InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Solitary Loneliness ❯ Sense of Duty ( Chapter 1 )

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, its manga, or any part of its anime series.

Author's Note: Starting off of the bat--this is an Alternate Universe fanfic, meaning that the events and situations are different than what appears on the series and manga. And because of this, I fear that I need to explain a few things before the story (so be prepared for a long note! J )

Although it begins with Kikyo, the story is actually an Inuyasha/Kagome pairing. In this fic Kagome is still Kikyo's reincarnation, but she does not have the ability to travel back in time to the Feudal Era. Kikyo takes Kagome's place in that aspect, so I'm going to try to combine a little bit of both of their personalities into her. I don't harbor the hatred that many people have for Kikyo. So in other words, she is not a "bitch" in this story, since I'm making her into a more mature Kagome.

Naraku…is Naraku in this fic--the same evil, though less creepy demon (I've decided to make him full instead of half). "Masou" is not separate from Naraku in the entire fic. Both he and Inuyasha are the same (and I'm toying with the idea of tossing in Sesshoumaru as well).

So there you have it. A brief explanation of the changes in the story. Feedback is crucial to the updates of this story. It may seem a bit long in the beginning, but trust me, it's all for the background. I hope you enjoy it.

**************

The arrow ripped through the air illuminated by untainted light. Kikyo frowned as she watched the men detach the remains of the boar demon from the wall of a villager's hut, her fingers still in position on the grip of the bow. The beast had died with only one arrow this time, indicating that her powers were rapidly increasing by every passing sun. Just last week, she had exterminated one half this size with all but two shots left in her quiver. She could feel the miko energy flowing through her veins easily now, more than ever.

For some reason, they had been coming almost non-stop, one right after another. Kikyo barely had enough time to finish any of her meals before she heard screams and saw the worried faces of the villagers as they stared at the giant demons in absolute horror. It seemed that they were even more magnetized to the jewel than ever before which only meant that she would be placing the lives of those around her in jeopardy once again.

It was always up to her to kill these creatures, demons who had greedy ambitions and corrupted hearts. But no matter how many she had slain with her bow and arrow, they always attacked without any hesitation.

Kikyo wasted no time in eliminating it to pacify things once more and returned to her cabin, setting her weapon down on a crude wooden table and leaning her quiver against the wall.

Taking a seat by the fire at the center of the room, a sigh escaped her lips as she stared into the calm flames. Her thoughts turned where they always did whenever she had a moment to herself. When would she be able to cast aside this burden of maintaining the role of the sacred jewel's protector? When could she say farewell to this life of hardship and live a somewhat ordinary life without having to constantly deal with greedy dark hands trying to get a hold of the Shikon no Tama for their own selfish desires? The answer never seemed to be right in front of her, so Kikyo spent the better part of the day wondering, longing, wishing for the day she didn't have to rely so heavily on the pull of the string on her weapon. However, she was not so naïve as to think that death had no chance of appearing before she reached her goal, but ironically as much as she craved to live a normal life, she was not afraid of the fiery pits of hell. To her, it was another way to gain her freedom, her reward from giving the finest years of her lifetime protecting the small sphere hanging from her neck. But she had no desire to shuffle off the mortal coil just yet.

Kikyo's eyes narrowed as she rose from her spot and walked to the entrance, pulling back the heavy straw curtain to step outside. She took a couple strides from her door looking up into the lush green leaves of the trees adjacent to her home. She knew without a doubt that he was there, watching her as he did almost every night. She was beginning to get good at finding him even if he moved with hardly any noise, basically knowing that he was near by feeling a warm rush and a chill charge down her spine. A slight smile formed on her mouth as she called out to him.

"Inuyasha, you're becoming careless and clumsier. Cease your rustling up there."

The crackle of branches could be heard before a muffled "keh" floated down to her ears. In a flash of crimson and white, he landed down on the ground, folding his arms and regarding her with harsh eyes and lowered brows. A cool front. Inuyasha forever sported it as if pretending that nothing ever bothered him.

Kikyo knew differently.

She chuckled faintly and turned back to her home, re-entering it and resuming her place by the fire. In a few moments, a clawed hand moved the straw drape aside and a bare foot crossed the threshold. She leaned forward, stoking the fire, her eyebrows raising at the level of silence in the room. In her peripheral vision, she could tell that he was watching her closely, as if he expected something…

"Inuyasha, if you're not going to say anything worthwhile, then you might as well sit down and glare at me, instead of standing and frowning."

