A/N: This chapter is a little different from the others. Hopefully it will help clear some things up. It is a little bit more dark in comparison to the rest of the fic, but it's kinda necessary for where the story is heading. Story was started in 2014, so that's the timeline we're sticking to.

Praeterita (The Past)

…..….….25 Years Prior (1989)…..…..…

The echo of gun shots rang through the shooting range as reiki charged bullets soared through the air to meet their target in the center of the bull's eye hanging in the distance.

The athletic build of a young woman clad in a form fitting body suit was the center of attention as she reloaded her gun with practiced ease.

Behind a sound proof glass a 25-year-old Inuyasha's attention was captivated like all the other youkai and youkai hunters in the vicinity.

"Who is that, Taji?" The dog eared hanyou asked in awe to the handsome young DHA agent.

"That's our newest recruit! Kikyou Akiyama. I'm proud to say she's going to be in my squad! I lucked up man!"

"Yea you did. With somebody like her covering your back the Misses can be a little less of a worry wart and stop begging you to leave the field." Inuyasha said nudging the brown haired human.

Combing his fingers through his hair the slayer began, "I'm actually starting not to think it's such a bad idea to get off the field. With Sango being in her terrible twos, she's been taking a lot out of both me and Hanako Lately."

He watched as Kikyou replaced her targets and continued to meet her mark. After a short pause he continued, "If Akiyama keeps progressing the way that she has been, she'll be able to take my place as team lead and I can petition for that director's position. Cuz let's face it… I'd die if I took the dispatch position Han-chan has been begging me to apply for in her department."

Inuyasha laughed at his friend before changing the topic. "So, you think you can introduce me?"

"To Akiyama? Man, good luck! She's a piece of work."

"Come on Ichirou!" Inuyasha begged.

With a sigh Taji said, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

….…2 Weeks Later…

The bustling activity in the cafeteria caused the young hanyou's ears to flatten against his head as he attempted to focus on the conversation in front of him.

"-So then she did a back flip! Can you believe that! She's barely two years old!" Ichirou explained excitedly to his silver haired friend.

"-Hey! Are you even listening?"

"Yea, man I'm sorry it's just kinda loud in here-… Hey! There she is! Call her over!" Inuyasha finished excitedly when his eyes landed on the brown eyed DHA agent.

Taji sighed before mumbling to Inuyasha to never say he didn't do anything for him.

"Hey, Akiyama! Over here."

The slim miko glanced in their direction before making her way over to where the two sat.

"Good afternoon Taji-san." Came the woman's cold reply.

"Care to join us? We were just getting ready to discuss the next assignment. This is Inuyasha, he works in the lab on poisons and antidotes."

Inuyasha had a goofy grin on his face as he attempted to gain control over his speech and said, "Gre-great to- to meet you" while looking away bashfully.

Taji rolled his eyes at the hanyou's sudden shyness.

"Inuyasha, what can you tell us about this miasma that was mentioned in the last report?" Kikyou asked getting straight to business.

Seeing this as his time to shine Inuyasha began explaining the situation. "Well, from the gathered intel, we know it has the ability to kill any and all green life surrounding it. The last team that went out was left incapacitated after breathing it in. The humans in the area have seen an increase in the number of cancer incidences and are blaming it on the fumes coming from that nearby chemical plant. We have reason to believe a youkai is the cause of this. We're asking a team to investigate the area and shut down operations."

"Have you tried to go the legal route?" Akiyama inquired.

"Well, that isn't my department, but from what I found out, the company who owns the plant has close ties with the mayor, making it almost impossible to do anything about. Apparently it's a civil matter, and unless the humans in the area are able to afford an attorney who can get a judge to agree to shut the factory down, the miasma will continue to persist and spread. We've developed these filtration masks that purify your breathing air for the mission." Inuyasha finished.

"Thanks Inu. Listen, I've gotta go check on the baby sitter. I'll catch you later?" Taji said as he stood from the table taking his lunch tray with him.

"So…." Inuyasha began nervously once Ichirou left them to their own devices. "I saw you at the practice range. You think you're one hell of a shot huh? How good are you at moving targets?"

Kikyou rolled her eyes before saying, "Would you like to stand at the opposing end of the barrel to find out?"

Inuyasha laughed sheepishly before saying, "No I would not, but I would like to pose a challenge. If I can hit more moving targets than you… weapon of choice, you have to agree to go on a date with me."

Kikyou laughed. "It's cute you think you stand a chance against me."

…The Next Day…

Target after target was taken down with supreme accuracy and before long a buzzer sounded indicating the end of the miko agent's turn.

"Score.. 32/35… Accuracy, 97%... Speed… 43.5 kilometers/ hour" Came the mechanical voice blazing through the speakers of the Practice room.

