Chapter One:

Flames licked up over thatched huts as a feral roar pierced the heavens. A boy with the ears of a dog and eyes as red as blood tore his way through a village, scattering those around him in terror. He rushed upon hands and feet, snarling and snapping at the mad direction to which he had been driven, until he reached the shrine.

He threw down its guardians, and broke down the torches before seeing what he sought. On some feral and mad impulse he moved forward and snatched up the gleaming gem, which glowed with malice as he raised it up before him. The doors were opened behind him, and he glanced back to see men with swords coming after him.

He roared again, before breaking through the wall and launching himself elsewhere. Driven by the voices, the creature surged through the forests, towards freedom.

'Inuyasha!' cried Kikyo as she strung an arrow to her bow.

The arrow was launched, and surged through the air to slam into the boy. The half demon was pinned against a tree, and the gem fell from his grasp. The beast roared and struggled as the spell little by little took hold, until suddenly it fell terribly still, into a deep slumber.

At last in an unnatural slumber he resembled who he truly was.

Kikyo staggered forward, every movement painful. She could feel the blood dripping down her side as she approached the gem. Falling to one knee, she heard her sister approaching from behind, alongside many men.

'Big sister!' cried Kaede. 'You're hurt really badly!'

'Lady Kikyo,' said a man 'that wound…'

Kikyo picked up the jewel and staggered to her feet. 'All because of this…' First Tsubaki, now Inuyasha, who else would fall under the corruption of the jewel, and pay the price.

'Please sister,' said Kaede 'we have to take care of you!'

'I will not live.' said Kikyo, feeling oddly calm. 'Listen well Kaede, you must take this and burn it with my body. It must never fall into the wrong hands again.' Then she fell forward and breathed her last.

That night Kikyo was cremated. 'I will take it with you to the other world.' thought her spirit.

Inuyasha remained silent, shifting only slightly as if beset by some troubled dream.

Several centuries later, within a comfortable modern day living room, stacked with many boxes, Kagome looked at a shiny glass jewel which hung before her face. Her Grandfather was looking at her, waiting for a reply. 'Shikon no wha?'

'Shikon no tama, my girl.' said Grandfather 'The jewel of four souls!'

'You don't actually think tourists are going to buy these dumb keychains, do you?' asked Kagome, allowing the doubt to seep into her tone.

'That is not just a keychain.' said Grandfather 'That jewel at the end there is a replica of an ancient jewel which… hmmm?'

He trailed off as Kagome began to tempt Buyo the cat to bat at the keychain. Kagome looked up, and realized she had completely forgotten what they were talking about. She gave him her full attention while tempting the cat further.

'Ahem,' said Grandfather 'as I was saying that crystal is a replica of an ancient jewel which…' Kagome had put her arm fully out, and Buyo was stretching to reach the jewel. Eventually Buyo fell over and landed face first on the ground. 'and ancient jewel which-'

'You do remember its my birthday tomorrow right?' asked Kagome suddenly.

Grandfather laughed, and picked out a box from a hiding place. 'I'd planned to wait another day but…'

'So you did get something!' cried Kagome eagerly. 'Hand it over!'

Grandfather gave her a box which she hurriedly unwrapped, before finding a severed animal paw. It was scaly and green, and as she held it she wondered where Grandfather had got it. 'That my dear, is an authentic mummified hand of the water imp.' said Grandfather. 'Which-'

'Here Buyo,' said Kagome 'eat.'

Buyo obediently began to munch on the hand.

'Do you know what those cost?!' cried Grandfather.

'Replica this,' said Kagome 'authentic that, here everything has got a story.'

Later at dinner, Grandfather had not yet given it a rest. 'Why these pickles are full of history!'

'Not half as full as you are.' noted Kagome ruefully.

The thousand year old sacred tree. The legend of the hidden well. Kagome had heard such stories all her life, and she'd never believed a word of it. That is until the next day when she arose bright and early on her fifteenth birthday. That day something seemed different, different about her, different about the world. It was something she couldn't put her finger on as she got dressed into her school uniform.

Everything seemed normal. The buses ran on time. Schoolgirls talked with one another about whatever struck their fancy. The horns on cars were honked by impatient drivers.

Yet as Kagome stepped over the threshold, she could not help but feel as though today would be special. 'I'm leaving!' she called to her mother, before walking away.

