In the depths of an old forest with tall trees and barely distinguishable paths, a figure made their way through the tall grass. If the village folk still passed through the forest they would have been able to say they saw this person walking the very same path every year, but it was a very uncommon thing to walk in the forest of Inuyasha.

Rumors had it a tragic story left a dog hanyou pinned to a tree with his beloved's last arrow. Her very last arrow to be pulled taunt on her bow was used against her beloved hanyou. The tree resided in this very forest, thus the name 'Inuyasha' after the hanyou.

It's said that the hanyou and miko had met under very tight circumstances in which a magical jewel was involved. The Shikon no Tama was lusted after by many demons in search of power, but for this hanyou it wasn't power he wanted but a demonic life. Ridiculed and abused for his half human half demon birth he had never known the meaning of friendship or love after his mother passed away at a very young year in his life.

So his search for change led him to the priestess who watched over the magical jewel. She hated her duties, he knew, everyone knew, but they were still hers to carry out, and so she protected the damned jewel that was created by the powerful Midoriko. But that's another story, I'm getting ahead of myself.

She wanted someone to make a wish on the Shikon, but there were restrictions to obtaining the jewel. And so when the hanyou could not take it away from her he stalked her, following her every move to wait for the right moment to steal it. But as time passed they developed feelings for one another and soon, the hanyou's wish was altered by the priestess.

Once discussed, they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives' together, but there were complications as always in typical relationships. There was the fact that Inuyasha was a hanyou and so, with time ( Insert shudder here ) their children would also be of demon blood causing ridicule and scorning by both races.

There was, also, Kikyo's duty as a priestess with the jewel. She would not be allowed to have a family with such great responsibilities on her hands. It would make it easier for the wish to be stolen with threats for her families' well being.

So, a solution came into view. One that the hanyou and priestess felt would solve all of their problems. Why not use the jewel to become human? That way, all of the problems would be fixed and they could settle down and live happily. But, a mistake on Kikyo's part had them both at each other's throats.

On an early summer morning, the priestess took the jewel to the arranged meeting spot. Surprise had over whelmed her as she was attacked from behind in the middle of the open field. But that surprise quickly turned to shock as a clawed foot reached her line of vision. Words were exchanged before she felt the Shikon ripped from her grasp. Inuyasha had betrayed her.

But that shock turned to anger as she gathered her bow and pinned him to a tree with the last of her strength. Once she was sure he was taken care of she felt safe enough to pass on with just one request for her sister.

"I want you to burn the jewel with me."

And that is how the legend of the Shikon no Tama started. At least, how it is thought to be started. But, there was more to the story then what was said, as there is every story. Many untold things happened in the shadows that none had known about. The sad story of the priestess and hanyou was very vague on details and was only used as a campfire story for little village kids. No one really knew what had happened that beautiful summer day. Well, no one except the hanyou and priestess, but they had long since passed out of time. No one believed that there was one other who knew the story, who had first told the story, who had created the very plot and carried out the necessary errands needed to get it along. No one, of course, except for the priestess, Kikyo, and the thief, Onigumo.

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Remember the person at the beginning, they will return.