Gosh! Thanks for all the reviews! I'm having some writer's block on MKT, so I'm going to stick to what's tried and true! Lol. I noticed in one review "It looks like Kagome and Naraku were romantically involved." That's right. As I said in the first chapter, Kagome is Inuyasha and Naraku is Kikyo. So yes, instead of Inuyasha and Kikyo being in love, it was Kagome and Naraku. It follows the normal Inuyasha so you all know where we are. Any more questions just review or email them to me and I'll answer ASAP!
Inuyasha slept soundly in Kaede's hut, unaware of the three-eyed demon-bird watching him. The leaves outside rustled gently in the breeze, and the raven-colored bird shifted back and forth on the window frame. Sharp teeth glinted from within its beak in the moonlight.
In the distance, another bird cried out in a crow-like manner. The bird watching Inuyasha swiveled its head, and a small rock bounced off of it. In surprise, the bird took off in a flutter of black feathers and unpleasant caws.
The bird flew at Kagome and began cawing at her where she sat on top of a post in the shadows. She appeared unfazed and rather menacing.
The bird flapped it's wings ferociously and cawed at Kagome, who unconcernedly flipped another rock at the bird, which seeing it was outmatched, flew away.
It's noticed the smell of the jewel to come here so soon...That Corpse Dancing Crow... Kagome thought pensively as she watched the bird fly to the East. A nasty thing's come out.
In the morning, Inuyasha woke up utterly oblivious to the previous night's happenings. He walked through the forest, apparently in deep thought.
The desolated well in Inuyasha Forest... He stopped at the well and sighed sadly. The place I came out from. When I get there, the way home will surely be...
The village stood peacefully inattentive to dangers induced by the Shikon no Tama. The only concern of the villagers was to fulfill the desires of Kaede, who had asked about Inuyasha's location, when it became aware he was missing.
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha?" Echoes and voices filled the woods nearby and back streets.
A few men of the village reported to Kaede, who looked off to the distance, as if Inuyasha would appear before her eyes any moment.
"He doesn't seem to be anywhere around here," one of the men said, bowing respectfully.
"Don't tell me he went outside the village by himself..." Kaede groaned, looking more intensely into the farther woods.
Kagome crouched on the roof of some building, listening beyond the noise of the villagers, for where Inuyasha might be.
Inuyasha continued to walk through the forest, while in the bush behind him, two pairs of eyes stared at him. The leaves rustled a moment before two hands grabbed each of Inuyasha's upper arms, and an arm with an armguard covered Inuyasha's face.
From outside of the entrance to a large, run-down building, it was deserted with only crows flying in the air outside. However, inside, Inuyasha was being held prisoner.
Inside the building, some ugly soldiers relax as they drink sake and laugh rambunctiously.
"It's a boy..." one of the thugs said, pointing vaguely at Inuyasha.
"A boy..." another replied, somewhat disappointedly.
Inuyasha was roughly shoved onto the floor, where two soldiers held him down, looking quite as pleased with themselves as Inuyasha looked angry.
A thug apart from the first two to speak put in his piece to a large man being served sake by a servant. "We got him just like you ordered, Chief."
"Yeah," said a fourth, "but this laddy really is wearing some odd clothes."
"Wait," Inuyasha said, "What's with you guys?"
"The Jewel," the leader replied darkly.
The ugly, scarred and bald leader was obviously drunk and looked more than stupid at it, but he appeared to have enough wits about him to demand what he wanted from Inuyasha.
"The Jewel...hand it over," he demanded, holding out his arm.
Inuyasha looked back up at him, worry and surprise on his face. He gulped nervously.
In the woods somewhat nearby, Kagome was jumping through the forest undergrowth on all fours, sniffing around like a dog. She looked miserably annoyed.
Shit, that stupid boy. Where the heck has he gone with the Jewel!? She thought angrily.
"The Shi...kon no... Tama...Give it to me."
The leader grabbed Inuyasha by the front of his school shirt, and hauls him up into the air. The leader then threw Inuyasha onto the ground, having obtained what he was looking for. He held the Shikon no Tama.
