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Chapter Text

"Gramps, come on. I just got back from school, last thing I want is another history lesson!" 

Your back presses into the hardwood floor as you complain loudly, you hold up one of the jewel keychains. Your cat, Buyo, climbs onto your chest, playing with the keychain. 

You chuckle and raise the keychain higher and lower, "Learning patience would do you a lot of good, my girl. Who knows what you've missed out on by being too quick to act," Your grandfather sighs "Ahem, I was saying...that crystal is a replica of an ancient jewel which..." He slowly trails off as you grow more and more distracted. Your grandfather groans, you turn to look at him, "Oh! Gramps, it's gonna be my birthday tomorrow. You didn't forget, did you?" You ask, he narrows his eyes at you, but does end up laughing affectionately.

"Well...I planned to wait another day-" "So you did get me something! What is it? What is it?" You ask eagerly, quickly moving to sit up. Buyo jumps off your chest and settles beside you. Your grandfather grabs a small blue box, you take it from him excitedly. You open the box, frowning at the sight inside, "Grandpa...you killed someone?" You ask, your grandfather starts another exp "No, no! That, my dear, is an authentic mummified hand of a water imp, which-" 

You dangle the imp hand in front of Buyo, "You'll get more enjoyment out of this than I would." You state, the cat doesn't hesitate to take it out of your hands. He bites down on it, your grandfather shrieks in horror "THAT'S AN ANTIQUE!", you watch Buyo walk away with the imp hand. You let out a bored sigh, "Gramps, you know, most 15 year old girls want something like...I dunno lip gloss or scrunchies or something." You state as you stand up, your grandfather lets out a gentle scoff. 

...

...

...

"Why, these pickles are full history." Your grandfather hums at the dinner table. You sigh and shovel food into your mouth, "Not even half as full as you are." You say, his sighs, looking to your mother for help. She chuckles, "Y/N, don't talk with your mouth full." She says, your grandfather groans loudly while you and your younger brother, Sota, snicker quietly. 

...

"Are you sure I can't skip school today? Who goes to school on their birthday anyway?" You ask as you slide into your shoes, your mother stands in the doorway. Her smile bright enough to light up the room, "Girls who want to get into a good high school." She says "Right..." You huff, pouting and grabbing your bag "Well, I'll be off then. Sota's waiting for me anyway. Bye, Mom!" You say, you wave goodbye and run outside. 

"Sota? Ready to go?" You call out, Sota stands in front of the shed with a nervous expression. "Hey, you know Mom doesn't like you playing in there." You warn "I'm not. It's Buyo. He ran inside here." He tells you. You walk up beside Sota, glancing inside the shed, "Did he go down the well?" You asks, you place your bag down at the door, "Buyo!" You call out "I don't know where else he can be..." Sota sighs. 

You nudge Sota closer to the door, "So go down." You says "HUH?!" Sota gasps. "You heard me. Go down the well and get Buyo." You state with a shrug "W-what? But why do I gotta be the one?" Sota asks "Because you're the one that's looking for him. And you're the one who lost him. So, you gotta go down. It's the law." You tell him. "That's not a law-" 

Sota lets out a fearful scream, he ducks behind you. "Something's down there!" He gasps, you snort and gently shove him off of you. 

"Yeah, the cat. He probably just fell in the well. You know Buyo's good at getting in places he shouldn't be in." You say, walking inside the shed. A thud cause you and Sota to yelp, Buyo nuzzles again your leg. You sigh and pick him up, "Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack..." You chuckle affectionately "You make fun of me because I'm scared, and then you're all 'AAAH!'" Sota mocks, you scoff, shooting him a look. "I'm braver than you, Mr. 'W-why do I have to go?'." You mock back, Sota sulks. 

His eyes widen and he jumps to his feet, "Sis, behind you!" He says nervously. The well behind you bursts open, you turn around just in time to see glowing hands reaching for you. They grab you, yanking you into the well. Buyo jumps out of your arms, "What's going on?!" Sota shouts, his shout become further and further away. You watch fearfully as the hands stop glowing and suddenly you see...a naked woman with a lot of arms?

You wish she didn't have her hands all over you right now.

"Alive. Oh to be alive once more. Already my strength returns." She says, you look at the rest of her body...it's like a centipede. 

Ew...

Now you really wish she wasn't touching you right now.

The woman tightens your grip on your head, forcing you to look at her, "You have it, don't you? Give it to me." She says, her tongue extends out of her mouth and brushes against your check. You thrash uncomfortably in your, "The hell are you doing?! Let me go!" You shout, you smack your palm into her face, your eyes widen when a purple beam of light shoots out of your hands and pushes the woman off of you. Nothing but one of her hands remain attached to your arm, "Wretched girl! I must have the Sacred Jewel!" The woman screams as she floats away.

The Sacred Jewel?

You drift in a blue void, you push the woman's arm off of you. Your feet finally touch solid ground and you let out a relieved sigh. "That was weird..." You mumble nervously, trying desperately to catch your breath. "Sota, next time, you're gonna have to find Buyo on your own. Go get a ladder...actually get Gramps and make him get the ladder. We're gonna be late at this rate." You call out, but Sota doesn't answer you. "Sota?" You call out again, you stand up, glancing up at the light coming through the top of the well. 

Did he ditch you?

You are totally going to get him if that little punk ditched you...

You sigh, the woman's severed arm twitches beside you. You yelp, "Ok...ditched or not. I'm not staying in this well!" You yelp, scrambling away from the arm. You grab one of the vines growing inside the well, carefully climbing up. A white butterfly flutters around you, you smile at it, "Hey. Maybe that means I'll get some good birthday luck." You says, it takes a minute or two, but you manage to pull yourself out of the well. 

"What the..."

Sota's gone...and so is the shed...

...And the rest of your family's shrine.

Nothing but trees and lush green grass surrounds you.

"Mom? Grandpa? Sota? Are you guys there?" You call out, you rest on the edge of the well, "Not good. This is why Mom should've gave me a phone..." You sigh, you pat out the wrinkles in your school uniform and start walking. You start to feel an odd sensation on your pinky finger, you hold up your hand, "Did that woman cut me?" You ask, a red string tied around your pinky finger glows, you tilt your head in confusion, the other end of the string floats in another direction. 

It almost feels like it's trying to guide you. 

"Well...it's not like I have much of a choice," You says, walking in the direction the red string was pointing to "I need as much help as I can get. And maybe you're trying to lead me home. I hope that's what you're trying to do." You walk carefully, unsure of where you are or even where you're going. You gasp at the sight of the Sacred Tree, "The tree! You were leading me home!" You tell the string, you push through the bushes and the branches. If there's one thing that never changes about your home, it's the Sacred Tree. 

The string glows a deep red, and the tree is fully in your sights. A white haired boy is stuck to the tree, he's wrapped in the tree's roots and there's an arrow in his shoulder. "A...boy?" You asks, you sigh in disappointment, glancing at the string around your finger. "I wanted to go home and you bring me to a cosplayer? Ugh, what is this stupid thing?" You ask, you try to tug the string off of your finger, but it won't budge. The string glows again, and drifts closer to the boy until it wraps around the arrow in his shoulder.

You sigh, climbing up the tree roots, "Uh, hey there,...dude. Are you...dead?" You ask as you get closer and closer to the boy. You pause, now you can actually get a good look at him. "Oh, wow. Like dog ears." You say, you reach up and run your fingers over his ears. "They're so soft." You mumble, fiddling with the boy ears for a few more minutes. "Well, now that's out of my system. Time to figure out how to get home." You hum, you feel a tug on your finger and the string glows again, this time, it's starting to pulse. 

Is...is it getting annoyed with you?

It really wants that arrow out, huh?

"GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

An army of arrows pierce the wood around the two of you, you scream, ducking down as much as you could. You let out a fearful breath...

...

...

"You didn't have to tie me up, you know. I'm not the one with a weapon. And this is basically kidnapping. Geez, this ropes are too tight..." You complain, squirming uncomfortably. The town's villagers stares you down. Just as scared of you as you admittedly are of them.

"...A girl with strange clothes." 

"Is she a foreigner?"

"You reckon it's a war?"
"Of course it is, and right in the middle of rice planting season too."

"War?! Hey, I don't want any trouble. I am just trying to get home!" You interject quickly, the crowd continues to look at you suspiciously. "She could be a Kitsune in disguise." A woman says, rocking her baby "A what...?" You ask. "Nah. Them shape changing foxes are a lot tricker than that." Another woman says, "And what about the String of Fate around her finger? Those are extremely rare." Someone else says. 

You suck in a sharp breath. You don't know if you want to scream at them or start crying...maybe both? No, you can't cry. Not now. Cry later when no one's watch. 

What is this place? Your grandpa would love it here. 

Everyone talks old and they're crazy.

"Make way for High Priestess Kaede!" 

An older woman with an eye patch makes her way through the crowd, you stares at her nervously as she gets closer and closer to you. She starts to throw salt at you, "Demon, be gone!" She shouts "Hey! I'm not a demon, ok?" You shout, you shut your eyes to protect them. The woman...High Priestess Kaede stops throwing salt, "Are ye not?" She asks "No. Demons aren't real." You sigh, the crowd lets out a few confused sounds of disapproval at that. Kaede raises an eyebrow, "Not real? Then why were ye found in the Forest of InuYasha?" She asks. 

"She could be a spy from another village."

"In that case, she would be a fool. Who would invade such a poor village as ours?" Kaede sighs, you glare at her slightly. You didn't come here by choice, so, you're not just going to be called a fool. There's not much else you can do in your situation except for glare, though. Kaede pauses, she steps closer and grabs your face, "Let me have a good look at ye. You're clever girl? Or be ye a half wit?" She asks. Memories of the centipede woman from before briefly fills your senses. You jerk your face out of Kaede's hold, you glare at the ground, "You can examine me without touching my face." You state bitterly. "That look of fire. I've seen that look before..." Kaede says, she pulls back from you.

...

You rub the soreness out of your wrist, word cannot describe how happy you are to have the ability to move freely again. 

Kaede watches you, stirring a pot of stew. You glance at her for a second, quickly look away to glare at the ground in front of you. The sun has set, and you still have no clue where you are or how to get home. The red string's feel making your finger itch all day too. "Stew?" Kaede asks, but she's already holding out a full bowl to you, "Yeah...thank you..." You say. You take a sip out of the bowl, "It taste great. Reminds me of my mom's cooking..." You state, "Bear us no ill will, child," Kaede says "For though I now see ye mean us no harm, in these troubled times of war, no stranger may be welcomed among us without deep distrust." "I...can understand that. I'm not upset with you...or the villager. I just don't really understand what going on here. And I really hate being confused." You sigh. 

Man, what a great way to spend a birthday.

"I'm not sure how to get home, and this stupid thing keeps squeezing my finger. Hey, you don't have any scissors or a knife or something like that that could cut through this, do you?" You ask, you hold up your hand to show Kaede the string around your pinky. Her eye widens, "So it is true? Ye were blessed with a String of Fate." She says "A String of Fate?" You ask. "Yes, I've only seen one other person with a String of Fate in my lifetime. They very rarely form." Kaede explains, her gazes becomes more thoughtful the more she looks at you. "Maybe...it's possible that-"

The ground shakes and loud crashes can be heard outside before a bell starts ringing. 

Kaede jumps to her feet and rushes outside, you quickly finish your food before you run after her. "What's going on?" Kaede asks, "IT'S A MONSTER!" Someone screams, the centipede woman from before crashes into houses and knocks over villagers. "Whoa...she looks a lot bigger than she did in the well..." You say nervously, the woman throws a horse at you. Kaede quickly moves the two of you out of the way, "Give me the Sacred Jewel." The centipede woman demands, she charges towards you. You and Kaede duck, "It said Sacred Jewel. Are ye its till?" Kaede asks "Uh, I have no idea what you're asking me, but I don't have that thing." You tell her

"I must have it! I MUST!"

Some male villagers try to shoot down the centipede woman with bow and arrows, but she starts to make her whole body spin, knocking those poor guys down. "Spears, arrows-nothing works." A man says, he stands in front of you and Kaede protectively. "We must lure it to the dry well." Kaede states "The dry well?" You ask "In the forest of InuYasha." Kaede says. 

The well you came out of...

"Which was is the forest?" You asks, the other end of your red string starts to pull you again, "It's where this thing is pulling me, right? Ok. I'm gonna get her away from here." You say, "Wait-" Kaede starts, but you're already running, following the string once again. "You better not lead me to that boy again. I need to get to the well." You stress, maybe the string will listen to you this time. Is the centipede woman following you? You look over your shoulder and-yep! She's definitely chasing after you. 

Further away, Kaede watches you run, "Her String of Fate is guiding her to the Forest of InuYasha?" She asks...

You continue running as fast as your legs could carry you. "Man, I wish I wasn't wearing this stupid skirt!" You pant out, the situation dawns on you more and more as you run. 

Is someone going to save you?

Who can save you? Not your mom. Not your grandpa...

The centipede woman was getting closer and closer to you, you gasp fearfully. Your hands ball into fist, no...you can't. You don't want to die yet...

"I don't care who you are! Somebody, please, HELP ME!" You shout out, the string on your finger begins to burn.

...

InuYasha's hand twitches, the String of Fate on his own pinky coming back to life with a red flow. He moves sluggishly, sniffing the air, "I smell it..." He says, a determined grin forming on his face "The blood of the woman who killed me, and it's coming closer." InuYasha lifts his hand, he notices the string on his finger moving. It's...actually drifting in a direction, and it's not just pointing upwards anymore? InuYasha scoffs through grit teeth.

...

"The jewel-give it to me!"

"Get it through your thick head! I don't have it!" You shout, the red string is pretty much dragging you at this point. It wouldn't let you stop even if you wanted to.

Not that you wanted to. 

The centipede woman leaps into the air before smashing her face into the ground. The ground breaks, throwing you onto the floor. You smack face-first into the ground, "Ow..." You groan, spitting out dirt.

"Hello, Kikyo."

You flinch and look up, the boy from before...he's talking to you? He's alive? Did he feel you messing with his ears?

Judging by the glare on his face, he probably did.

"Playing with bugs now, are we?" The boy asks, you look up at him. "So, you are alive?" You ask, standing up, "Why are you taking so long to kill it? Just do her like you did me. You look pretty dumb there, Kikyo. The Kikyo I know wouldn't waste her time." The boy mocks, you grab a piece of the broken ground that landed beside you. "That does it." You say, throwing it at the boy, dirt smacks the boy directly in the face, "HEY-" "Kikyo, Kikyo, whoever she is, she's not me and I am not her. My name is-"

The ground shakes again.

"She's here." The boy says, the centipede woman leaps sound from the Sacred Tree. You scream, and jump away from her, falling over the root that were keeping the boy bound to the tree. The woman nearly grabs you again-but spears pierce her skin, "Good. Now pull!" A man shouts, a group of men work to pull the centipede woman away from you. "So...someone did save me..." You mumble, still trembling a little. 

"You're pathetic, Kikyo." The boy says, grinning smugly "I am not Kikyo!" You shout in frustration, turning your attention to the boy again. His once clean, pretty face now covered in dirt. Good. He deserves it. You cross your arms, "Get your ridiculously soft ears cleans out, I've told you and I am tell you again. I am not Kikyo. I have no idea who she is!" You say, stomping up to the boy. You climb up the tree roots once again, if you need to punch this guy, you would. "You got to be her! You scents are so-" The boy stops and sniffs the air. Now the you were so close...

"You're not her." He says "Wow! His brain's finally working. Someone give him a prize!" You say sarcastically, you clasp your hands together. The string was starting to feel weird again, but you're to irritated to care about that right now. "My name is Y/N. Need me to spell it for you?" You ask, the boy glares at you, "Why you-" Hands grabs your shoulders, you look back to see the centipede woman gripping you tightly. 

In a state of panic, you grab the first thing you could, which just so happened to be the boy's long hair. "Let go of me!" You shout, squirming in the woman's grip. "Ow. Ow! OW! YOU LET GO!" The boy shouts, "GIVE ME THE SACRED JEWEL!" The woman screams, digging her nails into you, you hiss in pain. "I. Don't. Have. It!" You shout yet again, the woman opens her mouth, showing sharp fangs. You gasp as she lunges at you, "GO AWAY!" You shout, your palm glows a bright white light before you slap the woman. The woman is knocked away, you end up falling back to the ground in front of the boy. "Hey...that happened in the well too. Except it was purple last time..." You say, you look down at your hand. The white glow was gone, but that red string was glowing brighter than before. 

It's hard to find the opposite end now.

Did the string get longer?

You eyes follow the string, searching for the end of it, but keeps going until it reaches...

The looks at his hand, the red string around his pinky was now connect to yours. He glares at the string, looking at you, "So...it's you." He says, he sounds...disgusted? Maybe disappointed? You didn't get to dwell on your confusion too much longer, the centipede woman bashes into you, knocking the air out of you. She chomps down on your shoulder blade, ripping out the meat. You cry out in pain, blood flies into the air as well as a...jewel. 

Did that come from inside of you?

Is that the Sacred Jewel?

Your body smacks into the ground, between that and your shoulder...the pain's getting to be a little bit much, "Give me the jewel, quick!" The boy says "...What?" You ask "Hurry!" He shouts, the centipede woman circles the Sacred Tree, wrapping her body around it. You grunt, getting pressed against the boy's chest. "I heard some half demon spawn was after the Sacred Jewel. It's you, isn't it?" The woman asks the boy. So he's a half demon? That would explains the ears. Man, you want to touch them again. "Half's all I need to kick your scaly butt. Anything more than that would be a waste of my time. " The boy says, you shift to look at him, "You talk big, but can you actually back it up?" You ask. 

"Hm?" The boy looks at you in confusion "Can you back it up or not?!" You ask. "What can he do, pinned there like that, or you, for that matter? You're powerless to stop me," The woman cackles "You're helpless. The both of you." She wraps her tongue around the Sacred Jewel and pulls it into her mouth, "Don't you dare!" The boy shouts. He looks down at you when tighten your grip on his clothes nervously, "Look. It's re-arming..." You say. The centipede woman's body twitches and morphs, "At last, my power is complete!" She cackles, her body tightens around the tree. You wince out, "It's crushing me!" The boy quietly studies your expression, he briefly softens at the look of fear on your face.

Ok, so you're definitely not Kikyo. You're just another stupid, dumb human. 

That is also his...no, no he won't accept that. There's no one in this world that will ever love him. 

"Hey..." The boy says, his voice softer than before "Can you pull out this arrow?" "What...?" You ask quietly. "Look. Can you pull out this arrow or not?" He asks, the harshness in his tone comes back. You wince as you try to move, "I...I can try." You say through grit teeth, it hurts too much to raise your arm, but you do your best to push through it. "Nay, child!" Kaede calls out "Once the arrow is removed then InuYasha will be free to destroy us all!" "Don't be stupid, you old hag! At least with me, you've got a change, whereas that thing is gonna eat you!" The boy shouts "...InuYasha..." You mutter under your breath.

So this boy is InuYasha? 

InuYasha looks at you again, "And what about you? Are you ready to die yet?" He asks, you look him in the eyes, glaring at him. "No way." You say, you reach out arm upwards, determined to get the arrow. You yank the arrow out of InuYasha's shoulder, it glows a bright purple before completely disappearing. InuYasha's eyes darken, it feels like his whole body is pulsing underneath you. 

"Uh...InuYasha?" You ask, he starts snickering and then he starts to laugh loudly. You start to honestly hope this won't go horribly wrong, the centipede woman hisses and moves to wrap around the tree even tighter than before. InuYasha breaks out of the tree roots, throwing both you off of him, you watch pieces of the centipede woman's body scatter around you. You cringe, resisting the urge to vomit, "Wicked child." The centipede woman hisses "Nasty hag!" InuYasha says, grinning widely. 

The two lunge at each other, "IRON REAVER, SOUL STEALER!" InuYasha shouts, he uses his claws to slice the centipede woman in half. 

Oh yeah, you're definitely going to vomit...

At least now you know he's actually strong and not all talk. You hope Kaede's wrong and he won't end up killing everyone. 

The centipede woman's leg twitches, "It's still moving!" You shout, jumping to your feet. Kaede and a few male villager run up to you, "Find the glowing flesh quickly. That's where the jewel will be, It must be removed at once Lest the flesh of Mistress Centipede revive." Kaede tells you. Your eyes widen, "Whoa, whoa...That thing has a name?" You ask, dumbfounded, "Please find the jewel." Kaede sighs, "Uh...ok..." You look around Mistress Centipede's...corpse for any sign of the jewel. You spot a glow coming from a piece, "There. It's over there." You state, Kaede approaches the piece of corpse and pulls out the jewel.

Mistress Centipede's body crumbles away to nothing but bones. Kaede walks over to you, she hold the Sacred Jewel out to you, "Huh? Uh, thanks, but I really don't want that." You say, moving back. Kaede sighs, "Only ye may possess the Sacred Jewel..." She says, she carefully grabs your arm and drops the jewel into your hand. "...Why do I have to have the thing crazy monsters are after? And why was this in my body?" You ask, the red string tugs your pinky again. "Exactly. Humans can't use it, so why bother to keep it? If you hand the jewel over right now, I won't have to start sharpening my claws on you." InuYasha threatens. "Wait...what? You mean that guy's not the hero? And why is this stupid string connected to him?" You ask. 

Kaede sighs sympathetically, "No, InuYasha is fair from a hero. And if ye String of Fate is connecting to him, it means that the two of ye are bound to each other." She explains "H-huh?! Bound to him how?" You ask "Man, you really are stupid..." InuYasha scoffs, playing with his String of Fate, "Shut the hell up!" You shout, you turn to Kaede with a desperate look in your eyes, "Please tell me there's a way to cut this thing. I can't be stuck with a crazy half demon. Besides, I already have a true love back at home..." You say, Kaede looks at you and glances at InuYasha. He seems more agitated than he did before, "Aye, there be a way." She says. InuYasha growls, readying his claws. 

"Whatever. Cut the stupid string all you want. Just give me the jewel!" InuYasha demands, an army of male villagers with spears surround InuYasha. "Pay no heed to InuYasha, child." Kaede says, the Sacred Jewel glows in your hand. "I hate having to wait, and I hate the smell of you, my beloved soulmate." InuYasha growls, the way he says 'my beloved soulmate' is filled with hatred...

InuYasha leaps into the air, charging towards you. You tighten your grip on the Sacred Jewel, your instincts throw you into a panic. You break in a run, "Fear not! For as long as ye are soulmate, InuYasha can't hurt ye!" Kaede shouts. "Oh, well, at least there's one good thing about being bounded to a maniac!" You sigh, but you keep running. You trip over one of Mistress Centipede's bones, just in time to barely miss InuYasha's claws as he swings. He lands in front of you, "Don't listen to the old hag's lies. Want me to scratch your back?" He asks, holding up his claws. You could see his red string, it wasn't glowing anymore...neither was yours. Actually, it might be the lighten, but the string looks darker. "What the...you seriously just tried to hit me right now!" You shout, glaring him down.

"Quickly, shoot him!"  

Arrows are shot at InuYasha, but he breaks them with ease. He runs towards the villagers and slices the nearby tree around them, the villager run before the trees could fall on them. "Heh! Who do you people think I am? You think you can hurt me like I did that centipede?" InuYasha scoffs, everyone stares at him nervously, you stand up cautiously. The ring string shifts when you move, InuYasha immediately locks his attention back on you. You internally curse the string wrapped around your finger, running away once again with InuYasha hot on your tail.

"Prepare yourself!" InuYasha shouts behind you, you say nothing and focus on getting away. The red string was getting looser, that means he must be closing in on you. InuYasha's claws slashes the ground, you fall to the ground and the Sacred Jewel rolls away. You slowly look over your shoulder, your eyes widen at the sight of InuYasha's claw mark in the dirt, "Ha! Now it's mine!" InuYasha says, he heads straight for the Sacred Jewel.

A necklace appears around InuYasha's neck, he stops his pursuit of the jewel, "What the heck are these?" He asks. "Quickly, child! The word of subjugation!" Kaede calls out. You grab the jewel, "The word of what? What word?" You ask "It matter not. Your word has power to hold his spirit!" Kaede says, you take off once more. You stumble off the edge of a cliff, landing on your injured shoulder, you hiss and the jewel rolls away once again. It stops on a wooden bridge, "Ha! How can you overpower me when you can't sit up?! Why would the universe give me such a weak soulmate?" InuYasha says, he lands on the other side of the bridge. He was so face away that your string had separated, despite how you feel about him...your string still drifts towards InuYasha's string, desperately wanting to be connected again...

Ok, you need to think of something...a word to hold his spirit.

What word can you use?

InuYasha reaches for the jewel as it rolls closer to him. Ah, you don't have time to overthink this! You blurt out the first word that comes to mind, "Sit, boy!" You shout fearfully, the necklace glows and slams InuYasha into the bridge. Had you not been so tired and stressed from everything, you would've laughed at the sight. You slowly step onto the bridge, "What the heck is this thing?!" InuYasha shouts, he tries to yank it off, "I'm sorry, InuYasha," Kaede says, she and some villagers watch from above "But even you lack the power to remove it." "We'll see about that! I'd come up there and finish you off, if you didn't look half dead already!" He shouts. "The word, please." Kaede says "Sit, boy." You say, more confident. InuYasha slams into the bridge so hard that it breaks and he falls through. You watch your string float in his direction, you ball up your hand and pick up the jewel. "Well, then, shall we head home?" Kaede says...you wish you could go home. "Man, that was easy...I definitely won't abuse this power." You have no idea who you're lying to of why you're wasting your time lying. 

...

"OW!"

You bite back more cries of pain as Kaede patches up your wound, "Apologies, but ye really should have let me tend to it last night." She says, her tone both gentle and scolding. "Everyone was so tired last night. I didn't want to be a bother..." You groan, Kaede wraps up your shoulder. "I noticed that you're rebuilding the houses that were wrecked last night. That sounds like a pain." You say, Kaede washes her hands, "Pain? Yes-and just beginning. Now that the Sacred Shikon No Tama is back among us, far worse than Mistress Centipede will come to claim it." She says "There's worse than her...?" You ask, Kaede nods, "And not just demons. There are humans whose hearts are more evil, still, and only the jewel has the power to make real their petty, grasping ambitions." She explains. Speaking of petty...

Your String of Fate was happily connect to InuYasha's once again as he rest nearby on the floor with his back facing you. He showed up at some point in the middle of the night with no explanation.

He didn't attack you in your sleep, which is appreciate, since you barely got any sleep last night. Who knew sleeping without a bed was so hard?

"Kaede," You start "You said that there was a way to get rid of this string, right?" Kaede nods and InuYasha scoffs quietly. "Aye, you have to truly feel hate in your heart towards InuYasha." Kaede explains "...That's it?" You ask, raising an eyebrow, "If you completely close off your heart to him and curse his name aloud. The universe will free you of this bond," Kaede says, she looks at InuYash as he glares holes into the wall, "But, I will tell you that the universe has never made a mistake in pairing souls." 

You scoff, "There's no way I'm meant to be with him. I don't like brats that smell like dog." You say, InuYasha whips around to look at you "Excuse me? Lot of talk coming from a scared little girl that was crying and holding onto me last night!" He snaps "Big talk coming from the guy that couldn't because of a single arrow!" You snap back. "What're you so upset about anyway?! You clearly don't like me, you must hate me. So, why don't you do it? Say that you hate me, and we can be free of this." You hold up your hand, InuYasha glares at you. "You want the bond broken so bad? You do it!" He shouts, turning away from you again.

"Ugh, fine! InuYasha, I hate you!" You shout, his ears flick back. Your strings continue to be united, you let out a frustrated sigh. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I-" "ALRIGHT! Hasn't it gotten through your thick head that it ain't gonna work?!" InuYasha shouts, Kaede speaks up, "He's right. Ye can say that ye hate him all ye want, but unless the words ring true in your heart, the strings will remain." "Great..." You sigh. You've never truly hated anyone your whole life. You can't believe you're going to be stuck with this jerk forever. "What are you even lingering around for anyway?!" You ask "I'm waiting for the jewel." He says. 

InuYasha glares at the wall, "With the beads around his neck, his threat is diminished. It is perhaps the only way we can allow him so close to the jewel." Kaede says "Why do you want the jewel anyway? You're strong enough as is. What power can the jewel possibly give you that you don't already have?" You ask "Ah, but he's just a half demon." Kaede says, InuYasha punches the ground, breaking through the wood. You jump a little, "You know what? I'm sick of hearing some dried up witch I just met talk like she knows me." InuYasha says angrily, he glares at Kaede, but she seems unbothered. "So ye don't remember. I thought as much. I'm younger sister to Kikyo, she who bound ye to the tree, Kaede." She explains.

"You're Kaede? So you're the brat, huh?" InuYasha asks, and it seems like he's calm down at that explanation. "50 years have passed and I have grown old." Kaede states, you blink, if InuYasha's been bound to the tree for 50 years...he's definitely a lot older than he looks. You glance at him curiously, "If you're this old, Kikyo must be pushing 100. She's probably settled with a full human family too..." InuYasha sighs bitterly, but then has a smug grin "I'm sure glad I don't gotta worry about being old, at least not for awhile." He says,

"Kikyo didn't worry, either. Kikyo died." 

InuYasha tenses, "It was on the same day she shot ye with the arrow." Kaede adds, she throws some wood into the fire. You fidget with the string around your finger, absentmindedly making shapes with it, this feels like a conversation you shouldn't be here for. "Gee, sorry to hear it-not that I really care or nothing. It's one less thing for me to worry about." InuYasha says, he lays back down on his side. "I wouldn't let my guard down just yet, InuYasha. I now know that Y/N is the reincarnation of my sister." Kaede states. 

"Huh?" You ask, you stop playing with the string, Kaede nods, "Ye might not resemble her, but the Jewel of 4 Soul was in your body. That alone is proof enough. It's up to ye now, child, to take over its protection" Kaede says. 

...

You walk the paths of the village, tugging at the jewel around your neck. At least Kaede was nice enough to make it into a pretty necklace, but you can hardly care about that now! How are you supposed to protect this thing?

What a joke. 

All you want to do is go home. 

Not guard some jewel. And besides, you still need to do something about this string on your finger. You know InuYasha's close because the string keeps glowing and floating the the direction he's in. Why won't he just say he hates you? There's no way he wants this string anymore than you do. 

The villager start to bow at you, you look at them uncomfortably, "I gotta get out of here." You say, quickly walking away. 

...

You follow your red string all the way to a tree on a hill. InuYasha sits with his back turned to you on the tree branch, sulking, you grab a fruit that one of many villager gave you. You throw the fruit at him, which he catches without even turning around. He looks at the fruit in confusion, "Feel free to eat it, I've got plenty." You tell him, InuYasha looks at all the bags and baskets you're dragging around, "Where'd you get all that stuff from?" He asks "Well, since I'm apparently a reincarnate of Kikyo or something. All the villager really like me now. They keep giving me stuff. You haven't eaten in 50 years, so, eat this." You state with a shrug.

...

You take a bite out a pear, making an exaggerated effort to chew it. You swallow and show InuYasha your empty mouth, "See? Is that good enough proof that I didn't poison it?" You ask, InuYasha stares at you suspiciously, "Whatever you're up to, I ain't buying it." He says, but he stills end up eating what you dropped in his lap, "Listen, it's fair to say you don't like me-" "Way more than fair." He says, you roll your eyes "-Whatever. It's not even me you dislike, it's that dead chick. At least when I say I don't like you, it's exactly you I don't like." You scoff, InuYasha huffs and hops back onto his tree branch, you watch the red string follow him. 

"Why don't you just say that you hate me so the string can be broken, huh? Do you hate me so much that you want me to suffer a fate where I'm stuck with you forever?" You ask, bitterly chewing the pear, InuYasha says nothing. "I'm not Kikyo. I'm Y/N. Kaede just told you that she's dead. Whatever problems you have with her have nothing to do with me. So either break this bond or deal with me being around. Or just leave me alone completely. Following me around like a lost puppy won't make me fall in love with you." You huff. "Ha! You think I want your love?!" InuYasha shouts "What you don't get is that I'm only after the jewel. You're the one that just trying to lure me into a false sense of security!" "False sense of...why do you need to feel safe and secure?! You're the one who actively tried to attack me just last night!" You shout. 

"Heh! If you want this string gone so bad, you should just let me attack you. I bet I could cut off your finger." InuYasha says "Sit!" You shout, InuYasha slams into the ground beside you. You take another bite into your pear, standing up, "Keep up the good work, InuYasha. Real soon, I might actually be able to hate you." You say before walking away. 

...

Two days...

You've been away from home for two whole days. 

You already missed your family when you first arrived, but now...you'd do anything to see them again. 

You sniffle quietly, unable to stop the tears you've been holding back since you've arrived. Forget breaking the String of Fate, you have to find a way back home. That's more important.

...

Your legs carry you until you see InuYasha's Forest, you barely got any sleep last night. All you could think of is your family planning your funeral.

If you entered this place through the well, maybe you can leave the exact same way. 

You didn't tell anyone where you were going. Not Kaede and definitely not InuYasha. You didn't sign up to be some protector of a jewel. You signed up to be a regular girl that was just barely surviving school. You can't fight demons.

You wander through the forest, "This looks a little familiar...any advice, red string, or do you just want me to go back to InuYasha?" You ask the string, its other end floats in the direction of the village. "Yep. You are so helpful." You sigh, you stop in your track. There. The well you came out of was right in front of you. Now all you have to do is climb inside and- 

3 men surround you, covering your mouth and dragging you away. 

...

A man, way larger than you are slams you into the ground, "Ow!" You wince, you squirm as he presses you into the floor. It wasn't just the 3 men from before, now it's like 9 or 10. 

"Hey, boss! We caught the girl just like you said we should." 

"Ha ha ha! Her kimono's shorter than mine. You gonna catch cold if you go around in that dress."

You feel a hand getting way to close to your... "DON'T DO THAT! You'll rip it!" You shout, jumping to your feet. The men all chuckle, "What's the matter princess? Our hands too dirty for you?" One man asks "Marry me and I'll buy you a new one." Another man says. "I won't. I can't...I...uh...I'm already spoken for!" You shout, backing away from them. "Pfft, sure. We've heard that one before!" A man laughs loudly "Stop laughing. It's true." You hiss, you hold up your hand. The men pauses and look at the red string, they let out quiet gasps.

"The Red String of Fate...I thought that was a myth."

"Well, it's not. My soulmate is going to come save me and he'll...he'll sink his claws in you!" You shout, a man scoffs, "It almost sounds like your soulmate is a demon." He says, the man next to him snickers, "Yeah, and demons don't get String of Fate." 

They don't? Why does InuYasha have one? Because he's half human?

"Enough. Hand over the jewel, right now." A larger, paler man says as he steps out of the shadows. He stumbles towards you, you flinch when two men grab your arms,  "Hey! Let go!" You shout, squirming. "Hey, boss, try cutting the string in one swing. I bet it'll be easy, like a dandelion!" The man on your left snickers, you try to pull your hand away. "Stop squirming!" The man orders before his boss stabs him with the swords. "AAH! What...did you that...for..." He groans weakly, falling to the floor. 

You and the remaining men look at the boss in shock, he prepares to swing again. Everyone scrambles away from him, but some men were lucky enough to get away. The boss swings the sword around wildly, slicing through statues. The men start to push you towards their boss, "Hey-STOP IT!" You shout, "Boss! Boss! Where are you aiming?! She's who you want!" A man shows. "What're you-stupid?! Can't you tell there's something wrong with your boss?!" You shout, yanking away from them. 

The men stares at you in shock, "Oh, so you are stupid! Am I gonna have to explain everything to you?! Get it together or you'll be sliced next!" You shout, the boss swings his sword again. You just barely dodge, running past him.

Oh, great, now you're starting to wish that you stayed with InuYasha!

...

InuYasha hops from tree to tree, "Stupid girl," He growls out "I don't care where she goes, but she took the jewel with her." His follows his string as it guide him. The string's glow begins to pulse, InuYasha scoffs through a grin, "Oh? So now you want me. You must've gotten yourself into danger again." He scoffs, he moves even quicker. 

If you're lucky, maybe he'll get there in time. 

...

You sit curled up in a ball in the corner of the room as men run around in a panic. Their boss swings his sword around like a possessed maniac, now he was starting to cause damage to the structure of the building. Rubble falls on top of a guy, and your body moves without your brain's permission. "Are you ok?" You ask, "We gotta go around. It's blocked." Another man says as you help the one crushed under the rubble stand up, he lets out a shaky breath, "Thank you for saving me...thank you."

"I want the jewel. Give it to me." 

The boss stops swinging and stands on the other side of the room. So this is another crazy person that's after the jewel, and this guy is at least sorta human. You glance at the jewel resting on the string around your neck. You wish you didn't have this thing, the second you get out of here, you're burying it in the dirt. 

Maybe you should've stayed in the villager...but then you'd never find a way home.

You slowly inch to the other side of the room, carefully watching the boss. The remaining men hide behind you each time you stop, "Thank for nothing, you cowards! Can't you at least help your own friend?!" You shout, the men laugh nervously. Your glare at them hardens, the boss charges toward you, he ends up bashing into the wall when you jump out the way. The wall cracks, it looks like it'll break from another hit...

"Take him." You say, pulling the jewel from around your neck. The men grab their injured friend, you throw the jewel towards the exit. It bounces off the rubble and rolls somewhere outside. "Jewel...give it to me." The boss mumbles, "The wall! Push it out! All at once" You tell the men, "Got it!" The run to the cracked wall and push into it...once. "Sorry, boss. No good." "What the-you gonna have to try harder than that! And I'm not your boss!" You sigh in frustration. A shadow looms over you...THE BOSS IS STILL TRYING TO ATTACK YOU?!

"I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DUMB JEWEL ANYMORE!" You scream at him as he swings the sword once again, you throw your arms around your face and hope for a quick end.

Your pinky finger feels like it's being tugged before you're yanked closer to the wall. InuYasha breaks through the same wall, the swords end up hitting him instead of you. The sword doesn't even hurt him! It breaks in half the second it touches him. InuYasha punches and kicks the boss until he falls onto his back,

"Whoa! Her soulmate is seriously a demon! Impossible!" 

"That explains her personality..."

"Who cares! We're outta here, boss!"
"T-thank you...again."

The men scramble through the hole InuYasha created it, he came here to save you?

Does he...maybe he's nicer than you thought. 

Your expression soften a little, "InuYasha...-" "Is it safe? Where's the jewel?" InuYasha asks. Ah, right. The jewel, you almost forgot he's also after it. "...The jewel? I had a jewel?" You ask, looking off to the side. InuYasha grabs your shoulder, you have no choice, but to look him in the eyes. "Oh, no! Tell me you did not just say that!" He shouts, shaking you slightly. You laugh nervously and start walking away, "Well, I should be going. Thanks for saving me and all-ACK!" InuYasha grabs the String of Fate and yanks it, harshly pulling you back to him. 

"Heh, so that can work? Good to know." He snickers, you glare at him and the string becomes no longer tangible, it floats through InuYasha's fingers. The boss starts to stand up, you scramble to hide behind InuYasha. He gags, covering his nose, "Oh, what is that smell? It's like rotting meat or-" A three eyed bired pokes out of the boss' chest, "...What is that?" You ask, you peek above InuYasha's shoulder. "How much you want to bet that bird ripped his living heart out and made itself a bloody nest?" He asks "I knew there was something wrong with that guy. The bird made him a puppet." 

"Carrion Crows don't fight on their own when there's dead bodies handy. They ain't so tough. But they're hella nasty." InuYasha says, he stretches a little bite before lunging towards the crow, he reaches into the whole in the boss' chest. The crow flies out of the boss' back, you watch nervously as the boss falls...turning into nothing but bones. "The bird. It's getting away. Aren't you going to go after it?" You ask.

InuYasha scoffs, rolling his shoulder, "Maybe you haven't noticed, but the world is full of monsters. You want I should go after 'em all?" He asks "But-" "No buts. You wanna start doing the fighting? Be my guest." InuYasha says, you roll your eyes. "...You know what, whatever..." You huff, you climb over the rubble and head towards the light. "In the meantime, where's the jewel-OH!" InuYasha shouts as the crow flies away with the Sacred Jewel, "That stupid crow is making off with the jewel! What's wrong with you?!" He shouts, glaring at you. You glare right back, "What do you mean what's wrong with me, stupid?! You want the damn jewel so bad, go after him!" You shout. You breath angrily through your nose, "I wish you the best of luck. I'm going home." You say firmly, InuYasha grabs you and throws you over his shoulder. 

"Oh no you don't. You don't get to just ditch me after you caused this mess..." He scoffs "Put me down!" You shout, kicking your legs. "I'll drop you if you keep that up." InuYasha threatens, he pauses at the sight of a bow and some arrows.

...

You dig your finger's into InuYasha's robe as he hops from tree to tree. Your eyes are squeezed shut, and you squeeze them even tighter when InuYasha jerks you. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and shoot it!" He says, "Shoot it?! I can't even keep my eyes open! Oh, and you know, I don't know how to use a bow and arrow! I've never used a bow in my life!" You stress. InuYasha rolls his eyes, he looks back at you...and notices how your face looks...and the small tears forming in the corners of your eyes..., "Oh, don't tell me you're scared of heights." He groans.

You say nothing, and InuYasha slightly tightens his grip on you. He takes a final leap before letting his feet touch the grass as he continues to run. "There. Happy now?" He huffs, you slowly opens your eyes, you nod quietly. "The crow lives by eating human flesh. If you think that's bad, let it swallow the jewel." InuYasha say, the crow swallows the jewel. "...Shoot. It swallowed the jewel." You tell him, you grab the bow and an arrow, holding it unsurely. "Fine. I'll try to shoot it down." You say "Thank you." InuYasha says through grit teeth "But there's no way I'm actually going to hit this thing." You warn. 

"Oh, please. Kikyo was a master archer. You need to take it in one shot." He says "Well, how nice for Kikyo, but I already told you that I'm not her. I'm Y/N, remember?" You scoff, still...you really hope you can channel the strength of this dead chick and make the shot. 

Here goes nothing. 

The worst you can do is miss...

You release the arrow, it flies a short distance before hitting the ground-and so does InuYasha. He flops to the ground in disbelief, you let out a startled yelp, sitting on his back. "What the...I thought you said the powerful Kikyo was a master archer!" You shout, he shoots you a look, "She was! It's you that's the klutz!" He shouts, the two of you glare at each other. Your attention shifts back to the crow when it begins to grow, "See how big it is? Shoot it!" InuYasha shouts, he stands back up and runs after the crow. You grab another arrow and aim at the crow, you shoot and...miss again. 

InuYasha comes to an abrupt stop, he drops you, "Ow! You bitch!" You wince. InuYasha turns to glare at you, "I don't care what the old lady says. You are not Kikyo, you got that?!" He shouts "Got that?! I've known this whole time. You're the one to dense to-hey! I'm talking to you!" You shout as InuYasha turns away, "I am so out of here." He says, running off. "Fine! I hope you get cover in bird poop!" You shout angrily, InuYasha runs far enough for your strings to separate again. 

Whatever. 

Now you can focus solely on going home. InuYasha can handle himself, and even if he can't...it's not like you care.

You turns and start heading towards the direction of the well. You jump at the sound of a loud scream, that sounds like it's coming from the village. "SOMEBODY HELP!" Another voice cries, you sigh. You're closer to the well than the town, and it's not like you can do anything to help. InuYasha said it best: you are not Kikyo. You're Y/N, and Y/N should just go home and not be bother...

When did you start running?

When did you reach the village?

InuYasha lunges towards the crow as it flies with a small boy trapped in its talons, "InuYasha, no! You'll hurt the boy!" You shout "Back off!" InuYasha shouts back. You roll your eyes and click your tongue, "Man, I hate that guy..." You grumble, looking at your string hopefully, it continues drifting in InuYasha's general direction. Man, you thought that would work...

InuYasha slices through the crow, it crumbles into piece and the little boy falls into the river. "Help! Help me!" The boy sobs, "Where'd it go? Where's the jewel?" InuYasha asks. You seriously can't believe this guy. You throw your shoes off and dive into the river, you swim towards the boy as fast as you could. The villagers look at you in shock and awe.

"She's an imp, I tell ya! A water imp! She's no human at all!"

You wrap your arm around the little boy, "Hold on, I got you." You tell him gently, swimming back to shore. "It's on its back now! I don't believe it! What a day! What a girl! What an imp!" A man shouts as the group of village men watch you. "Man, this place is so weird..." You sigh, you help the boy back onto land. "Save the jewel, stupid! The jewel!" InuYasha shouts "Sit, boy!" You shout, smiling in satisfaction when InuYasha slams into the dirt. 

"Oh, my baby." The boy's mother gasps, she pulls him into her arms. "Oh, Mama, I was so scared!" The boy cries, you glance at InuYasha as he stands back up. He glares at you, you scoff and look away from him. InuYasha's glare drops into an offended expression. "Thanks for saving me." The little boy says, his mother bows "Thank you. Thank you." She says "It's ok. It was no problem. Really." You tell her.

"Hey! It's getting away!" 

The crow flies out of the river, somehow it was back together. 

"Then go get it!" You sigh, not bothering to look at him. The little boy gasps fearfully as the crow's severed foot starts tugging on his clothing. Your eyes widen slightly, you run over to one of the men. "Can I use your bow?" You ask, he tilts his head in confusion, but gives you the bow and arrow. You grab the crow's foot and tie it around the arrow, there's no way you'll miss this time. 

"My butt she's gonna hit it..." InuYasha scoffs, watching you from the other side of the river. 

You can do this.

You pull back the arrow and shoot it, it flies straight towards the crow. InuYasha's eyes widen slightly when he realizes your plan. The arrow pierces the crow, causing the crow to explode into many chunks again. "Ha! I did it!" You cheer victoriously, you throw your fist into the air.

The Sacred Jewel then cracks before breaking into a thousand piece and scattering everywhere...

You lower your fists and give the man his bow back, "Here's your bow, sir..." You say, pieces of the jewel flies across the sky. You slowly move away from the crowd and run in the direction towards the forest. Yippee, you don't have to guard a jewel that's been destroyed! 

A startled yelp leaves your leaps when InuYasha grabs you and holds you until your feet can't reach the ground. And it finally sinks in how much taller, faster, and threating InuYasha is compared to you...

"And where are you going?" InuYasha asks, raising an annoyed eyebrow. "To...look for the jewel, of course." You say "Really?" InuYasha scoffs, you nod slowly. "Mm, well, let me help you." He says, walking towards the forest...

...

"Are you sure it fell around here?" 

"Uh, yeah. I mean, I'm as sure as I can be." You tell InuYasha as the two of you search for the jewel. You're not sure if InuYasha saw, but you know you definitely saw that jewel shatter in many piece. There's no telling what InuYasha will do to you when he finds out...

A loud screech makes you jump, you look up to see the crow's head coming straight towards you. 

"I don't think so!" InuYasha shouts, jumping in front of you and slicing through the crow's head. A glowing shard falls out of the crow's mouth, you slowly pick up the shard. "Welp...here you go, InuYasha..." You say with a nervous smile. He looks at the shard before looking at you, "And what is that supposed to be?" He asks "A...shard from the jewel..." You state, InuYasha's eyes widen.

"What? WHAT DID YOU SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY?!"

...

"What did you do to it?!"

InuYasha glares at you in annoyance, you ignore him and show Kaede the jewel shard. "Stop barking, InuYasha." Kaede sighs, but of course he doesn't. "Leave it to her to wind up breaking it!" He shouts "Technically, it wasn't Y/N who broke it but the crow's foot she attached to her arrow that actually caused it." She says, you stick your tongue out at InuYasha. He growls at you.

"As ye saw, the jewel has now been scattered into many different pieces. 100...1,000-who knows? Yet however many shards there may be, all it will take is one in the wrong hands to bring disaster." Kaede says, you apologetically lower your head, "I'm so sorry..." You say, you knew that InuYasha had a point...this was all your fault. 

Still, this does mean you get to go home now-

"Y/N, InuYasha, only by working together will the two of ye be able to recover the shards of the jewel." Kaede says "Huh?! I have to be around him more?!" You ask, "You won't catch me complaining," InuYasha says, you shoot him a look of disbelief "I'm one of the wrong hands the wrong hands you were talking about." "Oh, aye, that I know too well." Kaede sighs, you sit there in disbelief of everything. 

...All you want to do is go back home!

Chapter Text

You groggy as your eyes slowly open...

What...happened? 

Last thing you remember is that important jewel shattering into a bunch of piece. Which was not your fault.

You can see your home in front of you, "What? I'm back?" You ask, leaping to your feet. Maybe InuYasha got so mad at you, he threw you back in the well and you ended up back home. You beams and start to run towards your house, "Mom! Grandpa! Sota!" You shout happily. 

Something tugs on your pinky and you fall back. Your house suddenly looks further away than before, "W-what. No...wait." You say nervously, you try to stand, but you're yank down again. "Where do you think you're going?" A threatening voice asks...you know that voice. InuYasha stands behind you, his grip on the String of Fate tight. "Do you really think I'd just let you leave?" He asks, you watch as your house is surrounding with a dark mist. "No!" You shout, InuYasha wraps the string around your arm, leaning close to your ear.

"You're stuck with me."

"Get away! Mom!" You scream, your house becomes harder and harder to see, InuYasha snickers. The red string wraps around your neck, you gasp fearfully. You look at InuYasha with wide eyes, "Your mom can't help you. No one can save you from me." He says, he sticks out his tongue...it looks just like a snake tongue. "You're never going home. I'm going to keep you stuck here with me forever." He states "W-why?! You hate me! Why would you want to be around me still?!" You shout, you tug on the string as it tightens on your neck. InuYasha grabs you by the hair, forcing you to look directly in your eyes, "Because it's more fun knowing you'll be suffering with me~" He says, running his tongue along your cheek before you feel the string dig into your flesh-

.

..

...

You jolt awake, throwing your whole body forward. 

Your grip on your shirt is tight as you try to ground yourself. A dream? That was a dream? You feel around your neck gently. Yeah...it seems like that was a dream...

Kaede sleeps on the other side of the room, at least you didn't wake her up. And thankfully, InuYasha was nowhere to be seen. He's probably still bitter about the jewel shattering. You quietly stand up and leave Kaede's hut. There's no way you'll be able to go back to sleep right now. Not after that dream. 

You wander the quiet village, you wordlessly glance at the stars above. You never get to see a sight like this back at home, the town's too bright all the time. Here, you get to see the stars, see the fireflies, and enjoy true silence-no traffic or anything. This place isn't so awful when you ignore the demons and monsters that want to kill you. It's actually pretty nice here. You slow to a stop when you see InuYasha resting on a tree branch, you thought he was asleep at first, but he sniffs the air and immediately looks at you.

"Hmph. What do you want?" He asks, you throws your hands up in mock surrender, your red strings floats towards him, but you were far enough that it couldn't connect. "Nothing. I'm just taking a walk." You say simply, turning to walk in another direction. InuYasha scoffs and hops down from the tree, "Don't you humans need all the sleep you can get?" He asks, he walks behind you, "Besides, haven't you learned that nothing good comes from you wandering off on your own?" He grumbles. 

You shrug, "I can't sleep, this place is giving me nightmares. And it's not like you care what happens to me anyway, you only care about that jewel." You state coldly. InuYasha says nothing, but you can feel his sulking behind you.

How much longer will you be allowed to do stuff like this?

You argue with InuYasha like he's some bratty teenager boy...which he is, but he's also a demon. A demon that definitely has the power to harm you or worse, your family. Even if he is only a half demon...

How safe are you right now?

If you do get home, how do you know InuYasha won't find you and kill your family?

You're supposed to trust him just because you're soulmates?

You look back at InuYasha, he keeps walking behind you, but his attention wasn't on you, it was on the long string connecting the two of you...

...

"Ugh, I can't believe this!" You scream out in frustration. How do they not have baths here?! They don't even know what a bath is!

You shudder as you walk into the cold lake. The water gives you goosebumps everywhere it reaches, it was cold, but it did help you wake up a lot more. You never did end up going back to sleep after that nightmare...the real InuYasha wouldn't leave you alone, he didn't talk to you, but he didn't leave either...maybe he could tell there was something wrong with you.

Or maybe he just wanted to make sure you didn't bail on him.

. No wonder you can't hate him, you're too busy being confused by everything else around you!

Your body shivers, "Come, child!" Kaede calls out, watching you from a respectable distance. "You'll get sick if you don't get out." She warns, you look at her, sniffling from the cold. "I know, but I can't go on any longer with blood and dirt all over me! I can feel the dirt in my hair..." You tell her, shuddering in disgust. You force yourself to dive deeper into the water, Kaede sighs and shakes her head.

InuYasha watches you from an even further distance, carefully approaching Kaede while you were both distracted.

You pop out of the water, walking back to shore. Your body shivers, at least Kaede was nice enough to have a fire already started-

You and InuYasha look at each other, he stares down at you from the top off a cliff. There's 5 seconds of staring before you scream, "SIT, BOY!" You shout, ducking back in the water to hide your body. InuYasha stumbles off the cliff and smacks into the ground beside Kaede, "...Thee all right, InuYasha?" She asks, he lets out an annoyed groan, "What do you think...?" He asks. 

You throw on the clothes Kaede gave you, "Serves you right, creep!" You shout. InuYasha scoffs "Shows what you know. The reason I really came was to-" "Ye really came to steal this shard, correct?" Kaede asks as InuYasha sits up. He crosses his arms with a bitter sigh, "Think you're pretty smart, you old hag." He huffs "I see. Ye think to do it alone, do ye? Ye forget only yon girl can find those shards, while only ye, InuYasha have strength enough to take them back once found." Kaede states.

