InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Three Kingdoms ❯ Change ( Chapter 1 )

Uh…hi. This is my first chapter…and my first story here. So please be gentle. Thank you.

 

 

Summary: She had angered their kind by bathing in their holy spring. In their indignation, they sent their youngest prince to deal with her. Yet it seems that her punishment is more then she bargained for.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. He belongs to Romiko Takahashi alone and I'm not smart enough to come up with a series like this.

 

 

 

 

 

The Three Kingdoms

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Chapter One: Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In her village, there had been three rules. The first was to treat the elders and neighbors with respect. The second was never to sit idly while there was work to be done. The third and most important rule of all was never to enter the sacred forest alone. Kagome sighed as she picked weeds from the fields. She'd been going over the rules in her head ever since her mother had asked her to help with the gardening earlier that afternoon. Of course it wasn't in her nature to sit and flap her lips instead of giving a helping hand, but after cleaning out their home, helping the village priestess deliver twins, and two hours of archery practice, she preferred to just go take a nap.

 

Productivity came with such a painstaking process. She'd been looking upward into the forest every time she placed a weed into the basket. The woods were a fair distance from their vast fields, yet they still looked more inviting then picking dandelions from the soil. She knew she shouldn't whine, but the task felt so mundane that she wanted to just ignore those first two rules. How unfortunate that her conscience kept her there, but it didn't take long for another chore to interrupt this one.

 

“Kagome!” The yell came from a distance. With her back popping, Kagome rose to stand straight. Yuka came running down the hill. She looked pale and out of breath, which told Kagome that she had rushed there all the way from the village.

 

“ Kaede is looking for you!” Yuka huffed when she neared Kagome. “She says it's very important! You must come quickly.”

 

“Take a breath, Yuka.” Kagome placed her hand on her friend's back. “I don't need to have you fainting.”

 

“Never mind that. You need to get back.”

 

“But I have to finish pulling weeds.” She hated leaving things half finished.

 

Yuka snatched the basket from her. “I'll do the rest of this, it's almost done anyway. Go.”

 

Yelling her thanks, Kagome began sprinting up the hill, wondering what kind of urgency demanded her attention. Usually, Kaede was quite able at handling problems without her. Perhaps another woman had gone into labor? One part of her mind wished that it were something that could be resolved in a matter of minutes. She secretly wished that this would be her last chore.

 

Kagome hopped onto the main road that led to the gates and it wasn't long before the wooden wall that surrounded the whole village came into her view. She raced through the opening and into the main trail that led to Kaede's shrine. Neighbors gave her amazed looks when she flashed by them and up the stairs. She stumbled only slightly when she neared the door of the hut, but managed to catch her balance and skid to a stop before rushing in.

 

“Lady Kaede, what's…” Kagome felt her body warm up, not because of running but because she had just unceremoniously and disrespectfully burst into the sitting room gasping and covered in sweat. The two guests that sat opposite Kaede, drinking tea, gave her a quizzical glance.

 

“Oh.” Kagome hastened to compose herself and catch her breath. “I'm sorry for my rudeness.” She panted and bowed.

 

“No matter, child. Come sit.” Kaede said, patting the mat next to her. Kagome shyly did as she was told while avoiding eye contact with the man and woman that sipped their tea quietly.

 

How humiliating to make such an entrance in front of none other then Beast-men. The man and woman looked like any other human, however, the male had large horns, like that of a stag, coming out his brown crown. The woman, on the other than had the ears and eyes of a doe. The Matchen, they called themselves, were a great and ancient race that lived in the forest, watching and protecting it and the creatures within. Of all ways to introduce myself, Kagome thought. Barging in with disheveled black hair and a frantic, white face was never how she'd imagined meeting the Matchen for the first time.

 

Even though the Stag-man and the Doe seemed to pay no mind to her unfavorable conduct, Kagome still felt the shame tingle every inch of her skin. Kaede had told her long ago that the Matchen heavily judged on first impressions.

 

“This is my apprentice Kagome. I apologize for her manner earlier.” Kaede said apologetically.

 

“It's quite all right.” The Stag-man said.

 

“So, what brings you to our humble village my Lord and Lady?” asked Kaede.

 

“Please, call me Haddi. This is my wife Martha.” Said the Stag-man.

 

“A pleasure to meet you.” Kaede returned graciously.

 

“Likewise.” Said Martha.

 

“Might I be so bold as to ask why you are here?” Kaede asked.

 

“Straight to the point. Very well.” Haddi began. “We have come to warn your people not to go near the Wood. The Wood is particularly dangerous at this time and even going within a mile of its entrance might be fatal.”

