Inu-Yasha

A Feudal Fairy Tale

Disclaimer: This episode of Inu-Yasha is of my own creation. I do not own any portion of Inu-Yasha. "Inu-Yasha" and all related characters, names, etc. are ©1998-2003 Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc. Inu-Yasha is a trademark of Viz Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Change of Heart
Scroll One:
A Hanyou's Discovery

The inu hanyou Inu-Yasha knows that something is up with Kagome...his Kagome. She has been making much more frequent visits to the old well that transports her back to her own time and always changes the subject when he asks her why she has to leave so much. Inu-Yasha has never been able to follow her because each time he would, he would get 'sat' a dozen or so times to keep him away. This confused him since she'd only 'sit' him if he tried to stop her from leaving or argue for her stay, two things he never even got a chance to do.

About a month ago, Kagome told everyone that she was on something called 'summer vacation' and would have three months off of her school. The hanyou was inwardly overjoyed since that meant that she would spend more time in their time...more time with him.

A little over a week ago, though, she just suddenly started leaving almost every other day. Inu-Yasha was then in for a real shock when she came back yesterday. She reeked of two things that made his heart begin to plunge: sex and that no good baka ookami youkai Koga.

His fears increased that night when the entire group camped out in a cozy little spot in the forest. When he was assured that everyone was asleep, he silently leaped off of the tree he was resting in and crept up to the sleeping Kagome with the little kitsune Shippô curled up into a little ball right next to her. He carefully pulled back the long collar of the thick shirt she was wearing so he could inspect her neck. He felt his blood run cold as he gazed upon the two fresh bite marks, meaning only one thing. 'He claimed her,' he thought sadly. 'He's claimed my Kagome as his mate.'

______

Now it is the middle of the next day and the entire group is walking along a dirt path in a large valley that is filled with forests and plains. Kagome is pushing along her bicycle with Shippô in it's basket, the taijiya Sango with her faithful neko youkai Kirara sitting on her shoulder are standing next to them with the lecherous houshi Miroku shortly behind and finally Inu-Yasha far in the back with a sullen expression on his face.

It is that last fact that has Kagome, Sango and Shippô in a heavy conversation. "I don't get it Kagome," the young kitsune begins, "why is Inu-Yasha way behind us? Doesn't he usually stand in front?"

"He usually does," the reincarnation of the miko Kikyo replies. "Something must be bothering him."

Sango takes a quick look back at the hanyou before adding in, "But the question is: what is bugging him?" Her body stiffens as she feels an all too common hand with rosary beads around it caressing her bottom. "EEK! HENTAI!" she shrieks just before quickly swirling around and whacking the owner of the hand on top if the head with her hiraikotsu. She shudders lightly. "That baka will never learn."

Shippô suddenly hops onto Kagome's shoulder and shouts over to Inu-Yasha. "Hey Inu-Yasha, why are you so grumpy today?"

"None of your business," he spits out while picking up a swirly eyed and unconscious Miroku and hefting him over his shoulder. The houshi's hentai ways are someday going to get him killed by the now infuriated taijya. He takes the houshi's staff and uses it as a walking stick. The hanyou keeps looking at the ground while still walking forward.

Kagome and Sango sigh deeply and continue to walk along the path. The taijya leans in close to her friend. "Perhaps later we can ask him...or when he's in a better mood."

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Later that night, the group has camped out again in the forest, not being able to find a nearby village. Inu-Yasha, as usual, finds a tree to rest in, only this time he has hidden himself high up in the branches and leaves so he can't be seen. Around the campfire, the rest of the pack anxiously awaits for Kagome to finish making her ramen noodles. After a few minutes, it is finished and they are all happily eating, except for a certain inu hanyou who hasn't said a word to anyone besides the usual 'Feh' since this afternoon.

Kagome grabs the can of ramen intended for Inu-Yasha and walks up to the tree he is in. "Inu-Yasha," she sweetly calls up to him. "Come on down and eat. It's your favorite: ramen!"

"Feh," comes his annoyed reply. "I'm not hungry so leave me alone wench!"

The young woman is too surprised at his reply to yell 'Sit!' at him for calling her a wench. 'He's never turned down ramen before,' she thinks worriedly. 'What could be bothering him so much?'

Up in the tree, Inu-Yasha is sadly watching the woman he loves. 'Why Kagome?' he thinks miserably. 'Why, of all people did you have to choose him?' He wants to lash out, to do something to release all of his pent up emotions.but something deep within him is preventing him from doing so. His thoughts are suddenly distracted by a sharp stinging pain on his right cheek. He quickly slaps it and pulls his hand back, only to discover that it is the nomi youkai Myôga. "What do you want?" he huffs.

"Lord Inu-Yasha, I just thought you might be interested in knowing that I have gotten word that in a nearby village to the north a local koumori youkai, which has never caused any problems before, has now grown in size and has now become a major nuisance."

The hanyou turns his head and gazes at the moon. 'Damn it, the new moon will be coming tomorrow night.' His thoughts are distracted once more by the tiny old nomi, who is now hopping up and down in frustration.

"Lord Inu-Yasha! Have you been listening to me at all?"

"I dunno. Something about a koumori in a nearby village, why?"

Myôga sits down and looks patiently up at his hanyou lord. "From what I have gathered, it is most likely that the koumori youkai is in possession of a Shikon shard!"

"That's great," Inu-Yasha replies while looking very uninterested. "Why don't you go down and tell the others?"

"Yes. Of course Lord Inu-Yasha," the nomi youkai replies before hopping down the tree.

The inu hanyou sighs deeply, watching Kagome once more from his secluded spot in the tree. 'Why do you have to keep it such a secret from me Kagome?' he thinks bitterly. 'I probably would have at least felt a little better than I do now. That right there tells me that you don't trust me.'