He took a few cautious steps before taking a seat across from her. The sharpness did not leave his honeyed pupils as he observed her. Kikyo stole a glance at him and noted in mild amusement the lines on his forehead and the crease of his thick brows. Something was really disturbing him, she realized.

His mouth opened and closed a few moments before he tucked his arms inside his huge sleeves. "You killed off that demon pretty quickly."

Her eyes flashed of confusion briefly as she looked at him. "It was but a boar demon, a creature that is powerful, yet is weak in it's defenses."

"But it shouldn't have died that easily."

Her brows drew together in further confusion. "Why are you worried about this, Inuyasha?"

"I-" He caught himself and shifted until his nose was turned up in the air. "Keh. Who says I'm worried? I was just stating the obvious."

At that, Kikyo warmed. He was worried about her for some reason. Although she knew he would never admit it. Inuyasha was probably hiding in that tree, waiting to pounce, but since she had destroyed the demon with haste, it hadn't been necessary. He had a desire to protect her, even if it was not needed. "I am sure you have noticed the increase of my power. Alarming as it may be, Inuyasha, I still know how to protect myself." A smile curved on her lips. "I do not need you to fight my battles for me."

A glint of sadness flickered in his gaze, but he just turned his nose at her and closed his eyes. "Who ever said that I was going to help you? I wouldn't even waste my time!"

Kikyo flashed him a knowing smile and returned to tend the fire. Inuyasha was sweet in his own little way. He was almost child-like in his personality--stubborn, hot-headed, and cute--all at the same time. Her mind suddenly produced an image of him as a toddler, his arms crossed and his trademark "keh". She couldn't contain the laughter that ripped its way out of her mouth.

Inuyasha's eyebrow rose at her unexpected outburst, his eyes staring at her in slight confusion. He inched closer to her and studied her with a humorless expression. "What's wrong with you?"

He was sitting next to her, clearly wondering what she was thinking of. The smile did not abandon her, but she managed to regain her posture and forced her amusement on a more controllable level. "Nothing is 'wrong' with me, Inuyasha. I was only imagining something. There is no need fret over me." Her hand reached out to clutch his. "I am not going to shatter or break like glass. I am stronger than that and am not going anywhere for quite a while," she said, going straight for the source of the problem.

It seemed to be the reassurance that he needed. Inuyasha's eyes softened as he turned his hand over and interlocked their fingers together. They gazed at each other for moments until the sizzle of the fire and the scattering of embers drew Kikyo's attention away from him as she stoked the flame again, the smile on her lips even brighter than before.

*************

Eyes that did not exist physically watched the encounter between hanyou and miko unfold. The dark fire burned inside of crimson pupils as the pair of eyes narrowed. The demon assessed the situation and took comfort in the relief that its opportunity for its intention had not been wavered, crushed by that wretched snowy-haired hanyou.

Sure, everyone wanted to possess something of extreme value and worth, but this was the ultimate tenure. It wanted to sink his teeth in it, to grab hold of it, to make sure that it was secure in its grasp. To never let go. Oh, no. It would never let go, especially when it came with such a lovely little package.

She was absolutely breathtaking, it had to admit. Even its wildest dream could not conjure up something as exquisite as the priestess. Her beauty, her strength, her secrets all appealed to it and it could do no more than to seek it. To seek her.

The flame in the demon's eyes smoldered as it watched the object of his desire laugh, her rich voice outlandishly making the sound light and pearly. The combination was addicting, and the demon found itself reveling in the sound.

No other with its intentions had even made it this far without the priestess knowing. The miko would sense the evil and eradicate it, not even giving the threat an option to change its mind. Kikyo knew. She knew when those malicious threats neared, all seeking the possession of the fabled item. However, the demon noted arrogantly, no could match his caliber.

He stared at her once more before turning away, a hint of a smile growing on his lips. His plot would work, it only required the elimination of the hanyou that the miko was obviously so fond of. And he would enjoy tearing that human-ish flesh and spilling the tainted blood, watching as it soaked into the soil. Tainted, almost similar to the jewel when he was done. And he needed the miko to do it.