 

“It is already forbidden for our folk to enter the forest. Yet, I'm curious to know what danger it is you speak of. It would be an advantage to us to know what is it that endangers us so.”

 

“I'm afraid that is confidential to the Matchen.” Martha continued. “All we can tell you is that a great evil had befallen the Wood. It would be wise that the people of this village stay as far from the Wood as possible. You have always been a respected representative to our kind. We would hate to have something ill befall your people.”

 

“Very well.” Kaede said graciously. “I shall advice the townsfolk to keep away from the forest. Is your warning the only reason you have come to visit me today?”

 

Kagome watched the exchange patiently. No one from the village was allowed into the forest, so naturally few had come close to its trees. What kind of terrible force could be so dangerous that the villagers couldn't even be within a mile of the forest? There was no reason to have to enter the forest. Their village was well endowed with good soil for farming and their cattle was healthy. Even if something should happen to the livestock, there was plenty of game on the plains between the village and the forest to keep the villagers happy, so why the sudden insistence to ignore the forest more then ever?

 

The politics of the Matchen was none of her concern, yet Kagome couldn't help but wonder what kind of secret they were so keen on keeping hidden. Before she could stop herself she asked, “Is there a danger of whatever it is that's plaguing the forest to come out here?”

 

“Oh no.” Said Martha. “We are keeping it at bay with a protective barrier, which reminds me, Kaede, of the second reason we have come to your village today.”

 

“You're a renowned barrier creator. We fear our initial protection may not be enough to hold our dangers at bay. We have come to ask if you can provide another seal on the outskirts of our barrier. Energies are strengthened when they hail from two different sources. Mixing a priestesses spiritual powers with our Matchen energy should empower the shield against the great evil.” Haddi explained.

 

“I would be honored to help. When will my services be required?”

 

“It would be best if we are to erect the barrier tonight. The sooner it is secure, the more safety for your people and the reassurance to ours.” Martha took a breath before she continued. “We will return before sundown to escort you. I fear entry into the Wood alone is an unwise choice.”

 

“Very well.” Kaede inclined her head. “However, I would like my apprentice to accompany us. I'm quite old and my spiritual powers have faltered with age. I would appreciate having Kagome with me so I might borrow spiritual power form her.”

 

“Then she may join. We she meet again at dusk.” Haddi stood with Martha and before Kagome could blink, both Matchen had vanished from the room. A short silence followed before Kaede turned to Kagome and said, “Prepare yourself well child. If what the Matchen say is true, then we must be ready.”

 

Nodding, Kagome exited the hut.

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It was almost time when Kagome rushed back to Kaede's hut with her bow and quiver slung over her shoulder. Wearing the red and white robes of a priestess she waited with Kaede until Haddi and Martha arrived. A green light flashed through the room before Haddi and Martha were suddenly standing in the middle of the hut. Kagome wondered if she could ever get used to the spontaneous appearances.

 

“Are you ready?” Martha asked.

 

“Yes. Please be easy on Kagome. I'm afraid she's never teleported before.” Kaede said kindly.

 

“Very well. Would you hold my hand my dear?” Martha extended her hand to Kagome while Haddi took Kaede's palm in his. In the next moment her teacher and the Stag-man were gone. Kagome stared at Martha's outstretched hand for a moment deciding it would be rude to hesitate.

 

The moment their hands touched, Kagome felt her feet slide from the floor. For a moment she was blinded by a bright light, and felt movement as though she were standing yet moving horizontally. When the ground did reappear underneath her, she held on to Martha's hand tightly while she steadied herself. “I'm sorry.” She heaved.

 

“It's quite all right.” Said Martha graciously.

 

Kagome looked about the wood. Green of all shades surrounded her and she could barely see the sky though tiny cuts in the tops of the threes. Vines, flowers of all colors and shapes, trees with bark in every texture, and large stones were tightly packed together in their surroundings. She'd never been in the wood, but she knew that this must be the outside barrier. The spaces between the trees would get larger as they head further in. This thickness was another barrier that barred the villagers from entry. It made Kagome wonder what it was that the Matchen were so keen on protecting. Rumors always filled the villagers that the Matchen's Woods had a great secret that was protected from human eyes. What could it have been?

 

“Are you ready?” Haddi asked Kaede.

 

“Yes.”

 

“I should warn you. Though the forest gets thinner inward, it would mean we are in more danger. Please continue with care.” Martha pointed to the direction of their objective. “The tree that hold the barrier powers of our people is deeper in the Wood. That is our destination.”