______

Down below him, the group is listening in on the tiny youkai. "Hmm," Miroku begins while rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "that does indeed sound like the koumori youkai has a shard of the Shikon Jewel in its possession."

"Yeah it does," Kagome agrees. "Well let's get a good nights rest and head for this village tomorrow after we wake up."

Sango stops polishing her hiraikotsu and places it aside. "That sounds like a good plan. Alright everyone, we have a big day's travel ahead of us so lets get some sleep."

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Later that night, everyone is asleep. Kagome suddenly stirs in her sleeping bag and sits up, careful to not awaken Shippô next to her. She does a quick check on her friends to make sure that they are indeed sleeping. She stands under the tree Inu-Yasha is in for several minutes, listening to his calm, steady breathing. Satisfied that she is the only one awake, she slowly makes her way out of the campsite. Just as she is leaving earshot, her skirt lightly brushes up against a bush. It is silent enough to evade human ears, but for the light sleeping hanyou with sensitive dog-ears, it quickly wakes him up.

Inu-Yasha narrows his eyes as he looks down at the campsite. He instantly notices that Kagome isn't there. He silently jumps down onto the soft earth and begins to follow her scent trail. It leads him to an open clearing of beautiful flowers. Their scent, mingled with Kagome's is intoxicating. He is about to walk out and talk to the girl when he catches a familiar and very unwelcome scent. He quickly hides down in the bushes just as Koga comes sprinting into the clearing, just stopping a few feet from Kagome.

Since Inu-Yasha knows that he is currently downwind, he won't be spotted by the baka ookami. He suppresses a protective growl as Koga calmly walks up to Kagome and lifts her chin up with his hands. "I missed you," he purrs out.

"And I missed you too," she says just before jumping into his arms hugging him warmly.

'No...' Inu-Yasha's mind whimpers out as he feels a wetness in his eyes and his lower lip begin to tremble.

Kagome lets go and pushes back, looking concerned. "I don't think we should keep this a secret anymore. Inu-Yasha's been acting kind of funny today. I think he suspects something."

"You worry too much about that inu-kkoro," the ookami replies, looking slightly sad. "You care about him more than you do me, isn't it?"

"No!" the young woman replies, taking his face in her hands. "I love you and only you." She leans in and they kiss passionately.

It is too much for Inu-Yasha to take. Every emotion he has managed to keep in is now screaming to be let out, and they can't be held in much longer. As quickly and silently as he can possibly manage, he leaves the clearing and runs as fast as his feet can move him. "Ka...gome," he silently cries as he runs.

After several minutes, he collapses in front of a peaceful looking stream. He looks at the sky again through tear soaked eyes end begins to scream, a scream filled with deep emotional pain, anguish, sorrow and anger. Every living creature in the valley shudders under the raw power of the scream.

______

Kagome and Koga let go of each other and looks around, both getting shivers down their spines from the scream they are hearing. "What is that scream coming from Koga?" Kagome asks.

"I don't know Kagome," the ookami youkai replies, "but if it's a youkai or something, I'll make sure to protect you from it."

Kagome looks around the clearing in concern. 'But it sounds like someone is screaming in pain.'

______

At the makeshift campsite, it's five current occupants wake up with a start, all hearing the intense scream. They all look around in surprise, oblivious to the fact that two of their members are missing. "What's going on?" Shippô asks, cowering next to Kirara. Myôga hops onto Miroku's shoulder, anxious to see if there is a possible threat nearing them so he can make a hasty retreat.

"Someone's screaming," Miroku replies. He yelps lightly as he is slapped in the back of his head.

"Well of course someone is screaming you baka," Sango tartly replies while getting a firm grip on her hiraikotsu.

The houshi places a hand on Sango's and calmly removes it from her weapon. "There is no need for weapons. That scream is not one of a battle cry nor of physical pain. It is a cry of deep emotional pain."

"Emotional pain?" Shippô asks, looking somewhat confused.

"Yes," Miroku answers. He looks up to the sky, a very worried look on his face. 'And the fact that bothers me is that the voice sounds very familiar.'

______

After he screams himself out, Inu-Yasha sinks to his hands and knees, his breathing deep and ragged. His claws dig into the wet earth at the base of the stream. The emotional pain Kagome has caused him has cut him deeper than any weapon or youkai could ever manage to do. For the first time since his dear mother died, he longs for death so he won't have to be alone. It just so happens that death, in a way, is currently walking up to him.

Inu-Yasha's ears twitch as he hears someone or something come closer. He is now upwind so he can't smell the thing behind him so he simply sits up and turns around. The inu hanyou is only mildly surprised to see this person, who he has also thought a lot about recently. "Kikyo..."

To be continued...

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Translations (in order of appearance):

Inu: dog
Hanyou: half-demon
Baka: fool
Ookami: wolf
Youkai: demon
Kitsune: fox
Taijiya: demon exterminator
Neko: cat
Houshi: monk
Miko: priestess
Hentai: pervert
Hiraikotsu: boomerang bone, Sango's primary weapon that is made of the bones of youkai
Nomi: flea
Koumori: bat
Inu-kkoro: dog-turd

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Author's notes: I hope that this series goes off well. I'm becoming a really big Inu-Yasha fan, but there are some characters that I do not know a whole lot about, like Rin, Koga, Kagura and Kanna. I've been reading up on them so I'll try to incorporate them more in my fics later.

Oh yeah, I really don't like all of you Kikyo bashers out there. I've seen the episodes and read the manga. Kikyo is one of my favorite characters and I believe that she deserves a little bit of nice publicity now and then -- lighthawkdemon

Questions or comments? E-mail me at: [email protected]