what his deal was. 'What are you up to?' he asked suddenly.

'Up to?' she asked 'I'm not up to anything.' She looked at him. 'Listen, its fair to say that you don't like me, right?'

He considered the question. 'Yeah, fair enough.'

'Whatever,' she said 'its not even me you dislike. Its this Kikyo person.'

'Have you been paying attention?' asked Inuyasha incredulously. 'I loved Kikyo! I was ready to spend my life with Kikyo! Then all of a sudden I wake up pinned to a tree fifty years later, and her half wit incarnation is asking me stupid questions! And it turns out she died of mysterious circumstances.'

Kagome stopped. 'Oh, uh… I'm sorry for your loss.'

'Whatever,' he snapped 'she's far from the first friend I've lost.' Then he leaped back up onto the tree branch above. 'Leave me alone.'

'Look,' said Kagome 'can't we call a truce here?'

'…If I say yes, will you go away?' asked Inuyasha.

'Alright, alright, I get it.' said Kagome, before leaving him in peace.

It was an awkward conversation talking to someone who in another life you might have married, very awkward.


Later that night Kagome lay under heavy covers by a roaring fire, thinking to herself. 'Its two days now that I've been over here…' she reflected, remembering her family. 'Grandpa, Sota, Mom, they must be so worried. I gotta get back, one way or the other.'

She drifted off to sleep.

Far above Kaede's house, a flock of black carrion crows stared down upon the house from a tree branch. One of them had three red eyes, a snakelike tail and was larger than the rest. Its eyes flared, and it made a call. It sensed the jewel far below. It had only to get it, and its power would be far increased.

And then Inuyasha was upon it. The creature leaped into the air, as the crows scattered while cawing. The half demon stood on the branches. 'Their here for the jewel, damned vultures.'


The next day Kagome made her way back the way she had come, searching the forest of Inuyasha. 'Inuyasha's forest, dry well. Its how I came here, after all. There has got to be some kind of hint how to get home…'

As she walked into the wilderness, she got the sense that she was making a mistake. Kaede had mentioned many dangers, but those dangers seemed worth it if it meant getting home. Even so, as she walked throughout the trees, she could not shake the feeling that she was being watched.

Then she came within sight of it. 'There!' she cried 'Thats the well I came out of!'

The well was overgrown with vines, and looked quite ancient. She began to make for it, before suddenly she was grabbed from behind. A hand covered her mouth to stifle a scream, and she was forced down. A group of raggedly clothed men dragged her kicking and screaming to a little house in the middle of nowhere.

There they brought her inside and forced her to the floor before a massive bald man. 'Ow!'

'Hey boss!' called a man. 'We caught the girl just like ya said we should!'

'Heh, heh, heh, heh,' laughed one 'her Kimono's shorter than mine.' Then he began to lift her skirt. 'Your gonna catch cold if you go around half dressed…'

Kagome rose up, and pulled away. 'Get away from me!'

'Whats the matter, Princess? Our hands too dirty for ya?'

'Marry me and I'll buy ya a new outfit.' said another.

The third one advanced on her.

'Stop laughing!' cried Kagome.

'Hand over the jewel.' said the Boss from where he lounged. 'Right now.'

He arose, towering over her and advanced, drawing a massive sword in the process. His minions grabbed Kagome by the arms and pulled her apart. 'Hey boss,' said one 'try taking it off in one swing! Like a dandelion!'

The Boss swung his sword, and cleaved straight through his own man. 'What'd… you do that for?' asked the man as the light left his eyes.

'Whoopsie,' said the Boss, before attacking again.

This time it wasn't just Kagome who ran, as his sword cleaved through two bandits in one stroke. Blood was everywhere, and Kagome stared in horror, before ducking under another swipe that nearly beheaded her.

'Boss!' cried the bandits 'Boss where are you aiming?! She's who you want!' And they shoved Kagome forward.

Kagome ducked under another swipe, before rolling under the Boss' legs to get past him. Despite herself, she wondered how she would label this memory if it were put in a photo album that she took out years from now. 'Here I am, in feudal Japan, playing duck duck goose, with an EIGHT FOOT TROLL!'

It only got worse. The Boss seemed to have gone berserk, hacking holes in the wall and cleaving statues in half with furious strokes as he tried to kill her. As the bandits ran for the door, a segment of the roof fell down before them, covering one in rubble. Kagome kneeled down and pulled him out, helping him up.

