InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Devotion ❯ Beginnings ( Chapter 1 )

Devotion

Chapter One: Beginnings

By ChaosReborn

The raven youkai was transforming at an alarming rate, aided by the power of the jewel it had stolen. Kagome notched an arrow and pulled it back, praying to whatever gods were listening that--for once--her target would be hit. With a final plea, she let it fly… and watched as it zoomed straight for the bird, like a heat-seeking missile, and tore it apart.

The events following the hit occurred so fast that they were over almost before they began. The arrow cut through the demon's purified, dissolving flesh, and imbedded its tip into the sacred jewel. Only the smallest ping was heard, the tiniest flash of light emitted, and the Shikon Jewel shattered into pieces and burst apart, sending each fragment in different directions across the land. To the hanyou below and his girl-archer companion, it looked like a brilliant display of glowing pink lights, luminous enough to rival the midday sun.

Unbeknownst to them, however, a single shard was hurled downwards, towards its keeper. The force of the explosion of power that had scattered its fellow fragments plus the pull of gravity caused it to pick up speeds so high that not even the half-demon was able to sense its approach before it hit its mark.

Faster than mortally possible, it struck the pale, exposed flesh of the human girl's chest, sinking into her body. As its sharp apex broke her skin, the miko blood that rushed to the surface to greet the intruding object make quick work of it's dark, corrupted aura, purifying it immediately. It was barely slowed, however, and it pushed itself further into her body. The finally-awakened miko energy (which had long lay dormant within the girl) responded to the sacred shard, welcoming it home and hurriedly healing the broken skin and muscle that it had cut through before coming to a stop in her heart.

And there it stayed, unseen and unfelt by its mistress. With her blood constantly flowing around it, the shard remained uncorrupt, and as she gathered its brothers one by one, it only grew stronger and more pure, intensifying the call between itself and the others. For years it waited while she and her hanyou protector worked to reconstruct the jewel, making new friends and traveling through time, feeling her harness her miko powers, and occasionally feeding her with its energy when she needed it. The jewel shard slowly became a part of her, fusing its essence with hers in such a way that she was for the better. And the shard? Well… it was home.

*~*~*~* {^__^} @--n *~*~*~*

Two and a half years. No… it was closer to three.

Three years. They had been hunting those damned shards for nearly three years. They hunted down countless demons, saved countless victims, risked their lives countless times, and even defeated that fucking bastard Naraku… and the Shikon Jewel had yet to be completed.

Inuyasha growled low in his chest. Goddamit. Even after kicking that fucking demon-wannabe Naraku's ass, they didn't have the whole jewel. That's including the jewel shards that Naraku ripped out of the stupid wolf-prince's legs, too.

Sitting on a familiar branch of Goshinboku, the hanyou could still remember how pissed he had been when he found out. Oh, hell, it HAD only been yesterday. Only six days after stupid Naraku's downfall.

:::::Yesterday Morning:::::

Pain. Lost of pain. On top of that, there was some mild burning, the occasional sting, a few instances of dull throbbing, and just a touch of back-breaking agony. And there was also pain. A great deal of it, actually.

But of course, Inuyasha would sooner dig his own grave and jump right in than admit that he was hurting. He tried to sit up, and grimaced. Okay, so maybe `hurting' was an understatement. `Getting a preview of life in hell' would have suited his situation much better. With a self-directed groan of frustration, he let himself fall back onto the bed, instantly regretting it as the raw skin of his back landed against the futon with a painful thwack.

"FUCKING SHIT!" Dammit! That hurt!

His arm screamed in protest when he raised it against his eyes, trying to shield them from the bright sunlight as someone rushed into the hut.

"Inuyasha?! You're awake?!"

"Kagome?" He let his eyes focus on the newcomer's face. "Oh… hi Sango."

"Good morning Inuyasha," she answered raising an eyebrow when he stiffly pried himself out of the bed. She could see how much it hurt him, even though he stubbornly refused to acknowledge the pain. "Are you sure you should be doing that?"

"I'm fine," was his gruff reply. It felt foolish, but he couldn't stop the rush of arrogant pride he felt when he finally managed to stand up and take a few steps towards the door. "So I got beat up pretty bad, huh?"

A laugh. "Yeah you did. I'm surprised those wounds of yours aren't making you whimper in agony."

"Feh. At least it was worth it. Did you SEE how bloody that bastard got after I got in a few hits ?"

"Oh, you mean Naraku?" It was a stupid question. "Yes, I did, actually. I've got to applaud you. Your best work yet."

"Keh." Finally able to get a good look at her, he frowned. "You're pretty beat yourself."

It was true. She was sporting a fresh bandage across her cheek, a white strip of cloth was wrapped around her leg from ankle to knee, and her arm was placed delicately in a sling. As the she and Inuyasha walked out of the tent into the fresh air, he noticed her rather obvious limp and the bruises dusting her arms. There were probably others concealed beneath her clothes.

"How's the monk?" He asked. He couldn't hear Miroku, Kagome, or even Shippo in the village, but their scents were strong in the air. Since it appeared to be pretty early, he figured they were sleeping in.

