InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fate's Labyrinth ❯ Mercernary ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Written by Seiyaryu
Beta-written by Crucifyx
Disclamiers: Inuyasha and all other associated materials belong to Rumiko Takahashi and all other owners. Kaori and all other ideas, people, items and etc. belong to me, Seiyaryu.
Notes: Italics are internal thoughts.

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The rusty colors of the leaves shown under the bright sun amzed all spectors aroung. Even Inuyasha and the others paused to see the beauty of the passing season. But when they had came to a field, they stopped. What was once a magnificent meadow was now a tragic battle field. The ground was still soaked with blood and Inuyasha covered his nose with his sleeve of his Hi-nezumi hakama.

"The scent of youkai blood is very strong," he muttered. "and fresh too. Probably just've been killed a while ago. But there's something else too. I...I think it's a ookami hanyou, a wolf half-demon." The priest seemed to be concerned about this fact.

"Wait." Kagome said, "I, I can sense the presense of Shikon shards kehai, its aura. It's not very strong, but I sense the path it went off."

"What are we waiting for?" Shippou asked. "Let's go!!" They had reached a thick forest. The light scent of dried blood was giving them a clue to where the shard was. Finally, the trail ended at a tall pine tree.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said, "you go up. If you need any help, call us. Kagome-sama can get you out in a pinch."

"How can I?" the schoolgirl was puzzled for a moment. "...Aa, I get it now..." The hanyou stepped back a step.

"Alright, I'll go..." He climbed up slowly, making sure not to lose grip and fall. Finally, he reached the sturdiest branch of the tree, about half-way up the tree. The branches cut off much of the light, making it feel as if it was still night,though it was clearly day.

His body stiffened and his heart stopped. A cold, sharpened blade was pressed along his bare neck.

"So," an unfamilar voice spoke. "I see you 59 years later. The last time I saw you, you were still sealed by the miko Kikyou's arrow." The blade shot back with a clear click. The white-haired hanyou growled as he faced his attacker.

"So you're the one who killed those youkai on that field! You still carry the damn stench of blood and you...smell of ookami hanyou!! You have those Shikon fragments!! Give them to me!!!!"

"Hmm...perhaps you mean these...?" A shadowed palm opened to reveal two pieces of glass.

Shikon shards!!! Inuyasha vainly grasped at the hand as it recoiled back. A swift pain now began to shoot up his chest as the hanyou cracked his rib with a strong kick. With a quick pounce, he restrained the hands from reaching her blade. "Kagome!!!" he cried downwards.

Who...?! Kagome? She looked at Inuyasha and glanced at the string of beads around his neck. It glowed brightly, taking both of them by surprise and they found themselves falling downwards.

SLAM!!!

The two hit the ground with a strong force.
"Well, well," Miroku said, "What do we have here?" The tajiya sent glared at the houshi.

"She's got the shards!" Kagome cried, "Inuyasha!!" The hakama-clad hanyou was still out cold. The other one quickly recovered from the fall. She jumped back a bit, her hand gripping her sword.

"Are you the one who killed those youkai back there?" Sango noted, "The way they were killed were obviously from a skilled swords...woman."

"I did. I was given orders."
Inuyasha got up from his subduding spell.

"You're working for Naraku aren't you?! Hand over those shards!!"

"My orders did not come from any 'Naraku.' Those youkai were shinobi, spies from the local magistrate's enemy. He simply told me to slay them since his men weren't able to track them."

Kagome stepped up, even though she was scared of the newcomer. "Then, you have no use with the shards?"

"No, I don't. Take them if you need them." The blue yukata-clad girl pressed the shards into Kagome's palm. Then, she used her clawed finger to open her scar on her neck and extracted a glass shard coated with some blood. She only smiled at Kagome and turned to leave, when Inuyasha called out.

"Matte yo!!(A/N: Trans="Wait!") Who are you?! Answer us!" She stopped to look at the group.

"How about you join us for lunch, er..." Kagome faltered.

"My name is Akikawa Kaori, minna-san. I suppose I could use a good break after my work is done." They headed with to another meadow past the dark forest. Lunch was only a simple meal of onigiri and tsukemono. (A/N: Onigiri are the musubis or rice balls. Tsukemono is usually type of food (ie pickled veg. and dried fish) eaten with rice.) Kaori seemed to enjoy their company.

"So, Kaori, you're single right?" Miroku asked.

"Yes. Why is that Houshi-sama?" the houshi held the girl's hands.

"Will you bear my child?" *slap!* Sango's Hirakotsu answered that question.

"Kaori," Inuyasha leaned on the back of a tree. "How do you know me? I don't have single damn clue about you."

She let her raven-black hair down and placed it back into a low ponytail. "Dear Inuyasha!" she laughed, "Your memory has failed you again. I can't believe you've forgotten a friend from your childhood."

This let him wondering for a moment. I barely remember my childhood!
"Relax, Inuyasha." Kagome interrupted. "We can trust her. But why did you have those shards?"

"The youkai I killed had those shards. I don't believe in using its powers to heighten by youkai blood." This took Kagome by surprised. All of the youkai they've been fighting wanted shards to increase their strengths, even when she first met Inuyasha, he wanted the shards as well.

"So if you're hired to kill," Shippou asked. "would that make you a mercernary?"

"Yes, that would."

"So why take such a job? Surely your family didn't agree with this choice." Miroku asked.

"My family passed away at least 60 years ago. I became a mercernary afterwards. I do what I do best and the blade is my specialty. There's nothing wrong with that, would it?" No one spoke.
"Well." she stood up. "It's time that should be going now."

"Kaori-chan, please stay with us!" Kagome cried. "You can help us!"

"No, it'll be alright. I wish you the best of luck against Naraku." She began to walk away, but then stopped. "Something's coming." The others looked up as though they could sense something too, something with a large amount of demonic aura.

Soon, a cold blast of wind passed through as a tall, white-haired figure appeared. Fear and shock shivered down Kaori's spine.

"Se...Sesshoumaru."

To be Continued
Well, I hope this makes up for the shortness of my prologue. Please send your feeback soon.-Seiyaryu