Soul of the Blade by CatsEyes

The Resurrection

CE: Okay! Welcome to my new story, "Soul of the Blade"! A few things to go over before we can get started. Ahem...

THIS FIC IS NOT "AU"!! The story that follows is set in the CANNON UNIVERSE!! (meaning it takes place somewhere in the storyline of the anime/manga) I will be addressing some things that might confuse you at the end of this chapter.

...Well! Now that THAT'S over with, carry on and enjoy the ride! I hope you like it!

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CHAPTER 1 – The Resurrection

"Heart-rate increasing...it's coming to..."

Something cool was pressing against him. The demon's eyes opened slowly, then closed again. A sudden shift in awareness caused him to frown before opening his eyes once more. It took a moment before his surroundings came into focus. ...What...is this...? he wondered, his mind cloudy with confusion. Blinking, his gaze focused on the dark figures moving behind the glass wall that surrounded him. Water. He was underwater. His mouth parted, allowing a stream of bubbles to escape past his lips.

One of the figures raised his hand as though giving an order. There was a loud, metallic clang as something in the tank shifted, soon followed by a screeching noise and that of draining water. The demon gasped as his first breath of air burned its way into his lungs. Not used to having to support his own weight, he slowly sunk into a kneeling position, panting as the rest of the water left the chamber.

Smiling coldly, the man from before nodded to the woman seated at the counsel. "Release him," he ordered quietly. She replied with a polite "Sir," and ran her nimble fingers over the keyboard in a complex series of codes. Almost at once a loud hissing noise could be heard as the tank split apart, the sides lowering before eventually sinking into the floor. The man stepped forwards, staring at the demon almost reverently.

"It worked...it's finally awake..."

The demon's head rose, just now fully realizing the human's presence. It was a middle aged man around forty years, nothing special about him that would lead anyone to believe that he had just made what was probably the most amazing scientific breakthrough of his time. He had a sharp, angular nose, set off by his thin jaw line. He wore a white lab coat over what looked to be a pair of slacks and a navy blue shirt.

"...Who are you?" was the first thing the demon asked. His voice was slightly slurred, as though he wasn't used to forming words with his mouth. This caused the man to grin.

"You may call me Dr. Shimoto," he said, bowing very slightly. He waved a careless hand to the dark room around them. "I am one of the scientists who built this lab and its equipment. Our team has struggled for years, but we've finally managed to resurrect you."

Golden eyes flickered with confusion. "Resurrect...?"

The human seemed surprised, one brow arching above his wire-rimmed glasses. "You have no memory?" he asked. "No knowledge of who or what you were – of what you are??" He continued to stare at him thoughtfully before suddenly smirking. Chuckling to himself, he turned away. "This is very good... Yes, this will go quite nicely with what we have planned." He began shouting orders at the other scientists while the demon stared after him.

...What I am...? He looked inside himself, searching for any shred of identity. What he found cut through his confusion-riddled mind, causing a wave of cold to pass through his body as realization finally dawned on him.

Nothing. He had no memories of anything but the last few minutes; no notion of who he was, or what he even looked like. He couldn't even remember his own name. His hand rose to his forehead, eyebrows drawing together as he tried to deal with the overwhelming sense of privation that had swamped him.

"Fuyumi, I want you to run a full scan on it – we don't want it getting sick now due to miscalculations," Shimoto murmured to his red-haired assistant. Looking up from the counsel, she glanced at the youkai.

"Of course, Doctor," she said quietly, her tone hard to read.

The man's eyes were triumphant. "Just look at it," he breathed, watching as two of his colleagues began dressing the demon in the dark pants and shirt that was customary in their organization. He smirked. "...Won't the Leader be pleased when we tell him we've finally completed his perfect killing machine?"

Eyes shooting open, the demon felt his body stiffen. Killing machine? Was that what he was? Was that why these people had brought him here? Pulling his hand away from his forehead, he stared down at it. Black stripes graced his wrists, leading his eyes up to the claws that curved out from the tips of his fingers. Was that really...all he was?

An unknown emotion suddenly flooded his mind, prohibiting all other thought. Hatred. Hatred for the beasts that so ignorantly brought him to this place with nothing to live for. His eyes grew shadowed.

