Give me the Shikon no Tama!" Inuyasha shouted. "I'm not a puppy!"
An old woman, Kaede, rode up on a horse. "Do not give him back his demonic powers! The great demon will be freed!"
"What are you blathering about old woman?" Inuyasha said. "Just my power is inside the Shikon!"
"No; sealed within is the great demon Naraku!" Kaede said.
"Is that true?" Kiana asked.
"Who cares? Give it to me!" Inuyasha said.
Inuyasha ran towards Kurai. Kurai started to run and tripped over a pile of bones. Inuyasha leaped and reached for Kurai, but missed as Kurai fell onto the ground. One strand of Kurai's hair was sliced off.
"Y-You were serious just now, weren't you?!" Rei said. "Kurai, he's going to kill you!"
"I-I don't think—" Kurai said.
Kiana fired his blade at Inuyasha.
Inuyasha turned around and cut the ropes away. He leapt and sliced off two tree trunks above Kiana. He ran away before the trunks toppled over. Inuyasha leapt onto a tree trunk.
"Who you think I am, anyway?! Don't you dare treat me like some dumb Centipede Woman!" Inuyasha said.
"Priestess Kaede! Perhaps that sealing spell on the Hanyou shouldn't have been removed…!" Kiana said.
"Oh, for pity's sake… That troublemaking hellion!" Kaede reached into her clothes and took out a rosary with black beads and animal teeth. Inuyasha was still chasing Kurai.
Inuyasha leapt after Kurai. "Prepare yourself!"
Kurai was still running. "Prepare myself?! How can I?"
Inuyasha reached for Kurai. She tripped and fell onto the ground, the Shikon no Tama landing a distance in front of her.
"Now it's mine!" Inuyasha leapt towards the Jewel.
Kaede made a prayer stance and the rosary she took out earlier emits light. It broke and the beads flew towards Inuyasha. They joined back into a rosary around Inuyasha's neck and stopped glowing.
Inuyasha held the rosary. "What's this ?!"
"Kurai! Recite the Word to hold the Hanyou spirit!" Kaede said.
"Huh? What?" Kurai said. "I told you we don't need that!"
Kurai crawled a little and picked up the Shikon no Tama, and ran.
"Just say something! To subjugate the Hanyou!" Kaede said.
Kurai ran to the edge of a cliff and fell off. The Shikon no Tama fell out of her grasp and rolled away from her onto a bridge. Inuyasha burst out of some trees and leapt towards the bridge.
"Hey! I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm trying to protect her !" Inuyasha said.
"Subjugate him? But what do I say?" Kurai said.
Inuyasha was in midair about to land on the bridge. He landed on the bridge and reached for the rolling Shikon no Tama.
"K-K-Koibito!" Kurai said.
Light came from the rosary and pulled Inuyasha's neck, making him fall flat-faced.
Kurai approached the bridge, in disbelief. "It held him."
Inuyasha got up and tugged at the necklace furiously. "Wh-What's this ?!" He tried to take off the necklace in vain. "Damn! And you! Why'd you call me 'koibito'? Who's lover, huh?!"
Kaede reached the cliff with Kiana, overlooking Inuyasha and Kurai on the bridge.
"It's useless, Inuyasha. Your powers cannot remove the rosary." Kaede said.
"Shut up! You did this! Tho' you look half-dead already." Inuyasha said.
"The Word…" Kaede said.
"Koibito!" Kurai said.
The rosary glowed and tugged at Inuyasha. He crashed onto the planks of the bridge and fell into the water.
"Now, then… Let us return to the village." Kaede said.
Kurai approached the Shikon no Tama on the bridge, looking at the water. "How weird… Why did I use that word?"
Kaede's Village
The villagers were rebuilding the village which was devastated during the attack of the Centipede Monster. Kaede was applying some medicine on Kurai's torso, where the Shikon no Tama fell out of.