"In case you haven't notice, I'm still here, ain't I? I can put up with anything for the jewel." InuYasha says, you roll your eyes, adjusting the clothes awkwardly. They looked normal hanging up, but now that they're actually on your body...you're definitely too small. The long sleeves completely swallowed your arms, making it impossible to see them without rolling the fabric back. You pull the top up as it dangles off your shoulder, you let out a scoff at InuYasha comment. "You really hate me, don't you?" You ask, hoping he'd say he did. But instead, InuYasha stares at you with wide eyes.

Well, so much for that plan. 

Kaede did say these were Kikyo's old clothes. 

You're wearing the clothes of a dead chick...yay...

You walk back over to your clothes as they dry, InuYasha continues staring you down. Kaede looks at him when he begins growling, "And what ails ye now, InuYasha?" She asks "He's pissy because I'm wearing his dead girlfriend's clothes." You tell her, squeezing the water out of your clothes. InuYasha glares at you, "Girlfriend? Kikyo never shared romantic feelings towards InuYasha." Kaede says "Really? She didn't?" You ask, glancing at InuYasha as he grows more irritated. "Aye, InuYasha always had the String of Fate. Kikyo knew better than to fall for someone fated to be with someone else." Kaede tells you. InuYasha scoffs, "Oh, is that what Kikyo told you, old hag? Trust me, her reasoning for rejecting me is less noble than you think." He says bitterly, turning away from the two of you. You walk over to him and lean down to his level, "Let me guess. She didn't like your bratty personality?" You ask "Who are you calling a brat?! You're the brat!" InuYasha shouts, he whips his head around to glare at you, Kaede watches with a tired expression as the two of you scream at each other.

"You're the brat!"
"You are! You're the biggest brat I've ever met!" 
"Well, I'd believe that since you don't have any friends!"
"You brat! I have friends!"
"Name one!" 

You and InuYasha glare at each other, not even noticing how your foreheads touch. "...Lady Kaede?" A shaky voice calls out, a woman approaches, "It's my daughter." She states, Kaede stands up, walking over to the woman. "I see. Let's head back." Kaede says, the two begin to walk back to the village. Kaede glances back at you, "I'll be checking on ye two later. Try not to fight." She says, you wave goodbye to Kaede before you finally notice how close you are to InuYasha, you yelp and instinctively jump away from him. InuYasha glances at you, seeming less upset than he was before.

"Hey."

"What?" You ask, you look at InuYasha, he studies you up and down. "Get undressed." He says, your face reddens and your eyes widen. "What the-SIT!" You shout and InuYasha slams into the ground, the nice, rocky ground, "OW! That hurt! Why did you-" "You're such a perv." You say in disgust, InuYasha glares at you. "I didn't say 'Get naked', stupid! I just can't stand seeing you in those clothes!" He shouts "Why? Cuz it reminds you of Kikyo?" You asks. InuYasha looks away, "That's got nothing to do with it, ok?" He scoffs, you roll your eyes. All this time dealing with InuYasha is making you appreciate Sota more.

"Look, I don't want to do this either. I want to go home and be far away from you, but we got to work together." You sigh, InuYasha looks at you, "I ain't gotta do nothing. It's you who needs me." He states, you blink at him, your irritation growing in an instant. You start to laugh, InuYasha narrows his eyes nervously, he turns away from you. "Oh? You think I have to do this crap? Hahahaha!" You wheeze out, you grab your clothes and march in the direction towards the well. InuYasha's ears twitch, he watches his red string separate from yours once you got too far, "Hey, where you going?" He asks "What do you care? Goodbye, InuYasha." You huff. InuYasha jumps to his feet, he watch you leave in a panic, "You can't just leave! You-" "My name isn't You, it's Y/N." You scoff. 

"Wait, stupid!"
"It's not Stupid either."
"Will you just wait and hear me out?!"

"Nope." You say, InuYasha runs up behind you. "At least give me your jewel shard!" He demands, you pull it out of the little bag Kaede gave you, "Oh, this?" You ask, InuYasha reaches for it and you shove the shard into your mouth, sliding it under your tongue and pretending to swallow. "WHAT THE-WHAT IS WRONG WITH-" "Sit, boy." You say, InuYasha slams into the ground. You walk away with smug smile, spitting the jewel shard back into into its bag. "Why you..." You can hear InuYasha growl out, you can't feel anything but satisfaction.

How is that stupid, inconsiderate brat supposed to be your soulmate?

He doesn't even respect you enough to use your name!

That's it, you're going home and never looking back. 

Stupid InuYasha, even if you could never hate him, you could never love him either!

...

The wind blows as you approach the well, the very same well you came out of to come into this world. You stand in front of it, you nervously prepare to climb inside. Kaede called this place the Bone Eater's Well, that means there's nothing but bones down there. So either you jump down and go home or you jump down and get impaled by a bunch of bones. You let out a shaky sigh, you want to get away from InuYasha badly, but not bad enough to get yourself killed!

You jump when something slices across your cheek, "What now?" You ask, you look around in confusion. It looks like there's hair all around you in the air...gross. "...Hair? Am I so weak, I'm getting cut by hair now?" You sigh. "Oh, my! Oh, me! The fact that you can see it tells me you're definitely not weak. You can see my Net of Hairs." A voice says, you look up, a woman stands on one of the hair strands, "Pity...because seeing's not enough." She says. "Who are you?" You ask, narrowing your eyes as she begins to snicker. 

"How do you do? I'm Yura of the Hair, though you needn't bother to remember..." She says, she raises her hand to attack "Because you'll be dead soon!" You press your back against the well and sheild your face as the hair strikes all over your body. "I'll be having the jewel if you don't mind." Yura says and a hair reaches into your dress and yanks out the little bag with the jewel shard. Her hair attacks come to a stop, you nervously look up at her. Between your shoulder, and now the little cuts all over your face, your family is going to think you got hit by a car. 

"Oh! You naughty, naughty girl. You've shattered the jewel!" Yura gasps, "Y-yeah...now everyone gets a piece..." You joke dryly. Yura looks down at you, unimpressed, "Where's the rest? Or I shall be cross." She says "Oh, no, no, no. If you're powerful enough to threaten me, you're powerful enough to find the shards on your own!" You say defensively "Answer the question. Where is the rest of it?" Yura asks "Ha! Like I'll tell you. You...you can't kill me if I'm the only one who knows where the jewel shards are~" You say, you move onto the edge of the well, "And I'm taking that secret-" You shove yourself into the well "TO THE GRAVE!"

"NO FAIR!"

A sword heads straight for you, you shut your eyes nervously...

.

..

...

....

...

InuYasha's eyes widen slightly when his red string starts to drift upwards. 

That can only mean one thing...

"How can a half breed have a String of Fate?" A man asks, InuYasha stands quietly under the villagers' judging stares. "Does it matter? His string is pointing upwards, that can only mean one thing." Another man says, InuYasha looks at the string. His mother told him that this string means that there is someone somewhere that will always love and accept him-

"His soulmate is dead." 

InuYasha's eyes widen in horror, "His demon instincts probably took over and he slaughtered the poor girl." An older woman sighs sadly. N-no...InuYasha didn't slaughter his soulmate...he's never even met her! She can't be dead! How can she love him if she's dead! The villagers notice his growing irritation, carefully backing away and leaving him alone

"Dumbass..." InuYasha grits out, tightly clenching his fist that the red string was attached to, he looks at the girls hovering around him in annoyance. "Look! Is someone going to tell me what's going on, or do you want another fight? Because that's fine if you do! Just don't expect I'll go easy on you." He growls, "InuYasha! Wait!" Kaede shouts, weakly crawling towards him. "Do not hurt them. 'Tis not their doing." She says, InuYasha's eyes soften slightly, "Old Kaede..." He jumps over to her, looking down in concern. "What happened? You look awful!" 

"Must ye always treat an old woman thus?" Kaede sighs, "About the girls-it's them or us, and I choose us!" InuYasha says firmly. The girls move closer to them, "Well, some else is controlling them..." Kaede says, she lets out a gasp, looking around in concern, "Where's Y/N? Pleasse tell me ye know where she is!" She stresses. InuYasha huffs, "You're worrying too late. All I know is that she said she was going home, and now my string is pointing up again. So, she's probably dead. What's the big deal anyway? I can handle this without her." He says bitterly, he jumps a little in surprise as Kaede smacks the lower part of his leg. 

"Yea, nay! Ye must not hurt them, InuYasha." Kaede says "Your heart bleeds in more ways than one, old woman, but if you're planning on seeing tomorrow, we gotta do something." InuYasha states, Kaede grunts weakly, "Control the strings and ye control the puppets. If not-" One of the women lunge at InuYasha, he swiftly dodges the attack, "I don't see you helping none, old woman!" He grits out, dodging more attacks. "The hair, InuYasha! Find ye the hair, and mehap will wake!" Kaede says. 

"Hair?! I don't see any hair!" InuYasha shouts, looking around in confusion as more and more women try to attack him. He jumps to attack on of the women, she jerks out of the way, "A trap! InuYasha, flee the hair!" Kaede shouts in concern, she holds her bleeding shoulder, the hair wraps around InuYasha, bounding his arms and legs. InuYasha struggles, he starts dragging the hair along with him until the hair suddenly loosens around him. The hair jerks again, throwing and tying him to a tree. "InuYasha!" Kaede shouts as the hair tigthens around InuYasha's neck.

He cuts out of the hair, "Oh, man! I thought I was a goner!" He pants "And so would ye have been were ye normal, InuYasha." Kaede tells him, the pair gasp as the men begin to hover over. "Know something? I'm getting real sick of this." InuYasha sighs "...InuYasha...save yourself. Forget this old woman." Kaede breathes out, more blood seeps out of her wound. InuYasha scoffs, "Aw, spare me the noble act, will ya?" He groans, Kaede fall forward, "Hey, are you ok?" InuYasha asks. Kaede begins to twitch on the ground and lets out a quiet whimper. "Geez! Thanks a lot!" InuYasha sighs, he picks her up and takes off. 

...

Kaede breathes weakly, "Did I hear you say you could see the hair?" InuYasha asks, she nods. "Can you tell me where it's being pulled from?" He asks "Don't be absurd. With me in this condition and...assuming I did know from whence the strands of hair came, you must find Y/N." Kaede states "I already told you, she's dead. She could've sene it too?" InuYasha sighs, watching Kaede tremble, she shuts her eyes tiredly, "The girl is not dead, InuYasha. She is just no longer in this world, and must've...must've returned to her own. To defeat this foe, you'll be needing herpower. Without it, ye have no hope. None." She says, Kaede grunts weakly before slowly shutting her eyes. InuYasha stares at her, he slowly stands up and begins to dig a hole.  

...

You groan softly, "Ow...ow...why did I think jumping down a well was a good idea?" You whimper quietly, your voice echoes. "There's no telling if that even worked..." You grab the wall and pull yourself to stand, a sharp pain shoot through your shoulder. "Ah..." You hiss out, you could feel the wound reopening as you look up, did it work? Are you back home?

"But we've already been in here a dozen times."
"But, look, Grandpa, I keep telling you. This is where she fell."

You gasp as a bright light shines on you from above, "But are you sure you weren't dreaming?" Your grandfather asks Sota, "But I wasn't!" Sota complains. "Grandpa! Sota!" You shout out happily, they look down at you in surprise. "Y/N! See, I told you see was down there!" Sota says. 

...

You look around in awe, you've never been so happy to see your family's shrine. 

You're home. 

"You were missing for 3 full days. The least you could have done was called, and-GOOD HEAVENS! What happened to your shoulder?!" Your grandfather stresses "And why are you wearing those weird old clothes? You hate old junk." Sota says. You continue looking around, tears beginning to fill your eyes. "Come inside, Y/N. We need to-" You latch onto your grandfather, letting out shaky sobs, "Grandpa! I was so scared! I thought I'd never get back here! I thought I'd never see you guys again!" You sob, your grandfather gently pats your head with a concerned look as you continue to cry. He glances at your hand that digs into his sleeve, his eyes widening at the sight of the red string that was now tied around your finger.

...

InuYasha looks down at the hole in front of him, "There. That ought to be enough," He sighs, he moves to pick of Kaede's lifeless body "Well, all things considered, old woman, it's the least I can do for you." InuYasha places Kaede into the hole and starts covering her with dirt- "Why...I'm resting, not dead..." Kaede says, InuYasha pauses. He grabs some leaves and drops them on top of her. "Then think of it as a hiding place. I'll even come back and dig you up, if I remember." He scoffs, standing up "Do ye promise ye won't forget where ye left me?" Kaede asks, looking up at him. InuYasha says nothing, sniffing the air for any hint of your scent. 

Nothing...

"Do not forget, InuYasha."

"Ok. I heard you. Geez!" He sighs before running through the forest. "Curse that brat, taking off on me right when I need her!" InuYasha huffs, he lands on a tree back and looks around, "Hmph! She's definitely not a reliable soulmate!" He shouts up to the sky. 

...

"Hey, be careful, sis. You might cut your finger off too."

Sota sits on your bed, nervously watching you try to cut off your String of Fate. "And I thought Gramps said you couldn't just cut it off." He adds, "He did, but I've seen a lot over the past few days and I'm willing to think anything is possible now." You tell him. You carefully wedge the knife between your finger and the string, Sota lets out a nervous noise, "Be careful..." He says "I'm being as careful as I can in this situation." You sigh "Maybe you should just leave it alone. I mean...it's not hurting you, right?" He asks. "No, but the idea of it is making me sick. This thing ties me to an evil half demon. Do you want me to be trapped with an evil half demon?" You ask him.

"Well, no, but I don't want you to chop off a finger either. 'Sides, Grandpa sealed up that well. That InuYasha jerk won't be able to get you anymore." Sota says, you pause, "That's right...the well is going to be seal. I guess that means it won't matter if I cut this off..." You mutter, Sota lets out a breath of relief when you lower the knife from your hand. You look at the red string, it drifts upwards...it must mean that InuYasha's nowhere nearby. "Ha, yeah. I don't have to worry about going back there ever again." You say with a smile growing on your face. 

...

"Hey! Come on, no fair! You're cheating!"
"I'm not cheating. I'm talented!" 

You and Sota sit on the floor of your living you, Buyo rests quietly on your lap as the two of you place a video game. "Quit using combo moves! How are you even doing that?!" Sota complains, you snicker, "With a lot of training and skill!" You watch your video game character shoot an arrow at Sota's. 

Man, you wish you were that good with arrows in real life. 

Maybe then you wouldn't have broken that jewel. Not that you care about that jewel. Not anymore.

You do feel a little bad about leaving and not even saying goodbye to Kaede...

After all she did for you, too.

"Ha! You got distracted!" Sota laughs, his character grabs yours and slams them into the wall, "Not even that minor distraction will let you win!" You laugh evilly. Your mother stands in the doorway, she watches you both with an affectionate smile, "Kids, dinnertime." She says, heading back into the kitchen. "Aw, Mom! Can you let us finish this round?" Sota calls out "We only have 45 seconds left!" You add. "Alright, but I want you both in here once your done." You mother says, she turns off the stove-flinching slightly when the door slams open behind her. 

"You're done already? Man, you two must be-huh? AAAAAAAAAAAH!"

You and Sota jump in place at the sound of your mother's scream, you jump your control and run into the kitchen. "Mom?! What-" You pause when you see the string on your finger. It's no longer drifting upwards, it's not even drifting in a random direction...it's...connected. InuYasha stands in front of you, "What was that ruckus-" Your grandfather shuts up, taking in the sight of InuYasha. Your whole family quietly stares in shock, "...InuYasha?" You ask nervously. He's here, and your family's here...

You've put them in danger. 

InuYasha stares you down, "Idiot! Who told you you could go home?!" He shouts "...How are you here...? Why are you here...? Can you go away?" You ask nervously "Through the well, of course. And I had to come get your dumb ass. And, no! I'm not going away unless you're coming with me!" InuYasha shouts. You slowly looking at your grandfather, "Gramps, I thought you sealed that thing off..." You say, he points at InuYasha "He lies! I made those Spirit Wards myself. There's no way he could have-" InuYasha holds up the Spirit Ward. 

"Well, I hate to break it to ya, old man, but they don't work." InuYasha states bluntly, your grandfather screams in horror at the mere idea. InuYasha drops the paper and turns to you, he raise a hand-you instinctively flinch. InuYasha pauses. Great, and now he thinks you're scared of him. Your grandfather wraps his arms around you protectively, "That's it, boy! Take one more steps towards my precious granddaughter and I'll...I'll...oh! You don't want to know what I'll do!" He threatens. 

InuYasha doesn't respond to your grandfather, he's staring directly at you. His shocked...almost hurt expression quickly shifts to annoyance, "Hmph! What are ya flinching at me for?! I'm the one who's constantly saving you all the time! If I wanted you dead, you would've been dead by now!" He shouts, it feels like he's scolding you. "Oh, right and you know how to make a girl feel safe?" You huff bitterly, your mother walks up to InuYasha. "Huh? Mom what're you-" She reaches and squeezes InuYasha's ears, "These ears...are they real?" She asks. "Me next! Me next!" Sota says immediately "Uh...Mom? Those are his actually ears, I don't think you should be tugging on them..." You tell her. 

At least you only did it to him while he was sleeping...

Wait, that sounds worse. 

You wiggle your way out of your grandfather's protective hold, InuYasha looks at you as you walk up to him. "You have a hair on your shoulder." You tell him "A hair? I I don't see nothing." He says, glancing at his shoulder. You take the hair off of his shoulder, wrapping it around your hand. You wince at the sharp sting pain, "It moved..." You mutter "Y/N, your hand!" Your grandfather says in concern, he already leaving to get the first aid kit. "What is it?" Your mother asks, "You can't see this?" You ask "No. Only you can." InuYasha states. 

If the hair moved then...

You let out a gasp, running outside, "Y/N!" Your mother calls out. You run to the well, "Hair!" You shout, watching hair grow out of the well "There's so much of it..." You mumble. InuYasha leans in the doorway, "The old crone was right. You do have the sight." He says, you glare at him. "This is your fault. The hair followed you here!" You snap, InuYasha huffs, "And I followed you here." He states. 

"Y/N!"

"Are you ok?!"

"Stop! Don't come any closer!" You shout, you shut shed door. You let out a stressed sigh, you got to stop this somehow. InuYasha quietly stares at you, the hair shoots out of the well, "Ah, InuYasha! In front of you!" You gasp, InuYasha slashing the air in front of him, "Where? Here?" He asks, the hair wraps around his wrist and ankles. "InuYasha!" You shout in concern. Your family bangs and tugs on the door, "Open the door! Now!" Your grandfather shouts "Y/N!" Your mother calls out. You keep a tight hold on the door, keeping it shut. 

InuYasha uses his claws to slash through the hair, "It's regrowing!" You tell him, the hair regrows and latches onto him. You spot a single strand of hair leading back into the well, you run away from the door, stopping in front of the single strand, "InuYasha, cut this one, right here." You call out, he cuts through the hair around him and rushes to your side. He slashes the air blindly, "Which one? This one?" He asks. You hold the strand in front of you, the hair cuts your hands. InuYasha notices your blood, "I see it!" He says, he slashes the strand. 

The rest of the hair begins to move back into the well, "It pulled back in..." InuYasha says, you look at the blood staining your hands. "This doesn't make any sense, she already has my jewel shard..." You sigh "She what?" InuYasha asks "Why would she do this? Maybe she has a reason to attack you, but not me." You look at the well, slowly look back at the door, you can still see your family's silhouettes on the other side. They will get seriously hurt if you stay here, "Let's go. Right now." You say, InuYasha scoffs, walking to your side. "But I thought you didn't want to go back with me." He says "I don't, but I have to. Yura wants us, and she won't stop until she either gets us or we take her down." You sigh. 

"Huh?" InuYasha asks, he looks at you. Your hands are bleeding, the wound on your shoulder's reopened, and your trembling slightly. You reek of blood, and all of it is yours. InuYasha removes his kimono and wraps it around you. You look at him in confusion, "It's made with the hair of the Fire Rat. You'll have some protection, at least." He tells you. "...Thank you." You say, "Yeah, well, if you weren't so weird looking, you wouldn't even need it." InuYasha says, "Excuse me? You're one talk, half demon." You grumble. His ears twitch, "Don't call me that. Ever." He says, you can't see his face, but his tone sounds...hurt? "...Sorry." You mutter, looking off to the side, InuYasha climbs onto the well, "Uh, yeah, yeah. Whatever. You ready?" He asks. 

You climb beside him, "Yep." You say, InuYasha wraps his arm around you before the two of you dive into the well. Huh, this is way less terrifying than the first time you did this.

...

You look up to see hair strands all over, "Be careful. There's hair inside here too." You warn, InuYasha climbs to the top of the well with you on his back, "So you're saying what Yura is really after is just us." He says "Well, duh. Why else should she be after us, she already has my jewel shard." You state, InuYasha tilts his head to up to glare at you. "Yeah...wanna explain to me how that happened?" He asks. You ignore him, "I can see a lot of hair, but all we need to worry about is the main one. If we follow it, it'll have to lead us straight to her." You state, you narrow your eyes, trying to see the hair through the darkness of the night. "Got it!" You point in the direction, InuYasha shifts to support you better before running off in the direction.

...

InuYasha begins to slow, "A bonfire." He says, he runs towards the light. You gasp at the sight of dead bodies surrounding the fire, "Where are...where are their heads?" You ask nervously. InuYasha sets you down, "They're guys from the village," He states, looking down at bodies "Or...their bodies anyway. Looks like their tops came clean off." "That's...awful." You mutter, you foot brushes across a bow and some arrows. You squat down to pick them up, InuYasha glances at your smaller form.

"Now what's the matter? I better not hear you say you're scared or you wanna go home."  He groans mockingly, you really your eyes. "Ease up there, InuYasha. You keep flirting like this, and I'm gonna think you're in love with me." You scoff "H-huh?" InuYasha asks, you show him the bow and arrows, "Think they'd mind if I borrowed this?" You ask.

...

"You know you're not gonna get a hit. Why bother?" InuYasha asks, you hold onto him as he runs up the side of a small mountain. "Well, I'll never get better if I don't practice." You state "Practice? Don't you mean learn." InuYasha scoffs, he lands on a tree branch. "Shut up. I can do it. I have to do it..." You say, InuYasha feels your hand tighten around his shoulder. You look around, ignoring your connected red strings as it flows in the wind. , "The hair is closer. Lots closer. You need to be-" The hair slices through the tree, InuYasha jumps off the tree before the two of you could fall with it. 

"They're here!" You tell him as larges amounts of hair heads straight for you. InuYasha jumps and dodges, "On your left! Now your right!" You state, growing more and more frenzied the higher you were. InuYasha catches onto your panic, he lands back at the ground. You take a deep breath, "There's too many. You need to help." You state, more and more hair appears. "Me?! I thought that's why you're here. You're really not good for much, are ya?" InuYasha complains, you shoot him an annoyed look. "Why are we soulmates?" You sigh "Beats me." InuYasha grumbles

You jump when hair heads straight for you, "Left!" You shout, InuYasha just barely manages to dodge. "Behind you!" You shout, "Uh! Give me a break!" He grunts out. He slides down the hill, hair wraps around his wrist and yanks him into the air. You rolls down the rest of the hill, but it feels like InuYasha's kimono is taking most of the damage for you. You look around once you finally stop rolling, "InuYasha!" You gasp. 

You see InuYasha in the air, hair's wrapped around his wrists and ankles. "A giant hair ball?" You mutter, Yura walks across the hair strands, and had then been a complete different situation, you'd be impressed with her tightrope walking skills. "What a cute doggie." She coos, InuYasha squirms and struggles in the hair "You must be InuYasha." She hums. "And you must be Yura of the Hair. How'd you know my name?" InuYasha asks.

"Let's just say a little birdie told me," Yura hums, "Everyone's saying half demon InuYasha is playing fetch with his new soulmate." "Me? With that half wit human down there? Nothing doing!" He shouts "Yeah, that jerk's not my type!" You add. Yura chuckles, "Oh? You're both half wits to me. Just look what you've done to the poor jewel." She says, InuYasha growls at her. "Once you two here have been wrapped up, I'll go and find the rest for myself." Yura states "You, take care of me?" InuYasha scoffs, he struggles in the hair. 

"When this is over, you're going to wish you'd never met me or ever heard my name!" InuYasha breaks through the hair and swings towards Yura. She dodges and whips hair at him, the hair wraps around him again, but this time it's a lot more restrictive. "Ugh, not this again..." InuYasha grumbles, Yura runs her fingers through his hair, "Such pretty hair, but you really haven't cared for it very well. Oh, look at the split ends." She says...and now you kind of want to touch his hair. "Get off of me!" InuYasha shouts, he moves to shove her away. 

Yura quickly dodges, pulling out her sword and stabbing InuYasha's chest, he cries out in pain. "InuYasha..." You wince out sympathetically, InuYasha's hand twitches when the glow of his red string begins to pulse. Yura chuckles at the sight, slicking InuYasha blood off her blade, "Look at that. Your little soulmate is worried for you," She says "She wants you away from me, and by her side. Poor girl. She's going to get to watch me cut you into tiny, little pieces~"

That's it, you can watch this anymore. 

You grab an arrow and ready your bow, Yura charges towards InuYasha again. You shoot the arrow, and it completely misses...but it at least scared Yura off enough to leave InuYasha alone. All eyes are on you now, waiting...questioning what your next move will be. What will your next move be? You're honestly winging it. 

"Get him down, right now. Or next time I won't miss." You threaten, you channel all those years of playing pretend with Sota as you draw your bow again. Right now, you're not Y/N. You're someone better. Someone stronger. Someone who let people die in front of her again. It doesn't matter how you feel about InuYasha right now, soulmate or not, you won't let him die. "You heard me! I'm aiming for you head next!" You shout, "Oooh, she really does want you back InuYasha. What a sweet widdle doggie you must be." Yura coos. "Idiot! You need to hide, not draw attention to yourself!" InuYasha shouts "Shut up! You're doing a horrible job protecting yourself! You shout back. 

Yura coos, "Aw, your first fight." She says "Shut up!" You and InuYasha snap, she only chuckles more. She takes a strand of your hair and stretches it out, "Her hair's not so pretty as your InuYasha. But then...waste not, want not." She says, you aim the arrow straight at her head and draw the bow as far as you could. "Please! What would you know about pretty hair? This place doesn't even have shampoo!" You huff, releasing the arrow. 

It soars through the sky, almost hitting InuYasha...

InuYasha jerks out of the way, throwing a glare at you, "WOULD YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE AIMING THAT THING, PLEASE!" He shouts, and you can't even be upset with him this time. The arrow his the hair ball, it starts to glow a bright purple before it begins to unravel. "Oh, no! What have you done?!" Yura shouts in horror, you cringe at the sight of skulls oozing out of the hair. "Those guys we saw from the village." InuYasha gasps, you tug InuYasha's kimono over your eyes. "I'm scared. I wanna go home.' You mumble to yourself, InuYasha's ears twitch and he looks at you.

"I'll be putting you in there too, once I separate that pretty hair from your head. It's wasted on you, anyway," Yura hums, she glances your way, "For one thing, first, that woman over there has to die." Hair heads straight for you, you ready your bow again. Remember, you're not Y/N, you're someone stronger and braver. You flinch when the hair catches fire, "How does that even work?!" You shout, you drop your bow and duck down, hiding as much as you could in InuYasha's kimono. It's a good think he's a lot taller than you.

You shut your eyes, staying in the protection of the kimono. "There. Hot enough for you? You'll feel the heat right down to your bones." Yura snickers, you could feel the smoke filling your lunge, you begin to cough. "Aw, that's for emptying out my lair. Pity there'll be nothing left but ash." Yura says. InuYasha watches you cower and cough in the flames, "Come on!" He says through grit teeth.

Yura glances at him, "Poor thing. I almost forgot. Pet ought never be allowed to outlive their masters." She cackles, drawing her blade...

.

..

...

....

You feel the heat surrounding you leave, and slowly, you move from under the kimono. 

InuYasha's kimono really did protect you, well...it protected you from the fire. You inhaled a lot of smoke. You shake off the dizzy feeling as Yura and InuYasha fight above, you move quietly, climbing up the giant hair ball. Yura pause when the hair begins to tug under your weight, her eyes widen at the sight of you. InuYasha's attention drifts to you too, you keep climbing, refusing to look down or anywhere else but up. "That girl!" Yura shouts, she yanks the hair, it begins to shake unstably. You scream, losing your hold and falling. You grab the hair again and let out a shaky breath, but you force yourself to keep climbing. 

InuYasha grabs Yura's sword, "You shouldn't have looked away!" He shouts, slicing through her. Yura shriek, hair quickly wraps around her until it looks like nothing even happened. She glares at him, "All right, that does it!" She growls, the hair around InuYasha begins to tighten. He snickers, "When I took your hand, it was like you broke a nail, but now you seem mad for real." He says smugly. "What are you hiding that you're so worried about?" He asks.

"InuYasha! It's that red skull! That's her weakness!" You call out "What red skull?" InuYasha asks, right, you forgot he couldn't see any of this. Yura grabs her sword and charges towards you, you gasp and start climbing faster. "Oh no you don't!" InuYasha grunts, ripping out of the hair around him, "Stop pulling my hair!" Yura shouts, she moves the hair towards her, and you get yanked with it. You scream fearfully, "The only one pulling this mess you call hair is you!" You shout, you pull yourself upwards, yelping when you accidentally grab a skull. 

"You're tangling it all up!" Yura shouts, she throws her sword at you. You hide your face in InuYasha's kimono, the sword bounces right off. Hair wraps around your arms, "What are you? Why don't you bleed?!" Yura shouts in frustration. "I'm...special?" You say, trying to fake confidence, Yura moves closer, examining your face. "Even from here, you look mortal. Let's put you to the test." She says, a strand of hair wraps around your neck, Yura laughs at your fearful expression as the hair tightens. 

"Blades of Blood!"

The hair loosens, and your body trembles uncontrollably as everything begins to fall. "I-InuYasha..." You say weakly, he heads towards you. "Don't you faint on me, you stupid girl!" He shouts, wrapping his arms around you and jumping away from the chaos. InuYasha lands on top of the many skulls that fell out of the hair ball, he grabs at you as you continue to tremble, "Would you quit shaking? I'm here now, ain't I?" He huffs in annoyance "Well, sorry, but I can't help it..." You huff.

Yura throws her sword at the two of you, you were the only one to notice...since InuYasha was so focused on you. "InuYasha, look out!" You shout "Huh?" He asks, you quickly shove him out the way, Yura's blade hits you instead, bouncing of InuYasha's kimono. InuYasha glares at Yura, dragging you behind him, "You again." He growls as Yura calls her sword back, "You forget I'm immortal!" She shouts angrily, she throws her sword again. 

You run from behind InuYasha and pick up the red skull. Shoot, how do you break this thing? You start banging the skull into the other skulls underneath you, Yura's sword halts right in front of InuYasha, "InuYasha!" You call out, "I have it, the red skull. The hairs are connected to her hand!" You tell him, "Stop that! I'LL KILL YOU!" Yura screams, she throws her sword at you. 

You smash the skull with all your strength, a bright light appears when it finally shatters. Yura's eyes loses its light before she fades away completely. "Whoa...spooky..." You say, sucking in deep breaths to calm yourself down. You pick up the comb that was left in her place as InuYasha approaches, "So that's what Yura really was?" He says "Yura was a comb?" You ask "Sure. With all that you've seen since you've been here, are you surprised? It's probably got powers 'cause it was once used to comb the hair of the dead. Yura didn't really use it so much as it used her." He explains.

InuYasha grunts in pain, falling to his knee, "InuYasha! That stab in your chest...it only happened because I've got your kimono." You say in concern, "It's no big deal. What happened to the Sacred Jewel?" He asks "Let's worry about you first, ok?!" You stress, you take off his kimono and give it back to him. InuYasha takes it and drapes it over his shoulder, you walk over to what's left of Yura...a dress and the bag with the jewel shard. You pick up the bag, "I wonder how long it'll take to find the rest of them..." You mutter, will you be doing this until for 30?

"Y/N, let's go."

You look at InuYasha in surprise, "What? What's with that face?" He asks "You've never said my name before." You say. InuYasha huffs and looks away, "Yeah? What of it?" He asks, you snicker a little. "You like me." You conclude "Pfft. Don't get excited. I still think you're pretty useless." He states, you simply snort. "It's fine, InuYasha, I like you a little more too," You say, and his ears twitch "And I still think you're a brat. Maybe next time, I won't save you." You pat his back. InuYasha tense and stiffly falls to the floor in pain. "If it hurts so much, why didn't you say something?!" You stress, looking down at InuYasha in concern. 

"Le...LEAVE ME ALONE!"

...

InuYasha walks around the village, "Where is that brat now? Can't she just learn to stay in one place?" He grumbles. The sun had set, and you were not in Kaede's home...and you weren't in the village either. InuYasha sniffs the air, he catches your scent pretty easily. InuYasha heads to the field, "There you are!" He shouts, you lay peacefully in the grass as he stomps up to you. "What are you doing out here? It's late. You should be inside." He says, your red strings connect. "Geez, what are you? My mom?" You joke dryly, InuYasha stares at you. 

"Have a seat, InuYasha." You say, InuYasha doesn't make an effort to move. You grab your red string and tug him to the ground. InuYasha flops beside, "Hey! What was that for?!" He shouts "Hey, at least I did say si-" "Don't! Don't! I'm already sitting, alright?" He grumbles. You chuckle to yourself, drifting your attention back to the sky above you, "What are you doing out here? Kaede's looking for you." InuYasha states "No, she's not. I told her where I was going." You say, glancing at him. InuYasha looks away, aw, he must've worked himself up and went out to look for you. 

You'll definitely tease him about this later.

"I don't get to see the stars like this back home." You state, InuYasha looks up at the sky. "You like stars?" He asks "Yeah. My dad used to take me to the planetarium all the time when I was younger." I say, InuYasha furrows his eyebrows in confusion.

"Your dad? Didn't see him around when I showed up."
"Well, I hope not, my dad's dead." 

InuYasha tenses, you glance him, chuckling a bit. "I guess not even you are safe from that reaction. It's fine, InuYasha. He died a long time ago. Besides, I still have the stars." You hum, and your attention goes back to the sky. InuYasha says nothing, he looks at you for a moment. The stars...he can their reflection in your eyes, InuYasha quickly looks away, grumbling to himself. 

No, not again. 

"I'll be heading back home tonight."

InuYasha opens his mouth, "To get some things. And then I'll be back." You quickly add "Whatever. Do what you want." InuYasha scoffs, shutting his eyes. Neither of you made an effort to leave...maybe it'd be ok to stay right here for just a little longer...

Chapter Text

"Alright, I'm off, you guys! See you later!" You call out, sliding on your shoes. "Ah, Y/N, hold on." Your mother calls out, "I can't, Mom. I've got an impatient brat for a soulmate." You tell her, your mother hold up the first aid kit. "You almost left this." She tells you softly, "Oh! Right, I almost forgot," You take the first aid kit "InuYasha got hurt real bad...I'm hoping I can help him at least a little bit." "You'll be a good wife to him." Your mother chuckles, you cringe and your face begins to burn, "Mom! His wife? Come on, this soulmate thing is only temporary. We're barely friends. There's no way I'll marry him." You say. Your mother's smile only grows more affectionate as she watches you leave with your bike. 

...

"First aid treatment? I don't need it. Go away!" 

InuYasha sits on a tree branch in a tall tree, you look at him in annoyance as you climb off your bike. "You do too. I saw you get stabbed. You technically need a hospital, but I doubt you'd let me drag you to one." You sigh. "You're talking nonsense again." He sighs, closing his eyes, "Just come down!" You groan. "Nothing doing." InuYasha says "I said come here." You say, your eye beginning to twitch. InuYasha scoffs again, "Alright, you asked for it. Sit, boy." You say, InuYasha slams into the ground in front of you. He twitches for a few seconds, "What'd you do that for?!" He shouts.

You roll your eyes, grabbing the first aid kit, "I just want to take a look, ok? When you're hurt real bad, you have to have medical treatment. This is how you die at an early age, you know." You sigh, "I said go away! You act like I'm the one who lost!" InuYasha shouts "Just take off your kimono so I can check your damn wound!" You shout. "No!" InuYasha shouts, the two of you glare at each other. Neither one of you is going to break, "Fine, InuYasha. I may be a weak human to you, but I've been a begin sister for 11 years. I know how to hold someone down and clean a wound." You say, rolling your shoulder. InuYasha scoffs, "Yeah, right, I'd like to see you-Ah! HEY!" 

InuYasha yelps when you tackle him to the ground, you already have your hands tugging off his kimono. InuYasha press his palm into your cheek, pushing you away from him. You manage to at least get the kimono slightly open, InuYasha grabs your arms and tries to jerk you off of him, "I said take it off!" You shout "What if I don't feel like it?!" InuYasha shouts back, "Do you feel like being dead?! That what'll happen if you get an infection! Undress!" You try to check to make sure you're not making any of his wounds worse, but you hear a gasp behind you.

"Avert thee eyes!"

You and InuYasha look back to see Kaede standing behind you with a group of children, "Huh?" You both ask. "Mayhap ye like each other more than I first thought." Kaede says, your face feels warmer, InuYasha quickly shoves you off of him, looking away with a pink face. "I would have thought that you'd have figured out by now my body's different." He huffs, he tugs down his kimono a little, revealing his scarless, woundless skin...and also a little abs too...

"It's already gone?" You ask in disbelief, you stand up and gently poke his skin. InuYasha jumps at your touch, he catches your hand, shooting you an annoyed look. "Quit it." He says, "Oh, so great a wound to have healed so quickly and leave no scar." Kaede says, InuYasha releases your hand, flicking away the red string when it lingers on his arms. He scoffs as he adjusts his kimono, "Look, just because it would have killed a human don't make it a big deal for someone like me." He says. 

Right...he's not all human, but he's not really a demon either. 

He's half of each. 

"Ow!" InuYasha winces, all eyes go to the flea on his chest. "Greetings and salutations." It says, "It can talk!" You gasp, InuYasha smacks the flea. "Well, if it ain't Myoga the flea." He says, the two of you watch Myoga drop to the ground. Wow, so InuYasha's has fleas? Wait! You have somethiing for that.

You dig around in your backpack, InuYasha looks at you, but decides to ignore you. "So, what'd you come to see me about?" He asks, bending down to look at Myoga. "Lord InuYasha, I've come to-" Myoga lets out a fit out coughs as you begin spraying him down. "What's that do?" InuYasha asks "Oh, uh, whoops. It's a spray that protects animals from fleas. I thought I might need it." You explain. InuYasha narrows his eyes, "Need it for what?" He asks, you smile at him innocently. 

...

"What do you mean someone's trying to find my dad's tomb?" InuYasha asks as you sit around in Kaede's home, "As guardian of his final resting place, I can bear it no longer." Myoga states. "So you took off and came here instead." InuYasha accuses "But it's the remains that are important, and they are no longer there.' Myoga explains, you rest your head on your knees, trying to make sense of everything. "Oh, so where are the remains then?" InuYasha asks "Regrettably, sire, no one knows." Myoga states. InuYasha sighs and rests his head on his palm, "Some guardian you are."

"InuYasha, they say your father was a Phantom Beast, that the Western Lands were his domain." Kaede tells him "Can't say as I remember it that well." InuYasha says with a shrug. "Your father was a demon among demons, great and powerful. His blood was especially delicious. And you, Lord InuYasha, have inherited that from him." Myoga adds, your perk up curiously, "Wow, what about his mom?" You ask, Myoga turns his attention to you. 

He looks at the red string attached to you and InuYasha before he speaks with a fondess, "She was a beauty beyond compare. Oh, if only she could've met you. For years, she'd tell InuYasha how he'd never have to worry about-" InuYasha steps on Myoga, smooshing him into the ground as much as he could. "Geez, InuYasha. That was pretty cruel..." You says, InuYasha storms outside. "Just drop it, ok? She died a long time ago." He huffs, you blink, "I'm sorry about that, Myoga. I guess he's sensitive about his mother..." You mutter. "Aye, well..." Kaede says "I didn't mean to upset him. I can understand the pain of losing a parent." You sigh. "Yes. Lord InuYasha has always preferred not to speak of her." Myoga states, he and Kaede are quiet, neither willing to give anymore information.

...

You ride your bike through the village, enjoying the peace and quiet as you try to father your thoughts. 

InuYasha's dad was a demon-a full demon, and his mother a human-a full human.

Somehow, you managed to ride to the exact tree where InuYasha was sulking. You look up at him, your strings had already connected, so you know he was choosing to ignore you. Maybe that's why he doesn't like bringing up his mom...because she's human. Maybe he hates her...

You frown a little, how could someone hate their own mom? She probably really loved InuYasha. You tighten your grip on your bike's handles, the wind blows a lot harder. It must be about to rain, you should-

InuYasha drops on top of you, "Get down!" He shouts, you grunt when your face smacks into the dirt. "What the heck was that for?" You ask, InuYasha looks up at the sky, narrowing his eyes. "Something's coming. Can you you feel it?" He asks, you look up and see a floating carriage. "There's a lady riding in there..." You mutter in confusion, InuYasha stands up. You stand up too, "InuYasha, what's wrong?" You ask. 

"...M-mother!"

"Mother?" You ask, looking at the lady in the carriage again. "It is you! InuYasha!" She calls out before crying out in pain, "Mother!" InuYasha shouts. "What the...you just said your mother's dead." You say in disbelief, "InuYasha! InuYasha!" His "mother" calls out desperately, and the carriage gets closer and closer to the sky. A giant hand comes from out clouds and crushes the carriage. You and InuYasha gasp, watching a giant demon hold InuYasha's mom in the clouds. 

"He's going to hurt her!" You shout in concern, InuYasha jumps into the air, "No, he's not!" He growls out, fire shoots at InuYasha. It was a small goblin thing shooting fire at him! "You missed!" InuYasha shouts, behind the goblin was a...damn that man is hot. Wow, you've never seen such a pretty man before. "It is you...Sesshomaru!" InuYasha shouts angrily "Indeed. I've quite missed you as well...little brother." Sesshomaru says. 

Brother?! 

That's InuYasha's brother?!

Being hot just runs in the family, huh?!

...

Not that you think InuYasha's hot. He's ok to look at sometimes.

Sesshomaru is gorgeous, though. Why couldn't he be your soulmate instead?

"Man, he's pretty..." You mumble, InuYasha whips his attention to you, looking absolutely offended, "WHAT?!" He screams "What? He is pretty! Look at him!" You say defensively, InuYasha lets out a loud groan, "Oh, great! Don't tell me you have the hots for my brother! Did ya forget you're my soulmate not his?!" He shouts "So? And what do you care? You don't even want me as your soulmate anyway!" You scoff, InuYasha growls in annoyance. Wait a second...is he jealous? Sesshomaru narrows his eyes at you, noting the red string connecting you and InuYasha. "Hmm, so you've finally found your soulmate, InuYasha? And she's a mortal. How interesting." He says. 

"Yeah, what about it?" InuYasha asks defensively "Other would be ashamed, but with you, little brother, this girl quite suits you." Sesshomaru says, you lean closer to InuYasha. "Hey, tell him you don't like me like that so I can have a chance." You whisper, holding back the urge to snicker. "Shut. Up." InuYasha says through grit teeth, InuYasha's mother cries out and you lose all the energy to joke, "I should think you've had enough of them. Or is it a taste from father." Sesshomaru asks, InuYasha growls. "That's not all, is it? You couldn't have come all this way just to tell me that." He says. 

You glance at InuYasha's mom as she twitches in pain, you're starting to get the vibe that Sesshomaru is only pretty on the outside...

"Be not a fool. I have no such time to waste. The tomb of our father-where must I seek it?" Sesshomaru asks, "Our father's tomb? Why ask me?" InuYasha huffs. "Seeing yet never seen, protected yet never known to its protector. No other clues are known." Sesshomaru states "I got no idea what you're talking about. Besides, even if I did, there's no way I'd tell you!" InuYasha shouts angrily, Sesshomaru stares down at him coldly, "I see," He says "Then you leave me no choice but to let your mother's suffering convince you." Sesshomaru whips the giant demons eye, it tightens its grip around InuYasha's mother. 

You gasp at the sight, "Ha! Nice try, jerk! She's been dead for years and we both know it! Like I'd really fall for some stupid trick like that!" InuYasha scoffs confidently. Sesshomaru smirks, and-man, he's really pretty. "A trick, is it?" He asks, the little goblin with him speaks up, "You're who's stupid. Recalling spirits from the Netherworld is a simple task, if you are Lord Sesshomaru. He was even so kind as to give her flesh, and yet her own son would deny it. How sad to be mother to one such as you!" 

"InuYasha! I have come back, InuYasha! Back from the World of the Dead!" InuYasha's mother winces out before passing out. "Stop hurting her!" InuYasha shouts, he leaps into the air, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" He shouts, slicing through the demon's arm. You watch nervously as his mother hits the ground, you run to her side, "Oh, no...are you ok?" You ask, you tug the chains off of her. "Y/N! You and her, get out of here!" InuYasha shouts "I think not." Sesshomaru says.

He starts slicing the giant demon's face repeated. It growls loudly, reaching for InuYasha's mother. You let out a fearful gasp, you try to get her to stand, "Mother!" InuYasha shouts out desperately, his call is enough to wake her up. "InuYasha!" She gasps, InuYasha cries out when the giant demon hits him instead of his mother, you flinch when a ball of light forms out of her hands. A white glow surrounds the three of you and suddenly you can't see...or think anymore...

...

......

.........

...

InuYasha's eyes flutter open, he quickly sits up, looking around in concern. He spots you unconscious beside him, he gently shakes you, but gets no reaction, "This place...where is it?" He mumbles "At the border of the Spirit World. I must be crossing over it very soon." His mother says, InuYasha stands up and stares at her "Crossing over? Oh, yeah, right. It happened so long ago, I keep forgetting you're dead..." He sighs, he glances at you.

His mother chuckles, "She's beautiful, InuYasha. I always knew she would be." She says, "Who? Her? She...pretty stupid, but I guess she is ok to look at..." InuYasha says, looking away with pinkened cheeks as the pair walk further away from you. "InuYasha, you...you've become a man, haven't you?" His mother asks "Well, yeah. I mean, when you died, I guess I was still just a kid, right?" InuYasha asks. 

"Such terrible, violent days, and you all alone with no one to care for you. How can you ever forgive me?" She asks sadly, InuYasha avoids her sad gaze, "It weren't that big a deal. I mean..." He says "InuYasha..." His mother says softly.

You start to stir awake, you see InuYasha and his mother speaking, but you can't hear what they're saying...but at least his mother is ok. Your body feels...nothing. You...you can't move!

Oh, this isn't fair!

Why do you have to be paralyzed?! You've have so many nightmares about this!

You look at InuYasha, maybe you can signal him for help? You can see his smile on his reflection, you slowly calm down...he looks so happy. Who knows how long it's been since he's seen his...wait, her face doesn't have a reflection! Why doesn't her face have a reflection?! 

"Inu...InuYa..." You weakly squeak out, your voice...you can't speak! Now this is really like your nightmares!

InuYasha's red string tugs on his finger, he ignore it, whatever you want can wait, "Mother..." He says softly, she leans against him, "Partings are never easy. Wouldn't you agree?" She sighs "...I..." InuYasha mutters sadly, you watch him nervously, whoever that woman is, she's not InuYasha's mom! You try to move again, your body just barely twitches. "InYasha, I must return now to the Netherworld." InuYasha's "mom" says "D-do you have to?" He asks sadly. She throws petals into the water, "The petals...look into the water." She says, InuYasha does so...

....

A child InuYasha chases a ball across a bridge, he stops when he sees his mother standing there. He runs to her, burying himself in her arms. 

...

InuYasha's eyes widen at the sight of his younger self in the water, "That me, back when I was still small." He says in a daze, his "mother" wraps her arms around him from behind, "You remember. That's good. As a child, I often held you this way. I held you to my heart, just as I am doing now." She says, digging her fingers into his skin...pushing her hands into his flesh. InuYasha winces, but still leans into her embrace.

"I'll never let go. Not now. Not ever." She says "Mother..." InuYasha groans weakly. You twitch, why can't you move?!

Your eyes widen, suddenly...you can see it...you can see them. More little goblins! And they're holding you down with chains!

This whole place...it's an illusion!

"Y/N! Y/N, snap out of it!"

If you could scream...you definitely would've. "It's me! Me! Myoga the flea!" Myoga says, hopping up and down beside your ear. You twitch uncomfortably, Myoga jumps onto the chains wrapped around you, "Who'd thought Sesshomaru would be the one seeking the tomb? And what a foe he is! And here's Y/N, poor thing, chained head to toe, so wrapped up she couldn't even swat a..." 

Myoga suddenly latches onto your cheek, sucking blood. You jump and smack him off, you watch the small goblins run away. "Wow, looks like I'm not as paralyzed as I thought I was. Lucky us, huh?" You say, you narrow your eyes at the flea in your hand, "Yes...lucky..." He slurs out, you head buzzes as you try to gather yourself. You gasp when you see Sesshomaru's bigger goblin approach, you duck behind a large rock.

He smacks the fake mom across her empty face, "Stop! What are you doing?! No soul sucking 'til I tell you!" He shouts "...Sorry." She says "You can have your way with him later, after he tells us how to find the tomb of their father." He says "It's the little goblin!" You gasp quietly, Myoga sits on your shoulder, he snorts lightly. "That is Jaken, Sesshomaru's henchmen. Keep your eye on his staff." Myoga states, you nod and shoot a concern look at InuYasha.

"Fear not, Y/N, InuYasha will be ok, but only if you stay focused on the task at hand." Myoga states "Right...it's fine. I'm not really all that worried about him anyway." You huff "Mmhm..." He mumbles and he-he looks like he doesn't believe you at all!

"InuYasha. InuYasha! Your father's tomb-where is it? Please tell me." The faker coos out, InuYasha leans into her more. "I don't know..." He mumbles "Then think harder." She says firmly, you crawl quietly in the high grass. "Let me see into your heart. What's that?" She asks "Black Pearl, on the right..." InuYasha says softly. "What black pearl? Where? We need more than that! Go deeper!" Jaken shouts "But...Lord Jaken, if I delve deeper, his spirit will be broken." The fake mom says nervously, you tense up slightly at her word. 

"I don't care! Do it!" 

InuYasha flinches, "InuYasha...shhh..." The fake mom says gently, "But Mother...I can't breathe..." He whispers, you stand up, running at Jaken, "What is taking so long?! Get a move on before Lord Sesshomaru come back and-" Jaken yelps when you snatch the staff out of his hand. You smack him with it, "I've been wanting to do that since I saw you, stupid toad!" You shout, knocking him into the lake. 

The fake mom looks at you, she tightens her grip around InuYasha, attempting to run, "Wait! Let InuYasha go! Please!" You say "No!" She shouts, InuYasha is fused into her more. You grab his hair and yank his face out of her chest. She jerks InuYasha away from you, you stumble and face plant into the dirt. "Crap, InuYasha!" You shout desperately, InuYasha is sucked in even more, "What am I supposed to do, Myoga?! I don't have a bow or gun or something to shoot her!" You stress. Myoga hops up and down on your shoulder, "Y/N! His spirit! Awaken it! That is the only way to free him from the Unmother!" He says "How?!" You ask. "The string! You must you the String of Fate!" He tells you, the String of Fate...you're close enough to InuYasha that they are connected...

You quickly grab the string, wrapping it securely around your hand. "InuYasha! Please! Don't give into the illusion. Your mom did really care about you, but she's not here anymore! I'm here...and I...I'm real! And I don't want to watch you die! I like you alive! Snap out of it! InuYasha!" You plead, you give the red string a firm tug. It glows brightly. The Unmother cries out as InuYasha is yank out of her chest and away from her. He lands by your side, panting heavily. 

You latch onto him, your grip tight but gently, "InuYasha...are you ok?" You ask softly. "How dare she! You pretended to be-I fell for it! I can't believe I thought she was my-" InuYasha quiets down when you squeeze him gently, "Don't be mad at her, InuYasha...it was Jaken and Sesshomaru who-" 

"InuYasha."

You both gasp at the sight of Sesshomaru approaching, "I know where it is now." He says. InuYasha growls, "Sesshomaru!" He shouts angrily, Sesshomaru lunges towards InuYasha. You yelp as InuYasha pushes you out of the way. "You bast-" He grunts when Sesshomaru wraps his hand around InuYasha's neck. "Of all the places for him to hide it. All this time, beneath our very own noses, or, to be technical, above our very own noses. Right above, one might say." Sesshomaru says, a small smirk rests on his face.

...He's so pretty...and so awful...

"Father was determined to keep it a secret, which was why he chose here to hide it." He continues "What...are you talking about? You're making no sense at all!" InuYasha shouts, clawing at Sesshomaru's hand. "Well, then, little brother, since it was obviously done without your knowledge, how would you like to come with me and find out?" He asks, his points his claws at InuYasha's eye, InuYasha cries out and sparks begin to fly. "Lord InuYasha!" Myoga gasps, InuYasha screams in pain as Sesshomaru pulls...a black pearl out of his eye. 

Sesshomaru throws InuYasha to the ground, "InuYasha..." You say in concern, InuYasha holds his eye in pain. You reach out to him gently. Sesshomaru chuckles like the pretty asshole he is, "No wonder searching for it beneath ground was useless. Seeing yet never seen, protected yet never known to its protector. Our father's tomb hidden inside a black pearl deep within your eye." He says. InuYasha hasn't stopped growling the whole time, man, he really is a dog demon. "And all for something like that?! You pretended she was my mother!" He shouts angirly.