Then she noticed Sota by the door to the old shrine with a bowl of food. 'Hey, what are you doing there?'

'Nothing,' said Sota quickly.

'You aren't supposed to play in there.' said Kagome sternly as she approached.

'I'm not, its the cat.' said Sota motioning inwards.

'Did he go down to the well?' asked Kagome as she made her way forward.

The well had a dirt floor that was littered with bones of animals on either side. It was very dark inside, and the roof had not been warded against the weather in years. It had scared Kagome when she was a kid, and now it apparently scared Sota.

'Buyo!' called Sota. 'I don't know where else he could be.'

'So go down,' said Kagome, squatting by him.

'But why do I gotta be the one?' whined Sota.

'Because you're the one whose looking for him.' said Kagome, before reflecting that she had been profound without even trying.

Suddenly there came a low scratching sound from below, which put them on the alert. Sota hid behind Kagome, trembling. 'Ah! Something is down there!'

'Yeah,' said Kagome 'the cat.' She arose and made her way down the steps. The scratching continued, and she suddenly realized it was coming from inside the well. There was a suddenly clattering and she turned around in fear as something pressed up against her leg. Sota fell down, and then they looked to her leg.

Buyo was purring and rubbing up against Kagome's leg in affection. Kagome picked him up beneath the arms and looked at him in irritation.

'You make fun of me because I'm scared and then you are all 'AHH' Sota said in a mocking voice.

Kagome turned around in annoyance. 'Look whose talking Mr, 'why do I have to go?'

The scratching continued, and there was a tense silence between them.

'SIS! Behind you!' screamed Sota.

Before Kagome could react, she was gripped by six corpse white hands which dragged her back into the well. Buyo fell from her grasp, as something turned her around and she found herself pressed against the bare breasts of a women with dark hair and the body of a centipede.

The well around her had transformed into a blue tunnel of light and swirling darkness, and Kagome struggled in the vicelike grip of her assailant.

'Ah…' said the women 'oh to be alive once more… my strength returns…' She drew closer to Kagome, a long tongue coming out to lick her. 'You have it… don't you… give it to me…'

'What are you doing?' cried Kagome 'Let go!' And then she lashed out with her hand.

There was a terrible impact and a light appeared in the palm of Kagome's hand as the centipede women reeled back, one of her arms coming off without blood. Then Kagome was falling alone, while the women fell deeper and deeper beyond her sight.

'Wretched… girl… I must have the sacred jewel…' cried the women, and then she was gone.

Then Kagome was once more falling towards the bottom of the well, and landed on her hands and knees quite lightly. Breathing heavily, she stood up. Then she looked up and saw daylight far above her. 'I guess I must have fallen in the well…' she said 'maybe I bumped my head or…' Then she saw the severed arm lying nearby. She shuddered. 'Maybe not, but either way,,,' She looked up. 'Hey Sota, get Grandpa!'

There was no reply.

With no other options, Kagome took hold of some vines and began to scale up the wall. 'He probably took off,' she reflected to herself. 'got scared.' Then she saw a butterfly flying nearby her. It occurred to her that light usually didn't shine down through wooden roofs, and that the vines had not been here when she fell down.

With no other options, she continued climbing until she got out of the well, emerging somewhat painfully to find herself in the midsts of a forest. There wasn't a sign of civilization in sight anywhere.

'I could be wrong,' she thought 'but I don't think we're in Tokyo anymore.'

'Grandpa!' she called 'Mom! Are you there!'

Her calls disturbed a group of birds who took flight into the air. The air here was fresher and cleaner than anything Kagome had ever smelled, and despite herself she found herself filled with a certain energy.

'Sota!' she called as she walked through green lands. 'Buyo?! Its like the family shrine is just gone.' Then she saw something that filled her with hope. The tree that was a staple of her family shrine loomed over her, taller than all the rest. 'The tree! That means I'm almost home!'

Breaking into a run, she pushed her way through the underbrush and emerged into a clearing. And though she did not know why, she felt as though she were a weary traveller who had returned home after many ages long away.

Then she saw the boy.

He was leaning with his back to a tree, as though he was resting, but an arrow had pierced his heart and pinned him there. Roots had grown up over his body to pin him in place. His hair was white as snow, and he was quite handsome. His garments were all red, though beneath the robes she could catch a glimpse of a white undershirt.