Soon, Kikyo, his mind promised. Soon you will face the demon, Naraku.

***********

The arrow struck the heart of the trunk, her target. Although she was an expert and a wonderful marksman, she still felt the need to practice, her inner unrest tranquilized by the simple firing of an arrow, with each shaft that was released, the tension and stress attacking her nerves freed. Her brow furrowed as she examined her handiwork.

Her little sister, Kaede, ran forward to retrieve the arrows, but Kikyo stopped her. "Leave them. Go and bring me some water." Kaede turned as she nodded and rushed towards the cluster of huts to do her sisters' bidding.

Kikyo sat in the grass, setting her bow and quiver aside, her mind going back to the reason that she had decided to come out in the fresh air and complete a few rounds of target practice. She could feel a sense of foreboding, something was coming and it was less than moral. It had been so obvious, that potent sensation she felt many times last night, the strongest when she was with Inuyasha. Something evil was coming, and when evil was involved, the Shikon no Tama was more than likely too.

Her expression changed to a more fierce one as she quickly scooped up her bow and knocked an arrow on the string. She took aim and released, the shaft flying up into the trees.

"Ah!" Something red fell out of the trees. Inuyasha ungracefully landed on the ground, rubbing his head. "Hey! What was that for?!"

Kikyo turned her back to him and resumed her seat in the grass. "You are whining, Inuyasha. If you are as alert as you say you are, then you should have seen that coming a mile away."

"I wasn't expecting to dodge a stupid arrow!"

She smiled. "I was only being alert, Inuyasha." Then she froze for a moment, then rose from her position, her eyes traveling to the nearby village. Kikyo had that feeling again. Something was close now, even closer than before, and it did not fail to unnerve her. A strange tingling brought goose bumps to her skin and she shivered.

Inuyasha looked at her carefully, noting the change. "What? What's wrong?"

Kikyo returned her gaze back to the hanyou. "Nothing is wrong with me. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Something is bothering you, I know it!" His clawed hands took her shoulders and she turned around, suddenly aware of the proximity.

She didn't know that he was that close, their noses pressed each other's. Their mouths were but inches away. Inuyasha gave her a hooded look as both of them leaned forward slowly, waiting the contact of--

"Kikyo! Kikyo!"

The girl in question turned from the hanyou, her cheeks tinted only slightly. She shouldn't have been seen in such a compromising position, at least not with her younger sister. Kaede was breathless, evidently running as fast as her little legs could carry her. "Kaede? What happened?"

Inuyasha sniffed the air and growled. "There's a demon close by. I can smell him." He frowned down at Kikyo. "And also blood and death. The village is being attacked."

Kikyo knelt down to talk to her sister at eye level. "Kaede. Stay here and wait for me to return with Inuyasha."

"What? No! I'm coming with you!" Inuyasha protested, but Kikyo cut his rant short.

"Inuyasha, if you were to come, you would only scare the villagers further. You are not exactly on good terms with them anyway. I don't have time to argue." She retrieved her weapons from the grass. "Stay here and guard Kaede. If it is a threat on me, then I'm sure that whomever this is will not hesitate to use her against me."

"But Kikyo-"

"I will see you later, Inuyasha.' And with that, she turned and hurried towards the village.

When she arrived, all she could do was gape in horror. Local villagers were running about, houses burning ablaze, screams filling the moderate space. Bodies were strewn everywhere, a variety of men, women, and children. All of them were lifeless, their eyes open as if in shock. The stale air filled her nostrils as she continued her search around, grimacing as the sky seemed to fill will dark violet clouds. The town was in shambles, just that quickly. Whoever had done this was definitely powerful, yet Kikyo knew that this pan demonic chaos was not the extent of their might. She needed to find the threat fast and eliminate it.

Then, she felt it. In one fluid motion, she had knocked an arrow on her bow and whirled around, aiming it at the intruder. It was a demon, she could tell that right off the bat. His face was striking, beautiful and stunning in all of the right places. Dark locks were pulled up from his face, the rest spilling over his shoulders. His eyes though, they contained the fearsome power that she knew had been coming. They were red, and matched the scarlet stains surrounding them, making her sick to her stomach.

"So it was you who did this," Kikyo said as her grip tightened on the bow.