InuYasha stands up, glaring Sesshomaru down. Sesshomaru chuckles smugly, "You're not amused?" He asks "No, I'm not. YOU BASTARD!" InuYasha shouts, he tries to slash Sesshomaru with his claw, but Sesshomaru gracefully dodges. "Die." He says calmly, swinging a whip, the whip strike InuYasha in the chest. InuYasha stumbles to the ground, Sesshomaru's whip heads right for him. "InuYasha!" You shout fearfully, your body moves on its own, and somehow...you're right in front of InuYasha, attempting to shield him from the attack...

"W-wait, hold on now! Warn someone before you try to kill yourself!" Myoga shouts in horror. 

InuYasha lets out a startled gasp the second he sees your back in front of him, you shut your eyes. Well, if you die, at least you'll get to see your dad again. You jump when the Unmother jumps in front you. She ends up taking the hit for both InuYasha and you, "My baby...thank you for protecting my baby...please take care of him for me..." She sobs brokenly as she shatters to pieces. You watch the sight with wide eyes, "She...protected him." You say in disbelief "Demon spirit or not...she still had a mother's heart. You must've warmed it when you risked your life to save InuYasha. You reminded her of a mother's true role..." Myoga explains. Sesshomaru looks down at the Unmother's head, he destroys it without a second thought. You watch him and Jaken prep to leave...and Jaken got his stupid staff back while you were distracted. You move to stand, but a sudden weight holds you in place.

InuYasha digs his fingers into your shoulders, his grip was firm, but his fingers twitch and tremble. You look back at him, "What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you do something so stupid?" He asks, you shrug. "In that moment, you're life just felt more important than mine." You say simply, InuYasha's eyes widen and he lets go of you. A portal opens and Sesshomaru and Jaken step inside, Myoga hops from your shoulder to InuYasha's. "The portal! We must move quickly before it's closed. Do you want your brother to take sole possession of your father's treasure?" Myoga asks.

"Let him. What do I care?' InuYasha scoffs, looking at the small flea. You stand and make your way over to the portal. "But, sire!" Myoga pleads "I never said I'm not going in there, ok?" InuYasha growls out. "Say your prayer Sesshomaru. You're dead!" He shouts angrily, "Y/N, you stay here! It's too dangerous for-" InuYasha looks around for you. "Yo!" You call out, InuYasha looks at you in disbelief as you're already half through the portal. "Come on, slowpoke, let's gooooo." You say, you throw up a peace sign before disappearing into the portal. "Hey!" InuYasha shouts, he growls in annoyance. "Can you believe the universe wants me to spend the rest of my life with her?"He asks bitterly, racing towards the portal. Myoga looks at him and shuts his eyes, "Sire, you two are a match made in Heaven..." He sighs. 

"And what is that supposed to mean?!" InuYasha asks, he goes straight through the portal. He reaches for you, grabbing your arm once he's close enough. "You realize Sesshomaru's there. Or do you still wanna look at his 'pretty' face?" He grumbles "No one does that, no matter how pretty he is. He forced you to suffer and I'm not going to over look that." You say firmly. InuYasha scoffs, "Since when do you care about me so much?" He asks "Shut up." You sigh. 

The two of you appear outside the portal and begin falling through the sky. InuYasha pulls you closer to him, you land on a bird that was nothing but bones. "Father..." InuYasha mumbles as you get closer to a giant skeleton "Huh?! That's your dad? All of this is your dad?" You ask, the closer you got, the bigger the skeleton looked. "What else would it be?" InuYasha asks, rolling his eyes. "Oh your poor mom, I'm starting to get why she only had you..." You say sympathetically, you then closely look at InuYasha, "Uh, Myoga?...Is InuYasha gonna get that big?" You ask "What're you asking him for?" InuYasha asks. 

"No, it's unlikely that InuYasha could grow to his father's true, undisguised size. After 150 years, it's very clear that he's not going to grow to that size." Myoga states "150 years old?! Geez, you're old!" You shout in disbelief. "And here I thought you were my age!" You say, InuYasha scoffs loudly. "Don't be stupid. Demons age differently compared to you humans." He states "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Gramps. Maybe that's why your hair's so white and you're so cranky, you're an old man trapped in a teenage body." You snort, InuYasha looks at you in annoyance.  "I could push you off right now and watch you fall..." He says "And I could push you off." You state, "Yeah! But I'd survive the fall!" InuYasha scoffs.

"I would too!"
"Ha! No you wouldn't!"
"Yes, I would! You'd feel too bad for pushing me and save me!"
"You wanna take that risk!"
"Do you?!"

"Please stop yelling, we're almost there..." Myoga sighs tiredly. You huff and look away from InuYasha, the bird lands and you climb off. "Well, looks like we gotta walk the rest of the way." You mutter, "...Don't do that again." InuYasha says bitterly "What now?" You sigh, you stop your annoyed act when you notice his serious expression. Wow, that was a fast tone shift. "I don't need you protecting me. I've gotten by just fine on my own. I don't...need you acting like my life means more than yours. I'm the one who does the protecting, not you, got it?" He says sternly. You take in his expression...and then you chuckle. "You can't tell me what do, dog boy." You say, continuing down the path.

InuYasha groans, "Stubborn..." He complains to himself, and Myoga suddenly feels that his 'match made in Heaven' comment was more than true. InuYasha breaks out into a run, zooming past you. "Sesshomaru! We're not finished yet!" He shouts angrily, he jumps off the edge. You stop at the edge, "Wow...that is high..." You mumble, you grab a nearby vine and start climbing down. "Oh dear, dead, sorta father-in-law. Please don't let me fall and die inside of you. I feel like dying in another person's grave is so rude." You whisper. Sesshomaru dodges InuYasha's attack, "Now where'd he go?" InuYasha asks bitterly. 

You look up to see Sesshomaru right above you. "Be more respectful," He tells InuYasha "It's our father's tomb." "Look who's talking! You're the one who's here robbing his grave! Why no respect him by leaving!" InuYasha shouts. You can't help but stare at Sesshomaru, this is the closest you've been to him and...no! No! He is not a good person, he's not even a person. Sesshomaru looks down at you while InuYasha and Myoga talk to each other. You narrow your eyes at him nervously, "Glaring? Bold for someone that can easily be thrown off balance with a simple kick." Sesshomaru says, you let out a startled gasp at the threat. 

If you were smarter, you would've accepted that threat and focused on climbing down to safety...

Sadly, you're not that smart...

"YOU KICK ME, I'M THROWIN' DIRT IN YOUR HAIR!" 

Sesshomaru tilts his head, he's studying you. The evil, pretty man is studying you. He lets out a sigh, "I don't know who I should pity more, you or InuYasha." He says, he raises his foot to step on your finger. You squeal in fear, letting go on your own. You fall pretty fast and pretty far before you manage to latch onto the vine again. "Stop being stupid!" InuYasha groans, you shoot him an annoyed look, but your expression softens when you see the brat seems genuinely concerned about you falling to your death, "Lord InuYasha, you must draw the sword. Please!" Myoga says, he glances at Sesshomaru, "And you, Lord Sesshomaru, you couldn't pull it out, could you?" He asks.

"Huh, I guess his looks are the only good thing about him..." You say quietly "Ha!" InuYasha snorts, Sesshomaru glances at you. You bite your tongue and laugh nervously, right...of course the dog demons have good hearing. Sesshomaru looks away from you, you let out a soft breath and continue climbing down. Even after falling, you still have a long way down. "Do you mean to say InuYasha can?" Sesshomaru asks "Of course. It was always intended that Lord InuYasha should inherit it. He...he...he was entrusted with the tomb, wasn't he? That should be proof enough, if you ask me." Myoga explains, he nervously hides in InuYasha's hair. 

"Now, hurry! Hurry and claim what's yours!" He says, InuYasha looks at the sword, and from here...it don't look like much. "What entrusted? What inheritance? For all I care, he can keep the rusty piece of junk!" InuYasha shouts, he glares at Sesshomaru, "What I do mind, though, is all the other stuff! Good thing you're in a grave, because you 're gonna die!" He says angrily, InuYasha lunges at Sesshomaru and breaks the ground...wait...actually, that's technically his dad's ribcage. Poor InuYasha's dad...his kids are in here just breaking his bones...

Sesshomaru dodges InuYasha's attack, "Now, was that aimed at me?" He asks mockingly, you weren't so lucky as some pieces of ribcage fall hit you. "Careful now, InuYasha, you may end up killing your mate instead." Sesshomaru says, "...Ew, don't call me his mate..." You grumble, you look down to see your progress. Man, you're really high up, it's a good thing you got over your fear of heights.

Wait.

No, that never happened!

Nooo, you're losing all the adrenaline you built up earlier! You can feel your common sense and fear coming back! 

Why did you threaten to throw dirt in Sesshomaru's hair?! You're lucky he didn't kill you for that! 

Wait, maybe he didn't kill you because he knows you're going to fall and die anyway.

You gasp, having a mini panic attack as InuYasha continues to try and fail at landing a hit on Sesshomaru. You've come to far to quit, you have to keep moving down-the entire ribcage begins to shake when InuYasha misses Sesshomaru again. "Damn!" He growls out, Sesshomaru lands behind him. "You fight as though you're still a child." Sesshomaru scoffs, "You can't fight unarmed! The sword! Get the sword!" Myoga begs "You shut up!" InuYasha says.

"InuYasha, stop being an idiot and get the damn sword!" You shout, "Huh?" InuYasha mutters, he looks up at you. "Think! Sesshomaru couldn't pull it out. If you can't hit him in the body, strike him in the ego! Hurt his pride!" You tell him, you abandon your vine, clinging onto of the ribcage bars. InuYasha grins, "Ah, I get it. I'll do it, if only to see the look on your face." He says, walking over to the sword. 

InuYasha grips the sword firmly, "This is going to be more fun than I thought." He says, you see Jaken pop out of a pile of skull. "No! InuYasha is immune to the spell that thwarted Sesshomaru!" He shouts in horror "I knew it! Tetsusaiga is fated to become Lord InuYasha's!" Myoga says, InuYasha grunts, struggling to pull out the Tetsusaiga, "Pull harder! Come on, InuYasha!" You shout. 

The Tetsusaiga glow briefly as InuYasha tries to get it out, but the glow quickly fades. Everyone stares in disbelief, "...Yo." InuYasha says "Um, yes?" Myoga asks nervously, InuYasha grabs him and squishes him between his index and his thumb, "I couldn't pull the sword out, could I?" InuYasha asks in irritation "Not really...no..." Myoga chokes out. "Are you done? I am." Sesshomaru states, you can barely see him move as he zip over to InuYasha. InuYasha dodges his attack and runs away, but Sesshomaru manages to pin him down, "I don't think you've met my poisoned claws." Sesshomaru states as his claws begin to glow. 

InuYasha breaks free of Sesshomaru's grip before his claws could touch him. "Running?" Sesshomaru hums, he pulls out his glowing whip and it strikes InuYasha's kimono, throwing him back. Jaken laughs evil, you narrow your eyes at him as he waves his staff around. "Give me strength, future father-in-law..." You say, giving the ribcage a final squeeze before you throw yourself off the edge, "Don't worry, Milord. It's all taken care of-" Jaken cries out when you land on him. 

He looks at you with an offended expression as you step on him, "If there's one thing I hate, it's cheating cowards like you. Getting involved in fights that ain't got nothing to do with you." You say angrily, Jaken glares at you, "Oh! Why you! Get off of me!" He shouts, he swings his staff at you, you catch it with zero hesitation. "I am not going to lose to something the size of a toddler! You stinking toad!" You shout "Oh yeah?! Well, I'm not going to lose to a human! You stinking human!" Jaken shouts. 

The two of you struggle with Jaken's staff, the little guy is a lot stronger than he looks. "This human's going to kick your little, green ass!" You grunt, you lift up a foot and press it against Jaken's head. Good thing you put on sneakers before you left home. Jaken tightens his grip on his staff, "I don't think so!" He shouts, pushing his staff towards you. It throws you off balance and you fall against the skulls. InuYasha sees the whole thing as he dodges Sesshomaru's attacks, "Y/N-" His shout of your name is cut off by Sesshomaru punching him in the stomach. 

You move away from Jaken, "What's the matter?! Is that all you got?" He shouts mockingly. You lean tiredly against the Tetsusaiga for support, "Please, I haven't even started." You scoff, you flinch at the sound of InuYasha's pained cry. Sesshomaru digs his claws into InuYasha's chest while the claws on his other hands glows green, "The time has come. Die." Sesshomaru says with a small smile on his face...and yeah. You don't really think he's all that pretty anymore. 

"INUYASHA!" You shout out, you run off the Tetsusaiga's platform. You don't know what you're going to do...maybe you can jump in front of Sesshomaru's attack again like last time. You'll probably actually die if you do it this time though...maybe you can throw Jaken in front of InuYasha instead. Sesshomaru comes to an abrupt stop, he looks at you in shock...and so does InuYasha and Jaken. 

Ok...why is everyone staring at you?

You look at your hand. Ah, you never let go of the Tetsusaiga...

And you pulled it out when you moved to run to InuYasha. 

You hold the Tetsusaiga with both hand, looking at it in confusion. "Huh. Future father-in-law came through. Somehow he likes me more than both his sons, I'll definitely be naming a kid after him." You say to yourself with a smile grin, Jaken stares at you dumbfounded. 

...So, what are you supposed to do now?

Chapter Text

Jaken and Sesshomaru stare at you in disbelief, you can see something flicker in Sesshomaru's eyes as Jaken squawks loudly, "That's impossible! If the two of them couldn't do it, how could a mere human ever hope to-" 

"Don't look at her. Look at me!" InuYasha shouts, he swipes his claws at Sesshomaru, but he's already gone-and by your side. You let out the most undignified, girlish scream at Sesshomaru suddenly being right in front of you. "Hi...? You're a lot taller up close." You say nervously, Sesshomaru stares you down, at first he was studying you, but now it feels like he wants to rip your body open and study your soul. "What are you, and how did you draw the sword?" He asks, you chuckle nervously, "I'll be happy to answer any and all questions from a reasonably safe distance..." You state, backing up slightly.

"Good thing he's after her now and not us," Myoga sighs "It's a shame. She really was a good fit for you, but such is life. Let's leave." InuYasha glares at the flea, "Be quiet! Sesshomaru, leave her alone! She's not involved in this!" He shouts, Sesshomaru's gaze doesn't break away from you. He watches your fearfully expression shift into something...slightly bolder. "One step closer and you're getting a bad hair cut." You say, tightening your grip on the Tetsusaiga. "Why must all your threats involve my hair?" Sesshomaru sighs, he looks back at InuYasha.

"For some unknown reason, I was unable to draw the Tetsusaiga. Fortunately, you were unable to draw it either. It's obvious that she must die." He states "You're right, it is weird she could do it and we couldn't, but she's still just a human girl." InuYasha says. Sesshomaru snatches you hand, you let out a startled gasp, he holds your wrist close to his face, examining your String of Fate as it drifts towards InuYasha, "But she's more than that, InuYasha. Her soul is bound to yours, and when a human soul is bound to a demon-even a worthless half demon, can they really be considered just a human?" He asks, he tightens his grip on your wrist angrily, but lets go. 

InuYasha grits his teeth as he sees the bruise already forming on your wrist. You can feel the string pulse around your pinky, Kaede says that only happens when your soulmate craves for you to be near. InuYasha wants you by his side right now. The two of you lock eyes, "Y/N, give him the sword. There's no choice." He says firmly. You huff, "And why does he automatically get to keep it? I snagged it fair and square, and I'm on Team InuYasha, so this thing goes to you. He shouldn't get something he's not supposed to have. If he wants it so bad, I'll gladly let him pry it from my cold, dead hands." InuYasha growls at your words.

"Don't be stupid! You're only a human, so back off, shut up, and butt out!" InuYasha shouts, "Butt out?" You scoff in disbelief. You completely ignore Sesshomaru's presence beside you now, politely nudging him out of the way to yell at InuYasha. Sesshomaru blinks at your actions. "What do you know? I'm already dragged into this bullshit cause of you! And technically, I'm the one who pulled out this sword, it's mine. So, I get to decide what happens it! And I already told you that you have no right to tell me what to do!" You shout "No, right?! I'm tryin' to make sure you don't die! Just give Sesshomaru the sword!" InuYasha shouts "I don't wanna!" You shout back. 

"Do you wanna die?!"
"How do you know he won't kill me the second he gets the sword anyway?!"
"He's more likely to kill you if he don't get the sword!" 
"He's more likely to kill you if he does get the sword!"

Sesshomaru looks back and forth between the two of you, "InuYasha, your patience with this creature is astonishing to me," He says, he brushes his hair behind his ear "You protect her, indulge her-even seem to love her." "Uh..." InuYasha says awkwardly. He didn't deny it? Why didn't he die it?!

"Certainly these feelings of mercy of yours are not something I inherited from our great and terrible father. It must of have been that mother of yours. That human mother who caused our father to meet his end in this ignoble place. Her blood affects you as well." Sesshomaru says, he calmly walks away from you a little bit. You let out a soft sigh of relief, "Is it that which so endears you to them? When it comes to humans, I, of course, bear no such weakness." He says, he looks back at you. 

You swallow nervously, but try to keep a brave expression. Sesshomaru aims his hand at you and green energy shoot out, you hold the Tetsusaiga firmly and shield your face. You can see something forming around your legs, you laugh bitterly at Sesshomaru, "If I gotta die, I'm gonna die reminding you that I could pull out the sword and you couldn't. I get to die knowing I'm somehow better than-" You mocking was cut short, "Y/N!" InuYasha shouts.

But you were gone...there was nothing left but a melted pile and the Tetsusaiga. 

"So fragile, don't you agree, little brother?" Sesshomaru asks, InuYasha stares at the melted pile where you were once standing. "Sesshomaru..." He growls out, "And not just humans-half breed too." Sesshomaru adds, turning to look at InuYasha. InuYasha runs at Sesshomaru, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" He shouts angrily, Sesshomaru dodges his attack, wrapping InuYasha in the fur draped over his shoulder.

"How can you think with your dirty blood that you are my equal?" He asks coldly, throwing InuYasha into the skulls below. "You..." InuYasha growls out, his fist are tightly clenched. He can't look at the string. He won't. He don't know what he'll do if he sees that string floating upward-this time permanently. Why couldn't you just listen to him? You're-you were so stupid! He just wants to yell at you, he'd give anything to yell at you again.

InuYasha shields is face when Sesshomaru swings his whip at him again. "You forget your station, worthless half breed!" Sesshomaru shouts, knocking InuYasha into their father's ribcage. InuYasha grunts in pant, he sighs weakly, "A half breed, am I?" He asks...

...

A small InuYasha chases a ball across the bridge, he looks back to the group-but they're already leaving. They always leave. InuYasha frowns, he holds the ball close to his chest. "Half breed..." He mutters out, he's been called that so many times, but...what does it mean?

"InuYasha?"

He perks up at the sound of his mother's voice, InuYasha tosses the ball to the side and runs towards her, throwing himself into her arms. "Mother. What's a half breed?" He asks, his mother looks down at him sadly, tears fill her eyes. She pulls InuYasha closer to her, "InuYasha...do you remember what I told you about that string around your finger?" She asks softly, InuYasha nods, "There's someone, somewhere that loves me. And they will, always." He says. His mother chuckles gently, "Never forget that InuYasha. No matter how alone you feel. You just have to wait..." She tells him.

...

Wait...

InuYasha looks at the melted area again, he frowns bitterly, "Half breed or full breed, to me it don't matter. But when you insult my mother and kill someone I care about...that's when I get angry," He says, glaring at Sesshomaru "For their sake then, if nothing else, I'm gonna make you pay!" He charges towards Sesshomaru. His claws actually hitting Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru jumps away from him, "That was for mother!" InuYasha says, He unclenches his fist...the one that his String of Fate is attached to. 

He still can't look at it, but... "And this," InuYasha growls, leaping after his brother and slashing across his chest "This is for Y/N!" "T-This can't be happening! A moment ago he could hit at all!" Jaken gasps, the armor breaks off Sesshomaru's chest. He chuckles dryly as InuYasha faces your melted corpse, "All that for a memory and a dead mortal girl? If I'd known that's what it took to make you fight, I'd have killed her sooner. With that big mouth, she was asking for it anyway." Sesshomaru says.

InuYasha growls, "I'm gonna slit your stomach, take out your guts and put 'em in a bowl. By the time I'm through, you're gonna wish it was you who was dead!" He shouts. You reach upwards, pulling yourself out of the goop, you gasp and take deep breaths, but that only leads you into a coughing fit. "Huh?" InuYasha gasp, he looks at you with wide eyes, but your attention wasn't on him, it was on Sesshomaru as you manage to stand up.

"You son of a bitch! You tried to kill me, didn't you? Well at that to the list of things you can't do right today! And don't bother trying to kill me again, there's no way you're getting away with it! You're lucky you're a giant demon, otherwise, I'd kick your teeth in!" You shout angrily, you had so much anger, but you were moving like a freshly born baby deer. You give InuYasha the Tetsusaiga, "Yo, 'Yasha...I can't really feel my legs. Go kick his ass for me..." You say, you turn to get out of the potential battle zone. 

InuYasha quickly takes your hand, he felt relief when he saw your red strings connect. "Hey, uh, how come you're still alive?" He asks, he stares at you in disbelief. You shrug, "I have no idea. Let's just chalk the answer up to I'm actually an immortal badass and call it a day." You sigh. Sesshomaru scoffs, "The sword...that's what protected you." He says. Darn, so you're not immortal? Maybe one day.

"It's true. Those claws of his are deadly poison. It had to be the sword, or she really would have died." Myoga says, you and InuYasha glance at each other. "Why not put it to a real test and try it on Sesshomaru?" Myoga suggests "Ooh, yeah. Do that." You encourage. "Big words for such small vermin." Sesshomaru...growls? He growls? You thought he was too prissy for that. A threatening aura surrounds Sesshomaru, the skull on the ground start to circle him. One skull breaks out of his tornado and heads for you and InuYasha...and Myoga too.

You yelp and duck behind InuYasha, the skull breaks against his head. More and more skull hit his head and the rest of his body, "You ok?" You ask "Fine now..." He says, you pauses, "I mean 'cause of the skulls hitting you." You state "Don't even feel it. Just stay behind me." InuYasha says, and you knew something sound off with him. He sounds so...serious and angry. In all the time you've bickered, you've never heard him sound so hateful. 

"Let's see if a half breed can even wield the Tetsusaiga. I myself shall be a witness." Sesshomaru says, the whites in his eyes become red. And all of his prettiness gets through out the window as he morphs into a giant demon dog. "He changed!" You gasp "Good, 'cause now we know his real form." InuYasha says, Sesshomaru growls. "Heh, now that I'm using this, I'll win for sure Yep, I'd say this battle's just about finished before it even start." He adds, and despite his confidence, InuYasha's still guiding you to move back. "You go hide until it's over." He says "Wha, but-" InuYasha shoots you look. 

You immediately quiet down, you sigh and run to find a hiding place. InuYasha jumps in the air, swinging the sword at his brother, "Here it goes! This is it, sword. Time to show me what you're made of." He says, Sesshomaru growls and attempts to bite InuYasha. He dodges, and Sesshomaru instead tries to attack you with him paws, you scream and duck out of the way. "Didn't even make a scratch..." InuYasha huffs, he dodges another attack from Sesshomaru.

You tuck yourself away in a nice little hiding spot, watching the battle. It's mostly just InuYasha jump and dodging and Sesshomaru attacking and missing. Wait, now Sesshomaru's drooling? His drool is melting skulls...ew. "Yo, Myoga, what's the deal? This sword can't even bruise, let alone cut." InuYasha says "Well, uh, Lord InuYasha, I supposed that, uh, it'll make a lovely heirloom if nothing else...Besides, it's the thought that counts. Now, if you'll excuse me" Myoga says nervously. You can see if hopping off of InuYasha's shoulder, "Hey, hey! Whoa!" InuYasha shouts in disbelief.

"And don't that Sesshomaru push you around, ok?!"

"Wow, he really just left like that..." You mutter in disbelief, a green mist fills the lower area. "Uh oh...Y/N, quick! Get up off the ground! Climb up! Up! Up! Up!" InuYasha shouts, you cover your mouth with your shirt, grabbing onto the vine and pulling yourself upwards. "Looks, like it's us again, future father-in-law. I appreciate your support through all of this..." You chuckle anxiously as you slowly make your way up. Myoga climbs beside you, InuYasha lets out a pained grunt, you look back at him in concern. 

"Now, just climb. Even a demon can't stay in those fumes for long!" Myoga warns and he keeps climbing, you look down to see that even Jaken is struggling. "But what about InuYasha...? Will he be ok?" You ask. Myoga pauses and looks down at you, "Uh, probably not..." He says, he falls back down, quickly climbing back up, "Forget the heroics! It's every flea for himself! Come on!" He shriek, you suck in a nervous breath.

Myoga's officially ditched you, you have no choice but to keep climbing. 

...

You lean against InuYasha's father's skull, pressing your tear stained cheeks into it, "-I know I made a big deal about losin' the red strings, but that doesn't mean I want him to die. InuYasha's a bit fat brat, he's so mean to me, and I'm supposed to be his soulmate. I guess I am mean to him too, I don't think I hate him. I'm not always sure if he doesn't hate me. I know that no matter how many times I bicker with him, he always comes to protect me. I want to protect him too. InuYasha matters to me, I might not love him, but I care about him." You state, you have no idea why you're talking to a skeleton, but who knows? Maybe he can hear you. Myoga's ditched you and you need to talk to someone to feel a little better in this situation. 

The whole skeleton shakes when Sesshomaru breaks through his shoulder, your eyes widely search the white fur for a single hint of red. And you see it, right under Sesshomaru's chin, "InuYasha!" You shout in concern. InuYasha lands in front of you, too far to touch, but close enough to see that he wasn't horribly injured. "Now do you see the power of the Tetsusaiga? Oh, you're giving Sesshomaru what for, I hope." Myoga says, popping up beside you. "Where did you come from?" You yelp "Where have you been? This thing's about as useful as a walking stick!" InuYasha complains. 

"Oh? So maybe it isn't from your father..." Myoga says, he clears his throat and disappears once again. "What the-WHERE ARE YOU GOING NOW?!" You shout as he zoom off "Why am I not surprised?" InuYasha scoffs, he looks at the Tetsusaiga, "In the meantime what I am gonna do with this thing?" He groans, Sesshomaru lunges at InuYasha, he quickly dodges and hits Sesshomaru's paw with the Tetsusaiga a few times. 

Damn, that sword suck...

"Woo, you got this, InuYasha! Kick his butt! I think the first one hit!" You cheer encouragingly, InuYasha shoots you a disbelieving look, "What are you, nuts? That wasn't even close." InuYasha says "That sword's yours now, if I have to believe in you, you have to believe in it!" You tell him, Sesshomaru licks the paw InuYasha struck. Aw...he's like your neighbor's dog-NO, THAT IS AN EVIL EVIL DEMON MAN! 

InuYasha scoffs as he gets closer to your, "You are nuts. This sword is good for nothing. Me, I'll live. I'm half demon. You, though? You ain't got a chance-what...what are you doing?" His rough tone disappears now that he's close enough to actually see your face. "You're not crying, are you...?" He asks nervously, You scoff despite the fresh stream of tears pouring down your face. 

Of course your crying! 

This whole thing has been stressful as hell, and you spent all this time worrying about InuYasha, only for him to say screw you when you're about to die!

"No crying!" InuYasha shouts, grabbing your shoulder. You glare at him through your tears, "Oh, what? You want me to laugh?!" You shout back, InuYasha shoves his sleeve over your face. Is he...trying to wipe away your tears? "No, you should shut up and let me protect you!" He says firmly, you look at him with wide eyes. You can't bring yourself to form anymore tears. Sesshomaru looms over the two of you, "Hmph. You stay here and watch." InuYasha says, you grab the sleeve of his kimono. 

InuYasha glances at you, you stares at him firmly, "InuYasha. Don't you dare die." You say, he grins at you "Can't do a good job protecting you if I'm dead, can I?" He says, you let go of you, watching InuYasha walk up to Sesshomaru. "So, I really didn't imagine? He said he's going to protect me. All this time...he's never promised to protect me, he's simply just done it." You tell InuYasha's dad's skull. "In some ways, he is like Sesshomaru. They're pretty and can be real asses. But...he's also completely different in other ways." You add, Sesshomaru roars angrily at InuYasha.

"Yeah, yeah. Roar, roar to you too, buddy. Let's get it it over with." InuYasha says, he holds the Tetsusaiga firmly. It begins to pulse in his grip, "It's...pulsing. I can hear it. The sound from before. No, this time it's different..." InuYasha mutters.

"Get him, Lord Sesshomaru! Bite his little head off! That's right! Nibble off his little-" 

You throw one of the smaller skulls at Jaken's head, "OW!" He yelps, he glares at you. "We'll see who eats who." You huff, throwing a few more skulls at him until Jaken hits the ground. "You got this, 'Yasha!" You shout, Sesshomaru lunges at InuYasha. "Now." InuYasha says, he slices the Tetsusaiga through Sesshomaru's arm, your jaw drops at the sight of the arm coming off completely. And the Tetsusaiga looks different too! "It looks like a bang..." InuYasha mumbles, he swings the sword around curiously.

He chuckles smugly, "It is a bang. The old man really did leave me something worthwhile." He says "Thank you, future father-in-law, you're the best." You say, patting his skull "What the...are you talking to a cor-" You throw another skull at Jaken, throwing more and more. "so here we are," InuYasha says "Two brothers fighting over father's sword. But compared to him, you and me are nothing. Don't you get it? We're like a couple of fleas jumping around on his body. Huh. We'd be lucky is he didn't squash us flat."

Sesshomaru growls, the look in his eyes is completely feral, "So maybe I don't have too many memories of him, but it was me father chose to hide his tomb in, after all. I'd rather give up an eye than give up his sword. Maybe I'm not so worthless then, am I?!" InuYasha shouts angrily, wow, he is kinda hot-YOUR BRAIN NEED TO STOP IT!

InuYasha slashs Sessomaru across the chest, knocking him off their father's shoulder. "LORD SESSHOMARU!" Jaken cries, you stop throwing skulls to watch Sesshomaru fall. "DON'T LEAVE ME!" Jaken screams, as a glowing orb float off into the sky, he runs off. You run up to InuYasha, he breathes heavily, "Are you ok?" You ask, InuYasha presses his sword into the ground and crouches. "InuYasha?" You ask in concern.

He chuckles, "I take it back. So this sword's not a such a piece of junk." He says "You see? I was right." Myoga says, hopping up and down on InuYasha's shoulder. The two of you stare at him in disbelief, "Of course, if you'd have listened earlier, you'd never have-" Myoga gasp when InuYasha reaches to flick him. "Wait! Over there. See?" Myoga says nervously, one of those skeleton birds waits for you, "I wasn't running away. I was getting us a ride home. You...believe me, right?" Myoga says nervously. 

InuYasha smiles at him, "Oh, so then you didn't run away." He says "I didn't?" Myoga asks "He didn't?" You question at the same time, InuYasha continues to smile cheerily, it's weird seeing him smile for so long so innocently...

"Ok, I admit it. I ran away. But you have to believe me, if I'd known you'd make a comeback, I would never have left you. I'm ashamed of myself. I oughta have more faith. Please! Please, forgive me! If only I could make it up to you." Myoga cries, "Myoga..." InuYasha says softly-his smile switches to a crazed grin as he crushes Myoga between his fingers. "Let's go, Y/N." He says "Yep." You sigh tiredly, hopping on the bird with him. While InuYasha's back was turn, you wave goodbye to his father's skull. 

...

InuYasha holds you, only letting go once your were back on stable ground. You watch the black pearl return to his eye. "So, how you doing?" You ask "Actually, I feel pretty ok. Everything's back to normal. And at least now I know that the old man can rest in peace." InuYasha says as he rubs his eye.

...

"But how is it that ye, child, were able to pull the Tetsusaiga? I must say, ye continue to surprise me." Kaede says "My theory is that it is because Y/N is the mortal that holds InuYasha very heart and soul," Myoga states "Don't forget, Tetsusaiga was forged by Lord InuYasha's father as a way to protect his mortal mother. It was his feelings towards mortals that allowed Lord InuYasha to wield it effectively." "...You're right. The sword didn't react until InuYasha promised to protect me." You say.

"For someone like Sesshomaru who could only hate humans, wielding the Tetsusaiga was impossible." Myoga explains "'Tis a strange story, aye, Kaede sighs "To InuYasha, his half human heritage has been a curse. His feelings for his mother have been tinged with shame, and yet...those same feeling are what make him different. That is why his father chose him for his resting place. Perhaps the one who most resembles the father is not Sesshomaru, but InuYasha." You stand up, dusting off your pants, "Speaking of, let me go explain to the big baby how the sword works before he throws it away." You say. Kaede and Myoga watch as you leave, they share knowing look.

You spot InuYasha sitting on a nearby tree, he swings his sword around "I spoke too soon. Now it's back to being a piece of junk..." InuYasha huffs. Your strings connect once you were close to him, "InuYasha?" You call out "What?" He sighs "You wanna know how your sword works?" You ask him. InuYasha jumps down from the tree branch, "And since when are you an expert?" He asks "Since me, Kaede, and Myoga discussed it. You really gotta start sticking around for conversations more." You state. 

"Please, I got better things to do than listen to whatever nonsense comes outta your mouth." InuYasha scoffs, your eye twitches. "So much cruelity coming from the guy who promised to protect me forever and ever." You sigh "What the-I didn't mean it like that! If you'll shut up for a minute, I'll tell you what a sword like this should really be used for. Stuff like collecting jewel shards and making me more powerful. I sure as heck ain't wasting it on babysitting a helpless little brat like you!" He says, you let out a loud scoff. You push InuYasha until he's standing on a small wooden bridge. "I don't get it." InuYasha says, he watches you  walk away. 

"Sit, boy."

InuYasha smacks through the bridge and fall into the water below, "That's what I get for forgetting that you can't teach an old dog a new trick." You sigh, InuYasha pulls himself out of the water, "What do you mean trick?" InuYasha asks, you walk away. "Wait! Where are you going? Come back here! You said you'd tell me how to use the sword!" InuYasha shouts "Figure it out yourself!" You shout back. 

...

You splash around in the small lake you found, you push yourself out of the water, "Oh, man. That was so nice. I miss hot springs, but the water is clean here and the air is fresher. It's really not so bad here." You say. InuYasha rests nearby on a tree, he sighs, "We've been away for 3 days now. You said if we left the village we'd fine for jewel pieces out here in Musashi. But-" "Yeah, yeah. Sure, whatever." Myoga says absentmindedly, InuYasha opens his eyes to look at Myoga in annoyance, "Are you listening to me or what?" He asks "Uh...well. Yes, of course. You're right. I was just a bit...distracted by our young lady out there." Myoga says. 

InuYasha frowns, sitting up, "Why, you..." "I'm just going to go check on her, ok?" Myoga says, he hops away. "You're just gonna get clobbered. I wouldn't do it if I were-" Something zooms past InuYasha and heads straight for you. InuYasha's eye sharpen, he chases whatever it is. Myoga gasps when he hops past him, "Lord InuYasha! You naughty boy. You couldn't resist either. Well, she is your soulmate~" Myoga snickers. 

You let out a startled shriek, "Huh?" InuYasha gasps. He stumbles, landing on a rock that rest in the middle of the lake, "Geez! Would you not scare me like that? It's not what you think!" He sighs "It wasn't 'cause of you! It's my clothes! Something stole my clothes!" You say, it's a good thing you decided to wear a swimsuit this time. "Huh? I heard a whistle." InuYasha says, you pull yourself out of the lake. "Lead the way." You sigh, InuYasha stomps up a hill with you bitterly following behind him.

"Hey!" He shouts angrily at a boy, he yelps fearfully, he looks more afraid when you pop up behind InuYasha "Give me my clothes back!" You shout. The boy draws his sword, "Who are you? You look suspicious-" InuYasha presses his foot into the boy's face, "We were just about to say the same thing." He says, a small white monkey runs around InuYasha in a panic. You snatch your clothes off the ground, that jerk...almost stole your favorite top.

A soft thud draws your attention back to InuYasha and the boy. You gasp at the sight of the boy knocked out on the ground, "InuYasha!" You scold "What?! I didn't do nothing to him! He fell over on his own!" InuYasha says defensively. "Ugh, leave it to you to commit a murder...I'm gonna go change. We can figure out what to do with the body when I'm done..." You complain, InuYasha watches you walk away, he glances at Myoga on his shoulder, "Did she just say she's gonna help me hide a body?" InuYasha asks, dumbfounded. 

...

The boy loudly tears through the bag of chips you gave him, "Man, you must've really been hungry. Want some tea?" You ask, the boy take the bottle out your hand eagerly. "Thank you!" He says, you dig through your bag, "InuYasha, you can get something too-as long as it's not my spicy chips. I don't like you enough to share those." You state, InuYasha huffs, "No, thank you." He says.

"Come on, if you eat it, I don't have to carry it. Ooh, cinnamon cookies-wait, I don't wanna share those either." You mutter, InuYasha walks up and picks up your backpack, "Look, it's not my fault you gotta carry around so much junk all the time." He says "Uh, yes it is. Every time I go home, you act like you're dying. I have to bring as much as I can 'cause I have no idea when the next time I can come home will be." You scoff, you stand up, pressing a finger against InuYasha's forehead, "If you don't like me having so much, stop being clingy." You add, InuYasha jerks away from your hand.

"I give up." He sighs tiredly, "I give you thanks, woman. The chips potato were delicious." The boy says, he and his monkey bows gratefully. You smile at him, "My name's Y/N and his is InuYasha." You tell him, the boy smacks Myoga off his cheek. "And that was Myoga the flea." You add, the boy looks at you nervously. "You said something about being separated from your allies. That mean you're a nobleman?" You ask, 

The boy crosses his arms defensively "I'm not at liberty to reveal my family...but my name's Nobunaga." He says, showing a friendly smile back at you. "Nobunaga!" You gasp, InuYasha raises an eyebrow at you. "Dude, you're like famous!" You say, shaking Nobunaga's hand excitedly, you shove your notebook into his arms, "Can I get an autograph?" You Nobunaga slowly take the notebook out of your hands. 

"Uh...ok..." He says, "What's got you so excited?" InuYasha asks "That's Oda Nobunaga! I learned all about him in history class." You explain, Myoga hops on your shoulder, "Actually, my dear, that's not what the signature says." He tells you, Nobunaga gives you back your notebook and you look at his signature. You blink in confusion, "Amari Nobunaga?" You ask, you look at Nobunaga, "I thought you were Oda Nobunaga." You sigh. 

Nobunaga huffs, "I belong to the Takaeda Clan in the Land of Kai. Please do not confuse me with him." He says "So you do know him?" You ask. "Yeah! And he's a big idiot!" Nobunaga shouts angrily, but he shrinks back you glare at him. "If you weren't Oda Nobunaga. Then you should have said so. And here I thought you were living history, but you're really just a big nobody." You sniff dramatically. InuYasha rolls his eyes and Nobunaga clears his throat, "I trust you'll excuse me. An important mission demands my immediate attention. Farewell." He says "Yeah, whatever..." You huff, InuYasha's eyes follow Nobunaga.

"I wouldn't go that way if I were-" 

Nobunaga yelps as he tumbles over the edge of the small cliff. You and InuYasha peek over, "I tried to tell ya, but you wouldn't listen." InuYasha says "Is he a loser? Yes. Is he Oda Nobunaga? Definitely not." You sigh, the two of you watch Nobunaga limp off. You let out a sigh, "Well, see you around, InuYasha." You say, you grab your backpack and carefully jump down. "...And where are you going?" InuYasha asks, you look back at him with a mischievous smile. 

...

"Aha! I knew it. So the rumors were true after all!" Nobunaga says, the three of you hide in the bushes as a group of women are led out of a town. You're not too sure about what's going on, and InuYasha's not really giving you a chance to figure it out. "So why was it that you and me had to follow after this guy again?" He asks "I'm here because I can't in good conscious let this man do his mission alone. He seems like the type to choke on water," You tell him "And you're here to prove my point about you being a clingy little puppy." 

InuYasha's face reddens, "I ain't here to follow you around, I'm here to make sure you don't die before we even have a chance to finish our own mission. And don't call me a puppy." He says "Whatever you say, 'Yasha." You hum "...Can both of you be quiet, please?" Nobunaga sighs, you turn your attention back to the villagers. 

"-But they say he's been possessed by some kind of demon."

"Demon?" InuYasha asks, he steps forward...on Nobunaga's head, his monkey runs around in a panic. 

...

"That's the place." 

The three of you look up at the castle, InuYasha grins, "I smell the demon stink from here. There's a piece of the Sacred Jewel there, all right." He says, he crouches down in front of you. "We better go and have a closer look. Jump on, Y/N." He says, "'Kay." You hum, climbing onto InuYasha's back. Surprisingly, Nobunaga joins you. "Huh? Hey, what's the big idea? Get off!" InuYasha shouts "I've got business up there." Nobunaga says. 

"Then go find your own ride." InuYasha says "Just do it, will ya?" You sigh "Appreciate it." Nobunaga says, InuYasha groans. "Why does it always gotta be me who's the nice guy?" He huffs "Because of your big ole heart, 'Yasha." You say, he shoots you an annoyed look. "You ready?" He asks, he leaps over the tall fence. A guy rests again a tree, snoring softly. "...So much for castle security. I bet we could rob these guys and no one would know." You say "Don't be fooled, Lord InuYasha, their sleep is hypnotic, not natural." Possibly, it may even be castle wide." Myoga warns. 

"Princess! Princess Tsuyu! Princess Tsuyu, where are you?!" Nobunaga shouts, searching the castle, "It is I, Nobunaga, come to save you! Princess! Princess Tsuyu!" He shouts, you and InuYasha simply follow him around. "Should...should we be letting him make so much noise?" You ask "Don't know why not. They're asleep, ain't they? Besides, the sooner we find this demon, the sooner we find the jewel." InuYasha says, you shrug.

"Princess! Princess Tsuyu!" 

Nobunaga runs into a room, "Princess, be brave." He says, gently picking up a sleeping body. Nobunaga gasps at the sight of an old woman, "Oh! What has happened?!" He sobs, you walk into the room, "Hey, Nobunaga? I hate to bug ya, but...isn't this the princess?" You ask, gesturing to the younger woman. Nobunaga gasps again, he drops the old woman's body. 

Myoga moves out of your hair, "Did somebody say princess?" He asks, "Why were you in my hair...?" You ask, he ignores the question, "I know a good way to wake her up." Myoga says. He hopes on her cheek and begins to suck her blood, the princess smacks him off. "Princess..." Nobunaga says softly, she looks at him in surprise, "Nobunaga? Why are you here?" She asks. "Princess Tsuyu, you remember me?" Nobunaga asks hopefully "Of course I do. I'll never forget. You and I were friends as children. And you were always so very kind." She says.

You and InuYasha take a seat by the door, "Aw, I just love cheesy romantic reunions." You say "Hmph, what's so good about 'em?" InuYasha scoffs, you roll your eyes. "Come on, InuYasha, use that imagination a little bit more. Imagine being away from the love of your life for like...3 years, you're starting to think you'll never see them again, and then-in that moment, you just so happened to see them in the distance. Suddenly, everything else around you fades away because all you can see is them, you start running to them, and you don't stop until you have them in your arms again. The two of you kiss, and your world feels complete again." You say dramatically.

InuYasha scoffs and looks away from you, but you still see his cheeks slowly turning pink. "Still don't get what's so good about dumb romantic reunions. If you care about someone so much, enough to love 'em...you shouldn't want to be away from them at all." He says softly, you feel a light tug on your pinkie. InuYasha plays with his red string, he seems almost sad. 

Oh, maybe he's thinking about Kikyo. 

That was sorta the love of his life...

You almost forgot about her. You don't know how, she's another reason why you and InuYasha could never be together.

"Sorry. Maybe it is a little dumb..." You say sympathetically, InuYasha stop playing with the string, "What're you apologizing for? Stop it. It's weird. How can I call you a brat if you start acting all sappy all the time?" He grumbles "Fine, I guess I'll just bring up how you not wanted to ever be separated from whatever poor girl that ends up with you makes my clingy comment reign true." You snicker. "Never mind. Shut up and be quiet!" InuYasha huffs "That means the same thing, stupid." You laugh, but your attention does eventually drift back to Nobunaga and the princess.

InuYasha's attention remains glued on you as he fiddles with the string around his finger. He always had the habit of messing with his string, but...now it's different. The string's no longer an empty promise, now there really is a person attached. 

A person that doesn't want to be soulmates with him, and yeah...most of that is he own fault, but...

What will InuYasha do once this string is no longer on his finger? It's brought him so much comfort throughout his life

InuYasha snaps out of his daze, hearing footsteps on the other side of the door, "Sounds like he's finally here. You coming, Y/N?" He asks, the two of you stand up. "Yep." You say as you ready your bow. InuYasha steps outside the room "I thought I heard something!" The prince says "Ew..." You say at the sight of him. InuYasha stretches his hand, "Yeah, and it took you long enough. Let's go." He says, charging towards the prince.

You know he's definitely not really the prince, but you didn't know what else to call him

"Let's see your true face!" InuYasha shouts as he slices through the bandages that were wrapped around the prince's face. InuYasha lands right back in front of you, "Ew, it's a toad!" You shout in disgust "My lord?" The princess gasps, she faints. You don't blame her, you'd faint too, but you doubt InuYasha would bother to catch you. "I have you princess. Don't worry." Nobunaga says.

You can see a glow coming from the toad's mouth, "InuYasha, a piece of the jewel. I saw it." You tell InuYasha "Yeah, and a fat lot of good it's done him." He says. "Not so fast Lord InuYasha. He's the 99th toad of the 99th generation. He's stronger than he looks." Myoga warn, "Then one good punch oughta make it 100!" InuYasha says, he jumps at the toad. It opens its mouth and spits out a purple mist, InuYasha drops to the floor, you cover you mouth, beginning to cough. 

"Y/N! Toxic fumes-very dangerous." Myoga warns "No, really?" You gag, InuYasha coughs on the floor. The toad prince steps over him and heads right for the princess and Nobunaga. "Give me back my princess." He demands "Stay back, monster!" Nobunaga shouts, drawing his sword again "Very funny. As though you could stop me, human scum." The toad prince says, piercing Nobunaga's shoulder with his tongue.

Nobunaga cries out in pain, "Nobunaga! Princess!" You shout out, your head begins to feel dizzy. The toad prince grabs the princess and runs through a wall, at least all the toxic fumes disappeared. "You alive?" You ask, poking InuYasha with your foot, he groans "Uh huh..." He grunts out. "Cool." You turn away and walk over to Nobunaga, "How's your shoulder?" You ask "It doesn't matter what happens to me. Please, focus your efforts on saving the princess." He says.

“Man, you really are in love with her.” You say, Nobunaga lets out a shocked gasp, he stares at you with red cheeks, “How could you tell?” He asks “It was a secret?” You ask, InuYasha lets out an annoyed growl, “Lousy, stinkin’ toad. No way is he getting away. I’m going ahead.” He says, running through the same hole the toad prince left, “Come back!” He shouts angrily. “What the-DON’T LEAVE ME WITH THE DEAD WEIGHT!” You shout, helping Nobunaga stand “…No offense.” You add.

…

You help Nobunaga limp his way to the room, InuYasha had already beat you there. “Too late.” The toad prince says smugly, rubbing on what looks like a frog egg. A frog egg with the princess trapped inside. “What…what did you do?” You ask “Princess Tsuyu!” Nobunaga cries out, the toad prince laughs at your reactions, “Sealed her in like toad, just as the rumors said. Young women kept in egg sacs until their souls ripen, with he power of the jewel shard in the young lord’s possession, no one could oppose him.

”You mean that thing is going to eat Princess Tsuyu?” Nobunaga asks in horror, the toad snickers, “NOT WHILE I’M ALIVE!” Nobunaga screams angrily, he pulls out his sword and runs straight for the toad prince, “Nobunaga! Wait!” You call out in concern, your concern worsens when the toad prince opens his disgusting mouth.

”Poison gas! Watch out!” InuYasha shouts, he yanks out the Tetsusaiga “Let’s see how you like this!” He shouts, the attack actually lands. “Look, he hit him!” You gasp in shock, Myoga beams proudly, “Not only that, he was able to use Tetsusaiga to do it too!” He says “Right, because she’s human. Aw, the big softie~” You say.

The Tetsusaiga glows, “I’ll dissect you with this if I have to and cut out the jewel myself.” InuYasha says, grinning. The toad prince cowers fearfully, “No. I don’t want to die…COME TO ME!” He screams out, he raises his…hand? into the air “Souls! Souls! I need souls!” The toad prince calls out, women start to float out of the many eggs. “Huh?” InuYasha mutters as the fly into the toad prince’s mouth, the wound the Tetsusaiga left fades away, “I live again.” The toad prince says.

”His cut-it’s completely gone!” You say in shock, InuYasha glares at him, “Filthy, no good-” “What are you waiting for? For each cut you make I’ll take another soul.” The toad prince laughs “You rotten cheat!” You shout, Nobunaga somehow managed to sneak past both you and the toad prince. He cuts the princess out of the egg without hesitation, “Princes Tsuyu, talk to me.” He says, gently shaking her.

The princesses eyes slowly open, she coughs, “Nobunaga? Nobunaga!” She gasps and latches onto him. Nobunaga blushes, he slowly wraps his arms around her.”Now I die without regret.” He says softly, you sniffle. InuYasha glances at you, “What’s wrong with you now?” He asks “They’re so cute~” You say “Ugh, man, you’re weird…” He says, looking away.

”DON’T YOU TOUCH MY PRINCESS—”
”Hold it!”

InuYasha smacks the toad prince with the Tetsusaiga, “You got nothing to say.” He says, the toad prince hits the ground. Nobunaga holds the princess protectively as the toad twitches. He reopens his eyes, “Princess Tsuyu, what have I—” The toad prince looks around in confusion “Where…where am I? Please, someone tell me this isn’t my doing.” 

He sounds softer, and looks terrified. 

“Well, well, isn’t that convenient.” InuYasha scoffs, “That voice! It is the voice of my kind lord husband. The princess says “Wait, seriously? So then…the real lord is still alive?” You ask, he holds the sides of his head, “It’s like a nightmare, but I can’t wake up. Somehow I knew, deep inside, I realized what was happening. And yet I was powerless to stop it. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. Kill me, please.” He begs, “Hm?” InuYasha looks at him in confusion.

”I don’t think I have the strength to stop myself.” The prince cries “My lord!” The princess gasps. The prince looks at InuYasha with tears in his eyes, “Do it now! Please, before it’s too late!” He says, “Alright. Now you’re finally making sense,” InuYasha says with a grin “You want it in the gut or do I take the head?” You look at him in disbelief, “Remind me to never ask InuYasha to kill me…” You whisper to Myoga “I doubt he would do that even if you did ask him.” He tells you. 

“InuYasha, wait. What about the lord?” Nobunaga asks “He’s right. Didn’t you hear the poor guy? There’s still a human underneath all that ugliness.” You state “It’s you who didn’t hear. He just asked me to kill, him, didn’t he? This ain’t no time to go all mushy.” InuYasha sighs, rolling his eyes. “Stop it! Nobunaga shouts, he stands in front of the prince protectively. You and InuYasha look at him in confusion, “Sheathe your word, InuYasha, please! Inside this monster, the real lord’s heart is still beating.” He says

InuYasha narrows his eyes at Nobunaga, “Why you…—Move it, little man, or I’ll kill you too.” He growls in annoyance. “Can he do that?” You ask Myoga “Doubt it.” He says, “Please, don’t” Nobunaga backs up slight when InuYasha holds the Tetsusaiga right in front of his face. “Then move it.” InuYasha says firmly “I can’t. I cannot let you kill him while the real lord’s still in there. Besides, even if it wasn’t in there, I can’t approve of your taking life.” Nobunaga says firmly. 

“Wait, I thought killing people was normal for this time period…” You mumble in confusion, “I realize it’s crazy in today’s world to feel this way, but I can’t help it.  I can’t!” Nobunaga says, InuYasha sighs, he puts away the Tetsusaiga, “Have it your way. I’ll let you settle it yourself. The responsibility is yours now.” He says before grabbing your backpack and plopping down on the ground with an annoyed pout.

Well, at least he didn’t ditch you.

The prince begins to laugh before his tongue pierces Nobunaga already wounded shoulder, Nobunaga cries out and slams into the floor. “Thank you for sparing me.” The toad prince says, “Oh, you would decide to change back after he convinced the feral dog not to kill you.” You complain, you and the princess scramble to check Nobunaga. 

“Nobunaga? Nobunaga?” The princess asks, shaking him. You look at InuYasha with a nervous smile, “Hey, ‘Yasha?” “Yeah, I’ll help alright, but only if I get to kill him.” He says, he sits there with his arms crossed. “Princess Tsuyu~” The toad prince calls out, standing up, Nobunaga’s sweat covered hand touches yours. You instinctively pull your hand back. “Lady Y/N…take the princess. Don’t worry about me.” He says weakly, “Uh…” You look at the toad nervously “Fine, ok, but you better not die. The whole reason I came with you was to make sure you didn’t die.” You say firmly.

You grab the princess’ hand and drag her out the room, “Nobunaga…” She says sadly, but you keep pulling her. “Myoga, you’re still with me, right? Any advice?” You ask as you run down the hall. “A monster toad is still just a toad. Try something hot.” He suggests “Where could I even find something hot?” You ask, looking around the hallway. 

“Wait!”

“Crap, he’s coming.” You say, you grab the princess and go back to running. “Wait!” The toad prince calls out, “Something hot! Something hot! Fire—that’s hot. Is there somewhere around here with fire?” You ask, the princess lets out a confused sound. Nobunaga’s hops on your head before hopping down the hallway, “Alright, I guess we’re following the monkey.” You sigh, you can’t believe how insane this day has been. Is this normal for this world? Or normal for InuYasha?

