InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Hunt ❯ The Hunt ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. *Pouts*

Summary: Kagome is an archaeologist hired to find the mysterious shards of the Shikon no Tama, a jewel rumored to possess an unknown power. Inuyasha is a treasure hunter, hunting merely for his own gain. He hears of this Shikon no Tama and desires the jewel for his own purposes. What will happen when the two meet and personalities and goals clash? Based on the Inuyasha storyline with a little twist. Set in modern times, though Inuyasha is still simple and doesn't care for modern technologies. Rated for language and possibly lemony content in later chapters.

A/N: Inspiration has struck me again! Hope everyone enjoys my latest fic. Ok, think Alternate Universe when reading this story. K?

~: The Hunt :~

…Chapter One - Exciting News…

Kagome Higurashi sat in her office at the University. She yawned and stretched her arms upward, her shoulders cracking comfortably. It was nearly four o'clock, and she'd been reading mundane papers for the past two hours. She shook her head, chastising herself. They weren't mundane. They just lacked true vision. She sighed. Her students were great, they really were. They knew their material. But, none of them actually knew the thrill of going on an expedition. She thought about her last trip, a trip to the Grecian Islands to find a lost text depicting an ancient battle. She remembered the joy and pride she had felt when she had touched the artifact for the first time, just touching it and knowing it was what she had been searching for.

Kagome smiled slightly when she remembered the mad rush to get off the island when she felt like something was about to go terribly wrong… a mysterious instinct that warned her mere minutes before the volcano erupted and the island was devoured in flowing lava. Some said she had a gift. Aside from the mysterious instinct she possessed, she sometimes saw curious images; however, Kagome never paid them any mind, always waving them off as daydreams or blaming them on drinking too much coffee too late at night. (*a/n: Hehe. I would know…I'm a coffee freak*). Kagome briefly pondered those visualizations. Sometimes she saw herself being knocked down a well and appearing in what seemed to be ancient Japan. Sometimes she saw a mirror image of herself, holding onto a glittering orb and disappearing into a sea of flames. Kagome frowned as she thought about that particular dream. It wasn't exactly right to say she saw a mirror image of herself. The woman was… more refined, more serious. Somehow the woman in her dream seemed to have bitterness about her as she burned in those orange and crimson waves. Why she had these visions she never knew. A knock on the frame of her open door snapped her back to reality.

"Hey, Dr. Higurashi." A confident, cheerful voice called out. Kagome looked up to see her best friend and Assistant Professor, Sango Taijiya.

"Hey yourself. And stop calling me that." Kagome smiled, shaking her head.

"Hey, you earned it. You're one of the youngest women to earn your doctorate ever." Sango smiled. Kagome sighed. True. She was only eighteen. Not even old enough to drink and here she was, teaching at one of Tokyo's largest universities. In fact, most of her students were a few years older than her. Even Sango, her assistant, was a year older than she was.

"I guess all those crazy nights studying, summer school, and work-study credits helped after all. And you said I was insane." Kagome said, casting a mock-resentful look at her friend.

"Well, we were both crazy. I don't know how we did it. I mean, here you are… a master archer, fully educated and educating, and you actually participate in your field of work. I didn't get past my master's degree." Sango said.

"Don't underrate yourself. You run your own dojo with your special termination art, you teach along with me, and I can always count on you when there's another expedition." Kagome said, standing and draping an arm over her friend.

"Auntie Kagome!!!" A young voice called out. Running footsteps could be heard, and a little boy with fox-like ears and a fluffy tail burst into the room.

"Shippou-chan! I missed you!" Kagome said, catching him and picking him up. A handsome young man with a tiny, tied back tail walked in behind him. Despite the tie, a few strands of black hair framed his face, and his deep gray eyes twinkled. He wore wire-rimmed glasses, and had a very studious look until a merry grin appeared on his face.

"Miroku, what brings you here?" Kagome said warmly. She warily looked for his wandering left hand before catching a glimpse of a black and purple glove. She always wondered why he wore a bead bracelet and a glove over his right hand, but knew it would have been rude to ask.

"No reason. Shippou wanted to visit." Miroku said lightly. His hand inched its way over to Sango.

"Don't even think about it, hentai." Sango whispered fiercely, glaring at the hand that had already made its way to her backside. She slapped him lightly.

"I go out on one date with you and you… you… grrr…" Sango grumbled before stalking out of the room.

"Has Uncle Miroku been behaving himself?" Kagome asked the fox-child in her arms.

"That lech? Yeah right." Shippou said, smiling. Kagome's heart warmed. It was so nice to see Shippou smile. The boy had a hard life. His parents were killed, and he had witnessed the whole thing. Miroku had been kind enough to take the boy in, for he had known his parents and felt sorry for the boy. He knew Shippou would not easily be accepted because of his blood. He was a youkai. Hardly anyone believed youkai even existed anymore. Kagome herself was doubtful until she had met Shippou. She now realized the possibility that anyone could be a youkai. Sango came storming back into the room.

"Dammit Miroku, you made me forget the entire reason I came in to see Kagome in the first place. I have exciting news!" Sango clapped.

"What news is that?" Kagome asked, raising an eyebrow at the sudden enthusiasm.

"Well, it's not really news, more of a request from a certain artifact collector. It seems he is very rich and would like us to find items known as Shikon Shards. I suppose you could say he'd like to hire us." Sango said, her eyes shining. To her surprise Kagome glared at her.

