Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with the manga/anime.
Chapter One: Introductions and Whatnot
Kagome hurried down the bright street, huddled next to her dearest friend. Well, in all truth, her only friend. She was not at liberty to have things such as friends, being who and what she was. She was Higurashi Kagome, a miko. Well, that's not exactly what made her so special. Actually, Kagome had no idea what made her so special. All she knew was that at a young age she had saved her younger brother using unknown spiritual powers. Within a week she was taken from her family and brought to Kaede for 'special training.' At first Kagome was devastated by the prospect of leaving her family; however, Kaede had been understanding and decided to live with Kagome and her family during the early stages of her training. So until the age of eighteen, Kagome had lived a somewhat normal childhood. Well, other than the fact that she was not allow to attend any type of school or even interact with people outside of her family and trainers. On her eighteenth birthday Kagome found out exactly why she wasn't allowed to interact with other people.
Flashback
"No, I won't do it. I don't care what you say; I can't…it goes against everything I believe."
"I am sorry child, you have no choice. And besides, Houjou is not that bad."
"But Kaede."
"It is out of my hands. But do not worry; you have two more years of training. You will have an opportunity to meet Houjou during these final years of your training. I am sure you will grow to love him in time. He is a rather nice man. You will be taken care of and treated like a queen. The union will insure peace between the two federations."
"But what of love? I always dreamed of marrying for love."
"I know. But did you not wonder why you were never allowed to interact with others?
"I know Kaede. I had to be kept pure, as pure as possible. But why?"
"It was written so, so shall it be. You were fated to be betrothed to Houjou."
"What was written?"
"An old prophecy of some sort. It has been interpreted as such; you are the miko written about and Houjou is the man mentioned to be your husband."
"What if their interpretations are wrong? What if I end up married to the wrong man?"
"I am not at liberty to doubt the interpretation. Very few have had the opportunity to actually read the prophecy; however, those who have all agree that this is what shall come to pass: You shall remain pure until your twentieth birthday. You are to remain untouched and to some degrees unseen by men until you have completed your training. And your union with a great and noble man shall bring the two factions together. You can see how they came to the conclusion that they have?"
"Only if you interpret the 'two factions' as the two federations."
"I agree. But there is no fighting what has been declared by our federation. You must marry Houjou. I am sorry but there is no way out."
"Alright Kaede. But, Kaede?"
"Yes?"
"What if it is not my destiny to marry this Houjou?"
"Then I am sure the heavens will intervene."
End
"MK? Are you listening MK?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Sango. I was just lost in thought. Uh, why do you have to call me MK?" Kagome's voice was barely audible as she turned towards the older girl.
"You know I cannot call you by your real name in public. Its bad enough I let you talk me into taking you to the forest. Kaede is going to fire me for sure if she finds out."
"Aw, she can't fire you. You have to escort me to my new prison, remember?" Kagome forced a light laugh before letting a slight frown cross her face. "Besides, it meant a lot to me. I've heard that they do not have many forests left on his planet. I'll miss it so much. The trees, animals, clean air." A tear slide down a pale cheek. "What if his entire planet is like this city? You can't even see the stars. The lights are so bright it might as well be day." Kagome sigh as she turned towards her friend. "So please, do not regret fulfilling my last wish. It's a memory I will always hold dear to me."
"Oh Kagome. Please do not be so melancholy. It does not suite you well." Sango wrapped her arms around Kagome's shoulders and squeezed. "Come. We need to meet up with Kaede as soon as possible. We have a lot of packing to do before tomorrow."
"Yes Master." Kagome giggled at the expression that crossed Sango's face.
"Oh, come on. I'll race you back."
"Only if I get a head start."
"Why?"
"Well, it's only fair isn't it? Me, a poor ordinary girl against a great demon exterminator and expert bodyguard."
"You an ordinary girl? Ha!"
Kagome and Sango ran down the busy street, weaving in and out of the crowd as the headed towards Kaede's home.
"Hmm…so, do you stay docked at the station during the night?" The young girl giggled as she fluttered her eyelashes at the handsome man standing before her.