A sharp pain in your leg snaps you out of your internal complaints, you slam into the ground. “Ah, ow!” You hiss, you can see blood seeping through your pants. “Crap, not good. Not good.” You whimper, once again you are put in another situation where you want to cry, and you can’t because other people are around…

You hate it here…

”Wait for me! I’m gonna eat both of you!

You wince, forcing yourself to stand up, Nobunaga’s monkey returns. He holds up a small candle, you take it, “Yes! Fire. Thank you! What a smart monkey you are!” You say, if only it wasn’t so small…but beggars can’t be choosers. Your leg is throbbing, you drop down to the floor, “Oh, no!” The princess gasps in concern. The toad prince laughs at you, “You still in there, toad lord?” InuYasha asks, he does a flip over the toad, landing in front of you.

”InuYasha!” You gasp, he already has the Tetsusaiga out, “Y/N, I’m sorry, but mercy’s a luxury I can no longer afford.” He says firmly “…Luxury. Wait, I have an idea.” You quickly dig through your bag, pulling out some hairspray. You hold the small candle firmly, “This is it—the only way.” InuYasha growls, charging towards the toad. 

“SIT, BOY!”

InuYasha slams into the ground, you ignore the pain enough to stand up and hold the candle in front of the hairspray bottle, you spray towards the toad. Flames engulf him, he cries out and the toad’s spirit flees, “He’s out! InuYasha, get the jewel.” You say, he stands up, “Don’t worry. I’m on it. DIE, STINKIN’ TOAD!” He shouts, slicing through the toad spirit with the Tetsusaiga. He catches the jewel shard and puts the Tetsusaiga away.

”InuYasha! InuYasha! Well done!” Nobunaga says, InuYasha yelps when he grabs his hand, “The lord is still safe. You drove out the toad. You worried me for a bit, but then you came through.” “Actually, I…uh…” InuYasha glances at you, you quickly shake your head. Which was a horrible idea when you’re dizzy and you feel like you need to chop your leg off. Would cutting your leg off ease the pain? Or make it worse? You leg can’t really hurt if you don’t have a leg to begin with—wow, why is the floor coming at you so fast—

…

A hand softly massages the back of your head, it’s probably your mom…she’s the only one who would do something like that. 

You let out a soft groan and the hand moves away quickly. You slowly open your eyes, nothing but red fills your vision, “Hmph! Finally, ‘bout time you woke up!” InuYasha huffs, you roll slightly to look up at him, “Lucky you, you slept through all the walkin’, I had to carry you and your heavy bag! You even got out of helping find dinner!” He continues to complain. InuYasha looks down at you, his eyes sightly softening, “What? Why ain’t you talking?…Don’t tell me your head’s hurt worse than I thought…” He says.

InuYasha gently reaches for your head, and you can feel the same massage you felt as you were waking up. Your cheeks feel a lot warmer all of a sudden, “I’m fine. I mean, my head’s pretty sore and there’s a pretty bad cut on my leg I need to clean. But neither of those thing will kill me.” You say, you push your head off of InuYasha’s lap. “What happened?” You ask “You fainted not long after the toad was defeated. You hit your head pretty hard on the ground.” Myoga tells you. 

Well, that explains the headache. 

“What happened with the princess and Nobunaga? Did they fall in love and get married?” You ask hopefully, “No…she continued with her marriage to the young lord.” Nobunaga says sadly, he stares off the distance. You hadn’t even notice he was there! You were too focused on how you were laying on InuYasha’s lap while he was massage your head…

You grab your back, pulling out the first aid kit, “Well…at least all the girls are safe with the toad prince gone.” You say gently, you glance at your leg. You haven’t had the chance to see the—it’s already wrapped up? And…your pants leg was cut off. Now it looks like you’re wearing some weird half shorts, half pants abomination.

”Did…did you clean my cut?” You ask InuYasha, he grumbles, “Somebody had to! You smelled so much like your own blood, I couldn’t think straight.” He says, “Well…thanks. I’m surprised. You actually did a good job. Other than destroying my pants for no good reason.” You state “It was soak in your blood. It had to go.” InuYasha says firmly, he glares off to the side. “Fine, but at least cut the other side so it won’t look as weird. I get enough weird looks because I’m not running around in dresses.” You sigh

Nobunaga stands up, he chuckles and turns to the two of you with a hopeful look in his eyes. “I am forever grateful for your help. I wish you both nothing but happiness together.” He says, you were just glad the the only injury he seemed to have was a broken arm. “I must be off.” He says, he walks off…towards the edge of a small cliff, both you and InuYasha quickly speak up.

“Nobunaga!” “Wouldn’t go that way if I were…”

He stumbles off the edge, hitting the ground. You crawl over to check on him while InuYasha walks, “He’s an idiot, but he’s a sweetheart, so hopefully everything will work out for him.” You say, InuYasha looks at you, he grabs your arm. “Come on, can you stand?” He ask, he pulls you to your feet.

You feel fine…until InuYasha stops holding you and you can feel all the pain in your leg. You hiss, InuYasha quickly grabs you before you had the chance to fall again. “Figured. This is what you get for helping people unnecessarily.” He tells you “Unnecessarily? We got a jewel shard out of that minor detour. Today was a good day.” You say. “It’s a whole new day.” InuYasha sighs, he plops you onto his back, “…Then yesterday was a good day and today will be an even better one.” You say.

”Yep, something is definitely wrong your brain.”
”A hit to the head will do that to a person.”

InuYasha places you back down in the shade, “Whatever. We’ll rest here for a bit. I need a break after all the nonsense from yesterday. Besides, you’re not really useful when you’re limping around and can’t focus ‘cause of a head injury.” He states “I won’t argue with you there.” You sighs, laying on the blanket you had packed in your bag. InuYasha must’ve laid it out himself. He’s learning that you don’t want to lay straight in the grass. InuYasha lays down beside you, he’s unfazed by the String of Fate being tangled all around him. Surprisingly, it’s not bugging him…it actually feels pretty nice…and comforting.

Myoga sits on a tree branch, watching you and InuYasha rest in the shade. He beams when the red string connecting the two of you begins to glow. And it is specifically InuYasha tangled up in the string. That can only mean one thing.

InuYasha is falling in love with you. 

Chapter Text

You watch your rock shoot across the lake, you cheer, “Ha! My rock went further than yours! I win again~” You laugh. A pair of arms wrap around you from behind, “Yeah? I guess you did,” InuYasha says softly as he rests his head on your shoulder “I wasn’t really paying attention. I just liked seeing how happy you looked when you won. Congrats.” You face feels warm and you slowly turn to look at InuYasha, “What’s with you?” You ask. InuYasha chuckles, his golden eyes filed with nothing but…love. “I thought you already knew. I’m a clingy puppy, remember? I’m your clingy puppy.” He says, his arms squeeze you and he presses a kiss on your shoulder. “Promise me. Promise me you won’t leave me. I’ve been alone for so long. I’ve waited so long to be with you.” He says, you look at him. 

You’ve never stopped to appreciate how truly pretty InuYasha is…

…

“Gah, how is I’ve had this string for years, and now I finally get tangled up in it?” InuYasha grumbles, squirming as quietly as he can to not wake you up.

“…’Yasha…” 

Ah, shoot, he guess he woke you up anyway. 

“Yeah, yeah. Just go back to…” InuYasha trails off when he sees you’re still sleeping soundly beside him. “…She’s dreaming about me?” He asks quietly, InuYasha leans closer. “I promise…won’t leave you…” You mutter, InuYasha tense, and his red string feels heavy around him. Why are you dreaming about tell him that?! InuYasha stares at you, “…Stupid.” He huffs softly, he stops trying to get out of his string, accepting the fact that he’s probably going to be trapped for a lot longer than he’s expecting. 

…

“How did you even get tangled up in that thing? It’s not even a physical string most of the time.” 

“Shut up.” InuYasha grumbles, you try to grab the red string wrapped around him, but it fazes through your hand. “See? I can’t even try to pull it off you.” You sigh, you stand up, your leg was still sore, but it’s not as bad as it was a week ago. “What are you doing?” InuYasha sighs, you walk away from him, “Stay, boy. The strings usually separates when we’re far apart.” You explain. 

Your strings do not separate, instead, they remain connected and grow longer. 

“Wait, so these things won’t separate anymore?! What the hell?!” You shout in disbelief, waving your hand around wildly. InuYasha shrugs and lets out a loud huff, “Beats me, but I’m hungry.  Got anymore food in that bag?” He asks, InuYasha walks up to you and length of your connected strings shorten. “Uh, yeah, duh. Mom made me pack food to last us a good 2 weeks.” You state, you take you backpack out of your bike’s basket. 

You pull out some ramen cups, “Time to introduce you to one of my favorite luxuries.” You say, you hand InuYasha a small tea kettle, “Fill this with water for me.” You say, he takes the kettle and head off to the nearby river with no fighting. You watch the long string follow him as you start a small fire, “Myoga? Still here?” You ask, he pops out of your hair. 

“Yes, my dear, what is it?” He asks “Do you know what it means if InuYasha’s tangled in our Strings of Fate and it won’t separate when we’re far away from each other?” You ask, Myoga chuckles nervously, “Of course I do, but wouldn’t it be more fun to figure out what it means on your own?” He suggests. You rest your head on your knee, sighing softly, “Nah, I hate having to figure stuff out on my own. It’s more fun when someone else give me the answer—it saves me the trouble of being wrong.” You say.

You play with your red string, “Besides, I thought we both wanted to get rid of the string, but now it’s stronger than before…” You say “Huh, maybe your feelings have changed for InuYasha just as his has changed for you.” Myoga states, you look at him curiously. “InuYasha’s feelings for me have changed? How?” You ask, Myoga starts to sweat nervously, “Well, he…uh—” InuYasha returns, stepping on Myoga. “Here.” He says, he hands you the kettle. You place it over the fire, well, so much for figuring out how InuYasha’s feeling for you have changed…

…

“3, 2, 1–and there you have it. Your noodles are ready.” You say, handing InuYasha his cup of noodles. He immediately starts slurping them down, “Not bad. Not bad. I can see how this catch on.” He says, you grin proudly, mixing around your own noodles. “Best thing since sliced bread. Be warned though, once you have one, it’s all you’ll want for the rest of your life.” You say jokingly. 

Even Myoga was eating some of InuYasha’s noodles, “Finally, I found someone who has good taste and tastes good,” Myoga says happily “I must say how impressed I am by the conveniences of your era—that bike-cycle and your instant foodstuffs. Tell me, has our land started trading with other lands?” You swallow your noodles before speaking, “Yep! No surprise that you’d notice, Myoga. Actually, fun fact: instant noodles were invented right here in Japan during the space age. Everyone eats them now, but originally they were only meant for astronauts in outer space.” You explain

InuYasha and Myoga looks at you in confusion, “Astro-nuts?” They ask, InuYasha hasn’t even swallowed the food in his mouth. “Astronauts. They’re these people that explore outer space,” You tell them “Right, you guys probably wouldn’t know that we’ve been to the moon.” “Man has traveled to the moon?” Myoga asks “On a bi-cycle?” InuYasha asks. 

“Nope! In a rocket.” You say “And a rocket would be…?” InuYasha asks “They’re much faster and more powerful than a bike. Rockets are long, super tall, and flames shoot out the bottom of it. Honestly, they’re just giant fireworks.” You explain, drinking the leftover broth, “What are fireworks?” InuYasha asks. “Oooh, I’m not gonna answer that, next time I go home, I’ll bring back some fireworks and show you.” You state, you pull out your notebook and add fireworks to your list of things to bring next time you’re home.

The sky darkens above you, “What the…? Why is it so dark?” You ask, InuYasha quickly stands up, “I don’t know, but something tells me it’s trouble.” He says “Lord InuYasha, no littering.” Myoga scolds lightly. “Hmph, this is no time to talk trash.” InuYasha says.

”You down there. You possess a piece of the Sacred Shikoku Jewel.”

A blue light forms in the dark sky, the light begins to swirl in front of you, “Who’s that?” InuYasha asks, he grabs the Tetsusaiga , ready to pull it out. “We at least know it’s a demon.” You say “I believe it’s a fox.” Myoga states “Not likely, Myoga.” InuYasha says, the light continues swirling until a…floating, giant ball with a goofy face appears. “…Huh?” You and InuYasha mutter, “Hand over the jewel. The jewel or your life.” The ball says, it presses its lips over the top of InuYasha head.

You can’t hold back the snicker that escape you, snickers that turn into full on laughter when InuYasha simply smacks the ball away. The ball goes flying, it pops and a small child falls to the ground. He rubs his cheek, “It’s a kid.” You say, he glares at the two of you, “Who dares to burst my bubble?” The kid asks angrily. Aw, he’s so cute and little. 2InuYasha grabs him by his little tail, holding him upside down, “Hm, feisty little thing, aren’t you? Nice tail.” He says as the boy struggles 

“Looks like a badger or a squirrel.” InuYasha says, “I’M A FOX, HEATHEN!” The kid shouts angrily “A talking fox? Cool.” You say, looking at the kid in awe, “Let me holding when you’re done.” You tell InuYasha, he rolls his eyes, “You mind? I’m trying to teach him a lesson.” He sighs. A statue pins InuYasha’s hand to the ground, “Where’d that come from?” You ask, you attention snaps over to your stuff as the kid digs through your backpack.

“Hey, get out of my stuff!” You shout, running over as a good chunk of your stuff was carelessly tossed on the ground. “Found it! A Sacred Jewel shard.” The kid says, he looks back at you with a mischievous smile, he leaps high into the air. “Our time together has been short but sweet. Farewell!” He says, he disappears into that swirling light again. “He disappeared! Didn’t even my stuff back in the bag!” You shout.

You turn at the sound of movement behind you. A small rock with a tail bounces away, InuYasha growls in annoyance, he smacks the kid over the head, leaving a bump. “They always pick on the little guys.” The kid grumbles, you pick up some alcohol spray, “This might sting a bit.” You warn, spraying the bump.

The kid sulks quietly, “So why were you so determined to get the jewel from us?” You ask “…For my father. I need to get the shards of the jewel to avenge him.” He says “Avenge him? Your father was killed?” You ask, you frown sympathetically. And judging how this kid’s alone, he might not have a mom either…

Ooh, you and InuYasha should keep him and become the Dead Dads Trio!

“I get it,” InuYasha says, he pulls the small jar containing the sacred jewel shards out of his kimono “He’s not strong enough. So he needs the power of the jewel to take out his enemies.” You raise an eyebrow, “And how did the jewel shards end up in there?” You ask as the kid says something. InuYasha rolls his eyes, “What? I’m protecting them for you. Got a problem with that?” He asks bitterly “You’re the last person I would let protect the jewel shard, give ‘em back.” You say firmly “Come and take ‘em from me.” InuYasha scoffs.

You tackle him to the ground, reaching for the jewel shards in his hand, InuYasha places a hand on your arm and keeps you at arms length. The two of you struggle- "I do the talking here!" The kid snaps, you snatch the shards away from InuYasha, the kid sighs and begins to retell his story.

...

"Wait, they murdered your father to get his shard of the jewel? Why did he have it?" You ask, Shippo rides on the back of your bike as you peddle down the path "I couldn't say. All I know is that the Thunder Brothers steal the jewels from demons." Shippo says. "Thunder Brothers?" You ask, you come to a stop "It's a nickname. Because of their thunder and lightning attack." He explains, InuYasha stands on a tree branch above you.

"Heard of 'em, Myoga?" He asks "He must be talking about Hiten and Manten. And if the rumors are true, those two are evil incarnate." Myoga states, InuYasha scoffs confidently, "Big deal. All I gotta do is defeat the brothers and I'll walk away with all their jewel shards." He says. Shippo scoffs, "And one day man will walk on the moon. You're no match for the evil Thunder Brothers. You're only half demon. I can smell the human in you. This is between demons. It's got nothing to do with half breed such as yourself. Stay out of it." He says bitterly. 

You shoot Shippo a scolding look, "Hey, that's no way to talk to InuYasha. He only lets you insult him if you're close to him-like me." You state, InuYasha jumps down from the tree and smacks Shippo's head again, Shippo glares at him, "You big-" InuYasha continues to rapidly...lightly hit Shippo's head. "Go easy on him. I think his still classifies as a baby." You say "Forgive me. No hard feelings. Very sorry." Shippo says nervously, he bows apologetically. 

"Hmph. Someone's gotta teach him a lesson." InuYasha says "As a token of my apology-" Shippo drops another statue on InuYash's hand, pinning him once again. He slaps a spell scroll onto the statue, "This supposed to be humorous?" InuYasha asks, Shippo snickers at him. "You're stuck until you can get the spell scroll peeled off." He says "Come on, Shippo. Quit being childish anf take the spell off of him," You sigh as InuYasha struggles to free his hand "There's no way that statue is that heavy." InuYasha shoots you an annoyed look, "I'd like to see you free yourself." He says, he shouts out in frustration. 

"I don't like playing tricks on women if I can avoid it. Don't hold this against me, Y/N." Shippo says, he jumps at you, you catch him with ease. "Wow...I feel so attacked right now." You say with a dumbfounded grin. A faint light shoots out of Shippo, he jumps down to the floor, now with the jewels in hand. What the...you had that in your bra. "Thanks! I'll use this to lure out the Thunder Brothers" Shippo says, running off. You grab your bow and arrows, "Oh, not again. Shippo! Your plan is stupid! You're just gonna get yourself hurt!" You shout as you chase after him, shouting a quick "Watch my bike, InuYasha!" over your shoulder.

"Wait! Y/N!" You can't just leave me stuck like this! Wait! Y/N!"

...

"Geez, where did that kid get off to-"

A bright glow nearby catches you attention, you spot a...very ugly demon standing over Shippo. The demon's mouth glows and sparks, "Yep...not surprised." You sigh, you ready your bow. "Hit the mark. Hit the mark." You mumble, releasing the arrow. It flies across the field, piercing the demon right in his ugly nose. "Yes! I hit him!" You say, man if only InuYasha could have seen you. That jerk is never around to witness your success.

The ugly demon growls at you. “Why you…” Shippo looks at you in surprise. The demon reaches for him, “And as for you—” “Stay right where you are!” You shout, the ugly alien looks at you, you ready your bow once more, “I got an arrow here, and I’m not afraid to use it.” The demon stills, he looks at his nose in horror. “Y/N…” Shippo says in disbelief as the demon mutters about his nose. You take a deep breath, “Don’t move an inch or whatever. Otherwise, more than your nose will be ruined.” You threaten

You’re not Y/N.

You’re someone stronger and better.

“…Shippo, get over here, and bring the jewel shards with you.” You say, your voice strong and firm. Shippo looks back at the demon and then at you, he runs over to you. “Stop! I must have that Shikon Jewel.” The ugly demon growls, he runs after Shippo. You gasp nervously, you can see two jewel shard in the demon’s forehead. You draw your bow, if you can hit him there, you’ll bring him down. You shoot the arrow—and it almost hits him on the head! You grazed his head! You’re getting so good at this!

You grab another arrow and aim, the demon trembles, “…What? What’s your problem?” You asks, tears fill his eyes, “…Which Thunder Brother is this?” You ask Shippo “Manten.” He tells you, Manten’s eyes water. He screams loudly and sparks emit from his mouth, you jump slightly. “Come on! We gotta flee!” Shippo shouts and the two of you run away.

“That’s the same kind of attack that killed my dad.” Shippo warns, Y/N comes back and she comes back in full force. Great, how you’re scared. You grab Shippo, holding him as you run away as fast as you can. Manten’s blast hits the ground and throws you forward. You hiss in pain as you bounce against the dirt, Shippo lands beside you. The pain burns and everything gets dark…

Crap, you really shouldn’t have ditched InuYasha…

Shippo sits up, he shakes you, “Y/N, you’ve gotta get up.” He says nervously, his eyes water anxiously. Manten stomps over to you, Shippo gasps and runs through the tall grass. Manten looms over your unconscious state, “So the little fox managed to escape.” He grumbles, Manten looks down at you, his eyes beginning to widen. “Why…she looks good enough to eat. She’s lovely.” He says, taking you into his arms.

Shippo gasps when he sees Manten carrying you away on a black cloud, “He has Y/N! I’ve gotta rescue her.” He says, Shippo frowns deeply, “But how? I don’t stand a chance against the Thunder Brothers. Y/N will soon be in serious trouble. Unless…” Shippo mutters.

…

Myoga grunts as he tries to peel off the spell scroll, he sighs, “It’s no use, Milord. I can’t remove the spell scroll.” He tells InuYasha. “Why that little fox! He’ll regret doing this to me!” InuYasha shouts angrily.

“InuYasha, I’ll help you on one condition,” Shippo says, approaching InuYasha “Which is you promise to not hit me anymore.” InuYasha narrows his eyes. “Where’s Y/N? Why didn’t she come back with you?” He asks “Will you promise me or won’t you?” Shippo asks firmly “Ok, I won’t strike you.” InuYasha says. Shippo peels off the spell scroll with ease, “Alright, I’ll tell you where she is—” InuYasha starts to Shippo’s head repeatedly. Shippo drops to the ground when he finally stops, “I thought we had a promise…” Shippo croaks out.

“Oh right. That reminds me.” InuYasha says, he picks Shippo up and begins shaking him until the jewel shards fall off of him. InuYasha grabs the shards with his free hand, holding Shippo by the tail. “Thank goodness. It’s safe.” He says “Would you forget about that for awhile? Y/N’s been abducted by the Thunder Brothers! Don’t you think you should go after her?!” Shippo shouts, InuYasha glares at him, tightening the grip around his tail. 

“Huh? The same two brothers who killed your father abducted Y/N? You let ‘em get away?” He asks, he sniffs Shippo. "You're not exactly reeking of the scent of victory. What did you do? Conceal yourself in the bushes while they made off with her?" InuYasha asks, Shippo sweats nervously, "Why do you pin all the blame on me? She's your woman! You should do at least some of the rescuing!" He shouts defensively.

InuYasha's eyes widen and his cheeks turn pink, "She ain't my woman!" He shouts, throwing Shippo to the ground. "What?! Are you blind or something? You both have red strings! My mother said if two people have red strings that are connected all the time that means they love each other a lot! And looky here, Y/N's not around and the the red string is still connected!" Shippo shouts, InuYasha huffs, "Hmph, the only reason you even have that string is cuz you're a half demon. You think you'd be more appreciative-ah!" Shippo yelps as InuYasha smacks him again, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to save her." InuYasha says "Huh...?" Shippo mumbles "If you're prepared to give me an apology, that is-and also prepare me a nice, hot bath tonight." InuYasha adds.

Shippo growls, glaring at InuYasha. He seriously wasn't going to save you just because you're his soulmate? Now, Shippo's really starting to feel bad for you, Myoga hops onto Shippo's shoulder, "Shippo, give the master what he wants. Time is wasting and the girl is in danger." Myoga states "Why am I always the one handing out apologies?" Shippo grumbles. Maybe this is a good thing, no one should be forced to be stuck with someone like InuYasha for the rest of their lives...

But...there's no way InuYasha's worse than the Thunder Brothers...there's no telling what they're doing to you right now...

"I can't rescue Y/N on my own..." Shippo sighs before he drops to his knees and bows apologetically "Ok! I apologize." He says, but InuYasha wasn't even paying attention! He was already picking up your bike and carrying it over his shoulder. "Don't mention it," InuYasha says, his tone now serious "Come on, we got a lot of work to do, Shippo. Let's move out." Shippo watches InuYasha in awe and disbelief. 

...

You need to start keeping track of how many times you've been knocked out or kidnapped since your birthday. 

You quickly sit up, looking around your surroundings. Manten stands in front of a pot, "Awoken, have you, my fair maiden?" He asks "What did...what did you do to Shippo?" You ask, you glance around the room. There's no sign of him! Either that means he got away or he got killed...

"That's the least of your worries." Manten tells you, he grins at you. "What're you looking at me like that for, creep?" You ask, "I will tell you," Manten chuckles "The flesh and blood of young maidens does marvels for hair growth. Some call it the wonder potion of the century." You stare at him in disbelief. "I'd rather be eaten alive than be boiled down for some freaky hair concoction! Trust me, there's no hair in the universe that could fix your ugly!" You shout.

Manten shushes you, "Keep your voice down. If Brother Hiten hears you, he might just fulfill your wish!" He whispers, but the door is already being smashed open. A...hot man stands in the doorway with a topless woman, "I thought I heard voice," Hiten says "Back so soon, Manten?" "Uh, that thing is your brother?" The woman asks in disgust. "Hiten! Good to see you." Manten says nervously, "Ugh, why are all the hot men in this time either evil or brats...?" You sigh under your breath, Hiten glances at you. 

"Who's she? What's she doing here?" He asks, "Yo." You greet before Manten stands in front of you, "She's mine! I found her first!" He says, almost sounding like a little kid. No, he sounds exactly like a little kid. "No need to worry. I have no use for her. Not when I have this little vixen~" Hiten says, the woman leans into him and purrs. You guess they're dating. Hiten is pretty, but Sesshomaru taught you not to trust pretty people, but Sesshomaru's related to InuYasha...maybe being bratty runs in their family. Maybe you can somehow talk your way out of this. 

"Oh, while I'm thinking about it, how'd you fare in your search for more jewel fragments?" Hiten asks, Manten swallows nervously, "How could I have forgotten?" He asks, Hiten growls, stomping up to Manten. You curl into a ball and watch the two of them, "My apologies, dear brother. I found one, but I lost it." Manten states "Found one, but lost it? Don't tell me you were more interested in this woman, so much that you forgot all about the precious jewel shard." Hiten lets out an angry shout, he holds his palm in front of his girlfriend. A bright light beams out of his palm, you have to shield your face from it all. 

You uncover your face just in time to see the woman dropping to the floor lifelessly...so much for that being his girlfriend.

Sesshomaru was right, pretty people in this time are dicks. 

"Please, Hiten! Forgive me!" Manten begs "You bring nothing but shame to this family. If you were not my younger brother, I would've done you in long ago." Hiten growls out. You watch him fearfully, you grab your red string and lightly tug on it. You're in serious trouble if InuYasha doesn't get here in time...hopefully he somehow got the spell scroll off...

...

"So, this little Shippo tyke has our jewel shard?" Hiten asks, he turns to leave the room "Are you going after him?" Manten asks "Of course I am. And you're coming with me!" Hiten says firmly. You ease up, if they leave...you'll have a chance to escape. You scoot away from Manten, "Hey! Where do you think you're going!" He shouts, dropping a large butcher knife in front of you, you gasp.

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE AIMIN' THAT, YOU UGLY LIZARD!" You shout angrily "1,000 pardons. I meant to make it quick so you wouldn't have to suffer. And there's no sense delaying, since I wouldn't want the main ingredient for my hair potion escaping." Manten chuckles, readying to swing his knife again "Trust me, there's no hair in the universe that could fix your ugly!" You shout, you glare at Manten, "I see you're the stupid brother." You state "Excuse me...?" Manten growls, but you don't back down. You don't have to be afraid, you know InuYasha's coming for you. He's always saved you before...why would he stop now?

"You shouldn't be killing me." You say, your tone remaining confident "And why not?" Manten scoffs "I have the power to sense jewel shard from miles away. You won't be able to find Shippo without my help. Plus, you see this?" You hold up your String of Fate "Are you two familiar with InuYasha, the strong, brave, handsome warrior? He's my soulmate, and he cares for me a lot, so he'll definitely be on his way here." Hiten scoffs loudly "Him, strong? That InuYasha's merely a half demon." He states, you can't help the glare you send his way.

Since when do you feel this protective of InuYasha's reputation?

"He's plenty strong! He's defeated several monsters and demons single handed. Even more importantly, he has most of the fragment of the Shikon Jewel." You state, the brothers looks at you, you've officially gotten both their interest. Hiten plops down beside you on the table, you jump slightly at his closeness. Ugh, he's so hot... "You. Are you lying?" Hiten asks, you show him the red string now that he's closer. "I would never lie about InuYasha. The guy's madly in love with me. If you tell him you're holding me captive, I know the man who holds my heart and soul will gladly hand over the jewels." You say. 

Manten narrows his eyes "Something tells me she's lying." He huffs "Just because true love has never come for you, doesn't mean it can't come for others." You say, forcing a friendly smile. "Hey-" Manten's shout was cut off by Hiten's chuckle, "I think she's telling the truth." He says, you yelp when he grabs you by the shirt. Oh, man, too close...his face is way too close. "Wench! Take us to the InuYasha lover of yours at once. But be warned, if you're lying..." Your gaze drifts to the dead woman at the door "You'll suffer the same fate as she." Hiten says.

Hiten cups your chin and forces you to look at him, "And I doubt you'd enjoy being fried to a crisp." He says, and he'd definitely do...and get a sick kick out of it.

Freak.

...

InuYasha follows the red string, its glow pulses, and the pulse has been growing faster by the minute. Shippo rides in your bike's basket, holding on for dear life. "What's the matter, Shippo? Not afraid of height, are you? I could aways take you back in you're frightened." InuYasha mocks "I'm not afraid. Whoa-I'm gonna save Y/N and avenge Father. With a little help from you, that is. You better be as strong as you say you are. Those Thunder Brothers have jewels in their foreheads that make them powerful." Shippo warns. 

InuYasha snickers as he comes to a stop on a tall rock, "That'll only make defeating them more enjoyable." He says, Shippo looks down at the red string, "Oh...poor Y/N...she must be really scared..." He sighs "Master, we must hurry before they do something to Y/N." Myoga says. "I'm sure she's handling herself. She's probably got them cleaning their cave." InuYasha says with a shrug "We can only hope. But if the rumors are to be believed, the Thunder Brothers do not keep pretty young ladies for long before devouring them." Myoga states "Devouring them?" Shippo asks nervously.

"InuYasha, do you suppose Y/N is-"
"Get real. Didn't you hear him? He said pretty, young ladies."

Shippo shoots InuYasha a look, "You don't think your own soulmate is pretty?" He asks. Shippo doesn't even give him a chance to answer, "What did the poor girl do in her past life to end up with you?" He asks, InuYasha tenses at that, he glares at Shippo while Myoga shifts awkwardly. "Why you...give me one reason why I shouldn't drop you." InuYasha growls out, Shippo stares at him nervously.  InuYasha feels his red string tugging on him...if you were ok, he wouldn't feel it tugging this much. 

InuYasha frowns in annoyance, he huff and keeps moving-quickly. "Oh, so he does care?" Shippo asks "Yes, Lord InuYasha cares about Y/N more than he's willing to let on." Myoga tells him. "Then why'd he say she wasn't pretty?" Shippo asks "He's probably still bitter about her calling his older brother pretty and not him." Myoga says "She said that? Wow. They really don't act like soulmates at all." Shippo mutters. InuYasha grows more and more irritated as they continue to speak about him like he wasn't there, "Yes, they started off rejecting their Strings of Fate. Ms. Y/N even tired to break the string many times." Myoga states "Huh, not surprising. I would too if this guy was my soulmate." Shippo says, "Well, they are starting to become more and more fond of each other. Lord InuYasha has become tangled in the red string, which means he's starting to develope a deep affection for-" "WILL YOU STOP YAPPING AND JUST POINT THE WAY TO THE EVIL BROTHERS!" InuYasha shouts, cutting Myoga off , Shippo and Myoga flinch.

Lightning strike the rock they were standing on, the only one who land safely was InuYasha. He grabs Shippo and dodges the second lightning strike.

"Very impressive maneuver, dodging my lightning bolt, especially in light of your dull and uninspired conversation just now. You must be the reputed InuYasha himself." Hiten says smugly, hovering in the air above them. Your eye twitches, InuYasha doesn't think your pretty? Oh, but you know definitely thought Kikyo was a goddess! Wait...why do you care? Why do you feel so bitter?!

Shippo latches onto InuYasha's shoulder, "Where's Y/N? What have you done with her?" He shouts "Don't despair. We have done nothing to her as of yet. Manten." Hiten calls out, you yelp when the cloud you were on begins to move. "Warn someone next time." You huff "Shush. Coming brother." Manten calls out. "Behold." Manten grabs you and jerks you forwards. "InuYasha!" You call out, you hate how much better you suddenly feel when you see him. 

"Y/N!" He calls out, ignoring how Shippo fell off his shoulder. They haven't hurt you yet. Good. You've been through enough late. Hiten takes in InuYasha's expression, "Judging by your expression, it seems the girl spoke the truth. Now hand over the fragments of the Shikon Jewel to me or you'll never see your lover alive again!" InuYasha's concern expression disappears immediately, "See my lover?" He asks, staring up in shock. 

You sigh internally, yeah, you planned for this reaction.

"Uh, there must be some misunderstanding." InuYasha says, his voice shaking slightly. He looks dead at you, "Let me get this straight. You and I are supposed to be lover?" He asks, you hate doing this trick, but desperate times call for extremely desperate measures. You let out a gasp, raising the pitch of your voice, "You little vixen, I knew you were fibbing." Manten says smugly, "You actually thing I'd hand over the jewel shards as a ransom to get you back?!" InuYasha shout, you stay in character the best you can. "You wouldn't?!" You squeak out, your push tears out of your eyes.

InuYasha falter's slightly, "After everything I've done? The promises we've made! They mean nothing to you!" You shout, you shove your face into your hand, letting out shaky breaths. "Uh...well-we ain't lovers! And without love, the whole argument kinda of falls apart!" He shouts, you glare at him, fake tears pouring down your face. "Oh?! So now some little gems are more important than me?! I can't believe I allowed myself to fall in love with you! I knew I should've ran away with your brother when I had the chance! Now, I'm stuck here with you...- carrying your child!" You sob.

"H U H?!"

"What. Are. You. Talking. About?!" InuYasha shouts in disbelief, Manten tilts his head at your theatrics, "You don't smell pregnant..." He says "WHAT?! NO! THAT'S THE LAST THING I NEED TO HEAR RIGHT NOW?! NOOOOOOOO MY SWEET BABY!" You scream, you curl into yourself, fake sobbing until your body shook. Manten glances at you uncomfortably either way, you know you're playing it up too much, but it's a great distraction how your life is still in serious danger. Plus, it's freaking out InuYasha a lot.

"...I believe I've heard my fill," Hiten says "It's clear that you do have some jewels for us, InuYasha. Jewel that will be mine!" InuYasha pulls out the Tetsusaiga, "Not in my lifetime, pal." He growls, you peek through your fingers, watching the pair fight. InuYasha using the Tetsusaiga to block Hiten's lightning attack. "No one can withstand my attacks for very long." Hiten says, InuYasha knocks him back. "You do have power, but no style. This should be an interesting battle. And hopefully your last." Hiten says, his grin growing. 

"Huh, you wish me to draw out this game, I see. Fine. I shall relish in your prolonged suffering." He says "Ha ha! I've heard similar threats from a number of poor fools whose memories I keep alive by dancing on their tombstones." InuYasha laughs smugly "Perhaps in your dreams. Enough delay. Time to meet your own unfortunate demise!" Hiten shouts, he charges towards InuYasha, striking the very ground he was standing on.

InuYasha jumps out of the way, "Enjoy your last moments of life!" Hiten shouts, he repeatedly attempts to attack InuYasha, and InuYasha has to repeatedly dodge and block. Shippo watces InuYasha's battle, "Oh, boy. Hiten's busy. I'm certain InuYasha can hold him off. Meanwhile, I'll find a way to save Y/N." He says quietly, he look at you. You sit on the very edge of the cloud, watching InuYasha with a concern frown, your crying fit had officially come to an end. It wasn't really convenient anymore. Manten cackles loudly beside you, clapping eagerly, "Give him a send off that is unrivaled! I'll lend my assistance." He says, he mouth begins to spark once again. 

"No fair, that's two again one! Cheater!" You shout, shoving Manten off the dark cloud, he screams and hits the ground with a loud boom-assisted by his own mouth blast also going off...

Did you just kill him?

You let out a nervous chuckle, nah, there's no way that fall killed him. If it did, Manten was one weird ass demon. The dark cloud disappears, you scream as you free fall through the air. Manten might be able to survive a fall like this, but you can't! Shippo yelps in concern, running out from his hiding spot, "Ah! Y/N!" InuYasha shouts before he's forced to turn his attention right back to Hiten, "Ha! A true warrior never puts a woman before battle!" Hiten shouts.

InuYasha grunts, blocking another attack. "Hold on, Y/N! I'll come for you as soon as I finish him off. " He call out to you "Well, hurry, gravity ain't exactly on my side here!" You shout. You end up bouncing off Manten... "Oh, well, at least the fall didn't kill me..." You sigh, sitting in the large crater created by Manten's crash. "No, but I might." He says, sitting up, you yelp, "Ah, cool. I'm not a murderer! Thanks for giving me that closure! Bye!" You say, you jump to your feet and run off. 

"Wench!"

Manten chases after you, you push yourself to run even faster until-"Ah!" You cry out, feeling a sharp pain in your leg as your body drops to the ground. Crap, not good, you're straining it too much! InuYasha cringes as he fights Hiten. He's starting to smell your blood again...

Manten stands over you, grinning smugly. "Please, I'm with child..." You say nervously "No, she's not!" InuYasha quickly shouts, you glare at him. "You heard your 'lover'." Manten snickers. "Time to use my Fox Magic!" Shippo shouts before a spinning top lands on Manten's head. It grows larger, Manten cries out in pain as the giant spinning top spins on his head. Manten falls to the ground, "Get away while you can, Y/N!" Shippo calls out "No arguments here." You say, you stand up and limp away. You climb out of the crater, "Wow, I had no idea you were a little badass, Shippo." You say "Aw, it was nothing." He says, he grins smugly, but the sweat on his face reminds you he's just a little kid. 

"It's far too early for celebration." Myoga says "You and your big mouth..." Shippo sighs "Shippo's so-called Fox Magic is all about illusion." Myoga tells you, you glance back at Manten. "That's an illusion?" You ask in disbelief "It looks pretty real to me. And to Manten too." "And yet it is not. Behold." Myoga says, the spinning top shrinks back to a normal size. Manten grabs it, growling, "That fox tyke will pay for his tricks." He says, he gasps as his last two strands of hair fall to the ground. "Shippo, run." You say "Huh-" You grab Shippo and run as fast as your aching leg will let you.

Shippo's eyes widen as a large blast comes out of the crater behind you, "You have plucked my last strands of hair!" Manten shouts angrily, he shoots out electricity wildly. You keep running until you reach a woods area, you duck behind a tree, "Looks like we've only pissed him off more..." You sigh nervously "You said it." Shippo says, he looks down at your leg, "Y/N, you're-" "It's ok. That's not from this. I got this a week or so ago. It's hard to keep track of time here..." You state, you glance at your leg. Without having full length pants, it's a lot easier to pick up on the smell of blood. You seriously need to get back to Kaede's village soon, she can patch you up and you can go home and put on some cleaner clothes. 

"I can smell your fear. I'll hunt you down and use one for my hair potion and the other for a new pelt."

You and Shippo shrink behind the tree, you share nervous glances, you carefully peek over. Manten moves slowly, but threateningly as he looks for you. You focus on the arrow still stuck in his nose, "Shippo, I got an idea, but I need your help." You say quietly, Shippo nods.

...

"OVER THERE!"

Manten shoots an electric blast out of his mouth, the dust settles and he sees you laying on the ground, "There's the little wench," He says, he grabs you by the hair "Did you honestly think you could elude a Thunder Brother?" Your eyes shoot open, you grin, "Yeah, actually, you slimy mudskipper." You say "Huh?" Manten gasps in confusion as your hair wraps around his wrists, "Funny, I just can't do a thing with my hair today." You say, you quickly run out of your hiding spot. "What trickery is this?!" Manten shouts, looking back the two yous before him, "I'll be taking back that arrow, if you don't mind." You say. 

Manten cries out when you yank the arrow out his nose, he looks at the other you as the hair wrapped around him turns a specific shade of brown, "You're that miserable fox!" Manten shouts angrily "In the flesh and blood. Here for my father's revenge." Shippo says "Hold him down, Shippo. This may be our last chance." You state, you hold the arrow firm in your hands. All you have to do is hit the shards. That's it. You move quickly, ready to pierce the shards-

"Damn you, wench!" Manten shouts, he smacks you away and throws Shippo on the ground. Shippo's morphs back into himself, he cries out when Manten kicks him away. You push yourself off that ground, "Your turn." Manten says, he latches his hands around your neck. You let out choked breaths, clawing at his fat hands. Crap, hard to breathe...hard to...think...

"InuYasha..." You croak out, the red string on InuYasha's pinky begins to dim. InuYasha looks at it in confusion, the connection...the glow's getting darker. Almost like...

InuYasha looks around, his eyes widened at the sight of Manten squeezing the air out of you. "Y/N!" He shouts out, Hiten's spears finally strikes InuYasha in the chest, sparks fly from the impact. "Didn't think my advice about women worth heeding?" Hiten scoffs smugly, InuYasha cries out in pain, he crashes to the ground, the Tetsusaiga falling out his grip. Hiten stands over him, "Pathetic. You don't live up to your reputation," Hiten says "Human compassion will prove your undoing, half breed. Which should die first, that cursed wretch or that odd woman he's preoccupied with?" 

InuYasha glares at Hiten, but he can deal with this loser later. He's got to save you. InuYasha glances at the red string, he's never seen it look so dark...even before he met you, it usually glows so brightly. Is this what happens when your soulmate dies? The thought is making InuYasha feel...sick?

"What do you think, Manten? Should we put these fools out of their misery or make them suffer a little longer?" Hiten asks "I'm in no rush, Hiten. I'm quite enjoying myself!" Manten calls out, he turns his attention back to you. He enjoys the sight of the light leaving your eyes, "What is it about the sight of a woman before death that is so exquisitely irresistible?" He asks "RAAAAH! LET HER GO!" Shippo shouts, he charges towards Manten and latches onto his arm-Manten smacks him away with ease. 

Shippo bounces across the ground slightly, he glares at Manten with tears in his eyes. Manten laughs, "When I'm done, I have a surprise for you. My girth has been expanding of late, and I could use another small fox pelt to keep warm at night. It'll be like a family reunion." He says, Shippo growls angrily. "Should I slay you first or skin you alive like your father? Perhaps I should sever your toes and use them for a new set of earrings." Manten continues to laugh "Heh, very clever, Manten. If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were becoming quite the villain.

Manten laughs loudly, "How kind of you to say so, Hiten!" He cackles "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" Shippo growls out, he jumps at Manten again, sinking his fangs into Manten's skin. "Hmm, trying to hasten your fate?" Manten asks, he tries to tug Shippo off, but Shippo only sinks his teeth in deeper. "Release me at once, you little pest!" Manten shouts, struggling to choke you and pry Shippo off of him. "Release me immediately, fox tyke! Remove those baby teeth from me now, or I'll have to rethink the order of my victims." He shouts, striking Shippo in the head multiple times.

"Manten, careful you don't soil that precious fox stole of yours. Wouldn't want to see it soaked with blood." Hiten says "Thanks for the tip, Hiten." Manten says. Shippo continues to growl with his small fangs digging into Manten's skin. InuYasha looks at Shippo...and he slowly brings himself to look at you. You're not struggling as much as more...actually...you're not struggling at all. InuYasha glances at the long red string connecting the two of you, his end was still glowing, but yours was pulsing weakly...like your light was fading out. It should've faded out awhile ago, but...you're still fighting.

Ok, if you can still fight, so can InuYasha. 

InuYasha sucks in a quiet breath, ripping his attention away from the red string, "Hey, I'll be the first to admit I've racked up my share of bad karma in the past, but I'm innocent compared to you two swine." He says, InuYasha stands up and gathers the blood seeping out of his wound "BLADES OF BLOOD!" He shouts, Hiten uses his staff to block the attack, he grins. "Finally! This is starting to get interesting." He says, InuYasha runs and grabs the Tetsusaiga. He throws the Tetsusaiga, "Nice throw if you're aiming at the rocks." Hiten scoffs. "Did I get him?" InuYasha mutters, Hiten quickly turns around to see the Tetsusaiga piercing Manten in the chest. 

Manten cries out and slumps to the ground, releasing your neck. You gasp and take as many breaths as you can. "Manten, are you alright?!" Hiten shouts in concern, you body shakes, but you take in one finally breath before you push yourself to your feet. "Oh, Shippo..." You wince sympathetically, he lays weakly on the ground, you scoop him up in you arm. You grab the Tetsusaiga, you have to get this back to InuYasha. "Don't leave my father..." Shippo begs quiet, you look down at him. You glance at the fox pelt wrapped around Manten, "I wouldn't dream of it." You say, you put both Shippo and the Tetsusaiga down. You carefully attempt to remove Shippo's father from Manten's waist.

"MANTEN!"

"Y/N, get out of there before he kill you!" InuYasha shouts, you sling the pelt over your shoulder and grab Shippo and the Tetsusaiga. Lightning strikes the ground, sending you flying. "Manten!" Hiten gasps, looming over his brother's body, InuYasha ignores the brothers as he runs over to your side. "Y/N! Are you alright?" He asks, "I'm sorry, InuYasha, I dropped the Tetsusaiga..." You tell him, laying on the ground. Shippo remains curled up with his father, at least you were able to get them away.

"Don't be stupid. Just tell me if you're ok or not." InuYasha sighs "I'm ok..." You groan as you sit up, you weakly flick InuYasha ear, "And don't call me stupid, stupid." You huff "You are stupid. Especially if you think I'm gonna let Hiten get the better of me, sword or no sword!" He says. "YOU WRETCHES! YOU SLAUGHTERED MY BROTHER" Hiten screams out with tears pouring down his face. "Huh...weird. He literally just threatened to kill his brother if he messed up again, and now he's mad at us for actually finishing the job for him?" You mutter as you massage the pain in your neck "Guess he was just all talk." InuYasha says.

Hiten sinks his teeth into Manten, you gag, "Oh, man. Hiten's a cannibal? Ew...I wanna throw up..." InuYasha glance at you "You better not throw up on me..." He warns, "Wait. Things are not always what they appear," Myoga says, hopping up to the two of you "Hiten bit into his brother's head to fuse the Sacred Jewel shards with his own body. Master, you must be even more careful than before, for Hiten now holds the power of 5 jewel shards" Myoga hops onto InuYasha's shoulder, "Gee, you think?" InuYasha scoffs.

"Hey, you want to try explaining your noticeable absence up until now?" InuYasha asks, he narrows his eyes, Myoga coughs awkwardly. "Yeah, its' convenient how you disappeared just when the going got rough." You say with an annoyed grin. "You catch that? That's what we call sarcasm. As in, it wasn't convenient that you bailed on us when we needed you most!" InuYasha scolds as the two of you glare at Myoga "I didn't bail on you. I had to make an itch that needed scratching!" He says nervously. 

InuYasha glances at the bright light glowing above, he grabs you, Shippo, and Shippo's father, "Look out!" He shouts, jumping out of the way. You look back to see a giant hole left where you were once sitting. "How dare you strike down my beloved brother? I shall not stop 'til I've returned the deed. " Hiten growls, he was threatening before, but now he's terrifying. "Y/N, take Shippo and get as far away from here as you're able to." InuYasha says, you hold Shippo and his father in your arms. "I'm not leaving you here." You say, InuYasha glares at you, a serious look in his eyes.

"Do it now." 

"...Fine. Don't die on me. Do it for our son" You say lightheartedly with a concerned smile, InuYasha snorts slightly, "Yeah, sure. Did you get choked so much that you forgot we don't have a son?" He asks "Ah, right. I never told you, Shippo's our son now." You state "Wh-huh? I didn't agree to-" "Good luck, 'Yasha!" You say, running off. InuYasha scoffs in disbelief, drifting his attention away from you. You tighten your arms around Shippo as you run away. InuYasha and Hiten stare each other down, "I shall avenge my brother! Prepare to die!" Hiten shouts, shooting a giant ball of lightning out of his staff. "I can't avoid it!" InuYasha says "My Lord, use the sheath of the Tetsusaiga!" Myoga says. 

"What are you talking about?" 
"Use the sheath, and it will state off the lightning bolt."
"...You better be right."

InuYasha quickly pulls out the Tetsusaiga's sheath, holding it in front of himself. The ball hits the sheath, "What?" Hiten gasps, InuYasha grunts as he struggles to block the attack. Somehow he manages, "Huh? Wow, it really worked" InuYasha mumbles "Just as I presumed. The sheath keeps the almighty Tetsusaiga's power in check, so naturally it can repel a mere lightning bolt." Myoga explains, he lets out a sigh of relief "Whew! Glad my hunch was correct on that one." "You sent me into battle armed with a mere hunch?!" InuYasha asks. 

"I wouldn't exactly call it a mere hunch, My Lord-more like a highly educated guess. But let's get back to the more pertinent matter of escaping with our lives..." Myoga says nervously "No chance. I'm gonna use this baby to defeat that demon!" InuYasha says, grinning eagerly as he charges towards Hiten. Hiten fires off another attack, "If I can blast through the core, I can defeat him!" InuYasha says, he leaps through the ball of lightning-Hiten strikes him in the back.

InuYasha cries out, "Splendid plan-in theory, that is." Hiten says, InuYasha crashes into the ground. "InuYasha!" You call out in concern, you look at the single arrow you pulled out of Manten's nose. There's has to be something you can do with this...

...

Shippo stirs awake, and a part of you sobs on the inside as he snuggles into his father's fur. "Shippo...are you alright?" You ask "Y/N?" Shippo mutters, he quickly sits up. "What happened to Manten?" He asks "Dead," You state, Shippo's eyes widen slightly "InuYasha took him down, and now Hiten's even more mad." You and Shippo peek from behind the rock, "InuYasha getting tired." You say "Hiten's hard to match with those flying wheels." Shippo adds. "Hiten uses wheels to fly. That's it! That's what I can do with this." You gasp, InuYasha continues to run away from Hiten's attacks. 

Shippo watches you look around, "What are you looking for, Y/N?" He asks "What good's an arrow without a bow?" You sigh. Shippo pulls out a small, green leaf, "Coming right up." He says "Huh?" "Don't ask questions. Just let me take care of this." Shippo says, he places the leaf on his head and morphs into a...oddly shaped...shape. "I appreciate your efforts, Ship, but I wanted a bow, not a snail..." You chuckle weakly. 

"I am a bow..." Shippo huffs "Then you're perfect. Let's do this." You say, you pick up Weird Shaped Bow Shippo, aiming carefully. "What's taking you, Y/N? Hurry up and fire." Shippo urges "I only have one arrow left. And truthfully, I suck at shooting arrows." You state "Not while I'm your guide." Shippo says. You have no clue what he means by that, but it's enough to motivate you. "Heh, thanks Shippo. Let's get that sucker." You release the bow. It flies across the area, perfectly striking Hiten's wheel. "Yes! The girl can shoot!" You cheer proudly.

Hiten's now hovers closer to the ground, "He's mine." InuYasha growls, he grabs Hiten's staff. "Oooh, bad idea..." Shippo says, you nod slowly in agreement. Hiten doesn't hesitate to electrocute InuYasha, "Your confidence is annoying!" Hiten shouts, "What's he thinking?" Myoga asks, you flinch at his sudden appearance. "Master InuYasha may be strong, but taking the hold of the Thunder Pike is foolhardy indeed. Oh, my!" He stresses "...And what are you doing over here, Myoga? I thought you were fighting with InuYasha." You say, narrowing your eyes at the flea. He ignores you, "Let go of the Pike, My Lord!" He sobs

"I don't need this thing anymore." InuYasha says, tossing the sheath to the side "Don't let go of the sheath, fool! It's your only chance to triumph." Myoga says. "I'll do things my way." InuYasha says before he punches Hiten in the face. Hiten goes flying, crashing into a rock. Well...at least now you know he's definitely not hitting Shippo that hard. "Not bad for a half breed, hey, Hiten?" InuYasha scoffs "Well, that's one way to win a fight." You say "Whatever works for you, I say." Shippo says. 

"Hey ho for Master InuYasha! He slugged him right in the kisser! Downed him in the final round with the old right hook! Yeah!" Myoga cheers "You were just calling him a fool a few minutes ago." You state, Hiten stands up. He touches his cheek, "I've never been stuck in the face before, and I refuse to allow it again." He growls and begins to glow. "Well, this doesn't look good..." You say "He's gonna explode." Shippo gasps.

"I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL SWINE!" Hiten screams, he charges towards InuYasha. InuYasha grabs the Tetsusaiga sheath and blocks Hiten's attack, "The sheath's starting to crack!" You and Shippo gasp in concern, "I shall relish your demise more than any other, half breed." Hiten hisses. "Master InuYasha is powerful, but if the Tetsusaiga sheath should shatter..." Myoga trails off "He'll lose..." You finish. 

You look around, you can see the Tetsusaiga! It's still by Manten's body. "I've gotta get the Tetsusaiga to InuYasha somehow." You mutter "Right, I'm on it." Shippo says, he runs ahead with zero hesitation. "Shippo, come back. It's too dangerous. Get back here." You stress, you grab Shippo's father before you run after him. "Wait! Come back!" You shout, Hiten turns his attention to you, his mouth beginning to spark, "Y/N! Run for it!" InuYasha shouts in concern, but it was too late...the blast hits you and Shippo before you had the chance to dodge.

"Y/N..." InuYasha gasps "Heh, wouldn't waste my breath on her." Hiten says smugly "Y/N!" InuYasha screams out, he sees you and Shippo laying lifelessly in the flames. "What a shame. It seems that she and that fox child are dead." Hiten snickers, InuYasha glares at him "You'll pay for this. You've slaughtered my friends! DAMN YOU!" InuYasha screams angrily, he begins to overpower Hiten, headbutting him. "Ha! That's right, half breed!" Hiten laughs "You'll regret the day you ever crossed me. I promise you that." InuYasha growls.

No...

Don't look at that damn string. 