"Let's see… I'll apply more salve on the wound on your belly." Kaede said.
Kurai grimaced. "Oww…!"
Rei looked out. "They're fixing the houses destroyed by that Centipede Monster. So much work!"
"This does not bode well at all. Now that the Shikon no Tama has reappeared, there will be others who seek to possess it."
Rei was worried. "Like yesterday…"
"And not just demons, but also humans, who have evil in their hearts. With all the violence in the world, it follows there will be those who seek the Jewel's power to realize their greedy ambitions." Kaede said.
"Huh." Kurai turned to her side. "Hey! Why are you here anyway?"
Inuyasha was lying on his side some steps away from Kaede, Rei and Kurai, with his back facing them defiantly.
Inuyasha turned his head slightly. "Give me the Jewel." Inuyasha turned back, then with a gentler tone. "You'll just get killed this way."
"It seems the holding power of the rosary is quite effective. Even if he gets near the Shikon no Tama, we do not have to worry." Kaede said.
"Why do you want the Shikon no Tama? You're awfully strong right now." Kurai opened her palm and looked at the Shikon no Tama. "You don't really need its power, do you?"
"I don't need it's power. But you don't need to be a target." Inuyasha said. "It took a powerful high priestess to purify it last time, and you...are just a girl."
"Well there is the matter of reincarnation." Kaede said.
"Reincarnation? Come to think of it...you look just like our grandmother." Kurai said.
"And you, Kurai, are the reincarnation of the late High Priestess Midoriko." Kaede said.
"What?" Kurai said.
"It's not just your appearance or psychic powers…" Kaede said. "But the fact that you carried the Jewel within yourself, that is irrefutable proof."
Xxxx
Rei and Kurai walked along a pathway in the village, looking at the Shikon no Tama, which is attached to a necklace around Kurai's neck.
"You must protect the Shikon no Tama, Kurai." Kaede said.
"I must protect this Jewel…? That is ridiculous…" Kurai said.
Some villagers on top on a mound, overlooking Rei and Kurai.
"She's what?! High Priestess Midoriko's…?" One said.
"When you think about it, she does seem quite saintly…" Another said.
"What's up?" A third said.
"The kid's the reincarnation of High Priestess Midoriko." The first said.
"Watch your language. Show some respect for the young lady!" The second said.
"The 'young lady' is a reincarnation!" The last said.
Rei took her gaze off the Shikon no Tama and turned around to find all the villagers on the mound clasping their hands and praying in reverence to Kurai.
"They're worshipping me!" Kurai ran off hurriedly.
Dark Forest
Inuyasha was sitting on a tree branch high up in a tree, some distance away from the village.
Inuyasha looked into the distance, pensive. "So…she's dead."
A pear suddenly appeared and flew ominously at Inuyasha's back. He grabbed it nonchalantly and looked at it. Kurai and Rei appeared at the bottom of the tree, carrying a few bundles.
"Here! I'll share with you." Kurai said.
"What?! What's with all that food?" Inuyasha said.
"The villagers' offerings. Say, can't you come down? Let's eat together." Kurai said.
Kurai, Rei and Inuyasha sat at the base of the tree, near the rice fields. Kurai and Rei were munching away and Inuyasha eyed them suspiciously.
"You're up to somethin'. I know it." Inuyasha said.
Kurai continued eating and looking into the distance. "Am not."
Rei turned to Inuyasha. "You do hate me, don't you?"
"Not really, . I just think you two are in over your head." Inuyasha said.
"Look here, Inuyasha!" Rei said. "We aren't weaklings. We were raised as priestesses in a high class shrine in the Azumano district of Tokyo!"
"Th-The what of where ?" Inuyasha said. "I can't just let you have that jewel. I should be the one to protect it."
"I see." Kurai looked away from Inuyasha and onto her pear. "In case you should decide to get violent, then all I have to do is say "Koibito," and—"
Inuyasha crashed face-down violently onto the ground.