She scaled up the roots and made her way up to him. 'Hey there, what are you doing?'

Then she saw the ears. They were like those of a dog, and came right out of his head. 'Oh wow,' she thought. 'I think I want to touch em.' Then she reached forward and grabbed ahold of the ears to move them back and forth. They were soft and fuzzy.

Then she let go and sighed. 'Now that thats out of my system…'

'Get away from there!' came a cry.

There was a twanging of bows and many arrows pinned themselves into the tree around Kagome as she ducked and squeaked in fright. Looking up she saw a group of rough and ready men wearing top knots coming towards her.

And that was how Kagome Higurashi found herself tied hand and foot on a carpet in the middle of a medieval village town square. Several hundred people were gawking at her and whispering to each other. 'You didn't have to tie me up, y'know.' she snapped.

'A girl in strange clothes.' said a man.

'Is she a foreigner?' asked another.

'You reckon its war?'

'Of course it is, and right in the middle of rice planting season!' snapped a man bitterly.

'She could be a kitsune in disguise,' said a women.

'Na, them shape changing are a lot trickier than that.' replied her friend.

Kagome looked over all the men, counting the ones with top knots. 'Top knot, top knot, top knot, what is this, the Japan medieval times?'

'Make way for high priestess Kaede!' said someone.

Kaede was a bent old women with two good eyes that looked at Kagome in an appraising fashion. She wore a white shirt, and a red skirt and carried a bow in her hands. Her hair was tied up behind her head. The first thing she did was throw salt in Kagome's face.

'Demon be gone!' cried Kaede.

'Hey,' snapped Kagome 'I'm not a demon, okay!'

'Are ye not?' asked Kaede 'Then why were you found in the forest of Inuyasha?'

'She could be a spy from another village,' suggested a farmer.

'In that case she would be a fool.' said Kaede 'Who would invade such a poor village as ours?' Then suddenly her eyes widened and she seemed to fully see Kagome for the first time. Kagome suddenly felt as if she should know this women, though she did not know why. 'Let me have a good look at ye.' Kaede clasped her by the chin and looked at either side of her head. 'Look clever girl, or be ye a halfwit?'

'Why you…' began Kagome.

'Its there,' said Kaede 'though I know not why.'

Later a wolf howled over the village, marking the rise of the full moon. Kaede was boiling stew as Kagome waited inside. Eventually Kaede offered her a bowl of stew. 'Stew?'

'Wow,' said Kagome, taking the bowl. 'that looks great. Real food.' She hadn't eaten anything all day, and now had a sense of what it was like to be truly hungry.

As she ate, Kaede looked at her seriously. 'Bear us no ill will, child.' she said 'For though I now see ye mean us no harm in these troubled times of war no stranger may be welcomed among us without deep distrust.'

'We really aren't in Tokyo anymore, are we?' asked Kagome, a faint smile on her lips that did not seem her own. She felt as though another person was watching through her.

'Tokyo?' asked Kaede. 'I have never heard of it. Is that where your people are from?'

'Uh yeah,' said Kagome, smiling nervously. 'so I should get going…' She looked into her stew. 'Though I've no idea how to get back, of course.' She sipped from it.

Kaede's eyes were filled with memory and regret. Kagome realized suddenly that her face was very care worn, bearing the signs of may hardships. She wondered how old she was, and what kinds of things she had seen. And Kagome felt as though she had seen Kaede once before, far younger and happier. And though she did not know why, it made her sad.

Kaede stared deep into the fire. Yet before any more words could be spoken, there was a terrible clamor from the outside. A bell was rung, and Kaede arose and rushed to look out, while Kagome watched over her shoulder.

'Whats going on?' asked Kaede.

Then high in the sky, the Centipede Women made her return. Clenched between her jaws was the body of a horse, and screams could be heard from the village. Flaming arrows were launched at her, but in vain, and her tail swept away the defenders as if they were gnats. Releasing the horse, she let it fall to land with a crash at Kagome's feet, and Kagome got behind Kaede fearfully.

'its that thing!' she cried.

'Give me the sacred jewel!' cried the monster, before descending.

Kaede and Kagome leaped to either side as the beast passed over them, before coming round for another pass. 'It said sacred jewel…' said Kaede 'Bear ye it still?!'