"I think the blood's gone to your head ever since you lost your beloved woman. When will you ever learn that no woman is worth risking a battle over?! A brother's revenge on the other hand, is well worth fighting to the death for." Hiten says, he attacks InuYasha once more. "The sheath is about to break!" Myoga stress, he being the only one who remained in the hiding spot. The sheath begins to pulse as InuYasha struggles, the Tetsusaiga comes flying towards him. "THE SHEATH HAS SUMMONED THE TETSUSAIGA!" Myoga shouts in relief.

"TETSUSAIGA!" InuYasha screams, slicing through Hiten. Hiten falls to the ground and disappears into a puff of dust, leaving nothing but the jewel shards. InuYasha drop to the floor, "Lord InuYasha, the scared jewel shards..." Myoga says, hopping onto InuYasha's shoulder, "I don't care about them. If only I'd taken care of Hiten sooner...I could have saved Y/N and Shippo." He says, trembling slightly. He tucks his hand deeper into his sleeve.

"InuYasha."

InuYasha slowly turns around, "Huh? Y/N...?" He asks, he sees you and Shippo surrounded in a blue glow. You flash him a friendly smile, "InuYasha, you fought the battle hard and well." You say "And in the end, I was finally abele to avenge my father." Shippo says in your arms. InuYasha stares at the two of you wordlessly, "Witness-the souls have come to bid you a final farewell before they make their departure to the other side." Myoga tells them "Huh?!" InuYasha gasps, the blue glow around you becomes brighter as it circles around you. InuYasha runs to you in a panic, "Wait! What about your promise?! Don't leave me!" He begs, he grabs you wrist tightly. "Huh?" You look at him in surprise, InuYasha watches the blue light shoot off into the sky. You look at his hand, man...he has a really tight grip on you, maybe he really isn't using his full strength on you or Shippo...

"Y/N!" InuYasha screams desperately, staring up at the sky. He pauses and looks back at you, "InuYasha?" You ask, InuYasha looks at you, and then at the string. It's...not black anymore? It's red again? "But-hey, you're still here." He says in disbelief, he leans closer to look at your face "Yeah...what's with the 'don't leave me' stuff. And what promise?" You ask. "I should clarify. When I said souls, I really meant to say Foxfire that shot out from the fur of Shippo's father." Myoga says.

InuYasha's eye twitches, "Yeah, sure, I make that mistake all the time." He says through grit teeth "Well, you're only human-or half human." Myoga says nervously. Your cheeks start to feel warmer the longer InuYasha grips your wrist, "Uh, do you mind?" You ask, InuYasha yelps and quickly lets go of your hand like it burned him. "This is all your fault for that sappy 'You fought the good fight' line. And what the hell were you smilin' at me like that for?! Die if you're gonna die! It's not like it matters to me any." He shouts. InuYasha turns away, muttering and twitching in irritation. 

...

Shippo rides in your bike's basket as you trail behind InuYasha, "Come on, 'Yasha, your lips are flapping but I'm not getting any audio. How about telling me why you're all huffy?" You suggest "I believe Master InuYasha is ashamed that he believed that you were dead, and in a moment of grief may have revealed more than he bargained for." Myoga explains, he flinches when InuYasha balls his fist at him.

"What are you still tagging along with us for, Shippo?" InuYasha huffs "Why do you think? You need me, and you know it!" Shippo says "I already told you we were keeping him." You state. "I didn't think you were serious! There's no way I'm calling him my son, and there's no way I'm having a kid with you!" InuYasha says, you roll your eyes, "Ship and I already decided you'd be a terrible dad anyway, and we wouldn't want to dishonor Shippo's real dad by replacing him with an asshole. I feel bad for whatever idiot decides to have kids with you." You say, Shippo nods in agreement. 

InuYasha glares at you, "Look, Shippo doesn't have a home. And he's not hurting anyone." You state "Yeah! I'm a defenseless orphan. How am I supposed to get by in the world?" Shippo asks "He's so little. He probably weighs 3 apples. Don't tell me you're so heartless, you'll leave a baby to fend for himself." You say. InuYasha groans loudly, "Alright, he can stay with us, but only until he can look after himself." He says.

"So, Shippo, your village called. They're missing their idiot."
"Y/N, he's being mean to me!"

"Now look what you've done. You've hurt his feelings." You sigh as Shippo begins to sniffle, you smack InuYasha upside the head, "Say you're sorry." You say "OW!" InuYasha yelps, holding where you hit him.

...

Shippo snores quietly, curled up in a little ball. "He asleep?" InuYasha asks, you throw a blanket over him. "Yep. I'm surprised he managed to stay up as late as he did after the day we've had." You chuckle, InuYasha shifts beside you. His arms wrap around you, pulling you into a firm hug. You let out a surprised breath, "InuYasha...?" "If it wasn't for Shippo's father, you would've died because I wasn't fast enough. I'm sorry." InuYasha says, his arms tighten around you. His hand gently holds the back of your head as your chin rests on his shoulder. 

"'Yasha, ha, you've really been beating yourself up about that this whole time, huh?" You ask softly, you wrap your arms around him. "You don't have to be so upset over it, it's not like I actually died, and even if I did, it wouldn't have been your fault. It's not your job to protect me." You tell him, InuYasha huffs slightly, "We both know that's a lie. If I don't protect you, you really will die." He says. "Then...I'll get stronger, so you don't have to protect me so much." You state, you lean to move out of his arms, but InuYasha stops you. 

"I never said I didn't want to protect you, stupid. I just...don't want to fail again." He sighs. Fail again? Oh, he means like he did with Kikyo. Right. You need to seriously remember your place. This string can't force InuYasha to love you or anything, not when he still loves Kikyo. Not that you even want him to love you! This string can't force you to love InuYasha either! In fact, you still hate the guy-

InuYasha rests his chin on top of your head and take a deep breath, "You don't have to force yourself to get stronger for my sake." He says softly, his tone shifts back into the one you've grown used to, "But could you please stop putting yourself into situations where you could get killed? I've never felt stress until I met you." He complains. You chuckle a bit, trying not to laugh too loud, "Right. I forgot, I wouldn't wanna stress you out too much, old man." You snicker. InuYasha finally moves you out of his arms, but keeps a hold on your shoulders. He glares at you, but his eyes are too gentle. Your eyes are too gentle too...

Kikyo's dead...she's been dead for 50 years.

Maybe it'll be ok if you saw InuYasha differently. Even if he does love Kikyo, she's dead and you're not. 

Is it ok to feel like this? Would you even be able to stop if you wanted to?

Your string tangles around your body...and now both you and InuYasha have been tangled in your Strings of Fate. 

Now you're both falling in love with each other. 

Chapter Text

InuYasha rests on a tree branch, you’ve gotten used to the sight of him. You’re not sure if he’s asleep or not, but he’s quiet at least. "Do another shape, Y/N!" Shippo says excitedly, you chuckle and readjust the red string on your fingers. 

"Alright, let’s see if I still remember how to do a star." You say, Shippo watches you in amazement as you maneuver the string to form a star shape. Shippo claps at the sight, InuYasha cracks open an eye to look down at you. 

Man, you weren’t kidding when you said Shippo would be your kid now. 

It’s kind of nice, watching you and Shippo be happy idiots…around him.

"Are there any other shapes you can do?" Shippo asks, you shrug, "Mm, I still know how to do I hand trap." You state "A hand trap? What's that?" Shippo asks. You snicker slightly, "Hold out your hand." Shippo does so, staring at you curiously, you tangle the string around is hand before somehow managing to yank the string off like it was never around him! "Whoa!" Shippo gasps, the sky lights up and the ground shakes with thunder.

Shippo squeaks, "Looks, like it's about to rain." You mutter "Keh! I already told you it was going to rain, but you didn't believe me." InuYasha huffs. "You should did a better job telling me. You're the oldest one here. You have to look out for us innocent children." You scold lightly, Shippo nods in agreement. "Oh, please! There ain't nothing about you that's innocent!" InuYasha scoffs, rain droplets begin to fall from the sky. You rummage through your bag, pulling out an umbrella. You hold it above you and Shippo before wordlessly glancing up at InuYasha. 

"Hm? What do you want?" He asks, you roll your eyes, but...grin at him. "Come on, 'Yasha. You're gonna get sick if you stay in the rain-and I'm not taking care of you if you get sick." You state, InuYasha raises an eyebrow at that, letting out a loud scoff, "I wouldn't be caught dead under an umbrella." He says. You stare at him, "Fiiiine, get sick and die. Then I'll get to have all the jewel shards to myself," You say "Shippo and I will gladly split 'em." "Ha! Yeah, right! A stupid cold couldn't kill me." InuYasha snorts. 

"Besides, without me around, you and Shippo would just die to some demon." 
"Nuh uh. I'd just follow around Sessh-"

InuYasha hops off of the tree branch, landing in front of you, "What is your obsession with my brother?! Did you forget he tired to kill you the last time you saw him?!" He shouts, you snicker as you speak, "So I shouldn't want to be with a guy that tried to kill me once?" You ask "NO! You shouldn't be with a guy that tried to kill you at all!" InuYasha huffs. You grin at him, "Did you forget you literally tried to kill me when we first met?" You ask, tilting your head.

He pauses, glancing off to the side, "I wasn't actually gonna kill you..." He says, InuYasha messes with his red string. "Really? Well you sure did make it seem like you were going to." You say, you shuffle slightly closer, holding the umbrella over the three of you. "Looks like I shouldn't have any desire to be with you either. I guess I'll just raise Shippo alone. I can't be with a murderous manic." You state. "Huh-excuse me? You'll just throw me away over a little a mistake?!" InuYasha yelps out, the panic in his eyes sort of surprises you. 

Thunder echoes in the sky once again, "Hey, shouldn't we find some shelter or something?" Shippo asks "Yeah, that's probably a better plan than hiding under an umbrella the whole time. Let's go." You say, you stand up and Shippo rests on your shoulder. InuYasha stares at you as you pack your stuff onto your bike. 

You don't want to be with him?

...Why is he so surprised by this? You...you made it very clear from the start that you didn't want to be his soulmate.

"I hate you, InuYasha!"

InuYasha's ear twitch bitterly at the memory, he hates how much hearing your voice say that is affecting him. 

He watches as your red string remains tangled around your body. If your string's tangled around you just like his is tangled around him, does that mean you feel the same way he does now? Maybe. And it's not like either one of you is the type to flat out admit something like that...

"InuYasha, come on! We can't leave without you. So, pick up the pace! You might not be able to get sick, but we sure can!" You groan, InuYasha snaps out his thoughts. "I'm coming, I'm coming..." He sighs, walking by your side.

…

Normally, you wouldn't dare be up when the sun is just beginning to rise, but stupid InuYasha isn't leaving you with much of a choice.

You sigh tiredly as you quietly peddle your bike out of the bushes.

Ok, this is it. You only have one shot, and you could afford to fail/

You take a final look around, "Clear. Here goes." You whisper before peddling full speed towards the Bone Eater's Well. You're actually going to make it! InuYasha can't stop you this ti-

"What's your hurry, Y/N?" 

You hear InuYasha before you see him, and you feel the breezes his fast movements caused before he lands right in front of you, blocking the well. "Dammit." You sigh "Not so fast. You're not going anywhere until you hand over the shards of the Sacred Jewel. And don't even try eatin' them again!" InuYasha says, you glare at him. If your bike was a car, you definitely could run him over, "In my era, girls go to school, and it just so happened that this girl has a huge final tomorrow to study for!" You shout. 

"And no matter how many times I ask, Mom won't let me drop out. My attendance is so bad, I might actually fail the class even if I do ace the exam and-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" You shriek as InuYasha carries a large boulder over the well. He holds the boulder over his head, "What does it look like? I'm gonna cover up the well for good. Then you won't be able to escape to that strange era of yours. Good riddance!" He shouts, grinning widely. 

"SIT!" You shout, InuYasha stiffens and he makes no effort to move any closer to the well, "Huh?" He gasps "SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIIIIIIIIT!" You shout over and over again, InuYasha cries out each time before the necklace finally slams him into the ground, you wince slightly when the boulder crushes him too.

...Oh well, that's what he gets for trying to trap you here. 

You park your bike beside the well and climb on the edge, "Stay, boy. I'll be back in 3 days, and if you follow me home-I'm staying there forever!" You say firmly before jumping down the well. InuYasha twitches underneath the boulder. He's probably still alive. You glance at your red, Myoga told you it turns black when your soulmate passes, and your string is still glowing a bright red. 

...

You pop on the other side of the well, you drop your painfully heavy bag by your side. "A near flawless escape." You hum to yourself, you're suddenly soaked in a liquid. "Ugh, gross...what is this stuff?" You ask, you sniff your now soaking arm, "It smells like sake..." "Y/N! It's you!" Your grandfather gasps happily, he sniffles at the sight of you, "I knew my prayers would be answered!" 

You look up at him with a strained smile, "Thanks for worrying about me, Gramps. It means so much to me..." You sigh before letting out a sneeze. "See, Sota? I told you it would work." Your grandfather says, Sota peeks over the well, "Hey, she's back! You really did it, Gramps!" Sota says, he waves eagerly at you, you slowly wave back. "No time like the present to shave your head and start training for the priesthood." Your grandfather tells Sota.

"Shave my head?!"
"Of course. Time to pass the torch."
"Get real. I'm gonna be a famous soccer player."
"Soccer? What kind of a job is that? Dusting antiques and checking for pocket change, that-"

"Uh, excuse me! But can you people finish this conversation when I'm not in a well, dripping with sake!" You shout, but you're ignored. "Anyway, Mom wants me to be a doctor." Sota says "A doctor? Well, I suppose you could be a doctor on the weekends..." You start to zone out your grandfather's ramble. You sigh and sink back again the inside of the well, you pull out a sheet of paper and scribble out a small note, pushing it into the dirt until it disappears in a glow. You glance at your red string. It was still tangled around you, but the end that was normally attach to InuYasha's string is now pointing upwards like before. 

Great, now the string will be even more noticeable to everybody else...

...

Buyo rests in your lap as you happily eat the breakfast your mother prepared. You sniff your hair as you eat, "I don't know what's worse, the obvious red string wrapped around me or the fact I still reek of sake. My classmates are going to start to question why I've been absent so much lately..." You complain. Sota munches on his toast, "The string's different than before. Is that a good thing?" He asks "Not if I want to get rid of it." You sigh, but you're cheeks begin to burn. "Do you still want to get rid of it? I mean, you didn't try cutting in off like last time." Sota states. 

"Where's that dog guy InuYasha anyway? Isn't he your soulmate? Why didn't he come home with you?" Sota asks, you sigh, "Why would he come home with me? The last thing I need is him following me around. And I'm not gonna waste my time babysitting him." You huff defensively, and your cheeks start to feel even warmer. Why? You don't like InuYasha! You barely tolerate him. Sota watches you curl into yourself, gritting your teeth in frustration. Your mother walks into the room before he has the chance to say anything. "Y/N dear. Here's your new school uniform. I'll put it in your room for you." She tells you, holding up your uniform, "Oh, awesome. Thanks, Mom." You say.

...

You readjust your school uniform, racing out the house with Sota by your side. The two of you were having an unspoken race, every time you seemed further ahead, Sota would speed up. You continue like that until you reach the cross walk. "So, who won that?" You snort "Call it a tie?" Sota asks, the two of you snicker to yourself. "Remember not to talk to strangers, Sota." You say as you split into your difference directions. Sota rolls his eyes, but grins, "I know, sis. Try not to ditch me without saying goodbye first." He says, waving goodbye.

You walk towards your school, it's been so long since you've seen it.

"Hey, wait up, guys!" You call out to your friends. They turn to you, "Y/N!" Yuka gasps happily. Your friend welcome you with nothing but smiles. "You sure you're feeling well enough to be at school?" Eri asks, you smile at her. "We heard about your accident with the cat. That is one nasty place to get bitten." Eri says sympathetically, Yuka nods, "How's your back after that fall out of bed?" She asks "Before you put your back out, you were away for some Lyme Disease tests. Got the results back yet?" Ayumi asks.

Your smile melts into a dumbfounded expression, "And what about that case of Ringworm?" Yuka asks. Why couldn't your grandfather just say you had a cold or something? This can't get any worse...

"Hey, Y/N!"

You slowly turn, and your heart jumps in your chest. Hojo brings his bike to a stop, he smiles softly at you. "How are you making out with those bunions?" He asks, you stare at him. "...What?" You asks, your friend gasps behind you. "Wow, talk about a double whammy. Bunions and gout?" Hojo looks at you sympathetically...the love of your life thinks you have bunions...and gout...and this is the first time he's ever really talked to you too...

You want to die.

"Here. This is from the shop. You know, for your ailments. Mom wrapped it up. I hope you like pink."  Hojo says, your friends gasps even harder. You unwrap his gift to reveal...old people shoes...yippee. Hojo climbs onto your bike and give you another friendly smile, "Therapeutic sandals for your bunions." He says as he rides off. You drop to your knees. Your friends are quick to surround you, "Y/N, are you going out with Hojo?" Eri asks. Do they not see the red string...?

"Uh...I wish..." You say, staring off in the direction Hojo went, "Too bad it'll never happen since he think I have the health of an old woman..." Yuka pats the top of your head gently, "Don't get discourage, Y/N. He totally has the hots for you!" She says "He does...?" You ask "Oh yeah." Ayumi says

...

"Seriously? You mean, he's never even talked to you before? I thought he was the love of your life." Yuka says, you fiddle with the old people shoes he gave you, "He's been since First Year, but it's not like I ever talked to him directly or anything. He's just always so sweet to the people around him." You sigh, that's who you'd want to be with...not someone like InuYasha. He's a jerk. 

...A jerk that can be really really sweet to you sometimes. And he does it out of nowhere!

It's like some moments he hates you, the next, he wants you around all the time.

Why can't he just make up his mind?!

You sigh, pressing your face into your desk. "Come on, Y/N. Aren't you even excited?" Eri asks "Oh, no. Maybe she likes someone else." Ayumi gasps. You look at all three of them, "Can you guys seriously not see it?" You ask, they shoot you differing looks of confusion. "See what?" Eri asks, you hold your pinky in front of them. "The red string I've been tangled up in all morning." You state, they look at the finger curious, "Red string?" Eri asks "I don't see anything..." Yuka says.

But Ayumi's eyes suddenly light up, "A String of Fate! You have a red String of Fate!" She gasps. "...Ayumi, you know what this is?" You ask, she grabs your shoulders, "Of course, I do! Do you know how many mangas I've read with the soulmate trope?! Oh! It's oh so very romantic!" She squeals, "Lower your voice please," You sigh nervously as a few of your classmates glance your way, "I don't get it. Why can you see it, but Yuka and Eri can't?" You asks. 

"Because Strings of Fate are like super rare now. Most people no longer believe in them, so most people can't see them. That's probably why you haven't noticed it until now, because you didn't believe in the string. If you don't believe they exist, you can't see 'em. There's so many people in the world that are walking around with Strings of Fate, and they have no idea-all because they refuse to believe." Ayumi sniffs at the end of her explanation. "So...you mean those strings in Ayumi's mangas?" Eri asks.

"Wait, I think I can see it," Yuka gasps, she frown suddenly "Why are you all tangled up in it?" She asks "Oooooh. That means she's in love~" Ayumi squeal, "IT WHAT?!" You shout, your eyes wide. You quickly bite your cheek and quiet down, "That's why he's was tangled in his string? Because he's in love with me?" You mumble. 

InuYasha's in love with you?  He's got a weird way of showing it!

Why do you feel happy about this?!

Ayumi hums, "So, you've met him?" She asks "What is he like?" Yuka asks "The athletic type or the intellectual type?" Eri asks. You groan, "It doesn't matter. He's in love with someone else, and he's a huge jerk and I don't want to be his soulmate anyway." You scoff bitterly, "Huh?" Your friends gasps. "He's aggressive, selfish, he gets mad easily," You state "He's not kind or understanding. He doesn't bring me flowers or gifts or writes me poetry. I'd want to be in a relationship with someone who's the exact opposite. Half the time we're fighting, and the other half-I'm getting myself into danger for him. It won't matter what I do, I'll never be good enough to equate to his first love. Sometimes I wish I never met him, I wish we weren't soulmates and I wish..." Your bitter rant trails off into a sad silence. 

You wish you would've met him first.

"Oh, Y/N..." Ayumi says gently "Can we-...looks, can we please stop talking about this. I don't care about this string...if Hojo wants to date me, I won't hesitate to say yes. My soulmate doesn't even like or love me. And if he does, it's only because I remind him of her." You sigh, glancing off to the side bitterly.

...

InuYasha lays on his stomach, grumbling. He tries to move, but a sharp pain shoots through his back. Kaede hums, unfazed, "Stop lazing about. Get off ye duff and seek out some information on the Sacred Jewel." She says, InuYasha glares at her, "And if ye hadn't noticed, my back's out of commission, thanks to all those Sit commands." He state, his growls slightly. Oh just wait until you get back. You're gonna pay for this! "Ow!" InuYasha cries out, Shippo hops into Kaede's hut, "InuYasha, I found this in the well." He says, placing the note in front of InuYasha.

InuYasha

Sorry for all the sits, but living a double life is hard enough without you being difficult.

If you're really still huffy, I'll bring back the ninja food you like so much 

-Y/N :D

InuYasha grumbles at your note, looking off to the side with pink cheeks. "Stupid. Thinks she can butter me up with food..." He huffs, Shippo leaves the note on the floor, he shuffles off to do whatever he was doing before.

...

"Hey, did you hear? Higurashi Shrine's on fire."
"Cool! Let's check it out!"

"Yeah!"

You tense up as you pass a group of boys on your way home from school. Your anxiousness is made even worse by the ambulance zooming past you, you sprint as fast as you can to your home.

You run past the police officers blocking off the area, "Hey, you! This area's off limits!" The officer shouts "I live here!" You stress, you spot your mom speaking with an officer. "Mom! Mom! What's going on!" You shout, running up to her. Her eyes soften sadly at the sight of you, "Y/N..." She says "What happened? Where's the fire? Did anyone get hurt?" You ask, your mother gently grabs your shoulders. 

"The old storehouse caught on fire. And Grandpa was trapped inside the smoke." She tells you, your eyes widen, "Grandpa's hurt?" You squeak out, she squeezes your shoulder, smiling softly, "Oh, don't worry. He'd fainted and suffered from a bit of smoke inhalation. But they say 2 or 3 days in the hospital and he should be good as new. I'm just on my way to check in on him and see how he's doing." She says "I'm going with you." You say. You're already moving to leave, but you mother grabs your hands, "Y/N, you stay here and wait for Sota. Someone's got to explain things to him." She says. You frown, but your head slowly nods, "Yeah, ok." You say.

...You've lived here for 11 years, how could a fire possible start in the storehouse?

Something isn't right. 

And maybe it's just the stress and your lowering self esteem, but you get the feeling this is somehow your fault...

...

You sit alone, watching firefighters examine the place. "Y/N!" Sota calls out, he races towards you. He stumbles into you, his eyes wide and panicked thanks to the chaos around your home. Sota breathes heavily and you do your best to comfort him, "Don't worry, Sota. It wasn't in the main shrine, and no one was seriously hurt." You tell him, he nods slowly, still trying to catch his breath.

The ground shakes violently, you and Sota run to see what's causing all the noise and shakes. "STOP THE TRUCK!" A voice shouts, you and Sota watch a firetruck speed off with police cars chasing after it. 

...

"How's Grandpa? Is he awake yet?" You ask your mom as you stand in the hospital's hallway. "He's still unconscious, but the doctor's a little baffled. He says it's nothing serious, so he expected Grandpa to have woken up by now." Your mother states, you frown worriedly, "I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Let's not forget his age is a factor." She adds. You stare at the ground sadly, you've felt this feeling before...you can only hope this doesn't end like the way it did last time. 

You can't lose Gramps too...

"Huh? Mom, what are those?" You ask, she looks at the Talismans in her hands, "These? They're Talismans. The firefighters found them plastered over Grandpa's face and in his mouth. Poor Grandpa. Something must've really spooked him." She says, "Beware....the flesh eating mask...beware the Ancient Flesh Eating Mask." You hear your grandfather mumble. Your mother turns to you, "I'm going to stay with him for the night. Keep an eye on Sota for me." She says, you nod.

...

"-So it's just the two of us here tonight, since Mom's staying back at the hospital to watch over Gramps in case he wake up." You state, reading over some notes. Sota grunts, dragging a pillow and blanket into your room. You look at him in confusion, "Sis, got any room for Buyo and me to sleep here?" He asks, you look at him sympathetically. "Fine, but my light's gonna be on all night. I still have to study for a test." You warn. 

Sota's ready setting up a place to sleep, "That's fine...it's too scary to sleep in the dark anyway." He says, Buyo hops on your bed. "Come on, Sota. The only thing you should be scared of is the dust bunnies under our beds." You tell him lightheartedly, "When Grandpa was scared, he covered his face in those written spells. Something creepy happened in there, sis. I just know it." Sota says, your grandfather's warning echoes in the back of your mind.

Sota's right to be afraid...you guys have never had trouble like this before. 

Why is all this happening now?

Your window begins to rattle and shake, Sota gasps fearfully. You glance at the jar resting on your desk...your jar of jewel shards...so this really is all your fault.

You shouldn't have come back here. 

"It's because I brought the jewel shards back..." You mumble, your eyes widening, "Huh?" Sota asks "The fire...Grandpa getting hurt. It's because I came back..." You state, something crashes through your window. You grab Sota and duck, you hold him protectively, "A Noh Mask? That must be the flesh eating mask that Grandpa was mumbling about in the hospital!" You say, the Noh Mask reaches for the jewel shards. The jar rolls off the table.

"Jewel," It says "I must have the shards of the Shikon Jewel." You quickly snatch the jar before it could grab it, you wince and pull the shard of glass out of your hand . Blood drips onto your carpet. "Give me the piece of the Shikon Jewel!" The Noh Mask shouts angrily, it's slimy hand reaching for you. You grab Sota and Buyo and run out of your room, "Come on, Sota. This is no time to zone out on me," You say, running down the stairs "I've got to get you away from the mask. I have to call InuYasha. I'm useless on my own, he's the only one who can help us." 

You place Sota down and pull him as you continue to run. He looks at the hand that was wrapped around his, "Y/N...look at your fingers. Your hand is bleeding." He says "Forget that. I cut myself on glass, that's all." You tell him, a shadow looms over you. You look back to see the Noh Mask leaping off the firetruck's crane. Sota screams, you push him out of the way, the Noh Mask slams onto the ground. It looks right at you, ignoring Sota and his screams, "The jewel shards. Give me the jewel shards!" The Noh Mask screams angrily, its forehead starts to glow...

It has a jewel fragment already!

Not good. That make this thing even more dangerous! You've got to get Sota away from here and out of danger!

"Sota! Run to the hidden well and get InuYasha! Tell him there are more jewel shards here. That's the only thing he cares about, so it'll be enough to get him to cross over and help us!" You shout, you tighten your grip on the jewel shards and run off "I have to go in that spooky well?" Sota calls out nervously "You wanna get chased by the spooky demon instead!" You shout, Sota watches the Noh Mask chase after you. He quickly take Buyo and runs to the old well, he looks down at the darkness nervously. 

"...I can handle this." He says, Sota throws himself down the wall-hitting the bottom pretty harshly. "How come I'm still here?" He gasps, Sota scrambles in a panic, "WHAT WENT WRONG?!" He cries, Buyo watches him from above. Sota's eyes fill with tears and he begins digging through the dirt desperately, "I've got to get through the well, 'cause Sis is in trouble. The mask is after her, and I'm the only one who can help. I don't-I don't want my sister to die!" He sobs out, the dirt underneath him shifts and glows around him

"H-huh?" Sota gasps, InuYasha appears beside him. "It's you. You're InuYasha..." Sota says, InuYasha grins at him, "In the flesh, kid. Now what's this problem you need help with?" He asks. InuYasha throw Sota onto his back and takes off into the night sky. 

Sota clings onto InuYasha fearfully, "Don't tell me you're scared of height too. What it runs in the family?" InuYasha asks, Sota nods, keeping his eyes shut. InuYasha stops complaning, "Hang on tight, kid. It's a long way down." He says, following the red string, Sota lets out a sigh, "I guess I wasn't strong enough to pass through the hidden well..." "Lucky for you, because in my world, there are plenty of monsters who'd just love to have you for lunch." InuYasha states. 

Sota swallows nervously, how do you go to that world and come back so...ok?

InuYasha leaps onto a semitruck as it drives down the highway, "Do you know where to find my sister?" Sota asks, InuYasha looks at him with a grin, "Sure. I'm not human, remember? I can pick up scents from miles around with this nose. And even if I couldn't smell her, I still have this..." InuYasha holds up his pinky, Sota looks at the red string "And as long as we're still connected, I can always find her." 

"Y/N cut her hand on some glass." Sota states "Don't have to tell me that. I can smell the blood from back in the well," InuYasha says "Fear not. I'll rescue Y/N. Before she gets into any real trouble." Sota frowns in thought. InuYasha seems a lot less terrifying than when he first came through the well to get you. His clothes are a little weird, Sota's starting to feel like this is the only person he can trust right now. "I think I get it." Sota mutters "Huh? Get what?" InuYasha asks "Why Sis is beginning to accept the idea of having you around. She won't admit it, but I think she likes you more than she'll ever say." Sota states, InuYasha says nothing, but his cheek pinken.

...

How the hell did you end up here?

You run as fast as you can through an unfinished building. InuYasha's not here yet, but...your red string's long again, that at least means he's in your world now. All you have to do is not get caught by the Noh Mask and not fall off the edge of the building. Black goop shoots up in front of you, you turn to run the opposite way, the the Noh Mask appears in front of you. You gasp, "I need the shards of the Shikon Jewel!" The Noh Mask shouts angrily, you look back to see the edge of the building behind you. "Don't try me! I'm unwell enough to jump!" You shout nervously.

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!"  

InuYasha slashes through the Noh Mask with his claws, grabbing you and yanking you away from the ledge. "Nice timing..." You sigh in relief "You all right?" Sota asks, he stares at you in concern. You smile at him, "Yep. You did great, Sota." You tell him, he hops off of InuYasha back and tightly wraps his arms around you, sniffling. "...Hey, what's with all the tears? You were fine a second ago." InuYasha sighs. You bend down to Sota's height, "It's all gonna be ok. InuYasha's gonna destroy that monster for us, and it'll all be over." You say comfortingly. 

InuYasha clears his through, "Huh?" You look at him in confusion. "Before we get on with little rescue mission here, this might be an appropriate time for an apology, wouldn't you say?" He asks. "Apology for what?" You ask "For what?! For shouting all those incantations and putting my back out, that's what," InuYasha huffs "And you have the gall to beg me for help." You let out a scoff, standing to your full height-which is still much shorter than InuYasha's...

Whatever. 

"Seriously? You already got an apology. I left you a note in the well. You had to have seen it on the way here." You state, crossing your arms. InuYasha's eye twitches, "'Course I saw it, but after all the pain you put me through, I deserve an apology face to face." He says "I'm not apologizing twice! I wouldn't have even said it if you didn't try to block off my only way to get home." You say defensively. Sota notices the Noh Mask getting closer, "...Y/N?" He mutters nervously, clenching your sleeve. "Keh! Don't wanna apologize. Fine, guess I won't save you." InuYasha scoffs "Huh?!" Sota gasps.

You huff, "Fine by me. Just protect Sota. And maybe get him out of here, he doesn't deserve the trauma of watching me die." You say, you sit down, fully pretending to accept your fate. Sota looks back and forth between you and InuYasha, unsure of what to say or do. Is this how things normally are between the two of you? What happened to Sota's hero? The one guy he could trust? "Really? You'd rather die than apologize to me?" InuYasha grumbles "You'd rather let me die over something dumb than save me?" You ask, you narrow your eyes at each other.

You shut your eyes and sigh, "Fine, I wanted you to save me out the goodness of your heart, but I forgot you don't have a heart. The Mask has jewel shards." You state. InuYasha glances at the Noh Mask, it pieces itself back together, hissing angrily. "Who dares to attack me?" "InuYasha, aim for the mask. That's where the shards are." You state, you stand in front of Sota protectively, "I am the fleshing eating mask. Centuries ago, I was carved from a giant tree which had a fragment of the sacred Shikon Jewel embedded in it. Since my creation, I have craved human flesh and devoured my victims, but now, I wish to have a living body that will not rot. For that, I require more power from the Sacred Jewel." The Noh Mask explains. 

You look down at the jewel shards in your head. Centuries ago? Guess that means it's because you broke the Sacred Jewel that any of this is even happening. Geez, how much of this is going to end of being your fault. Because you broke the jewel...because you came home...maybe you're just a problem in general...

InuYasha watches you frown, and something shifts slightly in your eyes. "...I don't know how many humans you've eaten so far, but it's time to lose some weight!" He shouts, punching the mask. It opens, trapping InuYasha's hand, "What the...?" He gasp "You fell into my trap. Now you shall never escape me." The Noh Mask states, InuYasha screams as he's pulled into the black goop that was the mask's body. "InuYasha!" You shout, "I should've known better..." InuYasha growls, twitching in the black goop.

The mask flies out of the goop and heads straight for you. You hold up your arm-the mask knocks you to the ground, "Y/N!" Sota shouts fearfully, you struggle to keep the mask away from you. It doesn't matter what happens to you, you can't let this thing get the jewel! "Sota! Take these shards and run! Hurry" You shout, you throw them to Sota. Sota catches them and runs away, the mask abandons you to chase Sota, "Shit." You hiss under your breath "It's right behind you!" You call out, Sota runs even faster. He stumbles to his feet when he reaches the edge. "Crap. Crap!" You shout, pushing yourself to stand up. Why did you think it was a good idea to give those things to Sota?! Now he's either going to fall to death or be killed by the Noh Mask. 

InuYasha zooms past you, "Don't move, kid!" He warns before he uses the Tetsusaiga to slice through the mask. You let out a breath of relief. "You destroyed the mask! You did it!" Sota says happily "Sure thing. You still got those jewel fragments?" InuYasha asks, Sota nods nervously. You walk up, "InuYasha, Sota..." You breath out, InuYasha looks back at you and...smiles softly, "Hey, Y/N. You all right? How your hand?" He asks, you blink in confusion. "Uh...it's fine." You say, the sun begins to rise and InuYasha is coating in the warm glow of the sunrise begin him.

...This is weird. 

Why is InuYasha being kind of nice now?

He looks really pretty in the morning light, standing there with his sword.

The red string feels heavier around you-

Wait...

"Morning light?! Crap! I haven't studied for my test!" You shout, you run off in a panic, "Hey, where are you going?" InuYasha calls out. You shoot him a stressed smile, "Thanks again for your help, 'Yasha. This has been a real bonding experience. You'll get your ninja food later. Oh! And Sota, don't forget to pick up the jewel shard and bring 'em home with you. InuYasha hang out at my place, but stay out of my room! Bye!" You say quickly as you run down the half finished stairs. 

InuYasha watches you leave, confusion written all over his face, Sota tugs on his sleeve. "Hm?" InuYasha hums, looking down at him, "Know what? I've got a new hero, bet you can't guess who it is." Sota says, he looks up at InuYasha in awe. InuYasha sighs, Sota only smiles more and rushes to collect the jewel shards. 

...

InuYasha sits on the floor in your room, he sniffs around.

Your scent is everywhere in here. 

It's...nice.

He's never been able to appreciate your scent before. He's usually too busy bickering with you to fully pay attention to it. 

InuYasha shifts slightly, something on your desk catches his eye. "Huh? Hey, what's this?" He mumbles, he grabs a small, pink book and opens it, inside where various drawings of different things. Plants, structures, and even a few people. InuYasha's eyes widen slightly with interest as he flips through the small book, "Did she draw these herself?" He asks, continuing to sort through the sketchbook until he reaches the final few pages.

He pauses at the sketch of the Shikon Jewel...and underneath it, was a sketch of him. Actually, there's a lot of drawings of him on these last pages. He reads th e note scribble down about his 'stupidly pretty hair' InuYasha grins slightly, Sota wasn't joking around. You do like him more than you let on! InuYasha snickers slightly and his red string feels heavier around him.

...

You walk up the steps of your family's shrine with some grocery bags in your hands, Sota told you he wanted to go by a friend's house. So, it'll just be you and InuYasha...unless he went back already. "InuYasha, I'm back!" You call out, but there's no response. Huh, so he did go back. You can't blame him, it's probably really boring just waiting here alone. 

Oh well, you still got your bag to pack. And your mother said that your grandfather would be getting out the hospital today, so, you're gonna wait for them to get back before you leave. You place the grocery bags onto the table and head up to your room, InuYasha sits on the floor, going through your- "What are you doing?!" You shout, InuYasha jumps slightly. You move to take the sketchbook away from him, InuYasha acts quickly, holding the book out of your reach. 

"What? What's the problem with me lookin'. It's mostly me in there anyway." InuYasha says, his grin is smug as ever. "Shut up! You weren't ever supposed to see that. Now give it back!" You shout, InuYasha holds you back with ease. Stupid half demon strength. InuYasha reopens the sketchbook with one hand, "Heh, you really like drawing me, huh? All that talk about Sesshomaru, but he's not on a single page." He says, your face burns the more InuYasha examines your artwork-your sketches, sketches that were never supposed to be seen by anyone. 

"You think I'm pretty~"
"Oh my-can you just shut up!"

InuYasha snickers, he finally flips to the last page, it's a simple sketch of his side profile...except you wrote the words 'Super Pretty' with stars everywhere beside it. If you're lucky, maybe InuYasha never learned how to read- "Heh." He snort "Shoot. You can read?" You sigh in defeat. InuYasha shoots you an irritated look, "Of course I can read. What do you think I am? Stupid?" He asks, your shrug in response. "Mm, I can live with that for now. Since you always think I'm pretty enough to obsess over my looks." He says smugly. 

You groan, "I'm burning that book now. It's been tainted, and I'm never drawing you again." InuYasha's ears twitch and flatten slightly, "Don't do that," He says, his teasing tone now soft "These drawings around really nice. It'd be an insult to yourself to just burn 'em." There's a slight moment of silence, InuYasha looks at the sketches of himself again. "No one's ever drawn me before." He says quietly, your expression shifts to sympathy…it feels like you’ve been feeling that a lot lately when it comes to InuYasha. "Not unless it was a maybe a warning post or something. And they’ve never looked as good as these." InuYasha says.

You let out a sigh, "Fine. I can’t burn all my life’s work just because you’ve seen it," You reach for the sketchbook again, and this time he lets you "Beside, I don’t think I could stop drawing you even if I wanted to. You’re actually really fun to draw." InuYasha snorts softly at that, "Oh, am I? And my stupidly pretty hair?" He asks, he runs his fingers through his hair. "Yes, 'Yasha, and your stupidly pretty hair." You chuckle. You move away to put your sketchbook back on your desk, but you feel a faint pull on your red string, like it didn’t want you to move away. Not yet.

"…Hey, InuYasha?"

You keep your back turn to him as the question burns in the back of your mind. "Huh? What is it?" InuYasha asks. The words sit on your tongue, but you can’t bring yourself to ask them. You turn to him with a strained smile, "Never mind. I forgot." You say. InuYasha narrows his eyes, not believing you, but not willing to push the matter either. 

…

"And why aren’t you coming back with me?"

InuYasha stands in front of the well, frowning at you with his arms crossed over his chest. "You said you’d come back with me." He says bitterly, you hand him a bag filled with instant noodles. "Quit pouting, 'Yasha. I don’t have the heart to leave right now. Gramps just got out of the hospital. And the least I can do is stay a little bit longer…" You sigh.

You have that look in your eyes again…

InuYasha lets out an annoyed growl and looks away from you, "Keh! Fine, but you can only stay a little bit longer. And I’m not saving you any ninja food." He says, pouting. Your expression softens slightly, "Aw, you’re gonna miss me so much." You snicker, InuYasha’s face turns pink, "Huh?! Weird you get a dumb idea like that! I won’t miss you. I’ll be happy to have some peace and quiet." He says, you snort, "Oh good, then I’ll be sure to take my time. Bye, InuYasha." You say. 

He grabs your wrist, "Don’t make me wait forever, alright? If you do, I’m eatin’ Shippo." He says, it takes a lot of strength not to laugh. "Fine. Fine. I’ll come back soon." You say, InuYasha lets go of your wrist. "Ok…good." He says before finally jumping down the well. You can't help the smile that rests on your face as you roll your eyes. 

...

"There you go."

You take the ice cream out of the worker's hand, you easily welcome the nice chill. 

The seasons have been starting to change, and the heat has been driving you made. 

You walk with Eri and Yuka, they're chatting away about something, but you're way too zone out from heatstroke to understand what they're saying. "-Y/N , I hear you have to take the make up course for math too." Eri says "...Yeah, I found out last week. Not looking forward to it." You sigh. "I don't get it. You've always had top marks in the math class up until now," Yuka says "Wonder how your soulmate will feel if he finds out about your grades~" You snort slightly at her tease, "Please. He wants me to drop out so he can have all my attention." You state.

"Really?" Eri asks "Mhm. I'm sure if he could have his way, I'd never go back to school or back home for that matter." You say, you lick your ice cream. Eri and Yuka share concerned glances, the three of you walk in silence before spotting a group of children. 

"Hey, look! They've got fireworks!"
"Ha! Cool!"
"Remember when we used to do that when we were kids?"

You smile at the sight...and then the air shifts around you. A girl pops out of one of the playground structures, throwing a firework on the unlit pile of other fireworks. The whole pile ignites and the children and teachers begin to panic. "Hehehe! That'll keep them busy! Little brats!" The girl says, she runs off. "Hey, stop!" You shout, you chase after her, Yuka and Eri share more concerned looks. 

"Hold it right there, kid!" You shout, the little girl comes to a stop, she looks at you in annoyance. "What'd you scare all those kids for? That's wasn't very nice." You tell her "Wait a second. You mean you can see me?" She asks in shock. "...Yeah, I can see you just fine. Speaking of, why are you wearing a coat? It's like a million degrees outside, you'll get heatstroke. Take it off. And I don't know what's going on with your shoe situation, but I still have some shoes a friend of mine gave me. They might be a little big, but they'll be better than nothing." You state, you pull out the old lady shoes Hojo gave you and place them in front of the girl. 

You're not sure what's going on here or why she's scaring the other kids, but something about her situation is concerning...

Maybe she has a bad home life?

The girl seems almost bothered by your kindness, you reach to tug the coat off of her. She jumps slightly, smacking your hand away, "Mind your own business. I don't need your help." She says bitterly. "Hey...if something's wrong at home or if someone's hurting you, I want to help anyway I can." You say gently, flames surround the two of you, you flinch slightly. "I don't want to talk to you anymore! Leave me alone! It's too late to help me anyway!" She shouts angrily. The girl fades away and you gasp, the flames around you quickly disappear too...

"What'd you run off for, Y/N?" Yuka asks "How come you were talking to yourself?" Eri asks, you blink in confusion. The little girl just disappeared? How?! You felt her hand, you know she was real! 

...

InuYasha sits in the bushes with a bored expression as he watches Steel Wasps surround the Tetsusaiga's sheath, "How much longer is this gonna take anyway?" He sighs "Be patient, My Lord. If you try to take the sheath from the Steel Wasps now, you'll be stung to death." Myoga warns, InuYasha sighs again. All of this because that stupid thunder brother cracked the sheath.

"Woo! Hey, how about a bite?" Shippo laughs out, he floats around InuYasha and lightly nibbles the top of his head. InuYasha twitches in irritation, punching Shippo a few times, Shippo morphs back into his actual body. "Ow! HEY! I was only trying to liven things up around here!" He shouts. "Where's Y/N anyways? I'm getting tired of hanging around with you." Shippo says "Funny you should mention that." InuYasha scoff, Shippo drops to the floor, flailing his arms and legs. "It's not fair! Why do I have to be alone with you?!" He cries, "Keh..." InuYasha grumbles "Um, don't I deserve to be counted, hm?" Myoga asks.

The trio pauses at the sound of a flute playing, "What's that?" InuYasha asks "It's a demon!" Shippo gasps, latching onto InuYasha. "Why are you scared? You're a demon, too, remember?" He sighs "That's no ordinary demon. It's the Soul Piper. When a child dies, the Soul Piper stays and plays with that child until the soul is ready to rest in peace. As long as the eyes of the monster remain closed, there's nothing to be afraid of, but when the Soul Piper's eyes open, it becomes a fearful demon." Myoga explains as the Soul Piper guides the souls of children across the lake...

...

"Your friend's still in the hospital? I thought he would've woken up by now." You say, Sota walks beside you as you move through the train station. He sighs and holds his Get Well Cranes a little firmer, "I thought so, too, but every time he gets better...something else happens." He says. You hum sympathetically, "I'm sure he'll be ok, Sota. At least he's got friends like you visiting him." You state, Sota smiles sadly. "Remember what Mom said, she doesn't want us on this side of town all day." You say, Sota nods quietly.

"Hey, Sis?"
"Uh huh?"
"Do you think evil ghosts really exist?"
"Huh?"

...

You stand politely in the hospital room, glancing at Sota's friend as he rest still in his bed, "Oh, Sota! It's so nice of you to visit." Mrs. Akaida says "How's Satoru? Will he be getting out soon?" Sota asks, Mrs. Akaida sighs, "I'm afraid he'll be in here for a while yet. He still hasn't woken up since the accident." She says sadly. Sota frowns, "Well, maybe these will help." He says, handing Satoru's mother the Get Well Cranes. 

She smiles as she holds them in her arms, "Get Well Cranes. How very thoughtful of you, Sota." She says, you frown in concern at the burns and scars on her hands. She notices your expression, "Oh, these? They were burned in the fire." She says "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare!" You say apologetically. She only smiles, "Fortunately, he wasn't burned, but he's been in a coma for half a year-since the fire." She states. 

You glance at Satoru wordlessly, a hand comes from under his bed and yanks his IV Drip, the whole IV stand slams to the ground. You see the little girl from the park frowning angrily before she disappears once again. "Not again! Why does this keep happening?" Mrs. Akaida asks sadly, you frown in confusion.

Who is that girl?

Why is she doing this?

That's it. As an...unofficial monster/demon handler, you've got to get to the bottom of this!

...

"Hey, Sota? How come you were asking about evil ghost before we got to the hospital?" You ask Sota as you walk home, "Some people in our class think there's an evil ghost after Satoru. He's been in a coma for 6 months now, right? Everyone from the class used to come and visit him all the time, but then all kinds of weird things started happening when they came to see him. Like they were pushed down stairs, almost hit by cars and other stuff. Everyone's scared to visit him now. His sister Mayu died in the fire, you know? Some guys in class think maybe she's doing all the creepy stuff." He explains, somehow the two of you end up right in front of Satoru's old apartment. 

"This is where the fire happened?" You ask, looking at the clearly burnt area. "Yeah, they kept trying to clean it up and rebuild it after the fire, but every time someone got near, there was another accident." Sota states "Whoa, spooky..." You mutter. It's not that bad thought...right? You've faced actual demons that wanted you dead, how scary is one ghost that's also a little girl? 

A potted plant falls from the balcony, "Look out!" You shouts, Sota screams, you grab him and duck out of the way. "See! I told you there was an evil ghost around!" He shouts in a panic, his ends up blacking out from fear. You slowly look back at the balcony, the little girl...Mayu...she stands on the edge of the balcony. "No! Get down from there!" You instinctively shout in concern. She jumps off, you quickly stand to catch her, but she gently slows down in front of you. "Duh! I'm dead! Don't you get it?!" Mayu shouts.

"Mayu, why are you doing this? Satoru's your brother, Why are you being so mean to him-and everyone else around him? You don't seriously want to hurt people, do you?" You ask, Mayu turns away from you, "I don't care about anyone, especially not my mommy." She huffs "Huh?" You tilt your head in confusion. Mayu clenches her fists, "Mommy couldn't stand me. She didn't even care that I died! She left me in the fire. She only saved my little brother..." She says, her body trembling. "Mayu, I'm sure you're wrong about that. I talked to your mother, I'm sure she loved you as much as your brother."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!" Mayu scream angrily, she stares at you, "You want to help me? You'd better stay out of my way or I'll have to kill you, too!" She says, she disappears again. Except this time, the bushes and trees around you are yank out of the ground. You shield Sota with your body, watching the trees and bushes shoot into the sky. Everything starts to fall around the two of you, but nothing actually ends up hitting you except for bits of dirt. You hear a flute behind you, you turn to see a large yellow demon floating. It stares at you through its slightly opened eyes, "What's that thing...? It feels like it's saying something. 'When its eyes open wide?' What does that even mean?" You mumble before it disappears too.

...

You pull yourself out of the Bone Eater's Well, "Alrighty, String o' Fate, take me to InuYasha." You say, but you didn't even need to follow the string.

"Y/N, you're back!" Shippo calls out happily, racing up to you. He hugs your leg with a happy smile, "Keh! 'Bout time." InuYasha huffs. "...Why are you guys already by the well?" You ask curiously, InuYasha quickly glares off to the side. "InuYasha lingers here when he misses you-OW!" Shippo cries out when InuYasha strikes him in the head, "What'd you do that for?! I was only telling the truth!" "Shut up." InuYasha grumbles.

He looks at you, "You didn't bring your bag?" He asks "Eh, no. I'm not here to stay." You say, InuYasha frowns at you. "Yet. I'm not here to stay yet. I just need to talk to Myoga." You state "Myoga?" InuYasha mutters in disappointment, Myoga pops out of InuYasha hair and hops onto your shoulder, eyeing you curiously. "At your service, Lady Y/N." He says. 

...

"-So that demon is known as the Soul Piper?" You ask, comfortable sitting on the edge of the Bone Eater's Well, "Yes. It sounds like we're talking about the same thing. The Soul Piper consoles the children until they can accept their deaths. It entertains the children with its flute until they can find peace." Myoga tells you. "What if...what if they can't find peace? What if they have something holding them back, like jealousy or hatred?" You ask "Then the children become evil spirits." Myoga states.

"You're not serious!" You gasp "You've heard of poltergeists, full of rage and hatred. When the Soul Piper sense the child's rage, its eyes open, and the Soul Piper hurls the child into the depths of Hell." Myoga says. Shippo pipes up beside you, "Most of the time, the Soul Piper's eyes are closed, but when look out when they open." He warns "They were opening! And those eyes were creepy as hell. I've got to do something to save Mayu!" You say.

"Let it be, Y/N."

"Huh?" You glance at InuYasha, he hasn't said a word since you started talking to Myoga. "Ghost and spirits aren't like monsters. We can't just take out our swords and start ordering them around. Ghost are different and much more dangerous." He says, you gently place Myoga on Shippo's head, "I don't care if they are! If someone needs my help, I'm gonna do everything I can to help them. I won't sit by and watch someone suffer. Besides, I come from a long line of priest." You say firmlu. 

"Keh! Well, you can count me out." InuYasha huffs, that's all you need to hear. You smile and wave goodbye to Shippo before pushing yourself into the well. "-There's nothing you can do to help the girl at this point...huh?" InuYasha eyes widen when he finally looks back. "You shouldn't talk to yourself. People will wonder." Shippo says, InuYasha growls in annoyance.

A determined expression rests on your face as you fall through the well. Forget what InuYasha says! You can't Mayu carry on like this! Poor girl, she's already suffered so much. 

...

"Mrs. Akaida!" You call out, racing through the hospital's parking lot, "Hello. What are you doing here? Visiting hours are over, dear." She says. She stops in front of the hospital entrance, you suck in a deep breath, "I know, but I need to talk to you. It's about Mayu!" You stress, an ambulance zooms past the two of you and a nurse runs out of the hospital. "Around the back. We're all ready for you!" She calls out, Mrs. Akaida sighs sadly, "It seems like just yesterday..." She says "It seemed we were always having arguments about me loving Satoru more...I thought I heard the door slam, and I assumed that she'd run off to the neighbors' apartment, as she usually did. I was mistaken. How could I have known that Mayu was still inside?"

Mrs. Akaida begins to tremble, "If I had known, I would have gone back in. But I was so sure that she wasn't there!" She cries, you frown sadly. So she didn't even know Mayu was still in the apartment during the fire...

The sound of glass shattering causes you both to gasp, "That's Satoru's room!" Mrs. Akaida says as the lights in his room flicker. You run into the hospital, "It's Mayu!" You shout.

...

You shove the door open, "Mayu, no! Stop doing this!" You shout, she stands on the edge of the window. The light above are dark and sparking, "Let's talk! This is all a misunderstanding!" You stress, Mrs. Akaida gasps, "Oh! Mayu...but you-" "STAY OUT!" Mayu shouts, a force throws Mrs. Akaida into the wall. Well, it's a good thing you're already in a hospital, "Don't blame your mom! Come on, try and think back! Your mom didn't abandon you in the fire. She didn't even know you were in there! Do you understand? She didn't think you were home when the fire happened. Remember?" You urge desperately.

You inch closer into the room, if you need to grab Satoru...you need to be ready. Mayu pauses, "...I...I left my scarf on over the stove. It must've fallen and caught fire!" She says, her eyes widening in realization. "It was my fault our apartment burned down. Mommy didn't know I was home..." She mutters, "Mayu..." You say gently as her eyes water, "I forgot that. But it doesn't matter, BECAUSE I STILL HATE HER!" Mayu screams angrily, the floor begins to crack and move Satoru's bed towards the window, you lunge towards him. You manage to get your arms around him...but you end up tumbling out the window too. You shut your eyes and suck in a final breath.

This is going to hurt...

Wait...

Why aren't you dead?

There's an arm around you?

