InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shikon no Kakera Hunters ❯ A Demon Named Hope ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters from the anime series or manga.

AN: This is the long promised rewritten first chapter. I really hated the original first chapter that I submitted, but due to my impatience and inexperience I was quick to post. So, hopefully this will answer any questions about Nozomi's origin and why her name is so important. It will carry more meaning in later chapters. So I hope you enjoy it!

Shikon on Kakera Hunters

Chapter 1: A Demon Named Hope (Rewritten)

200 years before a young girl climbed out of an old well, there was a war raging among the youkai. The sun kissed valleys and fields of Japan were littered with the blood and bones of youkai warriors. The Ryuu-youkai of the eastern lands and the Karasu-youkai of the northern lands fought relentlessly. The reason behind the war had been lost over the centuries, now the battles were fueled by hate past down from generation to generation. A prophecy was whispered among the youkai:

From hate will come love,

Of two will come one,

The one to unite all.

It gave hope to the war-torn youkai tribes, many of who were tired of all the suffering. Yet as time moved on hope began to fade and despair took its place. That is until the prophecy came to pass.

They saw each other across the blood stained battlefield. Dark indigo eyes locked with light gray, causing a shock to course through both youkai's bodies as their hearts began to pound. The strange feeling almost caused Kirika to succumb to her enemy. But realization kicked in as she swung her sword, meeting scaly flesh. The youkai crumpled to the ground as his blood bathed his killer.

Benkai watched as the Karasu-youkai slayed one of his tribe, yet all he could think about was how the blood could not mask her beauty. Her long black hair was gathered high on her head yet still cascaded down to the small of her back. He wanted to free her hair from its binding just to see it in contrast with her light gray eyes. He decided to move further into the battlefield, to be closer to her.

Kirika looked up and noticed the Ryuu-youkai making his way towards her, his long blue hair blew in the wind as he moved. She suddenly had the urge to run her hands through that hair and allow her claws to tangle in the strands. Her body was moving towards him before her mind could stop the instinctual command. She started cutting her own path through the soldiers to meet him.

They stopped. The battle cries and clashing of swords faded as they stood across from one other. A name was voiced inside Kirika's mind: "Benkai". The same voice sent the name "Kirika" into Benkai's mind. He whispered the name to the wind. She whispered his in return.

Benkai was brought back into reality by a touch on his arm. "My lord, your father is calling for a retreat to regroup," spoke the Ryuu solider. Benkai answered with a quick nod never letting his eyes leave Kirika. Regretfully, he turned to follow his tribe, but he kept looking back, longing to return.

Kirika felt lost when he turned away. She did not know why, but she wanted him to come back. Yet, she could not understand this feeling. He was her enemy, the enemy of her tribe. Why would Kami be so cruel as to allow this to happen? "I don't even know him" she thought to herself as she moved to return to her camp. "This can not be happening!" she yelled to the sky. "I can't be" she whispered to herself. "I can't be in love."

From Hate Will Come Love

The fight between the two tribes continued while Benkai and Kirika would secretly see each other as much as possible. Soon Kirika became pregnant. Benkai decide he would have to bring the war to an end. He began to fear for the life of his mate and child if their secret was ever revealed. He went to his father and proposed that a peace treaty with the Karasu youkai. At first his father was enraged, but Benkai, ever collected and level headed (except in Kirika's presence), had a plan. He explained to his father all the benefits of a peaceful resolve.

"Our numbers are dwindling. At this rate we will drive our clan into extinction. Then all the battles, blood shed and deaths of our brethren will be for nothing." His father consulted with his advisors. The Ryuu lord sent an offer of peace to the Karasu lord of the northern lands. He offered his son Benkai to mate with his daughter as a token of peace. Kirika's father agreed, secretly glad for the ending of the war. He was tired of watching his clan slowly die.

On a beautiful spring morning as the first rays of light crept across the horizon, a cry could be heard on the wind throughout the land. A baby came into the world, sealing the peace between the north and south. Benkai and Kirika named her Nozomi, meaning hope. She was the child that brought about the end to the youkai war.

Of Two Will Come One

200 Years Later

Kagome slowed down and was trailing behind the group. "I feel a jewel shard", she though to herself, trying to pinpoint the location. "Strangely enough it seems to be coming closer."

"Hey, are you going to stand there all day?" shouted InuYasha.

"Kagome, what is it? Is something wrong?" asked Sango.

"Maybe it's Shikon no Kakera," said Miroku. Kagome just nodded and continued to look towards the woods.

"How far is it?" asked InuYasha suddenly interested.

"Well, that's the thing - it's heading this way," responded Kagome. InuYasha looked towards the woods, quickly positioning himself in front of Kagome. A large snake youkai burst from the trees. InuYasha grabbed Kagome and jumped clear of the youkai's path. The large snake demon escaped into the woods across the path, without noticing the Inu group. The reason for the demon's haste shot past the group and continued to pursue her prey.

"What was that?" asked Kagome.

