Let's pretend that the Shikon Jewel isn't the shadow ultimate evil bad guy in the series that they decided to pull out in Final Act shall we? Cuz while interesting, I didn't care for it and by the end of it all I'd say Inuyasha was robbed. Not once did he get to use that darn thing to be a full demon. So I'm doing something about it here, he did have a few opportunities in canon but was weirdly slow to act. His mindset here is about the same as 'Looking out for himself'(if you think you may need to read it) but this is a divergent path meant to take that idea (and mindset)further. I'm just gonna do selected scenes/moments and make a few new ones to give you a hopefully clear idea of how the whole series goes in this new manner.
Enjoy.
Ripping Mistress Centipede to pieces, Inuyasha made his offer to the humans. Hand over the jewel and live or die if they don't.
"Don't listen to him child, demons aren't to be trusted! We must keep it from him at all cost", the old priestess declared to Kagome who hesitated but attempted to run away with it. Only to nearly lose her head to a mocking Inuyasha.
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"That was your second warning girl. Now hand it over", Inuyasha growled with a mocking smirk even while turning on the spot to destroy the arrows that had been shot at his back.
"So you have chosen death, eh? Fine by me", he huffed and charged at the villagers who had attacked him, ending their lives with just two quick broad swipes of his claws.
Kagome gawked in shocked horror as Kaede's face grew more determined from the sight of blood and gore now littering the forest grounds with the loss of life.
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"I'm not playing around here! Give me the Jewel and I'll be on my way. Unless you'd like to die too?" Inuyasha yelled in aggravation. The response he got was less than desirable, the girl had started to run away while the hag was searching for something in her robes. Didn't matter, or so he thought, the girl had the jewel so she was the priority.
Giving chase, he struck out with his claws causing her to trip and sustain only minor injuries before swooping down to scoop up the jewel she dropped. At the same time tiny orbs of light surrounded him that he couldn't dodge. They just kept following him until they formed a circle around his head and changed into a beaded necklace around his neck. It didn't hurt so he ignored it for a moment to make his wish, running off as he did so. He heard the old woman yell to the girl to say a word to bind him, as if that weak little chit could do anything. She just tripped over her own feet off a short cliff! She clearly isn't a threat. Ignoring them he made his wish and felt the power surge through him. Yes. Yes! He would finally be a proper demon, a full demon like his father and half-brother. He'd done it! He was-
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Face down in the dirt?!
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Why-how did-did that little bitch just tell him to sit like some common dog?!
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Trying to take off the necklace that had to be the source he found himself unable to. But heard the old woman explain why. But there was probably a way around it. He'd find it eventually, wouldn't be the first time he was lied to. He'd have to try finding it sooner than later though, that bitch nearly drowned him with those commands causing him to fall into the river.
Stupid unstable ground.
Stupid necklace.
Stupid humans!
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Only good thing is that the effects of the jewel hadn't fully negated. He still felt more powerful but more importantly, when he checked his body, he had demon markings like his bro-like that guy! His ears were still the same but maybe he had the moon mark on his face?
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He'd ran off trying to get a good distance so he'd be able think things through good. He figured a weeks travel by human standards should do it. Only to quickly find he couldn't go that far, feeling an annoying yanking tug back towards those wenches.
To his horror he hadn't Just been collared like some dog. But leashed too.
Dread and anger battled within until the rage won, if barely. Thinking of The Jerk helped.
He'd show them! He's No One's PET!
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Back at the human village that those...humans...were at, he saw some low crow demons had gathered outside a certain hut in the dead stillness of the night. Clearly the jewel was in there.
Now...should he let them take the jewel and then steal it from them or not?
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After thinking it over he'd figure it'd be too tricky to take it from them when he's never unlocked the ability to fly. So he killed the ones who couldn't fly out of his range fast enough and settled in a tree to wait for a good chance since the demon bodies hitting the ground had been enough to wake them from what he could hear.
He'd been following the strange Kikyo look-alike all morning. She hadn't noticed him, the old woman only had when he'd obviously approached them for information. Finding out he'd been out of it for roughly 50 years was...odd. Upside he's got another 50 years under his belt to add to his accomplishment! Down side, he hadn't really been alive? Living? Augh, he hadn't been awake for it, whatever! And the old woman was the little twerp sister of Kikyo while Kikyo was dead presumably from some false wound he gave her and that weirdly dressed girl is her reincarnation...this was clearly bound to be more trouble than it's worth.