"Well, that depends." The man leaned forward, pinning the girl between his two arms.
"Depends on what?" The girl raised a hand the young man's head and twirled his small dark ponytail around her finger.
"Well…would you prefer to stay here or play amongst the stars?" The man's head dipped to capture his prey. His hand slowly descended down to her backside as he devoured her mouth.
"Damn it!"
The two soon-to-be lovers jumped apart as the door opened to reveal an extremely irate hanyou.
"D-d-demon?" The girl blanched as she caught sight two amber eyes and two silvery-white dog ears. "Y-y-you live w-w-with a d-d-demon?"
"Damn it Miroku, you know damn well that I do not allow wenches on my ship. Now get that bitch off of my ship!"
"Don't bother, I'm leaving." The young woman gained her composure as she allowed disgust to overtake her fear. "If I had known this was the ship of a demon, I would never have come aboard." She gathered her belongings and raced out of the room before her fear could weaken her composure once more.
"Damn it Inuyasha. I was this close to getting laid."
"I don't give a fuck. You know the rules. If you want to get laid, do it off of my ship!" Inuyasha turned to leave.
"Well…I guess that wouldn't matter to one who has no interest in the opposite sex." Miroku muttered to himself, forgetting the hanyou and his sensitive ears had yet to leave the room. Before he could blink, Miroku found himself suspended above the ground.
"Just because I do not succumb to pitiful human weaknesses, does not mean that I am not attracted to the opposite sex." Red flashed over gold as Inuyasha squeezed a little tighter. "Now, if you dare to question my sexuality again…I'll make sure that you are no longer able to partake in such weaknesses." Inuyasha released his grip and turned to leave. "We will be leaving as soon as the runt finishes loading the supplies."
"W-w-where are w-w-we going now?" Miroku rubbed his throat has he forced the words from his mouth.
"Where else? We still need to find our 'navigator.'" Inuyasha reached the door.
"Do you really think we will be able to get a miko to help us? I mean, aren't they usually enemies of demons?"
"Keh, we'll find one. Even if we have to make them help us."
"I don't think it works that way Inuyasha. From my experience, a miko has to be willing for her powers to work. You will not be able to force one to help you. By the way, what did the elderly miko say?"
"She does not have enough power to help us."
Flashback
"What do you seek that you would need the help of a miko?"
"I seek the Jewel of Four Souls."
"Why do you seek a fairy tale?"
"Don't give me that bullshit. I know it exists. I-I've seen it."
"Tsk, fantasies. The Jewel no longer exists."
"It no longer exists as a single jewel. I know that it was broken and spread across the universe by a group of mikos and priests. I need a miko to guide me to the pieces."
"Why do you seek the Jewel? If what you say is true then you should understand that the Jewel was broken for a reason."
"Listen, I am not the only one that seeks the Jewel. I've seen things that should not exist. I-I have to get to it before it does."
The old miko cautiously studied the young hanyou. 'Could he be the one foretold by the prophecy?' "Tell me, how do you know all this?"
Inuyasha growled. "I just do."
The miko's eyebrow arched. "How?"
"Let's just say…someone told me about it."
"Who?"
"Damn it old woman, will you help me or not?"
"I am sorry child; I do not have the power to do what you need. I am old and my power is waning. You will need to seek a different miko."
"Keh, easier said than done. To tell you the truth, you are the first miko who actually allowed me to ask my question." Inuyasha sighed. "Do you know of such a miko, one that would be willing to help a hanyou?"
"I am sorry; I cannot help you. But I will pray for you. That is all I can do for you."
End
"And the other?"
"There was no other miko."
"Hmm, I could have sworn I sensed a younger miko."
"Well, she wasn't there. And the old woman was getting ready to leave so we are leaving. We'll look on another planet."
"Which one?"
"Who cares?" Inuyasha left Miroku's room. "Oh, pull another stunt like that again and you will be getting acquainted with my claws."
