Note from the Author: Hey, it's your boy once again and I've just came up with another one. Well, I've been planning on this story for about a month now and I think that it's about time that I should share it. Being the cool raconteur that I am, I think that you will appreciate it.

Before I get this show on the road, I have to go ahead and let the cat out of the bag. After seeing the IY spring special and looking back at past and even English episodes, I have to admit that I was heavily inspired to write a story based on Kikyou/Inuyasha's relationship fifty years prior. Yeah, I said it—this is an Inu/Kik story. Is there a problem? Anyway, it's based on the events in the past but I've thrown in a twist. So there may be some AU elements at times, but it can fit into the story.

And… hell yeah, I need an editor. This is taking up more time than I thought.

This story is rated PG-13 for violence, mild language, and slight sexual innuendo.

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters.

Better Days

The Tale Of A Tragic Camaraderie

Prologue

An unexpected malice raided the village of the demon slayers on a late autumn morning. The creature proved to be quite a threat, admittedly even to the demon slayers themselves. It caused serious injuries and maybe even a few casualties among the warriors in their own turf. For years, demons and monsters alike had never dared to foolishly hobble onto the village and attack them. However, this beast was far bolder than most demons. It had a logical reason for such a violent visit.

It was after the Jewel of Four Souls.

"Don't hold back on the attack!" The head master commanded. "We cannot afford to allow that creature to ensnare the jewel!" After the declaration, a horde of warriors gave chase to the creature and attacking full force. Somehow this creature was stronger than usual, and most of the slayers' tactics were becoming futile.

A young woman, roughly around sixteen or seventeen years of age, emerged from around a corner. "Master, we've figured a way on how to vanquish it." She called. "Priestess Tsubaki and Priestess Yumeji are assisting us."

The master regarded the young girl with a slight sense of relief. "Is that so, Haruna? We cannot waste much more time. That monster is destroying this very village in his wake in hopes of obtaining the Sacred Jewel."

Haruna smiled. "Trust me." She said with strong faith. "It's fortunate that they are around town. As we speak, they are weakening the beast with a curse. In no time, we shall claim victory over it."

The head master nodded in consideration. "I see. Very well, it's time that we put an end to this ordeal."

"The face is the weak point." Tsubaki informed, suddenly approaching the two with a shorter woman behind her. "However if you can manage to break it's snout or mutilate a horn on it's head then it is an instant kill."

"Okay, I shall tell the others about it's weaknesses." Haruna confirmed right before running off to assist her comrades.

"How very fortunate to have you two to help us." The master merited to the young women with a bow. "The demons are becoming more outrageous by the day."

"Sir, they are indeed displaying unusual traits lately." Tsubaki voiced with notification. "It seems that they are becoming more capricious over time."

"I agree with her theory as well." Yumeji followed. "Placing our curse on the monster was more rigorous than expected. It's either that the demons are becoming strong or our powers are waning."

"No, it's not…" His statement was abruptly cut short as the said monster crashed through a nearby wall. The demon was physically a juggernaut. It was a boar devil, which was about the size of a rhinoceros, and it threatened to claim life with it's horrible fangs. It's body was composed of fiercely corded muscles and that's what would explain why it was immune to most physical harm. The color of it's fur was that of a macabre gray.

"It is indeed formidable!" Yumeji exclaimed, dodging a exhaust of flame from the beast's mouth. "This is going to require a little more strategy than usual."

The head master of the slayers fished into his uniform and fished out some poison darts to inflict the boar. "You said attack his head, right? Okay, I'll make sure not to miss it." With a determined cry, he chucked a row of projectiles directly towards the said area of the demon's body. The boar somehow knew about this plan and intelligently used it's tusks to deflect them. "Damn, This one is smarter than we though."

Yumeji provided a quick follow-up from the head master's failure. She took her staff and whirl it in her hands like a baton and tossed it at the warthog's eye and managed to hinder it's vision in the process. The youkai roared in pain and the slayers that were chasing it resumed their attack.

"Tsubaki, immobilize him!" Yumeji commanded and the taller girl did as told.

She raised a sutra to her forehead and meditated for a moment. She used the concentration to allow herself to tap into her inner powers. Tsubaki was familiar with the routine and it didn't take long for her to perform the spell.

"Demon…" She uttered before snapping her eyes open. "Your defeat is at hand! Begone!" She shouted and released the script from her hand onto the center of the youkai's face.

Now, the boar youkai was helpless. It could not move a muscle and it was doomed. "That's amazing!" Haruna said in awe. "There's absolutely nothing that it can do!"

The head master smiled. "Indeed, it is. Alright warriors, move in on him and tear away at it's fangs and the snout." He bombarded the boar along with his disciples as well, assuring victory in the process.

"Another monster down." Sighed Yumeji with a bored demeanor. "This is not my idea of morning rituals. I guess I'll have to seek out the wounded and treat them."