'Uh…' began Kagome, feeling like she should know what Kaede was talking about. 'I have no idea. I mean I've heard of the jewel but I…'

'I must have it!' cried the women 'I must!' And she swept aside a group of unlucky archers.

Kagome stood up, a resolve hardening in her heart. 'That thing is after me…' she realized.

'Spears, arrows!' cried a man. 'Nothing works!'

'We must lure it to the dry well.' said Kaede.

'The dry well?' asked Kagome, a plan coming into her mind.

'In the forest of Inuyasha.' clarified Kaede.

'The well I climbed out of.' said Kagome 'Which way is the forest?' She looked around and saw a light. 'Where the light is shining, right?' She knew she was right, even before she started running for it.

The monster was fast behind Kagome as she leaped into a river and waded through the chilled water, her bare legs pained by the cold. 'I'll draw it away!' she cried, as she sprinted with all her might. 'Someone will save me, right? They have to!' Some part of her told her to stop being such a wimp and fight, but Kagome knew that was suicide.

'Grandpa?!' she called 'Mom! Anybody!'

The monster was gaining on her.

'Whoever you are, please,' said Kagome 'somebody help me!'

She suddenly got the sense as she plunged into the forest, that something, somewhere had heard her cries and was responding. Yet she didn't know who or what it was, if it even existed. As she surged through the underbrush, she tripped on a root and tumbled forward to land flat on her face in the clearing from before.

'Kikyo, what are you doing? You could crush that thing in seconds. And why the hell am I pinned up against a tree?'

Kagome looked up to see the boy from before staring down at her. 'Did he just talk?' What she said was: 'So you are alive.'

'Well obviously!' snapped the boy. 'Why are you taking so long to kill that damn thing anyway? Just blow it out of the sky. Or better yet pull out this arrow and explain what the hell is going on!' Kagome stared at him, uncomprehending. 'Oh come on, you can stop with the innocent victim act, we both know you're the only one who could do something like this to me, Kikyo!'

'That does it!' snapped Kagome as she stood up. 'Kikyo! Kikyo! Whoever she is, she's not me cause my name is-'

'She's here.' said the boy.

Down from the shadows descended the monster, and Kagome stepped back as she advanced. Just in the nick of time, however, spears plunged into the monsters side, connected to ropes and she was pulled back.

'So I was saved…' said Kagome.

'…Okay is this some really weird damsel in distress fantasy your getting out of your system, Kikyo?' asked the boy 'Because thats all I can think of at this point.

'I'm not Kikyo!' snapped Kagome as she stood up. 'Look I'm telling you, I'm not her!' She advanced and got up close. 'Whoever her is!'

'Just how stupid do you think I am?' snapped the boy 'Just because you changed your hairstyle it doesn't mean I can't smell you, and…' He sniffed and then blinked. '…You're not her.' He said after a moment.

'I know,' said Kagome 'my name is Kagome! Ka-go-me!'

'Well that explains why you are completely incompetent.' reflected the boy. 'Now just pull this arrow out so I can finish off that thing.'

Kagome stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment, and then it was too late. The monster returned and gripped her, pulling her back. At the last moment Kagome reached forward and grabbed Inuyasha by the hair to keep herself from being dragged away. 'Let go of me!' cried Kagome.

'Ow!' hissed Inuyasha 'You let go!'

'Inuyasha has revived!' cried a man behind them.

'The sacred jewel!' cried the monster.

Those words caused Inuyasha's eyes to narrow suddenly, and he looked very terrible indeed. His expression seemed a mix between horror, feral instinct, and regret as though going over old memories. The monster came at Kagome with a maw of teeth and Kagome moved forward one hand to ward off the assault.

There was a flash and she was propelled away from Inuyasha, while the monster recoiled in pain, several arms falling off of its body. Kagome looked at her hands. 'I did that before too in the well. But how did I do it though…' Suddenly there was a shining power coming from her side and she looked down as she felt an unpleasant warmth grow within her. 'Whats happening now?'

Then the monster was on her, dragging her high into the air. It bit into her side, and tore something out. Kagome saw a gleaming violet orb fly out from her body, covered in blood. Then she landed hard before Inuyasha, as the jewel landed as well.

'Pull this arrow out!' snapped Inuyasha 'Quickly!'

'What?' said Kagome.

'Hurry!' said Inuyasha.