First opportunity to grab the jewel and run, he's taking it! Fortunately a great opportunity was arriving. There's no way a simple girl like her would have the ability to protect the jewel while all vulnerable bathing.
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Sticking to the trees, he watched her prepare to clean herself with the old woman-Kaede- there as her only back up. The girl was clearly unobservant and unaware as she began to undress freely. He kept most of his attention on Kaede to make sure she hadn't sensed him nor was ready to attack but kept an eye on where the girl had placed the jewel. Edging as close as the trees allowed without losing cover from the leaves he tensed his legs and relaxed his arms. There was no telling how skilled Kaede had become over the years compared to her sister since she was still alive to even be this old. He knew he'd be fast enough. He'd have to be.
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Now!
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In a blur of speed the human eye could barely comprehend, Inuyasha launched himself from the tree branches to the discarded pile of belongings and snatched at what he knew to be the jewel, snagging a bit of tiny cloth as well in the process. And he was gone. He'd remade his wish hastily while making his way to a stream to check his appearance, hoping to be out of the girl's vocal range assuming he had to hear the demeaning command in order for it to work properly. Reciting his wish a third time to the jewel in hopes that it'd stick properly, permanently, he looked at himself and the first thing he noticed was the absence of his ears atop his head.
Lifting an unsteady clawed hand to the side of his face he gingerly poked at his new differently pointed ears while staring at his face markings entranced.
He looked...so different...and yet the same. He looked like...like how his mom would say his d-
SPLASH
He could hear furious screeching and feel the weight of the beads weighing him down. It took a moment too long for his tastes to be able to come up but as soon as he could he immediately coughed up the water he'd involuntarily swallowed while the girl continued her screeching until she'd made it almost within arms reach of him. Not like that would matter if he had wanted to kill the wench.
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"Well?! What do you have to say for yourself, you pervert?!"
Shaking the water off his face, Inuyasha gave the girl a confused and disgruntled look, "What the hell are you even jabbering about?"
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"You! Are! A Pervert! Now give it back ya Creep!" she yelled.
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"I ain't no creep! Taking the jewel doesn't make me a pervert you stupid girl-you knew I was after it!"
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"Don't play dumb! You spied on me when I was naked and even stole my panties!"
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"I wasn't watching you, there's nothing worth seeing, I was waiting to take the jewel! Which is called Shikon not Panty, idiot" he retorted in irritation at the girl even as her face grew redder in rage.
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"Not the Shikon Jewel you you-moronic perv! My panties! Pan-ties! It's a small piece of cloth to wear under my clothes?! It's personal, private even!" The weird girl stated strangely as Inuyasha just stared at her unimpressed. Then he blinked.
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"Wait…" looking around them on the ground briefly he picked up the scrap of cloth he accidentally took when nabbing the jewel and dropped once he got to this location, "You mean this tiny rag? How is this thing underwear?" He asked genuinely curious, the under garments he'd seen were all thicker and of more fabric than this flimsy thing in his hand. In the back of his head he was wondering why he wasn't more outwardly flustered about holding such a thing. Maybe that sort of embarrassment was from his human side? Somehow the girl went from angry to offended at his question and just started screaming at him to 'sit'. He'd managed to react in time to keep the jewel from being smashed between his body and the ground.
Once the power wore off enough for him to lift his head up he saw the wench was trying to compose herself.
"You really think it's a good idea to get on my bad side? Especially over a simple question?" He asked darkly, feeling remarkably calm.
"Simple ques-you insulted me several times! Calling my cute panties ratty and claiming I'm not worth looking at when you were clearly peeping regardless of your reasons!", she scolded him before adopting a smug tone, "Besides you can't do anything to me so long as I say the word 'sit'" he immediately felt himself be forced deeper into the ground while she swiped the jewel from his hand, "so I'd say I'm pretty safe from your so-called bad side!" She grinned cheekily before leaving in a hurry with one last yelled 'sit' directed at him, so that he couldn't immediately follow her, pan-ties in hand. What a dummy. He could track her down easily while a half demon. As a full demon he wouldn't even have to try- wait...what if he reverted back cuz of the 'sits'? Shit! He had to check!