"He's doing okay." She had a warm glow in her eyes, the kind that can only be brought about by happiness and hard-earned contentment. "His kazanna collapsed into itself when you and Kagome killed Naraku. He's finally at peace. Although," she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "he's just as beaten up as you are, the poor baby. He's yet to be able to get out of bed without crying; I finally took pity on him yesterday and hand fed him some mashed meat and rice."

Snickering, Inuyasha gave her a skeptical look. "Are you SURE the lecher's REALLY that hurt? He might be playing you, y'know… once a lecher, always a lecher…"

Once again, her eyes took on a dangerous spark. "Oh, trust me, he's in pain. The one time he DID try to… uh… make use of his un-cursed hand, he was barely able to rise it a full TWO INCHES off of the bed before his eyes watered from the sheer pain."

Sango laughed, knowing that his condition wouldn't be able to stop his notoriously wandering hand for long.

"What about Kagome?"

The demon exterminator sobered. "Kagome's pretty battered, too, but she'll definitely live. She's even having nightmares about those `exams' of hers."

"Yup, she's feeling normal."

"Yeah…" Sango paused. "But she still hasn't been able to get out of bed on her own, and Kaede or I have to lend her support to walk. Shippo tried using his fox magic to turn himself into a cane yesterday, but he got tired after a few hours." She smiled at the memory. "Kagome was so proud of him for being able to hold that shape for so long."

"Wait a minute… yesterday?" He was confused. Just how long had he been asleep?

"It's been six days, Inuyasha."

"Six days!?!" Wow. His wounds must have been pretty bad.

Sango nodded. "Like you said, you got beaten up pretty bad." She could feel his anxiety, and she could see his eyes dart to the tent where Kagome was. He could probable smell her. "You should go look in on her. She's been asking for you." She paused before continuing, not sure how to word what she was about to say without worrying him. "I think something's wrong… she hardly talks but to ask about you, and… I just think something's wrong. She hasn't been herself since she woke up."

"Well, we DID just finish fighting the battle of our lives, you know," he scoffed, trying to use sarcasm to mask his rising concern. But Sango could see his eyes, so full of it, almost brimming with concern. "Nah. She needs her rest."

Suddenly, his ears swiveled towards her hut, picking up the tell-tale signs of her ascent from dreamland. A rustling of sheets, the whisper of her hair as she turned her head from left to right.

Without a word, he shot through the door. Sango just smiled knowingly and went to check up on Miroku.

Inuyasha couldn't believe the state Kagome was in. One cheek was decorated by a white patch not unlike Sango's, while the other had the remnants of a healing bruise. Bandages were wrapped around her upper arms, her chest, torso, and calves. Where her skin was allowed to show, fading bruises could be seen.

He sniffed the air. What was…? He gasped and moved closer. Her hands. The stench of burnt flesh was coming from her hands, masked with the minty scent of aloe balm. What the hell? The bruises and cuts and raw skin he could understand: unable to protect her, Naraku had been able to distract Inuyasha and go after Kagome, picking her up, throwing her against the courtyard, and rendering her unconscious. (In his head, Inuyasha thwacked himself for not protecting her well enough. Stupid, inadequate hanyou.)

But the burns? Where were those from?

Once again, his ears perked up when she stirred.

"Kagome?" He whispered, as if he were afraid that his voice would inflict further damage.

Her eyes opened slowly, dreamily. "Inuyasha."

His heart did a ridiculous little flip-flop. Dammit. All she had done was say his name. No big deal.

But… it had been the first thing she said.

He pushed his thoughts aside, focusing on the pale, thin girl before him. Only six days without him to watch over her, and she looked this weak? "Yeah. How're you holding up?" She smiled. At him. Damn… since when did butterflies take residence in his stomach?

"I'm fine." He knew she was lying. She looked worried, guarded. But he decided to let it slide… he'd work it our of her eventually. "Should you be out of bed, Inuyasha? Your words are about a million times worse than mine…"

There was his name again. And he could have sworn the butterflies had reproduced, or cloned themselves at least. "Keh. I'm half demon. I'm fine."

She offered him another smile. She knew this game. "Of course you are. But I'd still feel better if you rested and let yourself heal."

"I've been in bed for SIX DAYS! I'm plenty rested!"

With a sigh, she shifted her body so that the side of her head was pressed against his shoulder. "I guess there's no point in arguing with you…"

"That's right, wench. You know I'd win, so save your energy and let your body heal."

"Keh," she shot at him, using his own word against him.

They sat in a comfortable silence for the whole of one moment, until Inuyasha broke it with a question. "Hey, Kagome? If you're so weak NOW…" He ignored her protests, "you must have been really wiped after the battle… right?"

Kagome eyed him warily. "Uh-huh…" What was he after? Surely he didn't know…

"So… you were able to purify Naraku's half of the jewel, right?"

She nodded. It was, in fact, what finally drained her of her energy, as Inuyasha had been witness to.