"Oops, sorry! I didn't mean that." Kurai said.
Inuyasha pried his face off the ground. "Damn!"
Musashi
Kurai was lying on the floor of a hut, about to sleep.
"It's been two days since I arrived here. Grams...She must be so worried. I've gotta find a way to get back home." Kurai pulled her blanket and slept.
Outside
A flock of crows rested on a tree. One of them glowed and revealed three eyes. It stared at Kaede's hut and noticed the Shikon no Tama on Kurai's neck. Inuyasha appeared suddenly and clawed at the crows. They fled off and escape into the night sky.
"Great. They've followed the scent of the Jewel. Nasty vermin…" Inuyasha said.
Next Day
Kurai and Rei were walking away from the village into the forest.
"The Dark Forest… The Dry Well… I climbed out of there, so shouldn't it have a clue about how to get home?" Kurai said.
Musashi
At the village, Kaede was walking around.
"Kurai…? Rei…!" Kaede said.
Kiana came up to Kaede.
"They are nowhere to be found in the village." Kiana said.
"She couldn't have left the village alone…? I ought to have explained to her in more detail about the evil ones who seek the Shikon no Tama." Kaede said.
Inuyasha was standing on a roof, listening to the conversation, looking pensive.
Kurai and Rei were walking in the forest. A few mercenaries appeared among the bushes and follow her. They reached the Dry Well.
"Found it! The Dry Well I came out of." Kurai said.
The mercenaries pounced on her, covered her mouth and grabbed her.
"Kurai!" Rei said.
Dilapidated Hut
One of the mercenaries pinned Kurai onto the floor.
"Oww!" Kurai said.
"Boss! I captured her just like you ordered!" Bandit said. "She really has some strange clothes on. What's this flimsy wrap-around?" Bandit pulled on Kurai's capris.
Kurai shot up and yelled. "Cut it out, you pervert!"
"Well, you asked for it! Exposing yourself like that! You wanna marry me?" Bandit said.
"Wh-Who are you guys?" Kurai said.
"Give me the Jewel!" The boss of the mercenaries, a fat and big man, trudged slowly towards Kurai. He unsheathed his sword. Two mercenaries grabbed Kurai's arms.
"Hey, wait!" Kurai said.
"Hey Boss! Slice 'er in half in one swift stroke." Bandit said.
"Let me go!" Kurai said.
"Start praying!" Bandit said.
The boss sliced a bandit instead. Everyone gaped at the boss in fear.
"B-Boss!" The sliced bandit collapsed onto the ground.
"Made a mistake…" Boss said.
The boss readied for another attack. The mercenaries ran from him in fear. The boss swung his sword clumsily several times, but the mercenaries managed to dodge.
"Boss, where are you aiming?! It's her! Aren't you gonna slay this girl?!" Bandit pushed Kurai towards the Boss.
"What are you doing?! There's something wrong with your boss!" Kurai slapped away their hands. "Snap out of it or it'll be your turn next. Don't you get it?!"
The boss swung his sword at them, they squatted and dodged. They flew in different directions.
"No! Will somebody tell me why is it that me, who hasn't done a thing has to go through this?!" Kurai said.
Xxx
Inuyasha was leaping across a pond in the forest. He leapt onto a tree branch and sniffed the air.
Rei approached. "The bandits got my sister!"
"Oh, great. That stupid girl! Where'd she go with the Jewel?!" Inuyasha said.
Mercenaries' Hideout
The boss was still swinging violently, but clumsily at various things and directions. He hit one of the pillars and the roof start to collapse. One of the mercenaries was trapped under the rubble. Kurai ran towards him with a few other mercenaries.
"Are you all right?!" Kurai said.
"The exit is blocked!" Bandit said.
"Can you stand?" Kurai helped the mercenary out from the rubble.
"Thank you very much. Thank you." Bandit said.