 

Kagome would have asked why the Matchen didn't teleport them to the tree, yet she felt it must have been too rude a question. If she were to be the representative of the village, she had better learn to hold her tongue now, especially since she was a girl with the unfortunate habit of speaking her mind at the worst of times. The moon was fully overhead when the trees began to thin. Finally, Martha and Haddi brought the two of them to a large clearing. A chestnut tree grew on a tiny island in the middle of a small stream.

 

After wading their way though the water, Haddi and Martha placed their hands softly on the trunk. “This is the barrier tree. The stream takes its powers into the soil and distributes its powers to the roots of the other trees.” Haddi's voice was filled with such admiration it was almost as though he respected the tree like a person.

 

“What must I do?” Kaede said as she came forward.

 

“If you can put a barrier around the tree, the forest shall mimic the same barrier around its perimeter.” Martha explained.

 

“Very well. Kagome.” Kagome and Kaede placed themselves on either side of the tree and began chanting.

 

Placing her hands together, Kagome closed her eyes and focused her thoughts onto her priestess powers. In her mind, she imagined the ball of energy within herself. Pulling a string of her ball, she felt it wind itself around the tree's trunk. Over and over the thread spun in unison with Kaede's power till the two threads formed a spiral around the tree. The spiral thickened and a white light spread forth, engulfing the tree with the barrier. When the light cleared, the tree held a white glow about it.

 

“It is done.” Said Kaede a moment before she stumbled down to her knees. Haddi rushed to her, helping her to stand. “I'm too old for these spiritually strenuous activities.”

 

“That's quite all right.” Martha said kindly when she placed a soft hand on Kaede's shoulder. A green light passed through her hand and Kaede stood with a whispered thanks.

 

“Our work is finished. Please, let us escort-” Haddi's sudden stop made Martha stand straight and Kagome could see her ears twitching alertly.

 

“A volca.” Martha hissed. “And it's heading this way!”

 

“The demon must have detected the power! Kaede, please this way.” Haddi began to lead the priestess deeper into the forest while Martha remained stationary.

 

“Follow them child. I shall stay here and ward it.”

 

Not having time to ask what a volca was, Kagome hastened after Haddi and Kaede but barely had she taken two steps when the sound of branches snapping had her turn. Kagome's mouth opened and for a moment she wasn't sure what she was looking at for the creature that had just roared had a form, yet no form at all. It was transparent and its bear-like shape was made entirely of a black fog. Yet it had solid, stone-like horns on its head, glowing red eyes, and white teeth that were so sharp it was amazing the air didn't get sliced with their movements.

 

The volca made a bloodthirsty growl and Kagome no longer cared if there was a stomach in that fog-like body. Martha threw her arms into the air and roots sprang from the ground, surprisingly, trapping the volca for a brief moment, but the creature broke through and swiped at her with its golden claws. Martha jumped backward, tapping her foot angrily into the ground.

 

“Kaede, stay back.” Haddi said as he rushed forward. A moment later, he turned into a cinnamon stag with silver horns and charged the beast. The volca oozed black liquid when Haddi's horns pierced it. Screeching in pain the creature slammed a large paw onto the soil so hard that Kagome felt her feet leave the ground form the impact. A moment later, a gust of wind shook the air so hard that all Kagome could hear were Martha and Kaede's screams before she flew through the air and lost consciousness.

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The throbbing in Kagome's arm was what woke her. For a moment, she was stunned to see that she was not in her hut at the village. In fact, she was still surrounded by the rich foliage of the forest. The moonlight overhead was her light and as her eyes adjusted, Kagome noticed the red on her upper arm that had stained her priestess clothes. Ripping off a sleeve, Kagome did her best to tie a bandage over the wound without letting her tear filled eyes leak. The cut stung, but she could deal with it.

 

Standing she called through the trees. “Lady Kaede, Haddi, Martha?” No response. Shivering from the sudden chill, Kagome shuddered to think she was alone while there were creatures like volca in the forest she was forbidden to be in. The idea that she was also lost with no idea what direction the village was also did little to calm her panic.

 

Taking a breath, Kagome tried to slow her heartbeat. Shelter. That's what she needed first. She needed to somehow survive the night and hopefully find help when it was light. She found her bow and quiver not to far from where she'd been lying; miraculously, neither the arrows nor the bow were broken from the fall.

 

“Don't' panic.” She repeated to herself as she made her way through the forest, yet every swish of leaves and animal noises in the distance made her jump.

 

Trying not to let tears fall from the fear and the pain in her arm, she stumbled through the forest until finally a light was seen between two trees. Thinking the glow was from a fire, Kagome ran between the two oaks only to come to a stop at what her eyes took in.