"I don't know, but did either of those youkai have the shard?" asked InuYasha.

"Yes". With that InuYasha pulled Kagome onto his back and leaped into the woods. Kirara changed. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo climbed on to join the pursuit.

"Why do you bother running? You can not escape!", spoke a deep sultry voice. The snake youkai glanced behind him with malice towards his pursuer.

"Strong words, Nozomi, but you can't catch what you can't see," he hissed, and disappeared. Nozomi stopped and closed her indigo eyes; this is no new trick to her. She knew he would mask himself, and was waiting for it. All she had to do was listen. She felt a shift in the atmosphere, followed by the slightest groan from the tree behind her. Nozomi reacted instantly, turning around with her long blue claws extended, slashing the snake's throat. The youkai reappeared; he had wrapped himself around a tree, getting ready to strike. Nozomi finished the job by removing his head and tearing apart his body. As his remains turned to dust, Nozomi picked up the Shikon no Kakera. She slipped it into the hem of her sleeve. She shook out her black-feathered wings and began to rise above the clearing. InuYasha jumped into the clearing at that point. Kagome slipped off his back and looked up towards Nozomi.

"She has a shard in her left sleeve," exclaimed Kagome pointing up. Nozomi looked down. "How does she know?" she thought to herself. She began to descend as Kirara and passengers entered the clearing. Nozomi landed in front of InuYasha, who had positioned himself in front of Kagome.

"You can see the shard?" asked Nozomi.

"Kagome, get back!" yelled InuYasha, as he drew the Tetsusaiga. "Hand over the shard and make this easy on yourself." InuYasha knew she was full youkai and nobility at that. She was tall, and her long black hair flowed past her waist and was streaked with blue. Her indigo eyes were calm like Sesshoumaru, but not nearly as cold. Nozomi's face was adorned with two blue streaks across each cheek and a dark blue star on her forehead. She wore black body armor much like Sango's. Closer examination found that it was not armor but black iridescent scales, adorned with a large blue-scaled dragon that crept across her lean body. She had beautiful black-feathered wings, which folded neatly on her back. She reminded InuYasha of his older brother Sesshoumaru.

"Put away your sword", she said calmly. "I mean you no harm." Kagome moved in between InuYasha and Nozomi.

"Who are you?" asked Kagome.

"I am Nozomi, the Lady of the Eastern lands. You must be the hanyou son of Inutaisho, InuYasha. I heard rumors of your search for the Shikon no Kakera, to become full youkai, correct?" Kagome glanced at InuYasha to see his reaction.

"I am InuYasha, but I have sworn to destroy Naraku", InuYasha stated. 'Nice way to avoid answering the question,' thought Kagome.

"I also seek this Naraku. He is upsetting the youki of the eastern youkai. I am ruler of those lands, and I cannot allow it. I am looking for the Shikon no Kakera to lure him out," said Nozomi.

" I am Higurashi Kagome. It is nice to meet you, Nozomi-sama." Kagome said, bowing to the lady of the eastern lands.

"You're a miko," Nozomi stated. "A powerful one, but I sense the majority of your powers still lie dormant." Turning to address InuYasha she said, "You would do well to have her properly trained. She harbors the strongest miko power I have ever come across."

"Keh"

Nozomi looked back at Kagome taking in the girl's appearance for the first time. "What strange attire. I have never seen its like."

"It's a long story," Kagome responded, gesturing towards her friends. "This is Sango and Miroku." Both bowed respectively.

"My lady, you are by far the most beautiful youkai I have ever encountered. Would you do me the honor-" Miroku was cut off by a blow to the head.

"Houshi!" growled Sango, returning her Hiraikatsu. Nozomi raised an eyebrow to the strange couple. Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms.

"And this little bundle of cuteness is Shippo," Kagome continued. Shippo smiled and bowed. Sango stepped forward.

"This is Kirara" said Sango.

"Weow!" the little neko youkai responded.

"Interesting group: a hanyou, miko, monk, tai-jiya, and two youkai," Smiled Nozomi.

"Why don't you join us?," asked Kagome.

"What the hell are you talking about you stupid girl!" yelled InuYasha. Kagome just turned around and shot him a dangerous look.

"OSUWARI!" InuYasha was instantly pulled to the ground. Nozomi looked slightly amused by this little display. InuYasha got back up.

"What the Hell was that for!" InuYasha yelled.

"Stupid girl! You know I hate it when you call me that!" Kagome retorted.

"Well, you are a stupid girl!"

"Osuwari!" Down he went again. InuYasha lifted his head and growled, but held his tongue. "So, will you join us?" asked Kagome, recovering her carefree self.

"I think, I will," she said, looking down at InuYasha "This could prove too interesting".

AN: Well, I did it! Finally, that first chapter I posted was terrible. Every time I came across it, I wanted to delete it. Well, I hope you like this one much better. Please read and review, Thank You; to all of you who have reviewed this story so far, you are truly the best!

RavenShadow