"You do not see surprised," the demon simply stated, his voice deep and resonant, sending chills down her spine.

"I have been expecting you for sometime, I could feel your presence everywhere. You do not wish to hide?"

The attractive demon smirked as he lightly shook his head. "No, I do not hide, particularly when I want to be found."

Kikyo's dark eyes narrowed at him. "So you killed all of these people just to get to me?"

"It was the quickest way to achieve my goal, while luring you out in the process. The Shikon no Tama is corrupted by the love of evil."

She laughed, that lustrous laugh again striking a chord inside of her enemy. "Do you think that I have such little control that I would fall under the force of hatred? I am the Guardian, incapable of such deeds. Who do you think you are, demon?"

His crimson eyes flashed before he replied. "Naraku."

"Hmph. Naraku. What a befitting name to describe such a vile creature. However, you will not live to see any more sunrises!" Before the demon could react, she released the arrow, embedding in the flesh below his left shoulder.

He stared at the wound, his eyes glaring back at hers with malice. "Perhaps I was incorrect. I should eliminate you if you will be no use to me."

She pulled the string back even further, feeling the strain. "Try it if you wish, but you will not like the results."

"After all," he ignored her comment. "I have almost eternity to find a more. . .submissive copy to comply to my will. Your soul will suffer for countless years, Kikyo." A wicked smirk formed on his lips. "Much to my enjoyment."

She fired. However, this Naraku was much faster than she had realized. He forced himself in front of her one hand around her waist, the other knocking the bow away from her hands. Her eyes widened in terror as her mind worked slowly to comprehend the events that were occurring. Had he really done that? Was this even real?

Then she felt excruciating pain in her middle. Kikyo's brown eyes lowered to the source and found that the demon had pierced her with an extension of his arm in her abdomen. It looked like a branch where she could see it, but as she struggled, she could feel the sharp thorns of spikes on the part that impaled her.

She was becoming weak, her eyesight was turning into dimness. Even her hearing was leaving her, but she could hear someone shouting her name. . .they sounded so distressed...

Her eyes gave into the weary sensation and closed. But she could still hear her name being screamed. . .

Wait. . .

She knew that voice. . .

"Inu. . .yash. . .a. . ." The remainder of her soul allowed her to utter those last syllables as she was thrown into utter darkness.

*****************

She was gone. Just like that. Inuyasha couldn't believe it. Ruby red raged seethed within, his sharp claws extending at the site. The bastard just stood there, his attention still on Kikyo. The demon lowered his head to take her cold lips into her mouth in a kiss. He murmured something to her and disappeared into a thick black smoke.

"Until your next life, miko."

Inuyasha heard it, and as soon as the demon had left, his legs started to work again. He knelt next to her body, taking her lifeless hands in his own. "Kikyo. . ."

He would pay, Inuyasha vowed. There was no way he would get away with something like this. He said her next life, did he? Well he wouldn't get very far, since Inuyasha had a lifespan almost as long as his. Inuyasha could smell his blood still lingering in the air. The demon was full-blooded, which meant it could take nearly forever to kill the bastard. But Inuyasha didn't care. Kikyo would be safe in her next life, he would make sure of it.

He was going to hunt him down and shred him slowly, limb from limb.

**************

Five hundred years into the future….

"And everyone in the kingdom lived happily ever after." Kagome closed the cover of the book that she had finished reading to the small group of kids. Today was a Wednesday, the day she took a train to the other side of the city to her aunt's library to help out. It was a small source of income for her, but she could barely complain since she was doing something that she actually liked--much better than taking that job at her local WacDonald's with the rest of her friends. She loved kids just like any other girl her age and when her Aunt Taiyo phoned her and asked her to come and work she nearly jumped on the opportunity. While the wage wasn't exactly her cup of tea, she relished in the fact that she could pay for her own things instead of falling to her knees and begging her mother for the latest fashion items fresh off the rack.

She waved at the children as she watched them leave. It was her job to keep them entertained for two entire hours by reading them a stories of their choice. On today's selection: The Sword in the Stone, a book she had read many times to them in the past. The kids couldn't seem to get enough of the medieval times of foreign lands filled with magic and swordplay. Personally, she didn't care for it herself. The past was dull and boring, a world deprived of modern technology. However, she could see why children loved it so much and she found herself reading the same book over and over again because of it.