'That you for saving me…' said the man.

'The jewel…' said the Boss 'Give it to me!'

Only now did she realize the dark meaning behind Kaede's words, now that it was too late to do anything. Kagome suddenly realized that she was very likely to die in the next few minutes. She and the bandits fled to escape the Boss, and nearly avoided being split.

Then she had an idea. 'Take him.' she said to a bandit, who picked up his friend. Then she removed the jewel from around her neck, and hurled it out a window.

'The jewel…' said the Boss, his gaze turning to the outside. 'give it to me.'

Kagome saw a cracked wall. 'The wall!' she cried 'Push it out, all at once!'

The bandits smashed their bodies against it, but to no avail. 'Sorry boss, no good!'

'What did you just…' began Kagome 'I'm not your boss.' Then she realized she was right. The Boss was standing right behind her. His sword came down-

Then Inuyasha burst through the wall, eyes afire as he blocked the stroke with one sleeve. The sword shattered as he turned to the man and tore out his throat.

'Inuyasha…' thought Kagome as she stared in wonder.

The Boss landed with a crash on the ground, his blood spilling over the floor. At the same time the bandits made for the hole Inuyasha had made and fled out of it.

'I can't believe you actually came!' cried Kagome.

'Yes thats great,' said Inuyasha 'where is the jewel?'

'The jewel?' asked Kagome, confused.

'Oh no!' said Inuyasha 'Tell me you did not just say that!'

Kagome's eyes widened. Oh right, the jewel. She'd completely forgotten.

At that moment the Boss arose again, his chest plate falling off to reveal bare skin. And in that skin was a black hole where his heart used to be. The stink of decaying flesh came from it, as a three red eyed bird stared out at them and cawed.

'That bird… it was controlling him…' said Kagome.

'Carrion crows don't fight on their own when there are dead bodies around.' said Inuyasha 'They ain't so tough…' Then he lunged forward and plunged his hand through the Boss' chest. 'but their hella nasty!'

The bird burst from the Boss' body and flew away out the window, as the Boss' body was reduced to a skeleton. Kagome ran to the window. 'Its getting away! Shouldn't you go after it?!'

'Maybe you haven't noticed, but the world is full of monsters.' said Inuyasha 'You want me to go after them all?'

'Yeah but…' began Kagome.

'No but!' snapped Inuyasha 'You want to start doing the fighting, be my guest! In the mean time where is the jewel- aw you have got to be kidding me!' The bird was flying away, the jewel between its beak. 'You threw the jewel away?! Do you have any idea what could happen to someone if they make a wish on that thing?!'

'What are you talking about?' said Kagome 'Nevermind, go after him!'

Inuyasha gripped her hand, and burst through the wall, dragging her onwards after the bird which flew high above. Then he stopped suddenly as he saw a horse with a bow and arrow tied to it.


A few moments later Kagome was riding atop Inuyasha's back, a bow and arrow in her hands at the ready. He leaped from tree branch to tree branch, and Kagome found herself in awe at the great heights, scarcely able to focus. Inuyasha glanced up. 'What are you waiting for? Hurry up and shoot it!'

'Shoot?' asked Kagome 'You're kidding right? I've never used a bow in my life!'

'The crow lives by eating human flesh!' snapped Inuyasha 'If you think thats bad, let is swallow the jewel!'

The crow swallowed the jewel.

'Ah! It swallowed it!' cried Kagome. 'Fine, I'll try!'

'Fine, thank you!' said Inuyasha 'Kikyo was a master archer! Take it in one shot!'

Kagome drew the bow and sighted down range. 'I told you, my names Kagome!' she cried, but what she thought was: 'Still, Kikyo, give me your strength.'

Inuyasha leaped high into the air and Kagome launched her arrow. She promptly missed completely. Inuyasha looked at the falling arrow in annoyance.

'What the…' said Kagome 'I thought you said she was a master archer!'

'She was!' snapped Inuyasha 'Its you thats the klutz!'

The bird quadrupled in size, and took on a more terrible and monstrous form as Inuyasha rushed onwards to catch it. Kagome fired again, and missed completely. Again. Inuyasha ground to a halt, and let Kagome landed with a crash on the ground. 'I don't care what the old lady says, you are not Kikyo! I am so out of here!'

And he rushed off.

