InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Need of a Mate ❯ The Night of Flames ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

In Need of a Mate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiiiii yall this story is getting a makeover one chapter at a time. So read and leave a review. Love you all. Its good to be back.

Some minor edits to this chapter. Thank you to those who have already reviewed again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each spring, the castle fortifies a powerful barrier to contain Inuyasha’s bloodlust during mating season. Kagome, a young priestess, joins the effort, but her presence begins to awaken something buried within the barrier—and within herself. As secrets unravel, she finds herself drawn to the imprisoned hanyou in ways she can’t explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prologue: The Night of Flames

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smell of beef stew wafted through the house, simmering slowly over the fire in the kamado. Kagome’s world was filled with the earthy scent of stew over a wood-burning fire—the promise of warmth and family. Her mother’s steady hands tended to the meal, her father returned smelling of fields and cattle, and her little brother, Souta, radiated energy from a day spent climbing trees and running through the village.

 

 

Kagome smiled as her hands closed around the bowl her mother handed her. Her little brother’s hands stretched out next, while she watched her father scarf down the soup like it was his last meal on earth, mumbling about meeting with the other village men later.

 

 

It was a perfectly ordinary night.

 

 

As they finished the meal and prepared for the evening, another smell drifted past Kagome’s nose unnoticed—smoke. Faint at first, it curled slowly through the air, twisting like a warning, barely noticeable over the soft crackling of the fire in their small home. Kagome sat beside her mother, watching her rhythmic movement as she sewed, listening to the quiet hum of village life beyond the walls. The murmur of her father’s voice carried as he and the other men spoke about the upcoming harvest, their laughter drifting through the open door.

 

 

It was a peaceful, lazy night. Ordinary village life.

 

 

Then the wind shifted.

 

 

Kagome’s mother’s hands continued sewing, her sharp eyes flicking toward the door. Her expression tightened as she noticed the smoke filtering in, and in that brief moment, Kagome’s heart quickened.

 

 

“Kagome,” her mother said quietly, her voice low and even, and Kagome’s stomach suddenly knotted. “Go get your father.”

Kagome blinked up at her, uncertain. “Mama, is something—”

 

 

“Go.” The sudden urgency in her mother’s voice left no room for questions.

 

 

Kagome rose quickly, her legs shaky as she moved toward the door, her hand trembling as she reached the door frame. The air outside was warm, warmer than it should have been, and the sky had darkened. It was streaked with orange, but it wasn’t just the fading sunset on the horizon that caught Kagome’s attention. It was something else—something unusual.

 

 

A reddish hue on the horizon, and smoke—everywhere.

Kagome’s father was already on his feet by the time she reached him, the other men in the village quietly looking toward the tree line. Her father’s face paled as he stared at the shadows flickering and dancing against the glow of the villagers’ fires. The other men were murmuring, unease settling over them as the smoke permeated the area and then the first of many screams broke the silence.

 

 

Youkai.

 

 

Kagome’s father’s hand clamped around hers before she could fully understand what was happening. His grip was tight, urgent, pulling her away from the house before she could process the danger. His silence conveyed more than words ever could.

 

 

They were under attack.

 

 

Kagome ran beside him, her legs struggling to keep up as the village erupted into chaos. People shouted, some rushing for cover, others gathering what few weapons they had, the cries of children piercing the night. Dark shapes moved through the trees, too fast to be human, their eyes glowing faintly in the firelight.

 

 

“Kagome! Find Souta! Find your brother!”

 

 

Kagome’s mother stood frozen in the doorway of their home, eyes wide with terror. Her mother’s voice rang out, sharp with panic, and Kagome’s breath caught in her throat as she turned to look. A massive figure crashed through the trees, landing in the middle of the village square, its fanged mouth bared in a snarl.

 

 

Her father’s hand slipped from hers as he stepped forward, drawing the blade he kept at his side. He moved between Kagome and the creature, shielding her with his body.

“Get inside!” he shouted to her and her mother, but before she could move, the youkai lunged.

 

 

Kagome’s heart froze.

 

 

The creature’s claws flashed as it hurtled forward, too fast for her to process—too fast for her father to stop. His sword clanged as steel met the creature’s strike, but the force of the blow was too strong. He staggered back, and Kagome tumbled to the ground—hard.

 

 

“Run!” her father yelled, glancing back at her. “Kagome, run!”

 

 

But Kagome couldn’t move. Her legs felt rooted to the ground, her mind blank as if frozen in a nightmare she couldn’t wake from, seized by the chaos erupting around her as the youkai snarled again, this time directing its gaze at her.

 

 

The creature’s eyes burned, gleaming red in the falling darkness. Her heart raced, as the world seemed to blur around her. The beast lunged—again. Her father raised his sword. Kagome stumbled back, her heart racing, her limbs feeling slow and weak. She couldn’t move fast enough. She couldn’t look away.

