A Change of Heart

Chapter 1: Beginning an Ending

The sun beat down upon feudal Japan with only a soft breeze as a relief to the heat. The trees seemed to droop from the warmth and the forest life had retreated into the cool shade of the treetops.

Silence surrounded the small clearing. The only sound was the soft grunting coming from inside the bone eater's well. "Ugh," a young woman huffed, hoisting her yellow backpack out of the well. It was filled to the brim with all the textbooks she had bothered to bring with her, knowing there wasn't much of a chance for her to study anyways. She lifted herself out of the deep trench and sat on the lip of the well.

Sweat dripped down her face as her raven-black hair stuck to the nape of her neck. Her breaths were ragged, trying to fill her lungs up with the humid air. Its so hot out … she thought as she brought her hand to her forehead and glanced up at the burning ball of fire.

"KA-GO-ME!"

She dropped her gaze from the sky and looked ahead of her. Shippo was galloping towards her with tears dotting his eyes; Inuyasha closing in on him from behind.

"Try saying that to my face!" Inuyasha yelled as the young fox kit ran in terror.

"Sit boy," came the woman's weary voice.

A scream sounded before a loud crash was heard. Kagome was already aggravated about school and was in no mood for Inuyasha's attitude.

"Ka-go-me!" Inuyasha reprimanded with a face full of dirt. "What the hell was that for?!"

The young priestess picked up her bag and started off towards the village. Inuyasha, you are so immature sometimes. Shippo ran after her with a funny grin on his face.

"Wait Kagome! Don't leave me here!" the silver half-demon called after her.

Kagome sighed as she approached Kaede's hut. Upset over the many complications in her life, she was not up to dealing with the stubborn half-demon face down in the dirt far behind her. Before she could allow her thoughts to bring her into a state of depression, she heard a shriek from within the wooden shack.

"You pervert!" came a feminine voice, followed by a familiar smack.

The raven-haired beauty pulled back the door as the young fox ran in front of her. "I'm back," she mumbled as she ambled into the dimly lit room and set down her bag.

"Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, her face coated in a blush.

"You've returned," Miroku said calmly. His signature handprint was plastered across his cheek.

"Hey, why the long face?" the demon slayer asked, her eyes filled with concern. Kagome's head hung down and she had dark circles under her eyes.

The priestess glanced up at her best friend and sighed. "I'm just having a hard time keeping up with school is all." By this time, Shippo was happily digging in Kagome's bag to see if she brought any snacks.

"Kagome," he asked in a curious voice. "What is all this stuff? This isn't what you usually bring." He held up a box with unusual food inside. Kagome looked over at the little demon's confused expression. A small smile appeared on her visage and the mood lightened.

"Those are my home cooked meals," she responded as she squatted down next to the curious kit. "That's why I was late this morning." Shippo took a sniff of the peculiar food before scrunching up his nose in disgust.

A chilling scream rose above the trees as a young girl ran for her life through the forest. Her midnight hair was pulled back into pigtails and her pink kimono had rips from encounters with tree limbs.

"Get back here wench!" A large demon chased after her. His horns rested above his eyes and his nails were as sharp as daggers. A maroon shade covered his body and his eyes gleamed with vengeance.

The girl screamed again as she tripped over a branch and braced herself with her arms. She hit the ground and glanced behind her to see the demon closing in. Her body became paralyzed with fear as she waited for the demon's claws to rip her to shreds. Out of nowhere, a bright light pierced the demon through his chest, causing him to fall back in an agonizing death. Arms came around the young child in a comforting grasp and stood her on her feet. The girl shakily turned around to see the most beautiful woman she had every laid eyes on.

"Are you alright?" Kikyo asked, her kind eyes filled with concern. She glimpsed over the cuts and bruises scattered across the young belle's body. "What happened?" Her voice was soft and soothed the child's trembling.

Her eyes filled with tears. "My village was attacked by many demons; we hadn't realized our fate. My father gave me this to protect and told me to run." The girl opened her small hand to reveal a shard of the Shikon Jewel. "When I looked back, my whole village was being slaughtered and flames engulfed the houses."

Kikyo's eyes filled with pity for the child. "Where did your father get this?" she asked curiously.

The young girl sniffled before replying. "I'm not sure. He said it shot out of the sky one day and landed at his feet. Please, priestess, take it. You have the powers to protect it, do you not?"

Kikyo tried to protest, but the little girl shoved the shard into the maiden's hand. "Are you sure?" she asked with uncertainty. The child nodded her head before wincing in pain.

"Here let me help you," Kikyo whispered, offering the young girl her hands for support. I have to get this girl taken care of, then I can go have a look at that village. While she pondered where to bring the belle for safety, two men came walked towards them from the east. "Men will you be so kind as to take this child to the nearest village on the other side of the forest?"

"Of course, priestess," one of the men said as the other nodded in response.

"Thank you," Kikyo replied in a soft voice. "Your good deed will not be forgotten."

The frightened child quickly looked up at her savior; eyes wide. "No!" she screamed. "I can't leave father and the others. I have to go back!" Tears rolled down the girl's cheeks as Kikyo gazed on with understanding.

"It is not safe for you," the kind woman responded calmly. "I will go back to your village and help free them of the demons."

The little girl chewed on her lip in thought for a moment before quickly recovering herself. She nodded her head as one of the men grabbed her hand and led her away. Kikyo looked north towards the direction of the girl's village. Clutching the jewel shard to her chest, she began her journey towards the demons hungry for power.

A/N: Alright, this is my new story. First chapter doesn't seem like much, but just be patient. I have to rewrite it because this was officially the first story I wrote. So please leave a review. There are going to be many twists and turns before it ends. Thanks!