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Authors Note: Okay, so here's chapter 1. This takes place approximately four and a half years after the death of Kikyo.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...though I dream about it at night...
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Chapter One: New Lives
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She grinned toothily at her Uncle Sesshomaru as soon as she laid her beautiful amber eyes upon his person. Amaya stood triumphantly ontop her Uncle's servant, Jaken, after beating him in combat. At seven years old, she was a remarkable girl, slowly forming her own identity within the world. "Uncle, did you see? I beat lord Jaken good this time!" she spoke eagerly, and kicked the green toad demon in the head with her bare foot just for good measure.
Sesshomaru nodded his head and smirked proudly. Even though his brother was a dunderhead, his daughter was another matter. Intellegance shone bright within the amber depths, and her skills were amazing. She moved faster than most of the full blooded dog demons he had found scattered through out the world. She was a quick learner, and had the patience of her Uncle.
"You did remarkable well, Amaya. Come, I have a present I wish to give you for your victory." he murmered and moved towards the thick depths of his forest.
It felt good to finally be able to call it his forest once again. It hadn't really been a hard struggle, but it had been a long struggle to finally regain his place and position of Lord of the Western Lands. He know owned everything and everyone within his lands. He protected them, and they did his bidding. Demons and humans alike. He was now a ruler, like his Great, and Honorable father before him. Only better. Stronger. He would not fail his own kind like his father did.
Finally he reached the spot. A beautiful waterfall poured into a small, beautiful pool. Trees and bushes surrounded the water, protecting its secrets carefully. He took Amaya behind the curtain of water, into the cave behind it. This was were he stayed when he wanted time to himself. Times where he needed to think, or to calm down. It was fully furnished will furs, pillows, shelves of books, and a desk. Everything he could possibly need or desire.
He walked over to the shelf on the wall and pulled it forward, away from the wall. He reached behind the shelf and pulled out a sword, carefully tucked away into its sheath. "Amaya, come here." he growled as power pulsed through the sword under his touch. He knelt down to her height and held the sword carefully within his two hands. It was as long as she was tall, and sharper than any human sword, and most demons' wepons.
"This is my present to you," Sesshomaru started, speaking softly, "This sword was made by the Great Swordsmith Totosai. He made your fathers' sword, the Tetsiga, as well as my own. The Tokijin and the Tessiga. I had Totosai make you a special blade, from my own fang to help keep you safe." he told her, staring deep into her serious eyes so he made sure she was listening and understanding him. "This is the blade, its name is the Talikin. Now, I want you to listen to me. This blade has a soul. It is alive, and it will help protect you when your own claws and fangs are not enough. It is a part of me, and as such, I will know when you use it, and for what purpose you do use it. You must never kill with it, unless it is for self defense. Do you understand me?" he asked firmly.
Amaya nodded quickly, her eyes serious and dark. "Yes, Uncle. I understand you. I will kill no one with the Talikin, unless it is for self defense." she repeated dutifully.
Sesshomaru nodded, pleased with his neice, "Now, as you are aware, once you reach thirteen years of age, you will start to age at a more sedate and relaxed pace. Once you reach that age, you will be allowed to start joining hunts, you will be able to leave the fortress with only a small guard of only one or two protectors. But," he raised his voice just a touch when he saw her eyes brighten considerably, "but, you will be in training every day untill then, untill I am completely satisfied with your skills."
Unable to hold back her excitement anymore, Amaya leaped forward and through herself into her Uncle's arms, burying her face into his neck, "Thank you Uncle Sesshomaru, I love you so much!" she exclaimed.
Silently, Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around his neice's small body, and grinned. He hadn't been this happy since he first realized he loved Rin like his own pup. A bond had been created, and he could do nothing to sever it. He was totally wrapped around his neice's little finger.
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Kagome opened her eyes slowly, very slowly, horribly terrified of what she knew she would find. Wide open space, masses of beautiful, full healthy trees, miles upon miles of blue sky. Fresh clean air, with no hint of smog or pollution. "Shit." Kagome growled rubbed her temples.
"This place is gorgeous!" Souta grinned, his eyes wide with amazement as he looked around him.
Kagome jumped, not expecting her brother to be there. "Souta?" wispeared, "Why are you here, I wonder?"
Souta shrugged and placed his hand back on the well, "Well, whatever it was that brought us here is gone. The power has left. Looks like we'll be here for a while."
