Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Inuyasha, I'm just a freakin' fan, duh! Do not steal Mina or I will hurt you!

Chapter One

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Looking back, the regret I feel is great...Am I worthy of forgiveness?

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Over the forests, mountains, rivers, she seemed to fly. Never slowing her determined pace, she scanned the passing grounds beneath her clouded feet. Her face, as always, was hidden beneath a hood. The cloak it connected to whipped almost violently behind her.

Myoga knew Lady Mina was using yet another spell, and he so feared her magic. He held onto her shoulder for dear life, and she noticed.

Looking at her shoulder, she questioned, "Are you okay?"

No, he was not!"Please, can't you stop!"

Still moving, she replied."I won't let you fall, Myoga."

"Please!" Myoga began to cry as he whined.

The lady sighed, "Alright," she came an abrupt end over the middle of a clearing. All around it, trees stood in immense stature, like a fortress. "Oh! This is perfect." She drifted down, down towards the ground.. "Myoga, your cowardice has brought me home." Her elegant hand brought out a tree seed from her cloak pocket. She landed on soft dirt. "Absolutely perfect," she said under her breath.

The demon flea breathed a sigh of relief, then sat himself more firmly near her neck. "Whatever you say, your ladyship, so long as I never have to go through that again."

Mina chuckled, dropping to her knees. "Silly, Myoga, still so afraid of my magic." She dug out a small patch of dirt, then placed the seed inside. "Our lord must be laughing in the afterlife." Covering the seed over, she began to whisper the incantation to make her home.

A gossamer, violet mist gathered around her hand. It seeped into the ground, giving life. When the sprout appeared, the mist grew with it. Steadily, it became a sort of deep green vine that grew towards the crescent moon. Mina kept her hand on her creation throughout its transformation.

When it came to a certain height, which was well over twenty feet, the vine grew thick. The color turned from sea green to dark brown, and bark finally arose on the outside.

At this stage, Mina made a sudden insignia on the bark.

Suddenly, branches burst forth. Windows split out, making loud cracking sounds. A large door mutated below them, coming from the bark itself. Then, with a shudder, the tree stilled.

Mina sighed, finally taking her hand off to shake the feeling back into it. "Well, this makes me very happy."

Myoga was stiff as a board on her shoulder. Terror raced through his veins, telling him to run away from the witch, but his honor held him in check. That, and the thought of her angry with him for leaving at all. "When is that old man going to-?"

Moo! "Look out!"

Myoga and Mina looked up to see a massive black cow coming towards them. Mina sprinted into her newly made home. "He had better not damage this!" She growled.

Bam! Mroo! The whole tree home shook for a few moments. Just as quickly, the house stopped its movements. A voice from outside called out, "Lady Mina? Where'd you go?"

Said Lady sighed then went back out, "Hello, Totosai."

Myoga jumped off her shoulder and bounded over to the sword-smith. "We have good news. Lady Mina made the boy's admit they do not hate each other!"

Totosai smiled brightly, then had a look of confusion. "What boys?"

Mina's head fell down, and Myoga fell over.

"Oh, right! The two ingrates!" He got off his demon bull, which went off to graze nearby.

Myoga put a hand up to his mouth and coughed, "Well, yes, anyhow-."

"I do not call this a success." Mina said quickly, "Merely a stepping stone."

Totosai felt an ominous feeling come over him and turned to look at her."You are planning something, aren't you?" He knew that child from when she was five years old, and once she started something, nothing could stop her until the job was done.

Mina tilted her head, "Of course, and I need your help to make this plan a work."

"Not interested," the old man shook his finger at her, "You know better than to get me involved in this."

Mina glared at him, "So, you're still a coward, too."

Totosai scoffed, "A wise man once said, 'To run away is to live another day', thus the reason I am still living."

Mina rolled her eyes, "Whatever, all I needed was that old medallion our lord left you."

Totosaigasped, "Don't tell me you're going to-!"

Mina shooed his fears away, "Don't worry, I'm sure this will work exactly like I planned."

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In a sunlit valley, a river was flowing tranquilly in spite of the disastrous duel taking place near its shore.

"Stupid half-breed. On your knees!"Sesshomaru's sword collided with Tetsusaiga and sparks flared to life.

Inuyasha's face, lit with anger, was very close to his fang."Shut up and make me!" They pushed off from their swords and jumped back to prepare for another attack.

Kagome nervously watched with the rest of the group as Inuyasha went to slash, but was easily parried. Sesshomaru smirked, going in for a slash from the head down, but Inuyasha blocked the attack.

Shippo was standing a little behind her right leg."They aren't taking this very seriously, huh Kagome?" His voice still had some apprehension about the fight.

The priestess shook her head, "No, it's like they're playing, but that's not possible, is it?"

Inuyasha smirked, "Come on, big brother," he sneered, "Why so slow?" He twisted, gained momentum, and tried to lash again.

Sesshomaru easily avoided it, "Half-brother," he brought his sword up meaning to hit the boy's face.

Inuyasha also easily dodged, "Idiot, can't even hit me!"

Kagome couldn't believe it, she just couldn't. 'Maybe, they're starting to get along?'

Inuyasha had left his right side open. Sesshomaru took the chance, and punched his little brother in the face.

'Or not,' Kagome sighed as her little hope died away.

Inuyasha jumped back, rubbing his face. "What the hell!"

"I merely wished to prove you wrong."

"Bastard!"

"No, I was utterly legitimate."

Inuyasha growled, then brought his fang in front. "You'll pay for that!"

Tetsusaiga's energy increased, readying to unleash the Wind Scar.

Abruptly, the fang transformed, back into its weakened form, "What?"

Sesshomaru felt his Tensusaiga quiver. "What is this?"

Kagome shot up, "Something ominous is pulling the swords!" The monk moved from Sango's side to stand by Kagome."Can you see it, Miroku?"Kagome sawa purple haze swirl around the two blades.

The monk nodded, "Yes, but it's not demonic. How strange."

Suddenly,thehazegrippedthe bladeswith an iron hold. Inuyasha struggled with the power, and, perplexed, Sesshomaru put his hand on Tensusaiga's hilt.

With amazing speed, the swords swiftly flew out of their master's hands. In shock, neither one moved a muscle. The fangs of their father seemingly disappeared into the nearby hills.

"Inuyasha! Sesshomaru!"

Inuyasha swiveled his head around, trying to find the owner of the voice. Words echoed around the valley, seemingly coming from all directions at once. He looked over to Sesshomaru, who now locked eyes with him, and found he too couldn't find the origins of the woman.

"If you wish for the return of your weapons, I suggest you go to the Forest of Mystics. It's where we first met, after all."

There was a shift in the wind, and just like that, they were alone.