Inuyasha raised himself off the floor, looking quite concerned. He remembered something Kaede had explained about the Shikon no Tama.
"It's not just Youkai. People with evil in their hearts are also after the Shikon no Tama..."
Inuyasha reached up towards the massive leader from a sitting position.
"You mustn't. Return it..."
Inuyasha stopped in mid sentence as a katana suddenly thudded into the floor right in front of his face. Inuyasha shifted back until his back rested against a pillar, while the leader used the sword to push himself off the ground.
"Restrain him," the leader commanded.
Two soldiers grabbed hold of Inuyasha's arms and hauled him up. They appeared surprised at their leader's order.
The leader raised the katana in one hand directly above Inuyasha. Inuyasha gazed at the blade in terror, wishing more than ever he was home.
Some of the other soldiers watched the spectacle with slightly bored and disappointed expressions.
"Gunna be killed for sure. Ah-ah, kinda wasteful."
The sword came down, and Inuyasha closed his eyes tightly. He felt air whoosh by, and a splatter of something warm. He opened his eyes and saw that the soldier on his left has had his right shoulder sliced open, and blood was gushing out of the wound.
"Ch... chief?" He gasped in shock.
The wounded soldier fell to the ground with blood continuing to gush from the wound
The leader put a hand to his head and stuck his tongue out in the typical 'opps' stance.
"Opps, I... goofed." He laughed drunkenly and stepped towards Inuyasha. "This time, it's the neck."
The leader rushed forward with his sword arm raised. Inuyasha pulled away from the guard holding him and ran. The leader continued his drunken rampage, and in his stupor off-ed the heads of two of his men. The leader continued to run towards Inuyasha, sword raised and dripping blood. Inuyasha saw a spear that was lying on the floor and grabbed it.
Inuyasha held the spear in both hands a bit awkwardly, but looked defiant.
"Stay back," Inuyasha said, "Because this spear has better reach. Try something and..."
Inuyasha gawked in surprise as the leader casually sliced the end of his spear off. He swung the katana, and Inuyasha held up the spear half above him in desperation, while shutting his eyes and gritting his teeth.
Somehow Kagomewas in the air, right in front of Inuyasha. She had a baggy sleeved arm raised, which the katana had just struck, and broken in two upon. Behind her Inuyasha stared in shock, while still crouching backwards.
Kagome... Inuyasha thought wonderingly, looking up at her.
Kagome stood beside Inuyasha, who looked a little happy.
She came to help me...
"Where's the Shikon no Tama?" Kagome shouted down at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha stared up at Kagome in surprise and annoyance.
"So I wasn't on your mind at all?"
"What's happened to the Jewel?" Kagome asked again, ignoring Inuyasha's question.
Kagome turned towards the massive leader, who still held the broken sword. "This guy huh?"
Kagome put her sleeve in front of her nose, while Inuyasha looked on in surprise.
"What an awful smell. There's a dreadful smell of a reeking corpse around here..." Inuyasha explained impatiently.
"Eh...?"
Kagome dashed forwards, readying her claws. She leapt up and as she pounced upon the leader she said, "You're there aren't you! Corpse Dancing Crow!"
Kagome swiped at the front of the leader's bamboo armor. She opened it and it appeared hollow. Through the rip in the armor, the three eyed bird bursts out.
The bird emerged with blood dripping down its beak, poking out of where the leader's heart would be, while the leader's men looked at it in surprise. The Corpse Dancing Crow screeched loudly.
The remaining three soldiers and Inuyasha all stared in horror and edged backwards. Kagome seemed unconcerned.
"Maybe at sometime around last night it ate it's way into the chest and built a fucking nest," she said, after thinking about the bird that had hovered over Inuyasha.
Kagome looked back while holding her sleeve over her nose. "Because the bastard's not that strong, it manipulates a bloody corpse to fight... nasty nature," she explained.
"H... how cruel..." Inuyasha said quietly, looking at the demon again.
The leader's body reached down and grabbed a sword in its scabbard. He drew the sword and rushed forward. Kagome jumped in front of him.