 

It wasn't a fire the glow had been coming from. In front of her was a large lake, but it was not the kind of lake she'd ever seen. Giant stones that shined like diamonds rose up from the water like pillars. All around the lake and even sprinkled into it there were indigo flowers the size of boulders. The water was as clear as glass and Kagome could easily see the bottom. The water shined like stars.

 

There had never been such a beautiful sight in her life. Emptying her quiver, she filled it with water and bathed her wound with it, covering it with a fresh piece of cloth from her other sleeve, but the moment Kagome finished wrapping the bandage, the pain suddenly disappeared from her arm. Her eyes wide, she pulled the cloth away from her arm to see that there was no longer any injury there.

 

“Amazing.” She breathed.

 

She stared again at the lake and it glowed as though inviting her in. Mesmerized and wanting to feel the water on her skin again, Kagome slipped out of her clothes and waded into the water. It was warm and it caressed her skin like silk. She could swim in it all day. The crystals that came out from deep within the pool began to glow and dim like they had a heartbeat, and then the whole pool began to glow. Amazed, Kagome sunk underwater and swam between the crystals, but when she resurfaced, the lake was surrounded by angry Matchen.

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He had been sitting on the windowsill of his room with his feet against the wall overlooking the city. In the dark of the night, there were few people out wandering the town. It was likely that many of the Matchen were asleep, while the nocturnal ones were on patrol in the Wood. He sighed. It would be a few days until his family returned from their business and then he would be free from his roll of babysitting the people.

 

It was not that he hated ruling over the people and the cities while his mother, father, and brother were gone, rather, he disliked the long, tedious, meetings he would have to attend every several hours with advisors. It took so long to come to a decision. He was lucky he was able to get this time alone in his room after four weeks on constant royal work.

 

A knock was heard at his door, resulting in making him growl out of annoyance and let the servant in. It was Myoga, an old, short, balding, flea Matchen that served as a vassal for his father.

 

“What is it now.” He sighed with as much impatience he could muster.

 

“Lord Inuyasha. There is an emergency!”

 

Leaving the windowsill, he crossed the room with an angry stride. “There's always an emergency! What is it this time? Has a volca cut down another tree or injured another guard?” The advisors always overcomplicated problems. The Volca injuring a guardsman was something to be expected from the job. Why was it that the news should cause unrelenting panic when it happened? They were in the middle of a crisis, the attacks should be something to expect by now.

 

“When are you going to make some use of yourself? Your father, mother and brother are out on royal business and yet you lounge around and roll your eyes whenever a matter that needs your attention is presented.” Myoga admonished.

 

“Shut up and get to the point.” Inuyasha hissed.

 

“A human has entered the crystal spring.”

 

“WHAT!”

 

“Ah, so there is some royal blood in you after all.”

 

“You said a human entered the crystal spring? Who was the dumb ass that let down the shield to that area?”

 

“Language my lord.”

 

“Answer the question damn it!”

 

“We do not know. The human girl entered the water even when the area was shielded.”

 

“Where is she?”

 

“She's being held captive in the dungeon sir.”

 

“Why are you holding her there? You know what happens to a human when they enter the spring. Bring her up to the throne room!”

 

“Yes sir.” Myoga turned and left. Inuyasha rubbed his hand over his eyes as he turned to go. He had done it! He'd let a human into the spring. Oh when his father comes back he's in for the beating for a lifetime! Growling, Inuyasha made his way to the audience chamber, dreading the encounter with the human wench.

 

He threw open the double doors that led to the marbled audience chamber; the guards threw him nervous looks as he stomped toward his father's throne. Sitting down, he wondered how he was going to speak to the girl without shouting, for he was angry that he had been careless enough to let a human enter the spring and even more angry that he would have to watch her suffer through the consequences.

 

As though summoned by his thoughts. Myoga entered the room with several other guards following. Two guards were hauling a white bundle into the room and it took a moment for him to realize that it was the human girl. She was holding a white cloth to her with a death grip. Dropping her, she folded her knees under her and looked at him with a glare.

 

There was no easy way to do this, but he decided he might as well save himself, and her, the trouble of having an audience. “Leave!” He ordered bluntly, and every other person in the audience hall walked out of the room. He did not stand from the throne until he heard the double doors click shut, telling him that the guards had locked it from the other side. It was a good thing they did for when the girl realized what was going to happen to her, it was not going to be a pretty sight. In fact, he found himself dreading the fact that he had to be in the room with her when it happened.

