Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or it's characters
Chapter 1: The Maiden
When the half-demon, Inuyasha, buried his mother he vowed that he would one day kill his mother's murderer. This person (who Inuyasha figured out to be Sesshomaru) would have to pay. That would be when he was older and stronger, however.
One day a few weeks later Inuyasha was taking a bath in the river outside of the cave he had chosen to sleep in. Laying his clothes on the bank of the river, he eased his body slowly into the shallow part of the river. The river water felt warm and soothing as it passed over his exposed body. He slowly began to relax.
"This is the life." he said aloud to himself. He dunked his head underwater to wash his hair.
When he lifted his head up he saw a girl. Startled, he jumped farther into the river. The current was a bit stronger but he caught himself on an over-hanging branch and pulled himself to safety. The girl giggled.
"Hey, I don't see what is so funny." he remarked coldly.
The girl who was still giggling replied "You should have seen your face when you fell. Hahaha."
Inuyasha jumped out of the water exposing his naked body. The girl instantly ceased her laughter. Inuyasha who had never been around anyone but his mtoher and brother his whole life didn't know there was anything wrong being naked.
The girl covered her eyes quickly. "EWWWWW! Put some clothes on."
Inuyasha obeyed her. When the girl uncovered her eyes she blew out a sigh of relief. Sticking her hand out she said, "My names Kikyo."
Inuyasha took a sudden liking to Kikyo. He didn't know why. She had a comforting air about her.
He took her hand and said, "My names Inuyasha." When he shook her hand any hard feelings he had had about her before were gone now. This girl reminded him of his mother.
"So Inuyasha, what were you doing?" Kikyo asked in a sweet, sing-song voice.
"I was taking my bath. I hadn't had one in days. It's pretty hard living by myself." he replied.
"You live all by yourself?" Kikyo asked astonished with a tone of sympathy. "Where's your mother or father?"
"My mother was murdered and my father has been dead for a while. I have an older brother but I don't know where he is."
"Awww, you poor thing. You must get lonely."
Inuyasha was not used to people giving him sympathy. He wasn't to sure that he liked it either.
"I'm fine." he remarked.
Inuyasha was soon informed that Kikyo was also alone. She wondered form village to village training to become a preistess. The little couple sat for hours that day talking. A friendship began to grow between them. Never again would either of them be lonely.
When the sunset Kikyo told Inuyasha that she would be back but she had to go. They relunctantly parted ways. She went back to the village. He went back to his cave. Both of them wondering what the morrow would bring.
They continued to meet everyday after that. Their friendship grew stronger and stronger. The bond between them grew also. They were both experiencing their first true love.