"Can't you handle anything on your own?" InuYasha sighs, you slowly look up. He looks down at you, his arm was wrapped around the Tetsusaiga while he holds you and Satoru firmly. "InuYasha!" You stare at him a moment, quickly looking away before your eyes could water in relief, "You came to help me..." You say in disbelief "Good thing I did, too, or you both would be in trouble." He sighs, you glance at Mayu. InuYasha follows your gaze, "Give up on the girl. It's too late for her." He says, he places you and Satoru back inside the hospital room, you Satoru in your arms. InuYasha climbs in after you, "Even if you do make her realize what happened and make her stop, I guarantee you she's not going anywhere near Heaven." He states. 

The Soul Piper appears behind Mayu, "Look! It's eyes!" You gasp as they completely open, red chains begin to wrap around Mayu, "What are you doing?! Let me go! I wanna stay here!" She shrieks as it draws her away, "Mayu!" You gasp, you glance at InuYasha with a pleading look in your eyes as you put Satoru down gently. "InuYasha, I have to help her. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't try..." You state. InuYasha sighs deeply, but he grabs you and carries you on his back. InuYasha leaps through the broken window, hopping from building to building. 

"I'm making this up as I go, because like I told you, I'm no expert in spirits and ghosts." InuYasha says, he runs along the top of the city's bridge. "I know, but we've got to do whatever we can to stop Mayu from going to Hell." You say "We've got to find the girl's apartment. According to Myoga, the Soul Piper drags the tormented soul to its place of death, then hurls it into the pits of Hell." InuYasha explains.

...

InuYasha leaps towards Mayu's apartment, the window glows a deep purple. "That must me it. Let's just hope we're not too late." InuYasha says, he lands on the balcony. You shimmy off his back, "This is good. Let me handle it from here." You say, InuYasha quickly digs his claws into your shirt to stop you from going any further, "Hey-" "Like you handled that kid back at the hospital? I don't think so. I'm going with you." He says, he marches into the apartment, his hand firmly wrapped around yours. 

"I can relate to whoever first said 'There's nothing scarier than an ignoramus'..." He huffs before your hand disappears from his grip. "Huh? She disappears!" He gasps, "Right-this is the dimension where humans are dragged into Hell! I'm half demon, so I can't make it past the barrier!" InuYasha says, he clenches his fist tightly. "Oh, damn. Y/N cannot handle this on her own!" He shouts in frustration. 

...

You shield your face from the burning flames all around you, "Mayu! Mayu, where are you?!" You shout out. "Is that you, Mommy?" Mayu call out, you move through the apartment as fast as you could, "Where are you? Tell me!" You call out, the closet door opens behind you. You smile at the sight of Mayu, "There you are!" You say, you hold a hand out to her, "Come on, Mayu. Let's get out of here." "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm dead, you stupid idiot! What's your problem?! Why don't you-" Mayu's angrily yells are cut off by the ground crumbling beneath her. 

The red chains around Mayu yanks her into Hell, you gasp and lunges towards her. You manage to grab Mayu's hand, she whimpers fearfully, "Don't let go!" You shout, Mayu feels like a ton of brinks. It's hard to hold her with one hand, but the second you let go the edge, you'll fall in with her. "You have to go home, Mayu! Go home and make up with your mother!" You tell Mayu, the flames burn even brighter. 

"Your mother loves you now, and she always did love you." You state, Mayu looks up at you. "Don't you want to make up with her before you say goodbye for good?" You ask, the chains keep yanking her down, you pull her right back up, "...Isn't Mommy mad at me?" Mayu asks, tears fill her eyes. "Are you sure Mommy's not mad?" She asks, you crack a smile. "She's not mad, really. She just loves you and misses you, that's all." You say, tears pour down Mayu's face.

You gently squeeze her hand, "Mayu, you know your mom better than anyone. She'd never be mad at you." You say softly, Mayu sobs. "Mommy! I miss you, Mommy! I want to say sorry to you! I've always wanted to make up with you! I'm sorry, Mommy!" She cries out, her limp hand finally tightens around yours and the red chain snaps.

...

You sit beside InuYasha on a roof, you smile warmly. At least Mayu will be alright now, "What were you thinking, going in there all alone? That girl could have easily pulled you into Hell, Y/N, and I wouldn't have been able to save you." InuYasha scolds "It was worth the risk." You say, InuYasha quiets down. "Why are you so reckless?" He asks bitterly "Don't know. Hey, you'll catch me, right?" You ask "Huh-WHAT THE?!" InuYasha shouts when you push yourself off the roof. 

InuYasha leaps after you, grabbing you and easily landing on the sidewalk below. Good thing there wasn't anyone around to see a dog boy holding you like a princess. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" InuYasha stress, but you can't help the fit of giggles leaving you. "You got a death wish or something?!" He asks "Nah, I just trust you'll save me." You snicker, InuYasha expression softens only slightly. "Alright, you can put me down now." You try to wiggle out of InuYasha's hold, his arms tighten under you, "Ha! No way, if you get to act stupid, I might as well join you~" He says smugly "Pfft, what you-AH!" You squeak when InuYasha leaps into the air. You hook your arm around his neck, clinging onto him. He laughs while you yelp and shriek

"INUYAAAAAAAASHA!"

...

You rest your cheek against your fist as you scribble down notes.

"Y/N?"

You glance at your window curiously, Mayu float outside, you stand up and smile at her. "It's you!" You say happily, she smiles back, "I wanted to see one last time before I left." She says "I love your summer kimono. You look adorable!" You say, Mayu smiles even wider. "Thanks! My mommy made it just for me. I'd better be going now. Bye!" She says, she float off, following a Soul Piper as it plays its flute, she giggles once she reaches it. You wipe the small tears forming in the corner of your eyes, your smile never leaving. 

You don't think Mayu ever was an evil spirit, she was just an ordinary little girl who loved her mom very much.

She reminds you a lot of InuYasha...you don't really think he's evil either. 

Maybe one day you'll be able to touch his heart too...

Chapter Text

The bell rings and you instantly jump to your feet and grab your bag, "Later!" You say to your friends as you race to the door. There's no time to dawdle today! You bet InuYasha you could come back before the sun was close to setting. 

"Hold it! Get back here! You're on cleaning duty!" Yuka shouts, you stop in your tracks, shifting from foot to foot, "I know, but I've got to meet someone. I promise, I'll make it up to you." You say, Ayumi gasps while Eri stares at you in surprise, "Don't tell me-you're going to see your soulmate." She accuses "She wouldn't, would she?" Ayumi says in disbelief. You groan, "Yes, I am going to go see the jerk. Goodbye, I'll make it up to you guys." You say firmly. 

You break into a run again, this tip Hojo stops you, but standing right in front of you. Your face smashes into his chest, a bamboo looking object falls out of a small gift bag. You look up at Hojo, "Uh..." "It hits all pressure points. Can't hurt to try it." He tells you, you smile warmly at his sweetness. "I don't know what to say..." You say softly, what even is that thing? Another old people thing that only your grandfather would know.

Why can't Hojo give you flower or something? 

"I know sitting bothers you, but do you think you could make it through a movie? It's just 2 hours." He asks, you stare at him with burning cheeks. "It's ok if you don't want-" "Hell yes." You quickly answer, Hojo pauses, but immediately starts to smile, he takes your hand and affectionately squeeze it, "Hey, that's great! See you Saturday, I'll see by your place half past 6." He states as he leaves the classroom. Your friends surround you, "You're going out with Hojo?" Yuka gasps "But what about your soulmate?" Ayumi asks nervously. 

Your soulmate?

Oh, no! 

Right, you completely forgot about InuYasha...

The two of you have gotten a lot closer lately.

Sometimes if feels like you might be a couple, but there's no way...you guys still bicker to much for that...

...Right?

...

You readjust your heavy backpack, "Hey, InuYasha, what do you think the chance are of getting back by Saturday?" You ask, he stands on the edge of the well, "Uh, fair to moderate, if we're lucky." He states "Oh, good." You say in relief, InuYasha grabs your backpack's handle, easily lifting you with one hand. When exactly was this Saturday of yours again?" InuYasha asks, you deflate. "Right...too good to be true..." You sigh, InuYasha drops you down the well. 

...

You smile at the sight of your reflection in the river as the Dead Dads Trio ride a boat down the stream, "Wow! This is so cool!" You say happily, a fish pops out of the water. "Hey, look! A fish!" You say, InuYasha glances at you and sighs loudly, "You mind focusing a little? We're not here to look at the scenery." He says "Aye aye, Mon Captain! On the lookout for shards of the Shikon Jewel!" You say with a French accent. 

Shippo groans sickly, dangling off the side of the boat, "Shippo, you call yourself a demon? You're not supposed to get seasick." InuYasha sighs "I'm not trying..." Shippo groans. "This is pathetic. We're not going to find any shards unless you two snap to it." InuYasha complains "You're not being any help either, Captain." You state, rubbing Shippo's back. InuYasha rolls his eyes, his attention quickly snaps away from you, "Hm?" "What is it?" You ask, you immediately grow on edge. 

"Spiderwebs." InuYasha says, you shuffle closer to get a better look. "...What type of spider could make webs like that...?" You ask nervously. InuYasha stands and slices through the webs with his claws, he examines them on his hand. "Master InuYasha, what manner of webs are they?" Myoga asks "Nothing to be concerned about." He says.

"'Yasha! Look up there!" You gasp, InuYasha glance up as a girl backs away towards the edge of a cliff above. "Stay away from me!" She shouts angrily, whatever it was, it knocks her off the edge. InuYasha leaps out of the boat and catches her, landing on the rocky land below, "Good catch, 'Yasha!" You call out, InuYasha glance up, "Looks like some type of demon." He mutters as the demon ducks back into the bushes. "My thanks. You saved me from certain death." The girl says, she lets out a startled gasp. "DEMON! UNHAND ME!" She then shrieks before smacking InuYasha upside the head. You and Shippo watch the two of them fall into the river. 

...

You hold the girl's arm gently as you spray her wounds with disinfectant. "What is this stuff?" She asks, narrowing her eyes at you. You shrug, "Think of it as preserved herbs for ailments." You tell her, InuYasha grumbles bitterly behind you. He shakes the water off like a...well, like a dog, you snicker slightly at the sight before giving the girl your full attention, "So what was after you just now?" You ask "A demon known as a Spider Head. These mountains have been plagued by their evil presence since springtime. Several villages have already been attacked. Spider Heads trap humans in their webs, paralyze them and devour them alive. They're terrifying demons." She explains. 

You blink nervously...demon spiders? Yeah, you're definitely going to sit this mission out and let InuYasha do all the fighting. 

"You can say that again," You say, you glance at InuYasha "Well, 'Yasha. You ready for another amazing side quest?" "Any sign of the Sacred Jewel fragments?" He asks "Nope. Not yet. And I didn't pick up anything from the Spider Head just now." You state "Then let's move out. I want to cross these mountain before nightfall." InuYasha says firmly, he stands up. "What? We can't just walk away. There's a demon on the loose-a spider demon." You say, InuYasha looks back at you and-man, he looks really good with his hair wet...

You push the thought to the very back of your mind, "Listen, I don't go slaying demons every time a human comes running scared to me." InuYasha sighs "And I'm not suggesting that you do. That'd take up too much time in my short human life." You joke lightly, InuYasha remains firm in his decision.

What's going on with him? Usually he'd at least humor you and check things out.

Is he on his demon period?

"I'm leaving," The girl says firmly as she stands up "Being obliged to a demon does not sit well with me." "Feigning some measure of gratitude might sit better with us, though." Shippo says. "INSOLENT BEAST!" The girl shouts angrily, Shippo yelps and hides behind you. The three of you watch her use a vine to climb up the cliff, "Thank you for reminding me why I detest demons." She grumbles, the vine snaps and the girl smacks right into the bush below. You wince sympathetically, "Sooo, 'Yasha? How about displaying some good 'ole chivalry?" You ask, InuYasha narrows his eyes at you.

...

"That must be the temple. See? That wasn't so bad, was it?" You snort, Shippo sits on your shoulder and InuYasha gives the girl a piggy back ride up the stairs. The two of them huff bitterly, "You have returned. Are you injured, Nazuna?" A man asks, the girl-Nazuna elbows InuYasha in the face and races towards the older man. InuYasha glares at her with an offended expression, "Oh, Master!" Nazuna calls out, she falls to the ground in front of him, the man sighs softly, "Oh, I feared that a Spider Head may have attacked you." He says. "It spied me while I attended to grave sites. I had no choice but to rely on these demons to bring me home. I'm sorry, Master..." She sighs

"Does she know I'm not a demon?" You mumble "All demons are not created equal, you know." Shippo says defensively. The man looks at the three of you, "I don't suppose they are." He says "Oh, man. Don't worry. We're leaving anyway." InuYasha says bitterly "Wait, friends! You must stay the night here with us at the temple." The man offers, Nazuna gasps in horror, "No, Master!" He gently touches her shoulder, "Go. Prepare a meal for your kind guests." He says, Nazuna sighs and stands up, "Yes." She says before walking away.

The man smiles at you three apologetically as you watch her , "I beg you do forgive Nazuna for her rudeness. Her parents were killed by a Spider Head, and she hasharbored an understandable fear of demons since the incident. I have attempted to quell her fears, but to no avail." He explains "Soooo, we probably won't run into one of those Spider Heads on our way through the mountains, will we?" You ask "As the number of men dying in war increases, so do the number of Spider Heads...by leaps and bounds." The man states. You let out a nervous laugh, gently tugging on InuYasha's sleeve, "Say, how about we take him up on his very kind offer?" You ask. 

"Uh, we're on a quest, and I refuse to allow some measly spiders to stop us." He scoffs, crossing his arms and looking away from you defiantly. You shoot him an annoyed look, "Stay the night with us and rest with ease. I have posted sutras throughout the temple to ward off any demons from attacking us." The man says, InuYasha looks at him, his eyebrows dropping even lower. "So, what do ya say? Are we staying or are we staying?" You ask, InuYasha glances at you and groans, "There's no sense in arguing when you've already made up your mind." He sighs "Aw, you're learning to read me so well. Good boy." You say, smiling proudly. 

Lucky for InuYasha your eyes were closed and you didn't get to see his cheeks turning red...

...

"Ahh, what a delicious meal. Perhaps we should stay a few days and get to know Nazuna better." Shippo says, you chuckle as he rests against your backpack. "Funny how a few bowls of rice changed how you feel about her." You say "I liked her from the start," Shippo says "I merely thought she was lacking in manners." "Sure, Ship. Sure." You snickers, shoving more rice into your mouth. You glance at InuYasha as you chew.

He's been really quiet since you got here...and he won't stop looking out the window. 

You take a single rice out of your bowl and flick it at him, he glances at you. "What's wrong, 'Yasha? What's with the long face?" You ask, Shippo now looks at InuYasha too. "Hmph...it's nothing." InuYasha states, you place your bowl down and crawl up to him. InuYasha stares at you as your face gets closer to his, "Uh, w-what are you doing? You got a problem?" He asks. You narrow your eyes in thought, "Wait...I think I know what's going on here. You're an arachnophobe, aren't you?" You ask "I'm a what?" InuYasha asks "You're scared of spiders." You say.

Shippo quickly morphs into a cartoony looking spider, "Whoa! Who's afraid of the big, bad spider?" He teases, InuYasha slams him into the ground, Shippo turns back into himself, "I'll take that reaction as a yes." You say, InuYasha eye twitches as he looks at you with a strained grin, "I am not afraid of spiders." He says before walking off into the night. "Where are you going?" You ask "To get some fresh air! I'm sleeping outside tonight." InuYasha huffs "Fine. Fine. At least let me you a blanket." You say, you turn to grab one. 

"Keh! Don't bother, I'll-huh?" InuYasha gasps, Spider Heads surround the area. How could he have missed their scent? You walk up to him with a blanket draped over your shoulder, "Ah! Spider Heads!" You shriek as they jump out of the bushes and trees. Some break through the wall behind you, Shippo shrieks and latches onto your arm, "Look out! They're behind us too!" He says fearfully. Myoga holds a small bowl of rice as he sits on InuYasha shoulder, "Their numbers are great, but they are not a formidable enemy. Up for some after dinner exercise, Master?" He asks "Oh, yeah." InuYasha says, drawing the Tetsusaiga.

"Ward them off. So much for the old priest's sutras." InuYasha scoffs, he lunges towards the Spider Heads, you and Shippo watch him fight. 

Why isn't the Tetsusaiga transforming?

Maybe he's not fighting to protect you...

Or the sword's broken...

"InuYasha...?" You question, his eyes briefly meet your concerned gaze before he angrily stares down the Spider Heads. They begin to shoot webs at him, InuYasha uses the weak Tetsusaiga to slice through them "Make a break! I'll be right behind you." He says "What?! We can't just-" "Do what I say. I can handle these demons." InuYasha says firmly. He goes right back to fighting off the Spider Heads, you still stand there. Myoga said that this would be an easier battle...but InuYasha is struggling so much. "Why's he acting so strange today?" Shippo asks "And why isn't the Tetsusaiga transforming?" You mutters.

The webs start to overwhelm InuYasha, covering his whole body. Shippo leaps off your shoulder, "Fox Fire!" He shouts, Shippo shoots blue flames at the Spider Heads, they quickly flee. You run to InuYasha and drag him out of the webs, "I got you!" You say as you pull, the web had him good-they were even cover his face. "Ship, could really use some help here!" You grunt, pulling InuYasha with all your might. Shippo's back in an instant, he uses his Fox Fire to burn through the webs. The second InuYasha's body's free, the three of you run for it. You can take the web off his head once you're safe! InuYasha doesn't seem to fight when you simple take his hand and drag him off. 

...

You look around carefully as the three of you escape the temple, "We should be safe here." You say, InuYasha drops to his knees, "Damn it..." He sighs. You stand behind him, tilting your head in concern, "What's with you? You're acting weirder than normal." You state, you grab the spiderweb- "Leave me alone!" InuYasha snaps. You release the web, and for a moment, you're thrown off guard. 

"Ok, seriously, InuYasha. What has gotten into you?" You sigh, you pull the spiderweb and it fall off...but instead of seeing InuYasha snow white hair and dog ears on his head, you see black hair and normal human ears...

InuYasha sighs and tugs the remaining webs off of him, "Forget about me for now. You should be more worried about yourselves." He says quietly "Holy shit, you're just hot no matter what you look like...lucky bastard." You mutter bluntly "Huh...?" InuYasha looks at you with a dumbfounded expression and pink cheeks, "Why is your hair black?" You ask. Maybe the Spider Heads did something to drain his powers. InuYasha sighs, his golden eyes now a dark brown, "If you think you can rely on my strength to save you this time, you'd better think again." He states.

"What do you mean?" Shippo asks "Are you really InuYasha?" You ask. "No. I'm a talking puppet." InuYasha scoffs, Shippo hops onto his head, searching his black hair, "His dog ears are gone!" Shippo gasps "I can't believe it, you're human!" You gasp, InuYasha picks Shippo off of his head and drops him beside you, "You're lucky my fangs and claws are gone." He grumbles "Alright, how about telling us what's going on? And don't even start with the 'it's none of your business' crap because I definitely could take you in a fight now." You threatens, InuYasha snorts loudly at that. "You beat me? Please! Did you forget I’m still taller than you? All I have to do is lay on you and the fight’s over." He says. 

You stare at him with an annoyed pout, Myoga hops onto your shoulder, "All half demons, such as Master InuYasha, are subject to certain times when they lose their supernatural powers as demons." He explains, your jaw drops. "Seriously?" You ask, Myoga nods, "Seriously. For him, the time must fall on the first night of the new cycle, when the moon is dark." He says, you glance up at the dark moon in the sky. "Oh…and this is normal for him?" You ask, Myoga nods again. 

InuYasha yelps in surprise as you grab him the his kimono, "WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING SOONER?!" You shout, shaking him. InuYasha huffs, "Because if I had, Myoga would’ve taken off a long time ago." He states, Myoga lets out an offended gasp, "Have you not a whit of trust in me?" He asks. "Yeah, I trust you to run away when there’s trouble!" InuYasha snaps, you tighten your grip on his kimono and InuYasha nervously looks at you as you barely manage to tower over him. "And what about me?" You ask, your tone serious "What about you?" InuYasha mutters, "You can’t rely on me either? If you told me that you’d be losing your powers tonight, I never would’ve forced you to stay in the temple with Nazuna." You scold, you release InuYasha kimono and let out a strained sigh, "So much for being able to lean are your close friends!" You shout.

InuYasha glares at you, "I don’t trust anybody, got it?" He huffs, you annoyance shifts into a hurt expression—InuYasha quickly looks away, "Keh! It has nothing to do with you. It’s just the way I’ve lived until now. It’s the only way I know how to protect myself." He says sadly. Oh, great, so you’re going to die because the universe decided to give you a soulmate with trust issues. 

After all this time, he still doesn’t trust you…

He probably opened up to Kikyo a lot, though.

You frown at the bitter feeling in your chest and the tears forming in your eyes. And now it’s becoming too hard to hold back those tears. InuYasha catches your expression, he frowns nervously, moving closer to comfort you…that’s new. "Huh? No, wait. I’m supposed to be the one who’s down." He says softly, "InuYasha, why is it so hard for you to trust me? I trust you just fine!" You sniffle, dropping your face into your hands. "God, I hate you and your dumb pride so much sometimes!" You shout, InuYasha tenses slightly when the glow of the String of Fate dims for a second before it goes back to its original glow.

"…Y/N-"

"We’re all gonna die. All because of your pride! You’re gonna pay for this big time, pal!" You shout angrily, InuYasha presses his back against the tree, looking at you nervously as you give him no room to escape, "Grab a brain, would you?! You dough head!" You shout angrily "You’re the dough head!" InuYasba shouts angrily. "You could’ve said no to staying at the temple anytime!" You shout "Oh, like I didn’t do that plenty of time?! It’s not like you actually gave me a choice!" InuYasha scoffs. "You had claws and a badass sword! If you wanted your way so bad, you could’ve kicked my ass!" You say "Why would I do that?! Do you want me to kick your ass?!" InuYasha asks, he’s shocked you’d even say something like that.

Why would InuYasha ever try to hurt you?

How could he ever try to hurt you?

If something happened to you…

InuYasha is ripped out of his thoughts when Shippo screams and latches onto you in a panic, "Someone save me!" He says. Nazuna pops out of the bushes, "Nazuna! You’re alive!" You gasp "…I knew that…" Shippo mutters, his loosens his grip on you. Nazuna drops to her knees and struggles to catch her breath, "Please, you must return and aid the priest…" She pleas "What? You want us to go back where the killer spider demons are?" You ask in disbelief.

"Your demon is strong. I'm certain he can assist us." Nazuna says, InuYasha scoffs, "Now, what were you saying about not wanting to be obliged to demons? Get the priest to write up some more of those sutras." He says, Nazuna glares at him. She pauses and studies him wordlessly, "Your countenance seemed altered. Has your hair not changed?" She asks "Keh. It isn't easy being human. Believe me." InuYasha grumbles. 

You sigh, "I'll go with you." You tell Nazuna, she looks at you in surprise, "Huh? You will?" She asks "You will?! Like hell you will!" InuYasha says, you look back at him. "Ah, but you don't understand, 'Yasha. I must-now, give me the Tetsusaiga." You say, holding your hand out. InuYasha narrows his eyes, "What? You don't even know how to use a sword." He says "Well, it's not like you're going to be getting any use out of it tonight. Beside, even if I don't know how to use it, it's protected me once, I'm sure it'll do it again." You state, you easily snatch the Tetsusaiga away from InuYasha.

Man, he really is just as weak as a human...

"Ship, keep an on InuYasha. If I don't return, make sure he doesn't get himself killed." You say firmly "...Wait, you might not come back...?" Shippo asks in concern. "Why do you want to help this girl so bad anyway? It's not like she's been oh so kind to us!" InuYasha says "I'm not going to help Nazuna. I'm going to get my backpack back." You state, InuYasha rolls his eyes, "Seriously? Just get a new one when you go back." He states. You smile him nervously, "I could, but that won't work...the jewel shards were also in my bag." You say. 

"W H A T?!"

"Shut up. You're gonna tell the Spider Heads where we are!" You stress, InuYasha stares at you in annoyance. "Anyway, it doesn't matter, I'm gonna go back and get them. So, let's go, Nazuna." You say, she awkwardly follows you. InuYasha quickly grabs the back of your shirt, "There's no way I'm letting you go back there. If those demons find the jewel shard, there's no way you'll come back alive." He says seriously. His grip tightens slightly, "Keep the Tetsusaiga. You and Nazuna stay here and don't think about moving. I'll be able to handle a few Spider Heads on my own strength." InuYasha states.

You let out a scoff, but InuYasha grabs Shippo and run off before you even have the chance to reject. "What the-GET BACK HERE, STUPID!" You shout angrily.

...

"Stupid, stupid idiot. Running off without a plan...and while he's only human, too."

Nazuna wordlessly watches you take a few practice swings with the Tetsusaiga. Your form was off and you were swinging it more like it was a baseball bat rather than a super awesome demon sword. Your grip on the Tetsusaiga is tight and tense, "Nazuna, come on. We're going back to the temple." You say firmly as you head off towards the temple, she stands and does her best to keep up with you. Nazuna's head tilts curiously as the red string glowing faintly in the dark. "You are the soulmate of a demon...you've fallen in love with a demon." She says, gesturing to the parts of the string that were tangled around you "Half demon. Hence why he's running around with a new hair color." You correct. 

"Are you not afraid?"
"...Depends. What should I be afraid of?"

"Half demon or not, he's dangerous. A demon is incapable of loving a human. You are just going to get yourself killed." Nazuna warns, you say nothing, squeezing the Tetsusaiga firmly.

...

"INUYASHA!"

You break into a sprint, Nazuna stumbles and does her best to keep up with you. "Now tell me where you have hidden the remaining shards of the Shikon Jewel!" A..familiar voice demands angrily. Shippo squeaks fearfully, "O-over there!" He says, pointing off in a random direction. You look around, ok...there's Shippo, but where's InuYasha?

"I believe you possess them." The demon growls "Master!" Nazuna gasps in horror, well, that explains why he sounds familiar. Nazuna trembles and shakes her head in disbelief, "I...I don't understand!" She says "I do. Your master was nothing but a lying, old demon. He was tricking you." You tell her, Shippo looks at you, "Y/N! InuYasha's been poisoned." He says, you look up to see InuYasha limply laying in the Spider Head's web, "Shit, hold on! I'm coming!" You shout out, you race towards InuYasha. 

The Spider Head shoots webs at you, you hold up the Tetsusaiga. It shields you from the webs as you keep moving. "Good job, Y/N! Just keep using the Tetsusaiga!" Myoga says, he pops out of your hair. "Myoga?" You ask before letting out a breath of relief. "Oh, good, if you're with me, that means I have a good chance of not dying. If I did, you'd be long gone." You say "I'm not certain I approve of the insinuation..." Myoga huffs. The Spider Head snickers smugly, "I have injected a large quantity of poison in him. His innards will already be starting to liquefy!" He states, "Master! How can you do this?" Nazuna sniffles.

InuYasha watches you make your up the Spider Head's cage-like legs, "Y/N...save yourself." He winces out "No chance." You say firmly "I'm serious. It's too late for-" "Shut up!" You shout, InuYasha's eyes widen, "I've already decided I'm not leaving here without you! No way! So, stay alive-otherwise...I'll just give up and die, too! We'll both die and it'll be your fault!" You shout, InuYasha gasps when he sees the tears forming in your eyes. The red strings begins to pulse, and he can't figure out if it's because he wants you by his side or because you want him.

Your crying again? But...this time it's for him, not because of him...

Once heigh enough, you suck in a brave breath and leap towards InuYasha. You smack the webs surround him with the Tetsusaiga's sheath, it breaks the thick webs with ease. The two of you fall on the ground, you end up landing on top of him. "We've got to get out of here." You say "There's got to be another way..." Shippo says nervously, but there's smaller Spider Head blocking all the exits, "There's a small room at the end of the hall. Quickly!" Nazuna says, she helps you drag InuYasha out of the room, "You cannont flee!" The Spider Head shouts angrily. 

You manage to get everyone into the small room, "Y/N, thrust the Tetsusaiga into the door." Myoga tell you, you do it without hesitation, ripping the sword out of its sheath and stabbing it into the door. "AAAAH! YOU WRETCHES!" The Spider Head screams bitterly as the Tetsusaiga zaps the door. "The Tetsusaiga should be powerful enough to ward them off for some time." Myoga tells you, InuYasha's hand becomes limp in your own. 

When did you even start holding his hand...shoot no time to worry about that!

"He's freezing! InuYasha, you have to stay with us!" You stress, his eyes are shut and he lays still on the floor, "Say something! Can you hear me?!" You shout, you pat his cheek. He gives no response, you let out a shaky breath, "...This is my fault...this all happened because I forced him to stay here." You say, you let go of InuYasha hand. "You mustn't put the blame on yourself." Nazuna says gently. You punch the wall in frustration, "But it is all my fault!" You cry, you curl into a ball, unable to stop the tears from forming. 

Myoga hops onto InuYasha neck, "I shall draw the poison from his blood." He says, Myoga starts to drink InuYasha's blood, growing in size. "Nice to meet you. I'm Myoga. Always a beast, never a burden..." He mutters out before rolling off of InuYasha. He was basically Shippo's size now, InuYasha groans softly, you look at him with teary eyes. "Master InuYasha's survival will depend on his own strength from this point." Myoga says tiredly, he falls asleep beside Shippo...when did Shippo fall asleep? When did Nazuna fall asleep?

Well, at least InuYasha's breathing again. 

He's not breathing well, but he's breathing.

"He's dripping in sweat..." You mumble, you use the sleeve of your jacket to gently pat his head, "...Huh?" InuYasha stirs away, you pull your hand away. "Sorry...I didn't mean to wake you." You say quietly, looking away nervously. He looks up at you weakly, "You didn't." He says, you fidget with your hands.

"...Y/N."
"Yes?"
"Tell me something. Why were you crying?"

You pause, your eyes widening slightly. "You were crying just now, too. I can see it. Your eyes are all puffy..." InuYasha adds "...I thought I was going to lose you. I thought you were gonna to die." You state, your voice shakes at the mere thought of it. You've gotten so used to having him around all the time...what would you do if a time came where you couldn't be by his side anymore?

"You shed tears for me...cried for me." InuYasha mutters, he rolls slightly, adjusting until his head rests on your lap. Your face burns, but it's...comfortable having him so close to you. InuYasha shuts his eyes again, "Y/N..." He says softly "I promise to stay by your side as long as you want me..." You gasp quietly. 

...

Your eyes flutter open when InuYasha stirs in your lap, "'Yasha? how do you feel? A little bit better than before?" You ask quietly, InuYasha's eyes remain shut, "Yes. Y/N, you smell kind of nice." He tells you "Huh? Whoa, hold on. You went out of your way to tell me you hated my smell when we first met." You scoff lightly, InuYasha nuzzles his cheek into your thigh, "I did...but I was lying." He whispers.

Man, this poison really has gone to his head. 

You can feel your heart pounding, InuYasha goes back to softly snoring. You place your hand on top of his head, gently massaging his scalp. InuYasha leans into your touch.

The brief moment of peace if ruined by the room suddenly beginning to shake violently. You gasp, "Ah! What's happening?!" Shippo asks, he looks around in a panic "The priest must be in pursuit again. Get the Master out of here!" Myoga says "We'll have to carry him. He's unconscious." You state, the walls and ceiling begin to crumble around you, you crawl over InuYasha, doing your best to shield him from the rubble. 

Shippo cries out as the Spider Head yanks him off the ground, "Shippo!" You shout in concern "I must possess the remaining jewel fragments!" The Spider Head shouts before shaking Shippo violently. The jewel shards fall off of Shippo's body and the Spider Head grabs them before throwing Shippo to the ground. You run and quickly catch him in your arms, watching fearfully as the Spider Head swallows the jewel shards.

"How dare you possess the body of my dear master!"

You glance at Nazuna, she holds the Tetsusaiga and glares at the Spider Head, it laughs at her, "There never was any Priest here! It was all a trap to lure the half demon and his jewels to me!" "You...YOU SLAUGHTERED MY PARENTS AND ALL THE OTHER VILLAGERS?!" Nazuna shouts, her voice cracking. The Spider Head laughs more, "You served me well, gullible fool!" "TREACHEROUS BEAST!" Nazuna cries angrily, she charges towards the Spider Head, you and Shippo nervously watch her attempt to attack the Spider Head with the Tetsusaiga. 

It picks her up and you quickly put Shippo down, "Y/N, no..." Shippo calls out quietly, "Your fears of the Spider Heads are now over. Once I've consumed you, you will become part of me!" The Spider Head cackles, you grab a small rock and throw it at the Spider Head's....head. It turns its attention to you, "You really think that'll stop me, fool?" The Spider Head asks, you shrug nervously. "Nope, but I'll keep throwing rocks until you let her go. It'll get really annoying." You say, throwing another rock. The Spider Head growls at you, Nazuna grunts weakly in its tight grip...dropping the Tetsusaiga. 

You reel your arm back to throw another rock-

InuYasha stops your hand, catching the Tetsusaiga with his other head. You look at him, surprised to see him moving around. "You two are pretty determined...for humans, that is." He says "You're alive...?" Nazuna croaks out weakly "InuYasha!" You gasp softly, he lightly presses his hand on top of your head. "You've done enough. Thank you." He says with a soft smile, your face burns as you look at him. 

The Spider Head reaches for the two of you, InuYasha shoves you out of the way, getting grabbed instead. "InuYasha!" You shout out, Shippo latches onto your arm, "Look! The sun is rising!" He says. "You're a fine human specimen." The Spider Head says as it holds InuYasha. "Don't be so sure about that." He says, you watch his black hair shift back to its usual white in awe. 

"You're beginning to transform, but I shall devour you beforehand!" The Spider Head shouts. "If there's one thing I can't stand, it's an arrogant spider that doesn't know when to keep its hands off!" InuYasha shouts, slicing through the Spider Head's arms. "The moonless night has come to an end!" He says, the Tetsusaiga transforms "AAAH! THE SWORD'S REGAINED ITS POWER!" The Spider Head shrieks "You got it, Spider Head!" InuYasha lets out a battle cry, using the Tetsusaiga to slice through the Spider Head with ease.

...

You pick on the jewel shards...well...the giant jewel shard. "They must've fused together inside the demon's body." You says "Is that all we have so far? I thought we had a lot more." InuYasha complains "Hey, this is better than nothing." You sigh. 

...

You rub your eyes tiredly, watching Nazuna step out of the boat and onto land. "This is far enough. The village is close by." She states "Ok, well, take care of yourself." You say with a friendly smile. She shoots a smile back your way before glancing at InuYasha, "Oh, and, InuYasha...I appreciate your help. I'll try to remember that some demons aren't all bad. Not many, but some." She says.

"Don't kid yourself, Nazuna," InuYasha scoffs "All demons are bad. It's that simple." "I won't forget you! You'll always be in my prayers, InuYasha!" Nazuna calls out as the boat gets further and further away. "Keh. Whatever." He says, but he still waves goodbye with his back turned. 

...

You crack one eye open and look at InuYasha, he hasn't said a word about last night. And he's acting like his old self again, no more soft InuYasha for you...

The one who told you that he liked your smell while cuddling with your leg...

He said that, you know you didn't hear him wrong. He's body is transformed, but what about his feeling for you?

What, does he only like you when he human? 

Wait, actually that would make a lot of sense...it's only because of that human side he's even capable of having a soulmate. Maybe his human half makes him love you while he demon half hates-

"Huh? Are you going to keep staring at me? Because it's ticking me off!" InuYasha snaps, you quickly shut your eye and try to pretend to be asleep again. "Hey! Don't even try to fake! I saw you!" InuYasha shouts, Shippo groans softly, "Are we there yet? What do you say we pull over for a short rest?" Shippo asks "Yeah, sure, as soon as you get over your seasickness." InuYasha says. Shippo wobbles over to him, "Hey, InuYasha?" He asks "Huh?" InuYasha hums before Shippo throws up on him. 

...

InuYasha gaze is sharp as he runs through the forest.

"INUYASHA!"

"Huh?" He gasps before an arrow pierces his chest and pins him to a tree. InuYasha cries out in pain, who...who could've done this to him. He looks ahead, is that...is that you?

No. No, it's not you. You wouldn't do this to him.

It's...it's Kikyo!

.

..

...

InuYasha jolts awake, breathing harshly and digging his nails into the tree branch he was resting on, "It was a dream..." He mutters, he pokes his forehead in annoyance "I could've done without those nasty memories." He glance down at you. InuYasha jumps down from the tree and stares at you as you snore softly with Shippo curled up by your side.

...You don't look much like Kikyo at all.

You don't even act like her. 

Kikyo was so mature and she never let anyone see when something was getting to her. 

You are a brat and you try to hide when you're scared, but you suck at it. 

And you...you accepted InuYasha as a half demon, not even Kikyo could that.

You squirm and your peaceful expression shifts to a half asleep one. You place Shippo off of you and crawl out of your sleeping bag. You tiredly glance at InuYasha, "Why are you watching me sleep, weirdo?" You asks "I wasn't." InuYasha scoffs softly. "You were, but whatever. Want a cookie?" You asks, you're already digging in your bag. "Uh...?" InuYasha stares at you in confusion, "I do this a lot. You're just usually sleep." You tell him. You pull out a snickerdoodle cookie and toss it into his lap, "I made these with my mom before I left. They’re pretty good for late night snacks." You state.

InuYasha watches you pull out a for yourself. You munch on it with little thought, InuYasha sniffs the cookie, it kind of smells like…cinnamon. InuYasha takes a bite out of the cookie, he stares at you as he chews. "You can't complain about my staring if you're just gonna do the same thing to me." You tease lightly, a tired grin resting on your face as you fidget with the cookie in your lap. InuYasha frowns, it doesn't matter what either of you say...or how you act towards each other. Both of you are tangled in the String of Fate. 

That means you...can't possibly still hate him. 

Right?

"Starting to freak me out, 'Yasha. What? Are you about to kill me or something?" You ask, the tiredness starting to leave you, InuYasha quietly shuffles closer to you, "Y/N..." He mutters "Does this bother you anymore?" "...Does what bother me?" You ask. "This." InuYasha holds up his hand, you look at the red string attached to his pinky. The same red string that's been connecting you for 2 months now. "Mm, nah. You kind of tricked me when we first met. You're not nearly as annoying as I thought you were before." You say with a shrug.

"It doesn't even bother you that I'm...a half demon?"
"Nooo? Why the hell would that bother me?"

InuYasha stares at you and you stare at him in confusion. "Are you...ok? I don't think I've ever seen you think this much..." Your tease dies in your throat when InuYasha cups your cheek, he has a look in his eyes, not one of the usual annoyance...this is something completely different. He's being soft with you again. "...Y/N," He says, careful to not scratch you with his claws, you gasp quietly as his face starts to come closer "Don't get rid of our strings. I want to keep this connection with you." "'Yasha...?" You ask as his lips are close enough to touch your own, you've never had a guy be this close to you before-is he trying to kiss you?! Ok, duh, of course he is! Why else would he be so close and talking so soft...

Almost...

Almost.

The wind begins to pick up, a bitter smell causes InuYasha to pause and snap out of whatever trance he was in. An old women flies in the night sky, "What is that?" InuYasha asks, pulling away from you, "Don't know. Knowing this place, probably a demon..." You say, your whole face feels like its on fire. InuYasha sniffs the air, he can smell fresh blood. Wait! He knows this scent.

...

"First he complains about us not being ready to find more jewel shards, and now he's dragging us back to Kaede's village? What's with this guy?" Shippo complains, he rides in your basket as you peddle your bike. You're quiet, you've been quiet since...whatever that was with InuYasha last night. It doesn't help he hasn't said much either. Nothing other than "We need to go back to the village." and that was it. Shippo yawns tiredly, "Oh, just wake me when we get there..." He says. 

...

You bring your bike to a stop in front of Kaede's hut, she just so happens to be walking out with bandages, "Kaede!" You call out, "Hm? You're back!" She says, you hop off your bike. "What happened to you?" You ask in concern, InuYasha lands beside you, "Hmph. What, you still alive?" He huffs, staring at Kaede. She looks at the two of you-and Shippo-her expression saddened. 

...

"Trust a stubborn old goat like you to refuse to give injuries time to heal." InuYasha complains, he follows closely behind as you help Kaede make her way up the stairs, "This is nothing. So you picked up the scent of my blood as a specter passed, did you?" She asks "Don't change the subject on me. Swallow your pride and take it easy!" InuYasha scolds. "Ah, now I get it. He wanted to come back to the village because he smelled your blood and was worried about you." You say, well, at least that explains why he pulled away from that...

Ack! No, no, no! Do not think about that.

Kaede leads you and InuYasha to a giant hole in the ground, "What happened here?" You ask, she sighs deeply, "The Specter. She desecrated my sister Kikyo's gravesite." She states "This was a tomb?" You ask "Yes, and I was virtually powerless to stop the assault. My sister had unusually strong powers, even for a Priestess as she was. Her remains have fallen into the hands of evil. Who knows to what end Kikyo's powers will be exploited." Kaede says, InuYasha huffs and starts to walk away. 

"InuYasha." Kaede calls out, InuYasha stops, keeping his back turned to you both, "You're on your own. Apparently you've forgotten that Kikyo betrayed me in many ways. I am not so lucky. I can still remember the pain from the arrow she used to pierce my chest." He says bitterly, "Mm. Forgive me." Kaede sighs and InuYasha keeps walking. It's not surprising that he's still mad, it happened 50 years ago, but to InuYasha it probably feels like happened to months ago...

The memory's still fresh. 

But...InuYasha was definitely in love with Kikyo, you know that. Maybe she cheated on him or something...wait...was it because of his String of Fate?

Maybe they were in love, but Kikyo was bitter towards whoever InuYasha soulmate was. She begged him to curse his soulmate and break the bond, but he didn't for whatever reason and that lead to her betraying him!

Either way, their relationship ended with Kikyo dying and InuYasha being bound to a tree.

You look at the red string on your pinky, there's still no telling if InuYasha is simply using you for a replacement for Kikyo. He can act like he hates her, but he was once in love with her...and you're supposed to be the her of the next life...

Shit. 

What are you doing?

Why are you trying to replace Kikyo?

You could never be her.

...

"Y/N, you do not have to force yourself to help me." Kaede says, pulling a horse with her as you walk. "I'm not. I don't know pretty much anything about Kikyo, but you're basically like a second mom to me. I'm not letting you deal with this alone." You tell her. Plus, you don't think you can handle being anywhere near InuYasha right now...

He's going to be sulking over his dead girlfriend and you're going to be having an identity crisis trying to figure out if you're just some cheap replacement.

Kaede sighs, but smiles at you. "Do me the kindness of telling me whish direction Urasue was last traveling." She says "It looked like she was heading to those pretty big mountains." You state, a soft thud behind you makes you jump a little, "Are you two trying to get yourselves killed?" InuYasha sighs. "InuYasha, you forget that I, too, am a Priestess. I shall recover my sisters ashes on my own strength. Y/N, we are going." Kaede says firmly. 

You grab your bike, "It'll be fine. We can deal with the consequences when we get there. Kaede's in no condition to go alone." You tell him "Kaede's in condition to go at all. And how are you going to be much help. You still can't shoot and you bruise easily-" InuYasha cuts himself off with an annoyed sigh, any softness from last night gone "I'm wasting my breath trying to stop you. She's as stubborn as an ox, and you get off on arguing with me. I'll never talk you out of this." He sighs. InuYasha starts to lead the horse. "Come on. Move it along. We'll lay Kikyo's remains to rest again." He says 

Kaede smiles softly, "InuYasha, thank you." She says. 

...

Shippo rides peacefully in the basket of your bike, and you feel like you're having a mental breakdown at this point. 

InuYasha wasn't trying to kiss you last night, he was looking right through you, he wanted to kiss Kikyo. 

...

You stare at the night sky quietly, you'd given Kaede your sleeping bag for the night. She and Shippo had already fallen asleep, leaving you alone with your thoughts. InuYasha watches you from the other side of the cave. He knows you've been ignoring him. You've barely said a word directed to him all day. Did he mess up last night? Maybe he pushed this too far...maybe you're fine being friends with a half demon, but not being with a half demon. 

She was the same way too...

InuYasha lets out a annoyed huff, "Hmph. Y/N, get some sleep. We've got a big battle tomorrow." He says bitterly "Already?" You ask quietly...distantly... "I can smell the remains. They're not far off." He states, he lays on his side and shuts his eyes. You sigh and close yours too. 

...

You grin happily at the sight of InuYasha in the distance, "Hey! InuYasha!" You call out, you run towards him. InuYasha snickers and opens his arms, eagerly catching you and spinning you around. "Hi~" He says happily, he presses his forehead against yours. "I'm glad you're here," InuYasha admits, his voice soft "I missed you, Kikyo." You pause, "InuYasha...I'm-I'm not Kikyo. Remember?" You ask gently. InuYasha tense and his arms loosens around you, he stares at you, tilting his head in disgust. "Oh? You're right. You're not Kikyo. That's too bad." He sighs, InuYasha places with the red string connecting you. "If I didn't have this...I could be with her. Don't you want me to be happy?" He asks

You swallow the lump forming in your throat, "Of course I do, 'Yasha..." You say, InuYasha smiles, but it's too sweet. He tugs on the string, pulling it hard enough to cause actually pain, "Hey, wait-" He shushes you. You feel the string pulling and pulling on your pinky until-you let out a loud cry of pain as your pinky snaps off completely. You stare at your bloody hand in horror, "Perfect! Just perfect," InuYasha says happily, holding up the string and watching your detached pinky swing back and forth" I can give this as a gift to Kikyo! I'll show her she's my one and only true love. No one compares, not even her pathetic reincarnate." "Ha...happy I could help..." You mutter shakily...

...

...

"We must retrieve Kikyo's remains quickly, lest Urasue use them to some evil end. I fear trouble lies in the path ahead, dreadful trouble." Kaede warns "Oh, good. That's just what we need to hear. If you were so worried about her remains, why didn't you scatter them in the river in the first place? We wouldn’t be in this predicament if it weren’t for you and your sentimentality." InuYasha complains, he stands on the back of Kaede's horse. 

Kaede clicks her tongue, "InuYasha, have ye no regard for man’s gravesites and tombstones? A grave is more than simply a place to bury a body or ashes. It is a place of refuge, of shelter for the hearts of those loved ones left behind." She states "The loved ones left behind?" InuYasha asks, you tighten your grip on your bike’s handles as Kaede explains why Kikyo was so important to the village and pretty much the entire world. 

…Maybe you should pay attention. You’ll finally be able to understand all the expectations that comes with being "Kikyo’s Reincarnation". 

But…you can bring yourself to listen. All you’re going to hear is Kikyo’s high praises, and then that voice in the back of your mind will remind you how you’re nothing like her at all. You’re not even super powerful! You shot out the beam of light one time and it was two months ago when you first met InuYasha!

You glance at him, he looks like how he did the night before…when he almost kissed you. He must be thinking about Kikyo…

You look away from him bitterly. You can’t—you shouldn’t be mad at him. He was in love with Kikyo, and yet she shot him with an arrow and pinned him to a tree. InuYasha never makes it seem like he actually had the chance to date her…she might have rejected him.

Who in their right mind would reject InuYasha?

the poor guy…the love of his life didn’t love him. And now he’s stuck with a soulmate that literally is the reincarnation of his dead love of his life…

Is that the only reason he wanted to kiss you? Because Kikyo was on his mind…?

He’s done nothing but compare you to Kikyo since day one. Why are you surprised?

InuYasha glances back at you, you haven’t said a single word this whole time. You were starting to get further behind too. InuYasha’s eye twitches at the sight of your depressed expression, "Huh?" He mutters, seeing little tears form. InuYasha hopes off Kaede’s horse and lands on your bike’s basket…good thing Shippo’s napping behind you now.

"How is it you always managed to look depressed during situations that have nothing to do with you?” InuYasha asks, you scoff lightly, blinking away the tears and continuing to pedal, "I’m not depressed, InuYasha. Go away." You say firmly, InuYasha falters for a second, "Seriously, what’s going on? This ‘cause of the other night?" He asks.

The bitterness in your heart crawls up your throat and shoots out of your mouth, "No. There’s no hard feelings about that night, InuYasha. I’m pretty sure I have a good understanding of what was going on. So let’s just not talk about it. You made a mistake—the same mistake you’ve made every single time since you met me." You grumble. "Huh? What are you talking about?" InuYasha asks. "Oh, you know me. Just being stupid." You pedal the bike faster, InuYasha narrows his eyes at you, "Tell me what’s wrong with you. Out with it!" He demands, you say nothing and continue your efforts to control your bike with InuYasha blocking your vision.

At least he’s smart enough to take the back and place Shippo in the basket…

Now if only he was smart enough to take the hint and leave you alone.

"Y/N! I want some answer now!" 
"Drop it!"

…

You look at the odd figure hidden in the trees and bushes as the four of you make your way through the forest. "What are those things?" You asks "Mummies? Clay Statues maybe? Oh, they’re giving me the willies…" Shippo says nervously.

"Something tells me that’s the place." InuYasha sighs, you look at the long…rickety bridge in front of you, "We have to cross that…?" You ask nervously, climbing off your bike. InuYasha already starts walking ahead, you slowly start to move across the bridge fearfully, InuYasha doesn’t even have to turn to look at you, "Stay here if you’re that scared of crossing," He sighs "I’ll go on my own and get the remains back, ok?" "I don’t need your pity, InuYasha." You huff. "Come, then, if you want." He says.

"Hey, how’d those get here?"

Shippo stops in his tracks, three clay statues block the path ahead. The clay cracks and breaks off, revealing…sort of normal looking dudes. Well, except that their eyes are all white. "Oh uh, we got trouble!" Shippo says "Must be Urasue’s soldiers." InuYasha says, oh yay, all of this is happening on the bridge…the rickety bridge. "Wait, if they’re in front of us, that must also mean…" You trail off and glance behind you and Kaede, "InuYasha! They’re closing in from behind!" You call out "Hang on tight, ladies. This swinging bridge is about to live up to its name." InuYasha says, charging toward the clay soldiers in front of him first.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" He shouts, slicing through the soldiers with his claws. They break like vases, "Huh? These things really are made of mud." InuYasha mutters. Shippo leaps into the air. "Fox Fire!" He shouts, burning the soldiers behind you, his flames didn’t do much, but the effort was appreciated. Kaede swings his bow, breaking the soldiers one by one, InuYasha joins, taking out the rest of them. "Wish all my enemies were this weak.Too bad there’s so many of ‘em!" He grunts as he keeps breaking them.

You helplessly cling onto the bridge as it shakes and jerks, InuYasha keep fighting the clay soldiers…until Urasue flies up and slices the bridge in half. Everyone screams as the begin to fall, you scream even more when Urasue plucks you out of the air and take you back to here hideout. You look back to see Shippo and Kade still free falling, "Oh, no! Kaede! Shippo!" You shout in concern.

You kick and squirm in Urasue’s hold, "Let me go, you old bitch!" You shout, jerking around. She holds her blade close to your neck and you still instantly, "Prefer to fall to your death, young maiden? After all my hard work trying to revive that corpse. I won’t easily give up its reincarnated soul. I have plans in store for you. Plans to bring back Kikyo." She says with a crazed smile "Bring back Kikyo? I don’t like the sound of that…" you say fearfully.

Is it too late to just accept falling to your death?

Chapter Text

InuYasha grunts, rolling down the mountain, he lands on the rubble of the broken bridge and clay soldiers. "Where are Y/N and the others?" He asks before a giant leaf crushes him. Kaede and Shippo sit on top of the leaf, "I sure hope InuYasha's alright..." Shippo says "An individual such as he would not easily be slain." Kaede tells him. InuYasha claws his way from under the leaf, "Mind getting off me?" He asks, glaring at them. 

"Ah, well! Speak of the devil." Kaede hums, Shippo makes the giant leaf disappear. InuYasha stands looks around, "Where's Y/N?" He asks "Urasue took her!" Shippo says "What?!" InuYasha shouts, the clay soldiers begin to rise again, "Keh! Haven't had your fill of me yet, I see. Unfortunately for you, I don't have time to play around anymore." He growls InuYasha whips out the Tetsusaiga and cuts through the soldiers with ease. "The old witch has kidnapped Y/N?" InuYasha asks, Shippo nods, "Yeah, she pulled her off the bridge as we were falling." He states "Well...at least she didn't fall to death..." InuYasha sighs. 

Kaede examines the remains of the clay soldiers, "Their souls are ascending." She mutters as the balls of light leave their bodies, InuYasha and Shippo look at her curiously, "Urasue must have imprisoned human souls to animate these clay soldiers. I fear it gets worse. Human bones are baked in with the clay." She states "Human bones?" InuYasha asks "It is worse than I thought. Urasue's magic is fiendish, using the bones and souls of the dead, and now she possesses my sisters remains. And hold Y/N in confinement." She states, Kaede starts to walk ahead, she groans, holding her side. "You're wounded, old woman. You wait here, and I'll go recover Kikyo's remains." InuYasha states.

"It's just Kikyo's remains I worry about. Time is not on our side. We may shortly find ourselves face to face with my sister." Kaede warns "What? But Kikyo's dead!" InuYasha gasps, Kaede sighs, "Urasue has all she need to revive her, and if she succeeds, we shall face a formidable foe. We must find some way to stop this." She says

...

"What're you doing?! Stop!" You shout, kicking and squirming in a tub as Urasue fills it with a green liquid. She tied your wrist...there nothing you can do but shout and hope InuYasha saves you. "You are an insolent one, are you not? That should do it. Good." She says "What is this stuff? It smells awful! I don't know what worse this water or you!" You gag, you tense at the sound of footsteps approaching, a woman walks up to Urasue's side, "Huh? Who is that...?" You ask. You're getting a bad feeling from her...