Kagome sighed, "Shit, this could be bad. Look, stick with me, and trust your insticts. You're a Priest, you have powers. If we're attacked, be sure to use them." she instructed firmly as she held out a hand infront of her, palm face up. She swept her opposite hand over the other and watched as a set of bows and arrows appeared in her hand. The familiar weight of the bow and the quiver of arrows made her feel instintly better. Calm. Cool. Collected.
"Come on, I think I can find my way to the village where I stayed at last time. Someone should recognize me, or at least point us in the direction of my friends."
Souta nodded mutely and silently followed his sister, his eyes, ears, and all of his senses were on high alert. He was excited, so excited to be here, in the fudeul era, during a time or war, a time where demons walked the earth. All of his childhood dreams were coming true. He followed his sister for about six miles before they finally reached the village. The first thing he noticed was the stares. Men and women of all ages were staring, children stopped playing their games and watched curiously at the newcomers. He supposed there would be less people staring if he were wearing the clothes of a Priest, like his sister. Instead a pair of well worn blue jeans and a wife beater.
He heard a tiny "meow" to he left, and Souta looked towards the sound. A tiny kitten, white with black paws and ear tips, and black stripes across its two tails. A strange, glowing red eyes. Wait a minute...two tails? "Uh, Kagome, why does that kitten have two tails? Is it a demon?" he asked curiously, then yelped in suprise as the kitten was engulfed in a ball of hot fire. His eyes wide, he watched as a huge cat appeared before him, jumping over villagers to stand before him.
Kagome quickly stepped back beside her brother and grinned with pleasure. "Looks like we've been found, Souta. Kirara, is that really you?" Kagome asked as she reached out and touched the soft, silky fur of the fire cat. Kirara let out a growl as she nudged her face into Kagome's body, then turned to Souta expectantly. "Its good to see you too old friend. This is my brother Souta. Souta, this is Kirara, the brave Fire Cat who protected me during my time in the fudeul era."
Souta nodded and bowed quickly at the waist, "It is an honor to meet you," he wispeared, his voice gruff. Kirara nudged his body with her face and Souta laughed, reaching up with his hand to scratch behind Kirara's ears. He had her purring in zero point two seconds.
"Kirara, could you take us to Sango and Miroku? Are they here with you?" she asked, and at Kirara's growl, Kagome jumped onto the giant Fire Cats back. After some encouraging, Souta followed in suit.
Kirara jumped up with amazing strength and sped off to the other side of the village, where her mistress stayed with the monk. She landed gently on the ground and waited paitently for the Priestess and her brother to get off her back. She then transformed back into her kitten form. She jumped up into Souta arms, and then purred contentedly as her ears were being stroked by the hands of a professional cat scratcher.
"Kirara, is that you?" a familiar female voice called out from the large house. Sango came to the door and froze when she saw the two human's standing outside her door, her own Fire Cat gathered up into a man's arms.
Sango opened the door and walked outside, her steps slow and unsure. Her face had slowly been drained of all color and she came to a full stop infront of Kagome. Sango reached a hand up and placed her fingers ever so softly upon Kagome's cheek. "Kikyo?" she wispeared, brows lowered in concentration, "No, not Kikyo. Kagome." her eyes snapped up to Kagome's and she cocked her head to the side hopefully. "Is it really you Kagome?" she asked, her hand still cupping the Priestess's cheek.
Kagome grinned, and enveloped her best friend in a hug bear hug. Sango squealed and hugged Kagome close to her before the two women jumped up and down like two school girls, laughing with excitement. "Its great to see you again Sango. This is my brother, Souta. Souta, this is Sango, the demon exterminator, and my best friend." she introduced, a huge happy grin on her face.
Sango laughed and turned to Kagome's brother. He stood taller than her, maybe even a little taller than Miroku, and definatly larger than Miroku was. He was a beautiful man, dark chocolate hair, soft brown eyes-still filled with the innocence of the young. He carried a smile, a contented smile as he carried her Fire Cat in his large arms. He had on clothes from the future, a tight white shirt that clearly showed off his well built and well toned arms. His chest and torso were well defined and toned, but not bulky. He was wearing soft denim, Sango recognized them from the one time Kagome came through the well wearing them. Yes, Kagome's brother was a beautiful specimin to behold. "It's nice to finally meet you, Souta-chan. Kagome always spoke of you." she murmered.
Always mindful of his manners, Souta bowed to the older, beautiful woman, and gave her a devilish grin. "Its nice to meet you, Miss Sango. I always wondered who the great demon exterminator was. Kagome's stories are filled with you, your courage and honor. I think, however, that she neglected to inform me of your great beauty, however."