 

 

There was a sickening crack as her father’s sword met the creature’s claws. Kagome’s blood burned hot as she heard her father grunt with effort. The creature was too strong. It pushed him back easily, its claws sinking deeply into his shoulder as he fell to his knees.

 

 

“Father!” Kagome screamed as she looked on, her voice pitching with terror.

 

 

“Kagome—run!” he shouted again, but she still couldn’t move.

Her father gripped his sword tighter, his shoulder bleeding, his gaze steely as he planted himself between Kagome and the creature. But he was no match for its strength. The creature’s claws sliced through his defenses, and with a final, desperate cry, he fell, his body hitting the ground. Kagome’s mind went blank, her father’s fall blurring into the crackle of fire and screams.

 

 

Like her mother’s.

 

 

Kagome’s breath came in short gasps, her fingers numb, as if the night itself had seeped into her veins.

 

 

She didn’t remember what happened to her mother. She didn’t remember running. Her body moved on instinct, her feet carrying her blindly through the village, away from the sounds of battle, away from the crackling flames and snarling youkai. Away to somewhere safe as the air filled with screams—human and youkai alike—and the scent of burning wood thickened, suffocating her as she ran.

 

 

She didn’t stop running until her legs gave out, collapsing to the ground at the edge of the village. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might tear from her chest.

 

 

“I couldn’t find Souta…” Kagome’s lip quivered as she tried to picture Souta in her mind. Where was he? She wasn’t so sure, just as she wasn’t sure about the youkai that were stalking her. She could feel them—sense them. Their heavy breaths and low growls surrounded her, closing in like shadows in the night.

The fear rose again, colder, more paralyzing than before. She could barely think. Barely breathe. They were going to kill her. Just like they had killed her parents. And her baby brother, Souta.

 

 

One of the youkai leaped forward, claws gleaming in the light of the distant flames.

 

 

And something inside her snapped.

 

 

A scream tore from Kagome’s lips, but it wasn’t just a scream. It was as if something ancient and wild awakened within her, a blinding surge of white energy exploding outward. The youkai disintegrated in its path, purified into nothingness.

 

 

When the light faded, the only sound left was her own ragged breathing. Kagome stood there, shaking, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the empty space where the youkai had been.

 

 

She didn’t know what she had done. 

 

She didn’t know how she had done it.

 

 

“Child!”

 

 

A voice cut through the night—a maiden priestess named Kaede, dressed in traditional miko robes, who had been battling her own share of youkai. She had seen it—the flash of light, the wave of purification that had rippled through the air.

The battle had raged around them, but Kaede knew what she had seen in the forest. As she cut down the last of the creatures in her path, she made her way toward the light.

 

 

On Kaede’s approach, she felt the remnants of purification power lingering in the air, rare and raw. She knelt beside Kagome, her gaze soft but intense, recognizing the burden the young girl unknowingly carried.

 

 

Kagome didn’t move. She couldn’t. The power that had surged through her was gone now, leaving only exhaustion and reawakened terror in its place.

 

 

‘Where was Souta?’

 

 

A figure approached through Kagome’s haze, carrying an aura of calm amidst the peril. The older priestess placed a firm and gentle hand on her shoulder.

 

 

“You’ve a strong power, child,” she said, her voice gentle despite the urgency of the situation. “Stronger than you know.”

Kagome looked up at her, eyes wide and brimming with confusion, fear, and grief. Kaede’s expression softened.

 

 

“You’ll come with me. You have a gift, one that must be honed. For the protection of those you love.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A World Shifting

 

 

 

 

 

Miles away, under a moonless sky, darkness pooled like ink in a stone cell, where a prince slumped against cold walls.

 

 

In the Western Lands, an heir of the inu-youkai clan, Inuyasha, was being sealed. His eyes, usually bright amber, were dark violet and dulled by exhaustion, his human form slumped against the cold stone walls. He had been captured on the night of the new moon, his weakest state—the one night a month when he became fully human.

 

 

The moonless night encased the Western Lands in a darkness that deepened as Inuyasha’s rage echoed into the night. This wasn’t just a seal. It was a cage. A prison meant to contain him until the world forgot he existed.

 

 

It was supposed to be for his protection. That’s what they had told him. With his half-human blood and youkai side, they said he needed to be restrained—kept safe until he learned control, until he was no longer a threat to the kingdom and its allies. But as he watched the spiritual leaders meditate to tighten the chains of spiritual energy around him, Inuyasha could feel the truth sinking in, like chains cutting into his flesh.

 

 

This wasn’t for his protection.

 

 

It was betrayal.

 

 

His violet eyes darkened with fury as the barrier rose around him, concealing him behind it, cutting him off from the world. From his family. From everything. His father, the Great Inu no Taisho, had not been there to stop it, leaving only the full-blooded inu-youkai brother he despised—Sesshomaru—to stand by and silently watch.

 

 

Sesshomaru’s golden eyes were cold, distant, as he observed his brother’s struggle. The elder son had no sympathy for the half-breed, even if they shared the same father. This was the fate Inuyasha deserved—a shameful reminder of the inu-youkai clan’s mingling with humans.