Miroku sighed as he pulled himself off of the floor. 'When will he give up this futile mission? We've been searching for a willing miko for two years now, ever since he had his 'vision.' I really wish he would lighten up about this whole mission. It's unhealthy to obsess over something like this.' Miroku straightened his bed sheets before heading towards the ship's kitchen. 'Especially when there are other things one can obsess about. Sigh. She was cute too.'
"Ha, I beat you without a head start!"
"Who are you kidding? I let you win!"
"Sure you did Sango. Kaede, we're home. Kaede?" Kagome walked through the front doors. "Kaede, where are you?" Kagome gasp as she glanced around the room. Everything was destroyed. Torn photos, books, and paper littered the floor. The furniture had been broken and thrown across the room. "Oh no, Kaede!"
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Sango stepped through the door. "Oh my, what the hell happened here?" Sango grabbed Kagome and pulled her behind her back. "Stay behind me. Do you sense anything?"
"No, nothing…not even Kaede."
"Do you think she is here?"
"Yes. Let's go look." Kagome headed into the house behind Sango, wading through the aftermath of destruction. 'Well, it looks like it will be easy to pack now. By the heavens please let Kaede be alright.'
"K'gome."
"Did you hear that?" Sango turned to Kagome.
"Aye, I think it came from the office." The two women headed towards the office. Upon entering the room both gasped. "S-S-Sango?" Tears began to run down Kagome's cheek. "Kaede!" Kagome ran to the elderly woman lying on the floor. "Kaede, what happened?"
"Ugh, child. I am sorry, they have found you."
"Kaede, please be quiet, you need to rest so you can heal. Sango, call a medical unit."
"N-n-no. Please, listen. It's t-t-oo late for me."
Kagome brushed Kaede's hair out of her face. "Please Grandmother, do not say that."
"Listen to me. Y-you need to find…hanyou…Inu…space…port…prophecy"
"Is he the one that did this to you?" Sango knelt next to Kagome.
"No. Onigumo. Please…find…Inu…Yasha… destiny." Kaede gasped as her eyes rolled back.
"No, Kaede, Grandmother, please do not leave me."
"Kagome, we need to get out of here. Whoever did this might come back any minute."
"Where will we go?" Kagome looked up at Sango, tears pouring down her face.
Sango shook her head. "I guess we find this hanyou."
"How?" Kagome tried to stop her tears by wiping her eyes.
"I assume we head towards the space port." Sango stood up. 'I hate to leave her unburied, but it is best that they assume Kagome has been kidnapped by Kaede's killers.' "Come, we need to pack some essentials and leave."
"What about…"
"She will be found and given a proper burial. As right now, it is best that no one knows we have been here."
"Aye." Kagome stroked Kaede's face one last time before standing up. "I'll be packed in five minutes." Kagome quickly made it to her room where she began throwing things in a small pack. She took a few changes of clothes, some personal items, and an album that had been hidden under her floorboards." 'At least they weren't able to find you. Hmm, they made packing easy, hardly anything was left undamaged.' Kagome stood up, slinging her light pack over her shoulders. "Oh Kaede, I'm so sorry." Kagome's glistening eyes threaten to dampen her cheeks once more.
"Are you ready MK? We need to leave now." Sango grabbed Kagome's shoulder. "You'll need to wear a cloak to hide your face."
Kagome nodded as she reached the secret closet. She pushed lightly against the wall, causing a panel to pop open. "I'll take the enchanted cloak; it will hide my aura as well." 'Well, hide it from evil spiritualities.' "Do we need anything else?"
"I'll just grab my supplies." Sango gathered her exterminator outfit and tools. While Kagome was packing a few books, Sango slipped her communicator into her pack. 'I won't activate it until we absolutely have to. I don't know if I want the location swarmed with exterminators yet.' Sango sighed. "Okay, let's go."
Kagome nodded as she followed the older girl out into the street. She clasped the front of her cloak shut. 'At least it's cold so I won't look too conspicuous.'
The two girls hurried down the streets towards the spaceships. It was a long walk, but the feared using any type of transportation. Sango insisted that they do not leave a trail that could later be retraced.
"Um, Sango?"