"The Jewel… Give me the Shikon no Tama…" Boss said.
"He wants this Jewel. If I get rid of it, he won't come after me." Kurai said. "But why me?! Anyway, I have to get out of here!"
Kurai carried the injured mercenary and took a few steps sideways. The mercenaries hid behind her. When she moved a few steps more, they tumbled behind her too.
"Hey-y-y!" Kurai said.
Bandits laughed uneasily. "Heheh…"
The boss attacked the group but missed and crashed into the wall. Kagome passed the injured mercenary to the rest.
"I know! Take him!" Kurai said.
Kurai took the Shikon no Tama from the necklace and threw it out of a window.
"The Jewel… The Shikon no Tama!" Boss said.
Kurai turned to the mercenaries. "Now! Let's all push against the wall!"
Bandit pushed the wall with other mercenaries, but it didn't budge. "Boss! It's no good!"
"I am not your boss!" Kurai said.
The boss closed in on Kurai and swung his sword at Kurai. Kurai closed her eyes. Suddenly, Inuyasha crashed in from one of the walls and blocked the sword, breaking it into two. Rei landed beside him.
"Inuyasha!" Kurai said. "Rei!"
Inuyasha punched the boss in the face several times and he fell backwards onto the ground. The mercenaries ran past him and Kurai, escaping through the hole in the wall that Inuyasha burst out of.
"Boss, we're going ahead." Bandit said.
"Thanks again!" Bandit left with the rest.
Kurai turned to Inuyasha. "You came to rescue me?"
"Is it safe? The Shikon no Tama!" Inuyasha said.
"Eh?" Kurai said.
"I'm asking you if the Shikon no Tama is safe!" Inuyasha said.
Kurai laughed uneasily. The boss trudged towards them. Kurai hid behind Inuyasha.
Rei covered her nose. "What's that smell?! That putrid smell!"
One of the buckles on the boss' clothes comes off, revealing a hole in his chest. Three eyes peer out of the hole and caws. It was the crow from last night in the village.
"What?!" Kurai said.
"His heart must've been torn apart a couple of nights ago. Then it nested there." Inuyasha said.
"He was being manipulated? I thought something was strange about him." Kurai said.
"Corpse Crows aren't too strong. They use dead bodies to fight." Inuyasha kicked the ground and aimed for the crow. "Disgusting!"
Inuyasha plunged his hand into the chest of the boss, where the crow was. The crow escaped from the hole in the boss's back. Inuyasha took out his hand and went to the side. The boss fell towards the ground, his flesh disintegrating at the same time. The Corpse Crow flew out of the window.
"It got away! Aren't you going after it?" Kurai said.
Inuyasha flexed his arms. "I can't go after every stupid demon. There's only one of me, after all."
"But…!" Kurai said.
Inuyasha spoke in a fierce and firm tone. "Forget it! I'm the one doing the fighting!"
Outside, the Corpse Crow picked up the Shikon no Tama with its beak.
"So I decide! Now what about the Shikon no Tama?" Inuyasha noticed the crow from the window. "Ahh! Is that the Jewel in its beak?!" Inuyasha turned to Kurai. "Why, you…!"
"I-I never said anything about having it on me." Kurai said defensively.
"Follow me!" Inuyasha said.
Inuyasha crashed out of the hut, grabbing onto Rei's hand. He stopped and noticed a quiver of arrows and a bow on the horses parked outside. He took the bow and arrow and leapt into the air, piggy-backing Rei. Kurai hopped on the trees just behind them.
"No way it's gettin' away!" Inuyasha said.
Inuyasha leapt in the air, chasing the crow.
"What're you doing?! Hurry and shoot that thing down!" Inuyasha said.
"Are you crazy?! I've never used a bow and arrow in my life!" Rei said.
"The Corpse Crow survives by eating human flesh! With the Shikon no Tama, it might transform!" Inuyasha said.