"Hire us? Who does this guy think he is? What, does he think he can wave some cash around and we'll come running to him, no questions asked?" Kagome snapped. She began pacing back and forth, throwing her arms in the air out of frustration. Furious questions rolled off her tongue, her usual calm voice beginning to tick like a timed bomb.

"I and the work that I do cannot be bought, thank you very much!" Kagome spat out.

"Wait, Kagome, its not like I said we'd do it. I'm not stupid. I'd like to find out about this guy too. But it's been so long since we went on an actual expedition. Sorry, I suppose I got caught up in the excitement and forgot to mention that little detail." Sango said, laying a hand on Kagome's shoulder to get her to calm down.

"I'll call him tonight. His name is Naraku Onigumo or something like that. Maybe we can set up a time to meet him… and see what he's all about." Sango said cautiously. Kagome sighed.

"Oh, all right. But if I get even the slightest hint that this guy has some hidden agenda, we'll refuse. Got it?" Kagome said reluctantly. She smiled slightly.

"Hey… if this works out, it'll be great. Miroku, you'll join us, right? I mean, Shikon means four-souls… and we could use your Buddhist expertise. Maybe it has something to do with you know, the four souls (Yuu - courage; Chi - Power; Shin - Heart; Ai - Love; **Episodes 94-95**). When's the last time we all worked together?" Kagome said, excitement beginning to show in her voice. Her heart fluttered slightly. Once she got past the initial shock and suspicion, the concept of a new hunt was thrilling.

"An actual expedition… the chance to work with Kagome and Sango… I'm all for it!" Miroku said, smiling.

"Wait! I have to clear this with the Dean and all that junk. What if he won't let me go?" Kagome said, reality hitting her like a brick. She gritted her teeth. The thought of speaking to the Dean for any reason tied knots in her stomach. Dean Kouga Ookami. He hit on her relentlessly. At first, it had been flattering, for Kouga was handsome and had a gorgeous build. But his actions got really annoying after he started telling people they were involved. Kagome sighed.

"I guess now's as good a time as any…" She grumbled.

.-*****-.-*****-.-*****-.

Kagome knocked on the huge double doors of her boss's office. Big, bold letters reading Dean K. Ookami were emblazoned on a steel plate right at her eye level. She rolled her eyes. He had a huge ego, part of the reason she couldn't stand him.

"Come in!" A singsong voice rang out. Kagome opened the door. Ayame, Kouga's secretary, smiled stiffly when she saw it was Kagome. The pretty redhead's jealousy was obvious as she gripped her pen. Kagome resisted shaking her head. Everyone knew Ayame was completely in love with Kouga. Everybody except Kouga, that is.

"Ms. Shiro, how nice to see you. Is Dean Ookami in?" Kagome said in a pleasant tone. Ayame's sea green eyes glinted briefly before sighing. 'It really isn't Kagome's fault…' She chastised herself.

"He's in there." Ayame said halfheartedly, motioning toward a smaller office. Kouga poked his head out.

"Kagome - er, Dr. Higurashi. I thought I heard that beautiful voice of yours." Kouga said, stepping out.

"Right. Well, I'm just here to ask you if it would be all right if Professor Myouga teaches my class this summer." Kagome said. 'There. I said it. Straight to business, no fooling around, there's no way he can keep me here longer than I have to be.' She thought triumphantly. Kouga cocked his head.

"Why?" he inquired.

"Well, I'm just asking, because it's possible I may take up a job to search for an artifact." Kagome said impatiently.

"Really? Now that's interesting. Hm. I've always wondered what it'd be like to go on one of these expeditions. I know! Surely you wouldn't mind if I came along!" Kouga said, as if it were the most brilliant idea in the world.

"Um… well… see… I already have a full team, and…" Kagome stuttered, her eyes wide at Kouga's enthusiasm. He raised an eyebrow.

"Well… it might be difficult for me to secure your little expedition…" Kouga said. Kagome gritted her teeth. 'Chikuso. This baka thinks he knows everything. Well fine.' She thought, frustrated.

"Fine! Fine, Fine, Fine. Come along if you wish. It won't be easy, and for this, I call the shots. Understood?!" Kagome spat.

"Whoa, a little feisty, aren't we. I like that. Just how my woman should be!" Kouga said cockily.

"Don't push it, Kouga." Kagome growled. She rolled her eyes, stalking out of the room.

.-****-.-*****-.-*****-.

"How'd it go?" Sango whispered. She had been waiting alongside Miroku outside the dean's building. Kagome uttered a growl in response. It was silent for a moment.

"So… we're going?" Miroku asked tentatively. Kagome whipped around.

"Yes, ok! Mr. Ookami said we could go. But guess what? He's coming with us! CHIKUSO! Why does he sometimes get the best of me?!" Kagome snapped.

"But we're going…?" Sango said. Kagome sighed.

"We're going. But, don't forget, we have to meet with this Naraku guy first." Kagome said. A slight chill ran up her spine when she said the word Naraku. She shook it off. Something told her she'd take the job. But maybe it would be for another reason… not for another person, but for herself.

'A new hunt… what mysteries could possibly unfold?' Kagome wondered, looking toward the setting sun.

** Coolness, although that took a more serious tone than I meant. Oh well. I actually didn't mean for this story to come out yet, but this story's pretty fun for me so far, so I finished this chapter sooner than I finished the other chapter(s) for the other story(ies) that I'm working on. Review please! Thank you! No flames (they make me sad)! Actually, if you think there's something that needs work, feel free to say so, but don't just shoot me down, ok? **