 

 

“You’re weak, Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru said, his voice like ice. “This is the only way to keep you from destroying yourself.”

Sesshomaru stood tall and rigid, his silver hair flowing down his back, golden eyes flickering, but his expression remained cold, detached. The Prussian blue crescent moon on his forehead gleamed in the dim light, and the red markings on his cheeks were as sharp as ever.

 

 

“You were born to struggle, little brother,” Sesshomaru continued, his voice growing icier with each word. “Perhaps there’s truth in these ancient words about your fate. And until you prove otherwise, you remain a danger to us all.”

 

 

Inuyasha locked onto his brother, his gaze darkening as anger boiled to the surface. “You traitor. You sound more and more desperate to believe those lies.”

 

 

Sesshomaru didn’t respond, his face unreadable as ever, but he half raised an eyebrow at Inuyasha’s statement. And there, a flicker of something in his eyes—something he quickly buried beneath his stoic mask.

 

 

Behind Sesshomaru, a figure stepped forward—Noriku, the kingdom’s advisor. His eyes gleamed in the light of the torches that lit the cellar, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.

“The boy’s instability is a danger to the realm,” Noriku said smoothly, his voice dripping with false concern. “And with your father’s youkai blood it makes him dangerous and unpredictable.”

 

 

Inuyasha sneered at the little man. He began to sense the telltale signs that his powers were returning.

 

 

“This is the safest course of action—for everyone.” Inuyasha’s sneer turned into a snarl, and Noriku took a step backward in surprise.

 

 

Inuyasha’s eyes stayed on Noriku, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. His body tensed, but the spiritual barrier held firm, keeping him bound to the stone wall. His hands pulled against the chains, his human fangs bared in frustration. He could feel it now.

 

 

The first rays of twilight began to break through the endless night, each one seeming to pulse through his veins, reawakening the youkai blood within. His black hair bled silver, his claws and fangs lengthened, and his golden eyes flickered back into place, burning with a fire that matched the dawn.

 

 

Inuyasha glowed with power in the faint morning light, his body straining as his strength returned in surging waves, muscles rippling as he fought against the restraints. The youkai blood within him pushed against the spiritual bindings that held him captive.

 

 

Inuyasha’s growl rumbled deep in his chest, his instincts roaring against the barrier as it tightened, cutting into his very soul. He lunged, snapping his jaws toward his brother, but the purified chains pulled him back, burning into his flesh.

 

 

“I won’t let you keep me here,” Inuyasha snarled, his voice low, a guttural growl as the Inu-youkai energy within him struggled to break free. “I’ll find a way out.”

 

 

Sesshomaru’s lips curled slightly in a cold smile. “Perhaps, little brother. But not today.”

 

 

And in the light of day, beneath the weight of the seal, Inuyasha felt a cold, sinking realization settle in:

 

 

No one would love him.

 

 

 

 

 

The village was gone. 

 

 

Nothing remained but ash and ruin; the fires had consumed everything in their path. Kagome stood at the edge of it all, her legs unsteady, her eyes too tired for tears.

 

 

Kaede had brought her back just in time to see what little remained. The priestess and villagers had put down the last of the youkai, but there was nothing left to save. Kagome’s parents were gone. Her home was gone.

 

 

“Kagome,” Kaede’s voice came from behind her, softer now. “Come, child. There’s nothing more for you here.”

 

 

Kagome slumped to the ground as the reality of her world floated away with the wind. What about her brother? What about Souta? Kagome didn’t realize the wail came from her until Kaede wrapped her arms around her—grounding her amidst the devastation. The sound that tore from her throat was raw, the loss too vast to contain.

 

 

The wind stirred the ashes around, and Kagome turned to look at Kaede.

 

 

“Why? Why did this happen?”

 

 

“I know not the answer, child. But I do know you have a gift,” Kaede said as they walked, her voice firm but kind. “What happened tonight—your power—is rare. You must learn to harness it, not just for yourself, but for those you love.”

 

 

For those I love, the words echoed through her mind.

 

 

Like Mama, Father, and Souta. The tears flowed freely down Kagome’s face.

 

 

She didn’t respond. The world felt hollow in the wake of so much loss. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t stay here. There was no going back.

 

 

Kaede glanced back as they reached the outskirts of the village.

“You’ll come with me. You’ll learn how to control your power. You’ll learn how to fight.”

 

 

Kagome didn’t respond. Her world was hollow now, a shell of ash and loss. Kaede’s words cut through the numbness, offering a faint sense of direction—a purpose. Kagome swallowed hard as she nodded, her body slowly obliging to Kaede’s guidance. She looked back one last time at the smoldering remains of her home, the ashes swirling in the wind like ghosts. Her heart stayed behind, buried in the ashes and smoke.

 

 

Buried in the heaviness of the night that went up in flames.

 

 

Buried in the love that went up in smoke.