Kagome waited too long, and suddenly she was pinned up against Inuyasha's chest by the monster. Its female body lowered itself. 'I'd heard some half demon spawn was after the sacred jewel… its you isn't it?!'

'Half demon…' murmured Kagome, resting against his form. 'Whats is he?'

'Thats bold talk, given how our last encounter went for you.' noted Inuyasha ruefully.

'Listen,' said Kagome 'you talk big, but can you back it up?'

'Of course I can back it up, you dimwit!' snapped Inuyasha 'Now pull out the damn arrow!'

'What can he do?' asked the monster 'Pinned there like that. Or you for that matter. You are powerless to stop me!' Then she lowered herself down, and lashed out with her tongue, drawing the sacred jewel into her body as she did so.

'Well congratulations halfwit,' said Inuyasha with closed eyes. 'your pointless delaying has just made my job harder.'

The arms that had been severed from the monster arose and reattached themselves, as a red glow emanated from her body. Kagome tightened her grip on Inuyasha as the creatures flesh turned black as night, and her eyes bulged out like a bugs. Its formerly curvaceous body became emancipated and splotchy. 'At last! My power is complete!'

The centipede began to tighten its grip on them, and Kagome gritted her teeth in pain. 'Its crushing me!'

'Yes, thats wonderful!' snapped Inuyasha 'Now remove the damn arrow!'

'I…' Kagome reached up. 'I guess I can try…'

'Nay child!' cried Kaede 'Once the arrow is removed then Inuyasha will be free to destroy us all!'

'What the…' began Inuyasha 'I haven't raided villages in years! And anyway, that thing is going to eat you! At least with me you've got a chance!' He glanced down to Kagome. 'And what about you? Are you ready to die yet?'

'I don't know what I should do…' thought Kagome 'but I choose to help!'

She pulled on the arrow, and it shone with brilliant violet light before disappearing in a flash. For a few moment there was a sound like a heartbeat, echoing in her ears. Then the seal was broken.

'Finally!' roared Inuyasha.

There was a mustering of power, and the monsters body was torn to ribbons in seconds as Inuyasha landed beyond it. Kagome was sent reeling, and got up just in time to see Inuyasha and the monster rushing towards each other.

'Impudent child…' hissed the monster.

'IRON REAPER SOUL STEALER!' cried Inuyasha.

Inuyasha passed her by. And just like that the monster was cut into dozens of bloody pieces.

'Well now I know,' said Kagome 'he is strong.'

Yet she saw the monsters pieces twitching and stood up in horror. 'Ah! Its still moving!'

'Find the glowing flesh, quickly.' said Kaede 'That is where the jewel will be! It must be removed at once, lest the flesh of Mistress Centipede revive!'

'Whoa! Whoa! Tell me you're joking!' exclaimed Kagome.

From Kaede's expression alone, she was not. Kagome looked around at the body part, and saw in one of the segments a sphere of glowing flesh. 'There!' she cried, pointing it out. 'Its that one!'

Kaede moved forward and reached into the bloodied piece of meat, before removing the jewel. At once there was a hissing sound and all the body parts became skeletons, whose flesh was but dust in the wind. Kaede stood up tall, and offered the jewel to Kagome, who took it on reflex. 'But why?'

'Only ye may possess the sacred jewel.' said Kaede, firmly, eyes full of memory.

One of the bone segments of Mistress Centipede was crushed underfoot, as Inuyash scoffed. 'Now thats a laugh if I ever heard it.' he snapped 'After what happened to Tsubaki, I'd say there is just about one person qualified to look after the jewel, and its not this halfwit.' He put out one hand. 'Hand over the jewel before I start sharpening my claws on you.' Then his eyes glowed red, and his expression became utterly bloodthirsty.

'What?!' said Kagome 'You mean… he's not the hero!'

Truer words had never been spoken as a feral roar echoed throughout the tree.

Authors Note:

For those of you just joining us, welcome to the sequel to Inuyasha and the Band of Seven. If you don't feel like reading that fanfic, I'll see if I can't make it a stand alone fic. For those of you who have been here for the long haul, rejoice! The sequel to Inuyasha and the Band of Seven is coming out now!

Of course I don't intend to reveal all the backstory for those who were new. They can figure it out as they go, or simply read the original fic.

I'll try to update this as often as I can. I just got back from doing daily updates to another fanfic, but I doubt I'll be able to keep up that kind of schedule indefinitely.