" – get started as soon as possible," Shimoto was saying, when he heard the inhuman growl coming from somewhere behind him. Frowning, he turned very slowly to glance back at the demon. "What did you say?" he asked, displeased that he had been interrupted.

The great youkai glared at him, his fierce, golden eyes dark with rage. "You did this to me..." he growled again, louder this time. His voice was a near snarl. "You created this void..." Shimoto's eyes widened as a red aura began to swirl around the dark being's form. The dim lights in near proximity to the creature began to flicker until they died out completely in a series of sparks.

"What are you –" he began, when Fuyumi caught his attention.

"I'm detecting strong surges of youki..." she whispered, her eyes moving over the readings that appeared on her screen. Her eyes widened. "Sir, it's enraged!" The scientist sputtered.

"Impossible!" he finally managed to say, glancing back at the youkai with growing fear. "We made sure to erase its will entirely! It cannot defy us!"

The scientists around the demon began backing away, wary of this new threat the creature presented. Straightening, the demon's now red eyes were fixated on Shimoto.

"You will be the first to die," he said in a deadly, soft voice.

"Restrain it!" the doctor shouted frantically, but it was no use; the demon was already moving. In one violent slash he had cut down the two scientists nearest to him. Screaming, the others tried to flee, but he was having none of it. With all the grace befitting a great predator, he slew each and every one of them; his face seemingly emotionless as their blood ran down his fingers and stained his clothes red.

The doors flew open with a crash, guards pouring in. Turning sharply, the demon snarled as guns were lifted in preparation to fire. Having no previous knowledge of the weapons they were carrying, he could do little as their bullets tore through him.

"No! Don't shoot it!" Shimoto screamed, but it was too late. Ignoring the pain, the great youkai leaped upwards, breaking through the ceiling and vanishing from sight.

"It's on the roof!" one of the guards shouted. "To the stairs!"

Fuyumi shook her boss in attempts to stir him from his daze. "Please, sir! We're not safe here!" She stepped back involuntary when, instead of responding, he gave a hollow laugh. "...Sir...?"

Dr. Shimoto looked up at the hole the demon had created, his smile dark. "It's magnificent..." he murmured. Fuyumi could only stare at him in horror as the lab began to collapse around them.

Silver hair whipping in the rain, the youkai flew across rooftop to rooftop with god-like speed. His mind was a total blank; he acted solely on instinct and the need to escape. He would not be controlled. He would not let himself become a slave to creatures inferior to him! The blood from the bullet wounds slowly slid down his chest, staining his clothes red.

It was only after ten minutes of running when his thoughts finally returned. Slowing down, he came to a halt on top of a small business building on the outskirts of the city. He stared down at his hands in disbelief. The blood that sullied his claws was not being rinsed away by the rain – it remained a testament to what he had done.

"Why..." he whispered, now so confused it actually pained him. He clutched his head, trying to relieve some of the tension. Why had he killed them? How could he do all these things?!

What am I? was the thought that resounded desperately again and again within his mind. Beginning to feel faint from the loss of blood, he sunk to his knees as he tried to cope with these overwhelming feelings he was experiencing. That was until something else caught his attention. A gentle scent... Even through the rain, there was no mistaking it. It was something he knew – something he recognized even though he had no memory of himself.

His eyes opened slowly as the rain poured overhead. He had come to his decision.

Sighing, sixteen year old Kagome Higurashi ran her hands through her cat's fur absently as she listened to the thunder outside. It wasn't often that a storm as powerful as this one visited Tokyo. She could actually hear the wind howling as the rain beat against her window.

"So... when's Inuyasha coming back for you?" Her brother, Sota, was looking at her inquisitively from his seat at the end of her bed. Frowning, Kagome sat up.

"Why?" she demanded, somewhat annoyed. "I'm allowed to come here every so often, aren't I? I live here! I can't spend all my time over in the feudal era, you know!" Displeased with the sudden outburst, Buyo jumped off her lap and out of her room as Sota cowered slightly.

"Okay!" he said, hands up in a pacifying gesture. "Geeze, I was only asking!"

Huffing indignantly, Kagome looked away. Staring out the dark window, she allowed her expression to soften. Secretly, she wondered when Inuyasha was coming back as well. She had asked for a week long break from all that shard hunting, and it surprised her that the temperamental hanyou hadn't started popping up to bug her yet. True, she had only been gone one day, but still...