"So, you're dressed. The attire of a Priestess is most fitting. It flatters your good looks. I have done well to reshape your body with human bones and graveyard soil. Now, all that you require is a human soul." Urasue tells the woman before looking at you once more. "What...?" You ask nervously "My magical, herbal potion will soon suck the soul from your very body. Kikyo shall have her soul, and you shall be among the living dead." Urasue says. Kikyo's soul? Kikyo?! This girl is Kikyo?! She stares at you distantly, there wasn't a single thought behind those eyes.

Crap, she's really pretty...

This was InuYasha's first love? Yeah no way you're living up to that.

...

InuYasha carries Kaede on his back, hopping up the mountain with Shippo trailing behind. Kaede hisses in pain, "Show some mercy! Can't you see Granny Kaede's in a lot of pain?" Shippo scolds "Faster, slower-will somebody make up their mind?" InuYasha complains "I beg of ye to proceed quickly. Fly like the devil's at your heels." Kaede tells him. He nods and goes back to leaping up the mountain, InuYasha tenses at the red string begins to pulse. 

You clench your tight fist tightly, you can't breathe...you can barely move anymore. "You old bitch! Just you wait, InuYasha will come for me! I won't die from this!" You shout out, it hurts to yell, but you can't break away from your "die kicking and screaming" code. Urasue looks back at the tub, "This young lass differs somehow. Most of my victims would have fallen faint by this point..." She mumble, a faint glow comes from your chest. "That light. The girl possess a fragment of the Shikon Jewel!" Urasue gasps.

"How very fortuitous for me!" She cackles, walking over to you. She gets knocked back as a force field appears around the tub. "What? This light...it comes from the girl!" Urasue says in shock, you see your soul slip out of your body. No...you can't lose it. You don't want to be a zombie forever. You're not gonna die for an already dead chick! You refuse to die here, your soul bounces around the force field, "The soul appears to be angry. Kikyo's soul flashes with an inexplicably violent and angry light. Both girls feel anger..." Urasue mutter, she looks at you once more.

It was getting harder to keep your soul close to you, "I'm gonna throw up!" You cry weakly, the force field beginning to fade, "The soul is seeking revenge. I suspect she must have experienced a tremendous betrayal in her former life." Urasue says, Kikyo continues to stare distantly, she spots InuYasha and Kaede running up. You grunt feeling your soul tug away from you, InuYasha and Kaede gasp. "Kikyo is there..." Kaede says "Y/N!" InuYasha calls out, he looks at you in concern as your soul continues to bounce around in your force help. "Help...InuYasha..." You croak out weakly. InuYasha runs as close as he can get with your force field surrounding you, "I'm right here. Just keep fighting, ok? I'll save you." He tells you, if he has this watch the String of Fate turn black one more time, he's killing someone, "You survived the fall?" Urasue asks in shock. Kikyo stands up, InuYasha finally looks her, "It really is you..." He says.

"Do not call out for me. Do not call out my name."

InuYasha's expression hardens, "Kikyo." He says, you feel a sharp pain. You scream out as your soul finally breaks free from you, breaking through the force field, "Her soul is finally emerging!" Urasue laughs "Y/N!" InuYasha shouts out in concern, the light leave your eyes. "The instant you said her name, her heart missed a beat, and Kikyo's soul sprang forth!" Urasue says, InuYasha watches your connect red string fade until it was just his lone string floating upwards again. "No..." He says, your soul shoots into Kikyo. Your body slumps lifelessly in the tub, "Y/N's spirit...it's entered Kikyo's body..." InuYasha mutters, Shippo runs to you, "Y/N! Don't leave us! Wake up, Y/N!" He shouts

Urasue laughs at him, "You waste your time speaking to a soulless lump of flesh, but I have no bones about having her later for dinner!" "You fiend, Urasue! How dare ye desecrate my sister grave and use her remains?" Kaede asks angrily, InuYasha stares at his red string...it hasn't floated upwards in so long...it looks so lonely. Is this how it used to look? He doesn't like it. He needs you to get your soul back already. InuYasha growls angrily, clenching his fist. "My creation is wondrous is it not? I used her remains and gravesite soil to recreate her as living flesh and blood. As such, I am her creator-nay, her birthmother, and as proof of her allegiance to me, she shall follow my every command. Now come and use your powers to rid us of-" Urasue goes quiet when Kikyo falls to her knees in front of her, tightly gripping her shoulder.

Kikyo zaps Urasue with a purple light, Urasue cries out and collapse, "InuYasha," Kikyo says angrily "Why are you still alive? I bound you to a tree with a sacred arrow." InuYasha looks up from his red string, he grins smugly, "Yeah, you sure did, and I stayed there for 50 years, but as you can see, I'm alive and ready to take you on again. And I'll do it quick." He says. 

Yeah...yeah, it's not like this is really Kikyo. InuYasha just needs to take her down fast. Then you'll be ok and-

Kikyo sniffs, glaring at InuYasha with tears in her eyes. "You vile beast! I despise you! You loathsome half man" She shouts angrily as she stands, her wound starts to reform. Kikyo cries out in pain, "Huh? Got a problem, Kikyo?" InuYasha asks, Kikyo winces and glances at the blood staining her hand and clothes, "Why...WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME, INUYASHA!" She screams. Shippo tugs on your arm desperately, he climbs into the tub with you, "Come on, Y/N...you can't die. Not you too..." He pleas. Shippo gasps when blood starts to leak from your shoulder, what the...how is that happening?! Shippo knows you were injured there, he's seen the scar! But...it should be bleeding, it's all heal up. 

"What's going on...? Where's all that blood coming from?" InuYasha asks, he sniff the air. Why is he smelling your blood too? "Look closer, InuYasha. Is that not the fatal would ye inflicted on Kikyo?" Kaede asks "I inflicted? What are you saying? That I was the one who killed Kikyo?" InuYasha asks, looking at Kikyo in disbelief as blood leaks out of her shoulder. "Yes. It was your wounds that sealed her fate and ensured her demise." Kaede sighs. 

"There must be a mistake of some kind. I didn't kill her. I don't even remember wounding her." InuYasha says defensively "Can ye be certain? These wounds did not come from your hand? Think hard! Try to remember!" Kaede says, she pauses, frowning nervously, "If...if not you, then who slew my sister?" She asks "You are even more vile than I thought-inventing such feeble excuses. Please. It is most unflattering, InuYasha. Stop it!" Kikyo snaps, she lets out a weak groan. 

"InuYasha...you told me you understood. Do you not remember when you told me that you wished to become human? That you wished to be free of your String of Fate?" Kikyo asks, Shippo's jaw drops. InuYasha...he also wanted to get rid of the String of Fate? "Impossible! He wishes to become a demon." Kaede says, Kikyo ignores her, "You said you would become human. You said you'd curse your soulmate...I believed your words." Kikyo says bitterly. Shippo glances at your lifeless body, do you know that InuYasha is so dangerous? You are injured a lot when you're around him, Shippo frowns in concern, he doesn't want to see you get hurt.

Well, more hurt than you already are at the moment. "Hmph. I'll have to protect you from InuYasha, Y/N." He says, he grabs your arms and starts to tug you out of the tub. 

"But, Kikto, I can't believe that InuYasha could have committed such a heinous crime..." Kaede mutters in disbelief "Are you suggesting that I was the one who betrayed you?!" InuYasha asks "You know it's true. That is why I summoned up the last vestiges of my strength and bound you to the tree with my sacred arrow." Kikyo says, she stumbles her way over to InuYasha. 

"InuYasha."
"K-Kikyo..." 

Kikyo touches him softly, "You and I were fated to never meet again." She says, her grip tightens on his shoulders and purple energy sparks out of her hands. InuYasha cries out in pain, his whole body is thrown back, "Stop this assault, Kikyo!" Kaede pleas, latching onto her sleeves. Kikyo glares at her, "Who are you?" She asks "I am your younger sister, Kaede. My looks have altered because 50 years have passed since your demise." Kaede explains. Kikyo's eyes widen slightly, but instantly harden, "Then...explain why you would speak on InuYasha's behalf. Give me this!" Kikyo snatches the bow off Kaede's back and shoves her to the ground. Kikyo shoots a glowing arrow at InuYasha, he leaps out of the way. 

Shippo yelps as the ground the arrow struck explodes, he hugs your arm close to him. Kikyo grits her teeth in annoyance, she snaps her attention back to Kaede. Kaede flinches under the harsh gaze, "Kaede!" Kikyo shouts demandingly "You must stop this madness. InuYasha is not your enemy." Kaede says. "Open your eyes! You too have been taken in by this decietful monster." Kikyo says bitterly "You are mistaken!" Kaede says. 

"Hand me your arrows." Kikyo orders "I'll do no such thing!" Kaede shouts "Kaede! Show loyalty to your flesh and blood! Not some devious, lying, half breed. Now, hear the demands of your elder sister and give me those arrows!" Kikyo shouts, she snatches the rest of the arrows off of Kaede's back. "Sister!" Kaede cries out before getting shoved away "Move!" Kikyo shouts. 

InuYasha stares at Kikyo in disbelief, "You told me that you wished to become human. You told me you wished to get rid of your String of Fate...and be with me." She says bitterly, InuYasha tightly clenches his fist, growling. "What will happen to Y/N?" Shippo asks, Kaede glances at him, "Kikyo's soul will not find any manner of peace as long as she harbors this hatred of InuYasha. And until the soul returns to Y/N's flesh, Y/N is doomed..." She sighs. "Aaaaah! Oh, no!" Shippo gasps, looking at you sadly.

"Wait! Kikyo! I meant every word." InuYasha says "LIAR! I was a fool beyond compare for believing your farfetched tales and wishing to live as humans together with you. I despise you with my last breath. My spirit will not forget that all consuming hatred. So long as you live, my spirit cannot be freed." She says angrily, Kaede crawls over to you and Shippo, gently taking your body into your arm. She looks at your lifeless form before looking at Kikyo once more, Kaede shuts her eyes as tears start to form. "InuYasha, you must destroy my sister's body at once..." Kaede says "This rebirth is nothing, but a deceit of magic. Destroy her body and release the soul from within." 

Kikyo readies her bow to shoot at InuYasha again, "It's futile. I shall not return to that body until I've carried out my revenged on the traitorous beast! INUYASHA, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SHALL DIE!" Kikyo shouts angrily, firing the glowing purple arrow. InuYasha whips out the Tetsusaiga to block, the arrow makes the Tetsusaiga shrink "It has overcome the Tetsusaiga! Run, InuYasha!" Kaede shouts. He screams out in agony as the arrow starts to pierce his chest, your eyes snap open at the sound of his scream. The arrow loses it's glow and disappears completely, Kikyo's eyes widen. 

Piece by piece, the soul is ripped right out of her body, Kikyo gasps and tries to cling on to any piece she can. "Oh, no!" She shouts as more pieces leave her. Shippo gasps nervously, "It is Y/N," Kaede tells him "She is trying to call back the soul to her own body. It seems she could not bare InuYasha's suffering..." "NO! NOT YET! THIS CANNOT BE! MY REVENGE!" Kikyo cries out, almost all of the soul has left her body and returned to your. InuYasha's red string connects to you once more, Kikyo looks at you in disgust, she turns ands leaves as fast as she can. 

She has to distance herself...otherwise she'll lose the little bit of soul she has left!

"That's not all of Y/N's soul!" Shippo says, InuYasha uses the Tetsusaiga to help himself stand. "Kikyo...where'd she go?" He asks, he sniffs the air and follows the scent. "InuYasha!" Kaede calls out in concern, InuYasha keeps running, it wasn't hard to find Kikyo with how slow she was moving. "Kikyo!" InuYasha shouts, she glares at him, "You can't go on like this any longer. You must return to Y/N's body." He says, Kikyo pauses, staring at him with a hurt expression, “You are saying you wish for me to die, is that it?" She asks, InuYasha looks away. 

And Kikyo finally actually looks at InuYasha now that his String of Fate has returned to its usual state...tangled around his body. "Oh...I see. I am no longer the one who holds your heart..." She says quietly "Kikyo-" "I will not die. I refuse, my spirit cannot rest in peace until I see you dead!" She shouts angrily, Kikyo takes a steps back and falls off the cliff behind her, InuYasha gasps and runs to the edge.

"KIKYO!"

...

...

You lean against a tree, listening to every word Shippo says as he fills you in on what happened. "I see...so InuYasha planned on breaking the String of Fate to be with Kikyo...he just never got the chance to do it." You mutter. That jerk. If he always wanted to get rid of it, why didn't he do it when he finally met you! It could've saved you both so much trouble! "...I get breaking the string, but why did he have to become human?" You sigh "Maybe Kikyo didn't want to be with a half demon." Shippo says with a shrug. 

"Not everyone is like you. It's pretty rare for someone to be nice to a half demon, let alone wanna be seen with them." He adds "But that doesn't make sense, if Kikyo loved him, it wouldn't have matter if he was a half demon. I probably don't even like the guy as much as she did, and I don't care that he's not all human." You sigh. Shippo tilts his head, "Are you sure that you're ok, Y/N? You've both been acting weird since we've got back..." He says. "Well, I don't have all of my soul, and Kikyo's alive...which means, InuYasha doesn't have much of a need for me anymore." You say.

"But you're his soulmate."
"A soulmate he didn't want and planned to get rid of."

Shippo is silent, you smile a bit at him, "Aw, don't worry, this is just dumb teenager stuff. Be happy and stay a kid." You tell him "Don't have to tell me twice..." He mutters. You frown and refill your water bottles by the river, Kikyo's back...which mean wherever your relationship with InuYasha was going-it's over. You can't allow yourself to love him anymore.

You're going to collect all the jewel shards, go back home, and never see InuYasha again. He won't even come back for you either...he'll become a full demon-or a full human, marry Kikyo and have a bunch of babies.

It was nice while it lasted...

The String of Fate detangles off your body and disconnects from InuYasha...floating off in his direction like it did when you first met him. , Shippo frowns in concern as you stare off into space. He stands up and makes his way over to InuYasha. InuYasha also stares at the sky in deep thought, what's he going to do? Even if he collects all the jewel shards and becomes a demon, will that make him stronger inside? And what about Kikyo...after everything, he can't just forget her. Even if she no longer holds his heart, he can't just stand by and let her suffer the way she is...

Shippo stares at InuYasha, Shippo jumps up and strikes the back of InuYasha's head, "Take that!" Shippo shouts, snapping InuYasha out of his trance. Shippo quickly moves to run back to your side-InuYasha grabs him by the tail, "Bad move. What'd you do that for, shrimp?" He asks "To knock some sense into you! We're suppsoed to be looking for the jewel shards." Shippo says.

"Get off my back," InuYasha huffs "Even a guy like me need some time to think once in awhile." "Yeah, that's what's worrying me. Spend so much time thinking you don't even notice what's going on around you!" Shippo shouts, InuYasha scoffs, "What are you-...on about?" InuYasha asks as the end of his red string floats in your direction.

Floats, not connects...your strings aren't connected anymore?

InuYasha looks at the red string still tangled around his body, and then he looks at you, your string was no longer around you...it just floats sadly...like it wants to connect with his string again. What happened?

InuYasha lets go of Shippo's tail, Shippo yelps and hits the ground. He glares at InuYasha, but goes unnoticed as InuYasha makes his way over to you. Your string connects to his, "Y/N..." He says softly, you snap out of your thoughts and look at him. "Ready to get going?" You ask simply, no jokes, no glares, no complaing...nothing. "Uh, yeah, I guess. Are you...feeling ok? I'm sorry I couldn't get all of your soul back." InuYasha says, he watches you carefully.

You laugh dryly and look away, "It's fine, InuYasha...I didn't even notice I was missing anything. Really. Besides, now you and Kikyo get another chance." You state "Huh?" InuYasha asks, "You don't have to use me as a replacement for her anymore. I know you're both mad at each other now, but...you love each other, so you'll end up forgiving each other after awhile. Me and you...we don't have to keep doing...whatever the hell this is." You say bitterly.

You don't want to get in the way of InuYasha's happiness. He won't be able to say he hates you...but you won't stop him from choosing Kikyo. That's who he originally wanted to be with. 

"I won't get in your way...string or no string." 

You screw the top back onto the water bottle—InuYasha grabs you and firmly jerks your body to face him. You look at him with wide eyes before feeling something warm press against your lips. Your eyes grow even wider...but slowly close as InuYasha's tight grip softens, "Huh...who knew he could be so bold...?" Shippo ask, he and Kaede watch from a distance, "Aye, it seems Y/N misinterpreted InuYasha's feelings. Since meeting her, his heart no longer longs for Kikyo..." She says. 

InuYasha pulls away, his cheeks pink as he looks away. "There I kissed you. Not Kikyo or anyone else. When I see you, I see Y/N. I like having Y/N by my side. And maybe I did want to break the bond to be with Kikyo, but now I can't imagine you not being by my side. So if you're gonna start pushing me away, let it be because I did something to make you upset with me, not because you think I want someone else..." He huffs softly. You're silent, InuYasha looks at you, the red string tangles around your body once more. 

"...You're evil..." You say, your face burning. InuYasha tilts his head in confusion, "How could you do this...? I was gonna let you be with Kikyo so I could run away with your brother!" You shout, you dramatically shaking your fistat the sky. "WHAT?!" InuYasha shouts "I can't remember his name, but I remember his face...it was so pretty." You say, slumping in defeat. InuYasha grits his teeth, "Excuse me-" "That it! I must find him." You say, you jump to your feet and run off...not really to find Sesshomaru, but to take a moment and sit in the FACT THAT INUYASHA JUST KISSED YOU AND SAID HE WANTED TO BE WITH YOU. 

THAT WAS YOUR FIRST KISS TOO!

InuYasha chases after you, "Hell no! I'm not letting my brother get his slimy hands on you! HE TRIED TO KILL YOU!" He shouts. "Well, so much for a cute moment..." Shippo says "It is just not their way..." Kaede sighs. 

...

Shippo sits with InuYasha as you remove your clothes and step into the nearby hot spring. "Don't even think about trying to sneak a peek, InuYasha." You call out firmly, he cheeks redden and he huffs, "Shut up!" He grumbles "Wow, you don't even try to deny that you want to see me naked anymore. Keep an eye on him for me, Shippo." You snort "Ok!" Shippo calls back, InuYasha shoots him an annoyed look. "Hey, how come you and Y/N aren't bathing together?" Shippo asks, InuYasha tense. 

"You guys are officially together now, right? Think of all the fun things you can do when there's two of you." Shippo states, InuYasha's eyes widen and he grits his teeth together, "Listen, kid-" "Mom, Dad, and I always took baths together, and we had a really great time." Shippo adds, InuYasha sighs and presses his back against the tree, "Remind me to explain it to you when you're a bit bigger..." He says with red cheeks. "Oh, I get it. You're too scared to ask her. I can ask for you if you want," Shippo offer, he doesn't give InuYasha a chance to deny before he shouting out "Hey, Y/N! InuYasha wants-" 

InuYasha quickly grabs him, covering Shippo's mouth. Shippo squirms in his grip, "Hey! Why're you getting mad at me?!" Shippo shouts "I'll tell you why-on about 50 years when you're old enough to understand it!" InuYasha shows, pulling Shippo's cheeks. "I was just trying to help! What did I say?" Shippo whines.

You listen as Shippo and InuYasha's shouts die down. You let out a soft sigh, leaning on a large rock in the middle of the hot spring. Your fingers brush across your lip, you can't believe InuYasha kissed you...and said he wanted to be with you. You just...it's so hard to believe it. A smile forms on your face and you start to feel warmer all over-and not because of the hot spring. 

He didn't say he loved you out right...but you know he likes you, and honestly...you're just glad to have that much confirmed.

A shadow looms over you, you jump to your feet and instinctively shriek. InuYasha stops sitting on Shippo and races to you, "What's wrong?!" He calls out in concern. He leaps into the water and the two of you lock eyes. InuYasha's face reddens while your eyes widen, "SIT!" You shout quickly, InuYasha slams into the water, you look away with a burning face. "I'm fine, ok. Just go away." You say, covering your chest with your arms. "Shoo. Shoo, monkeys." Shippo says, shooing the monkey away as they tugs your hair. You huff in embarrassment, it's weird...you thought you sensed a person, not monkeys. 

...

InuYasha sulks behind you as the three of you make your way on the side of a mountain, you sigh, "Come on, can't you try and see the humor in it? So I made you fall into the water, you got to see me naked, can't we just say we're even?" You ask "I saw nothing!" InuYasha shouts, he looks away with red cheeks. "We literally made eye contact. You saw everything." You state, InuYasha huffs. 

Of course he saw everything. Everything that is now engraved in his brain...

He can see it when he closes his eyes.  

InuYasha shuts his eyes, sighing deeply and shivering. Damn it. He's not going to forget this anytime soon. "...He definitely saw something." You say, Shippo blinks in confusion, sitting in your bike's basket, "I dunno, I was looking somewhere else." He states "That's 'cause you're a true gentleman, Ship." You snort. The ground begins to shake, "Huh?" The three of you mutter, "I HAVE COME FOR YE!" A giant face screams angrily as it moves down the mountain at full speed. It smacks into InuYasha, knocking him off the path. 

The force of it causes you and your bike to topple over-Shippo yelps as he rolls out the basket and ends up falling down the mountain with InuYasha. "InuYasha! Shippo!" You shout in concern, a hand latches onto the back of your shirt before your yanked into some dude's lap. He rides away on your bike "The hell?! What do you think you're doing?!" You shout, he gives you a friendly smile, "Fear not, young lady. You have no reason to doubt my intentions. I am nothing more than a simple monk-a monk who desired jewel shard and got himself a young woman in the process." He says.

You barely register what he's saying, there's only one thing you can focus on...

"Dude...how are you riding a bike so well? They don't even exist yet..." You say, dumbfounded. The monk smiles at you once more, "You'll soon find out that I am a very quick learner~" He says. You cringe, "That doesn't even make any sense..." 

InuYasha struggles to hold back the giant face as you get farther away, "Y/N!" He shouts, he narrows his eyes "Who's the guy? Where's he taking her to?" InuYasha mutters. He clenches his fist, "Don't take this personally," He says, punching the face into the side of the mountain "But I got better thing to do." InuYasha pulls out the Tetsusaiga, the face screams and turns into a badger, "Don't kill me! I'm but an innocent badger!" He begs fearfully. 

The monk comes to a perfect stop on the bike you know he's never used before. "Your friend is a violent one." The monk says "Yeah...he's more of an 'actions first, thoughts later' kind of guy..." You sigh. You look at the monk in confusion as he removes the beads off his hand, "Explain yourself! Why did you attack me?!" InuYasha shouts, the badger cowers away. You watch as a bunch of wind starts to suck up everything towards the monk's hand. 

Both InuYasha and the Tetsusaiga were slammed into the wall, "InuYasha!" You gasp, you jerk out of the monk's lap, he lets you leave without a fight, smiling to himself. The monk peddles off with your bike, you slide down the mountain to where InuYasha's legs were sticking out. You poke them, "Are you alive?" You ask.

...

"That creep. Who the hell was that guy, anyway?" InuYasha grumbles as the two of you sit on the path you were walking before, "He said something about being a monk, but the real question is what the hell was going on with his right hand." You say, "Yeah, I've never seen such a strong storm come from out of nowhere. It was like the wind from his hand was pulling in everything from its path." InuYasha huffs. "If you ask me, everything about that guy was weird. How the hell does he know how to ride a-" You suddenly gasp "OH NO!"

You jump to your feet, "That monk took off with my bike. YOU CREEP! YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO RIDE THAT THING!" You shout angrily, you know he can't hear you, but might as well. InuYasha stares up at you, he scoffs and his eye twitches, "Like that matters. Did you forget that you were being kidnapped? Don't you think that's more important?" He asks. InuYasha cross his arms and glares off to the side, "I can't turn my back on you people for a second." He huffs "Oh, you were worried about me." You say, your eyes soften slightly when you look at him.

You drop back down to his level, sitting on your knees, "Sorry. I'm not used to you openly caring about me." You state, you reach and pet his head. InuYasha's face reddens at your touch, he immediately shrinks away from you, "I never said I was worried about you. I was only think about the jewel shard." He says. You snort, "Jokes on you, I've gotten a lot better at..." You trail off, no longer feeling the jewel shards around your neck. "Oooh." You hiss through your teeth, "What?" InuYasha sighs, narrowing his eyes "...He got the jewel too..." You say with a nervous smile.

"W H A T?!"

...

Village watch as InuYasha zooms past them with you and Shippo clinging onto him for dear life. "Lousy thief. I'll find him yet. He could not have gotten too far. I'll hunt the fraud down!" He growls.

...

"Come on, InuYasha. What's taking so long?" You sigh, despite the situation, it take everything in you to not laugh at the sight of InuYasha on all fours sniffing the ground. Man, you wish you had a camera. "Get off my back. There's a lot of smells to sift through, alright?" He huffs. Village stare at your group with warry expressions, "Well, hurry up! People are staring!" You urge "I'm with Y/N. They don't look pretty friendly..." Shippo agrees, inching to be closer by your side. "Where did that miserable thief go?" InuYasha mutter.

"What, is he some manner of beast?"
"The young man and the boy are odd enough, but look at that strange girl. She wears not the clothes of a woman..."
"Is she also a demon?" 

You glance at the whispering old men behind you, "Me?" You ask with a dumbfounded expression, "See how it feels?" InuYasha says with a smug grin "Five seconds away from throwing dirt in your hair." You sigh, InuYasha starts to crawl away, still sniffing. You and Shippo follow, "Hey, maybe he never even came through here." You say, looking at each house that you walk by. 

"He was here, alright. I can smell him!" InuYasha says, a slight growl in his voice, "Even if he did pass through, a thief wouldn't just be hanging around in a place like-" You cut yourself off with a gasp. Every member of the Dead Dad's Trio spots your bike leaning against a wall, "You were saying?" InuYasha asks smugly. He runs inside the building, you run after him with Shippo latched on your back. "Gotcha!" InuYasha shouts, slamming a door open "Busted, bike thief." You say. 

The monk's eyes light up when he sees you, "I'm so glad you're here." He says, shrugging off a group of women. The monk walks straight past InuYasha and takes your hand, "It's too good to be true. You're a real sight for sore eyes." He says, InuYasha's eye twitches and he readies his claws, "I'll give you sore eyes!" He shouts, the monk dodges InuYasha attempt to attack him. 

"You again? I should have figured as much." The monk sighs "Yeah, you should have. Funny, that's just what I was thinking. But I guess not all of us are blessed with good looks and brains. Don't supposed you'd be interested in handing over that jewel fragment you stole from us." InuYasha says, the monk glares at him, "A gem such as this does not belong in the hands of a demon." He states. "We'll see about that." InuYasha growls, lunging at the monk. The monk runs to the balcony and takes the short fall to the ground, "Oh, no you don't!" Inuyasha shouts, chasing after the monk. You carefully climb down and run after them.

"COME BACK AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN!"
"I will not fight a senseless battle!"
"All a matter of opinion!"

InuYasha pulls out the Tetsusaiga and swings it right at the monk, the monk blocks the attack with his staff. "You'll be punished if that's what you insist." The monk says with a smug smirk, InuYasha jumps away from him, "I don't know who you are, but you're no monk." InuYasha says "I go by the name Miroku. And yes, I am a monk, who works to aid the common man." Miroku says. You push through the crowd, "Hurry, Y/N!" Shippo says "I'm trying to get there as fast as I can, Ship." You sigh.

"BEWARE, VILLAGERS! A MONK IS ABOUT TO SLAY THE DEMON!" A loud voice shouts, you finally get out of the crowd, spotting InuYasha and Miroku. "...'Work to aid the common man'. You're nothing but a sleazy robber. Now give us back our shard of the Shikon Jewel. We went through a lot of trouble to get it, and we're not gonna lose it now." InuYasha says firmly "Touching speech. I know you went through great pains to collect this gem, but trust me, it's in better hands with me, InuYasha." Miroku says.

"Hmph, so you knew who I was all along." InuYasha says smugly "Not at all. Was it that beautiful companion of yours who called you by name or the young fox?" Miroku asks "Well, he can't be all bad if he has such good taste." You say, chuckling to yourself. Shippo pinches and tugs on your cheek, "Snap out of it, Y/N! He stole your jewel from under your nose!" He says. 

InuYasha's eye twitches before he grins, "Enough talking. Let me at you!" He shouts, charging at Miroku with the Tetsusaiga once more. The fight is mainly InuYasha attacking and Miroku blocking-well, until Miroku falls on some logs and loses his staff, "I'll have that jewel shard back from you now, unless you'd rather die, that is." InuYasha says, holding the sharp tip of the Tetsusaiga right in front of Miroku's face. 

Miroku does a backflip away and runs off, InuYasha growls and chases him once more, "AS YOU WISH!" Miroku looks back as he runs, "Villagers, take heed! Distance yourself from this place, I warn you! It's for your own safety!" He shouts, the villagers mutter in confusion, you chase after the pair. Miroku comes to a stop, grinning smugly, "End of the line. This time victory is mine" InuYasha growls, ready to swing the Tetsusaiga again. Miroku simply chuckles and starts to unwrap his hand, "This may come as something of a surprise, but I'm a very sore loser. WIND TUNNEL!" Miroku shouts. 

He holds up his right hand and suddenly...everything in front of him begins to get pulled into his hand, InuYasha stabs the Tetsusaiga into the ground to avoid getting sucked in. You watch in horror as nearby horses and chickens are sucked into Miroku's hand, InuYasha gasps, his grip firm on the Tetsusaiga. "Let's see how long you can withstand me." Miroku says. 

The ground begins the break and InuYasha and the Tetsusaiga inch closer to Miroku, "Run away! Quickly!" A villager cries, you duck behind a nearby tree. "His hand is doing all this? Freaky...it's sucking up everything that isn't nailed down..." You say "We'd better escape from here while we can." Shippo warns "We can't abandon InuYasha. We have to stop Mr Freaky Hand." You say firmly "Huh?" Shippo gasps. "Surender while you can! If you get sucked in, you'll never come out alive!" Miroku shouts "No chance." InuYasha says through grit teeth. The Tetsusaiga pulls out of the ground and heads for the Wind Tunnel, "I'll be too busy hacking your right hand off to surrender!" InuYasha shouts.

Well...InuYasha's in danger...and there's only one thing you know how to do when the boy finds himself in danger.

"Y/N?" Shippo asks as you place him down gently, "If this goes horribly wrong, you were a great son." You tell him quickly before jumping into the Wind Tunnel's path, "Y/N!" Shippo shouts fearfully. "My hand will pull you in, sword and all." Miroku tells InuYasha, he looks up and spots you heading towards him too. Miroku gasps, InuYasha looks up and his eyes widen, "Y/N!" InuYasha shouts, you were heading down the Wind Tunnel faster than he was since you didn't have anything weighing you down! 

Miroku rewraps his hand and the Wind Tunnel stops-you still end up slamming into him though. The two of you slam into the rocky ground, Miroku takes the blunt of the landing, "Y/N!" InuYasha shouts, you groan and sit up on top of Miroku. "Ow...how do I know if I have a concussion...?" You ask, holding your forehead in pain. Why is Miroku's chest so hard? Is that normal for guys?

You look down at Miroku as he lays unconscious beneath you. There's a sharp tug on your pinky and you're yanked off of Miroku. At least InuYasha catches you before you hit the ground, you lean your head back to look at him, " Y/N, are you crazy?! You could've gotten yourself killed!" InuYasha scolds. "Hey, usually when I throw myself in front of you during dangerous situations, everything works out for me. I was sure it was going to happen again." I say with a cheesy smile. InuYasha narrows his eyes and lets go of you.

Your butt hits the ground, you let out a soft grunt and crawl back over to Miroku. "His hand is super powerful. If he wanted to kill us, he could've done it a long time ago. He can't be that bad. We can at least give him a-" Miroku's hand gently massages your butt, you let out a startled shriek and scramble back, InuYasha catches you in his arm, using his free hand to hold the Tetsusaiga, "I was wrong! Kill him!" You shout, InuYasha tighten his arm around you and growls at Miroku, "You just blew your last chance." "Settle down, will you? Let me explain things. " Miroku says calmly.

...

"I, too, am in search of the shard of the Shikon Jewel. My purpose is to find and eliminate a demon-a terrible demon that goes by the name of Naraku." Miroku states "Naraku?" You ask, InuYasha sits beside you, wordlessly staring at Miroku. "Yes, and it was the same demon who left me with this cursed hole in my right hand." Miroku sighs "What sort of demon is this thing?" You ask, getting a bad feeling, "I know little of him except that he is very wicked and thought to devour people," Miroku states "According to Father, my grandfather battled with Naraku long ago in his youth. It was over 50 years ago. Their battle ensued for several years, and each time Naraku appeared before my grandfather, he took on the form of a different human."

"Oh? So he was like a shape shifter?" You ask, Miroku nods, "They say that the last time he appeared before my grandfather, he took on the form of a beautiful woman. My grandfather had great spiritual powers, but unfortunately as fate would have it..." He trails off, you narrow your eyes at him, "Don't tell me. He was a leacher." You state "Remarkable intuition." Miroku says before continuing, "Naraku pierced my grandfather's right hand with his sacred religious seals and managed to escape. Each year, the hole in my hand becomes bigger and the wind ever more powerful. Unless I can defeat Naraku...I, myself, will eventually be devoured by the hole." "It's going to kill you?" You ask, your frown sympathetically. 

"Yes, and I am prepared to accept that fate if such is truly my destiny, but in the meantime, I must continue trying to stop Naraku. The Scared Jewel of the 4 Souls vanished 50 years ago and now its scattered into many tiny shards. Knowing Naraku, he is certain to attempt to gather the fragments in order to strengthen his own malicious power. I'm sure of it. I know because Naraku once came close to getting the jewel 50 years ago. In doing so, he slew the priestess protecting it." He explains, InuYasha jumps to his feet, "You say he killed a priestess?" He asks "That's right." Miroku states, InuYasha's eyes widen.

Naraku...he must be the demon who disguised himself as InuYasha and struck down Kikyo!

It must be him!

You watch the realization form on InuYasha's face, he grabs Miroku firmly, "Miroku, you say this Naraku takes on all kinds of different forms, right? What about now? What does he look like now?" He asks urgently, "Calm down," Miroku sighs "If I had that information, I would have slain him long ago myself." InuYasha lets Miroku go, twitching in anger. You look at the jewel shard around your neck, "...If we keep look for these jewel fragments, we're sure to run into Naraku ourselves sooner or later." You state, Miroku stares at you, "How did you get that back?" He asks.

You snort proudly, "You're not the only fast learner~. But anyway, let's search for the jewel shards together." You state, Miroku tilts his head, "Uh..." "Unless you plan on giving up, InuYasha." You add, he looks at you, "I'm never giving up." He says in determination. "And what do you say, Miroku?" You ask, he scratches his head, "I've always been more of a solitary man, preferring to work on my own than in the company of others." He states "Yeah, but if we don't act fast, you won't even your own company to enjoy-because you'll be dead." You state. 

"Dear Y/N, are you trouble by this wretched fate of mine?" Miroku asks, he suddenly takes her hands again, "Uh...yes. Who wouldn't be?" You ask, InuYasha's eye twitches in annoyance? yeah probably annoyance. Miroku looks at you seriously, "Then do me this good turn, will you? I wish for you to bear me a son." He says, the air becomes dead silent, "...W h a t?" You ask, "And why would I do that?" You ask. "If for some unforeseeable reason I should fail to destroy Naraku, I should like my son to carry on the family's mission." Miroku states, he wraps an arm around you and pulls you closer. 

Does...can he not see the red string connecting you to InuYasha?

InuYasha shoves Miroku away from you, "Hands off, priest. Your only family mission is lechery." He growls, standing in front of you protectively. "I'm a monk, not a priest." Miroku states simply "Don't ever consider laying a hand on Y/N again." InuYasha says firmly, Miroku blinks, he suddenly notices the red string wrapped around InuYasha and connecting the two of you. "How long has this String of Fate been here...?" He mutters "You're just now seeing it?" You and InuYasha ask in disbelief-InuYasha sounds more annoyed than you are. "My apologies, I thought you no more than a companion. My eyes could not pick up on the String of Fate before, I didn't care to notice it. Apparently you are in love with each other."Miroku states.

You both tense, InuYasha's face turns red and your starts to feel a lot warmer. "My, this is awkward." Miroku says. "Who the hell said anything about love?" InuYasha scoffs nervously "Well, you're both tangled in the string, that typically means you're beginning to fall in love." Miroku states "W-well, you've got it all wrong. She's just a...jewel detector." InuYasha says, you glare at him. "Yeah, and I'm in love with his brother, not him." You add, pushing from behind him, InuYasha narrows his eyes at you as Miroku just stares in confusion.

Ah, so you two are just in denial...?

"I dunno...who should I help out? Miroku is a lot nicer than InuYasha." You say, crossing your arms and pretending to think it over. "You wouldn't dare betray me!" InuYasha says defensively "You can't really blame her. You could treat her more kindly." Miroku tells him, InuYasha scoffs, "Keh! What do you know?" He huffs "He knows how to woo a woman." You grumble, InuYasha glares at him. "It's all about being more gentle." Miroku chuckles "You heard the man, be more gentle!" You shout at InuYasha "Like this~" Miroku says, gently cupping your butt, you shriek and kick him, "Get your hands off me!" You shout, InuYasha growls and instantly jumps at Miroku. 

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH HER!"

Chapter Text

"Say, Shippo?" Miroku mutters, Shippo glance at him curiously, "Is this behavior normal or due to my presence?" He asks, watching you and InuYasha argue back and forth. About what? He wasn’t fully sure…it was related to some food item in your bag. "No, this is normal. I think arguing is just how they show they care about each other." Shippo states. 

InuYasha lets out a screech when you push him into the cold river, "Hmph! Serves you right." You huff, crossing your arms. His head pops out of the water and he glares at you, InuYasha tangles the red string around his hand and yanks you towards him. You yelp and fall right on top of him, both of you end up being soaked. You shoot him an annoyed look, InuYasha huffs and mimicks your tone, "sErvES YoU RIgHt." You grab some of his wet hair and use it to smack him in the face. InuYasha yelps, he glares at you before firmly wrapping his arms around you and flipping himself so you're the one in the river. 

"Should I...do something? I cannot let a beautiful woman get hurt in my presence." Miroku says, Shippo immediately shakes his head. "No, InuYasha never actually hurts Y/N for real. He'll probably hurt you for real though if you interrupt his process." He warns, Miroku raises an eyebrow, "Process for...?" He trails off. InuYasha snickers as you try to shove him off of you, pressing your palm into his forehead. "Get off! You smell like wet dog! Your smell’s contagious!" You loudly complain "Bet you won’t tell me to sit now." InuYasha mocks with a wide grin. "Oh, right. You humans wouldn't be able to tell," Shippo says "He's scenting her. He's been doing that sense he kissed her." "He kissed her?!" Miroku gasps, surprised at the mere idea. You both said you didn’t love each other…but you kissed? Miroku glances at the two of you again, you’re still play fighting. Shippo snickers, "Oh, man, Miroku. Get comfortable. I need to explain to you the story so far."

...

Miroku’s eyes snap open at the sound of movement nearby, he locks eyes with InuYasha…as he’s standing over your sleeping form.

"…What?" InuYasha huffs quietly, glaring at him. Miroku looks at him before looking at you, "My, you are bold, my friend. Very bold. Not even I try to grope a woman while she’s unconscious." Miroku says in a hush tone. InuYasha grits his teeth in annoyance, "Shut up, creep. I’d never do something like that without her permission." He whispers bitterly.

"Really? But Shippo told me that she wasn’t expecting your kiss." Miroku states, InuYasha glares at the small demon curled up by your side as he snores quietly. Miroku opens his mouth to speak—but your fearful whimpers shut him down. InuYasha’s attention is back on you in an instant. He sighs, "This has been happening a lot since u met her." He states quietly, Miroku wordlessly watches InuYasha massage your scalp, careful to not cut you with his claws. 

InuYasha’s eyes are soft as he looks down at you. "Y/N wasn’t built to fight demons. I know that. She’s gotten better at putting on an act when she’s awake, but she always shows her true feelings when she’s asleep. Her fears follow her into her nightmares." He says quietly, you lean into InuYasha touch, rolling to get closer to him. Your head rests on his thigh and you let out a soft sigh, nuzzling your cheek. "I always protect her when she’s awake. I should protect her in her dreams too…" InuYasha continues to massage your scalp…a gentle smile on his face

Huh, Miroku wasn’t expecting to see such a soft side from InuYasha.

"Miroku," InuYasha says, his tone soft, but his eyes deadly "Tell anyone about this and I kill you." "…Wouldn’t dream of it…" Miroku chuckles questioning if InuYasha was even capable of killing a human…

…

You carefully ride your bike over the rocky terrain, coming to a complete stop in front of a battlefield. Birds fly above the 4 of you. Shippo gags as he sits in your bike's basket, "Ugh, I don't think I've ever seen so many bodies...must've been some battle. Hate to see what the other guys look like." He says, you sigh, "What a surprise. Another battleground full of bodies in the Warring States era." 

"You're mistaken. This was no battle."

You shoot InuYasha a confused look, "Huh?" "Something's not right. No blood. I can't pick up the scent of blood." He states. "It must be the work of some demon, and a very strong one to have wrought this destruction, which must mean it possess a shard of the Shikon Jewel." Miroku says with a smile. 

How do you smile in front of a bunch of dead bodies?

"Miroku, let's get one thing straight. I have no intention of teaming up with you or sharing any jewel shards with you." InuYasha says, the smile doesn't leave Miroku's face, "Each man for himself? That what you're trying to say?" He asks "Glad we're on the same track." InuYasha huffs, the wind blows softly. "Then I shall take my leave of you now." Miroku says, walking away, "...Too bad. He was starting to grow on me." Shippo says "Yeah," You sigh "Are you sure you want him to leave, InuYasha. You'd finally have someone to help you in fight-huh?" You turn to see InuYasha gone too, "Where'd he get to?" You ask.

"HELP! A DEMON!"

You and Shippo share a look before you ride your bike towards the shouts. InuYasha sniffs a letter, holding some poor guy hostage, "Please return that letter at once! I must deliver it before the sun goes down!" The guy begs, InuYasha ignores him, "Is this the scent that I was picking up?" He mutters, "...Sit, boy." You say, InuYasha slams into the ground. The guy grabs his letter and runs off. InuYasha jumps up and stomps up to you, "What'd you do that for?" He asks "You were harassing the poor guy. Why were you bugging him?" You ask.

InuYasha huffs and crosses his arms like a scolded child, "He was giving off the same smell of ink as the battlefield. If I can track down the source, it'll probably lead us to the demon." He states "The demon-or anyone who happens to have a letter on hand." Shippo scoffs. InuYasha glares at him, "Do you want to come up with a better plan, or should we use mine and find the jewel before Miroku?" InuYasha asks.

You let out a sigh, "What do you have against him? He's not even that bad..." You state, InuYasha steps closer to you, his face nearly touching yours. "So now you're telling me you like that lecher?" He asks, "Of course. I miss him dearly. I really did want to have his son or whatever." You say dryly, InuYasha gasps. You let out a scoff, "As if. It was obliviously a joke-" You pause when you see InuYasha a good distance away now, "She likes him? What could she possibly see in that guy? Doesn't she get that she has me and only she has me?" He mutters with a shaky tone as he twitches. Maybe he should just kill that monk...

"Can't you pay attention for more than 3 seconds?!" You shout "...He's such an idiot." Shippo mutters.

...

The sun is beginning to set-and InuYasha is STILL harassing random people!

This is getting annoying…

"Great, he’s picking on some guy again." You groan, riding your bike as fast as your already exhausted legs would carry you. "6 innocent peasants down, hundred of thousands to go." Shippo sighs...

The guy looks back at InuYasha nervously, "Who are you? I warn you, I’m powerful—I mean, I’m nothing more than a mere second rate artist?" The guys says "An artist? Then answer me this, little man. Why is it you reek of ink and fresh human blood?" InuYasha asks firmly, "RELEASE ME! FREE ME AT ONCE!" The guy shrieks, in even more of a panic, he breaks free from InuYasha grip, "Come back!" InuYasha shouts. The guy stops once a safe distance away, he unrolls his scroll and a…demon suddenly appears.

The guy takes the chance to flee, leaving on a boat, "Hey, you! Come back here!" InuYasha shouts angrily. The demon attempts to attack him, InuYasha dodges and slices right through it with the Tetsusaiga. "Huh…that was really easy." You mutter "They say size isn’t everything." InuYasha states. 

The demon explodes into a flood of ink, "His blood’s black!" Shippo gasp, you climb off your bike and he hops onto your shoulder, you quickly head over to InuYasha, "What the hell? This is blood and black ink…" He says, InuYasha suddenly flops onto his back with a dazed expression. "InuYasha. Come on. Let’s get you out of the ink…" You sigh, you hold him by the shoulder and start to drag him. "His nose is so sensitive. The smell of ink and blood got to him." Shippo tells you. You tilt InuYasha’s head back to look at his dazed face, "Hey, can you hear me? Say something!" You shout, InuYasha giggles dizzily. 

...

"Are you sure you’re ok now?"

InuYasha huffs, standing on the back of your bike, "For the last time—yes. I’m fine." He huffs. InuYasha crosses his arms, "What’s with you? You care about me now?" He asks with a pout "Yeah. I do." You say, InuYasha’s eyes widen a little, "Duh, you seriously can’t be that dumb." You sigh "What-excuse me?!" InuYasha shouts, you snort. 

InuYasha's ears twitch and he sighs, "Oh, great, just when I thought we were free of that guy..." He mutters "Huh?" You tilt your head in confusion as you bring your bike to a stop. InuYasha groans loudly, "He's at it again!" He complains, he picks up your bike (with you and Shippo still on it) and leaps in front of what you are assuming is a castle's entrance, "I suppose you'll need to search her robes while you're at it too, you pervert." He scoffs, staring down Miroku. 

Huh, it didn't take long to reunite with him again...

"If it isn't my old, dear friends Y/N and InuYasha." He says with an unfazed smile. "I'm here too..." Shippo huffs quietly, you gently ruffle his hair. InuYasha sniffs around, "Damn. We must have just missed him..." He huffs "Hey, Miroku? You see an ink demon come around here?" You ask, Miroku stands up, "I suppose, but I didn't realize they were made of ink." He says with a confused expression.

...

Shippo and InuYasha sit outside as you try to explain things to Miroku. 

"-So an artist is capable of manipulating those demons?"
"Yeah, but he's not a demon himself. He's human."

"...Very troubling. For a human to have such strength, he must be drawing on the power of a jewel shard." Miroku states "Yeah, that's what we've been thinking too." You says. "So, how do we stop an artist who has the power to bring his demons to life?" Miroku mutters, frowning in thought. Shippo sits on InuYasha's leg as he eats a dumpling, "I've seen the Shikon Jewel give people some incredible powers before, but bringing paintings to life?" Shippo mumbles.

He looks up at InuYasha, "Why do you sit there? Don't you want to join the others in forming a plan?" Shippo asks, InuYasha huffs bitterly, you notice his sulking almost instantly, "Seriously? You're still pouting?" You sigh "Is something the matter, InuYasha?" Miroku asks. "Leave me alone." InuYasha says "Can't you just work with Miroku this one time?" You ask, InuYasha ignores you. "I'm very sorry about him, Miroku. The guy's just so jealous." You state, InuYasha twitches and snaps his attention to you, "Jealous?! What do I have to be jealous of-" InuYasha and Shippo gasp at the sight of Miroku holding your hand in both of his, "Your faith in mis is strong, so you at least can sense my pure intentions." He says.

You pull your hand out of his grip, "More like I can sense that you have jewel shards." You state, Miroku gasps, you narrow your eyes at him, "You have two-oh, wait, no. Looks like three." You say. Miroku smiles and places a hand over where he hides his shards, "You have the power to see the shards." He says, he's almost looking at you in...awe as he gets closer. InuYasha stops over, ready to lunge at Miroku- "Don't." You warn, shooting InuYasha a firm look. 

InuYasha pauses, you have that same look in your eyes you have when you tell him to sit...

InuYasha does move any further, but he continues to glare at Miroku. "I collected these shards on my own. Taking them would make you a thief." He says, InuYasha's eye twitches. "Thanks for spelling it out," InuYasha scoffs "Anyway, who are you to call me a thief? I happen to remember a certain someone that made away with Y/N's shards." "Hm. Your power of recall are greater than I would have imagined." Miroku says smugly, InuYasha looks at you, "Y/N...give me 2 minutes. Let me kick his ass." He says.

...

You jolt awake the the sensation of InuYasha shaking your shoulder, "What...?" You ask tiredly "Miroku's being attacked, come on." InuYasha tells you. You sigh and force yourself to stand up, "Why do I have to wake up for this…? We both know I’m worthless in a fight." You say. "Shut up. You ain’t worthless, you’re a good motivator." InuYasha scoff "Huh?" You mutter. "I wouldn’t help this guy if you were watching. I’d just let him die and go back to sleep." He states, you groan, "No you wouldn't. Just say you like having me around and be done..." You say, InuYasha huffs, but doesn't deny your words. It should be obvious by now. 

"You alright, Miroku?" InuYasha asks, you look down to see that the attackers were defeated, you click your tongue in annoyance. "We aren't needed. Goodnight." You mutter, InuYasha grabs your shirt before you could walk off, "Hold on a second, these men are vassals to the lord." He says, you roll your eyes tiredly, the vassals struggle against Miroku's staff, "Now, what were you saying about a jewel fragment? Which of you wants to go first?" He asks. "It isn't our fault. Our lord demanded that we seize your jewel shard." One vassals says "The master himself went to take the shard from the artist." The other adds.

"You know the whereabouts of this artist. Where is he? Tell me at once!" Miroku shouts, the vassal croaks out a low response, Miroku quickly lets him go and zooms past the two of you. "Y/N, lend me your contraption for a bit." Miroku says, he's already riding off with your bike, "...'K," You mutter before calling out "Ship-Ship! We're leaving!" "...This late?" He asks tiredly, latching onto your shoulder. "Yep." You pop the P, InuYasha shakes his head and grabs you, tossing you and Shippo onto his back. "Keep going! We’ll catch up!" InuYasha shouts to Miroku. 

If these demons really were created by the power of a jewel shard…there’s no way a mortal could defeat them!

…

Your eyes widen at the sight of nearly hundreds of demons in the sky, InuYasha finally comes to a stop, drawing the Tetsusaiga. "You mustn’t slay them, or the noxious fumes will overcome you again." Shippo warns "Keh! Just watch." InuYasha scoffs, he manages to slice through a bunch of demons without you and Shippo falling off his back. Sadly, you all end up being covered in ink…"You saved me, young man. You shall be compensated." The young lord says before his horse runs off in a panic. 

"Ugh…I need a bath…" You complain, holding your nose "We all do." "InuYasha?" Shippo asks, InuYasha groans dizzily and falls to the ground; taking you and Shippo down with him. The two of you grunt, "Don’t say u didn’t warn you…" Shippo huffs, a demon charges towards you three, "Crap…" You say fearfully, once again trying to shield InuYasha with your body, crawling onto his back to shield his head and torso…man you wish he wasn’t so much taller than you. Miroku jumps in front of you, he defeats the demon with ease. "Miroku saved us." You say; letting out a soft sigh of relief.

InuYasha groans under you, he looks up at you before frowning, "Seriously, again? Could ya stop acting like you’re my shield?" He grumbles. He budges you off of him, Miroku stands in front of you, "Stay behind me, friends. This is dangerous. I’m going to unleash the Wind Tunnel!" He warns, removing his beads from his hand.

All the demons are sucked into his hand, Miroku drops to his knees and quickly covers his hand once more. "Miroku? Are you ok?" You ask, he releases a shaky breath, "I've never before drawn in so many demons all in one attempt. If I might just rest a bit." He says, InuYasha narrows his eyes in annoyance. Oh, great, InuYasha knew you wouldn't be able to rely on Miroku...

The ground start to shake, "What's happening now?" You sigh, a giant, three headed snaked demons bursts out of a small hut, InuYasha grabs you, Shippo, and Miroku, running to a safer area, you watch the demon slither off, "He must of made another demon." You state "I'll get him." InuYasha says, leaping into action. The rest of you duck and the snake demon swoops low, "Y/N!" InuYasha calls out, the two of you lock eyes, "Can you tell me where the shard is?" He asks. "Uh..." You narrow your eyes until you spot a faint glow coming from the artist, "There! In the bamboo inkpot on his waist!" You call out "I'm all over it." InuYasha says as he hops onto the back of the snake demon.

Oh, wait. 

How could he have forgotten?

"Hey, Miroku! You'll never impress anyone with those flashy antics!" InuYasha shouts mockingly, you and Shippo stare at him with exhausted expressions as the artist notices him and summons more demons. "Isn't that trick getting old?!" InuYasha shouts, he doesn't even draw the Tetsusaiga, choosing to fight with his bare hands. "My...what do you call that technique he's using?" Miroku asks "It's call 'whaling on them'." You state, watching InuYasha closely. He does look hot fighting off those demons with his bare hands...

Man, you are so lucky that no one has the ability to read your thoughts. 

"Alright, I finished that group off. Now hand over the jewels before I lose it." InuYasha growls, two of the three snake heads turn to him before breathing fire-wait, does that mean that's a dragon? InuYasha grunts,  "You underestimate me! The flames of my hellfire shall burn you to the bone." The artist cackles, InuYasha falls off the snake-dragon demon, Miroku slowly turns to you, "...If he dies, then will you bare me a son?" He asks "Sorry, dude. Me and 'Yasha already have a son." You state, holding up Shippo. Miroku and Shippo stare at each other for a second. "...Oh." Miroku says simply before turning to watch the fight once more. 