"Quickly get outta that bloody nest you scum!" She demanded angrily
Kagome struck her claws into his chest, and there was an enormous bust of energy.
The crow flew out of a hole in the back of the leader and Kagome stared in surprise.
The crow held the Shikon no Tama in it beak and Kagome's stare changed from surprise to annoyance.
"So you have the Jewel!" She cried triumphantly.
The bird swiftly flew away, but Kagome reached for a spear and threw it at the retreating bird.
"Wait damn you!" She shouted angrily after her spear missed the bird.
That was when she saw the bow and arrows.
Kagome took the bow and grabbed hold of Inuyasha who failed to react in surprise.
"Come!" Kagome said angrily, yanking a disoriented Inuyasha along.
Kagome jumped nimbly through the air outside, with Inuyasha on her back, who has the bow in one hand, and the quiver around his shoulder.
"You won't get away, dammit," Kagome muttered when she spied the crow in the distance, still flying.
Kagome turned and began talking angrily to Inuyasha, who looks back in surprise.
"What're doing, quickly shoot it down with an arrow!" Kagome demanded furiously.
"Don't say something so absurd! My archery experience is..." Inuyasha trailed off for emphasis.
"Did you know that that bastard only feeds on humans? You don't want to risk it becoming something demonic, do you?" Kagome shouted. Inuyasha looked at her in concern.
It's just swallowed the ball! Inuyasha thought worriedly. He knocked and arrow.
"I'll see if I can do it!"
Heh, after he's shot down the Corpse Dancing Crow, he'll be of no further use. He'll be splattered onto the ground! Kagome thought vengefully with images of Naraku overlaid on those of Inuyashafalling from fifty feet in the air.
"You can do it with one shot, because Naraku was a master of the bow," Kagome said assuring-ly.
"I'm Inuyasha, damnit!"
But right now, lend me your power...Naraku!
Inuyasha drew and aimed the bow, however, the arrow dropped and curved down towards the ground.
"Oops," Inuyasha said feebly.
Kagome stares with a look of surprised disbelief on her face. She looked back and glared with an equal gaze from Inuyasha
"'Naraku was a master of the bow' Isn't that a lie?" Inuyasha mocked.
"You're just damn clumsy aren't you," Kagome retorted.
With the addition of the Shikon no Tama, the crow transformed it into a big, ugly thing, with leathery wings, and a massive teeth-lined mouth. It swooped down into a village and snatched a child.
"Shit! It is starting to demonify!" Kagome growled intensely.
"Is that bad?" Inuyasha asked
"As I said earlier - the Corpse Dancing Crow preys on humans." Kagome clenched her fist. "But since it has a bit of game dangling from it, it's movement's restricted. This'll be handy."
Kagome swung an arm back to attack the crow right in front of her. Inuyasha seemed to be in shock over what Kagome had said.
"I'll rip apart everything!" Kagome snarled.
Hey you idiot! You have to save the child!" Inuyasha shouted angrily.
Inuyasha slid off of Kagome's back and took the kid, which caused Inuyasha to miss the crow.
"Bastard! Why are you interfering with me...?" Kagome demanded, angry over her missed chance.
The crow turned around and was poised to chomp Inuyasha and the child with its massive mouth. Inuyasha held the child to his chest, while he turned away and shut his eyes.
"Shit," Kagome muttered angrily.
"Soul Scattering Iron Claw!" Kagome called out, slashing the bird. Kagome swung her claws through the monster, ripping it apart, while Kagome still cringed below.
Inuyasha held the kid to his chest with a tender look on his face, while he still holds the claw from the demon that stayed when it was shattered.
"You're alright now, kid," Inuyasha said, letting him go.
The bits of bird on the ground started pulling themselves together.
Kagome jumped through the air, shouting back at Inuyasha.
"Oi, boy! Where's the Shikon no Tama?"
Kagome jumped after the crow, which was flying off, even though it still had pieces coming into it.
"Shit," Kagome cursed.
"I saw it. Under the wings!"