I wonder how he and the others are doing... she wondered. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine what her friends' reactions would be if they knew she actually doubted her decision to go back to her own time. Immediately Miroku's face appeared in her mind, his expression mildly surprised.

"You are not eager to take your 'examinations', Lady Kagome...? Are you sure you're feeling well? I can check if you'd like..."

Kagome almost sighed. Trust Miroku to be lecherous even in her own imagination. As she shook her head, her two other friends, Sango and Shippou, came to mind. Their eyes were wide in disbelief.

"What happened, Kagome? It's not often that you want to come back early... Did something happen in your own world? Or was it something Inuyasha said?"

"That's right! There's nothing going on... between you guys, is there??"

She giggled at this. Her friends were so silly sometimes. Always jumping to conclusions! Finally, her thoughts turned to the infamous half-demon himself. Inuyasha's amber eyes were blinking in surprise, a tinge of pink on his cheeks as he stared at her. When he spoke, it was in a confused, almost astonished tone.

"You...came back... To see me? ............FEH! Well, it's about time! You shouldn't be shirking your duties to the Jewel, anyway!"

Kagome's eyes snapped open. Rrrr...that insensitive jerk! she thought, frowning. He would say that! Why does he always have to turn something potentially sweet into an insult? Is it really that hard to be nice to me?! Her eyes softened, however, remembering the cause for Inuyasha's defensive mannerisms. Coming from such a troubled past, it was understandable that he had a harder time trusting people than most. Her face turned pensive.

Still...he has grown...closer to me lately... She blushed at the thought. What are you thinking, Kagome? He doesn't like you that way! Her musings were interrupted when Sota started laughing.

"You're thinking about Inuyasha again, aren't you?" he asked, his grin mischievous. Kagome sputtered, her blush deepening.

"I am not!" she yelled, but this only served to encourage him.

"Why are you blushing, Kagome? Huh? Why are you blushing??" Sota continued to laugh and chant while Kagome grew steadily more irritated.

Her eyebrow twitched. "OUT!!!" she screamed, just as a particularly violent thunderclap shook the room. Sota squealed, his eyes wide as he stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet.

"AUUGHHH!!" he yelled, tearing out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him. "Kagome's a monster!!"

"Monster?! I'll show you monster!!" she retorted, leaping up to chase after him. She had just caught the little twerp, and was about to administer justice when the doorbell rang.

"Kagome, could you get that?" her mother called from somewhere downstairs. The girl frowned.

"We'll finish this later," she growled, letting Sota drop from her grip before heading for the stairs. Her angry expression changed to one of confusion as she walked down the hallway that led to the front door. Who could be out during this storm? She fumbled with her keys for a moment before turning the lock and sliding the door open. She was not prepared for the sight that met her eyes.

Kagome gasped. "S-Sesshoumaru?!?" But...it couldn't be! Sesshoumaru had lived over five hundred years ago! And yet here he was; his heavily bleeding form leaned against the doorframe for support as the rain fell down on him. At her exclamation, the demon slowly raised his head to look at her, his eyes half lidded with weariness. His gaze flickered.

"...Kagome..." he murmured. He then collapsed, falling unconscious into Kagome's arms.

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CAT'S CORNER

Beginnings...are so...hard...TO WRITE!!! However, once I fashioned some idea of the overall direction of this story, this beginning chapter was relatively easy. Except for one thing, of course, which brings us to the topic of our little discussion...

AMNESIA – Amnesia, as I am sure most of you know, is the abnormal loss of memory, usually due to some traumatic event. Because I have never had amnesia, it was particularly difficult to portray a character with this condition. So I asked my mom (who's a nurse) if she knew anything about it, and she brought up a few interesting points. One: amnesia varies from person to person, meaning that one person can have amnesia that affects only their memory of the last hour, while another person could have forgotten everything from the past six years. Two: when a person's memory is lost, it does not mean they forget how to function in the real world. For instance, a person can forget everything about himself – his past, his identity – and still remember how to write. And finally, Three: it is possible for a person with amnesia to "recognize" people, even though they don't know where they know them from. So the fact that Sesshoumaru "remembers" Kagome, is not that farfetched.

Well, I've talked enough already, so I'll let you go now. Thanks so much for stopping by! I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.