 

Kagome watched the man across the room without a word, her face flaming. The Matchen had dragged her out of the pool so quickly and angrily that she had been exposed to the whole lot of them. They'd barely given any time to dress, which was why she held her upper priestess robes to her with a sharp hold. The indignity of it! Now she was in a large room, alone with man, and underneath her shameful excuse of clothing she was nude!

 

She knew she had done something to anger them and she would have worried, but her anger at the way they had thrown her into the dungeon, without even giving her suitable clothing, and then hauled her to this room overrode her anxiety. When she was sure she could take it, she looked back up to the man at the throne. He stared at her without saying anything for a while, and she thought he might be contemplating something.

 

Then he rose from the throne and made his way across to her. As he got closer, she became aware of his Matchen characteristics. His hair was silver and long, down to his hips, and there were two fuzzy ears atop his crown, like that of a dog she would have guessed. When he came within reach of her, she held her breath. Most Matchen she had seen were fair in regards to looks, but he was really handsome. His eyes were almost predatory in their golden color, his skin lightly tanned and his face was strong and angular.

 

“What's your name?” He asked. His voice snapped her out of her admiration for his looks. He was gruff and sounded annoyed, which made her forget about his face and remember angrily that he was another Matchen that was treating her terribly this evening. He was keen on keeping his distance, she noticed. Was he being safe or arrogant?

 

“Oi, wench, I asked you a question.” He snapped. He mustn't be one with patience.

 

“It's Kagome.” She all but snapped.

 

Inuyasha blinked at her. For a human that had just broken one of their most serious taboos she sure had a lot of nerve. With her black hair still wet and sticking to her skin, she radiated with anger and embarrassment more then the fear he would expect. Circling around her he said, “You have broken one of our most sacred taboos. Do you realize there will be consequences for your actions?”

 

“What have I done?” She said defiantly.

 

“You bathed in the Crystal Spring. The water from that Lake is essential to the longevity of the Wood and you have poisoned it. Now the water must be purified.” He saw her shudder and he knew she was taking in the how her actions were a severe insult to the Matchen. But her reaction would be nothing compared to what he would have to tell her next.

 

“And,” she began slowly, “what would be my punishment?”

 

He clenched his teeth. “It is not my place to hand out sentences before the transformation takes place.”

 

She looked up at him with wide brown eyes. “Transformation? What transformation?”

 

Closing the space between then till he was an arm's distance away, he saw her pull the cloth closer about herself as he got closer, he kneeled down so he could look her in the face. “Your transformation. Any human that is doused in the Crystal Spring's water will no longer be human.”

 

“W-what am I going to become then?”

 

The moment she asked him he could already feel the time for change coming. “How long ago had you been in the water?”

 

“An hour ago, I guess, before your guards threw me in the dungeon.”

 

“Then you should start feeling weird soon.”

 

“What am I going to become then?”

 

“A Matchen just like me. Once you change, then your sentence should be decided.”

 

Kagome felt her heart beat pick up. “Is it…painful?”

 

Inuyasha did not want to answer that question because he could already smell the change coming. Right on cue, he couldn't help but think when the girl suddenly squeaked and bent till her forehead touched the marble. Soon her whimpers became screams.

 

Kagome wailed. Her body burned and her bones felt as thought they were going to explode. She slammed her fist against the stone floor, while her head felt as though there were rocks on the inside of her skill that were slamming against the bone. Her jaw throbbed and Kagome could feel her teeth like they were baking in a fire. The next second, which felt like hours, two points on her crown seared as though her head had been sliced open with a sword.

 

Inuyasha saw her writhe the floor, hating that there was nothing he could do to ease the transformation. He saw her scalp suddenly cut and bleed. A moment later, she jumped to her feet, the cloth covering her falling to the ground, crying out while her face became red from the force of the pain. Her hands on either side of her head, she wailed so loudly that he felt his ears flatten on his head.

 

Then she stumbled forward and she would have fallen to the floor had he not caught her arm, but he wished he hadn't touched her. In the next instant, she dug her claws into his shoulders and pressed her throbbing head to his chest while screaming. He gritted his teeth and tried not to push her away. Finally, he began to smell her scent change, her cries began to lose volume and eventually she began to gasp and sob as the pain began to ebb.

 

When she stopped moving, he only had a second to catch her before she fell to the floor. After that painful transformation, he wasn't the least bit surprised that she fainted. Birth was never easy, and neither was rebirth. “Shit. The old man is going to kill me.”

 

But his father was the least of his problems. Right now, he had to concentrate on getting this nude female someplace she could rest because there would be a lot of explaining to do when she wakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So um…did you like it? Please be nice with reviews? Thank you.