Kagome attacked the crow, but only hit the tail, which re-assimilated itself quickly. Kagome landed on the ground and looked towards the crow flying off into the distance.
"Ah, crap! That damn Corpse Dancing Crow, it's intending to sneak off until it completely absorbs the Shikon no Tama."
"What?"
I better do something quickly! Inuyasha thought with a worried expression. It was then he realized he still had the crow's claw. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and tied it to the claw and an arrow and aimed at the bird. Kagome watched in bewilderment.
"I will get you this time."
"It won't get hit like this. Your cruddy archery won't..."
Inuyasha released the arrow with a determined look on his face.
"It'll definitely get hit!"
Kagome followed the arrow's path with her eyes, and that's when she noticed. The Corpse Dancing Crow's leg with the arrow...!
With the Shikon no Tama's regeneration power, the leg should certainly go towards the torso.
As Inuyasha predicted, the arrow curved up towards the crow. The arrow stabbed the crow directly through the body, which caused it to shake.
In a big explosion of light, the crow and the arrow were torn apart. Inuyasha looks on in joy, and some villagers looked surprised.
"Yahoo!" Inuyasha cheered, feeling the need for some self-appreciation.
Above the valley, there was a sudden, massive, secondary explosion, and shrapnel was flung off at high speed.
In her village, Kaede looked up at the light and seemed very concerned.
This...will be a problem...
Kagome ran through the woods with Inuyasha on her back again. He was thinking about the second explosion.
I wonder what that light was... It worries me...
Kagome turned her head to talk to Inuyasha.
"Hey, is the ball really in this direction?"
"Somehow I feel it is..." he replied curiously.
They reached an opening in the forest, and heard an odd noise from above. Kagome looked up in surprise as the crow came down at her with its mouth wide open.
"The Corpse Dancing Crow?" She shouted in surprise and anger.
"Kagome, it's only from the neck up?"
Kagome laughed and cracked her knuckles. "Heh, I don't really care if it's only an eyeball; at last it feels like coming at me!"
Kagome slashed the crow's head with her claws onto the leafy forest floor, and pieces flew in every direction.
"You're fucking dead," Kagome said in a voice filled with satisfaction.
Inuyasha watched in surprise as a small glowing object bounces off a rock.
"The Jewel is...?" Kagome asked impatiently.
Inuyasha bent down take the small glowing object. Inuyasha held the object to his face; it was about the size of a small seed.
"This...could be..." he stared at it in shock.
Inuyasha looked like he'd figured out what it was, and Kagome stared in surprise.
"It seems to be...a fragment of the Shikon no Tama..."Inuyasha explained carefully.
"What do you mean to say?" Kagome demanded lividly, looking between Inuyasha and her claws.
The village appeared peaceful that night, as did Keade's house, but it was frequently disrupted by a loud female's voice.
"What's going on!"
Inside the house, Kaede and Inuyasha kneeled in front of the fire looking placid while Kagome shouted at Kaede with an angry expression.
"You don't need to shout like that, Kagome," Kaede chided.
"What's happened to the Jewel!"
Kaede explained her thoughts to the other two, recounting the time when the crow was blow apart by the explosion.
"What Inuyasha fired was a exorcising arrow, and it smashed apart the whole evil spirit along with the Shikon no Tama. The Jewel's fragments have been completely scattered all over the place, I'd say. I don't know if it was broken into 10 pieces, or scattered into 100."
Kaede continued to speak, but Inuyasha began thinking to himself. But even if a single fragment gets into the hands of a strong evil spirit, it'll be the beginning of a calamity. Could it be that... it's my fault...?
"You must listen, Kagome... Inuyasha." With an almost a sad look on her face, Kaede explained herself. "You two must use your powers to collect the fragments of the Shikon no Tama and return it to normal."
"Eh...?" Inuyasha asked in a surprised voice.
Kagome looked surprised, but in an entirely different way. "Heh. Is it okay, Kaede-baba? That a bad guy like me is also going after the Jewel."
"... It can't be helped for now."
No way... I...I want to go home!