"Very well." Tsubaki nodded with confidence. "I shall assist you in your duties. Once we're done, we're leaving. There is a friend of mine I wish to visit soon."

Yumeji tilted her head in curiosity. "Kikyou-chan?"

"Precisely." Tsubaki proposed. "Now, shall we get on to tending the injured people?"

Five centuries ago, during the Sengoku Jidai in Japan, there was an exceptionally beautiful woman named Kikyou. She lived in a village among the Musashi prefecture. Every since she was a young child, she was trained as a priestess due to her incredible dormant chi. Throughout these years, she has encountered hardships and lessons alike and eventually became a highly respected and admired woman. Despite her appearance, Kikyou is a formidable woman (that is, if you're a demon), and never relent on any evil that dared to perform malice when she's around.

Her life was always hard, but she didn't mind. She has always thought that without hardships then life is definitely not worth living. She raised a child named Kaede—her younger sister of nine years. To Kikyou, Kaede was her greatest gift in her life, a blessing from her late mother. A sibling and companion in her mostly lonely life. At times, archery and her studies as a priestess wasn't nearly as hard as raising a slowly maturing girl. In a sense, Kikyou was like a mother to her, and a mentor as well. The siblings had definitely been through thick and thin.

Currently, it is late autumn on the seventeenth year of her life. The time of year is colder than the years previous. However, if a demon so happen to attack the village right now it was up to her to defeat it—even in the rough cold.

That was her pain. She could never disregard her duties, no matter what conditions it was. No matter what mood she was in.

Soon… the pain in her life shall increase.

"This is quite a headache." Kikyou commented, laying on her futon. "Plus this fever isn't making anything better, It's unrelenting. Kaede, would you kindly pass me the damp cloth?"

"It was bound to happen soon." The younger girl said with a nod. "In this cold, I just knew that you would come down with something."

Kikyou smiled at her baby sister. "Relax, little Kaede." She rebuked. "I really didn't become ill because of the upcoming winter. It's just the fact that I've been working my…"

"Kikyou!!!"

"…off." She finished.

"That's the problem." Kaede confirmed in a feisty tone. "You have been definitely overworking yourself as of late, big sister. Harder than usual… I'm beginning to worry about you." She handed her older sister the damp cloth.

"Thank you." Kikyou merited. She folded the cloth and placed it on her forehead. "Do not worry, Kaede. I am a strong. A mere illness will not have me down for long."

Kaede lowered her head a little in concern. "Aw…" Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't try to move much, sister."

"I am glad that you are concerned for my health though. I guess that even I need to be safe and secure sometimes."

Kaede rolled her eyes along with a playful grin expanding on her thin face. "And in good hands as well." She added. "I'm going to take good care of you, sister. You're going to be back in good health in no time."

"I would appreciate that."

"There you go. And remember, the herbs that I given you, use them just in case the smaller wounds reopen themselves." Yumeji informed to a demon slayer. The teen warrior gave her thanks and the miko bowed. She then tilted a glance towards her companion and the girl named Haruna speaking to one another.

The look on Tsubaki's face seemed to be one of mild surprise. "The youkai attack are becoming more treacherous, you say?" She wondered. "That's kind of strange." She held a hand underneath her chin in thought.

"Yes, and the attacks are becoming more horrific over time." Haruna replied. "It is something within the confines of this village that the demons want… badly. We've recently obtain it from a demon some time ago but since then it has brought nothing but

transgression and bloodshed upon us."

If that was the case, why would the taijin clan keep such a bane, Tsubaki thought. Even from the tiny description of the accursed item, she was compelled to learn more about it. In a breath that was barely above a whisper she asked, "What is it?"

Just as Haruna was about to answer, a sagely, masculine voice intervened. "Haruna, I shall explain the matter at hand to Tsubaki-sama. Would it be nice of you to assist your peers in melding weapons out of the youkai we've defeated earlier this morning?" The sensei said.

The brunette warrior bowed respectfully to her master. "Yes, I shall sensei. Judging from the imposing structure of the boar we will concoct formidable weapons." Haruna state with a bit of anxiousness in her tone. She bowed to the young priestess as well before sauntering off to assist the others.

"Such a loveable child." The master smiled. "She is quite dutiful to her training. She is also one of our most formidable warriors even at her young age but she isn't aware of the importance of the Sacred Jewel which I am about to reveal to you."

Tsubaki's interest rose a bit. Due to the fact that she admires jewelry, she was appalled to know that the bane Haruna was referring to was a simple piece of elegance. " A Sacred Jewel you say?"

The master nodded his head in certainty. "Yes. A jewel with powers that no mortal can even fathom it's full potential…" He elucidated. "You see, the Sacred Jewel has quite a history surround it. The jewel is an entity of legendary proportions."

Curiousity overwhelming all train of thought, she voiced. "I'm listening…"

And so, the legend begins.

END OF PROLOGUE