He looked thoughtful. "But didn't Kaede say that once you completed the Jewel of Four Souls, the reunited demon energy within it would re-corrupt it?" He got another nod a nod from her, and finished his thought. "Well… if you passed out as soon as you took care of Naraku's shard, then you wouldn't have had the ability to purify the whole thing. And you're its guardian, so no one else could have done it."

It made sense, but Kagome couldn't figure out where he was going with this.

"After we killed Naraku, I helped you find the shards in his carcass, and you purified them. Do you remember that?"

She scrunched up her face, thinking. "Yeah, I think I do… I told you it was in his chest, right below his collarbone, and you diced his corpse. You didn't have to do that you know… Anyway, I picked it up, and all of my energy just got sucked out of me and into the jewel, and it turned pink, like it was supposed to."

"And then you took out our piece and fused them together."

"I did?" She figured as much. When she had woken up two nights ago, it was one big chunk.

"Yeah. And then you collapsed."

Kagome got the distinct feeling that if she had been one of those anime people on Souta's shows, she would have sweatdropped. "Of course I did. I ONLY used up all of my energy--both human and miko--to help you defeat your sworn enemy!"

"Hey!" He fired back, "I'm the one who had to throw our friends' unconscious bodies onto Kirara (who wasn't looking too good either!), and then carry your ass back to the village because… er, well… BECAUSE!"

Her eyes softened, and she quietly asked, "You did that?" She shouldn't have been so surprised. Even with his injuries, he would never give up until he knew his friends were safe. He'd never admit it, though…

"Don't be stupid" he answered, sticking his nose in the air and moving to cross his arms. Bad move. Oh the PAIN.

Damned if he let her know, though. He REFUSED to be seen as weak in any way. ESPECIALLY by the girl he was sworn in his heart to protect. But hey, at least they wouldn't have power-hungry demons constantly attacking her for her shards anymore.

Which reminded him…

"Argh! Don't distract me! I actually had a point to this little discussion, you know!"

"Oh. Sorry!" She looked at him with wide eyes, silently letting him know that he had her attention.

DAMN IT ALL! How was he supposed to focus when she was looking at him like he could solve the world's problems!?

Again shoving aside his thoughts, he looked down at where the Shikon no Tama hung around her neck. "Like I was saying… you collapsed, and I took you back. But… even after you completed the jewel, I never sensed a dark aura from it."

He dragged his eyes back to hers. "Why didn't its demonic power resurface? I KNOW you weren't strong enough to cleanse it after you fainted, and… well… do you think we did it wrong?" There was a note of panic in his voice. "Does it not work anymore?"

Her chest tightened, and Kagome broke contact with his eyes. Right. Of course he would panic if it wasn't working. He needed it to fulfill his dreams, to become…

Wait. What would he become? Would he become demon, like he said when he first met her? Or would he fall back on his original plan and wish to be human, and find Kikyo (who had, in fact, survived the battle of Naraku, and whose spirit had finally been cleansed of hate), and marry her, and have little human children with her, and grow old with he--

She forced herself to stop. She had known what his goal was from the start: the Sacred Jewel. It didn't matter what he was going to use it for. She had promised it to him, and GOSH DARNED IT she would NOT go back not her word. Why was she so hurt that he was asking for it now? It was rightfully his. She had no business feeling like her heart was about to be ripped out.

"Kagome? Are you okay?" His voice brought her back to reality.

She would have to tell him. There was no avoiding it. The same way there was no avoiding his anger when he found out. She mentally steeled herself for his rage. "Uh… Inuyasha?"

Something about her tone worried him. "Yeah?"

"I need to tell you something…" She looked at the floor, at the door, at her bandaged hands. At anything that wasn't him.

Yup, Sango was right. Something was definitely wrong. "Then tell me Kagome. What, do you think I'll get mad or something?"

Since when could he read minds? She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and `fessed up…

Six huts down, Shippo and Miroku, as well as the rest of the village, were awakened by the hanyou's furious yell:

"WHAT THE HELL D'YA MEAN THE JEWEL'S NOT FUCKING COMPLETE!?!?!?"

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A/N:

Yay! First chapter's done!!! Oooooh… Inuyasha's MAD!!! Sorry it's so short, but my beginning chapters tend to be awkward and abrupt. Don't worry, though… they get better as the story gets moving. I'm contemplating changing it so that the first part (where the shattered jewel shards are explained) is the prologue, and the first chapter starts with Inuyasha being pissed off in the tree. Or maybe I can take that part out, and just go from where he wakes up in pain. Any suggestions?

Thank you to whoever has read what little I have so far of Devotion. Please come back for more! Remember: The REVIEW BUTTON is your friend...

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha and all things associated with him, I SOOO wouldn't be living in this cardboard box… I WOULD HAVE UPGRADED TO A PLASTIC ONE!!!!! <<*Cardboard tends to leave me defenseless against rain. And mold. Ewww.*>> Sadly, I don't own him, nor anything else for that matter. Hence the cardboard. Nay, the fabulous cast assembled in my fanfiction belongs solely to Rumiko Takahashi and her brilliant imagination. I'm just kidnapping them for a while. (If I get sued, I can always find another box…)