Struggling in his him shaped hole in the ground he found he could just barely move at first but after a few moments passed he was able to get up and check his reflection.
Sighing in relief at what he saw. A near mirror image to the mental visual he had of his father.
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He sat there for a while, simply basking in his accomplishment. He'd done it. He'd really done it! He'd been played for a fool and nearly died via sealment but now….now! He wondered how to unlock his giant dog form-his true form-and more importantly...how to fly! The most he'd ever accomplished as a half demon was floating a bit while in the air to use to his advantage. He doubted that Jerk would help. But maybe? No. It's best to not seek him out. Better to let him approach first to avoid seeming...needy.
Getting up he took only a few steps in preparation to leave the area and just wander when he heard a shrill scream for help. He paused, considered ignoring it as it wasn't his problem, but then figured getting a little practice in with his new strength couldn't hurt. Or rebuilding his reputation. So off he went to save some screaming human by default of picking a fight with their threat. Joy.
Arriving in time to see a giant crow demon take to the skies to dive at the strange girl and a group of bandits he leapt at it and swiped his claws only for the crow to dodge it and try to blow him away with a flap of its wings before retreating a bit. He managed to hold his ground though and readied his stance only for the crow to fly off to the side, pick up something and fly up.
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"Oh no! It took the jewel! I'd hoped it forgot about it when you showed up!"
"Huh. That sounds like a you problem. Better hurry before a bunch of humans get killed, girly", he stated with disinterest.
"What am I supposed to do?! You have to help me get it back!", she demanded.
"And why should I?", he huffed looking down at her with his chin up in the air disdainfully.
"Cuz if you don't I'll say sit" -Inuyasha's body hits the ground instantly- "until you're halfway to the earth's core!" she threatened with a severe glare.
"I've never been less inclined to help someone in my entire life!", came his grumbled response in the dirt.
"Why-you-fine! Be useless!", spluttering in outrage she stormed off in the direction of the village presumably to get human help.
"Says the girl who lost the jewel in the first place!", he yelled out to her mockingly with his face still stuck to the ground.
A Bit Later
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Spotting the weird girl making her way up the tree with some arrows and a bow he approached her casually as he kept one eye on the villagers that were panicking in trying to fend off the crow demon. "Hey! Girl! Tell you what, if you take off this cursed necklace I'll help you out", he called up to her hoping she'd be desperate enough to stop the incoming bloodshed since she's seen demons kill for not getting their way and nearly died herself...except...
"No way! You had your chance to help!", she barked at him. He blinked. He did not get this girl, "You DO realize that I don't actually want to help right?", he inquired. Blinking big eyes in surprise at him she looked a bit uncertain,"Then why'd you offer...?"
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"Because I want my freedom. Duh", he retorted.
Her reply was interrupted by renewed screaming from the villagers, fumbling with the bow and arrows, trying to get a shot ready. She Ignored him as he called out to her again, the wench. If she'd just agree to his terms this whole thing would be over by now!
Watching with distaste as she failed one arrow after the other he was considering just leaving to see how long he could stay away from her, figure out the limitations and such, but then she managed to make a lucky hit with the help of some of the male villagers. They'd managed to do some superficial damage to the crow and the girl made them bring her the biggest piece they'd managed to hack off, which was a talon...toe?, before the bird flew off with a child. He'd admit that the idea was a smart one, for her, since she saw the regenerative powers in Mistress Centipede and applied it to the crow to use it to help with her awful aim.
Unfortunately, her little moment of intelligence resulted in an even bigger mess. The Shikon Jewel was shattered into so many tiny pieces that spread themselves out all over... he could only sigh in aggravation at her uselessness.
Oh well. At least he no longer needed it.
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He kept himself out of sight as the villagers went back and forth with grief over the child's death from the height he fell from and thankfulness that the demon was killed regardless of said death. He watched as the wench basked in the attention before making excuses and running off. And decided to go about on his own way. Maybe he'll try later to convince her to remove this shackle…