"Keh! Not bad for a newbie." Inuyasha huffed.

"Hn, let's see you beat it… dog." Kikyou replied in challenge.

Inuyasha smirked at her confidence as he unsheathed his Tessaiga. Kikyou's eyes widened in shock as she watched the blade transform before her very eyes.

"Rule number one," Inuyasha teased, "Never underestimate your opponent."

The buzzer signifying it was time to begin sounded throughout the field as targets began swirling about him. Waiting for just the right moment, Inuyasha lifted his blade and screamed, "WIND SCAR!" with a fatal swing, all the targets went tumbling down in one flail swoop.

The buzzer sounded and the mechanical voice began, "Score! 35/35…. Accuracy, 100%... Speed 196 kilometers/ hour."

Inuyasha laughed heartily at Kikyou's look of disbelief before saying, "Looks like you owe me a date.

…Some time Later (1991)…..

A shadowed moon hung barely visible in the night sky as moans of passion were sung to the heavens.

Fevered touches upon her cool flesh caused her to arch her back into his warmth. "Inu- Inuyasha." She called out his name as he trailed kisses down her muscular frame.

Spelling his name with his tongue against her clit elicited a moan from the dark haired beauty beneath him. Her aura expanded as she reached her climax she delved her fingers into the inky tresses of her half human lover.

"Please, Inuyasha. I need you."

The hanyou turned human made his way up the miko's body slowly before placing the head of his penis at her entrance. He entwined her fingers with his own and kissed her passionately on her lips allowing her to taste herself on his lips.

"I love you Kikyou." Came his raspy reply before he sheathed himself in her molten depths.

…...(1994)….

The crisp air of the winter night pierced through her armored vest as she made her way through the dark dank warehouse.

"Captain, shots fired in the east wing! One man down, we're sending back up." Sounded through the earpiece secured in her right ear.

"Roger, I'm heading that way." Came Kikyou's cool response.

It had been 4 years since they shut down the chemical plant responsible for the miasma incident, however they were unable to determine who the mastermind was behind the incident. Over the years they had gotten several leads but only came away with a name. Naraku.

The problem was, no one by that name could be found in the youkai database, so it seemed they were chasing after a ghost. A ghost who was adamant about tearing down the hard fought treaty between humans and youkai. Every trail they followed seemed to lead to a dead end… but tonight they had gotten a solid lead.

Kikyou stealthily made her way through the warehouse to the east wing. It seems she was the first on the scene. Ahead she could make out the still figure of a DHA agent. Crouched above him was a nude figure with a humanoid appearance. The aura surrounding the being was massive, and from what she could see from her position, it was male.

"Reinforcements approaching." Echoed in her ear. It seemed she wasn't the only one notified because the crouching figure's head shot up and red eyes made contact with her own brown irises.

"Shit!" She muttered. "I've been spotted. I'm going in."

"Kikyou! Wait! You don't know what you're up against!" Taji yelled into his walkie talkie.

"I don't have much of a choice!"

Reiki charged bullets soared through the air, barely missing their target as the naked figure dodged her attacks with incredible speed.

"Kukukuku! You should've listened miko… you don't know what you're up against." Came the sinister voice of the being before her.

Before she could react, a hand had torn its way through her chest and she fell to her knees.

"Kikyou! Kikyou! Answer me dammit!" Fell upon deaf ears.

A troop of agents came running into the area only to be greeted with a flash of red as the being made a hasty escape.

"Hey Boss… looks like it got away." Reported an armored DHA agent.

"Kikyou?" Ichirou asked somberly.

"She's gone Boss."

Elsewhere…

Taji threw the walkie talkie down in rage as he paced the parking lot of the warehouse. Oh how he wished he was on the front lines at that very moment. He knew Inuyasha would not take the news well.

… 1 Week Later….

"I swear we're going to find the bastard who did this Inuyasha. I swear!" Taji spoke to his friend as they said their goodbyes to the miko agent.

Inuyasha said nothing as he watched the love of his life being lowered into the dirt. How could he. His whole world collapsed in just a few short moments, and now here he was, watching his heart being wrenched from his chest as the casket that held the body of his soulmate was lowered into the ground.

He played with the suede box that contained a diamond ring in his pocket before he took it out and tossed it in the grave with his beloved. He couldn't take seeing her lifeless body… he would live with the memory of her defiant and passionate eyes… not her cold lifeless ones.

…..

AN: Well now… are the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together? We remember who the Taji's are right? I don't want to just say it outright… but 10 points to the person who makes the link... and who can guess where I'm taking things next! ;)

PLEASE REVIEW! I'm kinda digging this chapter… Let me know if you dig it too!