Inuyasha does not belong to me, I just have too many ideas…this is actually an older one of mine, revised so that it can be slightly fit for posting. ^.^ I am having writers block for Shared Blood, so this goes up instead. ^.^ This is the prologue to the story, and I hope you enjoy. Chapter one is already being worked on. I’m sorry I haven’t been writing anything for the past few days—I’ve had the flu, and been resting. ^-^ Give credit to Rumiko Takahashi for the idea of Inuyasha, and Yashira for her help in areas of this story.

Summer’s End

Prologue

By: Lazuli

<lazulidreamer@yahoo.com>

           Kagome felt her breath coming in harsh pants as she ran away from the village miko, wondering how she got into these situations. She never hurt any of those humans that were around this village, so why was she being hunted like an animal, like a thief that needed to be taken down?

           She never asked for this, and she only hoped that she could get to somewhere safe in time. She had to make it…she couldn’t stay here be killed. Her eyes smarted with tears and she harshly wiped them away, trying not to let them get the best of her.

           Kikyou had killed Inuyasha. A few more tears scalded her cheeks. She told Inuyasha that he didn’t need the power of the Shikon no Tama…that he didn’t need to be turned into a hanyou. He was determined to find the jewel, though—to help her. It was because of her that he was dead.

           She saw the Bone Eaters well loom in front of her, and her eyes widened in terror. This was where Inuyasha was killed. Where Kikyou had tossed his body… If Kikyou caught her here…there wasn’t time to contemplate that thought before an arrow slammed into her chest, and she toppled backwards into the well, her body giving up on her as the spell overtook her. She was going to die in the same place Inuyasha did. Her eyes closed as she fell into darkness.

~~

           Inuyasha sighed as he tended to the grave next to the Goshinboku tree. It had been there since before he was born…and he was named for the man that slept beneath the ground they found dying in the bottom of their well. He gave them his name…then said he wanted to be buried next to the Goshinboku.

           “And so they named me for you. I wonder what type of person you were like…I wish I could have met you. Did you have any family? Someone you loved?”

           He sighed as he got up, looking at the marker one last time. “I’ll visit you tomorrow. You must be lonely.”

           And I’m talking to a grave…who’s the lonely one here? Inuyasha thought as he walked to the well house. He always checked it out of habit—one time was enough to find someone there—who knew if another person would appear? No one ever was…but…he always looked. In the nineteen years that he had been tending the grave and living at the shrine, hardly anyone even stopped by, much less appeared half dead in the bottom of their well.

           Grabbing his flashlight he slowly walked into the well shrine, something feeling different this time. His body was thrumming with something…he gulped, wondering if he should back out of the place entirely, not checking today. What harm could come of it?

           He shook his head firmly. “Chicken.” He muttered. “What’s there that’s going to hurt you, huh? Nothing, like always.” Gathering his bravery, he slowly peered over the edge of the well, nearly dropping the flashlight in shock.

At the bottom of the well was a young woman, silver hair framing a pointed face. She was dressed in an odd outfit, and an arrow in her chest. Climbing quickly down the well’s ladder, he knelt next to her, and saw that she didn’t seem to be breathing.

Closer up, he noticed that she had…dog ears…on the top of her head. He stared at them, transfixed, before laying his hand gently on the arrow. She shouldn’t have an arrow in her…he knew she wasn’t alive…but he would at least remove the arrow before they buried her along side Inuyasha.

He carefully pulled out the arrow, lying it on the ground beside him. Gently picking the girl up, he climbed up the ladder to get to his house.

           He stopped suddenly when he felt movement in his arms, and a soft voice questioning him.

           “Who are you, and *why* are you carrying me?”

~~

           Kagome moaned softly as she felt herself being moved upward. Her nose twitched, and she struggled in the grip of the one who held her—it couldn’t be him. She twisted around, and the person holding her gasped, stopping in his tracks.

           “Who are you, and *why* are you carrying me?” Kagome demanded. “I suggest you put me down right now. I want answers.”

           To her surprise, she was placed gently on the ground, and she looked up at a strange dressed boy—who looked like Inuyasha. Her heart almost stopped, and she backed away from him, staring at him suspiciously.