The bird had made the ultimate achievement for its kind. Now as it soared over a village, it looked for a meal to eat that it could celebrate its achievement. Sweeping low over a river, it saw a lone child. Doubtless it would be tender and delicious, and the crow reached out with its talons and grasped it.

Children made good eating. The bird knew that from personal experience.

'Somebody help!' cried its mother behind it.

Kagome rushed after Inuyasha coming to the edge of the bridge. High above she saw the bird carrying the boy over the river, and leaping over the trees above was Inuyasha, eyeing the beast like prey. 'Inuyasha be careful! You might hit the boy!'

Heedless of her words, Inuyasha surged forward. 'Iron reaper soul stealer!'

In seconds the beast was torn to shreds, and the body parts fell into the river, while the child was carried down stream, for now unharmed. Afraid for the child, Kagome kicked off her shoes and leaped into the river and swam towards them. At the same time Inuyasha landed upon the rocks, a feral look in his eyes,

'I'm so glad I took lessons,' reflected Kagome as she reached the child. Grasping her, she began pulling her to shore. 'Hang on, I've got you!'

'She's an imp I tell you!' cried a man 'A water imp! She's not human at all!'

'Get the jewel before that thing ressurrects!' snarled Inuyasha 'Do you have any idea how many people it might kill if it gets away?!'

A the child rushed to meet its mother, Kagome turned away from Inuyasha. Some hero he was.

'Thanks for saving me.' said the child.

'Thank you,' said its mother.

'Its okay,' said Kagome.

At that moment the beast, newly reformed emerged from the water snarling and snapping and began to fly away. 'Its getting away, you idiot!' snapped Inuyasha. 'Shoot it!'

'What?' said Kagome 'Well I guess you're off the hook for now, pal.'

Then the child began crying out, and Kagome looked down to see that the creatures talon was on its back, clenching and unclenching. It was trying to return to its body, but it was stuck in the cloth. Kagome had an idea, and approached a hunter. 'Hey, could I borrow your bow?'

The hunter unslung the weapon. 'Uh, sure.'

Kagome used some rope to tie the claw to an arrow, then notched the arrow to the bow and drew it back, before sighting her shot. 'I can do this, I know it…' She loosed the arrow and it shot swift and true towards the bird which was now high above them.

'The foot can't help but be drawn by the jewel, which means it will hit.'

The bird swerved in midair this way and not, but to no avail. The arrow struck true, and the bird exploded, and not just the bird. Suddenly the air was filled with brilliant violet light, as countless shooting stars seemed to shatter from the birds corpse, soaring over the length and breadth of the land in every direction.

'Yeah!' cheered Kagome. 'Wait, that light, where is it coming from?'

Later, when the sky had turned orange with the approach of night, Inuyasha and Kagome were still searching for the jewel.

'Are you sure it fell around here?' asked Inuyasha.

'Well yeah,' said Kagome 'I mean kinda… though I'm still kind of worried about that light…'

At that moment the severed beak of the monster surged towards Kagome's face from nowhere. Inuyasha stepped in its way, and slashed it to bits in seconds. 'I don't think so.' he said.

There, on the ground, was the sacred jewel. Or rather, part of it.

'I hope thats not what I think it is…' began Kagome as she kneeled down by it.

'And what do you think it is?' asked Inuyasha in dread.

'I think its a shard from the jewel.' said Kagome, before looking up with an awkward smile.

'WHAT DID YOU SAY?!' roared Inuyasha.

Far away in a distant clearing, a beautiful statue of invulnerable crystal stood, its hand reached out as if to grasp something that had long ago been taken from her hand. No one knew where the statue had come from, but it had become a local legend amongst the farmers. And yet as far away the jewel shattered, the wish that had brought it about was broken.

Cracks appeared in the statue, and suddenly it shattered to reveal a beautiful women with raven black hair. Tsubaki fell forward onto her hands and knees, and breathed out. She was free at last.


Authors Note:

Well here we are with the second chapter, as promised. Hopefully you enjoyed it, and hopefully enough is different so that it doesn't seem like a retread. This chapter was difficult for me to write, since I'm mentally exhausted from the holiday season. Even so, I managed to stagger on through and get it written in time for today. Huzzah for me, I suppose.

And yeah, Tsubaki's back. I guess I liked her character too much to completely remove her from events in Inuyasha of the Band of Seven.