"Yes?"
"How will we find this hanyou?"
"Well, if he is at the docks, he must have a ship. We will look for it." Sango paused for a second. "Will you be able to sense his aura? I mean, hanyous are rare."
"Yes, I suppose I should be able to do that. I'll have to be close to him though; I do not think it would be wise to stretch out my aura."
"Right, we'll just walk through the loading area. If anyone asks, we are looking for our husbands' ship."
Both girls made their way through a crowd of people. The port was crowded with crew members, merchants, and visitors. Kagome tightened her grip on her cloak, trying to avoid bumping into anyone as she weaved behind Sango. They had passed half the ships when Kagome paused to look at a crimson ship to her right. 'Strange, I swear that ship had an aura.'
"MK, what is it?"
"I don't know. That ship is or was giving off a strange aura. I think…I think it was calling to me."
Sango studied the ship. It is small compared to federation ships, but it isn't tiny. The shape of the ship suggests that it was designed for speed. Sango studied the craftsmanship of the vessel. "Kagome, I think this is a demon spaceship."
"Do you think this is where we will find the hanyou?"
"You better not let Inuyasha hear you call him that." A small voice drifted from behind a rather large box.
"Uh, excuse us?"
A small boy-like creature jumped to the top of the box. "I said that it would be wise not to say such things where Inuyasha is able to hear you."
"It's a youkai kitsune." Sango studied the small demon.
"Well, that was rude of you. I do have a name you know. And they say demons are uncivil."
"Please, we never meant to offend you. It's just; we don't see many demons on our planet." Kagome smiled at the young child. "What is your name, please?"
The kitsune puffed out his chest, "I'm Shippou."
"How do you know Inuyasha?"
"Oh, well this is his ship. I am his mechanic, among other things. Actually, he treats me like his personal slave. Well, he just makes me do all the annoying little jobs. Why do you want to know about him?"
"We were told that we needed to find him."
"I wonder who would tell you that." Shippou sat back on his haunches. "I mean, we were only here for a day and now we are leaving. Well, as soon as I get this box of kitchen supplies on the ship."
"Oh please, we must speak with him before he leaves."
"I'm sorry. Inuyasha is not in the best of moods, he will see no one. Once he is determined to move on, he'll stop for no one."
Sango shook her head. "I should have known. Kaede was foolish to send us after a hanyou."
"Hey, now that was not nice. He may be a jerk sometimes but he does deserve some respect." 'Just not from me.' Shippou smiled at his private joke.
Kagome stepped towards the young kitsune. "Please, it is a matter of life or death."
"Whose life?" Shippou cocked his head to the side.
"Mine." Kagome turned her head towards the ground. "Someone killed my grandmother. Before she…she died she told use to seek out Inuyasha."
"Well, he won't let you on the ship. And I know he won't come out just to meet you." Shippou studied the young women. He felt bad for the younger one. He knew what it was like to lose one's family. "I know! What if I sneak you on board? Once we are in space, I'll let you out and then you can talk to Inuyasha."
Sango and Kagome looked at each other. They knew, for whatever reason that they needed to speak with this Inuyasha character and it wouldn't hurt to get off of the planet for a little while.
"Do you think it is wise Sango?"
"I don't think we have an option MK. Maybe after we talk to him, he will take us to Houjou's."
Kagome frowned at Sango's suggestion.
"I'm sorry MK, but I still have a job to do. And besides, he will be able to protect you far better than I can."
Kagome began to retort her when Shippou interrupted. "I'm sorry but if you agree you will need to get in this crate now. I am already late and Inuyasha will be angry enough. We do not wish to make him even angrier." Shippou lifted the lid off of the crate. "Look at the bright side, there's enough spices in there that he won't be able to smell you before we break orbit."
"Uh, Shippou what do you mean by that?"
"Oh nothing. I'll get you as soon as it is safe." 'If Inuyasha finds you before we get to space, he'll kick you off of his ship with just a parachute.' Shippou watched as the crate was lifted into ship before he began to chuckle. 'Man, this is going to be one exciting trip.'