InuYasha manages to latch back onto the demon, digging his claws into its scales, "This is it. Take your last chance to surrender." InuYasha growls, the flames still covering him, the artist gasps fearfully, InuYasha draws the Tetsusaiga. He uses it to completely extinguish the flames, "Maybe one day, I'll die at the hands of someone stronger than me, but they won't be human!" He shouts "Stay back! You cannot have the jewel. It is my last chance at happiness." The artist says before he leaps off the snake-dragon demon. "IT'S OVER!" InuYasha shouts, he slices through the artist's inkpot.

Ink explodes everywhere and the demon fades away. The artist tumbles into the grass until his smacks into a tree, "My ink! My ink has all been spilt!" The artist shrieks, he steals a sword from one of the many corpses, piercing his own arm with the blade. "Hear me, ink. I give you my blood. Drink well and fill yourself. Come to life. Feast on my lifeblood!" He cackles, the ink heads straight for his wound, "Huh?" InuYasha gasps, he grits his teeth, "That fool."

The ink surrounds the artist, "You are mines I shall never let anyone else take ahold of you." The artist begins to laugh maniacally…until the ink starts to suck him dry, "…My blood…the ink did not fuse with my blood. It devoured it!" He screeches in pain, his body starts to look drier and skinner “HELP ME!" The artist begs before letting out a finally scream and being reduced to nothing but a pile of ink. 

Oh…you just watched a man die…

…This probably won’t affect you too badly.

"The fool. The ink devoured him." InuYasha sighs as you and Miroku walk up, Shippo rests on your shoulder, "What a horrible way to go…" You mutter, pushing back the uneasiness you feel. "You’re telling me. The artist’s ambitions must have turned the ink into a parasite," InuYasha states "Imagine, he’d rather have his blood sucked dry than to part with the jewel fragment. And he paid for his foolishness with his life." A darken glow appears inside the inky puddle. Miroku frowns at the sight of it, so the jewel shard he worked so hard to get is now tainted with evil…he can’t even attempt to touch it

You lend down and pick up the jewel shard, a white glow emits from your hand and the jewel shard is cleansed of all the evil it once had. "Alright, so, who’s keeping this?" You asks, almost like you’re unfazed by the power you hold. InuYasha speaks up quickly, "Well, it’s obviously mine!" "Miroku did his share of work too, ‘Yasha. You gotta be fair." You say, InuYasha huffs when you wag your finger in his face.

"Why don’t you keep it, Y/N?"

You and InuYasha glance at Miroku in surprise. "Really?" You ask, he nods, "Well, you don’t have to tell me twice." You say "Good thing someone’s grown up." Shippo says. InuYasha huffs and looks away, you and Shippo only laugh at him. Miroku focuses on you specifically, you managed to purify the jewel just by picking it up.

…

"Really? You’re gonna come with us?" You asks as the four of you make your way down a path, InuYasha walks further ahead, "Gladly," Miroku says with a soft smile "Journeying in the company of a pretty woman is so much more enjoyable." You giggle. InuYasha huffs and glares at Miroku over his shoulder, Miroku shoots a smile his way, "—And despite InuYasha’s appearance, he’s really not such a bad fellow." Miroku adds, your smile softens a little.

Miroku’s not wrong, if he really wanted to, he could’ve easily killed the artist. 

But instead he spared the man’s life and sliced the inkpot.

"Yeah…InuYasha’s alright. He just doesn’t know it yet." You agree softly, InuYasha’s ears twitch and he stops glaring at Miroku to glance at you. He looks away before that smile could force its way onto his face…

…

You and Shippo eagerly shove food into your mouths. InuYasha lingers by the door, staring at the night sky, "Oh, this is so much better than living in a forest," You say happily, "We’ll have a hot meal, a nice bath, and climb under our nice crisp sheets and have a good rest for a change." InuYasha shoots you an unimpressed look, "Well excuse me for making you sleep in the wilds all the time." He huffs bitterly.

"Oof, sensitive! What’s been going on with you the past 2 weeks?" You ask, InuYasha glares at you, "I imagine he’s put out because coming here was Miroku’s idea." Shippo states, InuYasha glares at him, but goes ignored, "With food like this, who cares whose idea it was?" Shippo adds happily, "Right!" You and Shippo laugh, InuYasha watches the whole interaction with an annoyed glare, "Keh!" He huffs loudly.

…

"I can’t eat another bite." Shippo sighs with a satisfied smile, you lay beside the table with the same expression, "That was the best meal I’ve had in ages." You say, grunting softly as you stretch. 

You glance up at Miroku as he walks into the room, "Hey, how was the exorcism?" You ask, he shrugs, "Uneventful. Now I’m ready for some relaxation." He states. "Hold up there, Miroku," InuYasha says, everyone looks over to him "There’s something I haven’t been able to figure out about your powers." "…Yes?" Miroku asks, InuYasha leaps over to stand right in front of him. 

"Whenever we’re looking for a place to bed down, you suddenly detect an ominous cloud hanging over whatever seems to be the finest tavern in the area. How is that?" InuYasha asks, he narrows his eyes at Miroku. "Oh. You noticed that, did you? They say a falsehood is sometimes expedient path." Miroku states, the smile on his face is unapologetic, "Huh????" InuYasha asks "You mean, there never was any black cloud?" Shippo gasps "Duh, I haven’t sensed anything in the area, but I wasn’t gonna ruin my chance to sleep in a bed." You state.

The newest member of the Dead Dad Trio Squad smiles at you, "See, she gets it." Miroku says. InuYasha looks shocked when he looks at you, "Y/N! I’d expect this from the lecher, but not from you!" He says, you shrug lazily. "So, now you’re already a bad influence in her. Jeez! You’re shiftier than I thought!" InuYasha says, turning his attention back to Miroku.

"Partake in my share of the spoils, and your opinion of me will soften." Miroku says, offering InuYasha a bowl full of dumplings, InuYasha stares at the bowl with an offended frown. "Sweet dumplings, my favorite!" Shippo says, taking the bowl and hopping back to your side. The two of you share the bowl happily, "You two are as bad as he is!" InuYasha shouts.

You snort before seeing a faint ball of light through the wall, "…Aw man…" You sigh, everyone glances at you in confusion—the ground starts to shake violently. "Y/N, you’re sensing a jewel shard?" Miroku asks, Shippo jumps into your arms, "I don’t like the sound of this!" He shouts fearfully, the ground shakes so hard, the light from the candle goes out. "Whatever it is, it’s big." InuYasha "Yes. Let’s run." Miroku says.

"Hm?! What?! No way! You can’t just eat and run!" InuYasha shouts "If the demon is truly big, then we are no match for it. It's irrational. It's impossible. It's against my religion." Miroku states. InuYasha blink at him with an annoyed expression, "You ought to be arrested." He huffs. "You're really gonna miss the chance to collect a jewel shard?" You ask, Miroku pauses, "Yeah. That's a change, we've never had them bring us the jewels before." InuYasha adds smugly. "...I suppose if there's a jewel fragment involved, I could make a little effort." Miroku finally agrees, he runs outside, "Huh? Wait! This one's mine!" InuYasha shouts, chasing after Miroku.

...

The four of you up at the giant demon, but your attention quickly snaps to the demons resting on its shoulder. 

"That's Sesshomaru!" InuYasha gasps, you stare at Sesshomaru-almost in a trance, "He's so pretty..." You mumble, InuYasha shoots you an annoyed look. Sesshomaru jumps off the demon and lands in front of you. A green mists shoots out of his hand, you and Miroku run off with Shippo still clinging onto you. InuYasha jumps out of the way, twitching as he covers his nose. Sesshomaru looks down at InuYasha, "As usual, you are slow to take action, little brother." Sesshomaru says coldly. InuYasha coughs, "...Sesshomaru, to what honor do we owe this visit?" He asks "Spare me the feigned innocence. I'm here for the Tetsusaiga, of course." Sesshomaru says. "Still haven't given up on it yet, huh?" InuYasha growls and draws the Tetsusaiga "They know one another?" Miroku asks "He's InuYasha's hot, evil, older brother," You explain, Miroku raises his eyebrow at the description "He's isn't a half demon like InuYasha. He's the real thing." You can't believe he's still after the Tetsusaiga...he couldn't even get it to work!

Wait a minute...

"Yo, Sesshomaru!" You call out, both brother pause, InuYasha looks at you in concern while Sesshomaru looks at you coldly, "What the hell are you still after a sword you can't even lift?" You ask. Sesshomaru's gaze somehow becomes even colder, "You're still attached to the human, InuYasha? I was sure you'd have killed her by now." Sesshomaru states before he sniff the air, "But instead, you've scent marked her." He sighs, InuYasha tenses and his cheeks pinken and you lean over to Shippo, " He what?" You ask "Uh...I should let InuYasha tell you himself..." He says nervously. "It's a true shame," Sesshomaru says "I, for one, look forward to the day you end up tearing this one apart too." 

A deep growl rips out of InuYasha before he lunges at Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru dodges, "You still allow your emotions to be influence by her. That won't help you in a battle." Sesshomaru state, InuYasha glares at him, "This time, I'll take off much more than jus tone of your arms!" InuYasha says angrily. He keeps trying to use the Tetsusaiga on Sesshomaru, but Sesshomaru keeps dodging. "Such a pity. I see you have yet to unleash the full power of the Tetsusaiga." Sesshomaru states "Oh, yeah? Let's see about that!" InuYasha shouts.

He lunges at Sesshomaru once more, but this time, Sesshomaru catches his wrist. You, Miroku, and Shippo all gasp, "Such pitiful swordsmanship. The little man is having trouble holding his sword." Sesshomaru scoffs, the green mist oozes out of his palm, InuYasha groan loudly in pain as the skin under Sesshomaru's tight grip peels and burns, "The flesh is burning!" Miroku shouts "It's his poisonous nails." You say anxiously, you look back at the inn where all your things remain, "Your wrist or the sword, which will be the first to drop?" Sesshomaru asks "It ain't gonna be the sword." InuYasha grunts out, his voice strained, he uses his other hand to help hold the Tetsusaiga. InuYasha uses the sword to shove Sesshomaru, "He overpowered him!" Miroku gasps.

"I'll split you in half, you sad excuse for a demon!" InuYasha shouts, Sesshomaru doesn't seem afraid, "You should have surrendered." He says, Sesshomaru leaps away from InuYasha and stands swinging his green whip at him, InuYasha grunts as the Tetsusaiga is knocked out of his hands and thrown a good distance away. He tries to run to it, but Sesshomaru reaches it first. He picks up the sword, "Impossible!" InuYasha says in shock "What the-but he shouldn't be able to touch the sword!" You shout, not only can Sesshomaru touch the Tetsusaiga...he can make it transform too?! InuYasha jumps out of the way to dodge the attack. 

Miroku and Shippo look at you in confusion when you turn and head straight for the inn without a word. They share confused looks before looking at the brothers once more. InuYasha stares at Sesshomaru with wide eyes, Sesshomaru's a demon! Why is he able to hold the Tetsusaiga? Why is he able to use it?! "I am the Tetsusaiga's rightful owner. Stand back as I demonstrate its power. Jaken." Sesshomaru says "Yes, milord! I shall summon all the demons down from the mountain!" Jaken calls, still sitting on top of the large demon. 

...

Oh, this is dumb. 

This is a dumb plan, and you know it.

You're just a dumb, stupid idiot. You know that too.

But...

InuYasha's in danger now. If you die, it'll all be for a good cause at least.

You swallow nervously as the ground begins to shake. You take a deep breath and sling your bow over your shoulder, carrying some arrows outside with you. You nearly fall over at the sight of thousands of demons in the sky, Sesshomaru swings the sword, taking them all out with one swing. The attack leaves a giant split in the mountain...

And you're about to shoot an arrow at this guy. Or-at least, you're about to try.

Next time your home, you're writing a will...if you don't die after doing this...

"Now you see? This sword, forged of our own father's fang, reigns supreme. Unfortunately. the Tetsusaiga's not capable of choosing its owner. But perhaps now you, a mere half breed, realize that you can never master it." Sesshomaru states, InuYasha growls and you grit your teeth as you ready an arrow...and an extra arrow, "You're blood shall stain this sword...Truly a fitting end for you, is it not?" Sesshomaru asks coldly, he raises te. You pull back the arrow, carefully aiming for...Sesshomarus' general area. Jaken spots you, "What is that brat doing now?" He mutters, watching you closely. Jaken scoffs, "Hmph. Idiot, there's no way a basic arrow can hurt someone Lord Sesshomaru." He says, all you're going to do is anger Sesshomaru and get yourself killed.

You take deep breath-hopefully it won't be your last, you tense up your shoulders and finally...finally release the arrow. It shoots across the sky, Jaken watches it with a dull expression...until its suddenly surrounded in a white glow. Jaken then begins to shriek, "OH NO! WATCH OUT LORD SESSHOMARU!!!" He shouts, InuYasha and Sesshomaru glance at him. Sesshomaru lets out a quiet gasp, using the Tetsusaiga to block your arrow. The arrow pierces the Tetsusaiga, causing it to lose its power. Pretty much everyone gasps, but you're too focused on yelling at Jaken. "YOU FREAKING SNITCH!" You angrily shout at Jaken, "Y/N." InuYasha gasps, snapping his attention to you. "THAT WAS A GOOD SHOT TOO!" You shout, you shoot another arrow, but this time at the giant demon. The arrow pierce the demon and it decays into nothing, Jaken screams as he collaspes into the dirt. 

"Bastard." You huff, you might’ve 100% been able to take down Sesshomaru and the stupid toad ruined it! You ready another arrow, Sesshomaru stares you down, a…genuinely scary look in his eyes. "I only missed because of the toad. Get away from InuYasha or the next arrow goes in your heart." You threaten, readying the arrow. Sesshomaru continues to stares, "Oh?" He asks, InuYasha grits his teeth, "Hey! What’re you doing, stupid?!" He shouts.

You glance at him for only a second, not wanting to risk Sesshomaru attacking while your guard was down, "BUTT OUT! This has nothing to do with you!" InuYasha shouts in…fear? concern? Sesshomaru drops the Tetsusaiga and disappears—no, he didn’t. He’s on the move, and he’s fast. You sense him before you see him. You quickly turn and yank your arrow back, you lock eyes Sesshomaru just as he’s readying his claws to slice through you.

Shit…

Shit.

Shit!

SHIT!

S H I T!

Miroku and Shippo wordlessly watch Sesshomaru’s claws and your arrow fly towards each other. InuYasha does have time to watch, he runs towards you as fast as he can. He and Jaken simply shout out in concern.

"LORD SESSHOMARU!!!!"

"Y/N!!!!!!!" 

Chapter Text

Slow. 

Too slow.

Why is everything moving so slowly?

Your arrow as it pierce's Sesshomaru's arm with the jewel shards...

InuYasha as he races towards you with a desperate look written all over his face.

And...you, it felt like you were floating...but you know you weren't-you couldn't have been. Not when you saw peck of your own blood flying through the air...not when you can see the ground getting closer and closer. Your red string begins to pulse violently…

InuYasha is quick to catch you before you hit the ground, "Y/N!" He gasps as blood seeps through your shirt. You groan in pain, InuYasha carefully cradles you in his arms, “Oh? She’s still breathing? Hm, she won’t be able to do that much longer.” Sesshomaru says , InuYasha growls at him angrily, Jaken frown in concern, sitting inside of the ash left from the giant demon YOU killed , “Lord Sesshomaru appears to be wounded. Oh, could this all because of that mortal girl?” He sighs. 

"InuYasha! Take Y/N and get her out of here. I’ll handle Sesshomaru.” Miroku calls out, Jaken raises an eyebrow, “Naraku spoke of a certain monk…Could this be the same young man before us?” He mumbles before calling out “Milord! Allow me to finish the monk off! No sense wasting your energy on such a feeble opponent. You should focus on ending the girl’s life and then InuYasha’s.” Sesshomaru barely glances at him, still holding his bleeding arm, “As you wish. I will observe.” He says, picking up the Tetsusaiga once more, Jaken breaks open a ball and bee like demons appear. Shippo and Miroku gasp, “What are those things?” Miroku asks “I dunno, but they don’t look friendly!” Shippo says fearfully. "That pattern...it's similar to mark Naraku has!" Miroku warns.

InuYasha looks at them in concern, but doesn’t make an effort to leave your side. He couldn’t if he want to, “Y/N, come on. Wake up and tell me you’re ok. I won’t be able to focus until I know…” InuYasha mutters, he gently massages your scalp. Your breathing is slow and unsteady, Shippo screams as the bugs head straight for him, InuYasha digs his claws into his skin, “BLADES OF BLOOD!” He shouts, tossing the blood from where he sits with you, the blood hardens and slices through the bugs easily. You wince, sucking in a heavy breath, InuYasha looks down at you, your shirt is soaked in your blood…he’s covered in your blood too. InuYasha holds you closer, this keeps happening. You get hurt and InuYasha’s left worrying about you…blaming himself. 

How many more times is he going to have to do this?

How many more times is he going to let you go through this?

How many more time will he have to beg you not to die?

He doesn’t want to lose you…

"InuYasha..." 

You let out a shaky breath, "Y/N..." InuYasha gasps softly, he yelps as you try to sit up. "Don't move! You're hurt enough." He warns, you still sit up anyway, taking deep breath. "Go help Shippo and Miroku." You say "What? But what about-" InuYasha jumps when you press your soft lips against his. He stares at you with wide eyes, "InuYasha...please." You beg, InuYasha nods slowly, he stands up. He smiles at you sadly, "Y/N..." He says "Yeah?" You ask, InuYasha leans down to gently press his forehead to yours, "Thanks for your help. With your arrows, you reversed the Tetsusaiga's transformation and removed Sesshomaru's jewel shard. Now I can defeat him." He says. 

He's thanking you? That can't be good...

Maybe you are about to die.

InuYasha lets out a soft sigh before finally leaving your side. You smile softly, watching him run off-you slump back to the ground weakly, oh man, who need just sitting up and talking would cause you so much pain...

It won't kill you to rest your eyes for a little bit...right?

...

Shippo gasps when he sees you fall back on the ground, "Oh, no. Y/N was only faking being ok. She's so strong...I gotta help her!" Shippo huffs with a determined expression, he grabs your backpack and starts dragging it towards your unconscious body. 

Jaken sucks in a concerned breath, "This isn't good, I have to help Lord-" Miroku punches Jaken in the back of his head. Jaken screeches, looking back to see Miroku staring at him angrily "Methinks your earlier expression was more pleasing to the eye and less menacing to the head..." He says nervously, Jaken quickly turns to flee, but Miroku catches him, "Where do you thin you're going little imp?" Miroku asks "Going to a...funeral?" Jaken says. Miroku starts slamming Jaken into the ground repeatedly, "Confess, you nasty little beast! Where did you get those poisonous insects?!" Miroku shouts "They were given to us by a demon! I did not see his face, for he wore a mask of a baboon to conceal himself." Jaken states, Miroku narrows his eyes, "And what was his name?" Miroku asks firmly "Name? It was Naraku!" Jaken says quickly, Miroku stops shaking him and gasps, "Did you say Naraku?" He asks...

...

"Y/N! Y/N, oh, don't die. You can't die." Shippo says, he finally manages to get your backpack to you. He yanks the zipper and rummages through the bag, he's seen you clean wounds so many times. He can clean your wounds and then you'll be ok! You gotta be! "You're gonna be ok, Y/N. I found the herbs from your world!" Shippo tells you, you don't respond, but he knows if you were awake, you'd be so proud of him.

Shippo pulls out the bandages and an alcohol spray, "Ok...so...I need to...spray this stuff on the wound..." Shippo mutters, he pushes up your shirt a little. Luckily, Sesshomaru wasn't able to scratch your chest like he wanted to, but he still got your stomach. At least it's not deep enough to kill you... Shippo frowns at the five bleeding lines across your skin, he carefully holds the alcohol spray and presses down the same way he's seen you do. The can hisses and the alcohol spray on your cuts. You wince in pain, your eyes weakly opening, "Sorry, Y/N...but this is to make you feel better." Shippo states as he sprays your wound thoroughly.

...

InuYasha stand in front of Sesshomaru angrily, for him to have not been the one to attack you...InuYasha sure had more of your blood on him than Sesshomaru did...

InuYasha watches Sesshomaru arm drop to the ground as well as the jewel shard, "I've figured you out, Sesshomaru," InuYasha says "Because you're a demon, you should be able to grasp the Tetsusaiga. That left arm there must belong to a human. And you used a shard of the Shikon Jewel to connect the arm to your body. Too bad Y/N already figured that out. I wish I could've been the one to lop off the human arm. Doesn't matter, you no longer have what it takes to hold on to the Tesusaiga," InuYasha cracks his knuckles.

"And thanks to Y/N..." Sesshomaru easily pick up on the anger flickering in InuYasha's eyes "I have myself yet another shard of the jewel!" InuYasha shouts, charging towards Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru summons his green whip, swinging it at InuYasha. InuYasha looks at the ground as he dodges Sesshomaru's whip. Where's the Tetsusaiga? Ugh, it too dark to see it. InuYasha grits his teeth and readies his claws, leaping at Sesshomaru, "IRON REAVER-" Sesshomaru punches InuYasha in the face, sending him crashing into the dirt. 

You look over at him in concern, you managed to sit up once more for Shippo to wrap bandages around your lower torso. "That's good, Shippo. Thank you..." You say, your body is exhausted to say the least. Shippo smiles hopefully, you reach for your bow and a stray arrow, forcing yourself to stand up. "Y/N, wait-" "Just one shot, Shippo...I just need to make this one shot..." You strain out, Sesshomaru looks up at you, it looks like he's learned to keep an eye on your actions. "So, she hasn't learn." He says calmly, InuYasha looks back quickly, "Y/N!" He says "InuYasha, make her stop. Half demon though you are, the blood of a demon runs in you. Be proud of that. Do not accept human aid, even in death." Sesshomaru states, his gaze specifically hardens at you, "And if she shoots an arrow at me one more time. I will not hesitate to kill her." He adds. 

"...Don't do anything, Y/N," InuYasha calls out "You're already injured and Sesshomaru is totally ruthless!" "I can handle it. I'll hit him!" You say, you let go of the arrow without another thought...but...this arrow wasn't like the other one, it didn't glow or anything. It was just a normal arrow...

Shit. 

Sesshomaru catches the arrows, the tips of his fingers become green and melt the arrow. "You've had your warning," Sesshomaru growls "Now I shall put an end to your interference!" He swings his whip at you-crap, you didn't think about how you'd have to run away! "LOOK OUT Y/N!" Shippo shouts, hiding behind your backpack. You movements are slow and jerky as you turn away, "Oh no..." InuYasha says knowingly, running to you. This time, he get sot you in time...this time he manages to protect you. 

InuYasha tackles you out of the way, the two of you slam into the ground, the hard ground that you can feel directly knock into your skull-

Shippo rushes over to you two, "You're not hurt, are you?" He asks fearfully, InuYasha moves off of you, he groans, holding his head. He quickly turns his attention to you, "You alright?" He asks softly, you don't respond... "Y/N!" InuYasha calls out, he cups your cheek and lifts your face up to get a better look. You're unconscious again...InuYasha looks back to growl at Sesshomaru, "You'll regret that, Sesshomaru. You'll regret everything you did today. She doesn't deserve it."

Sesshomaru only smiles at InuYasha as he holds up his hand, showing the claws that gave you your first wound...

Sesshomaru brings the claws to his mouth and licks it away mockingly. 

InuYasha growl worsens, Miroku walks over, "Your brother...he seems to be plenty powerful without the Tetsusaiga..." Miroku states, InuYasha looks at him wordlessly "There is only one method left to counter him...but, if those killer insects really are from Naraku, It may not be wise to use my Wind Tunnel...." Miroku sighs. "Then don't," InuYasha says firmly "Just take Y/N and get out of here, fast. Get as far away as you can." "Huh?" Miroku gasps "InuYasha! We both know Y/N wouldn’t wanna leave you here alone!" Shippo says. InuYasha looks at them with a serious expression, "Get Y/N out of here. Guard her with your life." He reaffirms. Shippo and Miroku look at him in concern.

"You will never escape me. I shall destroy you all, with or without the Tetsusaiga." Sesshomaru says, a green mist surrounds his claws, InuYasha growls and charges towards Sesshomaru. The two swing their claws at each other, Miroku and Shippo gasp as InuYasha holds Sesshomaru arm in place. InuYasha looks over his shoulder at Miroku and Shippo, "Hey! Why are you waiting?! Run for it!” InuYasha shouts, Miroku scoops you up in his arms, "We’re going." He says, running off with Shippo following close behind.

"Very touching. Trying to buy time in order to save the lives of your friends." Sesshomaru says, he jerks his leg, sharply kicking InuYasha through the stomach, InuYasha cries out in pain as the attack leaves a hole…

Your eyes weakly open, you can see InuYasha getting farther and farther away. He’s hurt…you have to help him…where’s your bow? You need to help him, you look over Miroku’s shoulder, seeing something on the ground catching the moonlight. "InuYasha!" You shout, you jerk out of Miroku’s grip, hissing the pain in brought to your wound. 

"Stop!" Miroku shouts, he grabs your arm, "Let go!" You shout. "He wants to deal with this on his own. That’s why he told us to run to safety." He tells you, you turn to look at InuYasha in concern, "But the Tetusaiga…" You say, "Let him find it on his own." Miroku says, you wince as more blood oozes out of your bandages and you drop to your knees, "Y/N!" Shippo shouts in concern.

…

"Any last words before your tragic demise?" Sesshomaru asks, InuYasha smirks even as he twitches in pain, "Your ignorance surprises me. I really thought you would have realized it by now." He snickers "Noticed what?" Sesshomaru asks, narrowing his eyes. "The sword, it comes when I call!" InuYasha shouts, the Tetsusaiga comes flying towards him, InuYasha leaps away from Sesshomaru and catches the Tetsusaiga.

"And now the sword is back in my hands!" InuYasha growls out, firmly holding the Tetsusaiga, Jaken runs to Sesshomaru, "Master! Without that human arm, you’re unable to hold onto the Tetsusaiga!" Jaken warns. InuYasha struggles to hold up the Tetsusaiga…his legs give out under him. InuYasha lands on his knee, doing his best to stay on guard. InuYasha stabs the Tetsusaiga into the dirt, he grunts weakly.

Miroku watches InuYasha with a concerned expression as he carries your once again unconscious form, "…He’s weakening…" He states, "Lord Sesshomaru! It seems that InuYasha has finally lost consciousness." Jaken says, he starts to walk over to InuYasha. "Do not approach any closer." Sesshomaru warns, energy shoots out of the Tetsusaiga, zapping Jaken, he yelps and ducks behind Sesshomaru. "W-what happened?! The sword attack of its own accord!" Jaken gasps. Sesshomaru narrows his eyes at InuYasha in deep thought, "…We should leave, Jaken," Sesshomaru says, turning away from InuYasha "The Tetsusaiga is presently beyond my reach. So there’s no sense in staying." "I won’t argue with your decision. After you, Master." Jaken says, they fly away in a puff of smoke, the killer insects follow them.

"They must have given up." Miroku states "That’s a lucky break." Shippo says, the pair gasp when InuYasha sucks in a pained breath and his body finally give out, collapsing in the puddle of his own blood. "INUYASHA!" Shippo and Miroku shouts in concern.

…

Shippo sits with your stuff as Hachi give the four of you a ride back to Kaede’s village. Shippo watches the two of you with a concerned pout, "How are they? Any changes?" Miroku asks, glancing at the two of you, "Y/N’s hardly moved the entire time. And InuYasha’s only moved to hold Y/N in his arms." Shippo states, InuYasha groans weakly while you let out slow, pained breaths.

The String of Fate wraps around the two of you, keeping you close and together.

"It won’t be long before we’re back to the village," Miroku says softly "Try not to worry too much about them Shippo. Let’s just concentrate on helping them recover." Shippo nods worriedly, "…Good idea."

You groan softly, "Dude…maybe you shouldn’t be holding me like this when there’s a big ass hole in your stomach…" You say. InuYasha tightens his grip when you try to roll off of him. "It hurt worse when I didn’t have you in my arms." He huffs, you let out a weak snort, "That’s so dumb…" "You’re dumb. Shut up and keep resting." InuYasha sighs. He gently pats your head, a thought burns in his mind.

Naraku…

He only shows up when there a shard of the Shikon Jewel to be found.

He’s near.

…

Hachi takes a deep breath and morphs back into a badger, you shoot him a tired smile, "Thanks for the ride, Hachi. We really owe you one." You say, he chuckles and scratches the back of his head, "Don’t mention." He says as Miroku approaches. While the two talk, you glance at InuYasha, he sits beside you with his eyes shut…it looks like he’s thinking about something.

InuYasha’s eye suddenly open and you quickly look away. "Y/N." InuYasha says softly, you look at him once more. "Do you feel ok enough to walk?" He asks "…Do you?" You ask, InuYasha sighs and stands up, "Come with me." He grunts out, holding a hand to you. InuYasha pulls you onto your feet and holds your hand, guiding you through the forest.

"Hey! Y/N shouldn’t be up yet!" Shippo says quickly, he jumps in front of InuYasha. "InuYasha, you forget that Y/N is only human! Her body took a lot of damage from Sesshomaru and she needs to see Granny Kaede and have to heal!" He scolds "I want Y/N to get better just as much as you do," InuYasha states, his tone is off, "So, let me do what I have to." 

What he has to?

what the hell is he about to do to you?

InuYasha keeps moving, gently pulling you along with him. InuYasha’s ears twitch, he looks over his shoulder to glare at Miroku and Shippo as they try to follow, "Who invited you?! Quit following!" He shouts, they pause and you do to. InuYasha tightens his hand around yours and keeps moving.

…

"You know, ‘Yasha. I was thinking…" You say, breaking the long silence that has been hanging in the air for a while, "We’re wound twins!" "…What?" InuYasha asks, his steps faltering for a second. "Both of us were injured in the stomach by the same person. And we’re both gonna be rocking bandages in the same places." You explain, trying your best to somehow lighten the mood, InuYasha looks at you a moment, dumbfounded. He lets out a tired chuckle.

You stop in your tracks, "Hm?" InuYasha mutters, watching you carefully bend down to pick up a plant, "Ha! I recognize this! This is the herb Kaece told me was the best antidote for all kinds of poison. I’ll definitely be taking this back for the village. We’re gonna need it." You state, you pick up another herb, "Ooh, and this one is a good antiseptic, but it stings." You say. A soft smile forms on InuYasha face, "You’ve learned a lot." He says "I’m trying." You say with a shrug.

"Y/N, you’ve grown stronger." InuYasha says softly, you look at him in genuine surprise before snorting. You wince as you stand, but continue to put on an act. You flash a cocky smile, "’Bout time you noticed! How could I not get stronger, running from demons day after day? I live on a different level than average teenagers. If I do say so myself. And my archery’s improving too! I don’t even miss anymore—all that practice at home is seriously paying off." You say. You notice the Bone Eater’s Well right in front of you. You didn’t even realize you were walking towards it.

It weird to think that a well of all things has had such a large impact on your life.

InuYasha takes a seat, he leans against the well weakly. You take a seat beside him, wincing when you drop to harshly. InuYasha glances at you, "How are you feeling, Y/N? Does it still hurt?" He asks gently. You scoff gently, "The guy with the hole in his stomach is asking about me? ‘Yasha, you need to focus on yourself-" "I’ve focused on myself for so long, Y/N…I want to worry about you. I like caring about you. I like when I actually protect you too…" He says, he reaches and touches the back of your head gently. You suck in a sharp breath.

"Still hurts." InuYasha sighs knowingly, "…I’m sorry, InuYasha," You say "You told me to stay away from Sesshomaru, but I didn’t listen and only made things worse. If I had run away when you told me to, you wouldn’t have been hurt so bad." "No. In the end, you helped more than you realize. You risked so much to help me. No one’s ever done that for me. I’m grateful, Y/N." InuYasha says. You let out a soft scoff, glancing at the sky above, "Seriously, we gotta hurry up and heal. All this mushy stuff isn’t normal for us." You say. InuYasha leans to rest his head on top of yours, "...I don't mind it. It's nice...the way things are between us now." He says quietly, your eyes widen a little as he links his hand with yours, you watch the red string tangle around your hands.

Miroku and Shippo watch the two of you from a safe distance, "What's InuYasha doing, taking Y/N so deep into the forest?" Shippo asks, Miroku gently shushes him. 

InuYasha squeezes your hand, "You heard the story, about how Naraku deceived me 50 years ago. He's the one pulling the strings behind Sesshomaru," He says, he runs his thumb over your knuckles, "I've made a decision." You hum in confusion. "Things are getting more dangerous by the day." He says "Yeah, and?" You ask, InuYasha shoots you a look, "Huh? What's that mean?! Aren't you scared?! We're in serious danger! This time, we were lucky, but who knows about next time?!" He shouts "Things have always been dangerous for me here! I've gotten used to it, I'm not afraid anymore!" You shout back "Liar! I help you with your nightmares every night..." InuYasha huffs.

You pause at that, you sigh and squeeze InuYasha's hand, he immediately squeeze back, "Naraku is a terrible demon. I'm gonna do whatever I can to help destroy him, no matter what happens to me-" InuYasha pulls you into his arms, "Huh?" You gasp. InuYasha's arms twitch around you as he takes a deep inhale of your scent, "InuYasha...?" You ask, slowly you bring yourself to hug him back. "I was afraid." He says into your hair, you eyes widen, "I thought I was going to lose you. I was terrified." He admits.

Shippo squirms as Miroku covers his eyes, "Let me go! I wanna see! What's he doing?!" Shippo shouts "This isn't something for children to see...even I might be forced to look away soon..." Miroku states.

InuYasha grunts as he stands up, picking you up with him, "Y/N, I...I lo..." InuYasha trails off and squeezes you one more time before pushing you away. You stumble towards the well, looking up at InuYasha in concern. He holds up the jewel shard that was once around your neck, "I'll hang on to the jewel." He tells you, you gasp, "What do you think you're doing?" You ask, InuYasha picks you up and you finally register what look in his eyes has been this whole time.

The look of saying goodbye.

His gaze hardens and you tense up, "InuYasha, I-" "Y/N...GO BACK TO YOUR OWN ERA!" InuYasha shouts, he holds you above the well and lets go. You scream as you fall down the well, Shippo and Miroku jump at the sound of you scream, running out of hiding and straight to the well. "InuYasha, what have you done?!" Miroku shouts, everyone looks down the well, but you were nowhere to be found. "Y/N is gone..." Miroku gasps, he looks at InuYasha "What have you done?!" InuYasha looks down at the empty well sadly, "I've sent her back home, to her own time on the other side of the well." He says. Shippo stares down the well, tears forming in his eyes.

...

You let out pain hisses, finally pulling yourself out your family's well, "That bastard, why'd he have to drop me like that? He's more than just half demon. I should go back and tell him to sit." You huff, you climb back down-only to come in contact with the well's bottom. You grunt at the impact, holding your stomach. 

...You didn't go through...?

You can't get back to the Warring States Era...to InuYasha...

Right...InuYasha stole your shards. He...he didn't want you to come back. 

You hands shake, but you climb back out the well and start weakly walking home. "Oh, sis? You're back! Hey, just in time for sch-" Sota gasps when he sees the blood leaking from your wound. You almost forgot how bad it was, and stupid InuYasha didn't even give you a chance to see Kaede so she could patch you up. All that movement...it probably didn't help...

"Sota...get...Mom..." You croak out, feeling a rush of lightheadedness as you drop to the ground, "MOM! GRANDPA!" Sota screams out, running to your side. 

...

InuYasha grunts, pulling a large tree out of the dirt. He shoves it down the well, Shippo tugs on his leg, "What are you doing that for, InuYasha?!" He asks "Lay off!" InuYasha shouts. Shippo glares at him, "If you seal up the well, Y/N will never be able to return to this era. Don't fool yourself. You need her as much as the rest of us do." Shippo states.

"...I can't have her hanging around. Otherwise, I'll never be able to fight the way I want to." InuYasha says firmly, he makes sure the tree is in good and walks awya from the well, Shippo loses his grip on InuYasha's leg and hits the ground. Shippo growls at him with tears in his eyes, InuYasha keeps walking, "Let's go, Miroku." He says "Go? To where?" Miroku asks. InuYasha rolls his eyes, "How can you ask such a thing? We'll find Naraku and crush him once and for all." He states "...Let's be going, Shippo." Miroku says. Shippo sniff, "Not me. I despise InuYasha." He says "Fine with me. Stay here." InuYasha huffs, walking off without even looking back.

Just one less person he has to worry about...

"I understand that you forced Y/N to leave for her safety, but do you not think you could have achieved the same end through less manipulative methods?" Miroku asks "Leave me alone! I did what I had to!" InuYasha snaps, facing away from everyone. "So how do you recommend we go about searching for Naraku? You've come across some new leads, I suppose?" Miroku asks "...No. Not exactly..." InuYasha states. "You have nothing to go on." Miroku sighs "Quiet!" InuYasha shouts, Miroku keeps his tone calm and leveled, "You sent Y/N back of your volition. I'd appreciate it if you didn't take out your frustration on me." He says, InuYasha turns to glare at him, "Will you get off my back?!" He shouts. 

Miroku takes a seat on a nearby rock, "Our best hope now lies in composing ourselves and thinking things through." He says "I don't have time for this!" InuYasha scoffs, he turns to leave, "What are you thinking? I want to crush Naraku as desperately as you, InuYasha. You're not the only one who's suffered because of him." Miroku says sternly, InuYasha's anger deflates, "Miroku..." InuYasha says, he sits down beside Miroku. "Taking action is more my style, not strategizing. You think of something." His tone is softer as he speaks.

Shippo ignore the two of them as they chat away about a plan, "...Stupid InuYasha..." Shippo mutters, he stands up and climbs onto the well. "If I don't do something, Y/N will never come back to us..." He says, Shippo starts to tug on the tree, but it does budge. Shippo sobs as frustrated tears fill his eyes. InuYasha shoots Shippo a sympathetic look, but turns away.

So...it's Kikyo Naraku hates...

It's a good thing InuYasha sent you home, you'll be safe there.

...

...

"...I've just never seen so many injuries of this intensity on someone at this age. Y/N has the wounds of a soldier or a member of the Yakuza." 

You eyes slowly open, "The cuts in her stomach, the chunk of flesh missing from her shoulder...and a hole in her leg. Not to mention that bruises scatter all around her body. I worry about what Y/N is doing..." A doctor tells your mother, she smiles sadly, "Ah, Y/N is just at the age where she wants to explore the world and find her own place. As long as she comes back to me alive, I have no reason to stop her." She says softly, the doctor sighs, "That's what I'm worried about. If she keeps doing...whatever it is she's doing, there's a chance she might not come home alive at all." He states.

A soft gasp leaves you and all eyes go to you. "Y/N, you're up." Your mother says with a soft smile, she leaves the doctor to walk over to your bed, "How are you feeling?" She asks "...Better. Is this...a hospital?" You ask, your mother nods. "I'm sorry, I know how much you hate hospitals, but you had us all worried when you passed out," She tells you "The doctor stitched up those nasty wounds on your stomach-and even the ones on your shoulder and leg." "Oh..." Is all you can manage to get out. 

Kaede already patched up those wounds, and they felt fine.

Now every wound, new and old, is sore. Stupid doctors, stupid hospitals...

"I feel fine. Can we go now?" You ask, already pushing yourself to get out of bed. The doctor opens his mouth, but your mother speaks first. "Of course. Come on, dear," She says, helping you stand, she turns to the doctor, "Thank you for all your help. We can handle things from here." She states.

...

"Poor, Y/N...she must be in a lot of pain..." Sota mutters, your family watches you slump lifelessly on the couch "She must be. I haven't seen her this down since you first moved here." Your grandfather sighs in concern. Your mother's eyes slightly widen in realization when she notices you sadly playing with your lone string. She walks up to you, "Hey, Mom," You mumble "I really don't want to go to school tomorrow." "It's ok, if you stay home, Y/N. After all, we need to give those stitches time to heal." Your mother chuckles gently as she takes a sit beside you. 

"Is there anything else hurting?"

Your eyes begin to burn at the question as an image of InuYasha flashes in your mind, your mother wraps her arms around you, letting you sob into her sweater. 

...

You quietly stare at a half drawn sketch of InuYasha, you've been getting even better at drawing him. It's probably because you've had more chances to see his face up close, and he started showing you different emotions too. You guide your pencil across the paper, adding a fanged smile on InuYasha's face. 

You frown sadly, InuYasha was still bleeding when you left-when he forced you to leave. You're so worried about him, and he didn't even care! He didn't hug you because he was worried about you, he hugged you to get the Sacred Shikon Jewel! "That creep! He's gonna pay!" You shout angrily, slamming your fist against your desk. Your hand strings, but it's nothing compared to the pain you keep feeling in your heart...

When did this happen? You used to want to be rid of InuYasha, but now your heart hurts at the mere idea of never seeing him again...

...

InuYasha pulls away, his cheeks pink as he looks away. "There I kissed you. Not Kikyo or anyone else. When I see you, I see Y/N. I like having Y/N by my side. And maybe I did want to break the bond to be with Kikyo, but now I can't imagine you not being by my side. So if you're gonna start pushing me away, let it be because I did something to make you upset with me, not because you think I want someone else..." He huffs softly. You're silent, InuYasha looks at you, the red string tangles around your body once more. 

...

"You...liar..." You mutter, staring down the sketch of him as it smiles back at you "Why did you send me back? Couldn't you have asked me what I wanted?" You ask, your voice wavers and your eyes water, tear drops fall onto the page, smudging some lines. "...Fine. You've made your choice. So, I'll make mine. I hate you...I hope I never have to see you again." You hiss out bitterly.

Yeah...you hate him.

That's why your heart hurts so much.

You simply hate him.

You hate InuYasha.

You have to...it's the only way to make the pain stop...

The red string disappears from your pinky...your eyes widen. It's really that easy? The pain in your heart worsens and you sob over the sketch of InuYasha.

...

InuYasha's String of Fate pulses, he squeezes his fist and tucks it into his lap, "These injuries are serious.  Ye won't be seeing any battles for some time yet." Kaede says, tending to InuYasha's wounds. "They won't hold me back any longer than 2 or 3 days." He scoffs "Not surprising that ye would put on a brave face. There." Kaede says, she slaps the wound. The pitch of InuYasha's voice go up as he lets out a pained shriek, "WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!" He shouts at Kaede

"If ye can muster that much vigor, then perhaps it won't take too long to recover," Kaede says "I need to speak to ye. I have given much thought to this, ever since my sister Kikyo was revived by Urasue." Miroku looks at Kaede, placing down his tea. InuYasha puts his clothes back on as Kaede explains. "Kikyo had told me it was ye, InuYasha, who had stolen the Scared Shikon Jewel. Do ye not think it strange? The one who disguised himself as ye could have made off with the jewel, yet he did not. He tricked ye into terrorizing the village and pursuing the Sacred Jewel. Then Kikyo bound ye to a tree with her sacred arrow."

Kaede takes a sip of her tea, frowning sadly, "Was the trickster attempting to pit ye against each other? Or was it Kikyo who was the true object of his malice? Was he trying to fill her heart with hatred and bitterness?" She asks "...What?" InuYasha asks "In Kikyo's possession, the Sacred Jewel of the 4 Souls remained pure, but when her heart became tainted and hateful, the jewel also became sullied, and it filled with a malevolent power. At the time, there was but a single person who wished for such a terrible outcome." Miroku and InuYasha stare at her with interest. Kaede sighs and stands up, "I shall take ye to see the place where this man once resided." She says.

...

"Kikyo had come to her own decision." Kaede says "She was harboring a thief." InuYasha sighs, the three of them move through tall. "Because she pitied him. He was unable to move on his own." Kaede states, InuYasha says nothing, continuing to follow behind Kaede. "This is the cave. The man went by the name of Onigumo," Kaede says "He suffered from terrible burns, and his face was especially scarred. I know if not he fell from a cliff or how he sustained his injuries, but both legs were broken. Yet despite his severe wound, Onigumo continued to endure. He did not move again, but he recovered his strength enough to converse, and, gradually, his true nature emerged. I told Kikyo of the concerning words he spoke. It was not longer afterward that Kikyo bound ye to the tree with her arrow. Several days later, when I went to visit Onigumo at the cave, I found it had been burned out. Judging by what I saw, the flames must have been intense, for Onigumo was unable to move and would have perished in the cave, yet his bones were nowhere to be found. They, too, must have gone up in flames."

"What does this have to do with me? I'm looking for Naraku, and Naraku is a demon, not human, such as this Onigumo person." InuYasha says "No mistaking that. Onigumo may have been evil, but he was human-a scourge to humanity." Kaede sighs "Let's go inside and take a look, shall we?" Miroku says, InuYasha nods wordlessly. 

...

Shippo grunts, still desperately trying to pull the tree out of the well. He stumbles off the well, "Oh...I can't pull it out of the well, and unless I do, Y/N will never ever return to us. I'm starting to miss her already..." He says sadly, InuYasha's word's echoes in his mind "I can't have her hanging around. Otherwise, I'll never be able to fight the way I want to." Shippo lets out an annoyed groan, pulling at the grass underneath him, "Ugh! He's more stubborn than a mule! That does it! I'm never speaking to InuYasha again!" He shouts angrily.

"Did you say the name InuYasha?"

Shippo immediately tense at the sound of growling behind him, he slowly turns, nervously staring at the giant demon surrounded by black wolf demons behind him. "I asked you a question." The demon growls, Shippo jumps back fearfully. 

...

"Huh. Lady Kaede?"
"Hm?"

Miroku points to the one spot in the cave that didn't have any overgrown grass or moss, "Look there. This one side alone is free of grass and moss of any kind." He states, "Oh...it's the same place." Kaede says, staring at the spot in surprise, "This is the very site where Onigumo lay injured." She says, Miroku reaches for the area-but immediately yanks his hand back, yelping fearfully. InuYasha and Kaede look at him concern, "I'm sensing the evil spirit of a demon,  an entity which has been left behind here for decades!" He says. 

"Impossible." Kaede says "Could it be a human that left this foul spirit behind, here where even grass refuses to grow?" Miroku asks "The spirit in this cave belongs to no human. It's definitely that of a demon." InuYasha states through grit teeth, "Hm, but if Onigumo was human how could he have possessed the spirit of a demon?" Miroku asks, frowning in thought. 

"HELP!" 

The three let out startled gasps, "SOMEBODY HELP ME!" Shippo screams in the distance, running away from the wolf demons. InuYasha is the first one to run out of the cave, "Shippo!" He gasps, jumping over to Shippo. Shippo stumbles and falls to the ground, he looks back to see the wolf demons jumping at him, "IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!" InuYasha shouts, taking Shippo into his arm and slicing through the demons with his claws. InuYasha grunts weakly, "Are you still in pain?" Shippo asks in concern. 

Shippo gasps at the blood coating his hand, "Your stomach! You're bleeding!" Shippo gasps, InuYasha winces quietly. No. He wound must've reopened...

"Might you be InuYasha?" The giant demon asks, looming over the pair. Shippo clings onto InuYasha's kimono fearfully, "That depends who's asking!" InuYasha growls "I am Royakan, the Guardian of Haowa." Royakan states. Kaede and Miroku rush to InuYasha's side, "Royakan. Are ye not the gentle creature that guards the forest?" Kaede asks "That was before I was reborn. InuYasha, I have come to slay you!" Royakan shouts before spitting out more demon wolves. InuYasha gentle places Shippo down, Shippo hides behind InuYasha's leg. "Good luck is all I can say." InuYasha scoffs, Miroku doesn't hesitate to join in on the fight. It seems Royakan knows that InuYasha is in no condition to fight...

InuYasha uses his claws to slice through the wolves as they jump at him, he grabs Shippo and does his best to fight them off. Miroku focuses on protecting Kaede, "Fight as you may, you can never defeat me!" Royakan shouts, spitting out more wolves, "That leave me with one choice." Miroku sighs, he unwraps his hand and sucks all the wolves with his Wind Tunnel. Shippo and InuYasha grunt at the force pulling them in, Miroku quickly rewraps his hand, "InuYasha! Quickly, this way!" He calls out, Royakan shoots out more wolves, the wolves run at Miroku...

A figure chuckles darkly, watching from a safe distance in a tree, "I must congratulate myself. It was a brilliant idea, indeed,  embedding a jewel shard in Royakan's body."

"IRON REAVER!" InuYasha shouts, slicing through another wolf. He grunts, struggling to stand, Shippo clings onto his shoulder, "You ok?" He asks "...My vision's starting to become blurry..." InuYasha mutters weakly. Miroku keeps sucking wolves up with the Wind Tunnel, "Monk! InuYasha is in danger!" Kaede shouts over the loud winds "I'm moving as fast as I'm able, but first-" Miroku rewraps his hand, grabbing his staff and throwing it at Royakan "I must stop Royakan! It can be done!" Miroku holds his hand in front of Royakan and unwraps it once again. 

The Wind Tunnel starts to suck Royakan in, he grunts, trying to run away. Royakan looks around in a panic before slamming his fist into the ground, Miroku gasps as it dirt flies into the air and gets sucked into the Wind Tunnel, Miroku wraps his hand, "...He escaped." He sighs, "How unfortunate. Perhaps I should have made Royakan more powerful." The figure sighs, disappearing before he could be seen. Kaede rushes over to InuYasha, "InuYasha, show me your wounds." She says "...Where is Royakan?" InuYasha asks "He has fled." Kaede states. 

"InuYasha, I sense that Naraku is near." Miroku states "What?" InuYasha asks "Most likely, Royakan has a jewel fragment, and, through it, is being manipulated by Naraku." Miroku explains "That would explain such a gentle creature turning evil." Kaede says, InuYasha stands up, "InuYasha." She says, trying to pull him back down, InuYasha starts walking blindly, "Naraku! Where are you?! Come out and face me, one on one!" He shouts, InuYasha grunts as his body gives out and he slams into the ground. "INUYASHA!" Shippo shouts, he and Kaede rush to InuYasha, "Royakan may return for another attack. We should flee to the village at once and contemplate our next move." Kaede tells Miroku, Shippo stares down at InuYasha fearfully, tears filling his eyes, 

"InuYasha..."

...

"Mom, I'm heading out to clear my head!"
"Ok, dear! Take all the time you need!"

You throw a weak smile over your shoulder and head outside. The sun shines down on you, almost like it's trying to dry your tearstained cheeks. "Well...I guess it's better than rain..." You mutter, walking down the street. It's been 3 whole days since you came home, it's been 3 days since you've seen Shippo and Miroku and Kaede, and that other guy too. You're starting to accept the fact that...InuYasha will probably never come for you, not ever again...

That's fine. It doesn't matter. That's what you wanted all along.

It's always an adjustment when you come back home, you constantly have to remind yourself that there aren't demons lurking around every corner. And even if there were, they wouldn't be looking for you anymore...

You don't have the jewel shards. 

You're just a normal girl...

A normal girl with wounds she got from fighting a demon. 

Yeah.

You flinch at the sound of faint growling nearby, "A demon?" You gasp, looking around rapidly. The growling continues, it's...coming from the sewer drain? Oh no, you think you read about this exact scenario in a book once...

"Please no clown demon, that might just be my last straw..." You sigh, carefully walking up to the sewer drain. Instead of a horrifying clown demon, it was-you gasp, "OH MY GOSH!" You shout, you reach and carefully pluck a small, white puppy out of the drain. "What the hell were you doing in there?" You ask, he stops growling, sniffing you with a confused tilt of his head. "Aw, poor little guy." You coo, you carefully put the puppy down on the ground, "I bet your owner's gotta be looking for you. I bet...she misses you a lot..." You sigh sadly, thinking about your own missing dog. The puppy paws at your leg, you bend down to his level, "Huh...no collar?" You ask, the puppy's tail wags as you pick him up again, "You don't have a home?" You ask, he barks excitedly at you. 

So...right when you're depressed about InuYasha tossing you to the side like garbage, you find a random, hopeless, white puppy?

The universe must love screwing with you emotion...

Jokes on the universe, you just got a free dog. 

"Well, you know what. You've got a home now. I hope you get along with cats." You say, a smile forming on your face as you turn around and head back home. The puppy licks your hand, "I don't think Mom'll mind if I keep you," You state "Though...it'll help if I give you a name. That way she'll know I'm attached." The puppy simply sniffs your hand, licking your pinky, your...stringless pinky... 

"Hm, Soul. I think that is a fitting name, considering the universe is giving you to me as a cruel joke. Well, I can joke too." You say, Soul simply yawns tiredly. Well, looks like InuYasha's being replaced. Not like you needed him all that much anyway. 

...

Soul licks the well curiously and Buyo eyes him suspiciously as you look down at the bottom your family's well, "I shouldn't be doing this. I should focus on moving on...and getting used to living my old life..." You state, you squeeze the edges of the well. But...if you give up, then that'll be like you're letting InuYasha win. And you'll never admit defeat to that jerk! You jump down the well-your knees stings when your feet hit the dirt, "I think I pulled a muscle this time..." You complain. You sigh, you should be resting...your stitches are still trying to heal. You gently rest a hand on your stomach, "InuYasha, you better be resting too." You mutter sadly, climbing out of the well, "Come on, you two. Buyo needs to eat and Soul stills needs a bath." You state, Soul chases after you happily while Buyo follows peacefully. 

...

"OPEN UP!"

InuYasha grunts, kicking the door multiple times. It's not like he could do much else, his hands are tied-LITERALLY!!! "LET ME OUT OF HERE!" InuYasha shouts, Shippo sits beside him calmly, "You're wasting your time, InuYasha. This hut is covered with sacred seal to keep the demons out and you in." Shippo states. InuYasha keeps keeping at the door, "Yeah, but you says I need to be sealed inside?!" He shouts before loudly screaming "O P E N  U P!!!!" 

"Please stop, 'Yasha."