"Aunt Taiyo! I'm going home!" Kagome yelled inside an open doorframe of an office while tugging on a strap of her yellow book bag. After hearing her aunt relay a standard farewell, she pushed on the glass door of the library and headed out into the city.

Kagome was a pretty normal teenage girl--she loved clothes, fluffy animals, and anything the color pink. She was afraid of spiders and cursed everyday of her brother's existence. She had lots of friends and had a pretty well-known reputation at her school. It was nothing quite out of the ordinary, and Kagome felt very content with her life.

And of course she was ecstatic when the rumor that the most popular boy at school was interested in her turned out to be true. He had come to her at lunchtime to sit with her and eat with her, asking her questions about herself and the things that she liked. Hojo had even offered her his dessert--a very tasty strawberry pastry that he claimed to have made on his own. They hadn't talked about going on any dates, only promises of them seeing each other again. The rest of her friends wouldn't leave her alone about it, and Kagome knew that they would attempt to play matchmaker and pair the two up. The girls loved to gossip and Kagome had no doubt that the word would spread like wildfire around the entire school.

She took a seat on the train next to a window and stared through the glass. Even when she was so pleased, she couldn't help but feel that something was amiss in her life, although it felt as if she had everything. It was disturbing, how she went through each day longing for something, yet having no clue what was missed. Whenever she wondered why this was, Kagome could not find any hint of why she sought something more when she was supposedly satisfied with herself. She placed her chin on her palm and sighed. She often thought a lot about this, lately more than ever. And yet, she had a strange inkling that she would soon discover the source of her desolation.

The girl blinked, barely realizing that she had been absorbed in her thoughts so much that the whole trip back to her house had sped by in what seemed to be merely seconds. Kagome gathered her belongings and exited the train, hurrying home so that she would be there in time for supper. Her mother hadn't been too happy the last time she had lollygagged around the city. Her mother was often worried about her taking the train from her job, especially after sunset. But Kagome was not overly concerned about it since she had been riding the same train for almost a year now, and she had never been attacked or seen any crimes from the time that she boarded to the time she departed. Her fist gripped the strap of her bag as she practically ran down the sidewalks to the shrine. She would make it in time.

Kagome was completely focused on getting home that she didn't even notice a pair of eyes watching her as she ran.

Fanged teeth made themselves visible as the two lips pulled back into a smirk. A shrine, huh?

He could expect no less. It fit her well, since in all of her past lives she was still stained with the power of a miko. He could smell the tremendous power, stronger than ever before, coursing through her like an electric current through water. She was still as impressive as he remembered, yet he could sense an innocence in her eyes as he watched her rush up the high flight of steps, which meant that she most likely had no idea of the incredible miko energy flowing in the blood of her veins.

That was bad. That meant that she basically had no protection if Naraku decided to make an appearance to her. That meant that he had to keep a close watchful eye on her at all times. She was so vulnerable; she didn't even check her surroundings for potential threats. Clueless, he decided, absolutely clueless.

He let out a sigh of annoyance when he witnessed the girl stumble on the steps up to her home and scoffed. This was Kikyo's reincarnation? Kikyo had such grace, such regality; this clumsy slip of a woman couldn't possibly be her.

Inuyasha moved closer, perched on a branch. He rarely skulked around like this anymore, the change in times made his actions gauche and caused unwelcome eyes to turn towards him and stare at him in a peculiar manner--as if something wasn't quite right with him. Stupid humans. It made him want to rip out those eyes.

But even when he harboured that desire, he knew that he would never act upon it. Otherwise, he wouldn't be up in a tree stalking the reincarnation of his lost love. Kikyo had quenched the homicidal flames that rose within him and replaced it with a lingering respect for the living that he didn't know he had in him--of course he would never admit it. But then, Naraku had chosen to remove the one creature that he could divulge as being the best change inside of him. And for that, he was going to pay, when ever that sorry bastard decided to show up.

Inuyasha knew that the dark demon would go after the woman that he now watched so attentively, Naraku could do no less. The full demon's wish was to get the jewel, and there was no way in hell that Inuyasha would allow him to succeed this time. Five hundred years guarding each one of Kikyo's reincarnations had made him much stronger, wiser, and enhanced.

Naraku could come, but this time, he would destroy him.