Sango couldn't help the blush that came to her cheeks, but she grinned in response. "I like you Souta." she smiled. "I'm afraid you just missed Miroku. He went to the next village over to purify some new temple." she explained as she led them into her house.
Kagome frowned, "Thats too bad, I've been missing him. I've been missing the both of you. I thought about you guys every day since I left." she confessed with a sad, wistful smile.
Sango wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist and gave a quick hug as she led her friend into the kitchen, "Well, if you plan on staying the night, Miroku should be home by supper time, maybe a little later."
Souta follwed the ladies in and marvaled at all of the wepons the house carried. A huge boomerang was hung of on the wall, alongside a beautiful sword. Swords, shield, axes, bows and arrows, this house seemed to house it all. "You have a beautiful house, Miss Sango. I love your wepons." he spoke after his quiet inspection, using his fingers to feel the strange energy that was being housed inside of them. A Youkia energy?
"Thanks, Souta. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll let you test them out." Sango winked and set a tea cup infront of him. "Alright, Kagome, tell me whats going on. I thought you told me you were never coming back?"
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Inuyasha stalked back to the fortress, more tierd and weary that he could ever remember being. He had successfully settled issues in the southern borders of the Western Lands, with the extra help of twenty full blooded dog demons as his wildcard. A few harsh words and a full out battle had resulted in peace, after the Southern Rebels had been put in their place. All he wanted now, was to rest for a good hour in the hot springs, visit with his daughter for a while, and then sleep. God, he desperatly needed sleep.
The thought of his daughter though, set a content smile upon his face and he trudged on ahead without complaint. His beautiful baby girl was quickly growing up on him. Strong and beautiful, stubborn just like her father. She reminded him daily of Kikyo... and oddly enough, of Kagome.
It had been a long time since he last had a lingering thought of the raven haired beauty who helped him defeat Naraku, who helped give him back Kikyo. He had wondered about the priestess for a long time after she left to go back down the well for good. He wondered how she faired, wondered if she had found someone else to give her heart too. Inuyasha knew that he had broken her heart, he knew it and was ashamed for it. He felt love for Kagome too, but his own heart belonged to Kikyo, his soul and honor demanded that he be with her. She was his mate. Dog demons don't leave their mates behind for someone else. But he still wondered.
When Kikyo had Amaya, he started thinking less about Kagome, and more about the family he had. He started the life he wanted, with the woman he chose, and his beautiful baby girl. He would have loved to live out the rest of his days with what he had, but unfortunatly that just didn't happen. Kikyo died, and left him with a baby girl, left him broken hearted in the worst possible way.
But he was better now, and the loss of Kikyo wasn't so much of an ache in Inuyasha's heart now. He honestly was thankful for Sesshomaru for dragging him to their ancestral home, to start a new life amoung his own kind. It had healed the whole in Inuyasha's heart, and truth be told, he didn't mind Sesshomaru now. He learned new things from his older brother, like the politics of being a Lord, like their father. Things like the dog demon past, of past battles, history. Inuyasha felt accepted into the demon world where his brother lived, and for it, he felt complete, well, more complete then when he was living amoung the humans who feared and hated him.
His daughter had a better life too, Inuyasha thought, she didn't have to live near the humans, where they would fear her and hurt her like they did him. She would learn how to become strong from her family, from her father and her uncle. She would grow to be more than what he ever was.
It was funny to think that Sesshomaru would ever like being an uncle, but the pool old sap acted as if Ayama was his own pup. He gave the girl lessons in everything, math, history, writing, and of course, fighting. She was the smartest, and strongest young girl in Sesshomaru's entire fortress. Yes, Sesshomaru was quite the uncle.
"My Lord!" one of the dog demons shouted from the back of the pack. Inuyasha stopped walking and looked up, motioning for the others to continue on ahead of him.
"Yes Brendan?" Inuyasha responded gruffly, resting his left hand upon the hilt of his sword. The movement was done unconciously.
Brenden eyed the famed Tetsuiga before turning his gaze to meet Inuyasha's. "My Lord, we've picked up a scent near your village. Smells like a pack of demons on the rampage." he reported dutifully.
Inuyasha glanced towards his human village and let out a low growl. "Go on without me. I'll be home later on tonight." he promised.
"My lord, if I may be so bold," Brendan let out a low growl, "I would go with you. I will watch your back," he suggested.
Inuyasha looked down at the young pup, he was only around 20 years old, and was nearly at the bottom of the ranks. The pure blooded dog demon had proved useful in battle however, and refused to back down even when he was outnumbered. "Alright, follow me, and keep up!" Inuyasha growled and dashed off towards his village.
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