The crow swallowed the Shikon no Tama.
Rei gasped. "It just swallowed the Jewel!" Rei was resolute. "I'll try it!"
"All right!" Inuyasha said. "Make it one shot! Tsubaki was a master archer! If Kiana is right about you..." Inuyasha leapt into the air.
"I am Reiko! But...hit it!" Rei said.
Rei fired an arrow. It missed the crow by a long way off. Inuyasha, shocked, fell onto the ground.
"Erm… You're not lying about Tsubaki being a master archer, are you?" Rei said.
"Then you must be a klutz, !" Inuyasha said.
The crow transformed.
"Look, now it's gettin' bigger!" Inuyasha said.
Inuyasha got up and ran after the crow, piggybacking Rei.
"Aim!" Inuyasha said.
Rei fired another arrow. It missed the crow pathetically. Inuyasha stopped suddenly and plopped Rei onto the ground.
"Oww!" Rei said.
Inuyasha turned around and pointed at Rei, yelling. "Now I get it!" Inuyasha shook his finger at Rei. "NO WAY you're Tsubaki incarnated! Now I know there's nothing to worry about, !" Inuyasha ran off.
"Inuyasha!" Kurai said.
Musashi
The Corpse Crow flew over a river in the village. Several villagers were walking on a bridge spanning across the river, including a woman with her toddler. The Crow swiped the toddler and flew off with him in its claws.
"My son!" Woman said.
Inuyasha ran on top on the trees on the bank on the river. "Looking for food already? Well, you'd better think about running away from me first! You can't hunt if you're bein' hunted!"
Kurai reached the bridge and shouted. "No! Save the child!"
"Stupid!" Inuyasha leapt towards the crow.
Tthe Crow's body was clawed into pieces, which fell into the river together with the toddler. The toddler was struggling desperately in the rapid river, and two Narutos swam after him.
"Where is it?" Inuyasha landed on a rock in the river. "Where's the Shikon no Tama!"
The toddler was rapidly washed away by the current. His mother and the villagers ran along the riverbank, chasing the toddler.
"My son! Shokichi!'" Woman said.
One Inuyasha caught Shokichi and pulled him to the riverbank. Inuyasha reached the riverbank and got out of the water. The toddler ran towards his mother.
"Shokichi!" Woman said.
"Ma! I was so scared!" Shokichi said.
"Thanks!" Shokichi said.
"Thank you so much. Thank you!" Woman said.
"It's okay, really." Inuyasha said, other shadow clones vanishing.
Underwater, the pieces of the Crow joined back and flew out of the surface into the air.
"Damn!" Inuyasha yelled to Kurai. "It's gettin' away!"
The Crow's claw, still on the toddler's back, tugged at him. Shokichi gasped in terror.
Kurai stared at the Crow, which was reforming. "I got this."
Kurai pointed her pentacle at the Corpse Crow, which was still reforming. "RA-JE!" Her handglowed white, then black and hot.
"Something's wrong!" Rei said, running forward as Kurai gained burns all over her hands.
The Shikon no Tama came shooting out of Kurai's hands and flew into the air. It shattered into tiny pieces, emitting a bright light.
"I did it!" Kurai sighed,
"She got it…?" Inuyasha said.
"But…what's that light?" Rei said.
The light from the Shikon no Tama suddenly disperse in many directions.
"Priestess Kaede… Up in the sky!" Kiana said.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Kaede said.
Dark Forest
One piece rained down on them and fell into Inuyasha's hands.
He looked down; Kurai was on the ground. She looked dead. He sniffed her. She was still alive; just barely.
He held the shard out to her; it absorbed into her skin, and she opened her eyes. He brightened; stepped back.
Inuyasha had nearly killed his mate again. He had to make this right; make her soul; the Shikon, whole again.
As he felt his demonic power return to him, he knew he could do it.
At that moment, the shadow that was Naraku crossed the land.